AN. Another fresh and beta read chapter.

Discl. Also still not owning anything. This is just fanfic

Chapter 4 - Piggot, Taylor, Shadow Stalker (final appearance in the story for now).

Taylor again cleaned her whole clothes, looking at herself in the mirror in this small room. Her dad had gone out at night under the protection of the PRT. He got some of her clothes back from home. Initially, she wanted to wear clothes to hide, aka wearing a shirt with a hood and regular Jeans, but someone with her has stopped even this.

"You need clothes that will not show you want to hide. And also, to impress women that we will be meeting soon. Also, you can keep your secret. I won't hide this before you. I knew and saw many nice-looking women as Assassins, and you are not in their numbers. You are my handler now. And you are stronger too. No need for beautiful clothes to show this."

And also, he got through the clothes that Danny returned with him and chose something She was trying to hide at the end of the wardrobe with no success. Just he used his speed to take a pair of blackish pants which she had chosen not to use for nearly two months, and also take a white longer shirt now similar to this all-black jacket, which, in Taylor's opinion, was making her look slightly older.

Looking at Hero's eyes, Taylor found herself silent before she talked. Her look then was less of a so-called average high school student and more of a young professional. Taylor looked at Assassin near her when she had chosen to backside to look at her father more. Slightly sighted at Danny and Travis, Taylor got to the room doors. Going out to the corridor and hallway, they looked at Velocity with a few PRT agents with him.

"I believe we have confirmed a few answers?" With the sight of Velocity's head confirming this, Taylor continued. "Well. Let's go and talk to your boss." Danny Hebert has been a few things already. Father(not Dad, never again. He couldn't go after what Taylor endured in her school), union leader, and worker of the Docks. Now he was everything and mad in this situation.

"Well, let's all talk about this."

He talked (with a particular man's idea). He allowed Taylor to speak so far, his patience was. - "You well had convicted a person in the Ward program. Who was not monitored, and She chose my daughter after 18 months of psychological and physical attack because her handler wanted an easier job."

Danny felt that his hand was shaking against the chair. Director Piggot saw his sight. "True. Sophia Hess had violated her probation and did irrevocable damage to your daughter."

Taylor asked first: "Irrevocable?" Piggot shifted her back to her.

"I won't be hiding or blunt here, Miss Hebert. Most parahumans have something that is known as a Trigger Event. You probably felt this when gaining your powers. But I saw someone from parahumans who can properly get back itself after that thing. Most who were cured psychologically still feel faint traces of damage in their careers."

And her tone ended icy slightly. "And that is one of my priorities chosen to do this event. it's bad for some people, and for some total horror, even to tell bad"-Her eyes closed- "She is a few floors down in the cell." Danny found his voice hard. "You talk like my daughter was damaged in some sense, Director", He hissed. Piggot did laugh.

"We all here are damaged, Mister Hebert. Me with parts of my legs and kidneys, You lost your wife, and Miss Hebert chose to manifest bodyguard in answer to attack her person." Looking again at Taylor, she talked. "What happened to you are endings of system errors that have been in place. And it's my place to try to change this bad mess you showed."

Taylor wanted to protest hard but silenced herself. Piggot still talked. "Of course, I'm apologising now, Miss Hebert. Rest assured that your father will receive a recommendation from the Protectorate even if my funds are shafted. From what we will be not hiding, I want to say that trying to sue now will make a long mess." Taylor's eyes slit, but the following voice was a surprise even for her again. As again, she heard the voice of Travis this time.

"You would not say this time if some plan was made. A legal clash here would be hard if expectations go excessive. You are having some counter-propose for Hebert?" Piggot looked for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes." Turning to the rest of the group, she said. "Taylor, PRT formally would invite you to the Ward program, but I'm sure you do not want to."

Taylor still narrowed her eyes with small revulsion at her feelings. "Well, did they allow Shadow Stalker to do what she pleased? I do not want anything with them." "They are not as at fault as you think. True, they knew Stalker's behaviour as aggressive and violent and her being hard taunter but never experienced the torture she had given you. The fault is at leadership and Stalker Handler."

