So you guys really liked this fanfic idea! I got so caught up in it I just couldn't stop writing and well... hope you guys like.
Disclaimer: I don't own Worm or Persona 5.
Chapter 2: Khepri
Taylor Hebert(Khepri)
A tall, lanky man stood up in the PRT waiting room, eyes wide and looking at me.
He looked… worse, but so much better than the last time I saw him. The light in his eyes wasn't gone. His movements were sluggish and the bags under his eyes spoke of no sleep, but compared to how he was before, he was practically glowing.
"Dad!" I rushed at him.
"Taylor!" He sounded so relieved. So tired. When was the last time I heard him say my name like that? When was the last time I heard him say my name?
Tears came to my eyes, and I hugged him hard. But still gentle, in case my new regeneration abilities extended to a Brute package.
"Hey dad." I mumbled.
"Oh Taylor." He cried too. "My baby."
What was it like for him? To have his daughter suddenly hospitalized, in a coma? Only to be suddenly told she was awake and detained by the PRT? Not able to see her? See me?
"Sorry dad." I said, muffled by his shirt.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." He sighed heavily, finally relaxing. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting bullied?"
"It was… no one was doing anything. And you weren't yourself. I just… didn't want to make you worry."
"Taylor."
I looked up at him, at his eyes. They were burning with intensity.
"I'm sorry for not being the father I should have been. Nothing will ever matter to me more than you. I promise. We'll get through this. I'm here for you."
That… that's not fair.
I gritted my teeth, trying to hold back tears. "Dad…"
Was it this easy? Was I just too caught up in my own self loathing last time? Would things be different if I had just had not been so full of hate?
I would make sure what had happened would never come to pass. I'd carve a brighter future. The scars on my mind a necessary sacrifice if it meant everyone would get the happy ending they deserved.
I gripped the back of my dad's shirt, pushing my head into his chest.
"Thanks dad." I whispered.
"I'm here Taylor."
And he was.
...
I shifted nervously, unsure what exactly I was doing.
"So… what do I do exactly…?"
I heard my dad's voice from over the speakers on the walls of the white boxed room.
"Yes what exactly is she doing?"
This was supposed to be power testing. Some kind of Brute test that I wasn't sure about. I felt a bit awkward, standing in the middle of a room with one sided glass, wearing a standard uniform for a PRT trooper. Modified for power training/testing.
"Everything is perfectly safe Mr Hebert. Ms Taylor, we need you to let your power loose. All parhumans have an instinctual understanding of their power, with different severity. A healing factor is common with most Brutes, so we'd like you to try and pick up that weight, as we increase the mass of it."
"O… kay." I said, still a bit unsure.
The weight itself was a dumbbell, but all white, and at the ends were white blocks.
"Fools." A voice hissed in my ear.
Oh good, it's back.
"They don't understand where your power resides, or how you would go about unleashing your shadowed dogs upon the blight of the sick light."
So I control shadows? Shadow dogs?
A gravely hissing growl was my answer.
That wasn't a no, but I didn't think it was also a yes…
No I needed to think. I had power, somehow. Between that pain, the overwhelming madness, I could feel it in my final moments as Khepri.
And how did I bring it out?
I grasped the weight, flooding it with my intent.
I gripped harder, picking it up. Still, I couldn't feel my power.
"How are you handling the weight Taylor?"
"Huh?" I said distractedly. "I barely feel it. It's at about 5 pounds?"
"No Taylor, that's about 200."
I blinked, looking at the one way mirror.
Oh.
"Um…" I tried to gather my thoughts. "Something's telling me that I'm not really using my power though. I'm trying to focus it…"
A brief silence, before the speaker came back to life. "Keep trying, tell me when you get something. We won't increase the weight until you figure it out." The man on the other side of the glass reassured me.
Okay…
"You wish to use my power? Let me lend you strength? Very well! Let the dark flames of Khepri burn hotter than the sun!"
Black fire rolled off me, and suddenly I could feel this power. Like fire in my veins. I dropped the weight, clutching my face as black flames licked the PRT suit, before I was completely engulfed in them, a word being pushed from out of my mouth.
"Persona!"
"Yes!" A dark voice echoed, this time out of my head. It changed, turning dark and feminine, as the silhouette of armor formed around me from the black flames. "This power of mine is yours!"
Armor, black like chitin, covered my body. I felt taller than I was, and the scale mail swallowed me whole. Wings burst from my back, really the skeleton of what I remembered dragonfly wings looked like. They warped and curved, and I was sure that I could fly with them but-
"I am the bringer of dawn, Khepri!" The dark feminine voice came out of my mouth, not out of my own violation.
Oh.
Khepri… was this who I was, on the inside?
"Now you're understanding." A voice-my voice, well my new voice sounded out inside my head. "I am born from your desires, the rebel soul trapped inside you. You took off your mask, your chains that held you down. Now you have opened the Wings of Rebellion."
That… was a lot to digest.
"Taylor?" I snapped out of it, hearing my dad's panicked and unhinged voice.
"Dad." I responded, flinching at my new dak femine voice. "That's… going to take a lot to get used to."
"Taylor honey are you still you?" He sounded worried. Rightly, I'd imagine. What the heck just happened?
"I'm fine. In a way. I don't know… I feel stronger, and when I changed those words that came from my mouth were completely involuntary."
The man who was conducting the tests behind the one way glass spoke up. "Was this something that did not happen before you messed with the timeline?"
I shook my head, well, my helmeted head. "These future events did not feature me, with these powers. The role I play now was not a factor in the aforementioned future that so took a dark and twisted turn, path. I was a nonfactor unlike now, and without knowledge that I triggered, would have thought the horrific visions not but a very ill and forsaken dream."
My speech sounded different. "The speak upon paths and twists of tongues, my vocabulary, my vocalisation. The pattern of my voice, my tone of speech. Different, one could suggest, and they'd happen to be right." That… did not come out the way it was supposed to.
"I… can talk normally, but if I lose focus then the way it comes out different is from what I was trying to say." I say slowly. "If you couldn't understand, I didn't really exist when things played out."
