PRT Case 46022 'Wisp'. Chronology of events (reconstruction).
[Jan 3, 11:15 am] Disturbance at Winslow High School. Six students, one teacher brought to clinic for headaches, dizziness, disorientation. At least twenty additional students report milder symptoms not requiring medical attention. Teachers investigate and find that affected students had been congregating at similar locations in the school hallways. Further investigation revealed an intense smell emitting from a student's locker. Examining the locker revealed more than ten pounds of biohazardous waste including weeks-old garbage and used tampons, packed so tightly they exploded out of the locker when it was opened. Section of school cordoned off, authorities contacted for hazmat disposal. Search begins for the student responsible for the locker, Taylor Hebert.
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[Jan 3, 12:30 pm] Horton Gladly, teacher, ends class early when he and his students begin suffering headaches and nauesa. Classroom is near the location of the initial disturbance. Cordoned off area expanded, classroom sealed for later investigation by hazmat team.
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[Jan 3, 1:17 pm] Julia McBain, student, reports loud sounds coming from a women's restroom. Upon entering the room, student reports seeing Taylor Hebert breaking a mirror by repeatedly striking it with a flashlight. Ms. McBain calls for the attention of teachers, who arrive less than a minute later and find the restroom empty. Ms. McBain claims that Ms. Hebert vanished in the time her back was turned.
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[Jan 3, 1:21 pm] Julia McBain questioned on suspicion of vandalism.
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[Jan 3, 1:26 pm] Julia McBain faints. Ms. McBain and the two teachers who investigated the disturbance report to the school clinc for severe nausea.
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[Jan 3, 1:54 pm] Samuel 'Sparky' Slocumb, student, reports an assault by an unknown assailant. Six other students heard him scream and came to his aid but found him sprawled on the floor alone. Upon questioning, Mr. Slocumb claims the assailant was a female student who repeatedly slammed him against the wall while grappling his face and staring into his eyes. "She was a ghost, man. She grabbed me and I saw her, and then she kept blinking, y'know, blinking in and out of existence, immateriality or pseudocorporealification or some shit like that. I thought she was Taylor but then I saw her face, that was some twisted shit right there. I think she was trying to tell me something. Like y'know, 'Beware the Ides of March', like she was the ghost of Taylor from the future, y'know, and she saw the end of the world and she came back in time to save us from that shit."
Samuel Slocumb questioned on suspicion of drug use.
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[Jan 3, 2:23 pm] In separate incidents, three additional students report being attacked by an assailant resembling Taylor Hebert. Gregory Nieman, student, gave the most detailed account.
"I knew right away she was Taylor's ghost because she was transparent, she just phased through the wall, floating in the air. She was wearing a bloody white dress and her hair was all long and stringy, covering up her face. She had this scary expression full of hate, but I wasn't scared, because I was her best friend so I knew she wouldn't hurt me. That was when I realized she came back for bloody revenge, revenge on all the people who wronged her in life." When questioned on why he believed Ms. Hebert to be dead and who she might target for revenge, Mr. Nieman refuses to elaborate citing the possibility of a "curse".
Ms. Hebert is not found at the scene of any of the attacks. Teachers dismiss the accounts as pranks.
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[Jan 3, 2:45 pm] Taylor Hebert cannot be found on the premesis after an intensive search. Her father, Daniel Hebert, is notified by the police that she has gone missing from school.
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[Jan 3, 5:28 pm] Transcript of 911 call from Daniel Hebert, father of Taylor Hebert:
"Brockton Bay Police Department..."
"This is Danny Hebert. I need help, there's something wrong with my daughter Taylor. She's...I don't understand it, but I can't see her."
"You can't see her? You mean she's hiding?"
"No, she's right here but I can't see her. They said she went missing at school, now she's here. She keeps hitting things and I can see her for a second, then she's gone again. She's trying to talk to me but I can't hear what she's saying. I would take her to the hospital, but, God, what can they even do for her? We need something to, to-"
"...Your daughter turned invisible? Mister Hebert, it's possible that your daughter has become a parahuman. I suggest that you contact the local PRT and ask for their assistance."
"Oh, I...of course. I mean, yes, it is like she has a power. Or else...oh God, what if someone with powers did this to her. The PRT, can they help her, cure her? How do you cure something like this?"
"The PRT has experts for handling new parahumans, very professional. Actually I can contact them for you now, if you would like. They'll send a team to your house to get help for you and your daughter."
"Yes. Yes, thank you, please go ahead. I-oh!"
(clattering sound)
"Mister Hebert? Are you there? Hello?"
"...ah, yes, just dropped the phone. Thanks, Taylor. We just found out that invisible people can still give hugs. (chuckles). Ah, hm. Sort of hugs, anyway. Fading out after a second there. I guess we'll just need to hug each other more often."
