1.3
The next morning, bright and early, a knock came to the door.
I was making breakfast for Mom so she answered the door. "Hello? Who are you? Wait--"
"Hello Mrs. Andrews. I'm Alexandria. I've come to speak with your son."
"Oh dear. Of course, Teddy did say something like this might happen. Please come in!" Teddy's mom said.
Alexandria looked taken aback hearing that, but entered anyway. She has so few people capable of hurting her, she probably didn't even worry about the danger.
I saw her coming down the hall as I washed my hands due to the pancake batter that was on them.
"Oh hey Alexandria! Fancy meeting you here! Here to pick me up for the prom?" I said to her. I didn't really have any dreams of meeting her, and I wasn't too impressed really. So much power and she does so much evil with it. She could kill me and my mom before I could blink, but I've come to terms with my mortality long ago, and my mom wasn't the kind of woman to get scared over the threat of death.
She knew all about my powers. I'd told her the first day I got them. Afterall, I woke up after triggering and remembered an entirely separate life I'd spent with her, or didn't spend with her. I wasn't the best kid in that reality, and had gone off the rails for a bit, but my Mom had never left my side until she passed away. It was too late for me to regret my actions then, but in this life, I had another chance to make her proud.
"Honey! Don't be rude! She's a hero, and she came just to visit you! Now why don't you got sit and talk with her in the living room, I'll finish up breakfast." There was no room for negotiation.
"Yes Ma'am. Sorry Miss Alexandria, my Mom says I can be a bit of a handful sometimes."
I just heard a scoff from behind me as we left the kitchen.
"That's alright. It takes more than that to hurt my feelings." Alexandria smiled at me, but it didn't have the normal warmth usually accompanying such a gesture.
We sat on two couches opposite of each other. She had taken care to maintain at least a foot or two between the two of us. Heh. Smart.
"So, I heard you were expecting me?" She asked with a grin, but I could see the wolf hiding underneath.
"Well, it's not that difficult really. I could be the next Eidolon, literally. Or the next Nilbog. For some reason I didn't think the government would just let me do my own thing, you know." I grin right back at her.
"But you were expecting me, specifically, right?" She started digging.
"It's like the Protectorate are intentionally putting their heads in the sand or something. Most things are pretty obvious. Like, there being a psychopath within the wards, and they didn't see even one clue the whole time. I'm not that smart, really. But I do pride myself on one thing, perspective. You see, with someone like me, the situation is extremely volatile. If I get ahold of a powerful cape, and go off the rails, it just becomes a huge disaster. Likewise, if I join the protectorate, there are huge dividends waiting for them. I'm something you have to have, and can't let others have, right?"
"Perhaps." Was all she said.
I continued. "You see, even in my limited knowledge, I know the world doesn't work fairly. I've never done one thing wrong, but I have a useful power, so useful in fact that I can't live any semblance of a normal life no matter which way I go. I have options, but no choices. Because they aren't really choices"
"But as for why I suspected you would come, that's easy. Your the thinker. You also have no blaster powers. There's no way in hell you'd ever let me get near Eidolon. And I suspect Legend really doesn't have the subtlety you have. Hmm. Now that I really think about it, I'm guessing Legend isn't too far away, and even Eidolon is probably close too, though he probably was told to not let me come near under any circumstances."
"Quite clever. I think you underestimate your intelligence. And you are correct, I suppose there is no reason to hide it now."
"Hah. Yeah, figured as much. I mean I can't really fault you, I am just that awesome I suppose. Could you put in a good word for me with Miss Militia? In just a few months I'll be 18, and I'd like to ask her on a date. She just about fried my biscuits off, but I guess I did try to trick her into kissing me."
Even Alexandria was stumped for words for a second.
"What did I just hear, dear? You tried to kiss Miss Militia! You're not supposed to do that before you even get to know her honey. She probably thinks your a love crazed stalker by now."
"Mom! You're supposed to take my side! I mean, my power does work through kissing! It just happens to work in other ways as well!" I said as I grabbed a plate full of pancakes.
"I'm sure honey. There were no bad thoughts in your head whatsoever, I'm sure." She said with all the seriousness that a mom could, and at the same time crush a kid's dream. "I'll leave you two to it then!"
Alexandria looked between the two of us as Mom left the room again.
"Well, what were we talking about again?" I asked between bites.
"How awesome you are." She stated, with no emotion.
"Oh yeah. That. Yeah, I mean I am pretty cool. That's why I got the great Alexandria here with me right now, afterall. I thought you might show up last night, really. But perhaps you just wanted things to cool down and make sure there weren't any emotions riding high. Probably were cleaning house up in the PRT too, I imagine."
