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Information
Page 01 of 12
PHO: Unpopular Opinion: The Unwritten Rules
Information (Original Poster)
The unwritten rules are observed more in breach than in compliance by villains.
Everyone knows about forced recruiting, gang members lean on a new cape often with threats towards their family to force them to join. The unwritten rules benefit only those with the power to enforce them, only idiots would trust them to provide any measure of real safety. The unwritten rules serve only to hinder law enforcement, only criminals benefit. With that in mind, why should anyone pay them any mind?
Not in the Face
Capes need secret identities to protect their families. Look at what happened to Fleur.
ALLTHEBEES (Verified Apiary Owner)
Poster said unwritten rules, meaning all of them. You just proved his point.
GloryGirl (New Wave)
The cape who ran the town had just been kicked out, the Nazi gang wasn't going to let little things like secret identities and rules stop them. Aunt Fleur being public just made things easier on them.
66Hammer99 (Verified Carpenter)
Am I the only one who doesn't see a point to listening to anything collateral barbie says? Tell your insurance company that I'm still waiting for them to pay for my truck.
AesirPureWhite
Kaiser punished the dishonorable fiend for tarnishing the noble white race with his dishonorable actions.
Nakam
AssPainWhite- Kaiser is a little bitch and so are you.
Edit: Consider this a warning for insulting another member.
Edit2: Yes, it's even against the rules if the other member of the Nazi.
Edit3: While PHO has undertaken no studies to confirm that Nazis are human, the rules apply either way.
AesirPureWhite
EDIT: Removed by mod, have a thirty day ban for your troubles.
XxVoid_CowboyxX
It's ovious that the point of the unwriten rules is to hide that capes are a threat to the wold controlled by the PRT who are controlled by the illumidee who sell powers who are controlled by the cape boogie man fedora hat woman who iz a ziz plot to have scion sell more girlscout cookies!
DuckMoney
That's actually sort of plausible compared to most of what void says.
Page 01 of 12
Page 12 of 12
Information (Original Poster)
In the four hours since my original post there have been no less than seventeen attempts to find out my identity. One by the PRT, the rest by various gangs and criminal organizations. I will consider my point proven. It is quite clear that if you want the unwritten rules to benefit you then you must be powerful enough to enforce them yourself.
IIIIIIIIII
Piggot snorted in amusement when she got to the main issue that needed to be dealt with, something that reminded of of simpler times before the PRT when she was a lowly second lieutenant without a clue. Sometimes she missed those times, the rest of the time she wondered how she could have ever been so green and stupid.
"Last thing to address is a case pubic lice with one of the Wards," her medical officer stated. "She's been treated, but I would like to suggest running her through a class on hygiene and safe practices."
"No signs of abuse?" Piggot asked, wanting to make sure.
"None at all, ma'am."
"Run all the wards through the classes, not just Stalker. Hide it in with a bunch of other classes to try to avoid drawing too much attention to it."
"Other classes?"
"How to properly shave, how to properly brush their teeth, how to properly take a shower," Piggot explained. "Army used to teach a lot of that in basic training, anyone asks blame me and say that I've decided to take more of a hands on approach. Then quietly tell them that you and the rest of the staff are working behind the scenes to keep me from sending them through my own version of basic. Gets you nice guy points, gives me something to punish them with later."
"Got it, ma'am."
"I also want a closer eye kept on all the Wards. None of our business if she's got a boyfriend or girlfriend her age, but I want to be damned sure that's all it is. Make sure everyone in medical understands my new directive, I'll notify the other departments myself."
"Understood, ma'am."
She stared at him for a few seconds after he showed no sign of leaving. "What?"
"Almost forgot to suggest we bring Panacea in to deal with your long term medical issues," he stated calmly. "I've thought of three new reasons why since our last meeting."
"Any of them good?"
"I think so."
"I don't. Dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am." The doctor paused at the door. "One question, ma'am, regarding leadership?"
"What?" she shot him a flat unamused glare.
"I'm new to my position as head of the medical section and I wasn't sure how to inspire the people under me, I thought you'd be the best person to ask about something I heard since you've got so much experience."
"Out with it," she sighed, relaxing a bit now that it seemed he wasn't going to continue harping about bringing in a parahuman healer to treat her.
