In which Colin Wallis faces fears he didn't know he had
Candlelight
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Hope 1.1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Boardwalk patrols are a necessary evil.
Colin understands why they are necessary. They allow heroes to be visible, to seem approachable, to show they are there. People joke about how the 'PR' in 'PRT' stands for 'public relations', and those do matter, those are necessary, and 'Protectorate' starts with 'PR' too.
Colin doesn't mind being seen, but he has no taste for the hypocrisy of looking for things where he knows he won't find them.
The day is… Tranquil. It's still early, and there are few people. Three children with their parents looking at the sea. A woman in a lace shirt eating breakfast at a café terrace. A man trying to angle his selfie so that Armsmaster will appear on it. Colin pretends to be absorbed in the comtemplation of PHQ in the distance until he's done, and keeps going.
He's not going to rush unduly, but he needs to do some paperwork, and work on his armor, and he doesn't have all day.
The day appears to be tranquil. Hopefully, it will stay that way.
Everyone needs a bit of a break sometimes.
Colin understands why they are necessary. They allow heroes to be visible, to seem approachable, to show they are there. People joke about how the 'PR' in 'PRT' stands for 'public relations', and those do matter, those are necessary, and 'Protectorate' starts with 'PR' too.
Colin doesn't mind being seen, but he has no taste for the hypocrisy of looking for things where he knows he won't find them.
The day is… Tranquil. It's still early, and there are few people. Three children with their parents looking at the sea. A woman in a lace shirt eating breakfast at a café terrace. A man trying to angle his selfie so that Armsmaster will appear on it. Colin pretends to be absorbed in the comtemplation of PHQ in the distance until he's done, and keeps going.
He's not going to rush unduly, but he needs to do some paperwork, and work on his armor, and he doesn't have all day.
The day appears to be tranquil. Hopefully, it will stay that way.
Everyone needs a bit of a break sometimes.
Hope 1.2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Good morning Hannah," Colin says.
Hannah doesn't answer.
She's sitting in her office with a stack of paperwork, Hero smiling at her from the familiar collector mug on the desk. It's empty.
"I brought you coffee from the Boardwalk," he says.
Still no answer. Hannah barely looks at him when he puts the steaming paper cup beside her, and focuses back on her paperwork without a word.
Strange.
It's probably nothing. Mornings can be hard, even for people who don't sleep. She's probably just absorbed in her work.
Colin makes a mental note to ask her if everything is all right later in the day, and goes to his workshop. It's probably nothing to be worried about.
Hannah is likely just having a bad day.
Hannah doesn't answer.
She's sitting in her office with a stack of paperwork, Hero smiling at her from the familiar collector mug on the desk. It's empty.
"I brought you coffee from the Boardwalk," he says.
Still no answer. Hannah barely looks at him when he puts the steaming paper cup beside her, and focuses back on her paperwork without a word.
Strange.
It's probably nothing. Mornings can be hard, even for people who don't sleep. She's probably just absorbed in her work.
Colin makes a mental note to ask her if everything is all right later in the day, and goes to his workshop. It's probably nothing to be worried about.
Hannah is likely just having a bad day.
Hope 1.3
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's not working.
Colin has been in his workshop for an hour, now, and no matter how much he tries, he can't figure out how to do what he wants. How to do anything.
It's not only complicated things. A lack of inspiration on more complex or esoteric projects like the nanothorns or the copy of Clockblocker's powers would be frustrating, but not abnormal. The problem is that nothing is working, not even small things that he should have no difficulties doing.
He should be able to do the maintenance on his armor almost in his sleep. Right now, he can't even think where to start.
Something is wrong.
Colin thinks about his armors, and his halberds, and all the things, big and small, he made along the years. Over a decade of work.
He can't remember how to use anything.
Something is very, very wrong.
Colin has been in his workshop for an hour, now, and no matter how much he tries, he can't figure out how to do what he wants. How to do anything.
It's not only complicated things. A lack of inspiration on more complex or esoteric projects like the nanothorns or the copy of Clockblocker's powers would be frustrating, but not abnormal. The problem is that nothing is working, not even small things that he should have no difficulties doing.
He should be able to do the maintenance on his armor almost in his sleep. Right now, he can't even think where to start.
Something is wrong.
Colin thinks about his armors, and his halberds, and all the things, big and small, he made along the years. Over a decade of work.
He can't remember how to use anything.
Something is very, very wrong.
Hope 1.4
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Hannah, something is wrong," Colin says.
He's calm. He's calm, and rational. He's not panicking.
He won't panic. Not as long as he doesn't think about how volatile the Brockton Bay cape scene is even at the best of times, how easily a fight could break out and escalate, how useless he will be if he can't even remember how to use his damn Halberd.
"I can't… My powers… It's not working Hannah. I c… can't Tinker, or use my tech, and…"
Oh God. The next Endbringer fight is expected any day now. What if he doesn't have his power back by then ? What if he has to stay on the sidelines and wait, unable to do anything to help?
