Providence 11.2
The heat of the roaring forge was a nice contrast to the cool air of the Workshop. Hammer blows echoed in the wide space, three ringing clangs for every steady heartbeat of the Labyrinth.
Taylor worked with diligent persistence. She had a multitude of projects to complete, and no idea how much time remained.
I really need to get a power hammer.
It occurred to her that she actually had resources available to her, now. Coil had a lot of money. A good chunk of it was tied up in shell companies and offshore accounts, but Lisa would find a way to access it.
In the meantime, a few thousand dollars for better equipment was nothing. Taylor would have to give Lisa a shopping list later.
For now, though…
She had hunters to arm. Her new soldiers would not be left with just their powers and bare fists.
The thin rapier blade slowly took shape under her hammer.
"For the record, you are, like, annoyingly hot," Amy called from across the room "It's actually kind of irritating. I'm trying to focus on fixing the hot water problem, but it's pretty fucking difficult when you look like that."
The part of Taylor that once would have felt self-conscious about working in a tank top was long dead, and her skin was fireproof. Plus, she was well aware that Amy's complaining was her way of expressing appreciation, even if she just had to find some way to be a bitch about it.
"I'm so sorry for your struggles," Taylor grinned at her girlfriend and stretched, popping her steel spine and rolling her shoulders. Her muscles weren't actually capable of aching anymore, but it was fun to watch Amy's eyes follow her movements. "Would it help if I told you I'm making a weapon for Lisa?"
Amy glared at her, and Taylor couldn't tell if she was serious or not. Maybe a bit of both.
"Yes, actually. Well done," Amy grumbled. "Why are we working with her, again?"
"Not everyone we work with is going to be perfect," Taylor shrugged, putting down the half-finished weapon and walking over to sit on the workbench next to where Amy was fiddling with a capillary of the main Labyrinth circulatory system. She could adjust any part of the network, as long as she was touching it. Taylor knew that she was in no position to complain, but her girlfriend's powers were insanely impressive.
"There's a pretty big fucking difference between 'not perfect' and 'manipulative Thinker who tried to kill my sister'," Amy looked down at the fleshy tendril to avoid Taylor's eyes. Despite her acidic attitude, Amy wasn't all that good at actually communicating her disapproval.
"You've threatened to kill me at least twice, and I'm sure you've thought about it more often than that," Taylor pointed out. "It kind of comes with the villainous territory."
"That's different. I didn't actually do it. If I really wanted to kill you, you'd be dead," Amy said.
"Keep telling yourself that," Taylor grinned. She hopped down to stand behind Amy and ran her hands over her girlfriend's shoulders and up her neck, letting her fingertips glide against her scalp under her hair.
She could feel Amy tensing against her, still unsure about how to express her displeasure with the situation.
Taylor leaned down and spoke in a low tone beside her ear.
"I told Lisa to stay away from you… That if she couldn't keep her mouth under control, you'd twist her and break her until she begged for death, and then you wouldn't let her die," Taylor whispered. "And she knows that I wouldn't stop you, because her value to me is irrelevant compared to everything."
Taylor felt Amy shiver under her hands and she leaned down to press a kiss against the side of her girlfriend's neck.
"You'd… actually let me do that?" Amy stumbled over the words as Taylor tightened her grip on her hair.
"I might ask you nicely not to, since she's a useful asset and I don't personally dislike her… but if it's what you need, if you can't stand the idea of her continuing to live without knowing some semblance of the torture she would have inflicted on you by taking Victoria away…" Taylor let her voice wash over Amy's skin, and she could already feel a different kind of tension building. "Then yes, I'd drag her here myself and leave her helpless at your mercy.
"I don't… I don't think I…" Amy didn't seem to know how to say it.
"I know," Taylor breathed. "I know it's not that simple. So, maybe this time, we let it go… but I won't judge you, and I won't stop you, if you need to fall."
Amy turned in her seat and practically attacked Taylor's lips, burning kisses searing her as Amy stood and faced her to get a better angle. Taylor straightened with her and kept her long fingers tangled in her hair as their lips moved together.
"No matter… how many followers you have," Amy gasped. "You're… still… mine."
Taylor suddenly realized that Amy was the same height as her, now, then slightly taller. She no longer had to crane her neck to reach as she bit down hard on Taylor's bottom lip.
"Yours," Taylor agreed, losing herself in the sensation. "I'll make them kneel at your feet and thank you for the privilege."
Amy smiled against her lips.
"Good."
Taylor felt heat flare under her skin and she groaned into Amy's mouth as their kiss continued.
She finally pulled back when her curiosity got the better of her, panting for breath and opening her eyes to drink in Amy's flushed face and swollen lips and…
The enormous, living limb that sprouted from the wall and held Amy upright six inches off the ground, unnatural tendrils wrapped around her legs and stomach.
"Fuck… Well, that's a little bit creepy, but… damn," Taylor blinked.
Amy glanced down and jerked with surprise, almost falling out of the strange creation currently supporting her.
