Poor guy does not realize Taytertot can completely ignore most any trap unless it's so well hidden or misleading as to bypass her currently unknown ability to just spy on everyone
On another note, girl has one of the greatest of torture tactics a la water torture.
Imagine, nonstop for days on end, randomly getting poked
I think thepower is acting I a similar fashion to Labyrinths as in the more she uses it it further reduces her mobility but she has utterly nuts range so long as whatever she is doing can be accomplished with the force vector of her own body or multiples thereof
I think thepower is acting I a similar fashion to Labyrinth's as in the more she uses it it further reduces her mobility but she has utterly nuts range so long as whatever she is doing can be accomplished with the force vector of her own body or multiples thereof
Yes, I do agree that is a exacting similarly between the power this version of Taylor has the Labyrinth's power.
However, I just have this feeling that Taylor should be able to explore her alternate environments and should be able to draw what she finds is alternate environments into her primary reality.
Skidmark was confident that they could take care of the mysterious attacker. He had planned this all out in advance.
There were many hiding spots in the room, which he designated as the kill zone. Within the room, they had put most of their drugs from their remaining stashes as bait for the mysterious attacker. The attacker seemed to always hit places that had a lot of drugs in them, even if they were not Merchant areas. So he was sure that they would come.
He really don't know who they are fighting, though he thinks it might be a group of two or three. It is impossible for a single person, even if they are a Cape, to just arrest a lot of their members without being seen. He thinks they might have some sort of useful powers to pull it off. Might be a combination of Stranger, Thinker, and Mover if they can do it at a fast pace.
It is why they are inside a vehicle in a park that is hidden by the decrepit structures around it. Their vehicle is facing the wall at the side of this building, which is a bit near to the room where the kill zone is located if they ignore the wall as an obstacle.
This vehicle that Squealer made is one of her older version. The cruder one that is only for firepower. They don't use it that much because he didn't want the heat from the local heroes, so her stealth vehicle is a lot more preferable to their usual modus operandi.
This old vehicle was upgraded for a bit, giving it a new function. There is now a human radar for it, which can obviously detect people within two kilometers in diameter. She said that it can detect people and pinpoint their location through soundwaves, distortions within air flow and light particles, and changes in temperatures.
This has been done to specifically detect invisible beings. If they are fighting a Stranger, then they need to at least have something like that. She said it is only possible because of the new tools that she got. Scavenging most of the power tools they looted for the upgrade.
Other than that, she strengthened the security of this vehicle. It is impossible to get inside here due to the platings that she made, thanks once again to the tools that she scavenged for new parts. Then a door that needs voice recognition or a password to open first.
Because he thinks they are dealing with someone who can secretly sneak around them, he told Squealer to make something that will make it hard for their mysterious attacker. So she did that in case of the mysterious attacker sneaking inside their vehicle.
Along with that are the old functions that has been slightly upgraded. There is a giant nuzzle on the front of this car that is a mix of a van and a bus, with some spikes or chains that goes around it's frame. The giant nuzzle is the main weapon to punch through brutes. It uses a high caliber shell that will surely pierce through walls. There also two miniguns installed on the side of what can be considered as the car lights of this vehicle, which only uses the usual rounds for minigun.
Along with that, the front have a hull-like refit. It's use is for ramming on things. The only reason is to slam to the walls without any problem.
With all of that, he knew they are ready. It will be impossible to get inside here, and even if their mysterious attacker managed to get inside. He can easily repel them with his powers. So he is becoming a bit complacent with this.
It's all planned out. He thinks he just need to wait for their assailant to trigger their trap.
Who would have thought that their mystery attacker is already here?
Without any warning, he felt something grabbing onto his limbs, and his body. It felt like multiple arms and hands are trying to hold him and push him down. His eyes widened and then he looks up, seeing that Squealer and the other Cape he have named Mush, also being pressed on the ground. With Squealer trying to scream out some profanities with surprise evident on her face.
