This is a combo that's been on my mind lately and I honestly don't think i have an end goal outside of Taylor and Coil taking over the bay by basically being themselves or being Iago. I made a few tweaks that hardcore fans should find to nitpick but i hope you like the one shot. This mostly for me to put oneshots i feel like writing over the crossover. If you have a suggestion or a request put in the reviews. NIGHT! OR GOOD MORNING! LET ME SLEEP!
I don't own Worm or JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
If I did I would know more about The Lock or Earth Wind and Fire.
"Look I'm just saying, we should leave, man," An Asian guy in his twenties said.
"Oh, not this shit again, it's too early in the morning. Look, we just need to hold out. Lung will own the bay, ABB will own the bay," Another Asian guy of a similar age argued. "We can do this, we have Bakuda now," he urged.
"Crazy psychotic bitch, you mean," A third guy, the guy was Asian too, but mostly Filipino, he sat by the window. "Any other tinker I'd be fine with it. But she's a bomb tinker…we should leave."
"Oh c'mon not you too! This is our people man, we should stay! We should fight! Lung-"
"Lung wants to fight Leviathan again," The third guy caught him off. "It's not going to end well for us."
"…No, I believe in him! He has a plan!"
"Sure…but does that plan involve us?"
"No it doesn't," the first guy said. "It's getting more and more dangerous…It'll happen soon. You know it! I know it! And he was the first one to know it," he pointed to guy by the window.
"It is bound to happen. It always does."
"So what if a gang war happens! With Bakuda we can win! It was us who invented gun powder and explosions! We can do this! This is our culture, our way!"
"Jerry, you're from Indonesia, not the guys who made fireworks first," the first guy explained.
"We're all Asians!"
"Guys shut up! It's her again," The third guy said as he looked out the window, the other two guys looked at the window. Outside was what they were sure was a girl. The stereotype about Asian Women having…modest bust isn't a complete lie. So naturally all three men were able to recognize that it was a girl dressed in a blue jacket with a hoodie and blue pair of sweatpants jogging down the street wearing a black ski mask, hoodie up. She was running in the middle of the street.
"…okay what the fuck is up with that chick," Jerry asked. "For past three months, she been running around doing…weird things."
"I know," the third guy said. "going back and forth, but it's usually at night though…I'm surprised no one stopped her or you know…get her a job," forced prostitution he meant.
"No one likes mental chicks," the first guy added. "but I heard that a few guys tried to have fun with her anyway few nights ago…they all had their legs and arms broken, swear they saw two chicks…."
"Cape then, no doubt about it…does Lung or Oni Lee know?"
"I think Oni Lee saw her…then decided she wasn't worth the effort or something. Man, Oni Lee is weird," the first guy said.
"You got that right," the third guy said, and before the Jerry could talk he said, "you can't justify it, everyone thinks he's weird."
"…let's just leave, no one up top knows us and if Lung does take over we can come back."
"And go where? Huh? We belong here," Jerry justified.
"I got a cousin up north, he stays off the grid. You know tiny houses and homes in vans? So far it has worked for him and the endbringers and gangs have never hit the places he's been. If we go up to Canada, stay way from hot zones for endbringers attacks, we should be fine," the third guy suggested.
"Up to-you're cowards! Both of you!" Jerry accused both the first and third guy.
"Maybe, but at least we live," the first guy shrugged.
"We have to be smart," the third guy said. "Two days. Bakuda has a special project she is really excited about and she wants to show everyone what it is. She finishes it five or so days. We should leave in two, whatever it is, it can't be good."
"Fine then! You two go I'll stay he-"
"Guys, what's she doing now?" The first guy asked, all three guys looked out the window.
"…she's running backwards," Jerry offered with a shrug.
"No," the third guy said shaking his head, "it's like she's…being played backwards…you think…you guys think she's with Über and Leet?"
"Three months, they would have announced it," the first guy replied while shaking his head.
"…should…should we call someone," Jerry asked.
"Ring ring, Hello PRT, we see a girl going/walking backwards like she's being replayed, why yes we are ABB," the first guy said with his hand to his ear.
"Okay I get it, but seriously…should we do something?"
"No look," Oni Lee appeared in front of the masked girl. He wore his typical black body suit with belts that had knives and grenades on it, and he wore his iconic red Oni mask with a leering expression, fanged grin that was ear to ear. "Guess he couldn't ignore her anymore."
"What's he saying?"
"I don't speak Japanese dude," the first guy said.
"Dude your Asian," Jerry said.
"South Korean," he replied.
"Oh! Shit's going down," the third guy stated as Oni Lee teleported behind the girl while his clone stood in his place. The clone disintegrated and Oni Lee began to slice the girl's neck.
"Well that's the end of her," Jerry said.
