Grind 2.4

Dad and I spent the morning and afternoon running around assembling a costume for me to wear. It was last minute, but I still loved it.

Simplicity itself really, just a black cloak with a hood and mask. Melodramatic and medieval, but they were just so cool. I'd probably get stuck wearing something more heroic eventually, but for now I could enjoy the heavy swooshing fabric. I decided it needed some color so I used a bit of fabric paint to add a white smile to the mask and two big white dots for eyes to the top of the hood. For the finishing touch, I sketched out a book on the back.

It's not fancy, and doesn't look very heroic, but I like it.

"Perfect!"

"Taylor, are you ready yet? We gotta get going or we'll be late!" Dad called from downstairs.

"Coming!" I stowed my costume into my backpack and raced down the stairs.

As I walked out to the car a trio of popping noises announced that my dragonets had teleported into the car. Sure enough, a row of inquisitive heads poked up above the edge of the passenger side window to greet me. I shooed them back so that I could get in.

"Scoot into the back you three, and keep your heads down. We can't have anyone seeing you."

My dragonets complied curling up in the back seat.

Dad dropped me off a few blocks from the PRT headquarters.

"I'll see you inside, Taylor."

We had talked about walking in together and just using the really strange excuse the PRT had phoned in this morning, but Dad thought I would be more impressive showing up in a costume. To do that though, I couldn't come in with him. Otherwise my secret identity would be blown open before my cape career even started.

So I ducked down an ally and after making sure no one was watching, I pulled on my new cloak, and tightened the cowl. Dad must have pulled into the parking garage because a series of popping noises heralded the arrival of my dragonets. I smiled up at them as the circled overhead. Beauty came down to perch on my shoulder, rubbing her cheek against my cowl. I reached out from underneath the cloak to scratch her.

"Alright guys, here we go."

I straightened up. I'm a cape, I'm powerful, Dragon wants me to join the Guild when I turn 18. I can do this. With Beauty on my shoulder and Rocky and Diver circling my head, I look like a dark mage from one of my books. I grinned behind the cowl as I made my way out into the street. That grin doubled in size when people noticed me.

Most people were pointing, which felt awkward. It almost made me want to run. Then I noticed the people on my side of the street, they were clearing a path for me. I'd had this costume all of a day. This was my first time wearing it in public and despite being a no name cape people were making way for me. I lifted my chin and marched on into the PRT building.

At the front desk in the foyer by the gift shop, I addressed the secretary. "I have an appointment."

The woman stared wide eyed at Beauty who chirped a friendly hello. I resisted the urge to reach up and pet my little friend. I only had on normal clothes under my cloak and didn't want to ruin my image. The woman hadn't answered me, and was still staring at Beauty. I don't really mind someone being interested in my friend, but I didn't like being ignored.

"Excuse me. I have an appointment."

"Oh! Of course, my apologies your little creature there is just…"

I nodded smiling fondly as I turned my head to look at Beauty. "Her name is Beauty. If everything goes well today then I'm sure you'll get the chance to see her again." Rocky landed on the desk and peered up at the startled secretary. "For now I would appreciate it if you could direct me to my meeting."

"Of course, take the elevator up third door on the left. Here take this," The woman handed me a small plastic card on a lanyard which I placed over my head. "and follow Ted" She said gesturing to a trooper waiting beside the desk.

Ted nodded. "Please, follow me miss."

Nodding, I followed Ted to the elevator. The door slid shut and I almost missed the feeling of the floor rising under my feet. Tinker tech elevators? Did the PRT really waste tinkers time making fancy elevators? That was pretty stupid, if it turned out to be true. The elevator doors sliding open caught me by surprise; it really must be tinker tech to have such a smooth stop.

As I opened the door to the meeting room, Rocky and Diver raced ahead through the open door circling the room. They drew surprised shouts from the heroes and the director while my Dad, sitting with his back to the door, stayed perfectly still. He was well aware of my friend's antics.

"Taylor, glad you didn't have any trouble on the way over. Take a seat." From his tone I knew Dad was trying hard not to laugh. Grinning, I took the seat on his right. The conference room was big, and packed. The director was sitting at the head of the large table, scowling. Sitting on her right was Armsmaster and Miss Militia, while on her left were Aegis, Vista, and Clockblocker. I nodded to the Wards and with a quick gesture directed Rocky and Diver over to Vista. She immediately scooped the little dragonets into her lap. They cooed appreciatively as Vista scratched above their eyes like I had shown her.

That being taken care of, I directed my full attention at the director. "From what my Dad said, I was expecting Dragon to be here."

"Oh, I'm here miss Hebert," a warm female voice with a faint accent that seemed to come from everywhere said. As she spoke a screen behind Armsmaster lit up showing a rather plain looking woman, the upper half of her face hidden behind a mask. "I'm afraid I don't really get out in person, but never the less I'm here."

I nodded to the screen. "It's a pleasure to meet you Dragon." I was meeting Dragon, and Miss Militia, and Armsmaster all at once! I wanted to start asking for autographs, but I clamped down on the impulse. I'm a cape now, and I'm here to become a hero. I need to make a good first impression. Sitting up straight, I turn my gaze back to the director. "Shall we begin?"

The director's mouth draws into a tight line as her frown deepens. "Yes, lets."

"Director, if I may?" Armsmaster says as he reaches into a pouch built into his armor. "Miss Hebert, please try using your power on this." He places a sticky not on the table.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I follow?"

Dad leans in and picks up the slip of paper, reads it and glances at Armsmaster, then back at me. "It should be fine Taylor. Give it a shot." He places the note in front of me.

I give Dad a searching look but shrug and pick up the slip of paper, written in tight print it says;

Taylor Hebert snapped her fingers, the Endbringers were destroyed.