"The fuck!?" He screamed out. He can't believe it. It seems like their attacker is already here, and it wasn't even detected by the human radar installed on this vehicle.
All of that preparation, and then seeing it all be useless makes him snarl in anger.
"Bitch!" He growled out, activating his power to surround him. Creating a repelling force so they will be blown away. "Huh!?" His eyes widened once more as he notices that the multiple invisible beings holding him down weren't even affected by what he did.
He tried to struggle, squirming his body around and finding it difficult to even lift his arms or kick his legs. He can feel the digging sensation of some sort of rope being wrapped around his wrists and on his ankles.
"Motherfucking coward! I fucking swear I'll smash your stupid face when I get my hands on y---!?" He tried to scream out in anger, but was stopped as he felt his mouth was gagged by some sort of clothing.
His eyes frantically look around, and he saw Mush managing to free himself from the mysterious pressure surrounding him, only to come back groaning as he was slammed face first into the ground once more. Squealer wasn't faring better, already bounded and gagged on the floor.
He tried to think of a way to escape here. Activating some of his powers so he can push himself away from this place. Though as he is just managing to layer some of his attraction field so his hand can be pulled to it, along with his body, his vision suddenly turned black.
"Hmmmmrgfh!?" He screams, squirming around as he a clothe suddenly appeared on his head. Becoming an impromptu blindfold. This makes it impossible for him to activate his powers anymore. He needs his sight for his powers to stay in effect.
As the three Capes of this group are squirming around and trying to hurl swear words to those whose mouth weren't muffled yet, the silent whirr of the vehicle slowly comes to a standstill, and then finally was turned off after a simple click of a button.
"... Holy shit... how....!?" Squealer exclaims, noticing that the emergency shutdown button was pushed by someone they can't see. She doesn't even know how their hidden assailant learned about it, as there are many buttons along with it to cause this vehicle to self-destruct.
Regardless of her confusion, the fact is they have been defeated in less than a minute. The following moments were spent sitting here and hearing the muffled sounds of glasses breaking outside their vehicle, which seems to be the indicator that Poltergeist is the one who is doing it.
In the end, the familiar noise of a siren and vans was heard on the distance, and later on arrived here. "Hm. Interesting." Armsmaster muttered to himself as he looks at the interior of the confiscated tinker vehicle.
It's been some time since the arrest of the minor gang called the Archer's Bridge Merchants. All of their Capes has been found on this very vehicle, and inside the building their members were also found tied up and squirming around with most of them looking fearful and some unconscious. The sacks and containers of drugs were put neatly in the middle of the large room, the windows were left shattered, and a phone was left on atop the mountain of drugs with the call to PRT still ongoing.
Now within the PRT HQ, on the garage, he is inspecting the vehicle of the criminal Cape known as Squealer. Nodding his head for a bit and then shaking his head on the other parts.
"What do you think?" The sound of a girl asked within the voice speakers installed within his helmet.
"I don't know. Poltergeist didn't leave any footprints, or even fingerprints on the scene. We don't know how they got to that place."
"... Do you think it's not just a single person?"
"Likely." He grunted before continuing. "Might be a group. They might have a Stranger, or a Shaker/Stranger who can replace traces of their presence there."
"Hmmm.... but based on the claims of those Merchant members, they felt like some invisible limbs are holding them down." Dragon said.
"Multiple people?" He shakes his head. "No, I read the report. They claimed that all of them were held down simultaneously. That will be weird due to the distance between themselves and their general positions." He said before continuing. "That might take approximately 1,000 people just to achieve something as holding all of them down without anyway to defend themselves." He said before continuing. "I think there might be a Master amongst the group. Likely someone who can create projections, and the hypothetical Stranger/Shaker uses their power to remove traces of their existence... though that kind of conclusion is nothing without any concrete evidence." He said.
