April 16th

The edge of the roof impacted into my gut, and I scrambled to pull myself over as the corner of the ledge dug into the spot right under my ribs, legs dangling and struggling to get traction on the side of the wall.

All the rain wasn't helping.

I managed to shift my weight enough to throw my upper body over the edge, and I fell onto the roof proper in a tangle. Right into a puddle deep enough that it covered my flailing hands when I pushed down.

Water splashed around me from the pouring rain as I sputtered upright; the old roof of this random Docks building apparently wasn't able to cope with the downpour.

"You know, this always happens, in some shape or from Kiddo."

My double was there, the rain still seemingly not hitting it nor passing through it, even as it lounged on the edge of the opposite side of roof, watching me with that Grin.

"Well, almost always. There are exceptions out there."

In the distance, a call of "Wave!" echoed over the rain, and I saw dozens of lights manifest a few streets over. Shields, from capes.

A wall of water surged, breaking over smaller buildings and washing over the shields. Further out, towards the Boardwalk, a titanic figure emerged from the sea.

"So, I know the whole song and dance, and so do they."

Continued my Double. I found myself walking forward, clothes drenched, glasses cracked from some point during my run, towards the ledge were my Double was, just to look out at the assembled capes along the beach-side buildings.

"The question is however, in this next…"

It laughed, a sound that I would think to hear in a place like this.

Many were positioned on the buildings, others in the streets hidden behind shields or Brutes as the wave slacked and rushed away. Some broke off to help others, or to gather together to prepare for the last time as the waters stabilized.

"… Chapter of your life, what are you going to write? How is this next part going to go?"

"What are you going to do?"

The lines shifted, separating from behind their defenses as the figure strode forwards, poking at the remnants of the Boardwalk with claw and tail as it did so, uncaring of the destruction that it had wrought.

Calls went out, a plan acted upon. Capes teamed up in waiting and watching as the figure took notice of the people standing before it.

And crouched.

"I wonder what they think about this, if they are expecting this, waiting for it."

The capes readied, final shouts echoed over the water, and several rushed forward as an vanguard. Alexandria at the front as a black blur. Despite what had happened between us, I still found myself hoping that she would win this time, that a miracle would occur.

For it was my city on the line now.

"Will you disappoint, Kiddo?"

The figure rushed forwards, a trail of water echoing behind it. Several capes did the same, with others opening fire.

And I watched.

"Or will you…"

"Awaken?"

March 30th

I couldn't use my phone in Arcadia, so I had to wait until school was out to send a message to Dragon about me wanting to do a powers testing session, and to see if she could arrange one with the PRT.

It wasn't that big of a deal, the experience in the bathroom had… hardened me. I was just… done with it all, and I wanted control over my life again.

So that meant facing my fears, that meant understanding my powers and what they could do.

The fact that within ten minutes I got a text message from Dragon saying that Armsmaster would be in touch was disconcerting, however. Of which he was… within a minute.

The text in question asked me if I would be willing to schedule the testing sometime soon, but I managed to push those butterflies aside on the basis that I had Armsmaster's number (Something that sent me for a loop, because I only had three numbers at this point and one was for my dad's office).

My power had destroyed Winslow. It was only the fact that the PRT were somewhat responsible and that I hadn't wanted anything to do with the cape life that gave me what little reprieve I had.

I told him that I was free after school or the weekend, and he replied that he would arrange things on his end, as well as the fact that it would likely take a few hours for all the testing to be done so I should be rested and ready for it as well as be prepared to preform various actions and to be ready with questions of my own.

And that was ok, because then I might be able to bring up that fact that I didn't really need to eat or sleep anymore, aside from when I pushed myself further than last time I went running.

Trouble was, less than an hour later I got another message, asking me if I was willing to come into the PRT today and now.

Part of me understood why, the PRT had nothing on my power but… they had been patient so far, why the suddenness?

This made me hesitate.

Fun fact: it was one thing to plan for something, and a whole other to suddenly realize that what you were planning was happening, and I'm ashamed to admit that I waited until I was home and was whipping up a simple dinner for Dad and me before I replied.

My text back had explained that it was a school night and that I didn't feel that it was a good idea, wanting rest to avoid any mishaps. Armsmaster replied with an understanding text, asking me if tomorrow would work better.

After school was fine, as it would be easy to catch a bus downtown straight from school; I knew several new routes thanks to my trips to Arcadia.

I was procrastinating, because yes, I could have easily ran over to the PRT building and just gotten everything done, but in addition to just feeling a bubble of anxiety in my gut about actually going and doing the testing, the fact was… I was just being petty.

The PRT had tried to subtly string me along back in our first real meeting, the one that Armsmaster had stepped in on; it hadn't been anything legally binding, but they had implied several things that would have pushed things more in their favor, and for that I wanted things to be on my terms when I next went to them.

Or at least as much 'on my terms' as I could get; joining the Wards was basically me signing away my hero identity (even if it was only for a few years), so it would limit my freedom in how my power got used and I would get pressured into staying with the Protectorate when I got out of the Wards.

