Arc I : The Foundation

Part. I

Earth Bet, 08 April, 2011, 10:45AM, Location : Brockton Bay

It has been more than ten hours ever since I arrive in this place. Right now I'm in middle of Brockton Bay, in one of cafe that I found attracting quite a lot of costumer, wearing black leather jacket that topped white t-shirt, sunglasses that cover my inhumane eyes, blue jeans and white sneakers

Honestly I did not notice the change on my eyes until yesterday when I looked at the mirror, and I was quite panicked to see such inhumane organs was part of me. But only for a moment as I realize that my black sclerae and red eyes is actually didn't do anything and functioning like normal one

It will twitch and spread red "vein" around my eyelids just like Ghoul in Tokyo Ghoul when I use some power but that's it, nothing else

And I must say that I'm quite grateful that my ROB allow me to pack some clothes, so I can bring, not just dropping me without anything. At least I don't have to worry about clothes for now, and I always can go to laundry to clean them by myself if I want

My place, my secret lair, is like what I thought, it was located beneath the small mountain that outside Brockton Bay. It will take an hour from there to reach this city using car, and depend on the traffic it can take longer

Not like it matter, thanks to Blink I able to teleport to any line of my sight and also accurate and realistic picture or live camera feed, and I also already tags few areas using Beacon that allow me to teleport to those tagged places in instant

As for Brockton Bay... Well it's... To put it simply... To put it in a word... It just like how canon describe it

It was a shit

I shit you not -it was a shit and I shit you not, heh I like the sounds of that- it really is shit
Make no mistake the city is big, like really big, bigger than my own hometown obviously, and their area that looks nice and good as well. The Boardwalk for one is a good place to walk among, while it doesn't have unique or uncommon aura like others but it still decent and good place

Unfortunately the darker place is surpassing the good one...

The Boardwalk is good, like really good. The Protectorate is the one that manage that area, and it was the nicest neighborhoods. The Boardwalk is the smallest part of town and definitely the most wealthy. It's a tourist trap, for anyone crazy enough to holiday in the Bay. Anyway, the City's major cash centres, the gangs know better than to go there. They know if they truly threaten the city's livelihood then the gloves come off and chances are the reinforcements from around the country will come down here and tear them apart

So instead the gang territory grows around the boardwalk. Empire 88 is the biggest gang in town, they have more capes on roster than the local Protectorate. E88 owns some of the nicer neighborhoods around the Medhall building. They're a bunch of super powered neo-nazis which makes them the enemy of about half of the residents of the city.

The Merchants are the oldest, they keep to the slums. That means they squat in whatever abandoned warehouse nobody has kicked them out of yet, most of their drug dealing happened on the other side of the boardwalk though.

ABB is a bit different from the others. It's still a gang and it's just as shitty, if not worse. ABB holds half of the docks and controls most of the minority neighborhoods, they spend most of their time feuding with E88 and stomping Merchants for fun

So you see my point? Not just the area that the Protectorate or supposed to be "police" for cape is smaller but if you try to take a look, the neighborhoods that ruled by gang actually more lively than the one "police" manage, especially Empire

That was wrong, that was very wrong. It not supposed to be like that. I still can tolerate if the owner of the area is some vigilante or someone like Skitter who have strong moral sense, but nazi? Really? Really?

That was proof of how fucked up Brockton Bay is

The ABB... Their territory is not as big as Empire, not as peaceful as them as well, but the people in there is more like Yakuza than normal people

And as Asian myself I admit that place was not proper area to live, not if you want your children to grow without fucked in the head

The less things said about the Merchant's area is better...

As I sit in cafe and enjoying mug of coffee while reading newspaper, I can't help but shake my head in exasperation

This city is falling, and falling really bad

The canon not exaggerating about how bad this city is, really, it was really that bad. The economic was there but slowly start to crumble, only the Warlord that have control over most of them such as Medhall, a company that unfortunately led by Max Anders who secretly is Kaiser

Then there also Coil's organization who create fortress for Endbringer Shelter or something like that

By any right this city should fall to the villains clutch, heck this city even have reputation as capital of Neo-Nazi to the World! And yet, it did not

The PRT and Protectorate still able to fight them... For all their losing and desperate situation they still able to struggle and hold control of this city