"It's not… It's not only a, a power thing. All my training, in, in hand-to-hand and, and everything, I can't, I can't remember any of it."
It's gone. All his work, everything he's done in the past thirteen years to make himself great, to make himself better, to be able to help…
It's gone.
Hannah still hasn't said anything. Hannah is still doing her paperwork."
"Hannah?" Colin says, and he shakes her shoulder a bit.
Hannah raises her head, and gives him a look void of any interest or acknowledgement.
Hannah goes back to her paperwork.
He's calm. He's calm, and rational. He's not panicking.
He won't panic. Not as long as he doesn't think about how volatile the Brockton Bay cape scene is even at the best of times, how easily a fight could break out and escalate, how useless he will be if he can't even remember how to use his damn Halberd.
"I can't… My powers… It's not working Hannah. I c… can't Tinker, or use my tech, and…"
Oh God. The next Endbringer fight is expected any day now. What if he doesn't have his power back by then ? What if he has to stay on the sidelines and wait, unable to do anything to help?
"It's not… It's not only a, a power thing. All my training, in, in hand-to-hand and, and everything, I can't, I can't remember any of it."
It's gone. All his work, everything he's done in the past thirteen years to make himself great, to make himself better, to be able to help…
It's gone.
Hannah still hasn't said anything. Hannah is still doing her paperwork."
"Hannah?" Colin says, and he shakes her shoulder a bit.
Hannah raises her head, and gives him a look void of any interest or acknowledgement.
Hannah goes back to her paperwork.
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Hope 1.5
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's not only Hannah.
Colin has tried talking to someone else, have them listen to him. Someone. Anyone.
Robin. Samantha. Ethan. Holly. The unpowered staff stationed on PHQ. Even Dauntless.
They didn't answer.
It's like he's…
Not invisible. They can see him. They know he is there, avoid him when they walk, look at him if he touches them, they know he is there.
It's like he's so insignificant to them he's not even worth the effort of dismissing out loud.
Like he's weak powerless useless he can't do anything to help why would they even bother?
Something is wrong.
Colin has tried talking to someone else, have them listen to him. Someone. Anyone.
Robin. Samantha. Ethan. Holly. The unpowered staff stationed on PHQ. Even Dauntless.
They didn't answer.
It's like he's…
Not invisible. They can see him. They know he is there, avoid him when they walk, look at him if he touches them, they know he is there.
It's like he's so insignificant to them he's not even worth the effort of dismissing out loud.
Like he's weak powerless useless he can't do anything to help why would they even bother?
Something is wrong.
Hope 1.6
- Pronouns
- He/Him
They're mastered. They must be. It's the only explanation that makes sense.
Colin isn't sure what to do.
Thinking. He needs to think. He still has his mind, and he can use it.
He's not useless. He's not.
There are… There are Stranger and Masters protocols, of course. Passwords and codephrases, keeping eyes on each other at all times, that sort of thing.
They aren't particularly useful when everyone is already compromised.
Colin himself is probably compromised, too. Everyone else is. His… His powers don't work. He's the one everyone else is dismissing.
The computer in his office isn't Tinkertech. Colin turns it on without any problem.
He's still the team leader. He still has the right access credentials.
He puts PHQ on lockdown. No one comes in.
No one comes out.
Colin isn't sure what to do.
Thinking. He needs to think. He still has his mind, and he can use it.
He's not useless. He's not.
There are… There are Stranger and Masters protocols, of course. Passwords and codephrases, keeping eyes on each other at all times, that sort of thing.
They aren't particularly useful when everyone is already compromised.
Colin himself is probably compromised, too. Everyone else is. His… His powers don't work. He's the one everyone else is dismissing.
The computer in his office isn't Tinkertech. Colin turns it on without any problem.
He's still the team leader. He still has the right access credentials.
He puts PHQ on lockdown. No one comes in.
No one comes out.
Hope 1.7
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No one on PHQ give any reaction to the lockdown, and Colin is torn between relief and horror.
They're mastered. It appears… relatively innocuous right now, and Colin is aware he's being unreasonably emotional about it, but it might change. He needs to keep them away from civilians.
They're not reacting. It's a good thing. Colin knows that if Hannah went off the deep end, she could find a way to blast her way outside, could nuke the entire city without leaving the building, but she's not doing that, they're not reacting, and for now at least, it's a good thing.
They're his team. They're his team, and he took them prisoner, and they're not reacting.
He calls Director Piggot. He needs to explain the situation, so that outside, uncompromised perspectives can deal with the situation.
She doesn't answer.
Colin tries again, and then calls other PRT lines in Brockton Bay, then in other departments. He calls the BBPD. Chevalier. Dragon. Random Guild and Protectorate members.
No one answers.
They're mastered. It appears… relatively innocuous right now, and Colin is aware he's being unreasonably emotional about it, but it might change. He needs to keep them away from civilians.
