ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Adding one more in three, two, one...
Worm: Blanket aka The Diaper Changer (Com-pleated)
- Thread starter ScottotheUnwise
- Start date
Adding one more in three, two, one...
Patch me up
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
*************** Pacifier 8
The sun was starting to go down, the transition here with mountains to the west was quicker due to clouds building --the forecast called for rain tonight and tomorrow. But as the light dimmed further there were flashes of light from the direction of the roar.
Standing in the street in front of HIS car, I could almost track the progress of that light. Street lights were coming on here and there, but along that path they flickered and went off again as the flame light passed.
It was too quick for him to be on foot, but far too soon for him to be in dragon form with wings. I didn't understand until I saw a flatbed tow truck come around the corner at the end of the block. Crouched behind the cab as it drove this way was Lung himself. I mean, how many iron masks are there in the Bay? Okay, three I suppose, but how many with fire whooshing out with each breath like a flaming mustache?
The tow truck pulled to a stop and the man on it unfolded his legs. Oh crap, he was sitting the whole time? He eased off it, possibly to take care not to damage the truck, and turned my way.
Nine foot tall, he stalked toward me and the car. I had stepped away a few feet to the side.
He looked down at me. I mean I had assumed the crochet version automatically after not needing to be big anymore, domino mask in place. I admit as soon as I saw the fire I took on the flame resistant material for most of me, but if anyone asks I was NOT shivering.
No sir.
He stomped over to me and looked pointedly at the car.
"Did YOU do this?" Oh good, he was still in talkative mode.
I shook my head negative. "Technically, the driver did this. He was about to hit a little girl doing thirty miles an hour or more. I got in the way to save her."
Lung looked at me askance. I noted he wasn't getting bigger, but neither was he shrinking.
"Does she live?" He grunted.
I look up and up. Okay, maybe he grew a little there. "Yeah. I called a 'Fire Drill' and sent her with the people living here out of the area."
His head bobbed a moment. Did he just snicker at the mention of 'Fire Drill'. "Why are these men unconscious? What did you do to them?"
"Men?" I shake my head a little. "They panicked when they saw me, pulled out guns and started shooting. The ones I could grab I put under."
The iron mask tilted. "You? A little Ward like you grabbed all of them, did all of this?"
Okay, I won't say his condescending attitude was winning any points from me. His eyes tracked mine as mine became level with his, me turning into Oogie Boogie form --while taking on the materials appropriate over my whole body. Pyreflect and Sillicaflex for the win. I wondered if Armsmaster was a little prescient, having introduced me to them on the first day…
Lungs eyes were even with mine. Then they lifted higher as he snorted fire and grew another notch. "Ou want oo ight me?" His stance shifted into something like Karate --Horse Stance I think it was called.
"And be blamed for killing these guys and destroying the car? Hell no!" My hand pointing down to the car. The interior was already starting to smolder.
His attention turned to the car again, I felt the heat pull in and away from the car and the guys in it.
I reached for one of them to have Lung grab my arm.
"--at are ou..." he paused shrinking a notch. "...doing?" His hand brushed back with a flare of fire at his fingertips. He looked at it and my arm, and my lack of reaction to it.
"I'm a healer. You just gave these guy like second degree burns at minimum." I touch the one, covering his shoulders and chest --the burns like little taps as they heal. "Either take a step back now or kill them outright if you mean to. Hurting them while they are out cold is just not right." I have my back to Lung now, shifting to shield the teens.
I use the same tendrils to flip the handguns out of the car, along with any ammunition I see.
Giving Lung a glare. "You could have made those rounds cook off, would have probably killed half of them. Smooth." Since he is not acting on that, I continue. Tendrils underneath and around them. Lifting up the four left in the car, including the driver, I place them on the grass, partly on the sidewalk. Healed up. The other two that had fallen out behind the car I move alongside the rest.
Smoke instead of fire from his nostrils as lung watches me. "You don't fear me?"
I laugh a moment. "I'm shaking with fear. If I had a bladder in this form I would have pissed myself empty when you walked up." I let myself drop down to teen girl sized, but still mostly the woven aluminum of the Pyreflect.
Lung gestured to the teens. "The police will take them?"
I shrug. "I imagine they will if you don't. They did fire on a Ward. Possession of the guns isn't exactly legal anyway."
"Huh. And you will not try to take me in?" He looks to be closer to seven feet now, the iron mask showing that it was made of several pieces that more or less overlapped from a single point on top. As the scales on his chest changed back to skin, the silver faded and I could see his tattoos.
"I'm just a Ward. We aren't authorized to make arrests on our own anyway." I josh.
I JOSHED WITH LUNG!
His snort told me he knew what I was thinking. "It is too bad. I liked this car."
Looking it over. "The front is all bashed in, but did it even reach the electric motor?" I get a 'hand' on the hood and lift it clear. "I mean the radiator and bumper were all for show anyway, right?"
He nodded then pointed to the interior. "It would have been salvageable as you say, but in my anger I burned the upholstery and trim.
He isn't wrong, the interior is trashed on the convertible. The top, even folded up is a total loss.
"If you aren't feeling so --ah-- annoyed, I could try and fix that." I offer.
His eyes flared as he focused on me. Ah, there is that pants wetting fear again. "What do you want?"
Hands wide. "Not to burn down the neighborhood. Don't up and kill these idiots." Thumb over my shoulder at the guys laid out. I am looking at the seats closely here. The back seat was new looking in places that were blocked by bodies. "You, ah, have to replace these seat covers a lot?"
He holds up a hand and fire drifts across it a moment. "Lapse of attention. Momentary bursts of anger." He shrugs a little. "Traffic."
"Right." I look over to the tow truck guy, smoking just outside his cab. "Tell your guy he can load it up while I work on it."
I lean in and take the material of the seats completely down to the foam. Making a note of the shape and where the snaps go, I swap in fresh material, liberally changing it out for Sillicaflex. Same basic feel and texture, white color with the original looking seams in red.
The inside of the door panels next, in red. The near leather feel just tightly woven mesh of the heat resistant material. Dash cover and steering wheel cover the same, layering in a smooth finish if really, really tight stitchwork.
The top cover next.
The world shifts as the car is being pulled up the tilted ramp on the truck. Either he is fast or I have been at this a bit.
Whatever.
As I shifted to pull it out, the pieces shredded. The frame seemed mostly intact, so I made the Sillicaflex top in place, using Pyraflect in places to stiffen it up.
Okay, where'd I put my phone at? Ah, it slipped out onto the floor boards.
The car stopped moving forward and the incline lessened to the whine of the flatbed ending. Then it all lurched at and angle, settling back. Steps alongside the car.
I shift away from the rest as I fold the top back down and put the snaps on to hold it. Reforming outside the car, down on the street level.
Lung is standing there rubbing his chin under the mask appreciatively. "You do good work." He glowered a moment. "It would be a shame to have to hurt someone with such prowess. Do not press me."
"We don't actually mess with capes that aren't hurting people. The Wards I mean. Protectorate capes have different orders." I shrug. Looking down. "What about these guys?"
He looks down from the truck which is just starting up again. "They are weak metal. Perhaps some time behind bars will reforge them into something more."
I looked around as the truck drove to the corner and turned. Around me on several rooftops I saw figures stand up all wearing red Oni masks. They each held rocket launchers, things like the RPG-9 Miss Militia was so fond of. Only one of them slung it over his shoulder and I saw a flicker. The others fell into ash piles.
The last one raised an ironic hand, blowing a kiss on two fingers. Then he too fell into ash white powder.
Oni Lee has left the building.
**************************
"Negative. Grue, do not engage!" Oracle was watching via a small drone flying high in the air disguised as a hawk hovering on the winds. "The Ward is okay and Lung is de-escalating on his own terms."
"But we could finally have him in custody!" Grue's voice on the channel was telling. He still held some anger for the ABB leader for causing the apartment fire that killed his mom several months back. Drunk yes, high more often than not, she was still his mom.
"We are still heroes. If we start a fight in the middle of a residential area, even one evacuated, we will be rebranded the hard way and our patrons will drop us like yesterdays news." Lisa winced, having to stay to script in case any eavesdroppers on their comms were listening.
--Encryption has been broken on signals. Blanket was never in danger from Lung. Protecting someone else's secrets. This neighborhood has multiple capes living in it…
Lisa grimaced and tried to tune out her power droning on about things she really didn't want to know. Even when she focused on Blanket directly, it would tend to slide off to extoll data on anything else but her. Spiral had an unusual interest in her case, something to do with how people who interact with Blanket tended to become more 'balanced'.
--Oni Lee is aware of the drone and what it means.
Oooh. Happy thought that…
She wondered how Mythic's group was doing.
***********************
"I want to be clear about this. You did not initiate contact with Lung, is that correct?" Director Piggot was sitting straighter, enjoying her new chair while she interviewed me in front of a Youth Guard representative.
"No ma'am. I kept myself non aggressive without appearing weak. I did not initiate contact." I say.
The man, who's heavy looks matched what Director Piggot used to look like, spluttered. He clicked the remote to rewind the video again to the point where I took on Oogie Boogie form. "You don't consider THAT to be aggressive?!"
I rolled my Muppet eyes around. "Lung was angry enough about his car to tear the place up. I stood my ground to him and I think that earned me some respect. He LISTENED."
"And then you performed several thousands of dollars of renovation to his vehicle as a bribe!" He tried another well tred tack.
"There was no monetary transaction in my mind." Director Piggot smoothly slipped in, her hand enough to give me pause from answering. "It was a peace offering and taken as such. It saved face, removing the need to make an example of his 'men'." She turned to me. "I wanted you to know that three of the four have decided to turn states in return for being relocated out of the city. The driver is unwilling to do so, but is thankful that you healed them."
Another officer, one who had stayed quiet in the background smoking during the debrief leaned forward to stub out the cigarette. "Isn't it just as possible you used a striker power to Master Lung to change his attitude, the same way you did to those boys?"
I was not familiar with this one. Brown hair, woman, lots of rank for someone her apparent age.
She had not joined in the conversation until now.
I huff a little. "So do you consider Alexandria to be a Master because when she punches, she tells physics to go cry in the corner?"
The woman sat up a little. "What do you mean by that?"
"Have you ever seen footage of her punching a villain across the room? If physics were holding true, the head would go flying off long before the rest of the body started moving. Her punches spread out across the entire person, meaning the bigger the thing she punches the less of an effect it has." I nod at the end of that, finished.
She shook herself visibly. "You have still demonstrated the ability to knock out with a touch, fix mental issues that modern psychology has trouble addressing, as well as removing Master effects."
I smile then, knowing I had her there. "One, a striker effect --is Clockblocker reckoned a Master by your logic? Two, fixing mental issues is a SIDE effect of healing the neuron pathways that reinforce them. Master effects work because they also cause particular path sets from the outside --all part of healing. While it is more or less an automatic effect if I grapple or enfold the person it does not activate on a brief touch."
"Director, are you insinuating that Blanket is Mastering myself?" Director Piggot spoke up.
Director? I tilt my head a little. I haven't seen pictures of every Director, but there aren't that many after all. I get a sinking feeling as it hits me that the others are deferring to her now. Hoo boy.
**********************
Miss Militia was waiting when they finally let me go. She fell into step with me as I walked to the elevator.
"The little girl. Was that Suzanne Hess?" She looked back as the elevator closed slowly. "You should have mentioned her."
"Toss her to them like a piece of meat?" I shook my head. "That's not right. Are you sure you don't need a hug?" I joke.
She doesn't take it like a joke. She grabs me in a hug that shifts to one arm around my neck pulling me down to her height as she noogie's me.
"Feel better?" I ask.
"Yes." She grunts. "Still think if you were protecting a fledgling cape from being outed to Lung and the world --a brute and young at that-- it would earn you a 'get out of jail free' card. She's what, five?"
"Six." I press the button for the Wards level.
I was surprised to find the door opened immediately as there were already visitors.
My Mom was in there in her Professor Rose outfit, along with Shadow Stalker standing there with a little hand held in hers. A gift shop quality Shadow Stalker mask hid the face of the shorter figure, a blonde wig of ringlets hiding the rest of the head. Full body pyjamas and white gloves finished the full body coverage, all this aside from the piece of me she was wearing around her neck as a cape.
I felt around a little and realized the link was like the one to Parian, both supplying me and drawing power off like it was a loop. No, it was a network… Was this how Uber and Leet were tying in? Little Taylor?
No.
It wasn't the same. This felt direct, like she was in a link like a firehose. Her and little Taylor. Both of them wrapped in 'me' as they triggered...
I stumbled a little as I walked over.
Shadow Stalker had turned away from Vista's crouching 'awwww' pose to look my way. "You okay there, H-Blanket?"
"I'm fine. Not sure which was worse, facing down Lung or being dressed down afterward." I note.
Mom straightened up. "You. did. What?"
"Talk. Just talk." I say.
Something impacted my legs as I was trying to placate the parental unit without using the 'mom' word. Suze. Her wig was askew with her clinging to me.
"Are you Taylor's Blankie?" Her whisper asked.
I kneel down to give her a proper hug. I straighten the wig, subtly stitching it to the band of cloth around the edge of the mask so it stays put. "No honey. Around here they call me Blanket. So with that on, what are we going to call you?"