"No look," the first guy said as Oni began to teleport all around her, stabbing her, but she didn't move, she didn't even flinch. More and more clones appeared all stabbing her but she wasn't screaming or even moving.
"She's on one foot," the third guy observed. "Like she's frozen while running."
"The wards! C'mon we got to help," Jerry yelled but both the first and the third guy grabbed him before he could run.
"Clockblocker isn't here," the first guy said.
"Not the wards, it must be her power," the third guy responded. They all watched as Oni Lee kept making more and more clones while carbon dust collected at her foot. Then Oni Lee appeared faraway to see his clones disappear. Nothing was left but carbon dust now being blow by the wind.
"Oh shit," the third guy said backing away from the window, the first guy following his lead.
"Yeah, he didn't do damage," Jerry said.
"Jerry, back away from the window," the first guy said as he put his hands on his ears as he got on the ground along with the third guy.
"Why?" As soon as he asked, Oni Lee made a bunch of clones around the girl each one pulling their pin, yeah, one grenade may not be much to them at that distance but a bunch of grenades… "SHIT!" He dove away from the window just as the boom went off!
"Fuck!"
"SHIT!"
"GOD!"
They all let out their respective curses, they weren't close to the explosion but the fact that a bunch of grenades went off wasn't a good song.
"At least my ears aren't ringing," Jerry said.
"Fucking great," the third guy said noting the cracks in the window.
"She alive," the first guy asked.
"Um…" Jerry let out as he stood up and walked back to the window, "HOLY SHIT!"
"She dead?"
"NO! She still frozen in place! Look at this shit!" They all looked out the cracked window to see the girl unscathed, floating above a crater in the concrete. "you sure the wards aren't here?"
"Pretty sure."
Then the girl started running forward like normal despite being in midair! She quickly made it on solid ground and continued to run like she would every night as if Oni Lee wasn't even there. Oni Lee, for his part, stood still and just watched her as she ran, turning his body a bit as she passed by. And as she disappeared down the street he just scratched the back of his head, probably unsure of what to do. Finally, he shrugged and after a second or so his body broke down into carbon ash. Moments later the trio could hear loud bangs getting more and more distant.
"So Jerry, you want to stick around and deal with that bullshit," the first guy asked.
"…so…two days?"
"Ow," a girl moaned in pain, "I thought it shouldn't hurt!" her entire body hurt not bad mind you, but it's like you get a mosquito bite or something and it swells. When that happens and nothing is done, it would just keep on hurting at a consistent level. Sure, you'd eventually get used to it, but if Oni Lee kept at it or ramped it up the pain would probably intensify and she wouldn't have time to get used to it. "I guess if you keep bombing me it would eventually hurt but ow!" She said. She shook her head and sighed. "Moody Blues return." She whispered. Just like that she felt her pain ease. She leaned back in her chair and let out a relieved sigh as she felt Moody blues returning.
She was in the basement of her home, sitting in front of a table with a map of Brockton Bay. Next to the map were notes she made, mostly list of activities she has done and with time and dates jotted down. It was a list of movements, how she moved, how she turned, they were her activities regarding a certain route on a map. Next to that particular notebook was a bunch of notebooks. Lots of notebooks, a literal pile of notes! Each and every single page of every notebook corresponded to a certain part of Brocton Bay complete with times, dates, and activities she has done. She has most of them memorize, but the cheer fact she had to go through the tremendous effort of even doing this…it was borderline madness!
"I need this much effort if I'm ever going to make it," she reminded herself. She could never succeed without it. "I'm not some glorified piece of forensic equipment," she muttered to herself. "I can do this." She felt her strength and spirit uplift…Moody Blues had returned to her body. "I can be hero."
She looked over her plans again. She couldn't get the schematics to the retrofitted building that is now PRT HQ but she did go on tour and she could guess where to go, of course she was dumb enough to not guess that the padlocks were changed weekly if not daily. That's why she stirred trouble with the ABB. Hopefully someone would call the PRT and that would create an opportunity. "I have everything I need…ready Moody Blues?"
"…"
The PRT lobby was packed once again. It was just a normal lobby with chairs, a front desk with two friendly clerks, three groups of PRT Troopers with containment foam dispensers, a gift shop with PRT/ Protectorate merchandise and a crowd of tourist who, naturally, want a tour of the building.
A lone PRT trooper walked inside the building, unarmed. The trooper walked with purpose to the elevator used by official personal. No one paid the trooper any mind. A few troopers looked at the lone trooper's way but when he got to the door, entered a code on a keypad and the door opened without any problems, they saw no problems. The troopers went back to looking at the crowd while conversing amongst themselves. No one noticed the clock counter on the trooper's head.
The PRT trooper in the elevator hit a button, it happened to be the right one so there was no point in changing just yet. The PRT trooper rocked its head side to side, no doubt enjoying the elevator music but the movements didn't match the current music's rhythm. The door opened and the PRT trooper walked out. He walked down the hallway. He needed to go right, but the trooper turned to go left.
