Diamond Realm maybe?
Reading it again it seems like he traumatized Alexandria so he's on True Demon the only one in which he gets pierce so they either got very lucky or he didn't go all-out.
Last edited:
Adapt (SMT/Worm AU)
- Thread starter SkyRig
- Start date
- Crossover
Reading it again it seems like he traumatized Alexandria so he's on True Demon the only one in which he gets pierce so they either got very lucky or he didn't go all-out.
MaskedCritic
Verified Obsessed with Yuri
- Location
- Fluttershy's Secret Dungeon Shrine to Metal
Ehhhhhh? Lucifer's always been pretty chill in SMT, why would anyone fight them? YHVH and his angels I can get, those guys are just a bunch of slaving assholes (and every friend-character that joins that side is a horrific monster), but Lucifer always comes across more like "Hey, that YHVH and his goons are a bunch of assholes, right? You should totally fight them and save humanity from eternal enslavement. Here, have a cool gun/powerup/helpful bit of advice. Later!"
(My first SMT was Strange Journey. The one they did in that cracked me up: Louisa Ferre)
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
It was a test to see if Demi was good enough to lead his legions of demons into the final battle with the Great Will (who, depending on who you ask, is another name for YHVH or his boss).
Personally, my feelings for David/Eidolon are conflicted. He is a deeply flawed person, and is responsible for a lot of suffering and death both directly and indirectly. However, at his core he wants to be a hero. He wants to save people, to beat the bad guy, and make the world a better place.
Is he responsible for the Endbringers attacking? Eh, kinda. His power is responsible for activating them and making them attack because he "needed worthy opponents," but people forget that a lot of the time the powers Eidolon gets aren't actually the best for the situation. The Endbringers attack because Eidolon's Shard thinks thats what he wants/needs. And the thing about his Shard?
All Shards filter everything they do through the lens of Conflict. The idea of solving a problem without utilizing conflict is alien to them.
So basically I'm excited to see where this goes. David is an interesting character, and I'm glad that you are using him in an interesting way.
Is he responsible for the Endbringers attacking? Eh, kinda. His power is responsible for activating them and making them attack because he "needed worthy opponents," but people forget that a lot of the time the powers Eidolon gets aren't actually the best for the situation. The Endbringers attack because Eidolon's Shard thinks thats what he wants/needs. And the thing about his Shard?
All Shards filter everything they do through the lens of Conflict. The idea of solving a problem without utilizing conflict is alien to them.
So basically I'm excited to see where this goes. David is an interesting character, and I'm glad that you are using him in an interesting way.
Garreon
Paldean Top Champion
- Location
- Mesagoza, Paldea
yeah,fun thing about the Great Will is that he doesn't like YHVH because it is doing exactly the opposite of what he wanted it to do. At most the Will is completely Neutral/ Neutral Good.
- Location
- Texas
Generic "how are they still alive?!?!1" comment. 
They're alive because they didn't die. It's that simple, folks. Presumably, he didn't want them dead so he didn't kill them. The question you should be asking over and over again is why didn't he kill them? Is there a scheme (Lucifer is involved so yes) or was it just a lark?
Edit: Another question that could be asked is why is Alexandria's making such a big deal out of it? Having her eye ripped out didn't even bother her half as much.
They're alive because they didn't die. It's that simple, folks. Presumably, he didn't want them dead so he didn't kill them. The question you should be asking over and over again is why didn't he kill them? Is there a scheme (Lucifer is involved so yes) or was it just a lark?
Edit: Another question that could be asked is why is Alexandria's making such a big deal out of it? Having her eye ripped out didn't even bother her half as much.
Last edited:
SkyRig
Wake the f#ck up, samurai.
- Location
- Someplace in California
- Pronouns
- He
You'll find out in the Interlude, though that won't be up until we're about halfway through Arc 2.
I'd like to think that, for all his bluster and flaws, David is a genuinely good person. He's just got the real shitty luck of having the passenger that gave him his connection to the Endbringers and an ego that does more harm than good.
You think that will help you? If Scion and Demi-fiend fought, there would be nothing left of the known Worm multiverse. Scion is pretty much the only thing that could give the latter a decent fight, and that is IF Demi-fiend isn't using the Masakado Magatama.
This is pretty much half the reason why I'm having Eidolon be Taylor's trainer, actually. He has genuine goals, he just...well, to put it bluntly, he needs a bit of humility in him, which is what I intend to do in this fanfic. Fun fact, he's already slightly nicer thanks to his bout, but whether it sticks will wholly depend on what comes in the future.
