Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

How would one react when you found out the woman who you called mom had a really messed up past?

Would you scream? Cry? Deny it? Or in Taylor Hebert's case go into a deep downward spiral of all three as she found out that her mother, Annette Hebert, was in her youth the overboss of the three most dangerous gangs in the entire continental US.

Finding out your godmother was the head of the Disciples, a band of psychos who have a fetish for knives, pain, and so much blood it would make an 80s slasher film tell them to tone it down. Kurt, Lacy And Daisy, their college age daughter turned out to be the leaders was just plain terrifying, especially because that makes the fact they 'lose tools' was them preparing to rearm their gang with hand made weapons.

The PACK is a gang of animal themed wackos who fully believe that the 'Law Of The Jungle' is gospel straight from the bible and have so many flashy colors it looked like the summer of love thrown up all over a mad max film. Her own father went from boring, bland and predictable, to wild, crazy and honestly, nearly unrecognizable.

Then there is the final gang. The Operators…which gang would be an oxymoron considering that they are a conglomerate of mercenaries who work for the highest bidder and out of the three are the most professional of the three gangs. She never expected Alan and Zoe Barnes to just change from Suburbia household, to cold hard killers with more guns than the 4 big gangs of the city.

So yes.

This was Taylors Legacy handed down to her by her mother who was their overboss, the head honcho in charge of an abandoned 1950s atomic themed soda amusement park which was their HQ and only a hundred miles from her true home of Brockton Bay.

But once Taylor began to calm down and really take stock in things, she started to truly think within her new home atop of the FizzTop Mountains Grille she began to smile a little as that small part of the human brain started to feed her an idea.


Taylor sat back into a chair looking over the entire Nuka-Town USA as she spoke aloud "I am the now most powerful, wealthiest, influential woman on the east coast. With an untapped gold mine at my finger tips, powerful technology, loyal soldiers at my command, and all inherited to me from my late mother to carry on her legacy as the new undisputed Over Boss, no QUEEN of Nuka World." She paused before saying with an evil smile. "Evil laugh MA-HA!"


The reality of this.... Would hit her harder than a Gator Claws uppercut. que the funny carnival clown music

THREE DAYS AS OVERBOSS

Taylor was sitting among the gathered leaders as she rubs the temples of her fore head "Ok it's been less than a week since I've been overboss and I've already gotten several death threats."

ONE WEEK

Taylor busted into her office as she exclaimed to Gauge "DID THE DISCIPLES REALLY TAKE THE DOCKS!? DID THEY TAKE THE DOCKS!?"

Gauge looking at Taylor just nods slowly as he says "Yeah, they took the Docks in Brockton."

This caused Taylor to exclaim "FUCK!!!"

TWO WEEKS

"Assault, you're not fooling everyone claiming to be a hero. We both know you love the villainous lady and we know you like'em devious with leather.

ONE WHOLE MONTH

Taylor was sitting across from the Governor of Massachusetts as they explained "I am a senator of the house I can not take bribes."

Only for Zoe to set down a suitcase full of money on their desk "But a generous donation to my re-election campaign is a totally different matter altogether."

ONE AND A HALF MONTHS

"How do they have money for that!? They haven't left since I got here!!"

TWO MONTHS AS OVERBOSS

"We've finally done it. We are finally at peace!" Taylor cried out in relief as Brockton Bay, and basically everything in a 100 mile radius of the city, was under her control/influence.

"There's a big influx of villains into the city."

"FUCK!!!" Taylor screamed.


The PRT trying to take down the Gang Alliance

Expectation

"We will need to act carefully, the Raiders will likely take this tactically, they will dig in, and make us fight for every inch. We have several capes ready to assist take them down. However, this may be a costly battle." Armsmaster began.

"The Overboss is a very dangerous woman, and likely will need to be taken on by a coordinated team of capes working together." Miss Militia pointed out.

This would be a hard fought battle of good and evil, and they would be victorious.

Reality

"They are higher than the Simurgh, the pack are using fireworks and feces. The Operators are trying to get us to buy them out and I am pretty sure the Disciples have a tunnel network they've taken over and are hiding in." Armsmaster summarized the reports.

"And the overboss?"

"She's crying and hasn't let go of Alexandria's leg for taking her out of, and I'm quoting her, "that mad house of violent maniacs who kidnapped her and over-analyzed everything into a plan". I think we did her a favor." Miss militia pointed out.

"Assault has also been kidnapped and is only going to be ransomed back after he married someone." Velocity pointed out.

"How's Battery taking the news?" Armsmaster was confused.

"We had to stop her from taking a gun and storming the place, we had to use a Lung dart….nothing else was working." Dauntless pointed out.

"Everything about this is a god damn mess." Armsmaster sighed in defeat.







Yes, this is the story of Taylor Hebert.




The new Overboss of Nuka world.









God help her.






May god grant her patience







Good god, Brockton Bay is royal screwed


Inspiration of this chapter is thanks to this

Chapter Text

It is said that the happiest place on earth was built to be enjoyed by everyone. Soda-pop as a theme for an entire park and the iconic americana feel of the nineteen fifties would be a draw.

From a wondrous fairytale kingdom for all the tiny tikes to run around and play, even catch a magic show or two in King Cola's castle. To wild races against the friends you make on the Nuka Racers, or the fun journey in the Fun house (Nukaworld is not responsible for any injuries while in the Funhouse)

To the recreation of a western town, where you could have a duel at high noon, then step into the Doc Phosphate Saloon to enjoy a nice cold Nuka Cola Wild while listening to the piani. You can even take a ride in a minecart and be a nuka-prospector.

Visit the exciting Safari Adventure, and see the animals from all over the world, from Lions and Tigers, and even bears, oh my. With the expert staff of animal handlers, safety and education are the top priority of our park guests. (right park guest brian?)

For those who aren't looking back, but to the future, the Galactic Zone is the place for you with its staff of Refreshment Bots, you can see everything from robot on robot combat, to exploring the stars. Get a chance to taste Nuka Cola flavors to the Infinite, and beyond.

For those who want to just enjoy pure Americana Nuka Town USA with its stores, restaurants and even bars that serve drinks for both children and adults alike with its main attraction being the Fizzetop Grille advertised to serve the best food infused with the flavors or Nuka or try your luck at the Nuka-Cade to win prizes only the Nuka Cola Corporation could offer.

Nuka Cola much like many companies that started in the nineteen fifties cashing in on the craze of the time of what atomic power could be believed that they would never lose that lightening in a bottle that they had, that was until the scandal of what happened in the nineteen sixties. When it was discovered that their latest drink had been infused with Strontium-90. A class action lawsuit ended the company in nineteen sixty nine, for endangering the health of its workers, consumers and attempted biological weapons research after an investigation was launched into the company's dealings they had hoped would never surface to the public light. Nuka World was closed down and forgotten, or so everyone thought.

However the people who found the happy park were park goers the builders didn't expect. With the rise of Parahuman Gangs in the late eighties, an abandoned park had plenty of space for them to grow. Thus, The Nuka-Raider Alliance formed, three gangs came together under one powerful leader, planning to take over not just the park, but the entire New England territory of the United States under their combined rule.

The Pack. Blood Thirsty brutes who live and die by the ideals of the Survival of the Fittest, where only one can truly lead the gang.

The Disciples. Killers, assassins, masochists and sadists, they live for the feeling of snuffing the life out of their victims.

The Operators. A group who play the professional Mercenary role, that are just as likely to turn you in as they are to leave you be.

All led by an enigmatic, charismatic, powerful, blood thirsty Overboss who through the late eighties and well into the nineties was a powerhouse of a faction none dared trifle with after a failed siege in nineteen ninety all but cemented their power, until in the mid nineties they seemingly went silent the park was abandon, no trace of them left leaving everyone confused.

Had a powerful faction truly just disappeared like those of Roanoke, yet could such a powerful faction truly be gone? Could they truly have just slipped quietly into the night? Or was this just another bloody chapter waiting to be written?

None truly knew as the legend of the Nuka Raiders became that, nothing but an urban legend.

But that would all change in a run down public school in the year two thousand and eleven.

Damian Black, a student at Winslow High School, one who didn't care about the gang of the Empire, ABB or the Merchants, he went to school, avoided being picked on and went about his life. After the Winter Break, he came to school and heard screams.

So it seemed the Herbert Girl was being picked on by Barnes, Hess and Clements. Rolling his eyes, Damian pulled his phone out, school would probably be let out early, until something hit his nose, something smelled like it had died and people would complain. Sewer must be backed up or something.

Then he heard it, banging of flesh against metal. They shoved her in the locker? Damian walked over to look at the locker door. If he could, he'd open it, but he didn't want to get picked on because he had more empathy than the leader of some girl's bullying campaign led by sheep who claimed to be something more than what they were. The locker had a combination lock, and he highly doubted it was Herbert's.

Shrugging and beginning the process of just walking away, Damian dialed his mom's number. This school was a shithole. The pitiful excuse of local gangs just tagged every surface, he was pretty sure they were dealing drugs in the open in the hall. How the hell had this place not been shut down, Damian would never know.

His mom answered on the third ring.

"What's up kid?" His mom questioned.

"The school is probably going to call it early. Smells like the sewers backed up." Damian stated plainly.

"Eh, public schools. The Winter's pretty cold, who knew shit froze." His mom chuckled at her own joke.