"Well then…" The man says. "Let's continue with power testing?"
I lift the dumbbell again, but this time it's weight increases.
In the end it looked like my limit was 5 tons, or 4536 kilograms. With one arm. Using the bigger weight, needing both hands, my max was about 6.5 tons, or 5896.7 kilograms.
That was about half the weight of a semi-truck. Definitely more than a car.
It was about average for Brute strength. There were tests to see if I could fly, which I could. Which also didn't make any sense, on a scientific standpoint, my wings being bone. But then again power bs so I dunno.
I attested that yes, I had other powers. I could feel it. My power, waiting to be used. And only the tip of the iceberg.
I confirmed that I had a minor heal ability in my Changer state, that'd let me heal any non grievous wounds of the person I directed my power towards. In my head I(and my inner self) called it Dia.
The person doing power testing paused, before continuing. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that? Again for the record?"
I shrugged mentally. "I'm immune from attacks that'd result in instant death. And I can survive from any fatal attack while being put in a critical condition. In that critical condition though…" I shivered. "I can be killed."
"Are you absolutely sure?" He asked again.
"Positive. Perfectly sound in thought and in strength of body." Oop. Let 'Khepri' slip again. "Any ailments like diseases or rapid loss of blood have no effect either."
"Can you separate yourself from the armor?"
"I…"
"If you so desire, cast me above you, and we'll shadow the world in our darkness that brings forth the light!"
"Yes."
"Do so please."
I focused, and the black flames were back, lingering on my body, before moving behind me. The armor took on a life of its own, wings opening causing a very strong gust in the room.
Khepri settled, and I then realized that I was wearing an outfit, one… very familiar.
It resembled my Khepri uniform, with a black undersuit, and armored gloves.
But the plating was thinner, a darker grey, and instead of a full mask I had just a partial mask, that just covered the middle of my face. Or so it felt like, when I touched the area.
A Columbina. My mind supplied me.
A look in the one way mirror showed it was mainly black, with a trim of blue around my eyes, eerily reminiscent of the glowing blue color of my once power armor. A wane haunting blurry reflection of what it once emulated.
Without the horrors attached to the memory, the getup my powers dressed me up in was quite dashing.
"I look… good." I muttered, taking it all in. I sent a glance at my persona. "I can still use the abilities, but they're focused through Khepri. Also I'm wearing body armor."
"Does your Brute rating still apply?"
I winced. "My durability has definitely dropped. But not dying from a single fatal blow still applies. Anything with overwhelming power could definitely kill me now though. I could probably take serious gun fire for an extended period of time, but I'd probably die. Khepri can't interact with anything, or really defend me. Only using her attacking and healing ability. Um… now I heal slowly. Only when I'm not taking damage though. That increases to really high degrees when not in combat…"
I listed off, not finishing. I knew they were getting into the combat oriented abilities very soon.
"We've talked about your Brute defense rating Taylor, but what about in terms of attack?"
"This… flame attack." Agi. "It only focuses on a single target, directed through my um, construct. It won't even cause mild injury, at most second degree burns. On the other hand I somehow know it'd render a normal person unconscious with minimal damage."
"Minor fire manipulation directed through your construct, good to know."
"And…" I could see. Several minutes into the… is this what Thinkers felt like? My vision was heightened, it felt like I could easily pick apart any weakness or strength in a matter of minutes. "I have limited precognition. Several minutes into the future. With and without Khepri. Enhanced senses. And I feel like I could start picking a person apart in minutes."
"Fairly strong Thinker rating… probably enhanced by Changer state." I heard the sound of him writing something down over the speakers.
I knew the precognition was something else, but it was the easiest answer to come to, and the easiest to explain.
"And I think I know basic hand to hand."
More jotting things down.
"Any more surprise powers? Another Changer/Master ability? A power exclusive to the form you're in right now?"
I frowned. Khepri?
"No no… it'll be much more fun watching you figure out this new resource Mistress." Her voice resounded in my head. "And the power that comes from your heart…"
"Just the healing ability, I guess." I muttered, unsure of the words Khepri(me) said.
"In that case you're free to go. I'll need to send these up to Director Piggot. Have a good day Taylor."
You too.
...
Emily Piggot
I leaned heavily against the large table, fingers intertwined.
All of the Protectorate members were present, the Triumvirate sitting down with us to discuss the matter at hand.
I started the meeting. "Her Thinker abilities…?"
"Classified." Alexandria immediately snapped out. "But a definite Thinker 12. Her strengthened senses and minor precognition caused by her projection should make an official rating of 4, personally."
"Not when you think about how it's just a byproduct of her ability to see into the future." Dauntless muttered. He seemed to still be struggling with the fact the young girl who just recently triggered, knew everything that he'd probably ever do, and it'd probably amount to shit.
I shook my head, warding off those thoughts.
How Taylor lit up when she told Alexandria that she wouldn't die, it was recorded that the future could and would be altered or changed, due to knowledge of said future. And while Taylor had the ability to become immediately aware of the changes, they could and would take her by surprise. Especially since she was a non factor in her overall 'future sight'.
The construct probably heightened her already unsurpassable Thinker rating, growing to where she could see herself, several minutes ahead in time with the help of her additional powers.
What a scary girl.
I'd be the first to admit I had a strong distrust of parahumans. After my scars, after the heroes abandoned my squad, who wouldn't have been?
This was different though. This was bigger than me. I'd need to barrel through this new and almost inconceivable threat, in order to see humanity not dwindle out and die.
Assault shifted, looking uncomfortable in his seat. The usual joking man put on hold in order to pull a serious face. "We should move on. A strong Brute/Changer. One that seems to mold armor around her. Physical helplessness, her locker. Thinker, high stress in a relatively short amount of time. Again locker. What else am I missing?"
"The arguable combat/proficiency part of her Thinker rating. Probably induced by the more physiological and mental bullying taking place on Ms Hebert." Armsmaster replied, almost dully. But a hint of anger was there.
