Disclaimer: Always a good idea to get at least basic knowledge of first aid.
Panama
Lining up for his second Endbringer fight was even worse than the first had been. He hadn't known what to expect for his first fight. He had an idea of how bad things could get going into this one.
The PRT officer at the sign in table straightened up when it was his turn. "Here for search and rescue, right?"
"Yeah," Greg agreed.
"Go on through," the man said.
Greg went to the platform and did his best to go through the calming exercises he'd found online. Control the voluntary to bring control to the involuntary, he told himself. Breath slowly. In goes the good air. Hold it. Out goes the bad and along with it all his worries and problems. It seemed to be working. He went over his preparations, he hadn't been able to get an EMT class but he had been able to get a couple first aid classes in. Hopefully they'd be useful.
Everything was going to be fine, he was prepared for this. He needed more training but . . . he should have become a lifeguard! The thought hit him like a freight train. He was about to face an Endbringer that could flood cities and he hadn't learned the basics of water rescue. People might die because he was too stupid to think of that until it was too late to do anything about it. Greg forced the shame down. That was a problem for future Greg, present Greg just needed to get through the next couple days and to do the best he could.
"I see that you have chosen to take part in a second Endbringer fight," a voice he knew from public service announcements telling him not to do drugs and to do his homework stated.
Greg opened his eyes to see a beard that had been trimmed with care and precision. "Just doing my duty."
"The world would be a better place if more people had the same attitude," Armsmaster stated. "Have you given any thought to joining the Wards?"
"No." He was fairly sure they wouldn't take him after they found out what his power was. "But thanks for the offer."
Armsmaster's mustache twitched. "I am required to make it when meeting underaged and unaffiliated parahumans."
"Lightning Lass made it too. How is she?"
"Recovering. She should be back on the streets in a few weeks. Please permit me to officially thank you on behalf of the Protectorate for saving her life."
"Just doing my duty," Greg stated.
"Do you mind if I ask what your plans are for your powers?"
"You mean am I going to fight crime or commit crime or something?"
"Correct."
"No." Partly because his powers would be useless for it and partly because he didn't have the time. "I'm just gonna show up every few months to help with disasters," Greg stated. "Not just Endbringers, I'll help with anything that needs search and rescue or something. Natural disasters, parahuman disasters, or whatever. I'm not going to discriminate."
"I will pass that along," Armsmaster promised.
"Thank you." Greg's breath caught. "Strider's here. Good luck, try not to die."
"To you as well."
The streets were already ankle deep in water when they arrived in Panama City and the sky was blackened by rainclouds. Should have brought a life jacket, Greg thought to himself. Should have brought some kind of floatation device to help rescue people. Maybe he could find a boat or something later? He filed that thought away as he made his way to the aid station he'd been assigned to.
The aid station was a hive of activity, a well oiled machine with its parts made up of professionals that knew what they were doing and did it well. Greg was well aware of the fact that he was not one of them and did his best to stay out of the way while going through his relaxation exercises until it was time to go.
"One kilometer forward, last known location of El Cid." Greg sprang into action, the water was chest deep when he arrived and he found a man with half a face clinging weakly to a piece of wood.
"Alive," Greg told his armband. "I'm going to try to get him closer to shore."
"A boat will arrive, ETA two minutes."
"Okay." Greg wrapped his arms around the man. "Stay with me, just a little bit longer and we'll have you safe, hero."
The man was still alive when the boat arrived, he hoped they'd gotten to him in time.
One kilometer to your left, last known location of Flower Mary."
He waded back to ankle deep water before moving, no way he was going to get anywhere any time fast in water up to his nipples.
IIIIIIIIII
PHO: Endbringer Fights: Panama City: The Brockton Bay Unknown Parahuman
Page 01 of 19
Doctor Feel Good (MD) (Original Poster)
This guy done anything aside from Endbringer fights? He was in my aid station at the start of the fight. Just sat calmly and watched the Leviathan come, didn't even move until the armband said to start and didn't stop while I was there. I worked for six hours before they rotated me out for a break and he was still going strong. He's got to have done something else, right?
Bohala (Verified Cape)
I do not have the answer to your questions but I can say that he is still working. He works until he collapses and he gets up again. Can't be healthy but I suppose you do what you have to.
IIIIIIIIII
The smell was the worst part, Greg decided as he got to the location indicated by his armband only to find a three day old corpse. Even worse than the way the skin on his feet was softening and cracking from having been wet for three days straight, even worse than the heat, even worse than the lack of sleep, it was the smell.
"Confirmed deceased," he groaned. "Who's next?"
"The location has been marked for recovery. There are no additional checks that need to be made. Please return to the transportation platform," his armband said in a monotone.
He made his way back to the aid station first. "Hey, can I refill my first aid kit here so it's ready for the next fight?" he asked one of techs.