I will say that half the reason David is taking Taylor on for the Houston Wards partially involves his own Shard nudging him in the right direction. Alexandria would have killed Taylor the second she started to demonstrate powers similar to that of the Demi-fiend, which in the Shards' opinions, would have resulted in the loss of a valuable subject to examine and study, especially when the Shards realize that something has happened to the Queen Administrator.
Dam lying bastard. ......Bloody scare tactics .....the unwritten rules would protect them from them kidnapping her father publicly......on the other hand if the villains are subtle about it they would be fine from retaliation
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
You're assuming a villain would follow the Unwritten Rules. They're called Unwritten for a reason, not to mention Coil is proof that people are willing to break them.
I'm talking about PUBLIC kidnapping . .......After all the unwritten rules do mean something if they are stupidly public about it......and coil is the very definition of subtle
Last edited:
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
That still doesn't mean there are people willing to break those rules. Of course, as was the case with Purity, they shouldn't expect any mercy when the unmasked cape in question goes on the warpath.
Also, is there a reason why you keep using ellipses so much? Just a simple period and space would work.
SkyRig
Wake the f#ck up, samurai.
- Location
- Someplace in California
- Pronouns
- He
Stranger is correct, and it is a valid concern. There are going to be people who could give two shits about the Unwritten Rules, violating them in public or no.
Piggot isn't trying to perform scare tactics of any sort and she wouldn't even stoop that low. She's simply stating the facts, and do not forget that she did not try to force Taylor into joining the Wards. She told her straight up that, while she would need to undergo training if only to see if her current appearance is or is not permanent, she did not have to join the Wards.
I get that there are plenty of people who despise the PRT for varying reasons, be it because of incompetence and what have you, would it kill people to at least not think the worst of characters who have been dealt a shitty hand?
I actually pity the ENE Branch of the PRT and Protectorate. They were basically abandoned by the rest of the organization. Undermanned, underfunded, and unable to get the support needed to clear out the moles they know they have but don't have the time to do anything about. They are constantly forced to be putting out fires and dealing with short term issues, while they know the long term problems are creeping up on them and they are helpless to do anything about it.
And that's before you take into account Coil, who if not for being a Cauldron Cape would never have had the circumstances needed to infiltrate like he did. Because otherwise he would've Triggered at Ellisburg, so he would've been a known parahuman to the organization.
Brockton Bay's PRT was designed to fail as a sacrificial lamb for the "Cape Fuedalism Expreriment." They never stood a chance.
MaskedCritic
Verified Obsessed with Yuri
- Location
- Fluttershy's Secret Dungeon Shrine to Metal
To be fair, Piggot took her shitty hand and used it to turn herself into a kinda shitty person...
I mean, as much as we all might love to prop her up as the token Badass Normal in Worm, because her interlude showed that she really was, she still ended up as a bitter, unrepentant bigot. One who it can easily be argued is abusing her authority at times, such as when she orders the bombing run on allied villains to try and take down one of the S9 (that did actually happen, right?), or when she punished ALL the wards for the fuckups of a few of them by taking away their pay.
So it's easy to see why some readers would instinctually distrust her motives.
EDIT: Also there's that pervasive fanon misconception that she press-ganged Sophia into the Wards, when in actuality the idea came from Sophia's side. I don't know if her having to be forced to accept the psychotic little shit is fanon or canon.
Last edited:
SkyRig
Wake the f#ck up, samurai.
- Location
- Someplace in California
- Pronouns
- He
And this, right here, is a fair and accurate summation of what I'm going for in this fanfic. Give yourself a cookie, friend, because this is what I want to point out and reinforce in later chapters.
And if you think canon Brockton Bay is screwed over... Well, can't say anything without spoilers, but let's just say things are gonna get way, waaay worse in the coming months. And for once, it won't be because of parahuman bullshit or Cauldron shooting themselves in the foot.
Piggot is a woman who, as you said, got a shitty hand and has pretty much resolved to be in charge of a place her organization has written off and washed their hands of it, leaving her to deal with a monumental mess she has zero hopes of cleaning up anytime soon. And while she may be a bigot, she at least knows when to reign it in. And as much as she hates where she is, she at least knows she's better at handling the situation than, say, Tagg being in charge of Brockton Bay. Fan misconceptions aside, Tagg is not someone you want in charge considering where he's been working the last few years.
