Masters of death

Brockton Bay was a battlefield in everything but name. The death of three heroes during the Protectorate's failed assault left the city reeling. Without Dauntless, Triumph, and Velocity, the Protectorate's presence felt hollow. Glaistig Uaine's dominance had shaken the city's delicate balance, leaving the remaining gangs to seize what they could.

Empire 88 kept trying to expand aggressively into ABB territory, their brutal tactics forcing civilians to flee or fall in line. The Merchants, opportunistic as ever, scavenged what they could from the chaos, spreading their influence like a disease. The Protectorate was stretched thin, and rumors of Nullwave's growing influence only stoked the fire of uncertainty.

---

Rose sat across from Taylor in an abandoned warehouse near the Docks, the faint hum of Taylor's insects filling the silence. Taylor, now fully embracing her role as Skitter, leaned against a table covered in maps and notes. Her mask obscured her expression, but the tension in her posture was clear.

"You're back," Taylor said, her voice even. "What's the occasion?"

Rose hesitated, her fingers brushing the edges of her cloak. "I need advice," she admitted. "About Glaistig Uaine. About… everything."

Taylor's gaze narrowed. "You're asking me how to stop her? You know she's way out of my league."

"I know that," Rose snapped, then sighed. "But you've faced worse odds than most. You've survived. I thought maybe you'd have some idea of where to start."

Taylor crossed her arms, considering her words carefully. "She's not invincible. No one is. But taking her down… it's going to take more than just you."

At that moment, Tattletale entered the room, her smirk as sharp as ever. "Well, well. The little sorceress graces us with her presence again. Let me guess: you want us to solve your problems for you?"

Rose scowled. "I came for advice, not to be mocked."

Tattletale shrugged, her smirk softening into something almost sincere. "Alright, here's some free advice: you need backup. People who aren't terrified of her, or better yet, people with nothing to lose. She's powerful, sure, but she's not a god. If you want to stand a chance, you'll need a coalition."

Rose frowned. "A coalition? You think the city's capes will just band together to fight her? They'd rather kill each other than work together."

"Not everyone," Tattletale said, her tone turning serious. "There are people out there who'd join you if they thought it was worth the risk. The trick is convincing them you're not just another one of her pawns."

Rose considered her words, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her. Could she really gather enough allies to challenge Glaistig Uaine? And even if she could, would they trust her?

---

As Rose left the Undersiders' base, her mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. The city was a mess, Glaistig Uaine was growing more controlling, and Nullwave… Nullwave was an unknown variable she couldn't ignore.

She barely noticed the faint hum in the air until it was too late. The alley around her warped, and Nullwave emerged from the shadows, their new sleek armor glinting in the dim light.

"Rose Potter," they said, their voice cold and mechanical. "Or should I call you the Sorceress?"

Rose's heart raced, her hands instinctively glowing with magic. "What do you want?"

"Simple," Nullwave replied. "To correct a mistake. Capes like you… you're the disease, and I'm the cure."

Rose narrowed her eyes, summoning a barrier between them. "You're not some savior. You're just another power-hungry hypocrite."

Nullwave tilted their head, almost amused. "You think this is about power? No. It's about taking it away—from all of you."

Without warning, they launched a barrage of micro-drones, each one emitting a pulse that disrupted Rose's barrier. She stumbled, barely managing to dodge as the drones exploded on impact.

Nullwave pressed their advantage, using a new sleek gauntlet to fire a beam of energy that neutralized her magic mid-cast. Rose gritted her teeth, her frustration mounting as she tried to find an opening.

"You can't win," Nullwave said, their voice echoing ominously. "Your tricks mean nothing to me."

Rose retaliated with a wave of fire, forcing Nullwave to retreat momentarily. She used the brief reprieve to conjure a swarm of shadow tendrils, but Nullwave's movements were precise and calculated, evading each strike with ease.

The fight dragged on, each exchange pushing Rose closer to her limits. Nullwave's new tinkertech devices that he never used before, seemed designed specifically to counter her magic which should be impossible.

Thinking quickly, Rose cast a Lumos Maxima, flooding the alley with searing light. Nullwave stumbled, momentarily disoriented, and Rose took the opportunity to flee.

---

Rose collapsed against a wall several blocks away, her breathing ragged. Her hands trembled as she replayed the fight in her mind, her fear and frustration warring with her resolve.

Nullwave's words lingered. Was she really part of the problem? Was Glaistig Uaine right when she called her soft and naive?

But as the adrenaline faded, a new thought took hold. She couldn't let Nullwave—or Glaistig Uaine—define her. She had a choice, and she would use it to make things right.

For the first time, she saw a path forward—not just as Glaistig Uaine's reluctant ally, but as a leader in her own right. She didn't have all the answers yet, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Her doubts remained, but so did her determination. She would find allies, she would fight back, and she would prove that she wasn't just another pawn in someone else's game.