Overcast 3.4
Taylor and Legacy landed on the rooftop of Brockton Bay's largest hospital to find Amy and Isaac taking a break. Brockton's resident healer was smoking a cigarette, looking a great deal less stressed out than the last time Taylor had seen her.
"Hey Panacea," Taylor greeted her with a tired, but earnest smile. "Has Roulette been helpful?"
"You have no idea." Amy replied with a similar look. "Lot's of lower priority cases were handled faster than I could. Can I keep him?"
"Sure, but you have to feed him and take him for walks." Taylor joked.
"Rats. I don't have the time for that." She flicked the cigarette away. "But seriously, thanks. If you can ever spare him…"
"I'll send him your way." Taylor promised. It'd be good practice for her abilities and help ease some of Amy's stress. Double win. "He's like a discount Eidolon, except he can choose what power he has."
"Even better." Panacea smiled slightly. "Well break time is almost over, but since the hospital is practically empty I'll just be enjoying some coffee in the break room until they call me for more cases or Vicky gets me." She turned to Isaac and offered her hand. "Thanks again Roulette."
"You're welcome." Isaac replied graciously, taking her hand and giving it a light shake. "I'll be by again, count on it."
As soon as Panacea was gone, Isaac's face went cold as ice and he glanced at Taylor with barely veiled rage. "If I ever meet Carol Dallon, I'm gonna punch her through a wall."
"Huh?"
"She seemed off, so I read her mind." Isaac said. "Some private stuff I can't tell you, but holy crap, Carol Dallon is a terrible mother. I knew a literal supervillain assassin who was a better mother than her." He scowled and leaned against the low wall that ringed the rooftop. "Unrealistic expectations, constant favor of Victoria over Amy, literally never said so much as 'I love you' to the poor girl. Basically treating her like an unwanted guest rather than her daughter." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "And Amy doesn't even realize it. She thinks she deserves it because she's a villain's kid by birth and not a literal saint."
Taylor stared in stunned silence at the seething hero, absorbing the bombshells Isaac was dropping. Legacy began to nervously crack his knuckles, looking unsure of what to do or say.
"Could you um… not violate people's privacy like that?" Taylor tried asking instead. "It's not exactly our business."
Isaac spun on Taylor, eyes blazing. "We're heroes, Taylor. Sticking our nose into other people's business is literally what we do. Plus, tell me it's not our business when the biokinetic has a mental breakdown and starts causing havoc everywhere."
"Panacea is a biokinetic?" Taylor felt a chill run down her spine. "That's…"
"Dangerous." Legacy threw in. "But so is any other superpower in the wrong hands. Don't go making assumptions about Panacea just because of her power now."
"You're right, yeah." Taylor agreed, feeling pity for Amy. Maybe… Maybe she should try being a better friend? They sat together at lunch and then whenever Vicky wanted to hang out, Amy was there too, but maybe she should make the effort to hang out with just Amy?
No one deserved to be alone. Not like Taylor had been for the last year. From the sounds of it, Panacea had been isolated even longer than that, maybe not in an aggressive manner, but still just as stuck in a crappy position.
"Have me help her out whenever you've got that chance." Isaac requested. "Keeping me out and active will help grow your power and it'll take the pressure off of her, maybe even give her a chance to form a life outside of being 'the healer'." He sighed. "She's a good kid at heart I think, just dealt a crap hand by life."
"That describes a lot of these parahuman villains." Legacy said. "A lot of them anyway."
"Then let's make sure Amy doesn't become one of them." Taylor said.
Taylor arrived home to find it empty, but her dad's truck was still gone and she found a note on the kitchen table, telling her to stay home and stay safe while Danny was out helping some of the other dockworkers and their families. Glad to know her dad wasn't just sitting out the emergency. With a thought she asked Legacy to patrol around and lend his assistance to anyone who might need it and most importantly, keep an eye on her dad.
Will do Taylor, you can count on me.
While Taylor stripped off the battered vulcanium armor and changed into civvies, Isaac was kind enough to brew some tea for her, though he didn't take any for himself. He just sat silently as she took small sips, blowing gently to cool off the steaming liquid before taking more sips.
"What's on your mind?" She finally asked him.
"I'm worried about Amy a little bit." Isaac said, glancing out the window and at the chaotic mess of a city. "But her issues aren't something I can just magic away. No, I'm mostly worried about Magician."
