1.3
Two days later
School. We meet once again.
I got out of the car, driven by a PRT agent dressed like a civilian, alongside Carlos, Chris, Dean, and Dennis.
And before me was the tall Arcadia High School, all four stories and two buildings of it. For all of my excitement of getting out of Winslow and into Arcadia, I couldn't help but feel dread and trepidation. Before I triggered, I wanted to get into Arcadia as a no-one. A normal person. Now I go there with the chance of meeting Winslow transplants, who will no longer look at me with scorn and disgust but fear and suspicion, with a huge emphasis on the former. They could even spread rumors on me, like how the three stooges did when they aimed to isolate me. Didn't help that Madison hung out A LOT with the jocks.
I bit my lower lip, walking with the boys beside me as other students were walking up to enter the prestigious high school. I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped, turning around immediately to shove Sophia away-
"Hey hey, you okay?" Dean asked, concern in his eyes. I was wide eyed, my hands read to shove him and I returned to normal. "Your emotions are going haywire right now." He whispered.
"It's nothing!" Its almost a snap.
"Its…" He pauses, makes sure no one is within earshot. "Your hand."
My hand is in a fist, trembling at my side. I learned over the weekend that Dean's emotion based powers didn't have an on-off switch, so he can be perceptive and can tell when people are lying, joyful, sad, or angry without words.
"I...I triggered at my old school."
I wanted to be someone else. I don't want to be the same Taylor from before. I don't want people to know I've been bullied. To know I burnt down the school as I was screaming hard enough to tear my own throat inside that locker.
I don't want this to be Winslow 2.0 or something.
I can hear my own heart pounding beneath my chest like it wants to punch its way free. I'm nervous...I...I'm trembling under my clothes.
"Woah woah...hey...relax, nothing is gonna happen. I promise. And we have your back if anything does." Dean commented.
His words don't help. I'm half about to ask him to zap me with one of his beams, or that I just wasn't ready for coming back to school already. Or maybe both. Doesn't look like it'd take much convincing if his alarmed eyes are anything to go b-
And I felt it within me. That feeling I had around the statue when I was aching. Like I'm sitting by a fire. Enveloped in a warm hug. It couldn't have been seen, only I could feel it, or else the boys would be panicking and I was...calming down. I don't know why, but I no longer felt alone. Not in a physical sense, but an emotional sense. Spiritual even.
"..."Taylor?" I look up, Dean is looking at me like I'm about to have an alien burst out of my chest or something.
"You calmed down just now." He observed. "Like, your fear just went away. Poof." He gave me an odd look. "You okay?"
"Oh. It's...maybe it's my...'you know what'". I made sure not to say "Power" as some students were walking by us on the sidewalk. "It gave me a warm feeling just now."
"Maybe its just like that." Chris said. He'd been listening in beside us. Now he's looking down at his phone. "It might be responding to your needs and feelings. Like, back at the rig. 'I am hurt'. Boom. Now 'Emotional as hell'." He snaps his fingers. "And you're all better." He pocketed his phone.
I noticed Brendan was missing as I looked around. "Is Brendan…"
"He's homeschooled." Carlos answered shifting his backpack. "Guy's so smart he does online and webcam classes. He's already taking Junior College classes."
Dennis spoke up. "He's just hanging at the base doing his thing."
For a guy as odd as Browbeat, home school does seem like the best option. Plus he was a genius? I would have thought Tinkers are super geniuses.
"Say Chris, pardon me for asking, but since you're a 'mechanic'." Civie speak between the wards for Tinker. Same as 'Jock' was for brute and 'Exam Cheaters' or 'Cheater' for 'thinkers' "Should you be really good at math and science."
"Honor rolls on both." He answered with a smirk, clearly pleased. Did he have trouble with those subjects before triggering? He frowned mood turning sour. "It's history and English that kick my ass…totally impractical!"
"You fall asleep during those classes." Dennis mentioned.
"They're boring! And I'm bushed most of the time due to work I even need to hold back just to make sure no one gets suspicious of me being a 'mechanic'." Chris groused. So Tinkers have to fail in school at times to avoid attention? Smart.
"Anyways, you have your schedule?" Dean asked. I reached into my pocket and looked at my schedule. 8:30 is Algebra A. 9:30 is American History. 10:30 is Biology. 11:30 is lunch...Its an hour and a half long…
An hour is too long for lunch.
I twitch. Almost visibly trying to shake the thoughts away.
This is not Winslow Taylor…
1:00 is P.E. And I finish with German at 2:00. I chose German over Spanish, French, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese languages due to the it's similarity to the English language. That and Carlos already knew Spanish and Dean was in French. Best to have the most well rounded team available so if I could help by learning German and making sure no Neo Nazi wannabes were throwing around code words I would do my part. Once I get German done, I can tackle Japanese next.