She stood up and held her cape out to the side. I could see Vista mimicking the move like they'd practiced. Oh no. Clockblocker was filming over there from the kitchen, wasn't he?
With a flourish of her cape she answered. "Call me Patches."
…
…
"And … CUT!" Clockblocker stood up from his crouch. He smiled. He actually smiled as he sauntered over. "Glenn will shit a brick to get this!"
Vista, no. Don't be in league with the dev… I mean Dennis.
But there she was, the green dressed heroine only overtopping 'Patches' by a few meager inches. "Yeah Blanket, meet your new side-stitch."
Running one hand down my face, I ask Miss Militia in a low voice. "Is it too late to turn myself in for Master Stranger protocols?"
The sun was starting to go down, the transition here with mountains to the west was quicker due to clouds building --the forecast called for rain tonight and tomorrow. But as the light dimmed further there were flashes of light from the direction of the roar.
Standing in the street in front of HIS car, I could almost track the progress of that light. Street lights were coming on here and there, but along that path they flickered and went off again as the flame light passed.
It was too quick for him to be on foot, but far too soon for him to be in dragon form with wings. I didn't understand until I saw a flatbed tow truck come around the corner at the end of the block. Crouched behind the cab as it drove this way was Lung himself. I mean, how many iron masks are there in the Bay? Okay, three I suppose, but how many with fire whooshing out with each breath like a flaming mustache?
The tow truck pulled to a stop and the man on it unfolded his legs. Oh crap, he was sitting the whole time? He eased off it, possibly to take care not to damage the truck, and turned my way.
Nine foot tall, he stalked toward me and the car. I had stepped away a few feet to the side.
He looked down at me. I mean I had assumed the crochet version automatically after not needing to be big anymore, domino mask in place. I admit as soon as I saw the fire I took on the flame resistant material for most of me, but if anyone asks I was NOT shivering.
No sir.
He stomped over to me and looked pointedly at the car.
"Did YOU do this?" Oh good, he was still in talkative mode.
I shook my head negative. "Technically, the driver did this. He was about to hit a little girl doing thirty miles an hour or more. I got in the way to save her."
Lung looked at me askance. I noted he wasn't getting bigger, but neither was he shrinking.
"Does she live?" He grunted.
I look up and up. Okay, maybe he grew a little there. "Yeah. I called a 'Fire Drill' and sent her with the people living here out of the area."
His head bobbed a moment. Did he just snicker at the mention of 'Fire Drill'. "Why are these men unconscious? What did you do to them?"
"Men?" I shake my head a little. "They panicked when they saw me, pulled out guns and started shooting. The ones I could grab I put under."
The iron mask tilted. "You? A little Ward like you grabbed all of them, did all of this?"
Okay, I won't say his condescending attitude was winning any points from me. His eyes tracked mine as mine became level with his, me turning into Oogie Boogie form --while taking on the materials appropriate over my whole body. Pyreflect and Sillicaflex for the win. I wondered if Armsmaster was a little prescient, having introduced me to them on the first day…
Lungs eyes were even with mine. Then they lifted higher as he snorted fire and grew another notch. "Ou want oo ight me?" His stance shifted into something like Karate --Horse Stance I think it was called.
"And be blamed for killing these guys and destroying the car? Hell no!" My hand pointing down to the car. The interior was already starting to smolder.
His attention turned to the car again, I felt the heat pull in and away from the car and the guys in it.
I reached for one of them to have Lung grab my arm.
"--at are ou..." he paused shrinking a notch. "...doing?" His hand brushed back with a flare of fire at his fingertips. He looked at it and my arm, and my lack of reaction to it.
"I'm a healer. You just gave these guy like second degree burns at minimum." I touch the one, covering his shoulders and chest --the burns like little taps as they heal. "Either take a step back now or kill them outright if you mean to. Hurting them while they are out cold is just not right." I have my back to Lung now, shifting to shield the teens.
I use the same tendrils to flip the handguns out of the car, along with any ammunition I see.
Giving Lung a glare. "You could have made those rounds cook off, would have probably killed half of them. Smooth." Since he is not acting on that, I continue. Tendrils underneath and around them. Lifting up the four left in the car, including the driver, I place them on the grass, partly on the sidewalk. Healed up. The other two that had fallen out behind the car I move alongside the rest.
Smoke instead of fire from his nostrils as lung watches me. "You don't fear me?"
I laugh a moment. "I'm shaking with fear. If I had a bladder in this form I would have pissed myself empty when you walked up." I let myself drop down to teen girl sized, but still mostly the woven aluminum of the Pyreflect.
Lung gestured to the teens. "The police will take them?"
I shrug. "I imagine they will if you don't. They did fire on a Ward. Possession of the guns isn't exactly legal anyway."
"Huh. And you will not try to take me in?" He looks to be closer to seven feet now, the iron mask showing that it was made of several pieces that more or less overlapped from a single point on top. As the scales on his chest changed back to skin, the silver faded and I could see his tattoos.
"I'm just a Ward. We aren't authorized to make arrests on our own anyway." I josh.
I JOSHED WITH LUNG!
His snort told me he knew what I was thinking. "It is too bad. I liked this car."
Looking it over. "The front is all bashed in, but did it even reach the electric motor?" I get a 'hand' on the hood and lift it clear. "I mean the radiator and bumper were all for show anyway, right?"
He nodded then pointed to the interior. "It would have been salvageable as you say, but in my anger I burned the upholstery and trim.
He isn't wrong, the interior is trashed on the convertible. The top, even folded up is a total loss.
"If you aren't feeling so --ah-- annoyed, I could try and fix that." I offer.
His eyes flared as he focused on me. Ah, there is that pants wetting fear again. "What do you want?"
Hands wide. "Not to burn down the neighborhood. Don't up and kill these idiots." Thumb over my shoulder at the guys laid out. I am looking at the seats closely here. The back seat was new looking in places that were blocked by bodies. "You, ah, have to replace these seat covers a lot?"
He holds up a hand and fire drifts across it a moment. "Lapse of attention. Momentary bursts of anger." He shrugs a little. "Traffic."
"Right." I look over to the tow truck guy, smoking just outside his cab. "Tell your guy he can load it up while I work on it."
I lean in and take the material of the seats completely down to the foam. Making a note of the shape and where the snaps go, I swap in fresh material, liberally changing it out for Sillicaflex. Same basic feel and texture, white color with the original looking seams in red.
The inside of the door panels next, in red. The near leather feel just tightly woven mesh of the heat resistant material. Dash cover and steering wheel cover the same, layering in a smooth finish if really, really tight stitchwork.
The top cover next.
The world shifts as the car is being pulled up the tilted ramp on the truck. Either he is fast or I have been at this a bit.
Whatever.
As I shifted to pull it out, the pieces shredded. The frame seemed mostly intact, so I made the Sillicaflex top in place, using Pyraflect in places to stiffen it up.
Okay, where'd I put my phone at? Ah, it slipped out onto the floor boards.
The car stopped moving forward and the incline lessened to the whine of the flatbed ending. Then it all lurched at and angle, settling back. Steps alongside the car.
I shift away from the rest as I fold the top back down and put the snaps on to hold it. Reforming outside the car, down on the street level.
Lung is standing there rubbing his chin under the mask appreciatively. "You do good work." He glowered a moment. "It would be a shame to have to hurt someone with such prowess. Do not press me."
"We don't actually mess with capes that aren't hurting people. The Wards I mean. Protectorate capes have different orders." I shrug. Looking down. "What about these guys?"
He looks down from the truck which is just starting up again. "They are weak metal. Perhaps some time behind bars will reforge them into something more."
I looked around as the truck drove to the corner and turned. Around me on several rooftops I saw figures stand up all wearing red Oni masks. They each held rocket launchers, things like the RPG-9 Miss Militia was so fond of. Only one of them slung it over his shoulder and I saw a flicker. The others fell into ash piles.
The last one raised an ironic hand, blowing a kiss on two fingers. Then he too fell into ash white powder.
Oni Lee has left the building.
**************************
"Negative. Grue, do not engage!" Oracle was watching via a small drone flying high in the air disguised as a hawk hovering on the winds. "The Ward is okay and Lung is de-escalating on his own terms."
"But we could finally have him in custody!" Grue's voice on the channel was telling. He still held some anger for the ABB leader for causing the apartment fire that killed his mom several months back. Drunk yes, high more often than not, she was still his mom.
"We are still heroes. If we start a fight in the middle of a residential area, even one evacuated, we will be rebranded the hard way and our patrons will drop us like yesterdays news." Lisa winced, having to stay to script in case any eavesdroppers on their comms were listening.
--Encryption has been broken on signals. Blanket was never in danger from Lung. Protecting someone else's secrets. This neighborhood has multiple capes living in it…
Lisa grimaced and tried to tune out her power droning on about things she really didn't want to know. Even when she focused on Blanket directly, it would tend to slide off to extoll data on anything else but her. Spiral had an unusual interest in her case, something to do with how people who interact with Blanket tended to become more 'balanced'.
--Oni Lee is aware of the drone and what it means.
Oooh. Happy thought that…
She wondered how Mythic's group was doing.
***********************
"I want to be clear about this. You did not initiate contact with Lung, is that correct?" Director Piggot was sitting straighter, enjoying her new chair while she interviewed me in front of a Youth Guard representative.
"No ma'am. I kept myself non aggressive without appearing weak. I did not initiate contact." I say.
The man, who's heavy looks matched what Director Piggot used to look like, spluttered. He clicked the remote to rewind the video again to the point where I took on Oogie Boogie form. "You don't consider THAT to be aggressive?!"
I rolled my Muppet eyes around. "Lung was angry enough about his car to tear the place up. I stood my ground to him and I think that earned me some respect. He LISTENED."
"And then you performed several thousands of dollars of renovation to his vehicle as a bribe!" He tried another well tred tack.
"There was no monetary transaction in my mind." Director Piggot smoothly slipped in, her hand enough to give me pause from answering. "It was a peace offering and taken as such. It saved face, removing the need to make an example of his 'men'." She turned to me. "I wanted you to know that three of the four have decided to turn states in return for being relocated out of the city. The driver is unwilling to do so, but is thankful that you healed them."
Another officer, one who had stayed quiet in the background smoking during the debrief leaned forward to stub out the cigarette. "Isn't it just as possible you used a striker power to Master Lung to change his attitude, the same way you did to those boys?"
I was not familiar with this one. Brown hair, woman, lots of rank for someone her apparent age.
She had not joined in the conversation until now.
I huff a little. "So do you consider Alexandria to be a Master because when she punches, she tells physics to go cry in the corner?"
The woman sat up a little. "What do you mean by that?"
"Have you ever seen footage of her punching a villain across the room? If physics were holding true, the head would go flying off long before the rest of the body started moving. Her punches spread out across the entire person, meaning the bigger the thing she punches the less of an effect it has." I nod at the end of that, finished.
She shook herself visibly. "You have still demonstrated the ability to knock out with a touch, fix mental issues that modern psychology has trouble addressing, as well as removing Master effects."
I smile then, knowing I had her there. "One, a striker effect --is Clockblocker reckoned a Master by your logic? Two, fixing mental issues is a SIDE effect of healing the neuron pathways that reinforce them. Master effects work because they also cause particular path sets from the outside --all part of healing. While it is more or less an automatic effect if I grapple or enfold the person it does not activate on a brief touch."
"Director, are you insinuating that Blanket is Mastering myself?" Director Piggot spoke up.
Director? I tilt my head a little. I haven't seen pictures of every Director, but there aren't that many after all. I get a sinking feeling as it hits me that the others are deferring to her now. Hoo boy.
**********************
Miss Militia was waiting when they finally let me go. She fell into step with me as I walked to the elevator.
"The little girl. Was that Suzanne Hess?" She looked back as the elevator closed slowly. "You should have mentioned her."
"Toss her to them like a piece of meat?" I shook my head. "That's not right. Are you sure you don't need a hug?" I joke.
She doesn't take it like a joke. She grabs me in a hug that shifts to one arm around my neck pulling me down to her height as she noogie's me.
"Feel better?" I ask.
"Yes." She grunts. "Still think if you were protecting a fledgling cape from being outed to Lung and the world --a brute and young at that-- it would earn you a 'get out of jail free' card. She's what, five?"
"Six." I press the button for the Wards level.
I was surprised to find the door opened immediately as there were already visitors.
My Mom was in there in her Professor Rose outfit, along with Shadow Stalker standing there with a little hand held in hers. A gift shop quality Shadow Stalker mask hid the face of the shorter figure, a blonde wig of ringlets hiding the rest of the head. Full body pyjamas and white gloves finished the full body coverage, all this aside from the piece of me she was wearing around her neck as a cape.
I felt around a little and realized the link was like the one to Parian, both supplying me and drawing power off like it was a loop. No, it was a network… Was this how Uber and Leet were tying in? Little Taylor?
No.
It wasn't the same. This felt direct, like she was in a link like a firehose. Her and little Taylor. Both of them wrapped in 'me' as they triggered...
I stumbled a little as I walked over.
Shadow Stalker had turned away from Vista's crouching 'awwww' pose to look my way. "You okay there, H-Blanket?"
"I'm fine. Not sure which was worse, facing down Lung or being dressed down afterward." I note.
Mom straightened up. "You. did. What?"