Rebirth 1.3
SkyRig
Wake the f#ck up, samurai.
- Location
- Someplace in California
- Pronouns
- He
Dennis sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. Console duty was never fun since it usually meant he had to sit in front of a bunch of screens and coordinate with those out in the field. He preferred being out there, boots on the ground and doing his job, but since he was technically benched for his screw-up last week regarding Othala, there really wasn't much he could complain about. On the other hand, today seemed to be fairly quiet aside from arresting a couple of gang bangers causing trouble, something Vista was annoyed by.
"Seriously, have they never heard of subtlety?!" the half-pint powerhouse raged into her mic. "Who waves a gun around in broad daylight and tries to mug somebody in plain view?! Okay, I get it, we live in the worst city in the United States, but come on!"
He laughed. "Hey, at least you're dealing with them before they can cause trouble. It's the thought that counts, am I right? Besides, it could be worse. We could be dealing with a cape."
"Honestly, I'd prefer that," Kid Win sighed. "Though now that you mention it, is it just me, or are the gangs being really quiet?"
He noticed that as well. Usually there would be reports of gang cape activity by this time of day, much like in the cartoons and shows, but there was not a peep on police intercoms.
"Maybe they're having an off day?" he offered. "Or maybe they're giving us some peace and quiet for once?"
"After that girl got outed to the whole world? Yeah, not buying it."
"Hey hey hey, no bringing this stuff up on open comms. I don't want to get in trouble with Armsmaster and Miss Militia!"
"It's the truth, though!" Vista chimed in.
Dennis rolled his eyes and fiddled with a few buttons, switching communications over to a private channel. "Switched you two over to a private channel. How about some consideration for me next time before you guy doing that, yeah? I'm still in the hot seat!"
"Right, right, sorry Console." The shit-eating grin Vista sported told him she was lying through her teeth. He taught her well. "Anyway, about the new girl, has she settled in?"
"Wouldn't know, haven't met her yet. Not that she'll be staying for long, though. I heard she's gonna be transferred to another team. The Director's waiting on finalizing the papers once the Thinkers get back to her." Dennis paused for a moment before he sighed. "I still can't believe Shadow Stalker did that… I knew she had problems, but Jesus…"
"And just when I thought she couldn't be any more of a bitch," Vista remarked. "Seriously, who does crap like that?"
Kid Win sighed. "At least now we know why Piggot wasn't very enthusiastic about having a nutjob like her on the team. Actually, how did the recruitment pitch go?"
"Dunno, but I think Shadow Stalker either joined because she didn't want to go to Juvie or because the Director didn't give her much of a choice in the matter. Not that it matters much now, though."
The more he thought about Sophia Hess, the more conflicted he became. It was an open secret that she loathed being in the Wards, in no small part due to the restrictions placed upon her. At first, Dennis was excited to have some new blood and someone to joke around with as he did with the others. It took him and the rest of the Wards only a few days to realize that Sophia was not a team player. More importantly, it took them a week to realize that, despite rebranded as such, she was not a hero. Every now and then, she would make certain remarks about being strong or weak, and when she was in a foul mood, she would disparage and insult them.
It was not the worst thing in the world, but Dennis recognized a lost cause when he saw one. He sucked it up, being a senior member to her and gritted his teeth when they were out in the field, but she just made it so hard. How hard was it to work with a team? Back then, he always wondered if she was just as bad in her civilian life and pitied the students of Winslow for having to deal with her.
If he had known then what he did now, he would have argued a case against her. The investigation into Sophia Hess' civilian life had brought numerous things to light, many of which left him and the others unsettled. The year-long bullying campaign that culminated in a girl being trapped inside her own locker, filled with shit from the girls' bathroom, including rotten used tampons and even used condoms of all things. Why condoms were in the girls bathroom he didn't want to know, but he could hazard a few guesses. Regardless, the fact that Sophia actually did that as part of some belief that she was proving she was "strong" made his stomach churn.
They should have known about this. They should never have allowed Sophia Hess to attend Winslow and give her so much free reign in her civilian life. Her rough personality already made it clear she was a hazard. The locker incident proved they were wrong to bring her in. They should have sent her off to Juvie, outnumbered by villains be damned.
…but that was all in the past, because Sophia was dead. Dennis did not think ill of the dead, not even Shadow Stalker. Even so, the only regret he had was not keeping a better eye on her sooner. At least then, maybe, Taylor Hebert wouldn't be having a shitty life.