"Yeah. Say some girl got shoved in a locker." Damian

"Which girl? Is it one you're thinking of bringing home?" His mother asked in a teasing tone of voice, Damian couldn't tell if she was actually serious, or just messing with him because she knew he liked to keep his own secrets.

"Taylor, Herbert or something like that. The tall leggy girl who I told you about before, she got picked on in the fall." Damian answered.

"Taylor…Herbert? Huh…Could you mean like Hebert?" His mom questioned.

"Yeah, that's the name. Hebert. Why? You know them?" Damian was confused, this was interesting now.

"No….It's nothing." His mom dismissed his curiosity.

The call ended and Damian shrugged it off. Who knows what she was thinking. Damian went to his locker, grabbed his books and tried to ignore the awful stench in the hall, as he made his way to the first class of the day.

It was the typical 'first day back from a break' so everyone was just talking about what they did, caught up with friends, and showing off the new things they got over the break. Damian talked with some of his friends, the teacher tried to teach, they knew it was pointless most of the time, and let people talk. Give them a few to socialize.

Nearly half way through the first period, when something happened. The fire alarm went off. The Teacher paused, looking at the speaker, confused, like they were expecting an announcement to follow.

"Everyone. Please stay in your rooms. There is an intruder-" The voice of Principle Blackwell was cut off suddenly.

"What if there was a place to go with the Zip of Nuka Cola?
Wouldn't that be the cheer-cheer-cheerist place in all the world!
Where the rivers made of Quantum and the mountaintop are fizz.
With Fun and Games and Ride for the moms and pops and kids!" Suddenly played, a very overly cheery song that sounded like an ad. It also played on loop like a record was jumping back to the start to something too.

A gun shot was heard inside of the hall. Then a lot more automatic gunfire. The Teacher rushed to the door, locking it and moving the desk next to it.

"Alright everyone! Go to the corner away from the door." He tried to take control.

"What's with the fucking clown music?"

"Who do you think it is? Merchants, Empire, ABB?"

"Fuck am I supposed to know?"

Damian felt like he knew that song from somewhere…Why did he know that song? It was a long awkward silence as kids whispered to each other, the teacher holding a fire extinguisher near the door. 20 minutes passed and Damian realized he hadn't heard any shots for like…15 minutes now.

"The area is clear. All students, leave your classrooms and go to the designated gathering points." an authoritative voice commanded.

"Why the fuck would we do that?"

"Could be the gunmen."

"Nah, that's Captain Jones. I know the voice because he's always being asked about gang activity." Someone spoke up.

There was a knock at the door, "All clear, you may leave your rooms." Blackwell said.

The teacher, along with some students, slid the desk back and slowly left the room. Police officers were patrolling the hallways, and a bunch of lockers were broken open. Students gathered and headcounts were taken.

Incredibly, no students were found dead. Bullet holes were discovered, and Blackwell had a nasty bruise on the side of her face. As Damian predicted, Winslow got out early that day, just not for the reasons he suspected. Parents were called to pick their kids up, some waited for the bus to come and take them home. Damian waited, spotting his mom pull up.

Climbing inside the passenger seat, tossing his bag in the back seat, his mom looked relaxed.

"So…what's up with the call earlier? You sounded weirdly interested." Damian asked, watching as she drove away from the school.

"Oh, it's nothing. I think you'll be spending some time with your aunt. I have to go somewhere for a while." Magnolia Black stated.

"Business?" Damian asked.

"You could certainly say that." Magnolia had a small grin as she drove.

- 1 hour earlier-

Magnolia Black, just got off the phone with her son, who had just given her a bit of news that was a shock to her. Hebert. That could draw her out. Magnolia made a few calls. Looks like the gang was getting back together. A decade later, they finally found something.

Magnolia walked to her closet, tossed the clothes from the rack and pulled out the false back wall, before putting on the plaid suit and tie, and then donning her armor with the ammo belt, Mags then grabbed the last thing, her modified AK rifle.

With a grin, she walked to the garage, and pulled the tarp off the old girl, and started up her engine. With a purr, Mags slammed on the gas, slipping on a set of shades and reached the meeting spot.

Arriving not very long after, they saw the lifted pickup pull up and the gorilla of a man jump down, dressed in his furry pants and tank top with bones around his neck and arms. His face was covered in paint that made it a bit hard to tell what he looked like. He carried a brightly painted bat with saw blades and barbed wire wrapped.

Then pulled up a limo, one with blacked out windows the entire length and from the back, stepped out the lady of the night herself, with her helmet that should leave her blind, and the thick jacket with wrapped metal spikes for shoulder pauldrons.

"So, Mags. You called us claiming to have finally found a lead?" Nisha questioned, her voice smooth, hiding the poison that she likely had behind it.

"Yeah. Winslow Someone is there that shares a name. I take it you both will need time to get your people ready?" Mags questioned.

"Not quite. Mine left and went to the Teeth. Once they get the call, well, they will be needing to eat pudding with how many they will be missing." Mason chuckled a bit manically.

"My disciples will come. They know blood will be shed, and know who their master is." Nisha responded.

"I'm going to hope the contracts are rather shit. But my Operators will come. I'm having William go and investigate the Park." Magnolia told the 3.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go to Winslow and get them already. This is going to be fun." Mason had a toothy grin.

The 3 would steal a car from the parking lot they were in, and drove to the front of Winslow. Armed with 3 AKs, Mason kicked open the door and ran inside, howling like a madman. He found the office and broke open the window, seeing a fat blonde bitch at the desk, Mason took action and knocked her out with the stock of his rifle. Before long, he hooked up an old MP3 to the sound system and played a song both Mags and Nisha hated, yet felt nostalgic for.

Mags walked the hall, smelling the familiar scent of rot and decay. It became stronger as they neared a locker.

"Nisha, be a dear and feel free to shoot the other lockers. Don't want to make it obvious who we were after." Mags stated.

"You're a confident one." Nisha smirked, as she began to open fire down the hall, shooting up the various lockers on both sides of the hallway. Mags drew a pistol she always carried and shot the lock off the locker that had the stench originating from it.

Opening it, out collapsed a girl, tall, leggy, black hair. She fell over, unconscious, covered in what looked like a biological waste trashcan's contents. Mason came over, looked at the girl, and picked her up, assuming that since this one the only other person they'd seen, was who they were looking for.

"I will meet you both at the park. I have to return and drop my son off at my sister in law's." Mags stated, walking away.

"How you ever got someone to marry you will always be a mystery."

"Well, one left me at the altar, so I found a man who couldn't." Mags waved and left.

They were out in less than 5 minutes, and Mags had enough time to change and pick up her kid.

— — — — —

Taylor groaned as she felt sore yet a soft hand rubs softly against her temple followed by a soft wet cloth lightly touching her head and even her neck which caused her to stir lightly. Slowly opening her eyes, Taylor was looking up at something she wasn't the most familiar with…actually, she wasn't familiar with what she was seeing at all. She thought she'd wake up in a hospital. She was now worried she woke up in an organ harvesting set up by one of the gangs.

She wasn't restrained…and she wasn't dead…Did they really do that bad of a job checking for a pulse? Looking down, she realized she wasn't in the clothes she was wearing to school, someone had changed her into a t-shirt with a cartoon bottle and old bottlecap on it and some sweat pants. Looking around she found her glasses on a table next to the bed.

The room she found herself in was a bit dirty, dusty, and looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. The bed actually looked out of place with how clean it was. Did someone drag the mattress here?

Taylor walked out and stopped, spotting 3 people sitting in the next room.

A man with his face covered in paint, and the sides of his head shaved. A woman in a fine suit and a bandolier of bullets, and…maybe a woman, maybe a man, with a massive helmet that had blades on the sides.

"Well, look who's finally awake." the blade headed woman, who cleared up, spoke.

"Bout time." The man looked annoyed.

"Now, Taylor, was it. I'm curious. Do you know who we are?" The suited woman questioned.

Taylor was now scared. What did they want from her?

"Forget her. Once they hear we have her. We can finally get back to what we should have been doing." the Man growled.

"Perhaps we need to send a message. We have her home address. Why not send a finger, a calling card to have them come to us." The helmeted woman pulled a knife out, spinning it on her finger, threateningly.

The woman in the suit scoffed, "Always savage methods, we finally found what we have been looking for and you want to go straight to violence."

"All we have to do is wait for them to show up. Keep this one locked up and well, then we get what we were promised and what they abandoned." The man argued.

Taylor wanted to go back into the room, scared now. Before she could open the door, the knife flew by her head, and sank into the wall next to the door.

"Where do you think you are going? You're going to sit right here. Now, Taylor Hebert. Do you know who we are?" The Helmeted woman demanded.

Taylor had no clue who they were at all. She looked at the knife, and tried to grab and pull it out of the wall, finding it was pretty much stuck and she couldn't easily pry it out.

"I have no clue…Are you…Coil's people?" Taylor didn't know anything more about Coil than just a name and he was a villain, this team of crazies…they might fit his style, maybe?

They all laughed, the Man nearly fell over laughing, the suited women chuckled, and the helmeted women just smirked.

"Oh you poor, foolish thing. We remember learning about you. How you took priority over our collective dream." The suited woman explained, as she slowly walked around the table and approached Taylor.

"W…When…Who are you talking about?" Taylor nervously asked, pressing herself against the door she just came though.

"You mother of course. She was the First Overboss." The suited woman stated, "Besides, it's not like we can't help raise our Goddaughter to follow in her footsteps."