But I didn't need to sign anything that was placed in front of me, and I was sure that with my dad backing me up I could get a good deal from the PRT when that happened.

So I texted 'yes' to Armsmaster as I was making dinner, and left it at that.

Fifteen minutes later however, Armsmaster asked if I was willing to skip school, as the PRT would cover things for me if I did.

Which was about the time that Dad ended up coming home from work.

Dinner was frozen ravioli with canned sauce and a bagged salad. Something I could throw together with else, which I had lots of experience with.

I really wanted to talk to him about the testing, to get him to come and be with me for it (I was scared, but hiding it pretty well). We chatted about our days, with him asking me more about my new friends at school, whether I was enjoying it, and how I was doing in class. In exchange I asked about how the DWA was doing.

There had been an influx of job requests from both the city and private for various jobs, ranging for both workers and specialists, things that my dad could supply either via the DWA, or by serving as the middleman by using all the contacts the DWA had gathered over the years, bouncing them to people that could do the work.

Part of this likely had to do with the upcoming Brockton Bay Fair; the festival that was pretty much just a leftover from the influx of hope that happened in the city after Tāwhirimātea passed over. Things hadn't gone the way people wanted, and the city only had a few months of everything looking up before reality came crashing back, but the fair remained.

Mostly.

They had changed the date as to avoid having anything interfere with the fall/winter holidays (as well as to avoid making it look like we were thankful that Tāwhirimātea showed up, or were worshiping her), and held it in one of the Docks warehouses, one of the few that had been repaired before it had all came crashing down again.

But Lisa's words shot through my mind upon hearing this; was this what the plan was? Make my dad become bound to contacts and complicit in whatever crime Coil had planned? Or was it just coincidence and had nothing to do with Coil?

There were several moments where I very nearly just spilled everything to him… yet, he was happy, and I was happy that he was happy. Hell, I even realized that I was happy.

I had people that I called friends, there was a guy that may have been interested in me (don'tpanicoverthatortrytounderstandhowandohgodwhatifdadfindsoutthe thingsI'veheardaboutthistypeofthing), and I met someone that I maybe could talk about powers with.

So, I didn't tell Dad about what I was going to do tomorrow, about how I was going to face my fear. I didn't want him to worry, I wanted to take care of this myself, if only to prove that I could.

No matter how much I wanted to have him there holding my hand.

There was a weight in my gut as I walked out the front door the next day, heavy and very present. There was a chance that this could go all wrong, and I wouldn't get the answers and results that I wanted- needed.

But I had to go through with this, I didn't want to walk through life having this specter of fear hanging over me. I wanted control back over myself and my actions.

So, I steeled myself and straightened my back to walk with my head held high.

And instantly had to stretch to pop my back and neck.

How long had it been since I had really stood up straight with my shoulders back? I felt like I had just spent the last week on the couch watching movies with Emma.

… or maybe it was the fact that I had curled into a ball during the night and had slept in for a few hours, as the tested had been scheduled for ten and I hadn't wanted to get up for fear that Dad would see me and wonder what was going on.

But after he left I relaxed, and lazily (and not in procrastination) got ready for the day.

'Course, with it being a school day, I knew that I would be getting a few looks if I just walked out into the city at this time of day. Not many would care, but when I walked into the PRT building, someone would notice. And I didn't really want that, even if there was a cover for me.

But I had a plan.

If there was anything good about my height, it was that I could easily disguise myself as an adult with the right clothes. I ditched my more casual clothes and went with a more professional looking jacket, an old birthday gift from dad.

From within the downstairs closet I also dug out dad's old messenger bag from back when the DWA was still going strong, during the days that he needed to bring home paperwork.

The holders for the strap didn't want to move and it was covered in a layer of dust, but it was still in one piece. I used it to hold onto a notepad, a few pens, a water bottle, and a pair of snack bars, things I figured I could/would use later.

The final thing was something that I dreaded doing. One of the things that had always made me look younger was my hair, and I never wanted to do anything to it because it was some of the few things that still linked me to mom.

But standing in front of the mirror by our door, I knew that I had to do something with it.

I had an old scrunchie on hand, from the long-ago days of Emma coming over, and pulled my hair into a messy ponytail with it.

And just like that, I aged a few years. I still looked like a young woman, but more of the college variety rather than the high school. Though I didn't feel it, I still felt like a kid playing dress up, but I still looked different enough that I didn't see myself.

(and sure, maybe this didn't matter a single bit, but how else was I going to convince myself that I had the confidence to do this?)

Nobody gave me a second glance when I got on the bus, nor during the trip downtown. In fact, I made it all the way to the PRT building until I screwed up something.

It was only saying my name backwards when they asked why I was there, rather than what I needed, but I recovered even as I felt my face heat up.

Unlike last time, I had to wait in a chair for a short time, alongside a number of other people who were also at the PRT building for some reason or another.

Like last time, a trooper escorted me up the elevator. Unlike last time, I didn't get all the way to a room, instead we got intercepted by Armsmaster before we got halfway there.