"Shit, I didn't actually mean to do that… what the fuck?" Amy hissed. "I was working on the heart, and things got a bit… mixed up there, for a second."
"Can you still control it? Make it put you down?" Taylor asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I mean, yeah, obviously, just… fuck," Amy said breathlessly. The fleshy, branching appendage lowered her to the ground and then retreated back into the wall under her touch.
"Your powers are awesome," Taylor grinned down at her, now back to the normal height difference without the unexpected grotesque assistance.
"My powers are weird as fuck, and you know it," Amy snapped.
"'Weird' and 'awesome' definitely aren't mutually exclusive," Taylor replied. "I bet you could totally pilot the heart like a giant meat mech or something."
"Oh my God, you're insane," Amy whined. "No, no, my powers are just being difficult because I haven't done anything new recently. Well, aside from whatever the hell that was, obviously."
"We have quite a few new willing test subjects, now," Taylor reminded her, scratching her scalp soothingly until Amy pressed her head back into her hand, like a cat or something. "Regent said that being melted into living soup sounded like fun. I bet he'd let you make some adjustments. And Rachel already agreed after she consumed Hookwolf's vial."
Amy frowned and chewed her lip.
"I'm not touching Tattletale," Amy said. "I wouldn't be able to resist breaking her. The others… yeah, I want to work on them, I think. And carve more runes, if they want them. That's starting to itch, too."
"Alright. I need to bring everyone in for a meeting tonight anyway, so we can take care of everything then," Taylor said.
"You aren't… actually going to make them kneel at my feet, right?" Amy asked, sounding almost nervous.
Taylor smiled.
"Not unless you want me to," she said.
"I don't… think that's necessary. For now," Amy said. She seemed reluctantly pleased by the idea, though.
"Ceremonial occasions only. Got it," Taylor laughed, and Amy blushed. It was cute.
"What are you making, anyway?" Amy asked. Taylor thought she might just want a distraction.
"Lisa doesn't really need a weapon, but I figured she should have the option, just in case. But, without enhancements, most of my hand-to-hand weapons don't make sense for her. So I'm making a lighter rapier that's also a pistol," Taylor said, walking back over to the forge. "Best of both worlds."
"You aren't keeping that for yourself?" Amy raised an eyebrow.
"Naw, I've already got a new pistol in the works for me, and the Reiterpallasch isn't quite my style. If I'm getting up close and personal, I'll use the Chikage, and if I want more firepower… well, I'm a bit partial to my canon," Taylor grinned.
"Of course you are," Amy groaned.
"Don't knock it 'till you try it. There's nothing quite like firing a giant fucking gun with enough recoil to kill any normal human on the spot."
Taylor sat down at her stool and placed the rapier blade back in the forge.
A little while later, she looked up at the sound of Amy's sigh.
"I'm not going to mess with this any more right now. My powers are all over the place, and I can't focus. I think I'm going to go check in with Vicky, anyway," Amy said.
"Have fun. Say 'hi' for me," Taylor said.
"I doubt she's feeling charitable towards you at the moment," Amy said.
"Well, let her know that she can punch me in the face again if she wants, if it will help her feel better," Taylor shrugged.
Amy snorted.
"I'll pass that along," she shook her head.
"Do you want to take the lantern, so you can open a door straight to her?" Taylor asked.
Amy bit her lip worriedly. She seemed to do that a lot. Maybe Taylor would have to steal her some Chapstick.
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Amy said.
"It's up to you. If you'd rather not have the temptation, you can just go through the basement," Taylor replied.
Amy met her eyes and the conflict behind them returned.
"I'll take it, I guess. If the… if it starts to be too much, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to leave without… hurting her," Amy said.
Taylor wasn't exactly sure what Amy was worried about, but she would talk about it when she was ready. Taylor couldn't exactly blame her, since she hadn't told her about the Simurgh yet, either.
Some things were better left unsaid. Putting them into words would make them feel real.
"I trust you, Amy," Taylor said simply. "Can you be back around 7:00 'ish for the meeting?"
"Oh yeah, I'm not staying in that house once Carol gets home," Amy scoffed. "She's a bitch, but I don't really want to kill her. Yet."
"Just let me know if that changes," Taylor hummed. She really did want to kill Brandish. Quite badly, actually. No one was allowed to hurt Amy and then continue to waste perfectly good air.
"You'll be the first to know," Amy grinned, walking over to give her another quick kiss before she grabbed the lantern, threw her black cloak over her shoulders and headed for the door.
Something in Taylor's chest twisted as she watched her leave, and she stared at the door for a while longer even after she was gone.
…
A: I'm free to come talk, for a bit. Are you at the house?
V: Yeah
A: Can I come over?
V: Yeah
Amy looked down at the messages with a worried expression.
It hadn't even been a day since she left, and it felt… weird. Asking permission to go to the house that used to be hers.
Even if it never really felt like it.
From the tone of her messages, Vicky didn't really know how to feel about it, either.
Amy sighed and held the borrowed lantern high.
The power was… tempting.
