Mastermind

{{#if:VictoriaGleaming 9.10|

“	I could connect the dots, even if it was a little belated. Multiple dots, now that I thought about it. Multi-layered plans and contingencies. We were fighting a mastermind after all.	”
{{#if:Victoria| —Victoria{{#if:Gleaming 9.10|, Gleaming 9.10}} }} }}

<infobox> <title source="name"><default>Mastermind</default></title>

<image source="image"><default>File:Placeholder location.png</default></image> <header>Basic Information</header> <image source="map"></image> <label>Type</label> <label>Location</label> <label>Teams</label> <label>Inhabitants</label> <header>First Appearance</header> <label>Worm Debut</label> <label>Ward Debut</label> </infobox> Masterminds are generally Thinkers and Masters though they can be conceivably be any designation. They tend to play things close to the chest, with few learning their true intentions.<ref>Glare 3.4</ref> They should not be confused for a Warlord, which rely mostly on raw firepower, though there is an overlap.

Designated Masterminds

• Accord<ref name="IIx.2 e1">The Clockwork Dogs were a partnership. Masterminds, apparently. The pair were a man of average height, skinny but for a protruding belly, and a short man, both with fine masks that looked tinker-made, glinting as they moved and adjusted in the firelight. Men and women that looked anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five stood behind them. Four people in clothes that looked more suited for a cocktail party with the rich and famous. - Eclipse x.2</ref><ref name="IIx.4 e1">Ashley wasn’t laughing. “Talk to me about Detente’s group. He’s established?”
  
  “Newly,” Bar said. “He and Accord have a bunch of people with powers. They’ve put up a good showing. Smart, efficient, rich.”
  
  “Where is he from? Where is Accord from?”
  
  Bar shrugged.
  
  “They come out of nowhere and they’re this prepared? They have this much money to throw around?”
  
  “That’s them having mastermind powers, maybe,” Bar said. - Eclipse x.4</ref><ref name="II7.y e1">“Stop me if this sounds familiar. A supervillain by the name of Citrine worked under a mastermind by the name of Accord, who was on multiple lists but skirted prosecution because he was very clever and very careful.” - Interlude 7.y II</ref>
• Case 12<ref>“That sounds awfully familiar as an M.O.,” Tattletale murmured.
  
  I nodded. “It is. He’s in a rare class of parahuman who could pull off something like this, given a chance.” - Black 13.9</ref>
• Coil<ref name="II3.4 e1">“Okay,” I said. “It’s just one data point in a series. The last remaining mastermind of the city falls, Coil. The PRT directors die. Twice, in quick succession. Weaknesses are targeted and capitalized on. Alexandria dies in Brockton Bay, at the hands of a girl who had apparently wanted to be a hero, but who was converted to the villains’ side. Flechette, a hero, a minor friend of mine? Apparently converted. Accord edges into the Undersiders’ turf. He dies when the Behemoth fight happens. What do you think happens with his resources and power? Because I’m betting it’s the same as what happened with Coil’s.” - Glare 3.4</ref>
• Detente<ref name="IIx.2 e1" /><ref name="IIx.4 e1" />
• Tattletale<ref>“She could be full of shit,” Sveta said.
  
  “She could be,” I admitted. “Trouble of dealing with masterminds is you can’t ever know.” - Glare 3.4</ref><ref>Cradle audibly snarled on seeing them. “There they are. The job.”
  
  “Not without being paid,” Lionwing said, not budging.
  
  “You’re aware Tattletale is a mastermind? Why would we pull your pay in the middle of the job? Do the task and you will get paid.” - Interlude 11c</ref>
• Teacher<ref>I could connect the dots, even if it was a little belated. Multiple dots, now that I thought about it. Multi-layered plans and contingencies.
  
  We were fighting a mastermind after all.
  
  “He paired Lung and the Pharmacist,” I voiced my thought aloud. - Gleaming 9.10</ref>
• The Player<ref>Case four was The Player, an early Thinker mastermind who had required some greater cooperation across multiple agencies to root out. Later on, The Player would be a case-in-point for the formation of Watchdog and its core purpose. Kenzie’s would-be group. - Shadow 5.10</ref>
• Zugzwang<ref>“Hey, Zugzwang,” Tattletale said.
  
  “Fuck you! I know you’re the Undersiders’ head fucker! Open your mouth and I’ll open her throat!”
  
  He cut Dinah, along the jawline. As Grue started forward, Zugzwang returned the knife to her throat.
  
  “You’re being awfully stupid for a mastermind,” Sveta said.
  
  “I know what you do too, Sveta Karelia,” Zugzwang said. “I bet my hand’s faster than yours. I also know you all need her.” - Last 20.5</ref>
• Skitter<ref>“I don’t necessarily agree with the Director’s line of reasoning, Dinah,” Miss Militia said, “But Skitter’s a known criminal mastermind, with an emphasis on the latter.  She’s a capable strategist and a battlefield tactician.  As far as we were aware, she was well situated as one of the more powerful villains in North America, judging by her control over this city.  In the past week alone, she’s … two villainous organizations and folded a third into her own.  There’s no reason for her to surrender.  The only way any of this makes sense is if there’s a greater plan at work.” - Excerpt from Cell 22.1</ref>

Trivia

• Though used more frequently in Ward it has been retroactively applied to Worm as well.

References

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