The counter on the trooper's forehead paused. The timer changed from two hours ago to twenty-three minutes ago, and the trooper changed into another trooper who was heading in the direction where it had to go, only it looked like it was in a hurry. The counter resumed.
"Let's hurry!" The trooper said, a female it seems, "Oni Lee j…." The volume was lowered. The PRT sped towards a room with a keypad. She entered a password that was sure to change weekly if not daily. The door opened with no problem.
Show time.
The number on the counters disappeared and turned into triangles. The PRT trooper twisted and morphed into a white and blue humanoid figure. It looked like it was clothed with a blue semitransparent piece of clothing or blue cellophane that covered its mouthless head and (presumed) hair down to crotch (giving it a bit of doll like appearance) with an area open between the base of its neck and its crotch revealing white (actual white not pink) body underneath that was slightly toned but you could tell it had a cups beginning to grow, the hands were free of the clothing as well with the white finger free for the world to see. The material ended up making a tent between the humanoid's head and its shoulders like badly designed gimp suit. It had a circular impression with black holes resembling something of speaker for eyes, it had speakers on its shoulders, back hands and knees as well. its legs sort of looked like someone made the thing put on large boots with necks that reached just below the humanoid's waist and then it put on a second pair that ended below the knees. The clock counter had a green screen and the triangles were now zeros. This was Moody Blues.
Moody Blues' chest opened up. From there, Moody Blues pulled out a full iron cylinder and a large green bag, the cavity in its chest closed. Moody Blues placed the cylinder on the door before it closed and moved to the shelves.
The room had shelves filled with the miraculous containment foam. It was a foam the Parahuman Response Team (PRT) used to contain parahuman. It would stick to anything, expand, restrain, and even allow people to breathe through it even if their mouth or nose was covered with it. Moody Blues quickly began to stash the containers into the bag. That's when the alarms went off.
"ALERT! ALERT! INTRUDER IN STORAGE ROOM ZETA," a computerized voice sounded off as an annoying alarm blared. Moody blues was only able to fill the bag with four containers the size of the giant protein powder containers. Moody Blues turned and ran outside and ran left down the hall. It kept running as it came to a window. It looked down, four floors is a long a drop. Moody Blues' vision "zoomed" to the floor next to the building where an etched out 'X' could barely be seen. Vision back to normal, Moody Blues extended its hands with the bag out the window and then fell through the building! Its body passed through whatever solid object was underneath it!
As soon as it reached the bottom floor where the X was, the body (and numbers on the counter) changed into that of girl with blue sweatpants, blue jacket with a hoodie, and face covered with a ski mask. A triangle appeared and the numbed started PLAYing forward. Moody Blue walked forward while putting the bag straps over its neck and just as it was about to turn it was forced to a PAUSE.
"Halt," it didn't need to turn to recognize the voice. "Wow that almost never works," it was a man dressed in red with a red visor, Assault. He was one of the bay's local speedster. No one is really sure who in the bay has the title of "Fastest Parahuman in Brocton Bay," but he was a pretty good contender. "Usually they just run. So…who are you…and what's with…you know…the numbers on the head?"
VOLUME+
PLAY
Moody Blues walked forward and turned her head to the right to face Assault. "My Name is Moody Blues."
PAUSE
"…Wait, that's it? Moody Blues?"
FAST-FORWARD…PLAY.
"Yes."
PAUSE
"…Well then Miss Moody Blues, what about the numbers?"
"…"
"Okay…you know you can't out run me, right?"
REWIND…PLAY
"Watch me."
VOLUME–
FAST-FORWARD
Moody blues turned and began to run; however, it was just a normal run there was no way a normal would be enough to get away from Assault.
"Well…that's a sad sight," he said with his arms crossed as he watched Moody Blues run away. "Whelp," he began to stretch, "time to earn my check," he said while he stretched and flexed. After he was done, he began with a slow jog before he began to accelerate into a full-on sprint to catch up to Moody Blues.
It wasn't that hard, he simply recycled the kinetic energy that would normally be absorbed into the ground right back to his feetand the air that would normally be resisting him was simply gliding off him as well cooling him. By the time he caught up, like two minutes later, he was just about halfway ready to begin sweating. He slowed down a bit and jogged right next Moody Blues. Honestly, assault looked like he was just doing a slow jog while Moody Blues looked as if she was trying too hard.
"So…you wanna play tag?"
"…"
"AH!" He said in fake realization and snapped his right fingers, "the strong mysterious silent type, it's cool I respect that," he said tapping his chest.
"…"
"Out of curiosity what was the plan? Just run as fast as you can?"
"…"
"Okay…you going left or rig-oh just forward huh," he said as they crossed the street, people already getting out of their way.
