The New District of Metro-Washington

[Xero Key]

"Thank you Mister President. Yes, we'll be awaiting SHIELD's representative. Yes sir, we will maintain the quarantine until given leave. Thank you sir. You too sir." Director Emily Piggot, nominally the head of the East-North-East division of the Parahuman Response Teams hung up her phone and then her head in her hands. "Jesus Christ, what a week." Her phone buzzed with a light signaling it was her secretary. "yes?"

"Ma'am. Armsmaster is ready to present his findings in the conference room."

"Thank you. I'm on my way now." Emily sighed and exited her new office, having been moved to the Protectorate Rig after the Incident. She would not be one to deny her distaste for parahumans, a distaste quickly being added to their new neighbors, but it was safer to have them as a wall then the PRT HQ. She entered the conference room which may as well have been abuzz with tension. "Alright, lay it on me." Emily ordered, sitting down at the table.

Armsmaster nodded before turning on a projector, presenting a skyline familiar to anyone who had visited the nation's capital and was looking through a funhouse mirror. "This is the Washington Metropolis, more commonly known as Metro-Washington or Metwash by the locals. It is the capital of the American Union of Federated States, the dimensional equivalent of the United States of America that we know." He moved the presentation to the next slide, an aerial shot of the city with highlights noting Brockton Bay's position.

"As you can see," Armsmaster continued. "Metro-Washington here is a large city more equivalent to Manhattan or more accurately, Tokyo than our own capital." Another slide, a blonde flying man in a blue uniform carrying a pentagonal shield with an S like symbol on it. "This is the premiere hero of this Earth: Super-Soldier."

Assault coughed back a laugh just before Battery could elbow him in the ribs. "Sorry, sorry. It's just... I thought Miss Militia was overly patriotic sounding. He nodded towards the flag fatigue wearing cape.

"Captain Clark Rogers," Armsmaster continued.

"His identity is public?" Piggot questioned.

"Declassified actually." Armsmaster brought up another slide, this one showing a registration for a World War II era Army officer. "Clark Rogers. Born 1914 in Smallville, Kansas. Joined the Army after numerous rejections as part of a experimental procedure involving..." The professional hero seemed unsure of how to continue. "Extraterrestrial in origin."

"Aliens?" Miss Militia asked. "Are you serious?"

"Have you ever known me to not?" Armsmaster shook his head. "But yes, alien. Something crashed in Kansas in 1938 and he was the only success of the project. He vanished near the end of the Second World War in combat with... Ultra-Metallo, resurfacing in 2000. From there he was a cartoonist and comic artist for the Daily Planet until his identity was declassified. Currently that profession is a side job to acting as the leader of the global superhero team, the Justifiers."

Velocity shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "That sounds ominous."

"Agreed, I don't like the sound of a team that 'justifies' their actions. Any weaknesses?" Piggot ordered.

"One. Time." Armsmaster brought up a long distance, black and white recording from a plane showing the Ultra-Metallo robot exploding. "This was Super-Soldier's last appearance during the war. The fallout spread a unique substance that is harmful to him across the planet. According to all projections, he is growing weaker due to the constant exposure."

"Any others of note?" Piggot asked.

"Several." Armsmaster moved through several slides in quick succession. "Dark Claw, a vigilante from New Gotham; Rapid healing, enhanced senses, and metal skeleton. Amazon, meta-mutant raised by immortal warrior woman capable of altering the weather. Speed Demon, stories say he's a demon possessed super speedster."

"His skull is on fire." Battery did not hold back from elbowing Assault this time. "What? It has to be mentioned!"

Piggot pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sum up the rest in a memo for me. I have a meeting with the leader of their PRT, SHIELD, later today. Brigadier General King... Fury, I think was his name. I'll go over the threats with him. Dismissed!"

+++​

Taylor Hebert finished putting her costume together and smiled to herself. Tonight she'd make her debut as a cape! Sure it's not the most perfect scenario, being sent to another world and all, but when chaos happens crime happens! She'll stop crime and be a hero in this brand new world!


…This is what she'd been waiting for? A guy shooting goop at a bank wall? Well, a villain is a villain. "Halt, uh, Evil Doer!" Yes Taylor, that sounded perfectly heroic.

The villain, wearing a combination janitor uniform and silly royal mascot outfit turned towards the girl and had a half shiver. "Girly, you look like youse supposed to be in New Gotham. You new?"

"Uh, y-y I mean… I said halt!" Taylor dramatically posed out her hand and many insects began to swarm about her and the villain. "Your crime spree stops here!"

The villain simply raised his sprayer and shot a glob of goo that brought down a portion of the swarm. "Look, girly. Why don't you just go home and get some rest while ol' Paste-King does his work. Try this hero thing again while you gots some muscles… and curves." Paste-King turned back to the wall and reset his nozzle and continued spraying.

Taylor just stammered in disbelief. All that effort, actively leaning into the creepiness of her costume when it became too late to change it, and she's just… brushed off? She grabbed her baton and extended it while atomping towards Paste-King. Insects flew about his head, which Paste-King slapped away continuously before they fompletely distracted him.

"Wat the!? Hey, get off! Getrof!" Paste-King stumbled over his own hose, right into the swinging blow of Taylor's baton across his temple.

Now, Taylor was not a strong girl. She had focused on cardio over kuscle build after all. But she was a tall girl. And leverage is sometimes all the strength you need. So down went Paste-King with appropriate moths circling above his head, and crickets and cicadas chirping like birds tweeting.

(Years later, Taylor would deny she intentionally does this when she knocks someone out. No one believes her.)

"Bravo, bravo!" Taylor looked around for the clapping audience before looking up. Sitting on the wall was a young man in a biker jacket, spraying some sort of substance from a gun that was dissolving Paste-King's goop from the wall. Under his jacket was a blue spandex with red web like patterns, centering on a pentagon with a big red spider in it. "You handled old Petey there pretty good." He acrobatically flipped off the wall and panded right in front of Taylor, hand outstretched for a shake and even with his eyes hidden by a mask, they were clearly shining with mirth. "I'm Spider-Man. I guess I get to welcome you to being a hero!"

 

[Xero Key]

"AAAAAHHH!"

"Geeze, I thought you said you weren't scare of heights?"

"There's worlds of difference between standing on a roof and SWINGING on a thread shot by a gun!"

Spider-Man chuckled as his web-gun cut the last line, propelling the two forward. He brought it up and fired again, a thick strand latching onto a building and swinging the two around a corner high above the Brockton streets. Taylor clasped herself even tighter around Spider-Man's chest as the wind rushed through her hair. The sheer insanity of it was preventing her from even trying to enjoy the nicely muscled body she was holding on to.

"Well I-" Spider-Man's wrist buzzed. "Oh not now Miguel…" He landed on a roof top and gently set Taylor down. "Sorry, got to take this." He pressed a button on his watch and just as he opened his mouth to speak, a bolt of lightning grabbed the attention of both arthropodic heroes. "I'll call you back!" Spider-Man slapped the top of his wrist and bounded off the roof top, Taylor racing to the edge just in time to see him land on street light.

He fired a web in a net form to pull back four people on a giant, four legged monster from a glowing woman. "Hey Sparkplug, don't you have a late hour phone service you're supposed to be

"It's LECTRON! You stupid, aggravating, arachnid!" The woman focused all of her attention on Spider-Man and shot bolt after bolt of electricity at him but he continually bounced away.

"This is why I like you, Sparky. You know your animals!" He raised his gun and flipped a switch, the nozzle shifting to a new formation. "Now how's about a nice insulated blanket!" Unfortunately, as he was aiming, Lectron was able to hit the web-gun with a bolt knock it out of his hand. Spider-Man landed on a wall and looked between his empty hand and the literally smoking gun by the quartet he rescued. "Well… that's unfortunate. AARRRGH!"

"How does it feel, spider? You like a few thousand volts!?" Lectron stood over the prone hero. "I hear taser bug is a delicacy in some countries!"

"ARRGH!"

Taylor finished scrambling down the fire escape and joined the people Spider-Man saved, who were just getting rid of the webs. "Can't you do something?"

"What, are you crazy? We were just flying the flag and glowy bitch jumped us!" The boy in the jester mask said.

"Regent, cool it." The biker said. "Look, this isn't our fight."

"Yes it is." The girl in barely wearing a dog mask said. "Angelica, hurt!" The beast she was comforting roared and charged Lectron.

"Bitch, you can't- Looks like we're doing this." The biker said, before racing after the animal, smoke forming around him.

"Great, racing to fight a living generator and all I've got is a taser." Despite his attitude, Regent was right behind his leader.

The last one, a blonde girl in a form fitting purple outfit looked at Taylor, who stared at her expectantly. "What? I'm a Thinker. I don't do the punchy punchy like Grue, Bug eyes." She turned to the fight, which while distracting Lectron, was not going their way. "Shit, what is with these capes? She's putting out way too much… Ow!" The girl held her head in pain.

Taylor took a deep breath and focused on Lectron. "If you aren't going to help, fine. I Am." Beneath the thunder rolling off of Lectron, a new sound emerged. A rolling sound of batting wings like a storm rapidly closing from the horizon. From every crevice rose an infinite army of insects, arachnids, and various other creep crawlies.

"Ooh, Spider-Sense is going nuts…" Spider-Man moaned, feeling an urge to attack Lectron despite his spasming muscles preventing him from moving.

"Hey, hey!" Lectron fired away at the swarm gathering around her. But no matter how many she struck, it just kept coming. Even her body, made of electricity, was no defense. The dead bodies were used as insulation as they climbed and climbed and climbed across her. "Stop! STOP! Please!" The swarm stopped and Taylor strode forward, picking up the web-gun as she did so.

"Surrender. Now." She ordered, pointing the web-gun at the villain. Lectron carefully and slowly got down on her knees, then Taylor fired. A rubbery stream incased the villain and the swarm on top of her from head to toe.

Spider-Man hobbled next to her and took his gun back, looking it over. "You know this could have exploded right?" He shook his head before touching his ear. "Need a pick up for Lectron," he turned towards. "And a medic for some new friends."

"Tattletale, we need to go." Grue said to the blonde just as a some people in hazmat suits teleported in.

"Don't think we can Grue."

A truck rolled up with an eagle in a circle on it, loading Lectron up as the medics looked over Taylor and the others. "Okay, we need to get them to HQ to make sure they are all clear. No telling what kind of reactions they would have to powers not native to their world."

Another truck followed soon and the group were ushered aboard. Spider-Man tried to start some small talk abut Tattletale begged him to stop, citing a painful migraine. When they reached their destination, Tattletale was helped directly to the medical center while Spider-Man stepped into a room.

Taylor focused on some of the bugs around him, eyes widening behind her mask as a portal opened up in front of him. "Sorry Miguel, Lectron showed up."

"I get it." The man on the other side of the portal said. He wore a bluish black bodysuit with red spikes and accents forming a skull. "You were in contact with the travelers?"

"Yep, which you picked up. Any idea of how soon they can go home?"

Miguel shook his head. "There's a wall there of some kind. Anything able pierce it is going to cause trouble across the Omniverse. I'll reach out to the JI and see if they have any ideas, but their entire multiverse cluster seems cut off."