"Talk. Just talk." I say.
Something impacted my legs as I was trying to placate the parental unit without using the 'mom' word. Suze. Her wig was askew with her clinging to me.
"Are you Taylor's Blankie?" Her whisper asked.
I kneel down to give her a proper hug. I straighten the wig, subtly stitching it to the band of cloth around the edge of the mask so it stays put. "No honey. Around here they call me Blanket. So with that on, what are we going to call you?"
She stood up and held her cape out to the side. I could see Vista mimicking the move like they'd practiced. Oh no. Clockblocker was filming over there from the kitchen, wasn't he?
With a flourish of her cape she answered. "Call me Patches."
…
…
"And … CUT!" Clockblocker stood up from his crouch. He smiled. He actually smiled as he sauntered over. "Glenn will shit a brick to get this!"
Vista, no. Don't be in league with the dev… I mean Dennis.
But there she was, the green dressed heroine only overtopping 'Patches' by a few meager inches. "Yeah Blanket, meet your new side-stitch."
Running one hand down my face, I ask Miss Militia in a low voice. "Is it too late to turn myself in for Master Stranger protocols?"
Last edited:
- Location
- Here
If they keep up the puns she might qui(l)t.
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Done!
Oh calm down, I like to leave them in stitches. That is more like a comforter than a quilt.
As for Suze, well every Blanket needs a side stitch.
Although I did miss an excellent opportunity when she met the Merchants to call her mitts Potholders...
Jonn Wolfe
(Verified Sarcastic) (Not a Wolf)
- Location
- Beyond Sanity Since 1971
She was rather off the cuff with Alexandria Costa-Brown.
And I swear, why is everyone mean to Taylor?
Piggot tried to get her in under an older Ward Form; Glenn tricked her with those two 'free heals' and no escape routes; her debut was supposed to be cancelled while she was held backstage; Tagg - nuff said; and Now the rest of the Directors wanted a piece of her for Mastering Piggot?
I'm seriously wishing she just quit and join New Wave. The PRT twits can get stuffed.
And I swear, why is everyone mean to Taylor?
Piggot tried to get her in under an older Ward Form; Glenn tricked her with those two 'free heals' and no escape routes; her debut was supposed to be cancelled while she was held backstage; Tagg - nuff said; and Now the rest of the Directors wanted a piece of her for Mastering Piggot?
I'm seriously wishing she just quit and join New Wave. The PRT twits can get stuffed.
Balrog
not Durin's Bane
- Location
- The Mines of Moria
Great chapter
Did not know that maps had legs though.
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
Yeah but you also made them family, and cape families skew the odds, as of course they are all the same skin color, that's how genetics work, that's why I think New Wave should as most be counted as 3-4 capes for statistic purposes.
And it makes sense that there's no black cape families in the Bay, siblings all triggering happens, but it's more common for the family connection, to be children of a cape triggering, and even if a black cape decide they want to stay in the Bay, well once they have children, they suddenly have even more reason to get out of the Nazi capital.
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Go back far enough and everyone is family --especially if you read Taylor!Varga (rimshot)
It would be pushing my luck to have Skidmark related somehow so ah 'no'. I was just bringing up the number by one, not making any statement on whether families would or would not stay.
Now functionally the more preyed upon groups would tend to have the most triggers as well, so in an E88 controlled poor city there might be a larger number of black parahumans out there. Granted that doesn't say they would STAY if the gained powers, just that the downtrodden tend to be 'trigger' bait.
To be clear, I've always written Strider as black, mayhap not as obvious as all that. Can I just say that the Hispanic cape population is even lower --just Carlos/Aegis?
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
The family you have made here, is not relevant to black capes that want to start a family leaving anyway, as it's a case of the rarer siblings of capes triggering, as opposed to childrens of capes triggering, children/teenagers are both more daring than adults, have less means of leaving even with powers, and don't feel it's their responsibility to make the family safe the way a parent do.Go back far enough and everyone is family --especially if you read Taylor!Varga (rimshot)
It would be pushing my luck to have Skidmark related somehow so ah 'no'. I was just bringing up the number by one, not making any statement on whether families would or would not stay.
Now functionally the more preyed upon groups would tend to have the most triggers as well, so in an E88 controlled poor city there might be a larger number of black parahumans out there. Granted that doesn't say they would STAY if the gained powers, just that the downtrodden tend to be 'trigger' bait.
To be clear, I've always written Strider as black, mayhap not as obvious as all that. Can I just say that the Hispanic cape population is even lower --just Carlos/Aegis?
And there would probably be more black Parahumans in an E88 controlled city initially, but if those Parahumans fail to make a viable resistance, then the number of black people in the city begin to fall, as they leave the city whenever possible, which make the number of black Parahumans go down, as there are fewer black people to trigger.
Lace Trim with a Stitch in Time
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
*************** Pacifier 9
Alcott household.
The housekeeper rolled in a tea trolley and served the two women, one a lady familiar with old New England money and politics, the other in smart business wear with a white blouse.
"You are asking me to take my daughter out of school… to send her to private tutoring lessons hosted by your institution while they remotely study her." Priscilla Alcott held her teacup easily as she considered the woman before her. "Tamara Calvert, Thinker Research Incorporated. What credentials can you show me?"
Tamara --Tammy to my friends-- smiled slightly as she opened a folder and took out a set of pictures and a pamphlet on high-quality paper. "This is the usual, extolling the values of the education we instill upon student while helping them with their 'problems'. The pictures are the last four of our girls incoming and outgoing except for the last one --she is still two years from matriculation with an Associates degree."
"And these girls are treated for the symptoms of their … talents. How?" Dinah's mother spoke tentatively.
Tamara touched one photo. "Elizabeth has bloody noses when she uses her abilities. It was determined that she had a weakened vessel in the sinus area that could not handle the strain of increased blood pressure to the brain when her power is active. Once isolated, our surgeon was able to repair the issue, and she is able to use her powers at will."
Priscilla nodded. "And what are her powers?"
The calculated smile returned. "I am not at liberty to discuss the nature of her power in detail, nor is she recognizable in her placement city. Part of our services, if the family so desires, is relocation and placement within government sanctioned facilities. None of this Ward nonsense, sending children out to fight crime in the streets."
Sip.
"This next picture is Mythic, one of our public capes. She is a sort of seeker, able to trace information back to the source material. Her favorite pastime is connecting world mythology elements from across the world." The image of the girl in a mask next to a mirror, the image also masked but slightly different angle. It seemed to be a trick of the camera.
Another girl, slightly younger. "This is Sundancer. She is technically a Shaker but we have found that the Thinker approach works quite well with power users from that category as well. Initially, her fear of her own power running loose kept her from being able to use it to the fullest. Hypnosis and extensive testing let her find her limits and push past many of them." She points to the second shot, with a series of small balls of flaming energy swirling in figure eight from one of the girl's hands to another. "She is working part-time in power generation while she is taking college classes."
Priscilla Alcott knew a smooth presentation when she saw one. But there was something in the back of her mind. "One moment. I know those cape names. They are currently wanted for theft by the PRT! Are you telling me you educate and train villains?"
"Please allow me to explain," Tamara spoke easily. "These young ladies have finished their education and learned control of their powers. What they do with them afterward is their own life choice. As you noted, they are currently 'wanted' not incarcerated for their crimes. Our final young lady is a hero if that sets your mind to ease." She points to the last picture in the line. "Oracle is an independent hero, an Associate for the PRT herself. Her abilities are similar to Sherlock Holmes of fiction fame. She shares many of the same headache issues your daughter suffers from."
"How do you know that?" Priscilla set her cup down into the saucer with a click.
"Be at ease." Hands raised and open. "We have not been stalking you or your daughter. Oracle was visiting her own doctor for treatment and passed you both in the waiting room. To her, Dinah's issue was an open book as soon as you spoke up."
"Whatever do you mean?" Dinah's mother blinked.
Checking a note pinned to the folder, she answered. "I am quoting here. 'Girl in Goth wear with severe headaches, what are the odds?'. From her notations here I would suggest you avoid asking questions involving chance or odds."
Calming down significantly, Priscilla considered. "She does have headaches quite often…"
"Then let me make an offer to you. Bring her to our offices and let us do a deep scan of her as a baseline and then while asking her questions. Oracle will be in attendance and can help narrow down the focus of why her head hurts when her power is active. Your insurance will cover eighty percent."
"How do you know our..?" Priscilla began, then stopped. "She is off of school in an hour, short day today. Do you have appointments available this afternoon?"
"We are a very exclusive agency. Until we decide to accept another student, we are available to you and your family at all hours of the day. I or one of my staff is available at a moment's notice. In short, yes."
"One thing I don't understand though, why only girls?" Priscilla arched an eyebrow.
Tamara smiled. "I like to keep things balanced. It's all in the chromosomes of course. Have you ever heard of a Thinker that was not female?"
**************************
In the SUV parked in front of the Alcott residence in the secluded driveway of their old world manse, one heavy set young woman pouted a little as she listened in. "Well then, it sounds like plan B is out. Too bad, I have been a little peckish lately."
Mythic settled down to wait for Spiral to return. She would have to settle for takeout. Better not get Chinese though, her usual place was running out of delivery boys. Pizza delivery was more potluck. She smiled. Besides, eat one Asian delivery boy and you were hungry again in an hour.
Maybe she would get 'lucky' and find another Parahuman in hiding, they always had the best flavor.
**************************
Dinah Alcott was listening to her music on headphones, tuning out the other children talking on the bus. She disliked public school, her family trying to acclimate her to deal with the lower 'class' in the day to day affairs without putting on airs. Political angling so that her uncle's competition could not use it as a strike against them in mudslinging.
The other students shunned her now after so many attempts at conversation ended in her wincing in pain. Regular banter would have her cursing slightly. The school nurse had suggested it might be Turrets syndrome to the administration, so Dinah had used a swear word or two as needed to get away from class. That was something 'safe', not worrisome. No one expected children this young to have trigger events after all.
Hers had been over a long week of fever dreams as she dealt with a particularly virulent form of flu brought to America by visiting dignitaries trying to reopen trade. Mayor Christener often called on his extended family to fill in when his son was unavailable due to his college studies.
Her stop came and she trudged up the long driveway, paced now by one of the guard dogs at her side. They were trained dogs, obedient to their handlers, but they also watched over her like their own pups.
She was surprised to see an unfamiliar SUV parked near their door. Doubly so when the dog growled slightly and kept itself between her and the vehicle as she approached.
**************************
Shadow Stalker was out on patrol with Glam, a totally not on the books sort of patrol where they were both off and listed as going to the movies. They did enter the theatre and left their phones stashed inside the seat cushions, then left to change into costume.
Well sort of. Glam was still not feeling up to direct combat, her martial arts skills not up to par. But she did enfold Shadow Stalker --over her costume-- to form another layer of enhancing costume material.
This much of Blanket's abilities she could access, changing herself into a suit of clothes, costume really, over the top. Adding strength, armor and an additional pair of eyes seemed to work well. As a pair, they'd even found she could reform the sleeves separately as an additional pair of arms at need.
"I see them up ahead." Shadow Stalker whispered. "Carload of ex Merchants bringing in the goods to their new Elite managers." She paused and looked to the right some more. "Wait a mo'. That group there is dressed… like Teeth."
In this form, Emma had to play quiet like. She hadn't quite mastered the trick of making a mouth that could speak without disengaging completely. The closest they got was her being able to type onto the screen of their personal phone as text and show the screen.
'Teeth, as in the Butcher? That is bad juju. Report in?' She opened the cover so Sophia could read the text. The backlit screen outlined Shadow Stalker's full mask briefly.
The car coming down the road had someone in it who wasn't stoned. They hit their brakes, spinning side on to the road. In a panic version of a three-point reversal, they squealed tires to head the other way.
The ambush of Teeth spread out into the street, beginning to shoot at the retreating car. Machine gun fire and some kind of Tinker blaster returned from the front door of the Elite group waiting on their customers.
"We were made by the driver!" Sophia hissed. Shaking herself, she eased back from the roof edge to stand up. "You really have to stop and think Eh-Glam. Opsec and all." She heard a sort of crunching noise from below. "Shit."
A form like a low flat dog thing with a wide head landed in front of her, spinning to face her way. It's mouth opened...
Shadow Stalker had flinched into shadow state as it spun. Leveling her crossbow, she sighted in knowing it was too late to dodge the attack.
The beast before them roared painfully loud. <<ARRROOOOOO!>>
Glam felt something tearing at her, trying to pry her free from her hold. It didn't stick. She did find herself more solid than she expected. Sophia liked to shoot while partially insubstantial, then dive aside. Not happening now.
Shadow Stalker grimaced. Her power was just gone. Luckily her crossbow was a skill she had worked into muscle memory along with the Gunpla skills. This let her sight in during the brief second the mouth was agape and shoot her primary crossbow. Her thumb had slid the setting for the tranq to the highest so the smart bolt would be releasing enough agent to put down a bull elephant.
She was not expecting the dog thing to gag and vomit a moment later.
It almost was enough to make her stay still as it thrashed and gagged. But training overrode the blue screen moment. "Glam, dial the PRT. Call Dragon, somebody!"
The sound of her steps pelting across the gravel on the rooftop distracted her from the lack of her power. She ran for the far side, where the next building was a floor lower with a ten feet gap across. At the last moment, she realized she couldn't go to shadow form and tried to flail to a stop.