"…"
This was starting to get a bit too unsettling for Assault. For one she was clearly jogging pretty fast, but she wasn't huffing or making any sort of noise for that matter, she just silently ran as if she didn't need to breathe. "…you know…eventually you'll have to talk again. And let me tell you, it easier to talk if you aren't winded. So…why don't we just," he was about to touch Moody Blues, "stop right here!"
FAST-FORWARD
Moody Blues sped up and Assault's lazy assault missed. "Oh, you got so more juice huh?" Assault said as he sped up. "Normally I'd be game but right now you're a danger to everyone on the sidewalk soooo…nothing personal!" He tried to touch Moody Blues again, but Moody Blues sped up again. "Okay, you got a lot more juice," he admitted. "But I'm not giving up!" And that's how it went.
Assault would get close about ready to touch her, and then she sped up even more. Assault got serious when it kept happening and now he was just trying his best to even keep with her. "Jesus, I thought I was fast," he huffed.
"Assault you got her yet," Armsmaster, the ass already knowing the answer.
"Not yet oh fearless leader! At least she changed to running on the bicycle lane!"
"Where you guy's at," Velocity, another guy in red, well at least he got V's on him. He wasn't strict for man army man but he was built…more so than Assault.
"We're heading up Lancaster. Ugh I hate to ask, puppy you around?"
"Need me to clean up your mess?" Oh wonderful pup, boy does it sting but please be merciful.
"Yes please."
"Hold on I see her," Velocity said, "Alright I'll see if I can get her to stop!" Velocity power was that he changed into a state where physics applied differently to him, the result being that Velocity is able to run really fast. He can't do damage but on the bright side physical attacks aren't much on him either. So him running into a girl who was oddly jugging at the speed of light wouldn't do much to him, let's hope she's fine.
"Godspeed," Assault said dropping his speed a bit.
Velocity charged straight at Moody Blues, arms out, probably intent on catching her when she turned. Moody Blues didn't react, she just kept running. 3…2…1! He collided with Moody Blues!
"FUCK!" he yelled, as he fell over her, Assault naturally jumping over him.
"V-man you alright," Assault asked as he sped up in order to catch up with Moody Blues.
"Fuck I think she dislocated my shoulder!" The hell? That shouldn't have happened!
"I'm close, I'll treat him," Miss Militia said, the woman who represented the American way, simply solve your problems with a gun.
"Not the time" Assault muttered "So what, V? Brute/mover?"
"Felt like it," Velocity answered, "probably a breaker too, uh fuck!"
"Great," he said, then he noticed something, for a brief moment there was a shimmer in Moody Blues Appearance, he had seen before, right before she started running on the bike lane. Velocity looked up, nothing left, it was blocked off and under construction, but to the right there were moving cars and it was about to turn red. RIGHT IT IS!
"I think she's making a right!"
"I see her," puppy coming in from the right side up front, he black and blue circuity look suit making her easy to spot. Alright let's do this! As soon as the cars stopped, Assault jumped on the roof's right when Moody Blues turned right at such a quick speed that it almost seemed impossible without sliding or skid marks, yet she did it! He lunged forward, arms out, it seems Moody Blues caught on and tried to speed up even more. Sadly, Assault already figured out her route, so he still managed to grab her right leg.
"Gotcha!" He cheered as he used his power. Moody Blues came to a stop…more was supposed to happen, "What the-" then Moody Blues started running again, "SHIT!" Assault cursed as he used his powers to both slow her down and to hold on to her leg, but she kept walking unimpeded while dragging him along.
"WAIT STOP PLEASE!" Assault begged as he continued to hold her leg but she was speeding up.
"Assault quit acting stupid and stop her already!"
"I'm not! My powers aren't working here pup! OW!" He was scraping on the ground, sure he could use his power to slide on it as if it was oiled but he was trying to stop Moody Blues!
"Crap, how do I stop her," Battery contemplated.
"Don't charge her, trust me," Velocity quickly advised her over their comms, "GAAAAAAAAAH!"
"I just set his shoulder," MM pitched in. "We're heading to your location now!"
"I'm five minutes out, contain her," Armsmaster said.
"DYING TRYING SIR! AaaaH!"
"Uuuuuh," Battery said as she got in front of Moody Blues who turned left on the bike line. "Screw it. STOP!" Battery put her arms around Moody Blues and dug in her heels. Sadly, that choice was a mistake. "OW! OW! OW!" Moody Blues was still walking forward as if nothing was there.
Everyone who happened to be watching were wondering if it was some sort of joke or if they were filming some sort of commercial. It was pretty comical. Both, Assault and Battery were trying their hardest to stop a person dressed in blue and were failing so hard that it was practically laughable. Assault still hanging on to her foot and Battery grabbing her around her waist and getting rubbed in a bad way by Moody Blues elbows and jabbed pretty hard by her knees.