Spider-Man sighed. "Okay. I need to keep an eye on one of them anyway."

"Oh?"

"She did something and my Spider-Sense went wild."

"Interesting…"

Taylor stopped listening and sat down. There might be a way home?

 

[Xero Key]

Thomas Calvert considered himself a careful man. His mindset, and his powers, did not lend one to taking unmitigated risks. But as all things must, there comes a time when risks without preparation must be taken. The complete displacement of a city, HIS city, to a parallel reality was one such time. While he would hold to the truce currently in place, the man who bore the identity of Coil could not sit idly by and not begin to expand his operations.

Still... he was at a supreme disadvantage. In Brockton Bay, on Earth-Bet truly, he had connections that would allow him to begin anew just about anywhere. But here on this new Earth? He was a complete unknown with funds that aren't valid. Which means he would need to bide his time as a lackey to one of the established individuals. But time was always on his side. He always wins in the end.

"Repeat me exactly." He ordered his body double as he sat in front of the representative of a colorful cast of ne'er do wells.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me." Coil said, humbled. Not that he was actually meeting with anyone. The screen in front of him kept the representative in shadow. All that could be discerned was that it was a large man.

"Your message said you had a useful ability. Prove it to me and perhaps I will take time out of my day to properly welcome you into my fold."

"Of course." The double turned to one of the opposing guards. "Would you happen to have a coin on you?" The guard checked his earpiece before placing a gold dollar on the table in front of Coil's double. "I can guarantee this coin will always land how you say it will."

The figure leaned back. "Heads, then two tails, then heads four times." One flip, three flips, and finally seven flips in total. Each landing exactly as the man had demanded. "Probability manipulation? Interesting. Tell me, how much do you control?"

"As much as you could ask." Coil said, smirking in his base. Everyone is always impressed by this little party trick. They always listen to one who controls fate.

"Flip it again."

"And how would you like it to land?"

"I'll call it in the air." Coil's double nodded and flipped the coin.

Timeline A: Heads

Timeline B: Tails

"Side." The coin landed, bounced a bit, and came face down and Tails up.

[ERROR]

"Urgh!" Thomas held his head but thankfully his double was smart enough not to react. Unfortunately, one of the opposing guards did. They signaled something to their employer.

"Hmm, it seems the real you is not truly probability manipulation. Otherwise the coin would be upright now. Binary choice directional, is it?"

Thomas was stunned. "H-how could you know!?"

"Simple. On average there is a one in six thousand chance of a coin of that weight landing on a desk of that condition and sticking completely upright. True probability manipulation would have made that chance a one in one." The figure on the screen leaned forward, a large tattoo of a question mark on his face. "The big question that remains is, how can I use that to my advantage?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'll hire you, and your mercenaries. As soon as the quarantine around your quaint little city is lifted, I'll have my men safely deliver you to New Gotham. Two choices to work from is at least a start." The screen shut off and Coil's body double was escorted out of the room they had been using.

"Sir?" His double asked.

"Yes... I know. This is only for the moment. You'll be paid triple your normal salary."

The double affirmed his statement and entered the boat that would sneak him back to Brockton Bay. Meanwhile, Coil himself picked up his phone. "It seems I'll be needing my little Tattletale and her friends sooner than expected. My newest pet is critical now." The speed dial rang through four times before delivering a 'Recipient Out Of Operational Area' message. "Where are you Sarah?"

+++

​

"Mmm, that's the stuff. Haven't felt relief that good since before I got my powers." The young woman now known as Lisa Wilbourne said as she sipped what was advertised as the scientifically most soothing coffee ever made. She opened her eyes at the blonde woman in a purple and white uniform across the table from her. "So, you know I'm not the leader of our little gang."

"Yes you are." Agent Susan 'Ace' Richards of SHIELD said, leaning forwards so her chin rested on the back of her hands. "The dog trainer is too anti-social, the big guy is a field leader, and the third is a misanthrope. You plan the jobs and escape routes, that makes you the leader."

[Confident, practiced in interrogations. Not buttering you up, actually how she sees you. Reflection on previous actions with Undersiders would lead to that conclusion.]

"And what do you want from me? Information, because we are pretty small time." Lisa smirked. "Besides, didn't you guys violate quarantine bringing us to your secret underground base with sci-fi gadgets?"

"Cadmus is part of SHIELD. We can bend the quarantine as long you are in our protection." Agent Richards raised an eye-brow. "Are you?"

[Considering placing you under arrest for violating quarantine. Can easily argue that uncooperative behavior would lead to an escape attempt. Will subdue you. Can subdue you. Can subdue all of you.]

Lisa sipped her coffee. "I believe I am. So what would you like from a small group of petty thieves?"

Ace smirked and pulled a file to the center of the table. "First, some information about your 'parahumans'. Then... Well, General Fury might be kind enough to consider some sort of rebranding as part of a parole of sorts."

"Are you talking being government agents?"

"Am I?"

"...I think the Undersiders may be open to such a relationship, Agent Richards."

 

[Xero Key]

Welcome to the Hero Fan Network message boards.
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■​

♦ Topic: Welcome Dimensional Refugees
In: Boards ► World Events ► AUFS ► New England ► Metro-Washington
Aloha Hula Mainiax (Original Poster)
Posted On Jan 9th 2011:
[Pinned Post] [Pinned to Main Board]
Hello everyone!

Let us give a warm welcome to our new neighbors from a parallel world, Brockton Bay!

Ok, being serious now. Brockton Bay was formerly of the state of New Hampshire and was transported to Metro-Washington. And no, not "the Metro-Washington area", the actual capital city. Thank god the planet expanded just enough to fit it in.

So here's the important bits about Brockton Bay:
+They come from "Earth-Bet", meaning they are familiar with the multiverse
+Super beings aren't called Meta-Mutants there, but "parahuman". Para means beyond
+Parahumans have tumors that indicate powers
+They have their own SHIELD, but it's only in their America, and called the Parahuman Response Team (PRT)
+Known gangs: Nazis (Empire 88), Triads and Yakuza (ABB or "Azn Bad Boys", pronounced Asian), and druggies (Merchants)
+Superhero team are Protectorate, directly under the supervision of the PRT

For a full breakdown of how parahumans work, here is the PRT Website





(Showing page 200 of 2300)



►
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
@- Antagonizer
Look, all I'm saying is that their "Youth Guard" seems to have way too much power for a mere group of Pearl Clutching Soccer Moms.


►Antagonizer
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
@- Superior Spider Fan 6160
Some one has to make sure the government isn't exploiting children and making them literal soldiers!


►Brute Bomber (Banned)
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
[USER is Banned for the Post]
Xero Key: That is a War Crime. Why would you even think of advocating that?


►Wicked Thunder
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
Not saying I agree with the idiot, but god it sounds like BB needed serious help. One independent super team? Most of the heroes being college or younger? The Youth Guard may have been in the way.


►
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
wish i didn't agree as much as i do. sidekicks get hit alot and crying momy and daddy aint stopping Dr. Doomsday from spiking them



►Xero Key
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
ALRIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH!

Three pages of derail focusing purely on the Youth Guard. There is now a banner on this thread to not discuss the Youth Guard. Next person who brings it up is banned for two weeks. Possibly longer.

Do. Not. Test. This.


►Flippn'Madds (Brockton Bay Refugee)
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
...Good to see the mods are just as strong with the hammer as back home.


►Aloha Hula Mainiax (Original Poster)
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
O-O

Are you really from Brockton Bay!?


►Arnbuckle (Supermoderator) (Wrath of the Site)
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:
@- Flipp'nMadds has been confirmed as a Brockton Bay native.


End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 198, 199, 200, 201, 202 ... 2298, 2299, 2300



(Showing page 2300 of 2300)


►Arnbuckle (Supermoderator) (Wrath of the Site)
Replied On Jan 11th 2011:

THREAD CLOSED​

Cheese and Crackers... Thousands of posts and thousands of pages of posts. You damn idiots DOXXED THE WHOLE SITE! TWICE!!

Assigning Moderators to all future Earth-Bet or Brockton related threads. All such threads will be limited to the MINIMUM page count until you can behave yourselves. Only exception would be official AMAs.




End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 2298, 2299, 2300

■​

♦ Topic: New Wave AMA: Glory Girl
In: Boards ► Hero Talk
PointMeAttheSky (Original Poster) (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Posted On Jan 13th 2011:
Hi Everyone!

I'm Victoria Dallon, aka Glory Girl, part of New Wave! We are a group of of Open Capes, which means we don't have secret identities. I'm what's called an Alexandria Package back home, what you might call a "Super-Soldier Package" here. Flight, strength, invulnerability. the basic Punch Hard and Fly power set.

Oh! I also have this really cool aura that makes people I like feel better and people I don't feel scared. Really helpful to just break out the mom voice and people put the gun down.

I attend Arcadia High School and was taking classes at Brockton University, but I think I might try and transfer my credits to MetU. some of the subjects they have sound incredible!

Anyway, go ahead and ask me anything! Earth-Bet, New Wave, the works!





(Showing page 1 of 50)



►AUTOMATED MESSAGE (Official Site Bot)
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
THIS THREAD IS UNDER STRICT MODERATION. MESSAGE REPEATED IN BANNER.


►RedReaper o'Grim
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
So, I hear you guys have categories for superpowers. How does that work?


►PointMeAttheSky (Original Poster) (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
So, there are 12 categories that powers broadly fall into:

Mover= speed, mobility, flight, etc.
Shaker= AoE

Brute= strength, toughness, regeneration

Breaker= shifting to another state. Like becoming intangible

Master= One of the big scary ones, controlling people or making minions

Tinker= sci-fi technical wizardry. Only different from your guy's super tech because is it can't be replicated outside of its maker.

Blaster= Pew Pew somehow

Thinker= super smarts or brain powers

Striker= touch based. My little sister is one, she can heal anything with skin contact!

Changer= well... changing shape

Trump= Not sure how to say this... "Manipulate Powers in some manner" is the official listing. One of our best heroes, Eidolon, could come up with new powers on the spot!

Stranger= the second big scary one. Stealth, infiltration, and the like. We had this villain back on Bet named "Nice Guy". Killed people super easy because nobody could think of him as anything but "a nice guy".


►Ice Queen's Ice Cream
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
Hmm... based on your own Original Post, you should be a Brute, Mover, Master @PointmeAttheSky?


►PointMeAttheSky (Original Poster) (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
Well, no. Not exactly. Yeah my aura can mess with someone's head, but it's not long term even if I'm blasting it like crazy. It's counted as a Shaker effect because it can be distracting for groups.



►No-a-DrMcCoffee (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
Vicky... maybe don't spread your weaknesses on the internet?
[USER CANNOT BE REPLIED TO IN THIS THREAD]


►Battlin' Dragon
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
Hey, so Meta-Mutants have sports teams for harder core games for those with powers. Bet got anything like that?


►PointMeAttheSky (Original Poster) (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
O.M.G.

Super Powered Sports!?