Taylors brain all but froze as the Helmeted woman approached now a little closer to Taylor's personal bubble as she seemed to look Taylor over, even softly stroke her face which caused the poor scared Taylor to involuntarily shiver "You look so much like her you know." Her voice was low and almost melancholy.

Chapter Text

The report shocked Collin. There were enough similar reports of what was supposedly sung over the intercom, and the MP3 device was left. Once he could request it from the Police, he'd data-mine everything he could. The current case was 3 individuals entered the school, all dressed wildly different, they shot up the lockers and left with no one killed, much to the surprise of everyone. There was no visual recording of the people, the cameras that were supposed to be recording and monitoring the school grounds were either broken, disconnected or non-existent. Collin would also need to interview Sophia about the gang activity that takes place in the school, it was worse than she had portrayed in her reports.

The report of the 3 individuals was worrying to Collin however. The description that Principal Blackwell had described, it was like the ghosts of a past era had returned. A ghost that should have stayed in the shadows.

The idea of unexpected return of that old threat meant that when they had disbanded, the PRT hunted down the leaders, but they had simply vanished into the wind, and Collin was far away from leadership, and lacked the standing he had now. By the time he had taken leadership, there was a decade of since they vanished, and had a decade to cover their tracks.

So now he had to figure out what had made them come out of hiding and attack a school without killing anyone.

— — — — —

Danny was many things, a Father who tried to do good by his daughter. A once good husband who was faithful to his dearly departed wife. Finally a man who did all he could to provide what he could to his family.

But when news of the shooting at Winslow came on as well as the song that was reported made the man's blood go deathly icy cold as the frozen tundra of Russia.

The reason for this was very simple, his late wife Annette Hebert was at one point in her life the most powerful woman in all of the New England area until Danny came into her life and with their love so powerful she escaped it with their unborn daughter to start anew.

They settled into Brockton Bay in hopes that old life would never find them, yet both knew that was a lie. Once you were the Overboss of the NRA the only way to escape that life was either by right of combat or in a hole six feet deep. He was anxiously waiting for a call, either from the school, the police, or for his daughter to walk through the door. He was terrified…why there? Why now? What happened that drew them here?

— — — — —

Collin felt that he would need to look over the student files. It made no sense. He really just hoped that this was just some crazed villain hoping to use the old mythos of the Nuka Cola Raiders to throw them off their actual trail. It wouldn't be the first time someone used their legacy before.

Collin had some theories. The Teeth, at least after Butcher 5, started to wear more skulls and animal aesthetics, which was in August of 97, that's when they started to grow their non-powered numbers. Likely the Pack's leader was beaten and had followed behind the Butcher.

He suspected that Coil may be a former member, the uncanny luck with the pension for mercenaries could very likely be where the Operators. It was a weak theory, the Operators rarely were ones to sell themselves and change, hell, the PRT had a surge in recruitment in the late 90s locally. For all he could not have known, the PRT could have had dozens of ex-Operators in their ranks.

He had no clue where the Disciples had hidden themselves away from. That collection of bloodthirsty maniacs could be anywhere. He wouldn't be surprised if they wiped themselves out… He hoped that was the case, if not…there is no telling how many could be killed before they could stop them.

Arriving at Winslow, Armsmaster scanned the hallway at the entrance. He had a long day ahead of him trying to find why this was done.

— — — — —

Danny still hadn't heard anything and with his paranoia from not only his time with his late wife, god rest her soul, but also from living in the gang filled city that is Brockton Bay which was why he was in a secret compartment of his closet pulling out an old custom eight seventy which had an extended tube for eight shells instead of the usual six.

The old boomstick was a reminder of how dangerous they could be. Danny had it custom made in case the past ever came back to haunt them, or tried to harm them. He remembered the stories that Annette shared about the hazings the gangs would do, the rituals of promotion, the entire thing shocked him. His sweet wife had led an army of crazies, cut throats, and money hungry mercenaries that would make Faultline and her crew look like saints in comparison. She was a bit crazy herself.

And Annette thought he could take on that world if it ever tried to bring them back. Now she is gone, and now…Taylor may be as well. He had no way to track them down, so what was he to do if they had taken the last good thing in his life from him?

— — — — —

Armsmaster found a clue, it was a subtle difference that he picked up with his scanner and it showed there was more than just destruction and chance. The first thing Armsmaster looked into was a locker that was filled with waste refuse, that was being gathered as a separate issue, likely a bio hazard, he had no clue what the plan was for that, the attack likely saved someone a likely trigger event if they got trapped inside.

He found a lock, the lock body shot and broken with a much smaller caliber round, at a much closer range. It was tossed aside, probably kicked around by students unknowingly as they left the school. Cases were 7.62, roughly crudely made, likely hand loaded. Whatever went through this lock was likely smaller, closer to a 9 mil round or something of similar size. They shot the lock and now he needed to figure out which locker it was that was more uniquely targeted. Could it be related to a cape who hadn't revealed themselves, or was it to steal something from a specific locker?

They had to uncover who attacked the school, if there were any students missing from those who showed up, that added to a growing set of concerns in the back of his mind.

He rarely prayed being a man of logic, but right now with the evidence presented. He prayed deeply that he was wrong, he prayed that the urban legends had not returned.

— — — — —

Danny began to pace, back and forth in his house. Waiting for anything, news. Winslow was let out because of this and the students were sent back home. Taylor should be back, unless there was some sort of delay in the traffic. That had to be it. Everyone rushing to get their kids back was just slowing traffic down. He was worrying over nothing.

Glancing over at his shotgun…maybe he should just make sure everything was in working order. Maybe he should call Alan, they would be worried too. Danny remembered Alan talking about how him and Emma had nearly been attacked by some gang members over the summer, it shocked them both but they recovered.

Before he could even reach for the shotgun the phone rang which caused the man to jump slightly startled before he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, moving over to the old wall phone he picked up the receiver and answered as he always did "Hebert residents, Danny Hebert speaking."

The voice that answered caused his blood to turn to bitter frost bite "Hello Daniel."

Danny just looked at the phone, his hand shaking…"You…finally found us." he responded, voice trembling with fear.

Nisha chuckled dryly "Oh Daniel we have always known where you were, but we respected the boss's wishes…well Mags and myself did, her little disappearance caused quite a commotion but Mason…oh Mason was so torn up over the whole thing, he always needed a strong hand on his leash, and Annette let him loose." Her voice is always playful, always deadly, like a poisonous animal waiting to strike.

Danny didn't know how to respond. How much did they know? Was this some sort of trick? Was this to scare him, why now? Why Now?! WHY NOW?!?!

"But we can mostly forgive that bit of history, after all a woman's happiness is what's most important." Her voice ever so playful took on an edge as she said something that made Danny's heart almost stop. "But what we can not forgive is you keeping her little treasure away from us Daniel." Making a few clicking sounds with her tongue touching her teeth she added playfully again "You've been such a naughty, naughty boy Daniel."

Danny felt like the world was spinning around him. Everything was heavy.

"What did you do to her…" His voice was weak, he could barely muster those words to speak. The fear, why…why now? What made them go after him now? What made them go after Taylor?

Nisha was heard humming a little tune in the background "Oh Daniel you truly think we would hurt our God daughter? No, no, we rescued her from that boring routine you call 'normality' to introduce her to her birthright that has been denied to her." Something in Danny broke as that fear and anxiety started to be replaced with the emotions he tried to keep buried away from his past.

"WHERE IS SHE!?" Danny roared his voice deep and gruff as his anger he was famous for slowly began to fill him.

Nisha's answer was one Danny wished to have never heard ever since Taylor was born "Where she truly belongs, her rightful place, with her true family Daniel." Before the phone line went silent leaving Danny with the beeping tone from the phone's receiver.

Setting the phone gently back on the base Danny turned and went to the table where his hand firmly grasps the pistol grip of the shotgun and with a determined face he swiftly racked the pump opening the action to check the chamber. With a soft nod he sent the pump forward letting the sound of the pump action fill the house.

— — — — —

Armsmaster still had to go over the attendance for the day, but right now, he had to present his findings to Piggot, and his team. They were the closest to the old base of the NRA, they could just go over and quickly look around. If it was still empty, then it was Armsmaster being led down a false path, not the first time he was deceived by a villain, this would just be the one that made him so paranoid.

"Armsmaster, the events at Winslow, what can you share?" Piggot questioned.

Armsmaster stood up from his seat.

"Right now, it seems that the attack was likely designed to cover up something else. The school stands out and lacks the typical approach held by the criminal gangs in the city. The Empire, ABB and Merchants have never attacked a school before, with younger elements of their gangs attending the school, and with minor injuries sustained from fights that happened inside of the classrooms, no fatalities or grievous injuries, I can conclude that this was an outside element from our city." Armsmaster began to explain, stopping as he reached the first logical stopping point for his report.

Hannah, Miss Militia, was the first to speak up "I'm sorry but an outside element? Are we talking about a new faction moving in and declaring their intentions? Or maybe this could be someone who just wanted to conduct another mass shooting."

Jane, Battery, added on "I gotta agree with Hannah here, this could have been just some messed up psycho who had a bad day and decided to do this."

Collin, Armsmaster, wanted to agree. God did he want to agree but all the evidence, the song, the descriptions, even the damn shell casings proved otherwise and still hoped this was a bunch of copycats and not them.

