AN: Had a little inspiration from 'Don't look up.'
The News
April 19th, 2011
T+2 Days
A news reporter with blond hair turned to the screen while a video of meteor impacts played behind her. "President Gillen declared a national emergency, martial law, and recalled all deployed military personnel in preparation for further meteor strikes. He made this declaration at the White House, but moments after, the TinkerTech Consolidation Act was passed. Our correspondent inside informed us he and his family, as well as top staff members, retreated to the Presidential bunker. The PRT and the defunded NASA have not issued a statement regarding the banning of TinkerTech in defense of the United States."
This cutaway to the same reporter sitting on a stage with another occupied chair, but the lights kept it in the dark, everything focusing on her. "The question remains, is it a moral decision to ban TinkerTech defensive systems in the wake of the Moon's destruction? We have an ex-NASA employee, David Marks, here to help shed some light on the matter."
The second chair was illuminated, and a severely overtired and ill-groomed man came into view. "Thank you for having me, Heather. While what we experienced yesterday was horrific, it was but a prelude to the actual bombardment set to come in the next few weeks. Considering that, I still have damage projections for the property damage suffered across the United States." David held up a messy folder full of hundreds of papers.
"Does that help with determining whether TinkerTech should be banned or not?" Heather asked.
David rapidly nodded his head, fishing out a report from the stack. "Three cities diverged statistically from average when taking into account longitude and latitude. Houston and New York."
"That shows the power behind the Triumvirate and why we don't need TinkerTech defenses!" Heather but in.
David waited a moment for Heather to finish before continuing. "And Brockton Bay."
"You mean the cape capital of the US?"
"Yes."
"I don't remember any world renown Tinker that could stop any meteors there besides Armsmaster, and rumor had it he has been focused on anti-Endbringer weaponry."
"Neither did I. But I looked around, and a new group came together only a few days ago—the Sparks."
"So, these 'Sparks,' they are responsible for the lack of damage on par with the Triumvirate?"
David hastily nodded his head. "Yes."
"Then why don't they join the PRT and put their TinkerTech to work for the whole US?" The camera zoomed in on Heather while she put on her best perplexed look before switching back to showing the whole stage.
"Uh, I don't know." David fumbled before clicking on his phone. "Here, I have some video of the system firing."
The screen switched to a camera angle across a body of water before five lines of light crossed the video in a moment, faster than it could pick up. They streaked out at an almost vertical angle. Then the camera switched to another, tracking an incoming meteor where the lines zipped past before it hit the fourth one and exploded. It then zoomed out to show the distance of the explosion and how far up it happened.
David appeared on the screen again. "The system fired at every meteor set to strike within twenty kilometers and managed to destroy most prematurely."
"Only twenty kilometers? What about the rest of the county?"
"Well, the chances for a successful interception exponentially decrease the higher the angle."
"Then shouldn't they make more? To cover a larger area?"
"We don't know what it took to make that one." David glanced down at his paperwork before scribbling with a pen, "It would take almost eight thousand such systems to cover the United States. I'm sure they would if they could, but that sounds unfeasible in the time we have left. I believe it has one of the highest velocities ever recorded on a controlled projectile and attained an unbelievable hit rate at that distance of 17%. Neither of those statistics alludes to a cheap solution."
"17% is unbelievable?" Heather asked.
"Against objects so tiny and far away, yes."
"Excuse me, tiny? The damage they did wasn't tiny at all!"
"Compared to what's coming, yes, they're tiny."
"Then they should join the PRT. I'm sure they'd receive enough resources to make as many as the US needs."
"But-"
"How much more damage, lives lost were there because they haven't joined? How many of you out there have broken windows that could've been saved, if these Sparks cared to share?"
"But, Brockton Bay suffered extensive damage even with the system." David took a moment to recenter himself, and a graph appeared on the screen. "I only said a statistical difference regarding the entire city."
Before David could point it out, the screen turned off, and the light illuminating him went dark as a commercial played. When it finished, David was gone, and another man was in his place.
"Welcome back, my dear audience, from the commercial break. Joining us is Robert Dunn, our PRT correspondent, to give some insight into the banning of TinkerTech weapons."
