Orthosilicic 2.3

(Taylor Hebert)

March 4, 2011

"Hey, have you ever known anyone who you thought was nice, but ended up being a complete bitch?"

Was he…

Was he serious?

Taylor began to giggle at his expectant face, watching it twitch into a confused smile as she bent forwards laughing.

It wasn't as if her ex-best friend betrayed her after years of friendship for someone new. Or that she turned all of the secrets shared between them against her. Or that she had gone out of her way to make Taylor's life miserable for all of high school, eventually leading to her being shut in a locker full of nasties harvested from her harpies.

No, the person she knew wasn't just a bitch.

She was a monster.

Crystal, who was still shifting from foot to foot in front of her, was waiting for her to stop giggling. It had been a few minutes now. Maybe she should stop.

Nah.

It was still hilarious that he thought he knew of bitches.

Alright, enough was enough. Crystal was looking around uncomfortably, as Taylor tried to calm herself down.

"So I guess that's a yes?" The crystalline man asked in front of her.

"Yeah, that's a yes." She sighed as Crystal relaxed in front of her "I haven't laughed that hard in ages… Thanks for that."

"No problem. Can I ask you something else now?" At her nod, he continued "Great. So, I need help with getting some revenge on the Empire. They almost got my sister, and did hurt my mom, but I can't really hurt them without someone watching my back." Was he really expecting her to answer that after one conversation?

"Look, uh, Crystal. I'm sure you're a good guy and all, but we just met." She could see his disappointment from across the roof as she backed away. "I can't exactly trust that you didn't stage that drug deal to get on my good side."

"How could I end up working with the Empire?" Why did he sound so confused? Didn't he realize that the majority of villain capes in Brockton were Nazis? "I'm black!"

Oh.

"Forgive me for not believing you, but you're looking exceedingly purple at the moment."

He held his hands out exasperatedly "Well excuuse me, princess. It's not like my skin changed colors when I got my powers or anything.

Wait, he was a monster cape? Seemed like a flimsy excuse. "You're really pure crystal under all that armor?"

"Yeah, like that dude in Boston, except not metal. Look." As she watched, she saw the bulking mass of the purple shards retract into his chest, leaving behind a rather well toned body dripping in the rain…

She blushed.

"Umm," Taylor started as she turned away from the sculpted masterpiece in front of her "Don't you… have a shirt or something?"

From the corner of her eye she noticed him look down and shrug. "Nope. You should be thankful I'm wearing pants."

Taylor didn't think about that at all. No sir. Not one moment.

"As you can see, I can't prove to you that I'm not working for the Empire, but I do need your help." He waited for her head to focus back onto his. "If you don't want to work with me that's fine, I'll just wait for some other cape. That's not a part of any gangs. Or any groups. Or exceedingly violent. Or…" Taylor sighed.

"Alright. I see your point. I'll help." Just as Crystal began to smile, Taylor help up a hand "However," she paused, waiting for his smile to slip, "You say that the Empire hurt your mom and sister, but if I see any sign that this is a trap, I will leave as fast as I can aiming my powers at you."

He looked a little sheepish at that "That's fine. I wouldn't expect anything else. You want to go out tonight or meet up here tomorrow?"

"I think I'll have to do tomorrow, it's getting a little late for more patrolling." Taylor's watch rang out. What a coincidence! "Make that early. I have to go, meet you here tomorrow at nine?"

"PM? Alright, that works. What time is it now, if you don't mind me asking?"

"One in the morning. Dad wants me home by two. You know how it is." Or… maybe he doesn't, with that cringe. "I… I can stay out later, if you want me to?" Taylor asked hesitantly.

"Nah, you don't have to if your dad..." He paused "Wait, your dad knows you're out right now? Heroing?" He seemed shocked. Was it that weird?

"Of course! I told my dad right away." Not that I had much of a choice. "Doesn't your mom know you're going out to be a hero to help her get revenge?"

