dr doc

by thejarl7166

dr doc

6. Samsara

Samsara

This chapter was edited by Janessa and Mojogopo.

Chapter 01 - Birth Monday 16.05.2011

The lock broke with a loud bang and hit the concrete underneath with a loud clang. I put away the fire ax I found inside one of those emergency cupboards spread throughout the staircase of the big apartment complex, pushed the heavy door open, and stepped outside.

I was blinded by the sporadic sunbeams which were able to penetrate the thick cloud ceiling. It took me a moment to blink away the white dots in my eyes and my tears until my eyes completed their adjustment to this brightness. It wasn't an overwhelming brightness - on the contrary for a spring morning it was a rather murky day - but compared to an unlit staircase without any windows, it was like the difference between night and day.

I couldn't just light every lightbulb the whole way up to the roof while breaking and entering as it would have drawn attention and the last thing I need is attention, especially with what I was intending to do.

I stood still for a moment and admired the sight you have from the roof of a 30 story building over the town.

Brockton Bay, my hometown, my birthplace, and the home of the Protectorate East North East with all its great heroes - who weren't able to do shit for the people living here. They weren't able to put down even one of the various gangs who plague this town and drink its lifeblood like a starving vampire. Nor are those great heroes able to save a single girl, to save me, so Brockton Bay is gonna be the place where I die.

So I have to save myself by condemning myself. Ironic, huh?

I began my slow walk to the railing encircling the roof, to allow myself one last chance to change my mind and to think one last time about what I was intending to do and the repercussions of it.

But with every step I took, moving closer to the edge, instead of wavering from my decision my resolve hardens. Well, it didn't really surprise me as lesser people would have made this decision a long time ago - there is just only so much punishment you can take before you break and after that only so much until anything is better than continuing to suffer.

Because there was just no other way to end this suffering while being able to face my mother in the afterlife. In such a way that there is still something left of the Taylor she knew. This was my only chance for that and I'm gonna take it.

This wasn't my first choice by far. I tried, I really tried, but there wasn't much I didn't do at one point or another. I exhausted every avenue short of dragging my father into it, to get them to stop tormenting me. But nothing worked.

It all started after I returned from summer camp two years ago and Emma, my sister in all but blood, didn't want to have to do anything with me any longer.

I first thought it would be just a phase and she would change her mind about it after a few days and that she only pushed me away because this other girl Sophia instigated her to do that.

Well, she probably did, but man was I wrong in the assumption that my good friend Emma wouldn't just throw away years of friendship for, for...I don't even know what she did it for.

The only thing I knew was that the moment school started again, her sole mission, her sole purpose in life, was to make my life miserable. They started small - spread rumors about me, occasionally spilled juice on me, and destroyed my belongings; all things you eventually get used to, but they continued to raise the ante.

Never satisfied with what they did, they were constantly trying to outdo each other in what they did to me. They started to go after mementos of my mother which helped me through my school day. Thinking about it I still can't believe Emma would do that to me, to my late mother who treated her like her own daughter, but she did.

She stole my mother's flute out of my locker and did things to it, I don't even know what you have to do to a flute to be able to so utterly ruin it. Alone, thinking about it even after such a long time, makes it hard to push back the tears.

Back then I even thought that this deed wasn't surpassable, but time and time again they succeeded. Considering that Emma knew every single secret there is to know about me, it shouldn't have surprised me when she started to weaponize them against me, use them to hurt and shame me.

Like this one time, she teased me with the fact that after the death of my mother I cried myself into sleep for weeks.

Mom, I miss her so much. Even though she has been dead for nearly two years now, a passing mention of her, a stray thought, a single reminder about her, and it aches like the first time I was told she died.

Using a cell phone while driving - such a stupid, wasteful, and unnecessary way to go.

To leave me behind.

Their masterpiece, at least until what they did do me today, was the locker.

They stuffed me into my locker full of used female hygiene products which were left there to rot for the complete duration of the Christmas holidays.

I was in there for hours and thought I would lose my mind. No banging, pleading, or crying did me any good except to provoke the laughter of those who stuffed me in there.

Well, you might think there would be at least one decent person in my school who has a sufficient moral compass to help me out of this predicament, but what can you expect from Winslow? That shithole of school which is in all but in name the breeding ground of every single gang in Brockton Bay.

And let's be honest – Nazi and Asian human traffickers or drug addicts sure aren't exactly upstanding citizens, so it didn't exactly surprise me. But even if I should have known better I still had a spark of hope – until it was choked to death by this event.

I honestly believed after the locker went down, that they would have finally gone too far. That no matter what excuses they had for it, this assault they would finally go down for.

I mean there were at least 20 students in the hallway when they shoved me inside, so at least one person would squeal to the police about what he or she saw so that they finally would get their due punishment.

But nothing happened. Not one single person would go against those three bitches - Emma, Sophia, and Madison - for the little outcast that is me, Taylor. They were either too frightened, too indifferent, or are having too much fun at my expense.

So once again it happened as it did with every single instance before this one. The authorities, the school, did nothing – as always it was their word against mine and who would believe me, the alleged liar, drug addict, whore, and whatever else the rumor mill spread around about me. Wasn't it so funny to be the punch line of the proverb "All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."

Well, I probably would find it funny if I didn't have had to live through it. I was devasted because even that wasn't enough for something to change, for them to be punished. I wasn't allowed to switch schools, to escape from a school I only went to because I couldn't stand to be separated from Emma...oh, what was I thinking?

Now I would sell a kidney just to be able to never see her again. Of course, that wasn't the end of it. After I returned to school, Principal Blackwell made it clear in no uncertain terms that my attendance was lacking and that if I didn't want to repeat the year I had to be present for every single hour of every single day of the semester.

Even though she knew what I went through at this school at their hands.

I showed her my "notebook" in which I had written down every last incident that transpired since September of last year. She took her time, looked through it, and just didn't care; said it was hearsay and that she couldn't act on it.

So I did the only thing I could – I soldiered on and just couldn't let them win.

I couldn't let even one single insult become real, even if it was the most unimaginative one – calling me stupid.

I just couldn't let them get away with this, so even though they did everything humanly possible to sabotage my grades I swore to myself that I would get through this year.

So I forced myself to attend school, to push through the day no matter what. Not that I had much of a choice since I wasn't allowed to skip school any longer.

I didn't know how they managed to learn about the fact that I had to keep up my attendance. But somehow they did, and every thought I had before that Winslow was hell and that it couldn't get any worse was overwritten by the reality that it could. They upped their game and it got worse daily, but no matter what they did I was too stubborn to give in. Even though I constantly thought about it, I never did.

Until today.

Until they once again bathed me in juice, something they hadn't done in a long while since they found better ways to ruin my day. Having expected a repeat of something like this occurring I was prepared and had a fresh change of clothes in the school. So I went to retrieve it together with a towel and shampoo so that I could hit the shower in the gym and get that sticky liquid out of my hair.

Because it happened at the start of lunch break I figured I had enough time to shower and return to class even if it would mean that I wouldn't have the time to eat.

At least that was the plan, a plan that did not survive the contact with the enemy.

During my hot and relaxing shower, I first noticed something amiss when I heard the sound of snickering. I turned to see the door to the shower standing open with several girls standing between the door hinges, Emma being the one in the center, and they all had their phones pointed at me.

I suddenly felt my heart rate spike, making my hands shake just thinking about it. I tried my best to focus on something else to not have to relive what they did to me.

Deep breaths, deep breaths, I told myself over and over and after a time forcing myself to calm down it had the desired result. Damn, and this was the result of today's prank.

I entertained for one brief second the idea of coming clean and telling my dad everything. But I knew it would break him – the knowledge that my former best friend, the second daughter of Alan and Zoe Barnes, my parent's best friends, was responsible for my suffering.

I just couldn't do that to him, not after mom died and left him a shell of his former self. It would kill him as I was sure would the fact that there were nude pictures of his barely 16-year-old daughter in circulation.

But what else could I do? That was when I realized that they would never stop. They would continue to do this to me until something finally gave.

And since I didn't intend to lash out at them, I considered it one last concession to my former best friend, that I could never bring myself to retract - the promise that I would never willfully hurt her. So what else was there for me to do, especially now that they crossed this line?

I started to shake again just thinking about what they would do to me next, just to somehow top this.

Were they going to violate the integrity of my home, the last sanctuary I had left where they didn't hound me so far? Take away the last place I could feel safe and let my guard down?

At this moment I started to realize I'd had enough. Enough of this neverending suffering, enough of fear being my constant companion, constantly picturing their next possible escalation in my mind to soften up the actual deed because I was expecting it. I had endured more than enough and it was time to end it.

I was sure that nobody who would learn the truth would blame me. And perhaps after I had gone through with what I was about to do, somebody might end their silence and do what they should have done a long time ago.

So I grabbed my clothes - thankfully they left them behind - dressed myself, and left Winslow, this hellhole they call a school.

A place I would never return to if I could help it, and help it I intended to do. I took a bus up to Captain's Hill while making plans on how to end it.

For a short moment, I even entertained the thought of killing myself by staging my own murder and planting evidence suggesting those three bitches as the culprit but discarded this train of thought almost as fast as it came to me.

Alan, Emma's father, was a lawyer and I was sure he would find some way to discover it was staged and twist it to further damage my image – perhaps even discrediting or hurting my dad, too.

Dad...he was the one who kept me going for so long. If not for him and what my death would do to him I most likely would have given up months ago, perhaps the locker would have sufficed to push me over the edge when it became clear they would get away with it scot-free.

But I couldn't go on any longer. Perhaps he could come to understand one day, and if I didn't leave behind a farewell letter the doubt that it might have been no suicide would give him something to cling to, and prevent him from shattering and following my path.

I could only hope.

That's one of the reasons I avoided killing myself at home even though, as my research on this subject indicated, one of the less painful ways to go was to slit your wrist (apparently along the veins instead of across them which was a common mistake) inside a tub filled with warm water and wait until you bleed to death.

My musing came to an end as my slow steps finally led me to the railing.

I slipped my legs over the edge and looked down; the ground was a long way below. I wondered how long it would take me to reach the ground and if it was true that you see your whole life in your last moments.

Well, only one way to find out.

I took one last deep breath, closed my eyes and... loud sirens broke me out of my train of thought and halted my intended course of action.

I listened a moment...and yes, I didn't mistake them. Those are Endbringer sirens.

No, not those that alert parahumans of an imminent attack somewhere around the world, so that they could rally at the PRT Headquarters to help. No, this particular alarm was the one everybody hopes to never have to listen to.

Because this one warns the people of a pending Endbringer attack at the location where it's sounded.

An Endbringer was coming to Brockton Bay.

And if I was to judge the fact that it just started raining...it points to Leviathan. The creature who sank dozens of islands and seaports was coming here.

I couldn't help but smile - with luck Winslow wouldn't survive the day. Even better, I didn't have to jump from the roof; I could just wait for Leviathan to kill me.

If I didn't make it inside an Endbringer shelter, I would almost certainly die.

No need to do the deed myself. And perhaps this wouldn't be as hard on my dad. He would just think I wasn't able to reach the safety of a shelter in time.

So I stood there on the roof, looking towards the bay, where the Stormfront was building up and announced the approach of Leviathan. Perhaps I would even get to see him make landfall and some of the heroes fighting him; perhaps I would even be able to see Alexandria in action.

The only woman in the Triumvirate. My childhood hero, who I wanted to meet since, like, forever.

In a roundabout way that could count as the fulfillment of a last wish - to meet the world's greatest heroine moments before my death. I let my sight wander, as below me the streets began to fill with people running, struggling to reach the shelters, hoping that they would be enough to withstand the onslaught of the waves Leviathan no doubt would send against the city to drown it and every living being in it.

A small part of me wondered if one of my tormentors would die in the next few hours. I again suppressed this thought almost as fast as it wormed its way in my consciousness.

I'm better than that, I told myself ...or at least I tried my very hardest to be better than that.

Something that wouldn't matter for much longer.

My view landed on the various people storming out the building I was standing on top of.

How they were running and forgetting even the most basic of courtesies, trampling and pushing their way forward only caring for themselves and their closest family while ignoring everything and everybody else.

They either moved, got shoved out of the way, or were simply trampled over. Funny how little was necessary to reveal the ugliness beneath the mask we wear every day. Ugliness, I knew existed below everybody's paraded demeanor; especially those you least suspect to have it were gonna surprise you.

I saw how some heavyset boy carrying a toddler in his arm was shoved down the stairs leading up to the main entrance of this building. I witnessed how he was suppressing his instinct to catch himself with his hands, knowing that if he did the toddler in his arm would be dropped and hurt in the process.

So instead of allowing that to happen, he managed to turn himself while flying through the air as much as possible and shielded the toddler from any damage his fall might have inflicted upon it. He landed hard on the ground eliciting a scream from his lips that I could hear even 30 stories above him.

A few minutes and dozens of people running out of the building later, the boy and the toddler were the only ones not already nearly to the shelter, still sitting on the steps of the building. And from what I could glean from my position they were no longer in any condition to continue.

One of the boy's legs was bent in an odd angle - definitely broken. Nonetheless, he tried his very best to stand up, not something possible with how wrong his leg looked, but it didn't stop him from trying.

He was determined, I had to give him that.

Well since I wasn't so far gone as to not care about some innocent toddler's survival (and to be honest, I had nothing better to do anyway), I decided to help. Dying could wait just a few minutes. I could at least try to give my last few minutes of life some meaning, and helping someone or dying while trying might just be the way to do it. A more fitting way to go.

I swung my legs back over the railing and made my way down the staircase as fast as possible. It wasn't nearly as exhausting as climbing them, but still by the time I exited the building I was out of breath and sweating.

If there was a tomorrow for me I would need to improve my fitness; there are retirees around who are in better shape than I am.

It took me another 20 meters to reach the boy still struggling to limp in the direction of the shelter, hissing every time his broken leg so much as touched the ground. He practically got nowhere the whole time I ran down the stairs.

I approached him from behind and wordlessly grabbed his left arm, then put it across my shoulders to act as his crutch. He didn't hear me approaching, so my sudden touch startled him. He examined my face for a few moments in which neither of us said anything.

Then he managed an anguished "thank you" between his lips and we started limping as fast as possible in the direction of the shelter. He was heavy, so it took everything out of me and him to keep going, to not stop.

All the while we were fighting our way through a raging storm with raindrops splashing so hard in our faces that it would be a miracle if they weren't already black and blue with bruises. And with a wind so strong we had to turn our heads just to be able to breathe.

We dragged ourselves along the water-filled street towards the shelter, with literal rivers flowing along the sidewalks overburdening the storm drains, all the while knowing that we couldn't stop, not even to catch our breaths, because to stop meant to die.

Something I myself wouldn't have minded, but every time I considered stopping to concede to my aching muscles I glanced at the face of the toddler in the boy's arms.

Protected only by a blanket from the forces of nature, I remembered that I couldn't just abandon this innocent child who had its whole life ahead of it. A toddler - female if the pink blanket is any indication of its gender - who seemed to immensely enjoy the ride, giggling to herself. So I clenched my teeth and pushed on, as did the boy.

After what seemed like an eternity in which the storm got stronger and stronger, we finally reached the big metal doors marking the entrance of the shelter.

It didn't take long for the officials at the shelter to notice us. Two men in some kind of uniform, with a reflective west worn over it, came running out and helped us the rest of the way in. As they brought us through the shelter doors, over the loud raging storm I could hear one of the guys in uniform scream that Leviathan had made landfall and that the capes had started fighting him.

I could see the fear in the faces of everyone around me, the uncertainty. I passed the boy over to them and one of the officials continued to support him in my stead. I started to turn away towards the open city when a hand closed around my upper arm and I was dragged inside the shelter by one of those uniformed guys before I could protest and shout against the deafening sound the storm was generating to express my displeasure.

My window of opportunity, to get out, despite my struggles was already missed, as the huge metal doors were already closing. At this point, even I had realized it would be a hopeless endeavor to get them to open the doors so I could leave. Especially since I couldn't think of a single excuse that was even remotely believable for them to justify opening the shelter doors for a 16-year girl during an ongoing Endbringer attack.

Defeated, the boy and I were escorted through the shelter to the top level, him still holding onto the toddler, where they told us there were some cots we could use to lie down and rest, and perhaps a doctor could be found to take a look at his leg.

I started cursing in my head. A perfect chance to die at the hands of a monster, which could only be described as a natural disaster, and therefore the perfect chance to commit suicide without it being obvious. What could I do? I had warmed to the idea Leviathan presented in order to soften the blow my death at his hands would have on my Dad in comparison to outright committing suicide. But now that that chance was gone...Argh!

Why couldn't anything go the way I wanted it to?

When we reached the cots I practically crashed into one, completely exhausted both mentally and physically. I was barely able to hold myself together, not even able to think clearly. I closed my eyes and exhaustion was about to take a hold of me, slowly sinking into the embrace of a well-deserved sleep when I was brought back to awareness, startled awake by a towel thrown my way.

"Kid, you're soaked to the bone. Dry yourself off before you catch a cold and I'll see if I can find some clothes for you and your friend." Some guy said to us before he turned around and left us alone.

Only then did I start to look around and take in my surroundings. The top layer of the shelter consisted of some kind of reinforced structure around 5m high with heavy pillars placed roughly every 5m and roughly 100 cots were lined next to the walls, most of them without someone occupying them.

A good two dozen people were scattered around the floor, some small families and other groups. I also made out one official standing next to the staircase we used to come up here.

Faint conversations, essentially whispers, permeated the silence as if the owners of those voices feared that Leviathan would hear them if they spoke up.

I sat up, took the towel, and started rubbing my sopping hair dry, then proceeded to take off my glasses and wiped them clean. This way I would at least be able to see more than vague forms around me.

After I had my now clean glasses back on again, I noticed the boy was staring directly at me.

I looked back at him, returning his stare with my own. I was about to turn away, relenting when I got angry at myself for backing away. So I ended up asked him a lot sharper than I intended "What are you looking at?" The moment the words left my mouth I was already regretting them. But the boy didn't care.

He looked down at the toddler still in his arms to verify that she was unharmed and said, "Sorry." He stumbled over his words. "I...just wanted to thank you again, for saving me and Aster. My name is Theo by the way, what's yours?"

Before I could answer him, we were interrupted by two people who had made their way up the stairs and were heading right for us. The one on the left was a guy in uniform, probably one of those who escorted us up here, and the other was an older man, probably his in the mid-40s in jeans and some kind of rain jacket.

He knelt right next to the cot the boy was sitting on and gave both of us a once-over. "My goodness, you weren't kidding, they look like hell," he said to the guy that brought him here. He probably saw a grimace on my face because he continued, "Sorry, but you look like you went through a lot."

Tell me about it, genius.

"Oh, where are my manners. I'm Dr. Hendrikson and I was asked to have a look at your leg. May I?" He asked Theo. Theo's response consisted of a short nod and the doctor took this as permission and started to slowly unwrap his leg.

More than once I saw Theo take a sharp breath when the pain hit him. It took a while, even requiring the help of a sharp knife, but they were finally able to expose his leg and the definitely broken bones.

"Well seems like a classic shin and calf bone fracture," the doctor said. "May I ask what happened?"

"I was leaving the apartment with Aster around the same time everyone else did so we were in the middle of the crowd when I got shoved from behind. I fell and was barely able to save Aster from being buried under me when I felt a sharp pain in my leg," he explained. "I think someone stepped on me. By the time the pain was down to a bearable degree Aster and I were alone, and we would still be out there if not for her."

When he said those last words he pointed right at me and muttered, "thank you" for the third time since I meet him.

At his genuine words of gratitude, I started to feel warm inside. It must have been forever since somebody thanked me, that somebody acknowledged my existence without ill intent.

Dr. Hendrikson looked at me for a moment. "Very good, young lady," he praised before he continued in the direction of Theo. "I'm sorry I can't do much for you. We don't have a lot of medical supplies here. Perhaps I'll be able to put your leg in some makeshift splints, but everything else has to wait until we're cleared to leave the shelter."

At the exact moment these words left his mouth, the shelter shook. In the periphery of my vision, I could make out how everybody around us cringed. Worry crept its way in the countenance of the people around me.

They slowly started to relax, after a little time went by and nothing else happened, only for there to be another louder and definitely closer quake that shook the shelter. I slowly started to rise from my cot for some reason, fixating my view to the center of this floor.

I didn't know what I expected to find there but certainly not what the third quake revealed.

Then, with a loud crash, the center part of the ceiling came down followed by water. So much water that it flooded the whole floor, and within seconds we were all up to our ankles in the torrent. Well, those of us who were at least able to remain standing, which wasn't many. Most, surprised from the sudden gush of water, were swept right off their feet.

But what shocked me and most likely everyone else the most was the fact that, in the midst of those boulders strewn about which at one time made up the ceiling, was a creature at least 20 feet tall, with three eyes, scaly skin, and a lizard tail that was just standing up from a kneeling position; to its full height, which nearly allowed it to butt its head against the ceiling.

Through that hole, the creature had smashed its way through dozens of meters of concrete to penetrate the shelter. It seemed to gaze at us, as more water continued to fall on top of it and flowed down its body.

Leviathan...

I, like most people still alive, had only ever seen pictures of him. That's mostly credited to the fact that few people ever survived an encounter with him. Even among the most powerful capes, there were comparatively few who ever faced him and lived to tell the tale.

And I must say, those pictures weren't even close to conveying the terror of seeing him up close and personal. His body was for human standards disproportionate, with his arms much longer than they should be. His upper arms and shoulders appeared to be heavily muscled and stood in stark contrast to the much thinner forearms, and his calves were topped off with massive webbed claws.

He had hunched shoulders and large cords of muscles standing out on his neck and upper torso.

Behind him, he dragged along a tail about 50 feet in length that looked more like a whip with its rather thin diameter. But the most disturbing thing was not the scaly green color of his whole body, but his face, or rather lack thereof. He didn't have a nose, mouth, or ears, and the only thing embedded in his featureless head, that reminded me of a green featureless hockey mask, were four asymmetrically placed eyes - three on the left side of his face and one on the right.

Leviathan seemed to be content to scrutinize his surroundings as he stood there. His presence alone was enough that fear took hold over the people - no one dared to move, desperately trying not to attract his attention. If he had been human with features that allowed for feelings to be displayed, I could vividly imagine him doing just that. Just standing there, savoring the effect he had on us. The fear he could instill with his mere existence.

But he wasn't human, therefore whatever it was that halted him didn't last and he slowly commenced stomping in my - our - direction.

Suddenly I heard a deafening sound - a gunshot, glancing off the creature's skin, or rather his scales, without inflicting so much as a scratch. He continued his walk to us unhindered but swiped his tail once in the direction where the gunshot came from - a group of five young men; judging by their shaved heads, probably some Empire 88 thugs.

They didn't even have time to regret their actions when the highly compressed water that was released from the tip of Leviathan's tail bisected the whole group together with the 10 feet diameter steel-concrete pillar, which offered the same nonexistent resistance to this attack as the five bodies that now littered the floor, coloring the water red and leaving a deep trench in the wall behind.

I reoriented myself and started cursing. Even though I wanted to die I wouldn't allow Theo and this baby girl Aster to do the same, not after I went to such lengths to get them to safety. But it seemed that was exactly what was gonna happen since there was a bonafide Endbringer with us in the room.

A creature that not even the strongest capes could even hope to match, to survive even, and it had set its sights on us. The guys next to me stopped moving. I could see the panic on their faces holding them in its grip.

Fear strong enough to paralyze them while Leviathan came ever closer with sure steps. My mind started working in overdrive trying to come up with what to do to save those people. But what could I hope to accomplish? I wasn't a hero, I had no powers - I was just a scrawny, unfit teenager.

All things which didn't prevent me from acting. I intended to die anyway so let's make this count were my thoughts before I shouted "Run!" and started running myself. Not away from that creature but right at it. Hopefully, my desperate scream would free at least a few of them from their paralysis.

I knew that I wouldn't be able to do shit against him. If the world's strongest capes are only able to hurt him while giving it their all, I would be nothing not worth noticing - a little fly waiting to be squashed.

But I didn't intend to win, to hurt him. I intended to distract him just long enough for those people to clear the room. To live long enough for the heroes to arrive and save the day.

This way, I could at least give some meaning to my death. So I ran at him and the closer I got the less I thought this was a good idea. But what was the worst thing that could happen to me, right? And I started smiling.

As soon I was about two meters away from him his tail moved. I was barely able to see it twitch before I ducked low and not a second too late; I could feel the supplanted air on my face from the water slash as hard as concrete that missed me by an inch. Surprised, I stumbled forward and while trying to catch my fall my hands found leverage on a steel bar sticking out of some little piece of concrete.

With a strong pull, it came loose and I came up with it held in my hand. Two long strides forward and I hit Leviathan who now stood directly above me with everything I had.

I heard a loud clang when the steel bar hit him and my hands holding onto it went numb and bloody. I didn't hesitate, releasing my grip on the steel bar and immediately jumped sideways just in time to avoid his lazy claw swing.

I didn't know what clued me in, certainly not the plain indifferent face of Leviathan, but cold shivers ran down my spine and I was certain that after I'd escaped certain death twice, I now had his undivided attention.

Whereas mine was split since I saw that the guys who were with me and Theo followed my suggestion and were running away as fast as they could. The fact that the water slash he attacked me with went just over their heads and barely missed them was most likely a strong motivator to keep doing just that. What I didn't think possible was that they did that without taking Theo with them.

I started wondering what kind of scumbags would leave a toddler behind when Leviathan's claws shot forward and closed around my midsection.

My eyes weren't even able to follow his movement before I felt them. I knew exactly what would follow, I just hoped it would be fast with no suffering, and all things considered, this was not the worst way to go. The only thing I regretted was that my actions weren't enough to save Theo and little Aster.

But instead of me feeling the agony of my torso being crushed, and my intestines spilling out between Leviathan's claws, I heard and felt something shatter. My vision wavered for a moment and the next thing I knew I had landed hard on the flooded floor and something else slammed down right next to me, splintering into thousands of pieces.

It took me some time to stand up, and more to process what I saw.

Leviathan was speared through with some kind of long, sharp-pointed cones. At the base of those cones a few meters back I saw Theo with one hand extended.

A closer look revealed that those cones were generated out of the matter, the concrete around Theo, and seemed to have killed Leviathan.

The green skin he had moments ago was now a pale white, and Leviathan stopped moving as if he had turned to stone after the claw in which he held me was severed from the rest of his body.

But what made me think he was really dead was the gaping hole in his chest where, if he were human, his heart would be, right above some of the cones which speared his midsection.

But there was no clue as far as I could see what was responsible for it. Because none of the cones had stabbed him anywhere near the hole in his chest.

I stood there looking at the now-dead form of Leviathan as my musings were interrupted by loud cheers echoing through the hall.

A fast glance at Theo and I saw pure panic. He reached for one of the towels and wrapped it around his head, frantically trying to hide his identity. Quick thinking, I had to give him that. I wasn't exactly a cape geek but even I could see where it could get problematic if you were outed as a cape and that was even before the fact that he just killed one of three thought-to-be-completely-invincible Endbringers. A feat that many tried to accomplish, but nobody had managed to make a reality.

It took only a few moments and Theo was surrounded by people - good for him.

What little I could glean from him in our interactions with each other didn't exactly give me the impression that he had a lot of friends; some of his mannerisms were oddly familiar to my own. Somebody who was used to burying his head in the sand so as to not draw any attention at any cost.

Hopefully, this will change things for him now. I made my way to the staircase as I'd already wasted enough time.

The moment I reached them and took stock of my body I nearly toppled over.

I no longer felt exhausted. When not just a few moments ago every fiber in my body practically screamed at me, I now felt better than ever did.

My skin should be covered in goosebumps and I should be shivering because the water was freezing cold and I was still wet to the skin. But on the contrary - soaked as I was, I felt safe and secure as if I was sitting in front of a chimney wrapped in a warm and soft blanket.

It didn't take a genius or a mental leap to recognize that something was really wrong.

Authors Note: I'm aware that when someone triggers all the parahumans around them are knocked out, so what you make of this statement at this point is up to you. I should also note that I'm no fan of the canon powers of Theo/"Golem", so you can expect some changes to them. My first idea to give him some form of hydrokinesis similar to Ligeia didn't linger for long ...

Last edited: Jun 20, 2021

372

Time Paradox

Aug 16, 2020

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 02 - Escape

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Aug 23, 2020

#20

This chapter was edited by Janessa.

Chapter 2 – Escape

I closed my eyes and listened to my body. Perhaps it was some kind of reaction to the adrenalin my body was pumping - I was sure of that - in large amounts through my veins, dulling my sensitivity to cold or something.

But I didn't find anything amiss even after I was able to slow my breathing and calm down.

I opened my eyes, and I was still standing on the top step of the staircase, ankle-deep in seawater flowing down the stairs. Around me were the people that had been clustering around the cot I last saw Theo and Aster sitting on.

And not far off was the blurry form of Leviathan. I reached for my face expecting to find my glasses missing, which would explain my seeing everything around me blurry.

But to my shock I still wore them and they were undamaged.

I removed them to check if perhaps the lenses dropped out of the socket when I noticed that without them I saw perfectly.

I could make out the destroyed form of Leviathan pierced through his lower torso, missing his left forearm, the one with which he grabbed me, lying shattered right next to his feet and I could see the huge hole in his chest. From this viewpoint, he looked like some kind of lifelike statue of himself made out of marble. But nothing like the real deal.

I folded my glasses and pocketed them.

The shelter shook once again. Right next to the hole Leviathan used to make his entrance another hole was punched through the ceiling. Dust and concrete were whirled through the air.

It took a second before it thinned enough to see through it all. Revealing the sight of concrete dust raining down on a woman clad in black, crouched in a three-pointed landing stance in the shattered ground beneath her.

Despite the fact that I couldn't see her eyes behind the cover of her helmet, I was certain that she took in the scene around her, noting every single detail there was. She then stood up to her full majestic height with her black cape fluttering behind her, dust sliding down her shoulders, and the iconic tower on her chest plate in full view.

Alexandria – the world's greatest female hero.

My childhood idol. The old Taylor would have gone into cape geek overdrive at the mere sight of her and run over to pester her about an autograph.

The current me on the other hand, while I couldn't claim to be indifferent about seeing her for real for the first time in my life...I couldn't say I felt anything more than mild curiosity.

A curiosity that kept me rooted on the spot as I decided to watch her for a few more moments.

In the blink of an eye, she came to a stop right in front of Leviathan floating mere inches above the water covering the floor and was staring right at him.

I wondered what she was thinking, looking at the remains of one of the three foes she and the rest of the Triumvirate couldn't manage to defeat in all the years those creatures were around (and surely not from a lack of trying).

Her head whipped around, first focusing on the cluster of people nearest her and from there she let her gaze wander throughout the room.

Until her eyes fell on me.

And I was once again reminded of the events that transpired here just a few moments ago and my role in it.

I held her gaze, but for every second I did that, I started to feel more and more uncomfortable.

It felt like her eyes were looking not at my outward appearance but at my soul, at my very being. Like she was stripping me naked and was learning one of my secrets for each second she had her gaze trained on me.

I got the impression of being dissected on a molecular level. Not that I knew how that felt, but I was sure it would be close to what I was experiencing.

I was moments away from turning around and fleeing her scrutinizing gaze when she was joined by more capes. Eidolon the strongest cape alive, bar Scion, and Legend the leader of The Protectorate were among them.

Unlike Alexandria, they decided it was not necessary to add to the number of holes in the ceiling of the shelter and therefore came flying inside through the hole made by Leviathan.

Legend, in his skin-tight costume, flew down right next to her.

He said something to her. Whatever it was it prompted her to turn her head to look at him.

I released my breath not even aware I was holding it in the whole time her eyes were on me - perhaps a poor choice of words - while she had me paralyzed with her gaze.

I decided that before she could resume doing that to me, I had better take my leave.

This thought came to me not one second too early because I heard her clear and commanding voice cutting through the hall. Drowning all the background noises, be it the water splashing down from the holes in the ceiling and flowing around on the ground, or the murmurs of the crowd around Theo pestering him with questions; even little Aster who started crying moments ago was silenced by her asking.

"What happened here?"

Her voice had an inflection that made her question sound more like a demand. More a command than an inquiry.

Before anybody could answer I ran down the stairs. Two stories further down I saw some sign pointing to the toilets and decided that it would be as a place as good as any to get my bearings.

And to find out what had happened to me.

So I got off the staircase and went past a whole lot of frightened people lingering in the hallway.

From the few scraps of conversations I picked up while making my way through them, they weren't just frightened because the shelter shook or water was flowing down the staircase, but rather because Dr. Hendrikson and his companions running down the hall as if the devil himself was after them.

A comparison not that far off, as the Endbringers were named after mythological figures for a reason. Having seen Leviathan myself, I couldn't really blame them. He was a creature right out of someone's nightmares.

Before I could deepen those thoughts I reached the bathroom door, pushed it open, and rushed past the sinks to one of the open stalls. I slammed the door behind me and locked it shut.

I closed the toilet seat and sat down on top of it.

Nostalgia overcame me. Being forced to eat sitting on the toilet in fear of being pranked, hit, or abused does that to a person. I suppressed my memories of Winslow and forced myself to deal with the problem at hand.

Namely, the fact that I felt fine despite being soaked in freezing cold water. Refreshed, stronger, faster, and more aware of my surroundings than ever before in my life.

It was unexpected, to say the least, especially since I should have felt the exact opposite. I should be crashing after the adrenalin was slowly leaving my system. Was that an endorphin high, attributable to the fact that I, as a normal human, fought Leviathan and was still alive to tell the tale, or was it something entirely different?

I stood up, moved the lid out of the way, and stripped out of my sweatshirt. With both hands around it, I wrung out the water it was soaked with.

While the water was flowing down my hands to the toilet I noticed how strange the water felt to me. It was soft as velvet; like an incredible pleasant cloth was caressing over my hands instead of ice-cold water.

I brought myself to a stop, closed my eyes, and immersed myself in this sensation.