Robert sat in his chair with a fake smile plastered on his face, and dressed in an impeccable suit. "I'm Robert Dunn, and I'm here to say why TinkerTech shouldn't be used for defense without strict PRT oversight."
"Why is that, Robert?"
"TinkerTech explodes. The more powerful it is, the larger the explosion. As was proved in Europe, where the three systems failed and horrifically injured five residents."
"Are you saying that the very tech employed to defend an area will destroy it?"
"Without a doubt. Any such system requires direct and hands-on PRT oversight to guarantee its safety." Robert pulled out a set of glasses and put them on, only to drop them lower down his nose while looking at the camera. "We have evidence that the system used to defend Brockton Bay utilizes an unstable energy source. A threat not just to the city but to the entire state of New Hampshire and Boston."
"Oh my!" Heather gasped, covering her mouth before leaning toward Robert. "What is the PRT planning to do to bring back safety to the residents?"
"A dedicated squad has been assembled and will confiscate the weapon, ascertain its safety, and put it to work defending the country."
"I know I'll feel much safer with the system defending the complete USA instead of just one city!"
"I will, too, Heather. If anyone spots a TinkerTech system defending an area, please report it immediately to your nearest PRT department to protect you and your loved ones."
"Thank you, Robert. I know I'll report any I see, and the same for my canny and brilliant audience!"
Taylor
Taylor ambled along the once deserted road now brimming with life; tents set up for serving food and providing other services lined it. Once again, she was grateful that she was being taken care of by Rose and Miles, even if breakfast was beyond awkward. She said nothing, and neither did they, but they noticed the bags under her eyes and asked her if she had trouble sleeping. The gall of them!
Whether they were fucking with her or just being obvious, Taylor didn't know, but dammit, she only got a few hours sleep. While those bastards walked around with a pep in their step. How the fuck was Rose even walking straight? She balled up her fist, shaking it at nothing.
If that wasn't bad enough, Taylor completely missed her dad this morning. She was putting her foot down and mending those bridges; it wasn't like they had much time left, and by what Rose told her, it wouldn't happen by itself. So, even if it was awkward, she made that effort. Hence, why she was walking through the growing throng of refugees in her hoodie and not her costume.
"Oh, my God, they actually let you in?" A sickeningly sweet yet all too familiar voice called out behind her.
Taylor was so distracted that she didn't remember to avoid walking near Emma. She swore in her head, turned around, and glared. A part of her laughed at how rough Emma looked with no makeup to cover blemishes and her hair greased up and flat. Her clothes were completely at odds with the atmosphere—bright with a short skirt that had no use beyond looking good. While everyone else was bundling up for the cool early spring air, they already had the look of surviving for months on the street.
When Taylor said nothing to Emma, she took that as a chance to continue. "I didn't see you around in the warehouses. Did they not let you in? I mean, you look like trash, so the dumpster was perfect, right? I know I wouldn't want to sleep with you nearby."
A few people glanced at the two but continued on like they saw nothing, just like always. Taylor balled her fists and clenched her jaw. She wasn't supposed to have to deal with Emma again!
"Cat got your tongue, Taylor? You should know that my dad was personally contacted to support the Sparks. I wouldn't do anything if I were you, or I'll have you kicked out." Emma continued to spit vitriol as if her life depended on it.
Okay, that last part had Taylor laughing in her head. At first, it hit her like it always did, but as Emma continued, the more try hard it sounded. As if she was using Taylor to make herself feel better about the end of the world. It was pathetic.
Then Taylor spotted Miles coming towards her, his eyes meeting hers while Emma continued to spew her insults. Taylor watched how Miles' shadow enveloped Emma, causing the girl to stop and look back, eyes only meeting his chest, before she craned her neck back until she was almost looking straight up and Miles down.
Without a word, pressure dropped on the area. Taylor felt it wash over her; it was almost comforting how it clung to and supported her. It firmed her spine, making her stand tall and peer down at Emma as if she were nothing.
Then Miles huffed, the action radiating derision.