She could feel where everyone was, and knew how to find them. Taylor, Victoria, Carol, Crystal… and aside from them, she could feel everyone who was important to Taylor. Her girlfriend's father, who she still hadn't met, and…
Emma.
Amy pushed back the urge to take a walk that ended with another corpse for the collection. Taylor would probably be annoyed at her if she went rogue and murdered her… friend? Taylor had gone through a lot to leave her former tormentor and best friend in the past, despite the star that still gleamed in the lantern light. Maybe Amy should, too.
Not that she could bring herself to abandon Victoria, but that was different.
Amy followed the sunlight to her sister and wandered down one of the infinite hallways to a new door.
She opened the door slowly and looked out of the wall of Victoria's bedroom.
Was this… wrong? She didn't really know, anymore. She could keep the door closed, so it wasn't like she was spying…
But the temptation would be there.
Dammit.
She was still a little bit broken. Maybe a lot. She couldn't quite tell, anymore.
Amy sighed and stepped through the door.
"Hey, Vicky," Amy said. She couldn't help but smile under her hood.
"Gah!" Victoria spun around midair and almost crashed into the wall. "What the- Amy? Since when can you do that?"
Amy pulled back the hood of the black robe that Taylor had bought for her on her first visit to the Hospital. It felt like a long time ago.
"Part of the benefits package of joining the Hunt," Amy grinned. "I can be anywhere, anytime."
That wasn't exactly true, but she didn't want to give too much away to the heroes.
"Damn, that's… cool, but also kinda stalker-y," Victoria said. She looked unsure, floating to the floor so she wasn't looking down on Amy quite as much.
Vicky held out her arms nervously and Amy felt her heart crack.
It wasn't fair.
Amy stepped forward and let her sister wrap her in a tight hug, anyway. She couldn't help but see the pulsing light that was her sister's life, but she was able to resist the urge to change anything, this time. Her power was mostly quiet, right now, after the strange interaction with the living heart earlier.
Victoria pulled back and floated backwards over the bed.
"Wait, does that mean that Hunter can just pop up anywhere, instantly, at any moment?" Vicky asked nervously. "I mean, I know she broke into the PHQ, but still."
"Yup," Amy said, popping the 'p' between her lips. "There's a reason that the Protectorate won't fuck with her if they can help it. That's what happened last night. Anne owed Tattletale a favor, and she called us when Lung and Oni Lee started chasing them, so we showed up to help. Interrupted our date and everything. Fucking rude."
It felt… good, to finally talk about this stuff with Victoria. She didn't like lying to her favorite person.
"So, what's it like?" Victoria's expression turned smug, even though she was still obviously off-balance.
"What?" Amy raised an eyebrow.
"Dating a villain, living in a villain lair, all that edgy stuff," Victoria grinned.
"It's…" Amy tried to find the right words without being too… extreme. "It's actually really nice, I guess? There's no judgement, or criticism, because what could possibly be worse than what she's already done? Like, after what Tattletale did, Anne offered to drag her to the Workshop and let me torture her as punishment for trying to kill you-"
"What?" Victoria squawked.
Okay, maybe that was a bad example.
Fuck, her perspective of 'normal' was so out of whack.
"I mean, I didn't, but it's… tempting, and a bit scary, to have that kind of power over people. There's a… freedom, a weightlessness, that comes with being able to do anything you want," Amy said. "So yeah, there might be a bunch of dead Nazi's hanging around the place, and there's an army of monster dogs down the hall, but… it's pretty great, overall," Amy shrugged.
Victoria blinked and recovered her facade quickly.
"Plus, living with your girlfriend twenty-four seven has to be nice," Vicky grinned. "No more trying to sneak around when the parents aren't home."
"No, I just have to worry about whether or not Taylor remembered to put Alabaster away in his box," Amy grumbled without thinking.
"WHAT?"
Shit.
…
Taylor stood in the new testing chamber, ignoring the hole in the wall and the rubble piled on the floor from her last vial consumption.
None of her new recruits fit the nature of her most recently acquired vials, and they hadn't earned them yet, anyway. Rachel and Amy had both proven themselves multiple times over before they received new powers. She would need to spread out the miraculous gifts if she wanted to ensure her Hunt's continued loyalty.
She would find some way to make it fair. Incentivize them in a consistent way so that they didn't lose sight of their goals.
Later.
For now, she had a new enemy's essence to imbibe.
She slid Oni Lee's vial into the injector.
Her eyes were just beginning to open, and she had new enemies that watched from the shadows. She needed to be stronger, to protect her Hunt and her Dream.
There were designs in her head that still danced in the fog.
She had given away her last two vials. It was only natural that she keep this one for herself, after all the trouble she went through to get it.
Taylor slammed the vial home.
It was a bit like welcoming back an old friend, after watching Rachel and Amy go through the same unknowable process.
Her mind expanded.
Her eyes opened.
The celestial stars shone down on her upturned face, even during the daylight.
Eldritch wisdom is a blessing, even if it drives one mad.
She was more, than just this prison of flesh.
