Vicky smiled. "Well, if it was up to me, I'd say yes. I doubt Amy would say no, either. But..."
"We'd have to talk to all of our parents. Not just dad," Amy said as she looked over at Mark and gave him a small smile.
"Don't worry, we'll have a team meeting about it tonight," Mark said and gave her a smile with a nod.
"Please, give us a call if you need anything," Miss Militia said as she held out a business card. "Even if it is just to ask any questions." And with that, she walked out of the room.
Amy sat down at the chair next to the bed. "How bad did it end up being?"
"Fifty-one stitches," Danny said as he clenched his fists.
"Shit, that's nasty," Vicky said as she walked over to stand by her sister and put her hand on Amy's shoulder.
Amy smiled at her sister's comfort. "Do I have your permission to heal you?" she asked automatically as her long habit made her sound normal rather than pained even through the pain killer drugs for her jaw. She put her hand on the skinny girl's arm.
"Sure," Taylor said as she turned to look at the other girl.
"So what is going to happen with you two?" Vicky asked as she looked between Taylor and her father.
"Taylor is not going back to Winslow if I can help it. I'll have to start calling the other school to find out what it takes to enroll," Danny explained as he kept his concerned gaze on his daughter.
Amy tried to ignore Vicky despite her being so close. She failed to stop herself from comparing Taylor to her very pretty sister and zoned out for a second. She blinked a few times and then realized she still needed to fix the cut. It only took a few moments and a few more to dissolve the stitches with a trick she figured out months ago. "That should do it. It may feel tender for a while, but that is just phantom nerve pain, but that should fade in a few hours."
"Thank you," Taylor replied as she squeezed Amy's hand before she could pull it back.
Amy blushed as she pulled her hand back. "Let me go get a nurse to remove the dressing."
"Thank you, Amy," Danny said as he patted her on the shoulder as she walked past.
She gave him a small smile as she left.
"Oh! Idea! I'll be back in about twenty minutes, okay?" Vicky said to her dad.
Mark noted her expression and sighed. She had a plan for something. "Don't do anything too outrageous."
She just smirked at him as she walked out of the room.
"Should we be worried?" Danny asked in good humor.
"No, she's just being mischievous there."
Taylor grinned ever so slightly.
Amy came back five minutes later and watched the nurse removed the bloody bandages. Her brow furrowed as she looked around. "Where's Vicky?"
"Trying to be cunning. Or tricky," Mark said as his lips twitched up into a grin.
Danny shifted closer to the door. "I'm going to talk to a doctor about getting you out of here, okay?"
"Sure, dad."
Twenty minutes later, he came back to see Taylor and Amy as they talked about books. He coughed to get their attention. "Taylor, it looks like we can get you out of here as soon as I go home to get you a replacement shirt."
The girl nodded at that. "Probably ruined with all the blood on it?"
"It could be cleaned, but it's just a t-shirt, right?"
Taylor nodded.
"Ha! I knew it," Vicky said as she walked in. "Luckily, I had a cunning plan!"
"Oh, no," Amy moaned as she covered her face with her hands.
Danny and Mark just stared at the girl even as she pulled a white t-shirt out of a shopping bag.
"Tada! One bug shirt in white and green!" Vicky held up the shirt to show off the stylized beatle in the center of it. "It's perfect!"
Taylor snorted in laughter. "Are you trying to be funny?"
"Since you don't have a secret ID, flaunt it!"
She just blinked in response.
"Come on, work with me here," Vicky begged.
"Okay?"
Director Emily Piggot looked from Armsmaster, two PRT troopers and a social worker. She started to talk in a very even tone of voice. "Would someone like to explain how this epic shit storm of a public relations disaster happened? Mrs. Shepherd, why don't you start with why I have no reports of any bullying?"
"I didn't receive any reports of bullying. The school has no records, either," the older, graying woman said in a terse manner.
"And where are the detailed reports on the interview with her teachers?" the director asked.
"I'm sorry?" the social worker asked as she tried to act as confused as possible.
"You were required to interview her teachers. Plural. And all I see filed here is a summary of 'sports student goes to the local high school'. Nothing about how she is doing, nor even what grade point average she is maintaining. And strangely, none of the teachers remember talking to a social worker about Miss Hess." Piggot stared at her a long time. "The only thing you seem to have done is meet with every other month for a few minutes. I will be speaking with your direct supervisor." She then turned her gaze to one of the PRT officers. "Officer Xian, perhaps you can explain why the PRT never heard about any bullying as her probation officer?"