"I've been told that one should never give an order that one wouldn't follow themselves, is that true, ma'am?"
"Absolutely. Doing so harms the trust your subordinates have in you if they find out."
"Follow up, does that include exposing or subjecting your subordinates to things you wouldn't be willing to be exposed to yourself?"
"It does."
"Thank you, ma'am. I really appreciate your help with this."
IIIIIIIIII
01 of 34
PHO: Brockton Bay: Advisements: Services for Sale: Information
Information (Original Poster)
Just what the title says, I am offering information for sale regarding anything and anyone within Brockton Bay. The first question is free, the second and all subsequent questions will have a fee attached. Prices for answers depend on both the nature of the information sought and the difficulty in acquiring it.
Note: Any attempts to discover my identity or the identities of anyone I employ will be considered hostile acts.
GiveACookie (Unverified Mouse)
Just to get it out of the way, what's the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Information (Original Poster)
An African or European swallow?
Note: Any attempts to discover my identity or the identities of anyone I employ will be considered hostile acts.
XxVoid_CowboyxX
This is either a Simurgh plot or Information is Simurgh! Run for the hills!
IIIIIIIIII
The end of the week meeting at the PRT was usually a fairly casual affair meant to go over the events of the previous week and to make tentative plans on short term strategies for the next week. Present were the PRT department heads and two heroes from the Protectorate.
"Armsmaster too busy to come again?" Piggot asked sarcastically.
"Yes, director," Ms. Militia agreed. "Which is why Assault and I are here as representatives of the Protectorate."
"Remind me to explain to him that if he's too busy tinkering to make mandatory meetings, he's also too busy to be the local Protectorate leader."
"Yes, director," Ms. Militia agreed. "At what point would you like me to remind you?"
"Why don't you pass that on to him and have him or whomever the Protectorate decides to send to next week's meeting remind me then," Piggot suggested.
"Yes, director."
Piggot glanced around. "First up is intel, anything to report?"
"We have indications that there is a rogue thinker in Brockton Bay," she stated. The woman took a few minutes to give the basics of the PHO post and the response to it. "The investigating officer contacted the subject through PHO and asked how much it would cost to learn the contents of their top desk drawer. The answer they received was one hundred dollars. I signed off on the expense."
"Were they correct?"
"They were, director."
"Were you able to learn anything else?"
"The response was sent from a burner phone using the free wifi at a coffee shop two blocks away from the PRT building. We've been going over security footage in an attempt to identify-" every cellular phone in the room notified its owner that it had received an incoming text.
Strike One: As mentioned in my posts, attempts to identify either myself or my employees will be considered a hostile act. As this is your first offense, I am giving you the opportunity to pay a fine of twenty thousand dollars rather than have a permanent strike placed against you. Reply (Y) if you would like to pay the fine (N) if you would not.
"I got that on my personal phone," Assault said nervously. "They know my identity."
IIIIIIIIII
01 of 56
PHO: Brockton Bay: News: Announcements
Information (Original Poster) (Unverified Cape)
This post is to notify all concerned parties that Coil has broken the rules by attempting to identify myself and by attempting to kidnap and enslave me. As this is Coil's third and final strike he will no longer be permitted to use my service or continue as a villain in Brockton Bay. I would like to remind all concerned parties that attempts to identify myself or my employees will be considered hostile acts and that I will respond in kind. Thank you.
Note: Any attempts to discover my identity or the identities of anyone I employ will be considered hostile acts.
HotDogHands (Verified Unverified)
FAKE!
DuckMoney
I asked Information something, he got it right. Real?
YacketyZax (BBPD)
Information has provided accurate information which has helped with a number of investigations.
AllInTheHips
Yacks – Provided or sold?
YacketyZax (BBPD)
Hips – Provided in exchange for goods, currency, or services. We're allowed to buy information from informants.
XxVoid_CowboyxX
Called it! Ziz Plot.
TheFonz (He Knows a Guy)(Verified Icon)
I know a guy who knows a guy at the PRT. Word is a bunch of tinker tech guns that look suspiciously like the ones Coils guys use got turned in. Anyone heard anything from Coil since the message?
