"So, new cape and you wanted to register?" said Miss Militia, smiling under her bandana. "Well, it's nice to run into that instead of the usual going out and getting into fights and in over your head that is the usual way for finding new capes. You told the front desk that you haven't settled on a cape name yet?"

"That's right," said the girl in the homemade costume fidgeting in the chair. "Uhm. My power isn't really suited for fighting anyway."

"What IS your power then, and why did you want us to bring broken things?" said Armsmaster, reaching down and then putting a coffeemaker on the table that had cracks in the plastic casing.

"This," said the girl, holding out a hand. "Scan. Repair."

Armsmaster glanced at the broken machine, paused, then began examining it further. "It's repaired?"

"That's my power," said the girl in the mechanic's overalls with a pair of goggles covering her eyes. "I can fix things."

Miss Militia was still for a moment as the implications started going through her head. Reports around the city from the past week. "What kind of things?"

The cape in question started ticking things off her fingers. "Roads, machines, buildings, burns and cuts-"

"You can heal people too?" asked Miss Militia, interrupting the cape because the implications had just picked up momentum and were charging ahead like a train. The cape hadn't gotten up from her chair, but looked a bit alarmed as Miss Militia had leaned forward abruptly. "At range?" The girl nodded. "Area effect?"

"Yes, on the things I've tried so far," said the cape. "It took maybe thirty seconds to rebuild a building though, so it's not instant. I'm-"

"Have you tried tinkertech?" asked Armsmaster, putting something else he'd brought on the table.

"Scan," said the cape. "Oh, that's all that's wrong with it? Repair!"

Armsmaster picked up the device, quickly switching it on, studying it, then turning it off again. "Hired."

"What?" asked the new cape.

"What Armsmaster meant to say was that we're quite interested in exploring what your power can do and what limits there might be," said Miss Militia.

"Oh," said the new cape. "Anyway, I was thinking of a few names. Miss Fixit, maybe?"

"You're Wards age so that might not be ideal, you'd be called Little Missy," said Miss Militia.

"No, well then, how about Repair Girl?" asked the new cape, who then made a face. "I just said that aloud for the first time, and it doesn't sound that good does it?"

"Not really," agreed Miss Militia. She thought for a few moments before an idea came to mind. "How about..."

The phone rang. Armsmaster answered it. "Yes. Yes. Actually, I do understand. What? But... Yes Director." Armsmaster put the phone down.

"I was going to suggest Brigid, who was the Irish goddess of healing and smithing," said Miss Militia. "Problem?"

"The Director wants Brigid to meet the Wards. Do you have time?" asked Armsmaster.

"I suppose," said the new cape, thinking about the name if the way her lips moved was any indication.

* Wards Room *

"Everyone, I want you on your absolutely best behavior for this," said Director Piggot over the speakerphone. "This is meeting a potential new Ward we absolutely want on our side. If we can't get her into the Wards, we at least want her to consider us in a positive light."

"What is it, she got some kill-assholes power?" asked Shadow Stalker.

"Stalker. If she wasn't already on the way, I'd suggest going home. As it is, it would really be best if you didn't speak at all," responded Director Piggot.

"Stalker's got a point though. What can this new cape do that's so important?" asked Gallant.

"She can repair buildings, roads, people," said Director Piggot. "Those mysterious road repairs and that building that was rebuilt over in the Docks? Apparently this is her. Do you have any idea how much our position in this city would improve if we had someone who can FIX damage after a cape fight? Heal wounds - even if she's not as good as Panacea just healing some of the injuries to bystanders?"

"Okay, that's a big thing," admitted Gallant. His mind immediately pictured having someone who could clean up after Glory Girl did something that resulted in property damage. Yeah, that was someone they'd want on speed-dial.

"Pfeh," said Shadow Stalker. Sounded like a lot of noise about nothing special.

"You did say 'she' right?" asked Vista. "It'd be nice not being the only girl on the team."

Clockblocker made a noise that might have been a barely-suppressed laugh.

"Riding the edge of disaster there, squirt," responded Stalker with a growl.

"All of you be on good behavior. Until we have any reason to believe otherwise, just the value of these abilities for Endbringer clean-up is considerable." Director Piggot cut the call at that point.

There was a buzz to indicate that everyone should mask up as they had visitors.

