Sunny Sky 1.3

Up, up, up!

Taylor let out a groan as Legacy's cheerful voice rang through her mind.

C'mon, it's time to seize the day! Your first new day as a hero!

Why are you waking me up now exactly? Taylor groused even as she rolled out of bed and started to groggily get ready.

You have to start training! Get rid of that lil potbelly you've been growing.

Taylor's hand went reflexively to her stomach. I do not have a potbelly!Agree to disagree. Either way you need to get into better shape if you're going to be effective on patrol, let alone a real fight.With another grumble about overbearing heroes, Taylor finished getting ready and at Legacy's direction, set out on a run. Luckily she'd lived in Brockton all her life, she knew what streets to avoid and her parents had purchased a house in a safe, if rundown area of town. The cold morning air quickly left her feeling awake and the pace Legacy urged her to run at began making her lungs burn in short order.

Ok, maybe I could be in better shape.

Least you admit it. You wouldn't believe the number of young heroes I helped train who thought they could just coast by on their powers alone. You have to have a good foundation first!

Does that mean you trained too?

Of course! For a while it was training my powers, since they directly affected my body, but once I hit a plateau, I continued to train my mind on tactics, law enforcement procedure, how villains think, all that sort of thing.

Should I start learning all of that too?

You can probably get away with learning the basics and then lean on us for the rest. Although certain laws are quite different, mostly pertaining to parahumans. Perhaps familiarize yourself with those. This Earth's are strange.

How so?

A lot more lenient for one. If a super acted as Hookwolf, Lung, or Oni-Lee did, the UHF would come down on them like the hammer of God. In fact, any organization like you have here in Brockton wouldn't have been tolerated. Even other villains would have helped in destroying them.

But you still had crime right? And gangs?

Yes, but they were more… organized. Tolerable. Most villains were part of an international group that countered the UHF called the Black Hat Syndicate. It was a loose alliance for the most part, but the leader of that organization had very strict guidelines that I helped enforce.

You worked with villains?!

I had a working relationship with their leader, Archmage. If I encountered their operations I certainly stopped them and obeyed the law, but in certain gray areas, I would turn a blind eye. Better the devil you know and all that.

That hardly seems better than how things are in this city.

It was different, because I only had this sort of agreement with one man and he knew that if any of his subordinates stepped out of line, if they started killing civilians and heroes indiscriminately, if they started things like the ABB's forced brothels or the Empire's hate crimes or even the Merchants' attempting to force new customers with their drugs, then I would smash that cell to bits. Bad for business. In fact, Archmage and his lieutenants, the smart ones anyway, tended to police their own ranks more effectively than the UHF ever could. It helped avoid open war, like when supers first appeared and Archmage's brother was in charge. Now that was a madman. Made your Slaughterhouse 9 look tame in comparison.

So what, do you think I should go easy on the villains here just because it worked for you?

Legacy seemed to mentally wince and Taylor felt a swell of anger in her chest. She couldn't just sit back and let bad shit happen because it was convenient. She refused to be that kind of hero.

I think that there is more at stake than a single city, but I also know the evil that is the 'Greater Good'. Do what you feel is right, but prepare for the consequences, that's all.

Taylor slowed from her jog, panting heavily. Her chest felt like it was on fire, but it was a good kind of pain. She imagined she could feel herself getting stronger already. After arriving back home she took a swift shower (with Legacy mentally cringing and withdrawing from the front of her mind) and then went to start breakfast. When her father woke up and started on his coffee, he checked the answering machine which was beeping with an unplayed message.

"Good morning Mr. Hebert, due to onsite damages and hazardous materials, all classes are canceled for the week while repairs and clean-up are conducted. Have a nice day."

Short, to the point, and lacking any kind of genuine feeling. Typical Winslow.

"Well looks like you got some free time on your hands." Danny offered with a small smile. "I gotta get to the office, see you later." He got up, gave her a quick kiss on the head, and then was out the door.

Taylor also smiled… for all of five seconds before she realized that someone might track the fact her locker was the one that was trashed and the hole in the ceiling was right above it too. Would they know she was a parahuman now? Would someone come after her dad?!

The rules Taylor. The unwritten ones. Those will protect you. And if anyone tries to use your identity against you… Well then you can escalate.

Taylor felt a bit calmer, but she needed to be certain. People did break the rules. She thought of the team New Wave and the death of their movement after one of their members was killed in her own home. She focused on the need for a tinker, someone who could build defenses for her house. A last resort in case someone attacked. Light blossomed and suddenly a group of teenagers was standing in her kitchen.

"Ayo you needed a tinker? Well here's the best motherfuckin' tinker around!" An exuberant young man with dark skin and short curly hair boasted with a wide grin. "Yo CC, you got the spooks outside?"

Another young man with pale skin and slicked back blond hair wearing a pair of glasses nodded. "They shall not see us while we are here."

A brunette girl with vibrant green eyes smiled at Taylor and gave an old fashioned curtsy. "Forgive the morons for their lack of introduction. I am Peyton Perrington, also known as Dryad."

