Ride the Lightning
Spark 1.8
I spent Monday and Tuesday devoted to research. As ironic as it sounds, I've decided my problem is that I need to slow down. In the rush that followed figuring out I had superpowers, I just kind of jumped into trying to be a hero.
The result?
All of the "criminals" I caught were released, and the PRT was looking for me.
All and all an outstanding start.
At least all of the steps I took to guard my identity had worked out in my favor. According to the write up in the newspaper no one really had anything to go on. Several hours spent on Parahumans Online had also shown that, other and a link to the press release in the Brockton Bay Board, no one was really talking about it. Apparently people are so jaded when it comes to Parahuman mischief that my actions hadn't raised any but the most cursory of eyebrows. All and all I was lucky and I knew it.
Which brings me back to where I'm at now, research. With Dads support I will go into Winslow on Wednesday and essentially opt out of the rest of the school year. Dad was trusting that I am a motivated enough student that I can make it through self-directed learning with regular progress check ups. That level of freedom coupled with my ability to learn a great deal of information in a (relatively) short period of time meant that I had a good chunk of the day that could be devoted to crime fighting.
Based on what I've read, I made a few…. or a lot….. or maybe just all of the possible mistakes my first night out. What mistakes? For starters both of my approaches to patrolling were just wrong. As fast as I can move, I have the same problem that flying capes on patrol have. The sheer amount of area I can cover in such a short period of time means that, even with Brockton Bay's crime rate, I'm just not likely to ever come across a crime in progress.
Approach two, the stake out of a high crime area, was also doomed to failure. While I was able to witness crimes in progress, by intervening in the way I did I made it virtually impossible for the Police to do anything with the criminals. No chain of custody for evidence, no crime scene control, no witness statements, nothing. The fact that I am working as a no-name, non-registered vigilante makes it that much more important that I cover all of my bases in this regard.
I'm sure that there was more that I did wrong. As tempting as it was to just head down to the library and devour the law section; to head to the university bookstore and do the same with their criminal justice books. it felt wrong. At best I would get an encyclopedic knowledge of the law. While that might seem like a good thing or a great start, I'm thinking that it may be better to get a first hand view of crime fighting. The more I learned about the Police Explorers program, the more I've come to think that it will fill in about half of the blanks. It will check off Dad's "Taylor be social" requirement, it will expose me to working Police Officers, will include the possibility of ride alongs, and will give me access to what I have decided is a piece of mission essential equipment.
Thinking back to my patrol problems, I came to the realization that my speed was being misused by both random patrolling and by dedicated stake outs. Instead of hoping to stumble across criminals or wasting my time hoping that crime might happen in my field of vision, I was much better equipped to be a rapid response force.
A really, super, rapid response force.
With that in mind, I needed to get my hands on a police scanner. By listening to the dispatch information, I could get tipped off to where crimes in progress were happening or were suspected to be happening, and then get there literally seconds after the fact. As much as I was dying to make this happen as soon as possible, it was still only half the problem.
The PRT was the other half. Right now they were looking for me. Well, not ME, but yeah, kind of me. If I wanted to avoid them drawing a direct connection between me and the "unknown Parahuman suspected of assault, battery, unlawful detainment, ect," I would need to change up how I went about my cape career.
Duct tape? Gone. Fleeing the crime scene? I'm still on the fence about this. The Vigilante Protection Act, as near as I can tell, should protect me if I stayed on hand to give the Police a report. That said, as an unregistered Cape I had almost no protection in court for my actions. Short of being forced to reveal my identity, it was completely up to local law enforcement and the PRT to decide on the legality of my actions. I couldn't help but feel that this was a stick meant to encourage affiliating with the PRT in some fashion.
I guess the big question of the day is, why shouldn't I? I was the right age for the Wards. They could help me out with a costume, training, maybe get me moved into Arcadia. Heck, they probably had a whole team of people with the sole job of helping new Capes come up with a name (so far I had dismissed The Blur, the Streak, Catch Me If You Can, The Human Bullet, Zipper, and Lightning Lady….. names are hard). From what PHO said, Ward's also got a stipend and a college fund.
All of that said…. I still wasn't sure. From what I could tell Ward's seemed really limited in what they were allowed to do. A Ward's time seemed to be split up between public appearances, token patrols through high visibility areas, and the occasional public stand by at concerts and such.
So much to think about.
—-
WEDNESDAY
Moment of truth time. Wednesday morning found me sitting in the passenger seat of the car as Dad navigated the streets leading to Winslow. I was both nervous and excited. Deciding to not go back until next year was probably the most adult decision Dad had ever let me make. I understood that he was showing a great deal of faith in my ability to be responsible, learn what I needed to learn, and go back to school next year on the same level as my peers.
I felt a little guilty about the fact that I had decided that was never going to happen. Sure, I would do the required online studying, I would take (and pass) the monthly learning check ups. Come the end of the year I would take and pass the exam to go into the next grade. That isn't all I would do. I would ace it, perfect score. I would then use that to argue that I felt I could probably challenge the GED exam and get out of High School all together. Should Dad have a problem with that, I would point out that 15 wouldn't be an unheard of age to start taking college classes. The evidence of how well I learned on my own coupled with a desire to go to college… that should kill any objections.