Dennis switched back over to open channels and was about to report back to HQ when the radio spiked with activity. It was the Police frequency.
"Attention, all units, we have suspected gang activity over by Downtown. Eye witnesses have reported sightings of Mush and Krieg in the viscinity. Again, all units, be advised, gang capes are in Downtown Brockton Bay, East Avenue. Calling in PRT support."
Dennis answered. "Officer, this is Console, we read you. Triumph, Dauntless, you catch all that?"
"We're on it, Console," Dauntless replied. "Vista, Kid Win, swing on back. Aegis, you and Gallant are with me. If you arrive at the area first, do not engage. Escort any and all civilians in the line of fire out of the area, focus on rescue first. I repeat, do not engage Mush or Krieg and focus on evacuating the civilians first!"
Well, so much for a quiet day, Dennis sighed. Still, Krieg and Mush? That was going to be a destructive and one-sided fight.
Well, at least it wasn't Lung and Kaiser this time. The last time those two went at it, the Trainyards had been nearly destroyed. Parian was more than a little miffed, but it wasn't as if the rogue could really do much, being a pacifist and all that.
As he sat in the chair and observed the monitors, ready to report something amiss, he heard the door open. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes, expecting to see a PRT trooper. Instead it was a girl with glowing blue tribal tattoos and orchid eyes.
The new girl, Taylor Hebert.
"Let me guess, got bored?"
Taylor smiled weakly. "More like I got shafted. They, um, said I should see how things work in case I ever come back here."
"Well, take a seat. We got Krieg and Mush about to duke it out in Downtown. Dauntless is on his way with Aegis and Gallant." Her eyes widened. Her expression told him she was probably worried. "Don't worry, this isn't their first rodeo with those two. Granted, it is the first time Krieg and Mush will be getting into it. Which reminds me…" He turned back to his radio. "Why the hell is Mush in Downtown anyway? The Merchants don't usually go into Empire territory unless it's for parts for Squealer."
"We can always ask when we take Mush in, assuming we can. About to reach the area in a few minutes, how's the situation looking over there, Console?"
The police communications radio cracked to life. Dennis cursed. "Might wanna hurry it up, you guys. The party's started, and by the sounds of it, Krieg is pissed like a motherfucker."
"Dammit! Alright, Aegis, Gallant, double-time it!"
"So…this is what benched Wards do?" Taylor asked quietly. "Just look at a bunch of screens and report if there's trouble?"
"Sort of," Dennis shrugged. "And it's not just Wards, it's also the higher-ups too. We can't afford to stretch ourselves too thin in case shit hits the fan, so some of us sit here and report back from the safety of the van while the others are out in the field. I got the short end of the stick because of a screw-up, but that's neither here nor there. And when shit really goes down, the regular guys take over and whoever's benched is ordered to haul ass out into the city."
"I see…"
A period of silence fell between them. The only voices Dennis heard were the panicking cries of civilians and the furious roars of Krieg as he and Mush engaged, Dauntless and his team arriving in team to intervene. Dennis switched back and forth between looking at the screens and back at Taylor, suddenly finding himself nervous. He wondered what she thought of him, sitting there and watching the proceedings quietly. Did she blame him for Shadow Stalker? It was an irrational thought, but Triggers were always kids with volatile issues. She probably felt like the PRT screwed her over, letting Sophia get away with what she did up until now.
I'd probably feel the same if I were in her shoes, Dennis thought.
"What was she like?"
Taylor's question nearly went unheard. "What?"
"So—Shadow Stalker," Taylor clarified. "What was she like with the Wards, I mean?"
Dennis' lips thinned. "Well, what was she like in Winslow? Wait, don't tell me; a total stuck-up bitch with a winner-loser mentality and a ten-foot pole shoved up so far up her ass it would probably take a miracle to pull it out?"
The girl chortled, fighting off an obvious smile on her face. Dennis cheered in his head for having successfully made the girl laugh. "Pretty much."
"Then there wasn't much of a difference between her in public and her under a mask. Between you and me, I don't think she was happy being a Ward. You heard what she was doing before she joined, right?"
"She was a vigilante, if I remember right."
