Ride the Lightning (Worm / DC Comics Cross Over)

Schrödinger · Nov 6, 2016

Dopplerdee said:
He doesn't know if it will be, his power could have interacted badly with hers. We see this in this chapter using his power without knowing power interactions when he doesn't have to is fucking dumb.
And according to the law in Worm(and show in this story) it's sill Assault with a Parahuman Ability(why it's assault insted if battery I don't know).

His power has inherent safety guards, all shard related powers do.

The bad power interaction is a lie, when Clockblocker's power interacts with something that contradicts it, it cancels itself out. That was made very clear when the Siberian interacted with it.

Unless you're up against a Trump, you'll mostly never have to worry about bad power interactions. The Entities designed their Shards quite well, although if you're a Cauldron cape that might not hold entirely true.

And everyone is perfectly aware of that because Manton did in fact publish quite a bit on it, before he went insane and started cannibalising people through his projection.

thecoffeeguru · Nov 6, 2016

An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in either criminal and/or civil liability. Generally, the common law definition is the same in criminal and tort law.

At common law, battery is the tort of intentionally (or, in Australia, negligently) and voluntarily bringing about an unconsented harmful or offensive contact with a person or to something closely associated with them (e.g. a hat, a purse). Unlike assault, battery involves an actual contact.

By the technical definitions, Taylor is correct in her characterization. That said.....

This story is not a forum to get into a debate over who is being too sensitive, contemporary American culture, or the like. If you want to make constructive criticism of the story, fine, please do. It is invited and encouraged.

If you want to spin theories about what is happening, or what you think may happen in the future, please do. It is invited and encouraged.

If you want to get into a protracted debate over legal minutiae or engage in social commentary with enough invective to put an R rating on the subject being discussed, please take it somewhere else.

Larekko12 · Nov 6, 2016

Dopplerdee said:
He doesn't know if it will be, his power could have interacted badly with hers. We see this in this chapter using his power without knowing power interactions when he doesn't have to is fucking dumb.
And according to the law in Worm(and show in this story) it's sill Assault with a Parahuman Ability(why it's assault insted if battery I don't know).

He kinda generally does.

His power is a verified medical aid.

The things it fucks with in the entirety of worm cam be counted on one hand and he even has experience with movers like her.

As an interaction it really makes Taylor seem more neurotic rather than clock bad unlike naming himself clock does and feels more like taking a stab a meeting trope for a meta reason rather than a natural interaction.

It's sorta quantum that way. In that the vast vast majority of people in he and on don't care and don't think people would care even people otherwise sensitive to bullying and it only seems to get brought up when people are reaching.

Also that unlike kid wins goof of bringing in the prototype to stop the bad guys isn't really something that can plausibly just show up there. the cannon can be kid wins first big win buy the flash can't be Clocks first greeting goof.

If it was an actually serious liability then the m c wouldn't be running into it because she's not special and piggot is a hardass and he'd have already done it and gotten reemed harder than a wimp in prison.

Sorta like Bitch and her mauling introductions. that actually cost them a recruitment and was serious. it happening with Taylor highlights how out of control their team is.

Speaking of serious. Taylor seemed strangely nervous? I didnt really get the build up of tension in thst situation that would push her that far to limit. people weren't panicky enough it seemed. it felt flat.

On things that are going to happen. Taylor might try to replicate the nuke save? start coordinating with bird dogging the bomber and victims for the rescue crews?

Arsmaster might call her back and give her a tranq trick and tell her to start whacking people? And might lament her not working with them so he can kit her out with one touch devices that she can use that velocity cant.

rollobeast · Nov 6, 2016

Schrödinger said:
His power has inherent safety guards, all shard related powers do.

The bad power interaction is a lie, when Clockblocker's power interacts with something that contradicts it, it cancels itself out. That was made very clear when the Siberian interacted with it.

Unless you're up against a Trump, you'll mostly never have to worry about bad power interactions. The Entities designed their Shards quite well, although if you're a Cauldron cape that might not hold entirely true.

And everyone is perfectly aware of that because Manton did in fact publish quite a bit on it, before he went insane and started cannibalising people through his projection.

There are no safeties between powers interacting, if there were the Shadow Stalker wouldn't have such a mad-on for Grue.
The safety guards you are referring to only apply to a powers inherent use on the user themselves, ie. no one will get a power that by natural use will kill the user. A fire breather won't cook their own mouth off.
In the Scion interlude, he/it mentions shards that had broken loose during the landing without those safeties, and how they killed the hosts upon activating.

The Siberian was a projection, and I imagine if Clock had tagged one of Crusader's ghosts it would have had the same effect.

Hotdog Vendor · Nov 6, 2016

NemiTheNen said:
Why am I suspecting a more nail biting/less flippant version of Quicksilver's save in Xmen is going to happen?

Nobody expects that!

sirpedro · Nov 6, 2016

Man, I had a great weekend. Saturday I got to read some more Ride the Lightning, then on Sunday I had a fantastic date and bought some shiny old things at the flea market. Then Monday morning rolls around I get to sit at my desk with a cup of tea and some toast with MORE flashy goodness!

Thanks coffee, you're the best!

Schrödinger · Nov 6, 2016

rollobeast said:
There are no safeties between powers interacting, if there were the Shadow Stalker wouldn't have such a mad-on for Grue.
The safety guards you are referring to only apply to a powers inherent use on the user themselves, ie. no one will get a power that by natural use will kill the user. A fire breather won't cook their own mouth off.
In the Scion interlude, he/it mentions shards that had broken loose during the landing without those safeties, and how they killed the hosts upon activating.

The Siberian was a projection, and I imagine if Clock had tagged one of Crusader's ghosts it would have had the same effect.

No, the Manton effect applies to other people as well. Missy can't warp space with other people in it, a pyrokinetic won't be able to set you on fire from the inside out, a telekinetic won't be able to grab your heart etc.

The most Grue was able to do to Shadow Stalker was mildly inconvenience her beyond the usual sensory deprivation he hits you with. And even that could be explained by him having a latent Trump ability.