"Miss Hess has only been given two verbal warnings, mostly about her grades to stay on the track team. While I was informed of several instances of the police being called in, not once was Miss Hess mentioned," he said in a careful tone.
Piggot slapped her hand down on a folder with about ten sheets of paper in it. "This report says otherwise. It says the victim accused Miss Hess of shoving her into a locker filled with bloody tampons and pads. And caused her mental anguish and a visit to the psych ward at a hospital."
"That was not reported to me at the beginning of January," Xian said as he knit his brow in consternation. "In fact, I don't think I've been told that there was even an update on the incident."
"I expect my people to be thorough and follow up on things. Especially things that turn out to be Triggers. I am very disappointed that you did not follow up on this yourself." Director Piggot then turned to look at Armsmaster. "Armsmaster, how about you explain why this violent thug managed to get away with such an attack?"
He jaw tightened. "Unfortunately, it looks like we share the blame on that. I should not have agreed to relinquish direct authority of the Wards and allowed them to be moved to Headquarters here. It appears that Triumph and Aegis both reported issues, which were not investigated nor passed on to myself or Miss Militia by their new PRT handlers here in the building. From what I can see, the officer in charge felt that most teens are always being melodramatic and acting out. Due to her anti-parahuman pathos, I've recommended that she be shifted to a department that does not interact with parahumans with an official reprimand."
"We moved them to this building because the Rig doubled our logistical problems with them," Piggot reminded him.
"Which is true, but looking over the Protectorate's efficiency, they are not the only ones that would benefit." He hated this part. "The Rig was supposed to be temporary. The only reason it has not been moved to another hot spot on the east coast is simply because Brockton Bay is still the most imperiled. Realistically, it should be repurposed as a fallback location in case of a major gang war like back in 2002." It almost hurt to say that, but his lab could be moved. "Other Protectorate teams are based in the main PRT building for their city or special area."
"So you are saying we should move the Protectorate and your support staff into this building?" Piggot leaned back in her office chair. "I had considered it, but keeping the Protectorate out there is increased security."
The last PRT officer spoke up. "While it might decrease security a bit, ma'am, it would also bring them into the city properly. And remove them from a visual pedestal, so to speak. The could be seen here as part of Brockton Bay, not as just the outsiders out in their own private clubhouse."
"Draw up a plan of action to move the Protectorate into headquarters here. Armsmaster, what is the chance that we could finesse Hebert into the Wards?" the director asked him point blank.
"Unlikely at this point. She flat out refused Miss Militia's offer and asked New Wave if she could join them," he replied.
"Set up a general security detail and house alarm for the Heberts. I'll have to figure out how to swing an hourly random patrol in her neighborhood. This is not a girl we want joining any of the gangs. Her power controls bugs out hundreds of feet." Piggot sighed and rubbed her forehead as a headache brewed. "Reach out to her and keep her informed of Hess's situation. I'll make sure the other two bullies are suspended from school."
"Hess is headed back to juvenile prison for sure?" Armsmaster asked, just to be clear.
"That is correct. She will be lucky to see the outside of prison before her 18th birthday. Darren McNeil is thinking of pushing for her to be tried as an adult, as she is not sixteen."
Taylor squinted at the small crowd of people in front of the hospital as her wheelchair rolled closer. "Dad? Guys?"
"Reporters. Guess you are the hot story right now," Vicky said as she nodded her head.
At her side, Amy sighed in soft agreement while Mark just shook his head.
The automatic doors opened in front of the group as the nurse pushed them up to the crowd that filled the background with the noise of conversations. "Excuse me, I have a patient to help to her car," he called out to the crowd. "Mr. Hebert, if you could go get your car?"
"That will be a minute. If you guys would please wait?" Danny asked the Dallon family.
"Of course," Mark said even as he looked back to the reporters. "Please, all of you calm down. Our families have gone through a traumatic experience, so I would ask that you be polite."
With that, he walked off to go get his car.
"Flashbang, do you have any comments on the fact that a Ward attacked your daughter?" a news reporter asked.
"While I am upset about the attack, we don't know everything that is going on. The PRT is investigating. I will be pressing charges against the lady if we find out she acted under her own and not under the influence of a Master. Next question?" he asked.
"Panacea, are you thinking about taking a more active role in combat?" a woman from the local gazette called out.
"Not really," she replied even as she considered it. She had taken her out on her own, after all.
"Miss Herbert? What do you plan to do now? Are you going to become a Rogue and clean up the city and make a bit of money?" another TV reporter called out.