No we didn't. Parahumans can't play normal sports because of our inherent advantage. I had to QUIT basketball because of it. Are there any schools with one for Movers and Brutes!?



►No-a-DrMcCoffee (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Jan 13th 2011:
Now you've done it. She'll never stop till she finds a sport she can play.
[USER CANNOT BE REPLIED TO IN THIS THREAD]



End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 48, 49, 50

 

[Xero Key]

Super-Soldier stared down at the planet Earth from high above it, protected from the vacuum of space by Justifier's satellite. His gaze, as it often did recently, passed over the capital of America and its new addition. He observed the people in run down homes anxiously waiting for the quarantine to fall in the next few hours. A tension wrapped around the city. When would the peace break? Would their villains become worse on this Earth or would the new threats subsume them completely?

Clark Rogers, rubbed his eyes as his supervision began to flicker. "Rough day friend?" A deep voice asked from behind him. Clark turned around and smiled as his friend, Blue Icon, joined him at the window. "You seem stressed."

"Just old Adam."

Blue Icon, currently known as Adam Freedman IV, rolled his eyes. "Old, Right. You're nearly 300 years old and have been working for the betterment of humanity since you were in your twenties. Wait. No, that's me." He smiled and pointed a thumb at himself.

Clark pushed Adam jokingly. "You know what I mean. The fallout of the K-Bomb is still draining me even with your medical tech. I just can't keep going like I used to." He sighed, looking back down to the planet. "I can't be the protector people need anymore. "

"I hope you aren't planning to retire. You know what happened after you went missing." Adam said.

Clark shook his head. "No. We don't need another U.S. Annihilator. I just think I'll be better service on a lower scale."

"...Please tell me you aren't thinking what I think you are thinking."

"Come on Adam, with your powers you can easily protect the planet in my stead. But these people have been displaced. Someone like me might be able to, you know, just ease them through the transition."

"As long as you don't expect me to hang around with Claw like you do."

"Not a chance. You and Logan would kill each other."

+++

​

Amy Dallon, known to many as the heroine Panacea, blocked out the argument happening downstairs by listening to some songs on this Earth's 'YourView' in her headphones. Instead of anything about her overdoing or not doing enough at the hospital, Amy had some small satisfaction about Carol chewing out Vicky for choosing to apply to a college on this Earth. Apparently Carol was still under the impression that Brockton Bay was going home somehow.

That or Vicky was getting a taste of what a pre-planned life really looked like and how much Carol commanded a fleet of helicopters. The door next Vicky's room slammed shut and she could hear her beloved sister yelling into a pillow out of frustration. Amy sighed and picked up her phone and texted Vicky, just to allow her to vent without setting off Mt. Carol.

A: Not happy about the application?

V: Putting it mildly.
V: Said I shouldn't alter my plans just because the city moved.
V: She KNOWS how much I want to play sports again
V: Why is she like this?​

A: ...

V: Ames?​

A: ...

V: Ames!?​

A: Just trying to think of how to politely say this.
A: Vicky... Carol's a bitch. For god's sake, you fucking Triggered because she put so much pressure on you.

V: ...​

A: Look, I've been trying to play by Carol's rules for years.
A: Earlier today I saw print outs for hospitals in the MetWash area. She's already planning on "volunteering" me to them once I pass
A: whatever healing licenses this world has.

V: And she didn't even ask you?​

A: Why would she? I heal, therefore I must heal

V: ...​

A: Vicky?
A: Are you there?


There was knock on Amy's window. She turned from her phone and saw Vicky floating there, waiting to be let in. Amy got out of her bed and opened it up, letting her sister float in from the outside. "You know we have doors, right?"

Vicky didn't stop till she was past Amy, focusing on the door to the hall. "Has mom been forcing you to go to the hospital?"

"W-what? How can you as-?"

"Has she?" There was a pressure in the room, one Amy was uncomfortable with. Unfamiliar with. Fear of Vicky. Her aura trying to scare her.

"No!" Amy shouted. "No... Not forcing me."

"But you feel like she wants you to." Vicky said.

"Not even that." Amy admitted. "I heal because I have to."

"Amy, you don't have to heal."

"I do! ...I do. It's a good thing for me to heal." Vicky pulled Amy into a hug, tears falling from the blonde heroine's face onto her sister's head.

"Oh Amy. I'm so so sorry!"

Amy didn't know why, but she started crying too.

+++

​

Missy Biron, who preferred to be the heroine Vista, sat at the Rig's Ward Console station counting the seconds. Like all members of the Wards ENE, who would just be the Wards now, she had been placed in protective custody on the Rig and dormed in the facility's disused Wards dormitories. While she was glad to be kept away from her parents in this trying time, her team was not always an improvement.

"I am sick and tired of sitting around! When is that damn thing lifted?" Shadow Stalker, aka Sophia Hess, demanded. "We've got work to be doing!"

"Quarantine falls in only an hour, Stalker. Then we have a meeting. Please just be patient." Carlos Rivera, the Ward leader Aegis, said. "The director and SHIELD want us safe and properly briefed before we go out."

"Asking Stalker to be patient is like asking a bear not to shit in the woods." Dennis Darno, aka Clockblocker, commented while playing with a frozen Rubix cube.

"You son of a b-!"

"Stalker, cool it!"

Browbeat, the muscular newest member of the Wards who Vista hadn't learned the real name of yet, sighed and shook his head. He focused back on being the tool deliverer for Chris Martin, aka Kid Win, as the Tinker was the only one who could keep himself busy.

For once, a Tinker fugue was helping the young man instead of hampering him like it usually did.

"Velocity to Console." Vista perked up and pressed her headset closer as she listened to the conversation.

"PRT Console. Go Ahead."

"Reporting to a bank robbery on 9th and Main. Seem to be just some punks but they've taken hostages. BBPD and Capital Police are already here."

"Confirmed... There are no other Protectorate available, all are helping with the quarantine shut down. One Moment... Director Piggot is on the line."

"Velocity. How much back up do you need?"

Vista heard a sound like a *Pzuum!*, which isn't really a sound but is the only thing she could describe it as.

"Yeah, they have lasers. When can the rest of the team arrive?'

"Two hours. I just heard from forward operations, they are keeping the rest of the Protectorate there until this is resolved or they are cleared."

"Shit. That's not... the hell?"

Vista heard what clearly sounded like flyers landing with multiple bodies. Some of them big.

"Undersiders, move out!"

"...Uh, director. I just got that back up. But I thought the Undersiders were bad guys?"

 

[Xero Key]

"I'm still not sure about this Taylor." Danny Hebert said as he pulled up to one of the buildings acting as the quarantine's forward operating base. "First you go out for a run at night, get caught by one of the native villains, get rescued by a hero that followed them here, and then got a job offer?"

Taylor sighed as she leaned against the window. "Okay, I was stupid. But we could use the money. I would like to pay for some of my medical bills."

"That's not your responsibility."

"I know. I'm the kid, your the adult, but dad," She turned to her father with a pleading face. "Things are quite literally different now. Besides, at most I'll be getting coffee and maybe answering questions. Besides," She held up an envelope with bills in them. "They gave me a bonus for just considering it."

Danny shook his head as he finally put the car in park and turned it off. "Paper money. such a weird universe."

The two got out and checked in with the guard before being let into the building with a VISITOR pass. They were led to an office were very pretty blonde woman in a suit was waiting for them. "Hello! I'm Sue Richards, and you must be Danny!" Sue said as she got up to give Danny a handshake.

"Uh yes, Yes I am." He took her hand and sat down across from her, Taylor next to him. "I just have a few concerns. What with you being a part of SHIELD and all."

Sue nodded. "I understand. But we are more like the Boys and Girls Scouts of SHIELD. SHIELD may be the parent company but, but that's it. We do not put our employees in danger."

"And there is no expectation for them to join SHIELD proper?"

"Of course not. While SHIELD has many benefits, it's not so cruel as to force people to join." Sue pulled a file out of her desk. "This is our standard employment contract for minors. Shall we go over it?"

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea." Danny turned to his daughter. "Taylor, you were here last. Is there anywhere you can go to keep busy?"

Taylor stood up and went to the door. "Yeah, there's a rec room. Can I have a pass Mrs. Richards?"

Sue nodded and opened a drawer, pulling out a sticker roll. "Ok, just let me put this on your pass. There we go, have fun Taylor! We'll call you when everything is ready."

Happily, Taylor left the room and went to the elevator. She pressed down and went in as soon as it opened. Using her bugs she detected the button she needed to press, a button that was hidden by a hologram and force field that the sticker on her pass registered to allow her through. She pressed it and was teleported to Cadmus.

Recognized: Te-9-1-T-5

Taylor shook off the disturbing feeling of her insects being transported and stepped out of the teleport center. "Still getting used to that."

"The roaches are allergic." Lisa said as she approached Taylor, two fingers on the circlet on her head. "They want to spasm as soon as the Zeta Ray hits them." She dropped her hand and gave a huge smile. "God I love this thing. Soothes my migraines and lets me process more information at my own speed."

"Enjoying your new job?" Taylor asked as they started walking through the facility.

"Let's see, only threat to my well being is community service for petty theft. My old boss has no way to kill me from here because he's got no influence, and my powers don't make me feel like my brain is trying to crawl out through my nose." Lisa gave Taylor side hug. "So yes. I do enjoy my new job."

Taylor twitched as she picked up something. "Doesn't look like the others agree." She saw Brian Laborn, Grue, aggressively using a punching bag and Alec, Regent, sitting in a cell. Rachel, Bitch, was nowhere to be seen. "What happened?"

Lisa sighed. "Alec has... issues. Subscriptions, really. And they got flagged. Brian doesn't trust authority to save his life but is just keeping his head down."

"And Rachel?"

Lisa abruptly turned and entered a kitchenette and poured herself some coffee. She took a long swing then refilled her mug. "Do you know what Cadmus does?"

"Genetic experiments. Spider-Man came from one. They also house criminals with severe genetic abnormalities in attempts to cure them."

"Yeah well, Rachel isn't neurotypical. And no, I don't mean she's spectrum. Her constant exposure to dogs and her powers allowing her to upgrade them has made her think more like a canine than a person." Another sip of coffee. "There's a bit of that discredited pack behavior in there too, but I still don't know where that came from."

Taylor sat down at the table. "So?"

Lisa touched her circlet, a light set up like a jewel turning on as she does so. "Focus on the south-east of the building. She should be coming out now."

Taylor raised and eyebrow did so, picking up a connection to insects outside a sterilized area. An airlock opened and out... stepped... "No."

"Yep."

"Why!?"

"Because it apparently would help."

"Turning into a werewolf would help!?"

"Look, Cadmus is leagues ahead of even most Tinkers back on Bet. Even with their mistakes," At this Lisa shivered thinking about the living white slime in the deep containment. "They still know DNA better than anyone. They've mapped the brain and if they think this will help Rachel be more human through sheer irony. My power suggests believing them.

Taylor put her head in her hands. "And I thought me using that suit from Dr. Choi was bad."

"Oh, the suit you decided to mix with the late Dr. Kord's to be a flying, shrinking bug woman?"