No, the Siberian applies Unstoppable Force whereas Clockblocker creates an Immovable Object, they cancel each other out because they contradict each other.

The Siberian pops and the Clockblock on the item gets canceled.
-------
The Manton Effect almost guarantees that unless your power is specifically made to make other people explode, it won't.

Trumps are the people that can let you bypass this if their power lets them, and Cauldron capes are the people who might have gotten shards without those safety restrictions.

Oh, and pieces of Eden aren't really relevant in this discussion because as far as I'm aware Clockblocker is a natural cape. And of course because they're the exception to the rule.
------

Find me one person that was ever seriously bothered/injured by a 'Bad Power' interaction. And by that I mean a Power behaving in a way it shouldn't in an interaction not involving a Trump and/or a Cauldron Cape.

NemiTheNen · Nov 6, 2016

Here's the thing, she does a good thing and they take her costume and mask from her. She goes there and they don't have it ready for her when they KNOW how fast she is. PRT is dicking with her, then one of theirs tries to use his power on her. Of course she's cranky, and after her time with the police--have you ever noticed how bouncers will never touch you unless you're throwing punches or something? That's not de-escalation, that's them not wanting to get sued.

And she met that fucker who foamed her, he apologized. Clock is...Clock.

It's perfectly understandable for her to be irritated as hell, and throwing around technical terms like that. She has to feel in the back of her head like the PRT is pulling shenanigans on her.

Nicholai · Nov 6, 2016

NemiTheNen said:
Here's the thing, she does a good thing and they take her costume and mask from her. She goes there and they don't have it ready for her when they KNOW how fast she is. PRT is dicking with her, then one of theirs tries to use his power on her. Of course she's cranky, and after her time with the police--have you ever noticed how bouncers will never touch you unless you're throwing punches or something? That's not de-escalation, that's them not wanting to get sued.

And she met that fucker who foamed her, he apologized. Clock is...Clock.

It's perfectly understandable for her to be irritated as hell, and throwing around terms like that. She has to feel in the back of her head like the PRT is pulling shenanigans on her.

Note there's also the fact that she's gotten much better and much more professional interactions with the police with one (1) exception - and that was Armsmaster noticing that someone hijacked her scanner to manipulate the Flash. That was Armsmaster being polite, helpful, and talking her through the consequences of his decision to "help" her by upgrading her radio.

Heck, he even explained how she could get permission to transmit to the various authorities her new scanner can pick up!

So not everything was "bad" .. but this isn't painting the PRT in a positive light. There's a strong argument to be made for the Flash working exclusively with the police and ignoring the PRT whenever possible.

NemiTheNen · Nov 6, 2016

Nicholai said:
Heck, he even explained how she could get permission to transmit to the various authorities her new scanner can pick up!

That happened after Clock's prank though. It's a saving throw

Nicholai said:
So not everything was "bad" .. but this isn't painting the PRT in a positive light. There's a strong argument to be made for the Flash working exclusively with the police and ignoring the PRT whenever possible.

Very likely. But Taylor is suited to dealing with both mundane and Para crimes, and she's been hitting more of the former than the latter

Datcord · Nov 7, 2016

Sweet baby jesus in a smoking birch bark canoe! Seriously, have YOU been hit by the Speed Force, Guru?

To the spoiler tags we go!

thecoffeeguru said:
Ride the Lightning

Ohm 3.3

Awwww, hell yeeeeah.

In the days following my sit down with Lung things had been slow.

"I mean, I only talked with Kaiser, Purity, Leet, and Faultline! Compared to LUNG...."

Respond to a report of a cape harassing the elderly as they attempted to cross streets, realize that the BBPD dispatchers had caught on to the fact that I was listening in. Drop off a dozen donuts to the dispatch center with a card thanking them for the work they do, spend the rest of the day getting compliments in my ear.

*snicker* Well done. (With the sole exception that, as already noted, cops go out of their way to avoid donuts. I worked for THREE YEARS at a donut place literally across the street from the police station. In that entire time... one cop.)

Hobbs Park presented a clean and well kept appearance, with newer equipment, walking trails, water fountains and actual children at play.

As opposed to the other parks in the Bay, where the kids are actually dwarfs who've been hired to run drugs.

I ran as fast as I had ever run before, the world a still life with a blue hue in front of me.

Huh. A blueshift. I'm checking my sources and they say in order to get an actual blueshift, you have to be going... "hella fast, yo."

Reaching the child, a little girl of three or four, blonde hair and blue eyes,

Oh, my lord. What, did they have orders to shoot the most adorable, stereotypical little tyke on the whole playground? Does she have a missing tooth, a whimsical lisp, and a stuffed puppy named "Mr. Puppers" too?

"I need you to stay here sweetie, bad people are shooting."

Oh, suuuuuure. Just because they're trying to shoot up a playground, they're BAD people. Yet more evidence of the small-minded and judgmental attitude of the so-called "heroes" in Brockton Bay! Maybe that playground had it coming, ever think of THAT? Huh? Maybe it said some shit about that guy's mom! Maybe it's a terrorist! You don't know! You don't know!

How fast was I moving?

Well, they're probably shooting .223, so... you're booking at least fast enough to catch up to a bullet that'll do around 2900ft/s, assuming they're shooting it out of a 16" barrel.

So... basically: Hella fast.

"Ok Yulady, you're being very brave, now just hold on for another second."

"No, I mean literally hold on a second."

I would have been inside already, but I had just run into what was, as far as I was concerned, the bane of all speedsters: automatic doors.

Like... not literally, though? Right? I mean, normally I'd be all over that with a joke, but... you're holding a gunshot victim, so.

"I need a trauma team here now, multiple GSW victim, she's lost a lot of blood!"

Actually, she hasn't lost it. I mean, she knows where it is, right? All over the park!

Before I knew it I was sitting in a chair, a cup of (objectively terrible) coffee was placed in my hands.

*snicker* Okay, I appreciate that coffee comment.

Something about "traumatic experience" and "hotline available" and "call someone" and "talk to an officer." My head shot up at that last one.

Uh... Taylor? Speaking as someone who's had or has helped a few people with... bad incidents in their past... GET THAT FUCKING HOTLINE NUMBER. I cannot emphasize this enough.