I sensed a connection between myself and the water on my hands, to the water on my body. The connection spread outwards the more and the faster I allowed myself to submerge in this feeling.

But the more I was making myself familiar with it the more it seemed...unlike a feeling, more like a state of mind.

At first, I could sense the water in the toilet stalls around me, then it extended to the pipes in the walls, and from there to the water stored in palleted bottles one story down until suddenly it reached as far as the people outside in the hallways, and then I could sense them, too.

Scared out of my mind I opened my eyes.

My breathing was elevated and I felt sick. I was barely able to close the lid and place myself on the toilet seat before I toppled down on the floor, appalled.

Between a deep breath and the next, I started to ask myself...what the hell was that?!

I could sense them, their blood flowing within their bodies. How their hearts were pumping it through their veins, their saliva, their cerebral fluids, their sweat, the water droplets in their breath - simply everything.

But what frightened me the most, was that deep down I knew that I could manipulate it and control the liquids I sensed. I realized I could kill them all with nothing more than a mere thought.

Stop their blood flow, rip the blood right out of their bodies. There were so many possibilities, so much everything that I could do with this power. It was as staggering as it was horrifying.

And then it hit me like a freight train - I was a cape, somehow I got powers. And they somehow resembled those of Leviathan in that like him I could control water...or was it fluids of all kinds?

I wasn't entirely sure, but my power seemed to be different from the ones Leviathan possessed because he should only be able to manipulate water on a macroscale. He shouldn't be able to manipulate single drops of water separately. Which I'm fairly sure I could do or even be able to manipulate the blood inside living beings.

At least I didn't remember ever heard of him being able to do that.

Then a thought struck me...what if he could do it all along and I somehow got this power from him? What does it mean that he never demonstrated those abilities? Did he never take his battles seriously? Was he just playing around?

Because with an ability like that there would be no cape, hero or villain, alive, who could get close to him. Oh, what am I saying, there is no living creature that could get anywhere near him without him allowing it by not killing them.

It was a scary picture my mind was painting, or did I get it wrong? Perhaps I just got a variation of his power? With different limitations. There was only one way to find out.

I suppressed the fear of my new ability and tried to recreate the state of mind that let me sense the water around me. This time, with awareness of what awaited me, I managed to expand my sphere of influence. I allowed it to grow, and grow it did with seemingly no end in sight, encompassing more and more space.

I was hit with an incredible influx of information.

I became aware of every liquid up to dozen of kilometers in every direction and I instinctively knew that I could manipulate it all within this sphere of influence like it was an extension of my body.

In the exact same fashion, I knew that this wasn't the full extent of this ability, that it was just the metaphorical tip of the iceberg.

I opened my eyes again and a small smile had snuck itself on my face.

I was a cape. I could become a hero, join the Wards and then leave Winslow and all my tormentors behind.

It was common knowledge, after all, that all the Wards went to Arcadia - the best school in town.

But as fast as this ray of hope broke through the raincloud cover that was my mind it was gone, stifled by dark rain clouds called experience that moved in front of the hole the ray broke through to seal it shut again.

That every time I hoped for something to change, to get better, hoping that there was some kind of light at the end of the tunnel, there always was another shoe just waiting to drop, to squash my hopes, to obliterate the light.

As was gonna happen in this case, I was sure of that. And my mind immediately started to provide me with all the things that could go wrong, expecting the worst to happen. What if the rumor that the Wards all went Arcadia was just that a rumor, a smokescreen to make people believe that, to reduce the danger the Wards are exposed to, with them all being students of the other schools?

This way everybody who was out to identify or hurt them was looking at the wrong place. This would mean that even if I joined them I would still have to go to Winslow.

And I couldn't stop asking myself...what if some of them already attended Winslow? If so, why didn't they step in and stop the bullying? Could it be they took part in it?

Before I could finish this thought, I reigned myself in. A Ward, a junior hero, participating in the bullying campaign against a high school girl? Yeah, right, Taylor. What's next, the Protectorate conducting human experiments? I'm beginning to sound like VoidCowboy, this crazy conspiracy theorist on PHO.

Still, what if it really was a smokescreen? I mean, it made a lot of sense to do something like this. Why tell the public about the school the Wards attended? If I were them, I would have them all homeschooled.

Pondering about it, that, like everything else, would still be better than having to return to Winslow.

On second thought, this would require joining a group of teenagers with no guarantee that they were decent human beings. They could just paste on smiles and laugh when needed, putting on a performance for the masses. It wouldn't be the first time people would do something like this - the politicians did it for years long before the first hero.

Even if they were genuine, would they like me? What if Emma was right all along and nobody wanted me? What if everything she said about me was true to some extent? Despite me trying my hardest not to believe in her words, to subscribe to her opinions of me, there was doubt settling in my stomach.

If they weren't true, shouldn't there be at least one single person in Winslow on my side and not theirs?

Chances were, by joining the Wards everything would end up being the same as before, with me becoming the pariah of the group. The only difference being, that everybody there would have superpowers.

So I really shouldn't get my hopes up, just for them to be dashed. Because the hole I would find myself in after such a disappointment would be even deeper than the one I was currently in.

No, I had to do this right, with both eyes open. I first had to get to know the Wards before I even considered joining them. But to do that I had to become a hero, a hero like my younger self always wanted to become. With the difference being, I'll it not to save other people but to save myself.

With this decision formed, I stood up from the toilet seat opened the lid, and focused on my wet clothes, I took control of the water they were soaked in and removed it from them. The water was leaving my clothes, my skin, and my hair. It created small moving trails of droplets which all ended up converging over the palm of my outstretched hand, hovering above it in a constantly growing ball of water.

Within moments, my clothes were completely dry. I moved the water over the toilet bowl and retracted my hold over it. The water ball dropped down into the toilet and landed with a splash. I grabbed my sweatshirt and slipped it back on, drawing my hoody deep over my head, then left the toilet stall.

I started to follow the signs indicating the direction of the exit.

Who would have thought that after all that happened to me today, a string of lucky coincidences would lead to the one event that could give me a little hope? One last time I was willing to pursue it, one last time I was going to try to live, if not for myself then for my father's sake.

It didn't take long and before I could see it, I heard it. A great tumult being raised by the people who were trying to get the officials to open the shelter.

From what I could gather in the random shouting was that the news of Leviathan having breached the shelter had made its way here. But apparently not the little tidbit of information that he was dead.

So the people understandably were experiencing fear, the fear of death, and were all rushing to the heavy metal doors like an avalanche.

Despite their best efforts, the officials weren't able to hold them back. It would be just a matter of seconds until either some of the frightened people were gonna be able to open the doors or one of the officials did it to prevent the people from trampling each other to death.

And as predicted the doors swung open...was that Dr. Hendrikson at the front of the crowd, demanding to be let out?

After the doors gave way the crowd gushed out of the shelter, and there was nothing that could be done to impede their advance at this point. I slowly walked the last steps down the stairs and followed the crowd out in the open.

The moment I stepped through the door I was surprised by the brightness of the day.

And I had to squint my eyes. It took my eyes a moment to adjust themselves to the daylight before I could open them fully.

Even though the storm clouds were still present in the sky, the differences between the brightness inside this bunker compared to the brightness of the day were quite considerable.

The first thing I noticed was that the storm had subsided. There were no more winds lashing through the streets and even the rain had stopped.

The shouts of joy I could hear from the people around me made it clear that they were able to jump to the right conclusions.

That Leviathan, if not dead had at least, had suspended or failed his in attack on the town. I pushed my way through the crowd, having to dodge more than once as people were trying to hug me out of elation at having survived an Endbringer attack on their hometown. And I saw more than a few people with tears of joy running down their faces.

It was difficult to share in their joy because a few minutes ago I would have liked nothing more than to commit suicide, to end my life. So still being alive...in a certain sense, I felt like I failed at killing myself.

I had decided to give my life one last chance - or was that just a way for my subconscious to justify my failure? Because deep down I was too frightened to do it.

I didn't know, and perhaps if everything played out well enough I won't have to find out.

After having passed all the celebrating people, I took a look back at the crowd one last time. I could see young and old dancing around right outside the shelter. A constant stream of people was emerging from within, joining in their celebration.

I lingered a moment longer until I could see little dots in the sky growing bigger and bigger with every passing second. Those must be the other capes rallied to fight Leviathan finally arriving at the scene.

I drew my hoody over my eyes, turned around, and started to walk back home. The last thing I needed was being asked questions that I couldn't and wouldn't want to answer.

Hopefully, nobody was overly interested in one lone teenage girl just walking away from all this.

Last edited: May 19, 2021

409

Time Paradox

Aug 23, 2020

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 03 - The Interview

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Sep 6, 2020

#110

This chapter was edited by Janessa.

Chapter 03 – The Interview (Version 2)

It took me around 45 minutes to walk back home. I jumped over the second broken step on our front porch, grabbed my keys, and opened the door. As I already suspected, Dad wasn't here.

Well, that was to be expected. Not every shelter gets opened before the city is declared safe, so I reckoned the other shelters wouldn't be opened for another hour or so.

I took off my shoes and sweatshirt and made myself at home on the couch. I lay there still trying to comprehend what had happened earlier.

Sufficed it to say, I got nowhere. Aside from the fact that I somehow survived a fistfight with an Endbringer and somehow managed to kill that Endbringer, ending up with a version of his powers, I had nothing. Not the why, not the how - it just was.

I even played a little with my powers, mostly to convince myself that I hadn't imagined it all and was going crazy.

My musings were interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. I went to the door wondering, who it could be. Even if the shelter was opened early, Dad shouldn't have made it home this fast, and even if he did, there shouldn't be a need for him to ring the doorbell. He had his own key, after all.

As I opened the door, it took me some long seconds before my brain could process what my eyes were seeing. A nearly two-meter tall man wearing blue and silver armor, resembling a futuristic full plate armor, with a halberd stuck to his back.

The only body part not protected by his armor was the lower part of his face, standing right next to his quite intimidating self were two men, clad in some heavy riot gear with full-face helmets. The large white letters displayed the PRT logo on their armor left no doubt of their affiliation.

Because of the sudden shock I experienced at seeing the head of the local Protectorate branch, Armsmaster, standing on my front porch, I missed the first few sentences he addressed me with.

My mind started working in overdrive to go through the reason he might be here. Was there something I did or neglected to do, that had connected me to Leviathan's death? How were they even able to find me this fast, or is he here for something completely unrelated?

Yeah, right; what were the odds for something like that? The question was, what did they know or suspect me of doing?

Since I didn't know, I reined myself in as much as I possibly could in this situation, so as to not overstress myself over this for no reason. Especially since me, being panicked might clue them in that I did have some secrets. Ones I really didn't want them to know about and so I focused on the here and now.

I caught the tail end of a question directed at me.

... Alright?

The intonation used left no doubt of it being one, and I could pretty much guess what I was asked. I snapped out of my stupor and responded.

"Yes, sorry – I didn't expect to see a Protectorate hero when I opened the door. It startled me a bit. Could you please repeat the question?" I desperately needed some time to think.

I added a reassuring smile. Knowing me, it probably came out wrong, but he didn't seem to mind, or at least nothing in his posture or demeanor seemed to change.

"Ms. Hebert," Armsmaster said, "we would like you to accompany us to the PRT headquarters. We have some questions we would like answered."

My reaction to this was a blunt and a not very intelligent "...mhm."

While I stood there dumbfounded, I considered refusing, but that would make me look guilty or like I was hiding something. Not knowing what they were here for, it might be premature to act in such a manner. Furthermore, if I refused them then they would most certainly end up interested in me. Still, I had to try.

The times where I blindly trusted authority figures were passed.

"You aren't here to arrest me, are you?" I wondered.

"No, as I said, we just want to ask you some questions and hoped we could do so at the PRT headquarters," he said.

"I'd rather not, without having my father present." I hoped this would be enough to dissuade him.

"Ms. Hebert, you have my assurances that no matter what you say, we won't construe it as detrimental for you in any way. You have my word on it. But if you would rather wait here for your father's return, and conduct the interview in his presence, we can accommodate you to that effect."

Did I want that? To drag my father into it? After all, I had an inkling where this interview would go, and I also noticed that I'd run out of excuses I could use without looking suspicious.

"I don't know what I could possibly be helping you with, but I'm sure you aren't here without a reason." I paused for a moment and accepted my fate. "Let me just grab a jacket and leave a note for my father."

He just nodded in understanding.

"By the way, what is it you said where we're going, and my father really doesn't need to be there?" I tried to confirm.

He bluntly stated, "The Interview will be conducted within the PRT Headquarters, and, no, it won't be necessary for your father to be there if you don't him want to be."

"Okay, if you say so." I mean, he is a hero, one of the most prominent ones at that. Seventh most popular in the US, if I recall correctly. So there's no reason I shouldn't take his word for it, right?

I went back inside, grabbed a post-it, and wrote my father a short note before I returned to the door and grabbed my jacket from the clothes rack, slipped on my shoes, and followed Armsmaster outside. I heard the door behind me click shut.

The two PRT troopers escorted me to one of their black unmarked vans, which was standing right next to Armsmaster's tinker tech motorcycle.

They opened the back doors for me and prompted me inside. After I sat down, they followed me inside and took seats across from me on the other bench in the back of the van. Shortly after, we were all seated and strapped in the van set off.

It took mere moments until the silence in the van got really uncomfortable.

I was no great conversationalist; especially since in the last two years, I talked to pretty much nobody aside from my father, a few teachers, and the unavoidable exchange of pleasantries with the librarian, bus driver, and the like. So, like every other skill, it inevitably deteriorates if not used regularly.

Meaning, in my case, I've got no clue how to even approach a conversation and not have it be awkward.

So, my inability to talk and the very fact that I was being driven in an unmarked government vehicle to an interview with a government agency for questioning about god knows what worked in tandem to worsen the already substantial fears I had about this situation.

To my great relief, time seemed to pass by reasonably fast. Then, before my worry and consideration of my situation and how to proceed could drive me nuts, we arrived.

It took far less time than I thought it might. Apparently, Endbringer attacks have a considerable impact on the number of cars out and about shortly after their visit. Not that astonishing when I considered that most likely the majority of the people were still underground inside an Endbringer shelter.

I was escorted from the underground garage, filled with all kinds of vehicles inside the building, where we entered an elevator.

I was glad when after a short ride four stories up we left it and the uncomfortable silence that seemed to accompany any and all elevator uses behind. An effect that seemed to be more pronounced after the drive here.

The building, at least the parts I passed through, looked quite vacant. Most likely because most of the PRT personnel were needed elsewhere.

After we passed a few remaining PRT members, I was shown to an inconspicuous room, right across the hall of some kind of break room we had to pass to get there. The glimpse I got of the vending machines in that room, filled with all kinds of snacks reminded me of my not too filling last meal, my breakfast, especially since I skipped lunch.

I would have started to get hungry by now if not for the fact that I was currently inside the PRT building in an interrogation room, and I was far too nervous to even think about eating.

Being alone in the room together with Armsmaster, who stepped inside it right behind me, could have that effect on someone. The fact that once upon a time, I had owned a pair of undies with him on it wasn't exactly a deterrent for the nervousness I experienced; on the contrary, it amplified it several times over.

He gestured for me to take a seat opposite him.

Before I complied, I examined the chair he pointed me at, for a moment and noticed the very sturdy build. A short glance at the other person in the room, and the power armor he was wearing explained that tidbit rather well.

He seated himself in the other chair across the table from me and laid down a folder on top of it right in front of him.

I couldn't help myself but wonder where the folder came from, but because I was rather distracted with worrying and with the new impressions and healthy curiosity, I must have missed it when one of the PRT workers handed it to him on our way here.

It probably happened while I was eyeing the vending machines. An obvious slip in my attention, something I couldn't allow to happen again. It was vitally important that I don't screw this up.

I wondered if I could use my abilities to sense the presence of people in my vicinity to avoid something getting past my notice in the future. It shouldn't be hard, given the nature of my powers; perhaps I could even use this as some kind of radar.

It only took me a second to invoke this. At this point, I was getting increasingly familiar with the feeling of my power and immersing myself in it. I didn't need to expand my sphere of influence very far to notice a group of people standing a few meters to my right behind a wall in the next room.

From what I could gather with this new sense, they were most likely watching us through the wall. Was it translucent from one direction, or are there monitors affixed to it? Not that it mattered, I suppose. The group consisted of three women and one man.

One woman was tall and muscular with an empty eye socket filled with some sort of device, most likely an artificial eye, which I only could sense because of traces of fluids lingering on the device.

The second woman was overweight, and the last one wore a bandana, which was outlined by the fluids, respiratory vapor, and sweat it contained.

The man with them was tall with a lean muscular build.

Armsmaster opened the folder and placed a selection of three very low-quality pictures in front of me.

On them, I could see Leviathan; well, at least it looked like him. The quality of said pictures, derived from some low-quality video (probably taken with a cheap cell phone), was beyond bad.

But what troubled me was the fact that there was a person in those pictures, even less recognizable, who was fighting Leviathan. Or at least it looked that way – they must have been made a few fractions of a second apart since the content displayed didn't change much.

He gave me a few seconds to look at those pictures and maintained complete silence throughout them. I suspected he wanted to give me some time to ponder the implications. Which were plentiful, to say the least.

"Ms. Hebert," he interrupted my train of thought before it could go anywhere. Was that intentional to keep me on the back foot? "Those pictures were taken around two hours ago during Leviathan's attack on a shelter – an attack that ended in Leviathan's death."

"We can already confirm that you were in that shelter at the time this video was taken. We are also reasonably certain that you are the most likely suspect matching the description Alexandria gave us, of a young woman fleeing the scene after Leviathan's demise."

"We can't confirm with 100% certainty that the parahuman present, by the time of Alexandria's arrival, was the sole person responsible for the death of Leviathan, since he declined to come with us for debriefing and even refused power testing."

"With what our think tank believes his power to be and our tinkers so far were able to at least not falsify, he can't be responsible for what happened according to eyewitness reports."

"So, at the moment, we have two working theories. Number one, we missed something about the powers of the parahuman in question. Some kind of different aspect of his power, possibly an over-time deteriorating effect that he also generates in conjunction with his shaker power, or what we think has a much higher likelihood of what actually occurred there. That there was another parahuman involved."

"A parahuman who either has a power that synergized in some unexpected way with the power of the already present parahuman or somehow possesses a power able to kill Endbringers."

He paused for effect and I really didn't like where this was going, not one bit.

"And we believe you, Ms. Hebert, to be that parahuman."

I wasn't exactly a cape geek, but that didn't mean I was totally clueless.

Which was why I asked, "Isn't unmasking a cape in clear violation of the rules?"

"You are correct in that assessment," he conceded. "Unmasking a cape is against the unwritten rules. Aside from that, included in those rules is not going after a cape's family, prohibiting rape, and killing. But those are not laws. It solely depends on the willingness of the local cape community to enforce that they are upheld."

Which consisted of Nazis, a human trafficking rage dragon, and a group of drug addicts.

"Perhaps you are familiar with the so-called Fleur incident." I just nodded. Everybody living in this town is. A local hero being shot in her home stuck in one's mind. "Of course, those were special circumstances with New Wave having unmasked themselves to the public. Nonetheless, it shows how little regard the capes in this city have for those rules. And this was just the one incident that made it into the news. Life as a cape is a dangerous one, Ms. Hebert. The average lifetime of a new cape is less than six months nationwide. In Brockton Bay, it's just a fraction of that."

"Why are you telling me all this?" I wondered.

"Because, Ms. Hebert, those are the numbers and circumstances of unaffiliated capes. A parahuman that joins a group of other parahumans drastically improves their chances at a long life. Furthermore, while it is only bad form to out an independent cape, it is a breach of the law to do the same with a Ward or Protectorate Hero. Something we take quite seriously, in fact, and the gangs know better to test us on this."

It sounded good what he was telling me, but there was this niggling feeling in the back of my mind that told me it sounded too good to be true. Was this the result of the paranoia I had evolved on my own to survive Winslow, or something else?

"We have confirmed without a doubt that certain factions in this town are searching for you as we speak. With what goal in mind we can't be sure, but it is by no means a stretch of the imagination to assume that their intentions aren't in your best interest, Ms. Herbert," he continued.

"Since we have access to rather unique resources, we managed to find you first. It did help, that this video and therefore those pictures were in such low quality that even our tinkers weren't able to deduce your looks with it. Which means that you are safe."

What I could infer was left unsaid was for now. I had suffered too long at the hands of Emma to not pick up on a hidden agenda. I didn't always get it right what those entailed, but I didn't need to in order to determine if I could trust somebody.

"I don't understand. If you're certain the gangs don't possess the means to identify the person shown in those pictures, why did you act at all? Couldn't you have just done nothing and all would have been well?"

"Ms. Hebert, the actions we took, we did in good faith to protect you from those with ill intentions. And it was a time-sensitive matter since we couldn't predict how long it would take criminal elements to find you. Just because we couldn't manage to procure an eyewitness report of people willing or able to identify you does not mean that others will have the same problems. And that is without taking any powers into account." Was he really implying? No, that wasn't what I should worry about. "Frankly speaking, we couldn't risk it."

"Risk what exactly?" I inquired.

"For you to fall..." He started only for me to interrupt him harshly. "Into the wrong hands?" Of course, they could only see the worth of my power, not of me. He paused slightly, turning his head. Was he listening to someone?

"That was not what I intended to say, Ms. Hebert. I wanted to express my concern that you might fall victim to a group seeking you out. While it certainly is true that we suspect your presumed powers to be a great asset, our primary concern was your safety."

Somehow, I had a hard time believing him, despite him not giving me any specific reason not to. I mean, he said all the right things...was that what fueled my mistrust? That speaking to him felt like somebody was in my head feeding him all the right lines he had to say in order to gain my trust.

That he somehow knew me...like Emma used to; like she still did.

"Therefore, to ensure continued safety, for you and your father, I would like to offer you a Wards membership."

I was puzzled for a moment.

"I don't understand. You make it sound as if those two things are connected."

He sighed. "They are, unfortunately. Believe me when I say I'm one of those the least satisfied with the state of things. But the PRT and the Protectorate by extension, only have access to a limited amount of resources, resources that in most cases are designated for specific purposes. And providing a protection detail for someone not part of our organizations is just not something we can do for a prolonged amount of time."

"If, on the other hand, we can get confirmation of you being responsible for Leviathan's demise I'm sure we can get the higher-ups to show some leeway, at least for a time. Of course, that wouldn't be a concern if you were a member of the Wards. In addition to the protection without a time limit, a Wards membership in on itself offers protection because neither the Protectorate nor the PRT would take it lying down if someone attempted to harm a Ward or their family. It is the safest you can reasonably be."

"Besides, there is the comradeship to consider. The relationships that form with the other Wards. I myself didn't have the chance to be part of the Wards team as you being native to Brockton Bay might know, but from what I'm told those relationships can get as close as siblings. Many Wards consider their teammates as part of their family."

Family, I reminisced. I had that once - Mom, Dad, and Emma. A sudden twinge at seeing the smiling redhead in my mind ended my reverie, painfully knowing what became of my once happy family.

Nonetheless, I couldn't just dismiss his words and the chances they opened up. Could this really be a way to get back what I'd lost, what was taken from me?

"Ms. Militia, being part of the very first Wards team is no exception."

Something wasn't right. The bandana-wearing woman, who I assumed to be Ms. Militia went rigid. It was only for a moment at the exact time he alluded to her and her relationships with her Wards team; there was a spike in her heart rate, and the weapon she had holstered rapidly shifted its form.

A tell perhaps. She was uncomfortable, and it must have something to do with what Armsmaster said. The possibilities for such a reaction were many, from remembering a bad experience to him sugarcoating the Wards experience, to outright being lied to.

For all I knew, since he wasn't a Ward himself, it could just be him saying something wrong out of ignorance. But why would Ms. Militia react in such a manner?

I didn't, couldn't, know what aroused her discomfort if it even was discomfort in the first place. Perhaps I was misinterpreting my observations. Only… the bad feeling I had since the beginning just got worse.

"I see…," I meekly managed to squeeze out.

The temptation was there, the hope he was dangling in front of me like bait. Still, something within my mind urged me to withstand, to not succumb.

I felt my torso constrict as if a hand grabbed inside my chest... at the realization of what it was, I was denying myself because of suspicion I couldn't help but feel. A shudder ran through my body, and with some conscious effort, I managed to stop my arms midway from hugging myself so that only my right arm went to my left upper arm and squeezed it in an attempt to soothe myself, hiding how great of an impact his words had on me.

But I couldn't dismiss this unease... my instincts had served me well.

"I'm sure they would be delighted to meet you. If you want them, we can arrange for it now. They are about to return with the shelters now open, so I'm sure they could be convinced to give you a tour of the place. A good opportunity as any to get to know them. Vista, in particular wou..."

Suddenly he stopped. Did he notice my growing tension? No, I didn't think so, his head was slightly turned again, and this time I paid attention to what my new sense showed me. I still had some problems trying to untangle the impressions in my mind, but the woman with the prosthetic eye was clearly moving her lips talking.

Giving orders, more like it, which would explain Armsmaster's behavior.

"I think…we can come back to that later after the Wards have had their well-earned rest."

And why did he suddenly try to change the topic? Who was this woman in the other room? Then it hit me - the prosthetic eye - could that be Alexandria? Didn't she lose it against Behemoth?

What was she doing here? And how does she know when to change the topic...did she read my body language, or was it something else? A power thing perhaps? Could she have a thinker power?

This would make sense and would explain why it felt like somebody was in my head saying all the right things at the right time. She must be giving Armsmaster his cues. But then why the screw-up? Shouldn't they know how touchy I was about 'friends?'

"What about school?" I tensed up at his question, the grip on my upper arm got painful for a moment until I managed with some conscious effort to ease up on the grip I had on myself. By the time I was back to paying attention, he had moved on a bit. "...we gave your grades a cursory glance before you came here. And we think you might profit from our scholarship program and the tutors we provide our Wards with, to get your grades back up. And if you wish, we can arrange a transfer to Arcadia. The PRT and Protectorate prefer if the Wards are close to each other in case of an emergency, but that doesn't mean we will force you away from your friends."

I winced. What friends?

I saw him about to elaborate on that when it happened again, the woman which I was reasonably certain was Alexandria moving her lips and Armsmaster was listening. I would really like to know what she was saying to him. Perhaps if I delved deeper into my power...

I was brought back to reality as I heard him call my name. "Ms. Hebert, I'm sorry. Here I'm talking about what the Protectorate and PRT can offer you when I should have asked what it is you want. I think in the light of the recent circumstances we would be more than willing to accommodate you, as long as we reasonably can."

This turn of events felt strange. Why was he offering this now? Did they notice how I couldn't take much more of this and changed their approach to one in which they wouldn't commit as many blunders? To go from the one doing the talking to the one listening?

By now even I'd noticed that they were keenly interested in recruiting me. I scoffed, not me - they were interested in my presumed power and that being under their control. They were willing to go out of their way to add me to that group of people.

The question that remained and needed answering was…did I want to join them?

He was offering what I always wanted. Friends, good grades, for me to become a hero, a new start.

And I was tempted, so very tempted to reach for it, to embrace what they had in store for me and a younger me would have without a second thought.

But she would also have missed how I was being manipulated. And it pains me to admit it, but without being jaded by my experiences at the hands of Emma and her despicable friends, I wouldn't have noticed. They weren't interested in me as a person. I'm just the appendage of what they were truly after - my power.

I'm sure they would do their best to hide this fact as best they could from me, but was I willing to live in the lie they cooked up for me?

Could I endure the scrutiny I would be given if my past, of being a pathetic bullying victim of my former best friend, inevitably came out? Would they tolerate me after they learned that I ended up as the worthless bug under Emma's boot to be repeatedly crushed for her amusement? Would their eyes hold pity for me, would they feel sorry on my behalf?

Would it be genuine? Their feelings, their condolences, or would their words be just another lie? Empty words just following expected social conventions… who told them they should feel and say those things?

I'd had enough of the false smiles, the fake concerns. I no longer wanted to live in a world made up of lies - not my own and certainly not those of others. I wanted to live in a genuine world, wanted to feel and receive genuine affection.

Out loud, I said, "That's a lot to consider. Can I think about it and get back to you?"

"Of course," Armsmaster said. "If you like, since the Wards are yet to return, I could show you around. Introduce you to them later, perhaps?"

"Thanks, but I wouldn't feel comfortable disturbing their well-earned rest," I responded.

"Is there anything else? A question you might like to get answered perhaps? A hero you would like to meet? A chance like this doesn't come often..." No, it didn't. The only occasion so many heroes stationed throughout the country converged in one place occurred every three months, whenever an Endbringer decided to attack next. "Ms. Militia or Alexandria should still be around somewhere."

That I already knew. They were right next door, listening to our conversation.

"Thank you, but I'm good. I would really like to just get home and take a nap." I lied. I wasn't good. It's been a long time since I last spoke those words and actually meant them, and neither had I any intention to sleep, not after this.

"Instead of going home to sleep, we have guest suites here," he offered. "We have some spare beds, and it would save you the time it takes you to get home and return, if I may be so presumptuous, to tell us what you have decided," he said.

"It also has the added benefit of the protection of the PRT and Protectorate."

Was this his subtle way of telling me I was in danger at home? As if sensing my train of thought, he helpfully added, "If you are worried about your father, we can also locate and bring him here to you."

Again, he said something, and I ended up thinking what he wanted me to. I had to get out of here. I noticed how the prosthetic-eyed woman moved her lips.

"Thank you, really, for the offer, but I want to sleep in my own bed in my own house," I declared. I didn't get the impression he was pleased with being rejected, although his face, the part I could see, gave nothing away.

"Then let me just inform someone to drive you back," he said, his voice betraying some reluctance.

"That's not really necessary. It's not that far, and a little exercise won't hurt me," I tried to refuse.

"I have to insist, Ms. Hebert. The aftermath of an Endbringer attack isn't to be taken lightly. Looting and other crimes are a common occurrence, and I can't with a clear conscience allow you to walk..."

And the feeling of dread in my gut returned with vengeance. Being made to do something under the guise of my own good when it clearly wasn't. Blackwell, Emma, Sophia, and now Armsmaster all telling me this. My stomach rebelled, and I suddenly felt like throwing up.

He didn't get any further as the intercom sounded, and a strong female voice commanded, "Armsmaster, let her go!"

Was that the Director? I assumed that was the obese woman - the voice sounded vaguely familiar.

No, the words originated from the person with the prosthetic eye.

But that answered quite a few things. Were they unsuccessfully trying to get him, to ease up on me?

Armsmaster clenching his jaw confirmed that suspicion at least. It took him a moment to reign himself in and then said, "Please, Ms. Hebert, allow me to escort you to the exit." We both stood up. He went to the door and held it open for me, and with only a few gestures, showed me out.

I was thankful for that because it allowed me to replay what I had just witnessed.

The latter half of the conversations made it seem as if he was desperately trying to get me to stay with them. To commit to the Wards and Armsmaster's reaction made it look as if it was of great importance that he succeeded. And I wondered why?

As I stepped outside a weight I wasn't even aware I was carrying was lifted from my shoulders, and I felt elated to have escaped that room, that building.

Author's Note:

Mentioning young Taylor owning Armsmaster undergarments – check.

To preempt someone bringing it up – I know Alexandria lost her eye in a fight against the Siberian and not Behemoth, but Taylor doesn't, and she doesn't care at that particular moment.

Some readers might have noticed that Taylor could sense Alexandria. Despite the mechanics of her power (time-locked), Skitter managed to kill her by suffocation. Meaning, that she retains some cardiovascular function. Her blood is flowing through her body, transporting at least oxygen. So, IMO, someone with the power to sense water should be able to sense her blood flow. Whether she can manipulate it, on the other hand, is a different matter.

I am aware that Taylor was first informed about the unwritten rules by Tattletale, and this chapter, although an AU story, contradicts that. My reasoning for doing it this way is as follows.

First off, I find it doubtful that the rank and file of people don't know about this. After all, villains are incarcerated on a regular basis. Given the revolving doors of those prisons in Worm. It is odd that no one is wondering why those villains aren't being sought in their civilian by the authorities. Secondly, from my point of view, the way Wildbow handled it, by letting Tattletale tell Taylor about it, was a way to inform the reader about this.

Furthermore, it was an attempt to paint Tattletale as a veteran of the cape scene. On top of that, a way not to break immersion.

In this rewrite, I hope I was successful in toning down Taylor's "Tattletaleism" that she demonstrated in the original version of this chapter. Additionally, I also managed to take away Armsmaster's idiot ball.

Let me know if it's better in this version or still lacking ...

Last edited: May 19, 2021

321

Time Paradox

Sep 6, 2020

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 04 - Home visit

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Sep 6, 2020

#111

This chapter was edited by Janessa.

Chapter 04 – Home Visit

Half an hour after my visit to the PRT base, I arrived back home. Having walked the whole way and considering my other extra curriculum activities of the day, I started to wonder why I wasn't tired.

I didn't do sports and just the distance alone I covered today counted as more exercise than I usually get all week. And I wasn't even sore or exhausted in the slightest. On the contrary, I felt rested and ready to go for another walk – hell, make that a marathon.

One of the things they used in school to get to me was my insecurity about my appearance. It was just one of the weaknesses that Emma, my confidante to all my secrets big and small, had weaponized against me.

I was tall for a girl my age, and I didn't have any figure to speak of; that went doubly for my bust.

If I hadn't inherited my mother's beautiful curly dark hair, that I wore down to the middle of my back, most people would think of me as a boy.

I was, if you phrased it nicely, 'stick-thin,' and if not I would probably be described as someone suffering from anorexia. Especially since I started to eat a little less after the Trio, or rather Emma, started to tease me because of my little paunch after she saw me in underwear while changing clothes after P.E. a few weeks back.

And I didn't want them to have even more ammunition to taunt me with than they already had.