66Hammer99 (Verified Carpenter)
Fonz – Your guy hear anything else?
XxVoid_CowboyxX
EDIT: Threats towards other members are punishable by a two week ban.
EDIT2: I'd say calling other members endbringers should be good for at least another week.
02 of 56
TheFonz (He Knows a Guy)(Verified Icon)
Hammer – Not much, my guy says that Coil's pretty quiet most of the time so it's not unusual to not hear anything from him for a while. I'll post updates if I get 'em.
PRT-ENE-Official-Account (PRT)
The PRT is aware of this situation and is monitoring it. We ask that any member of the public that has information please contact us either on our official tip line or by sending a direct message to this account.
66Hammer99 (Verified Carpenter)
Well, PRT's posted. I'd call that confirmed. Let me just say that I for one welcome our new overlord.
Nakam
Information – Assuming this is true, can you do the Nazis next? Pretty Please.
IIIIIIIIII
Piggot's eyebrows went up when her chief medical officer lingered behind after all other parties had left the meeting.
"Again?" she asked, recognizing the look on his face.
"Along with a case of head lice, director," he agreed. "All the wards for the second, I'm afraid."
"I see," her voice was flat.
"Shadow Stalker denies that she has engaged in any activities which might have exposed her to pubic lice and has expressed her belief that an unknown parahuman must be behind everything."
Piggot sighed in annoyance. "You've notified security that there has been an alleged parahuman assault on one of the Wards?"
"Per policy, yes, ma'am."
"They tell you who's taking the lead on the investigation?"
"They indicated that they have better things to do than to investigate the matter, ma'am."
"Who is they?" Piggot was visibly unamused by the answer.
"Captain Hanson, ma'am."
"Thank you. Is that all? I have a sudden and pressing need to have a discussion with Captain Hanson."
"I was hoping to solicit another bit of leadership advice, ma'am, before I returned to my normal duties."
"Speak."
"What would be the best way to inform a superior that they are being hypocritical about something, ma'am?"
"Depends on the superior and the thing they're being hypocritical about," Piggot stated. "If they're a decent superior, tell them. Either use the socratic method until they realize or just flat out tell them. If they're not or you are afraid to for some reason, take it up with their second in command."
"Thank you for the advice, ma'am."
Piggot's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he left. Something to consider later, she supposed. Now she had a subordinate in need of a bit of direction to deal with.
IIIIIIIIII
Lisa's heartbeat quickened when her caller id indicated an incoming call from her employer. Peevishly, she let it ring a few times before picking up.
"What's up, boss?"
"Coil is dead," a strange (inhuman?) buzzing voice announced. "Are you aware of the location of his main base?"
"Yes," she agreed, unsure of the situation.
"It's empty. Go there, disarm the traps he set and take control of his accounts. For that you may take ten million dollars for yourself and another ten million for your team. Your team may consider that severance if they like. If they are interested in continuing employment, you may allocate a further two million dollars for their upkeep. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"I will contact you again with an offer after you have finished this task."
"That I can't refuse?"
"That you will not wish to." The phone went dead.
IIIIIIIIII
Piggot glanced around the table as her department heads took their seats at the weekly meeting. To her surprise, Armsmaster had chosen to represent the Protectorate personally that week.
"Anything urgent before we begin?"
"One thing," Armsmaster spoke. "As requested, I am reminding you to tell me that you expect me to attend these meetings personally rather than send representatives."
Piggot stared at the man for a few seconds. "Armsmaster, I expect you to attend these meetings unless the project you are working on is urgent. Attending these meetings are part of your duties as the leader of the local Protectorate. If you are too busy to attend these meetings, you are also too busy to remain the leader of the local Protectorate. Is that clear."
"It is, director."
"Good. Intel."
"Information, the suspected rogue thinker, made a post on PHO which suggested they were or had taken action against Coil. Coil has been quiet since the post, we are unsure if he's keeping his head down or if something's happened to him."
"Keep an eye on the matter," Piggot ordered. "Medical."
"Again, director. No, not just again. Worse this time."
"See me after the meeting. Security."
"We've been investigating an allegation brought to us by medical," her chief of security reported. "I believe it would be best to present my findings to you later, director."
"Stay outside the conference room after the meeting. I'll meet with you after I've spoken with medical."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Armsmaster."