Without traction to work with, her momentum threw her over the low edge. A forlorn hope had her reaching for the rooftop she'd just stumbled over, finding it with one hand in a partial grip. Her surprise was even larger when the grip was enough to hold her weight. The phone cover flipped up again and she found herself staring into a screen with text on it.
'I still have my powers. Strength boost works. Hold still so I can hide us.'
Getting her other arm in place, Sophia hugged the edge.
Glam concentrated on the brickwork around them, working it into the costume, forming flat edges of brick with lighter mortar.
The door to the rooftop access slammed open and in a moment two someones ran up and the two girls could see weapons and hands holding them lean over the roof edge to scan the area.
"I don't see anyone." One voice yelled.
The other turned away and griped. "Have them bring up a rope and a board or something. We can't fit Animos down the stairs so we may have to lower him down from the fire escape."
"Short straw again?" the first groused.
The other cheered up slightly. "Buck up mate, if we aren't down there ain't no one shooting at us, yeah?"
The sound of the door banging again left them alone with one of the Teeth standing guard. There followed a hiss and flash of light and a moment later he was leaning out again with a cherry of a sweet cigar pressed to his mouth.
Sophia reached for her smaller crossbow, thumbing the electric motor to cock it. Reaching up, she found the Teeth gang member was looking around attentively, almost directly above their position.
Thunk.
He started to fall but Glam undid a sleeve on Shadow Stalker's right arm and used it to grab the guy's own arm to prop himself up at the edge, hand under his chin with knees on the rooftop.
"Good job. Now make that call." Shadow Stalker growled, flicking her earbud to active.
"PRT what is the nature… Miss Hess? This is your private line…" The dispatch had pulled up info as the call was routed through.
"Not now. Teeth active on the rooftop at Pinehurst and Seventh street. Animos attacked me and I ran for it, hit him with a holdout bolt. He has a crew nearby, maybe more capes along. Elite safe house two doors down stirred up like an ant's nest. Maybe capes there too." Sophia let her voice carry just a note of fear. Not her fear, no, but something she affected to get their hands out from under their proverbial asses.
"Retreat to a safe location…" The voice started again --clearly consulting a cue card.
"There is no safe location numbskull. Oh! Just get the Troops rolling." She clicked the call end button.
Glam had taken the man's weapon and wallet of all things. She'd just filched his phone over the edge when it rang once. She was startled enough to drop it to bounce a couple times before it hit the ground. Re-engaging the camouflage effect over both of them, she covered Shadow Stalker's right arm and used her own strength to hold her partner still a moment.
"Oh, I am sooo getting you for this…" Sophia hissed in her cocoon of Glamaterial. She could just see through the thinner material at the top and noted a series of sparkly things come into being above the Teeth gang member's head and beyond.
**************************
Vex was being careful. Someone had taken Animo out. And in a weird way as he normally would have transformed back to human. She set a covering field of her mini stars in place at around four feet above head height, then added a wall of them around the edge --all except where that goof off, Dave something, was taking a smoke break.
"Dave! Who was it?" She called out.
**************************
With Glam holding to the wall with her feet Shadow Stalker pushed her arms up, Glam allowing her to do so after a small pause. Grabbing the front of his jacket, she made 'Dave' shrug a little, then twisted his head left and right.
**************************
Lazy bastard wouldn't even turn to look her way. Oh well, no capes this way for now. She sucked in a breath of night air as more Teeth came up with a stretcher made from push brooms, cardboard and duct tape.
**************************
Miss Militia felt the wind in her hair as Velocity literally carried her to a point she could act as overwatch. The old North Ferry had a radio mast with a small cupola near the top. She remembered the last time she was here --with Blanket-- as she set up. Velocity had gone up the seaside edge and down the same, the light formed by his passage hidden from view toward her target.
The Transports were coming in from the Bay side as well, having moved north and turned in from the Rig itself. Armsmaster's motorcycle was nestled in the back of one, along with him and Dauntless. The other Transport carried Battery and Assault. Both had a squad of Troopers with them along with a pilot and gunner.
"I have sight of Vex on the roof. Animos is still out for the moment. Deploy with smoke and sonics to take down her spike balls. They can wound, but armor should hold against any one of them. Ground team put pressure on the Elite, make them turtle up in the building but don't push in. They might claim we broke the truce." Miss Militia spoke as she sighted in on Vex.
"Any sign of Shadow Stalker or Glam?" Armsmaster spoke up.
"Not yet." Miss Militia answered.
Dragon's voice noted on the line. "My systems still show their Ward phones at the movie theatre. There is some kind of interference blocking Glam's personal phone and Shadow Stalker's personal is returning a position somewhere near the roof Miss Militia is targeting." She let that sink in.
"Either they are hiding or unconscious." Assault noted.
"Wait! I switched to thermal and there is a warm spot just under the lookout on the edge. Unless he is taking a body sized leak down the wall that is where they are. Stealth mode?" She paused. "I'm going to put a dot on her."
Miss Militia lit up a laser pointer on her sniper setup. Putting the dot just left of the target on the wall, she waved it side to side and then held steady a moment.
The bump of brick and mortar shifted on the left a little and a phone screen lit up.
Focusing her scope in, she cranked up the gain in time to see the words being typed in.
'TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH'
"Yeah, Stalker is on the wall with either Blanket or Glam providing cover." Miss Militia noted.
A moment later a startled voice came over the comm line. "This is Blanket on console tonight. Not me. Didn't do it. Can't prove it."
"Thanks for the clarification, Blanket. Now clear the line." Armsmaster noted. "Everyone, Listen to Militia and we do this by the numbers. Move."
The ground team Transport came in at street level landing at an angle that blocked the road but put the side door and it's ramp away from the Elite. The back panel opened as well, allowing Armsmaster and his bike to roar out. The few Teeth members on this side were physically knocked out by his halberd's stun function in passing. Another group was hit by the wide scatter version of the Arclance Dauntless played across them, the fluttering pennant scattering much of the effect. More than enough to stun.
The loudspeakers played clearly. "Members of the Elite. We are not here for you. Lock your doors and stay inside."
**************************
As the sounds of gunfire below picked up then silenced suddenly, a loudspeaker drew Vex to the other side away from the girls.
Shadow Stalker eased her larger crossbow up and level to the wall edge. Tentatively she tried to take shadow form, passing the smaller crossbow through the elbow of 'Dave'.
To Miss Militia's view, the brick on the back of Glam's surface form a large yellow '3', then '2'...
**************************
Retargeting Vex on the exposed nape of her neck as she looked down over the edge, her bony helmet lifted up, Hannah took the shot. Twice for safety.
"Go, go, go!"
**************************
Phut! Phut!
The sound wasn't loud, but the Teeth were wary after years of tiptoeing around Butcher her/himself. Both dropped their burden and rolled away to come up scanning around with snub machine pistols ready. Nothing.
Twang!
Both turned to the sound, but the one on the left slowed as he noticed a tingling in his chest. The bolt punctured his chest piece but looked too small to …. Thud.
His companion twirled to face him as he fell.
Twang!
The smaller bolt hit the second Teeth member in the upper arm. It might have been meant for a chest shot as well, but he turned into it. Shadow Stalker grunted as he fell. A hit was a hit.
As they lifted over the edge, shoving 'Dave' backward, they noted Animos was starting to stir a little. Three steps put them in reach and two of the larger bolts were pushed into contact with his exposed chest. Apparently, the changer form metabolized the drug --perhaps the bolt as well.
The roof door banged open and two men started firing. A grazing shot hit Shadow Stalker high on the left arm. The sleeve reformed into armored cover as other shots passed through her position now that she was in shadow form.
Glam felt a pang as her power flared, healing Shadow Stalker. She resolved to do better in switching from assist to protect.
"Fucking convenient, that." Sophia mused.
The roof team Transport cleared the top then, a staccato of grenade fire putting foam on them as well as tranq barbs on little balls. Assault deployed, clearing a man-shaped hole in the Vex crystals. Battery followed, carrying a set of manacles they'd designed for Lung but would work just fine on Animos. They locked onto both arms and chest and any growth or struggle toggled an escalating dose of tranquilizer.
Assault slipped a hood on Vex, then foamed the woman in place entirely.
**************************
As Vista and Clockblocker returned from cleaning up after their patrol, they walked into the common area adjoining the console station. Vista smiled, toweling off her blonde hair as she moved. This was a 'Dad' day, so she would have to wait for late evening pickup. Her clothes reflected comfort, pajamas in all but name.
"You missed a really hot night out. Some guy all in brown was running a scam tournament game downtown, raking in big bucks on poor rich kids. Thought he was going to score some bragging rights and challenged Clockblocker to a three round in capture the flag. Dennis took him down soundly!" Dennis bowed as he went to the couch to settle in like a boneless ooze.
"That and we hear the Protectorate was called in to finish up a caper that Shadow Stalker and Glam got into while 'off the books'." Vista seemed genuinely jealous of 'the duo' and their antics. So far, Sophia had not invited anyone else to their unofficial forays.
I waited for it.
"You must be so bummed to have missed it." She smiled a little, her feet waving back and forth from the air above the console beside me. She loved sitting on 'air' and this put her just a tiny bit above my eye level. Cute.
I chuckled to myself. "Console duty is not a bummer for me." I led, to her astonishment. Dennis also perked up enough to listen. "Compared to a night in pediatrics or with the newborns this is downright restive. No behinds to clean up, no mouths to feed. Tonight was kept mostly off my comm traffic as a Protectorate action --and 'thank you' to the dynamic duo for doing it off books so I don't have to write up a report on their actions." I smile wider.
Pointing at Vista I drive it home. "This is a night off for me."
Alcott household.
The housekeeper rolled in a tea trolley and served the two women, one a lady familiar with old New England money and politics, the other in smart business wear with a white blouse.
"You are asking me to take my daughter out of school… to send her to private tutoring lessons hosted by your institution while they remotely study her." Priscilla Alcott held her teacup easily as she considered the woman before her. "Tamara Calvert, Thinker Research Incorporated. What credentials can you show me?"
Tamara --Tammy to my friends-- smiled slightly as she opened a folder and took out a set of pictures and a pamphlet on high-quality paper. "This is the usual, extolling the values of the education we instill upon student while helping them with their 'problems'. The pictures are the last four of our girls incoming and outgoing except for the last one --she is still two years from matriculation with an Associates degree."
"And these girls are treated for the symptoms of their … talents. How?" Dinah's mother spoke tentatively.
Tamara touched one photo. "Elizabeth has bloody noses when she uses her abilities. It was determined that she had a weakened vessel in the sinus area that could not handle the strain of increased blood pressure to the brain when her power is active. Once isolated, our surgeon was able to repair the issue, and she is able to use her powers at will."
Priscilla nodded. "And what are her powers?"
The calculated smile returned. "I am not at liberty to discuss the nature of her power in detail, nor is she recognizable in her placement city. Part of our services, if the family so desires, is relocation and placement within government sanctioned facilities. None of this Ward nonsense, sending children out to fight crime in the streets."
Sip.
"This next picture is Mythic, one of our public capes. She is a sort of seeker, able to trace information back to the source material. Her favorite pastime is connecting world mythology elements from across the world." The image of the girl in a mask next to a mirror, the image also masked but slightly different angle. It seemed to be a trick of the camera.
Another girl, slightly younger. "This is Sundancer. She is technically a Shaker but we have found that the Thinker approach works quite well with power users from that category as well. Initially, her fear of her own power running loose kept her from being able to use it to the fullest. Hypnosis and extensive testing let her find her limits and push past many of them." She points to the second shot, with a series of small balls of flaming energy swirling in figure eight from one of the girl's hands to another. "She is working part-time in power generation while she is taking college classes."
Priscilla Alcott knew a smooth presentation when she saw one. But there was something in the back of her mind. "One moment. I know those cape names. They are currently wanted for theft by the PRT! Are you telling me you educate and train villains?"
"Please allow me to explain," Tamara spoke easily. "These young ladies have finished their education and learned control of their powers. What they do with them afterward is their own life choice. As you noted, they are currently 'wanted' not incarcerated for their crimes. Our final young lady is a hero if that sets your mind to ease." She points to the last picture in the line. "Oracle is an independent hero, an Associate for the PRT herself. Her abilities are similar to Sherlock Holmes of fiction fame. She shares many of the same headache issues your daughter suffers from."
"How do you know that?" Priscilla set her cup down into the saucer with a click.
"Be at ease." Hands raised and open. "We have not been stalking you or your daughter. Oracle was visiting her own doctor for treatment and passed you both in the waiting room. To her, Dinah's issue was an open book as soon as you spoke up."
"Whatever do you mean?" Dinah's mother blinked.
Checking a note pinned to the folder, she answered. "I am quoting here. 'Girl in Goth wear with severe headaches, what are the odds?'. From her notations here I would suggest you avoid asking questions involving chance or odds."
Calming down significantly, Priscilla considered. "She does have headaches quite often…"
"Then let me make an offer to you. Bring her to our offices and let us do a deep scan of her as a baseline and then while asking her questions. Oracle will be in attendance and can help narrow down the focus of why her head hurts when her power is active. Your insurance will cover eighty percent."