"That would be the initial appearance, however, Blackwell described the perpetrators." With a click of a feature on his suit the LCD TV brought up three images that made the temperature in the room drop fast. "As adults, the use of the song that played on loop was associated with a gang that was trouble back in the late 80s and early 90s, until they fell off the face of the planet suddenly." He was silent for a moment. "The description of the members matches fairly accurately to……Them."

"So….we have old villains with a mid-life crisis making a return?" Dauntless asked, confused, he remembered some of the news stories from back in the day, but they had to be exaggerated because they were capes before the PRT days.

Looking around he clearly was out of the loop if the faces of his fellow heroes were anything to go by including Hannah's fist being so balled up that if she wasn't wearing gloves she would be bleeding from her palms.

Ethan's face was as white as a ghost and Jane was no better, needless to say their was fear the likes of which he had never seen in his fellow heroes before.

"You're joking…right? You think that it's them?" Hannah was tense now, leaning forward to look at Collin more directly.

"Am I missing something important here? Cause it feels like there's an obvious in-group thing here that's not shared with the rest of the class." Velocity voiced.

"Yes, I am also interested in who you think is responsible for shooting up a school. You clearly have a suspect in mind and I am rather curious about what makes you so nervous." Piggot spoke up, she hadn't seen him this nervous since…actually ever. Now since she worked in this branch. Collin was remarkably level headed and rarely if ever acted like he was walking on eggshells except for S-class threats.

Hannah was the first to speak up as she asked "Director….Piggot…what do you know of Operation Crack Down?" That got Piggot to really think as she heard of it from her fellow troopers back in the day when she was one even read the files as she replied "Only hear say and what's on the files…why do you ask?"

"Crackdown was the first major PRT operation in this area of the United States, back when the only offices were in the Major cities and the PRT was trying to prove itself. The location, codenamed 'endzone' was to be surrounded and the PRT, along with ATF, DEA, and local heroes would effectively lay siege to the facility, similarly to how government agencies would siege compounds in the past, before capes." Hannah was silent as she took a breath as memories seemed to flood her mind. "Well…the number of bases and outposts, along with resources were all underestimated to a degree that trying to maintain the siege was impossible." Hannah's head now hung low as she shakes slightly "The size of the opposition was also greatly underestimated. The PRT had brought the inaugural Wards out, serving as a PR move, we were kept back."

"I hadn't joined the PRT yet, I was still figuring out my own Tinker abilities, and sold my abilities as a combat thinker who was good with engineering. The Siege lasted a week and a half before the endzone was breached." Collin continued the story before he stopped taking a breath as he continued. "Reconnaissance on the area was shoddy. We got attacked from behind from other areas that were believed to be abandoned." He was silent then as he stared off into nothing from behind his helmet.

"You got ambushed?" Velocity questioned.

Hannah slammed her fist into the table "It was a fucking disaster! We should have known it wouldn't be simple." Now her face was in both her hands as she tried to regain control over her emotions.

"It was a fucking mess. They coordinated through underground tunnels with runners and old intercoms we thought were inoperable. Everything about it was a mess." Was all Armsmaster explained.

Ethan with no joking tone he is usually known for spoke up finally "They were routed and retreated…the first big operation the PRT ever conducted and it was a failure of epic proportions. Blame got shifted, it was led by the ATF and DEA, they also were the ones that suffered the most. The PRT got off because they were inexperienced and were improperly used by people who didn't know how to use Parahumans."

Everyone looked at him as Ethan leaned back in his chair. "I was about 18 back then, I kept track of the news."

Piggot who had been silent listening to all this asked "If it is who you say it is."

Ethan added quickly "Which hope to god isn't."

Piggot finished her question "What are our chances if they decided to expand into our city?"

Everyone who had experience with the NRA was silent as Armsmaster finally broke that silence "If they are truly back…then in terms of our own ability it would be like Leningrad, surrounded, cut off from any help, and we would be fighting street to street battles, building to building, maybe the gangs would help, seeing them as a larger threat but it would be a hopeless fight if we tried to keep the city. It would be better and more tactically advantageous to just fall back to Boston, get the numbers we need and prepare for a war. They could be categorized as an S-class threat as a collective."

Hannah was out of her seat looking at Armsmaster with rage on her face "You're kidding? They didn't care about the unwritten rules before. They'd break everything down and build it back to help them. They absorbed gangs in the past, what do you think they'd do if they beat the Empire?"

Piggot ended the shouting match before it could begin, "We will consider their return to be a worse case scenario. Right now, what could we do to try and stop this before we have a full blown war in my city?"

"We should investigate their old base. Starting there, I'll see if I can build or find the profiles for the suspected capes who were a part of the organization. We should increase our readiness as well, and…attempt to contact other nearby branches for what may become a large-scale conflict." Armsmaster explained.

Piggot looked around before she gave a firm nod of agreement "Very well Armsmaster. Carry out your investigation and bring me everything, till then you're all dismissed." Standing up from the end of the conference table she started to leave as everyone else did with Ethan moving a little faster then the others.

Away from their offices which caught his Wife's attention who silently followed her husband who was cutting through corridors, hallways, even taking the stairs down to the garage where she found him near their civilian car with his mask off and phone in hand as he paced slightly "Come on, come on, come on, come on, pick up. Pick up."

Chapter Text

In the darkness two PRT troopers crawled to the lip of a hill that gave any observer a full overview of the area below, the place for which these two troopers were looking down at? Nuka World.

Coming to the lip of the hill as the two stayed low so as not to be spotted they each pulled out a pair of high powered binos with night vision as they began to look over the park, or at least Nuka-USA, scanning the area.

"I'm spotting movement near the fountain." One spoke.

"I see them. Can't positively ID them." The other responded.

The pair continued to scan, trying to see if there was any more movement in the park.

"Got something, up on the fake mountain, patio area." The first scout called out.

The other trained their sight on the patio, not quite sure what he was supposed to see. The patio looked empty, the old outdoor bar and grill according to some info they had dug up about the layout of Nuka World.

"Can't make it out clearly…but i see-" He was cut off as before them each part of the park began to come back one by one. The lights shine bright in the night like a shining beacon in the night.

With more clarity than just what the night vision provided, life had returned to the park in the worst way they could imagine. They saw crowds wander in from the various entrances, black, grey and striped suits, hooded figures with spikes on their armor, then there were the crazies who wore brightly colored outfits. They gathered in the square before a set of spot lights came on, turning to illuminate the elevated Bar and Grill.

They watched as 3 people walked out, the leaders of the gangs, The Operator, The Alpha, and Nisha. It was clear they were addressing the gathered gang forces, what was being said was unknown, they certainly couldn't tell from this distance, but then a new figure was shown.

They were about the same height as the 3 bosses, they had on darker clothing, no visible armor except for the rather distinct helmet, similar to Nisha's but instead of blades, their side decorations were wings.

The Overboss had returned.

"Get a picture, we need to report this to PRT immediately. Hopefully Boston and New York can give reinforcements for this…if they are back, god help us all." A camera was pulled out, the lens zooming in and focusing on the Overboss who was looking out over the crowd, next to the gang leaders. The image captured the return of dark times.

— — — — —

Ethan was definitely not speeding towards his destination because the person he tried to call wasn't answering their phone which worried him as he darted through traffic even going as far as to honk the car's horn "Come on move it! Some people have places to be!" One hand on the wheel while the other held a cell phone as Ethan growled "GOD DAMN IT! Pick up!"

Finally arriving at the small home Ethan didn't even wait to turn the engine off as he rushed to the front door and began banging on the door "You home !? Come on man, open up!"

The door opened and Ethan stepped inside, shutting the door quickly behind him.

"You said this shit was over." Ethan spat out accusingly at the man across from him.

"We thought it was. I certainly did. She certainly did, we were out. The only reason we hired you was to make the wreck convincing."

"They sure seem to be back now! I don't know what I'm supposed to do. You said that once you were gone, they'd be gone for good." Ethan shouted.

The man rounded towards Ethan "AND THEY PULLED US BACK IN ETHAN! Or should I say Madcap. Because like it or not you're in this as much as we all like to be out because Mags and Nisha decided to involve my daughter!"

Ethan was silent as he looked at the man in shock before saying "No…no fucking way they knew about the kid Danny…we did our best to keep that a secret from them."

Danny sighs as he sits down in a dining room chair "Oh believe me I thought so too…but that's why they're here Ethan. They're here for her."

Ethan became silent as he leaned his back against the wall and all but groaned "Fuck." Before raising his voice "FUCK! Thats just great, oh thats just fucking perfect." Which got Danny to give a soft nod as Ethan collected himself and decided to ask "What's the plan?"

Danny stood up from his seat as he walked to a duffle bag "Arm up, recon, hope the old routes are still safe and if all goes right. Sneak in and get Taylor out before any of them wise up to what's going on and bug out. Maybe Canada, mid-west, hell even Alaska to try and get as many miles between us and them as possible."

"What do I tell my wife Danny?" Ethan asked only for a new voice to speak up from a now slamming door.

"Oooooh I don't know maybe-" SLAM! "Fucking everything from the start." Standing there with her arms crossed was a very crossed Jane, aka Battery, who was a mixture of confused, angry, and slightly betrayed at the fact her husband kept secrets from her.

— — — — —

1990

Alexandria came in swinging, she wanted to bring down the leader of this villainous power house. The Protectorate Team, we're facing off against the leaders, and it was becoming clear that things were not going as planned.

