2.6

It was past three in the afternoon when Taylor woke up. Her sleep scheduled was all messed up recently. Her little grotto had no sunlight and a clock would be a waste of what her generator could hold. If she was honest with herself it didn't matter. It's not like she had anywhere to be. Taylor just could never shake the feeling she was wasting her day if she slept in. Something her dad always tried to teach her.

Thinking about her dad always gave her pause. She wondered what he was doing right now. Wondered if he was thinking about her. If he missed her. If he hated her for leaving. Taylor was all he had left.

'It's Better this way,' the girl told herself. 'I couldn't risk him finding out what I was doing. Once I'm strong enough to help people I'll go back. I'll tell him everything. He'll understand why I did it. He has to.'

Pulling herself off her cot she stretched her stiff muscles. She grabbed her bag from the floor and stuffed her change of clothes into it. Her hidden money was next. The metal suitcase was still half full, the power she got from the money launderer said it was about two grand. Taylor knew technically she was supposed to report money over 500 dollars to the PRT, at least that's what the people on Parahumans Online said, but she needed the cash. It didn't take long after striking out on her own to realize how hard it could be to not have any money.

She took a stack of ten dollar bills from the case and put it back. Stuffing them in her coat she took a deep breath and dived into the water.

XxXXxX

It didn't take long after leaving home for Taylor to miss a lot of the comforts of civilized life. Well, one comfort really. She could take to sleeping on a cot, having only a few pairs of old clothes, and even not having heat after she gained the powers from that Badger guy. No the one thing Taylor truly missed was a hot shower.

After a few attempts at sneaking into the local schools to use their showers ended with her nearly being seen naked by the entire Arcadia JV volleyball team she hit upon a far easier solution. There were about twenty gyms all around Brockton Bay. For most a day pass cost about ten bucks. All of them had showers.

She'd make a token appearance at working out to avoid the staff asking questions and then have twenty or thirty minutes of bliss.

Standing under the hot water she began to think. If last night proved anything it was that the heroes couldn't be trusted to see what she could do until she had started to show them. And for that she needed more powers.

Taylor's breath caught slightly at the thought of more killing.

'If only there was another way.' She had come this far though. To stop now would mean all of it was for nothing. No matter what Taylor would not let that happen.

Perhaps it was time to go bigger. Find someone who was really misusing their gifts and make sure they get put to real use. Most of the gangs were out of reach though. If the real heroes couldn't take guys like Lung or Kaiser out she didn't stand a chance.

The Undersiders might be a possibility given what she saw last night, before the Wards got involved. She had gotten so close to taking out the fire girl.

'If only they had let her explain.' Taylor's fists clenched as her anger built up. 'No, it's not their fault. They didn't know. If I'm going to be on their side I can't get angry at them for trying to do their jobs.'

Still her mood now soured she turned off the shower and headed to the lockers. As she got dressed she looked at herself in the mirror.

Taylor couldn't help but sigh. She was never an attractive person but the last few weeks had really done a number on what few looks she had. The lack of good food meant she was skin and bones now and she had even gotten paler somehow. The worst of it was her hair. Once her one point of pride the water from the bay and Taylor not having the time to care for it made it matted and greasy. Once she got everything settled she was going to go to one of the fancy hair places girls like Emma always got to go to and have them fix it up.

Thinking of her once best friend ensured the girl's poor mood. It had been a long time since she thought about school at all. The bitch must have thought she ran Taylor off. Taylor hoped she choked on it.

Standing up she all but stormed out of the locker room. She needed a walk.

XxXXxX

By the time the sun had set Taylor had calmed down considerably. She did face a new problem. A low rumble from her belly brought on just how hungry she had gotten. Taking stock of her surroundings she guessed she was on the edge of the Market. That made dinner a lot easier.

Time on her own had taught her the value of finding a few good places to eat and sticking to them. Brockton Bay had no shortage of runaways. As long as she paid for her food no one bothered to question her.

The nearest place she knew of was Easy E's. A hole in the wall diner it had good pie if nothing else. And she always got a table.

XxXXxX

Two burgers, a milkshake, a slice of pie and a salad later Taylor finally felt full. Honestly she wished she had brought a book. Her only source of entertainment was the TV behind the counter but the only way she could hear it was to focus the hearing enhancement she got from the safe cracker.

"Good evening Brockton Bay, this is your channel 26 news team with your eight o'clock news update," a voice said from the TV.

'Eight already?' Taylor really flew sometimes. She refocused on the news anchor.

"In our top story," she began, "there are some recent developments in the trail of Parahuman celebrity Paige Macabee, otherwise known as the Canary. For that we join our correspondent James Johnson for more. James?"

"Thank you, Marry. This has just been given to us by local sources inside the PRT but it seems that tomorrow night the alleged criminal Paige Macabee is being transferred from civil custody and into the custody of the PRT. "

"Interesting, do you have any information on what may be the reason for this?"

"Well I can truly only speculate given the details we have at this time. We know that there has been no guilty plea, but it's possible that a deal has been made. Or it could simply be a matter of containment. But again, at this time it is mere speculation."

Taylor tuned out the rest. Her fists clenched again. Canary had been in the news on and off for the last few weeks. The singer could control minds or something like it and had used that to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend. All that power and she used it to for petty revenge. It made the girl sick. If Taylor had that kind of power. Taylor paused, with that kind of power she could really do some good. She wouldn't even need to fight guys like Lung. They'd have to do what she said.

Almost leaping with giddy joy she got out of the booth. Taylor need to plan. No way would the route be public knowedge but there would only be so many ways to go. Calcatron's powers could narrow them down. She'd just need to wait. This was perfect. She practically ran out of the building.

The girl got a block before a shriek got her attention. She stopped and listened.

"Help!" Someone was in trouble. The voice was coming from down the alley. Taylor turned and ran towards it.

After turning the corner she saw who was yelling. There was a woman had to be about college age. Surrounding her were three men. The leather jackets and shaved heads said E88, or at least wannabe members. One was holding her in a headlock, to her left another was holding her arm. The last was standing in front of her wielding a knife.

"Come on girly," the one with the knife said. "No more screams yeah?"

"Hey!" Taylor's yell got the trio's attention. "Let. Her. Go."

Knife boy snorted.

"Why? Jealous?" His buddies snickered at that.

"Last warning. Let her go or else."

The man advanced toward Taylor.

"And if we don't?" He mocked.

With a quick gesture of her hand the knife wielding thug was thrown against the wall. A loud crack sound followed the impact. A quick glance told her that he had a broken collar bone and his hip had popped out.

"Shit! Cape!" The one to the left of the girl shouted and let go of her.

Another quick movement with her hand and an arc of lightening shot forth and sent the thug to the ground convulsing. A dark wet patch spread over his jeans.

The last man didn't even bother to say anything. He just turned and tried to run. Another movement and he was sent face first into the wall. Blood started to pour from his broken nose.

"Oh my god!" The girl cried in disbelief. "You saved me. I-I don't know what...what."

"Are you hurt?" Taylor asked.

"N-no. Thank you."

"You may want to call 911 to get these guys arrested." The Parahuman paused. "Or to the ER I guess. Then arrested."

"Yeah. Yeah, I can do that." The girl seemed to be calming down.

Taylor began to leave, the would be victim didn't need her around for this.

"Wait! Who-who are you?"

'Good question,' Taylor thought.

She gave no sign that she even heard the girl. She didn't have time to talk. Samedi had to start to planning.