Witch Way 6
* Brockton Bay General Hospital, January 5 2011 *
Danny Hebert had been drowsing when the various alarms went off and he caught the tail end of his daughter fading from view on the hospital bed. He was rather more awake when she reappeared sitting on the edge of that same bed. Wearing different clothes, looking a good deal less pale and more fit. Also older, looking to be closer to 17 than 15.
The clothes were curious. Something that looked more like the sort of gown one would wear at a graduation ceremony. Trimmed in yellow with a tie of the same color.
She stood up, standing taller than he remembered, and she brandished some wooden dowel and made a couple of quick gestures with it.
When she turned, she lit up with a brilliant smile, and he found himself being hugged in very short order.
"Taylor?" asked Danny Hebert. "What just happened?"
It took Taylor over a minute to reply. "That... is a long story. About seven years to be precise."
* Armsmaster *
"Duty Log, January 5 2011, 1100 hours. Security Level 5.
"Note that subject Nightmare awoke from power-induced coma at 2200 hours on January 4. She was monitored for further reactions and placed in Master Stranger confinement as soon as vitals registered within normal range. Subject was extremely uncooperative, denying that she is a parahuman. Due to her ability to manipulate sensory input in an area effect, she has temporarily been given a Master-4 rating. Testing will be required to determine exact nature of power.
"Subject Taylor Hebert awoke at 0700 hours January 5. Full medical status writeup awaiting result of blood tests. Several anomalies detected. Eavesdropping devices in patient room recorded a conversation taking three point two hours with her father. Initial analysis is some sort of trigger-related delusion, possibly compounded by trigger hysteria. Possibility of psychological issues such as claustrophobia due to nature of trigger event.
"Observation of both subjects continue.
"Containment measures for subject Shadow Stalker are registering as performing normally. Subject has been unusually cooperative, especially for Shadow Stalker. Possible side effect from Nightmare's Mastery. Currently not showing any sign of Mastery other than considerable agitation.
"Helmet upgrade of lie detection software requires additional tweaking. Reading of biometric data might be helped by sensor devices similar to those utilized in some endoscopy procedures. Getting subjects to ingest sensor pill is likely to make device usage difficult to implement.
"Analysis of Nightmare's 'Dead Rising' effect continues. Interviews of affected personnel has initial effects fading to 'bad dream' status within six hours of direct effect in 97% of subjects present during power activation. Remainder of subjects show lingering effects, possibly due to proximity to Nightmare when manifesting her power. Further analysis ongoing.
"Two new triggers in group of affected, apparently due to emotional backlash of Nightmare's power. Tentative codenames assigned are Mongo and Analyzer. Testing scheduled for 1400 and 1600 today respectively. Mongo appears to have a Brute rating, while Analyzer is a Thinker with some distance based visual ability.
"Armsmaster duty log, close and save entry."
* Brockton Bay General *
"So, I had all my equipment with me - it doesn't do any good for you to have a piece of equipment in your chest in your dorm room if you can't access it when you need it." Taylor brandished a messenger bag. 'Unfortunately I did have to leave behind some stuff because even a nearly bottomless bag is still only nearly bottomless. The school uniform came with me, but a lot of clothes and some of the bulkier items like my Alchemy Table couldn't make the trip."
Danny just watched as one item after another was named and drawn from the bag.
"You can only be using one focus at a time, and everyone uses wands. On the other hand, I've got a staff which is better for doing massive area-effect things and a ring which is better for quick and self-target spells. Interference patterns develop if you've got more than one out at a time though. Ah, magic mirror. Unlike the fairy tales this is only useful for a Far Seeing spell. Runecrafting kit. VERY handy. Of course I enchanted most of my gear. Lots of people do that. Making your robe and hat waterproof and easy to clean - easy. Only difficult part was making them permanent."
Danny Hebert couldn't follow half of what she was saying, but he nodded anyway because Taylor seemed excited and happy.
"You know I couldn't leave behind some of my potions stuff," said Taylor. "Not my favorite class. Professor Snape is a dick. Knows his stuff, no doubt about that, but still a major dick. Had to leave behind the cauldron and some of the equipment, but finished potions are definitely something you want in a bug-out bag."
Danny nodded. With Endbringer sirens and multiple gangs in Brockton Bay, having a bug-out bag was one thing the local government put into their PSA commercials. Be ready at any time sort of thing.
