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Echo (Worm x Final Fantasy)

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Hear. Feel. Think.

To all of my children to whom Death hath passed his judgement. The earth quakes. The seas rage. The winds scream. The light of this star dims.
There is but one hope. Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after.

Taylor becomes a Warrior of Light and receives the power of the Echo, that she might save the world.
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    • Aldsan

    Aldsan

    Echo​


    ​

    Hear. Feel. Think.



    I woke to the smell of smoke. Putting a hand to my head, I tried to stand up, ignoring how my fingers came away wet and sticky. A tremor went through the ground and I fell back onto my ass.

    Where was I?

    I'd been walking through a burning city. Around me, people had been screaming in terror as the sky rained destruction.

    Forcing myself back to my feet, I stabilized myself against the wall. There were fires here and there, spreading quickly, but nothing on the level of what I remembered from just moments ago. I could hear screams in the distance, but the street I was on was deserted, everyone else having already fled.

    A roar rumbled from out of sight and I instinctively ducked as a hail of bricks went spinning through the air. They landed almost twenty feet from me, but I'd still frozen in that moment, sure that they would hit me. I forced myself to start breathing, to start moving. I didn't know where. Somewhere away from here.

    I stumbled forward, step by step. It felt like there was something wrong with my leg, a jolt of pain shooting up through my ankle with each step, but I didn't have time to pay attention to something like that. I had to get out of here, had to be anywhere other than here.

    Another roar, closer this time, the sound echoing down the empty street.

    What had I been doing here?

    I shook my head, trying to clear it, still feeling dazed from whatever had knocked me unconscious earlier. I'd decided to skip school today. To come down to the docks and look out across the bay. It was something I did, sometimes, when school was especially bad. When I couldn't stand to see Emma smirking at me even as she used our history together to hurt me. It was a way to center myself, to find a bit of peace.

    So much for that today.

    A sudden crash jolted me out of my thoughts as a huge, scaly body burst through a building in front of me. It rolled to a stop before slowly standing up once more, metal scales shimmering red with the reflection of the blaze building around it. A flash of light seared at the monster and it lifted its maw to the heavens to howl its defiance in response.

    Lung.

    Everyone who lived in Brockton Bay knew who he was. The Dragon of Kyushu -- he'd taken over all of the minor Asian gangs in the Bay when he'd arrived and solidified them under a single banner. He'd once fought off the entire Protectorate on his own. Everyone in Brockton Bay knew -- When Lung went on a rampage, you got out of the way.

    A scattered piece of rebar turned itself into a steel spear and launched itself into Lung's side. The dragon snarled and looked in my direction. A moment later, Lung hurled himself towards me and I bolted for an alleyway, barely skidding to a stop as Lung passed by to slam into a giant.

    I swore under my breath as I looked around. The alley I was in was a dead end. There wasn't anywhere to go. In one direction lay the cape fight, and in the other was the inferno that Lung had left in his wake.

    The giant stumbled and fell, her shield cleaving through a house across the street from me. She quickly stood back up, slamming the shield into Lung's face and sending him rolling away. That didn't matter. More important to me was the gap left running through the building to the next street.

    I would have to move past the fight to get there, and the building itself was on fire, but the path was clear and it was safer than staying here. I swallowed down my fear, waited for Lung to slam the giant into another building, and then ran as though my life depended upon it. It took a bare few seconds to sprint across the street, but it felt like an eternity as I waited for anything to go wrong.

    A moment later, I slipped through the small gap in the wall and headed for safety.

    A scream for help stopped me.

    I turned against my better judgement. There was someone there, pinned up against the wall of an apartment building. A blonde girl, with her leg trapped under a chunk of concrete. If I left now, if I ignored her, I could get to safety.

    I didn't know who she was.

    I had no reason to risk my life for her.

    I bit down on my lip. My fingers tightened, nails biting into my palms.

    I shouldn't need a reason.

    I stepped back outside. Almost immediately, a car skimmed off the top of Lung and I barely managed to dive to the ground as it sailed over me and went rolling down the street. A second landed further away, and a ghost rose through a wall, passing by me as though I wasn't even there.

    Don't freeze. I took a deep breath and scrambled to my feet, dashing to the girl's side. She looked up at me in surprise. "Who are you?"

    "Does it really matter?" I grunted. I wedged my fingers under the rubble that had her pinned. I barely budged it an inch. My lack of exercise and noodle arms had resulted in a sudden, yet inevitable betrayal at the most crucial moment.

    "I guess not. Lower your center of balance and use your legs instead, you won't get anywhere just trying to lift it with your arms."

    I grit my teeth and followed the girl's instructions. I still didn't manage to lift the concrete very far, but it was enough for her to pull herself out from under it. I let it fall to the ground a moment later, sighing with relief.

    "Hey, we're not out of this yet, and I'm not going to be able to walk on my own."

    "I don't exactly think I can carry you."

    "I can manage with one leg if you help me. Let's just get out of here before we end up crispy, alright?"

    Her attempt at humor fell a bit flat on me. I ended up looping my arm around the girl's waist, letting her throw hers around my shoulders. Alright. The fighting had moved down the street, but there were still enough projectiles flying to be dangerous. Meanwhile, the route the giant had torn through the building was mostly on fire now. Unfortunately, it was still better than anywhere else. I took off as fast as I could get the girl to walk, which wasn't as fast as I would like. She hissed in pain with each step, but better that than the two of us dying.

    "Fuck. How did Lung manage to tick the E88 off this badly?" She frowned even as I helped push her through the broken wall, the hole just wide enough to fit one of us at a time.

    "Worry about that later. Come on, we're almost home free."

    She leant heavily on one of the damaged walls as she let out a hacking cough and ducked her head to put her mouth against her shirt in some small attempt to ward off the smoke before hobbling down along the edge of the burning hallway to the other end, not even glancing back at me. I stepped in to follow her, but went sprawling as the house collapsed. As if Fate had decided to spite her words, a dragon crashed between us.

    What little of the ceiling was left broke as Lung got to his feet. He'd outgrown the house. He looked down at me for a moment, before seeming to dismiss my presence. Not that it mattered. Flames coated his body and I was trapped in the inferno with no way past him.

    My stomach clenched. I was going to die.

    The blonde girl was behind him. He hadn't seen her yet. I looked to her for any sort of help. She met my gaze for a brief moment, before closing her eyes and turning away. And then she was gone.

    My breath caught and tears stung at my eyes. It had been the right decision. The smart decision. It still tasted of betrayal.

    Lung took a step forward and I hastily took a step back. I needed to run. I had to get out. Had to get away. I glanced around me for anything I could use, but there were only ruins. My back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to go.

    The Dragon laughed. Everything burned.

    My hand closed around a stone that had not been there moments before.



    Apologies in advance, but this quest is primarily being run on Spacebattles and voting will take place there. While discussion is welcome here, and I will certainly read it, I've tried the split voting thing before with Occular and I'd rather not repeat it.

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    • [x] Healer
    -Rolled 1d4 = 2: Scholar
    [x] Write-In: Try to find and help the injured
    Current Energy: 20
    Current Emulation: Scholar


    Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
    The Docks, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    -1 Energy

    I squeezed my eyes shut against a sudden flash of light. It was only a moment later that I noticed the heat of the flames had vanished, that I hadn't been burned to a crisp. Taking a shaky breath, I slowly opened my eyes again.

    Around me, a dome of light had formed, warding off the flames.

    I pushed myself to my feet, glancing around me. Lung had already moved past, having apparently cared so little about burning me alive that he hadn't even noticed the shield form around me. I had powers now. I'd felt myself instinctively forming that shield. I had powers, and I…

    I looked down at myself and frowned. I was wearing something completely different from what I had been just moments ago. Instead of my hoodie and jeans, I was wearing some sort of long coat, a ruffled white shirt that felt vaguely Renaissance in origin underneath. It put me in mind of a cape's costume, except, I realized, it hadn't come with any sort of mask. Instead, I simply had a hat perched on top of my head.

    Crap.

    I couldn't run around dressed as an obvious cape with no mask. I'd get outed in an instant. I'd get gangsters coming after my dad or something to keep me in line. I --

    -1 Energy

    I jerked as a small weight suddenly settled on my shoulder and shouted into my ear. "Hey! Listen!"

    Slowly turning my head, I looked at the small, winged, human-like figure sitting on my shoulder. It looked like an honest to god fairy, straight out of a fable. God, could this day get any weirder?

    "Hey! What are you standing around for? There's people hurt here, aren't there? We need to help them!"

    "I -- What? Who are you, even?"

    "I'm Eos!" The fairy stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Now come on, we have to help!"

    "How would I even help? I can't --" Except, I realized, I could help heal them. The knowledge of how rested in my brain now. I could heal people. And in Lung's wake I could see the ruin he had left behind. The broken buildings, the hurt people. The dead and dying. There were those we could yet save. "Okay. Okay, let's do this."