Alexandria had to block the hunk of sharpened metal that the Overboss called a weapon. The 50 pound metal monstrosity slammed into Alexandria's forearms, stopping it. Before the black clad hero could launch a counter, a powerful kick to her chest pushed her back into a wall, and knocked the air out of her chest.

'Seems like the reports are accurate, she is a monstrous brute.' Alexandria internally noted, before she glanced at the other fights occurring.

They had 2 years to know how to fight with each other, but these people didn't act like a team.

Hero was air born, trying to fire his sonic weapons down, before he had a man jump on his back with a bat, using it to try and strangle the tinker. The Brute of the man having used whatever was around him, from a crowbar to a sledge hammer to fight the unique technology built to aid Hero in his fight.

Legend was in a fire-laser fight with the Operator, they moved from cover to cover, avoiding each blast. She was also throwing grenades, some having smoke, some exploding, others being flashbangs.

Eidolon had made himself a brute, with a tracking thinker, and a striker ability that let him create simple weapons from whatever he touches. Nisha was fighting him, using acrobatics and speed against the Powerful hero; she had made several slices, cutting into Eidolon's suit.

Alexandria grabbed onto Overboss's arms, planning to break Ulnas and Radi to disable her and help the others. Overboss smirked, spreading her arms apart and driving her head forward. Helmet met visor, the metal helmet plate cracking Alexandria's visor. Alexandria stumbled back, releasing her grip on the Overboss. The next strike threw her to the ground. A third to her stomach had her coughing as she was dazed, back arched as she held herself up on her hands and knees.

"Poor little Alex. You can't beat me." The Overboss taunted, their arms spread out wide as they started to slowly circle around the form of Alexandria.

"You're a brute, a brick, but you know what bricks are?" The Overboss grabbed Alexandria by her hair, "They are breakable." Alexandria was picked up.

"And I certainly can shatter a brick." Overboss shouted, throwing Alexandria against a building, repeatedly smashing her fists into her body, denting the wall with each repeated strike.

Alexandria rolled on the ground. The Overboss towered over her, gripping her cleaver of a weapon. Lifting the weapon with disturbing ease, she leveled it to Alexandria's neck.

"You claim that you fight for justice? What is justice other than authority enforced on others? I do not bow to the authority you serve. I make my own justice, one where it is the strong who rule." The Overboss began to monologue as she tilted her head to the side slightly.

"You call that justice…That's tyranny." Alexandria spat, attempting to throw a punch, only for her fist to be caught and arm twisted causing the hero to scream slightly in pain.

"Tyranny are those who rule and repress. I am liberating them. You think you are powerful, you are just a girl playing pretend. Hiding behind an image of righteousness. You have no strength. You have no power. I have the power here, and I think it's time you learn what that means." The Overboss's hand slammed into Alexandria's neck, then slammed their helmet into her face again, leaving the hero's vision blurry.

The Overboss then lifted Alexandria up over her head, grabbing the waist and with a devious grin visible behind the mask slammed Alexandria's back down onto her knee with such force, cracking was heard. Alexandria screamed as she was bent backwards, Alexandria the nearly forgotten sensation of pain, an agonizing feeling that burned as she felt the hem of her skirt touch her head with how far she was bent.

Alexandria rolled on the ground. The Overboss towered over her, gripping her cleaver of a weapon.

"Is that all you are? A tough little girl? I should slap a bomb collar on you, have you locked up and make you my little bed warmer." The Overboss purred as she looked down, placing a boot on the Protectorate Brute's head.

Eidolon glanced over, preparing to switch targets, before Nisha jumped down onto the cloaked hero, pulling his hood down, then leapt off of him. Eidolon disregarded the striker power, he was changing it for something else.

Nisha got back, keeping a distance and hiding in the surroundings. As Eidolon prepared a pyrokinetic blaster ability, he was suddenly caught off guard by Hero flying at him with a mad man on his back. The pair of heroes slammed into each other, and the man rolled away from the collision with ease.

"Ha. What's good about tech if it breaks apart with a few hits?" Alpha smirked, holding the broken bat he used to break Hero's flight systems on his suit.

Legend turned away from another explosion, before he peppered the area with laser blasts. Nisha, Alpha and Overboss. The operator then took her chance, sending a burst of automatic fire into Legend's back, the shots doing minor damage in his breaker state. He turned and created a blinding flash of light, before he grabbed Alexandria, Hero and Eidolon, carrying them away from the fight as quickly as he could.

— — — — —

Taylor woke with a startled gasp as she laid a hand on her face trying to control her breath as she attempted to regain her composure from the weird dream or possibly vision? Taylor didn't know.

Looking around, the woman who delusionally believes herself to be her god mother was at a table, one that had a computer sitting on it now.

"What are you doing?" Taylor demanded, trying to sound braver than she was.

"Just setting up this old thing, no wifi, the ethernet cord's dead, but your mother did keep some stuff on the hard drive." Mags stated, as the old crt monitor came to life.

She looked at a small book, and typed in the info to log in, before stepping away, leaning on the counter a short distance from the computer.

Taylor hesitantly walked over, sitting down in front of the computer, and finding the file folder.

"Check documents, I doubt you want to see what your mother wore back then." Mags spoke up.

Taylor hesitantly moved the mouse away from pictures, and over the documents folder. Opening the section, there were more folders.

Tributary/raid income
Gang expenses
List of Targets and Info
Capes and info
Park info
Personal logs (If I find someone reading this, I WILL throw you off the edge!!!!)

Taylor looked at the personal ones but was hesitant to read them and before she could even think to click on them the door opened causing her to jump slightly as the other, more crazed, woman who also claimed to be her god mother came strutting in "Ah your awake." She called out towards Taylor.

Taylor didn't respond…she just looked at the two women, expecting the other member of the crazy trio to show up. Taylor debated if she would rather deal with this trio…or the winslow trio at this point. Both made her life hell, just in very different ways.

"I thought I'd let her read her mother's journal." Mags stated.

"How nice of you. The old areas are getting cleaned up. The old walk way collapsed, so we got a few people building that up in Fizztop's back stage." Nisha commented.

Taylor looked back to the monitor as the two women talked to each other. She clicked on the Personal Log file, the computer loaded it slowly, each entry was listed by date.

Taylor clicked the last one, dated about half a year before she was born.

"Things seemed to have changed. Certainly I wasn't expecting all of this to happen, never thought about quitting this life, but…I certainly have found something that I don't want to share with others. As much as I trust them with my life, there are those here and abroad who, if they found out about this, would certainly take advantage of it to hurt me. I've been talking with Gage and he agreed.

The Protectorate is also getting pretty big, a lot more heroes around, indies as well. Some Villain groups are moving in, The Teeth got this new crazy, the Butcher. The Empire is also getting aggressive after I strangled the Iron Bitch herself. Making too many enemies and control starting to slip more than I'm comfortable with. The gangs are getting too comfortable, losing 2 outposts in a week in Boston and Bay. Other posts are getting probed more for attacks. Nish thinks the others are losing their edge. Reminds me of the early days of our expansion. They were whining about being too soft, now I'm worried they have gotten fat on their success.

Hey, if you're reading this Nisha, Mags or Mason, I've left. I'm getting out while we still can. Doubt we could succeed in a second siege. We may be tough, but an army of capes will still beat out people in a direct conflict. You won't find me or Gage. I think it's time I move on, hope you can find your own luck.

Mags, good luck with that loud mouth punk, I'm leaving while we are ahead, I invested and got my pay out.

Nisha, come after me and they will never find the body, just like you always told your people

Mason, I will skin you alive and make you into a coat if you come after me.

Sincerely
your Overboss
Annabell Colter

Taylor finished reading the document.

"I don't know anyone named Annabell Colter." Taylor voiced.

"She changed her name." Nisha pointed out, "But you are a damn near perfect match of her and our old Porter Gage. You certainly got the hair, and the legs of the Boss."

Mags smiled slightly as she pointed out "And your mothers eyes and your fathers nose ironically." She let out a soft chuckle.

Taylor just sat there as she decided to go to the photos fold which thankfully were separated into 'personal' and 'happy days' which she clicked on, scrolling through she found what she was looking for which shocked her to the very core as she stared at the photo of her mom and dad.

Younger, most certainly, but, and she never saw them quite so…muscular. Her dad with a mohawk was also shocking to see. Her dad was wearing a harness/cage mixture with a yellow metal eyepatch. He had a rough looking AK rifle on his shoulder, clean shaven, no glasses and stuck his tongue out while holding up the "devil's fork" hand sign. Next to him was her mom, the metal helmet lifted slightly to show her face, as she flipped off the camera, she had what looked like welded and bolted together metal plates that made a chest piece. She had chains wrapped around her arm. Her hair was also pretty long, with a sword sized cleaver resting on her shoulder.

Under them were the 3 crazies who claimed to be her god parents.

Mags had shorter hair, and wore a suit with no armor, she also had sunglasses on that hid her eyes. Nisha had the metal plate over her face, no blades on the sides, and a small hole for her eye. Then there was Mason, who had similar face paint, but no facial hair, his hair still shaved on the sides of his head and hair a bit messier and longer on top.

"There she is. Your mother was the looker in her day." Nisha spoke fondly as she gazed at the photo.

"Back before we controlled the underworld of the area around the park. The days where Parahumans kept themselves hidden mostly." Mags mused with a smile.