Taylor gave Lisa a glare who smirked over her mug. An alarm rang out over the base intercom. "Alert. Armed Robbery at Brockton National on 9th and Main. Energy Weapons involved."

Lisa put down her mug and tapped her circlet in a specific sequence. A teleporter activated, dressing her in an indigo and white costume and pink sunglass visor as a mask. "Guess it's time for our debut."

The newly lupine Rachel joined them with one of her dogs, already incased in their monstrous shell with Rachel slowly starting to gain one herself. "Hey, we going or not?"

Lisa, now Insight, turned to Taylor. "Your the parole officer."

Taylor held out her hand and a fly moved from her hair to her palm, a flash expanding a detonator like device. She pressed its button, letting her new costume form over her. A gossamer cape forming wings and a helmet covering her head. "Insight, hit it."

Insight input another sequence on her mask and the four were incased in a forcefield and teleported away. They reappeared in the sky over the bank, Taylor guiding them down till Insight cut the forcefield. She took a deep breath and projected through her speakers as confident a voice as she could.

"Underisders... Move Out!"

 

[Xero Key]

"Undersiders... Move Out!"

Three simple words. Three simple words that, unknown to any witnesses or recollections, marked a shift for the refugees of Earth-Bet. The end of the Age of Capes...

The swarm that Taylor had gathered poured from the street and through the cracks in the doors and windows. Those breaks in the seals that no amount of spray or caulk could ever cover. The swarm blinded everyone in the bank while Insight raised a hand and gripped it towards herself, forming a forcefield around the barricaded door and warping it towards the street.

Hellhound, for no other name could describe her now, joyously crashed through the warped barrier and with Angelica's assistance pounced on two of the robbers. Taylor and Insight raced after her, Taylor's prismatic wings providing additional distraction alongside the swarm and tossed two robbers each out of the bank and into the circle of police cars.

"Insight, Civilians!"

Insight immediately took a couching position in front of the hostages and formed a forcefield around all of them. She locked eyes with one of the hostages, a brunette with freckles, and mouthed a curse before refocusing. "Hellhound, I need a push!" She ordered before turning to the hostages. "Bundle up as close as you can!" Hellhound, now having to crouch to fit, rolled on her side and gave a strong donkey kick to the sphere protecting the civilians which in turn began to roll.

'You bitch!" One of the robbers cried, raising his rifle and firing at the shield. Insight groaned as her power began to register just how many joules that the weapon was putting out at a speed faster than her circlet could concentrate. The shield began to warp under the fire and lose traction.

Taylor quite literally swarmed the robber and began pushing the field herself, Hellhound acting as a barrier between her and the robbers who were able to regroup. "Boss, we've got a VIP!" Insight said and nodded to the brunette next to her. "And that means we have incoming."

Said brunette sighed. "Of course she broke her grounding."

Everyone froze as a spike of sheer terror ran up and down their spine, before a section of the roof collapsed. "Who hurt my sister?" The voice was deceptively calm despite the floating woman looking like an avenging angel, blonde hair practically glowing with a golden hue. Her angered gaze swept the room before landing on the Undersiders.

"Crap." Insight was able to mutter before Victoria Dallon, well memed on Bet as Collateral Damage Barbie, charged at Taylor and knocked her and the field carrying the civilians out the door. Hellhound roared and with her beast pounced on Glory Girl and pulled her away from Taylor.

Insight dropped the field and ran a hand over her teammate's body. "Shit. She cracked ribs even through your suit. Probably more."

"Robbers?"

Insight looked up and saw a few of them getting in a vehicle. "Escaping."

Taylor refocused and suddenly was not there, instead the size of a housefly zipping through the street amongst a swarm of flying insects. Termites were dropped among the tires and began puncturing holes while hornets rammed themselves into the rear window to create an opening for Taylor. She flew in and immediately became full size and fired webs from her gauntlets to tie up the robbers.

Flying back out the way she came, Taylor made a net of webs to halt the car. She pulled at the net with all her might, straining parts of herself she didn't even know she could strain and definitely not helping her ribs, but she pulled the car to a stop.

Velocity raced up next to her. "Holy shit... You got them already?"

"Well," Taylor said with false confidence. "You were taking too long." She looked back towards the bank. "How's my team?"

"Panacea was able to pull your werewolf friend off Glory Girl and chew Glory Girl out for being reckless." Velocity admitted. "Though I have to ask, you do know those two are criminals right?"

"Are they? They helped me and Spider-Man capture a couple of villains and accepted a team-up. Besides, wouldn't their crimes be misdemeanors at the worst?" Taylor coyly asked. "SHIELD didn't lay out in briefings for us heroes that mentioned them."

Velocity raised an eyebrow, looking over the spandex like material on her body. "You're a local?"

"Do my powers really look like something a parahuman could do?" She held out her hand for Velocity to shake. "Lygodia."

"Velocity. Can I ask you to come by the Rig sometime?" He points towards the bay. "It's right on the water, where the Protectorate is headquartered."

"My team and I might consider it. We'll see how things work out." Lygodia put a finger to her cowl. "Undersiders, status?"

"All clear boss. Just gave statements to the five oh." Insight said.

Hellhound growled. "Can we go now? I don't want my suit spilling on the streets."

"Fair enough team. I'm on my way." She turned to Velocity. "Until next time." Her wings spread out and she flew away, catching herself in a forcefield and pulling the rest of the Undersiders with her as she flew away.

"The director is not going to like this."

+++

​

"I don't like this, Not one bit." Director Piggot said to the Protectorate, Wards, and PRT squad leaders. "Undersiders, what do we know about them?"

Armsmaster opened a file and shared copies of its paperwork around the table. "Before now, petty thieves aside from Hellhound who has a murder charge. All of their targets were also rival criminals or those with criminal ties."

"Harboring a murderer doesn't excuse Robin Hood. We can bring them in."

"Maybe not director." All eyes fell on Miss Militia. "There's a note here that Rachel Lindt, Hellhound, may have committed the act during her Trigger Event." Every Parahuman in the room shivered. "It's not much but..."

"Our laws have exceptions for them. And SHIELD is going to be breathing down my neck if we step one toe out of line. Fine! Aegis!" the director turned towards the Wards leader.

"Ma'am!"

"Have the Wards play nice with the Undersiders until we have solid proof they need to be brought in."

"Yes ma'am."

There was a knock at the door and a trooper shyly let herself inside. "Uh, director?"

"This had better be important."

"I think so ma'am." The trooper fully opened the door and stepped to the side of it. In walked a tall, blonde man wear blue-scaled spandex with red trunks and a pentagonal shield on his back. Next to him was a young girl about Vista's age.

"Excuse me for interrupting." Super-Soldier said with a charming smile. "But this little lady would like to report she was kidnapped because she has Parahuman powers. Also," He pulled a folded up document from his belt. "I wasn't quite sure where to send my job application."

It was the end of the Age of Capes... And a return to the Age of Heroes.

 

[Xero Key]

Howdy doo, True Amalgamites!

We are so excited to top of this new phase of comics! I know all of you were wondering" What the heck are they going to do with a whole new city?" Well, we know you were all interested in what the end of Dark Convergence meant for the Amalgam Omniverse, so we're introducing a whole new line of titles from the newly added Brockton Bay!

Coming out as Soon as Possible
Lygodia and the Undersiders #1: Ex-criminals make a new heroic face in this new world. But old pains spring up among Parahumans often. But with the optimistic Lygodia leading them, they'll be the greatest of the new heroes for sure!

Wardens #1: They may be young, but these heroes are gonna pull out all the stops to save the city they know and love. But turmoil within threatens to break the team apart.

Protectorate + Super-Soldier #1: The greatest hero for any age has wisdom to pass down. But can the cynical Protectorate really trust him?

PRT: Normal Daze #1: That's right, we're rebooting this old classic focusing on the civilians in the heroes lives. But this time we're focusing on an organization of them. They are so used to being the law, so what is like having to be under it now?

These and many more titles you are asking for are on their way to store shelves! Get them before they run out, I hear they have holo-foil! ...But you didn't hear it from me, capiche?

 

[Xero Key]

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■​

♦ Topic: Brockton Bay Protectorate General Information: Thread 3
In: Boards ► World Events ► AUFS ► New England ► Metro-Washington
Reave (Original Poster) (Verified PRT Agent) (Brockton Bay Refugee)
Posted On Feb 14th 2011:
[Pinned Post]
Hello,

This is the third thread dedicated to information regarding the Parahuman Protectorate and Parahuman response Teams. Here we will be posting updates, events, information, and links to our informational websites.

Social Media Links: Zeep, OurZone
PRT/Protectorate Website


(Showing page 20 of 201)

►AUTOMATED MESSAGE (Official Site Bot)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
THIS THREAD UNDER SCTRICT MODERATION. PLEASE OBSERVE ALL RULES REGARDING BROCTON BAY RELATED THREADS.


►PRT Announcer (Verified PRT Agent) (PRT Marketing)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
[Threadmarked Post]

The Protectorate is pleased to Announce that Super-Soldier is joining our organization! We are so appreciative that a respected hero of this world we are unfamiliar with is willing to donate his time to us and help use adjust to this unprecedented situation.


►Answer Key
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
Seriously!? Why would the best hero in the world slow himself down by working in that slum?


►PointMeAttheSky (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
@- Answer Key
Hey! Yeah, our city is a bit of a problem but it's a free country!


►Capt. Clark Rogers (Ret.) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
@- PointMeattheSky

At ease, young lady. It's ok. @- Answer Key, I felt it was my civic duty in my old age to help my newest neighbors. I'm not getting any younger, despite what people think. Slowing down what someone nearing 100 should be allowed to do.


►Sparrow II (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
Heya boss man! or well, former boss man... Since you became a reserve, can you still tall me what to do?


►Capt. Clark Rogers (Ret.) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
@- Sparrow II.

Depends, does Claw still tell you to listen to your elders?


►Sparrow II (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
...Yes sir.


►PointMeAttheSky (Brockton Bay Refugee) (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
@- Sparrow II
@- Capt. Clark Rogers (Ret.)

Oh my gosh! You two know each other!? who's 'Claw'?


►Sparrow II (Verified Hero)
Replied On Feb 14th 2011:
@- PointMeattheSky
Dark Claw, my boss. We're in New Gotham and the grumpy bat is Cap's best friend. You wouldn't think it, but it's true.

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 ... 199, 200, 201

■


DAILY PLANET
SUPER-SOLDIER JOINS PROTECTORATE
by: Sharon Lane​

In a surprising announcement, Super-Soldier has stepped down from leadership of the Justifiers to join the Protectorate of Brockton Bay. Brockton Bay, the dimensionally displaced city added as a new district of the American Capital, Metro-Washington, has announced a welcoming celebration for Super-Soldier. Recent controversies regarding the city, especially it's prominent supervillain led gang problem, has many question if this is an act of pity from the experienced hero. PRT Director Emily Piggot stated in a press conference with General King Fury of SHIELD said...