"Thank you, I'll take it from here," stated Armsmaster stated as he walked towards us.

The PRT trooper nodded and walked away, leaving the pair of us alone for the moment.

The blue-armored hero nodded at me. "Miss Hebert, I trust that you are well rested."

"Yep," I quipped. "Got plenty."

(I didn't really, it was hard for me to get to sleep and I woke up at my normal time to go out and go jogging, but stayed in my room to avoid dad)

"Did you decide not to include your father?"

"… he had work."

For a moment, Armsmaster just looked at me, like he was trying to figure me out. Then he sighed.

"Then I feel that I have to tell you that while we can continue the testing, there are certain things that you, and we, will not be able to do without his or a guardian's consent. And there will be paperwork for you to sign before we can begin. Minor things about the tests and your consent in them I assure you."

"But I can still do the testing?"

"Yes, we can still move forward with that."

I was fine with all of that, and if something came up that needed Dad… then I would bring him in on it. But I needed to do this, for my mental health if anything.

Dad would understand.

"Ok."

Armsmaster nodded but seemed reserved. "Very well then, if you are ready, please follow me."

With that, Armsmaster turned around that took us back to the elevator.

"We'll have to head to an off-site location to do your tested," he explained as he walked. "While the building does have a testing center, given what we'd seen so far about your power it was decided that your testing will be done elsewhere."

Well that made sense, it would look rather bad for the PRT if their HQ suddenly had ice exploding out of it after all.

"… actually, I… I used my power a bit the other day. There was no ice," I finished quickly at Armsmaster alarmed look. "It was… I went invisible."

Armsmaster stared at me for several moments while we waited for the elevator.

"Can you replicate this?"

"I…" could I? I hadn't exactly tried after all, but that was the point of this testing…

"Yes," I told him, being sure to make eye contact. "I can."

Armsmaster went quiet again, this time long enough that the elevator showed up and I started to get concerned.

… was he speaking to someone?

He must have been, because a few seconds later he stated "Understood," before looking at me.

"Did you uncover anything else about your power?"

Other than the fact that I might currently be followed by an unknown cape or might be having a mental break associated with either my power or repressed feelings of Winslow?

Armsmaster stared at me as the elevator doors opened, then shut again a few moments later.

"… I said that part out loud, didn't I?"

"Unfortunately, yes" Armsmaster said slowly, and I didn't know if he was talking about what I had said, or what I had asked.

"We will be limited on what we can do about that," Armsmaster explains. "Powers are hardly understood at the best of times and trying to unravel if you have a Stranger or Master effect may be difficult, the same goes for if an unknown cape is following you. The fact is that based upon what we've seen about powers, nearly anything seems possible, which makes having a full grasp of them and confirming everything… difficult."

"Testing can only do so much, and there might be things that we have no idea about, or no way to actually test; there is a good chance that you have to adapt to some new things in your life."

Armsmaster looks pained to have to say that, which I viewed as a bad thing for me.

"The best we might be able to manage will be to have Thinkers take a look, but if your power is, at best, an Anti-Thinker ability, that might have dangerous consequences. To say nothing of it if it has larger capabilities."

Like if my power affected dozens of people with no way to turn it off. Many would think they went insane, and there was a very good chance that they would never be able to live normal lives afterwards.

"… this isn't common, is it?"

Armsmaster sighed and glanced at the elevator, pushing the button for it once more.

"… it isn't unheard of for powers to have conditions or strangeness linked to their use, or to have an unknown element hidden within them. Some are more extreme than others, like our local ABB cape Yūrei. Her power is on par to the Siberian in terms of defense, yet can be disrupted by targeting the root of her projection; meanwhile, there is a Case 53 Ward that is entirely made of metal, yet still functions as a human being."

"Really? Everything?"

"Everything," Armsmaster confirmed. "He lacks blood, has no real need to breathe or eat, yet still needs to sleep. Obviously, this has affected his senses as well, given he is, by all accounts and tests, little more than a moving metal statue; how he is able to function is chalked up in the same category as the Ash Beast and the Endbringers. In other words, we just don't know, and are constantly learning new things about powers as time goes by."

"Like how Conscript's power doesn't allow Kaiser to use his power on their armor?"

The elevator showed, lucky empty once more, and Armsmaster gestured me inside.

"Precisely. While it was understood that their power field reinforced their armor, to what extent was unknown until then. This part of your power might simply be annoying, but ultimately benevolent, as it might be linked to your mind and personality, which sees something as wrong, and is working you towards fixing it. On the flip side, it also might cause you or those affected by your power to start proclaiming yourself to be Nyarlathotep, and that all that you do is beyond comprehension."

I had to blink several times when Armsmaster finished speaking.

"… I thought it was pronounced Nyarlathotep."

The hero smiled softly, either at my near serious tone or the attempt at diffusing humor I didn't know.

