Interlude 12.5

12½ (Donation Interlude; Jamie) is the tenth chapter and second interlude of Plague. A young woman purchases powers from Cauldron. Starts her heroic career and reluctantly turns foe to friend. All while keeping costly secrets safe.

Plot
The soon to be Battery drives out to a farm to meet with her contact. Battery uses the name 'Jamie', which is not her actual name but a fake name she got from her parents, one that they were going to call her sister if they decided to have a second child.

She is met fantastically by Doctor Mother who walks her through the complicated procedures that comes with purchasing powers. 'Jamie' explains that she plans to go after one of the people that subverts the justice process; the jailbreak specialist, Madcap.

The first encounter after Battery attains her powers goes badly, Madcap ushering his charges away after he frees them before Battery can bring any of them to justice.

After going back to Doctor Mother, 'Jamie' is advised to join the Wards for training rather than go against Madcap on her own.

Cutting forward to the future Battery and Legend successfully catch Madcap. Madcap, knowing he's beat, offers to join the protectorate if he can be on Battery's team. Legend talks Battery into agreeing. She regrets it soon enough after hearing what his name will be on the team.

Much later on, Assault and Battery head of to a school to entertain kids. Battery is called in by Cauldron on her favour in return for getting her powers, to deliver a cauldron vial to another client.

In the present, Ethan and 'Jamie' meet up after Shatterbird's attack to make sure they're both okay and head off to Deal with the S9. Battery gets a message from Cauldron that she has to make sure Shatterbird and the Siberian escape the city, as the last of her favours owed to them.

Major Events

 * Battery gets her powers.
 * Madcap is captured and becomes Assault of the Protectorate.
 * Cauldron calls in their favours.

Trivia

 * The connection between Assault and Battery is mentioned in Battery's introduction.
 * Assault is the crime of making your victim apprehend violence and Battery is the crime of unlawful physical contact. The two crime are connected and usually listed together as "assault and battery" in the United States.