Emma's eyes rolled back as she collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth as a wave of pure force rolled out from Miles. Around them, dozens of people who were watching and did nothing fell to their knees.
"Taylor, get suited up and get back here pronto," Miles ordered.
Everything that was in her being yearned to follow that order, but her legs stayed frozen as she stared at Emma on the ground, foam continuing to come out of her mouth. That served her right! Yet another part hated that Miles had to go in and rescue her from Emma.
"Taylor, now. Time-sensitive, go."
An indescribable urge hit her, as her hand shot up, and she saluted. Or at least attempted to because she had only seen it in videos. "Yes, Sir!"
Taylor's eyes slowly widened at what she said, and a blush soon burned her cheeks as she turned around and ran away. Oh God, that was embarrassing!
Behind her, she heard Miles shout out. "What the hell are you doing? You, pick this little shithead up and make sure she doesn't suffocate. You, go find her parents; one of them must have red hair. Tell them to control their daughter, or I'm throwing them out!"
A bubbling sense of satisfaction filled Taylor as her ribs activated, letting her sprint as fast as she could back to the hangar without getting tired. She kept the bugs in the area highly focused on Miles and the growing crowd.
"Tell me, what were you doing? Wait, I know, nothing! This isn't the time of inaction or placidity! This is the end of the world! When you see one of us in danger, help them! Getting hurt? Help them! Get off your asses, or I will kick you out! The time of being a bystander is over; no excuses!" Miles thundered. "I will not tolerate needless cruelty, ever. That's my only warning; pass it along."
Taylor kept running, but with a smile on her face. She dreamed of someone doing that, standing tall and calling the world out on its bullshit. Maybe it took the world ending for it to happen, but she'd give it her all! The artificial heart and lung inside her thrummed along, letting her push herself as hard as she could, racing back to her room to change.
It only took her a moment to adorn her Weaver costume while holding her breath and mentally acknowledging that her room needed to be aired before racing back out, having changed faster than ever before. A tablet strapped to her thigh and an earbud in. It was either the computer or Rose who fed her directions to Miles, but she was just thankful she got back in time.
Taylor slowed down, not the least bit out of breath but a touch hungry. She looked up at him, new respect filling her, and a slightly warm feeling came over her that had nothing to do with what happened last night.
"Good, you're back. Start gathering a swarm above us." Miles nodded toward Taylor, and she felt butterflies in her stomach as she reached out and grabbed every bug she could, directing them overhead. "When you're with just me or Rose, you are in the second command." He gestured for her to follow him. "If we tell you to do something, it's your job to figure it out and execute it." He eyed her.
Taylor hastily nodded.
"That also means you can't appear weak, ever. Soon enough, people will know who you are, Taylor. There will be no space to act like a teenager once you leave the hangar. If Emma comes up to you again like that, deal with it. Even if that means beating her into the ground, powers or no powers. Understand?"
Taylor hesitated a moment before nodding, noticing that they were heading to the edge of the area people occupied. A part of her screamed that if she resorted to hitting Emma whenever she was like that, Taylor would be no better than Emma. But Miles told her to, and if he said it, she could do it. "Okay."
"You see these people all around us?"
"Yeah."
"They support us for now, but the second we appear weak and times are tough, they will be our enemies. They will try to kill us and take everything we have. Don't believe otherwise for a second. We must be indomitable."
Taylor was a little skeptical; she didn't think these people who gave everything to stay close to Miles and Rose would do that. "Really?" She asked, but suddenly remembered how Emma had turned on her after Mom died. She was weak, and Emma threw her aside. All of a sudden, Miles' words gained that much more traction as she eyed each person milling about as if they would suddenly betray her. This was also when she noticed people were forming behind them with assorted tools turned weapons, and some even had guns. Maybe an armored suit wasn't a bad idea.
He raised an eyebrow at her, and half scoffed. "You're sleeping in a warm room, by yourself, with fresh food. What do you think would happen when the sun doesn't shine, and the temperature drops thirty degrees with no food in sight? They see their kids suffering while you relax in perceived comfort, giving no thought to what you're providing, even if you're the sole reason they are alive. You tell me what Danny would do."