The physical shell was transient, just like everything else. The ash swirled around her and her indestructible body was unmade in the starlight.
What was the right of this blood and bone, to contain her moonlit Self?
There was something in the beyond, and even parahumans were blind to its gaze.
For we are naught but ash, and to ash we shall return.
Everyone, except for her.
Taylor's body dissolved into ash, but she was not destroyed. She remained, in the dim light of her infinite Labyrinth.
She was nothing, but she was also something more.
And then she returned, just as quickly as she left. She stumbled as the mortal coil overtook her once more, and she felt heavy.
She hadn't realized just how cumbersome a physical body was, until she had existed without one.
Taylor took a moment to center herself, shaking off the pervasive nihilism that clung to her mind after briefly losing herself to the moon and stars.
She could feel a new metaphorical muscle, a new ability that lay just beyond her fingertips.
Out of curiosity, she grabbed a piece of shattered tile and swung it down towards her own arm.
Just as the improvised blade would have shattered against her indestructible skin, she reached out and pulled on the threads to the beyond.
The jagged shard of ceramic passed straight through her arm with a swirl of familiar ash.
Taylor smiled.
The effect didn't last more than a split second, and she would have to practice to get the timing down… but it would be nice to be able to avoid getting smacked across the battlefield like a rag doll, again.
Her grin widened and she bit her lip, looking at the remains of the wall in front of her.
The last time she tried this, she hit her head pretty hard.
This time, her skull was made of steel. It would be fine.
Taylor quickstepped forward and turned her body to ash just as she entered the shadow.
She appeared on the other side of the wall, unharmed.
Hell yeah.
Part of her still felt a bit guilty for not sharing this vial with her Hunt, but…
She was the first of them, and she had a somewhat selfish desire to remain the greatest. She would support them, and empower them…
But she would also rule them, and her power would remain absolute.
Her hunters may take to the field to execute her plans in the future…
But when she entered the fray herself, all would tremble and know that Death loomed before them.
Taylor chuckled to herself as she made her way back to the Workshop.
Amy would definitely make fun of her if she ever said something like that out loud.
…
"I'm kind of surprised that Carol didn't have the PRT here going over everything with a fine-toothed comb," Amy said as she threw her favorite clothes and other random knick-knacks from around her room into a suitcase.
"Me, too, actually," Vicky replied from where she floated by the ceiling fan. "I kinda blew up on her when I got back last night, but she went straight to the office this morning like nothing was wrong. I overheard Aunt Sarah saying something about the PRT, but I was a bit overwhelmed and wasn't listening closely. I don't know if they know that you've made a run for it, just yet."
Huh.
Amy opened her desk drawer and pulled out the original blood vial Taylor had given her on the hospital roof.
It felt like a long time ago.
"A present. I figured that the world's best healer should double check my work."
Amy let out an involuntary snort. She was doing quite a bit more than double checking Taylor's work, now.
"Is that…" Vicky didn't seem sure what to say.
"One of Hunter's vials, yeah. She gave it to me, to 'double check her work', before… well, before everything. Before you walked in on us, before I kissed her, before…"
Amy went a bit red. She hadn't meant to say that part out loud.
"How did that happen, anyway? Like, I get it, but… it's still a lot to wrap my brain around," Vicky said quietly.
"It was… right before the Empire thing. She… saw the broadcast, at the hospital. We were having dinner, and… it was stupid, but…"
Amy pulled the rumpled envelope out of her pocket. She always kept it with her, even if it was silly.
"She gave me this, and told me I could only open it if she died, and… I just… snapped. The idea of never seeing her again, of losing her forever, and never… never getting to feel like that, ever again, it was… intolerable," Amy said. She wasn't sure why she was rambling about this, but it felt good to unload everything to Vicky after keeping things from her sister for so long.
"You still haven't opened it?" Victoria asked curiously. "I don't know if I'd be able to stand the mystery."
"No, I… I really didn't want her to die, so… Vicky, you know what my powers are. I… I broke my rules. I changed Anne, I made her stronger, more durable… I made it so that no one can take her away from me, but I…" Amy trailed off, not even sure where she was going with this.
"That's why she's so freaking strong!" Victoria suddenly exclaimed. "I knew I was missing something! The initial ratings were before you got your hands on her; that's why she can suddenly take bullets and she shrugged off my punch like it was nothing!"
Amy didn't know what to say to that. She hadn't meant to talk this much.
"Sorry," Victoria said after the quiet stretched for a moment. "I didn't mean… Well, okay, is it weird that I actually feel better now that I know that it was you who let her beat me so easily? Like, getting tossed around by your girlfriend like that wasn't great for the ol' self-esteem, but I don't feel nearly as bad now that I know she was cheating with your broken biokinetic power boosts."
"Speaking of which, Anne said that you could punch her in the face again if it would make you feel better about the whole situation," Amy couldn't help but grin.
"No! No, it doesn't help, it's just a reminder that she's… you know what, I'm not going to complain about it anymore. Maybe, if she wants to spar sometime…" Vicky looked unsure. "Actually, forget I said that. I don't think it's a good idea for me to be seen sparring with the last remaining villain gang boss in the city, especially after your little make-out session leaked."