Piggot paused. "And sadly, on your school headmaster Blackwell." Taylor felt a sneer on her face. "If the organisation is at fault, what can you do now?" Removing some form from her desk, Piggot slid it across.

"We would also grant more affiliate status to New Wave and PRT liaison. And more importantly, give you this." She gave thick documents on the table. "If you sign those, you resign the rights to sue PRT or Protectorate for what has happened over Stalker's actions. In return, you will get some of the cash Stalker was receiving as her Wards account, which totals 26 thousand dollars a month. This stipend will be contingent on you remaining in good PRT standing. "

"Good standing?" Taylor swallowed. That was much money for her and her father.

"You would talk with many legal terms in this, but being simple, I'd rather you either keep your head down or work with us, Miss Hebert." Piggot sounded very grim.

"If you are arrested or convicted, the payments are suspended." She paused. "You will benefit from being in an affiliated team, something I'm not offering here, should you decide to be a hero. Finally, higher-ups in PRT want to countersue concerning your outed Shadow Stalker. This agreement would deny PRT trying to pursue this option."

Taylor blinked. "Wait, there is a counter sue on me? That's not funny."

"People who want this pressure me to put you forced in Wards," Piggot answered harshly. "If this went to court, we would probably end up losing, but court fees would put pressure on you. I know this is ridiculous, but should something happen to me, my successor would not."

Danny was quietly doing math while Piggot was explaining. He spoke up when she chose to finish. "These initial accusations would cost less but require using my hidden funds. By spacing, I can practice better managing PRT accounts. The affiliate to PRT status would again fund Brockton Bay it had not had in decades." She shrugged. "Accounting and politics, mostly."

Taylor glanced at her father and then at Travis. "I'm inclined to accept this deal, director. I need someone to review the paperwork, but this is a more acceptable offer." She straightened in her chair. "However, I think I have some requests from each over we'd like to be fulfilled before we take paperwork."

Piggot looked with arched eyebrows. "Let's hear those." "First. Travis told me it would take time before I mastered some techniques, I saw from him at the hospital. I need to go to the ground. I can't return to school without a new identity. My dad is thinking of transferring me to Arcadia, but after what happened, I'm thinking of home-schooling more until the noise of yesterday's events dies."

Piggot nodded. "That can be arranged. What is the request here?" "Winslow", Taylor's tone tightened. "Do some cleaning. Top to bottom, some teachers and staff did not help me when Stalker ran there. Getting rid of Blackwell is a good start, but there are also some bad teachers." Her gaze narrowed more " And well, I want Emma and Madison investigated. They were ringleaders of shitshow, and Sophia was only muscle."

Piggot shook her head. "That can be arranged too. Tough Miss Clemens already gave herself in. She had no idea that the locker incident would end with you locked and stuffed inside, and she now sought protection from Stalker and Travis when she found out what happened. She gave her confessions. Mister Barnes is trying to throw his weight of mess around, but it's cutting now to him for all actions that happened yesterday."

Taylor's eyes widened when hearing from one of her tormentors, then stopped when Travis leaned forward. The medium Assassin spoke, "That leaves my request now, Director." The blonde woman sighed. "Really. And what do you want?"

" That girl, Stalker attacks, been stupid in extreme condition, one on Taylor and one on me in hospital." His for now calm voice, but traces of anger also showed. "Especially if what you said on Trigger events were true" Leaning back, he said, "I want to talk to her, to know why and maybe question her myself."

Piggot's face tightened, then got a grim smile. "We will monitor this, but I think I can agree to this."

Landing back in the cage was so wrong. Being stuck in it after getting beaten was humiliating. Was I stuck in a cell after being hit by Taylor Hebert? Being her, Sophia Hess suffered.

