A/N: Guest reviewer who has used multiple names to rehash the same criticism over and over again - No. No I am not going there. Do yourself and me a favor and stop reading if not having a Roaring Rampage of Revenge is going to offend you.
Celestial Dojo 2
(I've seen the Tinker/Celestial Forge used, but thought there were other possibilities besides Tinker that could be... interesting. Hence a Celestial Dojo.)
* Winslow High School *
"I'm missing lunch," complained Taylor from within her containment foam coccoon.
"We're ALL missing lunch," pointed out Principal Blackwell from her office. "Because some fool decided to containment foam a student while she was standing in the doorway." She sounded very much irked.
"We're investigating reports of a Stranger in the school," protested someone Taylor didn't know. Voice sounded male and young?
"I'm pretty sure, after all the times I've reported the bullying and attacks on me, that Principal Blackwell knows me more than she actually wants to," pointed out Taylor.
"Ain't that the truth," grumbled Principal Blackwell, who did it just loud enough that Taylor could hear even through the layer of foam.
"Stranger protocols," protested the young man from earlier.
"Johnson," said an older male voice. "Let the student out. We already have the confirmation of the Stranger and some idea of his or her power."
Taylor listened very intently on this, because she was quite curious. Also because as long as she was in the foam there wasn't a lot she could do. She could escape it easy enough, but that would mean revealing the whole secret identity thing.
"But..." protested Johnson. "Fiiiine."
Taylor immediately noticed the downside of having an enhanced sense of smell since the solvent for containment foam apparently stunk to high heaven.
"Open some windows and get some air circulation in here," said the gruff male voice from earlier.
"Yes sir," said another male voice.
"So who is this 'Stranger' you keep mentioning?" asked Principal Blackwell.
"Stranger is a power classification for parahumans," said the unfamiliar male voice. "It means someone with infiltration or stealth abilities."
The gruff older voice spoke again. "In this case, it looks like someone who has to make physical contact with someone and then can duplicate the appearance of that person. More than that we don't know."
"What do you think, Chief? Could it be Skinwalker?" asked Johnson's voice.
"Skinwalker had to consume a small amount of the flesh of the person they were duplicating, not just touch them," said the Chief.
There was silence for a few moments as everyone digested that factoid.
"Ewwww," said Johnson.
"Yeah, that's why we rolled in with such force," said the Chief. "If it were Skinwalker we'd already be finding a trail of chewed-on corpses. Last report was that Skinwalker was killed by the Slaughterhouse Nine - possibly because he or she was getting a reputation that rivaled their own. Most details of Skinwalker were classified up until recently. So, no - this isn't Skinwalker."
"Well, there's that at least," said the unfamiliar male voice. "Think it might have something to do with the new cape that showed up at HQ earlier?"
Taylor felt air touching her right arm as they removed the foam but stayed still as she listened.
"Cluster trigger is a possibility, in which case one good and one evil is certainly something to expect," said the Chief after a few moments. "Good thinking, Howard."
"What is a 'cluster trigger'?" asked Blackwell.
"A trigger event is when a potential parahuman is in a high stress and high danger situation," stated Howard. "That's when they get powers and qualify as a parahuman. A cluster trigger is when more than one parahuman triggers in close proximity. There's some data that indicates there's a kiss-or-kill attraction between members of a cluster. Where they become lovers or enemies as a result of that."
"Howard. Keep it concise. We're here to do a job, and that's finding the Stranger."
"Sorry, sir," said Howard's voice as he finally got his spray can near her head. "You should close your eyes, Miss, you don't want this stuff getting in your eyes."
Taylor did as the faint hissing of the spray approached her head.
"Well, at least we know Miss Hebert isn't the Stranger," noted Howard as he worked. "We saw the Stranger running across the lawn as that red-haired girl."
Principal Blackwell grunted. "Unfortunately, Miss Hebert is known to me."
"Yes, I've been going through the file here," said the Chief, a folder open before him.
"No evidence and no one else has come forward to testify on her behalf," protested Principal Blackwell.
"Of c... what's that?" asked the Chief, pointing.
"What's what?" asked Principal Blackwell. She turned, looked, turned three shades paler. "It's nothing."
