There were many things that Piggot regretted in her life. Volunteering her squad for Elisburg, trusting those damn Capes to hold their positions like duty demanded it, and accepting this damn desk job of a position when she could be back on the frontlines with her rifle and-
Nevermind. Right now she had another problem to deal with on her damn cellphone.
"Yes Nana… no I understand. I've just been busy dealing with things in Brockton Bay." Piggot lifted her phone away from her ear to avoid the inevitable tirade.
"Yes I know you've covered wars- that doesn't matter. The situation is too volatile here and you being here won't help," Piggot nearly shouted. Her eyes went wide soon after. "What do you mean you've already bought a plane ticket!? The last thing we need is your sensationalist writings you call news to-"
She cursed as the woman hung up on her. Even now in her 80s or 90s, hard to say the woman was never honest with her age, Nana was still as fit as always. How that wrinkly old hag could possibly still be moving around like that, much less without a wheelchair, made Piggot immediately think that Parahuman intervention had to have been involved. That same Parahuman was also probably the reason Piggot's kidney "miraculously" grew back during her coma after Elisburg. And yes that girl was Parahuman not a Scion damned Occultist or whatever she called herself. Would be a good Cape name though.
Unfortunately, apart from the Occultist who was apparently a family friend, Nana was always tight-lipped about any of her sources or contacts. All Piggot could do was stew in the fact that the same Parahumans that abandoned her and her team were also apparently the reason she could fight again. Not that that really mattered much with her position as Director. Couldn't exactly go out with the troops on the field with her current position.
Piggot grunted as she resolved to schedule another workout in the gym and a session in the shooting range at the end of the day. Even if she was stuck on desk duty, she refused to let any of her other skills atrophy.
Her phone rang again and she picked it up.
"Director there's a young girl down here that says she's fa-"
"Bring her up," Piggot sighed. Of course say her name and she'd come. Marina, no last name, always had such impeccable timing.
It didn't take long for a petite familiar young woman to enter her office and be sitting across from her. It wasn't hard to recognize her considering her appearance hadn't changed for the last twenty or so years apart from whatever clothes or makeup was currently in fashion.
"What do you need Marina?"
Marina smirked. "Is that how you greet your Great Godmother?"
"What do you need?" Piggot bit out.
"Alright straight to business. Just want to let you know I picked up an apprentice."
Piggot just stared at the very strange young-old woman. "You found another Parahuman? Shouldn't they be in the Wards?"
"Not a Parahuman. Just a normal girl, been teaching her some of my Magic."
Goddamn it this woman was worse than Myrddin. "Alright so you have this 'regular girl' who you are teaching 'magic.' Why are you telling me if you don't want her to join the Wards?"
The Occultist was notoriously neutral and a Cape that used obscurity as her greatest advantage. The only ones aware of her identity were Piggot, close family friends, and the Chief Director. Otherwise, the woman just kept to herself and avoided Cape fights, which honestly made her easier to deal with than the vast majority of Capes in the country.
Didn't mean Piggot wasn't annoyed with the girl often. Consequences of family after all.
"Because unlike me…. She's a bit of a whippersnapper. Troublemaker ya know? I'm hoping she'll listen to me and her dad… but I was also a teenager once."
Girl you still looked like a teenager now.
"If you do run into a girl with Occultist abilities just try to treat her lightly," Marina finished.
"Fine," Piggot grunted. The woman had healed her and was a family friend since before she was born. She could give her that much at least. "What else do you want?"
"Just wanted to check on you. Anything cool happening?"
"It's Brockton Bay," Piggot replied, deadpan.
"I know. Always something happening," Marina mused. "I mean with your family though?"
Piggot sighed. "Nana's coming to Brockton."
"Your grandmother!?" Marina immediately perked up in her seat. "Wow it must've been like years since I've seen her."
"You talk with her all the time."
"I mean in person. She's always so busy… and I probably do need to give her another checkup."
"Oh Gods that woman's going to live centuries with you around," Piggot moaned.
"That's the plan!" Marina replied happily. "You know I can always give you some-"
"No. Healing my kidney was enough. No more."
Marina pouted. "Then at least let me give you some charms. Some protection so I can actually see you grow into an old woman."
"I'll think about it." Her charms at the very least could be a preventative measure for the Wards. Just had to find a way to make sure they couldn't be traced back to their Creator. As eclectic and varied as her Powers were, the Occultist made some incredibly reliable items… and other things provided you could bear the cost.
"Why is your grandmother coming here anyway?"
And there was the million-dollar question. "Not sure. She wouldn't say."
"Well I'm sure she'll tell us when she gets here."
"They counted eight people in the building. Three upstairs, four downstairs, and one in a hidden basement," Taylor said, reciting the information that Steve and his friends had given her.
"Wow. You know I never thought rats could be so helpful," Horizon commented as she peered over the side of the building they were currently on. "Really cuts down on the time scouting I usually have to do."