As a matter of fact, 100% no joking at all here, anyone reading this should GET THE GOD DAMN HOTLINE.

but with you being a Ward and all, the PRT handles that."

Well, this was about to get awkward.

And this is coming from someone covered in blood. She KNOWS awkward.

Flipping the phone open I hit the speed dial for Fugly Bob's take out service.

"Hebert Residence, Danny speaking."

That's a neat little touch. Well done, Guru!

She was on the taller side of average, with olive skin and brownish hair. She wore camo pants tucked into combat boots, the top was a somewhat stylized form of body armor. A scarf covered the lower half of her face.

Miss Militia had come to talk to me.

*sigh* She's so dreamy....

"I know that look."

Not the opening I expected.

"What look?"

*crosses fingers*
*hopes*
The "I was totally straight, but then I met my own personal closet key" look?

"If you need to talk, we have people."

Taylor? Let me state this again: TALK TO THE PEOPLE. Seriously.

"Why would the PRT even be involved here? No parahuman crime took place."

If anything, the look on Militia's face became pained.

Oh shit.

"I'm the Parahuman criminal?"

Taylor, Taylor, Taylor... I'm not saying that the PRT has a "If they're not with us, they're against us" mindset and a complete willingness to play super underhandedly to get more people WITH them... I'm just going to imply it. Heavily. VERY heavily.

That said, since you are involved, and are not affiliated with the Protectorate or Wards Program, I am going to need to ask you for your costume.

Miss Militia, seen here requesting that an underage girl remove her clothing for her.

Also, note how she said she needed to ASK for her costume... not that Taylor had to HAND IT OVER.

I promise we won't do anything to it to compromise your identity.

Uh-huh. Shit in one hand, pile the PRT's promises in the other. See which one draws flies first. (Let me be perfectly clear: I don't doubt that Miss Militia believes what she's saying. I also don't doubt for a SECOND that Piggot wouldn't order the PRT labs to fine-tooth that suit for anything they can use "just in case.")

Inside of the bag was a red domino mask. Under the mask was a red hoodie with the "Official Protectorate" merchandise tag on it, the red broken up by yellow racing stripes in the form of a V. A note fluttered towards the ground as I held the hoodie up and it unfolded. Snatching the note out of the air, I opened it up and read it.

"Can't have the Flash Streaking home from the hospital. Catch you Later."

"-Assault"

...huh. So THAT'S what Assault's suicide note looks like. Good to know!

thecoffeeguru said:
Ride the Lightning

Ohm 3.4

"It's fairly simple Miss Militia. The Flash is, potentially, an extremely potent hero. She has, for reasons which I feel are flimsy at best, elected to remain more or less aloof from the Protectorate and the PRT. At the same time, she is cultivating a relationship with the local police department."

"As such, we have to CRUSH HER UTTERLY and force her to work with us!"

"On the surface it is always a good thing when there are positive relationships between Heroes and civilian law enforcement. Ideally those relationships are filtered through the PRT though. This allows us to mitigate events should a situation turn sour. As it stands, The Flash has managed to bypass us almost entirely."

Sour, like a PRT agent foaming a new hero after she's contained a crime scene. You know, little things like that.

"Correct me if I'm wrong Director, but wasn't your direction that we in no way pressure the Flash on the subject of Wards membership?"

"Yes, but I'm a hypocrite. Also, fuck you, how dare you question me."

Still, I feel that it is in the interest of the city to get her onto the same page as us. The sooner the better.

The city of Piggotville, in this case. Also, Piggot is really going to town with the euphemism, isn't she. "onto the same page" is MUCH nicer to hear than "blackmail/extort into being under our control."

Don't let him in the meeting though, I don't want her to have that relationship to fall back on so soon.

Director Piggot, seen here deliberately and explicitly plotting how to ensure that a new independent hero doesn't have a good rapport with a potentially supportive Protectorate hero.

Opening the laptop there, she pulled up the interview tape she had received yesterday evening. It had come in through back channels, no record of its having been sent to the PRT. The Flash wasn't the only one with friends in the Police Department.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but... I'm pretty sure that's a violation of at least a couple of laws, right there. I'm not an expert, but I am FAIRLY certain that you're not supposed to send interviews of criminals to random people, even if they ARE regional directors of federal agencies. I feel safe in saying that's probably illegal for everyone involved. (But, of course, this is DIFFERENT. This is because there's a ~~dangerous~~ Independent Cape who's not ~~securely under Piggot's thumb~~ safe in the Wards.

....look, I am generally not positively inclined towards Piggot. It is rare that a fic convinces me otherwise. It doesn't look like this is going to be one of them. Please don't take this as a commentary on the fic itself. Believe me, I am a fan. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother doing C&C. I just find Piggot utterly unsympathetic and unlikeable pretty much 99.9% of the time.

Emily paused the video. This was the problem with Parahumans.

You never knew what they were going to do.

Yes. How DARE she TALK to a criminal! God forbid she actually try to settle things without punching someone in the face! She's obviously a loose cannon and the commissioner is going to have her badge!

Assault and Velocity

"Why are we doing this again?"

"Because the fangirls will pay through the nose for it. Now shut up and take off your shirt."

Secondly, smart as she may be, she doesn't have much of a clue about how her power works or how powerful she may be.

To be PERFECTLY fair, proper and full utilization of the Speed Force reaches so far past Worm's power levels that it's not even funny. ...okay, I lie. It is REALLY funny. Full on munchkinry with the Speed Force is the sort of thing that makes the Triumverate go "Uh... so... we'll just sit over here, then? You'll tell us when you're done dealing with the problem?"

I know powers tend to play fast and loose with things like physics, but I have never felt anything like that before,

Assault, seen here talking about how he's never felt anything like when the Flash touched him. He (and I) was going to make a joke here about being touched by an underaged girl, but... Battery started growling and... well... I'm pretty sure she can punch him hard enough to knock him clean out of the story and into my skull, so... gonna skip that joke.

"as good of a kid as she seems to be, there will come a time when it will just seem easier for her to permanently solve problem. Her power is like that, makes that approach easy. When that day comes, I want her to know she can come to me."