■

eXtreme Daily Bugle!
WAR HERO JOINS INSANE CITY!
by: Tana Moon/ photos by: Peter Ross​

That's it folks, all down hill from here. What do you get when the world's greatest hero decides to start slumming it? Super-Soldier joining the Earth-Bet aliens. Guess he got nostalgic for fighting Nazis? All we can do is wish him luck and hope their depressing aura doesn't infect him and the rest of our good world.

[Insert photo of Super Soldier on stage with the Protectorate, shaking hands with Emily Piggot]

■​

​

NinjiWae=Uzurain
Are people seriously complaining about a hero being a hero???:wat::headdesk:
#idiotscalledfans
#fanmeansfanatic

Click to shrink...

NapoleonIce=NapoleonIce
Because these people are scummy?

NinjiWae=Uzurain
I'm sorry, are you talking about the city or the fans?

NapoleonIce=NapoleonIce
Yes!

Click to shrink...

From: k.fury@shield.sec
To: e.piggot@shield.prt.sec
Subject: Integration issues

Emily,
Clark sent me a notice about issues integrating PRT personnel into SHIELD. He said that I should contact you instead of stepping on your toes or going over your head to explain it, just gave me a heads up.
----
From: e.piggot@shield.prt.sec
To: k.fury@shield.sec
Subject: Re: Integration issues

General Fury,
There have been issues with integration, and let me thank Clark for contacting you. I was unsure of how to broach the subject in a formal report.

Trooper integration has had friction. It seems to be a clash of egos. I have processed multiple minor infractions about troops on both sides where an argument started as the usual measuring contests amongst soldiers that escalated. SHIELD is unwilling to accept the 'Unwritten Rules' that Bet had to abide by (ie: leaving villains alone unless actively in a crime to ensure participation in Endbringer Battles) were needed despite objection, while my own PRT have called SHIELD forces, and I quote, "pansies that don't understand the greater good because they get saved any time they need to take too hard a shit" end quote. This particular incident nearly started a brawl.

Trooper Ennis (PRT) in particular has a dislike for Super-Soldier that he consistently makes known. Loudly. Because he feels that a powered being who could have ended World War 2 by killing Hitler but didn't is disrespectful to the soldiers that fought and died. He has refused to look at the facts of this universe that the Axis Powers had their own super powered forces and such a direct fielding would lead to a rapid escalation.
----
From: k.fury@shield.sec
To: e.piggot@shield.prt.sec
Subject: Re: Re: Integration issues

I see. Thank you Emily. How would you feel about a training exercise where your troopers and mine switch experiences. We have the facilities to create scenarios using holograms that are safe for training. We send some of mine into some of your worst situations and some of yours into ours?
----
From: e.piggot@shield.prt.sec
To: k.fury@shield.sec
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Integration issues

General,
I believe that will be a good idea. I'll have data and reports compiled for you.

 

[Xero Key]

The rhythmic whir of the treadmill kept Armsmaster, no, Colin Wallace's focus. Each day is another improvement of both body and mind. Each step is just one more than he could do yesterday. Each breath paced out a microsecond longer. Each moment one more where is getting better.

BEING better.

He has to be.

One second faster. One pound stronger. One thing greater.

The people of Brockton Bay are lost, never to return home. They need the familiar sight of his armor glistening in the sun protecting them. They need Armsmaster to show them that everything will be okay.

Colin increases the speed of the treadmill, he's feet pounding across the strap in perfectly memorized movements to get the most efficient workout.

He grits his teeth. It's not enough. He's not enough. One second here, one pound there. One millimeter, one fraction of a fraction of a fraction better!

He increases the speed. He's no longer burning calories or moving efficiently. He's just moving to use up energy.

Two months ago Colin stood within the splitting of a hair of being considered one of the greatest in the world. Now he can at best be called 'above the average'.

"Damn it!" Colin slammed his hand down on the emergency stop for the treadmill when his concentration slipped and he briefly lost his footing. "Damn it." He hit his fist on the hand rail.

"Can you spot me?" Colin turned his head to see Shawn Forrest, out of his Dauntless costume, over by one of the bench presses. "Unless your cardio isn't done?"

Colin looked at the screen on the treadmill and shut it down. "Sure, I wasn't getting much out of it today anyway." He headed over to the head of the bench while Shawn readied the weights. Looking over his teammate, Colin noticed a lack of his usual branded exercise bands.

"Doctor's orders." Shawn answered the unasked question as he laid down. "No one in medical wants me working with anything beyond normal human weight unless in costume."

Colin crouched and helped Shawn lower the bar over his chest, ready to move if he slips. "That must frustrate you. Being able to safely lift a ton at minimum means you can maximize your strength exercises with little harm to yourself." Unlike someone who has to do it the old fashioned way no matter what.

"Oof. Yeah, well. I'd go against it if I had the choiCE!" Shawn pushed the bar up and down in an effective if inefficient motion and Colin had to hold himself back from commenting. "I can't afford not to push myself to the limit now!"

"How so?"

"Every day. One more charge. One more push. One more spark to make me a better hero than the day before. One more second I can save someone, one more pound I can use to move a wall." Shawn said and Colin relaxed his stance completely unintentionally.

"Jennifer may be worried about our money now, but I'm more worried about her and Addison." Up and down the barbell went, now almost hypnotically. "This world isn't like ours. The villains won't play by the Rules and leave them out of it. The whole city is a powder keg and I have to be better!"

One push more, one pound more.

Shawn set the barbell on the rack above him and just continued to lay on the bed, staring into the nothing of the gym ceiling. "Rogers scares me." He said finally.

"Me too." Colin admitted, sitting against the wall and resting the back of his head on it. "They say he's getting weaker but what does that matter when someone is a god? How could move a river like the Nile to a completely new area?"

"It would take me decades to make even one item capable of fighting him now. If he wanted to, he could wipe Brockton Bay before off before they even add it to the maps."

"One second better doesn't mean much when that's what he needs to go from here to Hawaii." Colin argued.

"And what's one volt stronger to a guy who shrugs of nukes to the face?" Shawn replied.

Colin made a fist. "This can't be it for me." Shawn rolled his head to look at his leader. "Ever since I got my powers and joined the Protectorate, I swore I would be the Best. Someone that could be looked to like I looked to Hero." He stood up and went over to the towels. "I'm not going to let anyone or anything stop me from that. Not even a god."

Colin wiped himself off and left the gym, headed for his lab. He needed to be better.

Just one bit better than Super-Soldier.

+++

​

Taylor took a deep breath as she stepped off the bus in front of Winslow High School. It was honestly amazing what a few coats of paint and proper landscaping could do for the place. Sure there was nothing that could be done to it as an altar to the brutalist architectural style, but actually having some power washing for the first time since that style had been popular and nicely trimmed greenery definitely helps it make it look like a decent high school.

Even the inside was nicely cleaned. The lights were all new and a soft glow that didn't hurt the eyes. The tile floor wasn't covered in scuff marks, half done attempts to clean them off, and... Taylor bounced on her feet a little bit as something felt higher than before. Ah, the floor wasn't covered in so many layers of varnish that it raised things up a noticeable amount anymore.

She passed by the office and saw Principal Blackwell sorting through paperwork and her computer. No doubt the new requirements of the school would be keeping her busy the rest of the year just to keep her job. Taylor smirked to herself. Blackwell would have to keep a better eye on things regardless of the issue with how much scrutiny she was under.

The new lockers helped too. Apparently, this world either didn't trust their kids as much or had dealt with too much to risk problems, so all the lockers were now see through. Taylor still wouldn't be using one, but if she'd had those earlier...

She shook the memories from her head and entered Gladly's classroom and headed for her seat.

'Seriously?' Taylor thought to herself as she saw the glue all over the seat and desk. Gladly wasn't there yet so she wasn't going to blame him from ignoring the quite obvious act that that Madison and one of her hangers on did. 'We just came back, are in a whole new world... and you start off exactly where we left off. Well, we'll see about that.'

with barely a thought, Taylor directed some of her shrunken ant colony to to spread around the glue and release the S-Palmer Particles into it, then consume the glue once it was at a safe enough size. Taylor held back a smirk as she sat down when Gladly entered, not reacting to the perfectly clean seat. She caught Greg looking at her out of the corner of her eye, then looking back at the bullies. Her insects were able to read their confusion because, if there had been glue, she should be sticky or running out to get cleaned up.

Gladly was frantically going over some papers, wearing a tweed suit a size to small he probably got to look professional in a rush. His tie was barely functional with the small side tuck between two buttons on his shirt. "Okay class, I... honestly I've been scrambling to put things together. Literally every lesson plan I had was thrown out, as you might imagine." There were snickers from around the room. "So I also have to be the bearer of bad news. You all have summer school."

"WHAT!?" Taylor didn't join in the shout, which was echoed throughout the whole building by every other class in some capacity.

"We have to get you up to the standards of this world, which means for me in particular, that I have to start you with with American history all over again." Gladly rolled a projector to the center of the room, plugged it in, shut off the lights, and put a slide down after turning it on. The slide showed an artistic depiction of the Union and Confederate army. "Keep notes as we will be moving very fast to limit the amount of Summer school." For once, everyone had their notebooks out and pens or pencils readied. "Here we go. Starting with the end of the American Civil War and the rechristening of the country as the American Union of Federated States, 'crypto-men' began openly acting. Among these was who we now call Blue Icon in the Reconstruction South. He began a cru..."

Taylor kept meticulous notes while she focused on the sudden shift among insects in her range. A small colony on the roof that moved in after the cleaning was scattered oddly. Someone stepped on them but instead of stepping off they just vanished.

Taylor's eyes narrowed. Who or what was that?

 

[Xero Key]

It wasn't exactly unheard for Sophia to skip school and go out on an unregistered patrol. It wasn't common and in fact rare, but Blackwell would cover for her.

She always did. Even when just a star in track.

But Sophia needed to be Shadow Stalker right now. Dealing with the bullshit new rules in the school wasn't worth it when she could put down criminals. And with the Rules gone the way of the dodo, Bet's dodos at least, she could actually get some damn work done!

The scum of Brockton Bay were finally going to learn what it meant to be afraid! The boot on their neck! No more kid gloves and regulations. Miss Piggy could get as huffy as she wanted, but things were different now.

Better. Well, for the most part. Shadow Stalker wasn't exactly thrilled with the order to 'play nice' with the Undersiders since they seemed to flip sides. But if Grue had an… allergic reaction to her tranqs that misfired? Not her fault beyond improperly securing her weapon. She couldn't have possibly known he was allergic after all.

Yeah, that did put a smile on her face.

"HELP!" A scream came from nearby and Stalker shifted to her shadow form to get a better look, crouching behind an AC unit. A couple of muggers holding a brown worman at gun point against a wall. One was fumbling through her purse before throwing it on the ground in anger.

Must not have had anything good in it. The supposition proved true when the muggers started fiddling with the woman's clothes. The woman screamed for help didn't even try to scratch at her attackers.

"What a loser…" Stalker sighed to herself as she loaded a bolt into her crossbow. She lined up with the one with the gun, aiming just above his pelvis. She'd been a good shot before the Wards, and now she was excellent. It would hit his leg and distract him as she glides in for a kick. Just need to wait for the scared little rabbit to give up like she wants to.

