----------------------------------------
"Ohhhh, fuck!" Amy moaned out, sweat dripping off her as she rolled over, practically panting, her body sore and aching.
Sophia snorted, easily doing one armed push ups next to where Amy had flopped over on the floor, the bitch hardly even sweating from the effort.
"You're a literal demon!" Amy complained, her arms non-functional, push ups were definitely not something she had any experience with. Fuck you original Amy for never working out properly and pushing it down the line to new improved Amy!
Finding a good way to affect her own self was priority number one when she got out of here!
"You're just fucking weak." Sophia said bluntly, side eyeing her from where she was still continuing her push ups, "Figured the sister of wrecking ball girl would be more fit then this…" She added disparagingly, shaking her head slightly, only the barest sheen of sweat beginning to be seen on her brow.
Amy, through great personal effort, raised her weak and shaky noodle arm, and gave her roommate the finger. Content to lay flat on the ground until her body stopped complaining at her.
Sophia scoffed, switching arms in one slick movement as she continued, "At least you're trying now, seen sense, trying to turn into a real predator…" She pushed herself to her feet suddenly in one swift movement, that Amy wasn't jealous of at all, coming to stand over Amy, smirking down at her, poking her with a bare toe, "Even if it will take awhile… Pudgy."
"I will literally kill you once I catch my breath!" Amy wheezed out, her chest rising rapidly still, her body almost completely unaccustomed to this level of exertion. She worked the hospital route, and while exhausting, and bringing in a lot of steps in a day - it wasn't anywhere near a rigorous exercise routine.
"You're too thirsty too kill me, I can fucking see where you're looking you pervert." Sophia said, rolling her eyes, "If you're wanting to go after the bastards out there like you keep saying, you need to be fit, or funky powers or not, you'll be murder blended by Hookwolf within a week."
Amy thought that was entirely unfair, if Sophia was going to work out in just tiny boy shorts and a sports bra, how exactly could Amy do anything but look? "I know, I know." She grouched, feeling her breath coming back, slowly moving herself up into a seated position, craning her neck to stare up at Sophia, a frown on her face, "And I could probably whip up some flesh eating bacteria, except you know, for metal." She muttered, mind whirling with ideas, that would work for putting Hookwolf down, and would ensure Kaiser was useless as well. Now what would she use to create that? And how would she deploy it where she wouldn't do too much damage? And ho- OW!
She rubbed her head gingerly, glaring up at Sophia, "What the fuck Stalker!?" She complained.
Sophia looked completely unrepentant for someone that had just smacked her one across the head. "You were going into your weird head again, I don't want a super plague while I'm in the same room, thanks." She muttered, crossing her arms under her bust, her visage unimpressed.
"Only a tiny plague." Amy pouted, still rubbing her head, Sophia hadn't pulled that whack by much, hardy bitch…
Sophia shook her head, her hair, put in a simple ponytail, swishing behind her, as she raised a clenched fist, a raised eyebrow on her face as she stared pointedly down at Amy. "You already did that fucking lavender shit," She wrinkled her nose with distaste, "Save any other experiments for when I'm not locked in with you!"
Amy glared up at her stubbornly, "That lavender shit was a great idea! You're just jealous you still stink, while I smell fresh as a daisy!"
Working out was smelly work, and Amy hated being all grungy, so she'd fixed it. Original Amy had already set the bacteria on her skin to deal with sweat and other byproducts to begin with - a consequence of working in a hospital in a damn burqa, her uniform got very humid and hot at times, so Amy ensured there weren't any nasty odors.
Amy had just taken it to its next logical conclusion while bored, waiting for Piggot to try and execute her or whatever crazy thing she'd do at some point, tweaking the process so that not only were there no unpleasant body odors no matter what she did, but she also smelled nice and fresh with a hint of lavender.
Partly because she liked lavender. And partly because she'd asked Shadow Stalker first what kind of scent she hated the most. The glare she'd received when the scent of lavender filled their cell during the next workout session had filled Amy with enough happiness that she hadn't even been too annoyed with the whole workout thing that day.
"I'd rather stink to high heaven then smell like lavender, like a pussy!" Sophia shot back at her caustically, stepping away, her bare feet practically noiseless as she walked towards the bathroom for her after workout shower.
Sadly, she still refused to share. Even Amy's argument of water conservation to save the planet had fallen on deaf ears.
