Including a Wooly mammoth at one point. Which is pretty fuckin badass.
Saints and Sinners (Ghost Rider/Worm AU)
- Thread starter TheStranger
- Start date
- Crossover
Fistful of Embers 5
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
"The eternal God is your refuge,
and his everlasting arms are under you…"
Fury. Rage.and his everlasting arms are under you…"
They were an idol, an embodiment of anger. The flames burned in a way ordinary fire could not, tinted in the darkest shade of crimson. Despite their appearance reminding him of a common thug, the Ghost Rider made such an image into one of true terror. Dean felt as though he was being judged, even though the cape wasn't even looking in his direction. Their focus was Trainwreck, who finally clambered up to his feet unsteadily.
Dean hadn't noticed it yet, but his chest was tight. He felt like he was going to vomit.
How… he wanted to know desperately. How can someone like that exist? There's so much… This is…hate. Just hate. Pure, unbridled, disgusting hatred.
It scared him, terrified him out of his mind to know that there could be someone like this in the world. Their hate was directed solely at Trainwreck rather than the world itself, as though the tinker in particular had done something to offend him. The hatred seemed to grow stronger the more the Ghost Rider looked at him.
"W-why…?" Trainwreck wheezed. "Why are you here?"
The Ghost Rider said nothing, just as they always had. Since arriving in Brockton Bay, they spoke not a word. Instead, they spoke with fire and brutality. They walked toward Trainwreck in a slow, measured pace as if they were a predator toying with prey.
"What do we do?" Dean had never heard Missy sound so terrified. "Aegis, what do we do?"
"How about we stay the hell away?" Brian suggested with no small amount of fear. "Assault told us to run, didn't he?!"
"Fuck that! AMY!"
"Vicky, wait—god dammit!"
Dean tried to grab his girlfriend, but she was off like a bullet by the time his arm was moving. She dove into the bank, ignoring the Ghost Rider and Trainwreck entirely. Looking back down at the ground, he saw Trainwreck already moving. Despite his size, he was moving incredibly quick and reared his arm back. The Ghost Rider caught the giant fist with ease, then punched Trainwreck by the helm, sending him flying once again. The sight of such an oversized clunk of junk bouncing off the ground like a rag doll should have been amusing, but in this situation, it wasn't. Not when there was a chance for the man within to die.
"Aegis," Dean said after finding his voice. "You're in charge here. What do we do?"
Carlos looked at him. He was terrified and uncertain. This was far from the first time this happened, him freezing up when faced with this sort of situation. It was far worse this time. Trainwreck was a villain, but the Ghost Rider didn't care if they lived or died after beating them bloody or using his powers on them. For all they knew, Trainwreck would die.
"What about the civilians?" Brian asked. "Shouldn't we prioritize saving them first?"
Sophia looked at Missy. "How long 'til the Protectorate gets here?"
"N-not long! Maybe ten minutes?"
Dean gritted his teeth. Ten minutes to save civilians and fight the Ghost Rider, keeping them from killing Trainwreck. Possibly subdue Trainwreck in the meantime.
This really was turning out to be one hell of a day, wasn't it?
"…Grue." Carlos finally found his voice, swallowing the lump in his throat and turning to the former villain. "Your darkness. How effective is it against them?"
"He burns through it, literally. When I tried to cover our escape when we ran into him, he incinerated it like it was nothing."
"Okay, okay…" Carlos took a deep breath. "You, Gallant, and Missy help get the civilians out of here. As for the rest of us…"
Dennis whimpered. "We are gonna fucking die."
"Are you—?!" Brian sputtered in disbelief as they moved, pointing a finger at them while looking disbelievingly at Sophia. "Are they fucking serious?!"
"Welcome to the Wards!" Sophia snarked as she leaped off the rooftop. "Where everyone's got a goddamn hero complex! Now get a move on, rookie!"
Amy felt like the world was spinning. One minute she heard a motorcycle's engine somewhere blaring like a firestorm, and in the next, something smashed into the bank at top speed with enough force to send furniture flying and the glass to shatter. There was smoke everywhere, smothering her vision and making it impossible to see what was going on. She heard something happening around her, panicked screams and shouts and metal being bent.
That was when she saw it. A flame burning through the smoke, vaguely human-shaped and moving. The scent of brimstone invaded her nostrils. Heavy footfalls pounded against the floor, the smell clinging to the figure like an odor.
"Is that…"
"Chariot, do it now!"
"Wait, what?! But what about—"
"Just fucking do it!"
Amy snapped her head, following the noise. There was a flash of light, and the voices ceased. That sounded like Tattletale just now… Did they leave? Now that I think about it, who were those guys with her? Those weren't her usual crew. What's going on?
The smoke started to clear out from the bank. She finally got a clear look at the figure who tore into the bank and paled. A leather jacket with a burnt hoodie, a bleach-white skull wreathed in red fire. She saw the figure so many times on the news, their form was burned into her memory.
"Oh, shit."
The Ghost Rider paid no attention to her or anyone in the bank. They were solely focused on Trainwreck, whose chest piece was caved in, dented, and sporting a scorch mark in the shape of a fist. There was a metal chain wrapped around their fist, steaming and embers licking at the steel. Trainwreck attempted to fight back, but his attack was easily deflected and was punched in the face and got sent flying and tumbling through the street.
"AMY!"
Was that—oh, there it was. The familiar bone-crushing hug that made her heart go a million miles an hour. It looked like Vicky got her message in time.
"Vicky," Amy wheezed. "You're crushing me."
Her sister released her grip and pulled away. "Oh, thank god you're okay! When you sent me that text, I was so worried! I thought you had…"
"I'm fine," she insisted. "A-anyway, never mind that, did you see Tattletale?"
"That bitch was here?!"
"Yeah, she was running with a whole other crew. Trainwreck and a guy our age, plus Circus."
Vicky looked around the bank. "Where'd she go?"
"I don't know. I couldn't see. There was a flash of light, so they're probably gone."
"Tch. Guess it was too much to ask for all the Undersiders to go cold turkey."
"What?"
"Long story. Anyway, the rest of New Wave should be here soon! Can you and the others get someplace safe?" Amy nodded. "Cool, Leave the rest to me!"
The rest to her? What did she mean? Trainwreck was being manhandled and was more or less fucked. What else was she going to…
Oh no.
"Vicky, tell me you aren't going to do what I think you are." She knew her sister was headstrong and too much like Carol at times. Amy knew she wasn't much better, but at the very least, she wasn't as gung-ho as Vicky was. When she set her mind on something, Vicky was going to do it, even if she crashed and burned.
"I'll be right back!"
"Vicky, wait! VICKY!"
She couldn't stop her if she wanted to. Vicky was stubborn, almost painfully so, and had a very bad tendency to punch first and didn't bother asking questions later. Like Carol, she also had a very bad case of tunnel vision. While she agreed with her on some points, this was definitely not one of them. She was terrified by what was going to happen. Amy prayed Carol got here in time, because if she didn't…
Chris never would have imagined this was how he was going to test his latest weapon, like at all. It wasn't even supposed to be deployed out in the field since it hadn't been tested, but he brought it with him anyway. It was half out of panic and half out of excitement. The excitement had long since faded as he was now terrified out of his mind. He fought plenty of villains during his time with the Wards, more than he thought possible despite the Protectorate's best efforts to limit their involvement.
On the one hand, he was happy that Trent and Tammi weren't here and were out on patrol. On the other hand, he was desperately wishing they had back-up. Especially given who they were up against
Speaking of…
"Ohgodhe'sevenmoreterrifiyingupclosewearegoingtofuckingdie."
The Ghost Rider had just wrapped their chain around Trainwreck's ankle and started reeling him in like a fish when Shadow Stalker launched a crossbow bolt. The bolt was blunted, but it ended up piercing through the flaming skeleton's skull. It actually caused them to pause and crane their head in their direction, ever so slightly reaching up to grab the bolt and yank it out. The bolt was incinerated. Flame-filled sockets glared at them—specifically the one who shot them in the first place.
Sophia swore. "Ah, shi—"
With a snarl, the Ghost Rider snapped their chain and whirled around, swinging Trainwreck at them. Sophia faded into darkness while the others hit the ground, avoiding Trainwreck's prone form as he sailed over them before being yanked back like a yo-yo. Chris quickly got up and aimed the Alternator Cannon. The gun hummed to life and lit up like a firework before shooting a laser blast. The recoil was stronger than Chris was expecting, nearly throwing him to the ground. The laser struck the Ghost Rider dead on and knocked them off their feet.
"It worked!" he found himself cheering. "Holy shit, it worked!"
His joy died instantly when the Ghost Rider propelled themselves back onto their feet, not so much as climbing back up as they had blasted off the ground with a burst of flame that seared the earth. Judging by the way the Ghost Rider was somehow glaring at him, he realized he didn't do any damage. He merely pissed them off. With a flick of their chain, the Ghost Rider swung Trainwreck up into the air and went to slam the armored tinker right down on top of him.
Carlos jumped and tackled him to the ground, avoiding being squished by a heavy falling object. Chris vaguely heard Trainwreck groaning before the Ghost Rider pulled him back and went to swing him again, this time at Dennis who was rushing him. Dennis rolled to the side and evaded the human flail, though when the Ghost Rider started to reel the tinker back in, he hastily leaped toward him and slammed his hand down on his armor. Judging by the way the chain suddenly stopped and Trainwreck wasn't moving, Chris bet Dennis used his power.
The Ghost Rider huffed and growled in confusion, pulling on their chain. Trainwreck refused to budge. "Hey, Win!" Dennis called out. "Now would be a good time to use that thingamajig of yours!"
"It's still powering up another shot!" Chris shouted back as Carlos pulled him to his feet. "Still working out the bugs on this thing!"
"Well, hurry up, please?! I really don't want to see if bonehead can move things I've frozen!"
At that moment, a white blur zoomed past Chris and shot straight towards Ghost Rider like a speeding bullet. There was a heavy crack that echoed through the air and the Ghost Rider was once again forced back. Unlike when Chris shot them, they ground their feet to the ground and slowed their retreat, although their back was bent backwards and head thrown back.
Victoria Dallon hovered in place, fist curled and ready for action like a goddess of war. "You boys okay?" she called out over her shoulder.
"'bout fucking time, Glory Hole!" Sophia shouted. "Where's the rest of New Wave?!"
"Should be here any minute!"