"He hasn't shown back up since he ran off on me." Taylor grumbled. "And no migraines from power use. Maybe he just went back to your void or something?"
"Nah, Magician is trickier than that." Isaac stated confidently. "I knew the guy fairly well I think and I guarantee he's up to no good. The fact he's been gone for so long is really worrying and as for the headaches… well that ring Vulcan gave you is probably holding back the worst of it all, plus your natural strength is growing on it's own. Also he could just be using his powers while you're sleeping, but I'm slightly less sure about that seeing as you haven't woken up with a hangover worthy headache yet."
"Except the night we took out the Merchants. Probably tomorrow morning too." Taylor said.
"True, you've been expending serious amounts of power, but that's good, it means you're getting stronger. Might be ready to try summoning an M-class soon." Isaac said.
"What exactly does that mean? Is that like an S-class threat?" Taylor asked.
"Pretty much. An M-class is a super with the potential to end the entire world. Magician was the first, hence why it's called 'M-class' rather than S or something. A-class is next, some of our A-classes might be considered S-class by your ranking system, but all of them are dangerous as hell and could probably wipe cities off the map." He explained.
"Are you an A or an M-class?" She asked curiously.
"I was rated as a high A, with a potential to go M." Isaac answered, looking down at his hand for a moment. "It really depends on if there's an M-class super whose power I can draw upon. Even then it's not always 100% sometimes they have too much power for me to really control and they keep a chunk of their power. That's what happened when I fought Ares anyway."
Taylor frowned. "Didn't you say Ares was dead by the time you got your powers? And that your friend Emillio fought him when he got brought back to life?"
"Oh uh… sheesh, that's a story and a half. Time travel, it's complicated. Janus is a dick." Isaac said it like it explained everything, which Taylor had to admit it kind of did.
From her little interaction with the time manipulator, he struck her as an extremely chaotic sort. Sending people throughout time just to mess with them definitely seemed like something he'd do.
"Fair enough. Could you fight an Endbringer?"
"Fight? Yeah probably. Beat though? Nah, I only know of a couple supers who could do that." Isaac laughed.
"Let me guess, Magician and Ares? Everything seems to come back to those two." Taylor said wryly.
"Because they were the two strongest of their day, their fight and the fallout from it shaped our world." Isaac explained. "But they aren't the only ones. I helped a kid shortly before Gilgamesh and Ishtar arrived, tried to teach him to harness his true power. He had this piece of tinker tech suppressing his power most of his life, because it turned out he was probably the single strongest Blaster in existence. His full power could outgun anything I've seen so far on this Earth."
"Sounds like I should summon him sometime then." Taylor remarked. "That kind of firepower could come in handy."
"Yeah…" Isaac said with an odd look in his eye. "It would. Maybe save that for a rainy day though. We don't need huge amounts of property damage."
"Wouldn't Vulcan technically be M-class too?"
"Vulcan is… weird. Everyone assumes that he might be M-class, but he hasn't fought seriously in over twenty years, just been building his power and arsenal, so at this point anything is possible." Isaac frowned, remembering something unpleasant. "However strong he is, he wasn't strong enough to protect Emillio from Ares."
Taylor winced at the bitter tone, deciding not to poke that particular incident any further. "So, how should we go about finishing the ABB?"
Isaac hesitated. "I don't think we should actively engage at this point."
"What?!" Taylor yelped indignantly, finding herself standing over the older hero. "Why? We took out Bakuda, sent Oni-Lee running, and showed that Legacy can kick Lung's ass even when he's ramped up. We should push them while we've got the chance."
"You're forgetting that the ABB operated for years before they even had Bakuda." Isaac pointed out. "Losing her isn't a large blow, it's just a return to their status quo. And now, they know who you are and how to fight you."
Taylor froze. Damn. She hadn't thought about that, but Bakuda had probably told Lung who she was.
"We're fixing this. Now."
"I uh… I don't think even Arachne's power will be enough to erase something from Lung's mind. The way telepathy interacts with supers-"
"Then I'll make it clear," Taylor interrupted him, voice growing cold as she marched back down to the basement to retrieve her armor, "that if he attempts to use my identity or my dad against me, then the kid gloves come off."
"Taylor I don't think that's a good ide-" Isaac vanished before he could finish.
Then Taylor let Legacy go too, to his surprise. Knowing she didn't have much longer with her power, Taylor searched through her mind and brought out Arachne again.