Tinker and Thinkers triggered similarly. Talking about triggers in general would make any parahuman agitated.
The high rating on her Thinker rating meant the physiological trauma was most likely the worst of it. I voiced as much to the rest of the table.
"Her high Thinker rating… it was definitely the main cause of her trigger. The bullying was most likely a catalyst. Dragon, I need you on Taylor's case." I couldn't have the girl becoming unhinged, or worse. Insane because of what was done to her.
Those mental scars must have stayed with her, but the overwhelming trauma of seeing the world end must have overridden most of that.
It made me sick to think about. It made me sicker to think that besides from a few minor break downs, Taylor was mostly in good condition.
Taylor was strong. I realized. Stronger than anyone had given her credit for.
Any jackshit could get powers that'd rival any big kids on the playground. Not many people could handle the mental abuse that'd come with it. Especially coming out of it as well adjusted as Taylor was.
"I'm already on it." Dragon's feminine almost robotic voice sounded out, tinged with a thick layer of disgust. "These bastards…"
I decided not to get into that.
"Minor Mover ability." Hero looked a bit defeated himself. "Her wings. I… Alexandria would know more about it, but being a Fly Mover is most likely associated with failure, and the realization of mortality. Wanting to break free. It most likely triggered after her Thinker power developed. But God I hope not. That must have been…"
I tried not to think about it either.
"A possible Brute 6, definite Brute 5. Mover 2, for the flight. Striker 4, for both the pyrokinesis and minor healing ability. Not wholly physical threats. That only leaves two things. Her Changer abilities and her Master abilities."
It was an impressive spread, and easier to say what powers she didn't cover. But since my time monitoring heroes and seeing countless parahumans trigger and die quickly, I knew the power that came with each parahuman, was solely dependant on the price paid for it.
Taylor would have been an impressive parahuman with just the highly initial damage going about her circumstance. But after what Hero said, it was most likely that Taylor had seen what had happened in the future, and had possibly double triggered.
It was a sobering thought.
"I have collected data from what has been observed by Taylor." Armsmaster started. "As we all know, due to the requirement to assess every parahuman with new science about parahuman abilities, Changer powers are a result of conflicts involving constraining social expectations or mental and emotional issues involving identity or body image, which I believe is more likely due to Taylor Hebert being the target of a bullying campaign." He paused. "Reassessing, a mix of both, probably."
I sighed wearily. "The point, Armsmaster?"
He sat up straighter. "Ms Hebert has a Changer state that multiplies her already given abilities, and allows her access to her Blaster abilities as well. One of which is healing. Changer 7. Possibly 8."
The room had its first disagreement, with some thinking it should be lower, others thinking it should be higher. Mixed bag.
I sighed heavily. Fog was 8, and he could disintegrate living matter.
"7." I decided, just wanting to move on. The debate over another person's threat level was always something I despised. "Moving on. Miss Militia, Master rating." I demanded.
She sighed similarly to me. The weight of everything the past few days must have been finally getting to her.
"The betrayal and isolation are definitely strong, and are probably tied into her Changer ability. The fixed isolation was probably from her dad… or maybe something else. The construct is impressive, but it's body can't really interact with anything unless Taylor commands the Blaster abilities. 4. 5 at most."
The room interrupted into more chaos. I just pinched the area between my eyes.
In the end it ended up being Thinker 12(4), Brute 6, Mover 2, Striker 4, Changer 7, Master 4.
The room was in agreement that Taylor was a double trigger, before moving on to other Taylor related things.
Like what to do with the list of Endbringer attacks that happen in the near future, among other disasters listed in the next several years.
Also about Leviathan showing up at Brockton Bay's door in about a year.
Soo yep! Hope you enjoyed that, here's an alternate way Worm-Persona could have worked out. It sets right after Taylor gets out of the hospital, having not met Miss Militia. Completely different mindset more gothic Taylor.
I decided to put it all together because, well, Worm-Persona. It's an alternate take, pretty different direction. Enjoy!
Taylor Hebert(Khepri)
It was a long two weeks after getting out of the hospital.
Most of it was just repeating the same choices. Not telling dad who bullied me. Calming dad down from his angry outbursts. Figuring out how to best enter the cape scene.
Because oh I did have powers. Strong, strong powers.
While I lost my 360 degree awareness and inhuman reflexes, I gained inhuman strength, agility, and kept my dexterity. A vision that let me see and spot almost anything in a two block radius.
I flexed my hand, staring at the blue flames that danced alongside it.
My room was bare, a small desk in the corner. A simple bed to the left side, where I sat, huddled in my blankets.
"Khepri."
Blue flames gathered and formed in a loose imitation of a smile from the shadows of my room.
"Mistress."
The voice was dark, sinister. Glowing blue eyes lit up like an evil foreshadow.
The same voice I heard before waking up back to where it all began. My inner self, I guess you could say. How I see myself. My 'persona'.
The flames concentrated in the corner shot up, moving like blue smoke, before condensing into a form on my shoulder.
A small blue scarab. It's shell was the color of cool sapphire, and it's legs were a pure black.
I could harness the powers of Khepri.
It wasn't in any way obvious at first. Once I had managed to narrow my power set, it was a matter of rigorous power testing. A minor regeneration factor, pyrokinesis, minor projection, and healing.
Leagues better than my first go around, which was just control over bugs.
With my 'bug control' I took down Lung on my first night out as a cape, took over the Underworld of the most parahuman populated city in the world, and killed the source of all parahuman powers.
Now my power could split and fracture, and it'd still be twice as good as any rare power you'd find on the street.
The best part though… the best part is that I can't hear the Shard. It's not-twisting my emotions, clouding my mind, or influencing my ideas. The loud hum of discontent, the desire to brew chaos and subjugate-it's gone.
Driven out from my thoughts, I could only hear myself. I was free.
A faint smile ghosted my lips, and I sat back against my plain wall, extinguishing the blue flame dancing around my hand.
