TBoB - Book 3 - Chapter 37 - Busted

By the time I got back to the marsupial I was already exhausted. I hadn’t even directly participated in the fighting, I just dealt with the various entitled assholes around the city, which was worse.

“Any more emergencies while I was out?” I asked Hel as I dropped into a bridge chair.

“Nothing major,” she replied, looking me up and down. “How’s Mirage?”

“Alive, for now,” I groaned. “I managed to convince him to entrust the remaining council members to the Family’s custody. Although, I’m sure you already knew about that. I did punch him before I left, although his stupid hardlight shield prevented most of the damage.”

“You punched him…”

“He’s lucky that’s all I did,” I growled. “If you hadn’t injected me with that serum earlier I probably would have sicked Bob on him or something.”

Slowly, I turned towards my friend. “By the way… I haven’t forgotten you injected me with that fucking syringe. I really hate drugs, and typically avoid them at all costs, so normally I’d jump all over you for that. However, looking back, I acknowledge I was a little out of control, so you get a pass for now.”

Hel smirked. “Thanks?”

“You’re welcome. It won't happen again,” I muttered. I leaned forward, placed an arm on the console in front of me, and lay my head against it. “Since we’ve secured both the council building, and the council members, does that mean we’re done for the day?”

“Pretty much. We might want to track down the remaining council forces, and figure out what they’re up to. We’ve only taken the CEOs into custody, it’s not like we’ve crippled their companies, and they may have some loyal followers that may want to retaliate against you.”

I sighed. “And even after everything I’ve done the last few days I’m sure there are a few people stupid enough to try. When we get back I’ll ask Angeline to keep a track of them.”

“So we’re heading back?”

“I don’t see any reason to stick around. I brought the marsupial out to make lightning strikes so we could take the council members into custody. Now that we have them, I don’t see any reason to stick around any further. Besides, the girls might want your feedback on their government ideas.”

Hel raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean our ideas?”

“I don’t have any ideas! Not good ones anyways. The undercity runs, for all intents and purposes, without any real government oversight. You’ve seen how chaotic it is down there, I wouldn’t recommend going that route.”

“Actually your little area, sector eleven I think you call it, looked pretty organized to me. Maybe you understand governmental matters better than you think,” Hel suggested.

I snorted in response. “Not likely. It’s nice and calm because I have bears on every corner keeping the peace, and they’re leagues above what anyone else can field. I’m a tiny tyrant in my little corner of the undercity, and I know it.”

“A tyrant wouldn’t implement schools, neighborhood improvement, and food programs,” Hel pointed out. “Give yourself a little credit.”

“Fine, but just a little,” I huffed. “There’s no way to transfer that to city wide programs though. Even with all my manufacturing power I barely have the resources to implement those programs in the local area, never mind the rest of the undercity. Besides, I doubt the people above would be as pleased with the promise of basic amenities, and regular meals, as the people down below. I know the undercity, and that’s it. I have about as much interest in messing with the city’s government as you do.”

“You’d be surprised how far basic amenities, and regular meals, go sometimes, but I understand your point” Hel remarked. “I really doubt you’re getting out of helping with the government change over that easily though. You are the one that initiated it.”

“One of the people,” I grumbled into my arm. 

“Either way… do you honestly think the others are going to let you just disappear, and not help?”

“I doubt it,” I begrudgingly agreed, “but let’s find out. I’m sending the troops back to their posts, and sending directions to the bridge crew. Let’s go home.”

Despite its size, and awkward shape, the marsupial was quite swift. It didn’t take us long to get to the one undercity access point the ship would fit through, then head back to the shelter. When the gigantic vehicle finally parked Hel and I needed to take one of the docked Kodiaks back down to the ground. Even if it was floating at minimum safe altitude, I’d be hesitant to jump blindly from the ship into the chaotic floor of the garage below.

Once we touched down, and my bears scattered to carry out their various tasks, Hel and I headed back to the residence.

As soon as we stepped inside the four women around the table looked at me. 

“What?” I asked blankly.

“Evelyn Claire… What is this I hear about you trying to overthrow the government?” Jane asked as she slowly rose from her seat at the end of the table. I really should have clocked there were too many people there, guess my survival instincts had dulled over the last few months.

“I didn’t want to do it, they forced me!” I said, fighting the urge to step back from the table. “They attempted to drop a plate, and kill everyone both above and below it. Besides, it's less trying to overthrow, and more overthrown, now that the entire council is locked up in the Family’s holding facility.” 

Jane leaned forward and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why don’t you ever consider the consequences of your actions? This could lead to anarchy in the streets, if you’re not careful.”

“Anarchy!” Eddie declared happily as he jumped up on the couch. 

A moment later Issi popped up beside him, mimicking his pose. “Anarchy!”

“There’ll be no anarchy!” I declared. “Most people are already too afraid to step out of their houses due to the ongoing war. I made things safer, if anything. Besides, we’re already working on establishing a replacement government. A better government. One that won’t drop parts of the city on innocent people.” 

Jane just shook her head. “I really hope you know what you’re doing, because it’s not just you that has to deal with the consequences, it’ll be the entire city.”

“That’s why we consulted an expert, at least the closest thing there is to overthrowing the government there is in this city, Stalking Shadow.”

“Fine. As long as you have a plan,” Jane sighed. “Evelyn, make sure you’re taking this seriously. I know you, and you’ll never forgive yourself if you cause more damage than good in the long term. Make sure you make the right choice.”

“I promise,” I replied, nodding seriously.

“Good. Come on kids, I’ll make you snacks before you go do homework.”

“But I want to stay and help Evie, Squidy, Nora and Angie with what they’re doing,” Issi pouted. “Whatchu doing anyways?”

“Putting together a comprehensive plan to implement an interim government, including the rules required to make sure power is transferred smoothly to the permanent government, when it’s in place,” Angeline told the little girl seriously.

Issi stared at us all for a couple more seconds before hopping off the couch and running into the kitchen. “Snack time!”

“That’s what I thought,” Angeline laughed as she turned back towards the table. “She’s cute, reminds me of my daughter.”

“You have a kid?” I blurted out. “Since when?”

“Since seven years ago,” Angeline replied cheekily. “I don’t talk about it that much, because when I do, people try to take advantage. Either find and influence her, or get leverage on me. I know I should have mentioned it before, since I consider you all my friends, but I’ve grown so accustomed to keeping my private life private for security purposes, it never came up.

“You should bring her over the next time you come, she can play with Issi,” I said, taking a seat at the table. “She’d love that.”

“Maybe I will,” Angeline agreed, with a smile.

“So where are we on the government plans?” I asked. “Made any progress?” 

“Plenty, although I’ll admit things went smoother when Stalking was helping,” Sharron explained.
“When she left earlier, to talk to Mirage, she said she was going to be busy this evening, but available again tomorrow.”

“Speaking of which,” Nora said, turning to look at me, “how did your discussion go? I assume it went smoothly, since the city is still intact.”

“He was extremely cooperative, and released the remaining council members to the Family’s custody without any issue. In the end, I only punched him twice,” I said proudly.

Nora looked at me shocked, Angeline looked amused, and Sharron just scoffed. “Honestly? I expected more.”

“He got off lightly,” Hel agreed as she took a seat next to me. “Now, how about you send Evelyn and I a copy of your plans, and we’ll see what we can do to help.”