Even though I was aware that the distorted sense of a "healthy" body they'd instilled in me could really result in an illness like anorexia. But I didn't care about that. It was more important for me to at least reduce one angle of attack they could utilize rather than go to sleep sated.

What's a little hunger before sleep in the grand scheme of things? But the strange behavior my body had displayed since my encounter with Leviathan worried me to a certain degree.

What if I got more than just an ability similar to his? What if my body was affected in the same way? If I was interpreting the signals my body sent me correctly, I was far more fit than I had any right to be, but was there more to this. Am I growing scales, fins, claws, or even a tail?

To confirm that one way or another, I found myself standing in front of a mirror only wearing underwear, searching every inch of my body for subtle changes.

But no matter how thorough I was I didn't find any. It would be just my luck, to transform into a mermaid or something like that. But thankfully, that wasn't the case. What I did find was that my body was different. I was no longer stick-thin, I was well-toned. Not like a bodybuilder, more like a swimmer or a martial artist.

But definitely in a fit condition; I looked pretty much like I felt. Hell, I had well-toned abs prominently displayed in my mirror image.

Quite strange, really that my body would change for the better when my mind was at its lowest and most fragile. Not that it would improve my general wellbeing, but then my appearance was just one of a nearly endless list of things they made me feel bad about. And there is no reason to think that they would stop anytime soon.

The thought alone of school starting again was something I dreaded, along with everything that entailed - notably encountering the Three Bitches ™.

As nice as having a body I no longer have to be ashamed of is, it isn't anywhere near enough to raise my spirits.

I just hope that my future hero career will offer me enough of a distraction, something to enjoy, and look forward to in my life. Otherwise, the reprieve I granted myself from committing suicide will be a short one.

I grabbed the clothes I'd spread around my room and pulled them back on before I let myself fall onto my bed.

I closed my eyes and immersed myself in my power. If my suspicions were on target I would have to resort to them much faster than I was comfortable with.

I just wasn't being given the time to get used to them, to find out how they could best be used. I was alone against the world…so nothing new in the life of Taylor Hebert. And that was the moment when it hit me - I wasn't alone in all this. I wasn't alone in confronting Leviathan in the shelter; Theo was with me and I suddenly started to wonder if they had harassed him the same way. I jumped up and ran down the stairs.

I grabbed the old notice I left Dad and trashed it, then wrote a new one informing him that I was going out, that I survived the Endbringer attack unharmed, and that I would be back shortly. I then slipped on my shoes, grabbed my jacket, and made my way to the place where all of this had started.

This time I ran, testing the limits of my newfound fitness. And as I suspected the changes were considerable. One block after the next, I passed through them sprinting without ever gasping for breath, at a speed that would probably shock even that bitch Sophia, who was the resident track star of our school.

Most likely the reason the teachers all turned a blind eye to her illicit activities. I even had to reign myself in to not go faster, a sure-fire way to expose the fact that I have powers.

That reminded me, running full speed for more than a few hundred meters was something normal Humans shouldn't be able to do either.

So I slowed down to a jog that I kept up for another block and finally slowed down further to walking speed while pretending to catch my breath.

I invested enough time to make sure it was believable for anyone who might be observing me before I continued to walk the rest of the way at

a rather slow pace.

Wouldn't want to attract undue attention from any bystanders and my tail. I suspected that after my visit the PRT would most likely watch me at home, but even with having a protection detail parked across the street, I didn't think they would go as far as to dispatch people to follow me.

But the fact that I was followed by two guys on foot since I left my house and that there was a car moving parallel to us a block away confirmed this suspicion.

I just hoped that I'd ended my test run early enough for it to not raise any more flags. It was not easy to even spot them, as the influx of information I got when I opened my mind to my power was overwhelming. And while I wasn't used to this in the slightest I suspected that with some training it would be as easy as breathing; something that wouldn't require any conscious effort.

But for the moment keeping tabs on them and not stumbling over my own feet was all I could manage.

I wondered why they were having me tailed. If it was to protect me, shouldn't they have informed me of their presence, or was it something else they were after? Did they suspect I knew the civilian identity of the other parahuman and were banking on me to lead them to him, or was it something else I didn't think of?

I mean, I considered the possibility that they held on to Theo rather small. After all, the Endbringer Truce should have prevented them from detaining him or they would have jeopardized said truce.

And since Theo had the presence of mind to conceal his identity in the direct aftermath of the fight, I hoped he could help me in some way with my problems - which I was sad to admit were partly my own darn fault.

The problem that presented itself to me was how could I get rid of them without alerting them to my powers? A plan began to form in my mind. I hoped it would work the way I intended, and didn't end up a waste of time.

Because the last time I saw Theo he had a broken leg, which meant that even if he was allowed to leave there was no guarantee that he had already made it home and wasn't in some hospital. On the other hand, would they really have held back on healing the one person who was at least partly responsible for ending the threat Leviathan posed just to prevent him from leaving?

I couldn't help myself, I had to smile at silly naive me. If this day had taught me anything then the answer was yes they would, if given half a chance. The way Armsmaster tried to softly badger me if not into joining then to associate and befriend them spoke volumes. So a debilitating injury stopping Theo from walking away would have been welcome. And I could only bank on the fact that the villains had something to say in this matter, too.

Because I didn't think they would be overly happy with the prospect of letting someone like him, said to have killed Leviathan, go and join up with the heroes. And as long as his affiliation was uncertain they might think they have a shot at him. To either neutralize him or bring him to their side, as the Protectorate tried with me.

Of course, I was aware this was a lot of ifs and conjectures as to the basis of why I'd decided my course of action - to go and visit him.

But what other choice did I have? Time wasn't on my side. On the contrary, it was just a matter of time before the gangs came to the same conclusions as to the PRT and they started to visit me or my Dad at home. Armsmaster warned me of such and before that, I needed some help or at least information, and I doubted that the internet could provide it.

Theo, on the other hand, seemed to know what he was doing. But first I had to lose my pursuers. Therefore I entered one of the many apartment buildings on Captain's Hill.

The one I chose was not quite as tall as the one I entered this morning, and for what I intended to do inside it didn't need to be.

The reception desk was empty - as was most of the building, according to my power - which was about what I expected.

The assigned shelter for the inhabitants of this block was the same one I was in. Meaning that most of those who were even at home when Leviathan struck should still be out and about and celebrating his demise.

That served me just fine because I didn't have to make up some excuse for why I had to enter the building. Not missing a beat, I entered one of the three elevators and pushed the button for the seventh story. Meanwhile, I followed the actions of my pursuers with my new senses, hoping that both were following me inside all the way up to the 7th floor so that I only had to double back to slip past them, hopefully losing them in the process.

But I had no such luck. After they entered the lobby they noticed the moving elevator and the floor the elevator stopped at. Which led them to split up. One of them entered another elevator and followed me up, while the other stayed in the lobby.

Damn it. Of course, it couldn't be that easy. But that wasn't the worst of it. The car outside was waiting at the intersection a few dozen meters back, from which point they could oversee most of the surrounding area of the building.

Which meant I had to adjust my impromptu plan, not that it surprised me. How goes the saying…no plan survives contact with the enemy? I ran to the staircase and went down one story - that should hopefully provide me with enough time to improvise my way out of this predicament.

On the 6th floor, I came across a roofed balcony at the end of the hallway. It was furnished with a small table, standing right in the middle of it next to two sofas angled on the left and right side of the table, allowing for a view outside the panorama window without twisting one's neck.

I reached the railing and, after having checked my surroundings for anybody able to observe me, jumped down at the same moment the elevator doors opened one story up and the PRT guy stepped into the hallway.

My fall of about 15 meters was far less impressive than I imagined it to be, my first instinct was to test my theory about my resilience by not cushioning my fall.

But if that resulted in me injuring myself it might hamper my movement, and I wouldn't be able to give my pursuers the slip, which was the whole reason I did this in the first place.

Therefore I postponed experiments to that effect and used the ever-present water after the recent heavy rain to form a bubble of water at the point of impact.

I plunged into it the water and with a careful manipulation of the water density and resistance it provided to my body, I was able to decelerate my fall in a relatively short distance. The moment I touched the ground encompassed by water, I released my hold on the water bubble, which was no taller than myself, and it splashed to the ground around me. Flowing back into the puddles it came from, removing all evidence that something unusual had happened.

I took a short moment crouched on the ground to check myself over and affirming this maneuver didn't leave me with a single bruise. What I also didn't fail to notice was how incredibly pleasant it felt to be immersed in water, clinging to every inch of my body.

As if it is meant to do just that, to clothe me, and do my every bidding. For the moment I resisted the urge to clad myself in it and instead removed every single drop from my clothes leaving me completely dry.

I got up from my kneeling position and started to run towards the hedge encircling the backyard of the apartment complex, which was blocking the line of sight to the PRT troopers sitting in the car.

But in order to do so, I had to cross the backyard littered with puddles and mud before the trooper standing close to a window seven floors above me, got the idea to take a look outside, and with no cover, he would undoubtedly spot me.

So I had to be fast without alerting him to the sounds of splashing water, sounds which would be carried far especially on empty streets with next to no background noises, as I ran across the yard to the hedge.

The only way to manage that would be to walk on water with that goal in mind, so I exerted my control over it and formed it into a solid surface.

As I arrived at the hedge I jumped over it and kept myself low as I trailed alongside it.

The hedge served as a cover against the ones sitting in the car until I reached the next building at which point I righted myself. No longer required to keep my head down because after I rounded that building I was out of their sight.

Which left me to do as I pleased. It took me another five minutes to reach the apartment building Theo originally emerged from and I assumed lived in. I expanded my senses to encompass the building and noticed him within.

He was rather easy to find, to be honest, as there weren't any other chubby teenage boys with infants in their vicinity. Not that I would have needed to rely on such characteristics to find him given the small number of people inside the building.

What surprised me was finding a woman in his proximity, which after giving it a thought must be his mother.

I suspected that I could have checked if he was there from the other end of the town, or, if my first try on using my powers was any indication, I could have done that from even further out.

But as I noticed earlier, the greater I expanded my senses outward the more I had to concentrate. For the moment at least. Because I realized that in the short time I had this power I was growing more adept at using it.

Furthermore, I didn't want to possibly exhaust myself by using my power from the other end of the town. Not that there was any indication that this was the case, or that I was missing important details because I was looking at a too great a picture. But I decided to take it slow, one step after another - better to be safe than sorry.

As I entered the building I became painfully aware of how empty everything was. This building and the last one and the streets as well. My powers told me as much but seeing it drove the point home.

This whole situation somehow reminded me of those movies in which humanity fell prey to some kind of virus, killing them all but leaving the whole infrastructure intact. It felt like I'd set foot in some kind of ghost town, and it was an eerie feeling.

Now I could sort of sympathize with the characters in those movies because it was not a good position to be in - all alone in a place that was supposed to be crawling with activity.

The difference being that with my newly found sixth sense I at least knew appearances can be deceiving, that what I was seeing with my eyes wasn't all there was.

Especially because I could make out a considerable number of people at the edge of my current sensory range partying. But that was none of my concern. I entered the elevator planning on how to open this conversation.

Since I was about to do what minutes ago the PRT and Protectorate did to me, visiting a cape in his civilian identity and I doubted in the grand scheme of things it made a difference that I wasn't wearing a mask.

My musings came to a rather sudden stop, as the unexpected happened, and mere moments after I stepped out of the elevator the door opened. A mousy brown-haired woman around a head shorter than me stepped outside and nearly ran into me as I stood in front of the door, about to wage a war with myself if I really should ring the bell.

She was quite startled to see me and was frozen for a moment. I, on the other hand, got to enjoy the perks of knowing what happened around oneself in a few hundred-meter radii, since I had a longer advance warning, therefore I was able to shake my surprise off faster than she.

The woman was wearing a business suit consisting of a black jacket and skirt, with a high-necked white blouse beneath the unbuttoned jacket, and was cradling an infant in her arms. If I was right, that had to be Aster, but since the woman held Aster facing away from me I couldn't be sure until Theo stepped behind the woman and into my view.

I tried to show the warmest smile I could manage, which probably looked more like it could scare the dead away. But if it did the woman didn't show it and even returned my smile.

I was rather surprised that I hadn't lost the ability to actually smile; I reined in this train of thought before it went places I rather didn't want it to go.

I took a few seconds to get a closer look at the woman. She was young, too young to be Theo's mother. Since she looked no older than 30 unless she was pregnant with him in her early to mid-teens if my guess regarding her age was anywhere near the mark.

Was she his older sister and Aster his niece?

Not important, Taylor. I called my thoughts to order and looked behind the woman to where Theo was still standing without having moved a single muscle after having seen me.

Well, there goes my theory that at least he would be if not happy then at least not averse to seeing me again.

Despite his change of clothes, bronze-colored khaki pants, and a black sweater, I had no trouble identifying him, the chubby boy I met a few hours ago. Furthermore and rather interesting to note was the fact that he had a rather large and stuffed to-the-brim travel bag thrown around his neck.

I wondered why until I noticed that this was another attempt from my mind to procrastinate the inevitable of me actually having to talk to him. I had to psych myself up to not turn around and run away; I came here with a purpose so I should at least try to fulfill it.

I achieved it by bringing a shy "Hi" to my lips. The woman cast a glance at the petrified Theo before her eyes landed on me again. Having recognized that Theo was unable or unwilling to respond she had to suppress a big smirk before she said, "Hello."

She once again looked at Theo watching his reaction as she continued to say, "Theo, why don't you introduce me to your friend or is she your girlfriend?"

The last word spoken playfully broke Theo out of his torpor. He blushed, something I couldn't resent him for because the same happened to me.

Apparently, the woman found this very amusing, no longer able to contain her laughter.

As fast as the blush, the embarrassment appeared it was replaced by trepidation and hate. It brought back too many negative emotions to be laughed at. Even if my mind told me it was harmless teasing, I couldn't hold back those emotions.

I looked at the woman, and something in my gaze must have informed her that I was not amused because her laughing stopped rather abruptly when our eyes met.

Her gaze lingered a little on me before she said, "Sorry about that, I hope I didn't offend you. But you are the first of Theo's friends I've gotten to meet and I just couldn't resist. My name is Kayden, by the way, and you are…?"

She offered me her right hand while she held Aster with her left. I shook her hand and was about to say my name and got as far as "T..." when Theo forcefully interrupted me by yelling "STOP!"

Kayden was as surprised as I was and responded accordingly. "Theo, for Christ's sake! Where are your manners?" she chided. "You can't just be rude like that. If this is about your father you can rest assured I won't tell."

"That's not it," he responded meekly. "She's not exactly a friend…I just met her today."

And with that something changed in the unconcerned nature of Kayden. Her hand still holding mine twitched slightly and her eyes widened in sudden fear, or was it understanding? I couldn't be certain, and before I could determine what emotions had leaked out, they were suppressed, and the next thing I knew I was being fiercely hugged by the woman with Aster in between us.

I might be wrong but I think I heard sobs of relief and the murmured words "Thank you, thank you so much...," she repeated, chanting over and over.

I didn't know how long we stood there hugging each other, but when she released me it felt like an eternity and a timespan much too short. When was the last time someone hugged me?

I couldn't remember, and I'd also nearly had forgotten how nice hugging somebody felt and was incredibly thankful for the reminder. I wasn't aware of how deprived of physical contact I was until this moment.

With this, I could easily forgive her for this transgression, of touching me without permission.

Kayden was nice, after all; she even smelt nice, of cherries. I was still entranced by this experience when Theo said, "Kayden could you give us a few minutes? I'll be there shortly."

Kayden just nodded and wiped some tears from her eyes, before she disappeared into an elevator. After the doors had closed behind her and the elevators started moving, Theo sidestepped away from the doorframe and invited me inside the apartment with a wave of his hand.

I did just that, and after he closed the door behind me he led me to a sofa inside an incredibly nice apartment.

Kayden must be well off, something that is quite obvious by the fact alone that she can afford the rent here. But inside, the pictures on the wall and the designer furniture reinforced this impression considerably.

Especially the fact that every last item just fits in. Like a piece of a puzzle. The living room was neither too empty in a way that you get this sanitary empty vibe and neither was it stuffed too full with things that it looked cluttered.

It was just right and therefore expressed some atmosphere of warmth, and for me as a guest the air of being welcome.

Well, at least the room itself did; Theo…not so much. He seemed to be intimidated or scared of me.

Eying me every few seconds, deliberately not holding my gaze for any amount of time, shying away from it but nonetheless carefully trying to not let me out of his sight as if he was expecting me to attack him at a moment's notice.

I placed myself on the couch and Theo did the same opposite from me. After a few long moments in which none of us said anything, I noticed that his frantic behavior had calmed down somewhat, but he was still observing me carefully.

He was the first one to break the silence, probably needing the time to encourage himself to do just that.

"You shouldn't have come here," he said.

Well, I didn't expect that, and the way he articulated it gave me the impression that he wasn't happy with me being here at all. I was by now pretty much used to being unwelcome, but that coming from him blindsided me nonetheless.

I didn't have to endure this crap here. I decided to leave the moment I started to stand up. He hurriedly pressed out, "Wait! I didn't mean it like that."

I stopped my movement somewhere between standing and sitting and looked at him. He averted his gaze, and then took a deep breath as if to consider his next words.

"Listen, it's not you. On the contrary, I'm grateful you saved my sister Aster and me. And for that, I owe you. If you ever need anything, really anything if it's within my power to help I will do so gladly. Not only do I think so, but Kayden does, too. She was very eager to get the chance to thank you in person."

He paused a moment. "But you being here is dangerous," he insisted. "And I couldn't bear the guilt if something were to happen to you because of me, because you came here after all you have done."

I sat down again. "What do you mean?"

It took him a moment of silent introspection, most likely conversing with himself about what he was willing to tell me because what he said until now was quite cryptic, and could mean a great many things.

"Well, you saved our lives. I can't tell you everything. Knowing too much is as dangerous for you as to know too little, so please refrain from probing. What I can tell you is this. My father is E88, and not just a foot soldier but someone quite high up the totem pole."

Something in my behavior must have tipped him off, most likely me clenching my fist and eying the hallway leading out of the apartment because he immediately tried to soothe me. Something that wouldn't have worked if I didn't know for a fact that I wasn't about to be surrounded.

"I don't buy their ideology bullshit. Many of them don't. Hell, I know my father doesn't, either. He sees it as a cause that allows people to rally behind, an excuse to shift the blame for everything wrong to people outside of the community the E88 tries to create. Like Nazi Germany did in the past to divert the attention away from the real problems to the Jews, the designated scapegoats. But I have to pretend I do and I've gotten quite good at it. And for Kayden…let's just say there are reasons she divorced my father. But what you have to understand is that people are watching my moves and those of Kayden. So if you are seen together with us, you will be investigated, and since the E88 knows about me, there is no mental leap necessary to be in the know about you."

That gave me pause. "What do exactly do you mean, in the know about me?" I asked.

"You remember after what you did…whatever it was to Leviathan, you left the scene? I couldn't with my leg, so I did the only thing I could and masked up, banking on the fact that they would respect the unwritten rules. That they wouldn't try to coerce or unmask me. Well, apparently killing an Endbringer, what they suspected we two accomplished, gives rise to questions. Questions I couldn't answer. I mean, sure, my powers are nice insofar if I'm right about them, but killing an Endbringer - no way that's possible with them. So you can imagine that they weren't exactly happy with me. And I mean not just the heroes - even the villains and rogues who by this point reached the shelter demanded answers. And the situation was a volatile one. They all thought I held the power to kill Endbringers, so they couldn't just let me go for me to join their opposition. The Protectorate in particular was quite adamant in their demands and even wanted to take me away for debrief; a polite way to say they wanted me into their custody. So the only chance I had to get away was to reach out for my dad and therefore the Empire. After Kaiser heard of this, it took merely a few seconds to get me out of there. He declared me one of his and they had to let me go or provoke

a fight between the Empire and the rest. Something no one wanted to happen because it would have ended the Truce."

"Yeah, after my experiences with the PRT and the Protectorate earlier today, it's no stretch of the imagination to picture that scene. So you said they would know about me, too, if we were seen together. How did that come about?"

Theo was about to answer my question when he asked, "What's that about experiences with the PRT and Protectorate?"

I grinned at him. "Well, as it turns out when you kill an Endbringer as you said, they are more interested in answers and recruitment of the cape that accomplished that feat than cape etiquette. Somehow they identified me, probably some tinker bullshit, and Armsmaster paid me a visit at home and invited me to an interview at the PRT headquarters."

Theo was shell-shocked. "He did what?" he asked incredulously.

"He came to my home with two PRT troopers in tow and asked me to accompany him," I said.

"So you're saying he did that in broad daylight not long after everything went down, while the Truce was still in effect?!" He tried to verify my statement which I confirmed with a nod.

"My god…that's one of the most blatant breakings of the unwritten rules I've ever heard about. And I've been told stories by the Empire."

"But I wasn't wearing a mask," I interjected.

"What, did he tell you that, because you didn't it was okay to track you down?" he asked.

"Not exactly." Thinking back on it, he didn't answer my question to that effect but deflected with a lecture about the law.

"Listen, no matter what he told you or omitted, what he did was breaking the unwritten rules and even more importantly the Truce as well. If every time there was a costume malfunction could be used as an excuse to track down a cape, no one would go to Endbringer fights knowing that. Those fights are about life and death; shredded costumes are expected as are heavy injuries often times requiring invasive procedures in hospitals. This is why it's expected of those participating to forget anything they might have seen that would allow them to unmask a cape and that includes faces. If anybody told you anything else, they're lying."

"So it's the spirit of those rules you are meant to follow not the letter?" I asked.

"It is," he said. "But there are always those who think themselves above the rules."

"Yeah, Armsmaster said as much. The problem is I think with their little visit. They pretty much outed me to the world," I pondered.

"Yes, that's more than likely. From what I could gather from some conversations I overheard, the gangs, or at least the Empire, has spies in the PRT. So if they know, the gangs will know shortly afterward."

Well, it was one thing to suspect, but a whole lot different to know for certain. Damn, I still didn't know how to proceed from here. Joining the Protectorate after what they have done was out now more than ever. But what options did I have? The Empire? Theo came out just fine in a situation not too dissimilar to mine. Oh, who was I kidding? These were vastly different situations.

He found himself surrounded by heroes and villains alike with the Truce still in the mix. He had allies and I didn't. But was I desperate enough to even consider asking Nazis for help? What else was there? If only I knew more; there had to be a solution somehow. It didn't escape Theo that I was conversing with myself.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, and I was sure he meant it, "that I can't be more of help. After what you've done I at least should..."

I didn't let him continue. "Theo, it's alright, it wasn't your fault. I'll figure something out. But what about you? If you aren't a Nazi then why didn't you join the Wards? I'm sure many of them would have loved to have you."

He cringed. "It's…complicated. You see, not to go into too many details, but joining them, especially after my rumored deed of fighting and killing Leviathan - and that's what the Empire is proclaiming as the truth - would result in an all-out war against the Protectorate. Something I don't want to have on my conscience. So the lesser evil is me playing along with my father at least for now. And even if this scenario could somehow be avoided there would be others who would have to pay the price."

He needn't say more, his face said enough. He was in an even more precarious situation than me. If he doesn't do what's expected of him, others will suffer and I have more than an inkling of who that might be. I honestly didn't expect that being a cape could be this way.

"I'm sorry, Theo. I should apologize - if not for me you wouldn't be in this situation."

Without any humor in his voice, he countered, "Yes, you're right - Aster and I would be dead. So believe me, given the choice I wouldn't want you to do anything different. But you should go, I was summoned and I shouldn't be late. And more than that I wouldn't want you to have to

associate with or join the Empire because of me. You deserve better than that."

He was honestly concerned about me. When was the last time someone other than my father showed such affection towards me?

I could feel warmth expanding in my body. Theo stood up, I did the same. He then escorted me to the door. As we reached it he stopped and said, "We shouldn't be seen leaving the building together."

It made sense if what he told me was true. There was no reason to help the Empire in unmasking me. It was bad enough that they will most likely know about me by the end of the day given their spies.

But most importantly I didn't want Theo to get in even more trouble because of me.

And I had the sneaking suspicion that if a connection between us could be ascertained, he would most likely be the one tasked with bringing me into the fold of the Empire.

I didn't think failure would be an option. So I nodded and turned to leave. I can barely hear the whispered word "Farewell" as I stepped into the hallway. I didn't turn around, instead, I hastened my pace.

After I left the building I considered if it was worth it, to go directly home. It would leave my PRT pursuers none the wiser how I slipped past them. Or should I return and continue the ruse that I was in the other building for some purpose?

I decided that, even if it would be somewhat satisfying knowing that some PRT troopers will most likely be yelled at because of me, it would be better to not antagonize them further and give them ideas.

I also concluded that it might go a long way if they didn't have any confirmation of me having any powers, only their suspicions. Perhaps this way I could escape their notice for good if this all was water under the bridge.

The Empire attempt in trying to style Theo as the savior might work in my favor in this case, diverting any scrutiny away from me onto him.

So I slipped back inside the other building, in essence doing everything in reverse that let me escape their surveillance in the first place. The only slightly troubling part was getting back up to the 6th floor of the building.

I had various ideas on how I could achieve that with my power, but I settled for creating a water pillar under my feet that lifted me back up.

After that, I used the elevator and rode down to the lobby. Shortly after I had pushed the elevator button up on the 6th floor, I sensed the PRT trooper in the lobby move to hide behind the reception desk, so he was well out of sight when I exited the elevator. I played along, otherwise, the whole effort to return here would have been for naught.

As I left the building I couldn't help but wonder what conclusion they would draw regarding my time in the building. With luck they would suspect Theo was living there, therefore my little stunt helped him at least a little.

This was not nearly enough to alleviate my guilt regarding what I'd dragged him into, but it was a start. Thinking about Theo, my first suspicion about him being a social outcast or pariah like myself didn't seem to be that far off. Now that I'd interacted with him and was replaying our conversation in my head, I recognized a lot of those behavior patterns I acquired myself over the last two years.

The way he moved, the way held his body, his averted gaze, and most of all the ever-present fear he was emanating. The fear of having done something wrong and awaiting a reprimand didn't escape my notice because I saw it every day when I looked in the mirror.

He behaved like someone who tries his hardest to hide in plain sight and if my guess was right I doubted it had anything to do with Kayden. On the contrary, it seemed as if being in her apartment was like a sanctuary for him, someplace he was safe like home was for me.

Wait, wasn't that an overhasty conclusion to draw, by comparing him too much with myself? What if he didn't have problems in school but at home? Did that mean he felt safer with her than with his father or was it something else? He said his father was a Nazi, no not a Nazi but someone who was instrumental to their cause.

There had to be nice Nazis too, at least when it came to their family, right? But didn't he also say that Kayden had her reasons for divorcing his father? Maybe it was him who made Theo's life so miserable? Something not too hard to imagine, considering that Theo wasn't exactly the prime example of the ideal son a high-ranking Nazi would wish for.

Perhaps I'm overthinking this. Either way, I was in no position to change anything, and to be honest I should concentrate on my own problems, of which I have more than enough to have my hands full.

Nonetheless, I was somewhat disappointed with the outcome of my conversation with Theo. Perhaps it was me drowning and grasping at straws to get a friend, someone I could relate to.

And from what I think I gathered from Theo he seemed to be the same, but obviously, it wasn't meant to be.

And I was not stupid or desperate enough - make that not stupid enough - to mess with the Empire no matter what great power I might call my own.

Well, at least I still had Dad...

Last edited: Jun 16, 2021

331

Time Paradox

Sep 6, 2020

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 05 - Home visit II

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Sep 13, 2020

#150

This chapter was edited by Janessa.

Chapter 05 – Home Visit II

I took my time walking home. There was no need to hurry. It wasn't like I was expected and given the workaholic my father was and the responsibility he shoulders in the Dockworker Union as head of hiring, I didn't expect him to be home.

He most likely had to be present for damage assessments and negotiation with contractors regarding repair work. I'd be surprised if he would be home for more than breakfast and some sleep during the next few weeks.

It wasn't per se a bad thing - on the contrary, Brockton Bay suffers from unemployment more than most towns, and everything that offers work even if it was an Endbringer attack is something good.

Call me a cynic but this attack might turn out to be something good for the town in the long run, because the gangs will have a hard time recruiting and keeping their members if there were an abundance of jobs to be had. I was still convinced that the number of people who commit crimes willingly and not out of necessity was small.

In nearly every case, as my mother used to say, people are driven to commit crimes by unfavorable circumstances and it's just the consequence of them being backed into a corner.

Unlocking the door and, after taking off my shoes and jacket, my suspicion was confirmed that Dad wasn't at home and if the post-it I left him was any indication he also hadn't come back while I was out. I grabbed the post-it and trashed it like the one before it. Days like this made it abundantly clear that we were drifting apart.

It was sort of understandable that this happened after mom's death. She meant the world to both of us, and neither of us knew how to handle the grief of her loss. Thinking back on it and seeing him fall apart, I tried to be strong tried to help him in any way I could while I, too, was falling apart inside.

Probably the reason why I never came clean and told him about the bullying and who was behind it was that dad would have known that my former best friend was behind my suffering. The girl he believed was helping me ease the pain of my mom's passing, instead weaponized my mourning - every secret we shared - against me, the daughter of his best friend.

He wouldn't have been able to take it, and I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth; I couldn't do that to him. I couldn't take away his friend, a person he confided in and helped him overcome his suffering.

I just couldn't - couldn't - pile more misery on him. So I never told him about the bullying until the locker happened and even then I never told him the names of the perpetrators; it wasn't like anything would have happened anything even if I did.

I told him I didn't see the ones responsible, which I truly didn't my back was turned when I was shoved inside but that didn't mean I wasn't aware of who it was.

Ever since then our relationship took a turn for the worse. It wasn't that he didn't love me - I was certain he did but I think he somehow knew I wasn't telling him the whole truth and therefore was betraying his trust, even though I did that with the best intentions at heart.

So our interactions if I had to describe them were scripted in their nature, we both just went through the motions without any real meaning behind them, and the bullying I had to endure along with the social isolation and the little time he was at home did the rest. We drifted apart a little more each day.

I think after the locker he tried to close the rift that was forming between us, but wasn't able to because I rebuffed his advances by not trusting him. And now I didn't know if our relationship could still be mended, but after what happened today I was willing to try.

Confronting death seems to make people reconsider their priorities, their choices, and their lives, so perhaps there might even be some way to fix my other problems.

I went upstairs to my room and laid down on my bed and stared at my ceiling. Thinking about the crazy turn my life took today when I heard keys turning the lock.

I sprang to my feet and ran down the stairs to welcome my dad when I saw from atop the stairs that he wasn't alone. He was in the company of two men, both wearing suits, the cheap kind you expect government officials to wear because they couldn't afford anything better with their salary.

I stopped in my tracks and the smile on my lips gave way to a frown. And my thoughts started racing with questions, given the fact that they looked like the government could mean they actually were.

Thanks to Theo's crash course on cape society, I was aware that the Empire had spies in the PRT, so everything I said to Armsmaster and would say in their presence might find its way to them eventually if they didn't know already.

But this wasn't what was at the forefront of my mind. I rather wondered what they were doing together with dad given the way he opened the door and bid them inside suggested that he already knew them.

From where? I asked myself because I was fairly certain I would have remembered if he had friends in the government and the assumption those two were just wearing the suits for a job interview at the Dockworkers Union sounded ridiculous even in my head. Furthermore, it raised the question as to why dad would bring them home with him in the first place. He had a perfectly fine office…well, at least he had one this morning.

Did it get destroyed in the Endbringer attack?

Doubtful. Could those two be part of the protection detail in addition to those four that shadowed me since I left the PRT headquarters sitting outside across the street, increasing their number from four to six?

Something here was definitely wrong and I had this feeling that whatever this whole thing was about I probably wouldn't like it. My dad gestured the men to go through to the living room. When they had passed him in the hallway he looked at me and said, "Taylor we have to talk."

While I agreed that dad and I had to talk, I didn't think others should be involved which is why I said, "No, I don't think so."

Thinking back to the recruitment attempt made by Armsmaster and the half-truths and omissions Theo made me aware of, I had no intention of repeating that experience any time soon or better yet make that ever. I turned to go back upstairs to my room when I heard my dad utter the words "This wasn't a request, Taylor."

That gave me pause. I know my father had a temper but I was never on the receiving end of it before. Nonetheless, I came to respect it. And something told me he was angry, I was not exactly sure what about but I didn't want to attract his ire. So I complied grudgingly with his not-request and followed him to the living room.

He prompted me to sit down on the chair with my back to the TV while he sat opposite me on the sofa. One of the two men moved to the place next to my father and the other one seated himself onto a chair to my right. That offered me the opportunity to examine the two government-suited officials in depth.

The one next to my father, in my mind I called him the old one, looked to me like a no-nonsense guy, probably ex-military. I drew this conclusion mostly because of the military hairstyle he had and the way he held himself; the cautious demeanor, the hard lines of his face, and the pretty big scar along his cheek did the rest to reinforce this belief.

The other younger one, probably in his mid-twenties, was his polar opposite. He was barely hiding a grin, like he was privy to some kind of inside joke, and appeared somewhat indifferent. He gave his surroundings more attention than he did the people in the room.

What I also noticed was that he was tall and fit, professional football-player fit, and the suit he wore was close to bursting. Either he liked his clothes tight or he hadn't worn them in a long time. He also wore his hair short but not in a military-style like his older partner, and he gave me more the impression of a prankster than a government official.

Strictly speaking, the PRT was some kind of anti-parahuman military force, but outside of their heavy combat gear, they tried not to look too intimidating; on the contrary, they tried to appear nice and approachable.

That made sense, as they didn't want to convey the impression to prospective Wards and their parents that they were joining the military. So on that note, I asked myself in which closet they hid the older guy whenever a kid came around for him not to burst that bubble because if I had to draw a caricature of a seasoned soldier it would look exactly like this guy.

And next to him sat my father in his worn jeans and shirt. He looked pretty much like an older male version of myself, tall and skinny but with darker and receding hair that no doubt will be gone completely in a few years.