Tomorrow I'd be going back to school. I haven't thought about Winslow in a while, a very long time. Not very good memories from my old highschool, and I had been a cape for 6 years, so I had always been worried about bigger things than the garbage dumpster fire of that school.
Now though… I had two ways I could play this. Being given a second chance, if that was what this is, I'd be loose in a highschool that'd I be free to manipulate with my years of experience running gangs and controlling the underworld of the city.
Or. Or I could be myself. Like I didn't get to way back when.
Yeah.
I had enough forcing people under my heel, my dream was to be a hero right? Let me explore myself for a bit. I deserve to be selfish.
"I'll be by your side, mistress. A dark angel on your shoulder."
I gave a flat stare at the bug on my shoulder, the insect waving his little mandibles.
….hm
......
First day back to school.
It's as dirty and disgusting as I remember.
The walls were worn, and if you knew where to look, graffiti everywhere. Kids always looked over their shoulder, and being not in a gang made up only three quarters of the student body.
I hated it here, before. Now I kind of liked it. It's nice not to be looked at in fear and hate, open disdain with the desire to kill.
No one really spared me a second glance, and I was happily walking down the hallways without having to mostly watch out for someone running a knife through my back.
The school cleaned out my locker, but even now I had a slight aversion to it, so I just opted to carry all my stuff with me to my first class.
For the first time in years I thought about the trio.
Sophia. Free to roam as Shadow Stalker. I had no idea what happened to her after Golden Morning.
Madison. Looking back… she was… I don't know. Glory used to tell me things about her, apparently they were pen pals. My feelings for her are confusing.
Emma.
I glanced away, absentmindedly twirling my pencil.
She died. But now she's not dead. There's nothing to analyze there, I already worked everything out with my therapist when I was with the Wards.
There was no more feeling attached to the name.
As I heard the bell ring, I got up and moved on to my next class. The rest of the day passed like a blur. I already knew everything so there was no point learning in class, more often I found myself staring at people I'd know later. Charlotte. Ashia.
Ashia. Ashia was… interesting. One of my better friends, she only tried to kill me a few times.
Charlotte was someone I could get to know better.
Hm. I wondered what Lisa was up to.
…...
Lisa(Sarah) Willbourn
"Fucking-Brian drain the account, we have 2.5 seconds before the cops bring the heroes down on us-and 3 seconds before the heroes reach the store!"
The man didn't argue, grumbling under his breath as we hauled ourselves into our getaway van.
Fucking Wards. Fucking Coil. We'd have a better time to begin these things if he didn't constantly switch from plan to plan.
Maybe if the heroes stopped playing cops and robbers we'd be able to get away with things like this more often, and with less chances of getting thrown in prison. Why did I ever think it was a good idea to move into Brockton Bay?
Soon. Soon I'd be out from Coil's thumb. Then I'd be out making his life a living hell.
I only needed an opening.
…...
Taylor Hebert(Khepri)
Probably plotting someones murder or robbing a store. Maybe both.
Lisa was a master negotiator, and could probably talk her way out of anything. We shared a kiss when I was younger, but never really talked about it.
I don't know why I brought that up in my mind. Probably because it was my first kiss.
I shook off those thoughts, thinking about the rest of the Undersiders.
Regent died. Aisha was broken up by that.
Brian, I hadn't heard from Brian in a long time. Aisha never brought him up when we talked together, perhaps because he was her brother, and I was an ex girlfriend.
The Wards, the Protectorate.
I had some… dalliances with Clockblocker. No emotional attachments though.
Amy and I weren't at the best of terms, but in the difficult way of processing things, you could say I did care for her.
The only other person I felt remotely attached to was Miss Militia.
What did she think of me, when I was Khepri? Am I still Khepri? Did she have a right to despise me?
It… was a difficult pill to swallow.
But enough about that. New life, new me?
"Taylor could you tell me which line A is connected to?"
"C." I didn't give anyone the satisfaction of even looking up from my paper. Emma would only take more pleasure out of it, and while it'd spur on Sophia, I would make for a quick exit the moment class ended.
"That is correct. This is an optical illusion. Some people see it correctly, others do not."
By the end of class Sophia wasn't paying enough attention to catch that I had already left, but by then I was already out of the school.
...
I breathed in slowly, in and out.
"Hey." I breathed. "Don't worry okay? Everything will be fine."
The lady was holding back choked sobs, trying, shaking, with trembling hands to lift the metal off her legs.
I glared at the two villains who did this, even if they couldn't see my glare from underneath the shadows of my hood. Hopefully they could sense it.
Uber and Leet.
I never thought their show was any funny, but this was something else.
They were doing another-game in real life thing… Grand Theft Auto, I think. Where beating up hookers and driving recklessly through the fucking streets was the go to. Before doing drugs and crashing their car when stopping to beat up a prostitute.
The car flipped, crushing her legs. The two idiots responsible unfortunately safe and still high off their asses.
My main powers were healing and my immense strength. It felt wrong to leave a poor woman with her legs like that, even if I had done far more callous things in the past.
I sighed, "I'm going to lift the metal off your legs alright?"
She nodded brokenly, sobbing.
I winced. "Try not to look okay? I'm going to go slowly."
I did what I said, and it was a gruesome sight. The prostitute ignored my warning and looked at her legs, becoming a frantical hysterical mess.
I had to admit it was ugly.
Like if metal and glass rolled over a human like dough, and then tried cutting it with a jagged knife.
Was I really going to do this?
I conjured my thick dark hood from my fire, but would it be enough to hide my secret identity?
Screw it, if the Protectorate figured it out I'd be okay with it. And I knew how to deal with Coil. "I can heal you. It won't hurt." I reassured. "But I need your permission to heal you."
She babbled out a yes, clinging to my hood like I was a lifeline. I was kind of glad I just conjured my jacket. She was crying a lot into it.
"Don't move."
I focused on my powers, and my blue flame engulfed her legs. Furrowing my brow I could see all the damage caused, everything I'd need to do to fix it. While I was at it I burned away any HIVs she had.
"All done."
The metal and glass and debris in her legs were burned out. She was now pretty healthy.