"Well, did you mean this out loud?" Sophia whipped her head around, blinking at a formidable glass wall in front of her cell. For a moment, she wanted to jump, but only the heavyweight of the electrified bracelet on her ankle caused her to stop. Behind the glass were three figures. One with big glasses glared daggers at her. But Sophia's gaze landed on the other two.

Hebert, Travis. "How the fuck are you here, Hebert?" Sophia snarled. The man in red was the one who spoke next. "We just finished talking with your former Director." He didn't react as Hebert shot him as he continued. "She negotiated with us to prevent you from filing a lawsuit considering your actions." He tilted his head." But I am confused and partially know why you attacked me."

Sophia sneered. "Why fuck do you care?" Travis shrugged. "You have skill. Your powers are interesting to me. Your control was good." He paused. "But your control over emotions is absent. Either this or you are short-sighted." He moved his head straight again. "And so far, the only enemy I have made in this city. I want to know why."

Sophia felt her teeth grind. "You want to know bad? Fine. There were only two types of people I recognised: predators and prey. If you are not one, you are the other. And I refuse to be prey. Ever. "She spat words. "Wards? The Protectorate? They sheep. They have power and don't use it. The gangs are in the city, and they have not stopped them."

Her scowl deepened, and she turned on Hebert. "I stalked you for a whole year, little bitch. I tried to bleed you slowly. And you did nothing. "She spat other words again. "You finally beat me. How long do you hold back, going to him? "She jabbed her finger at Travis. "For protection, for training? You could fight back at any moment, and you did not. Like them, weakling. Unwilling fighting when rules prevent that." Sophia grinned. "Me? I may lose finally but still on fighting will."

Turning back on Travis, her grin vanished back on scowl. "You bloodied me, fucking bastard. If I could go back on the streets with this loss on me, I would not last two days. I needed to win." Her grin still returned. "Not so tough without that sword. I wonder how long now you will last. You don't see being one for PRT lapdog."

Silence fell in the air before Taylor spoke. "You tormented me for years because I was weak? Because not chosen to fight back?" Sophia spoke. "I could care less about you, Hebert. Emma thought? She wanted to be strong. Pushing you down, shredding your weak points, that was what she wanted. "Falling on the cot in her cell Sophia scowled, "At first thought, you had a spine. But never fought back, even as stood up, again and again like a dog."

Travis finally spoke next, filling Taylor's silence. "Is what you think? That there are only strong and weak predators and prey, well time maybe somehow give your insight. Well, bitch, this reminds specific actions I did before in my younger days as I had the same mentality with fighting back in my home world, Earth, and there have been many crazy people there too. And killings ended not pretty. People still died in this many messed ways, and I had to see that. And partially, this made me rethink some actions I did but still, it was too late before I ended in fucked up experiment of the same organisation that makes that fucked killing game. "

Sophia felt her face twitch at this revelation and could only give one answer. Miss Hess. "Of course." Travis shook his head. "This is not my place to help nutcases like you. Rethink yourself in prison, and besides, maybe enlightenment, also not try to stalk my handler again after regaining freedom. Because if I catch this mentality again, maybe tranquillising you again will change to a certain threat." Turning to the other two, he held doors open for leave. As he left spoke softly.

"I doubt she will change through", Taylor grimaced as she ended up going to the hallway. The door closing cut out Sophia's response, but she ignored that girl. Sophia was a total psychopath now, but Emma? Why was she so into weakness? Armsmaster was waiting in the hallway.

The armoured Hero stepped again forward. "Mister Hebert. Miss Hebert" He hesitated, then acknowledged the last member of the group. "Travis." Inclining his head, Armsmaster spoke. "I understand that Director Piggot gave you an apology. As we are at least working together in the future, I would give my apology and some information, as you are more inclined to be affiliated and possibly contact New Wave too."

Taylor frowned. "I have not spoken to anyone about that. Not yet." Armsmaster shook his head. "The PRT did not offer you affiliate status lightly. And well, being honest, as we knew you had Triggered, we started making a profile for our records." He shrugged at Taylor's look." Standard procedure. Regardless, you have shown no inclination to the events of yesterday, despite what your Headmaster tried to do, and you did attempt going through the proper channel multiple times."