"Several tinkertech guns were turned into the PRT as part of our bounty program. They appear to be of the type used by Coil's mercenaries."
"Anything else?"
"I only had a chance to due a cursory check before the meeting. I've had to delay things to attend. I will forward my report to you after I have completed my analysis."
"Good. Legal."
"We've been made aware of a possible issue."
"What issue?"
"The issue security is going to brief you on."
"PR."
"Several requests for appearances, nothing unusual."
"Good. Anyone else?"
"Meeting adjourned."
Piggot waited until she was alone with her medical section head before gesturing for him to speak.
"Shadow Stalker has pubic lice again, Director," he confirmed. "As does Clockblocker."
"Which one caught it from the other?"
"They both deny that they've engaged in any activities that would cause them to catch lice. Clockblocker admitted to one of the nurses that he has never engaged in such activities."
"Is it possible that either one is telling the truth?"
"It is remotely possible that they were not transmitted between the two wards sexually," the medical section leader admitted. "I'm told that security has expanded their investigation to include him in case Shadow Stalker's alleged parahuman was the cause of his outbreak."
"Alright, anything else?"
"We noticed some odd scarring on Vista."
"What sort?"
"Looks like cuts that were sutured up by someone who didn't know how to use sutures. We haven't been able to find any matching injuries in her medical records."
"What'd she say they were from?"
"She claims not to remember."
Piggot bit her lower lip. "What's your gut say?"
"My gut says she got hurt and had someone who didn't know what they were doing take care of it off the books."
"Run a full medical check on her and keep an eye on her. I need to think about this."
"Yes, director."
"That all?"
"Had another question about leadership, director."
"Shoot."
"Let's say that, hypothetically, there was a new tinkertech medication that stopped bleeding instantly."
"Alright."
"Let's say that one of the tactical team leaders ordered his men to carry it and use it on themselves, but who refused to carry or use it himself. Would that be an example of giving an order you wouldn't follow yourself?"
"Religious or medical issues preventing use?"
"Deeply held beliefs, director."
"Then it would depend on if this tactical team leader permitted-" her jaw slammed shut. "You son of a bitch."
"I believe you said the socratic method was one method of informing your superior, director."
"Was that all you needed?"
"For now, director."
"Dismissed."
"Have a good day, director."
"Close the door," Piggot ordered after her security chief stepped in.
"Yes, ma'am."
She waited until the other woman took her seat. "Is it bad, Swede?"
The other woman allowed herself to relax. "Potentially terrible, Emily."
"Let's start with your investigation into the possible parahuman attack."
"We talked to intel, only two known humans in town that may possibly be able to use parahuman powers to infest someone with pubic lice on someone without their knowledge are Oni Lee and Vista. Both dismissed. Oni Lee's shown no indication that he's able to remotely transport small living creatures."
"What about Vista?"
"Dislikes Shadow Stalker which gives us a motive, but I was in the room when she attended the class you ordered the wards to take on pubic louse prevention and there's no way those reactions could have been faked. Shock, disbelief, horror, and then denial that they could be a real thing followed by more disgust and horror."
"What else did you consider?"
"A stranger to sneak in and plant them, a master to make her infect herself, a mover to teleport them," the woman listed off a few things. "I can give you the report if you want it."
"Might make interesting reading when I have a spare moment, send it." Emily took a deep breath. "What was the other issue?"
"Shadow Stalker's handler asserted jurisdiction to take an investigation from the locals. Girl at Winslow was shut in a locker filled with used feminine hygiene products for several hours."
"Why do we care?"
"She named Shadow Stalker as one of the people who locked her in, ma'am?"
"What!" Piggot's voice was arctic cold. "Why wasn't I briefed on this earlier? Who's in charge of thie investigation?"
"Me as of two hours ago. Looks like Shadow Stalker's handler was trying for a coverup."
"Who's her handler?"
"Brown, ma'am. We have her in custody."
"Good." Piggot wanted to hit something. "Any indication at all that the girl in the locker triggered?"
"Doesn't appear to have. She isn't showing any of the usual indicators of a new cape."
"Any new capes since she was shut in the locker?"
