Within the Apple Ch15C

*****

The Rig, PRT ENE HQ

Legend was tired, not so much from the flight in from New York but more from the fact that he hadn’t had any downtime since the End Bringer Alarms had gone off, and before that he’d been coming up on the end of a triple due to the Elite getting into a Tiff with the Adepts over some territory in the Borough.

The Alarms going off put an end to that disagreement, for the moment at least. Both groups respected the Endbringer Truce, though neither had sent anyone to help this time around. Legend expected that they would be back at it within the week at least, but he’d take his breaks where he could get them for the moment.

His thoughts were entirely on the new… well, Parahuman might not be right, but it would have to do, he supposed. Magus.

Note to self, better try to keep the Adepts away from him for the moment, no telling what would happen if they met.

Magus’ file was interesting, if annoying, reading. All the more so because Legend was quite certain that it was completely and farcically wrong, though absolutely no fault of the Local PRT or Protectorate personnel.

“Legend, Sir.” The PRT Agent at the helipad greeted him professionally as he landed lightly there and nodded back. “Is something going down?”

“No, Agent, just something came that required a high level Protectorate response,” Legend said wearily, “Administrative, not combat.”

The Agent relaxed marginally, “I’ll call ahead and let the Director know you’re here.”

“Thank you,” Legend said, walking past and easily making his way off the pad, down the stairs, and into the Rig proper.

By the time he made it to the Administrative offices of the renovated oil rig, Director Piggot was waiting for him, with her Deputy Director, Armsmaster, and Miss Militia accompanying her.

“Director,” He nodded as he stepped into the office.

“Legend,” Piggot said evenly, her expression clearly showing that she was bracing for the worst. “What brings you to Brocton Bay?”

“In a word?” Legend asked, amused, “Magus.”

That set off a series of confused looks between the four even as Legend took the distraction as time to settle into a decent looking office chair and let some of the strain off his bones.

“Pardon,” Armsmaster said, “while I admit that Magus is a skilled tinker and apparently a very versatile parahuman, I’m confused as to what would attract the Triumvirate’s attention to him.”

“During the battle with the Simurgh, you of course know that he was able to block her song,” Legend said, getting nods from the two Parahuman’s present and looks of surprise from Director Piggot and Deputy Director Rennick. He directed his attention to them briefly, to explain, “Immediately upon arrival, Magus sensed her scream even though it wasn’t audible, and erected a barrier to hold it off. He covered the entire Brockton Bay detached force, protecting them and those closest from her scream.”

“Well,” Piggot said, “I suppose I can see why that would have gotten your attention.”

“Certainly, though that alone wouldn’t have precipitated a visit this soon,” Legend admitted. “We can expect almost a year before we need to deal with the Simurgh again, after all. No, it was his actions during the fight and some of what he said after that brings me here.”

“And what might those be?” Piggot asked.

“Some of it is classified,” Legend told her apologetically, “but during the fight he was able to essentially blind the Simurgh, leading to her lashing out randomly before she… seems to have suffered some sort of panic attack that left all of us, Magus included, both confused and concerned. We’re trying to figure out what scared the Simurgh so badly, which has vastly upped our priority.”

“The… Simurgh had a panic attack?” Rennick asked, like he wasn’t sure what any of the words coming from his mouth actually meant.

“That would indeed fit with her reactions,” Armsmaster admitted reluctantly, “though I can’t say I would ever have assumed that.”

“Nor did anyone else,” Legend said wearily. “Watchdog is still tearing through the footage, trying to figure out what she was looking at that last minute before she fled. Whatever it was, it seems to have freaked her out. Thinker analysis is always spotty when it comes to the Simurgh, or any Endbringer honestly, but Watchdog has a soft confirmation that she wasn’t faking.”

“Well, that’s not comforting,” Piggot said dryly. “And it has something to do with Magus? I can’t say that I’m happy about having someone who’s piqued the Simurgh’s interest in my city.”

“We’re not sure he has,” Legend shook his head, “No, he seems to have triggered the response, but she doesn’t seem to even know he exists… which is part of what interests us, obviously.”

“When you say she doesn’t seem to know he exists,” Armsmaster said slowly.

“Literally,” Legend confirmed. “His shield blanked his presence entirely as far as he, or we, can confirm. She knew something was there, but no idea who or what. That led to increasingly erratic attacks, aimed vaguely at the center of his field until he began setting up similar fields all around the battlefield…”

“Blinding her, effectively speaking,” Armsmaster said, head cocking slightly to one side. “Her actions shifted from erratic to… yes, I see. Panicked might be accurate. “Curious.”

“Intensely so,” Legend confirmed. “He confirmed that he would be here in your town, for some time at least. Apparently he has located an… Apprentice.”

That caused the others in the room to shift, their focus becoming puzzled.

“Apprentice?” Armsmaster asked, “Magus is training someone in… in what? His building method is focused primarily on the application of his blaster/shaker power set, or so he said?”

“He claims that he located someone with an identical power set,” Legend said, hands up. “I know how it sounds, but that’s what he claimed.”

“Fascinating,” Armsmaster admitted. “Unlikely, but if so…”

Legend nodded, “We’ll see. I don’t suppose any of you have a way to contact him?”

Miss Militia nodded, “We have his contact number, and PHO handle. He’s provided both to law enforcement, in case he was needed to testify.”

“Excellent,” Legend said, “That will make things easier. Could you ask him to come in, tell him that I’m here to chat.”

“Of course.”

“thank you.”

*****

Hebert’s Home

Taylor was reading up on some base magical theory, clearly more absorbed in it than Xander had ever been despite his love of the subject. Books and reading had always been more of a chore for him, and he’d leaned heavily on Hermione, Wednesday, and Willow to get him over that particular hump.

Thankfully, it didn’t seem like Taylor would need such a crutch… She was practically inhaling knowledge, which had its own risk of course, but at least he could be certain that she wouldn’t have issues with the theory.

He was chatting idly with Danny when a yelp from Taylor caused both of them to turn sharply.

“Taylor? What’s wrong?” Danny asked, getting to his feet.

“I think I got an alert?” She said, sounding confused as Xander made his way over and checked over her shoulder.

“Huh, yeah. Hang on,” He said, taking the device from her and opening up the message. “Ah, It’s from Miss Militia, seems like Legend is in town and wants to chat.”

“Legend.”

Xander nodded absently as he tapped out a reply.

“Wants to talk with you.”

“Ayup. Wanna come with?” Xander asked, looking down at her.

Taylor’s eyes widened, “What?”

“You having hearing problems?” Xander asked, amused.

“I might, cause it sounded like you asked if I wanted to come with you to meet LEGEND.”

“Good, your hearing checks out,” Xander said calmly as he sent the message and handed the device back. “Might be able to get you in to meet the wards.”

“I don’t have a costume!”

“Oh please,” Xander chuckled, “You really think I can’t rig something up for you? Try again.”

“But… but… it’s Legend!”

Xander looked over to Danny, who was honestly looking like he was trying to keep from laughing at his daughter’s reaction. “Is that a reason here?”

“No, not really,” He said.

“There you go.”

“Are… are we going to,” Taylor looked confused. “I mean, do we drive there? Take the bus?”

Xander laughed at her, “I could apparate us, but actually I was thinking about teaching you to use a broom.”

Taylor just stared in mute confusion, while Danny snorted.

“Her mother and I tried to teach her that and I can tell you, it’s a lost cause.”

“Dad!”

“I was talking about how to fly on one, actually.”

That changed the dynamic in the room in an instant, leaving Danny now uncomfortable and nervous while Taylor had a mix of excitement and confusion.

“Fly? On a broom? Really?”

*****