Clockblocker made another noise. "You know the Flem building, that old art deco building that had collapsed during one of Lung's rampages? Tuesday it was still rubble. Wednesday it looked as if it never had a crack in it."

"Yeah, that was probably this new gal trying out her powers," said Dauntless. "Nobody you'd want on the frontline against the gangs, but afterwards?"

"Sounds useless, blah blah blah," summed up Stalker.

Another buzz to indicate the door was about to cycle open.

"It seems to be working just as it did previously," said Armsmaster as he entered first, his attention largely on what looked like a section of one of his halberds.

"Yes, I could see how it was and how it used to be so I just used my power to match the two," said the unknown girl as she entered.

Gallant startled as he felt the reaction from one particular Ward. Boredom shifted to recognition to denial to rage and contempt. His head jerked around to stare at Shadow Stalker as he tried to think of what to do to head this off.

"HEBERT?! You're some cape?" Shadow Stalker's face was concealed but she was putting a fair amount of contempt in her voice. "Figures if you would trigger it would be some lame power that doesn't even let you fight."

"Wha-" The new cape went still. "That voice... no."

Now everyone present looked from new cape to Stalker and back.

"Can't believe we're wasting time with this piece of shit," said Stalker. "Whatcha gonna do - start crying? Lame ass weak prey like you?"

"Sophia Hess," said the new cape, doing an abrupt about-face. "Nope. I am NOT going to deal with this. Thank you for your time but..."

"They know each other," commented Clockblocker. "There went any chance for a good first impression."

"You THINK?!" reacted the new cape as she thumbed the door panel. "She's bullied me for over a year! She's the one who put me through hell!"

"She... you triggered because of her," said Gallant as he put together the emotional symphony playing out before him. "Oh hell."

"I need to leave," said the new cape, walking off.

"Yeah, get your weak pansy ass out of here, trash!" yelled out Stalker. "Better yet, just die... something wrong Miss Militia? I mean that's an awfully big taser you got there."

"Why did you do that?" asked Miss Militia before she turned and went after the new cape.

"Aw c'mon, the joke isn't even as funny as Clock's usual crap," said Stalker. "Some weak power that lets someone clean up after the real heroes fight?"

The phone started ringing.

Most of those present looked at it like they would some scorpion or other aggressive venomous creature.

Armsmaster, however, was looking at Shadow Stalker in a manner that suggested a scorpion was about to meet a boot.

* Miss Militia *

She'd heard Gallant's comment, prompted by his emotion-reading ability, and come to the conclusion that his assessment was probably correct. He was getting skilled at that aspect of his power, and reading various cues in body language in addition to that. There was a chance it was wrong, but he had a pretty good track record so far.

She did not need an emotion-sensing power to tell what was going on with the teenager she was allowing out of the building. When everything had calmed down, and an investigation to possible parole violations was begun, then she could try softselling an approach to at least have Brigid (if she went with that name) on call for them.

Right now, her highly trained estimate was that any attempt would prompt the cape in question to go from Simmering Betrayed Rage to Boiling Over Hostile. "I'm very sorry about this."

"That's why she gets away with everything, isn't it?"

Miss Militia winced at the way that was practically hissed. "We'll investigate this. I promise."

The elevator doors had just opened on the lobby with a ding before Brigid (or whatever she'd call herself) replied. "We'll see."

* Cauldron HQ, Three Days Later. *

"She... what?" asked Eidolon.

"Can fix. Anything. Biological. Mechanical. Electronics. Tinkertech. Buildings. Roads. Her 'scan' is like Contessa's Path to Victory, showing her what she focuses on and what needs to be fixed on it. Her repair ability then uses that information to make it like new." Doctor Mother sighed. "Video analysis reveals she literally can make things like they'd never been damaged as long as 85% of the materials are there. Twenty-seven seconds to repair a six-story building from rubble. Do you have any idea what that means?"

"Useless during an Endbringer fight, hell even a gang fight would be too much, but afterward..." Eidolon let his voice trail off. Didn't mean he wasn't the greatest hero when he could bring the fight, but someone who could cause collateral damage to vanish?

"The problem is that she was triggered by a Ward, Shadow Stalker. Who confronted her during the recruitment attempt," continued Doctor Mother.

"Okay, that's bad," admitted Eidolon.