"Okay. Where's your teachers at." Carlos looked at my schedule, taking note of the classrooms. "Okay I know where they are. Come on I'll take ya to the class.." He turned back to the others. "I'll see you all at lunch. Dennis, see you in Physics." Dennis snapped his fingers and clicked his tongue as he walked off with Chris, leaving me, Dean, and Carlos. Speaking of, Dean leaned over and looked over my schedule.
"Oh hey. You and me are in Bio at 10:30, same as Victoria and her sister Amy."
Carlos leaned in. "He has five classes with her. The one class he doesn't have is art and his art...super depressing." He whispered with a smirk.
"I heard that!" I couldn't help but stifle my giggle. I can't wait to meet the great all-mighty Victoria Dallon and see if the rumors are true. Because Dean seems very defensive about those claims of his…
"R-Right." I composed myself. "I'll see you all...at Bio." Dean nodded, giving me a thumbs up and smile.
"See ya then Taylor." And he walked away, leaving me with Carlos.
"Well, time to take ya on a tour. We still got fifteen minutes."
"What if I'm late?"
"Ehh, you won't be, your class is practically on the other side of the building anyway." The hispanic boy promised as he took me on the tour.
(X)
It was 10:00 thirty minutes for for Biology class. History teacher apparently had to attend a meeting. Probably something to do with the influx of new students they'd keep on getting from Winslow. I'd already spotted four other people I recognized in the hallways. None of Emma's Hangers on so far but I really had no idea how long that would last. I finished walking up the flight of stairs to the second floor and remembered the room Carlos showed me earlier this morning. As I walked inside the classroom I saw some eyes on me. Same as the prior classes because "Hey, who is this girl?". I'm a foreigner in their eyes and they're curious. Just do a quick explanation at the beginning of class and get caught up.
I saw Dean wave at me and I walked towards him as he was talking to two more girls. I recognize one instantly. She's on the news practically every other week. Victoria Dallon. AKA Glory Girl. So I'm guessing the girl next to her is Amy. Talk about polar opposites. They're sisters?
"This the new girl you were talking about Dean?" Asked the blonde, looking me over. Dean smiled and nodded.
"Yup. Taylor Hebert, meet Victoria Dallon," he gestured to the blonde bombshell. She was the literal opposite of me except in height. She stood up and we were of similar height-wait, she's taller. Yeah. Oh wait. She has heels. Ok. Wait heels? Who the hell can walk around in school all day in heels? Her feet should be…
Stupid invulnerability.
So to go with the ability to wear heels, you know. Just to already make a ridiculously good looking teenager look that much better she has curves of a bottle, or a guitar. while I was lanky and flat. A handsome guy like Dean and her together? Looks like something out of a rom-com musical or one of those teenage drama shows. "And Amy Dallon." He looked at the other girl, who looked like she wanted to disappear. In comparison to her sister, she's almost mousy looking, with curly, almost frizzy brown hair and freckles.
"Hi…" She whispered.
"Oh speak up sis, she can't hear ya!" Victoria beamed down at her. Well she certainly is...outgoing.
I feel myself smile a bit more as I look at her. She just gives off this…
I almost start as I feel the warmth in my chest again. The feeling of being by a warm fire. Strange...I don't feel like an emotional wreck this time around. Wonder what that's about.
She smiled softly, a tiredness lingering on her eyes...weary almost. "Hello." Amy spoke up now, looking at me.
"Hi there." I responded back. It feels like I'm staring straight into a weird mirror.. She looks tired, not physically but...mentally and emotionally, like how I was at Winslow.
She looks worn.
"Sweet, we have a foursome group. Now doing lab projects won't feel odd with a fourth wheel we don't know." Victoria mentioned, gesturing me to sit. I obeyed. "So, Taylor Hebert. You from here in the Bay?"
"Yeah. Born and raised."
"Hmmm...Well, same here. Nice to meet ya." She wrapped an arm around Amy. "So, from Winslow right?"
I looked at Dean with an open glare. No one had to know that! I didn't want anyone to know that. He raised his arms in a hasty defense. "Hey sorry but I never told them, Victoria guessed and assumed."
The blond nodded smugly. Completely oblivious to my discomfort or choosing to ignore it. "Yup. She leaned down, whispering even though we have the classroom mostly to ourselves.. "So you're the newbie?"
She can't be talking about me being new at the school. That was clear and established. And with her being Dean's girlfriend it's obvious she's talking about the wards.