"For all good, it did." Danny's voice came with a dangerous rumble. A "Thus mine apology. The system must respond properly to flaws, not work covering them." Armsmaster turned to walk away, pausing to prompt the group along. " The case of Stalker came in inopportune times but as it was allowed to continue, is intolerable".

"Inopportune?" "To be short. The Protectorate here has numbers only seven compared to the villain population here. The Wards are not engaging hostile capes but are used to deter and intimate non-powered gang members. Despite her past and hostility, Director Piggot is not turning down useful parahuman."

Travis frowned. "I thought an organisation accepted unstable and hostile members because this was normal in my home world. And mostly, this was not pretty sight what was happening, but here it seems this organisation is fighting and losing the war."

"In many ways, this is obvious" Armsmaster tensed slightly, only vaguely visible though seen the edge of his lips. "Although I would appreciate you not doing this parallel so much. The Empire, The ABB and other forces here offered each other threats, and each, in their way, exceeded our capacity."

Taylor gave a short cough. "Like Merchants? Not much threat here." Before the Armsmaster responded, Danny, cut him off. "Merchants themselves, no. But here is a reason why outside docks don't know so much. The drug dealers that make Merchants have been lurking there-Skidmark is just a top dog."

Travis spoke next. "And that Empire? I know this looks like a bad name. As they are not another force what occupy this city unlikely for villains." Armsmaster grunted, resisting walking. "Hmm. I think you know what Hebert does. Although." He said after thinking. "I never had experience with manifested projections." Travis' voice ended monotone as he tried to keep pace.

"I'm not native to this world and not completely understanding certain knowledge." "Fair. Put. The Empire is a group of Fascists with some racial undertones to rally and organise memberships. They are well organised, funded, and possibly the most numerous gangs here." "This is a little petty." Danny snorted.

"To most people, it is." Armsmaster nodded, resuming his advance as he turned the corner. "Yes, but the Empire outnumbers us in capes and has heavy hitters like Purity and Hookwolf, and they can fairly fight the Protectorate. And there is that bad man Lung. We also cannot fight again."

As Travis opened his mouth, Taylor summarised, "The leader of the second gang, ABB. Can change into literary Dragon, a practically hard fighter." Armsmaster nodded. "I think I have some ideas for him, but the damage is too hard. "Ascending stairs, he continued. "The Protectorate faces battle in multifront now. And worse, if we shut down the gang, the others claim territory.

We need allies now. "He paused on the third floor. "Stalker offered us another member, and we would not turn it down. She, however, has been an unstable case for our needs. I advise you to accept the Piggot offer. Maybe we need more heroes, and her perspective is correct. Maybe some other independent capes will try to join affiliates now more openly."

"For now, I'm not expecting my Handler to run into combat from the start", Travis cautioned the man as they approached a large door with an inserted light." She needs training and conditioning before properly using our shared abilities."

Armsmaster turned back to look at him, something resembling a smile on his face. "Very well. I would rather have a solid ally in two months than a corpse or gang recruit in two weeks. "Moving forward, he placed his hand over a card scanner, allowing a set of doors to open.

She was still determining where Armsmaster took them. Still, this room included an inactive sort of monitor in the corner, a sitting area with a TV and attached consoles, and the kitchenette was different from what she expected.

"What." "Wards, barracks, console space, and break room.", Armsmaster explained. "Piggot asked to explain the benefits of the affiliate to you while your lawyer reviews that contract. This seems like more balance in the area for security and comfort." He paused. "And TV access. If possible, I would like to take a break to review a conference at noon."

Danny checked the watch. "It's nearly eleven thirty now. Won't you be at this one?" Armsmaster shook his head. "As a matter of this, no. Assault is going to explain events that happened to press." His face twitched. "And also, is his first time on this. If he proves good, I will request that he handle some." Taylor blinked. "Assault? Why is he talking?"