    How do you proceed with healing?
    [] Let the fairy handle most of it.
    (Takes more time, but conserves energy).
    [] Assist as much as you can.
    (Takes less time, but uses energy).

    The two of us rushed forward, healing as many people as we could. I would just have to hope that they didn't get a good look at my face in the process, or didn't remember it well enough in the aftermath. There were all sorts of teenage girls with long, dark hair in the city, right? Regardless, we moved from person to person, healing burns, broken bones, crushed limbs.

    It wasn't until I came across a gangbanger in ABB colors that I found myself hesitating. He was knocked unconscious, buried under the remnants of a wall, but I could see the gun in his hand. I bit down on my lip. Did he even deserve my healing? The entire reason for all of this destruction was because of the gangs fighting one another. Besides, if I did heal him, he would probably turn around and mug someone tomorrow.

    On the other hand, he was bleeding out. If I left him here, he would almost certainly die. Could I live with that on my conscience?

    Do you heal the ABB gang member?
    [] Heal him.
    (For those we can yet save).
    [] Ignore him.
    (Justice demands no less).

    Finally, after what felt like hours, but couldn't have been more than twenty minutes, I finally heard sirens approaching. I let myself collapse onto a bit of rubble, taking the moment to simply rest. Eos flitted around my head, grinning widely even as she shot curious glances around the area.

    "That was great! I knew you could do it! We're going to make the best team, I can already tell."

    I smiled up at her, but frankly, I had no idea what I was going to do next. I was a Cape. I had powers. How many people had seen my face? Should I join the Wards then, get what protection the government could provide? Or could I manage it as an independent? Were my powers even good enough to fight crime, or should I just go to a hospital and volunteer there?

    I scrubbed a hand through my hair and shook my head. "Well, if you say so, Eos. This all feels like a bit much."

    "You'll get used to it in no time at all, I'm sure. I only bond with the best Adventurers, you know," she winks at me. "Those born with souls of justice, of compassion."

    Somehow, it feels fitting that my power would give me a friend to flatter me. I'm apparently pathetic enough to need it. I frowned and waved off the praise, "It wasn't anything so great as that. I mean, I'd like to become a hero, but… I guess I'm not really sure what to do right now."

    "Ahaha, Taylor, that's silly. You don't just become a hero. You do what needs doing and maybe people start calling you one after the fact."

    "Is that so?" I laughed. "Well, I suppose I can worry about that later anyways."

    I could already hear sirens approaching, the first ambulances approaching with Velocity running alongside them to help provide support. The Protectorate would probably hear about me from some of the people I'd healed and would want to talk with the new parahuman, but honestly, I really just wanted to go home at this point.

    Sighing, I pushed myself to my feet. One way or the other, it was time to get moving.

    Do you interact with the Protectorate?
    [] Introduce yourself to Velocity.
    [] Go home.
     
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    Current Emulation: Scholar


    Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
    The Docks, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    [X] Assist as much as you can.

    As I rushed to help heal, my mind turned onto exactly how. Arcane geometries unfolded in my mind's eye, ways to effectively infuse the energy now churning inside of me into a person, repairing their body piece by piece. Except, the energy I had was limited. There was no way I was going to be able to go person-to-person, healing each one of them.

    I drew in a deep breath and looked up at my fairy. "Eos. If I feed you a bit of energy--" Aether, my mind supplied, "If I feed you some of my aether, can you help all of these people in one go?"

    She smirked back at me. "I think I can manage. Are you sure you want me to get everyone though? I could exclude a few," she said, tilting her head to one of the nearby gangsters.

    [X] Heal him.

    I felt my hands slowly squeeze tight, and took a shaky breath. "Yes. Everyone." I paused and looked at the destruction around me. Unbidden, words came to my lips. "For those we can yet save. Do it Eos."

    -1 Energy

    Pushing my aether into Eos, I watched as she flew a wide circuit around the area, golden dust settling on all of the injured. The healing was hardly instantaneous, but even so, I could see their wounds begin to knit themselves together. Torn flesh made whole, broken bones knitted, burns replaced by new, healthy skin.

    The screams, the panic, the weeping slowly died down as people realized what was happening. And soon, I felt their eyes turn to me. I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with the sudden attention. "Everyone," I started, but it came out hardly more than a whisper. Taking a moment to center myself, I raised my voice and started again. "Everyone. Help is coming, but we need to work together until it gets here. If anyone is trapped under rubble, let's help dig them out. If anyone is still injured, please point me to them and I will heal them."

    As though my instructions had broken the spell, people started moving, working to help others that were still trapped. A weight settled on my shoulder, Eos returned from her flight. She smiled at me and I returned it hesitantly before moving forward to get to work.

    ******​

    [X] Introduce yourself to Velocity.

    In the end, it was Velocity who wound up approaching me, instead of the other way around. I watched him speak with a few of the victims in the area, hesitant to interrupt, before he finally came to me.

    "Hey there. I hear you helped out here a lot. Thank you. There's a lot of people here who would have been a lot worse off if not for you."

    "It wasn't really anything big, I was just in the right place."

    "It was something big. I think each and every one of the people here would tell you as much. You're a real hero today. Speaking of which, what should I call you?"

    I ducked my head, my ears burning. "I… don't really have a name picked out yet or anything."

    "Well, if you're having trouble thinking of anything, the PR guys at the Protectorate would be happy to help you. You should think about joining the team."

    "Joining the team -- as in, joining the Protectorate?" I asked.

    "Sure, if today was any indication, then we'd love to have you."

    Did he not realize how old I was? If I joined, it would have to be as part of the Wards, not the adult Protectorate team. Blinking away my confusion, I offered a weak smile. "I'll… have to think about it. Was there anything else you needed me to help with here?"

    "No, no, we'll handle clean up here. Feel free to go home and get some rest. Just…" He smoothly reached into one of the small pouches on his belt for a moment and slipped out a card. "Give us a call if you change your mind. Even if you don't decide to join, the Protectorate has resources that can help friendly Independents, and it's worth introducing yourself so that we know to look out for you."

    "I don't know that I'm ready to start going out regularly or anything though."

    "Hey, no pressure. Reach out when you're ready, alright? And maybe, find a mask in the meantime," he grinned.

    "Okay," I said, taking the card. "I'll keep it in mind."

    I turned away and he waved good-bye before zipping off back to helping the paramedics. I began the trek home, the card heavy in my pocket.

    A hero. I hadn't even done anything. Eos had done all the real work.

    "What's on your mind, Taylor?" Eos asked, apparently having flipped to floating upside down at some point during our walk.

    I glanced up at her and asked, "Hey, Eos? I…" I grimaced, unable to give voice to the question on my mind. "I guess, I don't really want everyone to know that I have powers. Is there a way to make these clothes back to how they were before? Will you vanish if I do?"

    "Hmm? Just focus on changing them, I suppose? I don't really deal with the whole clothes thing all that much myself. They're something of a mortal contrivance, you know?" She put a hand to her chin, even as she spun to face me, floating backwards with each step I took. "But! You don't need to worry about our bond, Taylor! I'll stick by you through thick and thin!"

    I smiled and waited until I had stepped into an alley to focus on my clothing. To my great relief, Eos proved right, and the strange coat I'd been wearing vanished in a swirl of blue sparks, replaced once again by my hoodie and jeans. "Convenient. I guess this means I don't need a costume?"

    Except… would the clothes hold if I ran out of whatever energy was powering me? Or if I was knocked unconscious? Maybe I would need a secondary costume to wear, just in case. Either way, I'd need to get a mask at the bare minimum, apparently.

    Well, one problem at a time. "Eos… Do you have a way to hide yourself as well? Turn invisible maybe?"

    "Hmm. I suppose I could manage that. Will you be okay without me though, Taylor?

    "Yeah. I'll be fine. Just be around if I call, I guess?"

    "Okay." Eos gave me a sad smile and with a twirl, vanished.

    Right. All that was left was to get home… and figure out what to tell Dad.



    What do you tell your father?
    [] (Truth) Everything about where you were and that you are a parahuman now.
    [] (Omit) Where you were, but omit that you're a parahuman now.
    [] (Lie) Pretend you were at school the whole time.
    [] (Write-In)

    Tomorrow is a School Day. Choose 1.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Follow up with the PRT.
    [] Go on patrol.
    [] Research local capes.
    [] Brainstorm a cape name.
    -[] (Write-In Cape Names).
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    - (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad (Your social circle is kind of sad right now, isn't it?)
     
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    Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
    The Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    The neighborhood around my house was closer to the fighting than I would have liked, though it had largely been left untouched by the chaos. Not that everything in the city hadn't affected it in their own way. Most of the front yards I passed by were overgrown these days, more weeds than grass. Paint was left peeling off the walls. Gutters were filled, overflowing whenever it rained.

    Even without the destruction the gangs left behind, the city was slowly decaying.