"Then Shadow Stalker, feeling bad because she was reamed over by Director Piggot and Armsmaster and Miss Militia AND her fellow Wards, outed her to her 'bestie' - an Emma Barnes. Who then announced her identity and how pathetic she thought those powers were to the entire school. Which included recruits for the Empire 88, the ABB, and a couple of other criminal gangs in the city." Doctor Mother massaged her forehead as if she had a headache. Which she did.

"So they're all gunning for the new cape because they see how useful such an ability could be?" asked the Numbers Man.

"Well, not so much the drug gangs that actually use their own product," allowed Doctor Mother. "So this Taylor Hebert did the sensible thing and hid rather than have a home invasion."

"Did that work or did her home get torched?" asked Numbers Man.

"It worked, the father let everyone know that his daughter had run away and was in hiding and that he was quite upset about the whole thing." Doctor Mother frowned and tapped a tablet in front of her. "Evidence is that she's been on the move. Roads repaired without a crew being visible in several places around the city. A derelict building in nearby Cider Hill that overnight was completely repaired."

"She's hiding and on the move but can't help but use her power to fix things." Alexandria was quite familiar with the whole powers compulsion aspect.

There was a beep followed by Doctor Mother tapping her tablet again. "Hmmm. Group of supervillains attempted to capture her. According to the report they came out of Madison. Hebert determined they were Ziz-bombs and..."

Everyone at the table stared as Doctor Mother's eyes went wide.

"What? They captured her?" asked Eidolon.

"She fixed them," said Doctor Mother in a sort of tone that was definitely not her usual one. This particular was... sort of awed.

"She can fix the Simurgh's influence." Eidolon held up his hands to make a "time out" gesture. "Shit. Where's the Simurgh? Where's the Slaughterhouse? We need to get that girl some protection now."

Alexandria was silent for a three count. "I'm going to Brockton Bay. Due process is going to take too long. If news about Shadow Stalker getting justice will get Miss Hebert to approach us, then Shadow Stalker is getting on or going under a bus."

* PRT ENE HQ *

"I did NOTHING wrong," said Shadow Stalker. "She's weak and useless and-"

Director Emily Piggot smiled. Or was it the baring of teeth?

The overhead monitor came on. Alexandria was depicted. "Director Piggot."

"Alexandria," acknowledged Director Piggot.

"This is Shadow Stalker?" asked Alexandria.

"Yes. She's threatening legal action through Youth Guard if her probation is revoked," said Director Piggot.

"That's right! You can't prove anything and Hebert's just a troublemaker who lies in order to look important," began Shadow Stalker.

"You outed her. You caused someone who is close to invaluable for a unique power to leave the city." Alexandria's voice was cold. "Whereas there's you. Director. Shadow Stalker will be given a chance to redeem herself."

"Yes! You won't be disappointed," said Shadow Stalker.

"If you can take down Ash Beast, we definitely have a use for you," said Alexandria.

"Yeah, I... what?"

"It certainly would make an impression," agreed Director Piggot.

"Well, Ash Beast is in Africa so I wouldn't think-" began Shadow Stalker.

"Yes, your ability to travel underground and through obstacles mean you could definitely snipe that target," mused Alexandria. "Proof of being the top predator - wouldn't you say?"

"A suicide mission is not proving I can kick ass, it's just proving I can get killed," protested Shadow Stalker.

"You want to bring in the lawyers rather than be transferred or go to juvie," said Director Piggot. "Going through the court system it'll be next year before we can get you out of here if the hearing goes as expected."

"I ain't moving 'cause of no lame-ass weak shoe-scrape HEBERT," stated Shadow Stalker.

"Transport leaving for Johannesburg tomorrow at 0800 hours," said Alexandria's image. "Be there."

"Can you at least give me a better target than Ash Beast?" asked Shadow Stalker. "You want me to sniper someone? I can do that, it's right up my alley in fact. What about Heartbreaker? Or some other S-Class dirtbag? You want 'em in the ground, I'm your gal. You get me out of the Wards into some REAL missions instead of PR kiddie crap, and then you might get Useless Girl to clean up on Aisle 5."

There was silence for several long moments before Alexandria spoke. "You have a point."

Director Piggot looked unhappy, which made Shadow Stalker look a bit happier.

"I have just the place," said Alexandria.