Trailblazer – Dream of Eden
"Okay. I'll be there. Just let me finish up here."
Professor Katagiri smiled. "No rest for the public relations specialist?"
"I prefer advocate." Charlotte lowered her phone and smiled. She slipped her phone into her pocket and stepped away from the nook. "Which way?"
Billy smiled and held out one hand. "This way."
He started through a door and Charlotte followed. Hilling followed behind her, accompanied by a young girl with long red hair and a quiet smile.
The hall beyond was lined with walls and windows to look into the rooms. The DPA had taken over the old Boston PRT headquarters, converting the entire structure into Parahuman research, and now, research into various Shard-related phenomena. It was a hot topic for everyone from news, to governments, to businesses, and the Internet.
Ever since Taylor revealed the truth and the 'Network' transformed the moon, everyone had been waiting for anything to happen.
But so far, things had mostly just kept going along the direction they'd been on. Charlotte often wondered if that was why the Shards were staying silent. To quietly let the world just…put itself together.
"We're pretty sure he triggered a week ago," the Professor explained, "but the eyes only got noticed earlier today."
In the last room on the right, Charlotte came to a window and stopped.
Inside, a young boy of twelve or thirteen was talking to a familiar face. His head turned as she came to the window, eyes glowing as he watched her.
"This would be the fifth case this year," Billy explained.
"Can we ask what his power is?" Hilling asked.
"Invisible blades," Billy answered. He pointed. "You can barely make them out if you squint."
Charlotte leaned in and squinted.
"They're always there, just hanging in the air around him. They can't be dismissed and some of the movements appear involuntary."
"It's not too dangerous?" Charlotte asked. She could just barely make out the faint outline of something that twisted the light along an edge.
"No," Billy answered. "The edges actually appear dull unless he sharpens them. He got hit by another boy on the playground. That's when we think the trigger happened. The swords moved to protect him but didn't lash out to attack back."
Between Charlotte and Hilling, the red-haired girl stepped forward. She'd been the first, and unlike Soran, she emerged in a less than stellar place. Veda got to her first, fortunately.
Her eyes ignited, shimmering with a familiar translucent light.
The boy's shined to match and his attention shifted to her.
"That would confirm it," Hilling concluded.
"Seems so," Billy agreed. "That makes eighteen total."
Charlotte nodded and the woman in the room got up. She came around to the door and opened it, making way for the boy to exit.
He went right toward the girl, smiling.
"Soran," he introduced himself.
The girl smiled back at him. "Marida."
And they started doing that thing everyone with the glowing eyes could do and talked without actually talking.
It always made Charlotte feel like a third wheel when they did that.
"Suppose they'll just do that for a bit." The door closed and Charlotte went forward to hug the woman warmly.
"Murrue."
Murrue hugged her back. "Hello, Charlotte. Hilling."
Hilling nodded. "Mrs. La Flaga."
Murrue smiled and Charlotte drew back. "How's Chloe?"
"In Portland with Weaver," Murrue answered. "Last text message she sent, the meeting with her grandparents had gone well. Weaver reports that no one seems to be plotting anything nefarious."
"Good for her."
Charlotte smiled, despite still not managing to wrap her head around Emma being such a widely well-regarded hero. She supposed Emma had managed to grow up and out of the bitch she'd been when they knew each other, but still. The image just clashed in her mind.
Weaver was leading a whole team now as one of the most popular and well-known members of the Wardens. Alongside Rune of all people, not that Rune called herself Rune anymore.
"Can we go to the café?" Marida asked, her eyes turning to Charlotte and Billy. Soran blinked, craning his neck around to look.
"Sure." Billy pointed his hand and the kids went ahead.
The kids led the way, walking ahead while Hilling and Billy followed, then Charlotte and Murrue. The distance between the kids and adults grew and Charlotte couldn't help but cringe a bit at the silliness of it. The way those two were, Marida and Soran would 'hear' everything. Despite that, the sense of space felt securing and polite.
"Is anyone raising a fuss?" Charlotte asked.
"Same as always," Murrue answered. "Ever since Marida showed up, everyone's been nervous."
It probably didn't help that Marida made herself known by foiling a robbery by talking the robbers down. Two men broke into her house, attacked her mother, and she somehow ended up convincing them to stop and got both of them to turn themselves in.
No 'power' required. None anyone could solidly identify beyond an apparent superhuman capacity for empathy.
Marida had simply… talked and understood the very men breaking into her house.
"Questions, questions, questions," Billy sang. "I've said it before, but it would have helped if Taylor had left us a roadmap."