In my opinion there three factors that make that happened

First is New Wave, mainly Panacea. Like it or not, Panacea is the greatest healer in the World, she can do anything other than brain -a limitation that she set upon herself- or raising people back from the dead -at least not on her own in that part- or at least the World know her like that. And above all that Panacea is hero, and she stays in Brockton Bay, she should not be touched by any mean, if she did then let just say bad things happen to those who did

Make no mistake the New Wave themselves is helping, they're strong, experienced, and have reputation, they provide enough support for this city. However, compared to Panacea? Nope. Thus, her presence here preventing from things escalating too much because the villain afraid they will catch her in their crossfire, then making Triumvirate visit this place personally

Brockton Bay only know Glory Girl or other perhaps, Panacea is background character to them maybe or something that overshadowed at least. However, to the World? The World will gladly kill something like New Wave as long as she keeps helping people

The Second, the villain holding back and quite content with what they have. Why not? This city is mostly theirs after all, by any right they already won in shadow, in public they may still fight against heroes but in reality? Nope, not anymore, and the Protectorate know this as well, that is why they prevent things from escalating too much, if they did then many people will die from the rampage

The Third, Cauldron who playing from shadow, Brockton Bay is one of their experiment after all, but at same time they cannot afford to let it fall to full villain clutch like Nilbog, it will be decreased moral of public to PRT and Protectorate further

"Here your exchange sir, thank you." She said as she gives me the money

I smiled to the waitress and took it while giving nod to her. She blushed slightly at me and nod back demurely. Inwardly I held back snort, in reality I'm not good-looking, above average slightly perhaps, however thanks to Cosmetic Shapeshift from Changer ability, it allows my appearance to shift into one that people consider attractive or beautiful

It effects was permanent apparently, I only need to use it once and poof, instant good-looking. Not like I mind too much about my face but who would refuse to become good-looking?

And as for the money I currently have...

The waitress shift her gaze from me, her eyes focused to my newspaper, and she frowned slightly

"Oh my." She muttered "Medhall losing quite money isn't they?"

I follow her gaze and reread my newspaper, to particularly the bold words that written in there

"MEDHALL LOSS 3,5 MILLIONS DOLLAR!"

"3,5 millions clearly not small, yes." I agreed with her while nodding "Though that was not all they have but the amount of the loss still significant enough."

"Yeah, I mean, 3,5 millions." She murmured and shook her head "Imagine what we can do with that amount of money."

"Enough to feed us for a year or two without need to working I guess." I chuckled "You still can live in slight luxurious too while doing that."

In case you ask yes, that was me, I just stole from Medhall last night on my first time out and patroling around. How? Well... You see, there this nice ability called "Remote Transfer" from Mover list that allow me to teleport any item that I hold in my hand to any place that I have ever seen. The Second Trigger however allow me to not have to hold the items I wish to teleport and I can teleport any object I've ever seen as long as I remember where it located

I sneak in my ghost-like state last night to Medhall, slipping into their vault, remembering the location and the money, then I return my base and viola! Millions of dollar come to papa

I did not take everything unfortunately, not because I feel pity to the Nazi but because Medhall is still company that made Brockton Bay working and I don't want this city to face more crisis than any necessary

"Who do you think the one that responsible?" She asked as she strides closer to me

"Me? I don't know." I answered with full of lie "I mean this is quite surprise, no breach in security and no one see there someone around or breaking in, there is no even damage or any trace in building save for the money that gone as if swallowed by air." I hummed "If I make a guess, it could be inner group that working together, covering the camera footage and everything else."

The waitress put thoughtful look and place her finger to her chin "Yeah, that kind of make sense." She murmured "But what if it was cape?"

"Could be too, then the cape must be Breaker or Mover that allow them to become invisible and take out the money."

She nodded at that, seems agree with my explanation and give me praising look "That was very smart of you." She said

"Thank you Ms... Watterson." I replied while sneaking glance to the tag on her left chest. I take closer look to her, black neat hair with short bob style, healthy white skin, slender figure, overall she wasn't bad looking "My name is Rafael Ang. It is nice to meet you."

"Ah, yes." She nodded again, a bit faster than normal "It's nice to meet you too Mr Ang."