Amy hadn't been aware of that last part.
"It's public, then?" Amy sighed. Part of her had still been hoping in vain that this could be covered up somehow.
"Yup. I don't know if the PRT just gave up trying to censor it or what, but there are a couple clips that have been going wild on PHO all morning. Do you want to see?" Victoria pulled up her phone.
"No. I definitely don't want to see. I'm going to go hide in my villain lair and ignore all the drama, thanks very much," Amy grumbled.
"Are you gonna pick a new name?" Vicky asked as they made their way back to Victoria's bedroom with her few remaining possessions. "You know, now that you're an evil villain and whatnot?"
Amy sighed.
"No, I think I'll be just… Amy, for a while. I'm tired of being Panacea, tired of all the bullshit, just… tired," she said.
"Well…" Victoria didn't seem to know how to say goodbye again, either. "Have fun, I guess? Try not to torture any of your underlings unless they really deserve it? I don't actually know what villains do, when they aren't out committing crimes."
Amy hugged her sister and smiled.
"Anne just tinkers a lot, mainly. She talks to the corpses, sometimes."
"Super weird."
"Yeah, I know right?" Amy laughed.
They stared at each other in silence for a while.
"You really care about her, don't you?" Victoria asked suddenly.
"Yeah," Amy answered. She didn't know what else to say.
"She's lucky to have you," Victoria smiled.
She's not the lucky one.
"See you around, Vicky," Amy said.
Then she stepped through the flaming doorway, back into the dark.
…
Taylor stepped out of the wall and into the now familiar bedroom of her seer.
"Good afternoon, Taylor," Dinah said, already sitting in her desk chair and facing the blank portion of the wall that Taylor appeared from.
"Hey, Dinah," Taylor smiled at her. She knew that her new friend was probably trying her best to keep up a strong facade, but it was still a bit sad. It wasn't fair that she had to deal with all of this.
Instead of the colorful pajamas from last night, Dinah now wore a white button-down and gray slacks that somehow looked both completely natural on her and too drab for her age.
The only splash of color was the red ribbon she had tied around one wrist like a bracelet. Taylor wondered if it improved the numbers, or if it was just a personal preference.
There was an old fashioned music box playing on Dinah's desk, and Taylor let the melody wash over her while she waited for the song to end.
"It helps, when the pain gets too overwhelming," Dinah said softly when the silence finally fell. "Cause, and effect. It's predictable. The more I wind the box, the longer it plays. I know exactly how many turns will give me the desired duration. I don't have to see the future to know that. It's… comforting, to know that some things are concrete."
"The little things…" Taylor trailed off. "Some things should remain consistent, to keep us from drifting away. I still enjoy my tea, in the mornings, even though I don't know if I actually need to eat, anymore. It's entirely possible that the blood and Amy's enhancements would sustain me in perpetuity."
Dinah nodded, continuing to stare at the still mechanisms of the music box.
"You already know why I'm here," Taylor said.
"Yes," Dinah answered simply.
Taylor turned the blood vial over in her hands.
"Faith is… important. The act of asking about the future impacts it, no matter the answer to the question. So I'm not going to ask. I'm going to trust you, and hope that the future holds more than just the endless nightmare," Taylor said.
Taylor loaded the blood vial into her injector, and handed it to Dinah.
Dinah took it with an expression of grim purpose, staring into the ruby depths.
"Our eyes are yet to open," Dinah murmured softly, and for a moment it looked like she was about to cry.
Her eyes met Taylor's steady gaze, and the facade cracked just enough that Taylor could see the scared child underneath the weight of her eldritch knowledge.
"Do not fear the Old Blood," Taylor said, even though it was Dinah who told her that in the first place.
Dinah injected Coil's essence into her bloodstream, and her eyes shone with harrowing moonlight.
"Finally," Dinah stared through Taylor at things she could only imagine. "I can see."
Taylor waited in silence until the unknowable presence subsided and the world untwisted around them.
Dinah leaned forward and wound the music box again. The eerie sound filled the quiet as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back in the chair.
"I'm curious, but I won't ask unless I should know," Taylor said eventually.
"My original power allowed me to see potential futures, but it was… overwhelming, at best," Dinah said, her eyes still closed. "It was easiest to interpret them as percentages, but it has always been far more than that, under the surface. The expansive nature of my sight was compounded by the fact that in a scant few potential futures, you were destined to offer me this new power. Now that I can actually see the potential timelines in greater detail, simulate them within my mind, I can finally hold my own against our enemies."
That sounded… good. Maybe not for Dinah's sanity, but…
"My past was further complicated by the fact that I already knew that I could potentially acquire this ability in the future, which subsequently affected the numbers in that present. As long as we remained on a path where this future was possible, I could base my previous percentages on my future abilities. It was painful, and difficult, a bit like trying to squint through a single keyhole into a blinding light, but it was possible. If you were never going to give me this vial, I would never have been able to get it for you. But you did, so I could. Paradoxes are the nature of precognition, for better or worse," Dinah explained.
