blasto, meet official opinions on self-replicating minions

[peterxy]

The PRT catches wind of a strange increase in disappeared domestic animals in the downtown area. Given that the people who live there are the rich and powerful, this is clearly a problem that needs to be investigated and solved immediately. The PRT, of course, agrees that this is of utmost importance, and not just because of precedent about mass abductions of pets, of course not, why would you think that, they are so very worried about Fido, even Scion recognizes the merits of rescuing lost pets.

(Lorica's asked to maybe keep a few more eyes there than she has been.)

Comments

[thinkering]

(Yaaaaay, go the crowd. Lorica has Excellent Posture. Windflower is apparently afraid of being in front of crowds and trying to hide behind Glimmer without looking like she's doing it.)

[acanofworms]

(Glimmer has her arms folded in a very stoic manner and doesn't react to Windflower trying to hide behind her.)

The reporters start asking lots of questions at the same time, as they are wont to do, and Armsmaster points at one of them. "How can you be sure that you got all of them? Is it possible that some may have escaped?"

"It's of course always possible but-" He starts being drowned with questions before he finishes, so he continues more loudly, "But we are very confident they haven't."

"How can you know that?"

"With Miracle Max's and Blasto's cooperation, we were able to create a type of pheromone that attracts such hybrids to a secluded place and dealt with them. They were unable to resist following it, with Lorica and Glam's help."

"Are you sure you can trust a substance created by a villain?"

"Yes," Armsmaster says, and points at another reporter.

"A question for Lorica?"

Armsmaster looks at her, inquiringly.

[thinkering]

"Yes?"

[peterxy]

"If I understand correctly, your bots are AI-controlled and not under your direct, personal supervision, right?"

[thinkering]

"I supervise them as a group, but the software makes lower-level decisions."

[acanofworms]

"And are you planning on keeping them around patrolling the city all the time, if your claim that Blasto's minions have been neutralized is true?"

"It is," Armsmaster interjects.

The reporter ignores him and continues looking at Lorica.

[thinkering]

"That's not standard operating procedure except when they're accompanying me or other heroes on ordinary patrols. They're not out anymore now, and won't be unless there's another high alert emergency or I have one bring me takeout."

[acanofworms]

Another reporter asks, "Is it true you use that AI on Endbringer fights?"

"And how would you have come by this information?" Armsmaster asks pointedly.

The reporter shrugs nervously. "I heard it somewhere."

[thinkering]

"I attend Endbringer fights and bring the bots with me," Lorica says, "if that's what you mean."

[acanofworms]

"No, my sources inform me that you also use that to coordinate other heroes through a communicator-"

"Speculation," Armsmaster says.

"So it's not true, then? You don't use an AI comm system?" the reporter insists, still looking at Lorica.

[thinkering]

"This conference is about Blasto, not our comms."

[acanofworms]

"Then you do use them? Isn't it a bit too much power to have all communication and strategizing happen using a single person's technology and oversight, and a Ward's, no less?"

"This is getting off-topic and speculative, does anyone have a question about the current situation? Yes?" Armsmaster looks at another reporter.

"Do you also use this communication system during your engagements here in Brockton Bay?"

[thinkering]

"Information about our comms is, for strategic reasons, not for general dissemination," Lorica says.

[acanofworms]

Armsmaster nods almost imperceptibly at that, then points at another reporter when the current one takes too long to ask another question.

"You and Glam are often seen working together, and they frequently use their power to help yours, so there's been some speculation on the PHO Forums about you two being an item. How much credence should we lend to such speculations?"

"I would like to remind you that these are underage heroes you're speculating about," Armsmaster says sharply. "And this isn't about teenage gossip."

"It's not about gossip! There are legitimate worries that such relationships may compromise the Wards' abilities on the field!"

[thinkering]

"There's a useful power synergy between me and Glam, just like there is between me and Silica - anyone who can operate at a distance given visual feedback can get use out of a bot on the scene and one near them to allow safer remote deployment. It compounds upon itself because my bot network can use Glam's conjurations as field-modifiable reinforcements."

[acanofworms]

"So the rumors are false?"

"This line of questioning has lost its relevance. Are there any further questions relating to this incident? Yes," Armsmaster points at yet another reporter, who then proceeds to ask something about Drupe's powers. Another one inquires about containment procedures and how the Protectorate plans to handle similar cases in the future, about Blasto's trial, and so on. They seem to have gotten the hint and stay in-topic, and then the conference's over and the heroes go back inside.

As they do, Armsmaster says to Lorica, quietly, "Good job handling them."

[thinkering]

"Thanks."

[mxglam]

And after the heroes are far enough inside the building that the cameras can't track them anymore, they go their respective ways, some to their patrols, others not.

Glam floats after Lorica.

[thinkering]

"I hope you weren't hoping that I'd publicly confirm that we're dating during a press conference about a villain apprehension."

[mxglam]

"Ha, no," they snort. "I mean, sure, the Forums would explode with speculation and I'm not exactly opposed to publicity, but that's not quite the right kind."

[thinkering]

"It is definitely not."

[mxglam]

"Not that I wouldn't like people to know it, you know my feelings about dating you."

[thinkering]

"I'm aware."

[mxglam]

They laugh.

[thinkering]

"I hate those things. The bot was helping me compose responses without getting distracted or accidentally answering a question just because someone asked it." Sigh.