    Stepping over the rotten step leading towards the front door, the step that Dad had been saying for years he would fix and never quite getting around to it, I reached out, only to freeze with my hand on the doorknob. How would I even tell Dad about all of this? Should I even tell Dad about all of this?

    He'd fallen apart after Mom had died, and even if he'd eventually picked himself back up, he still wasn't the same person he'd been before that. Neither of us were. How would he react if I told him I was a cape? Would he just retreat back into himself again, distance himself from everything? Even if he didn't, how much would it weigh on his mind, knowing his daughter was a cape?

    [X] (Truth) Everything about where you were and that you are a parahuman now.

    No. This was too big to hide from him, even if he might be happier not knowing. My hand shook, but I forced the door open nonetheless. Inside, my Dad was pacing, the local news playing Lung's Rampage in the background. His head snapped up as I closed the door behind me, palpable relief on his face.

    "Taylor. Oh thank God." He rushed to pull me into a hug. "When I saw what was on TV , and you hadn't come home yet -- Are you alright?"

    "I'm okay, Dad. Really." I closed my eyes, letting myself enjoy the comfort of his arms for a brief moment. "I got a bit caught up in things, but I wasn't hurt."

    "What were you even doing out there?"

    "I just… I needed to be alone for a while. I didn't really expect a gang war to break out."

    "I don't think anyone expected something like this. It's been years since something this big happened. Not since the Teeth were in town. Still, you shouldn't have been off wandering in the Docks by yourself."

    "Yeah. I know." I took a deep breath and gently pushed myself free of his embrace. "Dad. We need to talk about something."

    The way Dad immediately stiffened up, his eyebrows scrunching down in worry at those words almost made me crack a smile. I suppose it was true that no pleasant conversations ever started that way.

    "Taylor, what–"

    "I'm a cape," I cut him off. After a moment of silence, where he seemed more poleaxed than anything, I quietly added, "Eos, come out please."

    The fairy appeared in a swirl of light, circling around before landing on my shoulder. After a moment, she tilted her head and said, "Huh. I don't think I've ever seen someone's eyes go quite that wide before."

    ******​

    Current Energy: 16

    Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
    Winslow High School, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    Scraping the inside of my mouth with a stick was a strange experience.

    Despite the protestations of many a student, school went on as normal after everything that had happened yesterday. Honestly, I was rather surprised. With it being the last day before Winter Break, I would have thought the teachers would have taken the chance to start everyone's vacation a day early. Instead, I found myself stuck in Biology, with a teacher who thought that looking at our cells under the microscope made for an 'interesting' way to keep us engaged.

    Looking around at the classroom, a good majority of people were just talking with their lab partners and not even bothering to do the assigned work. My own partner was fiddling around on her phone, not even bothering to look at me. I could only feel bad for the teacher's naivety. You would think they would know better by now.

    Still, at least I didn't have to deal with any of the Trio in this class. I swabbed my cell sample onto the glass slide and slid it under the microscope. Leaning in, I pursed my lips as I peered through the lens, wondering once again at how strange my power was. Looking over the cells, I could instinctively recognize the structures within. There, the nucleus, the lysosomes, the mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum.

    It seemed like I simply had an innate understanding of how the body worked now. Nor was it limited to just that. My power filled my thoughts with geometric shapes that if I poured my aether along those lines, it could serve to repair or damage the cells. My drawing had been enhanced accordingly. No new talent for true life-like complexity, but I could draw a perfect circle every time, should I but desire it.

    I hadn't had Algebra scheduled today, but I suspected my skill at Arithmetics had likewise improved.

    Was it cheating at school if I had a power that shoved all the information into my head? Probably, but it's not like I could really do anything about it. Instead, I would take the small blessing for what it was.

    When the bell finally rang, I gave my assignment to the teacher, stuffed everything else into my bag, and rushed out the door. As I half-jogged downstairs to my locker, however, a small pit of dread began forming in my stomach. Things had been quiet lately, it felt like the Trio had gotten bored and moved on, but if they were planning on getting up to their old tricks, the last day of school before the break seemed the most likely.

    Shaking my head, I banished those thoughts. They'd had all day to try something if they wanted to. Spinning the dial to unlock my locker, I reached out and–

    "You've got the combination, right?"

    My vision blurred, a sudden wave of nausea crashing over me.

    "Of course. Do you have everything ready for Hebert's little welcome back party?"

    The world fell away. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the voices of students around me.

    "Yeah, we got it. It took awhile to get it all collected, but everyone thinks it'll be good for a laugh."

    I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. I–

    "Taylor? You okay?"

    The world suddenly fell back into focus and I drew a sharp breath. "What?" I blinked for a moment and turned to see one of my classmates looking at me. "Uh, yeah. Thanks, Greg. Was just distracted, I suppose."

    "No worries. Hey, did you hear about that new hero that popped up? All sorts of news on PHO about them."

    I gave him a weak smile. Greg wasn't a bad guy, but… Well, he tended to be a bit overenthusiastic with sharing his interests a lot of the time. In short, he meant well, but was a bit annoying to spend time around. Still, he was one of the few people in the school who actually bothered talking with me.

    "Sorry Greg, I don't really spend much time on PHO, so…" I shrugged.

    "That's too bad, apparently they're a new healer and those are pretty rare." My breath caught as I realized that he was talking about me, but I did my best to keep it from my face. He frowned, his course of conversation stymied in the face of my feigned disinterest. "Well, got any fun plans for the Break then?"

    "No plans, really. Just spending time with my Dad. Speaking of which, he was supposed to pick me up after school today, so I need to get going."

    "Oh, uh, okay. Have a good time then!"

    I waved him off and rushed away. Sophia shoulder checked me on the way out the door, but for her that was practically mild, so I ignored it and kept going. A few moments later, I was enclosed safely within the passenger side of Dad's pickup.

    "Hey Taylor. How was school?"

    "Fine. I'm more worried about today's meeting."

    "It'll be fine. I believe in you. I just wish I could be in there with you to help."

    "We already agreed–"

    "I know, I know," he interjected. "I just wish I could do something."

    [X] Follow up with the PRT.

    We pulled out of the parking lot and I looked out the window, unsure how to respond. Yesterday, after Dad had finally calmed down, we had talked about what to do going forward.

    Of course, Dad probably would have been happiest if I just hid my power entirely and never did anything with it, but… I couldn't do that. I couldn't hide. Not when there was so much good I could do. Instead, we had, after some discussion, decided to call the number that Velocity had given me.

    So, I would have a meeting with the PRT's Vice-Director today, apparently. Which was a fair bit more than I was hoping for, if I was being honest. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to join. Eventually sure, but maybe it would be better to get experience on my own first, to get a reputation as a hero to give myself more clout.

    Especially since I was taking advantage of Velocity's mistake and presenting myself as an adult. That way, they would be more likely to take me seriously, to treat me as an equal, instead of just some kid they could shove into the corner.

    Dad really hadn't been sure about that one, since it meant he definitely couldn't show up with me, but in the end, he hadn't been willing to overrule me either. I think the fact that my powers were orientated towards healing people probably helped. No one really targeted the healers from what I'd heard online. They were too rare, there was too much possible backlash.

    Eventually, we came to a stop in a parking lot Downtown, about a block away from the PRT Headquarters. I glanced at Dad and asked, "Wish me luck?"

    "Good luck, Little Owl."

    My ears heated at the use of my childhood nickname, but I smiled and nodded before getting out. Walking away, I waited until I could duck into an alley to allow my clothes to transform in a swirl of light, adding a cheap plastic domino mask that Dad had bought for me. Eos sprung out and plopped herself down on my shoulder a moment later.

    I could do this.

    ******​

    "Hello, I have an appointment with the Vice-Director?"

    The receptionist at the front desk looked up at me, blinking as she took in my costume. "Of course, let me just call and make sure he's ready for you. Is there a name I could give him?"

    I felt the blood suddenly drain out of my face. I hadn't taken the time to think of a name!

    What name do you give?
    [] Let Eos decide.
    [] Choose one on the spot!
    -[] (Write-In)
    [] Sorry, I don't have one at the moment.



    Tomorrow is a Holiday. Choose 2.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Go on patrol.
    [] Research local capes.
    [] Go shopping at the Boardwalk.
    [] Brainstorm a cape name.
    -[] (Write-In Cape Names).
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    - (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad
    -[] Eos
     
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    • Current Energy: 16
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 6


    Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
    PRT Headquarters, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    "A name? Ahaha, yes, a name. Clearly, as a hero I'd need a name."

    My eyes swam from side to side, seeking inspiration or answers of some sort. Why hadn't I thought this through?! Of course I'd need a name! Otherwise some idiot would probably call me Chubster or something!

    [X] Let Eos decide.

    "Ooh, ooh!" Eos poked her head up excitedly. "We're picking names? I know! You should be Schtolteheim Reinbach IV."

    "Vetoed."

    "Aww. I thought that was a really good one."