Taylor nodded thoughtfully. She understood why Amy avoided thinking about this kind of stuff too hard. Unfortunately, she didn't have that luxury.
"I won't ask what I need to do next," Taylor said. It was complicated, trying to think around the spiraling strands of fate. Either she should do what she would have already done, without asking the question, or she should do what she would inevitably do, with the knowledge that Dinah chose to give her.
Nobody ever talked about the Butterfly Effect in the context of the actions of the present affecting the future, only the actions of the past affecting the present. But they were one and the same. The future was tomorrow's present, and the present tomorrow's past.
"Prepare yourself, Hunter," Dinah said carefully. "She approaches, and the nightmare looms."
Taylor's gut clenched, even though she had already known what was coming.
The Simurgh would inevitably descend. Maybe not today, but soon. Dinah might be able to stall her with precognitive games, future moves and countermoves that never actually happened in the present, but it wouldn't keep the Endbringer at bay forever. In a way, it had already happened.
She needed to prepare her city and her hunters as best she could. She would need to be careful who she told, though. The ripples of cast stones often returned as waves.
All she could do was trust herself, and Dinah. Losing hope would only hasten the incoming calamity. There was no point in doubting herself, when what would happen had already been foreseen and accounted for, even if she couldn't see it herself.
She just had to do her best, and hope.
…
Lisa relished the power at her fingertips from Coil's primary control room.
He might have been an absolute bastard, but Thomas Calvert was thorough. He had everything that she could ever ask for tucked away in his little hidey-hole.
Money? She hadn't actually done a full accounting yet, but it was many, many millions.
Resources? She had multiple construction and shipping companies ready to provide any necessary materials or facilities.
Knowledge? Coil hoarded information like a miserly dragon guarding his stash of gold coins. Every organization, every parahuman, both hero and villain, was documented somewhere in his files.
She took great pleasure in devouring as many as she could, connecting dots and forming inferences that no one else could possibly know.
It was addicting as fuck.
"Lisa," a familiar voice next to her said.
She jumped at Hunter's unexpected presence again. Twice in one day.
It was only a little bit embarrassing.
But her name wasn't Hunter, or Anne, was it? She was Taylor Hebert, the dead girl from Winslow.
It seemed ironic that Lisa was the last to learn her new boss' actual name, and she didn't even hear it from Taylor herself.
"You have to stop doing that," Lisa said, turning in her desk chair and raising an eyebrow at her capricious patron.
"I didn't actually mean to, that time," Taylor grinned at her.
Did not mean to startle you. Finds your tunnel vision amusing.
Super useful information, there, power. Thanks for that.
"What can I do for you, then?" Lisa asked, turning back to her work before she lost her place.
"I need materials, and some custom orders. I want to get everyone outfitted and ready to fight larger threats as soon as possible. Villain gangs in the surrounding cities are going to see the openings in Brockton as an opportunity, and only some will be sensible enough to avoid following in the Empire's footsteps," Taylor said. "I also need better forging equipment. Power hammers, fly presses, larger belt grinders and sanders."
"Send me a shopping list," Lisa said, opening up a new database.
Taylor handed her a… handwritten sheet of smudged paper, written in messy pencil.
Lisa sighed. She was working for a barbarian. Horrifying.
"I'll figure it out," she said.
"Excellent. Do you have anything to report on the mercenary front?" Taylor asked.
There were several of them working at various consoles around the room, and more working in the wider facility to keep everything up and running smoothly.
"Yes. I've been meeting with them one-on-one and organizing them into new squads based on their psych profiles and the different kinds of work we'll need done," Lisa rambled while she worked.
"Do we have any candidates for enhancement, yet? It would be good to have an example, someone loyal and competent to keep the rest engaged and enthusiastic," Taylor said. "If they can see the heights they could one day reach, they'll be more likely to take initiative."
Hunter was scarily good at manipulating people, sometimes, despite her insanity. Lisa didn't know who was using who, here.
Luckily, Lisa had already thought of that.
"Dimitri Melyk. Ukrainian guy. Mercenary to the core, but professional. Has experience as a sniper. Bit of a gambling habit and the standard mix of alcoholism and cigar appreciation, but overall takes his reputation and his work seriously. Used to be working under one of Coil's preferred scumbags, but I think he'd do better in a leadership role," Lisa rattled off. "Shows enthusiasm for the potential upgrades as a means to further control his own life, but wouldn't admit to it in so many words. No shortsighted desires to usurp me or you that I can see. Finds satisfaction in being a competent and trusted subordinate, but also wants recognition and leadership over others."
Taylor took the offered report and leafed through it. Even though it physically pained her, Lisa had already printed it out, since she knew Taylor wouldn't like having to scroll through digital documents.
It was like working for an old man, sometimes. That wasn't even getting started on the fucking candles.
"Good. Bring him with you tonight. We're having a meeting with the whole crew, and we'll be doing some enhancements," Taylor said while she read.