"FUCK OW!"
"Yeah she doesn't like it rough!"
"REALLY? NOW? OW!"
"EVERY BIT HELPS!" Moody Blues shimmered again. "Uh oh."
"UH OH WHAT? OW! STOP ALREADY!" She did and even put her hands up. Then she began to spin. "Huh?" Battery quickly gasped, "no no no no no!" This time Assault did use his power to make slid on the ground. Moody Blues began to increase her spinning, which was weird, the way she was moving didn't justify her spinning that fast, yet she clearly was! Then she made an abrupt stop that flung Battery off her!
"AAAAH!" Battery hit the wall!
"Pup!" Assault let go and went to Battery. Moody Blues took the opportunity to keep jogging at a fast pace.
"I'm fine, after her!" She yelled as she got to her feet. Assault nodded and ran after Moody Blues. Said Blues turned right into an alleyway, there was a loud shriek from a girl. Assault made it to the Alleyway first and turned to see a girl with blond hair and pink glasses sitting on the wall breathing fast and Moody Blue down by the other exit of the Alley. Assault felt that…something was off with her but shook his head as he ran passed her.
"I see her," Armsmaster said. Moody Blues made a right and her green bag looked…off and right behind her was a man in midnight blue armor riding a midnight blue motorcycle.
"Miss, you okay," Battery asked the girl quickly.
"Yes, after her!"
Battery nodded and sped up with her powers to catch up to Assault. Pretty soon, both Assault and Battery were cleared the alley. Neither of them bothered to take a look at a piece of trash hiding a large green bag. The girl stood up and tossed her decorative pink glasses and removed the very itchy blonde wig to reveal her long dark curly hair. She gave her head a few flicks to get all the strands out.
Her name is Taylor Hebert.
"Just as planned," I muttered as I mentally called Moody Blues back to me. Moody Blues stopped the recording and simply disappeared from their visions. I could only imagine their confusion. I stripped the green bag that was over the yellow bag. I took my jacket off, it was yellow with the point of being obvious and pulled a dark hoodie from my dark sweatshirt over my head.
I felt as if my strength returned…Moody Blues was back.
I walked out of the alleyway and calmly walked to the nearest bus stop. The bus came just as Velocity stopped near me looking around, no doubt looking for "Moody Blues." I'm sure they will figure out what my power is. It is honestly very hard to take advantage of. I got on the bus, paid the fair and walked to the back of the bus where it was spacious. I saw Assault and Battery running out of the alleyway one of them holding my blonde wig and looking around frantically. I looked away as the bus moved forward.
Moody Blues…I'm not sure what to call it, it's like a spirit that always stands by me so…Stand maybe? After…after what happened to me three months ago…after I was stuffed in that locker…sometime when I was in a comma I got Moody Blues. When I woke up I didn't feel anything. It wasn't until I feel down the stairs a week later that Moody Blues appeared.
This weird humanoid…it was weird…it's arms we're mine, it's legs mine, what it saw and heard I saw and heard. This "Stand" is an extension of my being, it is a representation of me. It's not hard to guess what it represents.
The whole time I was bullied, the whole time I took the abuse without fighting, I held on to the memories of my time with Emma. We were as close as sisters, she helped me deal with my mom's death, she was the one who understood me when I was a chatter box. I held on to those memories hoping she would come around, reconcile with me and apologize for the horrible things she's done to me. She made it pretty clear those days were over when she shoved into that locker. But this Stand, this extension of myself, it represents the me that held desperately clutched those memories, the part of me that desperately wanted to relive those memories. To relive the time before mom died…
Xxx
I had gotten off the bus and walked home. It wasn't even lunch yet so I was sure there wasn't a chance in hell anyone would call me out on not being at school. I walked all the way down the street until I ended up at my house. I made my way inside with the yellow bag, man was it heavy, then again it is technically tinker tech that is regarded as a miracle so it was bound to be heavy.
I locked the door and began to make my way to the stairs that led to the basement. I just robbed the protectorate and proved my metal. I'm…I'm honestly not sure why I did it. I know my Stand can handle bullets and grenades well, but it's moot if my enemies can get around my Stand. I'm not as sturdy. My Stand has good reflexes but I honestly don't want to test it or assume I can protect all of me from bullets. As for strength, it was about as strong as an adult who works out I guess. I tried throwing stones at target and it was about as accurate as I am. I don't think I would get far if I depended on my Stand to fight my battles and I wasn't comfortable with guns. Maybe if I got rubber rounds or something. But for now I could use the containment foam to fight. I don't have a dispenser but I can probably work something out if I get creative.
I guess I could join the wards and say that my actions were to prove myself.
I made it to the basemen but the lights were already on. Did I forget to turn them on?