"...so I can help her hide the body."

(That WAS the implied subtext there, right? ...right?)

Then Lung came. Now a husk was all that remained.

*puerile giggle* Ah, yes. Niven's little known "Dragon of Fire, House of Wood" essay has been proven right!

"No Joon, we do not fight the Empire. This war shall be civil in nature."

Somehow, I feel like this war will be ANYTHING but civil. Perhaps "internal"?

"It means that the ABB is about to be no more. All of the tensions, the rivalries that were pushed under because of Lung's mandate that we be one people….. they are about to erupt.

You know, I've seen a lot of stories where the ABB went to pieces because Lung was arrested or killed or transported to another world or whatever... but I think this is the first one where I've seen if happen because someone convinced him that running a gang was BENEATH him. I mean, who would have thought just going "Dude, these guys are BITCHES, why are you covering their asses for them?" would have WORKED?

Emma

Wow! First Piggot, now Emma? You're just going straight down the list of people I hate in Worm, aren't you. (Again, I've seen good fics with Emma redeemed, but....)

"Fuck. Off. With. This. Shit. Emma. I'm over fucking Hebert already."

Oh, my. What TELLING phrasing....

It was around this point that Emma began to realize that, for all of her talk, Sophia really didn't care about strong versus weak. Sophia cared about Sophia being strong, and everyone else knowing their fucking place (hint: below Sophia).

This just in: Violent psychopath only cares about herself, film at 11!

Also, did you all see how I didn't make a joke about how everyone's "fucking place" was "below Sophia"? Did you see that? I'm a good person!

"That's ok Mister Hebert. I was wondering if I could come in and talk to you for a minute?"

*narrows eyes* Hello, what's this? Well, color me intrigued. Perhaps we'll get another decently redeemed Emma?

Underground

The monster growled.

I know what most people think: It's Noelle.

But I have a different thought: It's Doomsday! This is secretly a "Girl of Tomorrow" crossover!

thecoffeeguru said:
I will say (insofar as it needs to be said) that Taylor was a bit more agreeable here than she would normally have been. Our protagonist was a bit shellshocked and, as happens with so many in her situations, was a bit more predisposed to taking direction when it came from the calm voice of authority than she might otherwise have been.

Speaking as someone who's been through traumatic experiences... once you're into the shock, it's very easy for people to give you suggestions and have them be followed without even thinking about it.

thecoffeeguru said:
Ride the Lighting

Ohm 3.3 (Alternate Ending…..for reasons)

Huzzah!

I started spinning in place, faster than the eye could follow. When I stopped the Protectorate clothing was folded up on the ground and I had on a pristine version of my costume again.

She's got the Linda Carter transformation down pat!

"I make it out of goes fast."

"Pure, uncut GOES FAST."

*****DID NOT HAPPEN THIS WAY, SEE ALTERNATE ENDING IN HEADER*****

What's that, you say? This is 100% canon? Good to know! I'll let everyone else know, too!

thecoffeeguru said:
Ride the Lightning

Ohm 3.5

Seriously, are you, like, snorting pure caffeine or something?

Dad was waiting for me when I got home. It shouldn't have caught me by surprise, I did call him. Still, when I came through the door to the sounds of the television and my dad sitting on the couch waiting.

Hmmm... is this before or after Emma's visit, I wonder?

"I think she died."

For the record... this is a really nice showing of what people are like after something bad happens to/around them. Usually, you see stories either go with the immediate freak out or they just never touch on it. But this... this is a lot closer to reality. A little bit of time... and THEN people fall the fuck apart, once they're no longer in immediate danger.

"I have to walk by that spot several times a week. I wish I could say that you will forget it Taylor, I really wish I could. But that would be a lie."

You know, it's rare I get to be happy at Danny inclusion in a story. This is one of those times. Good job, Guru.

"I will tell you that you can come to terms with it and learn how to move on. Taylor, if you are serious about this hero thing, you will have to learn how to do that."

From what I can tell from my interactions with emergency responders and the like... a SERIOUSLY dark sense of humor is the first step. Let me tell you my collection of dead baby jokes, Taylor! You know, to help!

Private message from MissMilitia:

MissMilitia: Flash, I was given this account name by Assault. If this is you, please tell me where we last spoke.

FastestGirlAlive: Brockton Bay General. In an office off of the main ER.

MissMilitia: Thank you. I wanted to tell you that our people have finished with your costume. It's been processed and cleaned and is ready for pick up.

FastestGirlAlive: Oh good. I've been running around in costume 1.0 with a handheld police scanner. Going backwards is such a pain. How do I get my stuff back?

MissMilitia: It is in evidence storage at the PRT Headquarters downtown. Let me know when you can come by and

MissMilitia: Just a moment, they are paging me.

MissMilitia *New Message*: You're here right now aren't you?

MissMilitia *New Message*: ………

*wild, hysterical laughter* Well, what ELSE did you expect, MM? Seriously. This is the girl who does cross-country sprints for FUN.

I refused to wear the Velocity hoodie on sheer principle,

Good for you, Taylor! Don't you give any legitimacy to that third-rate knockoff! ...no, I don't care he was around first! The point stands!

"Is she expecting you?

"Ummm, probably not, but honestly she should be."

This is 10000% TRUE. Hell, MM should have been expecting her before she finished the word "up."

"Honestly? Nerves. I'm kind of new. They pulled me off the street and put me on lobby duty for a couple of months because of it."

Oh.

"Well Agent Walterson, as one newbie to another, I can understand jumping the gun and making mistakes. No harm, no foul?"

I held out my hand towards him.

For the record? I REALLY like Taylor's increasing camaraderie with the rank and file of the various organizations. Like, Piggot can get fucked, but the street level troopers are increasingly cool with the Flash. I foresee this being a thing that becomes important at some point in the future. ("What's that, Director Piggot? The Flash? No, Ma'am, we weren't able to find her. Yes, Ma'am, I'm aware that you'd really like to talk to her. I understand. Yes, Director. No, Director. I understand, Director. *click* Anyways, Flash, now that we're done with THAT... buy you a coffee?")