Amy snorted, amused, firing a parting shot to the athletic girl, "You're definitely straight like you say, if you think that's what it smells like…"
"Get new material, your simping got boring on day two, Dallon." Sophia said bitingly, tossing a victorious smirk over her shoulder as she entered the bathroom - having gotten the last word in.
"Bitch." Amy muttered, stretching out her legs, groaning, she was so achy. They'd been here for four days now, and working out was the only thing to really do, except her and Sophia sniping/bitching at each other in a friendly way. They got along scarily well, Sophia had even stopped threatening to choke her after the first day!
Well, friendly in a way that worked for them and as things worked out with their personalities - Miss Militia and Battery had both been by at times and tried to separate what they thought was fights, only to get bitched out from both of them for ruining their fun.
Normal people just didn't understand.
She wondered what was taking so long. By now Piggot should have either been slammed down, or pushed ahead against all advice. Why was it that they were still in M/S screening? No one would really believe she'd mastered Shadow Stalker after all, nor would any tests show herself as anyone but Amy Dallon, even Gallant had obviously thought her emotions were alright, albeit her anger and disgust were directed to them, and not herself like the original.
If they didn't do something by tomorrow… She'd have to get creative.
Maybe start dropping names. Like Cauldron, like Contessa, like Doctor Mother… Yeah I'll reveal shit, step in already Contessa! She thought into the aether.
She heard the shower turn on, and debated briefly on whether to surprise Sophia or not, switching her mind away from the ridiculousness of trying to understand the PRT.
One peek wouldn't hurt, right?
….
Right. Shadow Stalker… Best not invite a punch to the face, not yet.
"The shower head has a massage function!" She shouted out instead, grinning wildly, wondering which unlucky sod was stuck watching the cell today. She hoped it was Miss Militia, she seemed kind of stuck up.
….
"Shut the fuck up Dallon!" Sophia yelled back, making Amy's grin turn positively filthy.
The bitch was totally gonna use it now.
Prime teasing material for later.
----------------------------------------
Same time, the Rig, Director Piggot's office.
"No Emily, let her go." Chief Director Costa-Brown repeated sternly.
Emily Piggot clenched her fists so hard her nails were beginning to pierce her palms, hiding her hands under her desk as she kept her voice cool, speaking to the other PRT Directors over video conference call. "You can't be serious ma'am! She's at least on Bonesaw's level, from what WEDGDG had to say after viewing her recordings… She admitted to altering the bacteria on her skin to an autonomous self replicating degree, which she did seemingly effortlessly, while in M/S containment with no access to anything to utilize other than skin mites! How hard would it be for her to create a plague!?" Emily scoffed harshly, a sour look on her face, "According to the girl herself, not very hard!"
Emily had always been suspicious of Panacea, something about the girl had struck her as insincere from the beginning. Even if she didn't distrust capes as she did, she would have never trusted the girl. There was a reason she hadn't been healed, despite having the world's best healer in town.
She'd rather the pain, inconvenience and early death than put her fate in the hands of a cape, especially one so obviously untrustworthy as Panacea.
And she was now vindicated. Because the little brat was another Nilbog waiting to happen! Why couldn't these people see that!? A teenager with powers of that calamitous strength was scarier than an Endbringer. At least those were somewhat predictable! Teenagers were notoriously fickle and emotional, teenage capes were even worse! One bad breakup and they'd have goblins chewing up the populace, quarantining Brockton Bay just as Ellisburg.
"This is Panacea!" Costa-Brown stressed, a pinched expression on her face, "We'd have riots if we birdcaged her on a possible threat level, she's healed too many people, too many important capes…" Costa-Brown glanced off screen at something, rolling her shoulders tiredly, "Not to mention the girl is sixteen, there's no way we can make this look good, Emily."
Emily growled, leaning into the video screen, eyes flashing with irritation, "So she's helped out at Endbringer fights, so do villains, and we're not rushing to give them excuses for every hero they've saved." How can she think of PR right now!? She bit her tongue to stop herself from bringing it up, knowing it was a losing argument.
For better or worse - definitely worse - PR was king in the PRT.
Director Armstrong, the PRT director from Boston, shook his head, "That is not the same thing, Emily, and you know it." He frowned as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "There is however the fact that she represents a valid threat, Emily isn't entirely wrong, although taking it as far as the Birdcage or a kill order is premature."