She already agreed with him, but even with her dad being distant, she could imagine him doing anything to feed her, even if it was distasteful. Then she remembered how much Miles and Rose ate this morning and knew without a doubt that people would stir up trouble if they knew already. They had to have eaten thirty waffles each—big ones! She kept her mouth shut, having nothing to add.
"Keep that in mind. Now, when Rose gives you the signal, split the swarm and give our guests a clear view of the coilgun."
"What guests?" Taylor asked as they rounded the building, and she caught sight of the whole Empire 88 walking towards them, still outside her range.
"If you want to know who would start trouble, look no further than straight ahead. They'd rally people against us, turn everyone, and take it all for themselves once they succeeded. Everyone would be worse off than when it started. We can't be weak, lest they take traction. This is the end of the world, and we can't save everyone."
Taylor froze as Miles pushed on without an ounce of hesitation. Him versus fifteen capes and dozens of armed gang members, with only her and a good twenty others backing him up.
Show no weakness.
She straightened her back, held her head high, and followed a step behind Miles with her bugs darkening the sky. She wouldn't let him down, but she had a question about why she was here and not Rose. "Um, why me and not Rose?"
"The same reason I'm here. Rose talked down Armsmaster and took the lead more often than not, while I was in the background. I need credibility just as much as you do." Miles said, coming to a stop twenty meters past the boundary of where most people stayed. It just happened that the coilgun had a clear shot anywhere in front of him, down the road, but not behind him, as a building blocked its view.
Taylor kept her position next to Miles' right side, a step back and to the side. Behind her, the twenty guys stopped at the boundary, giving them plenty of room. There was nothing but silence as the Empire was forced to approach, too far away to talk, yet at an awkward distance that took almost a minute to cross at their current pace. All the while, Miles tapped his foot, arms crossed, shouting at the world that they weren't worth his time. Taylor did her best to copy him, maybe not the foot tapping, but she glared through her lenses.
Eventually, the Empire halted, the person who only could be Kaiser at the lead in his full body plate armor and crown of blades. Taylor had to admit it was impressive, even more so when compared to Miles' tee shirt and sweats, but she supposes he has better things to do than make clothes that fit himself. Yet, at the same time, it was also clever of him to not wear any metal that would give Kaiser a surface to use his power on.
On the left side of Kaiser was Purity, her power already active and turning her body into a glowing white silhouette. To the right was a shirtless man, his muscles unimpressive and lackluster in Taylor's opinion, wearing a metal wolf mask named Hookwolf. Then behind those three were the rest. Fenja, Menja, Crusader, Night, Fog, Alabaster, Stormtiger, Cricket, Victor, and Othala. Rune stood out from the rest, floating above them on a concrete platform.
Taylor had done her due diligence after fighting Lung and researched every known Cape in the bay, and she roughly knew what their powers were. Already she had planned out how to disable every soft target, which included every single one of them but Purity, Fog, and Hookwolf. Some might be more difficult to utilize her bugs against, but with Miles at the front, she had no worries about eventually disabling them. Of course, everyone had to breathe at some point, and even if that didn't work, it did against Lung; she could inconvenience them until Miles finished up his opponents.
That was easy enough, but then she eyed the ranks of armed gang members, all too aware of what a bullet felt like and that her costume wouldn't protect her. For that, she planned on hiding behind Miles or dropping to the ground, hoping not to get hit. That mech suit was looking better each time she thought about it. This confrontation, head-on and without deception, rankled her sensibilities.
Kaiser slowed on the final approach, and Taylor could almost feel his uncertainty as just how large Miles was dawned on him. A stray thought wanted to believe that he would make a metal step stool just to appear on Miles' level. But instead, to Taylor's disappointment, he only gestured for his posse to stop while he took the last step forward.
"Sparks', so valiant in defense of this good city. I praise your efforts." Kaiser started, and Taylor felt a shiver of revision snake down her back, as she only wanted to shove him full of bugs. "Now isn't the time for weakness, as only the strong can survive this disaster of unfortunate magnitude. I, Kaiser, extend the hand of cooperation to the Sparks. So that we may both thrive where most would wither." He swept his hands wide, as if taking in the whole compound of refugees behind Taylor.