"Yea well… I have to do something with my Magic."
"Magic?"
"Powers. Sorry. Been watching too much Myrddin recently," Taylor replied.
"Oh yeah he's awesome. Even with the Magic thing. So your Powers isn't just talking to rats?" Horizon asked.
"It's slow but they've been growing. I can shoot a small fireball at people. Maybe cause an explosion if I focus on a single space long enough."
"Alright well shelve the lethal Powers for now. I got a taser, pepper spray, and this rag full of Chloroform!"
"Where did you even get Chloroform?"
"Anyway we should get you a Cape name," Horizon exclaimed, ignoring the question as she took out a cloth and began soaking it with a bottle of what could only be said Chloroform. There was something a bit disturbing with how cheerful she was using it.
Taylor looked down at her outfit, which was basically a large form-hiding hoodie and a cloth mask. Not really the image of a great Hero… but she did have an idea for a name.
"Witch," Taylor replied. It was essentially what she was now that she was learning from Marina.
"Hmm Witch. Well you certainly got the magic and supernatural theme going," Horizon replied. "I would know, dad was crazy about the stuff."
"Really?"
"Yea. Anyway, are there any routes your rats can tell me about?"
"Yea if you can fit into rat sized holes."
Horizon lifted her hand and expanded a small bit of space above it.
"Alright stupid question," Taylor admitted. "Steve will lead you."
Rat and Hero saluted each other before running off to the Nazi hideout. That left Taylor alone on the rooftop to just… chill. Really not much she could do with the few spells she did have at the moment. She would really have to expand her arsenal at some point otherwise Horizon would keep getting to have all the fun.
Well now was as good a time as any. Creating a small flame to use as a reading light, Taylor then took out a book apparently made of… skin. Disgusting of course but the written contents were genuinely valuable and understanding the scriptures would be how she developed her magic even further.
Taylor had gotten through a few pages of the Skin Bible by the time Horizon had come back with a triumphant look on their faces. That and a neat pile of cash that she dumped right on top of Taylor much to her shock.
"What the…" was all Taylor could say as she looked at all the money. That was a lot of bills. "I thought looting was illegal."
Missy shook her hand. "It depends, gray area. Cash is usually fine since it usually can't be traced back to its origin and any scrap or machinery that Tinkers could use is usually free game. Guns and drugs though are a nono so I left those in a pile for the cops who should be coming-" the sound of sirens announced the arrival of the local law enforcement. "Now! You wanna come with me to make the report?"
"I think I'll keep myself discreet for now," Taylor replied. Best not to show herself to the public until she actually had permission from Dad and Marina to patrol.
"Okay then. Can I mention you at least?" Horizon asked.
"Just that you have a partner. And nothing about my Powers."
Horizon saluted. "Aye Aye. Split the cash in half while I'm gone." She then jumped off the roof.
Taylor did as she was instructed and began to split the loot between. About a grand each. More money than she ever held at any one time. So much that she didn't know what to do with it apart from stuffing it under her mattress for the time being.
Maybe open a new bank account? Couldn't exactly show it to Dad or Marina without either of them getting suspicious.
Taylor only had a few minutes to muse about it before Horizon popped back onto the roof and began escorting her home.
"So. How'd you like your first patrol?" Horizon asked as they hopped from rooftop to rooftop.
"It was cool," Taylor replied. "Hopefully I can get more spells so I can help out more."
"You're already helping me out a ton. You have no idea how hard it is going off on my own. Without any backup I always had to be super careful. Normally I'd be scouting that building for at least a few days before I tried infiltrating."
"Glad I could help."
"So… you got anything else planned for tonight?"
"After this patrol? Not really," Taylor replied. Probably wash up at home and read more Skin Bibles. Not like she had to worry about her schoolwork, she is still months ahead of that. "You got anything planned."
Horizon scratched her head awkwardly. "Probably just patrol more actually."
"It's late though. What about your parents?"
"Don't really see my dad much… after the divorce." For once Horizon didn't sound very confident. Just awkward, sad, and even a bit embarrassed. "And my mom is on a business trip for a few days. I'd just be going back to an empty home."
Oh… well that sounded… lonely. It was something very familiar to Taylor which was why she didn't hesitate with her next question. "You wanna hang out at my place? If anyone asks you're someone I met at the library."
There was a bit of an age gap between them but Horizon seemed like a cool person to be around. Also Dennis was cool and all but Taylor really needed another friend who was a girl, especially now that Emma was out of the picture. Besides, Horizon seemed quite mature for her age.
Horizon looked at her with wide eyes, looking less like a Hero and more like the young girl she was. "R-really? I wouldn't want to impose."
"It's fine. Dad works a lot so my house is pretty empty too." Taylor took off her mask and smiled. "Besides you already know who I am."
Horizon replied by pulling down her scarf and revealing the rest of her face. "I'm Missy."