They're not reacting. It's a good thing. Colin knows that if Hannah went off the deep end, she could find a way to blast her way outside, could nuke the entire city without leaving the building, but she's not doing that, they're not reacting, and for now at least, it's a good thing.
They're his team. They're his team, and he took them prisoner, and they're not reacting.
He calls Director Piggot. He needs to explain the situation, so that outside, uncompromised perspectives can deal with the situation.
She doesn't answer.
Colin tries again, and then calls other PRT lines in Brockton Bay, then in other departments. He calls the BBPD. Chevalier. Dragon. Random Guild and Protectorate members.
No one answers.
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Hope 1.8
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Colin doesn't know what to do.
What is he supposed to do? Everyone is compromised, himself included, and he has no way to communicate with anyone.
Maybe there's some kind of device or power effect at play, stopping his calls. God, he hopes something is stopping his calls.
He hopes it's not something worse.
What is he supposed to do ? He can't do anything, not with his, his powers not working, and everyone, everyone doing like he's not real, like he's not there, what, what is he supposed to do?
A phone is ringing in Holly's office, and she doesn't seem to notice it, and what does Colin have to lose?
He answers.
"Armsmaster," says a woman's voice, and he has to sit down not to collapse in relief.
He's not completely alone.
What is he supposed to do? Everyone is compromised, himself included, and he has no way to communicate with anyone.
Maybe there's some kind of device or power effect at play, stopping his calls. God, he hopes something is stopping his calls.
He hopes it's not something worse.
What is he supposed to do ? He can't do anything, not with his, his powers not working, and everyone, everyone doing like he's not real, like he's not there, what, what is he supposed to do?
A phone is ringing in Holly's office, and she doesn't seem to notice it, and what does Colin have to lose?
He answers.
"Armsmaster," says a woman's voice, and he has to sit down not to collapse in relief.
He's not completely alone.
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Interlude 1.x - Revelations
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"You deserve it," Faith says.
There is a confused silence on the other end of the line.
"It's your fault," Faith says. "None of this would be happening if you had been good. If you had been a real hero."
"Who are you?" Armsmaster asks, and Faith has been punishing false heroes long enough to notice something under the firmness of the tone. He's scared.
He brought it on himself. She hoped she wouldn't need to pass judgment on him. She always does.
"It's your fault," Faith says. "This is your guilt. Your sins. Your darkest parts. Nothing would have happened to a true hero."
She doesn't take any pleasure in her work. His suffering brings her no joy. But the people deserve better than false shepherds.
"You deserve it," Faith says.
He's scared, but it's not enough. It is time to up the pressure.
"Who are you?" repeats Armsmaster.
She is the one who watches the watchers, who brings to light the lies of those undeserving of the name of hero.
"Call me Revelations," Faith says.
There is a confused silence on the other end of the line.
"It's your fault," Faith says. "None of this would be happening if you had been good. If you had been a real hero."
"Who are you?" Armsmaster asks, and Faith has been punishing false heroes long enough to notice something under the firmness of the tone. He's scared.
He brought it on himself. She hoped she wouldn't need to pass judgment on him. She always does.
"It's your fault," Faith says. "This is your guilt. Your sins. Your darkest parts. Nothing would have happened to a true hero."
She doesn't take any pleasure in her work. His suffering brings her no joy. But the people deserve better than false shepherds.
"You deserve it," Faith says.
He's scared, but it's not enough. It is time to up the pressure.
"Who are you?" repeats Armsmaster.
She is the one who watches the watchers, who brings to light the lies of those undeserving of the name of hero.
"Call me Revelations," Faith says.
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Charity 2.1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Revelations.
Colin has… heard about her.
Her powers are hard to parse. They change with every fight.
No.
They change with every victim.
Fears. Insecurities. Guilt. All turned against the people who felt them, taking external shape until the breaking point.
And then, Revelations kills.
At least, it explains why his powers aren't working. Why he lost his work, the things he fought for for over ten years. Why people have stopped acknowledging him.
Revelations goes after heroes.
Dart. Express. Heap. Radio King. Nightro. Others, whose name he can't remember at the moment.
Colin knew Dart. She was a good person. And Nightro was only a Ward.
Colin doesn't have his powers, and there is a serial killer after him.
Colin has… heard about her.
Her powers are hard to parse. They change with every fight.
No.
They change with every victim.
Fears. Insecurities. Guilt. All turned against the people who felt them, taking external shape until the breaking point.
And then, Revelations kills.
At least, it explains why his powers aren't working. Why he lost his work, the things he fought for for over ten years. Why people have stopped acknowledging him.
Revelations goes after heroes.
Dart. Express. Heap. Radio King. Nightro. Others, whose name he can't remember at the moment.
Colin knew Dart. She was a good person. And Nightro was only a Ward.
Colin doesn't have his powers, and there is a serial killer after him.
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