"The need is there as the wretched PRT seeks to disarm and condemn this city to oblivion. Together, we can stand firm and resist. With your technology and the Empire's leadership combined with our numbers, the PRT couldn't hope of forcing our hands."
Taylor paused. Some of her understood the argument, and it would be tempting if she was working with anyone else to face the PRT. The Empire had strength, which was evident, and they had a ready supply of manpower to back it up. If that were all, it would be a no-brainer to accept that alliance, one she couldn't say no to without condemning more people to death. However, it wasn't that simple because the Empire were Nazis, and plenty of people were already in the camp that they wouldn't tolerate. It didn't end there, as Kaiser stated that Miles and Rose would work under his leadership.
"My name is Emperor, Kaiser. I do not bow, not to anyone." Miles said, his voice steady and without emotion. He took a single step forward, and radiant glory washed over Taylor as he seemed to grow even larger with that motion. It was only her connection to Rose that kept her from kneeling as the twenty dockworkers behind all did, bowing their heads. "No threat, no force, nothing could."
Taylor couldn't take her eyes off Miles, singularly forced on a man greater than all, standing tall, to be followed till the end. Kaiser was nothing but a footnote at the moment; everything was when compared to standing by Miles' side. She would never let him down, ever.
"I offer this to you once, and only once. Bow down to me, renounce your prior beliefs, your names, and pledge your loyalty, and I will let you pass; take sanctuary. What say you, Empire 88, will your proud beseech your downfall?"
Once Miles finished his speech to counter Kaiser's own, nothing but silence filled the air. Taylor pulled her eyes off Miles through sheer force of will before sweeping over the Empire's capes. Most stood resolute, unmoved by Miles' words, but a few shifted, eyes darting to those standing next to them. Most noticeably was Rune, floating above, and Othala at her rumored husband's side, Victor.
Hushed whispers broke out before Kaiser held up his hand, silencing them. "So you would let your pride run in the face of this city's inhabitants?" Kaiser said, his voice rising higher until he yelled out. "Then it will be force. You will work for the Empire one way or another."
The capes, even the hesitant, all readied themselves to fight. Taylor turned the quiet swarm overhead into a boiling mass of insects. Only one person didn't react to Kaiser's statement, Miles.
'Taylor, now.' Rose's voice ordered through Taylor's earbud.
Her swarm of bugs split, revealing a tunnel of open air that Miles' raising hand pointed to. Straight through, hundreds of meters away, the coilgun pointed directly at the assembled Empire's capes.
"One move, and I'll reduce you to paste," Miles said before sucking in a massive lung full of air and huffing it hard enough that it ruffled some of the Empire's costumes. Then he grew even larger, forcing Taylor to acknowledge that he stood twice her height and was still growing.
Pure energy filled Taylor, and any fear she might've had vanished. The twenty dockworkers arose at once, their right hand slamming against their chest before reading their weapons. She absently noticed her own salute being carried out before dropping into a foreign stance.
The undercurrents of pure power coming off Miles rose to a crescendo, "BEGONE!"
The single word slammed into the ranks of Empire gang members like a physical wall. Half fell backward, while others staggered. Guns were now pointing at the ground. The capes took it better, with only the already hesitant Rune and Othala being hit hard enough to sway them.
Taylor knew the feeling wasn't one of terror or fear, but as if comparing an ant to an elephant, all Miles did was show them how outclassed they were. Then it grew harsh, with jagged edges galore, weaving around her mind and all their allies, but the Empire capes grabbed their heads as one.
Miles reached out with his right hand, his palm directly pointed at Victor. Then the man's eyes went wide behind his black and red mask. Othala just managed to touch his arm before he zipped through the air, his neck firmly landing in Miles' grip. Victor hung there, his body not even matching half of Miles' in height. If Taylor had to summarize the looks the Empire had, it would be, "Oh shit."
Then, in one fluid moment, Miles slammed Victor to the ground. For a brief moment, Taylor was sent airborne as the sheer force of Victor hitting the ground launched her up. A crater rippled out, sending chunks of concrete into the air, and some even bounced off Taylor. The still surprisingly intact Victor thrashed in Miles' grip before he was launched straight into the air with a flick of the wrist.