For his part, Dad was quiet on the drive. Even though I was doing better than I had in months, since before the bullying had really gotten bad, Dad seemed to be carrying more weight on his shoulders than ever before. I saw him giving me a look out of the corner of his eye while driving and I gave him a smile. The light in his eyes got a little brighter, then the hard look came back. The car stopped and he turned it off. We were here.
—-
We had arrived while classes were in session, so the hallways were pretty clear. It was weird to think that I had last been here over a month ago. To my mind, the lightning strike had been a week ago. There was still snow on the ground, the halls pretty clear of graffiti, what with it being painted over during winter break. The evidence of time's passage was evident from the moment we walked through the door. Green and red kanji covered the walls. In some places white paint had been splashed over it, blocky 88's painted in its place. The smell of pot came from one of the restrooms we passed on our way to the main office. I squeezed Dad's hand as he gave me a look that seemed to scream, "THIS is your school?!"
Arriving at the office Dad walked up to the receptionist desk. A bored looking woman in her 50's, Mrs. Shadwell barely looked up from her computer.
"Yes?"
Somehow looking very annoyed yet utterly restrained, Dad cleared his throat.
"Danny and Taylor Hebert here for Principal Blackwell."
At that the receptionist looked up.
"Mr. Hebert, right. I'll go let Principal Blackwell know you're here. Just have a seat over there." She pointed towards the torn chairs in the hallway outside of the office.
Dad looked at me, I just shrugged my shoulders. No use getting worked up over rudeness now. In a few short minutes I would be walking out of this place for the last time.
We had been sitting for about ten minutes when Mrs. Shadwell came back out.
"Principal Blackwell will see you now Mr. Hebert. Taylor you may remain seated here until they are ready for you."
I was a little taken aback.
"Why can't I go in? I thought the whole point of coming here today was so I could get tested or something?"
Mrs. Shadwell didn't miss a beat.
"There are some issues that Principal Blackwell needs to clear up with your father first. I'm sure they will call you inside in just a minute or so."
I was about to say something else when Dad put his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry Taylor, I'm sure it will be fine. Just hang out here for me, ok?"
Not really, but I could do it for him.
"Sure Dad."
I sat back down and watched as Dad disappeared into the office. Folding my arms I leaned back in the ratty chair, closing my eyes.
Then the bell rang.
—
Shit. Which bell was that? Third period? That means…
I turned my head to the left and there she was. Madison Clements. She was coming out of the English classroom, which meant she would need to stop by her locker first.
Which meant she would have to walk right past me.
I tensed up as she approached, waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop.
Madison stuck up a conversation with one of her friends…. Julie I think. They were talking in an animated fashion, all waving arms and giggles as they walked by. She did not so much as look in my direction.
Weird. Did they forget about me while I was gone? I mean, the whole stuck by lightning-stuck in a coma for a month thing is pretty noteworthy, but maybe it kept me off of their radar enough that they lost interest. Breathing a sigh of relief I slid back in the chair and closed my eyes, foot tapping impatiently as I waited to be called into the meeting.
The sound of a throat clearing snapped me to attention. I was halfway out of the chair before I remembered to slow down. I knew that sound. In front of me stood Emma, Sophia, and Madison. A smirk was on Madisons' face.
"I told you she came back. Probably brought in by the police for skipping school."
Sophia gave Madison a look and she shut up. The athletic looking girl was eyeing me, something appraising in her eyes.
"Hebert, you came back."
I looked past her to Emma, former best friend, Backstabber in Chief. Emma looked…weird. If this were the Emma of two years ago, I would say she looked hopeful. The corner of her mouth was turned up just a little, as if she were trying very hard not to smile.
Locking eyes with Sophia I let out a breath.
"Yeah, I'm back. Don't get too excited."
For a moment the four of us just sort of waited.
I crossed my arms.
"Is this still a thing we're going to do? In a minute or so I go into Blackwell's office and then I'm outta of here."
"For good."
Well that got a reaction. Madison looked a little worried. Emma carefully blanked her face. Some of her normal anger entered Sophia's eyes. Stepping forward, she leaned in.
"What do you mean 'out of here for good'? What are you planning, a little snitch session and then a transfer? That shit's not going to happen, no one's going to believe a little worm like you anyw..."
When I heard the familiar venom in her voice I couldn't help it, I reacted. Still in the process of standing back up, Sophia slowed to a crawl. Everything slowed to a crawl. Sitting in my chair I sped up so fast that everything around me just… stopped.
Standing up I walked slowly around the girls. Heh, slowly. I might as well have been walking around statues. Realizing just how fast I had to be moving, I looked down at my hands. In this very still world, I was a vibrating mess of energy. The edges of my hands blurred a little as I looked. I could feel my hair standing just a bit on end, like I had a static charge. Completing my circuit around the girls I came back to my original position, in front of the chair.