"Mister Hebert, is there any other information the PRT needs to know before they come? Special needs, preferences? Your daughter's power, does it seem safe to be around? Any precautions the team should take?"
"..."
"Mister Hebert?"
"Sorry. Just...got something in my eye. No, no, nothing like that."
"I'm contacting the PRT now. A team should be at your house within the hour."
"What? I can't hear you, you're fading out."
"I said I'm contacting the PRT now, they'll be at your house within the hour."
"Ok. Ok. Great. Thank you."
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[Jan 3, 5:36 pm] PRT Director Emily Piggot dispatches a team to Hebert residence, following standard protocols for meeting with a new parahuman with potential to recruit for Wards program. Director Piggot cautions the team to be prepared to contain a potential threat to the public, noting that Ms. Hebert is likely to have recently triggered and may be linked to the disturbances at Winslow High School earlier in the day. Given Ms. Hebert's provisional Master/Stranger classification, Director Piggot sends a team with detection powers and area-effect containment abilities.
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[Jan 3, 5:42 pm] Transcript of 911 call from Hebert residence:
"Brockton Bay Police Department..."
"..."
"Hello, this is the Brockton Bay Police Department, is anyone there?"
"..."
"Mister Hebert, we received your call and the PRT has dispatched a team to your location."
"..."
"Mister Hebert, are you there? Hello?"
(banging sounds)
"Mister Hebert, are you there?"
(banging sounds, line goes dead)
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[Jan 3, 5:49 pm] PRT team arrives at the Hebert residence including four PRT officers and the heroes Armsmaster, Gallant, and Kid Win. Master-Stranger protocols initiated.
PRT officers form a perimeter around the residence, the heroes approach the house. The front door is ajar. No response to the doorbell. Armsmaster and Gallant detect a single person in the living room, enter the residence.
Daniel Hebert is found lying on a couch, unconscious and unresponsive. On the coffee table in front of him are three scribbled notes.
"Help me dad"
"I love you"
"What's wrong?"
A landline phone on the wall is observed to be smashed, accounting for the abrupt termination of the 911 call. There is no sign of Taylor Hebert.
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[Jan 3, 6:20 pm] Director Piggot sends an alert to law enforcement agencies describing a new parahuman currently at large in the city with the temporary code name Wisp. Tall dark-haired girl of high school age. Master/Stranger class power that allows her to avoid detection, offensive power that induces sickness and unconsciousness. Unknown whether she is hostile but her powers seem to be uncontrolled, making her a danger to everyone around her. Officers who have reason to believe that Wisp is present should leave the area immediately and contact the PRT.
Alert forwarded to administrators of Winslow High School and Brockton Bay Central Hospital.
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[Jan 3, 6:25 pm] Daniel Hebert admitted to emergency room at Brockton Bay Central Hospital.
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[Jan 3, 6:40 pm] Daniel Hebert diagnosed with neurological damage, appears to be in a coma. Patient is scheduled for MRI.
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[Jan 3, 6:59 pm] Daniel Hebert case referred to independent hero Panacea for her expertise on diagnosis of parahuman attacks. She reports that Mr. Hebert inhaled an unknown toxin that has since cleared from his system. Mr. Hebert is diagnosed with brain damage with symptoms including impaired vision, impaired hearing, and retrograde amnesia including memories of the last year. Panacea is unable to heal the damage but predicts that he will regain consciousness in two to four weeks.
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[Jan 3, 7:11 pm] Disturbance at Brockton Bay Central Hospital. Outbreak of symptoms in emergency room patients including headaches, impaired vision, dizziness, confusion. Panacea calls the PRT to report the presence of a toxin in the air matching the properties of Wisp's ability.
Patients at high risk of lung and brain damage are evacuated. Panacea is put under guard in the secure wing of the hospital. The PRT team is reconvened and dispatched to the hospital with hazmat equipment.
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[Jan 3, 7:22 pm] PRT team arrives at Brockton Bay Central Hospital. No sign of Wisp detected. Panacea is escorted to the emergency room, reports that the toxin has cleared from the air.
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[Jan 3, 9:20 pm] Disturbance at residence of the Barnes family. Parents Alan and Zoe hear a scream from their daughter Emma's room. Emma tells them not to come in to her room, claims that she is changing clothes and was surprised by a spider.
Parents hear Emma carrying on an emotional conversation, assume she is talking on the phone. Approximately ten minutes later they hear repeated banging from her room. Upon investigation they find the door ajar and Emma lying on her bed barely conscious and disoriented. Next to her are a series of handwritten notes on loose leaf paper.
