Chapter 2-5
It's funny how you can see something like the PHQ every day and never really grasp how big it is. The converted oil rig was a mess of small rooms, labs, workshops, and training areas designed to cater to every need its designers could think of. I think I spotted Assault walking around too. Oh, and the base flew. Somehow.
This place is awesome. I suppressed the urge to giggle.
Sarge led us through the maze of security terminals and polite-but-not-friendly PRT agents strewn about the place. It made me wonder what all these people were so paranoid about. I mean, the Rig is floating over the bay. How on earth are people supposed to get in without anyone noticing, especially in the middle of the day?
"It'll get better once they've seen your face around a couple of times, kid." Massani reassured. "They just don't like newcomers. Wouldn't be the first time someone tried infiltrating this place. Can't be too careful when capes are involved."
I silently nodded in response. I had to admit that I was as terrified of this place as I was giddy. It was like getting to meet a famous pop star face-to-face. Sure, you've seen it all several times on TV, but that doesn't prepare you for the real thing. I just didn't know what to say, so I kept my mouth shut. Better that people think I'm shy than a bumbling idiot.
My reverie was broken when I noticed a very pleased-looking Armsmaster right in front of us. I mentally slapped myself. How the hell did I miss a giant man in power armor. Focus! We're not a bunch of tourists.
"Good to see you again." He said with a wide grin on his face. "Figured you'd come to us sooner rather than later. It's nice to have a name to put with the face."
"You know my daughter?" Dad asked incredulously. Right, I hadn't told him about that.
"I was the first on the scene when she took down Lung. We talked a little, I made a recruitment pitch…"
Suddenly, Sarge stepped forward. I'd forgotten he'd been there. Focus, dammit! "Now hold on one goddamn minute!" He said before grabbing me by the shoulder. "You're the one who took down Lung? The Lung?!"
"Well, yeah." Was all I could get out.
"And you didn't tell me about it?"
"I just got lucky and I don't like to brag…"
"Un-fucking-believable." He said before laughing. "Goddamn adorable you are. Bet the director's really pissy Armsmaster didn't bring you in right away. Anyway, I'll let you kids do your thing. See ya around."
Him mentioning the director didn't make me any less nervous though. "Am I in trouble, Armsmaster?"
"No." He replied. Firm and direct, like I remembered. "The director and I have a…difference of opinion when it comes to recruiting. She prefers a more aggressive approach. In your case, that wasn't necessary. Piggot disagreed." I don't know what he meant by 'aggressive', but I'm glad he didn't try to coerce me or something. Then again, the director might not be so considerate…
"Thanks…" I needed to stop sounding so uncertain. Seriously, I'm just embarrassing myself.
"Don't mention it. You took out Lung by yourself to save someone you've never met. I think you've earned the benefit of the doubt. The director does want to see you, however. If you'd follow me…"
We walked the rest of the way in silence until my dad prodded me and said: "You never said anything about meeting Armsmaster…"
"I didn't want to talk about Lung, either. He got a couple of good hits on me and I'd just end up scaring you if I told you about it. Besides, it was luck, not skill. Nothing worth bragging about."
Dad sighed. "I think a lot of people would disagree. From now on, you tell me what's going on, okay? Last thing I want to hear is that you've become a crime lord and are running half the city."
"Alright, Dad." I guess I would have to be more honest with him in the future. Holding my cards close to my chest has its advantages, but Dad genuinely wants to be a bigger part of my life now. Maybe he feels guilty for not seeing the signs sooner? Or maybe he just wants to be a proper dad.
Armsmaster led us to a conference room. Strangely enough, the pit of awe and dread in my stomach hadn't gone anywhere. You'd think I'd have gotten used to seeing important faces by now, but apparently I hadn't. It was only the director, I told myself. Yes, only the person who'd essentially be my boss for the next couple of years, a traitorous part of my mind reminded me. Oh hell.
The first thing I noticed about the director was her frown. When I came through the door, she had a strange, disapproving look on her face. Did she always have that, or was it just me? Had I made a bad first impression? I pushed the thought out of my mind. The woman offered me and my dad a seat while silently sizing me up. It was at this very awkward moment that my brain decided to remind me that I was, for all intents and purposes, totally naked.
Fuck you, brain.
I squashed the absurd thought by returning the director's glare. It's moments like these that I'm glad my suit came with a mask.
"I'm Emily Piggot, director of PRT East-North-East." She stated, flatly. "You're Taylor Hebert, the girl that took down Lung."
"Umm, yeah, that's me…" I suppose Armsmaster must have told her who I was.
Piggot's glare didn't waver. "There is a sort of balance of power between the gangs in Brockton Bay." She stated, flatly. "None of them are powerful enough to go to war with another without leaving themselves exposed to us. Because of that, they mostly keep to their own territories and the violence is kept to a minimum. Your actions have upset that balance." I nervously shifted in my seat. I didn't like where this was going. "Whether you realize it or not, you've just started a gang war. With Lung out of the picture, the ABB will probably be destroyed by the other gangs. Without the ABB to keep them in check, the Empire 88 gang will try to expand into their former territory. Maybe this will make the Empire 88 much more powerful and they'll decide to turn on the other gangs. Maybe the E88 will overextend itself and fall apart. Maybe new gang will move in and challenge us. Whatever happens, it will involve violence. Your decision to go after Lung will indirectly result in innocent people getting hurt."