Charlotte smiled. "Life doesn't have roadmaps."
"Sounds like something she'd say," Murrue mused, her smile solemn.
She'd come to Brockton Bay after it happened. Charlotte was grateful for that because Danny needed it. Veda was still with him, and he was there for her, but he needed someone else who felt parental toward Taylor at the time. She was gone, and no one knew when she was going to come back while not being sure what to do while she was gone.
That hit Danny harder than the rest of them.
"She'd also say that she's watching," Charlotte thought, her eyes turning toward Professor Kataigiri. "And in her absence, I know Veda is."
"Here to remind us of the original threat once more?" The Professor laughed. "That time of year again already."
"It's just Veda and Celestial Being wanting to be sure everyone making big decisions understands." Charlotte looked forward, watching Marida and Soran. "We understand the need for research. People are scared. The Shards have been silent ever since they revealed themselves and no one's really sure what more people like Taylor showing up means."
"But there are lines that would be rather immoral to cross," Hilling concluded. "Yes?"
"And Veda will make her opinion known."
"I'm familiar with the concept of the fourth estate," Billy assured her. "And I know you're not really reminding me."
Charlotte smiled. "Sorry Professor. The Board just never makes much time for these things. They're busy people."
"Especially with the nature of capes changing," Billy agreed.
"The relative strength of newer triggers is lower than those of the past," Hilling observed. She started talking as if reading off a list, and technically she was. "On top of that, the number of triggers is declining globally and newer parahumans are statistically less confrontational than those who triggered before 'The Bloom.' The end result is more and more parahumans going into commercial and private pursuits, reducing the total number of active 'capes.'"
Hilling paused in the way she, Regetta, and Tieria often did. Charlotte still remembered when they were just 'Richter's Programs.' Veda and Dragon had suggested they might evolve further, but it was still a bit surreal to see that they actually were. And they were learning fast.
"Could that not be taken as a sort of communication?" Hilling finally asked. "The behavior of powers has fundamentally shifted in a direction that makes them far easier to manage."
"Perhaps," Professor Katagiri mused. "But a memo would be easier and they haven't even bothered trying to talk through parahumans, let alone to any leaders."
Charlotte nodded. "It's possible they can't yet."
It still stung a bit that Taylor didn't tell her beforehand…but she supposed it wasn't that simple.
Veda had filled her in ultimately, and Charlotte had done her best after Kati stepped down to run Dean's campaign for the House.
"From what Taylor said in the address"—it was all anyone had to go on beyond what Celestial Being was keeping close to the chest—"she doesn't know how long restructuring the Network will take. The Shards were restricted from direct communication under Scion, and who knows how long it'll take to undo that."
Taylor might even need to explain to them that they should undo it. From everything she'd said, the Shards weren't creative. They didn't know how to make their own decisions. Charlotte doubted Taylor planned to become a dictator to them and that meant she probably had to convince them.
It made her wonder what was really taking time—the technical side of 'fixing' the problem, or convincing the Shards there was a problem to be fixed.
"As far as I know nothing has changed," Billy assured her. "The DPA and the people who approve their budget are still in 'wait and see' mode." He chuckled as they reached the end of the hall. "Honestly, all the paranoia aside, without Endbringers, major villains being a lot less over the top than the villains of old, and all the investment into preparing for orbital construction, I don't think there's much power to the voice of doomsayers right now."
"Yeah." Charlotte stepped through the door after Hilling. "Things are better than they have been for a long time… Everyone's waiting to see what happens next."
"It's also worth considering that the Shards may consider excessive prodding to be an attack," Hilling proposed. "It might be best to wait until they initiate some kind of contact."
Charlotte grimaced but Hilling wasn't wrong. "That too."
Marida and Soran were turning toward the café in the corner of the building—what was once the PRT gift shop. Two people—a man and a woman—rose as Soran passed by. His parents, Charlotte guessed.
They stopped when a DPA agent held a hand up and waved them back down, leaving Soran and Marida to continue commiserating.
The lobby was rather full. A museum to the Protectorate and PRT, and now the DPA, were all connected to the lobby. There was an entire wall of TV screens, most showing local news.
One displayed Colossus' new daytime talk show. Another had Dean on it, standing on a stage with Vicky. Vicky had a small boy in her arms, two years old and still easily held by his mother. A banner for 'US House' hung over their heads and Kati was visible just off stage. Another screen—many of them actually—were replaying footage of the colony arriving in orbit and Charlotte's own interview from earlier in the day.