Crystal had frozen, staring off into the distance as a grimace grew on his face.

"My mom knows, but after… No. Not explaining that to you." He shook his head at her confusion. "I'm just gonna say my family life isn't the best." He stopped, turned to leave, and said "See you tomorrow, Fish." before popping away, leaving her confused in the pouring rain.

Was it something I said?

March 5, 2011

Taylor was over at Lydia's house practicing the guitar when the phone rang on the counter, Sarah jumping up while yelling "I'll get it!" She and Lydia had been idly listening to Taylor play while they waited for Tony and Jessica to show, Chris having cancelled due to something coming up at his work.

They were supposed to be practicing for the talent show in May, which was a major event for the entire student body, the winners being awarded a meet and greet with the Wards. Chris and Jessica had been hesitant about the event at first, Chris explaining his worries about time commitment and Jessica with her stage fright, but both had changed their minds when they heard Lydia's excitement for potentially meeting the Wards. Taylor hadn't really cared that much about the event, and would have been perfectly happy cheering everyone on from the crowd, but the band her friends had formed needed a guitarist, and Taylor was the only one in the group that knew how to play. Sarah and Tony were going to lead the band as the vocalists, with Lydia and Jessica in the background playing drums and keyboards respectively. Chris was handling the technical aspect, which Taylor was helping with as well, linking up the varying instruments to strobe lights and LED screens. Chris was handy with electronics, but was hopeless with the actual programming of the things he stuck together.

Taylor was happy to see her proficiency in computer programming from Mrs. Knott's class had been useful after all, even if she hadn't really thought much of it during her incarceration at Winslow.

"Tony will be here with Jessica in two minutes guys!" Sarah yelled out over the sound of the guitar, causing Taylor to stop playing.

Lydia glanced over towards Sarah conspiratorially and asked "Think they know yet?"

"That we're making them hang out alone to try and get them to date? Nope. I don't think they even know they like each other yet."

Taylor sighed at her friends antics. They'd been trying to get Jessica and Tony together since before Taylor joined the group, and even she'd been convinced to help them along with their schemes. It was a little annoying when she saw the same glances show up when she was helping Chris with the computer problems, but it was worth it for the commentary.

"I think they'll finally figure it out before the talent show. They're almost dating already!"

"You wanna bet on that, Sarah?"

"If they're not together before our performance, I'll… Hmmm…"

"Do my homework for a week?"

"Sure. Same deal for you?"

"Deal."

They shook hands and Taylor shook her head as she returned her focus to the sheet music in front of her.

"Hey Taylor…" the twin sing-songy voices came up from across the room, and Taylor looked up to see the two staring at her.

Uh oh.

"You have anyone you like?"

"Like, anyone we know?"

"Maybe starting with a 'C'."

Taylor rolled her eyes.

"I think I like a guy with a little more… muscle…" She faded off as she thought of the abs from last night.

I bet those abs could crush a car…Literally…

"Beefcake?" "Beefcake."

She snapped out of her thoughts on Crystal as she noticed the duo in front of her smiling manically at each other.

Oh no.

"Hey Taylor, if we win this, do you think we can get you Aegis's number?"

"Don't you mean when, Lydia?"

"Right of course, when we get you Aegis's number…"

Taylor held her head in her hands as her friends giggled at her.

A few months ago, this would have been different. She would have flinched at the teasing, expecting torturous words to rise from their lips as they betrayed years of comradery, but now that she was at Arcadia…

Wow. She had mellowed out.

The doorbell saved her from further embarrassments, and Sarah skipped off to let her favorite not-yet couple inside as Lydia knowingly smirked at her red face.

"Hey you two what's...?" Tony walked into the room and stopped when he saw Taylor's face "Did you guys break Taylor again? This is the third time this week!"

"Don't worry Tony," Sarah popped up with Jessica beside her "We just found out she has a thing for beefcakes."

"Beefcakes, huh?" Jessica asked while glancing at Taylor "So Sarah and Lydia were wrong for trying to get you and Chris together?"

