Subject 798

What the hell did that mean?

I looked around, I was 20 years old. Glasses, blond hair. Did you know there are over 300 different types of squid? I can't eat 10 of them any more. I looked at my dorm room. It was trashed, swastikas and die, Jew, die were everywhere. I was in a rough neighbourhood.

I closed the door and started cleaning. I fell back on my memories. I was nineteen again. Mother was over protective I tested out of Winslow and suffered through community college until I had my associates. It was hell, but I was at university and could look forward to years of college debts.

I sighed and closed the door behind me, I shut the blinds and got down to the business of dealing with my problems. The former occupant of this body died after being thrown in the bay. I had a bitch of a time swimming back to shore. It took even longer to walk back to the university and now I needed to do an accounting of my options.

The college quite simply put wasn't safe, the dean of the school was rumored to be one of Lustrum's former followers. There wasn't any proof but if you asked for help and had the wrong gender? Well it didn't come, you kept your head low at this school and you didn't say anything lest you get kicked out.

The memories of this place were rough. I looked at a busted computer and looked for some tools. The fix was pretty easy if time consuming, I entered in some codes and watched it reboot. I smelled like seaweed and I called for the police. The campus police were independent of the school administration and they took the time to listen to my tale of woe.

There wasn't a whole lot of help, but at the very least they would keep the school from demanding even more money out of me for the dorm. Yes the school was that dickish, it actually was about the same as my old college when it came to these sorts of stunts.

It was getting late. On this world I was an engineering major. Some things were made a hell of a lot easier with an entire species tech base in my head. I sighed at my computer. Let's go over my advantages, luck, and an edge against thinkers.

I had mastered mass effect, I had the elements at my beck and call and basic libriomancy. I felt the power in my mind, I wasn't unbeatable but I could hold my own in this world. I needed to create a costume. I needed money so I went outside. I had forty dollars that was enough to buy a cheap used copy of Treasure Island.

Armed with my new book I grabbed some gold and from there I went to a pawn shop. I placed a bag of gold coins down on the counter. The owner looked at me.

"Never play poker with Mirrored shades on."

The man chuckled.

"So what do you want for it?"

"Guy I won them off of? Said they're Spanish doubloons but he's also an Idiot so I want the value of the gold."

"Half."

"Fine."

With that said the pawn shop owner tested each of the coins. After the tests were finished I was given a couple thousand dollars in cash. Armed with my new money I hit the thrift stores.

I picked up a sky mask, a trench coat and a fedora. Keep it classic and simple. I also picked up some tools and components. After that I hit the electronics store and picked up a laptop. Finally to round out the day I hit a hotel.

I bought every thing in cash, and I started the process of making some basic shields. They weren't great but it would keep some empire punk from killing me on the draw. This led to my next problem what do I do?

Sharing is caring and I could share plenty of power. So that meant the PRT could and would kiss my ass. So what do I want?

I want the director gone, I want Shadow Stalker gone, and I need Taylor to be on good terms with me. I also want to avoid dying and you know fuck the Nazi's.

Names? Four elements? Hmm I think I will call myself Compass. I looked online. PHO was busy but ah, Parian. I created an account and PMed her.

"I have money need a costume."

I waited.

"3000 dollars."

"Cash fine?"

I could always grab more gold.

"Yes."

Excellent.

The next day I did the smart thing. I called up the college and dropped out. I called up my so called parents and told them I would figure it out on my own. That it wasn't safe for me. They fought it but eventually relented. I also told them that I got a job with the government.

This smoothed over the bad feelings and it wasn't a complete lie.

The next day I went to another Pawn shop and used the mirrored shades bit again. I got a slightly better deal. 60% of the value. Armed with this I got a lawyer a crooked, but good one.

He took my cash and I told him that I needed some one to handle my legal work. With a wink and a nod he helped me set up my life.

First step? Get an apartment.

Second Step Shadow Stalker is an obstacle and the director is more trouble than she's worth I need to pull off a coup and get rid of both of them. Looking online she's just become a Ward. She's vulnerable and easy prey. I just need to fake the evidence needed to destroy both of them.

My lawyer acted as a intermediary for the gold. He got himself a nice cut of the action but I walked home with a bigger percentage. He didn't ask questions. Eventually I had enough money to get a run down home in the suburb's.

With a base of operations I did research. One Piece was a thing here, the author wrote books for young adults about devils fruits and pirates. I also did tinkering and got myself a library.

Parian made me a decent costume, I kept the Film Noir aspect but added a compass on the back. It looked simple stylish and I ordered several suits. I bought electronics and I prepared the battle field.

I found out what routs Sophia Hess took on the bus, I tapped her conversations. The director was careful, cautious, but I gathered enough about her routines to find her weaknesses and a time when she wasn't being monitored.

I built a presence online, I was a unregistered cape. I didn't say exactly what I was capable of but I struck a friendship with Void Cowboy. I had a plan and I needed him.

I also needed Taylor, I told Void I was doing an investigation about Winslow and needed help. He spilled every thing, about how she just got out of the hospital and what classes she had. It was brilliant. I used the information to find her place and knocked on the door.

Taylor looked thin and sickly, she looked at me in costume in horror.

"Im here to investigate Sophia Hess, Emma Barns, and Madison Clemens for attempted murder."

Her fear dropped away.

"Thank you."

I was one month into my existence on Bet, and was now in Taylor's house. I put a stack of twenties on the Table.

"I know you're a parahuman."

She froze.

"I'm not a parahuman."

"You control bugs."

She flinched.

"I've been investigating Miss Hess for awhile, you're good but your not as subtle as you think you are."

Taylor took deep breaths.

"What do you want from me?"

I sat down on the couch.

"I want to hire you."

She nodded and looked nervous.

"For what?"

"Winslow is the biggest center for gangs in the city. You're the perfect spy, give me a report on what you hear every day and I will give you a paycheck."

"How much."

She looked interested. Good.

"Five hundred dollars a week, pay day is on Friday in cash. You get Five thousand more for each girl when we nail them to the wall."

Taylor was shy, cripplingly so, but she had a thoughtful look on her face and then an evil grin.

"Im giving you a cell phone, my number is on one, there's a charger too. This is a big decision I want you to take a day to think it over."

"What's your name?"

"Compass, don't bother looking me up, Im staying low until the investigation's over. Oh and about the money on the table? Keep it, that's your reward for hearing me out."

Her face looked hopeful.

"Thank you."

When I got home I smiled at my text.

'I'm In.'