My heart stood still. I…I never wanted to start a war. I just wanted to be a hero and save people. This wasn't supposed to happen. Except it did.
"Are you accusing my daughter of something, director?" My father growled.
The director's expression hadn't changed at all. "Your daughter is powerful, Mr. Hebert. Having the deck stacked in your favor doesn't change the fact that she single-handedly defeated someone who took on an Endbringer and won. You're a cape, Taylor. With power comes responsibility. Maybe you think that having superpowers makes you special, but underneath that armor, you're still a fifteen-year-old girl with a lot to learn and I don't think you're ready to handle the kind of power you've got. Not on your own. That's what the Wards program is ultimately for: To make sure that people like you can learn how to use their power and keep them from making a mistake that will get themselves or someone else killed."
I could hear my dad's heart pound in his chest. It wasn't a sound I liked hearing. "You make it sound like she's some sort of murderer waiting to happen!"
"Mr. Hebert, she did nearly murder someone. Not someone I feel any sympathy for, but still. Now, I'm sure Taylor didn't plan to hurt Lung as much as she did, or that she enjoyed it, but that doesn't change what happened. While the PRT won't come after her for this, the gangs might; either for revenge, or to recruit her."
Anger boiled to the surface. I may have made a mistake, but being called a criminal was too much. "I'm not a villain! I would never work for a gang!"
"Not willingly." Piggot calmly replied. "But would you still be as resolute if the Merchants stuck a needle full of heroin in your arm? What if someone kidnaps your father and threatens to kill him unless you start working for them? You fall into a dangerous middle-ground when it comes to powers, Taylor: Strong enough to be a huge asset to whoever gets their hands on you and weak enough to be conscripted against your will. Gangs will come after you, one way or another. You wouldn't be the first cape that turned villain because of something like that. That is why joining us is in your best interest. You need us as much as we need you."
Piggot is a bitch, I decided. A fat bitch too. Physically speaking, she was an absolute mess. Along from being massively overweight, her skin looked sickly, her hands seemed a little swollen, and I could hear that she had trouble breathing. The director looked like she should have been in a hospital. In fact, I could probably deck her with a single punch. Still, she had a strength of will that was, quite frankly, terrifying. How somebody who looked so frail could be so intimidating was utterly beyond me.
Bitch or not, though, she was right. Not just about me, but about everything. I had been short-sighted. In taking down Lung, I had unwittingly put god-knows how many lives at risk.
"Was going after Lung the wrong decision?" I asked, almost dreading the answer.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe he would have started a gang war on his own. Maybe he would have done something worse. We don't know , and we probably never will. If nothing else, I'll sleep betting knowing that Lung's off the streets."
"Then why tell me this? Why…"
"…am I being such a bitch?" The director interrupted.
"I wasn't going to say it." I muttered apologetically.
"But you were thinking it. Everyone does. My job is to keep parahumans from ripping the city apart. Essentially, it is to keep people like you on a leash. A normal can't melt a hole in a ceiling and take on two dozen men unarmed. Capes, however, do things like that all the time, recklessly throwing themselves from one dangerous situation into the next, consequences be damned. Powers are not a toy, Ms. Hebert. This isn't a harmless game of cops-and-robbers you're playing."
"Don't you think I don't know that?!" I snapped back. "I nearly killed Lung by accident and I almost died in the attempt! I know it isn't a fucking game!" It took a minute before I realized what I just did. I just yelled at the director of the PRT. Crap.
To my surprise, she didn't get angry. She just smiled. "Good."
"Good?"
"You know you're not invincible and you know your powers can kill." Piggot explained. "Those are probably the two most important lessons every cape will have to learn. The capes that don't either end up dead or in jail. I needed to know if you'd learn that lesson fighting Lung."
Suddenly, the pieces fell in place. "You were…testing me…"
"Yes," She said. The smile had disappeared, even if her tone wasn't as harsh as before. "and I will do it again. I have to if I want you to be prepared for the reality of being a Ward. Being good at hitting things isn't enough. Superheroes have to be more than just blunt instruments. They are symbols. People that others are supposed to look up to. We have standards to uphold. You're smart enough to know your limits. That's good. It means that you'll be more careful in the future with your powers. You're also emotionally resilient enough not to lose your temper or break down into tears when I criticize you. That's going to be important when the press starts to ask questions. I may be harsh, but I'm a saint compared to those vultures."
"Guess that's two years of being bullied paying off…"
The director's eyes narrowed. "I see. Records mention that you're enrolled in Winslow High. I suppose you'll want a transfer to Arcadia, then?"
"Sarge mentioned that you could do that."
"Officer Massani was right. We will iron out the particulars later, maybe arrange some form of homeschooling if it's needed. Transferring you right away could lead to problems in the future."
"You don't want people to guess my secret identity by looking at Arcadia's new arrival list." I reasoned.
"Exactly. Now, with that out of the way, I would like to formally invite you into the Wards program." Piggot held out a hand. This was it, wasn't it? If I took it, it'd be the end of my old life and the beginning of a new one. I briefly glanced at my dad. He nodded in approval.
I took the director's hand. "I accept."
Piggot smiled for a second time. "Welcome aboard, Taylor."