"Back when that woman castrated 3 pack members for trying to cop a feel at her." Mason announced as he assumed they were talking about the early days.

Taylor listened to all of this and did what anyone in her place would do. Go into full five o'clock denial "No…no thats not mom…she was a teacher she never was…that!." She trailed off as logic and denial battled for control within her brain.

"Huh, I mean I remember when she decided to take a bunch of people captive and have them do Macbeth and other Shakespear plays." Mags stated.

"She lectured my people about the symbolism of Edger Allen Poe and the Telltale Heart." Nisha chuckled.

"She certainly argued about Tarzan to the pack. Especially when we encountered the wildman." Mason groaned.

"She was certainly educating idiots about literature. I could see her faking it into getting a teaching job." Mags knew all too well.

"My dad worked at the docks. He managed the Dock Workers Association." Taylor countered.

"He managed the raid parties that struck harbors in Bar Harbor to New York. We stole so much shit that it wasn't even funny at times." Mags shook her head with a soft smile.

Taylor's mind began to spin as she tried to fight the truth with all her might until finally she did what any normal person would when faced with overwhelming emotional stress.

She fainted.

"Should we get a doctor? I heard the bay has some miracle healer." Mason's suggestion was the last thing Taylor heard as she passed out.

— — — — —

The Protectorate ENE team sat in the transport, they had left the Wards in the City, the Adults of New Wave were also present, they only left Miss Militia behind in the city, to look after the Wards. She almost looked terrified of going back to the Park. Assault and Battery were missing, only answering to quickly let the rest know that it was about their identities.

"Initial scouting reported nearly 300 raiders, but we just need to take down the 4 leaders. After they are taken out, the gangs will likely fall into infighting in order to try and replace the leaders." Armsmaster began the report.

"So what's the plan?" Carol questioned.

Armsmaster without his helmet looked at everyone with a stern expression "We hit'em hard, fast, and don't let them recover at all."

"Where's the main targets we are arresting?" Lady Photon questioned.

"The Ampletheater, the Parlor and the backstage area of Fizztop Mountain, the fake mountain that's in the middle of the area we are going to. The last area is the Grille, which is up on the mountain side." Armsmaster explained.

Velocity nodded "Alright a good plan so far, but are we getting any backup?"

Armsmaster looked towards Robin, Velocity, as he answered "Boston and New York sent each a platoon of regular troopers to back us up on this assault."

Velocity then added onto his question "Air support?"

Armsmaster answered "Couple of blackhawks and three drones to provide aerial recon. Along with the fliers from New York and Boston."

The ride was silent as they got closer to their destination as they got within eight hundred yards of the park everyone started to hear a sound which caused them to look around as Carol asked "The hell is that?"

But for both Robin and Collin they both knew the sound all too well as the faint whistling became louder which caused both to shout "DISMOUNT NOW! GET OUT NOW!" Yelled Armsmaster while Velocity added "INCOMING ARTY!"

The convoy stopped as the lead vehicle erupted into the air as the area around them began to erupt into balls of fire, metal, and earth that flew into the air as the advancing PRT forces began to scatter for cover while far away on top a wall was Mags looking out with a pair of binos grinning like a mad woman as felt in her element.

"Piggot…you magnificent bitch I READ YOUR BOOK!!!" She shouted as she continued to watch the bombardment.

A pair of rockets streamed through the sky as they locked onto the Drones, destroying the two that were over the park. The Raiders were expecting an early attack. Mags however had prepared for this since the Boss left.

So she was going to take the initiative in the attack. Mags was curious though, would that bastard show his face here?

Chapter Text

(A/N: I only chose the song at the end cause It’s been stuck in my head cause youtube is bringing hamilton animatics back on my for your page)

It was all a blur, muffled ringing of explosions and gunfire mixed with the screams of the dying or those still fighting. 

It was like an unearthly orchestra, a microbubble of warfare. 

All of it conducted by death himself. 

Yet when the feeling of consciousness came to those who were lucky, or unlucky, to have survived the bombardment they would find their situation to have been better off among the dead. 

Because Armsmaster, Dauntless, Velocity, Manpower, Flashbang, Brandish and half a dozen other capes were in chains, so were nearly 100 PRT troopers. They had fallen into an ambush and had been captured. On the most part, their gear was taken, their masks were replaced with burlap sacks that had a funky smell to them. The Raiders cheered as they were paraded through Nuka Town USA, graffiti, destruction and disrepair made it clear that this place was run down. Trash laid in piles on the sides of the road, until they reached a large drained fountain. 

“What’s the plan here?” Dauntless questioned, looking at what he thought was Armsmaster.

“I don’t know. Let’s just hope the Overboss is feeling merciful.” Armsmaster’s voice had clear signs of fear, it trembled, it lacked his normal confidence.

Armsmaster had faced the Overboss once before, and he nearly lost an arm to the villain, his weapons broke under her force. 

It was only theorized what her power was, maybe she was an absolute brute, she may have been a trump that sucked the strength out from those around her and empowered herself, the PRT had no clue, but they knew of her brutality, she crippled 250 federal agents and sent them to DC in shipping containers as a warning against trying to take them on.

The song that played on the sound system stopped, no longer playing the overly joyous melody, and was replaced by someone speaking.

“Oh wow, this thing still works. Well HELLO Raiders! I am Red Eye, your ever faithful DJ for your twisted fuckers who I call family. Today we have a special prize for us all to see and share. Here we have a prize pool graciously beaten, bruised and beaten down, Parahuman Response Team and Protectorate forces, also New Wave, smile for the camera, I heard they are getting the poles out in the Parlor for the blondes to dance on.” A new voice came over the sound system.

Carol and Sarah both glared at the audience who cheered and whistled at that comment. Lady Photon was actually chained to two other people, both of which had explosives that were connected to her. If she tried to fly away, the pins would be pulled and they’d blow up. 

“Now everybody. Take a look up on high! Here’s the woman of the Hour! The Woman who made us feared, back in flesh and blood. The OVERBOSS and the Gang leaders!!!

Cheers rang out all around them, as the leaders stood on the Bar and Grill patio. 

“Hello, heroes. I’m glad you came to help show that we are back. It makes this message so much more powerful. We are glad to see that you still have that soft belly from the first siege.” The voice of the Operator came through first.

“It’s only a shame. I was hoping to meet that little Ward girl. I wonder what she thought of the bouquet I gave them. It was oh so hard to arrange and get close to them. I missed the chance to record their screams to fall asleep too. I guess I have my chance once more.” The cool, sadistic voice of Nisha flowed.

“Looks like they neutered them. Shame, I heard so much about them over the years in hiding. I was hoping to see what a hero could do after we left. Guess they are even softer. My people could probably find a few animals in their midst, we just have to draw out their wild side. The Pit hungers!” The Alpha screamed.

Cheers rang out all around. The captives feared what would come of them, they were likely to be enslaved, forced to work, likely with explosive control methods used. Armsmaster only looked up, waiting for the Overboss to speak and sentence them to their fates.

Her mask looking towards the captured heroes, tilting her head as if studying them until the Overboss’s gaze turned behind them as the cheering crowds seemed to begin to hush, like a wave returning back into the sea, all sound seemed to grow silent as all gazes turned towards something behind them. 

Until finally a new sound filled the area. The clicking, clacking sounds of boots. 

Boots. 

Boots. 

Boots Marching towards them.  

“Who is this? Who could it be? Do we have a special guest? No seriously, I can’t tell from here, who the fuck is it?” Red Eye demanded, confused as he came back on the sound system as Armsmaster was able to tilt his head ever so slightly as the sounds of Boots came closer and closer as before him the gathered raiders began to part like the red sea as a figure started to get closer but obscured by shadow created from the lights above, yet the sound of Boots was heard clear as the night is black. 

“What the fuck is this shit? Making a spectacle because you caught some people? I looked out there, I didn’t see one fucking Raider, I don’t even see a fucking injury. I thought you were killers, berserkers, fucking soldiers who’d wade out their and shoot a bastard. What do I see here now? A bunch of Fucking Cowards cheering that they hid behind their walls and just shot at people like a bunch of pussies.” A man announced, insulting the army of raiders around him as if he was untouchable.

Velocity in a hushed voice towards Armsmaster asked “The hell is this guy?” 

Armsmaster couldn’t quite see. From what he could tell, it was a man with body armor and a shotgun. Next to him however, Armsmaster could see Assault…or rather Ethan wearing his old costume of Mad Cap. 

“I don’t know.” Armsmaster stated, he didn’t recognize the guy Assault was following.

“Is this your great return? Hold up behind some walls? And you call yourselves raiders.” His voice was level but the grip on his boomstick was tight as he made eye contact with the overboss and Armsmaster could have sworn he saw a flash of something in the man's eyes.

“Well. If it isn’t the one who walked out on us.” Nisha spoke, as the Overboss was led away from the edge only for the roar of a shotgun and a piece of a wall to flying via OO buckshot as Nisha slowly turns her head back towards the man who just one arm racks the pump and with swift motion brings the stock back into his shoulder as he has the barrel aimed at her. 

“Now, Ma-ma don’t like it when people walk away without even a goodbye.” His voice playful but with a deadly edge as he growls out “Now you know why I'm here and I ain't leavin till I have what I am here for…even if I have to wade a sea of blood to get it.” 

The gang bosses left, leaving a tense stand off. They leaders likely used the tunnels to sneak around in the underground of the park.

