Free Where There's Fire (Panopolis Book 2) by Cari Z. Page A

offset their investment, and the Heroes get an annuity, a pat on the damn back, and no chance at real power, no chance to control their own lives.”
    Maggot leaned forward. “And us? They can use the so-called Villains as grist in the entertainment mill. They think they can treat the ones they don’t find pretty or useful like vermin because we won’t stay down? Bullshit. This is us taking control of our own destinies. I want to reveal our plight to the world. I want the people who run this city—and it’s not the mayor, son, let me assure you of that—to know they can’t get away with taking advantage of us one moment, then throwing us in the garbage when we don’t suit their interests anymore.” He shrugged. “If that means cracking a few eggs, then I’m prepared to live with it.”
    “That’s . . . laudable.” It was fucking terrifying, not because I didn’t agree in an abstract kind of way, but because Maggot was completely serious about “cracking” those eggs. “But how is making a bunch of people into your slaves going to accomplish your goal?”
    “Language, Mr. Dinges, what vile language,” Maggot said on a sigh. “I feel like you’re being deliberately dense over this with me. I suggest you shape up, or . . .” He considered for a long moment. “Or I’ll start cutting things off of the Mad Bombardier. He won’t be much of a bomb maker with no fingers, will he?”
    No, no, you can’t, don’t touch him, don’t touch him, no no no . . . I wouldn’t be able to reach Maggot and force him to let Raul go before Vibro could get to me, and she was watching closely. “Don’t. Please. I’m sorry.”
    He nodded. “I accept your apology, but watch your mouth. Every general needs willing troops, Mr. Dinges. I’ve merely made mine more loyal than they would be otherwise. Soon every powerful Villain in the red zone will be members of the cause, and then we’ll be moving on to the Heroes. That’s where you come in.”
    I frowned. “You know, I don’t have a great track record with Heroes.”
    “But you did,” Maggot said affably. “In fact, you had one of Panopolis’s greatest Heroes making cow eyes at you for weeks.”
    “I was neighbors with his grandmother,” I protested. “We barely knew each other.” Not for his lack of trying, though.
    “It’s neither here nor there, really. Before Freight Train can be useful to us, we need to make him vulnerable to us. Everything, from what he wears to what he eats to what he’s allowed to say, is provided to him by GenCorp.” Maggot smiled, the worn yellow nubs of his teeth glinting slickly. “Trust me—I know how the corporations do business with their tools. We need to turn the Heroes against their masters, and Freight Train is the perfect place to start.”
    I understood that, at least from a strategic standpoint, but . . . “I don’t— I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be obtuse, but I don’t see how I can help with that. My power, it only works when I’m touching someone, and nobody can touch Freight Train. His force field is impermeable to everything but air.”
    “But you know that’s not true,” Maggot said. “He manages his biological processes somehow. And you have that information.”
    I was mystified. “How do you know that?”
    “I have eyes and ears all over this city, Mr. Dinges. Did you think that Impulse was the only person tailing you when you went to visit Ms. Clark the other day?” He tutted. “Poor Impulse, you did quite a number on him. I don’t think he’s yet recovered.” Maggot smiled. “Well, certainly not after what I did to him when I found out he’d failed.”
    I shouldn’t ask, but I had to know. “What did you do?”
    “I . . . demoted him, let’s say. Took away his little helper and gave it to a more worthy follower. Everyone who sides with me has to prove themselves against the competition, Mr. Dinges. I don’t make maggots fast enough to hand them off to just anyone who wants to join