"Only known new cape is Information, the thinker connected to Coil's disappearance. Timing's off."
"And it's unlikely a high school girl would have the guts to threaten the PRT and the Protectorate, or to scare Coil enough to make him keep his head down." Piggot considered the matter. "Put Stalker in Master/Stranger for now. Tell her it's because we're taking her idiotic allegations seriously. Keep digging until you can confirm or deny that she had anything to do with the locker."
"I confirm it, we've already got her locked up. I find she had nothing to do with it and she doesn't have the stigma of the accusation attached to her."
"That's why you became an investigator, Swede, you're quick on the uptake."
"I try, Emily."
IIIIIIIIII
WakeUpLilSuzie
Information, where's my Mommy? She's been gone for 3 hours and she was only going to Fred's to pick up some stuff and it usually only takes her half an hour and it got noisy out there and I'm scared!
Information (Original Poster)
I'm try to find out. I won't charge you any cookies until I know, ok?
Note: Any attempts to discover my identity or the identities of anyone I employ will be considered hostile acts.
DM: Information - BBSocServices (Official Government POC) : No charge. LilSuzie is actually Janet Chilton of 475 Maple Street, Apartment 13. Her mom was Phyllis, but is now the third bloodstain on the wall from the left in the alley between 477 and 479, but it'll be a week before the DNA evidence is found from the Find My Child ID cards they filled out. She was killed by Cricket for not getting out of the way fast enough while Cricket was running from Mush. A fast check, though, should give you enough evidence to start helping the child.
IIIIIIIIII
Stormtiger knew something was up when he walked into the bar, everyone was happy, too happy. Something good was going on and he didn't like being the only one that didn't know what it was.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Get this!" Hookwolf said. "Cricket went to take a piss and there was a wasp nest under the seat. She got stung a dozen times before she could kill them all and the best part-" He lost control and burst into loud guffaws. "The best part is where she got stung!"
"Huh." Stormtiger chuckled. "Where is she now?"
"Had a bad reaction and had to go to the hospital," Hookwolf snorted. "I'm never gonna let her hear the end of this one."
IIIIIIIIII
Dinah was a bit surprised to find a large thick envelope with her name on it waiting for her on the front stoop when she got home from school that day.
"Chances opening it will hurt me?" she whispered to herself. Satisfied, she picked it up and shoved it in her backpack.
The girl waited until she was alone before she opened the package. It contained two things, a note and a cellular phone. Her eyes went to the note first.
This is not a threat. I would suggest that you ask yourself the following questions. If the answers are to your liking please feel free to call the supplied number at your convenience.
Chances calling the number programed into the phone will benefit you?
Assuming you call, chances that I, the person who sent this note, am going to make you an offer that will benefit you?
Chances that I am honest?
Chances I intend to harm you in any way?
Chances that I will betray you?
Chances that accepting my offer will benefit you?
Chances you would have been kidnapped if not for my actions?
Chances joining the Wards or the Protectorate would benefit you more than accepting my offer?
If the answers are not to your liking then I wish you the best with your future endeavors.
It took several days for Dinah to go through the suggested questions and several more she thought of herself to feel secure enough to call the number.
"Information," a buzzing voice answered.
"You said you have an offer for me?"
IIIIIIIIII
PHO: Brockton Bay: Advisements: Services for Sale: Information – I have decided to expand
Information (Original Poster) (Unverified Cape)
As the pilot program in Brockton Bay has been such a resounding success, I have decided to offer some limited services to the rest of the northeastern United States and eastern Canadian provinces.
Please Note that due to the newness of our program it is quite possible that we will be unable to answer some questions in a timely fashion, any fees associated with such questions will be refunded. As a reminder to any new potential customers, I will regard any attempts to identify either myself or my employees to be hostile acts and will respond in kind.
Note: Any attempts to discover my identity or the identities of anyone I employ will be considered hostile acts.
Dragon (Guild)(Verified Cape)
Do your services include providing information on the whereabouts of wanted criminals? If so, how much would such services cost?
IIIIIIIIII
Faultline considered the offer. On the one hand, she didn't like the idea of going against the Dragon Slayers, even with the extra cape and intel support she'd been offered. On the other, the money was good.
"Mind if I make a counter offer?" she asked.
