Sanctioned (Splintered Reboot; QAylor Crack Quest)

[x] Is she sure it happened to them before you? Your earliest coherent memory is from inside that prison.
-[x] You really don't know, though.

"Are you certain whatever happened to them, happened before me? My earliest coherent memory is from inside a biohazardous prison. I am almost completely certain this is not normal."

Arsenal's host spasms oddly and shakes her head.

"That... is not normal, no. I hope you recover soon."

The woman starts to stand up, then stops and glances over to you.

"Would you prefer for me to stay until your father gets here?"

You imitate the headshake, carefully watching Arsenal's host as you do so. You think you used it properly.

"I have no significant preference in either direction. Would you prefer to stay until he arrives?"

Arsenal's host blinks and wrinkles the few exposed parts of her face.

"If you don't mind, I should really go report this in person. There's a button on the side of your bed in case you need anything. I wouldn't be the one to answer it, but if you want me back here, just tell whoever comes."

The older human stops halfway through the cloth curtain being used as a door. After an odd moment of hesitation, she glances back to you.

"I'm Miss Militia, by the way. I wish we could've met under better circumstances."

"You aren't the only one."

Miss Militia repeats the earlier odd twitch before bobbing her head and leaving. After scanning the room and finding no dangers to Host, you settle back and close your eyes once more.



Some time later, you're woken up by someone trying, and failing, to sneak into Host's room. You snap your eyes open and stare at the middle-aged human so caught.

It takes you a few moments to recall Queen Shaper's earlier warning about Danny Hebert, Host's father. Given the visible concern from an otherwise-random human, you can only assume this is him. You're just as unimpressed as you were when you first switched from him to Host.

"Hello?"

Danny takes a deep breath and smiles weakly, still standing in the middle of the room.

"Hello yourself. Are you...?"

He gestures in your general direction. You tilt your head horizontally in what you believe to be an expression of confusion, then stop as Danny looks confused himself.

"If you were inquiring as to my general status, be advised that my earliest coherent memories are from earlier today. You are my father, correct?"

Danny's face crumbles into what is almost certainly either grief or horror. Possibly both. Either way, he makes his way to the seat formerly occupied by Miss Militia and collapses into it.

"I'm — yes, I'm your father. Good God, Taylor, what happened?"

You spend a few seconds considering Danny's question. Judging by how he didn't seem too surprised by your declaration, you assume Miss Militia or someone working with her already told Danny Hebert of your known health status.

"...I got abilities commonly called 'superpowers?'" you volunteer brightly. "Also brain damage, I think, but not as badly as it sounds like some other students got. I was able to walk around just fine earlier. I think they might have trouble with that if they aren't healed. Miss Militia was in here earlier and said they might be able to arrange that, though, so I think they'll be alright in the long run. What about you? How has your day been so far?"

Danny leans away from you, his face utterly unreadable. Fortunately, he isn't given adequate time to recover from your deliberate social counterattack; a darkly-clothed non-host pushes the curtain aside, takes one look at the room within, and then knocks on the wall beside said curtain.

"Mr. Hebert? Is this a bad time?"

Host's father slumps and squeezes his face with one hand.

"Yes, but don't let that stop you. Who are you, exactly?"

"I'm Penny Trillson. You can think of me as the PRT's messenger." Her gaze flicks to you. "If you'd rather rest, I can come back later. I just think you'll both want to hear this now."

Danny sighs, but otherwise doesn't look up. Exhaustion? Resignation? Both? Maybe you should start asking?

"Should I have a lawyer for this conversation?"

Penny immediately shakes her head.

"I have no intention of making you sign or agree to anything. We simply believed you'd want status reports sooner than later, especially given your assumed financial status. Was this assumption erroneous?"

More knowledge can never be bad.

"More information is always good, provided it isn't wrong."

Penny gives you a rather odd look. Still, she doesn't wait for permission from Danny Hebert before leaning against a nearby wall. A small pile of papers is unfolded from one pocket and held aloft. They aren't even completely stilled before Penny begins speaking.

"To start off, you should know that the school district will, at the very least, be paying for Taylor's current and ongoing treatment. Given her condition, I expect they'll also be willing to provide a rather significant stipend, especially if you agree not to go to the media or sue. That conversation, you should have a lawyer for."

"They'd better," Danny mumbles. After a slight pause, he shakes his head and looks up, most traces of exhaustion gone from his face. You can't tell if he's determined or angry. "What else?"

Penny makes a show of looking through the stack of wrinkled papers, but you don't think she's really paying attention to them.

"We'd like ongoing access to Taylor's current and future medical records. Her condition is unique and may not only provide us with knowledge of how powers operate, but how the human brain functions."

Danny opens his mouth to respond and is immediately stopped by a raised hand.

"I'm not here to make you agree to anything, remember? That just let me deliver the request for consideration and admit we don't know what's happened to her. Next up, we're actively questioning students and working on finding out who put Taylor into that atrocity. It shouldn't take long, although I must warn you not to expect instant notification of our findings. The last thing we want is more innocent victims of this whole disaster. Finally, I'm supposed to sell the Wards program to you, but to be perfectly honest, I think piecing your normal lives together will be enough effort. Teaching Taylor safe power usage can wait."

You know a deliberate curiosity-trap when you see one. Still, you see no good reason not to trigger it.

"Wards?"

Penny nods solemnly. "I've yet to hear of a parahuman who could keep their heads down. The urge to use their abilities goes beyond 'with great power comes great responsibility' and toward an outright addiction."

"How would you learn about them?" Danny asks wryly.

Penny blinks several times before adopting what you assume is a thoughtful expression.

"You know, I never really looked at it like that. I should've. Either way, the Wards are meant to help young parahumans gain valuable life experience, control their powers, and help their community. But to be perfectly honest, I don't think I'm the person you should be speaking to about this."

...Was the trap accidental?

"I think we could get one of the Protectorate to visit and tell you themselves, but unfortunately, I'm not sure who you'd want to see. Would you mind telling me — and by extension, the PRT — your powers? I think we could send down someone based on those, especially if you're a Tinker."

Ah, there it is.

Host's father doesn't look like he's going to provide any input, instead looking slightly overwhelmed. Typical. He never suffered quite enough to let you link and he's apparently a poor parental unit for Host. Really, you'd be tempted to disown him if it wouldn't upset Host when she finally returns.

---

[] Rebuke: Since waking up in a biohazardous metal prison, you've done little save escape and ask for medical attention. When would you have a chance to find out what they're supposed to be?
-[] It's also none of their business provided you don't break their rules, right?

[] Partial disclosure.
-[] You can literally make friends. Yes, from scratch.
--[] Don't worry, your own blood should be more than enough for that. You don't need anyone else's. Trying to get it would be far more trouble than it's worth.
-[] You can turn into a dragon.
--[] And almost any other Terran creature smaller than that.
-[] You gain powers from wearing head-coverings based on the type of headwear in question. Not permanently, just for whatever you're wearing at the time.

[] Almost the complete truth: You can make your own wonderful Friends, you can change into almost any Terran creature, and hats temporarily give you powers.
-[] Mention synergies: Your Friends can also gain weakened versions of hat-abilities, you can drain your other forms for blood and similar materials, and you can assume the forms of any Friends you make.

[] Write-in

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