"Sure," the tech agreed. "Give it here. What do you need?"
"I've been filling it with hemostatic dressing and powder and tourniquets," he said. "Is there anything else I should put in it?"
"CPR mask maybe?" the tech stated.
"Shears too," Greg said. "They're really useful. Oh, and the last fight I had to cut a lady's neck open because her lips were burned together. Could I get a scalpel so I don't have to use a pocket knife next time?"
"I'll put a few in," the tech promised. "Anything else?"
"Should I worry about the fact that I've been walking in this water with open cracks on my feet?"
"Let me see," the tech ordered.
Greg hopped up on the stretcher and tried to take off his boot. "I . . . uh, I don't think I can."
"That's okay." The tech got the boots off, cut away the socks, and winced when he got a look at the bare skin. "Doctor, could you come here please!"
A frowning doctor appeared to examine his feet shortly afterwards. "How long have they been like this?"
"Since yesterday at least," Greg replied. "They started hurting on the first day so maybe then?"
"Why didn't you do something about them?"
"What?" Greg asked. "Taking the time to dry them off could have meant the death of someone that could have been saved."
"You could lose your feet if they get a bad enough infection," the doctor replied.
"Better my feet than someone's life. It's an easy trade," Greg stated calmly. "Am I going to lose them?"
"No," the doctor admitted. "At least I don't think so."
"Then there's no problem."
"Where are you going back to?"
"Brockton Bay."
"I'll call ahead," the doctor said. "They should have some cream and some antibiotics ready for you when you get back. You allergic to anything?"
"No."
"Follow the directions on the bottle. Costume up and go into the nearest PRT or Protectorate office if your feet swell up or turn red or get red lines or you lose feeling in them or you get any strange symptoms and show them the bottle your antibiotics come in. Got it?"
"Yeah," Greg agreed.
"You need a ride to the transport platform?"
"No, I can walk." He hoped so anyway, he hated the idea of someone's time being wasted because he wasn't strong enough to make it on his own.
"Can you put your boot back on?"
Greg thought about it for a moment. "Could I have a fresh bandage to wrap around my foot first?"
The doctor nodded to the tech. "See to it."
"Yes, doctor."
Lightning Lass was waiting when he arrived back in Brockton Bay. She had an odd look on her face. "Your prescription will be here soon," the Protectorate cape stated. "You want a shower and a meal while you wait? We can even get you a place to sleep and a laundry service if you want it."
"If I go to sleep then I'm not going to be able to get up for at least twelve hours," Greg yawned.
"That's fine," Lightning Lass said quickly. "We've got a VIP room that Armsmaster and the director say you can use till the next Endbringer attack if you want and the doctors want a look at your feet too, just to make sure."
"Do you have something I can wear while my clothes get washed?" Greg asked hopefully.
"Of course."
"Okay," he agreed. "But only because I don't think I can make it home."
"This way," she said. "Do you need any help? I can get someone here if you do."
"I think I can make it."
The hot water felt heavenly, so good that Greg wasn't sure if he hadn't fallen asleep standing up in the shower. He got out and devoured the sandwiches Lightning Lass had procured for him on their way to his borrowed quarters before falling face down on the bed and passing out.
IIIIIIIIII
Emily motioned for Lightning Lass to close the door and to have a seat next to Armsmaster when the woman arrived.
"How's our house guest doing?"
"Dead on his feet," Lightning Lass replied. "Apparently he doesn't sleep until he collapses and doesn't eat at all while deployed."
Emily nodded. "No luck on recruitment?"
"He has no interest in doing anything but fight Endbringers," Lightning Lass stated.
"Partially true," Armsmaster interjected. "He told me that he would not object to lending aid in other types of disasters."
"Wards aren't permitted to deploy so the chances of him signing up are slim to none," Piggot cursed. "At least he's not planning to join a gang or go independent."
"What are the chances he'll get forcibly recruited?" Lightning Lass asked nervously.
"Low." Piggot smiled nastily. "Intel informs me that a number of capes on both sides of the law have informed the local gangs that they will be very unhappy if the unknown parahuman from Brockton Bay is bothered in any way. Kaiser has declared that the Endbringer truce applies to him in perpetuity since he only goes to Endbringer fights and Lung has stated that he will not be interfered with so long as the Unknown Parahuman does not attempt to interfere with local matters."
"What about the merchants?"
Emily sighed. "That is the worry, isn't it."
"We can step up drug enforcement and paroling to put pressure on the Merchants," Armsmaster suggested.
"Do it," Piggot ordered. "Make sure everyone keeps trying the soft sell when he shows up for Endbringer fights. Who's signed up for the next one?"
"No one has signed up yet," Armsmaster stated. "I will go myself if no one volunteers before the sirens go off."