"In my youth, I had a girlfriend that was a fan of Lovecraft. She had dozens of his books and was an aspiring writer herself, so I got somewhat familiar with the lore and a few of the names of the Old Ones. While I was never a fan of the almost silly path of explaining events that the books often took- where everything was always fated and out of the protagonists control no matter what actions they took- I can say that reading them influenced me into figuring out how things actually worked, which lead me into getting a degree to supplement my Tinkering."

"But why that particular one?" I ask. Granted, the only reason I knew about The Crawling Chaos was from Emma's sister of all people. She once had a goth/acting phase that lead her into getting a few 'dark and forbidden' books to get into character. It hadn't lasted long (her parents didn't let it) and she gifted the books to me.

"Because if I recall correctly, he is more of a messenger than anything, rather than someone that directly causes chaos."

"The answer to that is in your own description," Armsmaster supplied. "You haven't chosen to cause us trouble, but your actions have alerted us to some all the same."

Was he referring to Coil?

If Armsmaster was, he didn't say, and I didn't get a chance to ask. The hero was quick to leave the elevator when the doors opened, and I was just as quick to follow.

Right into a rather empty garage.

Oh there were the sounds of people, but I didn't see any until I realized that the garage was only half as big as it could be, with only a handful of vehicles in it, ranging from a green jeep, Armsmaster bike, a normal looking motorbike, three PRT vans that looked like they could take a blast from a high-level Blaster and keep moving with the armor on them, and three other normal cars.

There were two sets of stairs on one side, from which the voices were echoing, as well as a ramp that was half-closed off by a grate that led up.

"This is where we keep the heavy use PRT vehicles as well as some of the Protectorate's own vehicles," Armsmaster explained. "Like my Tinker-Tech bike and my undercover jeep."

Said green jeep looked just like any other that I'd seen on the street; it even was dirty and had dings in it.

"We're not taking your bike?" I ask.

Armsmaster glanced over at me with the ghost of a smile. "As much as I enjoy it, there are times that require more discretion than that. Plus, it is a single seater."

… I knew that.

I tried to see if there was anything special about the jeep as I got closer, but the only thing that I noted was that the windows were heavily tinted.

Though the door opening for me without touching it was nice and made me wary about getting inside. But a single glance showed nothing out of the ordinary, other than the fact that everything was metal with bits of plastic coverings, and something that looked like leather seats but didn't feel like it.

I didn't get a chance to close my door before it was already doing so.

"Seatbelt," stated Armsmaster, as he reached over and opened the glovebox. Inside was what I was really expecting. There was no space for anything, was it was made up of a small screen with slots underneath, holding something.

They were tablets, and Armsmaster handed me one even as I was putting on my seatbelt. "This has the digital versions of the paperwork set up for you to read which discuss and cover the testing procedures, there will be proper paper copies when we get the testing area for you to sign. If you find something that you have questions about, I will do what I can to answer them."

"Now, are you ready? Because if something happens or you change your mind, this is pretty much your last chance before you make me drive out of here."

… Was Armsmaster giving me an out? While it was a nice gesture, if I did that now I feared that I would never be coming back, not unless I was forced.

"… no," I state. "I'm ready."

Armsmaster nods and starts the jeep with a push of a button.

The vehicle rumbles slightly, but other than that it is near silent, and Armsmaster is quick to drive it up the ramp, the grate movie aside for us to pass.

This part of the garage better fit my image of what the PRT would have in one. Several vans were being worked on, as well as several other vehicles. Troopers, some wearing full suits and others not, walked around the room, moving parts, checking things over and just doing some job that needed it.

No one batted an eye as the jeep passed them, and we continued on to the next ramp, this one blocked by an actual wall with warning signs across it.

"There are holographic emitters that will block you from sight," Armsmaster stated as we drove towards the guards at the wall. "Limit your movement and the most that they'll see is a hazy blur."

The driver's side window went down as a trooper walked over, I could see the inside of the jeep in the reflection of his mask, as well as the notable absence of me in it and the blocky person-sized haze in my place.

He took one glance at where I sat before asking, "Code, sir?"

Armsmaster rattled off a set of numbers and letters and the trooper glanced down at his clipboard.

"Did you manage to catch the score of the game? I still got three hours left on shift."

"Twelve and fourteen, it was fourth inning," replied Armsmaster.

Nodding and then lowering the clipboard, the trooper continued with, "Right, the equipment you requested was set up, but Kin Win wasn't happy about it. He said he was close to a breakthrough on that shield of his."

Armsmaster made a face. "Understood."

And with that done, the trooper stepped back and waved us forward.

After passing through the airlock like system of doors (which I noted had several turrets that looked like they could aim backwards into the garage as well as into the street) and past the patrolling troopers at street level, Armsmaster started driving us down Brockton Bays streets.

"Be sure to check over the paperwork," Armsmaster asked as we traveled. "It will cover the basics of what the testing involves, though with your unconfirmed Stranger effect it might have to be adjusted. To say nothing of testing the other unconfirmed part of your power, the Reflection."

The reflection? Did he mean…

"You mean the Double?" I ask. "The hallucinations that Agent Todd talked about in my PRT meeting?"

Armsmaster nods.