"You continue to surprise me, Teddy. If I may call you that."
"Yeah, that sounds pretty good to me."
"Well then, I'd like to discuss your future. What do you want to do Teddy? Like you said, there aren't many options available for someone who could change the balance so easily. "
"Haha. Well at least you're not treating me like I'm stupid. I was afraid I'd have to deal with those idiots who are always working a scheme in the background, trying to say just the right thing so that I can be 'encouraged' to do what they want. I may only be 17, but my Mom raised me with common sense."
"You seem anything but stupid, Teddy. Surprisingly clear headed as well, especially for a new trigger."
"Ah. Yeah I almost forgot about that. I'm pretty sure my power helps with all that. Most capes seem to go crazy. Even the good ones. I mean look at Armsmaster, he's gotta be the dumbest cape I've ever met, and he's a tinker. Guy can build stuff that shouldn't exist, and he doesn't even know how to hold a conversation. Baffling. But yeah, I've been quite clear headed ever since my trigger. Combine that with a little common sense, and bam, somehow I can make the PRT look like idiots in just a few hours."
"That's interesting. I'm sure the PRT will help you explore your capabilities in the future."
It was said like he had no other options than joining the PRT, which was actually true now.
"Perhaps. I'm kind of getting the feeling that the Protectorate, PRT, whatever you want to call it, really sucks at exploring powers, and training. It's like they just don't even think to check stuff out beyond the initial test. I mean there is the youth guard preventing a lot, but who really cares about those idiots anyway. Powers don't wait for puberty, or until you are 18. What the hell are they thinking sending a 13 year old girl out there without even a gun to defend herself with. Who the fuck cares about the "rules" when there is a gangbanger in your face threatening rape and worse."
"Having the image of not being a threat is the primary goal to keep the wards safe, in addition to keeping them away from enemy capes." Alexandria pointed out.
"Oh, I'm not dissing that strategy. However, there is the image of not being a threat, and ACTUALLY not being a threat. I don't consider any of the wards a threat, using my powers or not."
"Again, you continue to surprise me, Teddy. I didn't pin you as such a fighter."
"Oh, not really. I suck at fighting. I'm just clever, and like to think outside the box. I mean I couldn't take on the wards and keep them alive at the same time. I'm talking lethal options here. Firearms, explosives, poisons, etc. It's like people forget that most capes are just as vulnerable as normal people. Strangers are really the scariest. The problem you don't know about is always the one that gets you."
"That's an interesting take. But I'd advise against talking about such lethal actions. That's very frowned upon as a cape."
"Haha. Oh I know. I've looked up the rules, done some research. It's really silly, but I'm not the one in charge. I mean if a normal human killed someone, the BBPD would chase that fucker down and either shoot him in the head or he would go to jail. If Kaiser walks into the police station, kills a guy, and walks out, nothing happens. Nothing will happen, and everyone knows it. Lung kills at least one guy a day probably, and nothing is done."
"If you all really wanted these guys gone, they'd be gone. And I know you'll just quote me the projected casualties if we go down that route, blah blah blah. Not worth it, too many villains, blah blah blah. I get it. I don't think that way, but like I said, I'm not the one in charge. I'll help keep the balance. Don't need to worry about me. Why do you think I came to the PRT in the first place?"
"It seems you have a very pessimistic view of society, Teddy. I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk like that in front of other members of the PRT. We need to keep a united front. It's hard enough as it is being a hero, without any destabilization internally."
"Yeah I know. If I really wanted to screw the PRT, I'd have just unmasked myself, give evidence of what Shadow Stalker did, do a TV interview, and start an online following and create an anti PRT riot. Wouldn't really be that hard. The Empire would love it."
"Well I'm glad you didn't do that."
"Haha. I'm a realist. I'd live about two weeks past doing that probably. I want to help people, and that wouldn't help anybody. If you wanted to know what I really want to do with my future, that's it. I want to help people. I used to always go on these rants about the establishment, school, the authorities, things like that. About how they weren't doing things rights, how things could be done better. Why they were idiots and why I thought they should just be burnt to the ground and rebuilt from scratch. My mom would listen calmly, and then would tell me, 'Honey, no one is perfect, and nothing is perfect, if you burn it all down, it'll get rebuilt a little better, but in the end it'll just end up like the previous one' That's how things work she would tell me. It's better to work within the rules if you want a permanent change. Changes that stick don't come fast. So I've taken her advice in this matter. Not that finding out about Shadow Stalker made my view of the PRT and Protectorate any better, but they needed a wakeup call, and this landed right in my lap. They were practically all sleeping at the wheel. I plan to come in and shake things up a bit, and luckily, I have the right amount of power to do so."