The Ghost Rider twitched, pulling their torso upwards. Chris felt his stomach gurgle uncomfortably when he saw the disconnected jaw, hanging from its socket and the Ghost Rider just staring at Victoria before reaching up to its dislocated jaw and snapping it back in place, rolling it as if testing it. They rolled their skull, creating a few nauseating cracks and sounds before raising their hand and flicking their chain. It untangled from Trainwreck and slithered back to them, wrapped around their arm like a gauntlet.
Victoria glared at the Ghost Rider, jaw clenched hard and shoulders shaking. "I hope you're not planning on walking away, asshole. You're no hero. Just a worthless villain I'm going to take great pleasure in sending off to the Birdcage!"
They said nothing. They just stared at her, then huffed. Chris shouldn't have been surprised they dismissed her so easily. The gesture obviously infuriated her, and it made her red in the face. She charged straight at them and went for another punch, which connected and caused the Ghost Rider's head to recoil and turn. Victoria didn't stop at one punch. She just continued to wail on them, throwing punch after punch. She seemed to be having some effect as bone fragments broke off from the skull and scattered.
The barrage ended when the Ghost Rider, swiftly and suddenly, grabbed her wrist mid-punch. Victoria struggled to pull her arm back, roaring in frustration and fury, and resumed her fruitless beatdown. Chris swore he saw the jaw curve in a way it shouldn't have, almost making a smile, before the Ghost Rider reared their arm back.
A fist full of iron and fire slammed straight into Victoria's face and sent her flying, further than Chris had when he shot the Ghost Rider. Her body bounced off the concrete, cape and skirt flapping about like a rag doll and tearing up the pavement before she slammed back-first into a car and demolished its front. The car alarm screeched in dismay, but Chris was focusing more on the fact that Victoria's eyes were glazed over and unfocused, her mouth was open, and there was an ugly burn mark on her left cheek.
"I thought she was invincible!" Sophia cried incredulously. "What the fuck!"
Carlos looked back at Victoria's unconscious form, then swore under his breath. "Shadow Stalker, with me!"
Carlos wasn't a mover like Vicky was. He could fly, but he wasn't as fast and he couldn't go very high in the air. Even so, he was fast enough to close the distance between him and the Ghost Rider in a few seconds. Sophia followed after him, all the while slinging a few curses his way and shooting crossbow bolts. The bolts reached the Ghost Rider first, but they couldn't care about them at all. They just let the bolts pierce their body. Carlos reached the Ghost Rider and delivered a picture-perfect flying dive-kick to the chest. The blow barely caused them to stumble. The Ghost Rider grabbed his ankle and proceeded to throw him at Sophia, the latter still in shadow form.
The red-clad Ward phased through Sophia while she continued. Her body became solid and fired off four bolts, which the Ghost Rider swatted away with their chain-wrapped arm. They threw a punch and she ducked, sliding under the punch and driving the crossbow bolt through their shoulder and kicking their back, causing them to stumble. Just as quickly, the Ghost Rider recovered and went for a back-hand. Sophia raised her arms to block, but her guard was easily broken and she staggered back, crying in pain. She tried to fade into darkness, but to Chris' shock, the Ghost Rider grabbed her shadowy form and held her there.
"Oh, that is bullshit!" Dennis cried foul. "He can ignore Breakers too?!"
The Ghost Rider's grip had an unusual effect on Sophia as well. Her shadow form was normally formless, a vague haze of darkness that lacked a human shape. In their grasp, the haze shifted into something vaguely human, squirming in the grasp of the flaming skeleton. Unlike with Victoria, who they viewed with indifference, there was a brief moment of anger and irritation. The Ghost Rider growled, plumes blowing from their gaping jaw before the chains turned red and the flames grew hotter.
Sophia screamed as she was flung back and landing on the ground, back in a solid form and flailing on the ground. Chris paled when he saw her mask broken, exposing her face. She covered her face with her hands, but she was still crying in pain. It was both disturbing and horrifying to see one of the most hardass and violent girls on the team be reduced to a screaming wreck.
An unfamiliar, unpleasant feeling bubbled in Chris' chest. He gnashed his teeth and glared at the Ghost Rider, their fist outstretched, and raised the Alternator Cannon. "Don't hurt my friends!" he roared in defiance and opened fire once more. The laser struck them in the skull. The sight of half the skull being obliterated would have disgusted or horrified him were he not so livid. The Ghost Rider stumbled slightly as though they were dazed. Their flames flickered before growing into an inferno, creating a new skull in place of the old one. They set their sights on Kid Win and extended their hand.
"Hey, asshole!"
Carlos blocked their field of vision and drove his knee into their skull and bouncing off. Dennis came in after and punched the Ghost Rider as hard as he could in the chest. "Yes, got hi—" A leathered hand grabbed him by the face. "Ohfuckmesh—" The time-stopper was then thrown into Carlos right as he was about to attack again, sending the two to the ground in a mess of limbs. They quickly untangled themselves, just in time to see the Ghost Rider creating what looked like a demonic shotgun out of pure fire.
Chris shouted at them, "GET DOWN!" right as he pulled the Alternator Cannon's trigger. The laser and shotgun blast, a literal fireball, met each other and something happened. The whole world looked like it lit up with the biggest techno-color show ever, with a giant boom coming afterwards. Chris was blown off his feet and hit the ground hard, groaning. The HUD on his visor was glitching out and going haywire, ears ringing with the world's most obnoxious sound.
He was certain that once this was all over, he was never going to be able to use his cannon ever again. Director Piggot was going to be pissed.
As the ringing died down, Chris noticed the cannon was no longer in his hands. It had been thrown out of his grip when the shockwave threw him aside. He found Carlos and Dennis lying not far away from him, their armors scuffed and burned but no less for wear. They must have been caught in the shockwave's epicenter.
"Holy shit!" Chris numbly looked up, finding Brian, Missy, and Dean rushing toward them. The latter picked him up off the ground while the others tended to the Wards leader and time-stopper. "Are you guys alright?"
Chris would have played it off, maybe take a page out of Dennis' book and crack a joke. He decided against it when he felt his body ache in protest. "Ask me later," he groaned. "My everything hurts…"
"I can't see through all this smoke," Missy griped. "Where's the Ghost Rider? Is he still here?!"
"D-dunno," Dennis slurred, unsteady on his feet and leaning on Brian for support. "Can't tell… Ugh, everything's spinning. Make it stooop…"
"What…" Carlos wheezed. "What about Trainwreck?"
"Clockblocker's statis is still holding," Dean said. "The Protectorate and New Wave should be here any minute!"
Chris coughed. "What about Shadow Stalker?"
"Out of it," Missy said. "Her mask is broken, clocked the fuck out, and there's a nasty burn on her face too."
Is it to much to hope that the blast vaporized him? Chris didn't normally think about what it meant to kill someone, much less one with such infamy as the Ghost Rider, but given that they had a Kill Order and he was a little pissed off, he didn't care very much at the moment.
"Hey, Chris? What happened to your gun?"
That was when they heard it. The familiar thrum, albeit warped and not at all what it should sound like. Chris felt a pit form in his stomach as he looked at the smoke. The blood drained from his face when he saw the Ghost Rider walk out from it, wielding a distorted, corrupted version of the Alternator Cannon. Bones had wrapped around the barrel, the blue-lights now a crimson-shade of red, flames pouring out from the pylons.
He heard Dean whimper next to him. "You have got to be f—"
The demonic Alternator Cannon roared to life. There was no laser, only a blast of red and a boom of utter destruction. The gun was aimed at their feet, but the explosion itself was enough to send all the Wards flying and scattered across the pavement. Chris' world exploded with pain, every muscle burning and his bones creaking from some unknown pressure. He could barely breath. His suit was too tight.
The ringing returned, but far worse this time. He couldn't hear anything. Not his heartbeat, which was thumping and banging against his chest. Not his breathing, which was straining his lungs. Everything was a blur. He felt something warm walk past him, feeling a foot stomp next to his body, and walk away. He followed the blurry black and orange color, rolling himself onto his stomach despite the amount of pain he was in. He heard something under the ringing, a muffled noise he heard before. Metal being torn apart and ripped open. There was shouting and profanities.
As Chris finally lost consciousness, the last thing he heard was screaming.
They were too late.
The whole area in front of Central Bank was a mess. The pavement was torn to shreds and melted, glass windows were shattered to pieces, and there was obvious damage to the nearby infrastructure. That wasn't what made Hannah's blood boil. It was the sight of her Wards lying on the ground, defeated and broken, that made her livid. The sight of Glory Girl slumped and knocked out on a car with a burn on her face only made her angrier.
She thought about what the Wards must have gone through. She didn't have the full picture, but she could hazard a guess. The fact that the rest of Tattletale's newest crew wasn't here means they skipped out as soon as the Ghost Rider appeared, and the Wards intervened to stop them before they could kill the villainous tinker. Kids like them had an idealized version of what heroes were supposed to be; people who protected others, even villains if they were in danger. It was childish and naïve, but it was important to them. It was what a hero should be.
There was going to be a tongue lashing, of that there was no doubt. But it would fall on deaf ears when the Wards were awake and safe, and they realized their efforts were for naught.
"Son of a bitch," the soldier heard Colin growl. They arrived in time to witness the Ghost Rider using his powers on Trainwreck, a Case-53 with no limbs at all, holding him up by the neck and glaring into his eyes. He was screaming, eyes burning and the skin around them cracking apart before the cracks spread to the rest of his body. After a moment, Trainwreck was dropped to the ground, still screaming as he began to crumble apart and turn into sprinkled, burnt ashes.
Hannah felt Kayden stiffen behind her, choking in realization that very may well have happened to her.
"Psy, Browbeat," Carly told the Wards with them, who stood there gaping in horror at what they just witnessed. "Go check on the rest of the Wards."
They didn't argue. They beelined it to their friends, leaving the older capes to face the Ghost Rider. It was just then that a group of flyers arrived, spearheaded by a panicked and soon-to-be-lived Carol Dallon.
A tense silence fell over the area. The Ghost Rider stood there and stared at the collected heroes. They in turn stared back with varying degrees of emotions. They all prepared for combat. Light warped and burned around Kayden and Carol. Mark was thrumming with power, ready and waiting to be unleashed. A shield formed around Eric's forearm while Crystal joined her mother, ready to dive into action. Hannah created a pair of bazookas, each heavy with steel and anger. Colin's halbeard extended, the blade covered in electricity. Robin was vibrating and looked ready to sprint. Faint sparks danced around Carly's arms, already in the process of charging up. Ethan stood next to her with a conflicted, but otherwise angry expression. Sean's arclance was consumed in electricity and extended. Rory's arms vibrated, somehow whistling.