"Stranger and Master powers are always the most difficult to test, particularly the ones that influence behavior or are subtle in how they work. The PRT hates them not only for the danger they represent, but also for how hard it is to understand their breath and length. Your, 'Double,' has been tentatively linked to your power by the simple grace of several people seeing the same thing, as well as the fact that it all happened to people that have been in contact with you or were at Winslow. However, there have been several cases of mass hysteria where people all claim to have seen the same thing, even before powers were first recorded appearing."

"We do have several ways of detecting Master/Stranger powers, but only a handful of the simpler ones of them will be present at your testing. But that is something we can tackle at a later date, unless it is revealed to be a pressing matter during the testing. For now, I suggest you look over the paperwork before we get to the testing site."

Most of said paperwork was common sense things, strength testing, endurance, a few mental exercises, tests for this and that based upon my powers, blood work to be drawn, that kind of thing. Anything more would be done back at the PRT building and only if I requested it.

I finished covering the basic legal summary as we pulled up to a building somewhere in the Docks, an old warehouse from the looks of things. As we pulled up, a red suited figure stepped out; Assault, based upon my days of internet surfing.

He (using his power I figured) shoved open the large door to the warehouse with a flex of his arm as he struck a pose, letting the jeep into an old loading area sperate from the rest of the building.

Armsmaster was not amused with Assault, and glared at the cheekily smiling hero as we drove by.

Assault was one of those heroes that took things less seriously than the others, kinda like Mouse Protector, but less over-the-top. He was one of the ones that most often was sent into the public eye, and given his personality, I could understand why.

As Armsmaster parked his jeep I noted Jessica standing at a folding table to one side. She lacked the dress suit I'd seen her in before, instead was wearing something more casual.

"I'll make sure Assault leaves the building before you step out," Armsmaster stated. "He is only here to serve as a… precaution and will come back once we've gotten underway and you have a proper mask. One moment."

The hero left, and I suddenly had nothing to do, so did what any teenager my age would be doing (or at least what I believed would be the case), I checked my phone to keep busy.

An action that had me freezing.

There were messages from Dragon, one after another, each saying different times for delivery, but I was so unused to having a cell that I kept it on silent most of the time, so I didn't even notice that I had messages.

'It would be best for your dad to be with you. You can cancel so that he is, if you so want.'

'Be sure to read all the paperwork.'

'If you don't feel well, remember you can do the testing at any time.'

'And make sure you understand your rights.'

There were more, but those were the ones that stuck out at me. What about my rights? Did that have something to do with how Armsmaster was acting?

My read through the messages was cut short when Armsmaster opened my door.

"Ms. Lawson will go over the proper paperwork with you," he stated. "Be sure to read it all before signing."

What might have been a simple reminder suddenly turned more ominous. Did Armsmaster want me to check over everything because something was wrong? Or was he just being helpful?

If there was, Jessica wasn't revealing it. The only words she spoke to me when I walked over to her was to make sure that I wasn't joining the Wards, and to make sure that I understood the two pieces of paper that I was signing (one for the testing, one coving the fact that I understood that this was a basic powers testing, not everything would be uncovered about my powers in this test).

With that done, Jessica put away the papers, sliding me a quickly made copy beforehand. Then she addressed Armsmaster.

"This was supposed to be my day off, luckily it seems that my date is understanding. As for you, I don't understand why you insisted on me being here, I wasn't needed."

"Protocol dictates that a legal rep must be present during the paperwork signing," Armsmaster counted. "As Taylor's appointed rep, you were the best choice."

Jessica narrowed her eyes at the hero.

"… I don't fully understand what is going on right now, given the conversation I just had a few minutes ago, but I do know that I am out of my depth here, so I will be leaving. Good luck."

That last part was addressed to me, and just left me even more confused.

Just what was going on?

Armsmaster directed me towards the door leading further inside, talking about the basics of the test as we went, a running test, strength, intelligence, a small test of healing (which amounted to getting a cut on the arm and seeing what happened); really it sounded no different than what schools did to check for fitness, though the testing that I would be doing in the building would center more around what my powers could do more than what I could do.

I could do a more comprehensive testing for a better understanding of how my power may or may not have had affected me, but that was something for a later date.

Walking into the warehouse proper was mostly what I expected: a large, nearly-empty room, rusted and dusty with pillars shooting up to support the ceiling. Assorted equipment ranging from what looked like a water trough, a set of measured out areas, some computers set to one side, a station of assorted equipment I had could only guess the purpose of (I guessed a few were of medical nature, if only because I saw a heart monitor) were set to one side, far away from everything else.

And Alexandria, who was currently looking over the computers.

I legitimately tripped upon empty air seeing her because why was one of the Triumvirate here?

The black and light grey costume with the tower placed in the center of her chest had become the ideal behind the PRT, whose troopers' uniforms reflected the same designs, though they lacked the cape and weren't as elegant.

"Ma'am, what… this…" Armsmaster stuttered before regaining himself. "I was not expecting you, Alexandria."