"I'm fairly certain the lady would like to leave, gentlemen." A strong baritone floated down from the sky.

Sophia held back a gasp. HE was here.

As if a leaf carried by a gentle breeze, Super-Soldier descended from on high, iconic shield strapped to one arm. "Now, I suggest you drop your weapons and step away from the young lady."

"What? You think we're scared of you?" One of them shouted. "The Empire runs this city and no race traitor like you can change that!"

Super-Soldier gently shifted his gaze to the proud skinhead, and then to the woman. "Judging by her clothes, you aren't exactly the most ardent believer. So I'm giving you one more chance to surrender."

"Yeah, not happening." The gunman pulled the woman close and held his pistol against her head as he started to back out against the alley, the skinhead still talking as he followed. "You're going to let us walk out of here unless you want a little more red added to the pavement. Yeah, that's right you fu-!"

A burst of wind and Super-Soldier was gone from in front of them. The gunman backed up against a… wall? There wasn't a wall behind him. The pistol was suddenly gone from his hand and the distinct sound of crumpling foil followed. A ball of misshapen plastic and metal dropped to the ground between the criminals and their victim.

"You were saying?" Super-Soldier would have almost sounded amused, had the undercurrent of a growl not been in his throat. The former gunmen was given a slight pat on the back that sent him sprawled onto the floor. As the monologuing skinhead turned around to draw his own gun, he found the woman behind the pentagon shield.

Super-Soldier gently jabbed the shield forward, shattering the gun and sending the skinhead stumbling onto his ass. The hero looked down at the woman he was protecting. "Are you alright miss?"

"Y-yes. I am now."

Clark gave a charming smile as he placed his hand to his ear. "Good. Super-Soldier to console, I have two in custody for a mugging. Alley off South Jefferson Dr."

"We aint in custo-" A blur surrounded them and the two criminals were up against the wall with their hands zip tied behind their backs. Super-Soldier just gave them a look.

"Suggest an ambulance to the location, victim seems frazzled." Super-Soldier nodded. "10-4, I'll still be here when they arrive." He turned to the woman. "Ma'am, the police and paramedics will be here in a few minutes. Do you need to sit down?"

"N-no." She shivered and held her arms. Super-Soldier seemed to accept her answer and waited. Not long after, the police arrived to take the criminals and statements, while paramedics looked over the woman.

On the roof, Sophia felt she had seen enough. Super-Soldier was basically playing with those idiots, but he still didn't do what he needed to. The woman was weak, but he was pathetic. Surrender? Just take 'em out and the job is done. She got up and was about to make a shadow jump when she heard a cough above her.

"I'm fairly certain you could have stepped in before I did, even if you are supposed to be in school."

Sophia whirled around and fired her crossbow on instinct, the bolt shattering into splinters as soon as it Super-Soldier's face. "That was my fault for scaring you, I'm sorry."

"Uh… yeah, right. Just caught me by surprise is all." Sophia said, holstering her crossbow. "So, uh, what's up?"

"Besides a Ward who should be in school?"

"It was stifling, okay. I'm more useful on the streets than reading books."

Super-Soldier looked at her and sighed, floating over the edge of the roof and sitting on it. He patted the space next to him. "I'm not exactly one who can admonish you about skipping school. I did a lot of objectively illegal things trying to join the Army and only got a pass when I volunteered for the experiment." He looked over at Sophia. "What I can admonish you for is doing it for the wrong reasons."

"Hey, I was lining up a shot. The lady was fine."

"The fact you jumped to that point instead of asking what I meant tells me you know what you did wrong already. You waited." Sophia was defiantly silent. "…I can understand why you did too." Sophia looked at the elder hero. "I tried again and again to get into the Army, against objectively impossible odds. I struggled and was eventually rewarded for it. Logically, that means that trying to struggle even when there is no chance is the right thing to do."

Sophia nodded. "Yeah."

"But that logic is flawed. That's the kind of logic that led to the War in the first place. That the world is unfair and you need to fight back against some nebulous enemy is exactly what those thugs just taken away believe." Clark said, pulling off his half-cowl.

"But if you can't fight, can't survive on your own, you're dead weight."

"Only machines think that way. That there is a numerical value to life. But life doesn't work that way Shadow Stalker. Even animals group together to survive. The lone wolf may seem like the best of the best, but it's the most likely to starve. A single wolf won't be able to take down the prey it needs to."

He gently patted Sophia on the back. "Come on, you need to get back to school."

Knowing there was no avoiding this truant officer, Sophia obeyed. But only because he could catcher her in an instant. She didn't need his help and the lady he saved certainly didn't deserve it. But… at least he understands. A bit.

 

[Xero Key]

Alec called himself Regent when wearing a mask, but he much preferred Alec. Just Alec, thank you very much. Alec is nice and simple. No expectations of any kind of morality, just a lazy bum who maybe at times does something to afford pizza and video games.

Just Alec is safe.

"Alec, where are you right now?"

"A decently comfy bed. In a cell."

The therapist gave a slight chuckle. "I mean in your head. Where are you in there?"

Alec considered not answering for a moment. Despite being in a cell, he had a pretty good life. Video games, tv, food. While he couldn't ask for anything he wanted, he could get pretty much everything. He didn't really need to answer.

"My father's compound." But he wanted to.

"And why are you there?"

'When am I not?' he answers to himself. "Just tend to go back there."

"You said you escaped your father. So why do you think you keep thinking about his compound?"

Alec looked down from his lying position to the shimmering, holographic form of the psychiatrist. "Can't you answer that?"

The therapist nodded. "I could, but you would probably just accept it without trying to stop. But if you are having trouble…" The therapist trailed off.

Alec knee the answer just as much as the therapist and whoever they reported to did. But openly admitting it? Admitting why he is Just Alec? He thought his emotions were too deadened to feel fear, yet he's terrified.

But why!? Why is he terrified? It's just an objective fact. Why does it feel him with the same feeling that an Endbringer siren does!? Why does he feel like if he opens his mouth and says it, he'll die !?

Alec leaned his head back against the pillow of his bed and stared at the ceiling. The therapist waited a few minutes to see if there was an answer coming. "I see. Well, this has still been productive."

"Has it?" Alec questioned, focusing on one spot on the ceiling

"I think so. You didn't deflect at all this time." The hologram of the therapist stood up from their chair. "I'll see you in a few days." Then the hologram shut off, leaving Alec alone.

Just Alec. All alone.

+++

​

"Alright Mr. Laborn, everything seems to be in order with the apartment. Nothing that would be dangerous to a young teen at least." The CPS agent said, marking some things on their notepad. "Now, do you know when the custody hearing will be?"

Brian shrugged. "Might be a while, what with the whole new universe thing. But Aisha can still stay with me until then?"

The CPS agent looked over their notes. "I can't see any reason why not. Your father definitely doesn't want to care for her and your mother…" Both Brian and the agent decided to not to focus on that subject. "Anyway, sign here please. Thank you. And here is your copy saying your sister can stay with you until the custody hearing."

The two shook hands and the agent left the apartment, then Brian collapsed on the sofa. "Jesus Christ." His phone began to ring, so he pulled it out of his pocket looked at the ID. "Damn it Lisa. Hello?"

"So, good news?"

"You kn- Nope, not bothering with that. Yes, it was good news. Aisha can stay with me until the hearing, whenever that is."

"And you were fighting working for SHIELD."

Brian sat up. "Forgive me for thinking the government that gives kids to drug addicts isn't one to be trusted. And no, don't say anything. They do it here too and you know it."

"Hadn't even crossed my mind." Lisa lied. "But, I do have to ask if you are going out into the field with us."

"I don't know."

"If it's about the money, I can talk to someone."

Brian got up and grabbed his keys. "It's not the money Lisa, it's the whole deal. They don't play by the Rules."

"Did anyone but us? Cause I can tell you, our last sugar daddy did not."

"Look, I gotta pick Aisha up from school and get her stuff from dad's place. I'll talk later." Brian hung up before Lisa could say anything else. He didn't need her over his shoulder right now.

He'll work with SHIELD till he can get something without a chain, then move on. Being a hero just wasn't in the cards.

+++

​

"Couldn't convince him, huh?" Rachel asked between bites of her beef ribs in the Cadmus cafeteria.

Lisa shook her head. "He just wants to coast on by and not make waves. It's why he was always a stickler for the Rules."

Rachel finished off a rib and sucked the remaining meat off the bone, the sauce coating her muzzle. "I can't really blame him. I wanted to just take care of my dogs and didn't care about the whole Cape thing really. Just needed money to do that."

"You were also fucked in the head."

"When they did my treatment, they said we all seemed to be." Rachel picked up another rib. "Probably because we have the worst days of our lives. Or the tumors."

Lisa scrunched her forehead in pain before activating her circlet to soothe it. "You got out of it pretty well." She said.

"I'm a werewolf, Lisa. I had to be animal to not think like one." Rachel pointed a half finished rib at her teammate. "That is fucked up when you think about it."

Desperate to change the subject, Lisa activated her visor to check on Taylor. "So, Taylor seems to be enjoying school. Or at least enjoying the ability to slide by in the chaos."

"Nothing short of a gang fight is going to bother her. Urp!" Rachel burped out when finishing her stack of ribs.

Lisa smiled and shook her head in relief at her teammate's changes, right before an alert popped on her visor. "And Taylor is in the principal's office."

"Was there actually a fight?"

"Not sure, but she's definitely not playing victim and… We need to go. Now." Lisa sprung from her chair and raced towards the teleporter as her costume assembled.

"Why?" Rachel pounced after her. "Can't Taylor handle herself?"

"I'm more worried about collateral damage. One of the locals showed up and it's not a nice one."

The two Undersiders stepped into the teleporter, which began to flash in activation. Hellhound looked at Insight in confusion. "Who the hell could set you off like this?"

The Zeta Beam began just as Lisa spoke. "Hyena." And they were away.

 

[Xero Key]

Principal Janice Blackwell could not resist holding her head in her hands. "The first day? Literally the first day I have you three in my office." She peeked through her fingers at Taylor, Emma Barnes, and Madison Clements. "Ok, let's get it out of the way. Ms. Hebert? You first."

Taylor shrugged. "Honestly ma'am, I wasn't going to say anything about anything." The other three in the office gave her an incredulous look. "I'm serious. Even from a simply cynical point of view of I don't think you believe me when I do complain, you are clearly swamped with work."

The papers, files, and laptop in addition to the normal desktop barely got a wave from the heroine. "I didn't think it worth the time." Taylor admitted.

"Refreshing." Blackwell mumbled. "Ms. Barnes?"

"Uh. Oh, um. Well, Taylor was… scaring me! Yeah! I thought she had a weapon!" Emma claimed, thrown off by Taylor's lack of response.

"And your first thought was to confront her instead of getting a teacher?" Blackwell asked before focusing on Madison. "Is that really what happened, Ms. Clements?" She glanced at Taylor and saw she was not objecting.

"Well, Taylor did have a lot more confidence…" Madison cutely, and weakly, admitted.