The Ghost Rider, meanwhile, merely gave them all a side-glance before huffing. The red-hue of their flame turned orange and fire began to ooze from their hands. Just as the heroes were about to engage, taking it as a sign of aggression, the Ghost Rider opened a palm and snapped their finger. A familiar roar tore through the back of the bank, and the most demonic motorcycle Hannah had ever seen drove out into the open.
"And just where—" Carol roared with fury, her light reaching an apex and becoming a gigantic javelin. "—DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!"
The long-ranged heroes attacked all at once. Light, sound, electricity, and missiles all went flying towards the Ghost Rider. The flaming skeleton growled in a simulacrum of annoyance and took aim with the obviously corrupted piece of tinkertech, the design vaguely reminiscent of Chris', and opened fire. A pure blast of flame and heat consumed every last one of their attacks, and more than that, created a wall of flame. Robin attempted to dash through it, but stopped dead in his tracks and backed away when his suit somehow caught fire along the sleeves. They took another shot at New Wave, Eric hastily creating a shield and blocking the shot. His shield shattered to pieces and New Wave was thrown to the ground like Icarus.
No longer wanting to deal with them any longer, the Ghost Rider hopped on top of their bike and drove off, leaving a trail of flame and speeding faster than even Velocity. They were long gone before any of them could reach the flaming skeleton.
Another period of silence fell on the group, this one more poignant and frustrated. New Wave gave chase, as had Robin after he managed to put out the flames and taking the other way. The rest of the Protectorate capes could do nothing but go to help the Wards.
"The media's gonna love this…" Rory said between clenched teeth. "This has to stop."
Hannah felt the same. She imagined the others did as well. Director Piggot wasn't going to be happy about what happened today, and there was no doubt in her mind the Wards were going to be punished. Their hearts were in the right place, but they were warned repeatedly about facing the Ghost Rider. There was just too much risk involved. The worst part was that Piggot's harsh words would mean nothing to them.
She knew what it was like to fail an objective. To fail to save someone.
She had hoped her kids would never have to feel that pain…
A/N: Okay, this was definitely not my finest work. To be frank, I was dreading this scene for a very long time, specifically how I was going to handle the fight scene. Imagining it playing out your head like a cartoon or web animation is one thing, but actually putting it on paper is another thing altogether. I'm better writing dialogue and character interactions, truth be told. It's also shorter than I usually write, all things considered, but hey, at least you guys got an action scene!
Anyway, I hope this settles the debate as to whether Vicky deserves the penance stare. I honestly didn't see why the Ghost Rider would ever use it on her, considering they've done worse than Glory Girl. Yes, she nearly killed a few suckers a few times, but they were criminals, low-ranking two-bit scum that they were. That, and she did ask Amy for help in fixing them up. Yes, it was to cover up what she did and Amy threatened the victims to keep quiet, but also keep in mind that Vicky is a hero. I want to believe that she wouldn't want those idiots dead, even if they are criminals.
This also applies to Sophia, albeit to a lesser extent. She's also done nothing to warrant a penance stare, and while I can confirm she is still something of a bully, she's nowhere near as bad as she was in canon. She's gone from actively tormenting to being apathetic or engineering a situation where someone gets bullied and she waits and sees what happens. Since she was picked up by the Wards early in her vigilante career, she also hasn't been putting crossbow bolts in people. That said, while she doesn't get the stare, she will be getting a few nasty burns. A fair compromise I'd say.
On another note, I will be posting a one-shot sometime within the near future here. It has absolutely zero to do with Ghost Rider, but depending on the feedback, I may want to blow it into a full-fledged story. Some of you guys may have already seen it on the Wormverse Ideas, Rec, and Fic Discussion Thread, but for those who haven't, I recommend you don't spoil yourselves if you can. It's better to go into stuff blind, you know?
That's it for now. What did you guys think? Bad? Good?
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
Nope. Death by Penance Stare. Depending on the person, the Penance Stare is lethal enough to outright kill someone.
Zedman7054
Eternally 3rd
- Location
- United States
Put like that, yeah, makes sense. Ghost Rider is all about dealing justice to the guilty, damn the consequences, or well damning them being their consequence.
I was absolutely waiting on the massive Hero v Ghost Rider staredown end with Slade riding up and everyone freaking out over there being two of them now.
- Location
- Here there everywhere and nowhere I am
I think the chapter was largely just fine, the only thing i find a bit weird is that the wards actually attacked Ghost Rider, i mean the main Protectorate Heroes i can understand as the wards had just been decimated but i think that the only reason why the wards could have attacked Ghost Rider instead of just getting the civilians the hell out of there is that the "conflict drive" in the fic is running quite high, especially when they have already heard from their new team members what Ghost Rider can actually do to a person and the fact that they are so out of their league it is not even funny.
So i get that this happens for the sake of the story but it does seem to go against anything they would do in any "normal" circumstance, i think that when all of this is done that all the wards should be hitting themselves for how f*cking stupid they where and thanking god that they all made it out alive and relatively unharmed. Besides this there will likely be a a huge reckoning on the wards oversight / management side (people will be getting sacked) and the wards will be held under incredibly high scrutiny after this with the only reason why the should possibly be allowed to go out at all is because psychologists in the Parahumans universe should have cottoned on to the fact that parahumans not being able to use their powers will get mentally unstable.
Ghost Rider is not The (cannon start) Undersiders, they are a known and very very dangerous vigilante known for going toe to toe with Lung and being able to fight Eidolon, the difference between "the (literal) Devil" Ghost Rider and "the two bit gang known for doing robberies while taking care that people are not harmed to mutch" The Undersiders is orders of magnitude so the consequences of this compared to cannon should be clearly reflected.
Other than that regarding Vicky treating criminals to rough, well i don't think that Ghost Rider would normally care very mutch about that but as Vicky attacked them they might have used penance stare on her to get her out of the way, if they had done this it might have been interesting to have her not only relive the pain of her going to far physically on criminals but lay a focus on how Amy felt about having to cover up for her, as suffering is not a purely physical thing and the mental aspects of things like rape are likely more extreme over the long term than the physical action itself (that is not to say it is not horrible in either case but it is just an example in this case which may convey my point somewhat).
Edit: Should i removed the example? i mean i think i tried to do it respectfully but talking about "rape" in a serious and not a clearly fantasy porn fictional context in a online forum feels really weird / awkward.
Anyway i hope this feedback might help somewhat although it ended on a bit of a harsh topic, one way or the other i am looking forward to how this story will continue in the future.
So i get that this happens for the sake of the story but it does seem to go against anything they would do in any "normal" circumstance, i think that when all of this is done that all the wards should be hitting themselves for how f*cking stupid they where and thanking god that they all made it out alive and relatively unharmed. Besides this there will likely be a a huge reckoning on the wards oversight / management side (people will be getting sacked) and the wards will be held under incredibly high scrutiny after this with the only reason why the should possibly be allowed to go out at all is because psychologists in the Parahumans universe should have cottoned on to the fact that parahumans not being able to use their powers will get mentally unstable.
Ghost Rider is not The (cannon start) Undersiders, they are a known and very very dangerous vigilante known for going toe to toe with Lung and being able to fight Eidolon, the difference between "the (literal) Devil" Ghost Rider and "the two bit gang known for doing robberies while taking care that people are not harmed to mutch" The Undersiders is orders of magnitude so the consequences of this compared to cannon should be clearly reflected.
Other than that regarding Vicky treating criminals to rough, well i don't think that Ghost Rider would normally care very mutch about that but as Vicky attacked them they might have used penance stare on her to get her out of the way, if they had done this it might have been interesting to have her not only relive the pain of her going to far physically on criminals but lay a focus on how Amy felt about having to cover up for her, as suffering is not a purely physical thing and the mental aspects of things like rape are likely more extreme over the long term than the physical action itself (that is not to say it is not horrible in either case but it is just an example in this case which may convey my point somewhat).
Edit: Should i removed the example? i mean i think i tried to do it respectfully but talking about "rape" in a serious and not a clearly fantasy porn fictional context in a online forum feels really weird / awkward.
Anyway i hope this feedback might help somewhat although it ended on a bit of a harsh topic, one way or the other i am looking forward to how this story will continue in the future.
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Zedman7054
Eternally 3rd
- Location
- United States
I think Miss Militia's bit at the end shows does a good job of explaining why the Wards attacked Ghost Rider, and it's precisely because they know who he is. They know he is likely going to kill Trainwreck, and heroes are supposed to protect people, even villains sometimes, from threats and danger. Idealism in one word. Also possible that they thought they could hold on long enough for reinforcements, which in a way they did. Idealism and naivety.
- Location
- Here there everywhere and nowhere I am
Hmm, that could be the case, i was more thinking on the level of police and such and they are not limited by the Unwritten rules and no one would blame them for the other villain dying while they focus on getting the civilians out, but heroes can be said to fall in a bit of a different category i suppose, still even heroism should be somewhat guided by practicality in world such as Worm.
One way or the other no matter the reason there should still be quite the reckoning, for no matter what standards of heroism the wards hold themselves to no overseeing organization let alone the Youth guard is going to accept this and while the are often shown as inept in Worm fanatics i think that this is a case where public pressure should likely ensure that actions willl be taken no matter how inept they may or may not be in reality and that is leaving aside any other organizations that whould likley jump in as well.
Omake: Danny makes a deal...
- Location
- America
Thought of a nice side story/Apocrypha that would make for an interesting idea...in case anyone wishes to continue it that is.
-------
The Bank Heist is a diversion by Coil using the Undersiders in order to obtain Dinah Alcott with the new Undersider, Skitter, helping things along. In canon, this tactic works, but circumstances would come to irreversibly change this outcome. It all began 2 years before Annette Hebert's death via car accident when Daniel Hebert found out that his wife had brain cancer...and was approached by a strange white-haired man with a cane...
"Do you want to save her Daniel?" the strange man asked with an expecting smile. For a moment, Danny felt a chill, but he shrugged it off and nodded. "Would you like to make a deal?" The man continued, making the Dockworker raise an eyebrow. Being the head of hiring for the union made him very much aware of how contracts worked, so he knew that he was going to need to see the fine print. Still though...something felt off about this.
"Are you a parahuman?" He asked, wary of this man who clearly wanted something from him in exchange.
The man chuckled, "No Daniel, but I do have my connections." he answered, Danny was about to ask another question before the strange man spoke up. "No, I am not part of Empire 88, I can assure you that." And with that Danny's question was withdrawn before it could ever be spoken. The man pulled out a sheet of paper, "All you have to do...is sign this, and your wife will be saved." Danny's eyes narrowed as he approached, he gripped the paper to look at it, but accidentally cut himself on it, and thus his blood ended up on the paper, to which the man withdrew it. "Your blood will do Mr. Hebert. It is signed." The Union man's eyes widened at this...this guy lied, he had to be a cape! He looked at the man...only to find him gone, what the hell?