(Some part of my mind noted that the hero was none-too-gentle in grabbing my arm to help keep me upright, but I was just as flabbergasted, because it was Alexandria)

Alexandria turned away from the computers she was looking over, her cape swishing across the ground, nodding her helmeted head towards the pair of us as she walked towards us.

"Armsmaster, I'm sorry about the sudden intrusion, but events have caused this testing has become something of importance, enough so that I believed it was necessary for me to be here."

The sheer presence that Alexandria put out with how she moved, walked, stood, it made me want to take several steps back while at the same time respectfully stand up taller.

She walked with the confidence of the indomitable, each step more than just confident, but sure, as if she how no doubt in where she was walking and what she was doing.

It was like watching a tiger, the confidence as she strode forward, in her actions and steps. I actually found myself trying to take a step back, only for Armsmaster's grip to keep me in place.

"It had been stressed that Miss Hebert should undergo a powers testing at the earliest available opportunity," Armsmaster stated, his hand drifting up to grasp at my shoulder. "But I was under the impression that it was due to the leeway that was given to her, coupled with the state of the city and her Trigger event."

"While viewed as questionable by some, I won't deny the reasoning and logic behind the decision to be easy on, Taylor Hebert, was it?" Alexandria asked as she reached us, extending a hand for me to take.

I took Alexandria's hand automatically as I was still overcome with the fact that it was Alexandria, I had pictures of her on my wall! And a lunchbox! She was spoken about in the international level of capes and powers! And here I was shaking hands with her!

… still shaking hands with her in fact, something that caused me to yank mine away and blurt out a, "Sorry!" once I realized it.

Alexandria seemed slightly amused at the whole thing, which just made my face burn with embarrassment even more. I actually even found my hand going up to try and fix my hair, forgetting that I had put it in a bun, and ended up wiggling my hand in the air for a moment before I corrected.

"It is quite alright Miss Hebert, it's expected. Armsmaster, if there is any way that I can help, let me know, the sooner we get to the bottom of the situation and the sooner we can get it resolved."

"Ma'am, with all due respect," Armsmaster spoke, his grip tightening painfully on my shoulder, pulling me out of my shock. "You've yet to explain your presence here, and while I would not mind your assistance given your experience and skills, I still have to ask: Why are you here?"

Alexandria seemed to flinch, it was only a second, a moment so fast I wasn't sure it was there, before she hardened herself.

"That is something that I don't need to explain to you, Armsmaster, even before considering the fact it's above your paygrade."

And with that, what little was left of my good mood of meeting Alexandria, evaporated.

What was going on? Ok sure, I blew up a building (on accident), and the PRT handled me lightly because they foresaw a PR issue if they threw me into the Birdcage, and Brockton Bay wasn't exactly a place that could handle any more bad PR (plus it would be a bad idea to push the girl that could theoretically destroy buildings with her power) but to gather the attention of Alexandria? One of the top heroes in the country, if not the world?!

What was it that made me or my power so important?

Armsmaster was likely thinking the same thing as me, because he next asked, "Miss Hebert has willingly agreed to come in for testing, and has done so even with the PRT insisting on pushing the timetable up, something that has a manner of legal duplicity given her Independent status. Furthermore, as the leader of the Protectorate ENE it is my responsibility to oversee the Parahumans in the area, among them, Miss Hebert. Finally, I have no knowledge of any new information pertaining to her or her abilities, which makes your appearance here, suspect."

Alexandria watched Armsmaster for a moment, before rattling off a set of numbers and letters. If anything, this caused Armsmasters' frown to deepen.

"That isn't what I meant, ma'am, if Miss Heberts' situation has changed because of new information, then I wasn't made aware of it. And to keep her in the dark like this about it would be considered misleading as well, something that I didn't expect from you, of all people."

The tension racked up a few notches, with Armsmaster shifting his weight and Alexandria standing that much taller.

And there I was, stuck right in the middle of it. I felt like I was back at Emmas, when her parents were having one of their 'spats,' only between two extremely powerful and public figures.

But all of the tension vanished when Alexandria sighed heavily.

"I do understand what this seems like, but know that there are things you are not aware of Armsmaster," Alexandria stated. "Assets that you don't know about, the type that we keep hidden because of how valuable they are, and two of them- both extremely high-level Thinkers- have experienced the same Stranger effect that was attributed to Miss Hebert's power. I believe you will understand why that is a concern."

Armsmaster was steady for a moment, before sighing himself and relaxing.

"Yes, I do," he said as he removed his hand from my shoulder.

Alexandria nodded once, before turning towards me, and I found myself pinned beneath her helmeted gaze.

"I don't have anything personally against you Miss Hebert, and everything that I have read suggests that you are simply someone that has found herself in a difficult situation, but understand that my position in the Protectorate means that I do not have the liberty of taking things at face value, particularly when it comes to things like this. To say that we need to get to the bottom of this would be an understatement."

I… I could understand where she was coming from, the PRT might have had its issues, but things would be far worse if they stopped doing their jobs, or were forced to stop. But that didn't mean that was I comfortable with anything that was happening right now.