"Yes." She said. "That additional installment there seems to be a human radar. Just by it's make, it seems like it is capable of detecting human presence through soundwaves and distortions from light waves and air flow." Dragon stated when he turned to look at the front of this monstrosity.
He is not that surprised that she easily managed to learn how it functions. The one he is currently talking to is known as the greatest Tinker of the world. Understanding Tinkertechs is just a cinch for her.
"I see." He said, now becoming a bit confused. "It seems like it is specifically made to detect invisible beings." He said, now frowning. "Then my earlier hypothesis are wrong." He finally said with a sigh.
"So it's back to square one then."
He frowned at that. He actually felt that he is wasting his time just investigating about this. He have a lot of projects he wanted to do, and this case is holding him out for that.
He really can't do anything though. Director Piggot has specifically asked for him to track the hypothetical Cape known as Poltergeist, due to how extremely effective they are, and also the worrying aspect of what they can do, and might do next after they are done with the low profile gang. They don't know their motives, and why they are even doing this. So they need to encounter whoever it is, and at least learn their motivations.
They don't leave any trace so most Protectorate heroes are useless. The Wards are not allowed to do anything, as the hypothetical Cape might be extremely aggressive.
Poltergeist might not be that violent. Only leaving some minor bruising on the face of their captives likely due to being held down on the ground, and just tying up the criminals. Though they also have a worrying habit of breaking the glasses of the building after calling the authorities.
He is the only one who might have a chance to track them. He can create a lot of devices that might be able to detect their mystery Cape. Though for his personal opinion, he might not be able to satisfy their expectations.
He even felt stumped as the one they are tracking felt like they don't exist. No esoteric energies or mundane traces left. Nothing. It just happened as if a ghost just came through.
He shakes his head, and decided to think up some ideas, despite nothing coming up.
Something I'm wondering. At the start, some of the alternate worlds were listed as having weird stuff, like some kind of reptile creatures fighting. Are all the alternate worlds identical to baseline, or are a bunch of them different in ways such that taylor can essentially replicate literally any effect by pulling something from one of those worlds
Edit:examples. 1. Sundance. Transport a miniature sun based fusion reactor that is about to go critical
2. Fletchet. Transport an item that is in empty space in an alt world, but inside something in the original world.
3. Trickster-pull 2 copies of people from alt worlds on top of people, potentially using an alt world item to delete the originals. Or a tinkertech teleporter.
4. Literally any tinker power by pulling tinkertech from another world.
5. Any brute. Use alt selves to layer nearly infinitely many copies of herself in a shield, using the copies to also pick herself up.
6. Blaster. Toss photons from an alternate world into the original, or other stuff.
7. Shaker. Basically this anyways when she grabs everyone.
8. Master. Use as many copies of herself as she needs to perfectly grab someone.
Honestly, the fact that she could potentially pull tinkertech means she could get almost any power anyways.
Something I'm wondering. At the start, some of the alternate worlds were listed as having weird stuff, like some kind of reptile creatures fighting. Are all the alternate worlds identical to baseline, or are a bunch of them different in ways such that taylor can essentially replicate literally any effect by pulling something from one of those worlds
I think Tom will be intensely interested in Poltergeist now that Taylor has remove the Archer's Bridge Merchants as a gang from the board that is Brockton Bay.
Colin will be uselessly spinning his mental gears looking for a solution to the issue of Poltergeist.
Skidmark is confident that they can take care of the mysterious attacker. He have planned this all out.
There are many hiding spots on the room which he designated as the kill zone. Within this room, they have put most of their drugs from their remaining stashes as a bait for the mysterious attacker. The mysterious attacker seems to always hit places that have a lot of drugs with it, even if it's not Merchant area. So he is sure that they will come.
You might have to work on your pov and usage of tenses. It reads like first-person written in third-person.
English is not my first language, mind you. But maybe this might work better:
"Skidmark was confident that they could take care of the mysterious attacker. He had planned this all out in advance.