Physically.
Emotionally I was guessing she was going to need lots of therapy.
"Go." I nodded down the street. She took the hint, gave out a few more thank yous, and ran away from the scene.
"Dude, I don't-the hell?" Was the stoned out of the mind response.
I rolled my eyes, sending them another glare. "The two of you are probably too high off your gourd to understand me, but fuck you."
Über was tall and well built. Leet was scrawny and seemed to slouch a bit. If I remembered correctly he died in an endbringer attack, and then Über went to prison.
Hm.
Über seemed to be the most coherent. Not that that was saying much. He was still high in the clouds and above the conversation.
"Youu just healed that lady! Panacea? Doctor we need some metalchle attention."
"Yea." Leet said weakly, trying not to stumble.
"The both of you are fine, unfortunately." I growled. "I'd burn the drugs out of your systems but I don't want to deal with any of your villain shit right now. The hell were you two thinking?!"
"III don't-"
"That was rhetorical." My eyes narrowed. "Mostly. Shut up. I'm venting." I shoved my hands in my coat pockets, liking the feel of it. Would the coat disappear after I let go of my powers? Questions for later, I'd guess.
Before I did this I took precautions, two different escape plans if my danger sense alerted me. For Coil. Lingering on the scene felt risky. I may have been able to majorly circumvent his power with it's flaw he was extremely powerful. I didn't want to deal with that.
"Wait!" Leet misjudged the distance from him to the ground and met cement. "Yooouuu're gonna leave us?" He slurred.
"Stooop." Über groaned.
"I'm not a hero." I called over my shoulder, moving away from them. "Nor am I burdened by villain code, so I leave you two to be molested and robbed and probably shanked in a dirty alley." I was exaggerating. Mostly. They probably were going to get pick pocketed and wake up in an alley. This was Brockton Bay after all.
I stopped, cursing. Right. Changing new leaf. "Fine." I gritted my teeth.
Turning around I spread out my senses. I could feel the drugs pumping through their blood right now. Some weird mix of alcohol and tainted weed. Probably the Merchant's trade. I burned away all the bad stuff but still left them high as a kite.
They visibly changed. Über's skin took on a more healthy tone, sucking in large gulps of air.
Leet was doing the same, but looked comfortable on the floor.
"Dude fire?" Über groaned. "Shit I feel like-"
"Don't care." I interrupted him. "Go die in a fire." And my work here is done.
I just hope I don't regret this.
Topic NEW HEALER???!!!
In: Boards News Brockton Bay
DeroManno (Original Poster)
DUDE! Ok, this is probably going to be like-all over the news, but I got video of the parahuman who freaking healed a prostitute.
Kind of gross, but still. She got her freaking legs crushed and they were mended in no time flat. What do you guys think? Panacea level power? No? Here's the link to the video.
(Showing page 1 of 7)
DUdeman10012
Those two villains? Über and Leet? Took it too far.
Girl54Maebae
@DUdeman10012 I mean yeah, but this isn't about those two right now. Trust me, I checked the comments of that video. Did not get ANY kind of positive response. Go hate there.
CandyCrusherMAn
Oh yeah! She's not even wearing a mask! She did this cool fire glowy trick, and had a thick black hood. A uh, anti-Panacea?
Hopeful96MaybeOk?
Ranged healing. Skin on skin contact strong enough to reverse damage. Ranged healing able to purge drugs from people's systems? Even that on it's own is like a Striker 7.
NotthatAmused0045
How useful would that be in a fight? Just another low level healer. Big whoop.
Hopeful96MaybeOk?
@NotthatAmused0045 Um, ranged healing in a group of Merchants? Burn out all the drugs in their systems and suddenly they're less likely to charge recklessly to their death. Or like an area of effect like in video games, suddenly all the heroes have a healing factor.
ZReally?392
@Hopeful96MaybeOk? Or all the villains. She said she wasn't a hero.
PEreveyDUde
@ZReally?392 While doing obvious hero things. Damn it that cloak hid everything though. But those legs though
Tin Mother
*User has received a temporary ban for this post.
-We do not have any tolerance for being sexually interested in a possibly underaged girl.*
CandyCrusherMAn
@PEreveyDUde dude. Really? I mean I guess it's in the name. Still.
Is there any info about this new healer?
[email protected]_The_Sky(Verified Cape)
I met her! She was totally chill.
AsForTheglory
Glory Girl?! Wait you've met the new cape?!
[email protected]_The_Sky(Verified Cape)
Cha. It was actually pretty weird, in the way it was really normal. We met on the street, recognized each other(she was in costume) had a normal conversation and called it a day.
Asbobnothow
What?
...
I was bored.
I was done working out for the day, and didn't want to do any more studying. Dad and I weren't still on the best of terms.
I thought of the only number in my contacts list.
After a moment of hesitation, I flipped open the phone and called.
A ring. I could hear my breath.
Then someone answered.
"Hello?"
"Um, hey Victoria."
"Dark coat lady! Hey!" She cheered. I shifted awkwardly, not entirely comfortable. I couldn't push any of my emotions onto my bugs anymore, so this was new territory for me.
Which was kind of nice, actually.
"I just had nothing to do, and I felt we got along well." I explained. To her or to me I couldn't decide.
"Yeah! I never got to ask about your powers you know? I know they're healing-"
"Fire. Um, kind of like fire healing." I mumbled.
"Yeah. Your fire healing. Are you like my sister? I mean, how strong is it?"
"I kind of burn away injuries. Um, impurities in the body. Don't need to be touching anyone. I doubt I'm at the level of Panacea though."
"So no limbs?"
"No limbs." I smirked, relaxing. Is this what having friends is like? "Don't tell anyone this, but it's more like, no limbs for now."
"Wait really?!"
As soon as I figured out how to mix my illusions with my healing ability.
My coat didn't disappear after I let go of my power and I tried to study it extensively. I didn't know if it'd work on someone who didn't have limbs before. Or had something healed over, but as soon as I figured it out I could regrow limbs. I told Victoria such. "I'm pretty sure my ability wouldn't work on something that healed over."
