They're getting a new Ward today!
The thought echoed in Vista's mind, looping over and over as she practically skipped down the hallway behind Aegis. The Ward Leader glanced back at her, amusement flickering in his eyes as he rambled on about something, but Vista barely heard him—her mind was too busy spiralling down the rabbit hole.
This wasn't just any new Ward—it was another girl! Finally, Vista had a chance to make a real friend here. Sure, she was friends with the boys, but there would be something different about having an actual girl to talk to. She'd never had one before— The only other girl she could talk to about cape stuff was Shadow Stalker, and the less said about that psycho, the better.
As she followed the Ward Captain, Vista couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. She'd managed to 'persuade' him into letting her meet the new Ward first, before anyone else. It had taken begging, bargaining, and agreeing to yet another PR appearance, but it was worth it. She was first in line to meet the new Ward—her soon-to-be best friend.
"-Vista, are you even listening to me?" Aegis's deep voice snapped her back to reality. He'd stopped at the door to the landing pad and turned to face her, a slight frown tugging at his lips. Vista cursed under her breath, struggling to remember whatever he'd said.
"Yeah, yeah, give her the chance to talk first and wait for my turn. I get it. Honestly, you're all overreacting. She's a Ward, isn't she? It's not like we're dealing with Oni-lee."
"She's a probationary Ward," Aegis corrected softly.
Vista's heart sank at the words, the unease settling deeper. Seeing her deflation, Aegis winced slightly.
"Yes, I know—another one. But unlike Sophia, she actually wants to be here with the Wards. The problem is, much like Shadow Striker, she's...dangerous," Aegis said, his tone sharp as he emphasized the last part.
Vista's frown deepened, frustration bubbling up inside her at the hypocrisy of his words.
"We're all dangerous. I'm dangerous. You're dangerous. So why is she being treated any differently?" Missy's voice came out sharper than she intended, but she couldn't hold it back.
Aegis frowned again as if he didn't quite understand her point—or maybe he didn't like being called dangerous. He sighed, the weariness clear in his voice before he spoke.
"Maybe, but you're 'dangerous' because of what youcoulddo; they're dangerous because of what they did do. It's like you didn't even read the briefing document."
He glanced at her, noticing she couldn't meet his eyes. He sighed again, this time audibly. "You didn't read it, did you?"
Vista winced. He was right—she hadn't. She'd been distracted by schoolwork, her chaotic home life, and her Patrols. Somewhere along the way, the file had gotten buried in the pile of other things she needed to get done.
"I've been busy." The excuse felt weak, even to her. Vista cringed as Carlos sighed again, rubbing his hand over his faceplate. She heard his teeth grind as he stood up straighter, shifting into full Captain mode.
"Right then. Quick summary," Carlos continued, his voice a little tired. "Her name is Shatterpoint. She's a Thinker/Striker who can identify the weak points in anything she sees—vehicles, tools, buildings, plans..." He paused, his tone turning grim. "People." There was something unspoken about that last bit, something he wasn't telling her. "And she's dangerous because, just like Shadow Stalker, she's on probation; she put half a dozen people in the ICU."
Aegis's voice remained steady, unaffected. Vista, however, simply stared at him, her shock silent but clear.
"After, not long after, she was committed and spent over a year and a half in the Asylum until she was deemed fit enough for Probation. It was originally planned for her to join the Philly Wards under Chevalier—she had built a rapport with them during her trial ride-along. But her father, his lawyer, the Youth Guard, and her main sponsor, our own Miss Militia, successfully lobbied to bring her back to Brockton. Hence, her joining us."
The words hit Vista like a brick to the gut—another Scion-damned psycho. Only, unlike Sophia, this one was an actual mental patient. And Hannah wanted her here? Part of Vista wondered if it was too late to turn back, cancel her extra PR appearance, and just disappear into the Wards rooms.
At that moment, Miss Militia appeared, rounding the corner as if summoned by their conversation—even though Missy knew she'd be here anyway.
"Hey, you two. Ready to meet your new teammate?" Hannah asked, her voice warm and her smile kind despite the tension in the air. Vista had seen Hannah face down Lung himself, armed with nothing but a rocket launcher. Yet, this was the first time she'd seen the Hero look so uneasy.