There were many hiding spots in the room, which he designated as the kill zone. Within the room, they had put most of their drugs from their remaining stashes as bait for the mysterious attacker. The attacker seemed to always hit places that had a lot of drugs in them, even if they were not Merchant areas. So he was sure that they would come."
@Levelgap - You are most welcome. I am looking finding out what threat rating the PRT gives Taylor.
I think it would be really cool if Taylor could pull a steampunk artificer to Earth Bet.
Whatever her ratings are they will be fairly high mostly on account of actually dealing with Poltergeist from the Prts perspective is a bloody nightmare until they can find out who Taylor is
Why do the prt always think that there is more than one people doing shit? I mean yeah, it is possible, but look at crusader for an example, he can create ghosts and they have a gimmick of not touching inorganic stuff, why not consider that there could be a similar cape out there?
Why do the prt always think that there is more than one people doing shit? I mean yeah, it is possible, but look at crusader for an example, he can create ghosts and they have a gimmick of not touching inorganic stuff, why not consider that there could be a similar cape out there?
I'm not completely sure if it's canon or fanon, but it seems with the fantastic, came a strong desire to Occam's Razor every "complex" with as mundane solution as possible Heaven forbid they try to understand a Jojo stand, they would go straight to "Master projection" without even trying to understand the nuances of some of them
Now, Back to your regularly scheduled brooding Colin
I have a feeling that Emily will be incredulously skeptical of the footage for thirty seconds, believe what she is seeing for the next ninth seconds, and while whatever remaining time is left in the grip of steadily rising horror as her imagination goes wild feeds her increasingly elaborate and terrifying scenarios.
And sadly come to pass over the course of the next weeks as Poltergeist goes after and attacks the remaining two gang in the Bay.
Tom and Max think Emily is crazy for 'chasing ghosts.' Ago least until 'spooky stuff' starts happening to their operations.
Just thinking about what I did tonight is nerve-wracking. I mean, what the hell is with those buttons!? Are those druggies suicidal!?
Good thing I tried pushing the buttons on my alternates first, and see it exploding on my face before dismissing those visions. It took me what? Twenty or so tries before I finally turned that vehicle off!
That vehicle is honestly amazing, it can track literally any person. Even me. Though it's a good thing only it's alternates managed to detect me, not the original one.
Currently I am fed some oatmeals by my Dad. It is a bit plain for my taste, but I can't chew that carefully because of the stiffness of my body. It seems like I am still unused to opening a few thousands of my alternates. This might take a few days once again.
-While the original me is busy being fed the oatmeal, I am standing outside the house. Perking my head up when I noticed the familiar sedan that Lacey and Kurt is riding in.
I don't even have to wait as I saw Lacey getting inside and greeting us along with Kurt, who greeted my Dad for a bit, before leaving to get to the Union.
"Okay." I heard Dad saying, before turning to me.."I'll be leaving now kiddo. Please tell Lacey if you are feeling anything."
It takes me awhile, but I finally grunted in response. Seeing him smile wryly for a bit, before he stood up and then look at Lacey. Nodding to her before leaving the house.
Okay, so I am alone with Lacey once more. What should I do?
.... Well, actually, I am doing a lot.
-I am busy reading some of the books in my room. I have a lot of books I am just reading for now, after realizing that I can actually do that.
--And reading on the couch.
--And sitting on the roof while reading.
-I am also riding on a car alone on the streets, on this alternate version of my city where there are no people.
--Also riding a bike.
--And riding a truck.
-It's also fun using the shooting range on some gun shops I found on the Docks. Using each of the guns and mostly fumbling on it.
--Wincing at the strong recoil of the shotgun.
--Not trying anymore after feeling my ears ringing at the sound of this semiautomatic rifle.
--Running away and thinking of dismissing this reality as I burned the building accidentally....
... Okay, that last one is not fun. But basically, I am doing a lot of things on this city. Mostly on the versions where no alternate versions of the people around here are existing.