I somehow started to feel kind of intimidated, effectively surrounded, and not knowing what this was all about. The atmosphere was an unpleasant one as if they intended to punish me.

For what I had no idea. At least to my knowledge I did nothing that would warrant such behavior from them. On the contrary, with the PRT and Protectorate suspecting me of killing Leviathan, shouldn't they be thanking me?

But I didn't get the vibe that this was the reason they were here. I decided to stop overthinking this and just take the initiative and ask. It couldn't be any worse than what my mind was able to make up, right?

"Dad, what's this about?"

Instead of answering me he just frowned and clenched his fists at his side. The old guy, on the other hand, felt addressed by the question directed at my father and decided to answer it.

"We are here at the request of Director Piggot to help your father to make the transition as smooth as possible."

I was unsure how well I was able to mask my irritation at his interference in the conversation between dad and myself and tried my best to ignore him.

"What transition? What is he talking about? Dad, talk to me, please."

He took a deep breath, the tell-tale sign that he was trying to calm himself down. If the loosening of his fist was anything to go by it worked.

"Tell me, Taylor, why is it that I'm being told about you being a cape by the PRT after you fought against Leviathan of all things? What in the hell compelled you to even attempt such a thing?!"

He nearly lost his composure when he said the last words, but he stopped himself and sighed. I was surprised to see how hard he took it all, that he was affected by all this. There seemed to be still something left of the old dad, not just the emotionally stunted man I assumed him to have become.

"Do you have such a low opinion of your father that you can't be honest with me about something like this? I really thought we did better after the locker, that we agreed to talk with each other. Apparently, I was wrong to trust your word. Back then I knew that you weren't quite honest with me, that you didn't tell me everything, and in my misguided belief that you had a valid reason for your actions I tried my best to ignore it. It was foolish of me to trust in your judgment as this recent event has shown me it's severely impaired."

Was he right in his assessment? I didn't know anymore. My reasoning seemed sound - keep him away from my problems after my experiences with Principal Blackwell. After the way all my attempts at stopping the bullying were disregarded, I was convinced that dad wouldn't be able to change anything, either, and the locker just reinforced that belief.

Since neither dad nor the police managed to accomplish anything, I seemed to be completely right about that. And even back then I knew that with just my word of who I thought did it to me, without any corresponding evidence or someone backing my claim, nothing would come of it. It would just be my word against theirs again and with me not having seen my attacker, it would have been all for naught.

He took my silence as a cue to continue.

"Taylor, these gentlemen are here to escort us to the PRT headquarters where you will be introduced into the Wards after I have filled out the necessary paperwork."

My whole thought process came to an abrupt halt as I realized what he just said,

"What? Why would you do that? If this is about not trusting you I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean it. I just..."

I stopped myself there I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. I couldn't tell him about my powers because I didn't know about them until after Leviathan crumbled to pieces and when I charged at him I did so with the intention of dying. So instead the only words that came to my lips were, "I don't know why I did it."

Another lie I told him, the guilt of doing so immediately weighed heavily on my conscience.

"This is exactly why I can no longer trust you and with all that is going on and for you to have powers now. I think you require oversight and protection. Both things I can't provide." He raked his fingers through his hair, a clear sign of how exasperated he was with this whole situation. "I'm barely at home as it is and with the reconstruction, it will only get worse."

"Please dad, don't do this." I started to beg him tears forming in my eyes.

"I do this," he repeated and angrily went on. "If you wouldn't have given me a reason to I wouldn't have to. Actions have consequences, Taylor. I thought your mother and I were able to teach you that - another thing I might have to rectify."

"Mom would never have signed me over to the Wards without my consent," I mumbled under my breath.

"No, I can't imagine she would have," he conceded. "But I also don't think Annette could have imagined what would become of her little owl."

That really hurt, him using mom against me. I didn't think he could have done worse if he tried.

I scoffed. "So I'm becoming another one of the government's child-soldiers. Good for them that you're so eager to help them hit their monthly recruitment quota. I'm sure mom would be proud of you." The moment those words left my mouth I was already regretting having said them. It was clear to see how deep they cut dad, but I still wasn't willing to back down just yet.

It was my future at stake here and I wanted a say in it.

"Didn't you listen to her when she said the PRT and, by extension, the government can't be trusted?"

"A criminal warning off somebody from law enforcement agencies - color me shocked," the older PRT agent mocked after slightly having turned his head similar to Armsmaster back at the PRT headquarters. "Did your mother perchance give you any reasons why you should mistrust the PRT? Was it by chance because they uphold the law and interfere with criminals and their activities?"

I wasn't the only one appalled by this. Dad was also struggling with words.

My head snapped around to him. "What did you just say?" I asked with barely contained rage.

"What? Don't tell me you weren't aware that your mother was just another common criminal and the only reason she wasn't sentenced as an accessory to Lustrum was by a lack of evidence and not because she wasn't guilty."

I slammed my fists down hard on the desk in front of me and stood up. I was barely able to hold myself back from revealing my powers by crushing the table in front of me and beating him to within an inch of his life with the remains of the table, somehow knowing in the back of my mind that if I really wanted to I could.

Anger was burning in its purest form in my chest, like a raging hellfire, only steps away from consuming me within.

I couldn't remember any situation in my life where I was this infuriated. He actually had the insolence to use my mother against me. The very fact that in her rebellious phase during her college days she was, for a brief period, part of the Lustrum movement.

It was, in essence, a feminist rights movement lead by the cape Lustrum. It radicalized and was ultimately pushed over the edge by its leader, resulting in the deaths and emasculation of quite a few misogynists.

But my mother had the sense to leave before it turned violent. She was never one for violence - something I couldn't say about me at least at the moment - as I had the urge to skin this piece of shit alive.

I barely noticed the suppressed smirk on his lips, the kind of smirk I was confronted with daily on the faces of my tormentors when they once again succeeded in one of their ploys.

I was used to this, being on the receiving end of such smirks at the hands of the Three Bitches ™. But seeing the same mean streak in the man in front of me, someone tasked with - as he so succinctly put it - upholding the law, affected me more than I cared to admit.

The fire in my chest found itself replaced by hate, cold unadulterated hate in the purest form I've ever felt. My body began to tremble because of the goosebumps I felt. It was like I'd been thrown into freezing water, water so freezing cold that it could freeze hell itself over and then some.

I looked at the PRT officer with such disdain and hatred that even the most socially inept idiot should be able to pick up on the fact that if my looks could kill, right now he would be nothing more than a smear on the wall behind him.

With a voice I wasn't even aware I was capable of, full of ice-cold hatred and the promise of violence that made even me shudder in fear, I said to him, "If you even dare to speak of my mother again, I guarantee you it will be the last thing you ever do."

"Ms. Hebert, death threats against a...," the younger one started only to be interrupted by his colleague.

"Ms. Hebert, I would recommend you calm yourself and sit down," he ordered completely unaffected by my words. No fear or remorse to be found in his voice, but there was something else I couldn't identify…satisfaction?

My gaze still trained on the PRT officer, I said with an increasingly louder voice, "Calm down, calm down?! You, dare to tell me what to do in my own house?! Twice you've intruded on a private conversation I was having with my dad, and you had the audacity to insult my mom right to my face! I have every right to be angry with you! And you've overstayed your welcome, so shut the fuck up and get out of my house!"

The old one held my gaze without blinking, not really surprising as I'm sure I'm not the first one trying to intimidate him, and frankly speaking, a 15-year-old girl would not exactly look frightening to an ex-military guy who had at least 20kg on me. But I'd hoped for some kind of reaction, not the ignorance I was confronted with.

"Taylor, I don't even recognize you. Threatening people…what happened to you?" Dad intervened on his behalf. My head snapped over to him, not believing my ears.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw that the young one had lost his grin after he also slightly turned his head and assumed a worried expression. Was this guy also receiving cues? If so, then the person giving them wasn't close, definitely not his buddies in the van outside.

He proceeded to use some kind of hand signal, most likely signaling the old one that it wouldn't be a good idea to rile me up any more than this revelation to my dad did.

"Funny you would ask that. Didn't your new buddies here inform you of this before you signed me over to them?" I barked at dad, angry at him for taking their side without even bothering to defend mom.

"Oh, they showed me," he said. "They showed me you storming at an Endbringer. No matter what powers you have or what you think you can do, that was reckless, stupid, and dumb, and I expected better from you. I'm sure numerous capes thought themselves invincible only to get killed by one of those monsters and I don't want that to happen to you. So, of course, I'm willing to sign you up for the Wards. They offer training and oversight by experienced capes and most of all protection for you, Taylor."

What was left unsaid, was that they also offered protection for the families of Wards, and therefore protection for him?

I wondered what they'd said to him about that because, obviously, they withheld information from him. They had to and shaped the narrative to their needs because otherwise, I couldn't explain his behavior.

They wouldn't tell him that they were the ones who practically outed me to the world and painted a target on his back. Could I use this to get him to change his mind if I told him about it? I didn't think so. It would be too easy to blame me for that, as I was the other who fought Leviathan without a mask after all, and discussing the intricacies of the unwritten rules with my dad wouldn't go over well with him.

He would probably feel that his fears of my unsound judgment were validated and just dig in his heels.

I looked at the old one, and he'd replaced his grin with a perfect poker face. There was no chance I could verify my suspicion through him - damn. I also wondered just what they had told dad. Headstrong as he was, I wasn't sure if there was anything I could do or say to get him to reconsider.

He continued his talk. "Taylor, I care about you. They promised to keep you safe."

That somehow made me angry. "That's a strange way to show affection, not even asking my opinion, deciding things for me about my life without even consulting me. And what makes you think they will stick to their promise or are even able to deliver on it? For all, we know they could be spouting nonsense like the Winslow administration. Didn't they also promise things, like keeping me safe after the locker incident? Well, I hate to break it to you but they didn't do shit and given the state of the city the PRT and Protectorate are also doing a shit job here, so what makes you think they will do better with this?"

On another note, I didn't think given their track record that they would be able to keep dad safe if push came to shove. And I couldn't risk that. I was a newbie to cape affairs, maybe even arrogant and overconfident in my abilities, but I thought I couldn't do worse than them.

"Taylor, please, I just want to help you," he pleaded.

"You think that will help me, giving me away? Do you know what would have really helped me? You to actually care, you actually being there for me, you being your old self, the one cracking bad jokes and smiling. Not the you, who is sitting before me - a lifeless husk, who thinks the best idea to help me is to conscript me over to the government to act as one of their little pet and child soldier."

I could see that with every word I said I drove the verbal knife I rammed into him deeper and deeper in his heart, but at this moment I didn't care. Today I was at the lowest point in my life, and the only thing even remotely good in my life was my dad, who had decided it would be in my best interest to…yeah, I don't know what the hell he was thinking.

The old guy still sitting in our living room as if I didn't just order him to get out of our house mere moments ago interfered again into things he had no business to when he said, "Wards aren't child soldiers, not by a long shot."

"Sure, and Santa Claus is real," I said as condescendingly as I could. I had no intention of suffering his presence a moment longer. If dad couldn't man up and throw him out then I was leaving instead. "Whatever. I'm done here. I won't join the Wards and that's final. And if you want to talk to me, dad, do it without shady strangers with an agenda. For now, I'm going to sleep and finally be done with this shitty day."

I stood up and tried to walk past the sofa the old PRT officer and dad were sitting on when I was grabbed a few centimeters above my left elbow by him. I turned my head in his direction and saw that he, too, had stood up and stared at me with a blank face.

"Let go of me," I commanded.

"No, I will not. This discussion isn't over, Ms. Hebert. Your father has every intention of inducting you into the Wards, and we were sent here to see this process through. That means this will only end in one way - you will accompany us to the PRT Headquarters to complete your Wards enrollment." As he lectured me, my eyes drifted over to dad, fully expecting him to come to my aid, to throw them out with their having laid a hand on me having finally crossing the line, but instead I saw him just sitting there as if it didn't concern him at all.

My anger which was still simmering spiked at seeing his reaction, or lack thereof, and mixed with bitter disappointment. "Didn't you hear what I said?" I asked in a cold threatening manner. "I won't come with you. And you can't make me."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that. You aren't the only unruly child prone to temper tantrums and the PRT has yet to fail to reign any of them in. You certainly won't be an exception."

Bullies, that's what they are. As if it isn't enough what I had to endure in school now the bullies even have the gall to come into my own home and try to push me around. The one and only place I was safe from them. I could feel the rage boiling over inside me. And before I even knew what I was doing my right hand shot forward and grabbed the old one by the throat.

He didn't even have time to react, let alone able to see me move, but his eyes showed recognition of my attack the moment he felt my hand close around his throat.

I slowly closed my hand, increasing the pressure and reducing his air intake - wouldn't want to cause him permanent harm even though angry like I felt it would surely help soothe it. I always knew I had my dad's temper, but this was the very first time I'd actually acted upon it.

Funny how violence was able to get you what you want. A slight squeeze on his throat and he released the grip on my left arm and tried with both his hands clawing at my right arm to get me to release my hold on him.

Futile.

I already knew I was stronger and faster than yesterday, but the degree of the changes my body went through was still uncharted. As I had him at my mercy, it dawned on me that they were far more comprehensive than I would have thought possible.

I barely felt the struggles of the old one and my single hand was without effort on my part able to hold him in place. I could already see how he tried to gasp for breath, an undertaking utterly impossible until I allowed him to.

"Senegal…," he managed to gasp out.

He was getting desperate after he became aware of the full implication of his situation and started to kick me in the side with no more effect than his other struggles. I barely felt it. He wasn't even able to shift my balance, he could have done nothing and it would have had the same effect.

A grown fit man, most likely highly trained, could do nothing against little old me. I wonder how it must feel for a bully to have the tables turned on them out of nowhere.

Only now grasping the seriousness of the situation, the young one and my dad jumped out of their seats and were staring at me. Surprise, helplessness, and incomprehension were all displayed on their faces. I ignored them.

My whole attention was focused on the man squirming in vain in my grip. I forced him to his knees and moved closer to him, bending slightly down until my mouth was right next to his ear. With my voice barely above a whisper, I said, "I warned you. Warned you not to interrupt, warned you to let go of me. But you didn't listen. You people never listen. You think you can do whatever you want because you think you're better or stronger and have the right to do as you please. You don't. You aren't better and you are definitely not stronger and the only rights you have are the ones others allow you to have over them. And I'm done with that…"

"SO LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" I shouted and lightly shoved him away from me. I must have misjudged my strength because my 'light' shove threw him through the room like a ragdoll and he landed hard in a bookshelf on the wall that smashed to pieces, burying its contents over the older man. He lay flat on the ground, unmoving.

Because he shifted in the air he also collided with my dad, but to my relief, he only slightly brushed him. However, that was enough for dad to topple over the little table in the center of the room. He rolled down the table before I made two steps in his direction while carefully eying the other guy.

I was wondering why he hadn't already drawn and aimed his gun at me. I mean, moments ago I assaulted his partner, so shouldn't he do that? Instead, all he did was stretch out his hands in a non-threatening gesture.

On the other hand, I asked myself how, given how tight his suit was around his muscles, was he able to carry a gun in a concealed fashion? Did he even bring one? Before I could explore this question my gaze landed upon my Dad.

He was lying right next to the small table and was looking right at me with an expression I had never seen on him before this very moment – fear. Pure, unadulterated, honest-to-god fear.

I made one more step in his direction, concerned about his wellbeing and hoping that my recklessness didn't result in an injury when he scrambled away from me. It took him mere seconds before his head in his prone position reached the wall behind him and a new wave of panic flared up in his features, he looked at me like I was some sort of monster here to kill him.

It took me a few moments to process that my dad was frightened to death by me. The one and only person I could rely on was scared of me; the last pillar keeping my sanity from crumbling did everything to get away from me…and I couldn't take that.

Something within me shattered to smithereens,

"Dad…," I managed to utter, not that anybody would have been able to hear it because my voice was nothing but an unstable trembling whisper at this point, flickering from the rollercoaster of my feelings overwhelming me. I wasn't even able to sort through them, to know what I felt or should have felt in this situation.

I let the hand I had lifted towards him fall down at my side while I kept looking at him, this scene burning itself into my memory, this betrayal of the sole person in my life I felt something else than indifference or absolute hate for.

My eyes started to moist. At that very moment, the young PRT guy decided to speak for the second time. "Ms. Hebert, please calm down."

And his words tore me out of my train of thought, only for me to realize what I had done.

Oh my god. I had attacked a member of the PRT with a parahuman ability. That's a serious offense that could me get a prison sentence. I even hurt my dad, the only one in this world who I thought had my back and still loved me, who now hated me like all the others. Emma was right all along - I'm a monster. I bring all the people who associate with me nothing but misery and pain, oh my god.

I couldn't keep the tears in any longer. I looked down at my hands. The hands I had used to hurt my dad.

I clutched at my chest and the room seemed to close in on me, reducing the space I had to mere inches of what it should have been. I started having trouble breathing. I needed air, I had to get out of there.

At this point I didn't even perceive what was happening around me, I just started to run. I didn't stop, not for the door of our house, not for anything.

I just ran. I didn't notice that I was fast enough to overtake cars or that I was running in nothing but socks which after a few hundred meters were reduced to nothing but tatters clinging to my ankles. I stopped, not because there was nowhere else to go but because I had reached the outskirts of the city and only the ocean stood before me.

Near the coastline of Brockton Bay, the ocean was cluttered with shipwrecks like parts of the docks, where a heavy storm a few years back washed them up.

And clogged the bay for everything bigger than a small fishing ship. The city never came through with clearing up the bay nor salvaging the wrecks so they corroded away.

Well, who would blame them? Since the emergence of Leviathan, trade by ship came nearly to a halt. No one in their right mind would invest in restoring the Docks.

It was pretty much the kiss of death for Brockton Bay, a maritime city because after it lost its main source of income it was wasting away ever since towards a slow but certain death.

I fell to my knees and started crying, and the ocean cried together in unison with me. I didn't know how long I sat there, surrounded by waves crashing against the shore. I didn't even realize it started raining or that the sun was setting, at least not until I shed every single tear in my body.

I steeled my resolve because this time I no longer had anything to regret and nobody who would mourn my passing. On the contrary, I could finally be certain that I wouldn't be missed and that my demise would result in everybody being happy. Perhaps there was an afterlife someplace I could find the peace I was yearning for and if not at least it would all be over. No one hating me, no one whose expectations I could disappoint. Nothingness, no longer being able to feel - that would be a nice consolation prize.

I couldn't help myself but smile. How very fitting - not only would this be the place that is going to kill this city but also where I would die. I took stock of myself one last time and concentrated and without effort, I found the raw forces I now had at my disposal and pointed them at myself.

Author's Note:

So I thought long about this chapter and a way to push Taylor over the edge in a way that Danny didn't have to die. The only thing that came to mind that would have a more devastating effect than his death was a betrayal. I'm not sure how convincing this chapter appears.

Especially since it went through a not inconsiderable rewrite caused by the different approach I took with Taylor in chapter three. I'm not sure I really managed to do what I set out to…and if it feels right in the way Taylor was slowly pushed over the edge here.

But I always thought that what if Danny, who was completely overwhelmed with Taylor being Skitter, would have been a witness of one of her deeds? What would be his reaction if he was wrecked after what Taylor did to Alexandria and Tagg, and we were just were never told his thoughts and fears?

After all, we only got to see Danny days and weeks after that incident, having a hard time coming to terms with the situation. So I don't think his reaction as portrayed in this chapter is that unrealistic, Feelings aren't rational, and being flung halfway through your living room by your very own daughter might elicit such feelings and irrational behavior as shown.

Last edited: May 19, 2021

324

Time Paradox

Sep 13, 2020

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 06 - Interlude Lisa part I - A new Hope

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Sep 20, 2020

#312

This chapter was beta-read by AacornSoup – he provided invaluable help – any mistakes found in this chapter are mine thanks to some last-minute changes.

Chapter 06 - Interlude Lisa part I (A New Hope)

When we, the Undersiders returned to our hideout, after following the call to arms against Leviathan, who threatened our fair city, we were relieved. None of us died against this force of nature, not that this would have been an unrealistic scenario; on the contrary, I was wondering what we thought we did by going to the gathering place and volunteering ourselves to go up against such a meatgrinder as an Endbringer. It wasn´t like any of us, has a power who would have made a difference against this creature, or one which would have ensured our survival.

I mean our team consists of Brian (or "Grue" when he's in costume), our fearless leader, a mid-level shaker who can generate darkness, which blocks sound and nearly all forms of electromagnetic waves, including light.

Alec, our resident prankster-slash-sociopath and lazy ass going by the cape name Regent, is a human master who can disrupt nerve signals to let people trip or jerk uncontrollably, who, given enough time to work with a human, can map their nervous system and then puppeteer them.

Then there is Parian- or Sabah in her civilian identity- a cape able to control lightweight materials like cloth, which she usually uses to form animated animals of various sizes to do her bidding. Then we have Bitch- or Rachel- with the ability to empower dogs, into van-sized wrecking machines. We also have our very own Tinker, Trevor (or Chariot) whose specialization is mobility movement and transportation and is probably the biggest humanly possible pain in the ass.

And of course myself, the super-Sherlock able to make leaps of deduction based on the smallest of clues.

We were a group of Smash-And-Grab thieves and get-away specialists, something we brought to near-perfection, we hit hard and fast and were over the hills and far away before most even knew what hit them and were able to react. What gave our group the moniker Escape Artists, and the ire of every other villain gang in the city, because those are the ones suffering our attacks at the behest of our Boss, well for the most part.

And no, one of us couldn´t even dream of injuring, let alone fighting, Leviathan, nevertheless we thought it was our responsibility to show up- and do what little we were able to do- to defend our city.

Something that was pretty much expected of every villain if the city they operate in, was attacked by an Endbringer, that is one of the reasons the Heroes hold back in their measures used against villains because we could prove useful as the last line of defense against the real monsters.

Speaking of monsters, I was wondering what kind of consequences our resident Dragon, Lung, will face for not showing up. Not only will this greatly impact his reputation as the Dragon of Kyushu- the one fighting leviathan in single combat to a standstill- but what repercussions this will entail in the near future from the PRT and Protectorate, because one of the reasons they, for the most part, tolerated most of his illicit activities was the expectation they held for him to show up for Endbringer attacks, something he failed to do today. Well at least, if they cracked down on him, he would be out of our hairs.

Thinking about Lung reminded me of our last encounter, and I unconsciously reached for my singed hairs still not fully regrown, in which he tried to chastise us for being a royal pain in his ass, and defamatory to his reputation, because every single time we struck at his gang- the Asian Bad Boys (yeah such a name is a thing) - we succeeded and were tens of thousands of dollars richer than before. But that was something one of the established and territory-holding gangs couldn´t tolerate, to be made looking silly, especially when your reputation was the biggest deterrent for upstart villains like us to target you.

Not that the Merchants or the Empire 88 were doing any better against us, the first ones are the drug-peddling losers of Brockton Bay, so nobody cared about them, and to be honest, short of tarring and feathering, we couldn´t even hope to reduce their reputation, because it was already at rock-bottom.

The Empire 88, on the other hand, was another beast entirely, the biggest Gang in the city with the most Parahumans in their roster; last I counted, they had 15 capes operating in the city, with the option to call for the help of other Neo-Nazi gangs throughout America and even Europe. They too were unable to stop us from raiding their stash-houses and dogfighting rings.

But given their manpower, it was just a matter of time for us to become the focus of their undivided attention. So far we were merely a minor nuisance. Well, at least for most of them, but that won´t be true for long. Because, we and the new arrivals in the city, the Travelers, were disrupting the status quo, and it was just a matter of time before something gives, one of the gangs lashes out, and all hell will break loose.

I just hoped, we will pull through, because the other gangs didn´t have trouble with killing and maiming people to make a point.

But that was not what I was wondering about at the moment, but the fact that Leviathan was dead. Despite being in the Command Center during his attack, and offering my services to the defending forces, hoping to unravel either his goals or a weakness about him, which we might be able to exploit, we didn´t get any Data at all about who or what killed him. One of the 3 invincible monsters who tormented humanity for the last 2 decades every few months, who are dormant in between their attacks.

Creatures that humanity was only ever able to drive back and never managed to hurt in a significant way. We learned the hard way not to even dare to think that they could be brought down. And now, here in Brockton Bay, the impossible was achieved, and by all accounts through either a Parahuman hiding his powers for whatever reason or what was much more likely through a new trigger.

I mean it was understandable that information would be scarce, because after Leviathan made landfall, he just plunged through the lines of the defenders, not even bothering with them or their attacks, and was lost sight of shortly after- using a tidal wave to achieve that- just for him to reappear attacking a shelter.

He went there in straight line, wreaking havoc along the way, but all things considered, the damage was mild, given the fact that an Endbringer brought it about. Most cities are abandoned after an Endbringer paid them a short visit, a far more economical method than even trying to rebuild a totaled city, where there are no longer any houses standing.

But this damage was on a similar scale with what a prolonged fight with (for example) Lung could cause- which pretty much was damage Brockton Bay got used to a long time ago, since every few months someone is poking the Dragon, thinking to be better, meaner and stronger than him (just to be made aware of their misconception the hard way).

Not that we are any better – but at least for now we escaped the fate of being carried away in a body bag.

But we didn´t even get scraps of information, the moment it was confirmed that Leviathan was dead, we, the villains were ushered out of the Command Center none the wiser, and a full information blackout was enacted. Well that in itself gave me something to work with.

The fact that they deemed it necessary gave credence to the theory of a new trigger- therefore most likely non-affiliated with any group, and possibly the culprit was even unmasked during the whole thing.

Of course that were the things the media would be told, what they tried to keep on the down-low was that they wanted first dibs on a recruitment attempt for this Parahuman

Not that I could blame them, there probably wasn't a single Organisation in existence who wouldn't love to add this kind of firepower to their portfolio. Despite the drawbacks that were inherent to such an endeavor, one of them is being promoted to the big leagues, and being subject to critical scrutiny from everybody.

Hell, even our cautious leader, under the right circumstances, could be convinced of this. Not that we likely will get a shot at this. The PRT and Protectorate would do everything in their power to prevent any villainous gang to recruit this Parahuman. And it was really frustrating to be out of the loop of information in this case.

I tried several hours to get any info at all of what happened and was unsuccessful in getting any hard facts- until now. Not exactly the perfect timing, since I stressed my abilities already quite hard today, and I can feel the beginning of the mother of all headaches, but curiosity and a healthy will to survive won out. So I took the call one the first ring.

"Hello, Boss", I said as I put the phone to my ear.

I knew my antics irritated the control freak my boss was, but I couldn´t just take our working-relationship without needling him from time to time.

"Tattletale," he proceeded to say my cape name in his usual creepy fashion "Of the two Parahumans thought to be responsible, one has officially joined the Empire 88, and the other is as of this moment on the run..."

New trigger, Empire affiliations even before triggering. Son or daughter of Empire member, possibly close to at least one of their capes.

"...having assaulted 1 PRT officer with a parahuman ability in her home..."

Didn´t like recruitment attempt, most likely used false incentives and alienated her. - No the way he said it the barely suppressed glee, He sabotaged it.

"...she is considered highly intelligent and unstable, and was last seen leaving her home at high speed towards the ocean."

Running away, even knowing her identity was blown – doesn´t mesh with being highly intelligent, would know that all her relatives, friends, and associates would be watched; even living on the streets was not a possibility; given how high profile she was. Everybody will be out looking for her. The only way to avoid capture, in the long run, is joining someone.

"Her name is Taylor Anne Hebert, daughter of Daniel and Annette Hebert. Annette was an English Professor who died 2 years ago and Daniel Hebert is the head of Hiring for the Dockworkers Association."

Giving me personal Information about her, he was assuming they will be out in the open, at least throughout the major players that it didn´t matter – not like he cared about the unwritten rules.

"I will send you all further information on her that I can get my hands on to you," he said.

He suspected she was the one who ended Leviathan, knows she was responsible, another Parahuman was only a bystander.

"I want you to recruit her before anybody else does."

Was aware of the danger she could pose to his plans. Was certain she wouldn´t leave the city willingly. Couldn´t tolerate that much firepower not under his control, not after the lengths he went through to get his own pet Endbringer.

"But the truce ... " I tried to inject before I could say anymore, he continued saying.

"won´t be a problem, you aren´t out to commit crimes, it might even work in your favor. Tell the others they will be compensated for their troubles"

"And Tattletale. Failure is not an option," he stressed and a shudder ran down my spine.

"Understood," I answered.

And with that, he ended the call. Fuck – Well first things first.

I grabbed my laptop and ran out into the living room of our Base. If you could call it that a base. It was pretty much the second story of an abandoned warehouse within the docks.

Not exactly a Bond villain lair, with all the cool and nasty gimmicks- quite the shame really, every aspiring villain should have her own. At that thought, I had to suppress an evil grin.

Without much Fanfare, I announced, "Guys suit up – the Boss has an important job for us to take."

Before I could even dish out the details, I was interrupted by a not too happy looking Brian, sitting on the couch.

"Lisa, I really don´t want to spell it out for you, but we aren´t going anywhere and certainly not on a job. As you are aware of, I´m quite certain about it, the Endbringer truce is still in effect, every transgression during such times ..."

I stopped his lecture before it could take up pace.

"Who says we are about to commit a crime, the Boss wants us to talk to someone, but there is just a limited window of opportunity and he promised to handsomely reward our efforts."

"What sum are we talking about ?" Regent asked.

Leave it to the lazy ass, sprawled on top of the couch to waste time with asking about the gains before even asking the more important questions.

"Alec is there something besides money that has your interest?" I asked back.

"Not everybody had the pleasure to sit in a nice comfy chair while the town was on its way to become a sightseeing spectacle for the fishes." Alec pointed out "And let me tell you it is far less pleasurable than advertised to be standing in fucking typhoon and wait for it to be your turn than to be slaughtered by a fucking Endbringer. So No until I know we get paid a hefty sum I won´t move a single muscle I don´t have to for the next few days and indulge myself in the nice things life has to offer. Because it is not every day that you can say fuck you to Death."

I inwardly groaned, but on the other hand, knowing that Rachel was only interested in money, too. Answering the question would at least ensure her cooperation without further argument.

"He didn´t say." I said and held up my hand to forestall any interruption I knew at least Alec had on his lips "He only said he will make it worth our while, and he meant it. This will most likely be the single best-paid job we will ever do for him."

That got their attention.

At that exact moment Sabah, a short and pretty woman of Arabic descent, stepped out of the bathroom, towel in hand rubbing her still wet hair.

I gathered that, given her facial expression, she didn´t overhear the conversation to this point I repeated myself.

"Suit up, Boss has a job for us and intends to pay handsomely for it. And we don´t have much time. So let´s go."

While Alec angrily started to pull himself from the couch to get his costume, Bitch was already on her way to the first floor to start empowering her dogs which were trailing a step behind her.

Sabah looked at Brian to get her cue from him, where he hadn´t moved an inch still immersed in his thoughts. Figures.

He was the most cautious of our merry band, not that I thought it was a bad trait, he was a good counterweight to the more impulsive rest of us, but there was something as overkill.

It had most likely something to do with being a big brother and having to learn to be responsible for himself and his utterly irresponsible sister much too early in his life.

Not that I didn´t understand, he thought he was responsible for our well-being but in certain situations like this one, it was a bitch to deal with. Therefore, he needed another nudge, something I couldn´t allow myself to botch, otherwise we would be here the whole day discussing reasonable risk management.

"Brian, we are on the clock." I tried my best to emphasize the time constraints we were under "I know you don´t like this. To be honest I don´t, too. But as you said the truce is still in effect, and we aren´t on our way to cause trouble, only to talk to someone, so you can rest your case because we won´t do anything that would warrant a kill-order on our heads at the end of the day."

mentally I added, that I at least hoped so.

Not sure what gave it away but, the look he gave me told me he´s calling me on my bullshit. And it also promised a long and unpleasant talk when this was over.

I was tempted to loosen the reins on my power, just a little, to get a better understanding of his current mindset, but I was suspecting I would need every ounce of power in the next few minutes to not get us all killed one way or the other.

And I didn´t need my power to know that he at least suspected who we were gonna talk to, and he wasn´t the least bit eager in this endeavor. Who in their right mind would blame him?

We were about to throw a recruitment pitch at arguably the most powerful Parahuman on the planet, mere hours after the world was made aware of her existence. Something that, there was no doubt about it, would have repercussions no matter the outcome of the talks, he knew that and dreaded it. So his hesitation was understandable because it would paint an even bigger target on our backs.

But I had to keep the Boss happy with my, our performance, at least for the time being, and I was sure Brian would at some point come around at least, after he thought it through, and figured out that we too have a lot to lose were she to join anyone else besides us.

I didn´t have time for him to draw this conclusion on his own, so I had to steer him into action. Assuming he already figured out the target of our mission I said

"You are aware, that, given those photo´s the Boss sent me of her, she is the E88's wet dream."

Not entirely right, she didn´t have blonde hair, and shouldn´t be stupid enough to buy into their philosophy, but Brian didn´t need to know that. There was a chance it might still happen, because a lot of other things match and you don´t have to believe in something to fight for it, especially with the right incentives.

That got a rise out of him, not surprising given he was an afro-American boy in his late teens in a town infested with Nazi- who didn´t spend half his free time in box clubs and dojo´s and fitness center out of boredom but out of necessity- because even Nazis think twice before attacking a guy who looked like he could break you in half without even trying. I knew he knew that I just said that to play him but also was aware I had a point. A nice side effect was that the message also got to Sabah, not surprising considering she joined our little group not exactly out of her own volition.

But after a bunch of Nazis torch your Designer store, because they suspected that you aren´t the caucasian girl that your Victorian Dress and blonde wigs make you out to be, you start to think really hard about your social circle. It did help, that as luck had it, we were in the neighborhood, so to say, to help our resident designer, to save and hide her from a few E88 capes that were present.