    I shook my head ruefully, unable to help the small smile that crossed my lips. "It's not that sort of name anyways, Eos. A hero's name is… Well, it's supposed to embody them. What they stand for, their ideals, their abilities. Who they are to the world."

    "Their ideals and their abilities, huh…" Eos frowned and sat cross-legged, despite hovering mid-air, her chin resting in her hands.

    Scratching at my cheek, I glanced back at the receptionist, who wore the long-suffering look that all people who worked in customer service seemed to learn at some point or another. "Sorry. We're still a bit new to all of this."

    "It's okay. How about I check with the Vice-Director and you can think of a name in the meantime?"

    "That might be for the best."

    I herded Eos back into the lobby, idly glancing around the place as we walked. It was, in a word, austere. Dark tile with white walls. The only real decoration was a few scattered posters of the Protectorate.

    Most prominent was a poster of the local Protectorate: Armsmaster, Miss Militia, Velocity, a few others who I didn't recognize as well. A lot of the capes on the team were more recent additions that had joined within the last few years, and I'll admit, while I'd had a bit of a cape nerd phase while I was younger, I hadn't really kept up with it. However, even I could recognize the people in the poster next to it.

    Eos, on the other hand, could not. She poked her head over my shoulder and asked, "So who are they?"

    I tilted my head and nodded to each in turn. "Alexandria. Hero. Legend. The Triumvirate. The heroes that had founded the Protectorate. In a lot of ways they defined what it means to be a hero."

    "Then, what does it mean to be a hero?"

    Blinking, I looked back towards Eos. Her usual energetic demeanor was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a sort of quiet intensity that took me aback. "Well, I suppose it means defeating villains and protecting people?"

    "Is that all?" she replied, disappointment writ plain in her voice. "Is that the sort of hero you aspire to be?"

    "I– Eos, I'm not really sure–"

    She placed a hand on my cheek, interrupting me, before leaning in to whisper softly, "Taylor. I know you have a beautiful light inside you. I know you do, else we would not have bonded. So I hope, I pray, that you take that light forward and use it to become a beacon to others. Become hope that shines even in the darkest of nights – and in so doing, inspire others too to rise to greatness."

    "Eos… I'm not that great. I'm not the sort of person that other people look up to. There's no way I can live up to your expectations."

    "You can. I know that you can. So go forward with confidence. Leave a legacy that is more than just defeating villains. Leave a legacy of hope. For we who walk before may lead those who walk after." She paused and then gave a conspiratorial smile. "With that, I bestow upon you your name. If you think yourself unworthy, then strive to live up to it."

    I blinked away the tears that were threatening to form. "I don't know if I can. But I'll try."

    "That's all anyone can ever ask for. Now, if that's all finished, I do believe the gentleman over there is getting tired of waiting for the two of us."

    Spinning around, I saw a PRT trooper waiting nearby. He cleared his throat uncomfortably before nodding at me. "Miss. The Vice-Director is available to see you. If you could follow me?"

    I fought to keep the blush from my face as I returned the nod. "Of course. Please lead on."

    A long, awkward elevator ride later found me ushered to a surprisingly small office. Somehow, in my mind, my image of the PRT had always been more in line with spy and cape movies, with lots of expensive furniture and high tech gadgets lying about. Instead, the Vice Director's office had a desk, a few bookcases, and a window out to the city. The highest piece of tech that I could see in the room was his desktop computer.

    The man himself was tall and thin, his close-cropped hair more gray than not. He stood up as I entered and offered his hand. "Ah, you must be the new heroine that I've heard so much about. A pleasure to meet you. I am Vice-Director Thomas Calvert."

    "I hope what you've heard has all been good, Mr. Calvert."

    "Of course. Velocity was very complimentary about your work. You saved a lot of lives yesterday. Our receptionist says that you were still choosing your name?"

    "Legacy. My name is Legacy."

    Calvert's eyebrows rose for a moment at my name, but he nodded and said, "Then I look forward to seeing what you leave behind. He settled down behind his desk again and gestured towards a chair across from him. "So, what were you looking to get out of this meeting, Legacy? I'm happy to help heroes such as yourself, of course, but without knowing what it is that you're looking for, there is only so much I can do."

    "I'm still fairly new to this. I suppose that I'm looking for ways that I can help most effectively. I can heal, so… ways that I can help out at the hospital maybe, or to establish a line of communication for the Protectorate to contact me in case of emergency."

    "Fair enough. I should start by encouraging you to join the Protectorate, as it would allow us to put the full weight of our resources behind you. However, given your questions, I'm assuming that you aren't quite ready to make that step?" I nodded and he smiled before continuing, "In that case, I would say your first step should be to seek a Parahuman Healing License. We overlooked yesterday, given the ongoing emergency, but strictly speaking, using your powers to heal someone without having first obtained your license to do so can be considered to be Assault with a Parahuman Power. It is also important that you receive consent from those you heal for similar reasons."

    "What does obtaining a healing license involve?"

    "Nothing too complicated. We would need you to come in at some point to test your powers. See what you are capable of, how effective your healing is, what it is effective on, and so forth. Past that, the PRT would be willing to assist with the relevant paperwork."

    He paused for a moment, waiting to see if I understood. After a moment he said, "Now, for your second question. If you are looking to keep your identity to yourself and not announce it to the world as New Wave does, then I would encourage you to pick up a second phone that isn't associated with your private identity. Once you have that, you can register it with us to be called in case of emergency."

    "One final thing, Legacy." He slid a paper off of his desk, turning it around as he handed it to me. A map of Brockton Bay, I realized after a moment, with different sections colored in. "I took the liberty of creating this mock up, as I've found it's helpful for new heroes. It shows each of the known gang territories. Please keep in mind that this is not a hard rule. Gangs are not countries. They will cross borders quite often, and what borders do exist constantly shift and flow. Still, it should give you an idea of where best to avoid."

    "Avoid?" I asked, surprised.

    "I know many young parahumans think themselves invincible when they first start their careers," he replied. "Still, these are gangs of hardened criminals, many of them with murder records. You would hardly be the first vigilante to disappear after getting on their bad side."

    My lips thinned for a moment. It's not like I didn't know that, but I couldn't just stand aside and do nothing either. Not if I had the power to change it.

    "I'll be sure to look it over then," I said, already glancing down at it. To the south, in the more commercial and downtown districts lay the E88. The ABB controlled parts of the southern docks, though they had relatively little territory. The largest by far was the Marche, covering the trainyard, the docks, and parts of the northern half of the city. "Anything else I should be aware of?"

    "I think that should cover it. Do let us know when you would like to register for your license."

    ******​

    Current Energy: 15
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 7

    Friday, December 24th, 2010
    Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [X] Spend time with Someone.
    -[X] Eos

    "I can't believe you're making me do homework on Christmas Eve."

    Eos giggled and fluttered down to sit on the edge of the desk. "Don't think of it as homework, think of it as getting better with your powers."

    I grimaced and looked down at the biology text book I had in front of me. The notebook I had open beside it would look a lot like I'd been taking notes on human anatomy, if not for the occasional arcane geometry sketched in alongside it. "My power already tells me all of this though. I'm literally only able to understand some of this because of my power."

    "Right now, sure. If you study though, then you can internalize it and become even better at using what you've got."

    I grumbled and sketched in a few more symbols before stopping and setting my pencil down. "Eos. Should I join the Protectorate?"

    "That's up to you, isn't it?"

    "I just… You said to leave a legacy of hope, but I'm not sure how to do that."

    "You will figure it out, Taylor. I know you will. I believe in you. So please, believe in yourself too."

    I looked down, my eyes skimming over the notebooks so that I didn't have to look at Eos. "I'll try, Eos." That was all I could promise. I would try. Letting out a soft sigh, I finally flipped the notebook closed and flopped down on my bed instead. Holding my hand up towards the ceiling, I watched as sparks danced between my fingers, not quite coalescing into anything.

    A moment later, Eos floated over, carrying a bag of potato chips. She flopped onto my stomach before tearing the bag open.

    "You know, you'll get fat if you eat nothing but chips all the time."

    "Pfft, no I won't." She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at me. "Anyways, what're we doing tomorrow?"


    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 10

    Join the Protectorate
    [] Yes, join the Protectorate.
    [] Stay Independent for the time being.

    Tomorrow is a Holiday. Choose 1. You will be spending the morning with your father.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Research local capes.
    [] Go on patrol.
    [] Go shopping at the Boardwalk.
    [] Power-Test with the PRT for your license.
    [] Brainstorm a cape name.
    -[] (Write-In Cape Names).
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    - (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad
    -[] Eos (1)
    [] (Write-In)
     
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    • Current Energy: 14
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 10


    [X] Stay Independent for the time being.

    Saturday, December 25th, 2010
    Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    I woke to the smell of bacon.

    Groaning, I shifted Eos off from where she had fallen asleep on my stomach and padded my way downstairs. I could hardly believe my eyes. Dad was in front of the stove… cooking. Ever since Mom had died, it had been either up to me to cook dinner, or Dad had grabbed take out on the way home from work.