Strange to think that her guessing I'm the new ward isn't nearly as distressing to me as her making the easy connection to the now burnt down Winslow.
"And you're Glory Girl." I say back since I genuinely have absolutely nothing better to answer.
She puffs up. If a human could preen she'd probably be doing it. "Yep. Glory Girl in the flesh and she," she gestured a thumb towards Amy. "Is Panacea."
I looked at Amy for a second before going back to the superheroine known as Glory Girl. "Well...in any case it's nice to meet future comrades."
"Comrades?" She nodded to herself as if there was nothing I could say otherwise. "You had no idea how glad I was when Dean let it slip that the new Ward member was a girl. Vista needed some other female presence on that team other than Shadow Stalker. Girl was just a damn downer all the time. And as for us, Missy's a good kid but she's just a kid. Way too young. It's good to have some girlfriends around our age. So," She looked at me dead in the eye. "After school, you down for lunch? Dean's coming after all. That Dennis Kid and Aegis have the after-school shift."
"Oh!" I started "That reminds me!" I pulled out my new cellphone and texted Miss Washington quickly. (Seriously who invented this writing on the phone thing?)
I needed to know what my patrol schedule is going to be!
Hey Miss W. Whats my patrol shift? I never got it this morning.
I'm about to open my mouth as I'm thinking about her offer when the phone vibrates in my hand. That was quick..
You're with Vista tonight from 8-11. Come to me after school if you have questions. If not, speak to a Mr. Wallis or text him. I'll send you his number.
Wallis was supposedly another normal human assistant to one of the heroes. I wonder whom?
"Got it. I'm on tonight from 8 to 11."
"Crap, I'm going on my patrol from 5 to 8 with Dean here...ah well."
"PRT cooperates with New Wave that much?"
"Of course." She shrugs. "We share intel, and patrol routes all the time. New wave, such as it is is private. PRT is government funded. Only big difference."
"That and you don't keep your identities secret."
She shrugged. Victoria shrugged. "Ahh well. If we can't today then no biggie. Besides, if nothing pops up, me and him were going to my place for movie." She looked at Dean. "That good with you Dean?
"Yep! I'll be there!"
Well he seemed eager… Then the two got engrossed in conversation and I looked at Amy, who was looking over her phone for some reason, scrolling through messages.
"So...you work at the hospital?" I asked. Amy gave out a sigh. Must have not have been wild about that…
"I do, yes."
And just like that what little conversation there was kinda died hopelessly.
"Oh Ames!" Victoria suddenly whirled around, as though remembering her sister was there. "How bout you come with us to the mall on Saturday? Come on help me show Taylor around."
Evidently I was coming too.
"Gonna be busy on Saturday. That's my shift at the hospital." Amy droned.
"Sunday then?" Amy looked at me, and I noticed bags under her eyes. Has she been getting any sleep?
"Maybe. I don't know."
"Sweet its settled then!"
Victoria I was learning, was not exactly one that was used to being told no…
Then I looked to the front of the class the students were filing in. The teacher too. Victoria jumped off the desk she'd been sitting on to take her proper seat.
I heard the teacher say hello to the class and I heard "Well as has been par the course for this last week and probably next week as well, we have a new student joining us." The man looked at me. "Ms. Hebert would you care to introduce yourself to the class?" And there's my cue to once more repeat what I have said several times this morning already.
(X)
Protectorate Headquarters
"What do you mean my costumes' not available?!"
"We got in touch with a Rogue who makes costumes for both heroes and villains. She was going to deliver yours today but evidently there was a mix up between packages and yours was sent elsewhere ." Miss Washington said as I was sitting by the kitchen table in the Wards quarters. "This doesn't happen normally, believe me. I know her well enough and she takes a great deal of pride in her work.."
Accidents happen, I get that. Still, that small consolation doesn't change that I have an hour until my first patrol and now I have no costume. Sure I burnt down the school. Sure my secret identity is probably paper thin to anyone who bothers to look at a police or fireman public record. That doesn't change the fact that I was genuinely looking forward to having a costume of my own.
With this, the brightest spot of my day was that School went well. I'd gotten assigned some assignments different from the new kids in class in order to catch up on the curriculum. I know what I will be doing this weekend when I'm not on patrol. I had fallen behind at Winslow due to the trio's actions, but I won't go scraping along this time by the skin of my teeth if I can help it.
"Damnit all…" I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I guess I'll roll with whatever I can find in my closet...or something..." I stood up, going up the stairs.
"Taylor, I have a suggestion." Hannah spoke up as I reached the top, I turned to look and she started marching up, following me to my room
"May I?" She asked. I nodded. She began rummaging through my drawers rather than the mirror closet. She'd helped me put some of the boxes in here and had then helped catalogue what it was I was keeping. One of those weird PRT rules of having to take inventory of all the Ward's posessions.
