Bonesaw was walking anxiously up and down the room. Hands in her hair, letting her frustration out without any filter."They're dead. Dead! After all that work! And I bet that no-good woman made sure that I couldn't get access to their bodies. So much wasted potential…"She went on and on.Jack Slash sat in a corner, a smile on his face. But William knew him well enough at this point to know that it was very much forced. His own attempt to retain control. In one hand he was spinning a knife in his fingers, with his other hand he was caressing the platinum-white hair of our latest addition. The strongest Shaker in the world, some might say. William personally didn't care."It's not the first time we've lost many members in a city, dear. Though usually it is not at the hand of a single individual… Even with my warning, Shatterbird likely underestimated Blackwall. Still, not a huge deal. We've got plenty of candidates left, we'll just skip the tests this time."He glanced towards Her. Not Bonesaw, no, and not even the sleeping Shaker. Towards Her.Towards William's very own heart. The only thing keeping him going.And She didn't answer, merely walking up to Bonesaw and putting the Tinker on Her lap, placing Her head on Bonesaw's shoulder. That seemed to tranquilize the Tinker."At least Burnscar led us to quite the prize. Wouldn't you say, Siberian?" Jack Slash asked Her, trying to bait an answer.But She did not speak. Merely because She did not want to. William could force Her, of course, but he preferred to only act when necessary. When She needed help in knowing what to do. In fact, William had been extremely overjoyed when She herself had decided on a candidate, something usually William had to do."When is your candidate coming?" Bonesaw asked Her, impatient. Sitting on Her lap, she began braiding Her hair in a sort of affectionate gesture. As much as the Tinker could feel affection, that is."Now now dear, be patient. Siberian went out of her way to lead us to her base, and we've already prepared a welcoming present." Jack looked towards the other side of the room, where one of Bonesaw's new creations lay prone, sleeping. In some ways, this one was one of her greatest works: mixing two parahumans together was easy work for the Tinker, but she'd gone above and beyond. Bonesaw named this one 'Beast', made up of two of Bitch's subordinates that William didn't know the name of. It could grow larger, focusing on specific part of its body, and it could turn words into a smoke-like substance with multiple properties.But most of all, Bonesaw had changed Beast enough so that it behaved and looked more like a dog than a person. Due to Her demands, Bonesaw had been forbidden from using an actual dog as a baseline, but the Tinker still had managed the impossible. William theorized that Rachel's power would work on this odd creation, because not only it looked and behaved like a dog, but it believed itself to be a dog. Cauldron had conducted many similar tests, often led by William himself, and had found out that Shards gave a lot of weight to 'identity' when it came to powers."Speaking of something else, I think it's about time to let loose, Bonesaw.""Really?!" The Tinker jumped up with stars in her eyes, earning a small grimace from Her. Jack Slash always tried to get in between Bonesaw's and Her relation, making sure that while they could be affectionate, Bonesaw would always prioritise Jack over anyone else.William wondered if Her attachment to Bonesaw was a side-effect of his own affection for the child Tinker. But quickly put aside the thought.Stolen novel; please report."Yes, really. This city has already proved itself to be a bit too sticky for my liking. It needs more chaos, wouldn't you say?""Oh yes yes! Thank you thank you thank you!" Bonesaw began hopping up and down in joy."Now, go on. Do what you do best, my dear." Jack finished, chuckling to himself."Yes!!" The Tinker rushed away into another room. The one she'd used to make Beast.Sighing, William was grateful that he'd managed to get a hold of the antidote to whatever Bonesaw had mixed in the water. It had been rather difficult, and only possible because at some point Jack had demanded Bonesaw to make one, 'in the chance they needed to play a game'. Some part of William heavily suspected that Jack knew about Her true nature. Or at least, Jack's power did.William had no doubt at this point that Jack Slash's power involved a Thinker/Trump aspect to it. Something that allowed him to dance around parahumans like they were pawns on a board and he was the mighty queen.As if on cue, that was the moment that Rachel reached her den, riding on the back of a transformed canine.Rachel did not even stop to glance at the human corpses as she broke through the doors and walked up to the kennels. None of the dogs were hurt, of course, so she let out a sigh of relief.But the moment Rachel turned around, She was there.And for the first time in forever, She began to speak without William's own input:"I made sure none were hurt.""Angelica!" Racheld shrieked, "Attack!"The transformed dog leaped in the air and bit Her arm, locking jaws around the striped flesh. It had no effect, of course. William smiled as She brought the head of the dog closer and kissed it on the nose."Wonderful… Please tell her to let go. Or she gets hurt."Rachel took a moment to think, and William was rather impressed that she showed no fear. Did she not recognize Her? How odd. Most heroes and villains would be soiling themselves at this point.Outside, red mist began to rise out of the water. Nothing that mattered to William and Rachel right now."What the fuck do you want?" Rachel growled through gritted teeth."You."
■
"Come ooon, Siberian! Let me do something to her. Just a tiny modification! To make sure she won't attack us!""Let it go Bonesaw. If Siberian doesn't want us to touch Bitch, then we won't." Jack Slash acted as intermediary between the two, no doubt enjoying the slight rift Rachel had brought into the dynamic. "How would you react if we forcefully played with one of your toys after you asked us not to?""Mh…" Bonesaw frowned like a child, brows pulled together and lips pouting. But she did not insist.Rachel, to the side, stayed quiet. Uncomfortable with the people in the room, but not scared. Bonesaw plague had reached her after all, and except Her everyone else in the room looked like a stranger to Rachel about now. Something Jack would fully know how to exploit and make use of.A part of William was rather unhappy that another child had been brought into the Nine. Another child that would be forced to face the world as it truly was, unprotected by the tinted glasses of society.But another part of him was glad that Jack Slash offered a way to escape the terrible chains of civilization. Offered a way to break away from the restraints that governments and organizations like Cauldron wished to force upon everyone.Besides, William was rather glad that someone else had joined the Nine, someone that like Bonesaw could be Her friend.