Chapter 173 - My SI Stash #73 - Escapist by Pef (Worm) (2/2)

”That's Armsmaster!” the young girl gushed with admiration in her voice.

”Oh, the autistic Tinker with a savior complex?” Pef asked himself, in a fake whisper.

Taylor choked a bit, while Armsmaster unfolded a tall polearm and pointed it at them.

”Surrender, villains!” he exclaimed in a commanding tone.

Pef looked around for any villains. The halberd stood pointed at him.

Hmm, Armsmaster had the same idea, climb on the fainted horse, and ride it to glory. Not on his watch though.

”I'll deal with the idiot Tinker. You go home sweetie, it's surely late for a school day.” Pef whispered towards Taylor, while kicking Lung again.

Scrambling his brains might help keep him down. Perhaps shake loose some morality?

”Oh! Right, my dad might notice...” Taylor replied in embarrassment, then hobbled away.

”Surrender, Villain!” Pef demanded loudly, pointing his smallest finger at Armsmaster.

”I'm a hero. The Leader of the Protectorate in Brockton Bay!” the man argued back, waving his polearm menacingly.

”So you say, villain. But you just pointed a lethal weapon at two innocents, and accused them of being villains. That implies you wished us harm, either at your own hands or by those you can influence. Abuse of official powers is also a crime!” Pef yelled at the armored hero.

He pointed that accusation with another kick to Lung's ear. Just making sure.

”Are you going to fight me?” Armsmaster asked belligerently.

”No, but I might record this conversation and have you expelled from the PRT. Murdering new heroes under false accusations, that won't go well with the press and the public...” Pef explained loudly.

A few crocodiles jumped from a nearby building and sped away. Not the time to deal with Coil and his minions, yet.

A minute of silence occurred, and Pef kicked Lung in the head again.

”What is your name?” Armsmaster asked more politely.

”Escapist, Tinker extraordinaire!” Pef proclaimed to the skies.

Made sense to escape this place, somehow.

Armsmaster measured him cautiously. ”There's not a bit of Tinkertech on you.”

Pef examined himself for a few seconds. ”That's good news. Trackers are hard to get rid of.” he exclaimed in fake relief. Only truth, in case the Tinker had a lie detector...

”You have captured Lung. But if news spread...” Armsmaster began his own speech.

”I could become famous you say? Maybe get a reward from the PRT? Sell interviews to the media?” Pef asked curious, and kicked Lung's metal mask, for a cool sound effect.

”Units from PRT are en route to secure the site and transport Lung into custody.” Armsmaster announced after a minute.

Pef nodded politely, then tapped his ear. ”So, how much is the PRT willing to pay me?”

”What?” the man asked in confusion.

”Considering Lung is in my custody, how much?” He explained, smashing his heel on Lung's face again.

Then he turned the tattooed parahuman on his back, and began tying his arms and legs with climbing cord. Establishing possession, much easier to sell something if you had it in a bag. Or strung up like meat for market.

”The PRT Director say 3000 dollars” Armsmaster replied after a minute.

Pef chuckled amused. ”Nah. I bet I can chop off some arms and legs and sell them for more. Plenty labs will want samples of Lung flesh.”

”That's illegal. It would be mutilation.” Armsmaster argued back.

”Nah. Mutilation is something permanent. Lung regenerates!” Pef explained while slamming his heel on Lung head and crushing a few teeth on the pavement. He collected them for research, not even trying to hide it.

”Why do you keep kicking him?” Armsmaster wondered while coming closer.

”To keep Lung sedated, of course. He'll be fine, don't worry. Leviathan hits much harder than me...” Pef explained politely. Also truth.

Leviathan could sink islands. Which were mountains peaking over sea level. If Lung could take hits from that, his boots were mere sounds effects. Still awesome though.

The first vans blinking with green and white lights, and full of PRT troopers began to arrive, and load the stung gangsters for processing.

Pef just stood there, boot heavy on Lung's head, and presenting an imposing figure.

”We can give you 12 thousand dollars!” Armsmaster said after Pef waved off a few troopers attempting to take Lung.

”And introduce me to Dragon. I have a few designs that could help her.” Pef allowed after a minute of fake contemplation.

Soon, he was riding the van on top of Lung's body, boot smashing into the slaver's head every minute. It wasn't personal though. Just making sure Lung slept longer.

As the PRT van began crossing the holographic bridge towards the Rig, in the middle of the Bay, Pef realized at last, his own Tinker specialty.

Halo technology. From the same game.