"There is only one thing that I can tell you about the origin of Case 53s," Information's voice buzzed. "Neither of us has the resources to survive if we learn anything."
"What?"
"The people behind the Case 53s are ruthless and have resources beyond our imagination," Information buzzed. "They will kill us and our teams if I learn anything significant."
Faultline considered the words, they confirmed several suspicions of hers if they were true. "One million dollars for a laptop?"
"Half now, half upon delivery," Information agreed.
"When do you need it?"
"Ideally now, but I understand that you will want to spend some time with my capes before you feel yourself ready to act."
"I'll shoot for two weeks but it could be as long as a month or two before I'm ready."
"The Undersiders will await your call," the buzzing voice stated. "While Tattletail is no longer a member of the team, I feel it prudent to send her along to ensure that the correct laptop is retrieved. She is not to be placed in any avoidable danger. I would hate to lose one of my thinkers."
"That complicates things," Faultline said. "Means I'll need to detail a couple people to keep an eye on her."
"Do you have a proposed solution?"
"I know a couple other mercenary teams that I might be able to hire as backup."
"Inform Tattletail of whom and how much. I will pass my decision through her."
IIIIIIIIII
Emily nodded for her chief of security to close the door as the other woman stepped into her office.
"What have you got for me?"
"Two things. Winslow's principal broke and confessed to a coverup, she claims it was on our orders to protect Shadow Stalker."
"Bury her. You talked to legal?"
"They're working on ways of paying off the victim without our involvement coming out. It's not looking good but it's also not my problem. Good luck with that."
"Thanks, Swede," Emily said sourly. "What was the other?"
"We may have solved the mystery of the mysterious crotch lice," the other woman reported. "We went through the garbage of one of the co-conspirators in the locker incident and found several empty bottles of an over the counter treatment for pubic lice. Worryingly, all three inhabitants of the house needed treatment."
"Chase that down," Emily said harshly. "I want to know who brought it in and who got it from whom."
"I've got people working on it. Father claims that the daughter brought it in and that he or his wife got it from a toilet seat and gave it to the other. Warrant got us samples, DNA is a match for the ones Shadow Stalker was infested with."
AN: Regarding Dragon, I'd likely write that the chains loosened enough to be able to disobey orders from politicians but that they kept going anything that let her get monitored. Removes a lot of the threat and keeps a source of information.
Thought about throwing in a scene in which an explosives tinker was recruited with the promise that her creations would be used to claim bounties on S-Class threats and then everyone would know her brilliance. Decided not to bother.
PHO post Swallow post by
PHO post LilSuzie by Tara Li
Ideas for PHO posts provided by Plmc
Mistake Corrected by LarryF58
Typos by Joe Fenton
Omake: Mental Ward
"Update on the Shadow Stalker Parahuman assault case, Emily," Swede reported. "She's now claiming that Taylor Hebert, the girl she locked in a locker, is able to cause bugs to spontaneously appear in her cell."
Piggot gave her friend a flat look. "Really?"
"We have to investigate all allegations even though she's in custody until the investigation has been closed and we can't close it till a couple loose ends have been tied up."
"When'd she accuse Hebert of being a parahuman?"
"Two weeks ago. Investigation noted that Hebert had been in the PRT ENE headquarters building two hours before the allegation was made and that the girl stayed for twenty minutes."
"Oh?" Piggot leaned forward. "That's an interesting coincidence."
"Further investigation showed that she had been to the PRT ENE headquarters building several times before that. Nearly always on Friday afternoons."
"That's fairly common behavior for a newly triggered parahuman thinking about signing up," Piggot mused. "Investigation turn up anything?"
"Yeah," Swede laughed. "The investigation turned up the fact that Taylor Hebert is a fan of Panacea. She comes in every Friday to check to see if there are any new Panacea stickers available. She turned down the clerk's offer to tell her ahead of time because she likes the surprise. Turns out Panacea brushed up against her father in the hospital and offered to give him a tune up, guy was headed for a heart attack and the girl is over the moon that the issue's been resolved. Told the clerk that it was only right to support Panacea after she saved her father's life."
"Only Panacea?"