Before Emily could furiously seize the momentum to continue to push forward, Director Tagg gruffly interjected on her behalf, "So get a pre-signed kill order in place, have it ready for when she inevitably fucks up, then get rid of her."
It gave her conflicted feelings to have James Tagg on her side, but she'd take what she could get right now.
Armstrong shook his head again, more firmly this time, "This is too premature." He stressed, steepling his fingers in front of him, "The girl hasn't actually done anything yet, all you'll do is push her away, because it will leak, let's not kid ourselves on that, Panacea getting a kill order. Will. Leak!"
"She's already killed one man!" Emily rebutted coldly, glaring at Armstrong's calm visage through the screen, "The man she turned black has disappeared." Her lips twisted sardonically, "Surely no one here believes Kaiser let him go?"
Kaiser could not let a man like that walk around as a visible mark of shame for the Empire. She was only surprised it had taken him this long to do it. If she was a betting woman she would have bet on Hookwolf taking care of the issue on day one.
Director Wilkins, the New York PRT Director spoke up for the first time, her voice cool and collected, "I believe Tagg has the correct idea." She said, inclining her head to said Director gently, "I'm sorry Emily, but the Birdcage or an executed kill order is out of the question, a pre-signed order to let her know not to step out of line is not unreasonable, however." She raised an eyebrow addressing Armstrong, "Is that not how you've dealt with Blasto in Boston?"
It wasn't quite as far as Emily wanted it to go, but better than nothing, she frowned briefly at the idea Tagg had enacted a compromise. The world really was going to hell.
Armstrong smiled wryly, shaking his head, "The situation is different, the two can't be compared equally." He insisted sincerely,"I don't believe Panacea is quite bad enough to be compared to Blasto."
"No. She's potentially worse." Emily jumped in, glaring at the Boston Director. Don't look at her age damnit! Look at what she can do! Capes never don't use their power!
"This discussion is going in circles. There will not be a kill order, pre-signed or otherwise. She will not be birdcaged, let her go, Emily!" Director Costa-Brown ordered with a firm voice, quashing all dissent.
"She'll sue…" Emily complained bitterly, the feeling of ash in her mouth. Her body thrummed with phantom pain as she briefly re-lived the last moments of Ellisburg, flashes of that disaster only making her more bitter as she faced having to ignore a repeat.
"Frankly, with how many rules you've stomped all over with this case Emily. Be glad if all she does is sue. One word to the media, and we're all wading through a pile of shit." Costa-Brown said seriously, "Let her go, now. That's a direct order."
Before Emily could answer, the screen flickered off, the Chief Director leaving the conversation. The other Directors quickly followed, leaving only Tagg behind, the others unwilling to meet Emily's eyes as they fled responsibility.
Nothing new there, she thought uncharitably, she'd asked for reinforcements to deal with Lung or the Empire for years without an iota of resources moving her way. So why would the PRT wake up and smell the impending apocalypse this time.
She had to try, but she couldn't say she'd expected anything but disappointment.
"You've got no choice but to let her go, but you can still put contingencies in place." Tagg stated bluntly, his gaze intense, the other Director the only one to truly at least entertain the idea of action.
"Striking first is the only way to deal with capes like this." Emily said harshly, looking away from Tagg, her cheek twitching as she held back the anger that was waiting to erupt.
"I have a few ideas, if you're willing to listen."
"....Tell me."
----------------------------------------
Alexandria in her guise as Chief Director Costa-Brown twitched irritably as she turned the monitor off, looking off to the side, "You want to tell me why exactly we're ignoring this? Emily isn't wrong… Especially with the girl's personality change, I don't care if she's claiming she's just burnt out and acting out, she's a danger."
Contessa, standing by the window and looking as unruffled as usual, just smiled mysteriously, "I have my reasons."
Alexandria grunted, looking remarkably unimpressed, "Yes, I know. Share them."
"I don't think I will." Contessa said cheerfully, "Door, San Diego Zoo break room."
Alexandria sighed as Contessa disappeared through the portal, returning to her paperwork, part of her mind still thinking on the mystery of Panacea's sudden change - and apparent sudden importance to the path.
"Emily won't last long, she won't give this up." She muttered quietly to herself, annoyed at the amount of extra work a visit from Contessa always managed to bring.
She'd be keeping an extra close eye on Brockton Bay, Cauldron's experiment ongoing in the town or not, she would not allow another Nilbog.
On that she and Emily agreed fully.