To my surprise and slight feeling of horror, Miss Washington pulled out, unbelievably, a One-piece swimsuit.
"You're joking." I flatly said.
She smirked, somehow mannaging to seem apologetic and smug at the same time. Cold Brockon Bay night air and I'm out jumping around in a swimsuit. I'm not like one of those all-female hero groups down in Miami, Florida.
"Honestly, this is only being laid out 'just in-case'" She held up her hands in air quotes. "You lose control, so that you're not flat out naked in the middle of the street."
"Come again?" I was thinking right about now would be a good time to find Armsmaster, or Miss Militia. Or anyone. Maybe a villain group would have a better suggestion than me walking around naked across Brokton Bay.
"Your ash hun." She said. "You made it cover you in the training room right? That's what I saw in the video anyway. You could use it to cover you from head to toe and this" She held up the swimsuit again. "Is the 'just in case'"
"My ash?" I'm still kinda reeling from the thought that she was just talking about me running around naked across Brockton Bay.
"Yeah. I mean, you were able to have ash cover all of you and you didn't feel any problems or odd about it right? Just do it again. The ash itself will be your costume. Its not like you're not gonna be covered from head to toe in it anyway."
She had a point…
"But its a swimsuit…" I offered lamely.
She laughed.
So minutes later, after plenty of coaxing, prodding, and throwing a shirt and pair of shorts over myself for decency until I had enough ash on hand to burry myself under it. I was marching across the Wards dorms towards the exit with her. Swimsuit safely hidden under layers of better, bulkier, far less exposing clothes.
"Okay, what stuff do I need to burn to get enough ash to cover me up."
"We can make a quick stop to the oil rig." She walked into my room and offered me a leather jacket. "Here, it may get a bit chilly."
So here I sit, in quite a pickle. Wearing a leather jacket, shorts and swimsuit. Weighing my options so to speak.
Haha.
Soon enough we're standing in the same training room with plenty of stacks of paper, wood and cloth. I walk inside and ignite my hands. I eyed the stacks around me and released my fire in a stream, weaving it like a snake as it set the items aflame.
"So...what do I do on patrol?" I asked, looking up to Miss Washington.
"Well, you and Vista have an assigned to a fairly nearby sector of the city. Miss Militia will be patroling there as well tonight to cover more ground and back you up should you need it.
"ABB or E88 Territory?"
Its rather depressing I realize; when you can designate chunks of the city based on what Gang they're under control of.
She seems to share that sad smile. "ABB." She admits. "But far from Lung, or Oni-Lee's usual haunts in their teritory. Its your first night and like I said, Miss Militia is patrolling the area as well...You shouldn't run into any parahuman villains at all."
"If I do, I call for back-up and fall back immediately. Otherwise, we can handle it right?"
"According to PRT regulations and the Youth League you should call for Backup no matter what but if we were to do that half the criminals would escape and Wards would learn nothing during their tenure as Wards. Miss Militia, Director Piggot and Armsmaster generally trust the Wards to exercise their own judgement on the threat scale. That having been said, its your first night out and even though you are older, Vista has much more experience than you. So you follow her lead. Ok?"
"Yeah. Makes sense."
She smiles. "Alright. Well; come on lets see what you can do with this ash."
Oh yeah I'd almost forgotten that I was all but heading out to my first patrol in a swimsuit still.
What a way to start my superhero career.
We waited for the cinders to fade and the item to be burnt to ash. I removed my jacket and shorts, now in just a swimsuit and shoes and extended my hand out.
As if one cue, the ash came swirling to my call, landing my legs and arms and going to my body and neck. Soon, more ash was gathering on me, going to my face and I made sure not to place any ash near my nose, lips, or eyes.
Before long, I was covered in ash, my skin blending in with the swimsuit. I still had some left over.
"Hmmm…" I pondered. I had some extra ash...what if I…
I look around. Finding the polished surface of the door offering me my reflection.
I can still recognize myself. Or at least a me that's charcoal grey from head to toe.
I focus for a bit, will the particles of ash to move as I immagine.
As if the matter in question read my mind, the extra ash came to my body, not just settling on my skin but...clothing it. At first its something resembling clothes. But that doesn't look good enough to walk around in. With my luck I'd just be confused with a dirty Hobo.
Armor...I need armor.
I try to think of Armsmaster's armor and I can see it conforming to my wishes, or trying to. There's not enough ash to make me a seven foot tall replica of that power suit.
So I start to think of the most important places to cover up. Upper torso definitely. Chest area is a must. I am not walking around Brockton Bay for all intents and purposes bare ass naked.