I only smiled to her, if only she can see how my eyes beneath my sunglasses, sure as hell she will freaking out

"Sheryl! Stop flirting and go back to work!"

Sheryly face flushed slightly at her manager yell, she turns and shoot him glare before look back at me "I... Will see you later Mr Ang?" She asked, sounded hopeful

Sorry to burst your bubble though

"I'm just living here temporary." I said with small smile "I will be out from town probably in next month."

"Ah..." She looks crestfallen but only for a moment as she regains her composure "I see... Well, then I hope you have a good trip Mr Ang."

"And may you have a good day too Ms Watterson." I replied to her

I watched as the waitress leave and resume her duty, shaking my head, I let out small chuckle and leaned in my chair. I watched the clock nearby and noted it about to reach eleven o'clock, there still few hours before school's hour come to an end

Damn, what a bore, seriously, I can do a lot of things in this few hours but nooo, I have to be here. Why? Because I'm only one house away from Arcadia, school of Wards and New Wave, and I'm here to copy their powers

Naturally I can't just copy them like that, Unlimited Shard Works require understanding or at least contact with the power I wish to copy, however thanks to my Power Sight I don't have that disadvantage. I don't need to make contact because I can understand instantly what powers that in front of me

I do not want Aegis, Kid Win, or Gallant power -though I will take it if given- no, the reason why I come here mainly is for the deadliest cape in this city, Panacea, Amy Dallon or known as Amelia Claire Lavere by her real father

I already manage to copy Browbeat power last night when I float around in my spirit-like state, a combination of small telekinesis and biokinesis limited to only my own body, that was quite powerful actually. Not that useful however I already can think how to use that power with my other abilities, take Animorph from Changer list for example

And if I have Panacea as well... Maybe I can find way to use two Shards power and let me able to control my body more than before, and if I use Consumption then...

Maybe becoming pseudo-Blacklight Virus is not impossible

It was around 2 that I in noon that I finally notice the Shards started to moving out from the school and I can't help but let out exasperated breath. Seriously, I was here from 10 in morning, I've been waiting for 4 hours! Great Gods what a waste of time!

However, in the end it will be worthy, I will able to copy Panacea's power! A full biokinesis! A control over Biology that reaching to cellular level!

As I watched the children started to leaving one by one while leaning in one of the lamp post and pretending to play with my phone. I quickly active one of my Stranger ability that called "Cloak", ability that turn me to invisible and in Second Trigger state I can stay hidden no matter what

I also active my Power Sight and start to walk forward, searching for the children that hold powers

Then I found one of them

Create Machine that Specialize in Modularity, Multiple Settings with One same Purpose. Thinker that increase brain's work when under personal stress

Freezing Time in Short Duration through touch, ability able to spread through whole body in very short range when under extreme stress

Empath. Emotion Manipulator, ability delivered through energy blast, able to be radiated from whole body and shoot at every direction with practice

Adaptive Body for Limited Time, can be tasered down and in next his body will immune to it for short time. Very Limited Biokinesis, able to use one organ to replace another nd reattaching limbs. Mover with ability to Fly

I blinked as information flood to my brain as my gaze fell to particular brown haired kid with pale complexion with his friends around him, and it takes me few seconds to realize that the boy I saw is Kid Win, Clockblocker, Gallant and Aegis in their civilian identity

Interesting...

Wait, if the Wards already come out then..

"Come on Ames!"

Shit! I forget! New Waves has no disguise, they can go fly in instant if they want after school done!

I quickly focus my ears, using Browbeat's biokinesis I modify my ears to able hear and see better, I searched for Panacea and Glory Girl while running, damn! Damn! How the hell that not crossed in my mind?!

Perhaps I'm exhausted because I still not sleeping? Unlikely since I already use Surgery and transfer my exhaustion to some Merchant's member that I passed but... The mental strain maybe is something else

And then I see them

Glory Girl or known as Victoria Dallon is just like how fanfiction or the book described, blonde hair, smooth white skin, charming smile. She is pretty alright, I will give her that, attractive enough even without her Aura

Control Over Biology through Touches

As for Panacea... Well, she is not pretty like her adoptive sister, but she also not ugly, she is rather cute in her own way I guess, with frizzy brown hair and freckles around her cheeks

And the information come

I can feel it, the powers that I got after seeing them, it was in the back of my mind and all I need is only to willing it and it will answer my call