"Eh, I think there's still a chance of that happening." Lydia spoke as she stared at my flushing face.

"C-can we just move on to playing music, please." Taylor finally stammered out while holding back laughter.

They all laughed together after that, and Taylor was glad to see that it wouldn't ever be at her again.

It was night again, darkness finally taking over the sky as Taylor waved to her friends back in Lydia's house. They had spent a few hours working on their performance, Chris even showing up for an hour to hook up the lights that Taylor couldn't and mess around. But it was about eight now, and she had to check in with her dad before she left to meet up with Crystal to patrol in Empire territory.

Her friends teasing came back to her as she stepped into the truck that her dad was driving. Crystal had seemed a little old for her, but that doesn't mean she couldn't enjoy the eye candy.

"How was it?" Taylor's dad asked and they turned onto the road that left the neighborhood.

"Good, we're finally finishing up the first song, and we're going to try and tie it together with our original song next week."

"That's nice to hear. Still going out tonight?"

Here goes nothing.

"Uh, yeah. I, uh, actually met another hero that wanted help patrolling in Empire turf."

"Anyone I know?"

"Um, not really? He's not a part of a team, just trying to get revenge for them hurting his mom, I think."

"He, huh?" She could feel the smirk growing on his face from across the car "Do I have to have The Talk again about safety?" She could hear the capital letters.

"No," she deadpanned "No, you do not."

Her dad laughed and continued "Right, well if he does anything bad, be sure to let me know. I'm sure Keith's shotgun could use a few test rounds."

"Dad," She sighed out "There's no need for that. We're just going to be patrolling."

"I'm sure that's what all capes say before the romance kicks in.

"DAD!"

"Alright, Taylor, alright. Just be sure to remember the rules."

"Right, the rules." Taylor thought for a second before responding "Number one, don't die. No matter what. If it saves the country or the world, that's the only exception, but the city can suck a big one." Her dad nodded next to her as she continued. "Number two, go for incapacitation. If they can't move, you don't die. Rule three, if all else fails, running is a viable option, even if it reveals any secrets."

"You got it. And remember…"

"Yes dad, dying is for the unfortunate and the stupid, and I can't be either."

"That's my girl."

It wasn't raining that night, so Taylor had to fly up from the alley next to the skyscraper she had planned to meet Crystal on. Medhall, was it? Doesn't really matter. It was just outside Empire territory in the business district. Perfect for the meet.

Taylor was sitting on the A/C unit when she heard the familiar 'pop' from the night before.

It was Crystal, the young man was unmistakable with his purple sheen, but he was wearing a shirt this time.

Boo.

"Yo, Fish. You ready to go?"

"Absolutely, Crystal. Any change in plans? Ready to capture me for the Empire now?"

"I told you I was black! Why do you keep thinking…?" he paused "You're teasing me, aren't you?"

"Yep."

"Right." He sighed "Anyway, there is a small change to plans" Taylor tensed, expecting to run "I stayed out a little later last night and found something."

"Something? What was it?"

"I believe… Keep in mind, I can't be sure of this, but I believe that I found one of their drug houses."

Taylor paused, blinking at him under her mask.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I followed a dealer back to this house, and he left with a duffle bag of something, but I can't be sure until we check it out. So, are we still good to go?"

"Yeah, we are." Crystal sighed in relief at Taylor's words. "But…"

"But what? What's wrong?"

"I think it's mighty suspicious that you happen to find a drug house after a night of searching. You maybe-Nazi."

"I'm not a Nazi!"

"Lead the way, maybe-Nazi, to your drug house."

"It's not mine! And I said I'm not a Nazi… Oh, teasing. Right."

"Yes. Teasing. Let's go, Crystal."

Crystal sighed, and replied while lightly laughing "Ok Fish, let's go."

The two walked off towards the edge of the building and left, both with grins on their face, one under a mask, and one made of crystal.