"This is pretty good work," a voice said. My body froze. In front of me was a man sitting in my chair at the other side of the desk, reading my notes. His voice was gentle and at the same time I felt like the calm voice was suffocating me.
"MOODY BLUES!" My Stand came out, ready to attack. The man, simply didn't react. Now that I looked at him, he wore a tight black suit that looked a shiny despite the material, almost a gimp suit but far from it, he had a white snake coiling around his suit.
"Ah, so that's the apparition, very unique. Let me assure, I am no enemy of yours nor do I intend to be, Miss Herbert…or is Hee-bert?" He calmly stood up from the chair and began to walk to the side of the table. "Either way, I mean you no harm. In fact, I have a proposal for a person like you. For someone who has…dedication," he observed as he looked at my pile of notebooks, "strong dedication. I could use that in my Organization…. Are you aware of who I am?"
I shook my head. I have obsoletely no idea who this man was or why he was in my house. But I know he couldn't be a friend.
"I go by the name Coil. Maybe that helps." Coil, one of the three, real, powers in the bay. All I know is that he employs mercenaries with top of the line gear, even tinker tech weapons. No one is really sure what is plan is, or even how he earns money. Hiring mercenaries can't be cheap. "Are you…aware of my public persona?"
"Yeah…you're a villain."
"And so are you, as of eight minutes ago," he said picking up a manila folder that wasn't on my desk and read from it. "The PRT has officially named the Brute, Mover, Breaker, and maybe even Master, currently under the alias of 'Moody Blues' a villain. Highest threat assessment, 5. Or C I suppose."
"No, I did it to be a hero!"
"In what manner," he calmly inquired, "in what way do you plan to pursue justice? If being virtuous and fighting crime is all you desired, then joining the PRT should have been your course of action. Not relinquishing them of their prized containment foam. The triumvirate, the big three, the pillars of the justice are among a group of the planet's strongest individuals and even they can't eradicate crime…you are just one girl with a unique set of powers that sadly isn't combat based. What exactly is it that you hope to accomplish on your own?"
"I can attack villains when they least expect it, and then-"
"Attack them in their own home? When they're asleep? Vulnerable? You do know what the unwritten rules are, don't you?"
"It's bullshit," I answered. I found it online, a set of rules that varies from city to city, rules that PRT and Protectorate don't acknowledge but tend to follow. A villain, someone who has killed, someone even the police could find can just go home and take his or her mask off and not worry about a thing. It's disgusting. One of the reasons I didn't apply to the wards right away. Yet everything Coil said was right. I can't change anything on my own.
"Yes, quite right," Coil agreed, "but I think you'll find that the golden rule applies here. What you do onto others, others can do onto you. For example. I'm right here," point. If I attack others like the way I described, others can do the same to me. But I too-
"I'll admit you were clever. You picked a street with no cameras, courtesy of a brawl two weeks ago between E88 and ABB, instigated by an E88 cape. The odd thing, the cape in question had a counter on his head and the actions he performed were exactly the same as the one he did a year ago. The bus you took was a worn bus with the camera stolen, courtesy of a person wearing blue, again a counter on their head. And the items left at the scene by the suspected master…not a single trace of DNA. You created your own blind spots and hid your tracks very well." Okay but what did any of that have to do with why you are here?
"What do you want with me?"
"All in due time, Miss Herbert…again I'm not sure about the pronunciation."
"…Hee-bert. How did you find me?"
"Oh I knew from the very beginning that you are a parahuman."
"WHAT?" What hell! He knew? Wait from the very beginning? Somehow, I don't think he means the actions I took today.
"A person dressed in blue going out in the middle of night perfoming weird obscure actions with seemingly no purpose on almost every street. Granted you picked the times well but it's still suspicious, either you were a nut or you're a parahuman. I'll also say this, you lucked out in choice miss Hee-bert," he pronounced it right. He picked up a two manila folders.
"…how so?"
"Here," he approached offering the folders, "review these folders. These were confidential and hard to acquire…I think you'll find them quite…enlightening." As he got close, he got inside my range.
"MOODY BLUES," I shouted and Moody blues fired off a punch aimed at Coil's head. The fist about to connect! "Wh-at?" Was I could say. A hand had appeared out of Coil's head and caught Moody Blue's fist.
"I'll repeat myself one last time Miss Hebert," Coil said as the more and more of what the fist was connected to came out. It was a humanoid figure with twin snakes for head. The Snake head were conjoined by the head and each only had one eye that didn't fit a snake, it looked like something that would fit a chameleon. Its entire body was covered in slick black oily looking scales that layered in a triangular pattern. "I am not an enemy nor do I intend to be, but should the need arise, I will use my 'Overkill' to defend myself," right after he said that, Overkill used its free hand delivered a swift jab to Moody Blues' Abdomen.