----------------------------------------
Amy felt quite pleased with herself as she sat in the back of a PRT van, being driven home, idly tapping away on her returned phone, texting Vicky to let her know she's on her way home, and ignoring the sudden flurry of dozens of texts in return.
She knew her homecoming would likely be both a disaster, and short lived - but it would prove to be entertaining to her either way. All of this was, really. She sent a text to Shadow Stalker, her new bestest friend having begrudgingly offered her number before they split off, Amy going home, Sophia going to be reamed out by her superiors in private.
Good, she thought, remind her why she hates you, makes it easier for me to steal her away.
"If you get tired of being the PRT's basic bitch you can come be my sidekick." She texted, a smirk on her face as she imagined Sophia seeing it first thing when she got out of her disciplinary meeting.
She wondered if she could steal any of the other wards? She tilted her head and hummed in thought, keeping half an eye on the PRT troopers in the front of the van, in case they were actually Coil's and weren't actually driving her home - although she could make that work too in a pinch. No, it's not worth the effort to steal the wards. She decided, her mind flipping through what she knew of the wards.
Only Vista was interesting enough, but would probably need too much effort to convince naturally to be worth it. Of course by one touch she could probably brainwash the girl, but Amy didn't really want to do that, she had a bad taste in her mouth just at the thought. Not out of any ethical quandary - but because of how boring that was.
She could mind control everyone in the bay after some experimentation, she was sure. But what was the point? Where would the fun be in that? Where was the conflict? The adrenaline of facing an enemy, of losing, drawing, winning.
No, I'm going to have fun with it, I'll only master someone if that somehow makes everything more exciting. She decided inwardly, while logging into PHO on her Panacea account - sliding into the thread speculating on her disappearance into the Rig.
She needed to come up with a better name… Panacea was just… Panacea was a basic passive bitch who just did what she was told, went where she's supposed to, and had no fun at all, ever. It wasn't her.
She eyed the troopers again, pulling her hood down somewhat to hide her shark-like smile. Heh, posting this while technically still in PRT custody is delicious… She thought, typing up a statement. Giving it two critical once overs afterwards to make sure she had it down perfectly. You should have just snuffed me in the middle of the night, Piggot.
Post! She crowed to herself as her finger pressed the button, sending her statement into cyberspace - likely killing a career or two in doing so.
She read it in real time as it popped up on her thread on PHO, reactions immediately popping up.
Hello Brockton Bay,
I've just been released from the Rig and I'm on my way home, thank you for all of you supporting me and pressuring the PRT for an answer on my disappearance. I might have disappeared forever if not for you all pushing for an answer, so thank you!
I'm heartbroken and deeply saddened after spending the last four days being treated like a monster, like a villain meant for the birdcage, illegally incarcerated, interrogated and pushed to the brink by PRT and Protectorate 'heroes'.
I've been threatened with the birdcage, even faced the threat of a kill order, the Director of PRT ENE pushing hard to force me into the Ward program or risk life imprisonment or death! (Makes you wonder who else is a ward because the PRT threatened to ruin them otherwise?)
Armsmaster and Gallant were both present during interrogations to push me, Gallant manipulating my emotions to make me more docile, (did anyone know he isn't actually a tinker? But actually a low level master? The PRT have been hiding it by having Armsmaster supplying him with tinkered armor.)
Stolen story; please report.
I thought I was doing good, that I was helping the bay, helping the heroes with healing after Endbringer fights. Healing any and all comers, spending my time after school volunteering for free at hospitals in the area. I'm only sixteen so I couldn't do it full-time, but I thought I was helping…
Four days ago my power reacted strangely with a weird genome in a patient, a member of the Empire 88 who I reluctantly healed, as PRT itself demands of me regularly - even as a volunteer I was often unfairly pushed to focus on criminals over civilians...
The patient was not harmed, but due to his reaction to my power changing the color of the pigment of his skin, the PRT and Protectorate attacked me, illegally, striking me with con-foam grenades in the hospital lobby, with total disregard for my rights, and for the civilians nearby who could have been hurt.
They didn't even try to talk to me, Velocity of the Protectorate foaming me in a surprise attack without a word said, they could have just asked me, but they weren't interested in talking or in following the law.
Is it reasonable to suddenly throw a grenade at a sixteen year old, without warning and in a public area?