Enhancements performed by Panacea.
"Uh, Boss, that might be-"
"You will not be participating. Amy has agreed to be in the same room as you without twisting you into a living purgatory, but that's the most we can ask of her self control," Taylor said, glancing up to meet Lisa's eyes. "However, as a consolation prize, I do have a new toy for you."
Lisa raised her eyebrows.
Her new boss put down the file and reached under her coat, pulling out…
"Is that… a sword… with a gun for a handle?" Lisa couldn't help but ask.
"Or a gun with a sword stuck on the end, depending on who you ask," Taylor grinned at her.
Lisa took the old fashioned Tinkertech weapon and turned it over in her hands while Taylor rambled about her creation.
"Six shot revolving cylinder built into the cross-guard. Cylinder release is here," Taylor gestured to the side of the hilt. "It might not be as convenient as your 9mm for dealing with squishy humans, but the blade will cut basically anything and the quicksilver rounds pack quite a bit more punch than any mundane gun. I did what I could to make sure the recoil wouldn't break your arm, but it still kicks like a horse. Still, it gives you an option to put down Brutes or armored enemies, just in case."
It was overdramatic, and a bit ridiculous, but Lisa loved it. She buckled the custom scabbard over her costume, angling it opposite her current utility belt so she could draw it from her left hip while her trusted pistol remained on her right.
"Don't I get a silly hat, too?" Lisa sent Taylor a crooked grin.
Taylor just tapped her hand-written order sheet.
"That's on the list. We're going to need a selection for everyone to customize their costumes from," Taylor said. "Spandex and motorcycle helmets just aren't going to cut it for the Hunt."
Lisa groaned. Of course, they were all going to get wrapped up in Hunter's stupid aesthetic.
It wasn't the worst part about getting tangled up in her murder cult, but it was up there.
This was probably all Coil's fault, somehow.
"Wait, I also have something you'll want to see," Lisa spun in her chair and faced Taylor again.
"Cool, surprise me," Taylor said.
"There's a secret organization pulling the strings of the PRT and the Protectorate," Lisa said, unable to contain the excitement of a new mystery. "They're-"
"Cauldron, yes. They sell superpowers. I'm aware," Taylor said casually, as if that wasn't the biggest secret in the fucking world.
"That isn't fair at all! How the fuck do you know that?" Lisa griped. It had taken her hours of sifting through Coil's documents to make the necessary connections, and the name hadn't even been in his files at all!
"I can't just give away all of my secrets," Taylor grinned, but Lisa could see just the barest edge of something dark underneath.
Is unhappy with the circumstances that provided knowledge of Cauldron. Does not feel guilty. Feels that she should feel guilty. Dislikes using Master abilities.
Hunter Mastered an asset with knowledge of Cauldron.
Well… shit.
Just how many Mastered agents did Taylor have wandering around?
"You…" Lisa cut off as it occurred to her that this was likely one of the other things Taylor didn't want spread around, along with her immortality. "Well, did you also know that they're responsible for the Case 53s?"
At least Taylor had the decency to look surprised by that. Her Mastered asset clearly hadn't known about that bit.
That part wasn't in Coil's documentation either, but it made too much sense once Lisa's power suggested it. They had to test their formulas somehow, and there were bound to be mishaps.
"Interesting. And potentially useful, if we ever need to discredit the PRT," Taylor hummed thoughtfully. "Good work, Lisa. Keep me posted about any new developments."
"Aye aye, Captain," Lisa gave a mock salute and returned to her work.
She refused to acknowledge the warm feeling glowing in her chest at the praise, because she was better than that, dammit.
…
Taylor stood before the beating heart of the Labyrinth as her hunters assembled in the ruined atrium.
Amy shifted uneasily behind her, arms crossed and face tensed in a mix of apprehension and excitement.
Taylor knew that her girlfriend did truly want to be here, wanted to flex her powers and prove her value by empowering the Hunt, but there was still a part of her that rebelled against the idea. Old habits died hard.
She gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go to face her hunters.
Rachel. Her first soldier, who had her back unreservedly, even against impossible odds. Their bond was forged in battle and tempered in blood, and required no words. Her iron mask was wary but trusting, as always.
Alec. The Master who curbed his unholy appetites to avoid becoming his father. She would help him break his chains and be rid of his fear, once and for all. She would show him a better path, even for monsters such as they.
Brian. Plagued with uncertainty and doubts. Scared to lose what little he had, but too timid to do what was necessary to keep it. She would forge him into the weapon he always had the potential to become, giving him what he needed but didn't know to ask for in the process.
Emily. Similarly apprehensive and unsure, although out of inexperience rather than caution. She was emotionally scarred, and lonely, but Taylor would provide her with the support, security, and companionship that she so desperately craved, even if she wouldn't admit it to herself.