"UG!" I felt like someone jabbed me, while Moody Blues keeled over a bit, Overkill let go of Moody Blue's hand and pushed Moody Blues away. I felt as if I was thrown back too! I landed at the steps of my stairs with my butt, my back just tapping the stairs.
"Grenades, bullets, even the powers of other heroes may not have an effect on a Stand, but another stand is quite a different story. And the thing about my stand Miss Herbert, is that has abilities that are both useful inside and outside of combat. Believe me, Miss Herbert, you can't beat me.
"From what I've observed, your stand's power is more or less 'replay,' you can play back any the actions of any individual, provided that something is there to replay back at the specific time you initiate your replay. From there you can 'rewind' or 'fast-forward' as much as you want. If Assault's testimony about his chase is to be trusted, you even have the ability to raise or lower the volume. There doesn't seem to be a clear limit to your stands abilities, but you can clearly tell that it wasn't made for a fight, especially it's physical abilities not to mention your range seems to be one meter. But you can extend your range using your replay, you're even able to replay other actions that happen to be in Moody Blue's path. While it seems that Moody Blues can't attack or perform any other actions while in replay, it does seem to become a bit sturdier, even against other stands. That's why you've been performing obscured actions for the past three months…you created a collage for your stand to use. I must say, I'm very impressed. I doubt anyone else would have the same amount of patience or mental fortitude to turn this power into a weapon."
"You know what I can do," I stated.
"Yes. I'll level with you, I won't tell you what Overkill's power is, but I can tell you this. The power allows me to, direct fate, send it down a more desirable path."
"…control fate?"
"To a degree," he clarified as he walked forward I tensed, my Stand getting ready to attack.
"You sure you want to try that again," he asked as he continued to approach me. He bent down slightly, and handed me the manila colored folders. "I am certain you will find these to be quite riveting."
I really wanted to try hitting him again. His voice, so calm, so smooth, almost as if was coiling around my neck, it was so soothing…sweet and terrible like a madman's lullaby. I couldn't help but feel threatened. But he was right, even his stands physic looked stronger than my stands, I doubt I could take him outright. And that power…direct fate down a more desirable path? How does that work?
I couldn't think of a way that would work or how I could possibly get around a power like that, so I relented and accepted the folders, I still kept my stand on guard and read the first file.
"Madcap?" It was a picture of an old villain. Someone who used to break people out of transportation vans to the Birdcage, a place designed for the worst of the worst of parahuman. One way in no way out. No one really knows what happened to him, if he was caught or killed.
"Yes, no doubt you have heard of him. In fact, he's here in the bay."
"He is," I asked in surprise, why would someone like him be here? "Why?"
"For a new life. Why, you met him just today."
"When?" He motioned the document. I took the hint and flipped the page. The next page was a smiling image of Assault.
"When he chased your stand," he answered. "When Madcap was apprehended by Battery and Legend, he made an offer, his power as hero instead of prisoner with life sentence in the birdcage. They took it."
"And Battery is okay with this?" I asked with an incredulous stare. I mean I always thought they were siblings or something, playing the who I hate you but love you bit. Well the guy went with Assault and changed the meaning of Battery's name so I guess the whole playful love thing comes from his side.
"Why of course," he gestured at the folder, I flipped it, and I found the unmistakable image of Assault in his civies with a woman, they were getting married I put together. "She married him." I was in shock.
"Why...why would they…."
"For Battery, I don't have clue. For the Protectorate, it's simple really. There are too many villains and too few heroes. This was an obvious choice for them. With this act they take a villain off the street and introduce a powerful hero. It's something they do often. Next folder," he said. I close the folder and looked at the next one.
"Shadow Stalker," I said out loud, I knew about her. I think she killed someone and then got forced into the wards. I figured his point was in the next page so I didn't bother waiting for him. I dropped the folder when I saw that picture on the next page. It was a picture with Sophia Hess, the girl he put in a locker full of used tampons. "What? But…how?"
"Yes…she is in the wards, I'm afraid. I am well aware of your history together."
"So this is why…" I said, "this is why she got away scot-free. Why she is able to get away with the horrible things she does."
"Partly," Coil said, "I was the one who covered up the locker incident."
"…what?"
"I believe I already told you, didn't I? I knew from the very beginning that you were a parahuman," I felt my blood run cold. Then that means he knew since the hospital, even before I came up with a plan…before I started making a collage., he knew I was a parahuman. He's been watching me ever since.
"Why?" Was all I was able to ask, keep an eye a cape straight forward, but why hide the locker incident, why deny me my chance at retribution?
"A hero who bullies a girl and then the incident gets covered up. Wouldn't that be horrifying," Coil asked instead of replying. "As you have seen the protectorate is a little desperate these days, and I want to change that. Believe me, whether you join me or not, you will get justice for what a hero has done to you, and through that act, the PRT will have no choice but to restructure and a person of interest will take over, someone…under my thumb."