"What's up Tay?" the villain asked flippantly as she appeared.
"You said your range is the city?" Taylor asked quickly.
"Yup." Purple lenses regarded Taylor curiously. "What do you need me to do?"
"Can you erase Lung's mind? Same procedure as Bakuda."
Arachne tilted her head for a moment, then shook it. "He's too in tune with his power, it's too entrenched in his mind and strong enough to keep me out. But I know exactly where he is if you're thinking what I'm guessing you are."
Taylor nodded sharply and with an effort of will, dragged Archmage into existence.
"Ms. Hebert." The supervillain gave a courteous nod. "How may I be of assistance?"
"I need your help to intimidate a parahuman that probably knows my identity." Taylor summarized. "Will you help me?"
"But of course." Archmage said. "I am at your service." His head dipped in the direction of Arachne. "Hello, you mad little telepath."
"Hello to you too you old bastard." Arachne snarked. "How's your family?"
"Dead, like us. How's your spine?" Archmage deadpanned.
"Better than ever. Though you probably shouldn't become a chiropractor anytime soon." Arachne giggled.
"I'll keep it in mind." Archmage said. "Now where too?"
"Mind dropping the mental barriers a moment? I'll guide you to the location." Arachne requested.
"Done." Archmage gestured with his staff. "Shall we step outside?"
"Let's hurry before I give myself an aneurysm." Taylor said, gesturing them out of the kitchen.
"A wise course of action." Archmage chuckled, then lifted the three of them up and into the air, contained by a bubble of telekinetic force.
The group shot off at speed, protected from the wind and cold air by Archmage's power. It didn't take long for them to come to a stop above a section of Brockton's unofficial Chinatown, though these days it was more like ABB-town.
"How would you like our entrance?" Archmage asked.
"Flashy."
"That I can do."
Archmage lifted up both arms in a grand gesture, the roof of a particular building suddenly exploding upward, peeling it open like a tin can. A surprised looking Lung and Oni-Lee seemed to ready themselves for a fight, but Archmage held out a single hand and both criminals were locked in place by an invisible force.
"Lung." Taylor said flatly as she was lowered to right in front of the Dragon of Kyushu. "Do you know who I am?"
"The upstart hero, Olympia. I know of you." Lung growled.
"But do you know who I am?"
The villain reluctantly nodded. "Bakuda informed me." His eyes drifted past her and to Archmage and Arachne. "I take it by your presence here that her little ambush failed? I warned her, but a fool is a fool, no matter what help you give them."
"I have come to give you a warning and offer a deal." Taylor said, keeping the firm and emotionless tone.
"You mean threaten and intimidate." Lung scoffed. "I am no fool girl, unlike you."
"I don't do threats. I make promises. And I promise you this Lung, Dragon of Kyushu: I won't stop until this city is rid of parasites like you, rotting it from within like a cancer. But I respect the Endbringer truce and the unwritten rules that it brings with it. So long as you don't come near my dad or I, so long as you leave our home alone and our civilian identities out of the petty gang politics of this city, then I'll leave you and yours alone." Taylor said.
"But if I should harm your father you'll kill me, yes I've heard this speech before." Lung scoffed. "All from cowards and petty heroes that don't have the strength to simply protect what is theirs- ARGH!"
At her mental command, Arachne hit him with pure mental agony. "Do not mistake my respect for weakness. I could end your entire operation here and now." Taylor snapped. "But unlike you it seems, I have those I care for. I parlay with you to ensure their safety."
"Fancy words for such a young girl." Lung rumbled, though there was an amused quality to it. "You have reached the limits of your strength, haven't you? If you could truly end me now, you would."
The pulsating headache in the back of her skull seemed to reach a crescendo. "You're smarter than you look."
"The one who looks a fool, but hides his true wit is wiser than the one who flaunts their intelligence." Lung said.
"You're right, I don't have the strength to end this tonight." Taylor admitted. "But my warning and offer still stands: Stay away when the masks are off or I'll have Archmage here rip you apart."
Lung tilted his mask and asked, "So then what is keeping me from sending my men after you once you return home, weakened as you are?"
"I would assume your word, but if that isn't good enough, do you truly think I'd leave my home undefended?" Taylor challenged.
Lung's eyes narrowed to slits behind his mask before he let out another rumbling chuckle. "You don't strike me as a fool girl. Young perhaps, but definitely not a fool. Very well, you have my word, so long as you keep yours."