"As it is, the Youth Guard is still involved," Murrue reiterated. "The other children are all accounted for and we don't let the researchers pester them too much. Nothing particularly invasive, which is easier to manage with the tech here."
"It is what it is," Billy agreed. "We still can't account for what precisely is sparking the change. There isn't a strong geographic or genetic correlation. Half of our little Newtypes don't even have a Shard-based power."
"What?"
Charlotte's head snapped around at the name. Murrue frowned and Billy looked a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry," the man apologized. "It's ah, a name that's started going around to refer to them." He nodded toward Marida and Soran. "Newtypes."
Charlotte blinked, about to speak but… Huh.
"That is surprisingly apt," Hilling stated.
"Rolls off the tongue too, unfortunately." Billy held a hand up. "I can get people to stop."
"No." Charlotte glanced away, looking at the televisions again. "Names have a way of taking on a life of their own. Maybe it'll be a good thing. As much as people blasted Taylor for keeping secrets after she went away, she's still seen as a hero."
"The twelfth most popular hero globally," Hilling cited. "Impressive considering she hasn't been an active cape for ten years."
"Killing Endbringers will do that," Charlotte mused.
Taylor's name had faded a bit, but the world still remembered Newtype. Even if her name wasn't headlining nightly news anymore, there were numerous reasons not to forget her. Londo Bell. The Endbringers. The Shards. Veda.
Her shadow was long, and Charlotte suspected it would loom over the world until she was an old woman.
"It's fitting," Charlotte decided. "If it's what it looks like, then Taylor was just the first of many. Newtype does roll of the tongue pretty well."
Taylor never wanted statues or monuments, but Charlotte had to admit she liked the idea of the name living on. Especially if they just kept being as compassionate and brave as Marida.
She reminded Charlotte of Taylor.
She was…earnest, in the purest sense of the word.
"Well. Threat delivered." Charlotte looked up to Billy and Murrue, asking, "Do you need anything? The family has a safe place to live?"
"They're alright," Murrue assured. "We've already contacted the Wardens about getting the boy some training. The Irregulars are sending Sveta over to talk to him about being 'outed.'"
Charlotte nodded. Wasn't easy to hide the whole glowing eyes thing. "Let the family know Veda's been supporting those in Soran's situation? I know Marida will tell him but"—Charlotte shrugged—"adults."
Marrue chuckled. "We know. We'll tell them."
"The numbers keep accelerating," Billy mumbled. "First Marida six years ago. Three two years later. Then four. We've had six this year alone."
"Veda predicts that the number will start being hundreds within a few more years," Charlotte warned in a low voice.
The air took on a grim tone, and Charlotte couldn't help but agree. It had been nice in the years post-Blue Cosmos. There were people paranoid about aliens now, but they'd yet to materialize into a truly powerful political or social force. That might change as the number of 'Newtypes' grew and became impossible to hide. Charlotte worried how governments might change from their thus far reserved and cooperative tune when that day came.
But that's what PR was for, and Charlotte had been making plans since Marida manifested her abilities.
"We—"
Charlotte stopped as the TV screens all shifted.
The screens all flashed, playing a video of a young woman or older girl sitting in a chair. Charlotte immediately recognized Vista. Missy had gotten a bit taller over the years and switched up her costume. Bitch was next to her. Both of them on screen together.
Bitch was in Sweden these days, and Missy had gone to Europe to help form up a Warden's branch there. She was one of the team's most famous and popular team leaders. Plus she had a natural talent for PR.
The video came from somewhere in Europe?
"That's going to become a thing, isn't it?" Professor Katagiri asked.
Murrue frowned. "There was a report that came through about an attack on the AEU session in Sanc earlier."
Yeah.
"I should get going." Charlotte glanced about, settling her gaze on Marida and Soran. They'd both noticed the screens. "Hilling—"
"I'll handle it."
Lustrum stepped out from the crowd, hands in her pockets.
"Get going," she said. "I'll keep an eye on the kiddies. Make sure the boy gets back home fine and then I'll take Marida back home."
Charlotte nodded. "Thanks."
"Don't worry about it," Lustrum dismissed. "Girl's gotta work in this—"
"Don't forget you're still on probation," Murrue warned.
Lustrum waved her hand. "Yes, yes. No social media. No soapbox speeches. I know. The things I let Veda talk me into."
Ultimately, the Birdcage had become a hot potato. Between talk about accepting Taylor's proposal of a general amnesty, the fact that several prisoners helped fight the Simurgh, and old arguments about cruel and unusual punishments… Well, more than a few prisoners had been released on heavy probation. Mostly the ones who had already served longer than their crimes would typically be worth or who seemed unlikely to cause trouble again.