I glanced between the slip of paper and Armsmaster. I cleared my throat to break the awkward silence. "I, ugh, don't think my power likes your writing Arsmaster."

"Please try snapping your fingers anyway."

I shrugged and complied. Armsmaster turned his attention to the monitor behind him. Dragon shook her head.

Armsmaster scowled before shrugging and muttering something under his breath. Dennis seemed to be fighting hard not to laugh. I put down the little one sentence blurb, again focusing on the director.

"Right then," she said. "You are here to join, so I believe we can dispense with the sales pitch and skip to the details and paper work."

"That's fine, director, so long as were clear on a few details." Dad said speaking up. "If Taylor or I feel she is being mistreated, I won't hesitate to pull her from the program. I want that to be clear above anything else."

The director glared at him but nodded. "Given our past failures I can't really say that I'm surprised. But if that's all then-"

"Ahh, not quite, I know that the Wards do patrols around the city. Given the nature of Taylor's powers, sending her out on patrol as she is now would be pointless. I'd appreciate it if you kept her off of patrol duty until she has a decent offensive and defensive power, for my piece of mind."

Piggot looked like she had bitten into a lemon. "Mr. Hebert, the normal process for inducting a new member of the Wards generally includes several weeks of power testing and training before we send capes on patrol. Given your daughters unique powers, proper testing may take quite some time. I'm sure she can pick up a suitable power before too long."

"Frankly mister Hebert, I'd like to see Taylor focus on potential tinker abilities and lab time. Her potential rate of growth is very exciting," Dragon said. "I've already lined up a list of media with several characters who could provide interesting tinker abilities."

I frowned. It was great that Dragon was interested in me, but I was a cape. I didn't have any really useful combat powers yet but I knew it wouldn't be very hard to get them. I respected Dragon, because she was amazing at what she did, and the idea of tinkering sounded like fun. But couldn't I have some fun with my power too? There were a lot of different things I wanted to try. Like flying, invincibility, laser beams and if I could get away with it, a full sized dragon. I had a power that came with limitless possibilities. Why did Dragon want me to limit myself to just one type of power?

Apparently Aegis was thinking along similar lines.

"Director if I may?" Aegis continued once she waved him on. "After we met with Taylor, the Wards all put our heads together and came up with a list of suggestions. When you told us she could do video games and that you suspected any media would work we had another brainstorming session. We came up with a pretty long list, with a lot of different suggestions. Ma'am we filled pages. Vista and Dennis had particularly compelling suggestions."

Dragon was frowning. "Aegis what could be more productive than developing a variety of tinker abilities? Given time and materials tinkers are often the most versatile of capes. Someone with a variety of tinker specialties could be capable of almost anything."

Now Armsmaster was the one scowling. What had set him off?

Aegis straightened as he addressed the monitor. "With all due respect, Dragon, you've just stated the problem with focusing on tinker abilities yourself. For a tinker to get their gear up to an effective level takes time. We could use more bodies on the streets now, not three months down the road. With the right powers she could be cleaning up the streets inside of a month, she could do tinkering in her spare time once she's established a good set of abilities. Besides, we actually have some suggestions that could greatly contribute to tinkering."

Dragon did not seem to like that answer much, though the director was nodding thoughtfully. "Aegis you've made your point, but why did you bring Clockblocker and Vista?"

Clockblocker stretched his arms out above his head. "Because we convinced him to let us make our sales pitch in person."

I couldn't see his face behind the mask but I would bet he was smiling.

"I think Taylor should use her power on a copy of Pokemon. It would only take a day or two if someone who knows what they're doing goes along to direct her. You can take people with you right?" He directed the question at me.

"Yes, I think so."

Clockblocker nodded. "Best case scenario we walk out with a Gyaradose which is a powerful Pokemon, hit Lung with hyper beam and send him off to the birdcage. Worst case, we walk out with Pikachu, and she has a mobile ranged stun gun which follows orders."

Huh that was actually a pretty good idea, and I wouldn't mind getting some new friends for my dragonets.

Vista cleared her throat loudly. "I think your all thinking about this wrong. The best thing we can get for the team is a healer. I have a way to get her a healing ability and a combat power at the same time." She declared proudly.

That made even more sense than Clockblockers suggestion. Healing would be invaluable to a super hero team, and getting a combat power at the same time, that was just icing on the cake.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked.

Vista grinned triumphantly. "Avatar the Last Airbender. If you, umm, play as Katara you'll get water bending and healing. It's like hydrokinesis controlled by martial arts! I'll go with you to make sure there aren't any problems." The last sentence came out in a rush.

Wait, she and Clockblocker both offered to go with me… "You guys just want to try out your favorite stuff in person don't you?"

The silence was very telling. "Don't get me wrong I'd appreciate the company, and I like your ideas so far, just wanted to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding."

Piggot cleared her throat. "Dragon, I understand your excitement, but Vista makes a very good point. A healing power would be invaluable and if it provides a combat power at the same time then it's a good place to start. If Dennis isn't exaggerating a few days investment in exchange for something capable of fighting Lung would be excellent as well. I think we'll have to put off the tinker powers, at least until Taylor establishes a few immediately useful abilities."

Dragon's expression looked pained. "Of course, director. If that's all then I should be going. Taylor, I'll be in touch. I'll send you a list of suggestions and a rundown of the material in question."

"OK, I look forward to working with you, Dragon."

Dragon smiled. "The feeling is mutual Taylor." Her screen went dark.

"Well then, Taylor, if I can just get your signature on these forms, you can go with Vista to the power testing room and see about getting that healing ability."

Nodding, I started in on the large stack of paper the director presented me with.