It is time for the next chapters. Hope you all enjoy this one because I really like how it turned out. Unfortunately, Taylor isn't going to go full Herrscher mode like a fair few number people were speculating/hoping. I've no idea where so many people got the idea that she was about to call upon the power of the void and curb stomp Sophia. To say Taylor at this point qualifies as even a B-rank valkyrie is really pushing it let alone something on the level of herrscher. Anyways, on to the chapter.

Chapter 13: Seventh to Impact

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Taylor glared at the girl before, a searing hot rage boiling within her. Every insult, every assault, every piece of stolen schoolwork, every time juice or pencil shavings were spilled on her, every destroyed project, every single thing she went through, it all came to the forefront of her mind. It along with the fact that, until fairly recently, the girl and her accomplices had never gotten in any real trouble for any of it. She now knew why.

'Taylor, I know you're angry.'

I'm beyond angry Kiana and don't you dare tell me to calm down! This bitch, parading around as a hero, has made my life a living hell for over a year and a half. I bet you she's been abusing her hero status to avoid any trouble with the school. Assuming the PRT wasn't actively covering for her until recently. And now she's back, here to ruin my life all over again. So don't you dare tell me to calm down, or not be angry! I have every right to be!

'You do, but you can't let your rage blind you. Channel it into taking down the opponent before you. She's already shown she's willing to kill you and likely your friend, so you can't lose to her. The last thing you need is for your rage to blind you and cause you to make a mistake. You can't afford it.'

Taylor's thoughts went to Rosemary. Her friend who had saved her and took the bolt meant for her. Her rage, still as intense as ever, became focused on one thing, victory. You're right, she saved me, so I need to repay the favor.

While Taylor was going through these thoughts, Sophia's mind was also at work. What's going on here? Did Hebert suddenly gain a spine? She shook her head and refocused her aim. Doesn't matter, it'll just make my revenge all the sweeter. She'll have built herself up only for it to come to nothing as I put her in her place and remind her where she belongs.

She fired her bolt. Taylor quickly leaned out of the way and grabbed a nearby plate from a table. She launched it at Sophia who merely went into a Shadow State to let it pass through her. Taylor rushed forwards. Sophia shifted out of her shadow state and took aim again and fired another bolt.

Taylor ducked under it without losing momentum and went in for a punch. Her punch phased through the other girl, causing her to lose her balance. As she stumbled her eyes went wide. The same strange sensation she felt near the blond girl, she felt near Sophia. She didn't have time to ponder this as Sophia was quick to act. Once Taylor had passed through her, she returned to her normal state, drew out a bolt, and swung it around to stab Taylor.

Taylor let herself fall to the ground, causing the swing to go wide. From the ground, she swung her legs around to try and sweep Sophia off her feet. Sophia flipped back over the attack, landed gracefully, reloaded her crossbow, took aim, and fired. Taylor rolled out of the way of the bolt and back to her feet. She grabbed two nearby plates and flung them at Sophia.

Sophia shifted into her shadow state and let them phase through her. This is bullshit! She mentally exclaimed as she shifted out of her shadow state. She's a weakingly, a coward. How is she even putting up a fight? Did the bitch trigger or something? She had to have, there's no way she could have gone from a weak coward to doing this well against ME in such a short time without powers. She gripped the handle of the weapon harder. How could a complete weakling like her trigger? She growled as she loaded another bolt into her crossbow. Thankfully she seems to have a weak power, my attack on her should have forced her to bring something out. If what I see now is all she has then I've got nothing to worry about. She took aim. I just need an opening, then she's dead. She fired the bolt.

Taylor jerked out of the way and rushed towards Sophia, not giving her time to reload. Thinking quickly, Sophia swung her another bolt at Taylor. Said girl moved to deflect the arm to keep the bolt from hitting her and give her an opening. Her eyes went wide as her hand phased through the arm. She quickly ducked to avoid it. As she did she felt the same sensation from before but stronger before getting weaker. She looked up to the source, just in time to see Sophia swing her bolt down at her. She rolled back and into a kneeling position. That shadow state's getting real fucking annoying. She rolled to the side to avoid another crossbow bolt. And what's with that sensation I keep feeling near her. Taylor returned to her feet.

'I have an idea but, we can focus on that later, you need to think of a way to bypass her intangibility, or hold out until someone who can shows up.'

Working on it! Taylor leaned out of the way of another crossbow bolt. Sophia reached for more bolts but felt nothing. She growled and threw away her crossbow before bringing her knife out. She charged forwards and swung her knife at Taylor. She leaned out of the way, before ducking under another swing. She sidestepped another swing, backing into a table.