It starts to form right before my eyes. Gritty grains slide up and down to conform to what I'm imagining. Seeing it come to life before my eyes.
When I'm done, I look like something out of a medieval magazine.
Looking down, I greaves of sort which rose up to my mid-thigh. My hands where covered in gauntlets of scratchy ash and my chest had a sort of breastplate around it.
"Wow." Miss Washington Whistled. "Nice."
I looked at the polished door still finding one problem. I could still see charcoal grey Taylor staring back at me. "Yeah, but my head is still free. Not sure if I have enough ash to make a-" And then before I knew it, I had ash swirl around my face. I closed my eyes in reflex. Trying to ensure nothing gets in, but I didn't feel the ash flicker against my eyelids. I opened my eyes, and I saw my vision obscured, with my only sight coming from two small slits.
"My helmet is Knight-esque ain't it?" I asked, moving around and trying to get a better look. Thankfully, it changed to my whim, extending from two holes to become a V-shaped opening. "Much better." I had my hand reach around to feel my ashen helmet, feeling two wing like protrusions
"It sure does. Can you breath okay?" Asked Hannah.
I felt at my mouth, feeling the solid surface there. "Lemme fix that up." My breath wasn't impeded. But better safe than sorry. I definitely don't want ash becoming cement in my lungs like what happened with the victims of that Ash Beast guy in Africa. With a change my helmet rose up so it covered the top half of my head, my mouth and nose were largely free. With the ash that covered my skin though, in the dark it'd be kind of hard to tell the difference unless you really looked close though.
"Ugggh. Just give me a masquerade mask or something." I removed the ashen helm, the ash going back to my chest plate. "Or heck, a PRT officer's helmet and glasses can work for now."
"Let's do that then. In the mean time, I'll ask Armsmaster to make you a suitable helmet for you, once we get your complete cape costume. For now, a simple helmet and glasses can be enough to hide your face."
"Besides, if I meet any criminals, I'll blind them ash before taking them down." I added. One benefit to using ash. I can blind their eyes real quick with the flick of a finger.
"Okay, I'll call someone now. Let's get you to Vista and you two and start your shift...Ashburn."
I smiled at that and jogged to her side, not a grain of ash falling off as we walked side by side. We rode the chopper back to PRT HQ and I was given a spare PRT helmet and glasses to wear. Best of all? Protectorate-grade sunglasses have Night and Heat Vision! And they even had spares with my prescription. Not every PRT agent could have full 20/20 vision after all.
"Armsmaster reproduced them with the help of Dragon. Any edge to help our non-parahuman soldiers." Miss Washington smiled as she explained.
I am so keeping this this is too rad. Or at least getting Armsmaster to install this in my own helmet when he makes it! Night and heat vision!
Strapping the helmet to my head and donning the glasses I looked myself over. Nothing that would distinguish me as the Taylor...except...my height...and my hair...but I couldn't really do anything about the first and I was keeping the second no matter what.
"Okay." I sighed, hands on my hips. "So, where's Missy?"
"Probably out in the van waiting for you. I'll take you there." We walked together out to the parking garage, and I noticed how the sun was beginning to set; its already past seven after all.
We got the van and there waiting for me was Missy dressed in her costume. The superheroine Vista.
She wore a teal and green costume with a short dress, leggings and panels of body armor, including a breastplate, and has a green visor across her eyes. She turned and waved.
"So that's your costume Tay-I mean, Ashburn?"
"For tonight." I replied. "There was a mix up in my order. I'll deal."
"Okay, Miss Militia's shift will start at 9 p.m. so make sure when you're around that time to stay in contact with her okay?" Said Hannah. We both nodded as I got into the vehicle.
"Don't worry Ashburn, I'll show ya the ropes!" She grinned, flexing her arm. I chuckled, both at her action and at the prospect of a thirteen year old being my senior at work.
"I can't wait." I looked up at Miss Washington as she gave me a thumbs up and shut the door. And then we were off, me riding in the back of a non-conspicuous van with a fellow superheroine who is two years my junior.
"So how do we remain in touch?" I asked Vista.
"We use communicator watches." Vista, who was sitting next to me, reached down below her and got out a small case. Inside are two futuristic looking watches.
"So they tell time, get a read on our position…" Vista pressed the buttons with each function. It showed a digital clock, followed by an analog clock, and then a blue holographic display of Brockton Bay with a blinking white dots and several green ones. "White is your watch. Green is the other watches held by other heroes."
She pressed a couple small buttons again. "And this is your heart beat monitor…" Showed a flatline and the typical heart stuff I see at hospitals and their machines. "And here's communication!" She gave me a watch and I pressed the comm button, colored purple.