Something must have been written on my face because Alexandria added in a kinder voice, "Understand Miss Heb- Taylor, that this is just a precaution. It is possible that it isn't you that is causing this Stranger effect, but given the data we have gathered you are the currently best bet because of how it was first recorded at your Trigger Event. It is also possible that it is easily controlled, but you've yet to understand how; not every cape has complete understanding of their power when they first start out, after all."

What else could I do but agree with her? She was the second-in-command of the entire Protectorate, and one of the most powerful capes in the world. She fought threats every day to keep people like me safe, and even though I so wanted to ask her if she was going to do anything about the gangs in the Bay, to step in and clean things up (which would be so easy for her to do), I also knew that there was more going on in the world outside my little slice of a city.

"… Yes, I do."

Not acknowledging the softness in my voice, Alexandria nodded. "Good, then we can begin right away. Armsmaster? I see that you have nearly set up everything for E-Class Testing protocols, once you are done, we can begin by examine Miss Hebert here for a baseline, then go from there."

"We'll set you up with a mask first," Armsmaster interjected. "Then we'll bring Assault in as a precaution against your power with the testing is underway."

"Will one of these suffice?"

Pulling it out from seemingly nowhere, Alexandria handed me a domino mask. It was a nice gesture, but…

"Won't cover much, will it?" I ask carefully, one of my hands flicking around my head. "My hair and glasses…"

Both of the heroes just looked at me for a moment, and I could see the gears turning in their heads.

"I understand," stated Alexandria with a soft smile after a moment. "I had the same issue with my own hair."

"Something that I recently understood about Assault, who at times acts… less than professional, is very good at understanding situations and intent, as well as being a people person," Armsmaster said. "If you are ok with it, we can simply forgo the mask and allow Assault in. He will have no problem keeping your identity a secret, I trust him."

I didn't in fact, Assault was known as one of the better capes in the city, nearly always spotted alongside Battery. The kinetic manipulator often would stop and chat to people or visit schools and workplaces. He definitely fit the bill of a 'PR cape,' but at the same time was viewed as one of the harder working capes in the city as well.

"Very well then," Armsmaster stated after I told him I was fine with Assault. "Then it will only take a moment to finish setting up the equipment while he comes in. Alexandria? Would you care to assist me?"

The way Armsmaster gestured with his arm made it clear that it was more than just a request, something that had me gawking because this was Alexandria, but the female hero simply nodded and turned to walk back towards the desk of computers.

And I was left standing there for a moment, several moments actually, of which I spent watching the pair converse in hush tones as they walked away, until Assault suddenly slid up beside me, one hand extended.

"Nice you meet you…?" he asks as a question.

I take his hand after a moment of hesitation. "Taylor."

"Good to meet you Taylor," Assault says joyously, while shaking my hand. "Assault, of the Protectorate ENE, perhaps you've heard of me?"

"… that I have… Aren't you the one that turned Hookwolf into modern art?" I ask as he continues to shake my hand.

"Ah, how I suffered for that work," Assault says dramatically, one arm flinging up to cover his face.

"And then that brute of a man Kaiser showed up and destroyed it, such a man has no appreciation for the finer things in life."

I couldn't help the smile that twitched upon my lips at Assault's over-the-top antics.

A camera crew had caught the event in question; turns out that trying to attack a kinetic energy manipulator head on with blades and impacts was a bad idea. The second most infamous cape in the city ended up turning into one of those perpetual motion art displays, with Hookwolf trying desperately to get away from Assault, while the hero simply shoved his blades back at him or shattered them.

Which now that I thought about it, was probably why he was here. Assault was likely one of the few people in the city that could deal with an tree-ice eruption. If something like that happened, he could protect Armsmaster and limit the damage by redirecting it away.

"Ah! I see that smile," Assault stated. "That's good, this won't be as bad as you think if you're relaxed about it."

"I don't think anyone can really be relaxed about something like this," I pointed out. But Assault just shrugged.

"Eh, a matter of perspective really. For me, powers tests are common enough that it's like a holiday, only one were you sometimes have to use power tools or explosives to get good enough results."

… explosives?

"Hmm? Oh yeah, they handed me a grenade at the end of my testing to see if I could redirect it," Assault explains with an easygoing smile on his face (to my horrified one). "Turns out I can!"

"It wasn't a real 'turn-me-into-giblets' grenade," Assault further explained. "And they made sure that I understood what I was doing and that I was ok with it. Plus, I wanted to see if I could, because then you know, I could be one of those action movie characters, the ones that walk away from the explosions like badasses. Don't worry, Armsmaster might have a bit of a stick up his butt, but if he told me that he needed my help to fight a ramped-up Lung, I'd simply ask if he could spare some sunscreen."

"So relax, kid," Assault added, gently clasping my shoulder. "Armsmaster won't make you do anything like that unless you ended up joining the Protectorate or something, and wanted to know yourself, and only then if all the i's and t's were crossed and dotted beforehand and he had a backup plan for his backup plan's backup plan."

