Disclaimer: worm doesn't belong to me. It is the sole property of wildbow. I don't intend to make any profit from it.
CHAPTER 1
Taylor Hebert was a perfectly ordinary teenager other than the fact that she had undergone a trigger event a few days back. A trigger event is the worst experience of life for a first generation cape as a consequence of all the negative emotion, stress and horrible moments culminated in a single event.
Taylor has been suffering from a case of chronic bullying spreading out for almost two years at the hand of her former best friend and now her foremost tormentor, Emma Barnes. Along with her two 'best friends' Sophia Hess and Madison Clement, all of them have been making her life hell for two years. Worst of all the teachers at Winslow high school refused to even believe her as it was a socially awkward teenager's word against the queens of social hierarchy of school. Emma was a beautiful girl who has a exemplary family background and often did local modelling jobs. Sophia Hess was the star of school track team. Madison was a cute girl with bubbly personality. All in all these girls were somebody all other girls at high school dreamed to be.
What the faculty didn't know was that these three girls were far from what they portrayed themselves to be.
The principle, one Mrs. Blackwell, refused to even consider Taylor's accusations against the trio. Mr. Gladly a popular teacher refused to even acknowledge the fact that the trio would ever consider to do something so horrendous. Perhaps the only class she could find peace was in was computer class.
A few days before, she has been pushed inside a locker filled with bloody tampons, garbage, all sort of nasty things that get you infected on exposure. The culprits behind this attack were of course the trio. For more than 3 hours she remained inside , clawing at the door, screaming herself hoarse but nobody came. Add to the filthy garbage there were flies ,maggots, all sort of insects. She has cried till her eyes were dry. All this has eventually caused her to trigger.
She has eventually discovered this fact while she was in hospital. The attending nurse told her that she was brought in by the janitor and her wounds been infected. They had to put her on sedatives.
Her father has later been informed and she eventually has to tell him about the abuse she has suffered at school. He had been furious. The school reluctantly took responsibility for this event though it only covered her medical expenses and provided her with new locker. In return they asked to keep this whole incident quiet to spare themselves embarrassment and any further action.
Again her father has been furious but she has pleaded him to remain quiet after it became clear that there was no evidence to collaborate the story that trio put her in locker. Her father has talked to Alan Barnes, Emma's father. But instead Alan himself has threatened to countersue them for false allegations. He also made it obvious that a drawn out court case, which he exactly intended to do, will destroy them financially. In the end her father was forced to do nothing. Taylor has never seen her father this much angry.
During the weeks she remained at home to recover from her trauma, she had explored her power further only to get disappointed when she found out that her power only gave her information on herself. Apparently her powers were capable of giving her information about other powers and she could detect any cape in two-mile radius. Information consisted of how to use said ability and its weakness. Her power would be a goldmine in hands of PRT or any other gangs. But alone it wasn't worth shit.
How did she know this? Well she was a intelligent person with internet access and after scrolling through the PRT forums she found out that almost every new cape in Brockton Bay eventually joined a gang or PRT. Lone capes do not survive for more than 6 months. Lone capes like Parian were only left alone because of uselessness of their power in battle and her not imitating any fights. Her power made her a priority recruitment. Thank the gods that no other person knew about her trigger.
Although her power was being a nuisance and after getting general info about her own power, she has strained herself rather desperately for further, well anything. Her childhood wish has always been to have powers like Alexandria, Legend, Armsmaster etc.
This was where things got interesting and her powers only told her Data Not Accessible. She has repeatedly got the same answer.
Until a week ago. Due to her injuries she has been confined to the house and had not been able to test her power on other parahumans. Two days ago she had been cutting salad and accidently cut her finger. Immediately she put her bleeding finger in mouth and that was when her awareness expanded. It was as if a veil of fogginess has been lifted from her mind.
Range has been expanded. Further data accessible.
A jolt of shock went through her as information about all other capes begin pouring in. Their identities, powers, weakness, their intentions etc. She has nearly fainted in shock.
And then a inhuman scream has left her mouth when information about one Shadow Stalker began pouring through.
Her tormentor was a ward. That day she has cried herself to sleep. Any trust she had in authorities was shattered. For the first time in her life, she felt completely alone. No one would actually help her. Not PRT, not police, not school authorities. As for her father, her relationship with him has been severely been damaged after her mother's death. Her relationship with him was almost cold. She had no friends. The trio made sure of that.
She felt numb. Thoughts of Sophia, PRT and betrayal were going through her mind. Tears of frustration and helplessness had already died out. All now that remained was anger, hatred and revenge. If the official authorities were themselves protecting her tormentors, then she would take matters in her own hands. All thoughts of reconciliation with Emma were gone. All that remained was hot burning fury.
The next day she would firmly tell her father and start running in morning and evening. He would object. She would not relent. Until he gave up.
Which brings us to today and this moment.
It had been a week since she started running.
She has gone for her evening run when she saw her first parahuman fight of her life. Glory girl was fighting Stormtiger and Alabaster. Stormtiger was in direct combat with Glory Girl and was on defensive while Alabaster provided support.
Taylor has not used her power since she found out Sophia's secret afraid of more betrayals. But now situation demanded it.
She activated her power and immediately information came rushing in.
Glory Girl power were well known as a lesser Alexandria package of flight strength and invulnerability. What was not widely known was she has a aura also which made enemies fear her and inspired awe in friends and public. Apparently she could tone it down or dial it up but not completely shut it down. Taylor didn't knew this information until her power informed her. She frowned. She couldn't feel aura affecting her at all.
Master powers did not work on her.
Wow. This could be a huge advantage to her. She was starting to like her powers. Also Glory Girl invulnerability was due to her forcefield which was not absolute. It would go down for a second or two if hit with enough power.
Stormtiger power was aerokinesis. He had control over air.
Alabaster power restored him in pristine condition in every 4.3 seconds. All his wounds physical and mental would be healed.
Taylor watched as battle took place. Glory Girl has just pounded Alabaster into nearby building. Stormtiger manifested an air claw and attacked glory girl. She was hit in back but her forcefield protected her. The battle was in favour of glory girl.
Taylor stayed hidden in shadows. Eventually Stormtiger and Alabaster retreated. Glory Girl chased after them. After a few minutes there was nobody but Taylor in the vicinity of the fight scene. She went to the scene. There was blood present on the wall in which alabaster had been slammed in.
A strange idea begin to form in her mind. Her power had expanded when she has first ingested her own blood. What would happen if she ingested another cape's blood? She approached the wall and wiped some blood with her fingers. With trembling hand she put her fingers in her mouth.
Extrapolation.
Synchronisation.
Expansion.
Agreement.
She could feel it. Alabaster power was beginning to affect her. Her wounds were all but gone. Granted they had healed a lot since her discharge from hospital. But now, there was no sign of her wounds. No scars. Her skin around her knuckles and nails was spotless.
Extrapolation.
Synchronisation.
Expansion.
Agreement.
She gasped. Apparently at some point before her arrival, Stormtiger's blood has also been splattered on the same wall. How that happened, she didn't know. Now, she could feel the air around her. Her lungs were gasping for air as if she was breathing for first time.
It felt wonderful.
She felt tears coming out of her eyes. For the first time in very long time she didn't feel powerless. She has been granted a power that had limitless potential. It was something that she could never have imagined. A smirk formed on her face. She could become the next Eidolon. Now, she would not only take her revenge but also she would clean up her city. The gangs were choking her city. She would become a new beacon of hope that PRT could never hope to be. They were far too much interested in keeping the status quo with villains. She would become a true hero.
With these thoughts in her mind, she began trekking home.