Blackwell turned back to Taylor and gestured with her palm up. "I do not have a weapon on my person in any way you could possibly find." Taylor said.

"She admitted it!"

"Sot down Ms. Barnes. That was just unappreciated sarcasm, even I could see that." Blackwell opened her mouth to continue but heard commotion outside her office.

"…ou'll have t- wait. Wait! Stophehehe Hehehehehehehe! Hahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAH *cough* HAHAHAHA *wheeze*!" There was a thud and the manic laughter continued.

The door, slightly ajar, was pushed open by pale white fingers ending in dirty black claws for fingernails. The white, almost albinic, hand connected to a similar arm under a purple trench coat. "Now," the word slithered from the rictus smile lined by razor sharp, yellowed teeth. "I assume you are the principal? Be a dear and call an assembly will you? These kids need a good educational moment about the… dangers of their new home." Hyena laughed at his joke, the wild eyes of an animal staring into each of their souls.

+++

​

The school gathered in the auditorium. Those members of the various gangs cowed by Hyena's heavily armed men to not raise any weapons or do anything foolish. Hyena filed some of his claws with a knife as he waited for the last of the hostages to file in before grabbing one of the school's megaphones. "Alright, I'm on a time table so let's make this easy for us all! You sit nice and quiet and eighty-five percent of you get to go home with some nightmares. Try anything and, well," he snapped his fingers and one of his minions dragged the office secretary in and tossed her to Hyena.

Hyena caught her by the neck, dangling her like loose puppet. She was clearly dead, her eyes frozen in terror while her mouth was stuck as a sickening smile. "Any heroes and the other seventeen percent get to join miss… Petersen in HappyVille." Hyena unceremoniously dropped the body as he paced in front of the student body, idly scratching just below his green mutton chops deep enough to draw blood but the mark healing immediately.

"Lygodia, can you hear me?" Lisa's voice came over Taylor's hidden communicator. "Don't say anything, just nod." Taylor did so, covering it as a worried shiver as best she could. "Good, good. I'm monitoring through the security cameras. Hellhound is outside ready burst in when you give the go."

Taylor subtly shook her head, using insects to find Insight and spell out what the full situation is. "Time table? His profile says he's a merc but… shit! Super-Soldier and Shadow Stalker were attacked by Shaggynaut and Black Tom Savage. And the rest of the Protectorate is locked up with the gangs who got stirred up."

Insight gasped. "Holy shit. Hyena's keeping everyone in the city busy for something. Someone is paying big money for this distraction. But why?"

Hyena stopped pacing and sniffed the air. He stalked over the students and knelt down close to the front row and sniffed deeply, like a predator tracking its prey. "Take these five, those four, and this seven. Get 'em front and center." Hyena specifically grabbed Taylor himself and leaned into her ear. "I know you're listening runt."

"Let them go Hyena." This was a new voice on the channel. Older, gruff, scarred.

"Who the hell!?" Insight clamored.

"Oh, no can do runt. Especially now that this little fly has landed in my parlor. So drop the act and show yourself." Hyena shoved Taylor on to the stage by a set of gas canisters hooked up to masks.

Hyena laid a hand on the valve just before the new voice came through Taylor's comm again. "Fine." The lights went out, followed by the emergency lights as soon as they tried to flicker on.

Hyena grinned and literally licked his lips before pointing at the minions. "Dark Claw is here! Flush him out! He doesn't have his usual hiding places! And a bonus to any who bring me his head!" The majority of the minions left the auditorium, leaving only a token few behind. Hyena did an exaggerated cross over his body. "Hope those boys have good health insurance."

It was quiet for a while, everyone seeming to hold their breath as Hyena giggled listening to his men on the radio. Then the screaming started. Gunshots, more screams, shouts of terror and 'He's an animal!' came over the radio and eventually through the walls. The thugs inside the auditorium began to get nervous, which was when Taylor began to strike.

To Insight, she laid out a plan through the ants. She'd use some fire ants to distract the guards while Hellhound sneaks in through the dressing room hall. The bathroom has an access to the outside with a chain and padlock. Then, once Hyena steps away from the valve, Hellhound charges Hyena.

Insight drew a Y in the clustered bugs, so Taylor focused on the fire ants just outside the walls. Quickly, she brought them and set them on the guards, the bites on their ankles causing the men to dance. "The hell? Get 'em off me!" "What is this shit!" "Ants! Damn fucking ants!"

Hyena growled, tightening his grip on the valve. "Are you all idiots who forgot to wear thick socks today!" He jerked his head and turned slightly towards the back of the stage. "Well now, aren't you a biggun?" Solid thuds drew everyone's attention, where Hellhound in her monstrous form was standing. "Undersiders, right? Where's your leader with the wings? Too busy egg laying in a spider's web?"

Hellhound growled and stepped forward, but Hyena tapped on the canister. "Ah aha ah. As much as everyone could use a good laugh, I don't think what's in here is dentist approved."

A shadow moved from the other side of the stage, the curtains ruffling to reveal a man dressed in black with yellow stripes. "Let them go Hyena!" His mask was like a bat in flight over a full moon.

"There you are runt! I was wondering when you'd actually crawl out of your little burrow."

Dark Claw frowned, his tattered cape hiding his form. Despite the white coverings of his mask, Taylor had the distinct feeling Dark Claw was looking at her, but he never seemed to even slightly move his head. Through her insects, Taylor saw that Hellhound was positioned to pounce and Dark Claw… was moving slightly! There was a bug of some kind, one she didn't recognize, on the back of his cowl near the neck. He was nodding!

He wanted Hellhound to charge? But then Hyena would set off the gas! Unless… the valve was jammed! Thinking quickly, Taylor had a few insects 'wear' her Lydogia costume at just the right size to look like she was acting alone, then was 'tackled' and shrunk with them.

Moving quickly, Lygodia flew up to the valve and webbed the connection while other insects with spare web-projectors webbed up the tubes. Through other bugs, she saw Dark Claw and Hellhound race forward while Hyena smiled and tried to turn the valve. When he couldn't, Hellhound tackled him and Dark Claw…

*Snikt!*

Grew blades from his hands and cut Hyena's hand off where it had been stuck by the webs. Lygodia grew to full size and shot webs at Hyena just as Insight ran in and tossed a forcefield around the canisters. "Sting him!"

"What!" Lygodia asked, but Hyena was already clawing out of the webs and tearing into Hellhound's monster shell with… both hands!?

"He regenerates." Dark Claw answered. "Even if he was necrotizing, he wouldn't die." He gave Lygodia a sharp nod. "Do it."

The hostages screamed as insects poured from every pore of the school, swarming onto Hyena. Hellhound pulled away as the villain began to try to scratch and bite and pummel the plague. Eventually he began to slow, the sheer amount of venom in his body taking a toll on his regeneration. Lygodia pulled back the swarm and Dark Claw injected a fluid into him. "It's a sedative for him specifically. But what I don't understand is why he was hired to attack Winslow?"

"He wasn't." Insight said, observing her HUD. "He was another distraction."

"For what?"

The heroes, Protectorate and otherwise, arrived at Immaculata when Insight shared her data. The place was chaos, as if the very laws of physics had broken down and tried to reassert themselves from the wrong angles. In the main hallway, it was if a corkscrew has exploded and turned it into puzzle pieces that were reassembled a colorblind two year old on a sugar high. In the middle of it, laying in what was once a prized chandelier, were three figures.

One was a slowly rebuilding itself cyborg with six arms in a two toned mixture of a jester and samurai outfit. In front of her was a blonde girl crying as she held another girl, a brunette of similar age, who was bleeding from her eyes and ears and mouth. "Please! Help her! There's a sixty percent chance you still can!" Dinah Alcott cried over the still body of Melissa 'Missy' Biron.

The Ward named Vista.

 

[Xero Key]

WARDENS #1
THAT NEW, FAMILIAR VISTA​

I guess it's true what they say, your life does flash before your eyes when you die.


"Going into arrest! Get the paddles!" "Still need to intubate!" "Where's that damn blood and plasma!?"

But are dramatic flashbacks supposed to be sepia toned? Has that always been a thing, or is it new since coming to MetWash?

"Tube in!" "Clear!" "No response!" "250! Clear!" "Nothing!" "Aga…in! Cl…e…a…"

Huh? Who am I? Yeah, I guess I should probably tell you. Would be nice to have my story straight when I get to the pearly gates or whatever they call it around here. My name's Missy, Missy Biron. I'm a superhero from another world. Government sponsored actually, so I can shout 'Federal Agent!' when chasing a mugger.

But I don't really like my real name that much. You can call me…

VISTA

+++​

May 15th, 1998 at 6:53 am is when I was born. And for the first ten years of my life, everything was normal. I went to school, had birthday parties, sleepovers with friends. I was a perfectly normal girl. Just the average upper-middle class upbringing the American Dream is based on. White picket fence, three beds with two and half bath, even the lovable dogs. Everything looked absolutely perfect from the outside. It might have even been good on the inside for a while.

Then dad got cancer. He toughed it out and got into remission when I was ten, but something changed at home.

"WITH JOHN?! MY BROTHER!

"YOU WEREN'T THERE, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO!?"

"NOT SLEEP WITH MY BROTHER WHILE I WAS F@#&%$G DYING WOULD BE A GOOD START!"

"DYING? PLEASE. YOU WHERE IN AND OUT OF CHEMO IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS!"

*CRASH*

I think that was an ashtray I made at school dad threw. But honestly, it started getting hard to remember What exactly happened those days. It would have been easier to say what didn't.

You ask me? Nothing didn't happen.

"Bosco? Lucy? Jack, have you seen the dogs?"

"Why yes Pauline, I have. They seemed nice and quiet when I dropped them off at the shelter."

"Why wou- YOU GAVE AWAY MY DOGS!?"

"I paid for them, so they were mine to do with as I pleased."

"YOU KNOW I LOVE THOSE DOGS!"

"You said you loved me too, but that didn't stop you from letting John where she shouldn't be."

"YOU BASTARD!"

The police were called that night, but nothing changed. The fights got worse over time. Way worse. I think the only reason they didn't get physical was because they couldn't hide it. Everyone at church, at their work, at my school; they all knew. My parents weren't exactly quiet.

I wished they'd just stop. That one of them would leave! But no, they wouldn't. They both were too stubborn for that. Mom took the guest room, a second master really because no way was she accepting anything that dad didn't have.

You ever play tug-of-war and feel sorry for the rope? I have. Piano lessons that mom scheduled conflicting with soccer clubs that did, or something else just like it. Two babysitters showing up at the exact same time paid by each of my parents and then sent home when they started arguing about 'who was right to hire them'.

It was dinner, in April. I was ten and had just made myself some microwave chicken parm and sat down. The arguing came in from outside and continued right in front of me. I tried to block it out and finish my dinner but it was Just. So. LOUD!

My head was throbbing! It hurt so much! Why couldn't…

they…

Just…

SEPARATE!!?!!