They dragged me to the Rig without any reading of my rights, without an explanation for their heavy handed actions, treating me with more disdain than the likes of Hookwolf during his last arrest. They locked me up, refused me access to my parents, to legal representation or in fact any outside contact at all.
I'm no expert on the law, but as a minor I can't believe any of that was legal.
I'll also reiterate that Hookwolf had more rights during his last stint of incarceration then I was afforded!
Nazis get lawyers apparently, but I don't?
If not for the new - yet to be introduced ward - Shadow Stalker, breaking the rules to join me in my cell, I would have likely done something stupid in my depressed state from being locked in with no contact other then PRT and Protectorate representatives, who only spoke with me to threaten me.
I apologize deeply to all residents of Brockton Bay, but with the situation as is, with the PRT threatening the birdcage at minimum, simply for what could happen, rather than anything I've done. I can not continue to offer healing at the various hospitals, or offer it to the heroes.
Not with them willing to break any law, without apparently any consequences, leaving me no avenue of protection if they decide to do it again.
I can't risk healing anymore.
Not as things stand right now.
Not when it risks my future or even my life to do so. The PRT is too large of a specter hanging over me for me to be able to continue.
I am a biokinetic, I never went into specifics on my power before due to fearing exactly this from the PRT, and even if I've never done anything like the more infamous people with such skills, the PRT didn't care, they label me a monster either way, despite me never having used my power poorly.
All I ever wanted to do was heal, it's all I've ever been doing.
I'm heartbroken to have to make this decision, but I feel I've been left with no other choice.
Bereft the chance to heal directly I'll try and see if I can't create cures for cancer and similar diseases - if the PRT won't put a kill order on me for curing cancer. Hopefully in creating such cures I can make up for not being able to heal people directly.
My deepest apologies,
Panacea.
Amy leaned back in her seat, letting her phone drop into her lap, quietly laughing to herself. The reactions spilling in were delicious, the majority already screeching hatred towards the PRT for making Panacea stop healing.
She'd had no intention of going back to the hospital anyway, but Piggots open threats against her worked excellently to give her an excuse. Giving Armsmaster and Gallant a black eye at the same time was just gravy.
She foresaw a lot of fights between Dean and Vicky in the future.
She might even bust open the cracks in the Wards with this, depending on how much they were willing to believe in the party line from Piggot. Someone whom they already disliked fairly heavily - versus her, who had healed them several times and never been a threat.
If the Wards read her statement, she doubted they'd be pleased with how things had gone down, they're more stupidly idealistic then the Protectorate.
Her status as a biokinetic would be out now, but her outing the fact said a lot more than if she'd been outed by the PRT. Some would panic as sheep always did, but the majority would only see her good deeds so far and rage at the PRT for their massive overreaction.
It was hard to twist a potential cure for cancer as evil after all. And it neatly laid out that she was still helping people, just on a global scale instead. Comparisons to Bonesaw or Nilbog wouldn't fly right now, she'd never done anything to let the public believe that.
Yet.
The PRT pointing towards the Nazi as proof of concept of her 'evil' would backfire on them. Not surprisingly the majority of everyone, everywhere, did not have any great sympathy for Nazis. Half the people would believe it was an accident, their mind already set on the 'goodness' of Panacea. Especially those already healed and saved by her in the past.
Even the other half, those that believed she did it on purpose, would find a majority quietly telling her good job, seeing the karma in turning a Nazi black, and finding it a much more suitable punishment then 'harming' him.
Either way, it ensured she wouldn't have to waste her time in hospitals any time soon. She had no intention of wasting what little time she had before the world literally blew up on doing busy work.
She saw the van turn onto her street. Her phone practically blowing up as thousands of messages flew across PHO in response to her statement.
She smirked, staring out of the window at her home, wondering exactly how explosive this family get together would be, Show time! She thought with heady anticipation.
Let's see if she could add another post tonight, New Wave kicks Panacea out would be a great headline!
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"Oof! Vicky let me breathe!"
She'd barely been able to step out of the van before Vicky came flying out the door, squeezing the life of her after intercepting her with a flying tackle.
She was sans uniform, in a simple blue jeans and tank top combo, her eyes wet as she continued to squeeze Amy tightly, "Not ever going to let you out of my sight again, Ames!" She blubbered, before burying Amy's face in her hair as she lifted her off her feet, hugging the stuffing out of her.