I ignore the information and knowledge about Glory Girl power and how to use it that flowed to my brain, right now my mind was in joy as I manage to get one of the most powerful ability in Worm right now

It takes everything I have to not explode into loud manic laugh over my accomplishment, over what I just got now just on my first day

Power over Biology... All I need to do is touch someone skin when I'm in battle and I can beat them in instant, I can put them down in a second the moment I touch their skins directly

Panacea is a fool to only limit herself like this

Okay, okay, maniacal laugh and cliche boasting aside. I already get what I want, now is time to hunt for another powers. Let see, I already got most of the Wards. New Wave power seems not that much save for Glory Girl and Panacea. Whose power I should store?

Lung... Yeah, Lung, definitely him, but who else? Kaiser, Hookwolf, Othala, Purity, Alabaster, and many more

As I leave from Arcadia, I keep my "Cloak" on and walk carefully, slipping among people to make sure they did not hit me and so do I, right now I am invisible after all, it would be weird if people got slugged by unseen person

Alright let see what I got

First, I can copy powers of other, that was clear, and unlike my "Paramount" that make me only can use one power at time, I can use them simultaneously. And apparently I also able to copy the powers that I get from "Paramount" too, and so far I have yet find the limit of how many I can copy

However it seems I only can use the power I copied from my list once, after that I need to copy it once more. It irked me but I guess that was a bit fair, I mean, what use "Paramount" will be if I copy all the list and able to use them permanently?

Annoying but not salvageable or doable, I still can deal with it. Right now though I still don't know how many powers I can use at same time. Let's find that out shall we?

I equipped Browbeat's power, add Aegis's power, and-

I feel stinging sensation suddenly struck my head and I winced, instinctively I clutch my head and stop walking immediately

I close my eyes and walk wobbly to one of lamp post, leaning on it and try to calm my headache. It takes only few seconds for the pain completely gone but there still phantom of it lingering

Was that what I think?

... Yeah, that must be it

It seems I only can use two power that I copy at same time, no more than that. Well, that was a bit disappointing. However, I think that still fine, I can play with two powers and one I get from Paramount. As long as I get the right materials... Though getting them would be challenge

It was then I heard roar of engine and I snapped my head, finally aware that I'm still in open street -albeit not in middle and thankfully my Cloak still on- and I look to the source of the sound that com-

WHAM!

I feel something smashed at me, something big and hard, like really hard, and instantly I crashed to something else, breaking through it before roughly landed in ground like some kind of doll just thrown to the floor

Squealer blinked as she rode her truck "Skiddie, did we just hit something or what?" She asked

Skidmark who smoking weed blow out smoke "Shut up cunt and just driving! Probably nothing!"

Squaeler glanced over her mirror and find no one in pool of blood in street then shrugged. It was clearly nothing, the street was empty since this particular area is theirs after all, no one dare to bitching around when they on their ride

Had the duo not too high in drug right now they will notice that they obviously just hit something, their whole truck was shaking after all, alas thanks to the truck size and their state, they did not know it

I was standing in side of traffic lamp! I'm not in middle of street! So who is the fucking idiot that hit me?!

It was a truck, I able to remember that at least, it was a fucking truck that hit me! A truck!

I let out groan as I try to move my body. My Gods, my bones! Seven of my ribs is broken, one of my clavicle is shattered, my humerus, femur, pelvis and three of my lumbar also broken! I know that all from Browbeat's power

It's hurt! It's hurt! It's hurt! Great Gods it FUCKING HURT!

Using Browbeat's biokinesis I quickly dampen the pain, then I begin to mend my own body, flesh that torn apart by the damage I fixed using proteins and hormone, I boost my cells regeneration work, making them quickly fix the damage on my bottom body. That come first because I need to stand, I can't obviously stay here after all

While doing that I also make myself fly with Aegis's power, I do that to make sure no one going to step on me because I am invisible right now. Great Gods, I never thought that become invisible will make me got hit by something like this! I had seen it in movie but experience it? Fuck no!

I bring myself to nearby roof before drop myself in there gently, all while I keep mending my body, combining Aegis's adaptive power and Browbeat's biokinesis together to repair the damage that I got as much as I can

I stay silence on the roof, laying in there and keep fixing my injury, enhancing my cells regeneration further. I'm going to need eat a lot after this but I don't care, I'm just smashed by a truck damnit! A motherfucking truck!