Missy forced a strained smile, her stomach twisting with anxiety. Aegis nodded politely but had nevertheless remained silent. Hannah's smile faltered slightly, and she sighed.
"Listen, Shatterpoint's a nice girl—far better than that accursed report makes her seem," Hannah continued. "By all accounts, she's a model patient. Chevalier himself even gave her a glowing endorsement. He actually seemed somewhat bitter that I had 'poached' her back from him." Hannah smiled, chuckling softly at the memory.
Vista's scepticism flared. Chevalier was one of the greatest heroes on the planet—why would he want a second-rate Sophia on his team?
"Don't worry, ma'am. We'll do our best. Won't we?" Aegis nudged her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts. Missy glanced back at the expectant Miss Militia, offering a shallow nod. She was glad her visor hid her doubtful eyes from the Hero.
Hannah's smile was warm as she affectionately ruffled Vista's hair. Missy felt her face flush, instinctively looking down to hide it—though not entirely successfully, judging by Aegis's snicker.
"This is Armsmaster; they have arrived." The voice of the leader of the Protectorate ENE crackled through Missy's earpiece, making her jump. Aegis flashed her a smile, and she scowled right back at him, mentally swearing vengeance upon him later.
Hannah gave an amused huff before stepping up to the door, activating the touchpad with practised ease. The door slid open, and the second-in-command of the Protectorate stepped onto the landing pad with a confident stride. Aegis followed her wordlessly, and Vista found herself trailing once again.
Vista immediately saw a large, dragon-shaped aircraft parked on the helipad—a Dragoncraft, her mind helpfully supplied. She'd only seen it once before, used to transport a particularly troublesome rouge cape to the Birdcage. So seeing one used to ferry a mere Ward was a surprise, to say the least.
The second thing she noticed was the open ramp leading into the Dragoncraft. But beyond it, there was nothing but darkness, as if the lights had been turned off, no doubt leaving its occupants blinded by the blackness inside.
Lastly, Armsmaster, the protectorate Leader, stood in a pseudo parade rest near the bottom of the ramp, gazing up into the darkness of the craft. Vista watched as Hannah and Carlos wandered over to stand next to him, and she followed a moment, leaving them all in silence, waiting for the new Ward to reveal herself.
The silence stretched on as the group waited at the edge of the landing pad. Missy could hear the wind whipping around them and the anxious shuffle of feet somewhere to her side. Vista frowned, growing more impatient with each passing second. What was taking so long? Had Shatterpoint gotten lost inside the craft? It was massive—bigger than Missy's house, even. Maybe someone should ask Dragon to turn the lights back on; this whole dramatic reveal was starting to drag on (hah).
"Dragon?" Armsmaster's voice finally broke the silence, his tone inquisitive, though there was an odd edge of impatience in it. It had the same inflexion Chris used when his Tinkering was interrupted by a patrol or a team training session.
Vista reached out with her senses, probing into the craft. There was only one living presence aboard—Shatterpoint, no doubt. The new Ward was hovering at the top of the ramp, waiting.
"Apologies, Colin," Dragon's soft voice crackled over the comms after a slight delay. "She just needs a moment to… collect herself. It's been a long while since she's been home."
Vista scowled, irritation bubbling up. This was the same Shatterpoint that had apparently put people in the hospital, but she couldn't summon the courage to walk down a ramp and face boring, old Brockton Bay?
As if sensing Vista's impatience, a thin pair of legs appeared at the top of the ramp. They were attached to a tall, slender girl, most of her body concealed in a black bodysuit reminiscent of the tactical clothing worn by PRT personnel. Her head was bare, revealing long, silky black hair and most of her face was exposed—save for a black domino mask that wrapped around her eyes, hiding little of the cold intensity in her gaze.
Those same eyes burrowed into Vista, as if staring straight into her soul.
Missy stepped back instinctively, her throat tightening, watching Shatterpoint descend the ramp slowly, methodically. The lithe girl paused when she reached the tarmac, her cold, analytical gaze sweeping over the group. It lingered for a moment on Miss Militia, the silence thickening between them.