"I'm okay, Shadow Stalker kept me company, kept me safe." Amy murmured over her shoulder, her voice tight, as she could barely get a word in, her lungs restricted, pressed up against her sister as she was.
Good thing she wasn't hopelessly in love like the original, or this embrace would have put her brain on the fritz. She wasn't in love, even if she did in fact find Victoria insanely attractive. Huh, is that her aura, or just the fact she's pretty? She wondered, allowing her biological sense to expand from where she was touching Vicky.
Curious to see if the aura was messing with her mind.
Vicky's body and mind was laid bare for her power. The activity in her brain and Gemma suggested her aura was particularly ramped up strong right now, likely due to her emotional state. So that answers why my first thoughts were on loving her before, and her attractiveness. She thought pensively. She supposed it wasn't as bad as she thought though, just a suggestion, one she could ignore - not anywhere near mastering.
So original Amy was full of shit on being mastered into loving Vicky. Go figure.
Original Amy really had a bad habit of talking herself into delusions. Really, she'd done the girl a favor by taking over her body. Whether she was dead or somehow riding along subconsciously, it was a better fate than canon Amy, in her modest opinion.
"Then I owe her one." Vicky said firmly, bringing Amy back to reality, her biological sense dialed down as she focused on the here and now. "I would have broken in by myself, but mom threatened to knock me unconscious until you were back if I went anywhere near the Rig…"
"Gonna put me down?" Amy asked, poking Vicky's cheek a couple of times, the blonde pouting slightly. Too bad Carol had been a party pooper, she might have enjoyed watching Vicky wreck herself through the Rig.
It would have definitely changed things. Brought more chaos onto the playing field.
And made her sister a villain in the eyes of the law.
"No. Last time I put you down you disappeared for days!" Vicky said, a tinge of self recrimination in her tone. "If I had been at the hospital to pick you up early, you wouldn't have been kidnapped by the PRT!" There was definitely some bite to her voice that time.
Yessss. Come to the dark side Vicky. We have cookies, and orgies, Amy thought gleefully.
Amy rolled her eyes at her blubbering though, which thankfully her sister couldn't see as she held her still, "If you keep blaming yourself instead of the bastards at fault, I'll give you super acne." She threatened lightly.
Vicky giggled, not taking her threat seriously, she'd have to learn soon that Amy wasn't the passive waif who'd never do something like that to Vicky. But she did end up putting Amy down, her nose wrinkled cutely as she put both her hands on Amy's shoulders, her eyes searching Amy's. "Did you really turn that guy black?"
Amy could have lied, Vicky would have believed her, trusting in her own sister. But really, she didn't see the point. "He deserved it." She said simply, shrugging slightly, meeting Vicky's eyes without a hint of doubt.
Vicky grinned conspiratorially, mirth dancing in her clear blue eyes, "I thought so." She crowed, patting Amy's shoulders, "Way to go sis, I mean it's not punching bad guys out, but it's like poetic justice!"
"Don't encourage her, Victoria." Carol said harshly stepping out th door, gesturing inside with one arm, "Inside Amy." She bit out.
"What a warm welcome…" Amy said sarcastically, patting Vicky on the back as she hesitantly allowed her forward, glaring mullishly at her mother.
"Mom…" Vicky said sounding uncertain even as she continued to glare at Carol, "Aren't you happy Amy is home?"
Carol shook her head, "After everything she pulled, she's lucky she's not in the Birdcage right now. Now inside." She hissed.
Amy smiled bemusedly, laying a hand on Vicky's arm, preventing a blow out. "Of course, I have looked forward to meeting the family again."
They all entered, Carol refusing to show her back to Amy to her visible amusement.
The entire clan was in the living room, Amy waving at Crystal and Erik who both seemed cheered up seeing her free.
She didn't even get to say hi to the adults before Carol began, "What the hell is wrong with you? How could you be so stupid? We're going to be sued now I hope you realize? That's if not even worse now that everyone knows that you're a monster!"
"Mom!" Vicky yelled at the same time as Aunt Sarah stepped in with a sharp, "Carol!"
"Vicky, if you can't stay out of this, go for a fly." Carol ordered caustically.
"But mom!"
"Vicky, GO!" Carol snapped. Vicky looking helplessly at Aunt Sarah who shook her head, then at Amy who smiled at her and made a shooeing motion, telling her to go.
With an inarticulate scream, Vicky tore off, flying out of the house, looking absolutely done with the family, likely flying to see Dean.