- 2 years later -
Danny glared at the white-haired man, oh sure Annette's cancer went away, but 2 years later..."You said her life would be saved!" He yelled, furious with grief. The man only smirked at him.
"Yes, from Cancer, not from anything else. And now, I own your soul until you complete your end of the deal." These words made Danny's eyes widen in realization, disbelief, and horror.
"You said you weren't a parahuman, and yet you want me to believe you are some sort of demon?!" Danny yelled with rage overcoming his grief.
The man's smirk turned darker. "Oh, I didn't lie Daniel...I'm not one of those parasite-ridden humans...but you, you are now my bounty hunter, have a fun night Mr. Hebert, oh...and call me Mephisto if you wish to inform that silly organization of me, not that it will be of any help." As he said all this his face became more and more demonic, making Danny's anger drain away and be replaced by fear. "Good luck Mr. Hebert, It would be a shame if you were unable to join your wife in the afterlife." With that, Mephisto disappeared in a smokey effect.
Tonight, the newest Ghost Rider arrives in Brockton Bay.
----
How's that for a prologue? If anyone else wants to continue this side story, feel free...not sure if this is enough to get threadmarked as a side story or as an Apocrypha, but I figure it'd make for a good read regardless. I'm leaning on this ending up as more of an Apocrypha than a side story since it lacks relevance with this story's plot.
-------
The Bank Heist is a diversion by Coil using the Undersiders in order to obtain Dinah Alcott with the new Undersider, Skitter, helping things along. In canon, this tactic works, but circumstances would come to irreversibly change this outcome. It all began 2 years before Annette Hebert's death via car accident when Daniel Hebert found out that his wife had brain cancer...and was approached by a strange white-haired man with a cane...
"Do you want to save her Daniel?" the strange man asked with an expecting smile. For a moment, Danny felt a chill, but he shrugged it off and nodded. "Would you like to make a deal?" The man continued, making the Dockworker raise an eyebrow. Being the head of hiring for the union made him very much aware of how contracts worked, so he knew that he was going to need to see the fine print. Still though...something felt off about this.
"Are you a parahuman?" He asked, wary of this man who clearly wanted something from him in exchange.
The man chuckled, "No Daniel, but I do have my connections." he answered, Danny was about to ask another question before the strange man spoke up. "No, I am not part of Empire 88, I can assure you that." And with that Danny's question was withdrawn before it could ever be spoken. The man pulled out a sheet of paper, "All you have to do...is sign this, and your wife will be saved." Danny's eyes narrowed as he approached, he gripped the paper to look at it, but accidentally cut himself on it, and thus his blood ended up on the paper, to which the man withdrew it. "Your blood will do Mr. Hebert. It is signed." The Union man's eyes widened at this...this guy lied, he had to be a cape! He looked at the man...only to find him gone, what the hell?
- 2 years later -
Danny glared at the white-haired man, oh sure Annette's cancer went away, but 2 years later..."You said her life would be saved!" He yelled, furious with grief. The man only smirked at him.
"Yes, from Cancer, not from anything else. And now, I own your soul until you complete your end of the deal." These words made Danny's eyes widen in realization, disbelief, and horror.
"You said you weren't a parahuman, and yet you want me to believe you are some sort of demon?!" Danny yelled with rage overcoming his grief.
The man's smirk turned darker. "Oh, I didn't lie Daniel...I'm not one of those parasite-ridden humans...but you, you are now my bounty hunter, have a fun night Mr. Hebert, oh...and call me Mephisto if you wish to inform that silly organization of me, not that it will be of any help." As he said all this his face became more and more demonic, making Danny's anger drain away and be replaced by fear. "Good luck Mr. Hebert, It would be a shame if you were unable to join your wife in the afterlife." With that, Mephisto disappeared in a smokey effect.
Tonight, the newest Ghost Rider arrives in Brockton Bay.
----
How's that for a prologue? If anyone else wants to continue this side story, feel free...not sure if this is enough to get threadmarked as a side story or as an Apocrypha, but I figure it'd make for a good read regardless. I'm leaning on this ending up as more of an Apocrypha than a side story since it lacks relevance with this story's plot.
- Location
- Canada
...except for Grue? Did that not just come up in the chapter involving his recruitment? Not saying the Rider would deem that stare-worthy, as Grue was a villain at the time-- but if she was using lethal bolts against Grue I would imagine she'd be doing so for others as well.
- Location
- The INTERNET!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
This should be halberd, but the mental image of Armsmaster with an extending, weaponized tinkertech beard is fantastic.
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
I should rephrase that. Crossbow bolts into people who aren't guilty. Grue hadn't gotten the Penance Stare and therefore had yet to pay his dues, so GR gave her a hellburn.
Interlude: End of the World
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
"Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said, Good-bye"
April 16, 2011Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said, Good-bye"
David always wondered when it all went wrong.Everything used to be so simple. Become a hero, save the world, fight criminals. Then the Endbringers showed up. Then he learned the truth about Scion. The lines started to blur, and everything became so uncertain. There was a line, he thought. A line that should never be crossed. A line in which he could never go back from.
And then his best friend died, and there was no more going back. The line was crossed.
He was still a hero in the eyes of the public. He was touted as being the second-strongest hero, with Scion coming in first as he expected. He was part of the strongest superhero team in the world. He was going to be the one to help save the world. The public didn't know the things he was part of, the lengths he would go to protect the world. They didn't know he had given up on Earth-Bet.
It was inevitable when he thought about it. When the time came to stop the end of the world, Earth-Bet and god knows how many other parallel Earths would be caught in the crossfire. Earth-Bet was already damaged from the Endbringers, and they were still no closer to destroying them. David wasn't sure if it was possible to kill them, but he was going to damn well try. And if he was going to die, then he would at least scar one of those monsters, make them remember his name and everything he stood for. Perhaps, with his death, people would also remember who he was and he would be remembered for years to come.
The world just seemed so dim and dark to him these days anymore. Like Keith, he had bright hopes for the future. Becoming a hero was the best thing that could have happened to him. Now, he couldn't remember them. The happier days just…no longer existed to him. As if they never did in the first place. David wondered if he forgot those memories because he wanted to forget such a naïve, idealistic man ever existed. Was he ashamed? Or did he just want to forget the past?
That was the scary part. He just didn't know.
David stared at the world below him, at the city under his purview. Like the rest of the world, it had its fair share of villains. It was nowhere near as bad as Brockton Bay, but getting rid of them was difficult to say the least. Things were rather tense a few years back following his defeat at the hands of the Ghost Rider. The villains in his city grew bolder, especially the Red Ogres, who had been in Texas well before his time. He squashed them down mercilessly after he recovered, all but starting a one-man war on Texas' villains. Retribution came swift, and for the first time, it felt as though his powers weren't fading. It felt right, as though he remembered how to use them properly.
Houston wasn't always his city, though. It was his friend's, where hope shined the brightest. The people were happier then, he realized. They liked Hero, the smart, gallant man with a smile on his face who stopped to help people in need whenever. They didn't like Eidolon, the man obsessed with winning, dour and refusing to participate in events meant to bolster public opinion. There had been better things to do, such as rounding up criminals or saving the world.
Now, though, things had changed. David no longer looked upon the city with a frown or distaste. Instead, he felt ashamed. He felt like he was failing to live up the legacy his friend left behind, if not muddying it.
It hurt.
"So, there is where you've been." David craned his head to look behind him. A warm smile, kind eyes beneath a domino mask, and a blue-and-white bodysuit. "You weren't in your office when I went looking for you."
David nodded in his head in acknowledgement. "Legend."
"Come on, it's just the two of us up here. You don't have to use our cape names."
"It never hurts to be careful," David said before sighing. "What brings you here?"
Legend's smile turned awkward. "It's Alexandria." He figured that was the case. Rebecca had been calling him more frequently these days, and when he could be bothered to answer, she was always irritated with him. "There's a meeting coming up, and she wants everyone there."
"In other words, she asked you to drag me to the meeting."
"I said I'd try to convince you. I made no promises. Plus, I know when you want space." Keith floated up next to him, looking out at the horizon. "This view never gets old, does it? It's better during daybreak, in my opinion."
David smiled thinly. "It's better at night, in my opinion. No lights from the city to stop you from seeing the stars."
"True." There was a pause there. Keith looked at him, studying his features as if trying to figure something out. "…I haven't been pushing the issue because I'm worried about you, you know. I get it's a sensitive topic, but—"
He sighed. He felt annoyed and irritated. "I'm not sulking if that's what you're asking," he said, cutting his friend off. "I've been thinking."
"It's been six years now, Eidolon. I thought you'd be over it by now, considering…"
Why was he insisting on this? He wasn't lying. He had gotten over it. "Keith…" He used his friend's name despite his earlier words out for caution, if only to drive the point across. "I am over what happened. I was angry that I couldn't beat that flaming matchstick, but do you know who I was angrier at?"
"Who?"
"Myself." Keith frowned in confusion. He elaborated. "You know about that Master ability of his? When he looks you in the eye and you feel your mind tearing itself apart?"
"I've heard plenty of stuff about it online and otherwise," Keith nodded. "Gnarly stuff. Some of the survivors said they wished the Ghost Rider had killed them. But what does that have to do with…" He trailed off. David watched the gears in his friend's head start clicking. Realization dawned on him then, and he swore. "He used it on you?"
David nodded. "It was intense. For a while, I wanted nothing more than for the pain to end. They tell you he makes you feel overwhelming pain, makes you experience everything you've ever done to people you hurt. They weren't exaggerating. I've hurt plenty of people, including those who deserved it. What that asshole made me feel? It was everything I've done to everyone else. The people who were just numbers and statistics. Everyone I ignored for the sake of stopping him."
He stared up at the rapidly changing orange sky. It would be sunset soon. "I don't regret the things I've done. I'd give up everything to protect this world. Even my life."
"Anyone would," Keith said.
David turned around and looked at Keith in the eyes. "Maybe… But do you know what I never once asked myself or us since we started this whole thing?" His friend frowned. David laughed mirthlessly. All this cloak and dagger, all the lives we've ruined for the sake of saving the world..."
His next words caused Keith to freeze, asking the question that haunted him ever since he looked the Ghost Rider in those hate-filled sockets.
"Do you think Clarke would ever be okay with this?"
Neither of them had an answer. They were too scared to.
"He's not coming."