"Testing testing." I spoke. And I heard my voice over Vista's watch.
"Testing good!" She chirped. I heard it over my watch again.
Tinker make the best stuff. I feel almost jealous of Kid Win now.
"Wait, what about a silence mode? Like, if we're tracking someone and don't want to get caught?" I asked curiously.
"Thought you'd never ask." Vista grinned, pressing the purple button. "Silent Mode Engaged." The watch's glowing green screen turned blue. She pressed comm button again. "Shadowing someone. need back up. Vista." She whispered low.
I heard my watch vibrate and look down, seeing the words on my watch.
Shadowing someone. Need back up. Vista
"The device register's our voice before long. All heroes have watches or ear communicators that they can use as well.
"I could go for an ear piece. When can I?"
"When you graduate high school and the Wards and become a full fledged PRT Hero." Vista calmly replied.
I took a deep breath and placed the watch on my left wrist. Thankfully the ash moved at my mental request, and then the gauntlet reformed. I had my right index finger over it, and the ash parted to reveal a watch that was still pristine.
Is this is not the cleanest ash or what?
"Okay. That's all good and settled." I looked back at Vista. "So are we going to be out on the streets on the prowl or hanging here in the van until we hear or see trouble."
"We go roof hopping." She stated as if it's the most easiest thing in the world.
"Wait what." I can punch robots and send them flying several dozen yards. But hopping roof to roof! "Oh wait." My trepidation fled me. "Your powers."
Vista snapped her fingers. "There we go. Yep. We just walk roof to roof, spy on any activity going on below if we spot it and then, we swoop down and kick ass!"
I'm excited! "Can't wait!" I'm jittery as hell. Can't tell if I'm nervous or excited.
No need to fear. I try to remind myself. With my ash protecting me it'll take a brute five like that dummy to hurt me badly and there's only a few of those in the city. Besides, I lay down the hurt too!
Vista giggled and we just sat back, riding the van. I drank a bottle of water to hydrate, Pulling the ash away as I accidently swallowed a bit the first time.
Note to self.
Ash, even mine. Tastes horrible.
My only consolation is that Vista didn't fare much better as she spat out half her drink up and out of her nose as she tried not to laugh.
We felt the van crawl to a stop.
"We're here." Said the agent up front. Another man opened the door for us as we stepped out in a dingy alley.
"You're in ABB territory. Good hunting." Said the agent as he got back into the van and drove away. I turned and saw a fire escape ladder extended down to our level.
"Let's go." Vista gestured as she began to climb and I followed. I would have felt nervous and my palms clammy, but I felt it again. The warm feeling from this morning.
Thank you power. You're so reassuring. I feel bad I can't talk to you. Maybe a thank you to myself is in order.
And that sounded vain as hell.
We climbed up the fire escape and got on top of the roof, and I could see the glittering skyscrapers of Brockton Bay in the distance. I turned around...and saw the industrial sector, with it's low residential neighborhoods in the distance.
"Alright lets go." Vista chirped as she began walking along. I followed in suit. We reached the edge of a building and Vista shortened the distance, once over a dozen feet, to just a foot as we stepped onto the next.
"So...we just walk roof to roof, trying to be on the look out for anything?" I asked her.
"Pretty much. Aegis and Kid Win have the easier time in roof hopping. Shadow Stalker too. Clockblocker, Gallant without jumper jets and Browbeat have a hard time. So patrol shifts would rotate between members at times to make it easier. Sometimes one will be on the roofs the other will be on foot. If its just too impractical."
That made sense. Eyes up top, on one the streets. We continued roof walking, taking peeks down at the streets below.
"So, what are we looking for?"
"Groups of Asian guys. It sounds racist but thats what the ABB is comprised of: Eastern Asians. They wander out here in packs. Or a suspicious guy, in which case we tail him." Vista replied. We stopped by a ventilation system and Vista made the adjacent building's fire escape close enough to grab. We hopped on and began climbing up to the top. Looked to be around ten stories tall. "Okay, let's see what we got." She reached behind her, apparently where her utility belt is and got out a pair of binoculars and looked at the streets below. Beyond that are the run down warehouses that once housed the cargo that came from and went to the docks once upon a time. And the old steel mill and iron works, the smoke stacks still spewing their CO2 to clog up the atmosphere.
I looked down at my watch, and turned on the map, seeing our sector in the district. We're not too far from the docks. E88 territory. The stretch of George Avenue is the border line that switched hands so often people couldn't tell who controlled what there at a given hour of the day. There was my white dot, eight blocks away from it. Vista's green dot next me, and a green dot a good few miles away. It had the initial of crossing Assault Rifles.