That would… Be interesting if he let her know of his involvement.
"So Vicky is gone, so what is it you wanted to say that you didn't want her around for? Something worse than monster?" Amy said, crossing her arms under her chest.
"Amy, Carol didn't mean that." Aunt Sarah tried to interject, only for Carol to talk over her.
"You are a monster. A daughter of a villain, an unwanted child forced on me and now you're finally showing your true colors."
"Carol…" Uncle Neil said as Aunt Sarah grasped her shoulder harshly, whispering something in her ear looking pissed off.
Amy shrugged in a what can you do manner, eyeing Crystal and Eric who looked absolutely flabbergasted and uncertain at the situation evolving.
Mark of course just seemed to be there, just nodding his head along whenever Carol spoke. Useful much there 'dad'.
"You forced her on me in the first place, Sarah, stop telling me to settle down!" Carol snapped at her sister.
Neil and Sarah both backed down, seemingly lost for words at the situation.
Amy just shook her head at how pathetically messed up this entire family was. Honestly she was better off without them.
"So, to recap, I'm a monster, daughter of a villain, Marquis right? I was forced on you, got it all?" Amy said brightly, the entire family staring at her agape at her weird reaction.
She scoffed, "What, how stupid do you think I am? You think I only now noticed Carol hated me? She's made that perfectly clear…"
"So what are you saying that you don't want Vicky around for, mother dear." Amy asked.
Carol took a step forward almost looking like she'll use her power, Aunt Sarah again grasping her shoulder to hold her back, looking disturbed.
"Get out, that's what I want, you're not mine, you never was, get out of my home, you're off the team, go and don't come back!" Carol said harshly, bitingly cold.
Amy just nodded, looking around at the family, seeing everyone kind of looking shell shocked.
"Good talk." She said brightly, and turned around and left, stopping briefly at the door, giving a cheery wave, "Neil, Mark, Sarah, Crystal, Eric, thank you all for your impassioned defense of me being a human being, it honestly moved me to tears." She tilted her head consideringly, "Or maybe I imagined that part. Oh well, must be the monster in me confusing me."
Good thing they couldn't see how hard she was grinning as she stepped out, it would have ruined the whole thing.
----------------------------------------
Amy left the house, not at all bothered with how things went down, she wasn't particularly interested in the status quo of Brockton Bay, and she definitely hadn't been interested in spending the next two years under Carol's thumb, being harassed for anything she did 24/7.
She wondered what would happen once Vicky came back from her 'cooling flight' to find that Amy had essentially moved out. Or been kicked out on the street - whichever interpretation she'd fall under.
There would be fireworks no doubt, she was almost sad that she wouldn't be there to see it. But it wasn't worth sticking around and getting bitched at by Carol for however long it took for Vicky to come back.
Plus this would collect some bonus points towards the turning her sister evil track.
She had better things to do anyway than be blathered at by a shriveled up shrew who'd given up on life already and was bitter at everyone for being happier than her.
She walked down the street, bringing her phone out again, her lips stretched into a self satisfied grin. Freedom, she was a girl on a mission, to enjoy life, to spit in the face of those that wanted to control her. New Wave, just like the PRT would have just been an anchor weighing her down.
As she walked, heading towards the boardwalk for now, she typed up a quick addition to her previous post. The thread already had several thousands of replies in - she was about to blow up the local internet even more.
Hello again, Brockton Bay,
As an update on what's going on, I arrived back home, or what I thought was my home, to get the same treatment as the PRT doled out,
Glory Girl was the only one of New Wave that stood up for me, everyone else passively allowed Brandish to brand me the new Nilbog, a stain on the name of New Wave, and then came the real truth bombs.
Not everyone in Brockton is aware that I was adopted, but it hasn't been kept a secret either, just not advertised. What I didn't know until now, was that Carol Dallon did not want me. She was forced into adopting me by the rest of the family at the time.
She made it clear today that she always knew I would be evil, that I wasn't a member of the family, and that I was not a member of New Wave. Basically leaving me with nothing.
So… Anyone have a couch for me for a night while I figure things out? Because I no longer have a home, a team, or apparently a family. (Excluding Glory Girl)
So…
That's been my day,
If this is how biokinetics are treated, no wonder I'm the only known 'good one' if this is the normal reaction.
Don't worry everyone, no matter how much Director Piggot and Carol Dallon want to make me a monster,
I'll remain me.