"Wow. That's pretty crazy. And how long have you been on the cape scene?"
"I've had powers for a few months now." I rolled my eyes. "I guess I entered the cape scene a couple of days ago. I couldn't just stand there you know. It was probably stupid to heal that woman."
"Yeah but if you didn't she would have been crippled for life." Victoria pointed out.
"...Fair."
"I just have so many questions." She said excitedly. "I don't have many superhero girl friends."
"I don't have any friends."
I winced.
I probably shouldn't have said that.
Even with my lack of social ability I knew that was a no go.
"I mean we all have a trigger right? I'm a Striker/Brute. Healing and strength." I tried to deflect. It worked, for the most part.
"Right. Um, healing abilities are usually a byproduct."
"Uh yeah." I felt surprised.
"Amy's a healer." She explained. "We're together a lot while doing hero stuff, so I kind of have to know this stuff. Ames is the exception." She joked.
"But you're right. You probably guessed it but pyrokinesis. That and super strength."
"Cool."
We talked for a few hours. Just about random stuff. While I had turned a new leaf, running a criminal enterprise gave me some stuff to talk about.
Hypotheticals.
Victoria liked hearing me talk, I had some ideas of how to improve her fighting style based off my own previous hero career. In return she had some useful tips as a Brute herself. It was enlightening and… enjoyable.
I never got to talk like this, not after everything I did. Clockblocker was the only one to ever remotely treat me like a human on the Wards team.
"You have any good relationships?" She asked.
I snorted. Relationships? "Not really. I know you're with that one guy? Shawn?"
"Dean. And we broke up again."
"Yikes. I dated a tall dark guy once." I let slip.
"Oh yeah?" Victoria's tone seemed to brighten at the sound of possible gossip.
I laughed. "It was stupid. Sure there was something there but it went out as quickly as it built up."
"Messy break up?"
"No he-" I thought about how to say it. "He was used to being in control, but I practically wore the pants in every situation."
I ran my own gang. I took down Coil. I controlled Brockton's criminal underworld. Men could feel threatened sometimes. He had his masculinity.
"Ohho." Was her coy reply. "I think I understand."
"That caused friction, but then we both realized there was no feeling there." I mumbled. "It only went so far because maybe we both kind of felt like we needed it? The relationship, we didn't have sex. I lost my friends and he was raising his sister. We don't talk anymore."
"Wow…" She paused. "Hey do you want to meet up in person? I know that sounds crazy but-"
"No." I stopped her. "I mean, no as in it's fine. I'm totally fine with that. How about… that coffee shop down by that old chinese place? You know what I'm talking about?"
"I do." Victoria responded. "Uh cool."
"Cool."
I hung up after saying goodbye, breathing out a huge sigh of relief.
Was I ready to have an actual date with a friend? A friend I barely knew?
Old Victoria despised me. Then died to the SlaughterHouse Nine. I didn't exactly get to question her character or how awesome it'd be to be her friend. Back then I was best determining how many and of what kind of bugs I should throw at her, in case she ever went directly at me as an enemy.
Things were different now though.
I looked through my closet, before realizing I'd need to shop for some clothes. Still I rifled through my closet anyway, trying to distract myself.
I met up and gave orders to thousands of people during my time as a villain warlord. And then got some actual practice with Clockblocker, and all those social lesions they had me do as a Ward.
I clicked my tongue, listening to the dark voice of my 'persona' rattle on.
This was gonna be perfectly fine.
...
Victoria Dallon
I tapped my foot nervously, not sure one what I should expect.
I mean-obviously she'd notice me, and she's the only one I told about going to this coffee shop. I'd still need to pick Ames up in a few hours but-
I couldn't help being excited.
It was kind of cool, having this dark healer as a friend. I imagined a dark possibly gothic 20 year old woman with a slow elegant drawl. Those legs though. Ha!
Mile long legs.
Besides my cousins and Amy I didn't have any other girl parahuman friends. And It was to my surprise that Mystery Woman and I got along great.
"Victoria."
I jerked out of my thoughts, looking up.
"Oh." My voice may have been slightly high pitched. "Wow."
The girl, who couldn't have been older than me, blushed in embarrassment, tucking a hair behind her head. "Too much?"
Her skin was a snow white. And to be honest she kind of looked like a modern day snow white. A short black dress, pure black denim jacket.
"Um, no. You look great."
Her eyes were green, I didn't know that.
"I haven't done something like this in a while so I went shopping, sorry. That's-funny. Um, when I was younger my friend had to force me to go anywhere near a clothing store." She smiled, amused. Sitting down she greeted me. "It's nice to meet you out of costume. I'm Taylor. Hi."
"Hi."
Taylor was really pretty and had really nice pure white skin. White enough to where I could see the contrast of her blush, the faintest hint of red on her cheeks.
It was made pretty clear that neither of us knew how to proceed, but eventually my social instincts had me rapid fire talking, and when I wasn't Taylor got pretty animated with topics she liked.
"-so cops paid on the high low, people are too afraid to talk in the neighborhood, it's too late at night for any video to be any kind of evidence from that far away. How many banks do you think you could rob in one night?"
"12!" I blurted out.
"Wrong!" She almost laughed. "3, at least. Safely. Have a little public opinion sway your way by airing all the dirty bank fraud being done and where exactly that money was going to end up before donating it all to homeless shelters and charity. Post an add on social media that you need a bit of money to pay for lawsuits and then at least a few thousand bucks worth of money heading your way."
"Seems overly complicated." I frowned, musing.
She waved me off. "You wanted a safe scenario to rob banks while keeping your reputation as a hero. I could give you 27 different ways to earn just as much money without robbing banks, most of them illegal mind you, off the top of my head."
How the heck did she know that?
Sure I was a little freaked out about how my friend was probably some wealthy daughter of a criminal enterprise, but hey. She was cool. So I'd ignore it, for now.
"So," I changed the topic. "After your relationship with that one guy? Anything after that?"