Those words, plus the shaken look on Keith's face, made Rebecca wonder if something was going on that she wasn't aware of. She ultimately dismissed it in favor of being irritated, wondering what was going through David's mind. Of all the times he had to grow a conscious, it had to be now? If she didn't know any better, she could swear he was being Mastered. She knew David well enough to know that he was laser-focused on defeating Scion and the Endbringers, more than any of them were to be honest. Something had changed after his encounter with the aberration, but what she had no idea.
Either way, this was getting to be cumbersome. At this point, it would be better to cut their losses. If David wanted to distance himself from their activities, so be it. She only hoped he didn't do something stupid in the meantime.
"Not unexpected," Doctor Mother said dismissively. "Then we can start this meeting proper?"
Rebecca nodded. "I assume this is in regards to the latest information regarding the aberration?"
"Kenta decided to raise total and utter hell last night," Kurt informed her. "A final last-ditch attempt to assume dominance. The Empire Eighty-Eight took advantage and planned to wipe out what remained of the Azn Bad Boys, with mixed results. Stormtiger and Cricket were killed. Menja is reported as missing in action, though there are unconfirmed reports that she's defected and joined with her sister and Night and Fog in Boston. Alabaster was caught in one of the explosions caused by Bakuda and turned into glass. There were no vital signs as reported by the Protectorate ENE, so we can assume he died as well. Victor and Othala were confirmed to have engaged the Ghost Rider, but there's no report of them dying. I assume they have left the Empire afterwards based on the preliminary data. Krieg has reportedly returned to the Gesellschaft and Kaiser is now in Protectorate custody. Reports were that he was incapacitated by one of Bakuda's bombs. As for Lung…"
Doctor Mother sighed. "Eye-witness reports claim he encountered and fought the Ghost Rider. This time, to the death."
They didn't have to tell her what the end result was. She could see it plainly on their faces. Rebecca looked to Contessa. "What's the impact of this fallout?"
"There has been no change on the scenario," the woman replied, unaffected by the news. "And there is still no path regarding the aberration. As with before, any attempts to use Path to Victory on the aberration fail. In regards to the experiment in Brockton Bay, the path has changed significantly. To ensure it's continued operation, however, we would require to divert more resources."
Rebecca's face grew severe. "In other words…" she said slowly, not liking the words coming out of her mouth. "We may have to abandon it?"
"There's not much point in ensuring the experiment's continuation at this stage," Kurt said. "The aberration's continued interference has damaged it irreparably. Even if we pursue to continue it, there's no guarantee we will be able to prevent it from interfering with it further."
The most powerful Brute in the world considered the facts carefully. The experiment was not important in the long run, merely one of many to determine the best results and what may contribute to Scion's eventual downfall. While they did invest some resources to ensure it's continuation, it did not have to succeed. It was a proof of concept and a potential foundation to stand on after everything was over. On the other hand, it's intended purpose had been uprooted after the aberration settled there for whatever reason. Attempts to adjust the experiment accordingly repeatedly ended in failure.
Rebecca hated when things beyond her control occurred. She understood that some things couldn't be helped, but it was still irksome. Investing anymore resources in this experiment would be pointless so long as the aberration continued to interfere and muck around. There was no longer a point in maintaining it.
That, and Piggot's continued annoyance and grievance for not receiving the appropriate back-up to aid the ENE branch was slowly grating on her, no matter how much she pitied the woman. Elisburg was, and always would be, one of the greatest mistakes Cauldron ever made, no matter how much she tried to justify it.
"…if we discontinue the experiment, how will we handle Calvert?" Rebecca asked. "His power would be a boon for us in the long run, and he still owes us."
Kurt shook his head. "He values self-preservation. Myself and Contessa concluded he would reveal our existence and how he obtained his powers were we to cut him off. However, as he is unaware of the experiment, its discontinuation will not matter. He will simply be on his own, and whatever failings he will experience will be his to deal with. Attempts to reveal Cauldron's secrets will be handled appropriately."
"If we've come to an agreement, Experiment #0291 will hereby cease operations." Doctor Mother glanced around the room to see if there were any disagreements or suggestions. When no one stepped up or voiced their thoughts, she continued. "Very well, we'll move on to another, more important matter. This involves the aberration."
"What about them?" Keith asked. "Has he made any moves lately?"
Contessa nodded. "Yes. Furthermore, our theory is correct. The aberration is not singular; the Ghost Rider is not one, but multiple individuals."
Rebecca felt her blood turn cold. She should have felt some level of validation, some triumphant feeling of being correct. Instead, she tasted ash. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Keith stiffen and his face contort in shock and horror.
"Y-you're serious?"
"On April 14, there were two sightings of the aberration that occurred simultaneously. The first was Calvert's attempt to apprehend a young parahuman by the name of Dinah Alcott. The attempt was foiled and the men were subdued by the aberration, described by young Alcott as a man in his late fifties or sixties and dressed in old western attire. When he engaged the men, his skin burned away and his skull was lit aflame. Police reports found bullet casings and scorch marks similar to the ones left behind by the aberration. The second sighting that occurred at this time was at Brockton Bay Central Bank, where the aberration attacked a group of villains. Their description matched the aberration's appearance for the last three years since their arrival in Brockton Bay."
Contessa paused, taking a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "Additionally, there is another reported sighting of the aberration in Southern Africa earlier today at 2:56 P.M. Multiple eye-witness and at least two media sources, one of which was recording the events of the encounter live on national television, saw the aberration defeating Lou Joubert. The appearance of the aberration greatly differed from previous sightings as their attire matched the one worn by former African hero and rebel Panther."
To illustrate the point, the monitor next to Doctor Mother lit up to reveal a screenshot. The picture was of great quality surprisingly, and a view of the aberration was clear. A familiar black-and-purple suit stood proudly for all the world to see, a silver necklace seemingly affixed to the suit. The face of the suit was wreathed in dark purple flames. It resembled the face of the former hero and face of the rebellion against the warlord prior to his supposed death, bearing purple markings and pointed ears like that of a cat. However, it's appearance was more unsettling, but at the same time, still noble. The face now bore a distinct feline shape, possessing sharp fangs and deepened eyeholes.
The unintended picture-perfect scene was made all the more impactful when Rebecca realized the man had pinned Moord Nag's creature under his heel and held the woman herself by the throat, shocked and terrified out of her mind. Behind the man laid the defeated forms of her followers and fellow capes, all of whom battered and beaten.
"The aberration subdued Lou Joubert and brought her before the Namibian government to face trial. There are unconfirmed reports that he is currently engaging the other African warlords as well."
Rebecca could barely believe what she was seeing. "His appearance to Panther, is that coincidental, purposefully, or is that truly him?"
"Unknown, but so far he's demonstrated similar abilities to Panther," Kurt said. "If it is him, then it would seem the reports of his death were greatly exaggerated. Regardless, similar to the other aberrations, his powers are near identical."
Keith found his voice again, significantly shaken. "How is this possible? There's no way two people can have the exact same powers."
"You're assuming the Ghost Rider is a parahuman," Doctor Mother retorted, causing him to look at her in confusion. "Assuming those tabloid articles from before the Golden Age weren't spouting nonsense, the aberration has been present on Earth-Bet since before Scion's arrival. For all we know, the aberration is indeed a superhuman, but one who gained their abilities naturally rather than developing them with the assistance of an agent."
Rebecca considered that possibility as well. The Ghost Rider demonstrated abilities and capabilities well beyond what an agent would ordinarily allowed. Even Manton's projection, far superior in power compared to her, had its limits. The aberration lacked several weaknesses, and attempts to subvert them all ended in failure. While she did wonder if they were truly a parahuman, she struggled to come up with any plausible justification that the aberration was truly a superhuman being. Such individuals only came to be when humanity was exposed to the influence of the Entities, so why had superhumans appeared earlier?
She also considered the possibility that pre-parahuman capes were purposely hiding their abilities and pursued a normal life, but discarded that theory quickly. There would surely have been a situation where a superhuman would use their powers, either for their own benefit or for the sake of others. In other countries, such as Russia, there would have been no reason to take advantage and weaponize such individuals either.
"This doesn't explain why there are multiple individuals with the same powers, however," Contessa said. "At the moment, while we have gleamed significant data from this, concrete details surrounding the aberration remain uncertain."
Doctor Mother's face wrinkled as she capped off the meeting. "As for the final matter, and in regards to the aberration…the Ghost Rider in Brockton Bay is currently in Protectorate custody."
The silence was so thick and agonizing, one could visibly hear the quiet, roaring wind outside the base.
"…what?" Rebecca was surprised to find that the question came from her of all people. She had been utterly blindsided by the news. Why hadn't she heard of this before? Moreover, why hadn't Emily Piggot told her?
"I don't blame you for being surprised. The Protectorate tracked the aberration's movements after her murder of Lung. Furthermore, she willingly gave herself up and is currently being questioned. Emily Piggot has her locked inside The Cage."
She wasn't surprised by the least to hear that part, and now understood why the former soldier hadn't told her about her recent capture. The Cage was designed for some of the strongest capes in the world, specifically for powerhouses in the same vein as herself and Lung. The creator of The Cage stress-tested it against all kinds of parahumans and powers in order to ensure it was viable to hold someone with great power. Rebecca herself helped test its restraints. It took her over an hour of non-stop punching to break through the door.
"Wait a second," Keith stopped Doctor Mother before she continued. It took her a second to realize why and also found herself curious. "Did you just say she?"
The founder of Cauldron nodded. "Yes, the aberration that has occupied Brockton Bay for the past three years is female. The local Protectorate is verifying her identity as we speak, and with any luck, we may learn how she became an aberration."
The meeting was adjourned shortly after. Rebecca returned to her daily duties as Chief-Director while Keith went back to New York. As there was no more reason to stay and address and reveal recent information, the most powerful precog in the world asked Doormaker to bring her to the designated location.
In any other circumstance, Fortuna would have informed Doctor Mother and the rest of Cauldron of what she learned. However, she purposely kept quiet about her meeting with the Red-Eyed Man. She did not understand how he knew about Cauldron or her, the aberration, or even the Entities. The Path did not respond to her at all. In fact, as far as it was concerned, the Red-Eyed Man just did not exist. With Eidolon and Scion, the target was acknowledged, but the Path was incapable of providing data. This was the first time someone managed to outright ignore her Path to Victory.
It terrified her to the core.
The Red-Eyed Man was amused, more than anything. He had no intention of interfering, content with "merely watching this Shakespearean soap-opera play out" as he put it. His only interference was when he directed her to a person of interest, one who's Path connected to the aberration despite the impossibility of it.