"It's me. Taylor. Congratulations, you fucked with me so hard I got superpowers. No one can see or hear me. Or smell that nasty shit you dumped on me. WHAT THE HELL? I though you were my friend, Emma. I never did anything to you. WHY?"
"Don't you dare lie to me."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Sophia is a hero? Her? Seriously?"
"You're sick. All of you."
"You don't get to blame it on them."
"Then you should be nice to me now."
"This is your fault. HELP ME!"
"Tell them the truth."
"Murder? You saw it?"
"Your dad is a fucking lawyer!"
"You should feel bad."
"What's wrong?"
"God its happening again its me I'm sorry I'll get help"
"Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, call 911 right away. Emma needs the hospital. I don't know what is wrong or how to fix it. I'M SORRY"
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[Jan 3, 10:00 pm] Emma Barnes admitted to Brockton Bay Central Hospital, has recovered from confusion and appears fully alert though highly distraught. Diagnosed with blindness, auditory hallucinations, retrograde amnesia including memories of the last month. Referred to Panacea. Sight and hearing predicted to make partial recovery, odds of recovering memories unknown.
Signs posted on the doors of hospital and rooms housing Daniel Hebert and Emma Barnes, warning Wisp not to enter for the safety of everyone involved.
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[Jan 3, 11:00 pm] PRT sends alert to be broadcast by local news programs. The public is warned of the presence of a new parahuman. Wisp is not known to be hostile but has uncontrolled powers that render her undetectable to normal senses and release a poisonous gas. The public is asked to contact the PRT immediately if they notice any symptoms of the sickness. Wisp is asked to come to the PRT, who promise not to press charges for people she injured unintentionally, and to provide expert assistance to help control her powers.
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[Jan 3, 11:18 pm] Fight breaks out in the entrance to Fugly Bob's, two customers demanding a refund for food that never arrived. No wounds inflicted from the fight but one employee and two customers report debilitating headaches and nausea. Ten bystanders report similar but milder symptoms.
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PRT receive calls from more than one hundred households throughout the city reporting the presence of Wisp based on headaches, watery eyes, ringing in the ears, nausea, confusion, or lack of energy. The reports do not follow any obvious pattern and the vast majority are assumed to be psychosomatic or unrelated to the incident. Wisp remains at large.
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[Jan 4, 10:15 am] Police receive call from Winslow student Madison Clements. She confesses a role in bullying Taylor Hebert for months and conspiring to lock her inside a locker filled with biohazardous waste. Ms. Clements reports that after Taylor went missing she heard stories from multiple students who claimed that Taylor had become a ghost and attacked them, including Gregory Nieman who told her that Taylor was taking revenge from beyond the grave. Ms. Clements later called Emma Barnes' cell phone and was answered by Zoe Barnes, who told her that Emma was attacked by Ms. Hebert and was hospitalized with permanent brain damage. Ms. Clements asks to be taken into PRT custody for her own protection.
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[Jan 4, 11:05 am] Madison Clements picked up by PRT officers, brought to headquarters.
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[Jan 4, 1:30 pm] Sophia Hess aka Shadow Stalker called to PRT headquarters, suspended from duties as a Ward due to allegations of improper conduct and violation of probation.
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[Jan 4, 2:00 pm] Director Piggot holds a meeting to discuss plans to bring Wisp into custody.
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[Jan 4, 4:30 pm] Armsmaster and Kid Win place tinkertech sensors in the Hebert residence, the Barnes residence, Daniel Hebert's room in the hospital, and the entrances to Winslow High School.
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[Jan 4, 6:10 pm] The caretaker of Brockton Bay Cemetery observes a young woman laying flowers at a grave. The woman stands in front of the grave for almost an hour, then vanishes into thin air when she sees him watching her. The caretaker reports the incident to the PRT but refuses to identify the grave the woman was visiting. Later investigation finds flowers on the grave of Annette Hebert.
[Jan 4, 8:03 pm] The receptionist at PRT headquarters finds a note on the front desk.
"I'm sorry for making people sick. I didn't know what I was doing. Today I found out how to control my power. I won't use it on innocent people anymore. You should make sure your heroes stop hurting innocent people, too. Wisp."
[Jan 11, 2:15 am] The PRT receive an anonymous tip on the location of the ABB leadership. The ensuing raid takes fifteen ABB members into custody including the supervillains Lung and Oni Lee, who were found unconscious in a back room of their hideout.
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[Jan 11, 10:14 am] Zoe Barnes finds a note in her mailbox.
"Emma,
I'm sorry for what I did to you. I helped catch the villains who were in charge of the gang that hurt you. I don't know if that makes me a hero for you. I don't expect you to forgive me.
Maybe we can be friends again someday.
Taylor"