Amy Dallon

I was home, mom and dad didn't take the news well. Defenses were readied, plans were made and we prepared for the worst, this didn't mean things were fine. I went over the list: Jack Slash, the leader had the power to extend the reach of blades and a Thinker power that made him bullshit against parahumans like me, Bonesaw a medical Tinker, she made an already dangerous threat even more bullshit, Shatterbird had the power to control glass, Crawler a essentially unkillable Brute, Siberian a projection, can punch through any defense, if we could find the projector we could kill her, Burnscar, teleporting pyrokinetic, Cherish a Master, Crimson a Brute that used blood to make himself more powerful, Winter, Shaker who had the power to freeze things. They were some of the most psychotic and dangerous capes on the planet.

And, oh yeah they were gunning for me, puts it all in perspective, doesn't it? I mean there's nothing like knowing that a hoard of psychopaths want to murder you for shits and giggles. Vicky stayed close to me, I had some new armor that was hidden under our clothing, if Arcadia had a problem with it well fuck 'em, they got a clear warning from the PRT themselves about what was coming down the pipe and-

My shields went up as I was smacked against the wall, I stared at the Zebra colored monster.

"Vicky, run."

"Amy-"

"Run!"

She flew away, I tried to gauge how much damage my shields could take and realized that was fucking pointless, it was the Siberian. I started running, the windows exploded and I concentrated on altering my armor, making it stronger, tougher and better on the fly. I punched a manhole cover in and jumped into the sewer barely dodging a wave of frost, then the fire slammed down the tunnel and my left arm screamed out with pain. Come on bacteria go do your thing your queen comands you!

I continued running and saw the light pour down as Crawler smashed into the sewer, I was fucked, I felt his jaws bite into me ripping off flesh and tearing. I barely got away and dove into the waste water, I let things go dark and opened my eyes. I fought back, tried to and was rewarded with burning, cutting, and ice, I felt myself be ripped apart. The darkness claimed me.

"Cherish, is she?"

Now! A spark and the world went boom, fire claimed the whole of the sewage tunnel I hugged the bottom of the water and swam like hell.

I continued on in a crazed paced, the smell was terrible, my armor maybe hid me from their sensors but I didn't trust it to work above water, I slowly made my way through the sewer system, keeping myself submerged, the armor stanched the worst of the bleeding but I could feel the infection getting worse, feel the bloodloss. I got to some area in the suburbs and was on my last legs. I moved the manhole and collapsed. I smelled bad, I felt weak and horrible and the nine were in town, overall I was fucked.

"Oh shit, are you..."

I closed my eyes for real, not taking in the images from a flash made clone, not trying to hide my presence just a feeling of being hurt and tired and wanting to rest. I don't know how long I slept but when I woke up I felt like shit. I looked at the stump that used to be a hand.

"I'm sorry but I had to take off the armor and um..."

It was a voice, a male one. I had scars all over my body, I noticed a slight glow.

"A phoenix tree?"

"Oh that, it's a sapling, it's not that strong or big but it helps you heal faster."

I stared at the ceiling, how the hell did he get a phoenix tree, outside of Brockton Bay Medical it was difficult to even...

"Did you steal that?"

Not my brightest moment, I admit but I was tired, thirsty, hungry and hurt.

"What, no!"

"Then how did you get it?"

The boy moved closer, blond hair, in decent shape, had deep circles under his eyes which were bloodshot, and a thousand yard stare.

"I um asked for it politely."

"You asked for a phoenix tree sapling and they just gave it to you?"

He smiled.

"I know? Right? Um yeah, so I'm Void Cowboy, you kind of ended up in my neighbourhood, I know some first aid but what I could do was pretty limited but I'm trying to help, you know?"

I grabbed his hand and analyzed him, I then leaned back again.

"Huh it looks like you finally triggered, good for you."

I decided to get some more sleep and try to figure this out later.