There was a slight silence before the clicking of a hammer was heard behind the man's head as Mags had a Forty-Four Auto to the man's head who in turn got a glock to her head via Madcap before the Alpha came up with his rifle only for Mad cap to produce a M9 in his other hand pointing at the Alphas head creating a tense standoff. 

The man's gaze never left Nisha as he simply spoke “Mags.” 

Mag chuckles “Hey there Gage.” Her gaze turned towards Ethan as she growled out “Bastard.” 

Ethan blew a kiss as he greeted her back “Hey Magpie.” 

“Shitbag.” The man addresses the Alpha who in return growls out “Coward.” 

Ethan's head turned around as he couldn’t help but laugh “Well, looks like we got ourselves a good ole fashion Mexican standoff.” 

“Doesn’t really work if there are more people than guns.” Nisha made her presence known, a knife’s points pressed against the body armor that Gage now wore, rather than the cage he had in the past.

The man now named Gage looked at Nisha dead in the area where her eyes would be “We all still die, so my question to you.” Nisha could feel the barrel of the boomstick where her heart would be on her chest. “You ready? Cause I sure as hell am.” 

There was a tense silence as all sides looked at each other, fingers twitching on the triggers before a voice rang out throughout the whole area “STOP!” Which caused everyone to turn their gaze back to the front as the Overboss stepped down from the stage with two Operators acting as escort. 

“Since I’m the one in charge here. Take them both up there!” Armsmaster heard the shout, it was different from his memory, it sounded too young.

“It’s not the Overboss.” Armsmaster whispered to Velocity.

“Now hold up.” Alpha began to protest.

“No! I’m your leader. So unless you want me to show you why I am THE BOSS around here, I won’t be questioned, got that shitstain?” The ‘Overboss’ shouted at Alpha.

“What about them?” Nisha pointed her free hand towards the captives in the dried fountain.

“Put them in a place with one way in and out. The bumper car building.” The ‘Overboss’ commanded, “Just make sure they can’t escape. Or else I will find someone competent to do a job you can.” That got Nisha to nod before she whistled as some of her people started pushing the heroes towards the bumper car arena all while Armsmaster saw the ‘Overboss’ turn around and began walking away with the five people following behind instead of three towards the Fizztop mountain. 

— — — — —

Miss Militia held her chest. She was having something she hadn’t had in years. A panic attack. She hadn’t had one in years…not since the siege, and the Disciples playing their twisted games of psychological warfare on her. She remembered how they had dummy grenades that they somehow sent to them directly.

Hannah only heard the cries of Ambush, the screams of terror as the force meant to take down the gangs before they dig in were set up. Now here she was, hyperventilating, barely able to stand, barely able to even see clearly as old fears showed up once more. What was she to do now? 

She needed to make a few calls, Maybe Chevalier, maybe Mouse Protector, Dragon? The Triumvirate? What was she to do? Try and convince Piggot to call an endbringer truce in the hope that the Villains would work with them to take down the Nuka World Gangs?

Hannah collapsed, passing out. She woke up to find Vista shaking her, with the other Wards around her. Battery was also present.

“MM, glad you’re ok.” Triumph stated, offering a hand to Miss Militia.

“I…I….I’m fine. Have we gotten any news?” Hannah sat up, looking up at the Wards.

“Kind of.” Dennis stated, sounding nervous.

“What do you mean?” Hannah focused on Clock Blocker.

“It’s related to the Overboss. It turns out, she has been in Brockton Bay since she disappeared.” Battery began.

Hannah felt that familiar rush of terror, fear, and darkness eveloped her vision, having a second panic attack in a short timespan.

— — — — —

-1995-

At the Fizztop bar and Grill, the leaders of the gangs were celebrating a bit of news with drinks. It was getting late into the night, a small barrel fire illuminating the patio area. Bottles were strewn about, ranging from expensive vodka and Whiskeys to Champagne that sat in buckets of melted ice. Gage made sure to make the drinks extra special, after all, it was his last night here, even if they didn’t know.

“I may not Live to see our glory!” Mags began a drunk song as they celebrated the news

“I may not live to see our Glory!!!!” Mason and Nisha related, holding onto Gage as they held onto each other

“But I’ve seen Wonders great and small.” Mags teased and leaned her head on Gage’s shoulder

“I’ve seen wonders great and small!” The others echoed

“Cause if the Tomcat can get married!” Mags poked Gage in the chest, still holding her bottle.

“If dear old Porter can get married.” Nisha and Mason stumbled, placing themselves on either side of Gage.

“There’s hope for our ass after all!” Mags sounded almost excited at that statement.

Nisha stumbled back, holding her champagne glass to the air.

“Raise a glass to freedom.”

“Something you’ll never see again!” Nisha and Mags teased, stepping away, leaving Mason hanging on Gage’s shoulder, “No matter what she tells you.” He almost howled.

“Lets have a-nother round tonight!” Nisha announced.

“Raise a glass to the 4 of us!” Mags stumbled into Gage and smiled, looking at him with a drunken grin.

“To the newly not POOR OF US!” Mason shouted as he nearly fell over.

“We’ll tell the story of tonight!” Nisha announced.

“Lets have another round.” Mags pushed.

Gage smiled as he looked at the 3. If only they knew who it was he was marrying. It had also helped that the certain accounts had been transferred through the Numbersman, so it was near untraceable where the money had been sent to, and who was paid off.

Chapter Text

Mags, Nisha and Mason all gathered in the Overboss’s chambers. Taylor was seated on the throne there, with her Father and a villain also present. That was the base of the mountain of questions she had at the moment. Other questions such as “why did they call you gage?” “Why do you have a villain with you?” “Why was she kidnapped by a group of crazies who decided she was their new boss?” “Why was there a picture of mom holding a massive fucking sword” and the most important question to Taylor at this exact moment was “WHAT THE FUCK WAS GOING ON!?!?”

Looking at the gathering, Taylor reached up and took off the stupid helmet, she could barely see with that thing on with the little pin holes that were in it. Taylor got up and walked over to her dad, taking off the eye patch.

“I have…a lot of questions.” Taylor stated.

“We should be here so that we know the honest answer is given.” Mags stated.

“No. Leave, stay on the patio.” Taylor stated.

The 3 gang bosses looked at Taylor, seeing her glare, before walking out, leaving her alone with her father, and the villain.

“Well, it seems like that is genetic.” The villain stated, shocked.

“Cap, shut the fuck up.” Danny groaned, before he looked down at Taylor.

As the door clicked shut, Taylor hugged her father, and began to cry.

“I was so scared. I thought I was going to die so many times. Those crazy bastards tried to tell me that they were my god parents, that mom was a super villain and that I was going to take her place as their proverbial queen. I…I don’t know what to do. When I saw the PRT, I realized how dangerous they all are, but this is like that time the Empire and ABB fought! I don’t know what to do.” Taylor cried into her father’s arms.

Danny held Taylor the best he could with the armor he had on. “I’ll explain everything….It’s just …a bit complicated.” Danny said, worried.

The villain looked at the door, “Sorry to break up this touching family moment, but I have a growing laundry list of issues that I would like resolved, including the continued safety of my own Job, because I feel like my wife is going to kill me if I do not bring home the people you just placed in a fighting arena, alive.” the villain stated.

“Cap, zip it.” Danny harshly stated.

Taylor just cried in her dad’s arms for a few minutes, slowly regaining her composure, before looking at her dad.

“Why did they call you Gage?” Taylor asked.

Danny sighed, he really wished this day would never have come, but here he was.

“That….was my name, kind of. You mother and I were never really honest about our past. Look…it’s complicated is like calling the hobbit a quick read. You mom and I were in this gang a long while back, we left before you were born, and wanted to keep you away from this place. Somehow they found you, and they decided to use you to find me and your mother.” Danny stated, before he looked at the door.

Mad Cap was pacing, looking at it.

“Can’t we go from another entrance or exit?” Mad Cap asked.

“Going out the back way takes us through the Disciples’ hide out. I doubt they have had time to build up the ramps.” Danny explained

“Shit. Ummmm, Think the Gauntlet is still traversable? You lead the way and we get everyone out that way?” Mad Cap suggested.

“Doubt it, the tunnels were sketchy before they went unmaintained for over a decade. Even if we got there, I doubt the old train runs.” Danny answered.

“Can’t I just say I’m leaving?” Taylor spoke up.

“Not likely. They would insist on turning it into a raid to show they are still powerful. Even if you declare you’re letting the captured go, they would want some show of strength. Likely unmasking a few capes, maybe even branding. They will want the country to know that they are back, and being led by the ruthless Overboss again.” Danny stated.

Taylor looked at her father and the villain.

“Who’s that anyways? Don’t tell me it’s Alan or someone from the association.” Taylor shook her head.

“Madcap, at your service. I got my ass pulled out of retirement because of you.” he smiled. Something about his…demnor was familiar, Taylor couldn’t place it really though,

Taylor looked at the helmet, before she picked it up.

“If they want to announce themselves. We might as well use it to our advantage. I think…I can come up with something to make them let the heroes get out with just a bruised ego, and…maybe a bad reputation.” Taylor stated.

— — — — —

1994, Brockton Bay

Collin Wallace, known as the vigilante; Master of Arms, held his latest creation, an axe that was able to heat the edge to the point it was glowing. He was still getting used to the knowledge that swarmed his mind. Ideas for powered armor, systems, weapons, tools, programs. How to best optimize his work, his training for the best results. So many things.