"Nothing?" asked the Squad Leader. "You've got a financial statement in German that's fallen behind a paper shredder."
"Just some private investments. Shouldn't you be going after the Stranger?" asked Principal Blackwell, edging her body in between the shredder and the Squad Leader.
"Really?" asked the Squad Leader.
Taylor tried not to show any signs of anything going on as she felt the Celestial Dojo try to connect to the Appearance constellation and just miss making the connection. Really, it felt like it had touched it and stuck for just half a tick before moving on.
She was still exploring the Ninja constellation, so that was fine.
"I don't know," said Taylor aloud. "I mean, if someone's going around impersonating people - isn't anything suspicious worth investigating?"
If Principal Blackwell was a parahuman, Taylor was pretty sure that glare would have killed her on the spot.
"She has a point," said the Squad Leader as he moved around. Taylor was surprised to see the nameplate read "Chief" so it was a name and a job description. Cool.
"You don't have a warrant," said Principal Blackwell, moving to intercept.
"Actually we do. Because it IS a Stranger situation, we have to investigate all sorts of leads," said Howard as he finished freeing Taylor.
"Thanks, Trooper," said Taylor, nodding to the guy and getting a nod back.
"You can't take that," said Principal Blackwell.
"That's just what a Stranger would say," said Johnson, the trooper pointing the nozzle of his containment foam sprayer.
"Johnson. Don't you dare," said Chief, reaching past Blackwell and plucking the paper out.
Taylor was curious and moved closer, trying to see what was on the paper. Her clones, thank you Kurama for providing that much chakra and the technique to speed up her training, hadn't given her an update in awhile so she wasn't sure what all they were doing at this point.
* Clone #4 *
"Okay, you won. You didn't cheat, so here's how I found you," explained the foxgirl. "Trash."
"Huh?" asked Uber.
"You put your trash cans out back. I was roof-hopping. That was a clue that a building in this area was occupied. Then I just looked for signs of occupation." The foxgirl sat back on her chair, fluffy tails stretched out behind her. "Then I just followed my nose to find which specific. You guys need to clean up more often because it really smells of bachelor pad around here. Oh and solder."
"Really good sense of smell then?" asked Uber. "You know about the Unwritten Rules?"
"Yeah, the PRT wrote 'em down in the paperwork I got from 'em," said the foxgirl. "I'm gonna be Zenko! Independent hero and general mischief maker! Pleased ta meetcha!"
"Zenko?" asked Uber.
"Or Kurama. Still debating. A lot of good names are already taken," said the foxgirl.
"Isn't Kurama a guy in Hong Kong, the one that can turn roses into whips?" asked Uber.
"Or is it that guy who can turn roses into darts and swords? No that's someone else," mused Leet.
"Roses?" asked the foxgirl. "Seriously? That sounds about as weird as Bondage Girl."
"Hey, her videos get a lot more hits than ours do," said Leet. "I only wish we had her revenue stream."
"The internet is a weird place," opined Zenko.
"Not arguing THAT," admitted Uber. "So, you're not going to attack us or anything?"
"Hey, you're not doing any crime here, right?" asked Zenko. "Unless you do something in front of me, the laws are kind of iffy on that sort of thing. If you DO commit a crime right in front of me - then that's a bit different."
"Okay," said Uber, relaxing a bit though he still had that one weapon in easy reach.
Zenko checked her watch, nodded and smiled. "Time for me to go." (poof!)
"She's a teleporter too?" asked Leet. "Oh, that is THOROUGHLY hax."
"Teleporter, enhanced senses, probably a minor Brute as well," said Uber. "Good hand-eye coordination. So... Brute/Mover/Thinker?"
"Described her powers as ninja-themed," said Leet. "You know what that means?"
"Research ninja-themed games?" asked Uber.
"You know it," said Leet.
* Taylor Prime *
"There has been no evidence, none, that ANY of those accusations have ANY basis in reality," complained Principal Blackwell. "Miss Hebert has a history of being a -"
(WHOM!) There was a sudden feeling of extreme menace and rage weighting the air.
Then it was gone, almost entirely, though both PRT Troopers found they'd taken two steps away from where Miss Hebert was standing.