    Stepping warily into the kitchen, I asked, "What's the occasion?"

    Dad turned at my voice. "Morning Taylor. And, well, it is Christmas. Really though, I know it's been awhile since we've had the chance to talk, and with everything that happened…"

    I slid into a chair and shrugged. "I don't know that there's all that much to talk about, Dad."

    "Not all that much – Taylor, you were caught in a gang war a few days ago!"

    "So were a whole lot of other people, Dad."

    "That's not the point." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I know you're excited about having powers now and being a hero, but promise me that you'll be safe out there? You don't need to go looking for trouble."

    Crossing my arms, I leaned back and met my Dad's eyes. "I can't promise that, Dad."

    "Taylor–"
    "No. I can't, Dad. If I have the power to help someone, then I should help them. I have a responsibility to."

    "I just want you to be safe."

    "I know. And I'm doing what I can to stay that way, Dad. I've talked to the PRT, I'm letting them test my powers. I'm not just leaping in head first. However, I can't see someone suffering and then just look away."

    Dad gave a rueful smile and shook his head. "Too much like your Mother, I suppose. At least try and find some backup for yourself, then. No one can go at it alone, least of all when you're planning on getting into street fights."

    "I suppose," I said noncommittally. "I can keep an eye out for any other independents out there and try to team up."

    "Good. Then…" Dad hesitated a moment, before setting a cell phone onto the table. "Well, it's not much of a Christmas present, but you'll probably need it."

    I froze. We hadn't had anything resembling a cell phone in the house since Mom had died. Dad had refused to use one for years. I looked back up at Dad. "Are you sure?"

    "Certain. I even picked one up for myself, so that you can call me in case of an emergency."

    Slowly, I picked the phone up and wrapped my hand tight around it. How could something so small feel so heavy in my hand? "Thank you, Dad."

    He reached out and gently squeezed my hand. "Merry Christmas, Taylor."

    ******​

    [X] Power-Test with the PRT for your license.

    Saturday, December 25th, 2010
    Protectorate Headquarters, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    While the PRT headquarters had looked disappointingly like a modest office building Downtown, Protectorate Headquarters did a much better job of fulfilling my fantasies of what cape life was like. Built on an refurbished oil rig out in the middle of the bay, a potential visitor needed to travel along a bridge built entirely of hard light just to get there.

    The bridge was, I found to my embarrassment, quite slippery as well.

    Upon arrival, doing my very best to look like I hadn't fallen on my ass several times during the walk across the bay, I glanced around the lobby, which, besides also being a great deal better looking than the PRT Headquarters, apparently also included a gift shop off to the side.

    They occasionally ran guided tours through the area, as I recalled, though I hadn't ever had the chance to be on one. Nor did it look like there was one running today. Instead, a pair of women in white lab coats were waiting near the reception desk. As I approached one of them started waving wildly.

    "Ah, this must be Legacy! A bit early too, you wouldn't believe how rare punctuality is in this business. Anyways, I'm Dr. Simon, this is Dr. Runarsdottir."

    I raised an eyebrow. The aforementioned Dr. Simon was a tall, thin woman with dark hair. Meanwhile, Dr. Runarsdottir was a bit shorter, with red hair and freckles. Glancing between the animated brunette and the subdued redhead, I finally settled on a neutral, "Hi. I was told I needed to do this to get licensed?"

    "Sure, sure, right this way," she said, ushering me along down a hallway. "We've got a few people lined up for you to heal, so Dot and I will be taking notes as you work. Speaking of which, is the Stranger effect just an always on sort of deal, or can you control it?"

    "Stranger effect?" I blinked.

    "You know the whole…" She made a gesture towards her face and I stared blankly at her. After a moment, Runarsdottir took pity on us.

    "Though several people have interacted with you without any mask present, and they are able to recall and place who you are, they seem to be unable to recall your features when they put their minds to it. The broad strokes remain, but the details escape them."

    "Ah…I hadn't been aware." Why hadn't Dad mentioned anything like that? Did it not affect people who already knew who I was? Was it only when I was in the costume my power generated or all the time?

    "Huh. Well, that's why it's so important to test what you can do in a controlled environment. Anyways, here we are," she said, opening the door to what looked more like an interrogation room than a clinic, with plain gray floors and ceiling on every side. A large, heavyset man sat at the table, looking a bit impatient.

    "Your first patient to look at is fairly simple, a cut and some abrasions. Everyone here has already signed waivers, but you'll want to get into the habit of asking permission to heal someone."

    "Right." I looked at the man and asked, "Do I have your permission to heal you?"

    "Go ahead, Miss."

    Pursing my lips, I examined the wound for a moment, before gesturing for Eos to heal it. It was minor enough that she could manage on her own easily. Stepping back towards the scientists, Dr. Simon tilted her head. "Do you heal entirely through the projected minion?"

    "I haven't really experimented much. I think I can heal faster and more thoroughly if I'm hands-on, but it also tires me out more in the process?"

    "So healing takes energy from you? Is there a hard cap to how much you can do a day?"

    "I haven't had the chance to test it. I can just feel that it's more efficient when doing it through Eos."

    "Eos being your projection?"

    I nodded and Dr. Simon scribbled something on her notepad. A moment later, Eos finished her work and floated over to sit on my shoulder.

    "Right. What else do we have to go through today?"

    "Hmm. Well, next is a fractured bone. Then a patient with the flu, a patient with strep throat, kidney stones, a stage-2 cancer patient, and finally a patient with an auto-immune disease, and finally a patient with Parkinson's."

    Blanching at the long list, I nodded after a long moment. "Well, best get to it then."

    ******​

    -3 Energy

    The fractured bone had been simple enough, and again, I'd let Eos handle it. Unfortunately, the rest had not gone so well. With regards to the flu and strep throat, we healed the patients and strengthened their immune system, but couldn't do much to get rid of the actual virus. It treated the symptoms, but not the cause.

    We couldn't do anything for the kidney stones.

    For the cancer patient, I wound up asking for their charts and settled into a sort of concentrated chemotherapy, where I actively poisoned the cells that we knew were cancerous and then worked to regrow them. He would need a follow up with actual medical professionals to make sure that I had gotten it all, and that it wouldn't spread, but it seemed effective and I left pretty happy over that victory.

    Unfortunately, the last two patients kicked that small win out from under me, as I found myself unable to help either of them.

    "So it seems your healing is primarily regenerative in nature. Despite being able to apparently reverse it to damage cancerous cells, it doesn't seem to have borne much fruit against actual diseases."

    I frowned, but nodded, aware of where I had fallen short. I might have general knowledge stuffed into my head, but I didn't have any instinctual knowledge. The only reason I'd been able to do as well as I had with the cancer patient is because doctors had already done the hard work of scanning for cancerous growths.

    "In short, you'd probably make a great battlefield medic or Emergency Room doctor, but that's about it. I'll see about getting our findings sent in so that you can receive the appropriate license."

    "Not that I'll have as much chance to use it as I'd hoped."

    "Hey, don't worry about it. Keep your chin up. Not every power is good for everything. And feel free to come and say hello if you ever do join the Protectorate."

    "I – Thank you, Dr. Simon."

    "Until next time then." She grinned and waved me off.

    She was right, I reflected as I stepped outside again, bracing myself against the cold December air. It might not be the cure all that I was hoping for, but parahuman healing was supposedly pretty rare. It's not like I'd heard of any other parahuman volunteering at hospitals in the Bay.

    Even what little I could do might make a difference.


    Current Energy: 11
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 13

    Tomorrow is a Holiday. Choose 2.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Research local capes.
    [] Go on patrol.
    [] Go shopping at the Boardwalk.
    [] Speak with Hospitals regarding part-time employment.
    -[] Paid
    -[] Volunteer
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad
    -[] Eos (1)
    [] (Write-In)
     
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    • [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [X] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
     
    Witness 1.5
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    • Voting is here

    Current Energy: 9
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 16


    [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [X] Speak with Hospitals regarding part-time employment.
    -[X] Paid

    Monday, December 27th, 2010
    Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    I listened to the phone ring for the fourth time since this morning.

    With my license safely in hand, I had decided to start contacting the local hospital to see if I could use my power to help out there. The problem was that no one at the hospital seemed to know what to do with me. I called the hospital's main number first, which then directed me to someone in their HR department. Then I was directed to the head of their Nursing Resource Center, who then asked if they could call me back while they contacted Legal.

    They had eventually called me back nearly four hours later and asked me to join a conference call with the hospital's president. Great. No pressure or anything.

    "Sorry about the runaround, Legacy."

    "I understand, Mr. Greeney. It's not every day that a healing cape pops up and offers their services."

    "No, it certainly is not. There's been a bit of debate on where your talents would best be used, or even if they can be used."