It had, perhaps not uncoincidentally, resulted in many of the women in Lustrum's cell block being released or sent to alternative prisons that were less extreme than the Birdcage. People like Marquis, String Theory, and Acid Bath would never be released and no one seemed bothered by that.
Others were increasingly seen as casualties of a more desperate time.
Charlotte wasn't sure where Lustrum exactly fell on that line, but her work-release mostly amounted to doing whatever Veda told her to do and not causing any problems. Specifically, being on hand to protect and aid the 'Newtypes' with anything they needed. Thus far, she'd gone along with it. More than that, really.
Charlotte thought Lustrum actually liked looking out for the kids, girls and boys.
"Thanks," Charlotte repeated. She nodded to Hilling and quickly started moving.
"Charlotte." Murrue came forward and hugged her again. "It's good to see you."
Charlotte smiled. "You too. Say hi to Chloe for me when she gets back."
"Of course."
They left the building and went toward the closest alleyway. Charlotte pulled her phone up, asking, "Was that anyone we like who released that footage?"
"No," Veda answered.
Stargazer teleported into the alley on a quick jolt of lightning. Veda had 'dressed up' the suit over the years, obscuring the trademark features of a Gundam. It looked more like a generic suit without the distinct faceplate.
"We should hurry," Veda encouraged. "Things are accelerating."
"Right."
Charlotte had long grown used to the idea that Veda was always around.
Some people called it Orwellian, and Charlotte got that. It wasn't exactly a comfortable thing to know a stranger was always watching. Except Veda wasn't always watching everyone and Charlotte knew her pretty well after all these years. She actually found Veda's silent presence comforting. She was never alone, and she didn't worry about Veda saying anything because she knew what not to talk about just because she knew it.
Charlotte gathered by the suit, and Hilling joined her.
There was another jolt and Charlotte landed on the ground of a plain room, dark on all sides save the one full of monitors.
"Honestly." She frowned and stepped forward. "Dinah, you need to decorate."
"It's fine." The chair before the monitors spun, and Dinah met her gaze. "We're just waiting for a few more."
We? Charlotte glanced over and smiled before taking Lisa into a hug. "Hey. It's been a while."
Lisa nodded and hugged her back. "Hello, Charlotte."
Drawing away, Charlotte took note of the others present. Hilling went over to join Tieria and Lily. Beside them were Sundancer, Ballistic, and Genesis. The trio had joined up with Celestial Being once things had died down, helping fill in as Veda and Chariot retired the Gundams from use. Dinah was seated in her chair and—
"Lafter."
"Hey." Lafter grinned.
She didn't meet with everyone so much anymore. Not like this at least. "It's been too long."
Lafter rolled her eyes. "It's been a month, Char."
"Too long," Charlotte insisted.
To her, at least.
Things were just so busy now. It's not like anyone had really fallen out of touch. There just hadn't all been this many of them in one place in…years? Definitely years. Lisa was running around putting out fires. Lafter had the kids and wasn't an active cape anymore. Sabah did mountains of charity work and fashion shows and Lily spent as much time with her as possible.
"We're here."
From behind Stargazer, Defiant and Dragon strolled through a door into the room. Charlotte offered a friendly wave and Dragon returned it.
"The Guild is mobilizing," Defiant revealed. "There's a lot of pressure coming in."
"A lot of panic as well," Dragon added as they approached the group.
"It's the most brazen thing any cape has done in ages," Dinah agreed. She turned, looking up at the monitors. They were all playing video. News. TV. Social media. She'd taken a bit after Taylor in that regard. "And she's taunting everyone about it."
Charlotte nodded. "Give me the re—"
"Sorry I'm late. Had to speed up from New York."
Charlotte smiled as she turned to Trevor and kissed him.
He kissed her back and got that relaxed and goofy look on his face. Some men just didn't grow out of that, Charlotte had learned. He'd grown out a slight beard over the years and Charlotte had to admit she found it manly. It worked for him.
"Where's Ian?" she asked.
"I dropped him off at Lafter's," Trevor answered with a nod. "Akihiro and Masahiro are looking after him along with the girls."
Lafter smiled.
Then he was in good hands.
"That's everyone."
Veda's avatar entered, walking along gracefully and looking still so very much like Taylor.
She went straight toward Dinah, stopping beside her chair and looking over the screens.
"We need to get ahead of this."