[DESTINATION]


Spiraling snakes of crystal shed their skin


[TRAJECTORY]

Meteors rain down upon the Earth


[AGREEMENT]


The North Eastern United States


[DESTINATION]


A little girl holding her ears to block out an argument


[AGREEMENT]


Darkness​

I passed out for a moment and when I came to, marinara covering my face, the kitchen was wider. Stretched like rubber and my parents were separated. Literally miles apart in the far distance of the horizon before I blinked and everything snapped back to normal. I think I passed out again because I don't exactly remember what happened next, just that I was in the hospital with someone from the PRT holding a clipboard.

They told me I reached a crisis point, had a 'Trigger Event' and gained superpowers. I went through the worst day of my life and instead of a lousy t-shirt I could do something amazing. The good news is my parents finally divorced, though bouncing between their homes isn't fun.

"Now, Vista, you wanted to show us something?" Ascientist asked when I wanted some time to show off a trick.

"Yep!" I pulled out a simple rubber band. "Can you hold up your pen behind your back?" He did it and I fired the rubber band at the total opposite end of the room, taking the cap off the pen in a clean shot.

I was forbidden from carrying rubber bands or any kind of ranged tool immediately after. Apparently the fact I was the perfect sniper intimidated everyone. Though the fact Alexandria herself broke the news and saying she was looking forward to working with me softened the blow.

"-ista! Wa-!"

"Cl-"

Not that I'll have the chance.

I was twelve and the only member of the team I joined left. "Challenger, why am I not Ward leader?"

The hero sighed. "Vista, it's policy. You are too young."

"And the new guy got his powers a week ago! He turns 18 in three days! I've been in the field, in real fights with real villains, and I'm ignored when I give advice!"

"I'm sorry, Vista. There's nothing I can do."

"Nothing we can do. C… a… l…"

"All students, the lockdown has been lifted. We have an all clear signal. You may return to your proper schedules if your parents do not come to pick you up." The headmaster's voice said over the PA. Though it was oddly monotone.

My class left the teacher's closet and went back to our seats. It's Brockton Bay, our parents aren't going to pick us up unless our school was attacked.

One of my classmates, Dinah I think, raced out the door in a panic. I followed her, ignoring the teacher telling me to wait for my parents. "Hey what's wrong?" I asked when I found her hiding in the bathroom.

"Ninety-nine percent that announcement was fake!" She sobbed while holding her head in pain. Percent? Wait, she's the new Ward!

Wait. "Fake!?"

"Shame bout that, but having to go door to door to find her woulda been annoyin'." A roboticized Bostonian voice said. I formed a spacial mirror and looked at the woman, six arms with weapons and a black and red outfit. "So why don't you just get up nice and easy, and no one gets hurt, kay?"

The woman reached out to take Dinah when I stretched the hall between us a mile. The woman laughed and teleported, literally teleported, right back in front of me. "Neat trick. Aint gonna work though." She raised a pistol in one of her hands, some sort of sci-fi laser, and leveled it at me. "Hand her over."

I stretched the space again, bending it so she was aiming at her own back. She teleported out of it and I kept laying more and more space, turns, warps, and mirrors between us as she kept trying to get closer.

My head was burning, my vision going black. My pulse was thumping in my ears but I couldn't stop! This woman was dangerous and I couldn't let her take Dinah! The kid may have been new but she was still my teammate!

"I'm gettin' real' 'noyed kid!" The villain cried as I formed a bubble where I was stretching things to the point I could swear the seams of reality were coming apart. Or that may have been my brain.

[QUERY]​

I could taste the copper of my blood running down from my nose.

[ADJUSTMENT]​

The villains was still teleporting, trying to keep ahead of the molecules as they pulled themselves farther and farther away from each other.

[AGREEMENT][QUERY]​

I couldn't let her through! She had..

To..

[CONSIDERATION]​

STAY…

[AGREEMENT]​

AWAY!

The villain teleported, I blacked out.

"..l it. TOD 10:2-"

*GASP!* My eyes shot open. There's a tube in my throat! I was choking!

"Easy, Easy! You were intubated." I looked over and saw an asian man in red scrubs trying to keep me lying back. "We thought we lost you. You are a very strong girl Missy." They got the tube out of me and put one of those nose things on me instead.

Someone gripped my hand. It was Dinah. "You only had point oh two percent chance of coming back." She stated as matter of factly as she could through her smiling sobs. "It hurt so much to ask, but I had to know…"

I smirked. "I'm a hero. We always beat the odds."

So, that's my story. I'm a superhero, I saved the day, and saved the girl. Not bad for someone who just wanted some space huh?

 

[Xero Key]

THE DARK CLAW STRIKES #20
NEW WORLD ORDER PT.3​

Editor: You didn't miss parts 1 and 2 in Legends of the Dark Claw #75 or Dark Claw #6 did you?


I hate coming to the capital. The entire city is a landlord's special, a coat of paint to cover all the rot. For all the flaws of New Gotham, she's at least honest about being a corrupt hellhole. I'll never understand how Clark can live here.


He's far too optimistic. And joining this 'Protectorate' isn't helping matters.


Protectorate. Noun. A state that is controlled and protected by another. In other words, Territory.


They're just another gang, full of corruption and lies to defend themselves above all else at the expense of the people.


And the world they come from…


"You have nothing like Kill Orders and let maniacs like Hyena run loose!?" The squat, almost boar like director glares at myself and Clark.


Sickening.


"He doesn't run loose, he escapes." Clark tries to placate as usual. Naive. "He often has traps and deadman's switches for when people reasonably could." I hear their armored leader mumble about those not being real. Self-absorbed.


"And once he's dead, he can't do it again Rogers!"


I've had enough of this. "He has been killed. Several times. By me." All but Clark jolted, they completely forgot I was there.


Hmph, a brightly lit room with few shadows and I still blend in. "I've torn his still beating heart from his chest and crushed it. Ripped off his head and mutilated his brain until it resembled chunky salsa. Hyena cannot die. And Harley is no better. Unless you have a solution for actual immortality?" No one answered, but the director was openly glaring at me. "I thought not."


I left the meeting and headed towards their base's landing pad. I was needed back home and had little time for people that decided to apply piracy laws to their most inconvenient problems.


"I'm sorry about them, Logan." Clark said, just soft enough that only enhanced hearing like ours could pick it up. "They're having a tough time adapting to a new culture." I hold back a smirk as I hear the doubt in his voice, hidden from anyone who doesn't know him well.


"I'm not sure they ever had a culture to adapt from, Soldier." I say before firing my grapple claw up and being pulled away by the Claw-Copter. I got in the cockpit of the amphibious VTOL and angled for New Gotham. There was a mess I still needed to clean up there.

+++​

The Claw-Copter rose from the water, streams dripping down as it took its place in the Den's hanger. I climbed out as soon as it was secure and headed for the main computer where Sparrow was working.


"Update." I respected Neena's abilities too much to think she didn't have something.


"Lot of money shifted around before it hit Hyena and Savage. Failure point was in Quebec. Severin Lobster Company. Tracked a few more slip ups to Minotaur Puzzle Limited." She said, only barely turning to me


"Nashton." It fit, Wilson Nashton had the funds and resources to hire big muscle like Hyena and Savage. I can almost understand why. The girl Harley went after is a terrifying precognitive. Percentile based predictions leave little room for error.


The Big Question now is, how did he learn about her?


*VREEP! VREEP!*


I slid my finger across the screen and brought up the Claw-Signal transmitter. "Bomb threat at Third National Library."


"We're already there dad." Gabrielle? "Black Claw called it in."


"Where is she?" Neena rolled her eyes at my question. We all knew where she was.


"With the bomb."

+++​

Cassandra Kinney aka Black Claw


This… is not a bomb. Bombs have logic, reason. This is a monstrosity of welded metal and scrap. Held together almost literally by duct tape and chewing gum. The only reason I'm taking this seriously at all is because I can smell the ignition and accelerant in the cap. At worst it will be a fiery explosive that sprays burning liquid everywhere that can be put out with a fire extinguisher. At worst…


Well, I can't trust that unfamiliar scent isn't nuclear.


"Can't disarm." I said before Logan could even ask. "It's… wrong. Real, but wrong."


"Elaborate."


"Child's drawing for most hurt." I said. "No… thought." I struggled to explain. I hate having so many languages in my mind that I have to speak so childishly to be understood.


Logan was silent for a time. "Tinker made" I raised an eyebrow beneath my mask, knowing the movement would be picked up. "Black boxer technology that ignores rational thought. Unable to be replicated."


Ah, so the bomb doesn't have to follow design principles. The only thing rational is the device tied to the pin to activate it. I'd already severed the phone so it cannot be remotely detonated, but I didn't trust moving it. It looked too easy to jostle.


"Will cover and detonate."


"We don't know what it could do. I'm calling the Justifiers."


"No! I can handle it!"


"This isn't about your capabilities, it's about the risks." Logan growled, one I echoed.


"What risk? Immortal." With that I unsheathed my hand claws and stabbed the device while I covered it with my cape.


A flash.


I could see through my eyelids. They were clear. My cape was clear. I was clear. All but the metal of my bones had turned clear. No, not clear.


Glass.


I was made of Glass. I could see? How could I see? No, my corneas were reforming. I could hear the chipping of the silicate as my regeneration broke through. I still couldn't move.


No, a twitch around my claws. Muscles reforming. If I could just expose them to air the process should accelerate!


*crick… crick… cri- SNIKT!*


The cracking sped up, and I could move my hand. Then my forearm.


I would have roared had I a throat when my full left arm was restored to functional, and I slammed my claws into more parts of the glass statue that was my body.


My right arm was next, followed by my ears and, yeah, I had to stab my eyes to speed up my head's restoration.


Once I could move my torso, I broke my legs out. Finally, I bit down hard on my teeth to shatter the glass and start growing new ones.


I grabbed a few hoodies and jackets to protect my identity and modesty and was fingering my hair as it resgrew when Logan found me.


"What happened?" He asked.


I spit out a shard of glass tooth and gummly tried to answer. "Om. Me. Ahu." Front teeth just came back. "Bomb. Me. Statue. Glass."


Logan looked over the shards of glass Me and held up one that matched my cowl. He ground his own teeth in frustration. "We'll get everything back to the Den. And then we are having a talk."

+++​

"You failed, Mr. Calvert." Big Question simply stated. "I found the possibility of the girl interesting, interesting enough to use considerable resources to procure her."


"Mr. Nashto, sir, I have to apologize. My powers are still trying to process the new surroundings." Thomas Calvert said.


"And that is the only reason you are forgiven, Thomas." Wilson Nashton picked up a paperweight and began rolling it around his hands like a ball. "That and the intriguing result of the bomb you brought with you. You said its maker is in Brockton Bay?"


"Yes sir." Thomas sighed a breath of relief. "But she is under Lung's control, the ABB. She is unlikely to be able to simply take a better offer."


"Lung. Anglicized from Loong. The Chinese dragon who seems to act more as if he were Fafnir." Question tapped his paperweight against his chin. "You obviously have agents among them. Reach out with a business proposal."


Coil was confused. "Sir?"


"Why try to tame the dragon when you can direct his wings? It's far simpler to solve a puzzle when working together after all." Question smiled. "He wants power and territory? I have plenty of it to spare. I need only find his price."