"Hello."
The word was quiet, almost swallowed by the wind, and utterly emotionless. It felt like the Probie Ward had said it more out of obligation than any genuine attempt to greet them. Missy opened her mouth to respond, but as Shatterpoint's gaze swept over her, she froze, suddenly feeling even smaller under the weight of that piercing stare.
"Hello, Shatterpoint," Hannah said, breaking the silence with a calm, welcoming tone. She stepped forward, her smile warm and inviting. "It's good to see you back home. How was your flight?"
For a moment, Shatterpoint seemed to ignore her entirely. Her gaze flicked to the floor, then to the building behind them, and finally up to the tip of the Dragoncraft looming above.
"It was nice. Dragon is nice," Shatterpoint replied, at last, her voice flat. She still refused to meet Hannah's gaze.
Vista's frown deepened. That rubbed her the wrong way. Refusing to look at someone when talking to them was rude.
"That's good," Hannah said smoothly, her voice unfazed. "And yes, Dragon is nice, isn't she?"
"I try," Dragon's booming voice suddenly echoed from the craft, startling Missy and Aegis. But neither Shatterpoint, Armsmaster, nor Miss Militia seemed perturbed by the sudden noise.
Shatterpoint's gaze then flicked back to Miss Militia, scanning her slowly. For a brief moment, her expression shifted—just a faint frown tugging at the corners of her lips as she focused on Hannah's legs.
"Your knee..." she began, her eyes narrowing slightly. "There's a hairline fracture on the side of it," Shatterpoint stated flatly. "It would take far less force than usual to break it. And send bone fragments cutting into your popliteal artery."
Vista's jaw nearly dropped. They were barely a minute in, and Shatterpoint had already started making threats—Sophia at least waited a few days. But shockingly, Miss Militia chuckled softly as if she'd been told a joke. Then, she rubbed the side of her knee with a tired sign.
"Ah, I had hoped it was merely a painful bruise," Hannah huffed. "Thank you for telling me," she added, gently touching Shatterpoint's shoulder.
Shatterpoint didn't flinch at the contact, but she shuddered slightly. Her cold gaze snapped back to Hannah's face, staring blankly. Vista noticed the particular caution in Hannah's movements—like someone approaching a wild animal. It reminded her of an Earth-Aleph documentary she'd watched on handling wild creatures.
"Right then," Hannah said suddenly, drawing Vista's attention. The gun-toting cape gestured to Armsmaster. "Introductions are in order. Let's start with you, Chief."
Armsmaster snapped to attention, pausing his hushed conversation with Dragon. His head turned to face the new Ward, his expression hardening into an impassive line.
"Greetings. I am Armsmaster. I will be a Senior officer during your time with the Brockton Bay Wards," the Tinker stated, his tone as stoic as ever. A beat later, however, his face softened into a small smile. "I will also be your direct Commanderwhenyou graduate into the wider Protectorate after you succeed in your probation."
Armsmaster's words were as direct as his demeanour, offering no room for deviation as if the path he'd laid out for her was set in stone. But the new Ward seemed uninterested in his carefully constructed words. Instead, she stared at his armour, her blank gaze lingering near the neckpiece as if she were analyzing it.
"The armoured plating above your left shoulder is suffering from a minor material impurity," Shatterpoint stated suddenly, her voice as flat as ever. "It can be caved in to crush down upon your collarbone like a hammer if sufficient force were applied."
Vista glanced at Shatterpoint in mild shock and then back at Armsmaster, expecting him to react with anger or defensiveness. Instead, she saw his head tilt ever so slightly, an almost curious expression crossing his face.
"Interesting. Have you identified any other weak points or impurities in my suit?" Armsmaster asked, his tone almost neutral, as if this were just another casual observation. Rather than be offended, he began rapidly typing on his wrist computer, his attention fully on Shatterpoint.
Meanwhile, Shatterpoint continued to stare at him impassively, her gaze focused as if she were completely detached from the conversation—her mind concerned solely with facts and assessments.