He nodded. "Well, when the PRT caught up to her, they found her not ten feet away from a Merchant drug dealer with a crossbow bolt in his shoulder and pinned to a wall. There was a bit of a fight after that, since she thought we were there to toss her in a cell." Which they were, as her prior victims all suffered serious injuries. They were not fatal or life threatening, but they piled up overtime. "When we found out she was some kid on probation, there were talks about throwing her off to Juvenile Hall. I don't know which side pitched the idea for her to join the Wards, but whatever the case, Sophia didn't have much of a choice."
"She wasn't a team player?"
Dennis snorted. "Oh hell no. She kept picking fights with everyone, especially Vista. And not just the Wards, either. She tried picking fights with Triumph and even the New Wave. Glory Girl looked ready to punch her lights out." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, turning to the new girl. "Um, for what it's worth… I'm sorry about what happened. The whole deal with Shadow Stalker, it…it shouldn't have happened. I know it just sounds like I'm making excuses, but I-"
"It's fine, really. I don't hate you or anything," she insisted with a tired look on her face. "I'd be lying if I said if I've forgiven the PRT. I know how bad things are with Brockton Bay, how everyone is outmanned and outgunned by the gangs, how annoying the Youth Guard is with restrictions, and you can't really look after everyone in you care, but…"
"You feel like we should have done more, am I right?" She nodded. Dennis sighed again, running his hands through his hair. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "To be honest, we probably could. Shadow Stalker made it no secret she was going to be trouble, and Triumph kept pointing out that it was only going to be a matter of time before she exploded. And, of course, the Youth Guard kept pointing out that she was a troubled youth going through a phase."
She raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't that apply to everyone who's gone through a Trigger Event?"
"I know, right!"
Dennis found himself laughing. It was surprising; at first he imagined she would be putting up a wall around herself around him, one of those who ignored the danger signs Sophia gave off, but instead here she was, laughing at his jokes and actually taking the time to get to know him.
He had no idea what kind of hero Taylor was going to be, but somehow knew she was going to be an incredible one. At the very least, she would be a thousand times better than Sophia Hess.
"Seriously, have they never heard of subtlety?!" the half-pint powerhouse raged into her mic. "Who waves a gun around in broad daylight and tries to mug somebody in plain view?! Okay, I get it, we live in the worst city in the United States, but come on!"
He laughed. "Hey, at least you're dealing with them before they can cause trouble. It's the thought that counts, am I right? Besides, it could be worse. We could be dealing with a cape."
"Honestly, I'd prefer that," Kid Win sighed. "Though now that you mention it, is it just me, or are the gangs being really quiet?"
He noticed that as well. Usually there would be reports of gang cape activity by this time of day, much like in the cartoons and shows, but there was not a peep on police intercoms.
"Maybe they're having an off day?" he offered. "Or maybe they're giving us some peace and quiet for once?"
"After that girl got outed to the whole world? Yeah, not buying it."
"Hey hey hey, no bringing this stuff up on open comms. I don't want to get in trouble with Armsmaster and Miss Militia!"
"It's the truth, though!" Vista chimed in.
Dennis rolled his eyes and fiddled with a few buttons, switching communications over to a private channel. "Switched you two over to a private channel. How about some consideration for me next time before you guy doing that, yeah? I'm still in the hot seat!"
"Right, right, sorry Console." The shit-eating grin Vista sported told him she was lying through her teeth. He taught her well. "Anyway, about the new girl, has she settled in?"
"Wouldn't know, haven't met her yet. Not that she'll be staying for long, though. I heard she's gonna be transferred to another team. The Director's waiting on finalizing the papers once the Thinkers get back to her." Dennis paused for a moment before he sighed. "I still can't believe Shadow Stalker did that… I knew she had problems, but Jesus…"
"And just when I thought she couldn't be any more of a bitch," Vista remarked. "Seriously, who does crap like that?"
Kid Win sighed. "At least now we know why Piggot wasn't very enthusiastic about having a nutjob like her on the team. Actually, how did the recruitment pitch go?"
"Dunno, but I think Shadow Stalker either joined because she didn't want to go to Juvie or because the Director didn't give her much of a choice in the matter. Not that it matters much now, though."
The more he thought about Sophia Hess, the more conflicted he became. It was an open secret that she loathed being in the Wards, in no small part due to the restrictions placed upon her. At first, Dennis was excited to have some new blood and someone to joke around with as he did with the others. It took him and the rest of the Wards only a few days to realize that Sophia was not a team player. More importantly, it took them a week to realize that, despite rebranded as such, she was not a hero. Every now and then, she would make certain remarks about being strong or weak, and when she was in a foul mood, she would disparage and insult them.