"How do you know our..?" Priscilla began, then stopped. "She is off of school in an hour, short day today. Do you have appointments available this afternoon?"
"We are a very exclusive agency. Until we decide to accept another student, we are available to you and your family at all hours of the day. I or one of my staff is available at a moment's notice. In short, yes."
"One thing I don't understand though, why only girls?" Priscilla arched an eyebrow.
Tamara smiled. "I like to keep things balanced. It's all in the chromosomes of course. Have you ever heard of a Thinker that was not female?"
**************************
In the SUV parked in front of the Alcott residence in the secluded driveway of their old world manse, one heavy set young woman pouted a little as she listened in. "Well then, it sounds like plan B is out. Too bad, I have been a little peckish lately."
Mythic settled down to wait for Spiral to return. She would have to settle for takeout. Better not get Chinese though, her usual place was running out of delivery boys. Pizza delivery was more potluck. She smiled. Besides, eat one Asian delivery boy and you were hungry again in an hour.
Maybe she would get 'lucky' and find another Parahuman in hiding, they always had the best flavor.
**************************
Dinah Alcott was listening to her music on headphones, tuning out the other children talking on the bus. She disliked public school, her family trying to acclimate her to deal with the lower 'class' in the day to day affairs without putting on airs. Political angling so that her uncle's competition could not use it as a strike against them in mudslinging.
The other students shunned her now after so many attempts at conversation ended in her wincing in pain. Regular banter would have her cursing slightly. The school nurse had suggested it might be Turrets syndrome to the administration, so Dinah had used a swear word or two as needed to get away from class. That was something 'safe', not worrisome. No one expected children this young to have trigger events after all.
Hers had been over a long week of fever dreams as she dealt with a particularly virulent form of flu brought to America by visiting dignitaries trying to reopen trade. Mayor Christener often called on his extended family to fill in when his son was unavailable due to his college studies.
Her stop came and she trudged up the long driveway, paced now by one of the guard dogs at her side. They were trained dogs, obedient to their handlers, but they also watched over her like their own pups.
She was surprised to see an unfamiliar SUV parked near their door. Doubly so when the dog growled slightly and kept itself between her and the vehicle as she approached.
**************************
Shadow Stalker was out on patrol with Glam, a totally not on the books sort of patrol where they were both off and listed as going to the movies. They did enter the theatre and left their phones stashed inside the seat cushions, then left to change into costume.
Well sort of. Glam was still not feeling up to direct combat, her martial arts skills not up to par. But she did enfold Shadow Stalker --over her costume-- to form another layer of enhancing costume material.
This much of Blanket's abilities she could access, changing herself into a suit of clothes, costume really, over the top. Adding strength, armor and an additional pair of eyes seemed to work well. As a pair, they'd even found she could reform the sleeves separately as an additional pair of arms at need.
"I see them up ahead." Shadow Stalker whispered. "Carload of ex Merchants bringing in the goods to their new Elite managers." She paused and looked to the right some more. "Wait a mo'. That group there is dressed… like Teeth."
In this form, Emma had to play quiet like. She hadn't quite mastered the trick of making a mouth that could speak without disengaging completely. The closest they got was her being able to type onto the screen of their personal phone as text and show the screen.
'Teeth, as in the Butcher? That is bad juju. Report in?' She opened the cover so Sophia could read the text. The backlit screen outlined Shadow Stalker's full mask briefly.
The car coming down the road had someone in it who wasn't stoned. They hit their brakes, spinning side on to the road. In a panic version of a three-point reversal, they squealed tires to head the other way.
The ambush of Teeth spread out into the street, beginning to shoot at the retreating car. Machine gun fire and some kind of Tinker blaster returned from the front door of the Elite group waiting on their customers.
"We were made by the driver!" Sophia hissed. Shaking herself, she eased back from the roof edge to stand up. "You really have to stop and think Eh-Glam. Opsec and all." She heard a sort of crunching noise from below. "Shit."
A form like a low flat dog thing with a wide head landed in front of her, spinning to face her way. It's mouth opened...
Shadow Stalker had flinched into shadow state as it spun. Leveling her crossbow, she sighted in knowing it was too late to dodge the attack.
The beast before them roared painfully loud. <<ARRROOOOOO!>>
Glam felt something tearing at her, trying to pry her free from her hold. It didn't stick. She did find herself more solid than she expected. Sophia liked to shoot while partially insubstantial, then dive aside. Not happening now.
Shadow Stalker grimaced. Her power was just gone. Luckily her crossbow was a skill she had worked into muscle memory along with the Gunpla skills. This let her sight in during the brief second the mouth was agape and shoot her primary crossbow. Her thumb had slid the setting for the tranq to the highest so the smart bolt would be releasing enough agent to put down a bull elephant.
She was not expecting the dog thing to gag and vomit a moment later.
It almost was enough to make her stay still as it thrashed and gagged. But training overrode the blue screen moment. "Glam, dial the PRT. Call Dragon, somebody!"
The sound of her steps pelting across the gravel on the rooftop distracted her from the lack of her power. She ran for the far side, where the next building was a floor lower with a ten feet gap across. At the last moment, she realized she couldn't go to shadow form and tried to flail to a stop.
Without traction to work with, her momentum threw her over the low edge. A forlorn hope had her reaching for the rooftop she'd just stumbled over, finding it with one hand in a partial grip. Her surprise was even larger when the grip was enough to hold her weight. The phone cover flipped up again and she found herself staring into a screen with text on it.
'I still have my powers. Strength boost works. Hold still so I can hide us.'
Getting her other arm in place, Sophia hugged the edge.
Glam concentrated on the brickwork around them, working it into the costume, forming flat edges of brick with lighter mortar.
The door to the rooftop access slammed open and in a moment two someones ran up and the two girls could see weapons and hands holding them lean over the roof edge to scan the area.
"I don't see anyone." One voice yelled.
The other turned away and griped. "Have them bring up a rope and a board or something. We can't fit Animos down the stairs so we may have to lower him down from the fire escape."
"Short straw again?" the first groused.
The other cheered up slightly. "Buck up mate, if we aren't down there ain't no one shooting at us, yeah?"
The sound of the door banging again left them alone with one of the Teeth standing guard. There followed a hiss and flash of light and a moment later he was leaning out again with a cherry of a sweet cigar pressed to his mouth.
Sophia reached for her smaller crossbow, thumbing the electric motor to cock it. Reaching up, she found the Teeth gang member was looking around attentively, almost directly above their position.
Thunk.
He started to fall but Glam undid a sleeve on Shadow Stalker's right arm and used it to grab the guy's own arm to prop himself up at the edge, hand under his chin with knees on the rooftop.
"Good job. Now make that call." Shadow Stalker growled, flicking her earbud to active.
"PRT what is the nature… Miss Hess? This is your private line…" The dispatch had pulled up info as the call was routed through.
"Not now. Teeth active on the rooftop at Pinehurst and Seventh street. Animos attacked me and I ran for it, hit him with a holdout bolt. He has a crew nearby, maybe more capes along. Elite safe house two doors down stirred up like an ant's nest. Maybe capes there too." Sophia let her voice carry just a note of fear. Not her fear, no, but something she affected to get their hands out from under their proverbial asses.
"Retreat to a safe location…" The voice started again --clearly consulting a cue card.
"There is no safe location numbskull. Oh! Just get the Troops rolling." She clicked the call end button.
Glam had taken the man's weapon and wallet of all things. She'd just filched his phone over the edge when it rang once. She was startled enough to drop it to bounce a couple times before it hit the ground. Re-engaging the camouflage effect over both of them, she covered Shadow Stalker's right arm and used her own strength to hold her partner still a moment.
"Oh, I am sooo getting you for this…" Sophia hissed in her cocoon of Glamaterial. She could just see through the thinner material at the top and noted a series of sparkly things come into being above the Teeth gang member's head and beyond.
**************************
Vex was being careful. Someone had taken Animo out. And in a weird way as he normally would have transformed back to human. She set a covering field of her mini stars in place at around four feet above head height, then added a wall of them around the edge --all except where that goof off, Dave something, was taking a smoke break.
"Dave! Who was it?" She called out.
**************************
With Glam holding to the wall with her feet Shadow Stalker pushed her arms up, Glam allowing her to do so after a small pause. Grabbing the front of his jacket, she made 'Dave' shrug a little, then twisted his head left and right.
**************************
Lazy bastard wouldn't even turn to look her way. Oh well, no capes this way for now. She sucked in a breath of night air as more Teeth came up with a stretcher made from push brooms, cardboard and duct tape.
**************************
Miss Militia felt the wind in her hair as Velocity literally carried her to a point she could act as overwatch. The old North Ferry had a radio mast with a small cupola near the top. She remembered the last time she was here --with Blanket-- as she set up. Velocity had gone up the seaside edge and down the same, the light formed by his passage hidden from view toward her target.
The Transports were coming in from the Bay side as well, having moved north and turned in from the Rig itself. Armsmaster's motorcycle was nestled in the back of one, along with him and Dauntless. The other Transport carried Battery and Assault. Both had a squad of Troopers with them along with a pilot and gunner.
"I have sight of Vex on the roof. Animos is still out for the moment. Deploy with smoke and sonics to take down her spike balls. They can wound, but armor should hold against any one of them. Ground team put pressure on the Elite, make them turtle up in the building but don't push in. They might claim we broke the truce." Miss Militia spoke as she sighted in on Vex.
"Any sign of Shadow Stalker or Glam?" Armsmaster spoke up.
"Not yet." Miss Militia answered.
Dragon's voice noted on the line. "My systems still show their Ward phones at the movie theatre. There is some kind of interference blocking Glam's personal phone and Shadow Stalker's personal is returning a position somewhere near the roof Miss Militia is targeting." She let that sink in.
"Either they are hiding or unconscious." Assault noted.
"Wait! I switched to thermal and there is a warm spot just under the lookout on the edge. Unless he is taking a body sized leak down the wall that is where they are. Stealth mode?" She paused. "I'm going to put a dot on her."
Miss Militia lit up a laser pointer on her sniper setup. Putting the dot just left of the target on the wall, she waved it side to side and then held steady a moment.
The bump of brick and mortar shifted on the left a little and a phone screen lit up.
Focusing her scope in, she cranked up the gain in time to see the words being typed in.
'TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH'
"Yeah, Stalker is on the wall with either Blanket or Glam providing cover." Miss Militia noted.
A moment later a startled voice came over the comm line. "This is Blanket on console tonight. Not me. Didn't do it. Can't prove it."
"Thanks for the clarification, Blanket. Now clear the line." Armsmaster noted. "Everyone, Listen to Militia and we do this by the numbers. Move."
The ground team Transport came in at street level landing at an angle that blocked the road but put the side door and it's ramp away from the Elite. The back panel opened as well, allowing Armsmaster and his bike to roar out. The few Teeth members on this side were physically knocked out by his halberd's stun function in passing. Another group was hit by the wide scatter version of the Arclance Dauntless played across them, the fluttering pennant scattering much of the effect. More than enough to stun.
The loudspeakers played clearly. "Members of the Elite. We are not here for you. Lock your doors and stay inside."
**************************
As the sounds of gunfire below picked up then silenced suddenly, a loudspeaker drew Vex to the other side away from the girls.
Shadow Stalker eased her larger crossbow up and level to the wall edge. Tentatively she tried to take shadow form, passing the smaller crossbow through the elbow of 'Dave'.
To Miss Militia's view, the brick on the back of Glam's surface form a large yellow '3', then '2'...
**************************
Retargeting Vex on the exposed nape of her neck as she looked down over the edge, her bony helmet lifted up, Hannah took the shot. Twice for safety.
"Go, go, go!"
**************************
Phut! Phut!
The sound wasn't loud, but the Teeth were wary after years of tiptoeing around Butcher her/himself. Both dropped their burden and rolled away to come up scanning around with snub machine pistols ready. Nothing.
Twang!
Both turned to the sound, but the one on the left slowed as he noticed a tingling in his chest. The bolt punctured his chest piece but looked too small to …. Thud.
His companion twirled to face him as he fell.
Twang!
The smaller bolt hit the second Teeth member in the upper arm. It might have been meant for a chest shot as well, but he turned into it. Shadow Stalker grunted as he fell. A hit was a hit.
As they lifted over the edge, shoving 'Dave' backward, they noted Animos was starting to stir a little. Three steps put them in reach and two of the larger bolts were pushed into contact with his exposed chest. Apparently, the changer form metabolized the drug --perhaps the bolt as well.
The roof door banged open and two men started firing. A grazing shot hit Shadow Stalker high on the left arm. The sleeve reformed into armored cover as other shots passed through her position now that she was in shadow form.
Glam felt a pang as her power flared, healing Shadow Stalker. She resolved to do better in switching from assist to protect.
"Fucking convenient, that." Sophia mused.
The roof team Transport cleared the top then, a staccato of grenade fire putting foam on them as well as tranq barbs on little balls. Assault deployed, clearing a man-shaped hole in the Vex crystals. Battery followed, carrying a set of manacles they'd designed for Lung but would work just fine on Animos. They locked onto both arms and chest and any growth or struggle toggled an escalating dose of tranquilizer.
Assault slipped a hood on Vex, then foamed the woman in place entirely.