    "Even if I can't treat a lot of your long-term patients, surely I'd be useful in the Emergency Room, at least?" I asked

    "Ah, it's not that we doubt that you'd be useful, but from a legal standpoint, NEPEA-5 puts a great deal of restrictions on how we can use you as an employee, as well as what we would be able to pay you."

    I frowned. "What exactly would those restrictions entail?"

    "Well, to begin with," A woman cut in, "You would be considered a contracted worker instead of a full-time associate. This means you wouldn't be eligible for benefits, such as health insurance or a retirement fund. More to the point, you would be paid on an hourly basis instead of by salary."

    "Okay…" I suppose that made sense. No point in paying me for work I wasn't doing, I supposed, and it's not like they knew my real identity for the insurance benefits.

    The woman hesitated before continuing, "As for pay… We can't pay you the same amount that we would pay a doctor… or even a nurse, really. It'd be above a surgical tech's rate of pay, but not by a significant amount."

    Closing my eyes, I reminded myself that I wasn't in this for the money. I wanted to help people. This just seemed the most straightforward way of going about it. "Alright. Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

    Something of my frustration must have come across in my tone, because the woman sounded distinctly nervous. "There is one other thing. I am aware that many parahumans lead lives with… hectic and irregular schedules. However, if you're to be working here, we need you to be able to commit to a schedule. It honestly doesn't matter how much of a miracle your healing might be if we never know when you might stop by."

    I took a deep breath. If I committed now, I would be tying up my time into this hospital for what was, apparently, mediocre pay. I'd definitely be helping people, but it would take time that could possibly be better spent elsewhere and lock me into a schedule.

    On the other hand, I could decline the job and look into other ways I could help the people around me. Maybe I could open my own clinic and schedule my own hours that way – though, I didn't exactly have the money to get something like that off the ground at the moment.

    Still, I needed to give the hospital an answer one way or the other.

    ******​

    I tossed my phone at the couch and let out a frustrated growl. "Why is getting a job so difficult?"

    "That was difficult?" Eos fluttered down, staring at me innocently.

    "...I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, Eos."

    "It's just, well, it seemed pretty simple to me? You just talked to people for a bit." She shrugged and flew over to the couch, where she made the vain struggle to try and lift a phone that was almost as large as she was.

    "Simple doesn't necessarily mean easy."

    "Fair enough. I'd take your interview over having to go kill ladybugs and wharf rats all afternoon though."

    I raised my eyebrows. "I… don't think that's a job requirement for anyone, except maybe an exterminator, Eos. It definitely wouldn't be part of the interview process."

    "Eh?" Eos stared at me, looking genuinely surprised. I stared back at her. Why is she acting like I'm the one who said something weird? After a moment, she shook her head. "Well, never mind that. What's the plan for the afternoon?"

    "I figured I'd give the circle we drew in the basement another shot. See if I can't get anything more from it."

    "Ah. Should I get the mop?"

    "Funny."

    The fairy's smile widened.

    "...Yes. Maybe a towel as well."

    "Ehehe. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do better this time, Taylor."

    "It would be hard not to," I replied.

    "Hooray for low bars!" Eos cheered.

    I rolled my eyes in response but couldn't help the smile on my lips. "Yeah, yeah," I said, wending my way down the stairs towards the basement.

    The circle remained as fresh as when I'd first drawn it yesterday. Even after mopping up the mud, the lines remained unblemished, as if I'd somehow drawn it with something more permanent than the flimsy bit of chalk that I'd used. I could still feel the energy resting inside of it, pooling in each of the six corners I'd created.

    Settling in the middle of the circle again, I let my mind wander, resigned to another long afternoon of not much happening. Though I'd gotten a feel for the different streams of aether and how it pooled, I honestly couldn't tell any difference between the different sets. At most… Well, I suppose the energy around the circle behind me felt like it was, perhaps, moving faster than the rest.

    Hmm. The circle in front of me was the one that spat mud all over me yesterday. So if that was Earth, was the one behind me Wind, perhaps? I tentatively reached out and poked at it, only to be sent tumbling as a sudden gale knocked me over, pushing me outside of the circle completely.

    "Oooh, you found Wind this time," Eos piped up. "That's a particularly important one for you to remember. Most Nymian magicks focused on using Wind and Water aether. A bit of a divergence from the Amdapori who focused more on Earth aspected aether to achieve their healing, or Sharlayan techniques which, well, are quite in a class of their own."

    I blinked slowly and slowly pushed myself away from where I'd ended ass over teakettle against the wall. "You're throwing out a lot of terms that mean literally nothing to me, Eos."

    "Oh! Ahaha, don't mind me, just thinking to myself!"

    "I swear you get weirder with each passing day." I shook my head. "Right, so that's Earth and Wind. I'd rather not find Lightning by accident and electrocute myself. So, any sage advice?"

    "Focus on trying to feel the aether like I told you instead of poking at it every chance you get?"

    "I'm not really getting anywhere with that though."

    Eos tilted her head, thinking for a moment, before saying, "Maybe we should get you out of the house tomorrow. Go out and see the city. It doesn't do you any good just staying cooped up all the time."

    "Wh– You were the one who wanted me sit in a circle for hours!"

    "Yes, and this is important. But so is seeing the world. Have an adventure. Seek the horizons!"

    "You're just bored, aren't you?"

    "Not at all! This is for your benefit," Eos lied as naturally as she breathed.

    "Uh huh. I guess you don't mind staying here at home while I go out tomorrow then?"

    "What're you saying, Taylor? We're partners, aren't we? I go where you go."

    "Convenient."

    "Isn't it just?" Eos smiled and settled herself on top of my head. "So, where to tomorrow?"
     
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    • I like the idea of setting up a Resteraunt with free Healing, you pay for overpriced food and get patched up.

    Maybe a Drive Thru Cinema with Food and Healing?
     
    Witness 1.6
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    • Voting is Here

    Current Energy: 8
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 19


    [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.

    Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
    Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    "I thought we were going to go and explore," Eos pouted.

    "We will." Eventually. When I worked up the nerve. "Just… maybe tomorrow, it's pretty cold out today."

    Eos shot me a skeptical look and I rolled my eyes.

    "Stop sulking. We'll get to it eventually. I just wanted to get a bit better at this first."

    Eos sighed and flopped dramatically to the ground, before just as suddenly bouncing back up again. "Right. If we're going to spend more time training, then let's do something a bit more interesting."

    "Interesting how?" I asked guardedly.

    "Though we are bonded, it's possible that events might conspire to separate us in the future. So, I'll teach you how to call me back to your side, wherever I might be."

    "I… honestly thought that you couldn't get that far away from me."

    "Well, I'd rather not, but who knows what may happen in the future? Better safe than sorry, right?"

    "Sure. So what do I do?"

    Eos fluttered down, placing her tiny hands over mine. "Close your eyes."

    "Listen to your heartbeat." I let out a slow breath, feeling a bit nonsensical. More of just closing my eyes and feeling blindly again?

    "Listen." My heart beat slowly. Alone, I thought. So alone, my powers had given me an imaginary friend as if by way of some strange consolation. Except, there was a second beat there, wasn't there? Thumping in time alongside my own.

    "Reach out – No, not with your hands," I jerked my hand back as Eos suddenly slapped it. "Reach out. We are tied together. As even a branch and it's sapling are tied, so too are we."

    She was right. There was a connection there, in the dark. A line of light, a string that tied the two of us together.

    "Ah, you've found it. Now, push your aether into the connection. Strengthen it. And now pull. Gently – Gently!" Eos let out a sudden yelp as her hands disappeared from mine. I blinked my eyes open, only for her to suddenly reappear and slam into my face a moment later.

    "...Ow. Why are lessons with you always like this?" I asked.

    "It's a natural part of the learning process," Eos replied haughtily.

    "Are you sure you aren't just a bad teacher?"

    "It's a natural part of the learning process," Eos repeated, though I noticed she wasn't quite willing to meet my gaze.

    "Well, fine. I think I got the idea down, at least, but let's give it a few more tries just to make sure."

    I took sweet solace in the look of sudden panic that crossed Eos' face.

    ******​

    [X] Spend time with Someone.
    -[X] Dad

    The sky had turned dark by the time Dad got home. I'd long since finished my training and was just sitting on the couch reading a book – attempting to, anyway. My attention kept slipping and I found myself having to backtrack to lines I'd already read.

    "Hey Taylor. Sorry I'm late. I picked up dinner on the way home though."

    Fast food again, huh? "Don't worry about it, Dad. I could have made something for us if you'd called ahead though."

    "Hey, I know you've been busy with all the cape stuff. I can handle picking up food for the two of us," he smiled, shuffling his jacket off to hang on the rack by the door. "Speaking of cape stuff, I never did hear how your call with the hospital went."

    [X] Decline the job.

    "Oh… I wound up passing on the job for now. There were so many restrictions on it that it didn't seem worth my time."

    "Huh. Well, that's a shame, but maybe it's for the best. You can stay focused on your schoolwork this way."

    "Sure. School."

    I grimaced. A week left until I had to go back. The break couldn't last long enough.