I was still convinced of foul play regarding this whole ordeal, there were too many coincidences that it could be anything but a meticulously planned operation to get Parian into our team, and therefore in the fold of our Boss. Since I didn´t want to get her or myself killed, I was doing us a good service by keeping my mouth shut about those suspicions.

It, therefore, took mere seconds after Brian accepted defeat and started to dress himself, that Sabah did the same. After that, I walked over to the door to the room- or rather workshop- of our resident Tinker, and knocked on it, hard.

It was unlocked a few moments later by Trevor, going by the cape name Chariot, our youngest member in mind and body, looked at me.

"What do you want Tattletale?" he asked with no mistaking the annoyance in his voice. "I have so many ideas roaming my head after seeing the equipment of all those Tinkers, that were present to fight Leviathan, that I have to write it all down to not forget a single thing."

"No time kid, we have a job so suit up," I said.

"Don´t call me Kid, you..."

I didn´t wait for his adolescent brain to come up with a subpar insult before I interrupted his thinking if you could call it that.

"I will stop calling you that when you start to cease to act like one, until then you can be happy that I don´t invest the brainpower to come up with more fitting and degrading names for your little self" or strip every layer of your psyche bare and to see what ugliness lies beneath.

How I hated this little fucker, it was apparently not enough that the boss kept me on a short leash- the sensible thing to do, given half a chance I would stab him in the back- but inserting this little mole into our midst was irritating, even without the knowledge that he had spy cameras spread throughout our base, inside our rooms and even in the bathroom.

I couldn't do anything about, even knowing that they were there, because it was better to know about being observed and by what means than to be unaware of it. In the case, I rendered them inoperable or outright destroyed them he- and therefore by extension our Boss- would know that he had to keep tabs on me another way, a way that could potentially escape my notice or be outright unpleasant.

What would be far less desirable than the knowledge that this kid was perving on me and Sabah? I doubt Bitch was his type, in looks and especially in demeanor, I have yet to meet the person who would be able to actually bond with her on any level; she was difficult enough for it to be hard work just to uphold a working relationship with her.

Regarding Bitch, I couldn´t wait for the day to arrive when I could finally tell her about those cameras, and hopefully the following maiming of Trevor by her dogs. I nearly couldn´t help myself from grinning as my mind pictured those scenes.

Behind me, I heard Brian shout, "Trev get your ass into gear, we don´t have time."

That stifled every response he was about to come up with, as even he could tell when Brian wasn´t in the mood for witty banter or outright insubordination. While he usually exercised a rather lax leadership style, there are situations where you better didn´t antagonize him.

Trevor wordlessly closed the door, and after around a minute of rumbling and cursing from the other side he emerged clad in his power armor, jet pack, and other odds and ends. Something every member of the team was promised to get, as a sales pitch used by the Boss to underline the usefulness of a tinker within the team. An unfulfilled promise to this day which drew him some ire, because it was the only reason he was allowed into the team in the first place; We certainly didn´t decide to split the gains one more way because of his charming personality.

Something that I was not the only one who couldn´t help but notice and I was sure would be a contentious point discussed at length in the not too far off future. But not too surprising, since our Boss had needs of his own regarding the unique skills of our Tinker.

He walked to the open door and down the stairs without as much as a single glance my or Grue´s way.

I snatched my tablet from the table and followed after him together with Grue and Parian.

When we arrived, Brutus, Judas, and Angelica were already pumped up by Bitch's Power to the size of small vans. So we lost no more time and climbed them.

I seated myself behind Bitch on Brutus, while Regent climbed on the back of Angelica and Grue on Judas. Trevor activated his Anti-grav, he learned the hard way to not get close to Bitches dogs. They didn´t like him one little bit, I have to suppress a grin while remembering his first encounter with them. Not every day do you see someone you didn´t like literally piss his pants in fear.

My introspection was interrupted by Brutus when he started to run out of our base. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Parian creating a unicorn out of the fabric she had on her, mounting it, and shortly thereafter following us.

I directed Bitch towards the docks while trying my best not to drop the tablet displaying the information the Boss sent me. I scroll through it and noticed that was quite scarce, this Taylor girl was practically a ghost, no online presence of note, no extracurricular activity.

Oh, what was this a prolonged hospital stay, after a prank gone wrong, at least that was what the police noted down in their report. Interesting that unlawful imprisonment in the locker together with biological waste and a shitload of bugs was nowadays called a prank. That was more like attempted murder given that she was in there for hours, and not a single witness came forward.

She ended up with an infection had to spend a week in the ICU.

But why was this case closed, shortly after landing in the laps of the PRT? Why was it given to them in the first place? There was no Parahuman involvement according to these reports.

I took a fast glance in the PRT report regarding this, and there was nothing in the sense of new information, it pretty much got closed the very instant they snatched this case.

Even without using my power, I could see that this was a cover-up, even more, the incident had all the criteria of a trigger event; being buried alive with bugs and used tampons did that to you.

What put me on edge were the added notes - notes that weren´t in the PRT gathered files a different data pack one that had my handprints all over it - how else could it be explained that there was an extensive psychological profile which didn´t paint the nicest of pictures.

Distrust in authority, paranoia, depression, and of course she had to be suicidal.

As if this wasn´t obvious after I watched the few seconds of video material attached - showing her how she charged at Leviathanm who else would do that. Oh, right some idiotic hero might - to be fair the video was in such a bad quality that without my power it would be near impossible to see.

Something I apparently already shared with Coil in one of his throw-away timelines. Fuck, with all that information I provided him with this whole situation, seemed exactly like something he would engineer to get his hands on her.

As I scrolled down there hints that I did the same detailed work on her father, most of it was redacted leaving me with just the bare bones. This could only mean he had already put that information to good use and didn´t need me to expand on it. The father more than likely served his purpose in Coil´s mind, he gave me just enough for a semi-complete picture.

Before I can muse over this and what I unwillingly helped him do my phone rang, and I answered it at the first ring.

"The Heroes have started their search from the south near downtown towards the Boardwalk, so far they found nothing," Coil said. "I suggest you start at the Boat Graveyard."

"Acknowledged"

My response was rather short, given the fact that I tried my best not to fall from Brutus while he was running at 60 miles per hour as I handled both my tablet and phone at the same time, I think it was understandable.

Mere seconds after I hung up, the Boss sent me a program allowing me to track the movements of the Heroes and the PRT, following their standard search pattern in real-time. Something that would prove itself to be quite handy, allowing us not only to evade them without trouble but also would prevent us from wasting time by double searching areas. Especially since I followed the inkling my power sent me, where to find our new prospective member.

My attention was nearly completely occupied with this task, that would have resulted in me to lose track of time without resorting to my power and even my surroundings, so it was no surprise to me that while my attention was split that way, I wasn´t the first to notice the floating sphere of water. It had to be pointed out to me by Grue, after I focused on it my mind registered what I picked up on with my eyes.

It was far enough away that I could barely make it out in the distance. The sphere was floating above one of the last remaining piers in the boat Graveyard, while we were maneuvering around the countless stranded shipwrecks decorating this part of the docks on our attempt to get closer.

Before we made any reasonable headway towards the sphere of water, I noticed that it was shrinking- no, not the right word for what I witnessed-it was contracting. Cold sweat ran down my spine.

I opened the floodgates to my power.

Compression of water, a near incompressible liquid, far beyond what should be possible. Sphere held together by power, preventing spontaneous expansion of the in the sphere contained water, resulting in ...

I didn´t wait for my power to do the math, despite the fact, that I never graduated school but cheated my way, with the help of a little power use, to an early GED. I knew enough about physics, to be aware of the fact that we are utterly screwed. So without delay, I shout on top of my lungs.

"Fire in the hole!"

Even though there was a lot of friction in the team, and some of us couldn´t stand the presence of some others, we worked well together, like a well-oiled machine, and trusted each other with our backs and our lives. As I would say, a natural development considering what we already went through.

Because of this, there was not even a single second of hesitation, or questioning of my warning, they all heeded it, well with the exception of our newcomer.

And not a second too late -

The ones of us on the ground were barely behind cover, in some trench in the Earth in between some shipwrecks, before all hell broke loose.

Out of the corner of my eye, I recognized the tell-tale flash of light that accompanies Chariot's teleportation. That made it the second time this fucker left us behind.

I could barely string together those thoughts before everything went black.

A few long moments later I awoke, given the still lingering ringing in my ears after the shockwave of the spontaneous water explosion passed us.

I tried to get my sore body to move and found myself able to do just that, which, to be honest, surprised me more than I´d liked to admit to myself. That was thus far the closest I got to dying, even our encounter with Lung didn't compare.

The funny thing, I was sure she didn´t even try to kill us - unlike Lung - we would have been just the collateral of another failed suicide attempt.

We better make sure the city isn´t next ...

I ignored my aching body for the moment and tried to take stock of our situation.

Thank god – Nobody was seriously hurt or dead, not even the dogs. Sure we were worse for wear, there were scraps and some bruises but nothing that would warrant a doctor.

I righted myself and stood up, and I had to, under a wince, correct my initial evaluation I didn´t have a few bruises. My whole body was bruised. I wouldn´t be surprised if my whole body ended up blue and purple in the next few days. Situations like this let me occasionally rethink my choice of costume and if it wouldn´t be better for me to trade my lavender form-fitting catsuit for something with a little more protective qualities – like a fucking power armor – something to think about later.

The others were already back on their feet. I took a few steps forward so that I was able to see above the cover the trench provided us only to stagger backward in complete shock.

It was one thing to be told something, but something completely different to actually comprehend the information. I was told she might be the strongest cape on earth, and now it finally sunk in and I actually realized what that entailed.

In front of me, I could see the Boat Graveyard- or to be more precise, a huge crater where once was the Boat Graveyard. There was a huge circular indentation, originating from where the sphere was spreading in all directions, at least a quarter of a mile in diameter since half the blast-sphere went towards the ocean, only the part towards land was still visible in a semicircular fashion, while the other half was underwater.

But what truly shocked me was that from where I was standing, facing the ocean, every shipwreck got blasted to tiny bits, or were blasted away as a whole.

The wreckage formed mounds around the epicenter, the only thing that prevented us from being part of those mounds, or splattered all over them, was the trench we used as cover and the fact that we were far enough away to not be buried since most of the force was absorbed by the earth in front of us.

I had already shackled my power again, there was no need for me to know where my intestines would have most likely landed or what would have happened to us if we used something else for cover.

I didn´t have to turn my head to know that Grue's look would have killed me if it had the power to do so. But after this display of power, even someone as stubborn as him had to face the reality - we couldn´t allow this much power in the hands of our competition, and he realized it was necessary to at least meet her and get in her good graces.

But that was a problem I had to face later, for now, we better got to work. It wouldn´t be good especially for my health if we would fail here. And I didn´t need to look at my tablet, which miraculously survived intact, to know that the PRT forces were converging on this position with heroes in tow, further reducing our already small window of opportunity. Speaking of windows after this blast I doubted there were any not shattered in a few mile radius around us.

Grue seemed to have thought along the same lines, despite being unhappy about the situation, he was too much of a pro, to let it interfere with his job. A blessing in disguise, we at least wouldn´t be going home without at least trying to achieve our objective.

Because he ordered, "Saddle up!"

Even above the ringing of my ears, I could hear Regent's not so subtle bitching about this situation and protesting against getting any closer, being used to his colorful language it was easy to blend it out. And it didn´t take long for those of us still present – fuck you, Trevor – to follow me. Knowing the others I wouldn´t be surprised if Grue forced them to.

I had to say at least one good came from all of this, the lack of wrecks in our path allowed us a smooth ride, without jumps and other unpleasantries, towards the epicenter.

Where the girl named Taylor was sitting above the ocean water inside the crater she blasted into the Earth, as if some comet strike occurred here.

Lucky for us, at least for now, the water wasn´t particularly deep, contrary to what it should be. It looked like she unconsciously prevented it from flowing into the hole.

The closer we got, the less I liked what I saw. When we were a car-length away from her, I signaled Bitch to stop. I dropped down from Brutus and waded through the knee-deep seawater up to Taylor, who had her back to me.

She was slumped down on top of the water, her ankles next to her upper thigh, with a lowered head, and her hands lay in her lap. Her shoulder-length curly dark-brown hair dangled around her head. I rounded her until I stood right in front of her completely nude self.

My power already filled me in why she was devoid of any clothes. There wasn´t anything, be it costume or regular wear, which would have been able to survive her attempt at suicide, and from what my power gathered, not the first one- she was at it quite some time. My stomach constricted as memories I thought I buried deep in my mind resurface – Rex – before I started to lose myself in them and threw myself a pity party, I suppressed them, they were not helping, nor was the regret that was accompanying them. I couldn´t save Rex, but I´ll be damned if I didn´t help Taylor.

"Hey," I whispered quietly.

She ignored me, as expected, I doubted she even noticed anything in her surroundings anymore, she was too far gone for that. At this point, I would be surprised if she had a single tear left in her body to shed. Nonetheless, I wasn´t willing to give up, bringing her back from the ground of the Abyss.

I slipped my right hand through her hair and, for a moment, cupped her cheek before I let my hand glide softly down her face and brushed her chin to raise her head. I then used both of my hands to push aside the curtain of hair hiding her face, so that I could get my first look at her. I mentally noted she was gonna be a beauty in a few years. But my focus lay on her eyes, they were looking at me but didn´t perceive, they were void of life, void of the will to live, they just were without purpose or reason to exist. She didn´t even wince under my gentle touch.

I smacked her, I smacked her hard. My hand, even under the lavender gloves of my costume, was stinging with pain. Her head was thrown to the side, but the redness of her cheek, a consequence of being slapped, was missing- though to be honest was to be expected from any and all high-Level Brutes.

Her eyes were wide and her consciousness returned to her body. I repeated my earlier attempt at communication with her, hoping me hitting her was not a valid reason for her to rip me apart, but she left me no other choice. I removed my Domino mask, holding the belief that it would help me gain her trust; besides, it felt strange talking to an unmasked cape while being masked. And that was the least I can do to somewhat level the playing field.

"Hey there," I tried again, careful to give my voice a soft and kind inflection "sorry about hitting you but you were spacing out, my name is Lisa. You are Taylor right – a pleasure to meet you."

I could see the cringe in Grue's posture after hearing this. Obviously not being a fan of me unmasking myself or effectively unmasking her, most likely both. It could result in rather ugly situations should she decide her secret identity was worth some corpses.

She slowly came out of her daze, her until-now-unfocused eyes focus, and her mind once again started to process what was going on.

Usually, you would start this with a question regarding her well-being, but honestly, you didn´t need to have superpowered intuition to know what an honest answer to this question would be. Funny enough I was certain, she would probably say everything is peachy. Something that would get me nowhere- on the contrary, she would most likely clam up and bunker down, which would help her even less than it would myself. To buy her and myself a little more time to come up with a course of action, I looked at Parian, who followed me and was now standing directly behind Taylor. The others were executing a lot more caution and were staying a few meters back barely close enough to overhear what we are talking about.

"Could you please?" I asked Parian.

I didn´t have to spell it out for her to understand my request, my gestures make it abundantly clear for her, that I wanted her to do something about the state of undress of the he girl in front of us. She created some kind of cloak with a hood which she then carefully placed on Taylors shoulders.

Her look darted between Parian, who moved to her side, and myself with the unspoken question of the why. I took that as my cue to answer.

"Why would we do something like that, show kindness to a stranger? - Apart from the fact, that I rather not let you be the main protagonist of the wet dreams of my male..."

a short look at Parian and I add

"...and female teammates."

I didn´t need my power to know Parian is blushing behind her mask.

"or anybody's for that matter."

Her disbelief to my statement was written all over her face – my god what was done to this girl. This was even worse than the mental picture I formed of her with the information I was given.

"I don´t think it is wise to let you wander around naked at night in a city like Brockton Bay. It would invite far too much trouble."

weakly, barely above a whisper, she said, "I don´t care and you shouldn´t, too. Nobody does, probably ever did. Please just leave me be and-"

"And what, let you die? Maybe even assist you in your attempt to kill yourself?" I pressed, my emotions began to stir.

That got her attention, surprise and shame is plastered on her features.

Meekly she askéd, "Would you ?"

This so innocently asked question of hers got my blood to boil, I had to swallow my anger to not lash out at her.

"What, help kill yourself? Are you that eager to die ?" I hissed.

She didn´t need to answer- her look told me all I ever needed to know.

"I don´t know the details," I said my sympathetically "that brought you to the conclusion life has nothing to offer you, to the point where you just want the pain to end. But there is more to life than you might think. There is no need to throw away your life, especially since it hasn't even really started yet, if you have lost your reason to live I´m sure you can find a new one to, given the chance."

"No there isn´t, not any longer and there never will be one. There is only hurt."

She once again looked at me with those pleading eyes, that begged me to help her, help her to end her miserable existence, to end her suffering, her hurt.

"So you are set in your way to throw your life away?" I asked her.

"Yes," she said convinced of her statement.

With that answer, it was finally clear to me that, for her, there was no longer an easy way out. I could see only one way to help her, I already knew, that to get her to cherish her life once again, she needed a friend, someone who showed her how to live again. But as far gone as she was, that was no longer sufficient. She needed so much more, and I was not certain I was the right person to provide her with that.

The last time I got even close to such a situation, I failed miserably given my own circumstances, and the danger I would expose her to if she were to associate with me. But I didn´t see an alternative- she was drowning, time to throw her a lifeline, consequences be damned, I won´t see a repeat of that.

A stray thought came to mind, perhaps by helping her, I could even help myself.

"In that case, I take it If you don´t have any use for your life, any longer. I take it." I declared, trying to sound as convincing as I could manage "From this day forth, Taylor Anne Hebert, your life is mine, to do with as I please, is that understood?"

There was a long moment of silence before understanding found it´s way to her features, and a small flash of hope could be made out, nearly as fast gone as it appeared. There would be a long way ahead for her to crawl out of the Abyss.

Unwavering holding her gaze still waiting for a verbal answer to my question, even though I already saw her endorsement, I repeated my question, this time with more emphasis.

"Is that understood?" I asked again with more emphasis.

To answer she pressed out a whispered yes before she hanged her head in shame –

Before I could pursue the question why that would be a reason to do this, my sixth sense chose this very moment to practically scream at me, I had barely enough time to put my mask back on and register that my teammates were closing the distance to me before I heard a loud splash behind me, and an awed simultaneously muttered "fuck" from the members of my team.

After I turned my head around, I could only agree with their sentiment. Fuck is exactly the right word to describe our situation.

In front of me- just twenty feet away- stood Armsmaster, in his Silver Blue Power Armor, Halberd already in hand, knee-deep in the water. Hovering next to him was Alexandria.

She must have dropped him off behind me and I started cursing myself. Of course, Armsmaster, the Leader of the local Branch of the Protectorate, would be present inside the Rig, the forcefield-protected repurposed Oil Rig serving as their Headquarters. Where else could he oversee the critical aftermath of an Endbringer fight and most likely the much-needed repairs of said Rig? And to top it all off, he could appear hospitable to the visiting heroes, especially the team leaders of the other Branches of the Protectorate still there, like Alexandria, the Leader of the Los Angeles team.

Given the proximity, to the Boat Graveyard, they might have had front-row seats in their cafeteria to the little stunt Taylor pulled mere minutes ago.

I should have considered this, but thought the only threat to discovering us would be the search parties already deployed, resulting in us having face-time with two of the most well-respected members of the Protectorate, and after they found us, especially in the company of Taylor-the very Cape they are searching for- reinforcements are sure to be on their way.

My power estimated them to be here in less than 2 minutes. Great, just great. Could this whole endeavor have gone any worse at all? I doubted it. If I would believe in luck, I would say we most likely used ours up already, or, what is more likely, we are already in deficit, surviving a clash with an Endbringer.

Despite the fact, that I had a pretty good idea, why they were here, it didn´t hurt to get confirmation.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of your esteemed company? Shouldn´t you maybe save some cats from trees, instead of harassing law-abiding citizens like us while taking dogs for a walk, some people might get the wrong idea."

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see a grin on Regent´s face my sarcastic comment has provoked and also the scowl, Grue is certainly wearing behind his helmet.

I knew he didn´t condone me trash-talking, no make that me talking in general, but we had to get them off-balance at least a little if we hope to get out of this intact.

"Undersiders, you are under arrest," Armsmaster said without preamble.

"What for ?" Grue asked with his deep echoing voice. He must have created some darkness under his helmet for that effect.

"The destruction of the BoatGraveyard, aiding an abetting a criminal."

Armsmaster listed still focused on Grue, but there was no doubt who was meant by that even if he didn´t show it.

I picked up on his body language he was tense, far more than this situation should warrant. It was him and Alexandria against a group of teenage villains without a body count and it was clear neither of them assumed Taylor would take part in any of this.

"Furthermore, for obstruction of a PRT operation and not to forget the laundry list of the outstanding warrants, for your crimes committed prior to this day, I recommend you don´t resist, or breaking of the Endbringer truce might be added to the list of your crimes."

And with this, my plan to just walk out of here goes up in flames. Armsmaster, this headstrong son of a bitch, won´t budge a single inch after this declaration of intent, for the sole reason to uphold his image, especially with Alexandria right next to him. Damn Gloryhounds.

I thought when my power picked up that there was more to it, they knew about her fragile state, they found something that had them worried, worried about the state of Taylors mind. They knew how malleable she currently was and they wouldn´t allow for anybody than themselves to mold her.

Fucking assholes - For a moment I entertained to take Taylor and go with them for her sake and immediately discarded it, I wouldn´t last the week Coil didn´t like to be disappointed and with what I just did I couldn´t leave Taylor behind either, abandoning her now. There would be no coming back from that and I feared the city wouldn´t take well to her next try at suicide.

I gave Grue a dirty look, to convey my displeasure regarding his- let´s be honest- dumb questions, that made all of this so much harder.

I had to get us out of this preferably without a fight and any of us losing face, something Armsmaster didn´t make easy.

Probably exactly why he did it, he wanted us to second guess ourselves if this shoot at Taylor was worth it going against him Alexandria, and whatever back-up they expected.

"How nice of you to mention the Endbringer truce," I said mockingly, "because the truce goes both ways. And in my book, what you are about to do is more of a violation of said truce than us being at ground zero of an explosion, which, by the way, none of us was responsible for. So if you´ll excuse us, we have things to do and places to be, and I don´t think you would risk jeopardizing the truce for a little bit of property damage, on property no one gives a fuck about."

Armsmaster was about to open his mouth to retort but was unable to because I continued to speak

"And before you start to accuse me of lying, why don´t you consult your fancy lie detector, I´m sure it tells you, that I told you nothing but the truth."

A few seconds go by in which, nobody took action, but my power was telling me that they both were listening to instructions, which didn´t bode well for us.

Because if need be, government organizations were able and given the fact they weren´t already retreating, willing to cover up- or, what in this case is much more likely, change the details of- their story they would present to the public to fit their needs.

Risky, because not every Thinker out there was in the employ of the Protectorate, which meant this plot would be discovered, which would dissolve the truce, something they couldn´t allow to happen.

Oh fuck, Alexandria gave it away, she was far too confident, even though she tried to hide it, which can only mean one thing- they have the means to keep this under wraps.

A scenario which didn´t bode well for us in the slightest, because screwing us like this, left not many options to get us to keep our mouths shut. Something seemed to have tipped of Grue, I doubted he did a thorough analysis of our situation, more likely, it was owed to his experience probably to a similar situation he once was in because he kicked into gear, with no holes barred.

He started to use his power, and the Darkness he generated swallowed him and was about to do the same to all of us and everything around us for quite a distance.

But before that could come to pass, before I could even open my mouth to warn him, it was already over. In the blink of an eye, Grue's unconscious form slumped down on himself, the only thing preventing him from drowning face down in the water surrounding us was the grip of Alexandria´s hand around his neck holding him in place.

I was certain even some speedsters would have had trouble evading Alexandria, she shot forward from her hovering position next to Armsmaster to directly in front of Grue, without any visible acceleration or deceleration I could take notice of.

I doubt a human without a brute rating could have survived the g-forces, she exposed herself to by this maneuver. A slight tap from her with her open palm to Grue's solar plexus and a flick with her finger against his head, rattling his brain despite the helmet he wore, and it was over, with Alexandria hovering in our midst.

I had to give her credit where credit was due, that was a smart move, she not only incapacitated the person with the power, which could have provided a fair chance for us to succeed at fleeing, and was, therefore, the greatest threat but also cut off the head of the snake, so to speak, our leader.

Would we have lacked a little more experience together as a team, they would have already won, with us falling apart. But as I said, that wasn´t the case. I noticed how Regent focused his attention on Alexandria, intending to disrupt her, and her hold on Grue.

Parian was already forming some anaconda sized cloth snakes out of the excess fabric she had on her, she most likely intended to use them as a means to grab Grue once Alexandria lost her grip on him, and to fasten him to one of the dogs, which were ready to pounce on Armsmaster.

Before I myself could decide on a course of action, which most likely would translate to `looking pretty, find the enemy's weakness, and don´t get in the way of the others, because a borderline human with a gun was out of its league- hell, our whole team was out of its league- against someone like Alexandria,´ I wasn´t given any time to deepen my thoughts on this matter, because, from one moment to the next, Alexandria was hovering right in front of me, already in mid-motion to take me out, too.

Made sense –

I loved my power, I really did, but situations like this- which, let´s be honest, were far more frequent than I ever hoped them to be- let me wish occasionally for a power which would be a tiny little bit more useful than useless in a fight. Good, I hate it to go from the mastermind behind the Undersiders to a glorified cheerleader in a fight.

She didn´t even classify the others as any kind of threat, Regent could at most irritate her, Bitch's dogs weren´t anything more than ants to her, as were Parian's constructs, so the only one who might be a threat, being the one who could discover a secret, a weakness, and let´s not forget as PRT classified Thinker 7 had a fair chance to get Taylor involved in the fight given half a chance made me the greatest threat after Grue.

I already accepted my fate, and expected to wake up with the mother of all headaches within a PRT holding-cell, when Alexandria's hand was suddenly stopped, held in a vice-like grip at her wrist, mere inches away from my body.

I wasn´t the only one surprised by this turn of events, Alexandria, given her reaction, was too. I could see for the first time how her mask of infinite confidence got cracked, and her facial features, at least those which aren´t hidden by her helmet, slipped away from her conscious control, for a short moment that didn´t linger. Taylor's eyes under the hoodie searched mine, while still holding onto Alexandria, waiting for me to tell her what to do.

I was still processing the fact, that, not only was there someone who could stop Alexandria cold in her tracks but that this person did it to protect me, a criminal, which in essence meant by defending me she became one herself. On the other hand, given what I already knew about her, I really shouldn´t be surprised.

Alexandria started, to try to wiggle herself free from Taylor's grip without success, her struggling grew in intensity, she even went as far as to try to fly away, only to be held in place, by Taylor, who didn´t seem to notice Alexandria was trying to break free.

After a few seconds of futile attempts, Alexandria changed her strategy and threw a punch at Taylor with her free hand, which connected with her face but did nothing to her, as if a pebble collided with a steel wall.

The same couldn´t be said about me and the other bystanders because the punch held such force that the resulting hit generated a shockwave that blew me and everybody else away. The only one who was still standing or flying in the case of Alexandra, besides Taylor, was Armsmaster, but even he had to ram his halberd into the ground, to anchor himself lest he shared our fate.

Another crack in the mask of confidence Alexandria displayed appeared as she was struck with the realization, that she was facing one of the very few people in existence, who could take a punch from her, and not only live and tell the tale, but come out unscathed.

I noticed while Alexandria shook off the daze from this revelation, that her heart rate and breathing began to accelerate as fear started creeping into her.

Alexandria once more lashed out with her free hand against Taylor, only this time it was caught by Taylor in her other hand, but unlike the first time, we others were protected from the resulting shockwave of this clash by a water wall, that sprung into life between us, formed from the seawater we are standing in.

At this point Alexandria became desperate, she started struggling more and more, violently lashing out with everything she had, trying to break free.

And even though we were protected from the shockwaves directly affecting us, we weren´t really safe, because those shockwaves caused the ground to shake. If not for the dampening effect the water covering the soil had, I'm sure the ground around us would have already split and devoured us.

Something that still could happen because Alexandria's struggles only increased in intensity, we had to take her out one way or the other.

Think, Tattletale, Think!

That was when I noticed the reason Alexandria wasn´t able to lift off with Taylor. Around Taylor´s foot and ankle was a thin layer of water that held her in place on top of the water surface against the force Alexandria was exhibiting.

Incredible what she is able to do with water. Out of nowhere my power started putting the pieces together and presented me with a solution to our Alexandria problem.

I addressed Taylor, "Taylor, Alexandria has to breathe! Suffocate her, that´s the only way!"

If I thought Alexandria's struggles were frantic before hearing this, I didn´t know what to call what she was doing now. She outright panicked, in a sense quite understandable- to develop a healthy dose of respect for things that can harm you is normal, considering Alexandria was invulnerable, the one thing that could still harm you in any way should command a considerable amount of respect, but apparently, she feared it.

My power connected the dots, past bad experiences, of course, Leviathan, they fought against each other more than a dozen times, even a mentally challenged creature could have figured this out in that amount of encounters, and whatever Leviathan was, mentally challenged wasn´t part of it.

But no matter what Alexandria tried, it was utterly futile before Taylor, she had already encased herself and Alexandria in a sphere of water. The water was also invading Alexandria´s lungs through her nose, something I was sure of she would have tried to prevent by shielding her mouth and nose with her hands, but those were still held in place by Taylor's hands.

Not that it would have mattered, now that her whole body was unable to move, held firm in place by the water encompassing her. As Taylor realized her hold on Alexandria was needless, she released her arms and lowered the water making up the protective wall around us to the water coated ground.

A moment later, the remaining air in Alexandria's lungs was pushed out by the water, and she lost consciousness.

That was when Armsmaster took action and stormed towards Taylor, intent on freeing Alexandria, but before he even came close, the water around Alexandria's head withdrew and formed a tentacle that threw Alexandria at Armsmaster, without any chance to avoid her, they both crashed hard as an intermingled mass of limbs into the crater wall a few dozen meters away from us.

I didn´t bother with discerning their state of health, I decided to leave that to the reinforcements that were gonna be swarming this place in a few moments, my priorities lay with my team, or more precisely with a way out of this mess.

The others seemed to share my sentiment. I mounted the nearest dog, Bitch was already on top of Brutus she made her way to Grue and had Brutus grab him the dogs maw. Regent mounted Angelica as I steered Judas towards Taylor and reached out to her with my hand. At first, she just looked at me, her face undergoing a large set of different emotions- surprise, uncertainty, fear- until it ended up in resolve and determination as she heard me saying, "Come with me."

She grabbed my hand and I helped her up on Judas where she came to sit behind me and slung her hands around my hip. A second later we were underway at top speed away from the Boat Graveyard, with the help of the PRT tracker App we were managed to evade the converging reinforcements even without blackening a few city blocks with Grue´s power, which he would have been unable to do, unconscious as he still was.

After we left the Boat Graveyard behind, we hid ourselves in an abandoned warehouse to weather the storm. We didn´t want to risk running into any more trouble tonight, it wouldn´t be improbable for that to happen, despite the App, and the fact that I tapped into their communication, there were still a lot of visiting capes in the city, let alone some of our resident heroes weren´t exactly known to follow protocol.

And as far as trouble was concerned we already had our fair share of it today, that was gonna last some time. We all made ourselves comfortable within the confines of the warehouse, at least as much as it was possible. We used some old furniture, cardboard boxes, and the like to sit on. The atmosphere was mixed.

Regent couldn´t stop to grin like the idiot he was, Bitch didn´t care and was stroking her dogs, Parian was a step away from hyperventilating and having a panic attack, Taylor leaned her head on my shoulder looking like a content but lost puppy, while our fearless leader was in the progress of regaining his consciousness.

Oh poor me, that wouldn´t be pretty.

After Grue sat up and checked himself for injuries, he took in his surroundings. Even without being able to see his face, I could quite imagine what it would look like after the realization hit him of what most likely occurred, while he was out, for us to end up here. I had to suppress a smirk at that mental picture, needlessly antagonizing Grue further wouldn´t be a good idea.

"How long was I out? what happened ?" were the first questions he fired off.

"A few minutes, and man you missed a lot," he said grinning over both ears "we had front row seats to the greatest curb stomp I ever witnessed. If I weren´t already there when it happened, I would have totally paid for it. I loved it, can we keep her, she is awesome, pretty please."

Regent tried his hands at puppy dog eyes to convince Grue, who just shrugged them of bewildered. Something I could emphasize with because his version of 'puppy dog' looked more like the facial expression of someone like Jack Slash would have a second before he kills you.

Before this could derail into something else, the sole `legal´ adult of our group decided to break this up before it got any further.

"Long story short, after Alexandria incapacitated you, she tried the same with Tattletale, but the girl" Parian nodded in Taylor and my direction "intervened, held Alexandria in place, and then drowned her – apparently she has to breathe."

Well, not exactly how I would have broken the news to Grue, given his rather strong opinion of not crossing certain lines. But what could I expect for letting someone else be the bringer of bad news?

Grue's rather displeased composure didn´t take a thinker power to pick up on.

"Woah Woah," I immediately tried interjected myself with raised hands as I noticed Grue mind going off the rails "don´t draw the wrong conclusions here she didn´t die, at least I'm as certain of this as I can be given that after she was used as a wrecking ball against Armsmaster, we grabbed you and ran like hell. And not a second too soon, because the whole area was swarming with PRT. It is also the reason why we are here in this lovely place, inhabited by bugs rats, and other nice critters, waiting for them to realize how futile it is to find us."

Grue stood up with a grunt.

"I knew this would go sideways the moment you came to me with this mission. Do you even know how bad the fallout of this little trip could get?" Grue accused "We fucking broke the Endbringer truce, nearly killed one of the Triumvirate, and all this because the Boss wants to- what exactly does he want Tattletale?!"

I´d rather not answer this pointed question, I didn´t think he was gonna like it. Unfortunately for me, Grue wasn´t nearly stupid enough to not connect the dots, with Regent practically pointing it out.