Facing Sophia.
"I could fucking end you now you evil, arrogant bitch. It would be like you just disappeared. A mystery for the fucking ages. One second you are bullying me, the next Emma and Madison are alone, I'm sitting in a chair, and no one ever sees or hears from Sophia FUCKING Hess again."
Reaching my hand out towards Sophia's chest I pointed my index finger at her heart, pushing with just enough force that I could feel that weird pressure I felt when I moved someone else at superspeed. I could do it, take all of my anger, aggression, fear, hurt; take it all and unleash it here.
But in doing so, I think I would lose something important that I would never be able to get back. I let my arm drop to my side.
"You are not fucking worth it."
I sat back down and let out a slow breath. The sense of vibration, of potential energy waiting, begging for release abated.
"..ay."
Sophia's word finished after what felt like minutes. I had used the relative rest to regain my composure.
"Don't worry, I didn't go tattling. It's not like anyone here would believe me anyway. But I was fucking struck by lightning and missed over a month of school. It's not like I'm just going to jump back into classes like nothing happened. I'm gone, out of here. Home school until the end of the year then I'm testing out of the grade. If I do as well as I think I will without the distraction of you three, I plan on testing out of school completely over the summer."
"When I say I'm out of here 'for good', I mean exactly that. I am leaving this UTTER SHITHOLE and you three BITCHES," a pause and a breath, "behind me where you belong."
And somewhere, some all powerful entity decided to smile down upon me because just as I finished my proclamation the office door opened and Mrs Shadwell stuck her head out.
"Taylor, Principal Blackwell is ready for you now."
Standing up from the chair I met each of them eye to eye, then turned on my heel and walked through the door.
I walked into Principal Blackwell's office to see my dad sitting in a too small chair. Across the desk sat Blackwell. Something about the room felt off, like when you walk into the middle of an argument and everyone suddenly tries to act like nothing was happening. Dad was sitting on the edge of the chair, his back straight, hands gripping the chair's arms.
Principal Blackwell's nostrils were flaring slightly, as if she was out of breath and was doing her best to not show it. When I reached her desk she stood, offering me a hand. I awkwardly took it, wincing a little at how tight her grip was as she shook my hand.
"Taylor, after…. talking the situation over with your father, I understand that you are electing not to return to Winslow this school year?"
Sitting down next to Dad, I was a little surprised when I felt him slip his hand into mine and give it a reassuring squeeze. Squaring my shoulders I turned my attention back to Principal Blackwell.
"That's right. Given," I almost said 'everything that's gone on, "all of the time that I've missed, I just think I can catch up better if I can really focus you know? Without all of the… distractions that we have here. I'm sure I'll be ready for the test at the end of the year and will be back in the fall."
After I finished saying my piece Principal Blackwell again fixed my Dad with a stare. Seemingly coming to a decision she stood and again reached her hand out to me. Grasping mine in a firm shake she said with the feeling of finality, "Best of luck to you Ms. Hebert. Your father has all of the details. I look forward to having you back in the fall."
Things blurred together for me a little after that. I don't really remember filling out the paperwork, picking up the testing schedule, walking out of the office. What I do remember is opening the doors for the last time and exiting the school. The realization that I was free from WInslow, free from Emma, Sophia, Madison…. Just plain free to be me again.
I was overwhelmed.
In the third floor girls restroom Sophia closed the stall door and walked up to the sink to wash her hands. If she were being honest with herself, she would have to admit that Hebert had surprised her. For the first time since meeting Emma's "friend," she saw something. Defiance, some fucking backbone. The hint that the girl might actually be worth something. Shame that she wasn't going to be in school anymore. Emma was already acting weird as shit. The redhead had maintained from the beginning that Hebert could be strong, could be a survivor, maybe even a predator. Sophia had never seen it before. Today's hint notwithstanding, she would probably never see it.
Turning off the sink, Sophia reached for a paper towel to dry her hands. In the process she took in her reflection in the mirror.
"What the fuck?"
Pulling her shirt out and away from her chest, she examined the hole in it. Located in the center of her chest, it was perfectly round, about the size of a finger.
"Where the hell did that come from?"
******* Authors Note *********
Ok so I lied. I didn't mean to, but it happened. I had intended to finish arc 1 with 1.8, posting it all this weekend. Instead I got about 1000 words past where this ends and realized that it was too disjointed to have it all together. So here this is, the abbreviated 1.8. Arc 1 will still end this weekend.
So, let's talk about Emma and Sophia. My take on Emma and Sophia will be a bit more muted than what sometimes shows up in these fic's. I like the idea that Emma, up until the Locker Incident, was still rooting for Taylor to prove herself. I like to think Sophia is disturbed (probably with influence from her shard, but not entirely), but is not a full blown sociopath. With those two thoughts in mind, I am going to look at exploring what happens to them by 1) aborting the Locker Incident and 2) removing Taylor from their daily attention. Obviously (by taking Taylor out of school) we won't see them that much. That said, they WILL show up.