Taylor pulled her arms closer to her chest, thinking. She pursed her lips, chuckled, and shook her head. "I was maybe considering something, but honestly it would have been a purely physical relationship." She said easily.
I blushed at how easily she said that.
"I um… used to be kind of detached. Kind of cold. Maybe unnerving. After I got my powers, the healing, I wanted to change." She was red, not meeting me in the eye. "You're-a bit different from what I'm used to I guess. And it's nice-this is nice."
I smiled. She was obviously still working on it, but yeah. I could say this was a nice change of pace. Kind of like we were both dipping into each other's worlds. The golden girl, perfect heroine.
And the sort of gothic chick probably connected to the mafia. Bit thrilling, I'm not going to lie.
"I think this is nice too."
Maybe we'd be able to meet up some more.
...
A couple months later...
Taylor Hebert(Khepri)
I flinched, waking up.
Where am I?
I got up, furrowing my brows, trying to remember where I was.
I… I was on a rooftop, near a hospital. Debating whether or not I should have gone in and tried my hand at healing people.
I could remember Amy not liking healing. Hating it, in fact. Then she went to the Birdcage.
No.
I shook my head, trying to focus.
Think. Where are you?
"Where am I?"
It was hard to think. A Stranger effect? What was going on?
Suddenly my head was clear. I flinched, as harsh stage lights bore down on me from an unseen ceiling, and I went about pulling my hood further down.
"Victoria?" My eyes widened.
She seemed ruffled. Still a bit dazed. I'd guess whatever it was that made my thoughts cloudy was still affecting her. She sat in a chair opposite to me, no visible restraints.
"Welcome to…" I heard Leet's voice and bristled.
They better not…
"How Well Do You Know Me?!" Uber finished, automated clapping hitting on cue. He gave a laugh, just as Victoria suddenly snapped out of the Stranger effect.
"Wah-Ta-" She shut her mouth, before she could blurt out my name. "Um, Cloak Girl?"
I sighed ruefully, sending a glare at the ceiling. "Cloak Girl is fine."
"The hell are we doing here?" She looked around frantically.
"One of Uber and Leet's games." My eyes narrowed. "I think they knocked us out."
Victoria growled, thoroughly incensed. "How long do you think it would take us to break out of here?"
I tilted my head, analysing our surroundings. "... we're in some sort of pocket dimension. It'd probably take more effort to leave than to just play the game." I bit out, pulling my knees to my chest, tired. "For some reason I don't have the energy to fight right now."
"Haha!" Leet cried out, somewhere. "It took a bit more sleeping powder to knock you out! Not to mention you fought back harder than Glory Girl!" He cheered, a bit strained.
I hummed. "My powers would burn away any substances in my body. Why am I so tired?"
"We had to bust out a special weapon to bring you in!"
"Joy." I muttered.
"Well let's get on with the game!" Uber called out, excited. "Here are the rules. A lot of fans here have noticed Glory Girl going on patrols with Penicillin over the recent months! So we figured since the two of you are such good friends, you'd know a lot about each other! It'll give fans some much needed answers, and two friends some much needed bonding!"
"Is that what they're calling me?" I huffed, amused.
I guess if the shoe fits. But I could do so much more.
"And if I don't want to play this stupid game?" Victoria's voice rose, getting really angry.
"Whoever wins gets a 2,000$ dollar prize pool."
"Oh. Well… Penicillin?"
"Sure. Whatever."
"Then let's start the game!" Leet called out.
He cleared his throat. "Okay, here are the rules. No lying! If a person gets a question right, they get the point. If the person lies, that's a point deduced! There will be three rounds of 20 questions. Ready?"
"Sure."
Victoria scoffed, utterly confident. "I am so going to win."
"First up is Victoria! What is your friend's greatest fear?"
My mind flashed to Scion, the ever expansive desert. The fear of taking people I fought so hard for, and then crushing them. Wanting to crush them.
"Easy. Hurting the people she cares about."
"Hm." I nodded.
A small ding went off, I was unsure where.
"Correct!"
"Ha! This is going to be easy!" Victoria grinned. "How does it feel being exposed like this? Don't you have that whole dark goth thing going on?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Trash talk, really?"
"Hey, if you weren't so drossy you'd be already cutting into me."
I nodded begrudgingly. "True."
"Next question, for Penicillin. What is Glory Girl's all time favorite memory?"
I took a moment to think about it. "Is it… that thing? Where you were doing that meet and greet with your fans, and that one guy gave you this really nice piece of like, fancy cake?"
"Oh yeah!" She smiled at the memory. "But nah. I was with Dean-" A harsh buzzer sounded. "Wa-"
"Oooh." Uber groaned dramatically. "Sorry Glory Girl, but I believe you just told a lie! You've just been deducted a point!"
Her face went red. "Son of a-"
"No swearing! Next question?"
Leet answered. "What embarrasses Penicillin the most?"
Victoria got a wicked grin. "Okay, she actually has the biggest crush on my sister."
My eyes widened as my face turned hot. "Victoria!" I hissed.
She laughed. "It's so weird! She's a stuttering mess around Amy! You should see them in a room together!" Vicky cracked up laughing, and I sighed.
"Is this true?" I could hear Leet's shit eating grin.
I glared balefully at Victoria. "True." I gritted out. "You couldn't like, pretend to not know?"
"Sorry, sorry." She petered off, still chuckling. "Besides, it's not like Amy doesn't know."
My face turned a harsher shade of red, and I tried to hide further in my hood. "Whatever."
We continued with the game, and I made sure to get back at Victoria tenfold. In the end we got to the final questions.
"Would you date her if you could?"
"Yes." I wasn't blind.
"Do you know everyone Penicillin has dated?"
"Um… two guys right?"
"One." I corrected. Victoria cursed.
"It was too vague anyway." Uber consoled. "Penicillin what was Victoria's first impression of you?"
"Oh hey, I think I know this rando on the street?" I said half sarcastically.
Victoria laughed, nodding. The pleasant bell sounded.
"Glory Girl you?"