"Ah my apologies," The blond boy interjected, adjusting his glasses in a fidgety manner. He had the kind of posh accent that rich kids had on t.v. "I am Alexander Zelton, though I go by Xander."

"You're both being too fancy again ya cunts," a short and scrappy looking blonde girl snapped with an Australian accent of all things. "G'day there Taylor, I'm Nova."

Another guy wearing futuristic looking combat armor seemed to appear out of thin air. "Area is secure."

Taylor jumped about a foot in the air. "Ok, ok why are you all here, how are you all here and can we just calm down?!"

They were all silent for a moment, then Xander stepped forward. "Apologies Ms. Hebert, the reason we are all here is because we were teammates with Marion," he nodded to the tinker, who waved. "And so when you summoned him, we all came along for the ride. Most likely you are able to keep all of us here at once because you've only been summoning the top tier of supers. We are all significantly weaker than that."

"Ok." Taylor took a deep breath. "Can we just start over?"

"Of course. As I said, my name is Xander Zelton. My hero name is Conductor and I possess the abilities of telekinesis and telepathy."

The pretty brunette named Peyton went next. "Petyon Perrington, though I go by Dryad in costume. I'm a chlorokinetic and easily the most powerful on this team." She declared with a matter of fact tone.

"Arrogant cunt," the Australian girl muttered. "The name is Nova Hyde, but I go by Kite when I'm suited up. I'm a Brute-Changer, turn into this nasty beast outa your worst nightmares."

"She ate my arm off once." Xander informed Taylor dryly. "It wasn't a pleasant experience."

"Ah come off it ya drongo, Sorceress patched ya up."

"That doesn't make it better."

The armored guy cleared his throat. "I'm Deadeye."

Taylor waited a moment. "That's all?"

"I like to share as much information as needed."

"He's wearing tinker-tech armor that his sister made for him and his power lets him do weird things with projectiles." Xander sighed. "And his name is-"

"I will shoot you Xander."

"-not important."

"And I fair lady," the tinker began in a pompous impersonation of Xander, "am the one and only Marion Altridge, best tinker around, specializing in defense. My hero name is Erection."

Taylor spluttered. Seriously? This was what her power gave her?

"You're an idiot Marion."

"Don't hate just cause your name sucks CC."

"Is that seriously your name or are you just messing with me?" Taylor demanded.

"Yes."

"It is his name, but he chose it on purpose just to screw with people."

"Not my fault y'all got dirty minds. I erect defensive fortifications. Ay, where's Cassandra guys?"

"Upstairs!" An unfamiliar voice called. "There wasn't enough room down there."

"It is rather crowded." Xander noted. "Ms. Hebert, is there a public area where we could convene?"

"Your team is too big." Taylor muttered while rubbing her forehead. "Maybe I just keep a few of you around? I can already tell this is going to give me a massive power headache."

"You're going to need me to start working on my tech T." Marion shrugged.

"T?"

"Yea Taylor is too long and Tay-Tay sounds a little condescending. So you're T."

Taylor turned pleading eyes upon the rest of the team. "Aren't any of you tinkers?"

"Unfortunately he's our one and only." Peyton sighed. "You might wish to unsummon Cassandra and I. Our powers are both more potent and so will strain your ability more."

Taylor nodded and then focused for a moment. Dryad flashed away like she was never there.

"I shall remain to keep up the psychic illusion on the two PRT agents." Xander volunteered.

"I'll be overwatch on the roof." Deadeye informed them all before vanishing with some sort of stealth tech.

"And I'll stick around so that you ain't the only sheila here." Nova offered with a wide grin. "Boys are icky and all that, right Taylor?"

"They strike me as complete idiots." Taylor noted tiredly. Though, this was more positive social interaction than the last year and a half combined, so it wasn't too bad. Just exhausting, especially considering some of their… enthusiasm. A thought struck her. "Where's Marion going to get his materials from?"

"Eh," Nova shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it."

"That makes me more worried."

"He'll cannibalize what he can from existing materials or just go get what he needs. Like Xander mentioned, we're weaker than the big guys you've called out so far, so not only can you keep us around longer, but we can go further away from ya. Plus he's got an advantage over the sponsored tinkers that the Protectorate has: He grew up poor and was still a really good tinker. He knows how to work with limited materials and make the best of it. He'll make this place a fortress and a half."

Taylor sighed in relief at that. "As long as my dad will be safe."

"Don't worry Taylor, anyone threatens your dad, I'll just eat the git." Nova grinned, her teeth slightly more pointed than a normal person's. "Wanna go shopping while the boys play with their toys?"

"I don't have much money." Taylor replied with a frown. "And don't even suggest stealing."

"Damn. Well let's at least go window shopping and give Marion his space to work. He'll fix up this place in no time." Nova grabbed Taylor's arm and started dragging her out the door. "We'll work on your income problem another time. Maybe you'll actually summon Vulcan like Legacy suggested eh? A piece from him would sell really well."