It was not the worst thing in the world, but Dennis recognized a lost cause when he saw one. He sucked it up, being a senior member to her and gritted his teeth when they were out in the field, but she just made it so hard. How hard was it to work with a team? Back then, he always wondered if she was just as bad in her civilian life and pitied the students of Winslow for having to deal with her.
If he had known then what he did now, he would have argued a case against her. The investigation into Sophia Hess' civilian life had brought numerous things to light, many of which left him and the others unsettled. The year-long bullying campaign that culminated in a girl being trapped inside her own locker, filled with shit from the girls' bathroom, including rotten used tampons and even used condoms of all things. Why condoms were in the girls bathroom he didn't want to know, but he could hazard a few guesses. Regardless, the fact that Sophia actually did that as part of some belief that she was proving she was "strong" made his stomach churn.
They should have known about this. They should never have allowed Sophia Hess to attend Winslow and give her so much free reign in her civilian life. Her rough personality already made it clear she was a hazard. The locker incident proved they were wrong to bring her in. They should have sent her off to Juvie, outnumbered by villains be damned.
…but that was all in the past, because Sophia was dead. Dennis did not think ill of the dead, not even Shadow Stalker. Even so, the only regret he had was not keeping a better eye on her sooner. At least then, maybe, Taylor Hebert wouldn't be having a shitty life.
Dennis switched back over to open channels and was about to report back to HQ when the radio spiked with activity. It was the Police frequency.
"Attention, all units, we have suspected gang activity over by Downtown. Eye witnesses have reported sightings of Mush and Krieg in the viscinity. Again, all units, be advised, gang capes are in Downtown Brockton Bay, East Avenue. Calling in PRT support."
Dennis answered. "Officer, this is Console, we read you. Triumph, Dauntless, you catch all that?"
"We're on it, Console," Dauntless replied. "Vista, Kid Win, swing on back. Aegis, you and Gallant are with me. If you arrive at the area first, do not engage. Escort any and all civilians in the line of fire out of the area, focus on rescue first. I repeat, do not engage Mush or Krieg and focus on evacuating the civilians first!"
Well, so much for a quiet day, Dennis sighed. Still, Krieg and Mush? That was going to be a destructive and one-sided fight.
Well, at least it wasn't Lung and Kaiser this time. The last time those two went at it, the Trainyards had been nearly destroyed. Parian was more than a little miffed, but it wasn't as if the rogue could really do much, being a pacifist and all that.
As he sat in the chair and observed the monitors, ready to report something amiss, he heard the door open. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes, expecting to see a PRT trooper. Instead it was a girl with glowing blue tribal tattoos and orchid eyes.
The new girl, Taylor Hebert.
"Let me guess, got bored?"
Taylor smiled weakly. "More like I got shafted. They, um, said I should see how things work in case I ever come back here."
"Well, take a seat. We got Krieg and Mush about to duke it out in Downtown. Dauntless is on his way with Aegis and Gallant." Her eyes widened. Her expression told him she was probably worried. "Don't worry, this isn't their first rodeo with those two. Granted, it is the first time Krieg and Mush will be getting into it. Which reminds me…" He turned back to his radio. "Why the hell is Mush in Downtown anyway? The Merchants don't usually go into Empire territory unless it's for parts for Squealer."
"We can always ask when we take Mush in, assuming we can. About to reach the area in a few minutes, how's the situation looking over there, Console?"
The police communications radio cracked to life. Dennis cursed. "Might wanna hurry it up, you guys. The party's started, and by the sounds of it, Krieg is pissed like a motherfucker."
"Dammit! Alright, Aegis, Gallant, double-time it!"
"So…this is what benched Wards do?" Taylor asked quietly. "Just look at a bunch of screens and report if there's trouble?"
"Sort of," Dennis shrugged. "And it's not just Wards, it's also the higher-ups too. We can't afford to stretch ourselves too thin in case shit hits the fan, so some of us sit here and report back from the safety of the van while the others are out in the field. I got the short end of the stick because of a screw-up, but that's neither here nor there. And when shit really goes down, the regular guys take over and whoever's benched is ordered to haul ass out into the city."