"Gotta bitch!" Sophia shouted as she brought her knife down to stab at Taylor, who quickly rolled out of the way.

However, in her haste to get out of the way, she didn't keep her footing stable and fell to the ground hard. She grunted, but didn't let that stop her, she scrambled to go under the table and to the otherside, just in time to avoid another stab from Sophia. She got up just in time to see Sophia lunge at her, phasing through the table. She sidestepped the stab, ducked under a stash, narrowly dodged another stab, before sliding under a different table and hopping back to her feet on the other side. Sophia growled.

"STAY FUCKING STILL!" She shouted as she lunged over the table.

Taylor stepped out of the way. Thinking quickly, Sophia went into her shadow state. Her momentum carried her past Taylor and through the wall to the outside. Using her shadow state she leapt up and out of view. Taylor immediately began looking around trying to think where she'd come from. This is bad, with her ability to phase through walls, she can come at me from anywhere.

'I have an idea to track her that might work, you remember that sensation you felt from her earlier?'

Yeah, but that was only when she was close by. By the time I notice it, the knife will be in my back.

'I know, but you should be able to expand the range of it. I'm almost certain that sensation you felt from her was something triggering your space sense the Authority of the Void grants you.'

Space sense?

'It allows you to sense the fabric of spacetime around you. At the stage you're at, it's really weak, which is why you have to be close to notice any sort of distortion.'

Okay, but then how do I expand it.

'Focus on the feeling you felt earlier and then use honkai energy to "power it up". Don't use too much though.'

Yeah, I can't get exhausted pushing it too hard now. She closed her eyes and focused on the sensation from earlier. As she did, she channelled just a bit of energy throughout her. She didn't get it immediately. However, eventually she felt her senses expand. She didn't quite know how to describe the sensation she now felt. Even if the actual feeling was faint, it was as if a whole new world had been opened to her and it was slowly expanding as her senses did. As it did, she felt something strange enter her range just behind her and it was falling fast. She broke her focus and rolled forward, narrowly avoiding being impaled in the back by a knife. With her focus broken, the sense went away and she was no longer using honkai energy. She quickly snapped her head to look at a trembling Sophia. She scrambled back to her feet.

"How… HOW THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THIS?! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A WEAKLING, A COWARD, FUCKING PREY!" Sophia howled in rage. "I'LL KILL YOU I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Taylor had a look of surprise from Sophia's outburst. Before the former hero could continue, she felt something slam into her back and shatter. She whipped around to glare at whoever would dare attack her. To her surprise she saw Rosemary, standing up right with blood pouring from her wound, the bolt still lodged deeply in. She was breathing heavily. Her hand was outstretched, having just thrown the plate.

"Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…" Sophia began.

Earlier…

Rosemary whimpered as she lay upon the ground, eyes squinted shut. Pain was emanating from her shoulder where the bolt struck. Why? Why is this happening? Why is Shadow Stalker attacking us? She opened her eyes only for a bolt to pass right by her. She screamed out in fear and shut her eyes. The pain in her shoulder became more intense. MakeitstopMakeitstopMakeitstopMakeitstopMakeitstopMakeitstop. The sounds of combat filled the air, but she could only focus on the pain. It continued to pulse from her shoulder as blood flowed from the wound.

"I want to go home." She whimpered.

Time seemed to tick by at a snail's pace as she lay there. Her mind was a mess as the nature of her situation and her injury prevented her from thinking rationally. The pain in her shoulder grew more intense. It hurts. IthurtsIthurtsIthurtsIthurtsIthurtsIthurtsIthurts. She reached for the bolt to try and pull it out. The pain in doing so stopped her, eliciting a hiss.

She let go and began to breathe heavily. A dizziness began to overtake her. Crap… I'm losing a lot of blood. Panic began to rise within her as she began to hyperventilate. Cutting through her panic, her dizziness and pain, was a loud thud and the grunt of a familiar voice. Her eyes opened and her head turned to see Taylor scramble to avoid a stab from Shadow Stalker. Her eyes went wide Taylor? She watched as Taylor deftly avoided Shadow Stalkers attempts to stab or slash her. Right… she's still here. I had pushed her out of the way. But why is she still here? Why hasn't she run away? She can't beat someone who's a cape. As she lay there watching she noticed something. Is she… trying to by time? For us? For me? She's… not abandoning me?

Her hand tightened in a fist. Then… I can't abandon her. I… have to help her somehow. But how… the authorities already know we're here so calling someone won't help. The pain coming from her shoulder made it hard to focus. Even with her trying to will something forwards, nothing came. Blood continued to flow from her wounds making her dizziness worse. Still, she pressed on, determined to not leave her friend behind.