"How did you…?"

"We like to gossip in the great ol' void of your mind." Nova laughed, though it wasn't mean spirited like the Trio's. "Not much else to do, besides watch your antics. Speaking of, want me to eat any of those bitches that give you a hassle at school?"

Taylor grimaced. "As fun as that sounds, that would be a good way to get branded a criminal."

"But I could do it for ya. They'd never know, just chalk it up to some villain. Maybe even think it was that Crawler fellow with the Slaughterhouse, I do look pretty monstrous when I transform."

"No, no I… I don't want revenge. I mean I do, but I want to prove I'm better than them. Getting petty would just…"

"Make you feel like you're worse than them?"

"Yeah, basically."

"I know the feeling." Nova smiled fondly. She reached up and patted Taylor on the head like a kid, despite Taylor towering over her. "My granddad was a supervillain. It wasn't enough to not be a bad person, I wanted to be a good person. A hero. Hard to do with my power."

Taylor gave her a side eye. "Plenty of parahumans have unflattering powers, don't they? I mean, just because you transform into a monster-"

"It's not just about how I look." Nova cut her off. "The beasty isn't only a transformation. It's part of who I am. It's always trying to get out, encouraging me to rip, tear, kill, and consume."

Taylor swallowed a lump in her throat. She'd always fantasized about having superpowers and even just in the last day since she'd acquired them, she'd felt some uncomfortable urges at exactly how she could exact revenge on the Trio. But actually having another voice urging you toward destruction? She was lucky the only voices so far had been reasonable and pushed her toward the career of a hero.

"How do you control it then?"

"Mostly I ignore it. And when I can't…" Nova smiled fondly. "I think of my mum and dad. Xander. Even that bitch Peyton. People who believe in me, who believe that I can be a hero."

Taylor bowed her head, the lump growing bigger and she felt like crying for a moment. "I wish there was someone like that for me." She whispered softly.

Nova stopped walking and grabbed Taylor's hand with both of hers, clutching tightly. "You have us Taylor. We won't abandon you. We'll help you become a hero that'll put the bloody Triumvirate to shame. And besides," She reached up and tapped Taylor over the heart, "your mum is still here. Someone is only truly dead when they're forgotten." Nova smiled sadly. "We're proof of that I suppose."

Taylor didn't have words for that and so allowed herself to be pulled along to the boardwalk. She immediately regretted it when she spotted Emma and Sophia.

"Shit…"

Nova followed her gaze. "Those the bitches?"

"Yeah." Taylor grimaced. "We need to leave."

"No need." Nova growled, pupils beginning to dilate. "I'ma eat them."

"Nova please don't." Taylor pleaded. "Let's just get out of here."

"Or I can do this," Nova marched toward the other two girls.

"Nova!"

"Oi cunts!"

Emma and Sophia both paused in their conversation and noticed the short blonde marching toward them.

"Are you talking to us?" Sophia snarled while stepping in Nova's path. "Because I don't like your attitude."

"That's funny to hear, cause I don't like yours." Nova replied with a toothy grin. "Here's the deal. You leave my friend Taylor alone and I won't knock your teeth out, got it?"

"Oh my god, Taylor has a friend now?" Emma cooed with a sickeningly sweet smirk. "Hard to believe she found someone even uglier and more pathetic than her."

Taylor winced, but Nova just laughed. "Please, I'm a hot lil thing and I know it. Back off if you know what's good for you."

Emma's eyes flashed with anger. "Listen you bitch, I don't know who you think you are, but-"

Sophia's hand whipped out and grabbed Emma's arm. "Ems. We should drop it."

"Sophia?"

"Hebert's not worth it. She will start something." Sophia spoke firmly, eyes scanning Nova warily now. "We leave Hebert alone and you don't start anything, that the deal?"

"Sure." Nova kept her grin up, eyes glinting with something dangerous. "As long as you keep to yourselves."

Sophia nodded once, curtly, then turned herself and Emma around and walked away.

Taylor looked dumbfounded at Nova as the Aussie hopped back over with a skip in her step. "What the hell was that?"

"The tall one, Sophia? She fancied herself a tough girl. I just gave a hint of how tough I am right back." Nova replied cheerfully. "I think she's a cape. The beasty likes to eat other supers and she smelled delicious."

Taylor shivered slightly. "Xander wasn't kidding when he said you ate one of his arms, was he?"

"No, he wasn't. Combat exercise. Our teacher had us going all out. I lost control of my instincts. He still won, somehow." Nova shook her head fondly. "Never underestimate a cornered animal I guess."

"Excuse me?" A new voice interrupted.

Taylor spun to see a pretty blonde girl approaching. She was the kind of pretty that made Taylor envious, with a nice figure, well kept hair, enough freckles to be cute, and bottle-green eyes. She'd never seen the girl around Winslow, so wondered why she was approaching.

"Can I buy you both a coffee? I uh," The girl looked around nervously. "My name is Lisa and I need your help."