"I see…"
A period of silence fell between them. The only voices Dennis heard were the panicking cries of civilians and the furious roars of Krieg as he and Mush engaged, Dauntless and his team arriving in team to intervene. Dennis switched back and forth between looking at the screens and back at Taylor, suddenly finding himself nervous. He wondered what she thought of him, sitting there and watching the proceedings quietly. Did she blame him for Shadow Stalker? It was an irrational thought, but Triggers were always kids with volatile issues. She probably felt like the PRT screwed her over, letting Sophia get away with what she did up until now.
I'd probably feel the same if I were in her shoes, Dennis thought.
"What was she like?"
Taylor's question nearly went unheard. "What?"
"So—Shadow Stalker," Taylor clarified. "What was she like with the Wards, I mean?"
Dennis' lips thinned. "Well, what was she like in Winslow? Wait, don't tell me; a total stuck-up bitch with a winner-loser mentality and a ten-foot pole shoved up so far up her ass it would probably take a miracle to pull it out?"
The girl chortled, fighting off an obvious smile on her face. Dennis cheered in his head for having successfully made the girl laugh. "Pretty much."
"Then there wasn't much of a difference between her in public and her under a mask. Between you and me, I don't think she was happy being a Ward. You heard what she was doing before she joined, right?"
"She was a vigilante, if I remember right."
He nodded. "Well, when the PRT caught up to her, they found her not ten feet away from a Merchant drug dealer with a crossbow bolt in his shoulder and pinned to a wall. There was a bit of a fight after that, since she thought we were there to toss her in a cell." Which they were, as her prior victims all suffered serious injuries. They were not fatal or life threatening, but they piled up overtime. "When we found out she was some kid on probation, there were talks about throwing her off to Juvenile Hall. I don't know which side pitched the idea for her to join the Wards, but whatever the case, Sophia didn't have much of a choice."
"She wasn't a team player?"
Dennis snorted. "Oh hell no. She kept picking fights with everyone, especially Vista. And not just the Wards, either. She tried picking fights with Triumph and even the New Wave. Glory Girl looked ready to punch her lights out." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, turning to the new girl. "Um, for what it's worth… I'm sorry about what happened. The whole deal with Shadow Stalker, it…it shouldn't have happened. I know it just sounds like I'm making excuses, but I-"
"It's fine, really. I don't hate you or anything," she insisted with a tired look on her face. "I'd be lying if I said if I've forgiven the PRT. I know how bad things are with Brockton Bay, how everyone is outmanned and outgunned by the gangs, how annoying the Youth Guard is with restrictions, and you can't really look after everyone in you care, but…"
"You feel like we should have done more, am I right?" She nodded. Dennis sighed again, running his hands through his hair. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "To be honest, we probably could. Shadow Stalker made it no secret she was going to be trouble, and Triumph kept pointing out that it was only going to be a matter of time before she exploded. And, of course, the Youth Guard kept pointing out that she was a troubled youth going through a phase."
She raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't that apply to everyone who's gone through a Trigger Event?"
"I know, right!"
Dennis found himself laughing. It was surprising; at first he imagined she would be putting up a wall around herself around him, one of those who ignored the danger signs Sophia gave off, but instead here she was, laughing at his jokes and actually taking the time to get to know him.
He had no idea what kind of hero Taylor was going to be, but somehow knew she was going to be an incredible one. At the very least, she would be a thousand times better than Sophia Hess.
Last edited:
- Location
- New Carollton, Maryland
So, which Jack? I mean, there are multiple Jack's that go Hee-Ho. I assume either Jack Frost or Pyro Jack?
MaskedCritic
Verified Obsessed with Yuri
- Location
- Fluttershy's Secret Dungeon Shrine to Metal
Oh god, Jack Frost? Really? Or maybe Pumpkin Jack, or Black Jack, or...
- Location
- New Carollton, Maryland
I don't think those two are Jack variants.
- Location
- Louisville, KY
The reason SMT games give you Pixie at the start is cause she can heal, and SMT games are hard enough even with healing. Taylor, not having access to Dia, in SMT. She's in for a bad time.
- Location
- New Carollton, Maryland
Oh. Oh it just hit me.
Only one Jack would be perfect for Wormverse.
The Hee-ro of Justice, Frost Ace!
Only one Jack would be perfect for Wormverse.
The Hee-ro of Justice, Frost Ace!
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
You're forgetting other variants. There's Black Frost, Frost Ace, Demonee-Ho and Raiho. Given the hero themes of Worm, my bets are on Frost Ace.
Ninja'd by Kutenaiabi!
Considering this is the Queen of Escalation we're talking about, I'm sure she'll be fine~