"That's a really mature way of thinking about things. I know you'll be able to help a lot of people in the future by being a hero."
"Yep. That's my little speel. Mom brought me up good, and I can't let her down. So, as far as my conditions go. I'm joining you guys, but there's a few things I'd like changed before I do."
"You realize you just gave away all of your leverage right?" She smiled.
"Oh yeah. Firstly, though, I'm pretty sure you'll change a few things if it accommodates me. While it's pretty much decided, it never hurts to make the power copying trump comfortable in his new position. Secondly, these changes are for the good, and there isn't really much reason to say no other than to spite me."
"Alright, what are your requirements?"
"First, Armsmaster has to step down permanently from the Wards leadership. It'd probably be best if he stays the leader of the protectorate as a whole, at least in the public's viewpoint. Just tell him it was a mistake on the Protectorate leadership to force him into a role that wasn't suited for him, and that you would greatly appreciate it if he took a new role focused much more on researching new threats and countermeasures. Whoever put him in charge in the first place must be an idiot, why would you put the most off putting guy in charge of the angsty teenagers. He literally can not relate to them on any level, and he's a tinker for cyring out loud! You do not put a tinker in charge of people. Tinkers like to tinker, that's it. That's really all they can be relied upon for. They might be good people, but they have the least control over their abilities, always going into those tinker trances and whatnot."
"Alright. That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Thought you surprise me with your insights into tinkers. Who would you have replace him?"
"I think it's part of my powers, to understand capes better. Plus I'm a trump, it helps to know a lot about every role, and I've spent all night doing research. Not having to sleep is quite handy. I wouldn't put any one person into that role. I think that's a mistake. Miss Militia and Assault should both take over. That way the responsibility is split in half, as well as the time commitment. Miss Militia is a noctis cape anyway. Both are personable, and good with the younger Wards. I've met them both, and they were both extremely easy to deal with. Plus, having both a male and female in charge helps the group dynamic. There'll only be one female Ward left and having a boss who is also male wouldn't help her too much."
"That's quite thoughtful. Okay, what are your other conditions?"
"Clockblocker should takeover the Wards Captain spot."
"Really? Not yourself?" She smirked at me.
"Heh. I imagine that will happen naturally." I smile back. "But in the meantime, he's one of the oldest, has flexible thinking, I don't believe he has ever made a mistake in the field, that wasn't intentional, from what I can find. He make joke around a lot, and has quite the reputation, but he also has great media presence, PR, and is super relatable to normal people."
"I can see your points. Is there anything else?"
"Just one thing. I want to take over training. I need to learn some martial arts anyway, but I don't plan on being part of a team that's useless in real fights. I want to know these people are capable of watching my back. Screw the youth Guard. They don't even need to know. Less frequency in patrols, more training. Patrols should be completed to maximize public perception, and with better monitoring I plan to enact more of a quick response strategy rather than a walk around and twiddle my thumbs one. We have two fliers and a girl who can warp space. There is no need to have boots on the ground all the time."
"That's it? Really? That's all you want?"
I laughed. "What, you were expecting me to ask for a million bucks or something? Oh crap. I actually need a million bucks." I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you see, I'm a power copier right? Aren't there two tinkers available to me, just moments away? I need a tinker budget too!"
"Ahh. I see. Tinkers are always appreciated so I think I can get that approved. The other requests, we'll see about. Afterall, there are a lot of moving parts. And like your mother says, permanent changes don't always happen quickly." She smiled.
"Well, I think we're done here. You are surprisingly intelligent and there wasn't much need for me to come in and comfort a newly triggered and unstable teenager. Thankfully." She stood up and began walking towards the door.
"Oh wait! I've got something for you." I ran to my room and brought out a large paper with a cartoon sketch of Miss Militia and myself, fighting nazis together with our guns. "I guess I wasn't researching ALL night. Could you give this to Miss Militia for me? I'm sure she's also around here somewhere. You can tell her that I'm going to get that kiss sooner or later!"
"I don't know if you are very brave, or just much more stupid when it comes to women." She chuckled for once, and it seemed real.
"Oh, if that old bag of bones can land such a hottie like Battery, I like my chances. Plus, there will now be someone who can stay up and hang out with her all night!"
"I think it's time I leave. This was very informative. I'll make sure the local branch is aware of your conditions and I'll work with them to see what we can do. At the very least, I'll appoint Miss Militia as your liaison for the near future while we settle everything out."
She turned and left, but I thought I might have seen her mouth twist up slightly when she said that last bit. Maybe her ice cold heart could melt a little after all.
"YES! Thanks so much!!!" I yelled after her as she entered into a car in the driveway. There wasn't really a better option during the daytime. No reason to out me too quickly.