"Ok Flash, do you have any weapons to declare before stepping through the detector?"

"Nope, left them at home."

Booo! You lost the chance to flex your arms and declare "Just THESE guns!"

"I would thank you for coming so quickly Flash, but it has actually caused a little bit of a problem?"

W-well, you should consider it a compliment! It's just that you're... you're so DREAMY....

"What problem?"

"We didn't have a chance to set up a good excuse to try and strongarm you into the Wards again."

Now you could leave and come back, but that would mean having to go through security again.

The security that consisted of stepping through a metal detector, getting a badge printed, and signing a piece of paper? THAT security? Oh, the HORROR of that security process! The NIGHTMARE!

The other option is that you hang out for an hour. Maybe take a behind the scenes tour, get to know some of the people who are here to help you protect the city.

"Sign a few papers to conscript you into our group of child soldiers*coff*the Wards. Meet the Wards."

I still wasn't entirely sure what needed my costume for anyway, it's not like any of the blood on it was unaccounted for. Still, as far as I could tell they were within their rights to take it, as unusual a step as that may have been.

Eventually, she's GOING to figure out why they took that costume. And she's GOING to be PISSED. (I can't wait.)

"Meaning that, whoever made the fake dispatch wanted the Flash in that park, at that time. Furthermore, if the Flash was for some reason not out and about at that time, this unknown person or persons was potentially willing to shoot up a park of bystanders on the chance that she would show up."

Coil? Or (far more likely) that nice lady in the suit who's discovered that using the DNA left behind on that coffee cup she "threw away" for Taylor in San Fran to clone more of her doesn't bring the Speed Force along with the clone and is now desperately trying to figure out what the hell is going on? (Because I'm fairly certain that Path to Victory will get an Out of Cheese error when trying to truly plumb the depths of pure BULLSHIT that is the Speed Force.)

"Was that a Glock 19?"

The Protectorate Heroes eyebrows rose in surprise.

"It was."

"I don't suppose I could see you shoot at a few targets?"

Taylor is a fan of Dat Recoil. *eyebrow waggle*

"I…..don't think that would be a problem. Stand over here."

Miss Militia gets a LOT of requests for her to just... shoot guns while people watch. Sometimes, the people asking are even wearing pants!

Miss Militia walked forward to the firing line. Holding the glock in a two handed grip, Miss Militia lead with her left foot, weight on the toe as if she were prepared to take a step. In one smooth motion the gun came up and she began to fire, a series of evenly spaced and rapid thumps in my ears marking the smooth rate of fire.

Ahhh, a modified Weaver. A good choice. Very fine vintage, with a lovely recoil absorption and good return to target profile. None of that that CAR bullshit for Miss Militia, no sir! She's a lady with STYLE!

I was whistling alot today. I only saw 5 holes, but I knew all 17 rounds had passed through the target.

Um. the standard Glock 19 is a 15+1 pistol. Unless she's using a G19 +2 mag OR a G17 mag (since a G17 is a 17+1 pistol). I am more inclined to believe that you meant 16 rounds up there, because I refuse to believe that Miss Militia wouldn't carry one in the pipe and a fully loaded mag at all times.

(And before one of you says something like "Maybe she's using a G22 or G24 with an extended mag!", let me invite you to go shove your head in a wood chipper, Miss Militia is too god damn classy to even TOUCH something chambered in .40 Short&Weak!)

"That was seriously impressive Ma'am. Was that a fighter's stance?"

Actually, if you want to really tell if someone knows what they're doing... look at their GRIP. The stance tells if they've bothered to learn anything... the grip tells you if they've bothered to WORK AT IT. Because, let me tell you: The proper grip takes some god damn serious practice to get ingrained. ...and that's AFTER you've overcome the bullshit that half the people with a gun have picked up from shitty TV and movies.

"I've been shooting for a few months now. Completely non-cape related. I use a glock 19 by the way, that's why I asked."

Ah, Glocks. The Tupperware of guns. Ugly, a trigger that breaks like oatmeal, and as reliable as a butler in a 19th century play. ...seriously, I don't know what it takes to make it so a Glock won't fire, but I suspect it involves a hydraulic press. I've put thousands of rounds through mine and the only FTFs or FTEs I've ever had can be directly traced back to operator error. (Limp wristing, mostly. A G19 does NOT like that, not at all.)

"Would you like to put some rounds down range? We still have about half an hour. We can do this, then I can show you where the Wards are based out of."

I almost said no, then thought, "when else am I going to get this chance?"

"Sure."

Annnnd... Team "Fast Draw" is on The Chart!

"Why do you think she's here?"

Conversation momentarily stopped as the collective Wards realised it had been Shadow Stalker who asked the question.

"It says here 'Get her uniform back and then, in teeny-tiny letters "Have a run in with the girl who bullied her into Triggering".' Huh. Weird."

I could see Kid Win in his distinctive red and gold body armor. Good colors those.

*snicker* That's a nice touch. I like that.

"That's actually why I'm here. There was an….incident the other day."

"What kind of incident?"

"Oh, your usual one that ends with me covered in blood after a playground is shot up. That sort of incident."

Not surprisingly, she arrived much quicker than anyone anticipated.

Taylor ALWAYS co-*feels the mod's glares*-ARRIVES quickly!

I reached out to take his hand. Just as I was about to clasp it, I noticed Vista's eyes widening, her mouth starting to open. I yanked my hand back as quickly as I could...leaving behind my glove, suspended in the air, grasping Clockblockers hand.

My eyes went wide.

"What the fuck just happened?"

Well, either we just found out how fast Clockblocker's power propagates through a material and the answer is "Slower than your Speed Force enhanced reaction times" ORRRR... The Speed Force is currently holding Clockblocker's Shard against a wall and repeatedly kicking it in the nuts while screaming "Who do you think you're trying to fuck with, punk?! Huh? WHO'S YOUR DADDY! SAY IT! SAY IT!"

Either way, I'm okay with it.

"Bullshit. That's what just happened."