It takes few minutes before I feel my body already healed enough, there still injury and fractured ribs but it is nothing I can't heal. I can continue after I eat enough then use Browbeat's Power once again to control my own biology. It not as good or as powerful as Panacea but it more than enough, Browbeat's power really not that analyzed properly huh? He didn't know he can do this kind of thing as well or at least he never used it

It was at that moment after I recover that I remember I also take Flaw Worst Day Ever. One that active instantly when I arrive in Brockton Bay. And since I only take one time it will give me serious case of bad luck

Before now I will say that my luck wasn't bad, things goes normal or smoothly, which is why I so surprised right now and... Great Gods! Is that bad luck come in form of truck?! Seriously?! If I'm normal Human I would be dead by now! Fuck you CYOA! Thanks to whatever Deities I only take one, imagine how bad it is if I take-WHOA!

I slipped in my attempt to stand, losing my balance, I try to fix my stance by hopping around

I should stay and let myself fall

Apparently the World decide to give "haha you already got power, now it's time to make you suffer" message to me as I found myself fell from three stories building. In quick, I swap Aegis's to Glory Girl's and I feel her forcefield sprung around me

Thankfully I did that just in time as I plummeted down to the earth, landing on trash bin that filled with full of garbage

In reality I can use my flight ability to stop my fall however I was still focused to repairing my body and since this is new experience to me, I kinda loss control

Fortunately the crash was not hurt, not at all, the forcefield protect me very well. The smell of the rotten garbage that inside the can though... Yeah, not so much

"Hey, did you heard something from there?"

Of fucking course someone will notice it after that

I waste no time to fly up from the garbage, I switch my Cloak with Animorph, allowing me to shift into cat and I jumped out from the trash can then start to running while letting out loud "meow" to make whoever in there think it is only a cat

After I make quite distance and make sure no one looking, I change myself to bird and start to flapped my wings, flying to the sky and get out from there

It... Kind of strange experience to be honest, I never become a bird or have wings however for some reason I know how to play, it as if some kind of manual just installed inside my brain

It's a bit creepy I must admit

A loud screech from above me snap my mind from my stupor and I looked up to-HOLY SHIT!

I feel my whole body rocked as giant talon snake my form like some kind of toy. The grip is a bit strong due to my small size but it didn't do any harm to me. I tilt my head upward and my eyes widened when I see what caught me

An eagle... A motherfucking eagle!

The predatory bird let out screech as it flap it mighty wing, shearing through the air and fly with high speed that made mine moment ago look like a children learning to run

I feel my eyebrow -if I have that now- twitched internally under the bird strong grip

Alright enough fun today, I will go home instantly after eating and lock myself in there. Seriously I don't want to know what else this day prepare for me

But wait, if I do that then the bad luck will follow me to my secret base! Fuck no! I don't want to risk that base! Nope, nope, nope!

... I don't have any choice, do I? It seems today I have to spend my day outside, I have to survive from this day -day that filled with bad luck- without making too much wave.

God damn fanfiction, they make all of these sounded easy

It was one hour later that I manage to fix my appearance

My cloths that tattered before was fine, I manage to buy new one from nearby store and I also replace my broken sunglasses with one I store inside Pocket Dimension. What? I buy more than one obviously, I mean, my eyes is what give my identity to the World! So of course I buy a lot of them

After that I manage to avoid any bad lucks that supposed to strike me. How? Apparently I have this bullshit ability called Destiny Weaver, something that work similar like Path of Victory, only it limited to twelve hours at best and those that included to my line of sight

I also activate Glimpse from Thinker ability that act like danger sense and will give me vision of five minutes in future when I got injured as a backup in case things goes wrong

And my last slot also filled with Thinker ability, Hindsight -this one I activate through Paramount- to make sure my act won't create major wave, at least not until I ready to present myself to the World

With this I manage to avoid all bad lucks that about to hit me in form of get dropped by a pot in head, splashed by someone who happen to watering their garden, got hit by ball in face from children that playing around and getting myself mugged by ABB which will lead me to fight Oni Lee -this one come thanks to Destiny Weaver

I will need to recopy Destiny Weaver and Glimpse after this but it's fine, I can prepare myself once again after I survive this day unscathed and making major wave. Gods, this is very troubling, I mean, all of those above I mentioned happen only in spawn of hour!

