"There's been less activity from the other criminal groups," Jase mused quietly as he stared at a tablet. Niko sat at a desk in the same room, working on a new email scam. Aubrey was next to him, sipping an iced coffee. Ryder was sitting close to Jase, waiting for his next orders. Randy, Rayne, and Bryce, their other member, were off scoping out places they could easily steal from.
Juney, of course, floated upside-down above Jase, staring at the tablet with him.
"Guess Cold Snap getting hit like that really spooked 'em all," she mumbled. News articles were speculating as to what Team Chaos's next move would be, while praising the Legion for keeping the streets safe.
"I'm spooked too, Juney. I don't want any of you going out there unless necessary. Especially not in your Solstice costumes."
"Do you think the Legion was really responsible for Cold Snap?" Ryder asked, looking at Jase.
"No way," Niko replied instantly. "Not their style. Besides, they operate entirely on Miracles. This looks a little more scientific than that."
He motioned Ryder over to look at the screen as he pulled up a report on what the military had recovered.
"See? Looks more like a turret. Uses a pneumatic system to pop out an object, which acts like an old-fashioned bullet. They still haven't found the projectile though, so they have no idea what it was."
"Wouldn't a Miracle be necessary to make something like that? A Miracle like mine, except you can convert materials or something." Ryder frowned at the computer. "Wish I could make one, but I have no idea how it works. Might be too many pieces too. I'd need something to use as ammo."
"We are not making turrets," Jase said firmly. "As for Miracles, we'll leave it as an unknown. Either way, it makes no difference to us. Someone can make these things and isn't afraid to use them."
"Could the Legion have a new member?" Ryder asked, looking back at Jase.
"No. No new Legion members have been added to the roster, both for the inner and outer circles of it. Whoever this is, they aren't connected to the Legion."
"Can you be sure of that?" Ryder asked with a frown. "Couldn't the Legion be keeping them out of the public eye?"
"I'm sure," Jase replied coldly.
"Super sure," June added, twisting her body in midair to stare at Ryder. "Legion hasn't gotten any new members. They're dealing with a can't-trust-anybody type issue."
"Their stance on the military is slightly worrying," Jase said with a sigh. "I feel like I'm running two crime groups here."
"You aren't running the Legion, though," Ryder said with a laugh.
"He kind of is," June replied flatly.
"Wait, what?" Niko asked, whirling around to stare at Jase with wide eyes.
"Guess Juney let the secret out," Jase answered with a sigh. "I'm financing the Legion. That's why I've been trying harder with the finances. I have to pay those so-called heroes. In exchange, I know their exact patrol schedules and have access to all their communication."
"Why didn't you tell us before now? That is so cool!" Niko grinned like a kid who'd just pulled off a good prank.
"The more people know the more people can tell," June said. "But I guess we're moving away from the super stuff for now so it might be okay."
"And you told June?" Aubrey asked with a sigh.
"Juney's my right hand," Jase replied. "I don't hide anything from her anymore."
"Right. You dote on that little flake."
"She's plenty capable, Aubrey. In fact, now she's one of our most reliable cards. Assuming that turret isn't enchanted the way Knight Errant's sword is, it shouldn't be able to hurt her. And based on the design, it could be placed as an ambush anywhere."
Aubrey sighed.
"Okay. Sorry. I guess I can't exactly turn back time to heal someone's wound if they're already dead."
"It's okay. I am a flake," June said with a slight smile, swaying back and forth in midair as if she was in a hammock.
"She's also good at keeping secrets," Niko added. "The exception being just now of course."
"I figured I'd tell you guys sometime soon anyway," Jase said with a shrug. "It wasn't a big secret at this point."
"So is there a way we can leverage this more than we already are?" Ryder asked. "I mean, we basically have the Legion in our pockets, don't we?"
"Not trying it," Jase replied. "Achilles is paranoid enough at this point. I might be the only 'outsider' he trusts. He's also firm in his convictions. Trying to change his mind or mess with the Legion would probably just backfire on us. Best to keep an eye on them and plan around their movements. Speaking of, most of their patrol gaps are between midnight and six a.m. now. I'm thinking of making a move during those hours in the next week. We need money."
"As per usual," Niko said with a laugh. "Need to pay those Legion suckers, right Boss?"
"Exactly. So I'm going to get Ryder, Rayne and Juney to head off and do some work this week."
"Me?" Ryder asked, looking anxious.
"You'll just have to make a fuss. You and Juney will dress as opportunistic burglars while Rayne sneaks to the office and copies as many files as she can onto a memory stick. Then she'll leave with you, taking the memory stick with her."
"So we're just stealing the files off a computer?" Niko asked. "Not that I'm questioning you, but what will that do? Don't we need a lot more money than that?"
"Blackmail. I'm sending you to the home of a prominent city counselor. There's several scandal type whispers going around, and we're going to find the evidence and demand money from him. If he doesn't pay, we publish the files."
"What kind of scandal here?" Niko asked warily.
"The kind that deserves to be punished," June said coldly. "I've snuck around a bit and the rumors seem to be credible. We just need evidence."
"If he won't pay, then we offer the info to the highest bidder," Jase added. "That kind of money should keep us cruising for a while. Not that we'll rest on our laurels or anything."
"Never, Boss," Niko replied with a laugh. "I'll get that scam out and running tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you crazy power people do your thing."
"Right. Once Randy, Bryce and Rayne get back, we'll hear from them. Then we start really cooking," Jase said with a chuckle.
"Make that bastard wish he'd never been born," June muttered, rage shaking her voice.
"How have we not found them?" Angela asked, slamming a hand on her desk. "What do you think I keep you around for?"
Jacob winced as the unlucky computer geeks ran out of her office. The Angel was in a bad mood. That was never good.
Alas, he'd been summoned, so he knocked lightly on the door.
"Enter," Angela growled. Jacob pushed open the door and stepped in, making sure to close it behind him. Nothing pissed her off more than leaving the door open.
"You called?" he asked, trying to look unaffected.
"I did. In light of recent events, I've decided to focus on a certain little pain in my backside named Jase Rosales. Unfortunately, the idiots at the computers have no idea where he is. As such, I'll be laying a trap for them. And I need you to work on it."
"What about the kid?"
"He's useless. Maybe for brute force stuff, but not for something delicate like this. Instead, you'll be working with my newly acquired asset. She'll be far more reliable."
"What kind of trap are we setting then?"
"Leave the details to me. I just need you to show up and do your thing when I tell you to. We'll be moving later this week. Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Jacob waited for her to shoo him away, then stood from the chair and left.
When he was safely away from her, he sighed.
This sounded like it'd be a pain in the rear.