'Ears.' Rose warned, and Taylor didn't waste a moment covering hers. An action followed by the dockworkers without hesitation.
The moment Victor reached the top of his flight, some fifty meters up, the coilgun fired. Taylor didn't notice Miles moving in front of her until Cape met projectile. Then, a momentous shockwave washed over her as a thunderclap assaulted her ears, and dots of dust kicked up in a mostly perpendicular line to where it hit Victor as his still whole body flew off further into the city.
"Victor!" Othala screamed as she turned on the spot and ran away, chasing the afterimage he left.
A brief pause before Purity ignited, and Taylor thought it would descend into a fight to the death before she zipped off, leaving the Empire behind. Fog and Night followed her, leaving the Empire's capes severely depleted. The only one who didn't look uncertain was Hookwolf, and metal blades and hooks were showing through his skin.
Taylor's body brimmed with righteous energy. Only Rose kept Taylor self-aware enough to feel the change, but she still yearned to charge them down for the slight they gave them. A restraint that the dockworkers lacked as they howled profanities, jumping around like attack dogs on a leash that Miles held.
"You'll regret this slight!" Kaiser called out before retreating, followed by everyone remaining as they broke out into a jog, then ran.
Taylor laughed out loud when thinking about the bluff of might that was countered by a willingness to act. Which was almost telling when comparing Miles' creed to that of the professed Kaiser. In her head, the ability to back one's words with might rang true and further solidified what Miles said earlier. She couldn't be a better person unless she had the strength to enforce it and to prove it, it must be acted upon.
Yet Taylor noticed that not everyone left. The floating concrete platform held aloft by Rune slowly drifted lower, listing to one side, but she wasn't standing on it anymore. It hit the ground, settling to one side, and Rune rolled off it, followed by her arm. Bright crimson blood stained the platform, and rivers of it ran out of her, giving her green costume a festive coloring. Miles swore.
The limp body of Rune flew through the air, gentle compared to how Miles treated Victor. A leg on the right side, the same side missing an arm, was flopping around, barely connected. The closer Rune got, the more injuries Taylor spotted, including a multitude of holes littering her torso.
Miles caught her, tying tourniquets around Rune's wounds with her very own costume before handing Taylor Rune's severed arm, ripping off the barely connected leg, and giving it to her too. "Hold that, would you? And follow me; I've got work to do."
Taylor blinked, an arm in one hand and a leg in the other. Her stomach rolled. She forced down the urge to puke and hurried after Miles, trying not to think about the rapidly cooling limbs in her arms. "What the fuck!" She hissed. "Why are you even saving her? She just tried to screw us over!"
Miles shrugged, "I'd rather not kill anyone."
"What about Victor? You looked like you were trying to kill him."
"He... was trying to drain my abilities. A threat. Plus, he'll live, or at least he should. Rune, on the other hand, wasn't a threat, plus she's young, and young people do stupid shit." Miles gave Taylor a long look, and she looked away. "I'll fix her up and give her one chance." Left unsaid that it was because of his actions that Rune was in this state.
News of the World! Moon-Impact T + 2 Days
World General News:
Riots and looting have broken out in every major city and town as people stockpile food and other necessities.
A record number of Tinkers are mysteriously vanishing, with relatives going missing too.
North America:
Reports of a large explosion in northern Canada without a meteor impact have residents spooked, considering that the secure parahuman containment prison (Birdcage) was rumored to exist around that area.
Multiple aircraft made by Dragon have been spotted making repeated trips to Colorado, along with convoys of contracted semi-trucks.
A nuclear explosion went off in Tennessee, and a town was flattened, but radiation remains too high to survey for casualties.
South America:
Any semblance of government stability has already crumbled, with further chaos spreading. A few smaller nations still hold, but as people flee, they face increasing strain.
Pacific:
Aircraft continue to make trips despite worldwide restrictions due to the danger posed. No significant damage has been suffered yet. Cargo ships are being beached as crews flee from the increased potential danger posed by the ocean.