"Fuck." Piggot pinched the bridge of her nose. "Lightning Lass. Offer him the chance to order emergency supplies from us for the next fight, tell him that they'll be ready and waiting for him when he gets here if he indicates that he's planning to attend. I want you to take point with him. Don't push him, but make sure he doesn't forget that we're always looking for capes."
"Yes, ma'am."
"It may also be beneficial to tell him that he has done enough," Armsmaster stated. "When I spoke to him, he indicated that he was attending Endbringer fights due to a sense of duty. Perhaps we could convince him that his duty has been fulfilled and that he would be better served joining the Wards?"
"What do you think?" Piggot asked.
"Might work," Lightning Lass allowed. "I'll give it a shot if the subject comes up."
"Good." Piggot nodded. "Get some rest. I doubt our guest will be up and about for a while but I want you to be ready when he is."
"Yes, ma'am."
IIIIIIIIII
His clothes were cleaned and folded neatly in a basket outside his borrowed quarters when he woke up along with two rolls of fresh white bandages. The PRT really knew how to make a guy feel welcome he thought as he put on his makeshift costume.
He took a couple painful steps out into the corridor and looked around the corner to see if he could spot someone after he'd gotten dressed. To his relief, a guard was posted just out of sight of his door.
"Hi, uh, I'm ready to leave if you guys don't need me for anything," he said.
"Lightning Lass will be here to see you soon, sir," the guard said politely. "You can wait in your room if that would be more comfortable."
"Sure," he agreed, figuring that he'd been given a polite order. He didn't have to wait long before there was a polite knock on the door. "Come in."
"Fifteen hours," the hero stated as she stepped into the room. "Not that you didn't earn it, but damn. I guess you needed it, huh."
"I guess so," he agreed.
"Doctor wants to have a look at your feet and I figured you'd be hungry so we can stop at the mess hall before we hit the infirmary if you want," the woman continued.
"That'd be great," he agreed. "Thank you."
"It's the least we can do," she stated. "Before I forget, the director wanted me to pass on that we can order supplies for you to use in Endbringer fights. Just let us know and we'll have them ready for you when you get here. Well, assuming you're gonna keep doing this. We'd much prefer it if you were to join the Wards."
"I'm going to keep going," he said simply. "Thanks. A life jacket would have been a good idea for this last fight."
"That all?"
"I restocked my medical supplies before I came back," he said. Greg considered the matter. "Can I get back to you? I . . . maybe something I could use to pry things open or something? Or something I could use to cut through things like locks or get through locks. The big problem is weight, there's a hundred things that would be useful but they're all just so heavy that I have to be careful with what I take."
"No rush, it's not like the offer is going to go away," she promised. "Come on, this way."
IIIIIIIIII
Vista felt a spike of excitement when she saw Lightning Lass escorting a new kid around the mess hall. Looked like she wasn't going to be both the newest and the youngest Ward anymore. Just youngest, unfortunately, but progress was progress. Shoulders straightening, she marched over to introduce herself to her new junior.
"Hi!" she said with a wide smile. "I like your costume."
"Thanks," he said. Lightning Lass opened her mouth to say something and then closed it.
"I'm Vista," she introduced herself.
"I know," he replied. "I saw the press conference. It's good to know we've got such a strong shaker in the Bay. I wish I had a mover power a hundredth as good as yours."
"Thanks," she said brightly. He hadn't introduced himself, she noted, maybe he hadn't gotten a name yet. She decided not to worry about it. "Uh-" she figured it would be rude to ask about his powers before he got his own debut. "I like my powers," she finished lamely.
"Me too. Very powerful with a little knowledge of science and a lot of common sense." His stomach growled. "Sorry."
"No problem. Can I ask one more question before I let you go?" she requested.
"Sure."
"What do you mean common sense?"
"Well. Distance is your friend." Greg summarized some of the PHO threads he'd read. "Fight to your strengths and their weaknesses, right? Nothing you haven't heard before, right?"
"Yeah," she agreed, not wanting to admit to a less experienced cape that she had no idea what he was talking about. She's ask Lightning Lass about it later. "Nice to meet you and nice talking to you. I'll see you around," she finished in a rush.
Greg got home to an empty house that night, normal for Endbringer fights. Hopefully his parents wouldn't be too busy, he thought to himself as he logged into PHO. Again he ignored the Endbringer section, it was for survivors and fighters of which he was neither. Instead he laid down some truth and got a two week ban for it, proving once again that the mods were tools of the system. Four days until he had to go back to school and a month till summer vacation. He needed to get ready for the next one, the hope killer, he just wished he had some clue on what to do.
IIIIIIIIII
Vista looked around the room. One person was conspicuously absent, which was a disappointment since she wanted to stop being the newest ward as soon as possible.
"Where's the new kid?" she asked, raising her hand.
