Published at 30th of October 2026 4:52 pm

Chapter 61 Ethics Committee (AR)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Arbiter POV

She pushes her chair back and jumps up, slamming into Legends shield. She grunts in annoyance and starts punching the pearlescent dome. Each hit sends shockwaves through the room; energy ripples from the point of impact. Shes hitting hard, but Maliks shields are nothing to scoff at. I couldnt break one of those, and neither can Titania. It doesnt matter how much she struggles; shes not getting out of here. She shouts in anger and then turns around to stare at Legend, her eyes glowing blue.

NO! I shouted.

I'm fast, but I'm not fast enough to get there in time. She's going to blast him with her ocular lasers, and he'll either have to drop the shield preventing her from leaving or try to take the attack in a nonlethal area of his body. Titania holds up a hand and pulls. Violets earring yanks her backward, and her heat vision goes wide, blasting into the shield harmlessly. Violet screams in frustration, reaching up to rip her earrings out.

You will let me out, or I will make you, Violet warned us all.

The girl is cocky. There's not a Neuvohuman in the city who would state they can take on four squad leaders at the same time. She's powerful, but power rarely is all that matters in a fight with Neuvohumans. Violet drops out of the air, landing on the meeting room table. Maybe she isn't too far gone; maybe she can be reasoned with. I look over at Sequence, who is trying to make his way over to the computer console to call for backup. Unfortunately for him, I'm not the only one who notices his plan, and twin blue laser beams blast carve a swathe of destruction across the monitor, computer, and wall.

Violet, you are only making your case worse. If you're correct about this being framed, then surrender yourself, and the truth will naturally come to light at trial, I pleaded.

HOW? No one has seen him except for me, and you haven't made any progress with finding him, Violet exclaimed emotionally. No, I'll have more luck on my own.

Titania and Legend move simultaneously, over a decade of working together paying off. Legend drops the dome and creates a wall right in front of Virtue. Titania flies into the young Cape's back, grabbing her arm and slamming her into the forcefield. Violet's face squishes against the pearlescent screen as she flails, trying to shake Titania off. Titania points her free hand out toward the mangled remains of the computer and metal chunks, and bits come flying toward her. Bolts, screws, circuit boards, steel plates, cables, and more gather around her and then begin to close in on Violet. The chairs around the room are next, the cushions, padding, and leather discarded to the ground while the metal frames float up. Titania continues to wrap Violet up in metal, going so far as to ask Arsenal for her swords. The female Cape agrees quickly, and the forty blades join the growing sphere of squished metal that covers Violet.

Legend, Titania said.

On it, Legend replied.

A pearlescent bubble forms around Violet's head like an astronauts helmet, sealing against her neck. That handles the problem of transport.

This needs to be called in, Titania remarked.

I'll do it, I volunteered.

I will join Legend and Titania in transporting Virtue down to a cell below, Phoenix said.

And then Phoenix conjured several rings of white fire as a precaution against Virtue escaping containment, I explained, finishing my report on the current clusterfuck.

I'm sitting inside one of the Unions video conference rooms. The leather office chair keeps lowering itself whenever I make the slightest movement. As an animated talker, that means I had to adjust my chair a dozen different times during my recollection of events. Again, my costume's hyperweave blindfold helps disguise my wandering eyes. Anything to not have to look at the twenty video tiles on the gigantic screen in front of me. Twenty Committee members, and that's Committee with a capital C, are now deliberating over what I've just told them. There are around one to two hundred members at a time, picked from active Heroes' Union members across the globe. Joining the Ethics Committee is a five-year term, and it isn't a coveted position. You aren't elected; you're chosen by the Union Director, and it can't be refused. From what I can tell, most Capes treat it as a punishment. They see it as stuck being the Heroes' Union equivalent of Internal Affairs, and it is your job to deliberate and rule over any problems within the greater organization.

I would be a perfect fit for the role. I could purge the Union of the unsavory, deceptive parasites that plague it. My job as a prosecutor makes me an ideal candidate, but I've never received the call. Leaving behind my practice and penthouse would be tough, but for the health and sanctity of the Union, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I've never been chosen to work directly under the enigmatic Union Director. She's held the position for as long as I've been alive, and her identity is kept a secret even from the Union members. I understand the need for secrecy, and that by having whoever picks up the mantle give up their Cape name, you can cleanly sever their old life from their new role as Director. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about her identity. One of the Committee members clears their throat, bringing my attention back to them. A male Cape, by the look of it, the all-metal mask making it hard to tell their race or gender.

We have a few questions to pose to you, Arbiter, the Cape said.

His voice is deep and sounds like stones grinding against one another. Definitely a man. The title card on his video tile says his Cape name is Avarice.

I will answer any inquiries the committee has, I responded.

You said that you received the video from an anonymous email, correct? Hydranger inquired.

Hydranger is one of three Capes I recognize. Originally hailing from Washington, D.C., she's almost at the end of her tenure with the committee, if I recall correctly. A staunch defender of morality and a big voice when it comes to Cape accountability. When she first debuted, I doubt anyone couldve predicted her rise. A power that everyone else thought was useless, until she proved how versatile it could be.

Yes, I did, Ma'am.