"There are seven other attack points I have identified," she replied flatly, as if detailing weaknesses in Tinkertech armour was as mundane as discussing the weather.
"Fascinating." Armsmaster's tone was genuinely intrigued, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the information. "Could you point them all out on a live scan—"
Hannah's cough cut him off, and she fixed him with a pointed glance.
"-After your introduction to the other Wards, and once you've had time to settle into your new home, of course," the Tinker hastily added, the brief tension in the air dissipating under his quick adjustment.
Shatterpoint nodded mutely, her attention already shifting away from Armsmaster before he had even finished speaking. Her gaze drifted toward Aegis, who nervously licked his lips under her scrutiny. Shatterpoint spent far longer studying him than she had either of the adult heroes. Aegis, for his part, shifted uncomfortably, a confused frown creasing his forehead. Shatterpoint tilted her head slightly to the side, blinking slowly at him.
"Your strike points keep changing," she muttered, her voice still flat but laced with a trace of irritation. "Hmm. Headache," she added, gritting her teeth and rubbing at her temples.
Aegis flinched, clearly caught off guard. "Whoa. Uh, sorry," he stammered, glancing at his hands before remembering himself. He shook his head, smiling as he looked back at her. "Oh, uh, sorry about that. Hi, yeah, I'm Aegis, your new Ward leader. My power's adaptive biology, which is probably why my strike points kept changing." His eyes flicked down to his hands, the unreadable expression still lingering on his face.
Shatterpoint only groaned softly, rubbing harder at her temple, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Vista couldn't imagine what a Thinker's headache felt like—she'd never had one, and honestly, she didn't want to. But she'd heard they could be brutal. Poor Aegis looked like he'd just kicked a puppy, his instinctual urge to help clashing with the uncomfortable reality that the only thing he could do was leave her alone.
Shatterpoint finally opened her eyes again, quickly averting her gaze from Aegis. Her focus shifted, sweeping across the group until it landed on Vista. Missy froze, her breath catching in her throat as Shatterpoint's gaze lingered. Vista knew precisely where she was looking, and her body tensed instinctively. She braced herself for the judgment she knew was coming, the inevitable teasing, the cruel questions… and the likely reactions from the others when they found out what she'd been hiding.
"You're…" Shatterpoint began, her voice flat but with a hint of curiosity as if trying to place something.
Vista's heart thundered in her chest, her mind racing with the thought of bolting. She could stretch the ground between them, leap from the platform and disappear into the city. No one would ever know—
"…cool," Shatterpoint finished, her tone unchanged but now strained, as if the words had taken more effort than expected.
The sudden shift in direction left Vista stunned, her racing thoughts screeching to a halt. Her jaw dropped open, and she just stood there, staring blankly at Shatterpoint. She hadn't expected this—cool? Her mouth went dry, and she didn't even know how to respond to the unexpected compliment.
Hannah smiled warmly, and Carlos let out a soft chuckle, his amusement apparent. But Colin's expression was unreadable, though the brief flicker of disappointment on his face was hard to miss. He seemed to expect something different, perhaps the usual assessment or critique he'd seen with others.
"That's very nice of you to say, Shatter, isn't it, Vista?" Hannah's soothing voice snapped Missy out of her stupor. Vista blinked a couple of times, her mind racing as she tried to find words. She stammered, her cheeks reddening in spite of her efforts to remain composed.
"U-uh, yeah, thanks. You're... uh, not so bad yourself," Missy blurted, hasty and clumsy. She couldn't help but stare at Shatterpoint, fixated on the subtle twitch at the corner of the older girl's lips. It was brief, almost imperceptible—a faint hint of a smile.
The simple, nearly imperceptible gesture sent a strange warmth through Vista, and she felt a tiny spark of hope flicker back to life.Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all,she thought, a cautious optimism returning that hadn't been there just moments before.
Hannah, who had observed the entire interaction with a warm, genuine smile that Missy had never seen her wear before, gently placed a hand on Shatterpoint's shoulder. She whispered something quietly into the girl's ear, her words lost in the howling winds of the city. Shatterpoint slightly nodded in response, her posture relaxing just a fraction.