"He wants to recruit her, doesn´t he?" He asked, "He wants her to be part of the Undersiders."

I slightly winced knowing what would come next.

"Is he fucking mental? This Boss of ours, does he even know what kind of heat this will draw? We aren´t even remotely good or strong enough to survive the kind of attention this will get us!"

I tried to interrupt his tirade before he could obsess over it.

"Grue listen ..."

"Not one word, I don´t want to hear one fucking word out of your mouth, after this shit you pulled." He shouted "I don´t want to hear any excuses or justifications. And I sure as hell won´t give you another chance to play me like you did earlier to get my approval for this clusterfuck."

I noticed that Taylor balled her hands into fists and slowly but certainly inched forward in a position, which allowed her with minimal effort to intercept Grue should this go any further. But that was not what had me concerned. I started worrying because she had a lot of repressed anger, and she didn´t like how I was treated, one little bit. I could see that she was approaching her boiling point, regarding the mistreatment of me she was gonna allow.

I better did something, it wouldn´t look good on her resume if the first thing she did after meeting the team is killing the leader. At this point Bitch interjected.

"We don´t need more people."

figures she didn´t want to split the profit one more way, unfortunately not helpful in this discussion.

"Hä, what are you talking about?" Regent incredulously asked "Who in their right mind wouldn´t want to have her in their team, she kicked ass and took names. She is our ticket in the big leagues, to where the real cash can be found."

I could see Bitch was mulling it over what Regent said, weighing the cons of additional risk that would mean for her dogs against the promise of better pay. Grue knew Bitch long enough that he could see it, too.

"Didn´t you hear a single word of what I just said?" Grue acidly spat "she took out and nearly killed Alexandria during a still ongoing Endbringer truce. Can you imagine the fallout of this shit-show? "

"I think we all should calm down before we say or do something we might later regret," Parian said, in an attempt to smooth this over.

I winced, that was the wrong thing to say.

"Calm down, calm down. Are you nuts?" Grue raged "We can call ourselves lucky if we have no-kill orders on our heads by the same time tomorrow."

"Oh please, you have to do a lot more than this to earn a kill order," Regent informed us, which surprisingly allayed some of Grue's displeasure.

I mentally completed his unfinished sentence with `I should know´. Curious seems my guess regarding Regent's parents weren´t far off the mark.

"not helping Regent." I chastised him.

"How about we let this matter rest for now. We all go home calm down and continue this discussion when we aren´t all high-strung and agitated." Parian suggested.

"Seems like a good idea." I agreed.

the others gave their nonverbal consent, with the exception of Grue.

"This isn´t over Tattletale, not by a long shot." He said, with simmering anger.

"Believe me, I know," I said.

I took a deep breath and led Taylor by her hand over to Parian.

"I suggest, we lose our costumes and split up, this way we get out of this..." I said as

I look around us searching for the correct words to describe our abode and settled for

"...warehouse..."

even though it didn´t feel right

"...without us having to wait for the white-hats to stop their search, which I doubt might end soon."

"You don´t tell" Grue retorted.

I had to force myself to swallow the words on my tongue, it wouldn´t help either of us if I continued this, hard as it was to not get in the last word.

"I agree, as fun as this was I have things to do," Regent said.

If I wouldn´t know better I might have suspected Regent drew our attention to distract us from our argument.

"What would you have to ... "

before Parian even ended her sentence she seemed to remember to whom she was talking to and stopped herself mid-way and added.

"Forget I asked, I don´t wanna know."

Something that brought Regent to cackle uncontrolled. I just rolled my eyes at his antics.

"Parian would you be so kind and provide us with some civilian clothes, so we can get all out of here now that Bitch's dogs have shrunk to their normal size," I asked.

"Sure" she answered and

dissolved the creatures behind her into threads. She used it to create a changing room, consisting of cloth curtains, she held around us, three girls. I removed my mask and changed out of my costume. I took Parian only mere seconds to create some new clothes for myself and Taylor.

She decided, given the time, that it wouldn´t raise any suspicion if we were dressed like we intend to go to a party or a club.

After a few moments in which Parian works her magic, Taylor and I were both wearing some skirts with matching Tops. And I was once again reminded that clothes define people like nothing else. The skirt ending a little above Taylor's Knee, despite being flashy, brought to bear her never-ending legs and the top enunciated her other female assets (even though they weren´t the biggest); they complimented her all around, especially with the well-toned body the sleeveless crop-top showed off.

There weren´t many girls around our age who wouldn´t feel a pang of jealousy looking at her, or at least appreciate her looks. She thought herself to be an ugly duckling but was already in the process of becoming a swan.

My own clothes were a bit less conspicuous, with long sleeves and no bare midriff, mostly to hide the bruises across my body that were inflicted by our little adventure. With the adrenaline receding from my system, I was starting to feel them, at the moment they weren´t that distracting and painful, but I knew the next few days will be a bitch when every single movement will inflict pain.

Lucky me I had a fully stocked medicine cabinet at home, filled to the brink with Painkillers.

My musings were interrupted when Parian unjumbled our disheveled hair to something, that didn´t look like we fought in the 3rd world war only a few minutes ago.

"Thanks," I said.

Parian nodded and took my costume and utensils for safekeeping – a reasonable choice, she wouldn´t have a problem taking it with her. I, on the other hand, would have problems finding a pocket big enough for a wallet on my current outfit, not that my costume was any better.

I steered Taylor outside of the improvised changing room. The sidelong glances my teammates threw our way, while we emerged were enough to crush any resemblance of self-confidence in Taylor, and she subconsciously made a step closer to me. I didn´t need my power to tell me that she would love nothing more than to once more take my hand and hide behind me. A desire that was intensified by the fact that she was now wearing clothes completely out of her comfort zone. Nonetheless, she didn´t give in to it, out of fear that I would take offense to this action, and the last thing she wanted was to displease me.

A cold shiver ran down my spine just thinking what might have happened if anybody despite me would have found her in this condition.

Since I didn´t intend to torment Taylor any longer, I kept my good-byes short.

"I´m gonna take her with me. See you in a few days."

With those words, I left the warehouse, with Taylor two steps behind me. After a few dozen steps, I turned around to her.

"You do want to come with me, right?" I asked her.

Given her state, a superfluous question, one I still had to ask if only to appease my conscience. But as I expected, she was quite eager to follow me home, if her nod was something to go by. Because it was the most enthusiastic movement I witnessed from her the whole evening. Probably because it put her fears to rest. (of me being like the others in her life)

I gave her a charming smile and with the phone, I carried in my hands I called a Taxi. We could have walked home, or used a bus at the next bus stop, or I could have just called Coil to send us a car. But I liked to pretend that Coil didn´t know about my apartment, and therefore I didn´t take actions that went against my make-believe world. At least there I was free to do what I pleased, without risking a bullet to my head, and I didn´t take advantage of a girl at her worst.

Authors Note:

Regarding Lung nonparticipation mentioned in this chapter - there are two conflicting quotes in Worm Interlude 22.y - one making it clear Lung craves attention in his fights something an Endbringer fight no doubt would provide him with.

But he also says to teacher: "Leviathan, I beat, if you can even call it an enemy. It is a force of nature. No, I speak of other enemies, insults old and new. I will defeat each of them in turn, and then I will rule."

So I don´t think Lung would have bothered to show up and fight and the Worm wiki draws the same conclusion as I -

I´m also sad to inform you that I probably won´t manage to complete the next chapter in time ... I´m somewhat stuck.

I´m aware this far from ideal, I would have preferred to reach that point where I can´t keep to my self-imposed schedule after the next two chapters, to give this "first arc" some form of closure.

I´ll try my best to get it done as fast as possible ... so that means next week the first chapter of another story will be posted in a new thread.

Last edited: Jun 13, 2021

297

Time Paradox

Sep 20, 2020

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 07 - Interlude Lisa part II (A new Hope II)

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Jun 13, 2021

#394

Chapter 07 - Interlude Lisa part II (A New Hope)

The drive home was uneventful. It helped to have a power that allowed for the screening of strangers and their intentions. Otherwise, I wouldn't have left my gun with Parian while making use of a taxi in a city like Brockton Bay.

The risk of something happening especially to two girls? From the street, like us, was just too big. Sure, I had Taylor at my side, but if she would be forced to use her powers, the girl next to her, in this case, me, would be scrutinized. Losing my civilian identity was something I would rather avoid. After all, I loved going shopping far too much to allow for this to happen.

As a result, I was rather happy that the first taxi that arrived at our destination, neither had a driver who tried to undress with his eyes nor was he an ABB member searching for fresh meat for their farms. - quite the cynical name for those monsters to call their human trafficking and prostitution facilities.

Of course, grabbing two white girls would usually attract attention, but given the fact that we needed a taxi instead of being fetched by a parent, it might make them think that nobody would miss us. So it was better to be safe than sorry.

We arrived at my apartment complex downtown a few minutes later. The taxi stopped directly in front of the apartment building. I paid the driver and gave him a generous tip before we made our way towards the door.

The nervousness of Taylor returned with every step we made towards the door it got worse. I had hoped that holding her hand and allowing her once again to rest her head on my shoulder during our drive would help reinforce the belief that I wouldn't abandon her at my convenience.

But apparently, that wasn't the case, and I asked myself once more what happened to her?

Sure my power filled in a lot of the blanks, but there were always false positives, and if I could help it, I preferred not to confront her with it, at least not yet. It could render the progress I made with her void or could even make it worse. I knew we had to talk about it eventually, if only for her to vent, but that had time.

I took out my key and opened the front door of the building. Keeping the door open with one hand, I held out my other hand towards Taylor. She didn't need to think twice about it and grabbed it. Together we got into the elevator and rode up to the 3rd floor of my apartment.

We got off, and I guided Taylor to my apartment door. I unlocked it and exclaimed. "Home sweet home" as the door swung open and led her inside. Then I closed the door behind her, and together we walked into the living room.

"Welcome to my humble abode," I said.

Whatever she expected to see, I didn't think it was this. For one, the apartment was located Downtown, the better part of the city.

Add to this that the apartment complex was fairly new, combined with the fact that it was rather large with a spectacular view, despite it being only on the 3rd floor it was quite understandable that she was surprised.

After all, I was not much older than her and owned something her family couldn't afford.

I was torn, unsure if I should comment on it. On the one hand, I was sure if she hadn't already drawn the conclusion, she would no doubt about it get there eventually, that all of this was financed with ill-gotten gains, but to point it out might not be the best course of action. Most, especially those being part of the middle class, are raised with a strong sense of morals. (and therefore tend to have heroic tendencies.)

I told her the Undersiders weren't law-abiding citizens. Besides, she was part of the confrontation against the heroes, so it should have been obvious on which side of the law we operated, but back, then she made a split-second decision. I was not sure that if she thought it over – what exactly she did, what she got herself involved in – that she would come to the same conclusion a second time.

"You hungry?" I decided to ask instead. Not that I had much to offer, my Freezer was notoriously empty, and it was unlikely that I could manage to get something delivered – definitely not today.

She shook her head in response. Which meant I spared myself the embarrassment of disclosing my empty cupboards and inability to cook. Furthermore, I could spare her ending up poisoned with the result of my attempt at cooking.

"Okay," I said contemplating, what to do next when she shifted nervously from one foot to the other under my gaze an unconscious reaction that got ingrained in her - avoid any and all attention - it even went so far that she reached for the hem of her skirt trying to straighten it to hide just an inch more of her skin.

She stopped the moment she became consciously aware of what she was doing.

I would have preferred if it would have been a conscious action of her trying to safeguard her modesty; it would have been a sign she was about to get better or at least not as far gone as I feared.

Blushing alone would have been something to start with an involuntary body reaction to show she cared – again - and was shedding her indifference of what happened to her.

I grimaced at how her situation played with my heartstrings. Worse, all the guilt that threatened to overcome me, being reminded that I had a part in pushing her over the edge.

Deep down, I always knew what my power was truly capable of if let loose... dissecting the psyche of a human being and prodding at their weaknesses, like pulling a thread and have their self unravel in front of you.

But actually standing across someone who it was done to, scared me on a fundamental level, not the fact that my power could help me accomplish it, but that Coil somehow got me to help him do this to a human being.

I could make an educated guess of what was necessary for him to do, to threaten me with, to get me to this point in one of his timelines. - My power was joyfully providing me with the answer -

The hate I felt for him festered even more, despite knowing he never did that to my actual self just a simulacrum his power created of me. But this feeling was overshadowed by the hate and loathing I felt for myself.

For my own weak self that caved, for the fact I would treasure my wellbeing and survival more than hers.

It was difficult to face such truth about yourself, that you deluded yourself into thinking you are better than you actually are. It was worse with power like mine... How I must have lied to myself closed my eyes to the truth... that when the chips are down, and a gun was pressed against my head, I would do everything in the hopes that the other person wouldn't pull the trigger even if it meant betraying my core principles.

Could they even be called such... principles... when I undermined them.

For just a single moment, I pondered If I could disavow the actions of my simulacrum of another timeline as the actions of somebody else... and was disgusted at myself for even entertaining the idea. To try to find such a cheap way to assign guilt to somebody else... just to feel better about myself, when the results of my actions were... looking right at me... Taylor... and I could see it clearly in her eyes concern...

I moved the back of my hand in front of my mouth, the moment my retching started. I ran out of the room, down the corridor, and into the bathroom. I could keep the contents of my stomach down long enough to reach the toilet and vomited into it.

It took me long minutes after there was no longer anything left to leave my body in reverse aside from bitter-tasting bile.

I couldn't bring myself to stop myself from feeling unwell again every time my mind drifted back to those little tidbits I read in the report I helped create about her.

Idolizes her dead mother...

Detest grinning unnerves her associate it with the abuse she suffered, the schadenfreude of her tormentors...

Lost all trust in authority figures...

Has been betrayed over and over by those she implicitly trusted...

and what Coil did with that Information. I had a part in this, and now he wants me to undo what I helped him inflict upon her. He wanted me to reassemble the pieces of what was left of her in a way that she became useful to him.

It took noticing Taylor standing in the doorframe through my tear-filled eyes for my stomach to settle. I slumped from my kneeling position in front of the toilet against the bathtub.

Despite all that, me having pulled down and broken what was left of her self-esteem... her very personality making her into an empty husk where there once had been a beautiful willful person... she still had it in her to show concern. Concern for me, a person responsible for what happened to her, the guilt alone was weighing hard on me.

Sure, I couldn't take all the blame, but I added the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

And now she was standing there worried about me. My stomach rumbled again, and I found myself retching once more bent over the toilet seat. But nothing more than bitter-tasting bile was making its way up to my mouth.

Exhausted, I allowed myself to fall back against the bathtub.

Meanwhile, Taylor did move closer, close enough, so she could lift my hair out of the way but didn't dare to, in case it would offend me. Being touched by her, the outcast...

I chuckled to myself. This whole situation had to be some sick joke. I destroyed this girl's life, and as a result, she swore herself to me. Hell, I was sure at this point she wouldn't even have cared if I outright told her what part I had played in the events that brought her to me. If I would just tell her in the same sentence, I would never leave her. Because I took away her ability to care... I couldn't get her to hate me for what I did... to at least lessen...

My chuckling got worse – Fuck you, Coil! - Fuck you so very much ! -

I pounded my right fist against the bathtub. I regretted it immediately and hissed in pain, adding to my already barely bearable headaches.

But I needed it... something to punish myself... I was not sure that without I could take it... this fucked up situation...

"We make for a strange pair, we two ..."

A smothered laugh escaped my mouth... as I addressed Taylor. She must consider me crazy by now. Nonetheless, she didn't, wouldn't care, and follow me to hell and back just because I said so.

And indeed, we made for a strange pair... the broken girl with the power to sink the east coast and the girl who broke her unwillingly working for a megalomaniac sociopath tasked with weaponizing the broken girl for his needs...

No – not this time, he finally crossed the line. Worse I couldn't be sure this was the only time he used me, my power in such a fashion. How often did he hold a gun to my head and had me do something that went against it... I clenched my fists... it felt wrong to even find a word for how violated I felt. Knowing what I do now, about myself. I couldn't even be sure my deeds were erased in a throw-away timeline – It would be so easy to make notes about how to break a person by observing me do it to recreate it at any convenient point in time.

This might just be the one instance where it was necessary to involve me in the aftermath of my parallel self-doings.

That was the moment when I finally admitted to myself I couldn't do this any longer. I couldn't willfully close my eyes about something that until now I only just suspected... not with proof of what Coil used me for in front of me.

But first, I had to make this right. I needed to make this right. I couldn't live with myself If I didn't this girl deserved at least this much... not because of all the lives her action saved here today, certainly not counting all the lives killing Leviathan would save in the long run, or that she was strong... perhaps the strongest parahuman alive... no, not because of any of this – it was because nobody deserved a life like hers.

I was gonna fix this... even if it was the last thing I did. Which given my Boss's propensity to deal with disagreeable employees, more than likely meant it would be the last thing I ever do.

My mind made up; I had to start somewhere, and since those clothes were something she wouldn't wear under normal circumstances, it was a good place as any.

"I think you could do with a good long and hot bath –" I tried to encourage her while I had to be careful in the choice of words. Since I knew that any reference to her appearance, no matter how carefully worded. Especially, if done in a positive manner or outright complimenting her would only register as me mocking her. "If your day was anything like mine, this will do you wonders to relax ... it will gonna help soothe your worries."

I lifted myself from the ground. Turned around to put the plug into my bathtub and opened the valve to fill it with hot water.

"At least it works that way for me." When I turned back to her, she was still just standing there, her gaze locked onto the water, slowly filling the tub.

"Why don't you get in – I'm gonna bring you a towel and something more comfortable to wear than what Parian provided us with." - no reaction – which didn't stop me from trying to get her to warm up to me, to shed her shyness. "She has an impeccable sense of what is hip and looks good, but more often than not, this means the clothes she makes are inconvenient and the furthest from comfortable they could be. - I'll be back in just a minute."

With that, I fleed the room. I closed the bathroom door behind me and leaned against the door, my eyes closed. Trying my hardest to get the picture of her out of my mind. To somehow get my power to stop pointing out all the little details of her demeanor and what they mean.

As if I wouldn't already feel bad enough just looking at her. It dragged all my bad memories - Rex and the guilt and self-loathing I felt not only towards her but towards him back into the light... when I put such an effort into burying them into the deepest darkest part of my mind. -

My power really didn't help matters – it was acting like a cheerleader dancing in front of me with poms made up of bad memories waving them in front of my face. Unable to let secrets be - even my own – needing to unearth them.

I took some deep breaths and did my best to push it all aside, back down in the dark hole it crawled out off. I waited a few seconds to make sure nothing reemerged and stepped away from the door and walked into my bedroom past my large queen-sized water bed and towards my large closet.

I opened it took out two towels and threw them on my bed behind me, and went on a search to find something for Taylor to wear. Not only was I looking for something that would fit her, not the easiest of tasks with our different frames. She was gangly, thin-framed, thinly hipped with barely a bust capable of filling out A-cups and long legs.

Close to the ideal body required of models. Whereas I was smaller, with actual curves on my body, be it bust or hips. Which meant most of my pants would be too wide around her hips, sliding down all the time while not long enough to reach her ankles, and my shirts would have trouble hiding her belly button.

After searching for some time, I settled on a pajama I bought a month prior. Its size was put on the wrong stash, and in my haste to get out of the store after a long night spent working for the boss I missed it in the mountain of clothes I threw on the counter.

I only noticed the next day when my power slowly returned after overuse and told me so.

In retrospect, I was not sure why I bought it in the first place – the color... didn't go well with my skin tone. Not that it mattered since I had no intention for anybody to see me in sleepwear.

Furthermore, most of the clothes I bought I never actually ended up worn, and with shopping being more of a guilty pleasure for me to get my mind of things and use the money thrown my way by Coil for something, anything really, then hold onto it. Knowing where it came from and what I had to do to get it.

As it turned out, it was a good thing I never returned them.

Probably wouldn't have bothered either way and most likely would have given them away with the older stuff next month when I once more had to clear up my closet from being overloaded. Undergarments would be more troublesome. I didn't even try to find a bra that would fit her – even a sports bra of mine wouldn't – but after some searching, I found some yoga panties that just might fit. I added wool socks, certain they would be big enough for her larger feet, and then grabbed a few things for myself.

With my arms full, I returned to the bathroom. I could hear the water still running through the door.

I softly knocked at the door.

"Taylor – I have got you a towel and some clothes which I think might fit you. Can I come in?" I asked.

There was no response – she might not have heard me above the running water.

Louder this time, I said, "Taylor!"

Again no response, and I started to worry. What was I even thinking about leaving a suicidal person alone? Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

I tried it again, this time I shouted her name, "Taylor!" and I received no response.

I pushed the door open and ran into the bath expecting the worst – to find Taylor dead, her having finally found a way to kill herself or trying it once more. I made only two steps inside when I saw her sitting in the bath fully clothed with water trickling down her body.

"Why didn't you answer?" I demanded to know. Taylor winced at hearing my harsh voice, which surprised even me. I regretted my outburst immediately.

The headache, the physical and emotional drain the worry were finally showing their effects. I couldn't explain my lashing out, losing composure this easily.

I took a deep breath, placed the clothes onto a clipboard, and said in a soft and tranquil voice.

"I'm so sorry ... I don't know why I did that. But when you didn't answer me. I feared the worst. So Taylor, please don't scare me like that ever again."

a weak, barely audible "sorry" escaped her mouth

"That wasn't meant as an accusation, sweety. I was worried about you." I tried to soothe her.

I freed my arms by placing the clothes and towels on a counter and moved closer to the waterlogged Taylor and sat upon the bathtub, and softly placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a light squeeze.

"Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why was I worried?" I tried to reaffirm.

She nodded in response.

"Because I care about you," I confessed.

"You do?" she asked, her gaze desperate, begging for a confirmation of my words.

"Of course I do," I said with more conviction in my voice, emphasizing the meaning behind my words.

She took a close look at me, scrutinizing every nook and cranny of my face. I didn't need my power to know, that she had to stop herself from reflexively calling me a liar and close up again.

Thinking to herself `who in their right mind would ever care about someone like her. I pulled her into a hug. It was awkward sitting at the height of her head, bending down to lay my arms around her, her wet clothing sticking uncomfortably to my skin and clothes. But at that moment, I couldn't care less.

She, I needed that.

When my rational mind started working again – I chided myself for my stupidity – of thinking that after I witnessed Taylor unsuccessfully trying to kill herself that she was somehow successful in killing herself in my bath when I wasn't looking.

The situation just seemed so familiar Rex not answering his door and me opening it... My memory, just overlapping with reality...

My breathing started to accelerate as I replayed that scene as a sudden squeeze returned me to the here and now, preventing me from having a panic attack. I slowly released my embrace of Taylor, and I saw a longing in her eyes – the same I felt – wishing for it to have lasted longer.

Beneath that once more, I saw the worry she felt for me... without a doubt, having noticed my distress.

And here I thought I was the one who set out to save her, not the other way around. I moved a wet lock of her dark hair clinging to her cheek aside and cupped it, and said to her gratefully,

"Thank you, Taylor," she leaned against my hand. Enjoying the soft touch of my hand against her skin.

I kept my hand on her cheek while gazing into her green eyes and the desire for it to last. She was starving for human contact, despite that she was unwilling – no unable to ask for it. All the while, her eyes begged for this moment to last.

I started to lose myself in her gaze, and with it, the tenuous grip I had on my power loosened.

Subject mental barriers have been fully penetrated – ready to receive new programming.

My power informed me unasked – Dread spread through my being, and without preamble, I withdrew my hand, ignoring the regret I could see in Taylor's face.

Goddammit, Lisa, I cursed myself – and did my best to soothe my alleviated breathing that the fear of what I nearly let myself get carried away from doing instilled in me.

I had her, Taylor - in the palm of my hands, all it would have taken would be just a few more words, a gentle touch here and there, and she would have been mine, irrevocably mine. To be formed in my image... I shuddered violently, and it wasn't because of the wet clothes and the water running down my body.

I would have loved nothing more than attribute this lack of judgment to my headache, exhausted mind, and body. But I couldn't. There was more at play here... It felt like I was ever so slightly pushed, directed for allowing the events to follow this `natural´ course.

Even just thinking this and my stomach started revolting. I pushed this physical symptom of the deep disgust I felt at myself down.

There were only two possible explanations for this either my subconscious had a different idea on how to handle this situation – which wasn't disconcerting in the slightest. Or what might be even more alarming that my power had a life of its own and was just so ever slightly influencing my behavior for me to use it in the way it was meant to be used.

Calm down, Lisa! – Calm down, I chanted over and over again.

Recognizing that there was a problem is half the solution to it. I now know what my power wants me to do. Therefore I just had to keep a close eye on what I was doing to nip the slightest stir in the bud before it could become a problem.

The funniest thing; the skull-splitting headache, I was tormented with for nearly this whole day, lessened just moments before Taylor fully handed herself over to me...

As if I was being rewarded for doing it, and now that I didn't it returned with a vengeance I didn't know was possible.

I really couldn't allow myself to slip up – especially when I couldn't trust my own power – definitely not around Taylor.

I winced as I moved my head from staring at the ground towards Taylor again. Good – the tangible tension that reigned between us was gone. Back, was Taylor's concern for me paired with another portion of self-doubt at what prompted my action. - withdrawing my hand – Cleary asking herself what she did wrong.

I hated myself a little more for having done this to her, even though I knew it was something I absolutely had to do, considering the alternative. I would come down to a balancing act – I needed to stay close to her in order to be able to help her regain what she had lost, but at the same time had to make sure that she wouldn't start to solely depend on me – going as far as that she would be inclined to give herself up to me or send her running into the waiting arms of people like Coil.

The consequences of that could be dire – not only Taylors and my life hangs in the balance but possibly the worlds... So no pressure, no pressure at all.

I got a grip on myself and said

"Let's get you out of those clothes," and motioned her to stand up. I had to bite my tongue to prevent my mouth to run off and make some inappropriate comment like didn't your mother teach you that.

She definitely would misunderstand my good-intended teasing as something completely different.

Even mentioning her late mother in even the most remote degrading fashion would not be a good idea.

"Lift your arms so we can get you out of them." She followed my instructions, and I helped peel the wet top clinging to her skin from her body and then helped her out of her skirt, underwear Parian provided her with.

During all that, I couldn't prevent getting a few glimpses of her body. This time not busy with distracting her from killing herself, I took conscious notice of her body, and I was surprised at seeing her toned mid-riff, and it is in top shape.

Which was quite the contradiction to everything I knew about her. It seemed really strange for her to invest time to keep herself fit with everything that was going on in her life.

I slightly winced when I opened the floodgates to my power just a tiny bit to get an answer to my unasked question of power-induced prime bodily condition. Only to clamp down on it immediately after. In order to keep it in check... my power has done more than enough for one day...

After we removed the last pieces of clothing from the Taylor. The now naked girl, at my prompting, sat down again in the bathtub. The warm water still pouring in from the faucet by no reached above her hip.

Taylor just sat and stared a hole in front of her resuming her apathetic behavior.

This wouldn't work – If I left her alone as I originally planned to do, she would just keep sitting there dead to the world, and my apartment would end up flooded with water. Not only would that deplete all the hot water in the process, and I myself wouldn't get out of my wet clothes, but she wouldn't move, much less clean herself.

"Taylor sweety," I softly said. "Can I hop in with you? – bathe with you together? I really need to get out of those clothes." to emphasize my statement with my right hand, I held onto the wet hem of my top.

It took her forever to come back from her stupor and process my words, only to nod. I didn't lose much time as I stripped out of my clothes. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Taylor trailed my every movement, eyeing my body.

If she were anybody else, I would have been sure she was checking me out, perving on me. Taylor, however, just watched, and knowing her, she would compare our bodies to each other. I was sure, that while doing so, she would come to see mine in the best light possible and at the same time would degrade her own; with all she was fed by those who bullied her, it wouldn't be a surprise.

In hindsight, it might not have been the greatest idea – to strip in front of her... but just sitting around her clothed while she took a bath felt wrong... like being a pervert, and it would have sent the false signal of me needing to watch over her.

I didn't want her to feel like a prisoner or that I owned or controlled her. After all, I wanted to be her friend, and friends wouldn't do such things.

I moved to the edge of the bathtub and lowered my right foot into it. After barely having made contact with the ground, I immediately withdrew it.

"Holy ... " I pressed out through clenched teeth. The part of my foot submerged aching, nearly having suffered burns. The steam rising from the water should have warned me.

"How can you stand sitting in that water ... It is burning hot," I asked her.

She just shrugged. Right – High-level Brute, amongst other things.

"If it is okay with you, I would like to decrease the temperature a little." I only received a nod as a response.

I hoped I could get her out of this self-imposed – I don't know what to call it – otherwise, the next few days would be depressing... only hearing myself talk trying to get through to her, to get her talk and interact with me.

I seated myself on the edge of the bathtub. This way, I could reach the faucet and turned the cold water on.

After around a minute of testing the temperature with my hand, it was low enough that I could stand it. It was still extremely warm, above what I would ordinarily think of as an enjoyable temperature, but no longer able to hurt my skin.

Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, I vaulted over my legs and slowly descended them into the water when I was sure I hadn't misjudged the temperature. I placed my hands behind me on the edge of the tub and slowly lowered my upper body into the water.

It took me a few moments to get used to and for my sore body to relax and enjoy the feeling of hot water surrounding it. A casual glance over my body confirmed my body was telling me. The left side I landed on to avoid the explosion was already bruising. In a few days, my hips, arm, and leg would be colored in all the shades of purple.

I rolled my shoulders and, with closed eyes, leaned back against the bathtub wall.

Those were the moments in which it paid to have an extra-large bathtub easily able to fit more than to people – it took forever to fill up. Nevertheless, it was worth it... having the space to lie down even with outstretched arms was just that enjoyable.

When I opened my eyes again, Taylor was staring at me in response, I smiled at her.

"That hit the spot, don't you think?" I wondered.

She gave no reaction. This was why I sat up straight and reached for her hands she had dangling into the water. With her fingers placed in the palm of my hands, I lifted them above the water and held them above waist level between us.

"Taylor, whatever it is that is bothering you... you can tell me – I won't judge or think lesser of you." I paused for a moment.

"I can see something is eating at you, and sometimes for it to get better, you have to talk about it. I'm not saying it has to be now... or tomorrow. But I'm here if you need me to listen to... I don't know... I'm here, okay sweety. I want to help you... despite the short time we have known each other you can trust me... I'm not like the others. I won't leave or betray you. I'm here to stay right by your side... I want to be your friend Taylor... okay"

I said to her, more rambling than actually knowing what I was doing – without my power to guide to help me read her cues. It was hard to tell if I was saying the right thing... getting closer to her or pushing her away. Either way, every word I said I meant, and I hoped I could convey it to her in a way she would believe me.

Taylor just kept staring at me. Suddenly without warning, her mask of indifference cracked, and she broke down in front of me. Overcome with emotions, Taylor started sobbing and crying uncontrollably, and I did the only thing that came to mind using her hands. I drew her closer and embraced her. She was surprised at me hugging her, which halted her emotional release for just a moment, only for it to continue more powerful, as she reciprocates my embrace.

"Oh sweety, everything will be alright... I'm here for you... Let it out... all of it" were just some of the things I said to Taylor, trying to soothe her while she kept crying on my shoulder. All the while, I caressed her hair as she held onto me for dear life. Not wanting to let me go...

I lost track of the time embraced this way to Taylor... at one point, I had to turn off the faucet to keep the bathtub from overflowing... the only way I knew time went by was because my arm I used to caress Taylor's hair started to ache, and for the water, we were submerged in to become colder.

My fingers and toes have been pruney for some time, them being in constant contact with water wasn't surprising. But the cooling water resulted in me getting goosebumps, and an involuntary shiver ran through my body. A bodily reaction that did not escape Taylor's notice.

She slowly left my embrace and moved a short distance away from my body in order to get a look at me. Her tear-stained red eyes widened, and she said, "your lips are blue."

I gave a small chuckle and pressed between my clattering teeth out.

"It's ... freezing ... cold" realization set in.

"Why didn't you say anything," she asked as she swiped some tears from her cheeks.

"Didn't... want... to... push... you... away. I... promised... a little... cold... water... is... not... enough... for... me... to... break it." I said with great effort. I just wanted to get out of this freezing water and wrap myself in a towel or a blanket.

My hand was in the middle of moving to the edge of the bath tube to lift me out of it when I saw it. A small smile played on her lips. It was gone in the blink of an eye so fast that I wondered if I imagined it. The cold spread throughout my limbs convinced me to bother with answering that question when I was warm again.

Just as I had barely lifted myself up, still crouching in the water, I heard,

"Stay," mumbled under Taylor's breath.

When I looked back, Taylor had her head lowered, her eyes hidden behind her curly dark hairs falling down. I was about to think I misheard her while I noticed the water moving around Taylor.

She formed dozen of small vortexes throughout the tube. They started to rotate faster and faster, the water grinding against itself, and within moments, steam emerged from them, and my lower half, still submerged in the water, felt an increasing warmth spreading throughout it.

With a grin, I allowed myself to fall back into to water and enjoyed the warmth slowly, dispelling the cold in my limbs.

"Thank you," I said, and then there was it again – a small smile hidden behind the curtain of hair.

I reached for her face and noticed her shrinking away from my sudden movement; I halted my hand. Cursing those responsible, even now, she couldn't bring herself to fully trust me to overcome the instincts ingrained into her by that bullying campaign she endured and asked: "May I?"

She gave a curt nod. I moved my hand closer and swept her hair to the side behind her ears, uncovering her face in the process.

"You have really nice hair," I complimented her. "I wish mine were only half as nice as yours – not cursed with split ends."

Another smile played on her lips at my words, this time, less reluctant. "But they are nothing compared to your smile," the words barely left my mouth as they died on her lips.

"You really shouldn't hide it – not from me, never from me," I said to her.