"Um… I think I also know this person?" She joked.
"Correct!" Uber sounded out, even before I could say anything.
That's weird, right? Why wasn't I speaking up?
"Last question! If you could say anything to each other, what would it be?"
"You're too good for Dean." I rolled my eyes. "That pretty boy has girls hanging off of him every other day." Also pay more attention to your sister.
"I know." She nodded. "That's why I broke up with him."
That's weird too, right? Victoria hadn't even told me that. Why would she be just blurting things out like this? Why was I telling her Dean wasn't good enough for her? I liked Dean, he was a good guy.
Why wasn't any of this making any sense?
"Well, that's the end of the show folks, and Glory Girl is the winner!" Leet cheered.
I lost my train of thought almost immediately, smiling ruefully as Victoria got up and cheered.
"You'll find the 2,000 in your pocket! Have a great day contestants!"
And then we blinked out of existence.
...
I woke up with a sharp gasp, taking in the cold air, seeing how late it had gotten. Victoria was laid out next to me, getting up groggily, before jolting up right.
"What-!" Her eyes looked clearer, and a lot angrier.
"I know." I said quietly. "It was-I should have realized we had been Mastered-"
"No!" She said harshly. "No, none of this was your fault. Shit, Taylor, the things I said-"
"We both said things." I cut her off. "I-" my voice cracked, tears burning in my eyes. "I'm not mad."
I could really see Victoria then. The very real humanity in her. The way her eyes glinted slightly afraid, slightly hurt. Slightly tearful.
I was probably the same, and I felt very small, so very vulnerable at that moment. I could trust Victoria, and really that was the only thing keeping me from bolting. I couldn't push all my emotions on my bugs, because I didn't have that power anymore. I had to deal with the raw humiliation. The Uncertainty.
Perhaps she could see my fear written on my face, because she relaxed, pulling me into her arms, nearly crushing me.
She hugged me tightly. "Taylor."
The two of us sat there for a while, just trying to take comfort in each other's company.
"So," I started. "You knew?"
I could feel her chuckle, her arms still around me. "Yeah." I heard her say.
"And, Amy knows?"
Victoria sighed, and a pit dropped in my stomach. "I've-I don't think she's like, you know."
"Yeah." I mumbled.
"I've tried to bring it up, but I think it just makes her uncomfortable."
"No, it's fine. It's not like I've kissed a girl. Anyone really."
It felt good to omit that technically I hadn't kissed before. I don't know what it was, but the feeling of being compelled to spill my secrets wasn't a pleasant one.
"What does that have to do with anything?" She laughed.
I shrugged. "Dunno. Just ignore me."
Victoria hummed. "So Dean?" I groaned, dreading this conversation. "Apparently I'm too good for him?"
"I don't know where that came from." I grumbled.
"I guess your subconscious." She teased.
"So Dean?" I asked sweetly. "You broke up with him?"
I could feel her wince. "It's… we've been on and off for a while. I feel like this is just better, you know?"
"Ya." I nodded. "Sometimes, you just gotta break their hearts."
"Girls or boys?"
"Not girls. Never girls."
She pulled away enough to look at me.
And then we kissed.
...
Victoria Dallon
I clicked on a page, opening it up.
Topic CRAZY GAME SHOW???!!!
In: Boards News Brockton Bay
DeroManno (Original Poster)
Okay guys! I'm front man on any and every Penicillin news, and last night was the craziest thing ever.
Okay first. Glory Girl and Penicillin get kidnapped by Uber and Leet to compete in a game show.
Second! Glory Girl and Penicillin spilled some really interesting secrets while playing! There's even a part where Penicillin admits to having feelings for our resident healer Panacea! I didn't even know Penicillin liked girls!
Third! Remember these gals are still teenagers. Let's keep it super appropriate, and try not to pry into their actual life.
CandyCrusherMAn
So, this is completely left field right? I mean, it makes so much sense now. Duh, the Panacea double has a gigantic crush on actual Panacea. I don't mean to be speculating about a few things, but maybe mindset is taken into account when you get powers?
Hopeful96MaybeOk?
I'm just wondering when they get together! Panacea already knows right? I'd love to see a stuttering Penicillin.
Not in a weird way.
I tilted my head back with a frown, thinking on that. Eventually, my fingers twitch and I couldn't stop myself.
[email protected]_The_Sky(Verified Cape)
In no universe ever is that not weird.
DeroManno
Glory Girl! Big fan, do you have any answers?!
I sighed heavily, groaning.
"Nooo. I shouldn't have said anything." I looked back at the string of messages that were going off on the PHO message board.
And sigh.
[email protected]_The_Sky(Verified Cape)
Imma lay it straight for everyone so I don't have to send any more replies.
Yes, Penicillin and I said some things. Things we shouldn't have but we can deal, we're pretty close. And I definitely shouldn't have said anything about Amy, Panacea. I don't know if it was whatever they were using, or if it was the stuff that made us pass out but the two of us weren't really ourselves.
Penicillin has seen people in the past, and most of them were boys, but that isn't anyone's business. Including mine, actually.
Just remember that we're people, and we have lives, and we're gonna make mistakes. Tomorrow I'm going to have to go back to school and deal with everybody knowing me and Dean broke up. Today Penicillin, Amy and I are going to have a long mature talk like we should.
And then we'll take it from there. I'm not answering any questions, that's all I have to say, goodbye.
I pressed send, and just threw my phone on my bed, leaning back into the chair by my desk.
I groaned, thinking about the kiss.
I mean, it wasn't terrible. Not bad, even.
But it was more like a reaction. Some comfort the both of us needed after that experience.
I had never seen Taylor so vulnerable like that before. And then she said things and I looked into her really pretty green eyes and then-GAH!
"Urgh, what's wrong with me?" I groaned, throwing myself onto my bed.
Maybe I should just call Taylor.
The door opened.
And cliffhanger! I just couldn't stop writing, sorry for the extra long chapter.But yeah!I really appreciate comments, let me know what you think, and where it should probably go.Alright bye!!