Son, you haven't even SEEN bullshit, yet. You haven't seen bullshit until you've seen the Flash evacuate an entire city before a nuclear bomb has enough time to fully detonate in it.

thecoffeeguru said:
Naaaa, what she does is pull the trigger 18 times, then lets go of the gun and runs down range, nudging each bullet towards the bullseye, before running back and grabbing the gun before it drops.

Um. Again, the Glock 19 is a 15+1 pistol. (This is, obviously, the ONLY thing that ruins my SoD on this hypothetical situation.)

Hotdog Vendor said:
It's more madcap.

That joke is awful and you should feel awful for making it.

thecoffeeguru said:
Ride the Lightning

Ohm 3.6

Wheeeeee! More more more more....

"Did you just try to use your power on me?"

The room went quiet at my question.

For the record? I am THRILLED at someone calling Clockblocker out on this, for once. Make no mistake, even though his power is about the gold standard for non-damaging, it is STILL an abuse of his power to use it on unsuspecting and/or unwilling allies or potential allies. "I was just joking, bro!" is NOT a defense that holds up in a courtroom, especially when that courtroom is one of public opinion.

Let there be no confusion here: Clockblocker should have been hammered into the ground the VERY FIRST time he tried that shit and then rehammered each and every last time he did it again. It is a terrible example and a horrible precedent. "It's okay to abuse your powers if it's funny!" is NOT the lesson you want to be giving to the kids you're SUPPOSED to be teaching to use their powers responsibly and correctly.

What if he did it to someone right before an all-hands emergency and they were out of the fight for up to ten minutes? How many people could die because of that little "prank"? What if he did it to someone with combat precognition and a reflexive response to what they consider an attack? What if he did it to someone and their parents were in an accident and they didn't make it to the hospital in time to say goodbye because of it? What if he did it to a potentially VERY powerful new parahuman and made them-

I was, frankly, pissed.

-yes, that. I can get that Clockblocker doesn't see why it's wrong to do it. AND THAT'S WHY HE NEEDS TO BE HAMMERED UNTIL HE UNDERSTANDS WHY IT IS. And the rest of the Wards need to be shown that lesson, too. This is an important thing: Actions have consequences.

"Did you try to use your fucking power on me?

"Well, um, sorry. No really, I'm sorry. It's just a prank I play on new Wards when they first get here. No harm intended."

"No harm intended" doesn't MAGICALLY MAKE THINGS BETTER, asshole.

This shouldn't have happened and Clockblocker will be disciplined.

*opens mouth*
*pauses*
*closes mouth*
*goes to get the scotch*
If this were a different board, oh the jokes I'd make....

We don't tolerate this kind of behavior.

*coff*BULLSHIT*coff*

"Mask alarm," Vista said, still eyeing Clockblocker.

Oh, man. He's right FUCKED, now. He pissed off VISTA. Dude is dead, he just hasn't realized it yet.

Armsmaster had arrived with my costume.

About fucking time.

Yup. All that sweet, sweet goodwill, shot right to shit by Clockblocker's "joke." Piggot is going to make him WISH she'd put him on console duty.

"Ask Mr. Attempted Assault and Battery over there," I said, indicating Clockblocker with a nod of my head.

It's a fair cop... and I'm betting it's going to get a lot of people whining/arguing from it. *checks the thread* A-yup, I was RIGHT! Still, she's correct. It IS attempted assault and battery and if she really wanted to be a dick about it, she could make a real stink for the PRT over it. (Okay, probably not a huge one, but it would be a mark against them. It's already a hell of a one in her books, which is exactly the last thing they wanted.)

it's reckless and is only a complaint away from being illegal.

Oh, hey! Look at the complaint being made by the Flash! Right here! Right now!

"I'm going to open this up and go over it with you before you sign for custody. I want to ensure that we are on the same page."

You know, I can understand why some people don't like Armsmaster's approach to things. But... I think Taylor would actually appreciate having things clearly laid out for her like this. No lies, no BS, just facts and the logic behind them.

"Upon examination I was able to determine that this scanner had been compromised. An unknown person or persons were able to overwhelm it with an unauthorized transmission. In the process it was burned out."

Incidentally, Taylor, the CORRECT question here is: "Why were you examining my radio when this suit was only supposed to be in your custody for evidence related to the shooting?"

"Well for amateur work it really wasn't bad."

From Armsmaster. ARMSMASTER. You should get that printed out, autographed, framed, and hang it on your wall. Half the Tinkers on the planet can't get a "It really wasn't that bad." from Armsmaster.

There, bottom of the stack, a report from Armsmaster to Director Piggot, PRT ENE Branch. Man Armsmaster believes in using five dollar words. Come on, come on, summary.

I am almost 100% certain you're not supposed to be reading that.

It is my recommendation that the Flash be made aware of this compromise and steps be taken to prevent another such event in the future.

Subtext here: They COULD have just fixed your radio, never let on that it'd been compromised, and kept surveillance on you to see what happened next.

I got a little excited, "You mean I get a tinker built scanner?"

Armsmaster shook his head slightly.

"You get a PRT issue radio, modified by myself, but still essentially normal tech.

I think that still TECHNICALLY counts as tinker(ed) tech, though! That's something she can boast about! ("Yeah, Armsmaster modified this radio special for me. No biggie.")

Miss Militia reached for the folder in front of her and frowned, then looked up at me. Again with the piercing eyes.

Yeah, little Miss Eidetic Memory KNOWS that folder was moved. And you've just had a Stranger or Thinker rank added to your profile.

"This radio doesn't have a tracker in it, does it?"

Armsmaster shook his head.

"Of course not!"

"Oh, oka-"

"That's in your boots!"

"God damn it, Armsmaster." Miss Militia's words were barely audible over the sound of every other Protectorate cape in the room's hands meeting their face at the same time.

Miss Militia smiled, apparently happy with where this meeting had gone.

She got to shoot with you, you didn't murder Clockblocker... so about 50/50, really.

Taking the package with me, I 'hurried' to catch up to the Ward.

Taylor, seen here following Sophia while grabbing her package.

"Mind if I ask why you signed on instead of staying independent? It's been working out pretty well for me so far."

"It's personal."