Fortuna arrived at her destination. It was a log cabin in the wilderness of Alaska, sitting near a large lake that stretched on for miles. There was a man sitting by the front porch, graying hair wet and face in sweat and carrying pieces of lumber under his arm.
"Daniel Ketch?" Fortuna called out.
The man stopped and turned around. He was old, late sixties at best, with a thick beard and mustache. He looked like the most exhausted man she ever met, carrying some sort of great burden on his shoulders. He looked at her attire, and then looked her in the eyes. She noticed his green eyes flicker, turning a faint hue of red before settling back to green.
"Who wants to know?" he asked suspiciously.
He was distrustful, as her Path predicted. Even so, she knew how she would obtain her information. "My name is Contessa," she said. "I was told to find you."
"By who?"
"A man with red eyes. He told me you would have the answers I seek."
Daniel scoffed and turned away. "Look lady, I got no idea who told you what, but you got the wrong person. Daniel Ketch is dead."
Her next words caused him to stop dead in his tracks. Ever so slowly, he turned back around. The suspicion evolved into outright hostility, eyes crimson and jaw tight.
"What do you know about a man called Johnny Blaze?"
A/N: So, would you call this a wham episode?
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Is all of africa united under one governmeny in this world or is that a mistake cause it said the African government implying that the continent is united and last i knew in the real world and in worm canon its still made up of multiple countries. Otherwise very interesting entry. Good stuff. Cant wait for the next one
- Location
- Here there everywhere and nowhere I am
Could you please change "brought her before the African government to face trial" to "handed her over to the judicial branch of the African Union to face trail", because just saying "African government" really feels like us "stupid westerners" not having any respect at all for the different cultures and countries in Africa, i mean that is taking generalization quite a bit to far.
Otherwise it also feels a bit weird that this interlude seems to take place later than the fight that has been set up in the last chapter, but other-otherwise the chapter is quite good.
- Location
- Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
The Black Panther is now a Ghost Rider? Ooh boy. Fear the cats.
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
God dammit, I just now realized I uploaded this BEFORE I fixed the chapter over on spacebattles. Motherf--
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
Okay, chapter fixed and updated with the most recent version over on Spacebattles.
One-shot: Justice is Blind
TheStranger
Of course you realize, this means war.
- Location
- Take a Guess!
- Pronouns
- Who
"Justice cannot be for one side alone
but must be for both."
—Eleanor Roosevelt
but must be for both."
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Marvel/Worm one-shot:
Justice is Blind
It happened so fast.Justice is Blind
One moment, he turned his eyes away and yelled at someone over his phone. He couldn't remember their name after the fact, it could have been Kurt. The conversation was long forgotten.
The next moment was when Danny Hebert went through his first taste of hell. He heard screeching tires, panicked screams, metal grinding against asphalt, and a shaking thud. Taylor was in the center of it all, lying on the ground and screaming in a panic. The phone fell from his hands as he ran over to her.
"Taylor! It's okay, sweetie!"
Taylor was flailing her arms around, groping at something. Her pupils were shrinking and growing rapidly, the sclera red with irritation. Her face was wet, but it wasn't sweat or tears. It was only now Danny noticed the barrels scattered about everywhere, the discarded cargo of the truck, all bearing a dreadful familiar mark. His stomach sank and horror washed over him.
"I-I didn't see it coming," he vaguely heard the old man lying on the ground next to him say, shaken by what just happened. "She just pushed me out of the way. I…"
Danny didn't care about the old man. He was too terrified, too focused on Taylor. Something was wrong with her eyes. She was looking him in the eye, but then her eyes wandered as if searching for something. Taylor grabbed onto him, hands clutching the fabric of his clothes in a vice grip.
"D-Daddy…?"
"I'm right here, Taylor," Danny told her as he gripped her hand. "Everything's going to be okay! Everything's…"
"I-I can't see…"
His heart shattered.
"I can't see!"
[Destination/Trajectory]
"I can't see!!!"
[Agreement]
In the midst of his panic, of the worst day in his life, Danny Hebert saw stars…
Two years later…
Life had changed significantly for Taylor Hebert. Two years passed with no small amount of difficulty of adjustment. The doctors couldn't help. They said the damage done to her eyes was irreparable, and a transplant wouldn't do a thing. They used big words, some she didn't quite understand, but it seemed like someone giving their eyes to her wouldn't work.
She had to be pulled from school since they didn't have any sort of special-ed classes. Her mother began teaching her how to read Braille. It was difficult, but before long, she learned how to read the small bumps. Emma hadn't cared all that much, but she grew increasingly protective over her. Taylor hated being coddled like this, but it wasn't like she had much choice.
Her father had been coming home late. He sounded so tired and exhausted, sometimes in pain. He told her it was nothing, but she could tell from the concerned words of her mother he wasn't.
That was around the same time Taylor began to notice a few things since she lost her eyes. Her hearing became sharper. Sometimes, she could hear things happening from across the street or someone whispering something under their breath. She could feel the texture of things ever so slightly next to her. She could even tell what kinds of tea her mother made just by the smell. It was like her other senses had grown exponentially in exchange for losing her sight.
It was…surreal, and a little freaky. Emma was more amazed than anything when Taylor told her Zoe was wearing some heavy-duty perfume from across the kitchen. Her friend never knew until she went up to her mom and sniffed her. This, of course, led to some jokes about her being like a dog. They were joking, but she wouldn't deny they kind of hurt.
Words like that from Emma were light-hearted jabs. Words from the kids who Emma bragged to about it hurt worse. She shouldn't have come to the playground. She should have just stayed home, practicing her brail and reading a book rather than listening to the jeers and taunts. The worst part was that she could hear them even when she clamped her hands over her ears. She could hear every word they were saying. Eventually, Taylor couldn't handle it and wanted to leave.
One of the bigger guys, clearly older than her a bully, threw something at her. As if on instinct, Taylor's hands snapped out like snakes and grabbed the object—a bucket they were using to build a castle in the sandbox—right as it was about to hit her. She felt the shock from the bullies, their eyes on her as she set the bucket down.
"You're a freak!"
Taylor winced. She should have said something, anything really, but it was pointless. The kids ran away. Taylor sighed as she bowed her head in defeat. She had no idea how her body reacted so quickly, but it was amazing. She had no idea she could do that. It was a little scary, but it was exciting too.
As the girl pondered what to do now since the park was empty, she felt someone approaching her from behind. There was a rhythmic tapping and footsteps. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity and nostalgia coming from him.
"That was impressive," the man said. Taylor imagined he was smiling. "Most kids your age don't have reflexes like that."
Taylor turned her head slightly. "Mom said I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."
"No, I imagine not," the man chuckled. He got down on a knee and extended his hand. "Your mom's a smart woman. Would you like for us to not be strangers?"
There was an openness to him, no deceit. Just warmth and kindness, but at the same time, she felt sadness as well. Why was that? Why did he feel so sad? Curiosity got the better of her, and she reached to grab his hand. His was so much bigger, rough like her father's.
"I'm Taylor," she said.
The sad man smiled warmly. "Matthew Murdock. My friends call me Matt. It's nice to meet you, Taylor."
He was like her.
Taylor realized who Matt was when he walked her home, greeting her parents, more specifically her father, with some familiarity. He was a lawyer like Alan, but he didn't handle going through a break-up (or so her father said). He was relatively new to Brockton Bay, and apparently old enough to be her grandfather.
He was also blind, like her.
It was just an innocent, meaningless first meeting, Taylor thought to herself. She would see him maybe a few times throughout her life, but she was a child and he was a grown man with a job. He probably wouldn't even remember her all that well. If he did, it would only be as "Danny Hebert's daughter". As strange as it was, though, Taylor actually felt disappointed by the thought. She didn't know why, but being around Matt was comforting. He didn't feel like her parents or Emma, but there was a presence to him that she enjoyed.
As it turned out, though, Matt was a frequent visitor at home. Her mother asked him to help her with reading Braille, maybe introduce her to some people who could help her adjust to her blindness more easily. Taylor thought it wasn't necessary, she was getting the hang of reading a few bumps on a page, but she wasn't going to say no to hanging out with her new friend.
"Why did you move to Brockton Bay?" Taylor asked one day out of the blue.
She hadn't learned about it until a family BBQ with the Barnes, but Matt wasn't native to the city. In fact, he arrived in Brockton Bay only a few short months ago.
"I needed a fresh start," Matt said with a chuckle. "New York was…chaotic, to put it mildly. I lived in one of the more peaceful parts of the city, but things just kept getting crazier and crazier. Honestly, I feel bad for Legend and the Protectorate there. It just seems like, no matter how much work they put into it, they're struggling just to keep the villains in check."
Taylor frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It's like this. People who get superpowers fall into three categories: the heroes who use their powers for good, the villains who use their powers for evil, and people who would rather ignore their powers and stay out of the fighting for one reason or another. Whenever there's a strong hero, there's a good chance a strong villain will show up to challenge that hero. The best comparison I can make is Alexandria. She's the toughest hero in the world, next to Eidolon, right?"
Taylor nodded. "Well, duh! Everyone knows that."
"Right, so naturally, villains like the Siberian show up because there's someone as strong as Alexandria around. In other words, whenever there's a hero around, there's always going to be a villain around to fight them."
"Why?"
"Because some people can't stand the idea of using their powers for the benefit of others." There was a brief bitterness to his words, so cold and sharp Taylor shuddered. Thankfully, his demeanor warmed quickly as if he hadn't been angry a second ago. "Other times, it's a clash of ideals. Sometimes, villains don't have to be bad guys. They can sometimes be genuinely good people. The problem is that good people can make bad decisions. The world's gray like that. There's no such thing as "true" justice. What it boils down to is what justice a person's after."
The young girl pondered on his words, thinking carefully. He made everything sound so complicated, but she was somewhat starting to understand. Villains would exist so long as there were heroes, but at the same time, heroes also existed so long as there was a villain. Justice would rise to meet evil, and evil would challenge justice.
"I think I get it…"
Once more, Taylor was certain she felt Matt smile, his hand somehow reaching her head on the first try and ruffling her hair. "I'm sure you'll understand it when you get older. Trust me, being a hero isn't all it's cracked up to be."
Three years later…
Taylor was 11-years-old when she started took to teaching herself self-defense. Her parents initially balked at the idea and wondered if it was safe. They had no idea what was happening to her, and to be honest, neither was Taylor. Over the years, her senses were growing sharper by the day. She could seemingly smell things from over a mile away, feel the textures of things around her without even touching them, pick out the sounds of everything happening within earshot, if not wider. She heard neighbors arguing, screwing each other, playing video games, or having a party all throughout the neighborhood. She could even hear her parents' own heartbeats.