'On the table.' The voice of a girl spoke.

W-what…

'On the table is a plate. Once her back is turned, throw it at her. That should give your friend the opening she needs.'

W-who…

'That's not important right now. If you want to have a chance of saving your friend just do as I said.'

While Rose wasn't certain if the voice she was hearing was a result of delirium caused by blood lose, she did see the merit of the voice's plan, however… Shadow Stalker can let things phase through her. If I throw a plate I might end up hitting Taylor.

'If her back is turned she won't be able to see it and thus, not think to have it phase through her.'

Rosemary looked up at the table she was near. A plate was visible from where she was, just out of reach. Summoning up all her will she struggled to her feet, fighting through the dizziness to stand up. Leaning against a table she grabbed hold of the plate. She turned her attention just in time to see Taylor rolled out of the way of a falling stab from Shadow Stalker. As the former hero let out a howl of rage, swearing to kill her friend, and likely her, she let the plate fly. She stumbled a bit, so her aim wouldn't be great, but it found its mark.

Shadow Stalker whipped around the glare murderously at her and she froze as fear gripped her. The former hero began to speak, when the consequences of her mistake hit her. Taylor's leg slammed into Shadow Stalker's side. A crack rang out from Shadow Stalker's ribs. Shadow Stalker cried out in pain as the force of the kick sent her into a table. She grunted when her body slammed into the table. She didn't have time to recover before she was whipped around to face a scowling Taylor. Before she could think to shift into her shadow state, a punch slammed into her face.

"That was for attacking us." Taylor declared.

She raised her other fist.

"And this…" She began before slamming her fist into Shadow Stalker's face again. "Is for hurting my friend!"

Shadow Stalker rolled out of the way, avoiding another punch. Taylor's fist slammed into the tabletop, cracking it slightly. Her head snapped to look at Shadow Stalker. The former hero didn't get far before a kick from Taylor slammed into her side. Shadow Stalker stumbled to the side. A punch slammed into her side.

"That one's for all my stolen homework!" Taylor shouted.

Another punch slammed Shadow Stalker in the face.

"For spilling juice on me!"

A fist slammed into her stomach.

"For assaulting me in school!"

A fist racked her across the face.

"For destroying my projects!"

A kick crashed into her side.

"For my ruined backpacks!"

A punch slammed into her face.

"For my ruined clothes!"

She sent punch after punch into Shadow Stalker.

"For the year and a half of torment and hell you helped put me through!" Shouted as she continued her relentless assault.

Fist after fist found its mark as Shadow Stalker was given no time to even think of evading or letting them phase through her. Taylor slammed her foot on the ground, and reeled her fist back, ready to put her all into it.

"And this…" She began.

The fist went flying as Taylor's whole body twisted to put her full force behind it. It smashed into Shadow Stalker's face head on.

"IS FOR SHOVING ME IN THAT DAMN LOCKER!" She shouted as she carried her fist forwards and sent Shadow Stalker flying.

The form hero was launched through air a bit before falling and tumbling along the ground. Taylor breathed heavily, keeping her eyes on the downed form of Shadow Stalker. Despite all the former hero had just taken, she was still conscious, a testament to her stubbornness. She began to cough and moved her mask up slightly as she coughed up blood. More blood could be seen pouring down her face.

"You…" She began as she tried to rise to her feet again.

Taylor froze as something seemed to trigger her space sense, even though it appeared to be subtle. Shadow Stalker was frozen when a hand touched her. There were now two figures beside her, a boy and a blond little girl who came from a path to the outside that had been twisted by a spatial distortion. Taylor's eyes widened at the sight of it.

The boy wore a skintight white costume with glossy white armor panels. On some of the panels were inscribed grey clocks while others had digital displays of animated clocks of the same color. On his head was a smooth faceless white helmet. The girl's costume featured a skirt covered in wavy swooping lines which alternate between white and forest green. She had on green panels of armor and a green visor covering her eyes.

"I'd say you didn't deserve that beatdown, but I'd be lying." The boy quipped as space was returned to normal.

Taylor felt the feeling from her space sense disappear.

"I don't know, I think she could have used a few more hits to the face. Knock some sense into her. She needs it after this stunt." The girl next to him added.

Taylor blinked in confusion. She recognized the two new arrivals. The boy in the white costume was Clockblocker while the girl was Vista, heroes of the Wards and Shadow Stalker's former teammates. She didn't expect the two of them to be so indifferent to her beating up their now former teammate. Was she a bitch to her teammates as well? A thud broke her out of her thoughts. She looked to see the downed form of her friend.

"ROSE!" She exclaimed.