Miss Militia.
Glad to know she has our back at least. "Miss M is in the area." I whispered.
"I know. Also, we're on top of a ten story building Ashburn." Smiled Vista as she looked through the binoculars. "No need for whispering."
"Oh right." I said in my normal voice. "Sorry."
We continued to look out, scanning the streets from our highest vantage point. My head was on a swivel looking for anything odd. The streets were barren save for a few hobos and cars and trucks going through.
Okay, this is starting to get a little boring…
"Vista. I see lights." I was looking to the south, and Vista looked my way. True enough, a small convoy of white vans were driving down the street. Five in number? This late at night?
"I think we got something." Vista pocketed the binoculars. We crawled away from the edge and went to the edge of the building. From thirty feet to three inches we were on another rooftop, then another and another as we tailed the vans. The Convoy of vans were turning right down the street and towards the warehouses.
We both heard our watches give a ping as we looked down.
"This is Velocity. Intel says our resident Dragon has decided to move his stash from the casino."
"What we looking at." It was Miss Militia's voice.
"Several vans are missing from the casino lot. If we can spot them, might be able to find out where Lung is holding his fortunes until he can launder the money. They're white vans by the way. We're matching license plates with traffic cameras now."
"This is Ashburn and Vista." Missy spoke into the watch. "We have five vans down in the factory district matching that description. Say again, are you missing five?"
"Yeah. Hey, Ashburn's the rookie right? You listening in?" Asked Velocity. "Ahh anyway, sorry for not seein' ya at base when I could. Almost completely for-."
"Cut the chatter." It was Armsmaster. "Vista, Ashburn, proceed with caution. From security camera footage we have reason to believe those vans have at least twelve armed thugs plus they have several hundreds of thousands of dollars at minimum in cash."
"Should we intervene?" I asked.
"Your call. You can either wait on us to get there or jump in." Miss Militia. "I'm on my way already."
"Got it." I looked at Vista and she was grinning as she spoke "We'll intervene." I need something to happen. Action. "Ashburn and Vista are a go."
"Careful. I'm on my way." Miss Militia replied
I looked at Vista and nodded. "Let's roll." In an instant, she shortened the distance for us to cross the street onto another building in an instant. We followed the vans until they finally pulled into an alley. We walked slowly as we saw a door leading to a warehouse close. And there were lights inside.
"This is Ashburn. Got a visual on the warehouse." I whispered as I turned my watch to silent.
Number? Miss Militia
I looked up, but it was too dark to see anything. I approached and ignited my hand to get a better look.
"Warehouse Eight."
Headed there now. Was her reply.
I looked at Vista, who was bringing some truck-crates down for us to hop on. As they returned to normal height, we were able to look in the windows.
True enough, all the trucks were inside, and the gang of men and some women inside looked to be all Asian.
I knelt down into my watch. "Confirmed ABB. I got a visual on the trucks."
Engage. Armsmaster.
I took in a deep breath. First combat. I'm going to be fighting against men and women who may want to kill me. I took notice of the lights hanging in the warehouse.
Vista made a tiny, two inch gap in the window a two foot gap, enough for us to sneak in without moving anything. She shortened the distance again to have us simply translate from window to an overhead catwalk. Now I knew what everyone meant when they said absurd battlefield control.
I looked up, several long tube light bulbs were the primary source of light in the warehouse. The thugs were beginning to unload the money. It looked like a lot of money.
"Ok, You're the brute here so you'll be doing the heavy hitting." She whispered. I'll cover you from up here."
"That's it?" I asked, incredulous. This was the extent of the plan?
"They're eight normals." She said as if that was an answer. "You show up, they shoot the swing and then try to run when they realize its not working. I make sure they can't run this is really not something you need a lot of planning for."
"I...guess…" I looked around, back to the lightbulbs. "Ok...Ok." I took a breath. "Count of three then."
She grinned, offering me a thumbs up.
"Three!" I yelled before jumping over the catwalk.
There was a sharp crack as the three nearest tube light bulbs were shattered under hastily formed whip of ash a split second before I landed next to one of the vans and an ABB member.
I spent a lot of target practice over the weekend, and it has paid off.
There was yelling going on now. Not sure if it was Chinese or Japanese or what have you. They shouted at each other. I lash out with my ash again with my mind and activate the night vision. The gritty ash lashes out, wrapping onto the first guy's face like a wet cloth. He gasps, or tries to. Panics when air doesn't flow into his lungs. His hands come up and my fist is in his gut.