It's a really fun way of messing around. It's not like I am hurting anyone, as I am limiting my activities on these empty alternates. It's also a really good way of passing my time.
Of course I didn't forget to use the majority of my visions to keep up with my Dad. I still need to know what is happening, and make sure that he is safe, along with every Dockworkers there.
Though... I really think I should try and finally start looking at those Parallel Worlds. Messing around with these Alternate Worlds is fun, but I am also feeling very curious about those entirely different worlds.
Right. I have some spare visions that are not doing anything, so I dismissed them and finally tried to glance to my metaphorical side.
-My eyes went over the trunk of the tree, before looking around. Seeing that I am deep within a forest. The leaves of the trees creating a shade that blocks out most of the sunlight, making it a bit dark here.
Oh... this place is interesting.
-I opened my eyes to gaze at a crowded bazaar of many people wearing some sort of gear that I can say is ancient. The ground is sandy, and if I think about it, I might be in some desert nation just looking at those structures that might be made of sand or something with an equivalent color.
This is a bit different...
-I am in some sort of a dark room. Looking at the large window to my side and seeing the blood red moon on the night sky, and some bats flying around in a circular formation. I also hear some disturbing noises outside this room.
.... Uh... okay. Nope. I'll just dismiss that vision.
It seems like with my free visions, I managed to look through twenty Parallel Worlds at least. I dismissed the worlds that looks a bit intimidating and scary, and replaced it with some worlds which I hope to get to some worlds that looks more interesting.
"-aylor... are you alright?"
I blinked when I finally noticed Lacey gently nudging my shoulders and waving her other hand in front of my face. I turned to her, before nodding. My alternates wincing at just noticing her for now.
I see her frowning. "That took some time..." She said before letting out a sigh.
I can only stare at her, while feeling a bit busy at my explorations on the Parallel Worlds, and also some of my fun activities at those empty Alternate Worlds.
Yes. I still need to take care of my original self. Ugh... I really wonder why is it more easy to be aware at my many alternates than my original self?
Well, I'm sure I can get used to this. I have a lot of time! Lung, the leader of ABB, one of the major gangs on Brockton Bay, is currently simmering in rage as he hears the report of one of his lieutenant. It seems like one of their drug stash has been raided by the mysterious Cape that the PRT designated as Poltergeist.
ABB might be more known on their illegal human trafficking and their prostitutes, but they also need money, so they used some illicit trades to acquire it like black markets, underground casinos, or selling some imported drugs.
Hearing that someone dared to even take something from him. The one feared by many that even their rival gang who have a lot of Capes on their side doesn't dare to provoke him. It's also the case for the PRT. They mostly try to avoid encountering him if they can help it.
Anyone from this city knows that he is dangerous. His infamy known due to him managing to stand equally (they think) against those forces of brutal nature known as the Endbringers. Creatures that can easily destroy a whole city, and even sink an island, as evident to his hometown vanishing on the map.
Hearing that a newbie at the scene dares to even touch one of his hoard makes him a bit irritable. It felt like an insult. Like someone just doesn't care about his face.
"Lee." He growled out.
Suddenly, a person clad with a black bodysuit and wearing a mask of some Japanese demon appeared behind him. Kneeling in respect to his presence.
"Find out who is this Poltergeist!" He said, before dismissing him with a wave.
The Cape with the demon mask continues kneeling on his side, before quickly turning into ashes. In a certain building somewhere on the city, a certain blonde girl is currently looking at her laptop. Her eyes roaming around a document detailing a case file for Poltergeist.
Lisa has been ordered by the backer of her team to find out anything she can on the individual known as Poltergeist. By the sound of it, it seems like her Boss is curious about this mystery Cape. Though as to his intention what he wanted to do, she actually don't know.
Her hypothesis is that he only felt curious, though within her mind, she thinks he might just be planning something for Poltergeist. It's just a thought, which her powers seems to take as a fact and is feeding her info. Info that she knows are biased and obviously false, just because she really hates her Boss.