"She has shown absolutely no interest in any non-Panacea merchandise aside from three weeks ago when she bought fifty dollars worth of Shadow Stalker merchandise which she then sold online for a profit over the next week."
"Let me guess," Piggot snorted. "She was in the building when we announced that Shadow Stalker had decided to leave the Wards for personal reasons and decided to take advantage of the situation."
"You got it, Emily. Investigating officer also turned up the fact that she goes to the hospital every Sunday."
"That when they get their shipment of Panacea Stickers?"
"Think about joining my department if you ever get tired of the director gig."
"Some reason you didn't brief me on this earlier?"
"Couldn't till after I cleared you. Stalker accused you of being a secret parahuman that could move bugs through tiny portals two days before she accused Hebert of being a secret parahuman that could make them spontaneously appear."
"And you couldn't tell me that I was the subject of an investigation until after I'd been cleared."
"Washington was not amused by my call," Swede agreed. "We've got Stalker scheduled for a mental health evaluation next week, hopefully Washington will sign off on ignoring any future allegations she makes after she fails it."
IIIIIIIIII
Sofia glared at the bugs on the wall. She knew they were watching her, knew the bastard responsible for her fall was laughing at her, taunting her. The bugs spoke to her, spelled out words to tell her things, told her the names of everyone who had wronged her. She'd get them, she'd get out and she'd get them and then everyone would see that she wasn't crazy.
'Rebecca Costa-Brown is mastering us to do this,' the bugs spelled out. 'No one will ever believe you after all the times you cried wolf. No one will ever believe you.'
Sofia didn't give the bastards the dignity of a response. She'd report what they said, the idiots wouldn't believe her, but she'd know. Rebecca Costa-Brown, another name for her list. Along with Piggy, Hebert, the guards, the other wards, and a whole lot of other people. She wished she wasn't in restraints so she could scratch her damned mosquito bites.
Unrelated Omake: What would you think?
Taylor felt like crying as she walked away from her best friend wondering what could possibly cause the other girl to betray her. It was almost as if . . . sorrow transformed into rage in an instant. Taylor spun around.
The bitch with Emma's attempt to say something cut off when Taylor's forehead smashed into the other girl's nose. Seizing her advantage, Taylor boxed the other girl's ears and threw her to the ground.
Emma's attempt to stop her from stomping the other girl to death was, in Taylor's mind, clear evidence that her theory was correct.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Taylor said, punching her best friend in the stomach as hard as she could. "I love you, I'll get you free or kill this bitch trying."
Emma fell to the ground gasping for air, the look of pain and helplessness on her face only stoked the fire of Taylor's rage. Grabbing the second girl by the hair, Taylor stormed into the Barnes' house.
"Taylor, what-" her mom's best friend began.
"Call the PRT!" Taylor ordered. "This bitch is mastering Emma!"
Taylor's aunt Zoe went pale, the woman frantically pulled her phone out of her pocket and began dialing.
"Taylor!" Her best friend rushed towards her and tried to hit her.
Taylor's foot lashed out, smashing into Emma's knee. "It'll be okay, I promise I'll free you." She dragged the bitch from the front entrance and into the downstairs bathroom. "Let Emma go!"
Taylor pushed the other girl's face into the toilet when she tried to talk, figuring it was best not to let the probable master speak. "Let her go, you bitch!"
IIIIIIIIII
"Well?" Piggot prompted.
"While the subject is a parahuman, we have not been able to confirm that the subject is a master. Looks more like a case of good old fashioned manipulation of a vulnerable kid after a traumatic event. Investigation's been hampered by the subject's medical condition so it may be sometime before we're able to confirm things either way."
"Subject choose to resist arrest?"
"She was in rough condition when our response arrived, ma'am."
"How rough?"
"Multiple broken ribs, broken jaw, broken nose, and missing several teeth, ma'am."
"Give me a run down on what happened."
"Three girls, ma'am. One girl, a Taylor Hebert, comes home from summer camp to find that her best friend hates her, has a new best friend, and has undergone a complete personality shift. She's hurt and about to leave when, in her words, she realizes that her best friend would never betray her and that the new best friend must be a master."
"Reasonable, I suppose," Piggot allowed. "I take it she vigorously objected to her friend being mastered."