"Personal" sounds so much better than "I tried to murder a few guys and got caught.", you know?

Well Shadow Stalker would never be accused of being overly loquacious.

...didn't you JUST mock Armsmaster for using five dollar words?

I felt my blood run cold. Sure, there were probably many reasons for the room, hell for the entire building to be wired for sound. Perfectly valid, security driven reasons. But there was no reason for them not to tell me I was going into one.

For that matter, there's exactly ZERO reasons that they shouldn't have that information POSTED IN PLAIN SIGHT. Or, at least, none that I can reasonably think of that aren't underhanded.

I wouldn't use the scanner in the mask until I found somebody who could check it over for me.

This is probably VERY wise, based on the level of horse shit you've seen the PRT attempting to pull already.

"I have a quick question about your power. When you run, have there ever been any temporal disturbances?"

Not yet! But give her some time!

"Temporal…. what, like time effects? No. I just go really fast."

You just haven't run FAST ENOUGH yet! I have faith in you!

"By all of our reckonings, it has been almost 15 minutes since Clockblocker attempted to use his power on you...and it hasn't worn off yet."

If your power-induced temporal stasis lasts more than four hours....

We have reports of members of the ABB fighting each other all across their territory. Apparently a Cape new to the group, Bakuda, just announced that she was taking over the gang.

Uh... huh. Yeah, here's the thing: She's a Tinker. A very scary Tinker, it's true. But still a Tinker. That means that all it takes to deal with here is someone close to her who's unethical enough to not give a shit about all the people she's shoved bombs into. Which is... anyone who's not her particular flavor of Asian, let's be honest. She doesn't have what it TAKES to keep the ABB together, either in respect from others or fear from everyone else.

"What about Lung," I asked, my voice a whisper.

Lung's about to murder the shit outta someone, I think.

thecoffeeguru said:
Ride the Lightning

Ohm 3.7

Seriously. I think you said "last chapter this week/weekend" at least three times.

"Isn't there anything you can do to get my hand away from this glove?" A note of desperation had entered his voice, clearly he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to help in the current crisis.

Oh, c'mon. The solution is EASY:

Step one: Find a meat cleaver.
Step two: Ask Panacea to regrow a hand.

Everyone in the room began to sway back and forth, looking for all the world like they were on the edge of sleep.

Two beings, immense, spiraling through space…….

Oh, QA, you BITCH....

The roaring in my head grew louder. My vision took on a golden haze and the lightning danced over my body. Just when I couldn't take it anymore, I thought I heard a voice, from the innermost part of my mind, in a voice that was profoundly different, but at the same time was my own.

"Run Taylor, all you have to do is run."

Okay, this is a serous moment all, but... all I can think of is "Run, Taylor, run!"

My vision cleared. Everyone in the room shook their heads, as if clearing cobwebs.

Triggerus Interruptus.

felt the fundamental relationship between me and everything else protest before it simply changed.

And that is physics throwing its arms in the air and going "All right, fine! Have it your own way!" before stomping off while muttering rude things under its breath.

We passed through the doors and into the hall, through the other wall and into the elevator shaft. I turned us around in an arc and we did it again. Wall, then hall, then wall, then Wards common room.

So... Barry Allen style or Wally West style?

From their perspective I had blurred around the room for a couple of seconds before seemingly teleporting Clockblocker and myself from his previous position to the middle of the room….. And somehow leaving the top of his costume behind.

Nothing exploded, so... Barry Allen style. Right. Behold as yet another brick is laid in the pure, high-grade temple of BULLSHIT! that is the Speed Force!

"What did you just do?" Miss Militia was looking at me differently than she had ever done so before.

I'll tell you what she DIDN'T do: Trigger. And you remember every last second of her NOT Triggering, don't you. Yeah, THAT'S gonna be a fun one to put in your report.

"Dear Director Piggot, I'm pretty sure the Flash isn't actually a parahuman. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go drink until I pass out. I'm due for my yearly nap, anyways.

Sincerly, Miss Militia.

PS. If you try to stop me, I will shoot you in the everything. I'VE EARNED THIS."

I reached inside and tapped the lightning,

THERE'S a euphemism for you!

I began to run again, feeling the force of my speed not…..adhere me to the side of the building so much as let me ignore the downward pull of gravity, instead turning it into forward momentum.

It's not that the Speed Force is made entirely of BULLSHIT. It's that the Speed Force takes the very concept of BULLSHIT and transcends beyond it.

Older men and women who had long ago hurt themselves on the job, who had been given administrative jobs, supervisory positions, anything my Dad could do to help them make a check and get by. They were heading into the building. If they were here, he was here.

Again, I'd just like to point out to people that Danny's part of a Dockworker's Union in a city with no docks to work any more. And it's still somehow viable. In a city as corrupt as the Bay, that's taken something... special. Danny may not know exactly where the bodies are buried, but... he can probably tell you where the shovels that dug the graves are.

I waited until the door was approached by someone I recognized, Bibbo Bibbowski.

Superman's Pal! Bibbo's a good guy. I like Bibbo. (And my suspicion that this is a secret Girl of Tomorrow crossover grows....)

"And a phone is too hard to work?"

Well, yeah... at least it is when you can outrun the signal in the wires.

"Thompson, take Peter's, JackJack, Burley Jim and Rasheed and head to the North end of the lot. Sally-Anne, you take Old Bob, Young Bob, Pete, and Davis and head to the South end. Mike, I want you to take Not-Dave, the Ant, Flanders and Radar out to the West side fence. Everyone's radios need to be on channel 2. Call in anything you see AS SOON as you see it."

For the record? Those are TOTALLY the kinds of nicknames people get in jobs like that. At one point, I was working a job with FIVE Johns in a twelve man crew. Thusly, we had Big John, Little John, John Ed, JohnJohn, and Pudge.

"Bibbo? Taylor? What are you doing here?"

"Well, millions of years ago, the Earth was a molten mass...."

"Remember when I told you I met with Lung? I think, if I hadn't of done that, then this wouldn't be happening."

"Oh Taylor, don't think that."

"Why not?"