It was also around this time she realized she could see.
She was still blind, but Taylor realized she could somehow hear what everything looked like. Her father's beard was growing unkempt and looked as though he was a decade or so older. Emma had started wearing her hair in a ponytail. Matt had a thin-trimmed beard and sunglasses and carried himself in a way that reminded her of Armsmaster. Speaking of, Taylor heard an obnoxiously-loud motorcycle cruising down the street when Emma dragged her to go check out a new music album from her favorite band. The guy on top of it was wearing armor, so she assumed it was him.
Her reflexes were stronger too. She could snatch things out from mid-air, even sense when something was approaching her.
It was terrifying, but at the same time, it was also exciting. She wondered if she had actually gotten superpowers when she went blind, but the idea of merely having super-enhanced senses didn't exactly give her hope for a potential superhero career. Matt's words about the relationship between heroes and villains still echoed through her head, and as the years progressed, she was starting to realize there was truth to his words. Growing older and living in one of the worst cities in the United States, Taylor found herself growing more aware of the tumultuous situation in Brockton Bay.
The Empire, which had been in the city long before she was born, was still as powerful as it ever was. The Azn Bad Boys, while having significantly fewer capes, was still somehow growing in power despite being a recent addition to the city's power bloc. The Protectorate was doing everything it could, and so was New Wave, but nothing they did seem to work. Even when it did, it didn't last very long. Superpowered criminals they put in jail broke out a day later and were back on the streets by the end of the week. It didn't help that, even with the presence of New Wave, the heroes were hilariously outnumbered.
Taylor wondered why the Protectorate allowed the villains to amass such power like this. It was clear that the heroes were struggling to do the best they could, and she didn't know enough about whoever was in charge of the Protectorate ENE to make any conclusive statements, but it was as though the rest of the organization had left Brockton Bay to rot. The ENE barely had any Wards, and despite the prestige and reputation of the local Protectorate capes, they were familiar faces and hadn't changed much.
The worst part, to her dismay, was that when the PRT did get serious, they were laser-focused on the supervillains. Regular crimes committed by regular people, like back-alley street thugs or the rank-and-file members of the gangs, were almost entirely handled by law enforcement. While the heroes did occasionally stop regular crimes like this, it was only when it was happening right in front of them.
During one of her sessions with Matt, she worked up the question to ask him for his thoughts, hoping she might get some answers.
"How come superheroes focus more on supervillains than normal criminals?"
Matt's smile, usually a comforting thing, became saddened and strained. "Because they're the only ones who can fight supervillains," he explained, his tone rather subdued. "Normal folks can't do much to fight someone who, say, can make metal grow out of their body or mold it however they want. Even the villains without superhuman durability can be frightening up close. No one wants to get up close and personal with a woman who can create explosions with light, now do they?"
"I get that," Taylor groaned in exasperation. "But what about the regular crooks? I mean, heroes are supposed to save everyone, aren't they?"
"…Taylor." Matt's voice changed again. This time, he sounded more harrowed, older than he should, and spoke with sorrow. "Heroes can't save everyone. It's impossible to save everyone when you can't be in two places at once. Sure, if heroes work together, they can save more lives…but there's always going to be that one person, just within reach, that they can't get to, no matter how much they wish."
"…hey, Matt, can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
Taylor turned to face him. She imagined she was looking into his eyes, and he into hers. "Were you a hero?"
The old man's face, ever so slightly, brightened and a wry smile wormed its way under that bushy beard of his. "That was a long time ago, and I wasn't anyone popular. Especially not here." He tilted his head inquisitively. "The other day, I heard you walking past the park. Some kids were playing baseball. It was heading your way. You caught it without any problems."
"I did," Taylor replied honestly.
Matt leaned in, elbows on the table, and spoke in a more hushed, serious manner. "…you're like me, aren't you?"
Three years later…
Recent years had not been kind to 13-year-old Taylor or the city.
Her mother died a year ago, leaving behind a deep scar that lingered. Her father suffered the worst, nearly left an emotional wreck. She feared he would turn to alcohol, but the actual result was worse in her opinion. He was barely home these days, and when he was, he barely spoke a word. She heard him glancing in her direction, making small noises, but he clamped his mouth shut at the last second. The lingering suspicions in the back of her mind grew by the day and were seemingly confirmed when Emma started telling her about how Breakthrough was seen more often.
She hated how it took her this long to figure it out.
The city wasn't in good shape. The ABB was still here, Lung uncontested, and managed to amass a considerable amount of power. In a short amount of time, his gang was now considered one of the two great powers that challenged the Protectorate ENE for control of Brockton Bay. Worse still, the heroes suffered a massive loss, specifically New Wave. Fleur had been gunned down in broad daylight in her civilian life by some random person aiming to join the Empire. Many people, including herself, thought Kaiser would reject him and string him up as an example of what happened when you crossed the line. Instead, he welcomed him with open arms.
The unmasking movement that New Wave started ended right as it was getting momentum, Fleur's death being used as an example of what happened when a cape unmasked themselves.
Taylor had no idea how New Wave was taking the loss, but she could very well imagine it. At the very least, though, she imagined their problems were nowhere near as bad as hers at the moment.
One evening when Danny was home, she surprised him by making dinner. She wished she could actually see his expression instead of hearing the muscles on his face contort. It would have been hilarious and she wondered what was going through his mind as he watched his blind daughter flawlessly make meatloaf, not missing a single step and without any help whatsoever.
"…Taylor?"
"Dinner'll be ready in a sec," she called back.
Her father swallowed. "H-how're you…?"
Taylor finished setting the timer on the oven and stepped away, taking a small breath. She was nervous and was imagining the worst possible outcomes of this conversation. She talked it over with Matt, and the man told her to go with her gut and to trust her father. She did, but at the same time, she didn't. His recent behavior hadn't been the best indicator of his mental state, and she wanted to help him. She just didn't know how. She hoped this conversation would give her an answer, maybe a solution, but there was no escaping that seed of doubt, that little thought in the back of her head.
What if she just made things worse? What if…?
…no, she was going to do this. She needed to stop being so scared, of second-guessing herself.
"…Do you remember the accident that day? When the truck swerved out of control and I couldn't see anymore?"
"I couldn't forget, even if I tried," Danny said miserably. "What happened that day was…"
"It wasn't your fault," she told him as she pulled away from the oven. "You couldn't have known what was going to happen. No one knew that truck was going to go out of control or tip over. No one had any idea what was inside those barrels. You couldn't have known I was going to slip away while you were arguing with Kurt over the phone."
"That's…"
"Speaking of Kurt, I heard you arguing with him outside in the car." She heard her father stiffen. "He noticed you limping, and you had a blood smear on your collarbone. You also caught your foot on that stupid step."
"H-how did you…?"
"I can smell Mrs. Hendrickson making her chicken pot pie right now. I can hear Mr. Cole from across the street arguing with his son about his bad grades. I can even hear your heartbeat right now, Dad. It's going a hundred miles an hour."
"T-Taylor, what are—"
"You're a cape." A thick, poignant silence followed those three damning words. Taylor focused her hearing on what was happening inside the house rather than outside, listening to the creaks and groans of the wood and frame within the walls. She hadn't realized the house was so old. "You're Breakthrough. That's why you've been coming home so late, why you come home with bruises and cuts. Why Mom always worried over you."
Taylor smiled sadly. "Why you haven't been coming home as often."
For a while, there was nothing. There was just the silence, dead and empty as a graveyard. Danny's face was wet. She heard water dripping to the floor.
"When Mom died, it hurt. It still hurts. Every time I come home, I think she'll be on the couch reading a book, at the table with you, or in the kitchen making something. She used to hum while she was cooking, did you know? I think it was a song she listened to on the radio. Bohemian Rhapsody. When I come home, I think you'll be here."
Danny opened his mouth, to say something, maybe a deflection or rebuke, but she stopped him.
"I'm scared." The sound died in his throat then. "I'm scared about a lot of things. I'm scared that things in the city will get better before they get worse. I'm scared I might not see Emma again because either she moved away to escape all this craziness or someone broke into her home and killed her. Do you know what scares me the most, though?"
"I'm scared that I won't get to hear your voice again."
Her father fell to his knees, his sobs echoing across the house if not the street. Taylor walked over and wrapped her arms around him. He held onto her for dear life, as if afraid she'll disappear.
"Please promise you'll come back safe."
"I'm glad your dad's doing better," Emma said as she and Taylor walked through the warm, sunny streets of Brockton Bay. "No offense, but he does not look good with a beard that bushy. I don't think even Armsmaster could pull off that look."
Taylor giggled. "He swore at least ten different times while he was shaving in the bathroom yesterday."
"I take it you and Uncle Danny finally had that talk you've been wanting?"
"We did, yeah. There wasn't any screaming involved—" Thank god for that. "—And we hashed some things out. I doubt he'll be home more often, but at the very least, he promised he'll call me in case something happens." Taylor took on a more mischievous smile as she tilted her head in Emma's direction, enough to make it seem like she knew where her friend was, but not enough that she was looking directly at her. "I also messed with his phone and called his co-workers, asking them to give him hell if he started being stupid."
Her dad sounded scandalized when he found out, though his initial reaction was him wanting to know how the hell she could even work his phone. "Blind people are bullshit," Matt said, conveniently arriving at that moment and scaring the shit out of her father. It was hilarious, and judging by the shit-eating grin on the old man's face, it had been intentional. On the subject of phone calls, she had to suppress the urge to ask her father to get her an autograph from Miss Militia as it was the military-themed woman who answered the first phone call.
"Oh my god, that sounds amazing," Emma laughed.
Taylor had a feeling this was going to be a good day. Her training was going well, and her senses were growing sharper by the day. Before long, Matt's words about blind people being bullshit were going to be scarily accurate. Her only gripe about the day was how hot it was and deeply regretted wearing a black long-sleeve shirt. Her impression was further soured by the sound of footsteps coming from the alley coming in front of them and hushed whispers, all spoken in Japanese.
Her grip on the walking stick tightened.
"How about we hit that new ice cream place that opened a few days ago?" Emma suggested, blissfully unaware of what was about to happen. "I heard their rocky road is to die for!"
The whispers became louder and switched to rough, broken English. Taylor heard the sound of a knife scraping from its confines. No, not a knife; a switchblade. The ABB thugs stepped out of the alley and stopped the girls. "Hold it right there, gaijin."
Emma froze, her heart rate spiking. Taylor's grip on her walking stick became like a vice and clenched her teeth.