Lisa. Her new lieutenant. Sharp and troublesome despite her social acuity, Lisa was far more vital to their success as an organization than Taylor would have originally preferred. She was the one maintaining order in the eyes of the outside world, keeping the finances functioning and the resources flowing. Despite what Taylor had said to Amy this afternoon, she really didn't want her girlfriend to scare Lisa off or kill her. She was the most objectively valuable member of the Hunt by far, aside from Amy, obviously.
Dinah wasn't here, but that was okay. If her seer needed to be present, she would have already arrived. The web of fate spun ever outward.
The Undersiders were gone, and in their place stood the Hunt.
"Welcome, everyone," Taylor said, the heartbeat echoing slowly behind her. She was well aware that this was over-dramatic and a bit silly, but sometimes symbolism was important. Plus, she wanted to feel like the villain in a fantasy novel, dammit. She was a goddamn gang leader in the process of starting a cult; she could do whatever the fuck she wanted.
Even if Amy made fun of her for it later.
"All of you have joined the Hunt willingly, for your own reasons. I promised to support you in your goals, and ask nothing of you that you aren't willing to give," Taylor continued, looking deliberately around the loose circle. "We start, tonight, with the first of the enhancements available to you. None are required, but all are… recommended."
No one spoke. Emily shivered a bit, and Taylor shot her a subtle grin.
"The first thing you should know is that the Labyrinth is infinite, but not unnavigable. In order to see the doors and walk its halls without losing your way, you must take communion," Taylor gestured to her original chalice, carved from Cricket's skull after her second true massacre.
She had more than enough parahuman ritual blood for all of them, now.
"You don't have to partake, if it is… abhorrent, to you, but it will mean that you'll only be able to enter the Labyrinth with the help of one of the others," Taylor said.
She reached over and carefully filled the cup with ruby ichor.
"Who wishes to claim the freedom and security offered by the infinite Labyrinth, and partake in communion?" Taylor asked with a confidence that was only slightly forced.
It was silent, for a moment. Aside from the heartbeat.
"Fuck it, let's ball," Alec grinned widely and strode over with a skip in his step. "Just practice for the future, right, oh Dark Mistress?"
Taylor just raised an eyebrow but otherwise didn't acknowledge his antics.
Another member who can never meet Assault, then.
Alec lifted the cup in a toast to her and drank.
"Mmmm," he hummed and smacked his lips. "Tastes like Kool-Aid."
She didn't deign to comment on that, either.
He flounced back to his place in the circle and shot Brian a wink, getting a pained expression in response.
Lisa groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I already knew this was coming, but… you're still a creepy little shit, Hunter," Lisa said as she approached. "Being stupidly powerful doesn't make it any less creepy."
Taylor grinned at her, and she saw Lisa suppress a shiver of her own. She was well aware that the barbs were just Lisa's way of taking some manner of control back when she felt out of her depth.
Her slightly reluctant lieutenant took a sip and shuddered.
"My power does not like that, for the record," Lisa grumbled, walking to stand in front of Dimitri again.
Taylor couldn't help but smile wider. For all her complaining, Lisa had taken communion just as easily as the rest.
"Fine," Brian said, a mix of sullen and resolved. He walked forward and drank without fanfare.
Taylor nodded seriously to him, making eye contact before he turned. He held her gaze for a long moment before finally returning the gesture.
Emily still looked unsure, glancing between Taylor and the others.
"You'll be one of us, regardless," Taylor interjected softly. "But I'd like you to drink."
She didn't elaborate, just letting Emily decide for herself.
Taylor knew what she would do, though. Even if Emily wasn't sure yet.
"Alright, then," Emily finally said. She walked forward quickly and hesitated for just a moment before taking a careful sip.
"Good job," Taylor smiled at her. She got a reluctant smile in return before their newest member returned to her previous spot.
"Alright," Taylor took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, facing the group once more. "You will all now be able to navigate the halls of the Hospital without my guidance. I shouldn't have to say that this privilege should not be abused, and I won't appreciate unexpected strangers showing up in my Workshop without a good reason. Don't fuck with my projects, don't fuck with the dogs, don't enter the Tonitrus room, and don't irritate Amy. If you do any of those exceptionally stupid and self-destructive things, I'm not responsible for what happens to you as a result."
All of them, even Alec, nodded when she met their eyes.
"Good. On to our next order of business…"
Taylor glanced at Amy and she walked forward, keeping her dark hood up for dramatic effect.
And she gave Taylor crap about being a drama queen. It takes one to know one. Or date one, in this case.
"Our resident physician here does excellent work with her knife," Taylor grinned.
Amy drew her scalpel from under her cloak.
"How do you guys feel about magic tattoos?" Taylor asked with somewhat false levity.
Lisa rolled her eyes. Dimitri looked cautiously excited, although he did a good job of schooling his expression.
Brian just looked resigned to his fate. Good, he was learning.
Emily looked nervous again, but she would come around quickly.
Alec looked mildly amused by the whole presentation, but Taylor could tell he was intrigued despite himself.
"Who wants to go first?" Amy drawled. "I don't have all night."
Her bedside manner left much to be desired, but Taylor wasn't complaining.
They were all in too deep to turn back now.
…