Her hand shot out, clutching around mine, which was still caressing the side of her head. She held onto it, keeping it right next to her face, her hair still within my grasp.

Her eyes fell on me - again with her penetrating gaze trying to figure out If I was lying. Returning her gaze, I started to wonder what was necessary for her to believe in my sincerity. As suddenly as she grabbed my hand, she released it from her soft grip.

"Sorry," she mumbled, turning her head away. "It is just..."

"I know, sweety, I know," I said and gave her a hug. "It is not your fault" you were just a victim. I released her a moment later, my hands laid on her shoulder as I repeated my words with more intensity, "It is not your fault, you hear."

I was content with the reluctant "yes" I received as an answer.

"Good," I said. The smile that I wanted to accompany my words was overwritten by me yawning, which I somehow managed to stifle with some effort. Another clear sign that we were here for quite some time. Before I had trouble keeping my eyes, open I thought it prudent to finish our bath.

"We probably should get out of here lest I might dissolve into nothingness," I said jokingly with a look at my pruney hand.

I grabbed the shampoo standing on a shelf right next to the tube. I opened the bottle and poured a good amount into my hands.

"Come on, turn around," I said to Taylor as I put the bottle back.

I was met with a puzzled expression.

"Don't tell... " – I stopped myself cold "Nevermind." reminding Taylor of her dead mother was not a good idea. Instead, I tried a different approach.

"I promise you won't regret it. You might even come to like it. Not that I have much experience with washing somebody else's hair. I mean, I had some dolls at one point. But as you probably know, yourself, their artificial hair doesn't respond well to shampoo and even worse to blow-drying them."

I took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm rambling. Would you like to give it a try?" Her thoughtful expression ended with a nod at my suggestion.

Taylor came to a stop sitting between my legs with her back to me. I used my free hand and dampened her hair.

When I deemed it sufficiently wet, my other hand joined in, palm-filled with shampoo. I massaged its contents into Taylor's hair and skin.

Her body was stiff at the beginning, unused to anybody touching her in a non-hurtful manner. It was a display of trust, allowing me out of her sight while I remained in touching range of her.

She even flinched once under my touch. I was sure it wasn't because I unwittingly pulled some of her hair. My money was on a resurging bad memory.

I didn't want to make use of my power to get confirmation. My headache has gotten slightly during the time spent in Taylor's embrace, which was still hammering my skull, and I couldn't be sure that should there be a repeat of my power pushing me towards a certain agenda that in my tired and exhausted state I would catch it in time.

From that incident, onwards she started to enjoy being caressed; her body was relaxed, and all the strain in her muscles. She lost her tenseness, her being wound tight like a spring ready to bolt at a moment's notice and melted away in my touch.

Her upper body even leaned closer and closer against me the longer it went on. She drifted off into a trance, a meditative state.

I would have loved nothing more than to indulge her for as long as she wanted to enjoy my ministrations. But I wasn't kidding when I said I felt like crap. The cramp from early in my arm returned with a vengeance. My body was sore all over. I was tired, exhausted, and nursed a headache, not to mention I was nearing the stage in which my skin would fall of my flesh moisturized as it was.

I removed my hands and reached for the showerhead. I barely lifted it away from Taylor's head when she tensed up.

I regretted my actions immediately and nearly lost my inner fight, a part of me insisting that I returned to caressing Taylor. The Reasons could fill a whole book - still, I kept firm in my decision.

Taylor's questioning gaze, as she reopened her bliss closed eyes, didn't change it either. Although, my resolve wavered for a moment as I nearly lost myself in her beautiful green eyes.

I checked the temperature of the water coming out of the showerhead and adjusted it slightly.

"Close your eyes and dip your head," Taylor followed my instructions.

"Exactly like that," I praised. I moved the shower head over her head and washed the shampoo out of her hair.

I took my time to make sure to rinse out the last remnant of it. When I was finished, I put the showerhead away and softly grabbed Taylor's hair with a practiced hand. Following this, I started to wring out her hair. Careful not to hurt Taylor.

When I was satisfied with the remaining moisture in her hair for the conditioner to stick to it and not runoff. Reaching for the conditioner, I took it upon myself to use it on Taylor's hair. This time I didn't invest as much time to massage it in.

My hands, doing a far better job than the tooth comb I usually used for my own hair ever could.

That didn't stop Taylor from reveling in my gentle touch.

After granting the conditioner a little over a minute to be absorbed, I reached for the showerhead. I noticed the second time around that she wasn't as tense, and it took barely any time for her to succumb to my touch. I guess this was the beginning of her trusting me, even on a subconscious level.

With great care, I made sure to flush her hair clean of any conditioner of shampoo residue.

"Good - Now stand up so I can wash your body," I said

Taylor did as asked and stood up from her sitting position, and I hosed her body. "Slowly rotate ... good."

"On the counter is a towel you can use to dry yourself right next to your clothes. I'll be with you shortly."

With the showerhead, I wet my hair and then shampooed it.

I didn't invest much time in washing my hair. I just wanted to get it over and done with and get to bed. So after I rinsed out my hair, I didn't bother with a conditioner and stepped out of the tube.

A cursory glance showed me that Taylor was just standing there observing me as I walked the few steps to reach the towel, leaving a wet trail behind on the floor behind. My hand never made contact with the towel. A soft grip around my wrist stopped me a few inches short.

I didn't even notice Taylor closing the distance between us. As I looked at her, doing my best to ignore the fact that she was still nude, drops of water trickling down her hair and body, focusing my gaze on her face.

She softly shook her head and released her grip on my wrist. I was still left wondering about her actions when I saw how every drop of water on her body just floated a few inches away from her skin; the same happened to the water in her hair.

Right – I was far too tired. There was no other explanation for me, to not have thought of that before.

When she exerted her power over the water clinging to my body and the droplets simultaneously lifted themselves from it, an involuntary shudder ran throughout my body.

It was the strangest sensation I have ever felt, like a warm delicate spider web, being lifted from it. The sudden loss of the warm water on my skin allowed the cold air direct access to it, and my body responded with a shudder. It felt weird, contradicting even unpleasant because of the sudden cold but enjoyable as the soft embrace of the water was lifted, both sensations hitting me at the same time.

My hand went up to touch my hair, it felt completely dry, and the best thing there was no strain put on it as it happens with rubbing or blow-drying.

Taylor had all the drops converge into a floating ball of water, including the trails we both left on the floor, and then just directed it over the tube and slowly lowered it into it.

That was a highly efficient way to clean a bath If I might say so -

"Your power is really handy, you know right," I said with a smile.

She swiftly turned around and sorted through the clothes I had brought her but wasn't fast enough that her blushing escaped my notice.

That was new -

Piercing pain in my head stopped me from pondering that thought. It really was time to get some shut-eye. I put on the undergarments and the pajama I brought for myself.

When I was done and turned around to face Taylor, I was surprised to see that the make-shift clothes fit her better than I assumed. Sure it wasn't perfect, but the inch or so her pants were too short, and the elastic band is a tad bit too loose could be overlooked.

She was in danger to lose them, and they didn't look outlandish. The same was true for the t-shirt with the sleeves a tad bit too short.

The color scheme, this black and scarlet pattern, matched her dark hair and green eyes. Something to keep in mind...

Barefooted enjoying the pleasantness of underfloor heating – one of the reasons this apartment cost this much – I guided Taylor holding her hand into my living room.

We stopped in front of my extendable sofa. A few practiced handholds after I released Taylor's hand had me transform it into a bed.

"Just a moment" with those words, I excused myself and went to my bedroom. Out of my closet, I took some warm and soft cotton blankets and pillows and returned to her arms full of the spoils of my raid.

I placed it on the sofa. "Here, this is for you. I know it is not much certainly doesn't replace a bed... but it is far more comfortable than it looks. I know... half the time I actually fall asleep on it." I joked. "This is only a transitional measure. In a few days, we can get you your very own bed... so bear with me."

At that point, I looked at her and asked, "Is there anything else you need? Hungry? Anything?" she just shook her head. "Okay, you have a bed. I showed you the toilet... food what little I have is in the kitchen back there... if there is anything you need, let me know. I'm sleeping in that room over there. Don't hesitate to wake me okay, sweety."

"Yes," she softly whispered. I closely looked at her, giving it my best without using my power in an attempt to judge the truthfulness of her statement. When I convinced myself of it.

"Okay," I said, "then sleep tight and have a nice dream, Taylor." I gave her a short hug and then went to my room.

I walked to the foot end of the bed and plopped down into my soft sheets. I crawled to the headrest, tangling myself up in my blanket, and put my head on my pillow. Exhausted and nestled into my bed, I waited for the sleep to overwhelm me.

But for some reason, it wouldn't come, my mind despite my headache to active unwilling to let go drifting back to the girl next door.

No matter how often I changed position and had my water-filled bed accommodate my new position; sleep kept eluding me.

A shadow cast from the door, blocking the light from the streetlamps outside the living room window, had me look at its source.

Standing there in between the doorframe of the half-opened door stood Taylor.

Her right hand massaging her left biceps head inclined slightly to the side. All her insecurities and indecisiveness were put on clear display for anybody who bothered to look at her.

She had stopped at the threshold of my room, despite my words to come to me should she need anything, she didn't dare to... afraid to overstep some perceived bounds. She was unwilling to risk the relationship we had on a whim.

I sat up. "Taylor, sweety, everything alright?" I asked. It only made her nervous fidgeting worse. "Can't sleep?"

"Yes," she mumbled under her breath.

"That makes two of us then. Come on, hop in." I lifted my blanket and tapped my water-filled mattress.

"Can I really?" she wondered.

"Of course, sweety. Hurry up the entire warmth is going away."

With a slight spring in her step, Taylor climbed into my bed under my blanket. I tugged her in right next to me, my hands around her midsection, and snuggled up to her back.

I smelled the strawberry scent from the conditioner clinging on to her and felt the pleasant warmth her body emitted, like my personal hot water bag.

In her ears, I whispered. "Good night Taylor, nice dreams." as sleep finally took me in its embrace.

Last edited: Jun 15, 2021

251

Time Paradox

Jun 13, 2021

View discussion

Threadmarks Chapter 08 - Intermezzo

View content

Time Paradox

Time Paradox

He/Him

Jun 20, 2021

#510

This chapter was edited by nags and AcidaliaPlanitia.

Special thanks to peterdinkelie for poking holes in it.

Chapter 08 - Intermezzo

In one timeline, I reached my upper-middle-class house in the better residential parts of Downtown, near Shantytown. I had consciously chosen that location to be far away from the contested area where Downtown bordered upon the Docks.

I had no intention of being collateral in some border dispute between the E88 and the ABB.

I stepped out of the car and made my way to the door, typed in an eight-digit security code, and the scan of my retina granted me access. I had invested no small amount of money and had the best non-Tinker-tech security system installed. Bulletproof glass, a panic room, and a heavily armed security detail of my men hidden in a house a minute away were all measures put in place to protect my life.

I walked through the living room right to the small cabinet in the corner, filled with glasses for the various beverages found within. I took out a whiskey glass and filled it halfway with a Bowmore 1957, and placed two ice cubes from a small ice machine inside.

My power had its uses, aside from the obvious – being able to regularly open and taste a whiskey of which only existed twelve bottles worldwide without diminishing its worth was something I immensely enjoyed. This particular brand, allowed to mature for forty-three-years,was just the right beverage to celebrate this very day.

I opened the two buttons of my custom-tailored suit-jacket and loosened my tie with the glass in hand, seated myself on my expensive leather couch, and placed my feet on top of the small table right next to it. A smirk on my face, I took a small sip from the delicious liquid in my glass. Welcoming the familiar burning sensation traveling down my throat, accompanied by the unique taste. Ready to enjoy what was about to occur in my other timeline.

…Where I was seated around a conference table, along with Miss Militia. Deputy Director Renick was still overseeing and directing Parahuman relief efforts for those parts of the town that had actually suffered any damage. The rest of the Protectorate was either on the Rig, helping if their powers permitted, or at home, with only Ms. Militia and Armsmaster on standby.

This was usually a more than sufficient measure, keeping around twenty percent of the Protectorate capes at hand. After all, the parahuman crime rate – aside from very special circumstances – drops to near zero in the direct aftermath of an Endbringer attack, and usually requires about a week to climb back up to previous levels.

Villains and heroes alike were getting used to the new situations they find themselves in, usually reduced strength across the board. It was the rare exception to the rule for a team or organization of an attacked city to be at full strength afterward. Furthermore, it was an often-observed occurrence for one or more resident gang or even the Protectorate to crumble or be extinguished, changing the playing field in its entirety.

Something that didn't happen this time around. None of the participating gangs – the Empire, the Undersiders, the Travelers – suffered any losses. Last I had known, Manpower of New Wave had been bisected, with only a timely intervention of Panacea saving his life, and a suspected prolonged hospital stay until his lower extremities could be regrown.

Meanwhile, the local Protectorate lost Dauntless and Velocity, both heavy losses. Dauntless had been the only flyer in their rooster, with a power that allowed for seemingly gradual but unlimited growth, and Velocity, their speedster. Among other things, this meant that their fast-response and force projection capabilities were greatly diminished. As a result, it would be more difficult for them to react to any fast raids.

On one hand, it was a reason to celebrate because this would make the Protectorate far less of a threat, especially against my Undersiders – the ways I could leverage this new advantage were near endless. Yet, I had to curb my enthusiasm a bit; it was a fine line I had to walk. In case the Undersiders become too much of a problem… there might be transfers in the future to combat their synergy.

On the other hand, it meant that when I finally took over the PRT and got the Protectorate under my thumb, there would be two fewer capes. Especially Dauntless; if the thinker projection of what he might be capable of in the future held some truth, it was a heavy loss.

In total, with the Wards losing Galant, the government-sponsored Heroes had suffered the most. A loss that turned out to be vital in achieving my goal of recruiting young Ms. Hebert. In retrospect, I couldn't believe my luck; if not for Gallant's absence, I did not doubt for a second that they immediately would have picked up on the precarious state she was in and tried their hardest to alleviate her suicidal tendencies. That would have confounded my plan before it could even be hatched.

Gallant's death was something that would have had to happen at some point. It was inevitable: an empath, no matter how weak, was just too great of a threat to keep around. At least getting rid of him this way spared me the trouble of doing it myself later on.

Truly, the loss of Dauntless and Velocity also played another not-insignificant role: with them still alive, the chances of young Ms. Hebert successfully slipping away from the Protectorate would have been slim, and the chances for the Undersiders to find her before the Protectorate, even slimmer.

While we waited for Armsmaster and the Director's arrival, I mentally recounted the various stages of my plan, double and triple-checking if there were any loose ends I had to tie up. Nothing came to mind.

I recalled the moment this all started. It was a seemingly normal day that began with me consulting my newest acquisition and asking her my two standard questions of the day:

What is the probability of any problems at this location in the next hour?

What is the probability of any problems at this location before noon?

The answer to the first question was 7.92%. It was an insignificantly higher number than yesterday, which was to be expected. The town was more of a powder keg now than ever. Among other things included in this were fluctuations based on the weekday and the activities of the gangs, which, as I had learned in the last few days, could result in a change of the numbers within a 5% margin. My second question also received an increased probability of 9.21%, which couldn't be helped.

The Undersiders stirring up trouble in the past weeks didn't help to relax the situation, especially them daring enough to poke the Dragon. I knew that it was risky to use the Undersiders in such a fashion; they were valuable assets, especially Tattletale, and I invested a considerable amount of time and money into them. Losing them was not a scenario I would condone lightly.

Nevertheless, I needed Lung off the board. The other gangs I could deal with - in time. Subversion, murder, and leaking their identities were just some of the options open to me, which would work well enough against most, chiefly among the Empire. It was a fragile organization; Kaiser's leadership was more important to them than even they realized.

The chances for the Empire to splinter up into smaller, weaker factions in the event of his demise was considerable. Depending on the exact happenstance, easily in the 90% range. The problem was Lung. If he remained in the Bay when it happened, such an event would lead to him taking over the Bay with over a 75% chance...

Yet all my attempts to remove him thus far either utterly failed or were pyrrhic victories. In most cases, it meant losing the Undersiders and other assets in the process, or it kickstarted unpleasant things. Things I couldn't see my organization getting back from easily, if at all, with the Vultures circling the city.

Those bad scenarios only got worse with Lung's recruitment of Bakuda and her arrival in the city. It was difficult before to get Lung out in the open to get a shot at him - with her here, it became near impossible.

This was one of the many reasons I needed another team, one with more firepower, enough to be able to put down Lung if the need should arise. The Travelers, on paper, seemed to be precisely that. The warnings of Accord that they were unstable and close to self-destruction would have been taken more seriously by me in any other instance; I would have reconsidered hiring them, but under the current circumstances... the city was approaching a breaking point, I couldn't be picky.

After all, it was so much harder to remove the sole gang of a city when they managed to consolidate their hold over it than it was to remove several factions warring over it. Regrettably, it was the natural order of things and would happen in either case, no matter who won, the Empire or the ABB. Should that happen without the other one weakened substantially, not only would I be unable to remove them, they might turn their attention my way. So far, I wasn't worth the hassle of taking a chunk of the city away from, and neither had a real interest in it. With their perceived main opposition in achieving absolute control over the city gone, this would undoubtedly change.

For all those reasons, I couldn't not hire the Travelers. A team with their power falling into my lap… I just had to be a little bit more vigilant around them. It also didn't hurt that the Travelers had their own proto-Endbringer in their team. And so, a promise of healing swiftly made secured me their allegiance. Should my suspicions of there being no way to heal her be true – the numbers my pet provided me with gave me just a sliver of hope – I was sure that I could string them along for some time. It only needed to be long enough to get control of the city. Especially if I could get them to believe that being in charge of the city was a requirement for getting her the healing she needed. Perhaps a higher security clearance that would grant me, or the more assets this would allow me control over, with less of my forces bound otherwise.

Even so, when they have outlived their usefulness, taking the Travelers out would just be another step to solidifying my hold on the city. Noelle in particular – a manufactured S class event with the means already in place to smother her would go a long way to firmly establish my position.

Then there was the Empire stirring. It was only a matter of time before they retaliated against the ABB for the loss of Alabaster. I suspected the time for them to take action was getting closer, with them possibly just waiting for the right opportunity to do so; the 2% increase of something "bad" happening was likely owed to that. No need to waste a question on my little pet if I had no real need for confirmation at this stage.

Truthfully, I valued the constant access to her answers of higher importance than eliminating all dangers. I knew that to be impossible; there was always the chance of something going wrong.

Therefore I didn't invest more questions to find out the exact cause, but went back to my work. There was a promising lead on Bakuda's laboratory I wanted to follow up on in a throw-away timeline. Given that what I have seen her build in one or two experimental timelines was nothing short of incredible, the possible increase in their ability to fight against capes if my professional mercenaries could have access to that arsenal was mind-boggling. Moreover, she would bring a final solution for the Lung problem to the table if I could convince her to work for me. My Tattletale would once again prove her worth in gold by accomplishing that.

I noticed my mind was straying – it had been a long day after all – but I had to refocus on the matter at hand. I couldn't allow myself to become too drunken in this victory... if I overlooked something, this moment could be the start of my defeat. I had all the right pieces but hadn't the time to consolidate them all in a way it would be needed to be truly safe.

I remembered as the Endbringer sirens sounded – I lost no time and went back to my pet. By burning through another series of questions, it became clear that she couldn't see or predict the Endbringer directly. Instead, she was able to see around the effects of what would happen.

The numbers she gave me had me doubting her power and made me consider that she might be able to lie to me after all. Yet, she offered a 70% chance that neither my operations nor the city, in general, would suffer any devastating damage that would have forced me to reconsider or abandon the city.

In the moment, I couldn't believe those numbers, nor come up with any plausible scenario in which they might become a reality. My surprise knew no bounds when it was reported that Leviathan was killed; by a teenager no less. I certainly wouldn't be the only one to think that, if such a feat was possible, at all, it would be a team-effort of various capes; that if a small group or person would be responsible, that it would be the Triumvirate, Eidolon specifically having found a power in his arsenal able to deal with them.

But a teenager…well, at least it would explain those other roughly 30% percent of that event – Leviathan dying not coming to pass or at a time when half the city was already sunk.

If that wouldn't have been strange enough, reports were slowly trickling in telling us that the person believed to have been the one responsible had help by another teenager, and that Alexandria thought the other teenager, a lone girl, to be responsible and the only reason they even had gotten that much information had to do with the fact that the teenaged boy had an injured leg and therefore couldn't flee the scene like the girl apparently did.

I barely took notice of the reports as Kaiser claimed the male teenager as his and his transparent attempt at garnering good publicity, fully trusting Alexandria's verdict. In case she was incorrect, everything wouldn't be lost – with all the Empire cape Identities known to me, an opportunity would present itself, or would be orchestrated.

There was quite some speculation at that point as to why one of the people responsible would flee the scene having done what was commonly believed to be impossible... why not earn the fruits of that labor?

I had some theories myself, but my main focus, after the threat was over in both timelines, was to get to the bottom of things. Which was why I closed the timeline where I was hunkered down in my base, safe behind inches of reinforced steel in one of the highest-rated Endbringer shelters on the continent, and split the timeline again at my current location, the PRT headquarters.

As luck had it, it had become the gathering point for the defenders, after contradictory reports circulated with the capes. Most made their way there to get the truth... my Tattletale one of them, and it was her services I was in dire need of if I wanted to get on top of things. I needed to figure out what happened and determine in what way that unknown cape might be a threat to my operations, or if she could be turned into an asset. In which case, I needed to do so without delay before somebody else got to her, the Protectorate the most likely the contender I needed to beware of.

In one timeline, I approached Tattletale in my role as PRT commander and asked for her help in the name of the PRT. I brought her to a vacant meeting room and granted her high-level access to the data-stream that came in via the PRT and Protectorate to hopefully get her to provide me with some useful intel so that I could get a leg up.

In my other timeline, I called Tattletale and ordered her to stay put, hinting that her services might be needed – which they might in case the Tattletale in my other timeline would tap out from overuse of her power. This happened faster than anticipated, since she had strained her power during the short clash of the defending capes with Leviathan, trying to find out his secrets.

Working off the intel Dragon provided, Tattletale managed to find out the identity of the mystery cape before the Protectorate could do the same. One Taylor Hebert.

This presented me with the opportunity to reroute some of my men to her home. I did so in both of my timelines. I had to be fast because I knew the head start Tattletale managed to provide us with would wane with every minute that passed.

Unfortunately, the PRT also figured out her identity shortly after us, thanks to Dragon. To my misfortune, a PRT van was in the vicinity surveying the damage the city suffered. By the time my men got there, the PRT was already parked outside her house waiting for orders. Yet, not everything was lost.

I redirected my attempts – the girl was, after all, a minor – to her parents; well, parent, according to Tattletale, the girl's mother having died a few years prior in a car accident. It would just be a matter of hours days at most before a recruitment attempt by the Protectorate would be made.

I needed to be present, even if only by proxy, to influence the proceedings. If there was the slightest chance to foil their attempt and drive her into my grasp, I had to take it. That was the reason I sent PRT men on my payroll to the shelter her father, according to the evacuation plans, should be within. To get them to make the first contact. It would mean a chance to ever so subtly influence her father... just getting him to reconsider a Ward membership for his daughter would give me options.

In the worst-case, getting rid of Emily via drastic measures became something to consider given the potential problem she might pose...

That was when it all seemingly started to go wrong. Armsmaster arrived at the Heberts' residence, and going against protocol, made contact with her. At a time when barely anything was known about her.

In my imagination, I had already seen her joining the Wards and, by doing so, ended up backing me into a corner.

My first instinct was to take out the Director. Yet, I held back on that nuclear option for now. Instead, I decided to gather more information. Killing her anywhere near Alexandria didn't seem to be compelling... I had no intention to test if I would be able to outwit her if need be.

Via my high-rank access, I had a fresh Tattletale watch the proceedings of her interview with her. To say it was interesting would be an understatement. It took Tattletale one glance to know she was suicidal, and with some prompting, the usual threats and measured violence, I managed to convince Tattletale to tell me the rest.

It was no wonder they messed up this hard.

According to Tattletale, Alexandria's Thinker power was a combination of eidetic memory, increased intelligence, and faster perception and thinking – meaning she was solely dependent on cold reading her opposition... which her power was perfectly suited for.

Unfortunately for her, young Taylor either possessed a Thinker power of her own that somehow allowed her, to a certain degree, to subconsciously channel her emotions, or she had a blunted emotional range that made it hard to properly get a read on her.

A fact that explained how Alexandria was unwittingly responsible for Armsmaster putting his foot in his mouth more than once, pushing the girl's buttons, getting her to retreat in herself. Driving her further away from joining the Protectorate than I could have hoped for.

There was just one little hick-up. The girl loved her father. Despite his obvious failings as a parent. He was a clear obstacle in my plans. The sole remaining figure she had a measure of trust in, preventing her from being truly vulnerable to manipulation. Tattletale said as much before I needed to replace that version of her with a new one. I got confirmation from my pet that it was indeed possible to sour her relationship with the PRT even further, getting a realistic shot at her.

But for that to happen, I needed Tattletale's help – 79% chance instead of 15%. According to my pet, not recruiting her would result in problems for me down the line with a 97% probability. As a result, I wasn't left with much of a choice. But for it to work, I somehow had to isolate her even further. Subsequently, it became much more important to get my hands on her father in order to prep him. I needed to instigate a falling out no matter what.

The shelter, near the docks, was finally opened. Following regulations, because the danger had to have passed for some time, my employees made contact with Daniel Hebert, Head of Hiring of the DWU, in both timelines.

In one timeline, I ordered my people to approach him and take the scenic route as long as possible to return home.

In the other, a freshly replaced Tattletale directing my men started working over Mr. Hebert, metaphorically speaking.

It took me three attempts – the maximum number possible I could get out of the drive without it being too suspicious. There are only so many detours because of suspecting traffic jams, destroyed streets, and stops to get gas to be believable.

As it turned out, the problem wasn't Mr. Hebert but Tattletale. The instant she realized what I was trying to do as I prepped him – a task that required granting Tattletale access to my previous sessions with her and all the information she gleaned of the Hebert girl – she tried to sabotage my attempts.

The first time, the things she had my agents say to the Hebert girl in their home got them killed on the spot.

The second time wasn't much better – just that in the alteration her father died, I heard the Tsunami warning in the distance when that timeline was forcibly shut.

In my last attempt, I invested a considerable amount of time and discussed the situation with Tattletale – I made it abundantly clear to her what would happen if she didn't live up to my expectations. That finally got me the desired result. The truth of the matter was that without her prior attempts at screwing me over, I might have missed her one try to do the same in the last one... It always gave me a feeling of accomplishment when Tattletale managed to screw herself in another timeline without her knowing it ever happened.

It was always a fight to get her to use her powers in this way. For some strange, unexplainable reason, she was more defiant than usual. I made a mental note that it might be useful to find out what she found more objectionable in this case than in the others.

I would have asked her if time constraints hadn't required that I committed both timelines for the final attempt. Usually not a risk I would take; if not for my pet assuring me that it was possible in the first place and me not being forced to, I wouldn't. I couldn't allow for somebody as powerful as that girl to not be under my control. Not after I already invested so much in the Travelers, in order to have more firepower than anybody else in the city. To my great relief, I was able to recreate the outcome with Tattletale none the wiser. I discarded the timeline with Tattletale bleeding out on the ground at my feet and kept the one where I had sent her back home a few minutes prior.

I immediately called my base and had Mr. Pitter relay my questions to my pet. After all the trouble I went through, I couldn't allow the girl to slip through my fingers. I needed to know exactly where Ms. Hebert ended up after running away. By doing so, not only was I forced to burn through the last question for the day but had to strain my pet. She barely managed to answer my last question that narrowed it down before losing consciousness. Mr. Pitter had to put her in an artificial coma to prevent any lasting damage - He estimated that it would take two weeks before it could be risked to wake her again.

Losing access to her even for just a day was a high price to pay, nevertheless it was a necessary one. That much the numbers made clear. The girl not under my thumb would be instrumental to end my operations within the month. Not a risk I could take, so I sent the Undersiders to recruit her in both timelines. Even with my help, the remaining search area was considerable. It didn't help that the Heroes searching for her too, turning this into a race. But it would increase my chances to find her first tremendously.

After all, the girl seemed to play with Tattletale's heartstrings. I was convinced she would get it done.

I didn't expect in the timeline the Undersiders were faster for them to get into a scuffle with Alexandria, but I couldn't argue the results. I just had to make sure to minimize the fallout of it in the coming meeting. Which shouldn't be too hard, given how easy it was to manipulate Emily.

Should the worst happen, and the Undersiders become unsalvagable as assets afterwards, I just needed to use one of my contingencies plans with a few adjustments, it should still get me the services of young Ms. Hebert.

The only thing that I needed to do at that point was to make sure that my two employees couldn't be questioned. Which was inevitable going to happen after the clusterfuck with her father. This was probably the easiest part. An ambulance, which arrived on the scene to take care of the `injured´ took them. Unfortunately for them, instead of bringing them to the hospital, or extracting them to safety like I made them believe I would, they made the acquaintance of the fish in the Bay.

I usually prefer less drastic measures to handle loose ends, but with the national and international scrutiny of those events, just paying them off and getting them out of the city wouldn't be nearly enough. One of the thinkers looking into this would find them, and from there, it was only a matter of time until they spilled my secrets, either through bribes or other more unsavory means. I couldn't risk it, no matter how difficult it was nowadays to get competent personnel.

When Armsmaster finally did arrive, Emily Piggot, the Director of the PRT ENE branch, entered in his wake. I could smell the sea-water still clinging to his armor as he rounded the table, walking behind me to his seat. He remained standing with a large monitor at his back. Emily gave me a cursory glance before she seated her obese ass.

"What are you doing here Commander Calvert?" she asked with a scowl.

"According to the PRT handbook, during an S-class crisis, every reservist is required to return to active service," I simply stated to her growing irritation.

"I'm aware of the regulations," she gruffly replied "I want to know what you are doing here, in this room?"

"As the currently highest ranking PRT officer after you and Deputy Director Renick, I thought it important to be up to date with the current events and give my advice if asked."

She grunted, "I see, you can stay." What she didn't say out loud, because her eyes said enough, was 'as if I would ever ask you for advice.' I must be grating for her to have to deal with.

I smiled at her as I said "Thank you, Emily," which sent her teeth gnashing. Inwardly I beamed, enjoying the fact that so little was necessary to drive the woman sitting in my seat, filling the position that should be mine, up the walls.

"Alexandria?" Ms. Militia asked, directed towards Armsmaster.

"Won't attend this meeting. After she regained consciousness on-site, we followed protocol. She was brought to a check-up in the Med Bay on the Rig and was still there when I left. The attending doctor was certain that she would make a full recovery."

With that out of the way, Emily demanded, "Report."

"After we located the origin of the shockwave, Alexandria and I made our way there. Given the close proximity and the possible time sensitivity, we departed immediately from the Rig. We would have preferred to do so with a greater number but with the unfortunate lack of flying capes at hand and the fact that most out of town Heroes had already left, we were left with little choice," Armsmaster recited in his monotone voice. If not for my interest in what he had to say, this would be the moment I might have yawned.

So far, I hadn't received a full report from Tattletale, only a short message stating that the mission was a success and they suffered no losses.

"When we arrived at the scene, to what I can only conclude was a failed attempt at suicide by the tentative named cape Tiamat, we discovered she wasn't alone. All six known members of the Undersiders were there, surrounding Tiamat in a loose formation. We gathered that Tattletale, kneeling in front of Tiamat, was engaged in a conversation with her."

Behind him on the monitor, he displayed camera footage of their approach in conjunction with his report. "According to the behavioral pattern the Undersiders displayed prior to that incident, their first instinctual response is to flee."

"They have a reputation as getaway specialists." Miss Militia chimed in.

"Exactly," Armsmaster agreed "the only known instance where they engaged other Parahumans was during the robbery of Brockton Bay Central Bank, and in that situation, the Wards gave them little choice. They needed to spring the cordon open and knew that without doing so quickly, the noose was being closed around their necks. Vista and Clockblocker's power, in particular, made it the best tactical choice to take them out before attempting to flee."

"So you concluded they would act the same in that instance," Emily stated.

"Yes," Armsmaster confirmed, "we threatened them to put pressure on and left them with a clear path to flee. We were only two against six, one flyer. They should have had no trouble to run interference long enough to get away."

Mulling over what I had seen and was told, I asked, "Didn't taking out Grue counteract that plan?"

"Not exactly," Armsmaster said. "We assumed, given their initial reluctance to flee, that it might be the push needed. Furthermore, he left us with no choice, he used his power, and since we set out with the distinct goal to not allow them the recruitment of Tiamat, we had to stop him from spreading his darkness, as it would have allowed them to take her with them and escape without us being able to prevent it. If not for Tiamat's interference we would have prioritized securing her - with their greater numbers and us defending Tiamat they should have had no trouble to escape. In the event that we overestimated their capabilities, there was a distinct chance that we could have apprehended them all."

"I see," Emily said, accepting his reasoning, "then what about Tattletale?"

"Tattletale has been classified as a thinker seven, with unknown specifics," Armsmaster droned on. "As a result, we couldn't rule out she was a social Thinker of some kind. In order to test that theory, Alexandria faked her behavior and observed Tattletale's reactions to that. Which allowed us to conclude that she had at least a partial social component to her power. The risk such a Thinker posed for the, as we assumed, fragile state of Tiamat's mind was one we couldn't take. It was our mistake; since Tiamat seemed to be in a dissociated state, we now believe that the manipulation we feared Tattletale might be capable of had already occurred."

He gestured to the stilled frame behind him. It showed Alexandria stopped cold from taking out Tattletale. "As you can see, Tiamat possesses incredible bodily capabilities. According to Alexandria, Tiamat was able to overpower her while using her full strength and did so without displaying any visible strain. Furthermore, she took a direct hit by Alexandria, which didn't cause her to flinch. Due to this, she is at least a Brute nine, if not higher. Considering the way she moved also indicates a considerable mover-rating. That shouldn't be surprising, given where her power seems to stem from. If it is on the same level as Leviathans is yet to be determined. So far, all data points to the fact that Tiamat holds all the powers of the late Leviathan."