"There's this too. One of the Hufflepuffs in my year played Dungeons & Dragons, which was really weird when you think about running a game about wizards and magical stuff when you're actually IN a school for magic." Taylor shook her head at the memory of sitting near a game and watching the little miniatures marching around the map. "Anyway. Cloak of Invisibility, not nearly so good as Harry's but still useful while it lasts. My broom, it's just a Cleansweep 7 that I've modified a bit. Charm Bracelet - that was my sixth year project for Ancient Runes. My various Instant pellets. I use muggle pill containers to keep them seperate and protected."
Danny just noted that Taylor used to be a chatterbox, and was exhibiting a bit of that now. It was reassuring. "So, you're a cape now?"
Taylor considered that, really considered it for a moment. "Not exactly. I spent so much time preparing for when I came back. So many plans that I made and discarded. I could help people, really help them. I could do a lot of good for a lot of people."
"But?" prompted her father.
"I honestly don't think that doing the usual cape-things helps in the long run," said Taylor. "It was something that I thought about with the history of that world. When mundanes and magicals all worked together, they could do so much. Wizards and witches spend all of their time hiding and doing things with their magic that only benefit themselves and a lot of it is mundane. Molly Weasley, for example, cooks things on a magical stove that looked like it was made in the 19th Century. She has animated scrub brushes that do the dishes. The magical world has sanitation and cleanliness issues that wouldn't pass inspection in the non-magical version of England. Meanwhile, the wizarding world can do things that look like it belongs in a sci-fi setting. Like wardrobes that are bigger on the inside."
"Like Doctor Who?" asked Danny, remembering something about a police box and a guy with a really long scarf.
"Think so, it's been a long time," admitted Taylor. "I'm going to have to go shopping after we can leave the hospital. Hmmm. Anyway, I'm not a 'parahuman' - I'm pretty sure. I'm a lot more versatile."
"Well... I think I am," said Danny Hebert.
"Oh?" asked Taylor. "What can you do?"
"Rats and mice and other small mammals," said Danny Hebert. "I was so stressed with you apparently going into a coma, finding out you were betrayed by Emma, frustrated that Alan has turned on us..."
"Squeak!" declared a mouse, emerging from beneath the bed, managing a little bow towards Taylor.
"Huh," said Taylor, beginning to smile. "You know. I think I can work with that."
* PRT ENE HQ *
Armsmaster scanned quickly. The eavesdropping devices in the patient room going abruptly dead indicated something was going on there. Unfortunately he was dealing with a much more pressing problem, so he merely flagged the short excerpt to Miss Militia. Something about seven years passing? No, he had to deal with this other consideration.
Nightmare was panicking and in her panic was causing hallucinations in a 120ft (36.5m) radius.
Containment foam was ineffective in blocking the power, as were walls and areas above and below the cell within that radius were also within that effect.
Knocking her out by flooding the cell with gas worked.
"Nightmare's ability was given the tentative name of 'Dead Rising' due to the manifestation effect. It is telepathic in nature and involves such horror movie tropes as ghosts, zombies, and shadowy menacing figures. It is ineffective against some individuals, though it is currently unknown what common factor exists between such individuals. It is my current recommendation that Nightmare be transported by air while unconscious to an area where isolation measures are easier to maintain and use remote-controlled devices for interaction."
Armsmaster considered things briefly, eyes going over the written reports to glean the important bits for his summary. "Nightmare's ability seems tailored to produce panic and fear reactions but she may be able to produce other scenarios when she has a better grip on her power. Even though records show she has been unflaggingly hostile towards Taylor Hebert, some residual feelings of guilt may be responsible for the initial manifestation. If that is not the case, it is unknown what her Trigger Event actually was."
* Brockton Bay General *
Miss Militia walked in to find something that she had trouble believing for a moment.
There were three mice. In little jackets with little hats. Squeaking in in a passable but wordless cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with a somewhat bemused Panacea and the two Heberts in attendance. Oh, and one nurse who was looking entirely out of his depth.
She waited until they were done with the song and then politely applauded. The mice bowed in reply.
"Don't worry, I'll get them out of the hospital before I release them," said Danny Hebert.
"They're yours?" asked Miss Militia, eyes glancing towards Taylor, who had grown up a bit and was now wearing some sort of graduation costume?
"Mine," admitted Danny. "Taylor did the costumes."
"What power do you have, if I may ask?" Miss Militia realized he didn't have to answer that, but she was hopeful to get something written down.
"That was when I had that light-headed feeling last night?" asked Panacea.
"It was last night," admitted Danny. "I can control mice and rats and bats. Enhance them, make sure they're not carrying parasites or diseases."
"'Enhance'?" asked Miss Militia.