    "It does leave me at a bit of a loss, honestly. I want to use my powers to help people, but…"

    "But it's complicated." Dad smiled bitterly even as he unpacked our dinner in the kitchen. "Don't I know it. So what turned you off about the hospital?"

    I coughed and looked away.

    "It's a little embarrassing," I started. "Especially since I should have expected it. I guess the main thing was that they wanted me to work a regular schedule. Between school and anything else I might want to do, I'm just not sure I could really commit to anything."

    "Hmm," Dad hummed thoughtfully to himself. "Well, it's not a perfect solution, but I might be able to swing you some work if any of the Dockworkers ever get hurt. We'd probably pay less than the hospital and it would be a per visit sort of thing, but at least that way you wouldn't be on a schedule."

    "I suppose." I wasn't really sure I wanted to rely on my Dad's handouts to succeed, but at the end of the day, I didn't want to just coop myself up at home either. "Okay. I can swing something occasional like that," I said, pulling out a kitchen chair for myself.

    Eos popped her head up from the couch where I had thought she had fallen asleep. "You know, if you're looking for work, why not just make a public posting? Let people contact you when they need help."

    "I…" I looked to Dad. "Is that an option?"

    He shrugged in response. "I don't see why it wouldn't be. A healer that makes house calls – Well, it would probably work better if you could handle a broader range of issues. Most people would rather just go to the ER if they're injured badly."

    That was a fair point. My healing wasn't really good enough for more than just patching people up. I might be able to help with some more long-term injuries, but my powers simply weren't flexible enough to let me help with more than that. I was too limited.

    "Still, it's more than nothing, at least," Dad mused.

    "Besides," Eos piped in, "People need all sorts of help, not just healing. A friendly hero can go a long way."

    I raised my hands in surrender.

    "Fine, fine. I'll see about putting a post up on PHO."

    Eos suddenly perked up. "That's the 'internet' that you were using a few days ago, right? You have to show me how to use it this time!"

    A sudden shiver of dread went down my spine. Eos had discovered the internet. We were all doomed.


    Current Energy: 7
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 22

    Tomorrow is a Holiday. Choose 2.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Check your PHO post for any potential jobs.
    [] Parian might be interested in some sort of affiliation as two Rogues.
    [] Shadow Stalker patrols around the Docks. Go look for her.
    [] Sere is supposed to be a veteran. Might be worth contacting him?
    [] Find the plant-based vigilante. Can't be too difficult, right?
    [] A bodybuilder… Well, you'll take what you can get at this point.
    [] There's two monster capes that were sighted Downtown…
    [] Put an ad for heroic team ups up on PHO. Maybe you'll get lucky.
    [] Could try getting in contact with New Wave.
    [] Go on patrol.
    [] Go shopping at the Boardwalk.
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad (1)
    -[] Eos (1)
    [] (Write-In)
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [X] Parian might be interested in some sort of affiliation as two Rogues.

    Merry Christmas to All!
     
    Witness 1.7
  • Threadmarks
    • Voting is Here

    Current Energy: 7
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 22


    [X] Find the plant-based vigilante. Can't be too difficult, right?

    Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
    Residential District, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    When people thought of capes, a lot of them pictured people flying overhead or leaping from rooftop to rooftop. The reality was, that travel by rooftop was terribly impractical unless you had a power designed to help you. Most buildings simply were built too far apart, or at uneven heights, to be worth navigating.

    So it was that I found myself walking the streets in costume.

    It was strangely embarrassing. Even knowing that I was in costume, that no one could tell who I was, I couldn't help but feel people's stares as I went past. I felt exposed.

    I took a deep breath and shook my head. People just saw a strange cape on the street. It was unusual enough to warrant stares. It had nothing to do with Taylor Hebert.

    "Eos!" I called out, and she fluttered down from where she had been keeping vigil above the rooftops. "See anything yet?"

    "Nothing yet, Boss!" She gave a tiny salute before flying back up.

    Sighing, I brushed a hand through my hair and kept walking.

    PHO had mentioned sightings of 'Gaia,' the plant-controller, mostly in the southern Residential District, near where it met Downtown.
    The area was technically a part of Marquis' territory, but that was true of most of the city. In practice, it mostly just meant that the businesses there had to pay their tithe to the Marche and other gangs kept out for the most part. There was still the occasional petty criminal, of course, not associated with any of the major gangs, and it seemed that 'Gaia' mostly focused her efforts upon such miscreants.

    Not a terrible choice for a vigilante just starting out and still getting used to things.

    The problem was that Eos and I had been scouting the area for nearly – I checked my phone – for nearly an hour and a half now and still hadn't found any sign of them. Add in my embarrassment at walking the streets in costume or the cold December air biting at my nose, and it was, frankly, getting more than a bit frustrating.

    "I mean, maybe they just aren't around today?"

    My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden loud retort of a gunshot. Eos flew down in response, pointing towards the southwest.

    "That way! Near the park!"

    I huffed, but turned and ran back towards the park that we had passed not ten minutes ago. A bare three streets over, I got there in under two minutes, but it was still too late to do anything.

    A man was already strung up in so many black vines that it looked almost as if he'd been caught in a spider's web. Next to him, apparently finishing their handiwork, was the cape – though, they looked more ent than person, with dark wooden armor that showed no seams, nor even eye holes, as though it had been carved from a single piece. It seemed almost to shift into itself each time the cape moved, as if the wood itself were growing and shrinking to accommodate the gesture.

    Their head turned towards me as I approached – so they must be able to see somehow. I lifted a hand and Eos fluttered up behind me and waved as well. They hesitated and, after a moment, left the (probable) criminal behind to speak with us.

    "Hey. What happened here?" I asked.

    "Hello yourself," the cape said in response. The voice was distinctly femine, albeit rather muffled underneath their armor. "It looked like this man was attacking a woman, and so I intervened. Unfortunately, the woman seems to have run off in the confusion."

    "Ah. Well, I'm Legacy, this is Eos. You must be Gaia?"

    The cape was silent for a long moment, long enough that I thought I'd offended her somehow, before letting out a sigh. "No."

    "No?"

    "No. I'm not some hack relying on Greek goddesses for a name, no matter how much PHO might bandy it about. Call me Symbiote."

    "Oookay." Personally, I thought Gaia was a better choice than Symbiote. The latter sounded vaguely villainous, to be honest.

    Symbiote made as though to fold her arms, before apparently realizing that her armor was too thick to quite manage the feat, even with whatever magic her power pulled to allow her to move about in it. She cleared her throat and let her arms hang at her sides instead. A long, silent moment stretched with the two of us standing there awkwardly before she said, "Sorry. Just… It feels as if any new hero has a fifty-fifty chance of being branded with some sort of mythological reference. It's generic. I wanted something different for myself."

    I tried to ignore how Eos was pouting (come to think of it, Eos was the name of a Greek goddess, wasn't it?) and nodded. "I get it. I was put on the spot when I came up with my name, but I think it worked out."

    Symbiote paused and I got the sense she was examining me despite not having moved an inch. "Was your costume on the spot as well?"

    "Kind of," I replied, my ears burning. "It's a bit complicated."

    "Uh huh. So are you new as well, then? I haven't really heard about you before."

    "Yeah. I just, um. Just got my powers last week. I was actually out here looking for you. I wanted to connect with some of the Independents in the area, see if we couldn't help each other out."

    "Fair enough. I've been mostly fine on my own so far, but I would not mind the company. Do you have a number I can reach you on?"

    I nodded and fumbled for my phone. She reached out for it a moment later, and I watched curiously as the wood around her hand seemed to almost melt away, pulling back towards her arm, leaving a hand that looked strangely small and delicate by comparison. She typed in a message and I heard a buzz a moment later as she sent a text to herself.

    "There. Give me a call sometime."

    With that she began to walk off, waving over her shoulder. I waved back and then glanced to where the criminal she had tied up was still hanging.

    "What about him?"

    Symbiote stopped and looked at the man and then back to me. Then back at the man.

    "Right. …I forgot about him."

    Eos slapped a palm over her face.

    ******​

    [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.

    Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
    Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    "Why are we doing this again?"

    "Because it's important to know how the aether flows through the body if you're going to heal it."

    "Can't I just throw a spell at it and fix it though? I didn't exactly know any of this when I was healing for my license," I said, running a hand along my arm. There was a spark of energy there, under the skin, that I was following as best I could.

    "Well, yes, but also no. You can theoretically brute force a problem, but it's incredibly energy inefficient – and not particularly good for the person you're healing either."

    "Not good how?"

    "Mm… Well, not throwing enough aether at the problem is obviously it's own issue, as you leave the person with injuries still present. On the other hand, if you pour too much in, it can lead to aether sickness in the patient – assuming you don't outright corrupt their aether, though that usually requires a bit more punch than what you can manage."

    I shifted uncomfortably as the spark ran through my chest, circling my heart before continuing down the other arm. "Fine, fine, too much aether is bad. So does aether just travel through the circulatory system or…?"