"Now that we've all introduced ourselves, how about we meet the other Wards and settle in?" Hannah suggested, her tone practical yet still kind. "The Director won't be available until tonight, so we have a few hours."
As the group moved toward the building, Vista lingered momentarily, her gaze drawn back to Shatterpoint, still standing before the Dragoncraft. The massive machine loomed over her, its sleek, draconic shape almost watching her in return. Shatterpoint stood still, her attention fixed on the craft, her posture rigid, like she was saying goodbye to something—someone.
"Thank you for everything, Dragon," Shatterpoint's voice, barely audible over the howling wind, floated back to Vista. The words were strained, the gratitude hidden behind a thin veil, but it was there—just. It wasn't the same as when she spoke to the others. Missy could tell there was more weight to them, like they took effort to say, almost as if the act of expressing any emotion drained her.
"I only nudged you along and kept you on track—you're the one who earned this. Good luck. And remember, if you ever need anything or just want to talk, I'm just a call away. Now go on; you're falling behind." Dragon's voice rang out clearly, booming over the wind, calm yet firm.
Shatterpoint's eyes flickered to the craft for a brief moment longer, then she nodded sharply, her expression unreadable. Without another word, she turned and walked after the rest of the group, her footsteps steady and resolute as she caught up with them. And for the first time, Vista noticed the faintest hint of a smile on Shatterpoint's lips, almost imperceptible but there all the same—like the weight of her silent moment of vulnerability had been lifted.
Vista trailed behind the group as they walked toward the Wards' rooms, her thoughts swirling. She couldn't help but keep an eye on Shatterpoint, who seemed completely at ease with the silence that had enveloped them. It wasn't the same type of silence that Vista was used to, though—one that felt awkward and uncomfortable. No, this was different, almost calm, like Shatterpoint was perfectly content with her own thoughts.
The sound of the Dragoncraft's engines fading into the distance was still in the air, reminding Vista of how fleeting everything seemed. The Dragon had taken off so quickly—leaving behind that strange moment of tension before the girl had turned away to rejoin the group.
Carlos, walking beside her, offered some reassurance with his calm demeanour. His easy conversation with Shatterpoint was an attempt to smooth over the quiet awkwardness. "What is Philadelphia like?" he asked, his voice nonchalant.
Shatterpoint's reply was brief, her tone devoid of much feeling. "Warm."
Carlos nodded, unfazed by the lack of elaboration, as though he had been expecting the sparse answers. "And Chevalier? What's he like?"
"He's cool," Shatterpoint replied without missing a beat.
"And are you happy to be home?" he asked, probably more out of politeness than genuine curiosity.
"Yes." It was the same curt response, but something about it caught Vista's attention. It wasn't dismissive—it was just... final.
Missy had a question she had asked numerous heroes and Wards over the years, trying to understand what drove them to this life.
"Why do you want to be a hero?" Vista asked, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment.
Shatterpoint's dead gaze snapped to her, and for a brief, tense moment, Missy almost flinched. But she held her ground—she'd faced down Hookwolf on her own once, after all. She could handle this.
After a long pause, Shatterpoint finally turned her attention back down the corridor, not bothering to answer. It was as though the question didn't matter, as if it had lost all meaning to her. She took a few more steps, her posture stiff and unyielding, not even acknowledging the question anymore.
Missy glanced at Miss Militia, who must have sensed her growing frustration. With a soft smile, Hannah spoke up.
"She's just thinking. Give her some time," Miss Militia said, her voice calm and steady. She cut off Missy before she could say anything else, offering her a look of understanding. Missy sighed but nodded, swallowing the frustration that rose in her chest.
Shatterpoint stood, still staring at the door to the Ward's quarters, lost in her own thoughts. The blaring sound of the mask alarm went unnoticed by her—she didn't flinch or even seem to register it. Her mind was elsewhere.
As the timer ticked closer to zero, a soft, almost inaudible whisper broke the silence.
"All I can do is shatter the world around me... but maybe, as a hero, I can fix it by breaking the bad things."
The door to the Wards slid open with a soft hiss, but Vista found herself frozen, unable to respond.