**************************
As Vista and Clockblocker returned from cleaning up after their patrol, they walked into the common area adjoining the console station. Vista smiled, toweling off her blonde hair as she moved. This was a 'Dad' day, so she would have to wait for late evening pickup. Her clothes reflected comfort, pajamas in all but name.
"You missed a really hot night out. Some guy all in brown was running a scam tournament game downtown, raking in big bucks on poor rich kids. Thought he was going to score some bragging rights and challenged Clockblocker to a three round in capture the flag. Dennis took him down soundly!" Dennis bowed as he went to the couch to settle in like a boneless ooze.
"That and we hear the Protectorate was called in to finish up a caper that Shadow Stalker and Glam got into while 'off the books'." Vista seemed genuinely jealous of 'the duo' and their antics. So far, Sophia had not invited anyone else to their unofficial forays.
I waited for it.
"You must be so bummed to have missed it." She smiled a little, her feet waving back and forth from the air above the console beside me. She loved sitting on 'air' and this put her just a tiny bit above my eye level. Cute.
I chuckled to myself. "Console duty is not a bummer for me." I led, to her astonishment. Dennis also perked up enough to listen. "Compared to a night in pediatrics or with the newborns this is downright restive. No behinds to clean up, no mouths to feed. Tonight was kept mostly off my comm traffic as a Protectorate action --and 'thank you' to the dynamic duo for doing it off books so I don't have to write up a report on their actions." I smile wider.
Pointing at Vista I drive it home. "This is a night off for me."
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Jonn Wolfe
(Verified Sarcastic) (Not a Wolf)
- Location
- Beyond Sanity Since 1971
SS&G are going to get written up. They'd have to be. I still want to kick both their asses.
And Tammy Calvert??? Dafuq?
And Tammy Calvert??? Dafuq?
I guess her Older/Younger sibling didn't make it out of Ellisburg?
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
You didn't notice Tattletale's power telling her Spiral was a woman multiple times? Spiral ==Coil. Not yet saying if gender swap butterflies OR gender reassignment. Either fit what is known to date.
Edit: or worse that Nilbog was involved in the reassignment...
And Tamara is the closest I could find to Thomas in girl names... Tommy ->Tammy
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ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Huh. You know having a twin out there would go a long way to explain Calvert's powers... May steal this, may not.
Huh. You know having a twin out there would go a long way to explain Calvert's powers... May steal this, may not.
Have it with my blessings
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
Uber is a Thinker, so Brockton Bay has at least 1 publicly known male Thinker, Victor is a Shaker/Thinker, so that's 2 if we don't just count pure Thinkers, that shows that there's nothing in Worm, indicating females get Thinker powers more often.
Then there's probably one of the most famous Thinkers in the world Accord, so all in all that statement is a load of nonsense.
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Exactly.
The art of the con AKA social engineering is to tell a bald face lie with sincerity. Spiral knows what you said is true . The readers know it. Priscilla Alcott does not.
Nor will she go comparing notes now that she 'knows' the fact.
Think of that bit as a stealth snake pun : Snake Oil Salesman (woman) -- eh whatever.
tarrangar
Fat arctic chicken
Wouldn't think that lie would work particularly well, what with the fact that the Bay has Uber, the Thinker that actually stream his crimes, he's the kind of guy who get a lot of local publicity.
Lordamnesia
What are we doing again?
I always got from the info we have on the senior Alcotts is that they are the normal elite; self involved, not very smart, head in the sand types.
New Coat of Harms, ERT Beginning
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
*************** Pacifier 10
The next day, after school. Modified 'watch' duty.
Vista was playing tag with Patches for purposes of 'power testing'. Yeah, if you believe that then you should be wary of buying real estate in Florida.
Sounds of giggling dopplered by, sometimes close but often distant at the same time.
This warehouse sized room filled with jungle gym bars --padded of course-- from floor to ceiling with slides and ramps and little platforms scattered through. The padding along the walls and floors was all newer than the ceiling, it too was brought in and assembled onsite. The whole thing was in storage, the bright idea of someone in the Youth Guard who thought there was a trend of younger and younger triggers. Or perhaps for second generations who trigger more easily at younger ages.
The girls were moving through them at top speed, chasing and hiding all the way. Vista by shifting steps closer to herself to step the length of one path closer to herself. Watching her was like watching a Rook in chess -- three-dimensional chess. Patches herself moved in spurts of movement, grabbing bars to change direction suddenly. She was a Knight of course.
I was on 'watch' as they'd been doing this for close to an hour. The power testing guys were watching and had switched over to some kind of stamina-testing to see how long it took them to wear down.
The doors swished open and there I beheld Shadow Stalker and a downcast looking Glam. I was sitting quietly on a comfy chair made of cloth of course.
It was weird. Shadow Stalker pushed her mask up to the top of her head and glanced around, taking in the room. She spotted the web harnesses the girls were already wearing and the 'gloves' with the electronics in them that allowed a 'tag' to be recorded. I swear her eyes just went all pupil, all black with almost no color showing. Like a cat.
Emma also took in the gym and the game and let out a little huff. And then the barriers all broke down like they had never been there. She scooched into the chair next to me like she belonged, making me shift over a bit.
Ems, my old friend version, not the one who'd been hanging out with Sophia and been such a bitch, put her forehead on my shoulder. "They sucked every moment of fun out of last night, soaked it up with paperwork and forms." She groaned, turning her head to the side, eyes closed. "Almost no sleep. Then school. Then more debriefing there they told us nine different ways we screwed up, dissecting every little detail."
I left her like that, already half asleep. Draped over the arm of my comfy chair like old times. Oh, I guess she is bigger than she used to be. And I was in my human form as well, the PT squad wanted me to see how long a construct would hold up if I wasn't in Blanket form. The chair under me was one, there was a big teddy bear thing at the top platform as well.
I thumbed my earbud active. "Doctor Simkins, you mind if I extend the chair into more of a couch here? Glam is crashed out cold here."
There was a pause. "Okay, how about this. Stay in human form and try to adjust the shape into a loveseat." I could hear whirring noises as the cameras refocused.
"All right then, here goes." I could still feel the chair --no the couch. In my mind, it was a loveseat, two cushions wide, with a slightly lowered sitting position. The back wasn't as high because it lost some mass.
Ems groaned a little as her legs shifted out to a more comfortable placement. Her head was pulled a little and she rearranged herself in her sleep to put her head on my lap partly.
All righty then, I shifted some of the cushion material up under her back to form a separate pillow between her and me --my leg anyway. The way she had been freaking out on the bus she would probably assume I was taking advantage.
I had been distracted by Emma. Now I heard the game change in tone as Shadow Stalker was fully into it. Playing it all back in my mind I did remember hearing something like a low throaty chuff-chuff-chuff.
"Here, fishy-fish-fish. Run!" Sophia's voice carried an imperative that both younger girls stopped to listen. Then the giggle turned to high pitched shrieks of joy.
I looked up to see a streak of darkness up and across as her shadow state let her cut across the angles. A Bishop. Bitch … going Up. The name checks out.
Okay, that was harsh even for my inner thoughts. But she had changed my friend into something I didn't recognize in under two years. Or been a part of it. Eh, I suppose it was Emma doing all the changing, making her mind up to leave the memory of what we were to each other.
In her sleep, she snuggled up to my arm, the pillow and couch only slightly less me. Something, some feeling of power was tingling in my mind. Pulling on me, like I was healing her.
It clicked.
"You little turd." I said, flicking her nose with a finger. "You're recharging from me aren't you? Is that all I am to you."
Her eyes flicked open. A glimmer of a tear in them. "Not … entirely." She blinked rapidly and stretched catlike. "You are a very comfy couch you know." Her smile was hiding partly behind a big red clown nose while her hair had taken a darker tone, curled itself and was now being held by a blue stretchy band. "Am I still Loonette?" she asked, halfway serious, "You could have short stuff be Molly."
"I heard that!" Vista shouted from somewhere above.
Cupping her hands to be heard. "I mean shorter stuff!" Emma laughed a little as he relaxed her arms down again. "You are such a big comfy couch…"
My eyebrows had raised at such a suggestion. We had both spent many hours watching that show as children. Doing stretches like a clock. Stories. Dust Bunnies.
I felt my lips turning up to a smile. "So who do you think is Major Bedhead?"
"Betting on Dennis myself." She closed her eyes, her clothes shifting to match the pajama look of Loonette. "He has the hair down pat."
I lean back and let my mind drift. "Not seeing it. He's too short for one thing. For another, Chris has nicer eyes."
Emma tilted her head and opened one eye to me. "And here I thought you were getting interested in girls. You do remember the weekend… the one before your dad's stroke?" One arm laying across her face now, hiding it. A sniffle.
"What do you mean? That was two years ago and change… There was rather a lot going on." I note, putting my bookmark in place, setting it aside. I was paying full attention now, offering eye contact.
The hitch in her voice as she lowered it. "I thought you were ashamed. Of me. Of us." She said.
I nudged her arm so I could see her. "Explain it like I'm five."
She blinked. "We kissed!", she all but hissed at me.
"Emma!" I pushed the arm back out of the way again. "Em." Inhale. Calming breath. "We were little girls playing house. Hell, we barely understood that Legend and Alexandria weren't married to each other!"
She giggled a little at that. "But they made such a cute couple." Wiping away a little tear, she peeked up at me. "And I was sooo worried you would want to pick up where we left off. I wanted you to be my friend but I also wanted proof you didn't want that too."
"So the whole 'invite me out and ditch me' thing was a ploy to make me feel dumped?" I snort.
She waves her hand around. "Little of column A, little of column B. We didn't expect Leet and Uber to make a play while we were at the Mall. But Sophia said there something about you at the Hospital, something she only felt around other capes. Tension. It's harder for her to be around some powers she says, like Dauntless and one of those independents --Grue I think."
I blink. "And Armsmaster, am I right?"
She nods.
"That explains a lot." I think about it. "Less now after you triggered right?"
Her eyes go wide. "She hadn't said so, but I caught her working out next to Dauntless in the weight room. She used to just leave anytime he came in."
I look up at the three-way free for all tag game. "Oy, Stalker! Any gut urge to rend anybody lately? Grue? Dauntless?"
Up above the action stopped. Shadow Stalker, hanging from a bar near the top considered. "Nooo. I still think Armsie has a corn cob up his keister. And you are a Dork."
Suddenly the giggles returned as a double sneak attack tagged and scored on Shadow Stalker by both Patches and Vista. The Doppler effect as they moved away reminded me of just how big this place was --okay 'bigger' with Vista...
"Cheating cheaters who cheat!" Sophia growled. "It is ON now!" As she charged away in angled lines, every pause to change direction caused a light to go out. Ah, she was pulling the prefabbed connections which chained the lights together. Whole lines of bars went dark as she chased them off into the far corner.
"Friends?" Emma spoke quietly.
"Happy to have you back. I never left." I note. "Oh, and shift back. Loonette on the couch with me having a tender moment is just weird."
She sniggered and her red hair was back. Face.
"Nose too, please." I flick the offending thing.
"Oops." She offered. She wiggled her real nose. "Huh. I felt that."
"So you are changing." I lean in conspiratorially. "Does that mean you are actually naked and Changing to look like you are clothed?"
Her face went through four shades of red, then Change red too. Full body red. Plaid.
"Ummm." She began.
The PA system kicked on. "Glam, please report to PeeTee room two for Stranger power testing."
"So busted." I note as she rolls into a sitting position, then I push her on the back so she stands up fully. "Not mad, but there are a few things we need to understand for the Protectorate to be happy about your circumstances. They notice things, like how Animos didn't change you back. And how you use less of everyone else's powers until the only powers you use are mine --or your version anyway. You've recharged before now you know."
<<BeUppp>>. "Glam, report to room two on the bounce!" That was Miss Militia that time, using the voice she picked up with Navy Seals. Her dad, she had said. Still visits on occasion.
As she trudged off an alarm timer buzzed on my phone. "My time is up here. Shift at the Hospital starts in forty-five. Stalker, try not to hurt anybody."
"Fine." She groused. According to the counters showing she was down by six points as the kids double-teamed her.
***********
Hicks was there to pick me up. This time it was a motorcycle, with a sidecar. As I got in, he handed me a pizza warmer, empty.
"Just another delivery guy doing his rounds, yah?" He nodded.
I glance at him and the bike. "If you weren't inside a controlled access garage I would be Tazing you right now."
He snickered and flipped his wallet open to show his ID. "Right, right. A plus on tradecraft. I had to take the leftovers as there was a shell game going on to get Vex and Animos out of town without intercept. Well, that is what they were meant to think. Pretty sure I saw a submarine docked at the Rig earlier today." He put a gloved finger alongside his nose. "Um. Better change into something motorcycle-y for the ride over."
I huff a little. "You all take such advantage over me." My sundress and tights merge into a full bodysuit, something like the 'Kill Bill' thing, but more orange with a few strips.
"Safety orange. Do I detect a little bit of Mr. Hebert in that?" He notes, passing me over the helmet.
I didn't even try to get the helmet right in Blanket form. Too easy for a turn and wind to make it all wobbly. But I was riding in Blanket form tonight, no sense in being killed by a drunk driver. It also meant I'd have a chance to save Hicks as well.