"... I am also curious about Poltergeist." She muttered to herself, as she looks through the different reports about the Poltergeist Cases.
[Stranger. Heroic in nature. Capable of being unseen by anyone. No. Stranger/Master. Capable of creating invisible projections. Range is approximately one to two blocks. False. All criminals were apprehended at the same time. Managed to shutdown the Tinkertech Vehicle in one try. Two people. One is Thinker, and the other is a Stranger/Master. Thinker gives intel, Stranger/Master acts as the enforcer.]
She shakes her head at that, feeling a headache forming on her forehead.
She also felt that the hypothesis makes sense. It's impossible for a single Cape to do all of that without making a mistake. So they might have a partner at least for planning.
Though, there are also flaws within that conclusion. Returning her gaze back at the laptop, she nudges her power once more to get more info.
[Conclusion incorrect. No suspicious person sighted near the scene of conflict. Hypothetical Cape capable of hiding presence in camera. False. Report stated no distortions on air flow and light particles. Cape is intangible and invisible. Redundant. Themed like a ghost. Conclusion flawed.]
She gritted her teeth at the dead ends she is hitting.
It always comes back to whoever is this Cape. It's impossible for it to be a single Cape, though it's also impossible for it to be multiple Capes. A single Cape might be capable of creating invisible projections that also can't influence air flow and light, but can easily affect organic creatures. Though that still doesn't explain how they seemingly know where every members are located, and how they get inside the vehicle and deactivate in on a single try.
If they are themed like a ghost, then they shouldn't be capable of any Thinker aspect. Unless they have outside help. But whoever is that Thinker should be present on the scene, as no Cape have identical powers. There might be closely identical powers, but not truly a copy of the other.
They might be a Trump, a type of Cape that can grant or remove powers, or generally affect powers themselves. A Trump who can turn a lot of people invisible, and even the projections if they have that. Though that would mean that Poltergeist consists of at least three people within it.
A Master for projections due to reports of being held by a lot of limbs at the same time, a Thinker for planning and conveying battlefield support, and a Trump who can turn everyone invisible.
'But is that really it?' She thought, feeling dubious at that thought.
If they are a group, then that group might be really paranoid as to not even announce themselves. There is no news about a group of Parahumans arriving on this city, so these might be new triggers.
Though if they are new Capes, then they should already be fumbling their way and showing themselves, even if unintentionally. A lot of things doesn't add up if she thinks there are three people working in tandem to sell the image of a mystery Cape.
There is also the possibility that the group behind the Poltergeist persona actually have the same powers. Though that would mean these people might be close with each other, and all of them triggered at the same time, in a single place.
"Ugh.... I'll do this next time!" For now, she gave up. She really can't make sense of the data given to her.
So this chapter shows that some factions are getting curious at the mysterious Cape, and ABB being provoked as Taylor unknowingly strikes an ABB drug stash, thinking they might be a part of the Merchants.
Great, now Lung has to get someone to clean up the ash pile in his inner sanctum. Ash stains are always pain to get out. I hope he didn't do that on the nice rug.
Taytertot almost has a busted version of Tom's power
While the poor noodle is stuck picking heads or tails, Tay has significantly more options that are just as impossible to prove unless you can break the fourth wall
It just happens all the paths can intersect without touching, if that makes any sense
Yup its very much a case of just having a high end power that's just hard enough to get accurate information on so they end up thinking its multiple capes because people who can do all of the things she is doing at once are exceedingly rare and its kinda oddball even by Parahuman standards and thus throws people for a loop
Welp, Taylor is in trouble now. Kenta has sicced Lee on her and she has a Holmesian Sleuth on her tail. Although, it is funny to see Lisa just as stumped and useless as Colin.
It is cool to see Taylor starting to explore the more unusual and unique environments she has access to.