… that didn't really make me feel better, but it was comforting to know that I wouldn't get handed a live grenade at some point (though that… hadn't really been a worry in the first place). With the shock of seeing Alexandria here, I was having more doubts about this whole thing, something that, frankly, was pissing me off.

Because really, I couldn't catch a break, could I?

First, my best friend threw away everything we had together, then I was kicked around for two years before I ended up Triggering and blowing up my school. And now? Now people were dancing around me with their secrets and implied words, leaving me in the background once more.

It was just…

"Uh, Taylor?" Assault asks. "What are you…"

The hero followed me as I stomped my way over to Alexandria and Armsmaster, both of them looking up from whatever they were doing as I approached.

"I know this might be a little blunt to say, but can we just get on with my powers testing?" I ask in a bland tone. "I'm not interested in the politics of capes, I just want to be able to sleep at night without worrying that I'm inadvertently causing a cult that sends goat sacrifices to the Deep Ones or something. I've had enough drama in the last view years, and I still have two more to go in high school as well, so can we just stop with the bullshit and get this done?"

Both of the heroes stared at me, their helmets revealing nothing from my outburst.

I sucked in a tight breath as they looked at me, clenching my hands up to control the shaking in them.

(I could feel my nails biting into flesh)

Maybe I shou-

No, as much as this seemed like a stupid idea (like, really really stupid), if I didn't plant my foot down and start pushing back at some point, then I would just keep getting walked over by everyone.

It's said that there is a point that people reach that either makes or breaks them, a point where they have become accustomed to everything that had/has happened to them, to the point where it became an irreparable part of their lives and they view it all as normal.

Or, they fight back, breaking out of the self-feeding cycle that has trapped them.

Anxiety was nothing new to me; the twisting of my gut, the tightening of my chest, the tension in my arms, the shaking of my limbs, all of this and more I had felt while the Trio had bullied me.

(I felt it now, like a pressure at my back, telling me to submit)

Despite that, despite wanting to curl up upon myself and duck my head under their gaze, I held it, looking into the metal surfaces of their helmets as best as I could.

I wasn't the girl that had let herself be bullied for two years anymore; she had let it go on long enough that it had nearly gotten her- me- killed. There was just too much for me to lose if I let that happen again, too much that I wanted to experience and do to let myself be shoved underfoot and into the dark corners again.

I would push back, I will stand my ground against things like that, I would take action to prevent it from happening again.

There were legalities that protected me, rules and laws that I could bring up to bracemyself, not even counting the fact that if I stopped -ugh, I didn't want to say that I was moping around- but if I stopped trying to keep myself on the outskirts and actually made friends that would stand beside me, then I would have people that would have my back.

And if that didn't work, I could always channel some of that (in)famous Hebert anger and throw a few punches.

(my breath hitched even as I considered that)

Neither hero seemed happy with how I basically just told them off… Tough, I came here to get myself out of the rut I was in, not to get dragged into… whatever was going on with them. I didn't want any part of it, and if I had any say in it, never would.

And if that meant I had to put my foot down and start yelling… well, that wasn't the most adult thing I could do, but just walking seemed silly when I was the one that wanted this.

(all the while I fought the what-ifs, the what-could-happens, what-will-happens that popped up in my brain, shoving them into little boxes to tossed aside and decay over time)

"… you made a good point," Armsmaster admits, glancing over to Alexandria. "The whole point of us- of you, being here is to better understand your power. Despite… concerns, with events surrounding you and your power, the end goal for today has not changed, even if other things have. If there is nothing else you wish to add, Alexandria?"

The female hero hadn't seemed happy even before I walked over; despite Armsmaster 'request' of assistance, I had noticed that he had been quick to take charge in whatever they were doing, all but pushing Alexandria aside to do so. Whatever they were talking about in not-quite- silent voices hadn't helped either.

As it was it was easy to see the sourness on Alexandria's face, something that made my insides quiver and forced my breath to hitch for a moment. Because really, Alexandria wasn't the type of person that you wanted to get angry.

Pushing things as I was right now probably didn't help her mood.

But after a moment of her not saying anything, Armsmaster was quick to step around the hero, moving towards me with a small case in his hand.

"Excellent. Assault if you could get into position. Taylor, come this way, please, and we can get started with a baseline."

A/N: Gah, this was originally an over 16k word chapter, but I split in two because I really didn't want something like this that big (no matter how much I hated to because then this one kinda become one bigger filler/foreshadowing chapter… )

And yes, I think even I got whiplash from Taylor here, but there is a point that people either break or punch back.

But, having her balance on the edge was getting tiring after all, so it was about time that she stopped wavering and took a stand for herself (despite how frightening it might have been for her here).

Also, I've adjusted Tāwhirimāteas size, she's now bigger than an aircraft carrier, well over a thousand feet in length, with 'proper' respect given to her wingspan in rough 'accordance' to what that length would need to fly (largely to reflect new Lore and to better give her the 'oh shit that is Fucking Big,' feeling of awe that she needs).