The existence of the video and the mystery sender does lend credence to the Capes claim of a conspiracy, does it not? Hydranger asked.

I would normally agree were it not for a previous incident that happened less than a month ago. A video circulated online of the Cape in question accidentally murdering a civilian in an act of rage. This was in front of several civilians as well as four Probationary Union Members. This did the rounds on statewide news channels and websites, but it was ultimately removed from the internet by the perpetrators family, who had it scrubbed. They also reached a cash settlement with the victims family. In spite of public outrage and internal thoughts, my fellow squad leader Sequence had her promoted from probationary member to full-fledged member of the Heroes' Union. It would not surprise me to know that there are parties who would delight in the downfall of the young Cape, but that doesn't change the sheer amount of evidence we've collected. Before this meeting commenced, we confirmed that the towel found in her bathroom was covered in the blood of the victims from the massacre, I answered.

I knew I recognized the blue laser eyes. Shes Sirperior and Triumphants kid, isnt she? Another male Cape by the name of Radiation Rex asked.

Her being a Legacy Cape should have no effect on our judgment, Avarice said.

Agreed. The Heroes Union s not a boys club where social standing and connections allow you to circumvent the established rules and bylaws of our great organization, Hydranger said angrily.

Just because something should be one way doesnt mean that it is, Radiation Rex replied. It would be ignorant of us to pretend as if there are not wide-reaching consequences of our ruling today. Besides I'm always down to fling shit at the wall till something sticks. I am not advocating that we go back on our ruling either; Im only making sure that everyone knows what will happen. Lets not forget which side I fell on in the voting phase.

Do you believe that Virtue has violated the Heroes Creed? Hydranger asked.

Yes. Even if somehow her imagined plot is found to be true and the frankly overwhelming amount of physical evidence is manufactured, she is not fit to be a member of the Union. She is brash, easily angered, unprofessional, foolhardy, and doesnt follow orders. She doesnt care about collateral damage and believes her powers make her invulnerable. She has, time and time again, been outwitted and outmaneuvered by Cowls, I answered.

You said that you and Titania were railroaded by Sequence, that you had no part in Virtues promotion from probationary to full member of the Union. Do you think that was done because Sequence believed it was the best possible option given the tragedy your city was faced with? Hydranger asked.

Being reminded of Ares massacre sends an ache to my heart. All those people dead. I cant stop my lip from quivering in anger at the thought of Sequences fucking backroom dealings, of him using our citys tragedy to get ahead. Scum.

No. Sequence is a two-faced, scheming ratfuck who only cares about what the Union can do for him. He is a glorified data analyst in a hyperweave he hasnt earned. While our city is reeling from the worst Cowl tragedy in history, hes making power plays to take control of our charter. Hes not a snake; hes a rodent, a scavenger feeding off the hard work the rest of us do, I spat out.

Im not doing myself any favors by speaking about a fellow member like that, but I dont fucking care. People tiptoeing around subjects, speaking in code, or watching their words is what allowed Sequence to infect our charter. Its what lets nutcases like Virtue murder people and get away with it. No more. I catch a glimpse of a smile pass across Hydrangers face. At least someone understands.

You really dont like this man, Radiation Rex remarked.

I dont like what he represents: a problem within our organization, I said. And I fucking hate him too.

Thank you, give us a bit, and well come back with the official committee ruling, Hydranger said.

I nod and go back to staring at the walls as the video feed goes black.

We are ready, Arbiter, Hydranger said, bringing my attention back to them.

I check the clock on the wall and see Ive been waiting nearly an hour. Fifty-six minutes. That could be good news, or it could be really bad news. Time to find out how far the rot has gotten.

An official report will be coming out of the Union, but Virtue is to remain in custody while awaiting trial. Effective immediately, Sequence will step down as squad leader pending an investigation of his conduct. Phoenix will remain as an interim squad leader until two Capes can be reassigned to your charter. Your concerns about the honor of the Quinstin Heroes Union are heard, and an integrity investigation will be launched immediately. I give you my word, as both a member of the Ethics Committee and as a Cape, that we will get to the bottom of this. I swear on the Heroes Creed, Hydranger stated.

Actions speak louder than words. I will believe it when I see it, I replied.

Your candidness is an asset, but it can also be a noose around your neck. Knowing when to cut through the bureaucratic tape and when to toe the line is just as important as saving people in our line of work, Hydranger stated.

Respectfully, I disagree. Fame, fortune, and connections are not why I joined the Union. I joined the Union to be a part of something greater than one man. To make a tangible difference in the lives of my fellow citizens. There is working within the law, and there is being constrained by pointless regulations. I am not advocating for going back to the Wild West days of unaffiliated vigilantism, but there comes a time when we need to be more than Capes; we need to be heroes.

A good speech, but actions speak louder than words, Radiation Rex said, laughing. Something to keep in mind is that integrity investigations almost always cause a restructuring, so I hope you arent too attached to your current team.

Damn it. Thinking about ShiftState, Sigilist, PileUp, and Glow Guardian, and then potentially losing them is disappointing and hurts, but its necessary. My team is excellent, but I cant put my own desire over the needs of the city. Thats the difference between a Cape and a Hero. I know which one I want to be and what that means. Theres nothing I wont do to purge the infection from my city.

I understand.

Share