"So you are saying we have an unstable kid with the power of an Endbringer running around in our city." Emily succinctly summarized.

"Unfortunately, that's not all," Armsmaster reluctantly said.

"Don't keep me in suspense – spit it out!" Emily demanded. She was clearly in no mood for games.

The picture behind him changed slightly. There was still Tiamat, holding onto a struggling Alexandria, but that wasn't what he wanted to show us. A red rectangle appeared around Tiamat's feet and zoomed-in onto them.

It took me a moment to comprehend what I was seeing. Around Tiamat's feet was a thin layer of water.

"After Alexandria's attempts at breaking free from Tiamat's grip were unsuccessful, she tried to fly away – lift Tiamat from the ground, get her to an elevation where she could be deprived of easy to access water to disarm her of her greatest weapon. But as we can clearly see," Armmaster said, pointing at the water, "she didn't allow that to happen."

The implications were not lost on us, and frankly, they were frightening. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Miss Militia's face contorting in understanding.

"I don't understand," Emily said, hinting at why she was unsuited for her position. "What is so novel about this? She controls water; what of it? Leviathan did the same."

"It is not the water that concerns us but the fine control she has over it. Leviathan was considered a macro-hydrokinetic. He didn't show any hints at being capable of such finesse when exerting the power of water. He had his water-echo, and we have numerous records of him using water as a projectile. But those were usually done on a large scale, with great force. He never used his control over water to hold an object; to use water to surround someone with it and drown them. Frankly speaking, we thought him unable to do so. Only able to move big bodies of water. But after witnessing this, there is a chance that he could do it all along but chose not to. Our best guess, at this time, is that he didn't have the mental capabilities, and since his tested and proven method of wanton destruction sufficed in reaching his goals, he never refined his approach. The alternative ..."

" - is too scary to consider," Emily interrupted Armsmaster's explanation. It might be just light, but I could have sworn she grew paler, listening to him.

"Tiamat, on the other hand - " he started again, only for Emily to end his sentence for him.

" - has a human mind."

I shuddered at that thought, and it now seemed even Emily became aware of what Armsmaster was trying to allude to, while doing his best not to have to voice it.

"What does that mean for her power rating? Since it seems you want to base her's on Leviathans." Piggot asked unconcerned, as if the last minute didn't happen. Seemingly not sharing our apprehension.

"For now, to err on the side of caution I would give her the same Brute and Mover rating, but I would increase her Blaster and Shaker rating by at least two points and possibly add a not unsubstantial master rating and possibly Thinker rating," Armsmaster answered.

"A master and Thinker rating? Why?" Emily wondered, and I had to agree with her sentiment.

Armsmaster proceeded to share his thoughts on the matter with everyone present. "It is just speculation at this point, but she did most of what we see here without even looking at the water around her. She didn't hurt herself or anybody else without explicitly aiming for it. For her to possess such a degree of control over water after having this power for mere hours should not be possible. I have trained with a few Shakers throughout my career and what they all have in common is a hard time using their power in a delicate manner, to only exert the force needed in the specific area aimed at in the task. They described it to me as controlling a limb that could no longer feel. Most take years to get anywhere close to the control she showcased just in this short encounter. The only reasonable explanation left – if we don't want to assume Tiamat has had this power for years – is that she receives some kind of feedback from the water under her control, and this is where it gets scary: if she has the same range as Leviathan while being able to feel or somehow sense through water in addition to controlling it…"

"I see," Emily said, furrowing brows a sign of her growing apprehension.

"Then there is the Trump rating." Armsmaster continued. "According to our current hypothesis, she either copied or stole Leviathan's power. Aside from that, we know nothing – is it temporary? Can she steal or copy more than one power; can she hold onto more than one? What are the requirements for her power to take effect? After all, we know it could be just a special case of power interaction. Previous reports from Endbringer fights clearly indicate that nearly all power-affecting trump powers had no effect directly on the Endbringer or their powers."

Funeral silence followed this tidbit of information, while the people present considered his words. Nobody really dared to say it, but I was sure everyone thought the same. If she was a trump able to affect an Endbringer, she might be the one person who could end the other two in existence.

Back home in my laid back in my armchair, I was smiling with my whole face. This day got better and better.

The next one to raise her voice was Piggot, changing the topic. "You still haven't explained the reason you brought her in. And why you refused to do so this afternoon."

"Williams -" Armsmaster started.

"Who?" Piggot narrowed her eyes at Armsmaster.

"Sergeant Peter Williams." Armsmaster clarified. "He was part of the four-man squad you sent to the Hebert residence as a precautionary measure, to keep an eye on her until we could be sure about the girl's involvement and had more information about her and her family, to increase the likelihood of recruitment."

Irritated, Piggot angrily said, "I know why I sent them there. What does that have to do with your actions?"

Instead of giving Piggot a straight answer, he deflected. "You remember the bank heist a few weeks back from the Undersiders?"

"I do," Piggot said and added, "not the greatest accomplishments of our Wards." Switching to a sharper tone, she wanted to know, "Is there a point to this?"

"Momentarily," Armsmaster appeased. "After the Undersiders robbed Brockton Bay central bank, at the exact same time the Protectorate was absent, I became suspicious. This amount of luck, to choose the one time in the last year where none of us was available to respond,seemed more than just lucky. I then proceeded to do a thorough check on all the jobs the Undersiders as a group did in the city, along with jobs that they presumably did. That was when I ran across a distinctive pattern: of their jobs taking place away from current PRT and Protectorate patrol routes and personnel. Despite the suspicions of what Tattletale's power might be as a Thinker seven, some things struck me as odd, after reviewing the chain of events. Why a bank? There are easier-to-access locations with an assured higher payout, for far less risk. Why in the middle of the day? When the number of witnesses and other confounding factors is the highest. Chief among those questions; how did they know the Protectorate was out of town? Because otherwise such a reckless plan was doomed to fail from the start."

"Since you are presenting us with this - I'm sure you have some idea, and if not answers then educated guesses to them," Piggot suggested.

"Indeed," he said. "Given the secrecy of the training exercise the Protectorate took part in and the fact that we left no obvious clue, there had to be an informant in our midst. To uncover him, I took a look at everybody who had access to that information and, in doing so, discovered a few irregularities regarding the spending habits of some of the PRT personnel."

"You checked up on my men? Piggot said with a dangerous undertone and narrowed eyes, "without my authorization?"

"Not just yours -" Armsmaster casually admitted, "like I said, everybody with access to the information was checked, including the Wards and the Protectorate."

In response, Miss Militia mumbled under her breath, "Glad to know we are above reproach," and then added, louder, "And I guess Sergeant Williams was one of them?"

"Yes -"

"What exactly did you find?" I asked. I had to know how Armsmaster flushed them out, to know which of my people were compromised and how to make sure none of my spies wouldn't be found out the same way in the future.

"Some troopers not touching their bank accounts in certain months or to a greatly reduced degree –" Armsmaster began to explain, only to be interrupted by Emily jumping directly to the conclusion.

"Which indicates the money they spent in that time-frame came from elsewhere, and you suspect it being bribes?"

"Yes -" He admitted.

"It could have other origins - the partner, a won bet ... there are explanations aplenty," I interjected.

"Which is why I took a closer look at all those with such financial irregularity – their internet presence, social contacts, the recipients of their calls…" He listed, just as I hoped he would. Strangely I was disappointed to find out that he managed to discover them because they made rookie mistakes. No wonder those Empire spies got outed.

Thinking it over, it also could be intentional. Have some low-level spies too stupid not to leave a paper trail to be found in case of a spy hunt, pawn sacrifices to protect their more valuable assets.

That's how I would do it. Meaning that when I would take office, I had to vet all members thoroughly.

"Let me get this straight. You claim the reason you approached Tiamat without allowing us the time to fully vet her was because you assumed Sergeant Williams was a spy for the Undersiders... just great. Look where this moronic action got us!" She barked. Knowing her, she was just getting ready to rip Armsmaster a new one.

Interrupting her tirade, he said spoke, "The Empire."

"Come again," Emily ordered.

"Sergeant Williams is not paid and spying for the Undersiders but the Empire 88. That was why I acted. Dragon intercepted an SMS he sent, informing a third party which we assume to be one of the Empire's unpowered gang-members of his current position and task."

That shut Emily up hard. It must be quite the dampener to her realizing that if he hadn't done what he did, the Empire and not the Undersiders might have been successful in getting to Tiamat.

"I see," was all Emily said in response. She settled, contemplating for a moment, until she suddenly asked, "Can we leverage this?"

"What?" Miss Militia asked, surprised.

I wasn't, not for trying this. However, for her to ignore her ideals…She was always uncompromising. I always thought she would break before she bent. The few conversations I conducted with her away from prying eyes in a throw-away timeline made that clear. Perhaps I shouldn't have given it up as a lost cause this easy, if not for the pain it was to get a hold of a PRT Director in the first place.

Just considering this showed how desperate she was, seeing her hopes dashed, willing to do everything to get any leverage, to maybe still have a shot at getting the Hebert girl to join her Wards.

I couldn't fault her. She needed that win. It wouldn't be enough, not for the Chief Director nor the public, that she happened to be the Director of the PRT Branch under whose jurisdiction Leviathan was killed. Because in the end, nobody would care because it was under her leadership that the Protectorate failed their attempt at recruiting her, and that was all she would ever be remembered for. This failing might even be enough to get her replaced.

Merely for that, I had every reason to go against her. However, by doing this she was also acting against a team I considered to be my property. I wouldn't allow her to do that. I was the only one permitted to do that.

"Them, breaking the truce," Emily elaborated "The footage clearly shows that Grue used his power first, while the truce was in effect."

"It also shows Alexandria being the first to strike. A court could argue, given the situation, that Grue felt threatened by her. Who could blame him? He is a mid-level Shaker with a power that cannot be used to hurt somebody by itself, and she is Alexandria. A member of the Triumvirate. I don't see that ending well for us," Armsmaster tried to reason with her.

I saw where she intended to go with this, and I couldn't allow her to, which was why I interrupted her rather harshly.

"I have to agree with Armsmaster's assessment. Tiamat, according to his report, gives the impression of being highly unstable, and from what little we could see latched onto Tattletale to such a degree that she protected and followed her orders, going against Alexandria without a second thought. Alexandria, who happens to be the idol of a generation of young women; and she came close to killing her, if not for Tattletale."

I let that sink in. "What do you think would happen if we were to go after her in that situation, not twenty-four hours after we had a part in Tiamat falling out with her father. The, as far as we can tell, only human contact in her life. I'm sorry to say this Emily, but I can only see any attempt taking advantage of that scuffle backfiring, massively. Especially since we don't have them in custody. Leaving them with far too many options: to retaliate, telling the truth, getting their hands on that footage undermining our trustworthiness – that could go as far as dissolving the truce if our actions are considered a violation of them. Keep in mind this is just what I could come up with, with barely any time at my hands. Tattletale is a thinker seven, in a team that specializes in getaways we have so far utterly failed to catch - we weren't even close - and we now have to assume, a team that has the power of an Endbringer at the tips of their fingers; I really don't think we should risk it."

"Commander Calvert makes some good points," Armsmaster finally conceded. Emily just narrowed her eyes at him.

"Perhaps the outcome isn't so bad," Armsmaster said, "considering the alternative."

"Elaborate."

"The Wards are always in the focus of the public - the next Protectorate Heroes, the future generation ... you name it. They are, for all intents and purposes, celebrities. Their every action is viewed through a magnifier. They get criticized and piled on online for the smallest of mistakes. People obviously forget they are just teenagers with an already fragile psyche littered with self-doubts, on the verge of reaching adulthood. How do you think, after all, we know about her, Tiamat would thrive in such an environment?"

"We could have shielded her from the public until such a time she can take it," Emily made a half-hearted attempt to mount an argument.

"Would we?" He threw back at her, for the first time of the meeting actually looking at her. "If she were a normal Parahuman, I would be inclined to agree, but she isn't. She killed Leviathan, the public would demand and accept nothing less than to see, to get to know her, she would in a matter of days put the publicity of the Triumvirate to shame, and there would be nothing we could do about it.

Because the higher-ups would use her to make a name for themselves and our organization. Can we be sure she can take it? Can we even be sure any Parahuman could withstand that pressure? After all, we are all damaged to different degrees. Could even a non-triggered "normal" person, someone without all the luggage that comes with being a Parahuman? Drug abuse is just one of a great many ways celebrities attempt to cope with public scrutiny. And that is all under the assumption that we can keep the whole Shadow Stalker debacle away from her, keep her from ever knowing."

"You don't think that likely?" Miss Militia asked the obvious.

"No, as professional as some of the Wards are, we can't trust them not to let something slip. A careless remark here, a stammering there when the topic of the conversation shifts to her? With some other clues, Shadow Stalker's sudden absence after she joined, which happens to coincide with the time Sophia did the same... both having similar body types… No, I honestly don't think we can manage to prevent her from putting it together at some point, if she were to join us. The question is how long would it take."

"You give her an awful lot of credit," Emily remarked.

"Do I?" Armsmaster challenged. "Children who are victims of abuse have some characteristics in common. They, so to speak, grow up faster. They have a greater understanding of the world, get paranoid second-guessing their surroundings, the people they interact with. Given her school records - the unredacted version that goes back before she went to Winslow. We know she is intelligent, slated for skipping a class. Honestly, I would say we are lucky the events played out as they did. Imagine what might have happened if we didn't catch their relationship in time and they unmasked to each other..." He slightly shook his head, not bothering to paint us a picture of the consequences this might have had.

"Then there is the fact that out of all the gangs Brockton Bay has to offer, the Undersiders are the least violent. They respect and uphold the unwritten rules, and if we ignore that slip-up of today, even the truce. An event in which we were not exactly innocent about it occurring… For all intents and purposes, they are cavalier thieves with clear rules of engagement. It might be that they just came to investigate the explosion just like Alexandria and I. It is reasonable to assume that Tattletale picked up on Tiamat's mental distress, perhaps even the fact that the PRT and by extension, the Protectorate had a hand in it and just tried to help, and only our presence escalated that situation. Which otherwise might have still been salvageable."

"Do I understand this correctly? You think that Tattletale's company might be good for Tiamat's mental health?" Emily asked, pointed.

"I do," he said shrugging, "As mentioned earlier, Tattletale's power extends to social interactions. Our best guess puts her roughly in Tiamat's age group. I'm no expert, but most of Tiamat's problems stem from the ostracization of her peers, not having a friend her age she could trust. I don't think you would find anybody more qualified in the Bay to help her deal with her problems. Is it unfortunate that this person is a villain? Certainly, but there are worse people in the Bay."

An assessment I shared, given that he was working with a lot of conjecture in contrast to myself. This conversation was improving my opinion of Armsmaster by the minute.

"Excuse me, Shadow Stalker debacle?" I feigned ignorance. Tattletale was more than helpful in clueing me in on what they meant. The fact remained that Thomas Calvert never got the memo, and I had a secret identity to keep. "I could glance at some things following your conversation, although some pieces seem to be missing to form a complete picture of the situation."

Emily glared at me. Ms. Militia just sighed as Armsmaster answered. "During the interrogation of Tiamat's guardian and to determine where she went, the PRT personnel that arrived at the scene was given the permission to look through her room for clues. While doing that, they came across what, at first glance, seemed to be Tiamat's diary. On closer look, it turned out to be documentation ranging back nearly to last summer, describing in detail a vicious bullying campaign against Tiamat, instigated by three girls, including Shadow Stalker in her civilian identity. Culminating in what could only be labeled as attempted murder in early January, which was followed by a hospital stay for about a week."

That was news to me. I hadn't had the time to look at her medical records. What was worse, it seemed like I wasted a good opportunity to recruit Shadow Stalker as a covert operative if I would have just known this sooner.

"And this is just the information we were able to piece together in this cursory glance. We managed to substantiate enough of it in this short amount of time to know that the diary accounts seem to be accurate. We fully expect that there will be more unearthed, but this alone doesn't paint a nice picture of Shadow Stalker's actions, and our failings to get a probationary ward to toe the line. By other circumstantial evidence, we suspect Tiamat was the victim of a sustained bullying campaign that started her freshmen year and since then has just increased in intensity and cruelty. It is too early to say if any misconduct was perpetrated in costume by Shadow Stalker. But given this evidence, although circumstantial, it is highly likely people with such tendencies can't just put them on hold."

"I don't know what to say," I said, "that is quite the shock," from a certain point of view it was. How shockingly easy it would be to turn her against the Protectorate. "If this ever gets out – if the connection between Tiamat's civilian identity to her cape identity is ever made and this leaks..."

"It will be a disaster of epic proportions. I'm aware Calvert. We will take care of it." Emily hissed. From where I sat, it was easy to see that the knuckles of the hand she had placed on the table were turning white. "What about our missing troopers assigned to escort Mr. Hebert back home? Have they been found yet?"

"No," Armsmaster answered. "The trail went cold after they boarded the ambulance. But what little we could gather from Mr. Hebert, who was in a state of shock, didn't paint them in a good picture. Exceeding the mandate of their orders to escort and protect him and his daughter while maintaining minimal contact at best and outright sabotaging our efforts at worst."

I ostentatiously browsed the preliminary report in front of me "That can't be right" I mumbled loud enough for all to hear. "Our men didn't call in the incident?"

"No. The neighbors called in what they referred to as a domestic disturbance. It was only due to the fact that I flagged the location of the Hebert residence as one of interest to the PRT that we were even made aware of the situation. It took console to request a status report in the wake of the 911 call to be appraised of the situation. Our men blamed the failure to do so as on Mr. Hebert's agitated state and the injuries they suffered at the hand of Tiamat. Reinforcements and an ambulance were dispatched to their location and we immediately began our search for Tiamat, minutes after the fact."

"How is it possible for a simple escort mission to become such a catastrophe?" Piggot demanded. "More spies?"

"At this point, it is entirely unclear." Armsmaster stated, "Neither of them stood out in my investigation. Until we know more, we, as a precaution, will operate under the assumption that they have been compromised. M/S protocols are in effect. "

"As I was watching the interview you conducted, I was wondering why didn't you bring up the financial benefits of joining?" Miss Militia wondered.

Armsmaster gave her a skeptical look. "What benefits? She killed an Endbringer and is, therefore, eligible to the bounty placed on its head. Even if it is somehow split by the committee considering it as a team effort of the defenders, she would still get the lion's share as the one dealing the killing blow. We can't compete with that, and frankly, there isn't much you can't buy with this amount of money. Aside from credibility, that she would have gained as a Ward. There isn't much we could have offered she couldn't get herself. If I would have made that a major point in my attempt to recruit her, it might have backfired the moment she became aware of the bounty if she wasn't already."

"You could have promised her to extradite the process - make her go through power-testing to alleviate doubts of the committee."

"No - Dragon and I analyzed the video of the interview and we came to the conclusion that her severe trust issues were part of the reason the interview failed. She seemed to misconceive each of our well-intended statements in the worst light possible." He assessed. "Just hinting that we could extradite the process could have been misinterpreted as us doing the opposite, trying to keep her from the money until she plays ball. Therefore I think, in retrospect, it was the right call not to mention it."

A bounty that should be substantial. It was said that every living Japanese citizen at one point or another has contributed to Leviathan bounty. Just the interest over all those years should have created an enormous amount of money.

That could prove to be a problem if it gets ever paid out. It would make any efforts to get her to work for me for anything that money could buy obsolete.

I had to admit it could also be detrimental for me should Tattletale ever got her hands on that money. But I considered that a moderate risk, nowhere near as dangerous as her being in close proximity to an easy-to-manipulate girl with the power of an Endbringer.

A contesting claim, since Kaiser wouldn't want to miss out on a chance to get his hands on a fraction of that money, it would require the PRT to figure out in what parts the two were responsible for Leviathan. A fact that I wouldn't put it past the higher-ups to use as leverage or at least incentive to establish a more friendly rapport with her.

That was when Emily directed the conversation elsewhere. "What does the public know about her at this point?"

"The information blackout, usually applied during Endbringer attacks, in this instance worked in our favor. There were only a hand full of people who witnessed Leviathan breaking the shelter and even less saw his demise. Most of the information is nothing but unsubstantiated rumors and conjecture. It helped that Alexandria and Legend attempted to get the boy to join the Wards, which was observed by no small number of capes with different allegiances. That will give their corresponding reports more credibility. It also helps that Kaiser claimed the boy as one of his own.

"According to Dragon, there is a rumor circulating on PHO that a newly minted Empire cape was the one who killed Leviathan. Some Empire affiliates, based on that rumor, claim that its death is the beginning of a new era. They are essentially trying to use it as a PR campaign to increase their influence and public standing. Conservative estimates state that we will have to expect a significant uptick in Empire sympathizers and members both powered and non-powered in the coming weeks. …If nothing is done to reduce the traction of this campaign."

"What about other groups? Do they subscribe to this rumor, too?" Emily asked.

"It seems that way. Without an official statement so far from the PRT they do, and with every minute we delay this, the rumor gains credibility. People making up reasons for it, and the rumor being true, would explain our reluctance in admitting a Nazi killed Leviathan." Armsmaster explained.

"So the chances for anything to be known about Tiamat outside certain circles is negligible. The information is contained, should we do nothing, but this also means a strengthened Empire at least short term?" Miss Militia surmised.

"Yes."

"What about long-term? What are the models telling us?" Emily wanted to know.

"Difficult to say," Armsmaster admitted.

"Why?" Emily asked, slightly leaning forward in her seat.

"Many reasons, any additional variable makes a prediction difficult. We know that the boy wasn't responsible for Leviathan's death. Yet, some are claiming he did it; therefore, it is a lie. This misrepresentation might pass for now, but the moment the truth is revealed, repercussions are to be expected. The longer this lie is maintained, the more substantial it might get. Therefore, I doubt Kaiser is stupid enough to do so. It is more likely he allows this rumor to circulate for now, so that nobody tries to recruit the real culprit improving his chances to do so. Gaslighting the masses, so to say. If he then makes a public statement in the next few days, citing not having heard the rumor earlier, he and the Empire should be fine."

"Shouldn't he already know about Tiamat joining the Undersiders with those spies still in place?" Miss Militia inquired.

"Most likely, he already does, and that can mean a great many things. It is plausible he is not content to accept that and as we speak is leaving no stone unturned to find her." Armsmaster hypothesized. "As a precaution, I have assigned Assault and Battery to guard Tiamat's father, for the time being."

"You think they would so blatantly break the unwritten rules?" Miss Militia asked.

"With a hundred percent certainty, no. But I wouldn't put it past them. After all, this situation is something entirely new. There hasn't ever been a recorded Parahuman with such a strength. As a result, I find it reasonable to assume that recruitment tactics would change accordingly. Some might come to the conclusion that recruiting Tiamat is worth the potential fallout of breaking the unwritten rules and perhaps even the truce," he said. "Then again, it is not like that we only have capes in the city that adhere to them."

"Lung," I said. The questioning glances of the two women I addressed made me clarify my statement. "From all the reports I read, he doesn't seem to care about the rules, any rules, thinking himself to be above them."

"That reminds me," Emily said, "do we know why Lung didn't participate in the fight?"

"No, nothing definitive." Armsmaster conceded.

This might be a chance to get them to take care of this problem for me. "In this case, I would strongly suggest we stop using kid's gloves when it comes to him and his organization," I stated. "One of the many reasons that we give Parahumans a certain leeway is grounded in the idea that those villains provide assistants in S-class events. With Lung obviously not caring, I think it is time we let him reap the rewards for not showing up."

"While I agree with the sentiment, the reason that Lung and especially Bakuda would have been assets against Leviathan also happens to be the reason why it wouldn't be a good idea to follow your suggestion." Armsmaster lectured me. "Not in this volatile situation. There is a high chance that Lung might feel threatened by the cape, who presumably did what he couldn't do."

A glance made it clear the two women had similar views since they didn't bother with any backtalk; a pity. Not that I thought that they would go along with it, but I had to try.

"You think he might go after Tiamat?" Emily questioned.

"Not necessarily," Armsmaster said, "However he might feel a need to re-establish his dominance. I doubt the Empire won't use the ABB absence for propaganda purposes. If he goes for Tiamat, the Empire, their new cape specifically, or just the next target of opportunity is hard to say. Either way, I don't think he is planning on sitting around and watching the Empire swell in strength."

"So, you expect there to be a gang war?" I asked.

"Yes, at this point, I would say it is inevitable."

"And there is nothing we can do about it?" Miss Militia wanted to know.

"Short of removing one of the gangs," I offered, "which you already denied as not viable, I don't think so. Besides, I'm not too sure that the aggression when it happens might originate from the ABB. With some of the Empire buying into that rumor, it could be some of them thinking the Empire invincible with their newest addition will kick-start something. Well, Lung going after Tiamat might be the best-case scenario."

"Who do you think would turn out to be the victor in such a fight?" Emily wondered.

"Lung would lose," was the flat statement this elicited from Armsmaster.

"That's what I feared," Emily said. "Any word on Bakuda? Since her debut in the Bay?"

"Wait a minute -" Miss Militia interrupted, hand raised to appease Emily "I'm confused at your choice of words. Why did you say Lung would lose and not that Tiamat would win?"

"Because she won't," Armsmaster said. That answer surprised even me. "I expect two outcomes. In the first one, given how catatonic Tiamat seemed to be in our last encounter, she needs riling up of some kind. I can't picture that going well for Brockton Bay when Lung finally managed to rile her up enough... Two, given her heroic inclination and the usual threshold for killing people in general have... a threshold and self-control Tiamat demonstrated to possess in abundance in the way she took down Alexandria. A propensity I think we can assume to be shared by the Undersiders or Tattletale in particular. All of this indicates that by the time she comes around to end him, there might not be much left of the city around them."

"Coming back to the topic at hand - No, Bakuda hasn't been seen since she killed Alabaster." He informed us.

"So we go forward assuming the worst - that she is building up." Emily went on, "Unhinged as she seems to be, it might be a disaster if the leash Lung has on her is removed."

"What about the kill order on her you requested, Director?" Miss Militia asked.

"Still pending, and I don't think much will come of it." Emily confided in us. "Killing a single cape and dismembering a few bystanders isn't enough to fulfill the stringent requirements for one to be issued."

"So, no matter what we do, there will be war," Miss Militia added, resigned to what seemed to be inevitable. "We're only able to run damage control, and we might be able to choose who it is we are going to be up against. That's great."

"So to summarize," Emily listed, "Kaiser tries to use Leviathan's death, claiming he has a cape that presumably helped in his employ, while hoping to get his hands on the one who actually slew the creature. Weaponizing this and their participation in an attempt to sway public opinion against the ABB. Which, rather sooner than later, will put pressure on them to act... Meanwhile, Lung might or might not feel threatened by it, to help that process along. All the while we have an unstable, suicidal girl wielding the power of a city sinking Endbringer in the mix. And here I thought after an Endbringer attacking in my city that the day couldn't get any worse."

"That's not the worst of it," Armsmaster cautioned.

"Out with it." Emily ground out.

"Several wandering cape groups might come in the Bay under some pretense. There can be many found in the aftermath of this. Chiefly of concern is the Fallen."

"That makes sense. The question remains for what exact purpose." Emily looked at me, puzzled. She was always somebody who had trouble realizing the non-obvious, so I elaborated. "Usually they make a pilgrimage to the place an Endbringer attack occurred, to pay respect to their 'gods' and to 'bear witness' to their power which is clear to see in the aftermath of their visit. This time, however, the city became a grave. There's no telling how they will react to that."

"There is also no reason to ruminate over unfounded speculations," Emily chided. "We have more than enough problems to take care of without adding imaginary ones to the list. But to be on the safe side: I want for you, Armsmaster, to keep an eye on the movements of the known members of the Fallen and inform me the minute you notice something out of the ordinary. Put together a dossier about their roster and their abilities, just in case, and circulate it throughout the PRT and Protectorate."

"Yes, Director," Armsmaster agreed.

"Good. If there is nothing else," Emily said with the obligatory pause for the rest of us to interject. "You are dismissed."

-POV Change-

I stepped through the portal into the conference room of Cauldron and noticed to my satisfaction that the others were already present, with me being the last to arrive.

Doctor Mother, the dark-skinned woman in her white lab coat at the head of the table, nodded at me to acknowledge my presence. I reciprocated the gesture and took my seat opposite of Contessa and the Number Man with Eidolon to my right and Legend to my left. I opened the clasps of my helmet and put it on the table in front of me. A courtesy not shared by everyone.

Contessa was inseparable from her fedora, and Eidolon barely wore anything else than his costume nowadays.

"Why didn't we bring her in?" This was the first thing I asked as I addressed the others.

"We concluded she wasn't ready. A frail psyche isn't what is needed to make informed decisions." Dr. Mother answered.

"We could have gotten her into the Wards instead of handing over the reins to villainous gang." I glowered, "A gang controlled by Coil."

I was never a fan of his. He had a useful power and was part of our experiment. Apart from that, he was no better than Teacher and should share his cell, if anything, not be allowed free reign to put a city under his thumb.

"214 steps," Contessa chimed in from the other side of the table "in the first month barring any exceptional circumstances, to keep her content and with the Wards."

"Still, I'm having trouble seeing this as a good idea allowing her anywhere near someone as amoral as Coil." I renewed my argument.

"Won't that generate trouble for our other plans? The truce?"

"She won't work for Coil. She is one step removed from him directly, for time being." Dr. Mother stated in an attempt to appease me.

"Considering her aversion towards authority, it is unlikely that will change even if Coil wants it to. In addition, we have reason to believe Coil won't play a role when it comes to her for much longer."

"Then who else will?" I had to wonder.

"Tattletale," Contessa answered.

"Another villain?" Legend chimed in. He tried to hide it, but he liked this even less than I.

"She wasn't a villain by choice," Dr. Mother clarified, "and even as such, she and her team played by the unwritten rules."

"So the truce is secure?" He wanted to know.

"Yes," was Contessa's short response.

Dr. Mother, on the other hand, expanded on that and explained, "Tattletale is aware of the importance of the truce, she wouldn't threaten it lightly, and the rest of the Undersiders aren't keen on making big waves. They are comfortable with their current position, and if the PRT doesn't go out of its way to antagonize them, nothing will come of it. In fact, they fear reprisals for breaking the truce or being labeled as such."

"I see," I said, not fully convinced but accepting the situation as what it was." So what you are saying is that the girl's prospect as an asset isn't threatened by the company she keeps."

"No, for now, it is in our best interest to keep her exactly where she is," Dr. Mother said. "She will eventually heal, and if our predictions are right, seek us out by her own device together with her partner."

"Decentralization," I threw in.

"Never put all your eggs in the same basket," Legend mumbled under his breath.

It was loud enough for Doctor Mother to hear it still, and she commented it by saying. "An old but none the less true platitude."

"What else do we know about the girl?" Eidolon asked.

I slightly turned my head with narrowed eyes to get a better look at him after he voiced his question. It was uncharacteristic for him to show that much interest in a person, let alone most topics we discuss. The briefing they all should have received before I came here should have included everything Dragon found out with the gaps, surely, having been filled by Contessa, as she always did.

He hadn't bothered to remove his mask, and his hood was drawn deep over his face. It slightly muffled his voice, so it was hard to get an accurate read on his inflection. His body, on the other hand, told me enough. He was tense, something wasn't to his liking, and I had a strong inkling what it would be, with his powers weakening.

Fear, Jealousy...

Unlike myself or Legend, he defined himself solely through his role of Eidolon, the strongest cape there is. For him to be outdone by a fresh trigger must sting.

I made a mental note to monitor this, to make sure it wouldn't become an issue going forward. For now, I had better things to do than worry about the wounded pride of my coworker being confronted with the fact that he no longer has the greatest stick in the world.

"What is it, you are asking? Is the file incomplete?" I addressed him.

"It isn't," Numberman said. "It contains the usual level of detail."

"She isn't the usual Parahuman," Eidolon bit back.

"I think on that we can all agree." Dr. Mother interjected. She waited for Eidolon to say something else.

When he didn't Legend asked instead. "Isn't a bit much we put on her shoulders?"

"We did no such thing, we didn't put anything on her shoulders. On the contrary, we went out of our way not to do that," Dr. Mother stated.

"That is not..." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "The public, no matter what we do, will pressure her. PHO, the news, talk shows, you name it. With her not under our purview, we don't have the means to shield her from it."

"It is taken care of," Contessa returned.

"Tattletale?" Legend asked, resigned.

A nod from the fedora-wearing woman put that matter to rest.

"What about PR? She killed an Endbringer. It would have increased the Protectorate reputation and boosted recruitment," Legend brought up.

"I did the numbers." The Number Man said, "The changes would be negligible at best. On the contrary, it is in the PRT's best interest to stay away from the Endslayers as far as possible. Projections show that any close association with any government body would unsettle the carefully maintained power balance." The Numberman added.

"The CUI?" I wondered.

"Amongst other things, yes." He confirmed.

"Kaiser and his scheme with his son. I can see why this might get troublesome," Legend said. "So where does this leave us. We just keep to ourselves... stay away from Brockton Bay in order to keep the experiment running and what, wait?"

"Yes." Was Doctor Mother's answer.

Eidolon was the first to stand up and leave.

Authors Note:

Many of Armsmasters "digging deeper" in the Undersiders and the bank-job is owed to the fact, that he neither was suspended for Lung's crotch rotting off nor did Bakuda's rampage happen, which both were incredible time-sinks for him (in canon). As a result, he had a lot more time on hand to look into those things.

It was phrased a bit circumspect - but Cauldron wants to offer Taylor and Lisa a seat at the table when they think they are ready for it.

Since knowledge about Contessa power can make someone question their free will - they prefer a hands-off approach to not give the whole thing the smell of meddling - so to say.