"How?" I asked, "My dad already-"
"He agreed not to sue the school, not the girls in question. I have evidence Miss Hebert. Evidence I collected for this event. A lawyer will contact your father tonight, explain the details and go pro bono, of course he is being paid by me. And given that female waste products was used, this can and will be construed as biological weapon, and it will be leaked that Sophia is Shadow Stalker, and the thought running through everyone's mind, how can the PRT hide this? With so many things going wrong for the PRT, too much bad publicity…"
"…whoever is in charge will probably be fired," I finished.
"Yes."
"But…why? Why do this?" He stood up and walked back to the table where my map was and motioned me over. I followed.
"Because of this," he answered as he motioned the map. "I want to rule Brockton Bay, remove everything that plagues it, and improve it. In order to do that I need to control the PRT, albeit, in an indirect manner. But that's not all, I also to need to control crime. This is where you come in."
"Me?"
"Yes. Tell me. If the law is not in your favor what do you do?"
"…You argue the facts," I replied, not seeing how this connected.
"Quite so. But if the facts are not in your favor, then what?"
"Then you argue the law?"
"Yes. Now, million dollar question. If both the law and the facts are not in the favor, what you do?" I shrugged.
"Bang your hands on the table and yell loudly?" That drew a chuckle.
"Yes, that's how it goes. But, there is no set answer. You can alter your approach, maybe change the game-"
"or ignore rules," I said.
"Yes. As I said before, the triumvirate are the pillars justice stands on in this country. Villain are their natural counterpart. Obviously, a cape alone cannot make a gang successful. They need men, they need minions to be the back bone of their organization, and the villains are the pillars for that organization. Villains are the banner under which thugs and crooks unite under." He motioned my map. It was just a map of Brockton Bay with a few notes and different territories owned by the gang represented with yarn and pushpins.
"Now imagine," he began to pull out the push pins and remove the yarn, "that all other banners were removed, the criminals had lost their pillars. Azn Bad Boys, Empire 88, the merchants, all gone, leaving only me. What would happen?"
"You'd be the only pillar left, everyone would gather under you, you'd control crime," I said with realization.
"That's right," he said with unmistakable mirth in his tone. "The underworld with the left," he motioned with his left hand, "and the heroes with the right," he motioned his right hand. "A few bribes to the right hands, put the right people in place, under my thumb of course, and I'll control Brockton Bay. I'll improve it."
"But…if that's the case why not eradicate crime?"
"Simple," he said, "you have heard of the invisible hand, correct?"
"yes, it's an economic metaphor by Adam Smith. Basically, individuals pursuing their own interest will benefit society because society is regulating itself. A baker would bake bread because there's an interest for it, when there's a competition between bakers one would lower the price to draw customers, another would simply offer larger portions."
"Exactly. As long as the demand exist then someone will meet that demand. And for one reason or another people will lust for sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, you name it. That's why it's better to control crime rather than eradicate it. Give it a small outlet for it to exist and ensure that it will never grow."
"And you want my help to do it?"
"Yes, you already expressed a desire to do that which is necessary, to ignore the rules that remain 'unwritten.' With your help and with the help of Overkill's unique power, we can achieve that dream. Now I ask you, Taylor, will you help me restore Brockton Bay back to the city it used to be?"
"…You said you'll improve it…can you help the Ferry? It's my dad's pet project."
"Of course, I want to improve the bay. Fixing the ferry is one step, another is creating factories, having old abandoned buildings destroyed, reconstructed or retrofitted, and have more money move through Brocton Bay. We can discuss your role in my organization at more convenient date. But for now I would like to know, will you join me," he put his hand out for me to reach.
I took it.
"Yes," answered.
"Splendid."
Author's note:
I always felt that Moody Blues and Taylor fit quite well. Moody Blues is Abbacchio's stand in Jojo part 5. I added volume control and made it more durable during replay, stats stay the same. While Abbacchio did use his stand in a cool way in his fight with Illuso and his stand Man in the Mirror, I feel that Taylor would be more proactive in how she would fight with her stand instead of simply just using it has punching bag and boxer. I figured she would pull something like this off.
Coil, I gave him a stand because blah blah. Overkill's musical reference is Overkill by Collin Hay...what? There's a stand in part 8 named Doggy Style where the stand basically unwinds the user, nothin sex or dog related. Coil's power is the same only now he has a stand that's a close range power type.
Well that's it for this oneshot, if you have any combos you'd like to see or a stand you think is under-appreciated and think a certain individual can make it work put in the review.
I'm thinking of doing Greg with Hamon or Another Taylor only with Super Fly.
Whelp, as always, i need stop writing at night and try write during the day, especially now that i started night shifts... WELL NIGHT, SEE YOU YOU LATER! REVIEW!