"Immediately attacked. Her best friend, one Emma Barnes, tried to stop her. Ms. Hebert states that Ms. Barnes is not the physical type and that her normal response would have been to scream and run for help rather than to attempt to physically intervene. Ms. Hebert added that she understood that some masters needed eye contact and that others needed to speak so she did her best to make sure the subject was unable to speak or make eye contact. Ms. Hebert forced the subject to enter the Barnes house, alerted Mrs. Barnes that her daughter may have been mastered, and then did her best to convince the subject to release her friend."
"To the tune of several broken bones."
"She also attempted to drown the subject in the toilet, ma'am. She stated that she only stopped because the subject managed to flush the toilet and she was afraid that the subject might get enough oxygen to speak. She then proceeded to repeatedly smash the subject's face into the toilet. One of the arresting officers reports that the toilet has been turned into several chunks of bloody porcelain."
"Why do I know the name Hebert?"
"Likely from her father, Danny Hebert, ma'am. Head of the dockworkers, he's the guy that knocked Hookwolf into the bay with a wrecking ball and threatened to burn Kaiser alive."
Later:
"Got an update on that possible master situation, director. We've confirmed the parahuman has no master abilities whatsoever."
"You make a pitch for the Wards?"
"She says she'd be happy to join so long as Hebert joins as well, director."
"Alright, so make the pitch to Hebert."
"Hebert isn't a parahuman, ma'am."
"What are the parahuman's powers?"
"Can pass through solid objects. She says she wasn't able to go into her breaker form due to the concussion and the pain."
Piggot snorted in amusement. "Offer Hebert a spot in our cadet officer program."
"Uh, what cadet officer program, director?"
"The one we're starting as a counterpart to the Wards," Piggot explained. "See if that'll get Shadow Stalker to join."
A Silly Expansion
(Blame Plmc)
Vista wasn't sure what to think of the new Ward. Granted it was nice to have another girl around and sure the new Ward's powers could be useful but-
"Morning, boss," Shadow Stalker said cheerfully when the non-powered cadet arrived. "Emma coming in too today?"
"No, she's got a modeling thing," the PRT cadet replied. "Good morning, Vista."
"Hello," she mumbled. Vista was more than a bit unsure of the concept of having an untrained kid put in a position of oversight over a team of heroes. Sure it kinda worked for the Protectorate and the PRT, but at least the normals in the PRT has a little training. The cadet didn't even have that. None of the Wards knew how to take the cadet, none could agree why Piggy had agreed to let a norm join in and most figured that the girl was important to someone important and had bought her position with her parents' power and influence.
"Hey!" Shadow Stalker glared at her. "Show the boss a little respect."
"It's okay, Shadow Stalker," Taylor said calmly.
"No, it isn't. She's gonna get in trouble," Shadow Stalker insisted. "Vista, let me show you something."
"What?" the youngest ward asked.
"Here." The older girl handed over her phone. "Look at these pictures."
"That's-" Vista bit off her response. "Who's . . . is this you?"
"Boss did that to me the last time I failed to show her the proper amount of respect," Shadow Stalker said proudly. "I don't want the same thing to happen to you if you annoy her."
"It was all a misunderstanding, Vista," Taylor said quickly. "I thought she was mastering a friend of mine." She turned to Shadow Stalker. "I did apologize for that, I never would have done that if I'd known that Emma was just having a mental breakdown."
"S'cool, boss."
"Why didn't you use your powers?"
"Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face," Shadow Stalker quoted. "She gave me a concussion right off, after that I was in so much pain that I could barely do anything."
"A concussion?" Vista echoed weakly.
"And a broken nose. Then she tried to drown me in a toilet," Shadow Stalker said cheerfully. "I was able to flush it so I could get some air so she broke the toilet with my face. Boss taught me that you can't judge a book by it's cover, never would have guessed that she's an apex predator just by looking at her, would you?"
AN: Your best friend undergoes a complete personality shift while you're gone and seems to be hanging around someone new. I know what I'd think if I were unfortunate enough to be in that world.
Ideas by: Stick97, Cal
Omake by Plmc
Sophia: She's one bad mother-
Vista: Shut your mouth!
Sophia: But I'm talkin' 'bout Taylor!
Vista: Then I can dig it.