Fuck, I can't imagine how bad it is if I take full of "Worst Day Ever" seriously, my existence probably will be treated like Endbringer and invite all the capes of the World to get me

Just imagining it makes me shudder, yeah, let's not go that route, at least not yet

"Here is your foods sir, enjoy." The waitress said as she give me my food

I merely smiled at her and pick my utensils. This is the sixth restaurant I visit, I eat in different places to avoid people attention -which will lead my identity as cape founded out since they suspicious how someone able to eat so much and Empire 88 thugs come to visit me while I eat and ask me to have "chat" with them in back alley and ended with me fighting Hookwolf who apparently close and seems in mood to fight- and to test various foods of this city

It wasn't bad to be honest, for city that slowly dying the foods still adequate. Though the price is slight more expensive than usual but meh, I'm millionaire now, I have enough money to use for this kind of things

Now though... Tinker... I need to contact Toybox somehow or gather materials. Should I go to Boat Graveyard then? No, that place only have junk, if it has something then Armsmaster already take them all. I need to buy materials but from whom? My knowledge about that part was not much, I need to find way to contact Toybox, I have to buy materials from them and start to build my base

I already robbed Medhall, next one I guess I could rob Coil, but that was a bit tricky since I don't know where he lives, I did know that his base is around the Commercial District and northwest from Forsberg Gallery thanks to the map of Brockton Bay I have in my phone but that's it...

Unlike Medhall, I doubt Coil save his money on his base, he has self-destruct set in there after all so... Number Man then?

It seems I might have to recruit Lisa earlier than I thought, I also need to take Dinah with me, she will be very useful and hopefully her power work on me since I don't know the extend of blindspot, the definition was too vague after all

It doesn't matter, Lisa come first, though I might have to take Dinah so Cauldron not get or mold her to face me

Now then... How do I make contact with Lisa?

The answer come in instant to me

At the time when Taylor face Lung

I will copy both of their powers and Oni Lee before move to Undersiders. I need to talk only with her though, the rest of Undersiders power -save for Regent- is not worthy the effort. Though Grue would be powerful in his Second Trigger state, but he doesn't have that yet

And I doubt he would get it since Bonesaw will be mine instead of Jack after I done making preparation

Well.. I guess that was solid plan. For today, I think I can't do anything else. Getting power most of the Wards along with, Browbeat, Panacea and Glory Girl is enough I guess. Let's not be greedy and provoke anything further than this, I will sit here for today and when night come I will go back and sleep

Summary

Rafael Ang robbed Medhall using Remote Transfer, moving money in their vault to his basement, and copying Browbeat's power. He already tagged his own base, so he can go back to there anytime he wishes, then go and waiting for Arcadia's students to go out and copy the parahuman in there. He got smacked by Squealer and Skidder by their truck afterward, tripped and fell to trash bin, got captured by eagle when transformed into bird. Manage to get out, use three Thinker ability to make himself stay safe, eating and making plan

Rafael Ang abilities further explanation

He only can use three power simultaneously. He can copy his own power -the one from CYOA Gimel list- but those powers only can be used once before they have to be copied again

Copied Power from Worm Character

Aegis

Kid Win

Gallant

Clockblocker

Glory Girl

Panacea

Browbeat

Abilities used in this chapter

Cosmetic Shapeshift

Trance

Remote Transfer

Beacon

Cloak

Power Sight

Destiny Weaver

Glimpse

Hindsight

Wew, our protagonist seems meet quite bad luck in there eh? A serious case of bad lucks, great Gods! That flaw really work well

Before any of you started to yelling or complaining, the answer is no, I don't know does Aegis still in Arcadia or not, I try to search for that information but I can't find it, and I did read many people seem insert him in there, so I decide to include him there. Sorry if I make mistake in that part

Next chapter will be more scheming and Rafael started to move and copying more powers, thankfully he no longer get caught in bad lucks! Yay for him! Stay tune and keep reading if you curious about it! And don't forget to give this story Favorite, Follow, and Review

Ja Ne! XD