Because Bakuda's a CRAZY BITCH and she would have done something like this anyways.

Giving Dad another hug, I turned and did what I do best.

I ran.

Did you, Taylor? Did you run? Run so far away? Did you just run? Perhaps all night and day? DID YOU GET THAT FUCKING SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD AGAIN? DID YOU?! WHERE'S MY DAMN CORKSCREW, I NEED IT!

Ok, for realsies, this is the last post for the weekend.

Oh, yeah. I've seen THAT line before. You've got 5 minutes by my clock to prove yourself a liar, sir!

For those who don't know, what Danny said at the end is a quote from John Wesley.

Ha! I knew I recognized that line!

infinityDivided said:
Second trigger?

No trigger. Speed Force kicked it in the junk and said "Now cut that shit out!"

Stahor · Nov 7, 2016

Datcord said:
"Personal" sounds so much better than "I tried to murder a few guys and got caught.", you know?

It's more like "Killed a couple of guys and then got caught pinning next one to the wall."

Datcord said:
For that matter, there's exactly ZERO reasons that they shouldn't have that information POSTED IN PLAIN SIGHT. Or, at least, none that I can reasonably think of that aren't underhanded.

It's probably in their contracts. To be fair, woman's locker room is not a place that sees frequent visits from outsiders.

Datcord said:
Step one: Find a meat cleaver.

Armsmaster AND Miss Militia is right here.

billy4233 · Nov 7, 2016

Datcord said:
Oh, c'mon. The solution is EASY:

Step one: Find a meat cleaver.

Step two: Ask Panacea to regrow a hand.

Stahor said:
Armsmaster AND Miss Militia is right here.

Thus we have found the meat cleaver close at hand...

Cyn · Nov 7, 2016

billy4233 said:
Thus we have found the meat cleaver close at hand...

And with Taylor there, Panacea can be there in a Flash. Seems like everything needed is in reach.

Hotdog Vendor · Nov 7, 2016

Cyn said:
And with Taylor there, Panacea can be there in a Flash. Seems like everything needed is in reach.

"Have I been kidnapped?"

King Arthur · Nov 7, 2016

Datcord said:
) that nice lady in the suit who's discovered that using the DNA left behind on that coffee cup she "threw away" for Taylor in San Fran to clone more of her doesn't bring the Speed Force along with the clone and is now desperately trying to figure out what the hell is going on?

Pretty sure clones have access to the speed force.

At least, if I recall correctly, Inertia was a clone of Impulse, Bart Allen, and was totally a speedster, so that's a pretty good indicator.

nightblade · Nov 7, 2016

King Arthur said:
Pretty sure clones have access to the speed force.

At least, if I recall correctly, Inertia was a clone of Impulse, Bart Allen, and was totally a speedster, so that's a pretty good indicator.

Inertia didn't have access to the speed force. He had time manipulation abilities.

King Arthur · Nov 7, 2016

Graves said:
Inertia didn't have access to the speed force. He had time manipulation abilities.

Um, pretty sure he did.

My undersanding is that he had acces to the speed force, even using it against Bart in his series once, but lost it when Bart abrosbed all of the Speed Force to fight Superboy Prime. He then used drugs to keep up with speedsters, got turned into a statue by Wally, and then Zoom taught him how to manipulate time. The wiki backs me up on this.

So, he started with speed force acces but lost it and then he gained time manipulation abilities. I think.

HashTagger · Nov 7, 2016

You know with all the DC Worm fics out there I have to wonder. How would Amanda Waller react to Wormverse? She is at odds with Freelance heroes so she might like the PRT, but the Wards on the otherhand... She used to have kids before were murdered so would she be pragmatic about it considering villains out number heroes here? Or would she be against it?

Xero Key · Nov 7, 2016

HashTagger said:
You know with all the DC Worm fics out there I have to wonder. How would Amanda Waller react to Wormverse? She is at odds with Freelance heroes so she might like the PRT, but the Wards on the otherhand... She used to have kids before were murdered so would she be pragmatic about it considering villains out number heroes here? Or would she be against it?

Emily Piggot when done properly is Amanda Waller...without bombs in people's necks. As long as she is short, stocky, and not sexy like New52 tried to make her, she'd make Alexandria stand down from sheer presence and be Chief Director.

sandmanwake · Nov 8, 2016

So will people start to think the Flash triggered a billion times and get confused as to how that's possible due to QA's repeated attempts being cockblocked by the Speed Force?

wingnut2292 · Nov 8, 2016

Found a good picture for Flash!Taylor

Here's another I found. Looks good, but the hair was too detailed for me to change to brown? Maybe the Speed Force could change Taylor's hair color?

Now to finish reading!

NemiTheNen · Nov 8, 2016

wingnut2292 said:
Found a good picture for Flash!Taylor

No you didn't. Looking at the first one and thinking Taylor offends my eyes. Hell, it offends my eyes period. The second one is okay.

Sithking Zero · Nov 18, 2016

thecoffeeguru said:
Not a second trigger. More like QA utilyzing the stressful situation to try and send that pesky Speed Force packing. It didn't work out.

Of course this makes me think of QA getting super desperate and trying ANY potential stress to get into Taylor's head.

Taylor: Hmm... should I have pizza or sushi for lunch? I'm kinda hungry, I'd better decide quickly.
QA Shard: [TRAJECTORY] [AGREEMENT] [DESTINATION-]
Speed Force: QA, stop it.
QA Shard: [

]
Taylor: Ow! I stubbed my toe!
QA Shard: [TRAJEC-]
SF: *slaps QA Shard upside the head*
QA Shard: [OW]

Bel · Nov 18, 2016

...and then we find out if a shard can trigger.

Ride the Lightning (Worm / DC Comics Cross Over)

Author of 'Sisters of Rail'

Perpetual Phone Poster

Perpetual Phone Poster

I will sing you the giggle of my people.

BookWorm

Author of 'Sisters of Rail'

The Once and Future King

Banned Forever

The Once and Future King

Seeker of Knowledge

Flying high, spinning webs!

<Verified Sugar Addict>

Perpetual Phone Poster

High Priest of the First Church of The Deputy