"Oh. How... consistent," said Miss Hebert, visibly getting herself under control. "I have names, I have records, I have printed out the harassing e-mails, I have KEPT MY OWN COPIES. But let's ignore all that. I just figured it out. WHY the PRT is really here. WHY special allowances would be made. It isn't that Emma Barnes is wealthy and has a high-priced lawyer for her father, is it?"
"If you had solid evidence or any corroboration I would act on it," Principal Blackwell stated. "You have none."
"I don't wreck or steal my own homework, I don't cover myself in pencil shavings, pour juice on my books, shove myself down the stairs, and I most certainly don't put spitballs or gum in my hair," stated Taylor Hebert.
"Now now now, Miss Hebert, calm down and don't say anything you're going to regret later," said Howard. "If you've figured something out, then it's best to keep some information to yourself rather than let yourself be open to legal action."
"So let them continue bullying me?" asked Taylor sweetly.
"Howard. We're supposed to de-escalate, not escalate," said the Chief Trooper. Or Trooper Chief. "We'll take your statement privately for investigation Miss Hebert. I promise we will investigate without bias."
There was a sound from the Chief's phone and he answered it. "Troop Leader Chief. Yes. Yes, we're still on-site. No, we haven't- WBBR? They're what? They what? They did? No, she's been with us the whole time and has no phone. National news? Oh. Yes ma'am. Right on it."
"Chief?" asked Trooper Howard.
"The situation has appeared to be escalated already," said the PRT squad commander. "As for the students not talking, once the news cameras came on - they started talking. Some of them you can't stop talking."
* WBBR *
"Oh yeah, I mean it's been going on FOR YEARS," said Linda, making a gesture. "See, the Administration seems to actively encourage it - they certainly don't stop it, so everyone just kinda acts like it's normal y'know."
"I see. So the drugs, the bullying, the violence, the thefts... you think the current school administration at the least tolerates it if not sanctions it?" asked the reporter with a gleam in her eye. Gold! This was solid gold!
"Oh yeah," said the blonde at Linda's right. "Totally. If 'sanctions' means they encourage that sorta thing? Oh, look over heah. Kathy was just showing me this the other day. See this fire extinguisher. Look at the last inspection date."
"Carl, get a shot of this," said Carolyn Wu after glancing at it. This story kept getting better and better. "Last inspected 1997."
"Yeah, and with things like the meth being cooked in that PE supply room... though mainly it's just weed that gets bought and sold around here," said Linda, making a gesture towards one of the outer sheds. "You don't wanna get too close. I mean the Empire and the ABB and the Archer Street junkies all have members around here. That's why Blackwell does half this shi- crap."
"Paybacks from the gangs maybe?" speculated the reporter.
"Yeah, something like that makes sense don'cha think?" responded Linda.
A blonde germanic-looking boy straightened up from where he'd been slouching. "The Empire certainly hasn't done anything wrong here, I'm sure they are just holding the line against some of the less desirable elements in school."
An asian-looking boy came off the wall he'd been leaning against. "If we're talking undesirable elements, the Empire would count. In fact, I - AHHHH! KITSUNE!"
Carolyn Wu turned to look and immediately remembered stories about mischievous foxes. That grin there on the red-headed foxgirl certainly was a reminder. "Ah, hello?"
"Hi. Independent hero Zenko here! Though I still might go with Kurama. Anyway, I was in the area and saw something going on so I've been investigating!" The girl held up a couple of phones. "Found these. Some redhaired girl dropped them as she was running away. Seemed suspicious and I don't see any lawful authorities to turn them in to. Can I hand them off to you?"
"Suspicious?" asked Carolyn as she took the two phones. One was a bit old and battered, the other looked newer and was more expensive-looking than her own. "They're unlocked."
"Oh, I don't know anything about that. Ninja foxgirl, not necessarily up on a lot of tech-stuff," said the foxgirl. "I don't really know the procedure for turning in evidence when there's nobody actually running things around here. Can one of your guys figure out who they go to and if there's any crime being committed there."
"You're a ninja?" asked Carolyn Wu.
"Yup, just starting out though," admitted Zenko. "Gotta run!"