"Smarter, more friendly to humans, less likely to pick up diseases," said Danny. "How do you think the name 'Rat Bastard' would go?"
"No," said Panacea.
"Hard no," said Taylor.
"Bat Masterson? I could send out patrols of bats to seek out evildoers," said Danny. "Or at least eat all the flying insects in an area."
"No, however cool a bat-themed costume might be," said the nurse. "I'm pretty sure that the Masterson estate would sue."
Everyone considered the nurse as he checked Taylor's vitals, but dismissed that after a moment.
"Well, I don't plan on doing any of that hero and villain stuff anyway," said Danny. "Though a Mouse-mobile might be interesting."
"Please, do you have any idea how fast Mouse Protector would be here trying to join your team?" asked Miss Militia.
The nurse entered some information on a nearby terminal. "Is there anything you need before I go to the next patient?"
* Outside *
(Squeak squeak chitter.) ("And so, the nezumi ninja clan was born.")
(Squeak bark squeak.) ("What's a ninja, is it cool?")
(chitter squeak squeak.) ("To be a ninja, is to be the very definition of cool.")
(squeak squeak?) ("How do you know this?")
(squeaker squeak squeak.) ("Because I can read the ad on the bus-stop bench for a movie about ninja.")
(squeakums) ("We should go watch that movie. Might be a good chance to learn more about the human world.")
(squeak chitter squeak bark) ("It's a plan.")
* Taylor, January 7 2011 *
Rat Bastard was not acceptable, as apparently there was a Tinker in Eastern Australia going by that name. Rat-A-Tat was taken, but had died in an Endbringer attack so it might be available? Rat Again and Mouse Keeper were quickly nixed.
Rat Fink was more acceptable than most, but still in Dad Joke territory and Taylor found that less acceptable than either Miss Militia (who was against anything involving the word "mouse") or any of the medical personnel who would wander in and out of the room.
Rat Catcher was a temporary name. Nobody had used that, which was surprising as it turned out that there had been thirteen capes with names using the word rat, seven with mouse (Mouse Protector and Mousekeeper being the only active ones), and there was a Shrew (British), Vole (French), Mongoose (also British), Ferret (Louisiana and a minor self-styled Robin Hood villain), and Pied Piper (German).
Going through the living room, bemused by how difficult it was to get a decent cape name nowadays, Taylor noted the small legion of modified mice. Watching TV.
"What are you guys up to?" asked Taylor. She glanced at the TV and noted the colorful images. "Cartoons?"
"Anime," said one of the mice, sounding slightly insulted.
"Okay," said Taylor, waiting for the commercial. "What's it about?"
"This kid is the class pariah, but he wants to become the head ninja of his village," began one of the mice, sounding quite excited.
* January 9, 2011 *
* PRT Preliminary Findings, Power Testing. Security Level 5 *
_Rat Catcher_
Master-7: Rat Catcher (name not finalized) is able to enhance and then control small mammals. This includes rats, mice, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, moles, bats, and hedgehogs. Rat Catcher is able to imbue his minions with human level intelligence and prehensile forepaws if they do not already have them. His minions are highly loyal to him and exhibit good teamwork. Rat Catcher is limited in his ability to command his minions in that he must be able to speak to them normally.
Shaker-3: Rat Catcher's ability to modify his minions physiology is restricted to line-of-sight and a range of fifteen feet.
Note: It appears that there was a trigger modification of Rat Catcher's original ability by proximity to Panacea during trigger event.
_Nightmare_
Master-4: Nightmare (name not finalized) has a 120ft radius area of audio and visual hallucinations she produces apparently involuntarily in response to emotional stimuli. Nightmare's ability has been dubbed 'Dead Rising' due to the manifestation she has produced twice now.
Containment and neutralization methods are under investigation. Nightmare has been moved to the Dagon Facility in Innsmouth Massachusetts due to the robot caretakers there being immune to her sensory manipulation power.
_Mongo_
Brute-3: Mongo is tough enough to survive small arms fire and shows signs of sufficient strength to lift nearly a ton.
Checking records indicate that subject is heavily autistic.
Paperwork filed for transfer to San Diego PRT Branch.
_Analyzer_
Thinker-6: Remote Viewing. Analyzer's primary ability is to see things at a distance as if she were there. Current range unknown pending further testing. Limitations are Thinker headache and inability to see through forcefields and anti-Thinker measures. Recommended for immediate recruitment into ThinkTank.
_Sorcerie_
Sorcerie (name not finalized) has only consented to minimal power testing due to time constraints.