"In the alley," the first thug's female partner said, gesturing to the aforementioned area. "Now."
"W-what do we do?" Emma asked fearfully.
Taylor didn't respond verbally. She held Emma's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, and a smile full of teeth.
"Okay, run that by me again?"
"It was amazing! It was like out of a kung-fu movie!" Emma was gushing like a three-year-old on a sugar rush, waving her hands around and mimicking Taylor's movements from before. "She kicked their butts like it was nothing! Like, she stabbed the first gut in the foot with her stick, then kicked him in the balls and beat him over the head with her cane! Oh, oh, and the chick with the knife, she just ran at Taylor, and my friend just trips her up and makes her hit the wall face-first and whacks her until she's on the ground."
The officer sitting on top of the desk snickered, as had the rest of the cops surrounding them. "It's like hearing a youtube video on repeat," she said jovially. "And you're sure your friend is blind?"
"I just have very good hearing," Taylor said.
The second officer, the one who found Taylor and Emma standing over two beaten ABB thugs, rolled his eyes as he looked at his friends. "If there's one thing I've learned since I was transferred to this department, it's that blind people are bullshit. Take that lawyer for instance. Er, Matthew whats-his-face."
"Murdock," Taylor corrected succinctly. "Matthew Murdock. He's my Braille teacher."
"Yeah, him! I got a call the other day, saying some dumbass thought it might be a good idea to rob a bank. Keep in mind, Carol fucking Dallon was there with Glory Girl, so I'm half-expecting the guy to end up buried in the wall by the time I get there. Do you know what I find? The poor sumbitch on the ground with a bleeding, broken nose and threatening to sue a blind old guy with a walking stick, who is also a goddamn lawyer."
Detective Coulson, the man in charge of Taylor and Emma's case, smirked. "I bet that guy must be shitting bricks. He should consider himself lucky New Wave didn't pounce on his ass. Speaking of shitting bricks, I don't feel sorry for Asaki at the moment. Threats of rape and slavery, and assaulting a blind girl on top of that? His ass is done."
"Asaki?" Taylor asked.
The second detective nodded. "Yeah, the guy whose balls you smashed. He's a regular here at the station, but the evidence was all hearsay and circumstantial. We haven't been able to get anything to stick, and it doesn't help his daddy has a slimeball of a lawyer. After this, though? That punk will be lucky if he makes bail."
As it turned out, Asaki had been able to make bail. He was still set to appear in court in regards to his latest stunt, but in the meantime, he was allowed to walk the streets like a free man.
"He's a dead man walking," Matt told her one day as they traded blows, his billy club smashing against her staff. "The evidence and eye-witness reports alone are enough to throw him behind bars."
"What about ngh his lawyer?" Taylor grunted as she was forced on the backpedal. Matt was relentless, and to her surprise, he was rather spry for an old man. He was ruthless and strict, and each blow was deliberately meant to cause bodily injury. This wasn't a spar, but a lesson. He wanted to teach her what she was getting into. "Won't he manage to keep him out of jail?"
She backed away to put some distance between them. A fatal mistake as she ended up stretching her legs too far apart and he swept the rug out from under her. One low sweep kick to the ankle and she was on the floor, billy club aimed at her throat.
"He won't," he told her firmly. "Not when you're called up."
A few months later, the day Asaki's fate was to be decided came. Just as Matt said, Taylor was called up to the stand. So far, the case seemed to be open and shut, but the ABB thug's lawyer was as slimy as she heard. Most of the jury was indecisive, but some bought into his tales, twisting and angling the truth to make it seem as though what happened was self-defense. It became clear to Taylor as the case was slowly nearing its conclusion that the man was building up to this moment. He wanted to humiliate her, the "supposed" victim of the attack.
"Now, if you're sure this man attacked you, can you identify him here, in this courtroom?"
I understood what Matt meant then. I resisted the urge to smile. "No, I can't."
"No further questions," the lawyer replied in a way that implied he won. I could hear the smug grin on his face.
The defense attorney, on the other hand, must have realized there was something wrong. "Miss Hebert, is there a reason why you can't identify the man who attacked you?"
I removed my sunglasses, revealing my apparent milk-gray eyes. "Because I'm blind."
Hushed whispers rose through the courtroom. The lawyer's heart rate started to rise rapidly. He made a very fatal mistake, as had Asaki judging by the way his heart rate also spiked and rammed against his chest.
Before long, the court hearing was over and the jury made their decision. Asaki was on his way to jail.
Two years later, Present Day
April 9, 2011
Kid Win sighed. Tonight was another boring night out on patrol. Worse still, there was a mock exam coming up soon, and there was barely enough time to study. Rumors of the ABB obtaining a tinker spread through the PRT, and there was suspicion the tinker in question was the Cornell University bomber. He didn't fancy the idea of fighting goons with highly sophisticated bombs, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he ended up clashing with them. He hoped that, by then, he figured out what his specialty was and upgraded the Wards' equipment.
As he cruised through the empty streets of Boardwalk, Kid Win noticed an emergency flag pop up on his HUD. He tapped the button on the side of his visor. The flag was for a police scanner report.
"Console, this is Kid Win, going to investigate supposed gang activity on Blakely Boulevard, over."
"Kid Win to Console, we read you loud and clear," Clockblocker said. "You know you're going to get into trouble for this, right?"
"I know, man, but come on. We're supposed to be heroes! We should be stopping villains of all kinds, not just the supers."
"I get you, but you know how anal-retentive ol' Halbeard gets when we break protocol."
Kid Win scoffed. "The Director's even worse than he is. I'll take Armsmaster any day." He sped up on his hoverboard and quickly moved to reach the site of the disturbance. When he arrived, he slid to a stop and hopped off his board. His HUD quickly picked up loud noises coming from inside one of the nearby buildings, a jewelry store ten feet away. He jogged up to the store and whipped out some of his disks, hoping to make this a quick engagement.
He didn't expect to find a group of Merchant grunts all laid out on the floor, groaning in pain and whimpering.
"What in the…?"
Did someone get here before he did? When he moved to investigate, he found that the thugs had all been bound with zip-ties. Their injuries weren't severe or life-threatening, but the shape of the bruises indicated a weapon. Something blunt, like a club or a staff.
His HUD went off again, this time one of the programs Armsmaster installed. There was someone racing up on the rooftop. Kid Win quickly hopped on top of his hoverboard and flew up to the roof, going to see who was responsible for the arrest and to see whether they were a vigilante like Shadow Stalker or a new independent hero. He found them just reaching the edge of the roof and called out. "Wait!"
To his surprise, his shout worked. They slowed to a halt, stopping just short of the edge. From the look of their outfit, they were new. They were wearing street clothes; a vibrant red jacket with a hood, black fingerless gloves, camo jeans, and boots. At their hip, neatly strapped to a holster, was what looked to be a series of sticks, perhaps the implement in question.
Just as Kid Win was about to question them, all within the procedures drilled into his head since day one of joining the Wards, the unknown turned around and—
He gasped. "Holy…"
A dark red mask glared at him, red eyes staring in judgment. Two horns jutted out from the forehead. Dark, beautiful long hair tied back in a ponytail cascaded down her shoulders. A scarlet scarf was neatly wrapped around her shoulders, obscuring her mouth.
Before he could find his voice, the unknown cape stepped off the edge and fell off the roof. Kid Win got over his shock and raced over to the edge, looking down to see where the cape was. All he saw was an empty-filled alley down below, with not a soul in sight. His HUD also found nothing of interest.
"Kid Win, this is Console? Is everything okay on your end?"
"…I think I might need a Master/Stranger containment treatment, cause I swear, I just saw the fucking devil staring at me."
What went unsaid, and the secret he planned on taking to his grave, was how beautiful the woman was.
Unbeknownst to Kid Win at the time, and something he would learn later on throughout the year, it was his first-ever meeting with the woman without fear.
The Devil of Brockton Bay.
A/N: So, this is the result of a plot bunny that started a few years back, like it sat in the back of my head and refused to leave. This was when around the time the Netflix Daredevil series was ongoing, but at that time, I knew absolutely nothing of wildbow or Worm, nor did I even know of their existence. I didn't pursue the idea at the time because I had other things on my mind at the time. I thought the idea faded for the longest time…and then it came back with a vengeance when Charlie Cox made a cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Not helping matters was me finding a one-shot chapter of DireSquirrel's False Starts Worm, in which Taylor maybe-possibly Triggered with the powers of Daredevil, including being blinded.
Saints and Sinners, which has somehow become one of my more popular works here on Spacebattles, has made me revisit this idea. I have no idea whether this will become its own story, but I did settle on publishing a one-shot. It's a very rough idea, but it outlines what I'm aiming for. Specifically, Taylor focusing not on the superpowered criminals of her city, but on the regular going-ons and stuff the Protectorate and PRT usually overlook or can't be bothered to deal with unless it happens right in front of them.
As for the backstory of this idea, this isn't like Saints and Sinners where the Ghost Rider, Hell, and Heaven have been on Earth-Bet since day one. This is one of those instances where a character from Marvel gets transplanted into the crapsack world that is Earth-Bet. This particular iteration of Matthew Murdock, who I should note is well in his fifties or sixties, is from one of the alternate continuities of Marvel. Specifically, he's from the same continuity as Spidey from Chip Zdarsky's Spider-Man comic "Life Story", where the characters actually aged and Spidey is an old man by the time Miles Morales takes up the mantle. The question of how or why Matt is on Earth-Bet isn't something I've answered myself, as again, this is more a rough idea and one-shot.
Anyways, that's it for this neat little nugget. We will return to our daily scheduled programming in March.
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RoboRenee
Trans of gender
- Location
- FFXIV, probably
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It's a very neat idea, but as a full story if Matt's involved I would recommend not having Taylor have a 1:1 recreation of Matt's own blinding incident and abilities. Change the accident and make it Trigger-based powers or something. Taylor gets all senses (minus sight maybe?) of all living things in a two block radius, or has some kind of 'radar' sense that skips past all the mechanics of Matt's false sight straight to the result of knowing where everything near her is, or something like that. Similarities to Matt exist, drawing his interest and giving him ways to help, but not such a direct duplication that it would, frankly speaking, be Very Weird for Matt himself the moment he notices that not only does she have his exact powers but also she got them the same exact way.
- Location
- Philippines
I don't know if it's just a joke or if it's real but I remember that Ghost rider doesn't like daredevil because he fits the name better as he was a stunt motorcyclist. The fact that the one-shot you made in the Ghost Rider Alt-power is about a Daredevil Alt-power just tickles my funny bone