    "Hmm. I think you might be making a mistake. You're thinking that aether is just some sort of nebulous energy, right?" I nodded and she continued, "It's not. It's everything. The ground, the air, your body, your memories, your very soul. Both corporeal and incorporeal, aether is the blocks upon which creation is built."

    "Wait, that can't be right. You're saying it's not just magic bullshit that I can interact with because of my power? Surely someone would have detected it by now if it was that prevalent?"

    "Of course not," Eos scowled at me. "What, did you think everything I was teaching you was fake up until now, Taylor?"

    "Not fake exactly… Just… rules within the context of my power?" I furrowed my brow. "Wait, does this mean anyone can learn what I do?"

    Eos waggled her hand. "I'm not really sure. I mean, maybe your people have a genetic predisposition that prevents them from using magic that your power lets you overcome? There are people like that out there, who simply can't control aether despite ostensibly having access to it. And frankly, your Star is kind of weird."

    I sighed and flopped back on my bed. Great. I thought I finally had something special, but anyone could potentially do what I do.

    "Oh, don't be like that." Eos landed on my chest and poked at my chin with her toes. "You've been making great progress, Taylor. Besides, what does it matter where your power comes from? What matters is what you do with it."

    That was true, wasn't it? It didn't matter if I didn't have powers at all. A cop or a firefighter were heroes in their own ways. People who went out and helped people when they could have done something safer instead.

    So the question was: What would I do with my power?


    Voting is Here
    Current Energy: 6
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 25

    Tomorrow is a Holiday. Choose 2.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Check your PHO post for any potential jobs.
    [] Parian might be interested in some sort of affiliation as two Rogues.
    [] Shadow Stalker patrols around the Docks. Go look for her.
    [] Sere is supposed to be a veteran. Might be worth contacting him?
    [] A bodybuilder… Well, you'll take what you can get at this point.
    [] There's two monster capes that were sighted Downtown…
    [] Put an ad for heroic team ups up on PHO. Maybe you'll get lucky.
    [] Could try getting in contact with New Wave.
    [] Go on patrol.
    -[] Alone
    -[] With Symbiote
    [] Go shopping at the Boardwalk.
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad (1)
    -[] Eos (1)
    -[] Symbiote
    [] (Write-In)
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Shadow Stalker patrols around the Docks. Go look for her.
    [X] There's two monster capes that were sighted Downtown…

    Might as well get SS out of the way.

    Getting one of the Tank classes or even a DPS class will help Taylor in the Long run.
     
    Witness 1.8
  • Threadmarks
    • Vote Here

    Current Energy: 6
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 25


    [X] Experiment and train with your new powers.

    Thursday, December 30th, 2010
    Hebert Household, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    I winced as the knife parted my flesh, biting down on my lip to keep from crying out in pain.

    "Ooh, a clean cut this time. You're getting better at making the incision. Now, quickly, mix the wind and water aether. Water to help regenerate your body, wind to seal the wound."

    "Can we go back to just sitting in a circle for hours?" I complained.

    "Nope!" Eos grinned. "Just be glad you get to do this in a nice, controlled environment. If I could have my way, I'd be throwing you out to the wilderness to do this while also fighting off ravenous beasts. It's the classic method, after all!"

    A shudder passed through me. Eos had grown surprisingly sadistic now that I was starting to improve at the 'basics of the basics,' as she put it.

    "Never was I so glad to live in urban America."

    "Hmm, but I think I can spice things up a bit when we start training your barriers, at least."

    Eos put a finger to her chin. It was far too cute a gesture for the evil that lurked within her heart.

    "Well. Putting that aside, you really are improving, Taylor. Your speed is way faster than it was when we started."

    I let out a mumbled, "Thanks," and looked away, my ears burning. It still felt weird being genuinely complimented for something. Especially since I hadn't really done anything with my powers yet. I'd just locked myself away and trained with them.

    "It's too bad we don't really have a way for you to practice on healing other people at range… Hey, do you think your Dad–"

    "No!"

    ******​

    [X]Could try getting in contact with New Wave.

    Thursday, December 30th, 2010
    Downtown, Brockton Bay
    POV: Taylor Hebert

    New Wave was a rather interesting bit of Brockton Bay history. They were a family of capes that used to be known as the Brockton Bay Brigade. They had some minor successes, mostly against unpowered members of the gangs at the time, but nothing major until the capture of Kaiser of the E88.

    Riding on that success, they had unmasked. It was to be a 'New Wave' of cape accountability, where capes no longer hid behind secret identities. It had even picked up some traction for a short while.

    Then Iron Rain killed Lightstar.

    Overnight, New Wave lost all the momentum it had built. A lot of the capes who had followed their example and unmasked went into hiding. New Wave itself stayed active, but only barely. Fleur was reportedly the most active, still pursuing vengeance for her murdered fiance nearly a decade later.

    However, I wasn't aiming to meet up with any of the original members of New Wave. No, I had set my sights a bit lower – their children. Laserdream, Shielder, and Glory Girl were all second generation triggers, a true example of powers running in families.

    Fortunately for me, Glory Girl was significantly easier to find than Symbiote had been. In fact, she was rather hard to miss. Golden lightning trailed after her wherever she flew. The problem came in actually flagging her down to talk.

    Whether she just wasn't paying attention to the city below, or simply hadn't seen me, each time I tried to wave to her, she passed me by. In the end, I wound up having to climb up onto a rooftop while Eos flew up to get her attention.

    It took longer than I would like to admit to actually make my way up there, even with the use of a fire escape.

    She descended in a shower of golden sparks, her blonde hair catching at the sunlight. I let out a sigh and glanced at Eos. My power was useful. It was. I didn't regret having it. Still, some part of me was jealous of how flashy her power was, or – Well, let's be real, I was actually jealous of how stupidly photogenic she was.

    I gave her a thin smile as she drew close, a hand idly brushing through my hair. She gave a wide, pearly-white smile back. Ugh. Did everything she did have to look good?

    "Hey there! Legacy right?"

    I blinked. "You've heard of me?"

    "Heh, most everyone on PHO has heard of you by now. A real fairy princess healing everyone up after Lung's rampage."

    "It – It wasn't that big of a deal or anything," I mumbled, trying to ignore the heat flooding my face.

    "Sure it is! You know, parahumans aren't that common to begin with, and recent studies show that less than one in a thousand parahumans are actually capable of healing other people." She grinned and moved over to take my hands in hers – still floating, I noticed. "You should totally come hang out with me sometime. I can show you the ropes, and you can tell me all about what you do."

    "I, um… I…"

    "Ooh, that sounds great!" Eos piped up. "What do you recommend in the area? Personally, I've been wanting to try out some ice cream, but Legacy hasn't taken me yet."

    "You're in luck then," Glory Girl winked. "There's a great place near here that serves a fantastic cherry garcia. We'll stop and get you a cone next time."

    "Yesss. Okay, let me get you our number and we can plan to meet up." Glory Girl pulled out her phone and Eos rattled off my cell number without hesitation. What the hell, Eos? Even I hadn't actually memorized our number yet.

    "Great! I've got to get going, I was getting to the end of my usual flight and Mom's expecting me home, but give me a call, alright? Talk to you later!"

    With that, she flew off, a golden lightning bolt streaking through the sky. I tracked her progress for a moment before turning to Eos. "What just happened?"

    "We just made a friend," Eos replied, entirely too smugly.

    "I don't get a say in this?"

    "Nope!"

    I let out a long-suffering sigh. "Fine. We'll give her a call sometime so that she can treat you to your ice cream."

    Turning around, I eyed the ground below.

    I really should have asked Glory Girl to carry me down before she left.


    Current Energy: 5
    Current Emulation: Scholar - lvl 28

    Tomorrow is a Holiday. Choose 2.
    [] Experiment and train with your new powers.
    [] Check your PHO post for any potential jobs.
    [] Parian might be interested in some sort of affiliation as two Rogues.
    [] Shadow Stalker patrols around the Docks. Go look for her.
    [] Sere is supposed to be a veteran. Might be worth contacting him?
    [] A bodybuilder… Well, you'll take what you can get at this point.
    [] There's two monster capes that were sighted Downtown…
    [] Put an ad for heroic team ups up on PHO. Maybe you'll get lucky.
    [] Go on patrol.
    -[] Alone
    -[] With Symbiote
    -[] With Glory Girl
    [] Go shopping at the Boardwalk.
    [] Put together a primary costume for when you aren't in an active emulation.
    (This might be easier with some crafting skills).
    [] Spend time with Someone.
    -[] Dad (1)
    -[] Eos (1)
    -[] Symbiote
    -[] Glory Girl
    [] (Write-In)
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] There's two monster capes that were sighted Downtown…
    [X] Spend time with Someone.
    -[X] Symbiote
    --[X] Ask if we could commission a Living Suit/Armour from her.
     
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