I forget to hold back. He goes flying down the length of the wearhouse and suddenly someone else is in his way, both my victim and the one he crashed into going down hard. Vista must have moved him into the path or something. Suddenly someone else was smashing into the side of the van right behind me. I turned, and it wasn't one guy, it was two.
They were on the ground dazed and confused as they just smashed into something that wasn't there before. My ash struck like a snake, getting them in the face and I solidified it to make sure they won't scream and attract more attention. I'm fairly sure my ash is bulletproof but the longer that goes without testing on me the happier I'll be.
I left the noses open. One guy I grabbed and rammed his ash covered head against the van, denting the metal with a rough imprint of his face enough to rattle him inside the protective layer.
I felt my wrist watch vibrate and I looked down.
Suddenly the emergency lights flare on, all but blinding me for the split second it takes for the night vision lenses to turn off.
Vista must have been the same because I'm facing a group of asian thugs all staring straight rather than being thirty to a hundred feet off the mark. Glaring at me behind the barrels of loaded guns.
"Enjoy a night at the casino?" I asked with a smirk that was more to hide my own nervousness than anything. My ash can protect me and my head I was sure of it. It'd been tested. One thing is a test though and another is the real thing.
One thug a stupid one it had to be. Because this guy brought a bat to a gunfight, ran up and swung said sportsmanship instrument at my head. My arm took the blow, and I couldn't even feel it. His eyes were in surprise as I ripped the bat free and threw a haymaker at him, this time I actually did try to hold back. Still he was sent flying to another van, making a considerable dent and even rocking the thing.
Oh god is he dead!?
"S-Sorry!" I called out alarmed and then blushing as I realized I apologized. Any image of badassery I might have conjured just went blithely out the window. Then I heard other men yell out started shooting.
My hands ignited in flame as waved my hand, making a wave of flame right in front of me and the thugs backed away. I heard yelling as I saw a guy crumple to the ground next to an open van door. I looked above, Vista gave me a thumbs up.
Some thugs caught sight of her, tried to shoot, but its rather hard to hit a target that's a mile above you.
The one that fell, his shirt was on fire as he rolled on the ground. I was running that way as the ones behind him that saw him on fire stopped shooting. The others kept it up. Two steps I was crossing thirty feet. Disoriented but Vista gave me enough room between me and him to compensate and throw my shoulder into a shoulder charge to the ABB member, sending him flying into more crates.
I used my ash to put out the flames on the shirt of the screaming thug as the man's panic made it impossible for him to think or move deliberately enough to just remove the damn jacket. He was relieved for a split second before I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck from behind and smashed his whole body into a van. Another large dent and he crumpled to the ground.
The thugs were turned to run. Two steps and I was behind one, grabbing him by the shirt to stop him, feeling the cloth tear as I pulled, still enough to stagger the...woman. Huh!
I grabbed her by the back of the neck and hair as she stumbled and fell absolutely nowhere thanks to Vista again. I looked at her face, her expression was terrified even through the scarf she was wearing as a mask.
"Stay still." I requested before throwing her back to the vans to join her unconscious/pained friends.
I saw two guys hit the far wall head first. Vista again. Three more I could see were-
I staggered as I felt harsh impacts against my face. The one part of me just covered by ash, not the helmet and the ash. Chinks of sound brought my eyes down to see two throwing knives on the ground
I turned to where I felt the source must have been.
Approaching from one of the vans was a masked man dressed in a black body suit and a bandoleer and belt full of knives and shuriken. And his mask made me catch my breath. It was an ornate-Japanese mask in crimson and green.
Oh...shit…
Oh...shit…
Okay...Okay Taylor calm down. Its probably just someone playing dress up or something. I mean what are the chances that this was actually-
I felt a vibration at my wrist. I looked down.
"Oni-Lee, calling for Backup!"
Damnit Vista!
"Oh fuck me." Suddenly he was rushing at me. I didn't think! I flung a fireball at him as he ran towards me. A part of me is frowning and reminding me of Armsmaster or Piggot as it complains about my using a lethal takedown. The other part of me, is abjectly replying something along the lines of:
Non-lethal takedowns my ass!
Oni Lee was a known killer. The man had more bodies under his notch than Lung and half the E88 members combined according to rumors on PHO!
The ball hit him full in the chest, exploding and turning him to ash and I felt something slide against my throat before turning and punching. Another Lee vanished into more ash under the panicked force of my fist.
He just tried to slit my damn throat!
First night out and I'm against a murdering psycho of a parahuman!
I felt more than heard the soft clinking sound of...something. Then there are arms wrapped around my waist.
I looked down and...somewhere in my head I recognize that the little metal band around that finger with the wriggly twisted point sticking out of one side is a grenade pin...
(X)