She rushed to her friend's side to try and help her.

"Go over and see what you can do to help. I'll stay here and make sure Shadow Stalker stays frozen until Armsy arrives." Clockblocker directed.

"On it." Vista replied as she rushed over to help Taylor.

Taylor propped her friend up into a sitting position. Vista was quickly there to help her.

"Rose… Hey… Rose, hang in there." Taylor pleaded.

She grimaced at her friend's now blood stained outfit. That looks bad.

"This isn't good, she's lost a fair bit of blood." Vista noted.

"Don't you have a first aid kit or something?!" Taylor shouted.

"No, can't carry too much if we're going to be out fighting, I've got first aid training though." Vista stated with a forced calm. "Help me apply pressure around the wound, but keep the bolt in. That'll help prevent her from bleeding out."

Vista began applying pressure.

"R-r-r-right…" Taylor replied, doing the same.

"Clock, call for an ambulance! We've got a girl here, about fifteen, crossbow bolt to shoulder, lost a noticeable amount of blood!" Vista shouted.

"On it!" Clockblocker shouted back.

"Taylor?" Rose breathed out.

"Don't worry Rose, we'll get you patched up in no time." Taylor tried to assure her.

"Why are you blurry? And who's there, who's talking?" Rose questioned.

"Uhm… Vista and Clockblocker are here, they stopped So… Shadow Stalker." Taylor answered.

"Yeah, after you beat her to hell and back. Nice job on that by the way." Vista added.

"Uhm… thanks?" Taylor replied.

"Mei… where are you? How are you talking to me?" Rose questioned.

"Damn she must have lost a lot more blood than I thought, she's delirious." Vista muttered.

Taylor tuned this and everything else out, as something dawned on her. Kiana… you don't think…

'Unless she knows someone else named Mei, then it just might be.'

As far as I know she doesn't. So it might be the case that what happened to me…

'Has happened to her.'

Meanwhile…

In another part of the city, away from the diner, in an underground base, a man sat in his chair. He was a skinny man in a black bodysuit which covered him from head to toe with a stencil of a white snake curling around it. The stenciled snake started with its head at his forehead and extended down his back. It winded down his whole body with its tail ending at his ankle. He was known as the villain Coil.

While he gave no signs of it outwardly, inwardly, he was deeply troubled. This has never happened before. He thought to himself. The power he possessed allowed him to split time into two parallel timelines, run them concurrently, and then pick the one he thought was best for him, or so he thought. Now, he wasn't so sure.

Things had started out as normal when he split the timeline. In one timeline, he slipped Shadow Stalker the means to remove the ankle bracelet that had prevented her from escaping and gave her the information to more easily carry out her revenge. While he knew this would likely alert the PRT to some of his moles in their organization, he felt the risk was worth it as it was only a matter of time until those moles were discovered. He figured might as well get some more use out of them before that. There was the risk of them discovering his more well buried plants, but he felt it would be worth it if Shadow Stalker succeeded. In the other, his safe timeline, he did nothing in case Shadow Stalker failed in seeking her revenge, eliminating the risk the plan had. The main thing he wanted was to ruin the local Protectorate and PRT's reputation. If Shadow Stalker's revenge quest succeeded, he'd call it a success and close down the safe timeline.

In that timeline, everything ran smoothly up until Clockblocker and Vista came upon the scene. At first reports came in of Shadow Stalker brutally torturing the girls, seeming to actively trying to draw out their suffering rather than going in for a quick kill. Then, his powers "glitched", for lack of a better term, and instead reports came in of Taylor Hebert not only being uninjured, but actively beating Shadow Stalker bloody. At that moment, his "safe timeline" was shut down involuntarily. Luckily for him, the desired effect was still likely to be achieved so he didn't need it, but it still troubled him. He always suspected his powers weren't all they appeared to be, but having it confirmed in such a way was unpleasant for him.

If I had to guess, I'd assume that Ms. Hebert's changes weren't voluntary nor merely cosmetic. Her ability to handle Shadow Stalker like she did is proof that she's likely a parahuman. However is it her that's caused my power to react the way it did, or did Ms. Sato trigger and that event messed things up. Perhaps her powers gave her something that interfered with my ability, something to look into. Regardless of who it is, once I find out I'll eliminate them. I can't trust such an ability to be on my side and not mess with my plans even accidentally.

He reached for a phone to make a call, when the cocking of a gun alerted him to someone else in the room. He looked up and outwardly made no moves to indicate what he was feeling. Inwardly, all he felt was an indescribable terror upon seeing the woman in the suit with a pistol pointed straight at his head.

And that's a wrap, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Till next time.