Not saying the streets downtown aren't safe mostly. No one had seen Squealer around for over a month, almost two. Of course, the first time she crashed a vehicle into the one I was in no one saw her THEN either.
***********
"Are you sure it is Squealer?" the Protectorate console operator handling the affiliate line gruffed. "She hasn't been seen around here for weeks!"
Balancing on the back of --well Caterwaul SAID they started out as pot-bellied pigs-- Grue and Chitter were chasing something down the back streets. Something bigger than a car, taller too by the way it knocked down clotheslines. Invisible. It might be two-wheeled or have four that could move into a line as needed. He wasn't sure. Chitter's army of squirrels gave chase, directed by Chitter with nudges to the leaders of squads. They were covered in Grue's darkness everywhere but the eyes, some ahead of the vehicle by cutting across blocks. Others were hanging on --invisible to even those driving-- and that was the only reason Chitter could feel them.
Grue could sort of feel where his darkness clung to them. It helped them move, decreasing their weight, cooling them in their exertion. It was disconcerting for humans, why they always ran off or surrendered in it. Animals, they just took it as existing conditions and ran with it.
***********
As we drove up the final turn to the Hospital parking lot there was a feeling in the air. Heaviness. Sirens coming from ahead somewhere. Hicks pulled over, partly on the sidewalk.
The heaviness increased. Down the road from us, cars exploded aside as if a great force had hit them. Thrown aside, pairs or singly. Something ran over the top of a car just in front of us, jumping our position.
Throwing Hicks off the bike to the curb, lowest point available, I felt the whoosh of air going over us and then darkness a moment. Then a lot of little blobs of darkness scurried past blocking the lights from the Hospital as well. Clops and skittering noises.
The darkness faded.
Police vehicles whipped by, going from sounding a mile off to passing our position one, two, three.
I noticed that I was splayed across Hicks, in Human form basically, and he was blushing.
"Agent Hicks. Is that pepper spray in your…" I roll off and go full Blanket mode and costume, covering him as something large and metallic sounding flies almost on top of us to hit the car crashed just down from us.
I took a closer look. It was a cube of metal and stuff. Car stuff. Only Squealer would make a motorcycle that scooped up, crushed and SHOT cars as a weapon.
"Console, Blanket here. Pretty sure I just witnessed a hit and run perpetrated by a Squealer built invisible vehicle. There was a cape in pursuit, maybe more as well as BBPD cars." I state.
"Console here.", Clockblocker's voice came. "Are there injured? Squealer follows the lines like a two-year-old at the best of times."
"Copy that, Console." I looked around. Hicks was sitting up, cradling his arm. I sent an arm stretching his way and healed his broken wrist without thinking further. His spare helmet was on the ground next to his bike. "Multiple injuries visible. The roads were not clear."
"Blanket, this is not one of Panacea's nights. You are tasked to gather up the injured, heal what you can. There may be more coming in from further down the road." Sounds like Dennis was monitoring the situation.
I turned to assay the situation. Hicks was getting up, looking sheepish as he removed the helmet.
"Oh, get over yourself, Hicks. I was teasing." Stretching off toward the car wrecks, I helped the injured out who were trapped. Pointing them to the Hospital, arranging enough healing to get them out of life-threatening positions.
One or two sourpusses in the mix.
Big hair. Swooping over the top. A little blood on her lip, the beginnings of bruising on her face. Arm in a sling --my work-- following me for a few steps as I moved on to the next vehicle, a smaller car.
"Why didn't you heal me completely like you did the little girl!" She shouted as I bent down, nudging a fireman out of the way. "I want to speak to your manager!"
I grimace slightly. The fireman, tough sort gathers her like herding a duckling. He takes her aside and puts an oxygen mask on her, sitting her on a gurney.
A moment later she is out cold and they are strapping her in.
He salutes in passing as I take the second one out of the small car. Airbags deployed, no seatbelts. Spinal damage in one, the other is ah concussed I think. Studying has helped me. So has having Panacea giving me a few lessons here and there. Some of the doctors are also helpful, albeit mostly in pediatrics.
"Concussion likely here. Backboard or can you heal her in situ?" A gruff voice from the other side. "You're Blanket right?"
It was the fireman. I saluted as I ducked back inside to check. "That is me. Concur on the concussion. I healed the aortic tear on the driver. She's clear to pull out, nothing spinal there. For the girl, I need a little more room to work. Let me get the top off."
He set his claw thing down. "You can pop the top?"
I put a column of material from the bottom to the crumpled top. Cranking it like a jack I pushed up the roof. Tendrils pushing out to the windshield both front and back, spreading out and pushing the safety glass out and aside.
I weave a net of steel in place behind the seats, specifically taking the metal from the supports holding up the roof. Now just the column was holding it up. "Support her neck in case the whole thing wobbles," I say.
He holds the passenger still, hands to either side. "I don't have another neck brace."
I give him 'the look' number three. "Just mention it if you need one. Or bandages. Seriously, they didn't tell you anything about me, hey?" I make a neck brace, thick foam with layers of cloth around it, a little of the steel net to stiffen it. "I can cover a lot of things."
He snorts. "A pun?"
"Laughing or crying. Pick one." I note, setting the car top to the side.
"Ten-four. I see another crew with a gurney coming. I can direct for this vehicle if you want to move on." he notes.
"Inna sec. What did you do to the mouthy one?" I ask, taking a breather.
He smiles. "Nothing. Pure Oh two has that effect once the adrenalin drops down. She just wanted someone to pay attention to her problems." He waved one of the regular EMT toward the woman on the gurney. "Speaking of which, roll the lady over to triage inside. Walking, talking, mouthing off if she wakes. Your call."
The EMT kept the oxygen on full for the moment. Schmart boy.
"So, I can't help but notice you are wearing something like one of our coats, but in unfamiliar material." The fireman assayed as he joined me at the next vehicle. "Is it a Tinker thing?"
I smile at him in crochet form. "I modeled it off your coat actually, on the fly. It's made of Pyreflect and Sillicaflex in layers, a bit of wire woven in a hex pattern to form cells like cardboard. Pretty much proof against any fire you could walk into or plan to walk away from." I waved my arms a bit. "Cut resistant. Bullet resistant. Made of recycled safety glass, aluminum including steel. Even wove in broken tail light plastics to make reflector stripes."
He coughed. "How heavy is it?"
"Bet it is lighter than that thing. Might still go up a half pound after all the buttons and clasps and such are added." I note.
The next one is less damaged. "Think we are almost at the start of the chase here, at least where the driver got sloppy and started hitting things."
My phone buzzes, civilian mode. I hold up a hand to wait and look at it from inside my body. Text.
'Where are you? Your shift started an hour ago. Did you get hurt out front?' --Maggie
"Oh my god!" I heard one of the EMTs voices. "Her eyes just rolled back in her head and fell inside. And there is light coming from the holes."
I quickly texted back.
'Hung up outside. Not hurt. Helping out with the crashes. I MET Blanket!'
Putting my eyes back in place I see the fireman holding a somewhat queasy EMT.
"I think I am done here. Here, take this and run some tests. Contact the PRT and we can see about making some more to pass around. Probably need a big source of glass and metals. Junkyard maybe." I shrug off the jacket, making sure it is sized for someone like him. Still no buttons or zipper or such. Have to remember to get one ordered to check the design. Hmm, better check with Armsmaster to see how to license the official designs so I don't cause trouble.
Being a teenager though, I wave and run off toward the Hospital. Maggie is going to be so steamed I got a 'Blanket' autograph.
Armsmaster reviewed the footage of Blanket's actions that Dragon helped compile one more time. Then he sent it along with an email to Director Piggot, suggesting that the Wards group be trained further in a new direction that Blanket was already becoming proficient in. An Emergency Response Team.
A/N Trying out Grammarly basic. Hope it helps to polish things a bit. Still screaming in four places, but down from 67 at first.
The next day, after school. Modified 'watch' duty.
Vista was playing tag with Patches for purposes of 'power testing'. Yeah, if you believe that then you should be wary of buying real estate in Florida.
Sounds of giggling dopplered by, sometimes close but often distant at the same time.
This warehouse sized room filled with jungle gym bars --padded of course-- from floor to ceiling with slides and ramps and little platforms scattered through. The padding along the walls and floors was all newer than the ceiling, it too was brought in and assembled onsite. The whole thing was in storage, the bright idea of someone in the Youth Guard who thought there was a trend of younger and younger triggers. Or perhaps for second generations who trigger more easily at younger ages.
The girls were moving through them at top speed, chasing and hiding all the way. Vista by shifting steps closer to herself to step the length of one path closer to herself. Watching her was like watching a Rook in chess -- three-dimensional chess. Patches herself moved in spurts of movement, grabbing bars to change direction suddenly. She was a Knight of course.
I was on 'watch' as they'd been doing this for close to an hour. The power testing guys were watching and had switched over to some kind of stamina-testing to see how long it took them to wear down.
The doors swished open and there I beheld Shadow Stalker and a downcast looking Glam. I was sitting quietly on a comfy chair made of cloth of course.
It was weird. Shadow Stalker pushed her mask up to the top of her head and glanced around, taking in the room. She spotted the web harnesses the girls were already wearing and the 'gloves' with the electronics in them that allowed a 'tag' to be recorded. I swear her eyes just went all pupil, all black with almost no color showing. Like a cat.
Emma also took in the gym and the game and let out a little huff. And then the barriers all broke down like they had never been there. She scooched into the chair next to me like she belonged, making me shift over a bit.
Ems, my old friend version, not the one who'd been hanging out with Sophia and been such a bitch, put her forehead on my shoulder. "They sucked every moment of fun out of last night, soaked it up with paperwork and forms." She groaned, turning her head to the side, eyes closed. "Almost no sleep. Then school. Then more debriefing there they told us nine different ways we screwed up, dissecting every little detail."
I left her like that, already half asleep. Draped over the arm of my comfy chair like old times. Oh, I guess she is bigger than she used to be. And I was in my human form as well, the PT squad wanted me to see how long a construct would hold up if I wasn't in Blanket form. The chair under me was one, there was a big teddy bear thing at the top platform as well.
I thumbed my earbud active. "Doctor Simkins, you mind if I extend the chair into more of a couch here? Glam is crashed out cold here."
There was a pause. "Okay, how about this. Stay in human form and try to adjust the shape into a loveseat." I could hear whirring noises as the cameras refocused.
"All right then, here goes." I could still feel the chair --no the couch. In my mind, it was a loveseat, two cushions wide, with a slightly lowered sitting position. The back wasn't as high because it lost some mass.
Ems groaned a little as her legs shifted out to a more comfortable placement. Her head was pulled a little and she rearranged herself in her sleep to put her head on my lap partly.
All righty then, I shifted some of the cushion material up under her back to form a separate pillow between her and me --my leg anyway. The way she had been freaking out on the bus she would probably assume I was taking advantage.
I had been distracted by Emma. Now I heard the game change in tone as Shadow Stalker was fully into it. Playing it all back in my mind I did remember hearing something like a low throaty chuff-chuff-chuff.
"Here, fishy-fish-fish. Run!" Sophia's voice carried an imperative that both younger girls stopped to listen. Then the giggle turned to high pitched shrieks of joy.
I looked up to see a streak of darkness up and across as her shadow state let her cut across the angles. A Bishop. Bitch … going Up. The name checks out.
Okay, that was harsh even for my inner thoughts. But she had changed my friend into something I didn't recognize in under two years. Or been a part of it. Eh, I suppose it was Emma doing all the changing, making her mind up to leave the memory of what we were to each other.
In her sleep, she snuggled up to my arm, the pillow and couch only slightly less me. Something, some feeling of power was tingling in my mind. Pulling on me, like I was healing her.
It clicked.
"You little turd." I said, flicking her nose with a finger. "You're recharging from me aren't you? Is that all I am to you."
Her eyes flicked open. A glimmer of a tear in them. "Not … entirely." She blinked rapidly and stretched catlike. "You are a very comfy couch you know." Her smile was hiding partly behind a big red clown nose while her hair had taken a darker tone, curled itself and was now being held by a blue stretchy band. "Am I still Loonette?" she asked, halfway serious, "You could have short stuff be Molly."
"I heard that!" Vista shouted from somewhere above.
Cupping her hands to be heard. "I mean shorter stuff!" Emma laughed a little as he relaxed her arms down again. "You are such a big comfy couch…"
My eyebrows had raised at such a suggestion. We had both spent many hours watching that show as children. Doing stretches like a clock. Stories. Dust Bunnies.
I felt my lips turning up to a smile. "So who do you think is Major Bedhead?"
"Betting on Dennis myself." She closed her eyes, her clothes shifting to match the pajama look of Loonette. "He has the hair down pat."
I lean back and let my mind drift. "Not seeing it. He's too short for one thing. For another, Chris has nicer eyes."
Emma tilted her head and opened one eye to me. "And here I thought you were getting interested in girls. You do remember the weekend… the one before your dad's stroke?" One arm laying across her face now, hiding it. A sniffle.
"What do you mean? That was two years ago and change… There was rather a lot going on." I note, putting my bookmark in place, setting it aside. I was paying full attention now, offering eye contact.
The hitch in her voice as she lowered it. "I thought you were ashamed. Of me. Of us." She said.
I nudged her arm so I could see her. "Explain it like I'm five."
She blinked. "We kissed!", she all but hissed at me.