"Um, I want to be a hero, though that is a good idea," Taylor said as she stood up. "Thanks." She nodded politely to the nurse as he went back into the hospital.
"Are you looking to go into secret identity protection and move to a new city?" the gazette reporter called out.
"Brockton Bay is my home. I, uh, asked if I could join New Wave, but they have to talk about it." She tugged at the hem of her white shirt as she wished it hung more loosely.
Danny honked his horn to get the crowd to part. Taylor walked carefully through the crowd as she used her bug sense of location more than her weak eyes.
The reporters shouted more questions, but she just got into the car and her father drove off.
"Well, that was something. You hanging in there, kiddo?" Danny asked his daughter.
"I don't actually know. It's just been so... so much today. Dad, I think something is wrong with Emma. You know she was one of the bullies, right?" She continued after he nodded. "She was happy I had super powers and that I fought against Sophia, like she had been helping me or doing some major favor. Emma mentioned something about being strong."
"I'll have to talk to Alan about that. She might need to see a shrink. This city, it does things to people. Turns good people into animals if you aren't careful. And sometimes even if you are," he said.
They chatted about school and where to go in the future, which was not decided yet. Danny pulled into the driveway next to the house and glared at the plainclothes police officer standing outside.
Danny opened his door and called out, "What do you want?"
The officer held up his hands and showed his PRT badge. "Just to talk about your safety. You and your daughter's safety. We should really do this inside. I'm Officer Young."
Taylor's father frowned as he looked between the officer and his daughter. "Fine." He unlocked the door and led them in. "What happened in here?" The house looked messier than normal, though not trashed.
"A search warrant was acted upon here to gather evidence. Evidence that is likely to put away Hess and her cronies for years, considering that locker fiasco. Nothing should be harmed and the only thing missing is your daughter diary." Young rubbed his balding head.
"You make that sound like that is good enough reason," Danny said hotly as he leaned closer and over the shorter man.
"Can I be frank, Mr. Herbert-"
"Hebert," Danny corrected.
"Sorry. Mr. Hebert, the PRT was thrilled to find out your daughter wants to be a hero. We do understand that you don't feel you can trust us, but I'll be frank... your daughter is prime recruiting material. The Empire Eighty-Eight would kidnap you to force her to join and do some re-education. I've heard of some scary shit about that. Lung might do the same, but he's likely to just kill her the first time she moves against his gang. The Merchants are likely to kidnap her and addict her to some of their harshest drugs."
"And she would be safer as a Ward?" Danny narrowed his eyes even as he saw his daughter clench her fists.
"Flat out truth here, yes she would be. I understand that you do not want that. We screwed up by the numbers, thought we could rehabilitate Hess. She's headed back to juvie for her aggravated assault charge. And not likely to get out before she turns eighteen. It would be even better if you two moved to a new city and joined up, but we are willing to work with you to keep you two safe."
"What do you mean?" Taylor asked, still tense and angry.
"We will be posting PRT troops in the neighborhood and there will be regular patrols of the Protectorate and Wards through the area. We are even offering to install a very good alarm. If you aren't willing to move from the city, we would recommend that you move to a different house and would be willing to assist you with that. There are some very good gated neighborhoods up past Captain's Hill. If you are willing, we can even give you some trackers you can turn on if you do come under attack," Young explained.
"What is the catch? No one does all of this out of the kindness of their hearts?" Danny demanded.
"We want to keep your daughter out of the gangs. I don't know if you understand her power, but she can control bugs out for hundreds of feet. People were describing the situation at Winslow as something out of a biblical plague and they aren't far wrong. Your daughter could do hurt a lot of people. More capes than you would think can be as dangerous, but we can't let the gangs get her."
"Can you give us a moment?" the father asked as he pulled on his daughter's elbow gently to guide her into the kitchen. "This... isn't good."
"Yeah, I didn't think it would be so bad, but nothing he's saying sounds off," Taylor admitted. "Would you be okay if we moved to someplace more secure? I mean, this is our home."
Danny hugged her close. "No, it isn't. Home is where the family is. This is all just a house with our stuff. Stuff we can replace. Your mother would be the first to agree. She, uh, had to move one time because of the gangs."
"Really?" Taylor asked as her eyes widened.
"Really, but that was back in our college days before we got married. So we'll let them help us up to but not moving us out of the city and joining the Wards?"
"I'm not happy, but I'd be less happy being forced to work for the nazis in the city."
Danny chuckled at that. "True."
They headed back into the living room to hash out details.