He lowered the face shield, then secured it so it wouldn’t lift up by chance and expose his identity, though the face gaiter would need to be lowered too. He checked the body armor he made, it was basic, meant to protect against the average person with a blade or club. Exiting the back alleyway, He strode out. Using the shaft of his axe to double as a walking stick, and a mild intimidation factor. The Metal clack with each adding to some intimidation factor. He was going to attack the outpost that was controlled by the Pack.

As he walked out, spotting the banner of the Pack flying from the flag post. He got close, lifting his axe to stop the taps. He ran at the door, slamming his boot into the door and throwing it open. He tossed a set of smoke grenades he modified to disperse the most smoke possible. Collin rushed in, extending the barbs on the end of the staff, activating the taser and zapping the first Pack member. Collin struck the next with the flat of the blade, having them tumble back as he slammed it into their face.

The smoke started to dissipate quickly. Collin moved to get in a covered position, before he heard the clicking of heels.

“Oh my. What do we have here? A little vigilante playing hero? My, my. I am impressed.” A woman stated.

Collin peaked around the corner, seeing who it was, and felt his heart sink. It was the Overboss. She was standing with her blade over her shoulder.

“Oh, isn’t it the Master at Arms. I would be impressed. Deciding to attack us while I am here. Thinking you can do something little baby Alex can’t? I hope you are a strong one, I’ve been looking for a durable play mate.” She stated, one handing the massive hunk of sharpened metal and running at Collin. He got back just in time for the blade to miss him as it stabbed through 4 layers of wood. The Overboss ripped the blade out of the wall and smiled at him, as she strode forward. Collin attempted to swing down, using the weight of his axe to counter her strength. She caught the strike with her own blade, before throwing both weapons aside and she cracked her knuckles, grinning.

“Run little man, run while you can.” She taunted.

Collin used a flashbang, tossing it directly at the Overboss who caught it. Looking at it for a second, it exploded and Collin ran. He had prepared himself for a few gang members, not one of the more infamous villains in this half of the country. Getting out, he didn’t know if she would give chase. The answer was given as his axe slammed into the ground a few feet to his left and a bit ahead of him.

“Drat. I overshot it.” The Overboss taunted.

Collin kept moving. He knew the axe was busted, mostly by the sparks the head and shaft were releasing in bursts. Turning the corner, Collin hoped that he could lose the gang queen. The Raider-Gangs openly flaunted their power, arguably worse than the Teeth or the Empire, they acted in the open, the other heroic capes in the city struggled to agree on what they should even do with them.

Collin held his breath, waiting and hoping the Queen didn’t try to pursue him.

What he heard instead, were imitation howls. She had sicked the Pack to try and hunt him down instead. The crazies, he could deal with. Mostly. He just lacked a weapon. . . This would be a painful night to recover from. He could just tell.

Collin grabbed what he could, an old metal pipe, it was decently length, good thickness so he could use it like a quarterstaff. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone for a large axe. Maybe something more generally versatile, that did seem like a good idea.

As Collin prepared, he heard running steps, dragging of bats, pipes, and a few yips and hollers. The Pack were savage, they acted like animals, and they liked to make everything a spectacle if they could.

As the first one came around the corner, he leapt into action, using the pipe to slam into the man’s leg, throwing off his balance. Swinging the pipe around, he used this to throw the man to the ground. Turning, he saw one Pack member rushing with a bat covered in chains, the guy swung, the bat slamming into his shoulder, the armor mostly protecting from the chain, he didn’t feel anything break, so it was doing it’s job, but it hurt. Sliding the pipe through his hand, he jabbed into the chest of that member, before swinging up, knocking the weapon free of the raider’s hands. The pipe came back down and into the man’s shoulder, he fell to his knees. Collin followed this up by striking the man’s masked face with his knee, sending him on his back.

The third and fourth members rushed him, one carrying a machete, the other a sledge hammer with a cinder block on the end. The hammer man swung low, stumbling and slowing as he missed his initial strike. Before Collin could capitalize on this mistake, the other one came in, swinging his blade much faster. Collin caught the blade on the pipe, cutting into the pipe a decent bit. Spinning the pipe, the raider’s arm twisted, and with a snap, the machete, and pipe broke. Collin looked at the two halves and used them to beat the man. It felt awkward, he didn’t find this as efficient, he knew little when it came to duel baton fighting, so he just alternated his swings. The raider grabbed one of the pipes, gritting his teeth as he pulled it free and tried to use it to beat Collin. He got a few strikes, hitting his side, and forearm, but Collin was able to hit the man in the knee, making it bend sideways, then kicking the man in the groin.

The Hammer raider attacked again, he switched to using it like a battering ram, holding near the head, and not taking wide swings. Collin grabbed the block, getting an idea. The raider tried to pull back, Collin however used what he had on hand. That being the head. Grabbing the man’s collar, he pushed the head up, into the man’s face, dazing him, their grip on the weapon gone. Collin then delivered a right hook to the man’s face, throwing him to the ground as well.

Collin’s body ached, Panting, he looked up, hearing a slow clap.

“You got to be kidding me.” He shook his head.

“I’m impressed. You beat up some of the whelps. I think, just this once. I’ll give you a warning. Mess with me again. And you will find out what happens to fools in Nuka World.” The Overboss stated, the threat clear.

— — — — —

Present Day

Nuka-world

Cola-car arena

Carol Dallon couldn’t use her hands. She was placed in a unique armbar that forced her hands behind her back, nearly making her touch her own shoulder blades, before a sleeve was placed over her arms and hands. She had never had the chance to fight these gangs, she certainly knew the stories, she didn’t believe in the brutality.

They were trapped in a bumper car arena, with a few Raiders armed with assault rifles. The Troopers who were injured had basic treatment, which was to say, they had bullets pulled out and bandages wrapped around their legs. Capes had various methods used to keep them docile, mostly with bags over their heads and collars that Armsmaster described as having a remote trigger that would fire ‘a shotgun shell sized hole through your spine.’

The doors opened and more raiders came in.

“I hope you all are ready. The Overboss has come to give you lot a chance to chance to beg for your pathetic lives and walk out of here alive.” Came over the speaker system.

The door opened and The Overboss walked in, decked out in her armor. She scanned over her hostages, two raiders flanking her. Carol noted the other two, Gage, and…Mad Cap were standing by the door, Mason and Nisha flanking them, while Mags stood next to the Overboss. She pointed at Armsmaster.

The Raiders walked over, grabbing the ENE’s leader, and forcing him to kneel before the villainous Queen.

She leaned in close, as if to tell him something. He looked up at her, before he lowered his head to the ground. She placed her boot on his back, between his shoulder blades.

“I will only let this…transgression against me stand once. If you ever come here again. If any of your comrades come here again. They will not be given mercy. I will have them collared, enslaved, and broken. My gangs will ravage your cities, destroy those who stand in their way, and absorb those we have broken. This is not a warning. This is a promise. If your city wishes to go untouched, you shall offer tribute. Pay, and you can continue your lives, knowing that you have kept your homes safe for a time.” She dictated. Carol then noticed the cameras recording this.

“I will give those of you a choice. For your freedom, you will kneel, and be stepped upon. If you refuse, you will be kept a slave.” The Overboss laid out her terms.

Carol watched as the Oberboss removed her foot, and Armsmaster was dragged away. Troopers moved forward, kneeling and being stepped upon, some wincing being heard as she stepped on their backs.

“We should take the step. It’s for the good of our families.” Sarah whispered.

“You can’t be serious?! We are not putting ourselves at the mercy of the woman who is supposed to be placed in the Bird cage!” Carol whisper-shouted at her sister.

“And how do you plan on escaping? Fighting the entire park on your own?” Sarah demanded.

“I…I’ll think of something. But I am not going to degrade myself to a villain! Never again.” Carol’s anger was clear.

“I would rather be stepped on by a villain and see my daughters, than have them learn we were killed.” Mark stated, agreeing with his sister-in-law over his wife.

Dauntless, she thought, was stepped on next, a whine being heard, the Overboss seemed hesitant to step on the next person as Dauntless was dragged away. A few other capes were stepped on, before Sarah went over, lowering herself to her knees, her head to the floor. The Overboss hesitated, looking down at the hero.

She placed her heel on the back of Sarah, and moved on. Neil and Mark were stepped up, leaving Carol the last person on her team present to degrade herself for the villain’s entertainment.

Carol was grabbed by a pair of Raiders, and dragged towards the Overboss. Being pushed to her knees, the Overboss leaned in, “I’m doing this to save you. They’d want you dead, or humiliated. I want you alive.” The Overboss whispered into the hero’s ear, her voice was very young, and almost fearful and panicked, not as ruthless as she expected the villain to be.

“What will it be?” The Overboss’s tone was back to that showboat-y, domineering tone.

Brandish, with gritted teeth, lowered her head, and was stepped on.

“Gage, take your friend and deliver them to the city.” The Overboss stated.

“And what will you be doing?” Madcap demanded.

“I think I will need to make an announcement of my return properly.” The Overboss smiled.

The Overboss walked out of the arena, and Carol was carried away, before getting tossed into the back of a cargo truck with everyone else.

— — — — —

Mags looked at Madcap, seeing him glance her way.

“Well cappie. I should let you know, you owe me for what you did to me all those years ago.”

Madcap had the exact look she hoped to receive, terror and panic.