"Good."
Archmage scooped the small party back up into the sky. He made an 'I'm watching' gesture toward Lung, and then they shot back into the night sky toward home. The minute they touched down, Taylor staggered into her house. A thought was enough to dismiss Arachne, but Archmage persisted. She shot a bloodshot glare at him and a silent question.
"Rest Taylor. I will watch over you and your father until you wake up." Archmage promised.
With a final exhausted nod, Taylor passed out.
Daylen stepped forward and caught the collapsing teen. As a father of three supers, it wasn't the first time he'd had to do so after extended power usage. Hefting her up, he carried her gently to her room before tucking her in. The armor wouldn't be comfortable when she woke up, but he assumed she'd rather he not undress her. He stepped out of the room and then paused in the hallway, staring down the length of it.
"I know you're there, Arlen." Daylen finally said after a moment.
The air shimmered and Magician stepped forth, a look of bemusement on his face. "You always were perceptive Day-Day."
"Why are you here? What have you been doing behind our backs?" Daylen asked harshly, not in the mood for games.
"Aww c'mon now baby bro, no need to be hostile." Arlen held up his hands innocently. "You know I can't even hurt the girl if I wanted to."
"You tried to stab her already and you always come up with a new trick." Daylen deadpanned. "And stop calling me baby bro, I'm technically older than you."
"I didn't want to do that, I just figured it was a necessity." Arlen protested. "And you'll always be my baby brother, nothing will change that."
Didn't Daylen know it… Always in the shadow of the great Magician. How he hated it. What had Magician done, except get himself killed by provoking a more powerful super? Daylen had forged the Black Hats into something more than just a loose alliance of criminals, he had forged an empire that spanned the entire world. But no, it always came back to Arlen and his accomplishments. The bastard didn't even have the gall to be alive and undermining Daylen, he had to do it from the grave!
"Are you actually here to hurt her?" Daylen finally asked.
"And if I was?" Arlen asked teasingly.
"Then I would stop you." Daylen said simply.
"Didn't we already do this song and dance, when me and Ares got rezzed?" Arlen asked flippantly, cane appearing in his hands. "Remember how that went?"
"It's been ten years since that." Daylen's eyes began to glow. "You know the saying-"
"A super is like a fine wine, they just get better with age." Magician said while rolling his eyes. "Yes yes, I've heard it a million times. Never really liked it because well… some supers are just better. You're good bro, really good, but you're not M-class and I don't think that's changing anytime soon."
"Fuck your M-class." Archmage snarled, slamming the butt of his staff against the ground. "I won't let you touch a hair on that girl's head."
The air crackled with suppressed tension, suppressed power and the potential of violence. Then it broke as Magician laughed. "Still the protective mother hen aren't we? Nah, I'm not here to hurt her, like I said, I still can't anyway." His eyes darted over Daylen's shoulder, to the closed bedroom door. "You're such a dad. I'm telling you, you were born old."
As the tension eased, Daylen's eyes returned to normal. "Someone had to be with your shenanigans growing up."
"Fair enough." Arlen chuckled. "To be honest… I just wanted to say hi man. Catch up. Missed ya."
"You've been dead."
"And in the space between dimensions, I still missed you." Arlen smiled, just a hint of sadness in his eyes. "You know I'm not going to stop until it's done right?"
"I know." Daylen said quietly. "Always with your schemes…"
"I'll try not to kill her. But that power… It will be mine, one way or another." Arlen declared.
"You can try, my dear brother. But someone will stop you." Daylen said.
"Probably." Arlen shrugged. "But I'd hate myself if I didn't at least try."
"Does that mean you hate me for not trying or helping you?" Daylen asked.
"Nah, you've always been the more pragmatic of us. I get it, I really do. It just means if I do pull it off, I'll get to tell you 'I told you so' for forever." Magican made a gesture, ripping a hole in space. "I'll leave you to it bro. Be seeing you soon."
"See you soon." Archmage muttered as the supervillain vanished.
Daylen stood in silence the rest of the night, contemplating Arlen's words.
And dreading what was to come.
A/N: Happy Friday, hope you guys enjoy this and expect another one next week. I'd appreciate it if you leave a review, I love reader feedback, even if it's just a comment on a character you enjoy or something I maybe could have done better. See ya later.