"What new kid?" Miss Militia asked.
"The one that was with Lightning Lass," Vista clarified. "He looked like a mummy, bandages wrapped around his face."
Miss Militia went silent for a few uncomfortable moments. "You met him?"
"Yeah," Vista agreed. "He seems like a nice guy."
"He is not a new ward. He was here as a guest," Miss Militia stated.
"Is he from another branch?" Vista asked. "What's his name?"
Miss Militia sighed. "He is not a Ward and he is unlikely to become a Ward."
"Oh." Vista considered the matter. "Why did he get to stay here then?"
Miss Militia was conscious of the fact that all of the Wards were staring at her and waiting for an answer. "Look up the Unknown Parahuman on PHO if you want to learn more about him," she advised. "He only participates in Endbringer fights, as I said previously he will not be joining us."
"He goes to Endbringer fights?" Vista asked, impressed.
"Two so far. Two consecutive," she amended. "Do not load any images of Endbringer fights or of any other disasters if you do choose to look him up. Trust me, I . . . just trust me. I've been to four, I can not describe how horrible they are. Understood?"
"Yes, Miss Militia."
"Everyone?" her voice sharpened.
"Yes, Miss Militia," they said in chorus.
"Good."
IIIIIIIIII
To Greg's intense pleasure, his mother was awake and sitting at the kitchen table when he got up the next morning. He was going to get to spend some time with her!
"Hi mom," he said happily.
Her eyes flicked to him and there was a long pause before she replied. "Good morning. You're up early."
"I was hoping to be able to see you," he said honestly.
"Not having any problems at school that I'm going to need to deal with or anything are you?" she sighed. "You know that I have to sleep during the day."
"No." He shook his head. "Nothing like that." He pointed towards the paper he'd left on the table. "I was hoping you could sign that."
"What's this?" his mother asked, glancing at the paper.
"A permission slip to take EMT classes," Greg replied.
That got her attention. "You want to be an EMT?"
"I think everyone should learn so that they can help out people like you and dad in an emergency," Greg replied. "I also want to take lifeguard classes but I need to be better at swimming first."
That got a smile. "Oh. Of course." She signed the document. "I'll be happy to sign any permission slips you need me to for things like this."
"Thanks."
"Do you need money to pay for it too?"
"No. I've been saving up so I can pay for it myself," he said. "Um, I might want to take Scuba diving classes too."
"Why?" The enthusiasm dimmed a bit but she seemed willing to listen, he took that as a good sign.
"Because they said I needed to be a certified Scuba diver before I could take the public safety diver classes they offer," Greg admitted. "I don't think they'll be as useful as the EMT classes or the lifeguard classes, but I don't want to take the chance of not taking them and needing them later."
"Thinking of joining the fire department like your father?"
"They said I had to wait till I was sixteen before I started volunteering," Greg admitted. "I just want you and dad to be proud of me."
"I am, Greg, and I know your father will be to when he finds out what you've been doing to improve yourself. You said that you don't need money, what have you been doing to make it?" There was a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"I go to the dump and I find old phones to fix," Greg said. "Then I sell them at pawn shops."
"That why there's a stack of them in the garage?"
"Uh huh."
"How much do you make?"
"Usually about ten or twenty bucks each. Some go for as little as two and I was able to sell one for fifty once," he said. "But that one didn't even have anything wrong with it, I don't know why it was throw away."
"Some people have more money than they know what to do with," his mother huffed. "That all?"
"No, but that's what I'm focusing on. Phones are easier to carry than televisions and I can carry a lot more per trip."
"Are you the reason the upstairs faucet doesn't leak anymore?"
"Yes, mom."
"Good job. What else have you been fixing?"
"Anything I find that needs fixing," he said simply. "Your car needs an oil change and one of the spark plugs is about to go bad."
"Can you handle that?"
"Yes, mom."
"How long will it take?"
"I'll be done before you have to go to work tonight," he promised.
"Alright. Get a receipt for the parts and the oil and I'll pay you back."
"Okay, mom."
"What else have you been doing?"
"I've been trying to get into better shape," he said. "I realized that hating to exercise was no excuse and that being in bad shape could get me or someone else killed some day."
"Hopefully nothing so dramatic, but yes, it's much better to be physically fit." She yawned. "I'd better get to bed. Nice talking with you, honey."
"Nice talking with you too, mom." Greg felt like he was on cloud nine. His mom was proud of him! He couldn't remember the last time she'd told him that, couldn't remember if she'd ever told him that. He bet his dad would be proud of him too when he found out was he was doing. Greg imagined how much prouder they'd be if he could tell them everything that he was doing, but he couldn't. Capes didn't reveal their identities and heroes didn't do what they did for recognition. Greg poured himself a bowl of cereal, still nice to get though.