Editing Dragonslayers (section)

==''Modus Operandi''==
The Dragonslayers were self-proclaimed watchmen of [[Dragon]], dedicating their time closely watching and monitoring her for signs of any corruption or rampancy using a backdoor into her programming that they found treasure diving in the ruins of Newfoundland and coming upon [[Andrew Richter]]'s residence and workshop, among auxiliary programs and other tools Andrew Richter made to control and, if necessary, kill his own creations. If they deemed that Dragon strays too far from her heroic intentions, they'd use this to permanently shut her down.<ref>Dragon, however, was the threat they’d been equipped to stop.  Dragon was the threat they’d had to test, to verify the dangers she posed, to get close enough to her to measure her capabilities and investigate for any hint of corruption.  Mags had left her job, because money was no longer an object, and they had a ''quest''.

The A.I. was dangerous.  Richter’s records made it clear.  The wrong kind of corruption, involvement with the wrong kind of individual, willing to break the built-in restrictions… - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/interlude-26-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 26.x]]</ref>  

With the help of Teacher<ref>“I was just starting out, tracking and investigating Dragon, when I came across one of Teacher’s subjects.  He gave me my in.  Gave me the ability to learn the ins and outs of her code, like I was a genius who had a natural knack for it.  That got the Dragonslayers started.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/cockroaches-28-2/ Excerpt] from [[Cockroaches 28.2|Cockroach 28.2]]</ref> in return for money<ref name=":0">“We didn’t.  He started off by asking us for five percent of our earnings for the first five years.  Mags, one of the Dragonslayers you’ve got in custody, she wasn’t cool with it.  Teacher was shady, clearly doing some illegal stuff.  He offered it as a freebie, we considered the issues, then decided to go for it.  Just me.  When word got out that Teacher actually had a measure of influence over the people he’d given powers to, we set up safeguards.  Only me, and I’d teach the other two what they needed to know.  Mags would double and triple check every discussion I had with Teacher, to make sure he wasn’t fucking with my head or setting me up to participate in something ugly.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/cockroaches-28-2/ Excerpt] from [[Cockroaches 28.2|Cockroach 28.2]]</ref>, they have used these tools to great effect, being capable of outfighting and maneuvering Dragon every time they fought<ref name=":1">She was ''afraid'' of going up against the Dragonslayers again.  Nine times, she had been certain she had the upper hand.  Nine times, Saint had turned the tables and trapped her.<br><br>Dragon worried she would never be able to beat Saint until she found a replacement for Andrew Richter. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/interlude-10-5-bonus/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 10.5]]</ref>, stealing her suits to reverse engineer and use themselves. Saint had volunteered to be put under the influence of Teacher's power. As a safety measure, the other Dragonslayers would check and double-check every conversation he had with him for any bias that Teacher's power might introduce.<ref name=":0" /> 

After the PRT let Saint inspect the Birdcage's equipment<ref>“And if you leave, the assumption is that we’ll be left without Dragon’s ability to maintain every system and device she’s created for us.  The PRT without a Birdcage, without our computer systems or database, without the specialized grenade loadouts or the containment foam dispensers.”<br><br>“An unfortunate consequence,” Defiant said.<br><br>“Not a concern at all,” the Chief Director replied.<br><br>There was a pause.  Dragon glanced at Defiant.<br><br>“No?” Defiant asked.<br><br>“No.  We’ve been in contact with an individual who has a proven track record with Dragon’s technology.  He feels equipped, ''eager'', almost, to step into Dragon’s shoes should she take a leave of absence.”<br><br>“Saint,” Defiant said.  “You’re talking about the leader of the ''Dragonslayers''.  Criminal mercenaries.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/interlude-20-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 20.x]]</ref><ref>“He speaks when we give him something to say,” Teacher said.  “But I may have been too eager to find a way of contacting the outside world, and I’ve irritated him.  Saint explained what happened.  The PRT showed him Dragon’s equipment, asked if he could commandeer it, and Saint found an opportunity to insert a discreet backdoor.  He has a channel in, a way to observe, but our channel ''out'' is poor at best.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/interlude-22-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 22.y]]</ref>, Saint was able to pass on messages with Teacher inside the [[Baumann Parahuman Containment Center|Birdcage]]<ref>“Good, good.”  Teacher led Lung to one TV in the row.  “Trickster?”<br><br>Lung arched an eyebrow.  Trickster… the name rung a bell.  It didn’t matter.<br><br>“Connect,” Teacher said.<br><br>Trickster reached up to the power button on the television, then began a sequence of turning it on and off, with very specific pauses.  A code.<br><br>The sequence was still going on when Teacher said, “Stop.  Leave it on.”<br><br>The screen showed a face, the image grainy, flickering.  The face had a tattoo of a cross on it.<br><br>“Lung, meet Saint,” Teacher said. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/interlude-22-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 22.y]]</ref> for his eventual release.<ref>He didn’t want to help Jack succeed, but this would serve a double purpose.  Teacher believed that the Birdcage would become a critical resource if the crisis reached critical levels, and he had the tools he needed to assume control of the most vital and dangerous players. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/interlude-26-bonus-1/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 26.x]]</ref> 

In spite of their best efforts, they were nothing but pawns for Teacher to use for his goals.<ref>“Enough.  I’d bet the son was even a red herring.  Maybe someone tampered with the data Saint had on Teacher, maybe not.  The old equipment, the plans during the years he was interacting with Saint, all of it was serving a purpose.  Or ''double'' purposes.  Multiple plans at once, from different angles.  Helps him put pieces together towards different agendas, builds up his rep, and makes Saint think Teacher’s invested in this stuff, when he’s really keeping quiet about his true desire.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/cockroaches-28-2/ Excerpt] from [[Cockroaches 28.2|Cockroach 20.2]]</ref>