Blaster-4/Shaker-5/Trump-5: Sorcerie has demonstrated a near-Eidolon ability to switch from one power effect to another utilizing gestures and words to produce various effects. She has demonstrated advanced Blaster abilities, the ability to warp a battlefield to suit her fighting style, and the ability to cancel out some parahuman abilities.
Mover-4: Sorcerie has two devices which increase her mobility to allow flight and teleportation. Investigation reveals devices are not tinkertech.
* January 11, 2011 *
"...and if you see them, put a bullet in 'em. If they're down, I don't care if they're kids, shoot 'em again to be sure."
Sorcerie looked to her father and raised an eyebrow.
"That's Lung. We should avoid him," said Pest Patrol (current temporary name).
"They're planning on killing kids," pointed out Sorcerie.
"What part of army of mice ninja is able to take on Lung?" returned Pest Patrol.
Sorcerie had her wand in hand, looked over the little railing on the roof of their building and jabbed her wand out in a quick movement. "Petrificus Totalus."
Down on the street, the slightly fiery Lung fell over like a felled tree.
Taylor quickly did a Disillusionment on herself and her father.
There was a fwish sound and Oni Lee appeared on the roof, looking around, then down. "Mice? In little ninja outfits?" Apparently this was sufficiently bizarre that he was being more talkative than normal.
"We are the ninja of Clan Nezumi!" declared one of the mice.
Oni Lee blinked, then just drew a grenade, pulled the pin and dropped it just before turning to ash.
Taylor used a Vanishing spell and the grenade disappeared. "Everyone off the roof. Apparition Arrestum." A couple of wand waves later there was an illusion that the Nezumi Clan was still there.
Oni Lee reappeared, saw the unexploded grenade (illusion) and the curious-looking mice-ninja and dropped another grenade. Then grew momentarily panicked as he realized he wasn't teleporting.
Two roofs over, Taylor winced at the explosion. "Wait here."
Pest Patrol held up a hand. "Ninja squad, three of you scout it out."
"Hai, Nekage!"
Taylor was faintly amused at the three ninja mice in the little uniforms she'd transfigured for them go running off. "Why is one of them wearing orange?"
"I'm going to have to watch that TV show if they're going to be doing things out of that," said Pest Patrol. "What about 'Mouse Chief'?"
The three ninja mice returned, the pink one stepping forward. "We bandaged him as best we could. He managed to avoid the worst of it but he's not going anywhere for awhile."
"Ah," said Pest Patrol, looking down at the milling crowd of gang members. "Ninja mice, subdue but don't kill them."
There was a chorus of replies including at least one "action at last" exclamation.
"Shall we message the police for a pickup?" asked a one-eyed ninja mouse.
"Yes, you may," said Pest Patrol.
* Armsmaster *
"The city of Brockton Bay. A dark windswept city on a dark and windswept night. The roar of my motorcycle echoing off the nearby buildings as I respond to the latest emergency. A typical night in this city of despair with the few heroes trying to hold back the="
"Colin. You're narrating again."
Armsmaster coughed slightly. "Trying again. Update log entry - January 11 2011 at 2215. Received a tip from Brockton Bay PD of ABB disturbance. Per the call, Oni Lee requires medical assistance and Lung is incapacitated. Investigating."
"Better," admitted Dragon's voice over the radio.
"Arriving at scene... Many of the unpowered gang members appear to be tied up with silk cords in an odd manner."
"Colin? Can you pan your helmet camera left?"
Armsmaster did and blinked. "Do I need to submit to Master/Stranger confinement or are there are large number of mice and a few rats wearing costumes with a one-eyed mouse saluting me?"
"No, and yes there are a number of mice wearing what appears to be 'Naruto' costumes with Kakashi saluting you." Dragon sounded a bit twitchy herself.
"I see," said Armsmaster.
"Armsmaster-kun," said Kakashi-mouse, "we have subdued these rogue ninja and halted their plot to target children."
"Right," said Armsmaster, the word being drawn out a bit more than necessary. "Well, if you'll accompany us back to headquarters we've-"
"Paperwork Dodge No Jutsu!" said Kakashi-mouse, throwing a smoke pellet the size of his head onto the ground. Smoke billowed out with a bunch of scrabbling sounds and when it cleared there was only an orange-clad mouse there. Who blinked, yelled "shimata!" and then went running off.
"Dragon?" asked Armsmaster.
"Adding a design for a smokescreen system for your armor," said Dragon. "Though I doubt you can actually dodge paperwork with it."
"Talking mice." Armsmaster let out a deep sigh. "I think I need a vacation."