Carolyn Wu watched as the cape ran at a wall, ran up the wall, leapt at the top to do a triple flip in the air before going to roof-hopping. "New hero. Ninja fox. That's one thing about Brockton Bay, there's always something going on. Carl, give these to Dave. He can figure out who these belong to."
Carl the cameraman took the two phones back to their van. Unspoken was that they'd be looked over just in case there was anything interesting there.
* Sophia *
"Hey. My phone's missing," said Emma as she finished checking pockets and purse.
"Huh," said Sophia, reaching around and checking herself. "Oh HELL NO. People do NOT steal from ME!"
"You too?" asked Emma. "I'll bet that PRT guy took them."
"He's a-cruising for a bruising if that's the case. NOBODY steals from me," promised Sophia.
"Yo, Naomi, let me use your phone. NOW," snapped Emma to one of her hangers-on. "I'll just call my own number and see if someone answers."
There was a pause as Emma dialed the number and everyone listened.
No phone ringing was audible, so it wasn't in this particular classroom.
"Call mine," said Sophia.
Emma did with a similar lack of results.
"Well, I'll just..." Sophia's eyes bulged as her OTHER phone was also missing. "Who the hell... Julia!"
"Wha?" asked Julia.
"You bumped up against me in the hall," said a rapidly angering Sophia.
"She bumped up against me too," noted Emma.
"Aww, c'mon," said Derek, from where he'd been sitting and listening. "It's practically a mosh pit near the door when the bell rings."
"One more thing to try," said Sophia, still holding Naomi's phone and putting in another number.
A phone's ringtone went off. Everyone looked at Julia's purse.
* Taylor *
Another missed connection. The Northstar-Southern Cross twinned constellations had almost made one before turning and going past. So had the Alien Warrior one, which was just as well as that sounded like something involving tinkers. Appearance had been earlier in the day, and she'd come close on the Weapon constellation. She wondered if that meant she could get a Cool Sword eventually.
She had two tails worth of chakra, which was considerable, mainly in order to have access to that Multiple Shadow Clone technique for training purposes. She could make six of herself and learn things six times as fast, more or less.
When one clone was dismissed, all the clones (and the original) received the information that clone had acquired.
Using that Clone technique and combining it with the Disguise technique provided a natural synergy as Taylor had quickly discovered. There was one Zenko at any given time, which should further the idea that Zenko and Taylor Hebert were not the same person. There was also one extra Emma Barnes and one extra Sophia Hess who were actually her clones. There was currently one more clone active, which was currently a student who had actually not shown up today.
Derek Manning was otherwise completely unforgettable. Hung back, didn't do much, the only reason that Taylor herself had ever noticed him was that he was "a creepy loner" according to some of the people who were hanger-on types to Emma's Queen & Court. He'd never said anything positive or negative about her, just a face in the crowd. One she'd spotted edging around the crowds, keeping their head down, trying not to be noticed.
In other words, someone perfect for her purposes. If he'd shown up today, she'd have gone with the usually-on-something Sparky who was frequently sleeping in various classes.
As it was, all she had to do were the basics. Substitution was usually used for switching yourself out for something nearby. Clone was okay, but Shadow Clone was better. Disguise was getting a hell of a workout so far today by itself. Shunshin was dead useful but mainly held in reserve for when Zenko could use it as a signature technique.
That was part of the plan anyway. Now that school was over though, and as nobody was paying any attention to Derek Manning...
A young male student went into the supply room, and Sophia Hess came out a few moments later.
Not that "Sophia" was going to do anything that might get the real one killed like going into Empire territory and mooning Hookwolf. Or going into Lung's territory and spray-painting over some ABB tags. No, but having Sophia turn up in a few places and talk some dirt? Particularly if she was bragging about things she'd done to prove she was "top dog"? Entirely in character except for the part about doing it where people who might not approve would overhear.
And maybe laugh evilly a few times.
Because having her thought of as crazy sounded like fair warning.
Taylor herself knew about this because the Derek clone had popped and a new set of clones made - with the Sophia-shaped one heading to a few shops to just browse and annoy people.
As for Taylor herself, she had an appointment at the PRT building as Zenko.