"Emma!" I pushed the arm back out of the way again. "Em." Inhale. Calming breath. "We were little girls playing house. Hell, we barely understood that Legend and Alexandria weren't married to each other!"
She giggled a little at that. "But they made such a cute couple." Wiping away a little tear, she peeked up at me. "And I was sooo worried you would want to pick up where we left off. I wanted you to be my friend but I also wanted proof you didn't want that too."
"So the whole 'invite me out and ditch me' thing was a ploy to make me feel dumped?" I snort.
She waves her hand around. "Little of column A, little of column B. We didn't expect Leet and Uber to make a play while we were at the Mall. But Sophia said there something about you at the Hospital, something she only felt around other capes. Tension. It's harder for her to be around some powers she says, like Dauntless and one of those independents --Grue I think."
I blink. "And Armsmaster, am I right?"
She nods.
"That explains a lot." I think about it. "Less now after you triggered right?"
Her eyes go wide. "She hadn't said so, but I caught her working out next to Dauntless in the weight room. She used to just leave anytime he came in."
I look up at the three-way free for all tag game. "Oy, Stalker! Any gut urge to rend anybody lately? Grue? Dauntless?"
Up above the action stopped. Shadow Stalker, hanging from a bar near the top considered. "Nooo. I still think Armsie has a corn cob up his keister. And you are a Dork."
Suddenly the giggles returned as a double sneak attack tagged and scored on Shadow Stalker by both Patches and Vista. The Doppler effect as they moved away reminded me of just how big this place was --okay 'bigger' with Vista...
"Cheating cheaters who cheat!" Sophia growled. "It is ON now!" As she charged away in angled lines, every pause to change direction caused a light to go out. Ah, she was pulling the prefabbed connections which chained the lights together. Whole lines of bars went dark as she chased them off into the far corner.
"Friends?" Emma spoke quietly.
"Happy to have you back. I never left." I note. "Oh, and shift back. Loonette on the couch with me having a tender moment is just weird."
She sniggered and her red hair was back. Face.
"Nose too, please." I flick the offending thing.
"Oops." She offered. She wiggled her real nose. "Huh. I felt that."
"So you are changing." I lean in conspiratorially. "Does that mean you are actually naked and Changing to look like you are clothed?"
Her face went through four shades of red, then Change red too. Full body red. Plaid.
"Ummm." She began.
The PA system kicked on. "Glam, please report to PeeTee room two for Stranger power testing."
"So busted." I note as she rolls into a sitting position, then I push her on the back so she stands up fully. "Not mad, but there are a few things we need to understand for the Protectorate to be happy about your circumstances. They notice things, like how Animos didn't change you back. And how you use less of everyone else's powers until the only powers you use are mine --or your version anyway. You've recharged before now you know."
<<BeUppp>>. "Glam, report to room two on the bounce!" That was Miss Militia that time, using the voice she picked up with Navy Seals. Her dad, she had said. Still visits on occasion.
As she trudged off an alarm timer buzzed on my phone. "My time is up here. Shift at the Hospital starts in forty-five. Stalker, try not to hurt anybody."
"Fine." She groused. According to the counters showing she was down by six points as the kids double-teamed her.
***********
Hicks was there to pick me up. This time it was a motorcycle, with a sidecar. As I got in, he handed me a pizza warmer, empty.
"Just another delivery guy doing his rounds, yah?" He nodded.
I glance at him and the bike. "If you weren't inside a controlled access garage I would be Tazing you right now."
He snickered and flipped his wallet open to show his ID. "Right, right. A plus on tradecraft. I had to take the leftovers as there was a shell game going on to get Vex and Animos out of town without intercept. Well, that is what they were meant to think. Pretty sure I saw a submarine docked at the Rig earlier today." He put a gloved finger alongside his nose. "Um. Better change into something motorcycle-y for the ride over."
I huff a little. "You all take such advantage over me." My sundress and tights merge into a full bodysuit, something like the 'Kill Bill' thing, but more orange with a few strips.
"Safety orange. Do I detect a little bit of Mr. Hebert in that?" He notes, passing me over the helmet.
I didn't even try to get the helmet right in Blanket form. Too easy for a turn and wind to make it all wobbly. But I was riding in Blanket form tonight, no sense in being killed by a drunk driver. It also meant I'd have a chance to save Hicks as well.
Not saying the streets downtown aren't safe mostly. No one had seen Squealer around for over a month, almost two. Of course, the first time she crashed a vehicle into the one I was in no one saw her THEN either.
***********
"Are you sure it is Squealer?" the Protectorate console operator handling the affiliate line gruffed. "She hasn't been seen around here for weeks!"
Balancing on the back of --well Caterwaul SAID they started out as pot-bellied pigs-- Grue and Chitter were chasing something down the back streets. Something bigger than a car, taller too by the way it knocked down clotheslines. Invisible. It might be two-wheeled or have four that could move into a line as needed. He wasn't sure. Chitter's army of squirrels gave chase, directed by Chitter with nudges to the leaders of squads. They were covered in Grue's darkness everywhere but the eyes, some ahead of the vehicle by cutting across blocks. Others were hanging on --invisible to even those driving-- and that was the only reason Chitter could feel them.
Grue could sort of feel where his darkness clung to them. It helped them move, decreasing their weight, cooling them in their exertion. It was disconcerting for humans, why they always ran off or surrendered in it. Animals, they just took it as existing conditions and ran with it.
***********
As we drove up the final turn to the Hospital parking lot there was a feeling in the air. Heaviness. Sirens coming from ahead somewhere. Hicks pulled over, partly on the sidewalk.
The heaviness increased. Down the road from us, cars exploded aside as if a great force had hit them. Thrown aside, pairs or singly. Something ran over the top of a car just in front of us, jumping our position.
Throwing Hicks off the bike to the curb, lowest point available, I felt the whoosh of air going over us and then darkness a moment. Then a lot of little blobs of darkness scurried past blocking the lights from the Hospital as well. Clops and skittering noises.
The darkness faded.
Police vehicles whipped by, going from sounding a mile off to passing our position one, two, three.
I noticed that I was splayed across Hicks, in Human form basically, and he was blushing.
"Agent Hicks. Is that pepper spray in your…" I roll off and go full Blanket mode and costume, covering him as something large and metallic sounding flies almost on top of us to hit the car crashed just down from us.
I took a closer look. It was a cube of metal and stuff. Car stuff. Only Squealer would make a motorcycle that scooped up, crushed and SHOT cars as a weapon.
"Console, Blanket here. Pretty sure I just witnessed a hit and run perpetrated by a Squealer built invisible vehicle. There was a cape in pursuit, maybe more as well as BBPD cars." I state.
"Console here.", Clockblocker's voice came. "Are there injured? Squealer follows the lines like a two-year-old at the best of times."
"Copy that, Console." I looked around. Hicks was sitting up, cradling his arm. I sent an arm stretching his way and healed his broken wrist without thinking further. His spare helmet was on the ground next to his bike. "Multiple injuries visible. The roads were not clear."
"Blanket, this is not one of Panacea's nights. You are tasked to gather up the injured, heal what you can. There may be more coming in from further down the road." Sounds like Dennis was monitoring the situation.
I turned to assay the situation. Hicks was getting up, looking sheepish as he removed the helmet.
"Oh, get over yourself, Hicks. I was teasing." Stretching off toward the car wrecks, I helped the injured out who were trapped. Pointing them to the Hospital, arranging enough healing to get them out of life-threatening positions.
One or two sourpusses in the mix.
Big hair. Swooping over the top. A little blood on her lip, the beginnings of bruising on her face. Arm in a sling --my work-- following me for a few steps as I moved on to the next vehicle, a smaller car.
"Why didn't you heal me completely like you did the little girl!" She shouted as I bent down, nudging a fireman out of the way. "I want to speak to your manager!"
I grimace slightly. The fireman, tough sort gathers her like herding a duckling. He takes her aside and puts an oxygen mask on her, sitting her on a gurney.
A moment later she is out cold and they are strapping her in.
He salutes in passing as I take the second one out of the small car. Airbags deployed, no seatbelts. Spinal damage in one, the other is ah concussed I think. Studying has helped me. So has having Panacea giving me a few lessons here and there. Some of the doctors are also helpful, albeit mostly in pediatrics.
"Concussion likely here. Backboard or can you heal her in situ?" A gruff voice from the other side. "You're Blanket right?"
It was the fireman. I saluted as I ducked back inside to check. "That is me. Concur on the concussion. I healed the aortic tear on the driver. She's clear to pull out, nothing spinal there. For the girl, I need a little more room to work. Let me get the top off."
He set his claw thing down. "You can pop the top?"
I put a column of material from the bottom to the crumpled top. Cranking it like a jack I pushed up the roof. Tendrils pushing out to the windshield both front and back, spreading out and pushing the safety glass out and aside.
I weave a net of steel in place behind the seats, specifically taking the metal from the supports holding up the roof. Now just the column was holding it up. "Support her neck in case the whole thing wobbles," I say.
He holds the passenger still, hands to either side. "I don't have another neck brace."
I give him 'the look' number three. "Just mention it if you need one. Or bandages. Seriously, they didn't tell you anything about me, hey?" I make a neck brace, thick foam with layers of cloth around it, a little of the steel net to stiffen it. "I can cover a lot of things."
He snorts. "A pun?"
"Laughing or crying. Pick one." I note, setting the car top to the side.
"Ten-four. I see another crew with a gurney coming. I can direct for this vehicle if you want to move on." he notes.
"Inna sec. What did you do to the mouthy one?" I ask, taking a breather.
He smiles. "Nothing. Pure Oh two has that effect once the adrenalin drops down. She just wanted someone to pay attention to her problems." He waved one of the regular EMT toward the woman on the gurney. "Speaking of which, roll the lady over to triage inside. Walking, talking, mouthing off if she wakes. Your call."
The EMT kept the oxygen on full for the moment. Schmart boy.
"So, I can't help but notice you are wearing something like one of our coats, but in unfamiliar material." The fireman assayed as he joined me at the next vehicle. "Is it a Tinker thing?"
I smile at him in crochet form. "I modeled it off your coat actually, on the fly. It's made of Pyreflect and Sillicaflex in layers, a bit of wire woven in a hex pattern to form cells like cardboard. Pretty much proof against any fire you could walk into or plan to walk away from." I waved my arms a bit. "Cut resistant. Bullet resistant. Made of recycled safety glass, aluminum including steel. Even wove in broken tail light plastics to make reflector stripes."
He coughed. "How heavy is it?"
"Bet it is lighter than that thing. Might still go up a half pound after all the buttons and clasps and such are added." I note.
The next one is less damaged. "Think we are almost at the start of the chase here, at least where the driver got sloppy and started hitting things."
My phone buzzes, civilian mode. I hold up a hand to wait and look at it from inside my body. Text.
'Where are you? Your shift started an hour ago. Did you get hurt out front?' --Maggie
"Oh my god!" I heard one of the EMTs voices. "Her eyes just rolled back in her head and fell inside. And there is light coming from the holes."
I quickly texted back.
'Hung up outside. Not hurt. Helping out with the crashes. I MET Blanket!'
Putting my eyes back in place I see the fireman holding a somewhat queasy EMT.
"I think I am done here. Here, take this and run some tests. Contact the PRT and we can see about making some more to pass around. Probably need a big source of glass and metals. Junkyard maybe." I shrug off the jacket, making sure it is sized for someone like him. Still no buttons or zipper or such. Have to remember to get one ordered to check the design. Hmm, better check with Armsmaster to see how to license the official designs so I don't cause trouble.
Being a teenager though, I wave and run off toward the Hospital. Maggie is going to be so steamed I got a 'Blanket' autograph.
***********
Armsmaster reviewed the footage of Blanket's actions that Dragon helped compile one more time. Then he sent it along with an email to Director Piggot, suggesting that the Wards group be trained further in a new direction that Blanket was already becoming proficient in. An Emergency Response Team.
A/N Trying out Grammarly basic. Hope it helps to polish things a bit. Still screaming in four places, but down from 67 at first.
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Jonn Wolfe
(Verified Sarcastic) (Not a Wolf)
- Location
- Beyond Sanity Since 1971
Surprised they aren't trained in S&R already.
Dunno if Emma is turning around or being a shit, honestly.
Dunno if Emma is turning around or being a shit, honestly.
- Location
- England
A grammar checker can be useful, but you need to know when to put your foot down. After the first dozen times I'm badgered about 'passive voice' I just want to tell it to suck it up and deal with it.
ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Heh, yeah I know what you mean. I installed the browser plugin, basic only, so it triggers while posting to SV as a last pass aide. Helps catch a lot of comma misfires. Went back to one of my old fics and did a chapter edit ----Whooo! IT WAS LIKE A DBZ 9000 MEME!!
Mostly it hates my odd drawn out spellings like 'sooooo' but a few add to dictionary clicks gets past that (if I am consistent, and I am NOT
).But yeah YMMV.
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ScottotheUnwise
Verified Crack (fic) Dealer
- Location
- Mulberry, Fl
Trained in it yes. But what he is suggesting is establishing a fire/rescue specific branch.
Emma. She is reevaluating her life based on near death situation when she is not a Lustrum influenced Feminazi fanatic. Life flash and regrets thing. Shredded social masks.
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