Just… Homeless version of me.
Amy hit post, wondering how long before she'd be approached by the various players out there. Would Coil come first, being local and all, or would the likes of the Elite approach her first?
She'd have to disappoint them, she'd turn down working directly for them, but she was open to deals. But first of all, she needed new digs, so she could start exploring her power, make herself a real power in this world. Her posts would give her some breathing room, the public would be coming in mostly on her side until the PRT could begin to switch the narrative - or at least she was fairly sure that's how it would lean for now.
She needed to keep a good reputation, until she didn't need it anymore, just to avoid the complications that could arise from top tier heroes if she was actually classified as a new Nilbog.
She watched as her PM's filled up, offers flying in, most of them the obvious cape weirdos offering their basement - hard no on that.
She didn't need to be tied up in someone's basement and subjected to a number of humiliating things… Unless they were hot.
She recognized one name however, although only from fanfictions that she'd read once upon a time, when she'd been able to at least move her hands, able to read on her own - before she'd deteriorated to the point she needed assistance for even that.
AllSeeingEye. Tattletale. Potentially. The invite to talk certainly held a certain amount of smug I-know-it-all attitude to it that matched her.
Now the question was, if that was indeed her, was it for herself and her plans that she offered, or was Coil making her offer? Or was Lisa just stretching a hand out for a young girl down on her luck, like she would for Taylor?
Either way, Amy thought it could be fun. She sent a PM back, asking for contact details. A phone number flashing into her inbox only seconds later.
She dialed it, speaking up the second the phone call was picked up, "So, Tattletale, what's up?"
There was a second of silence, before Tattletale laughed, sounding delightedly amused, "Now, now, this is interesting." She said, and Amy could almost picture the vulpine grin on her face from the tone of her voice. "You know me, somehow, I can't quite figure it out, but that's interesting, how do you know that?"
Amy eyed her surroundings, keeping her voice low as she continued walking, well aware night was not far away, "Asking me? Aren't you supposed to be able to figure anything out?" She teased smugly.
"Not very heartbroken about recent events, are you?" Tattletale said dryly, slipping right past Amy's dig, before making a querying noise from the back of her throat, "No… You actually wanted this, wanted independence…" She said rapidly as if struck by inspiration, "Holy shit, you planned this, maybe not every step, no, you took advantage of the situation to get what you wanted, but you wanted to be kicked out!"
"I guess you're not half bad." Amy said approvingly, "What else can you get out of what I've done lately?" She asked, curious what a thinker could pull out of her actions.
There was silence on the line, broken suddenly by excited breathing noises that would have drawn Amy's mind to something completely different if she was talking to anyone else. Amy just laughed, having an idea of what exactly Tattletale was figuring out, "I think you might want to wait for a private meeting for anything else." She said leadingly. Knowing Tattletale was unlikely to be unmonitored if she was with Coil, if she was, then it was likely not that long ago that she'd gotten that 'job offer'
"Texting you the address." Tattletale said abruptly, sounding a bit freaked out but trying to play it off as brusqueness, hanging up immediately.
Oops, maybe I shouldn't have hinted about knowing about her situation. Amy thought, before she shrugged, looking up the address she was sent, depositing her phone in her pocket afterwards. She could deal with Tattletale, and Coil didn't really worry her either. He might be a child abducting pervert, but he was one perfectly willing to make deals.
He wouldn't bother with kidnapping Amy if she was perfectly willing to make deals after all, why bother with it if he could already get what he wanted?
And it wasn't like she had a problem with him taking Dinah Alcott either, she wasn't Taylor. With the world ending anyway, why does some girl she doesn't even know, matter? Answer of course is she doesn't. So yeah, she'll work for Coil if it comes up, or kill him, or something else fun, who knows, depends on what's interesting at that moment.
Maybe he'll try and use her to cure Noelle and there could be a few hundred little Amy clones running around. She laughed delightedly, uncaring if anyone saw - because that would be an apocalyptic scenario. Or would they turn good? Maybe worth trying just for shits and giggles.
Tattletale didn't live far from the boardwalk, more towards the Empire territory, which was smart, considering she was a white blonde teenager - she'd get free security from the gang just by walking onto Empire streets.
In ABB territory she'd be too likely to get another kind of security if she was alone. The kind with a cell, a chain attached to a bed, and three square meals of dick a day.
Being able to safely walk the streets was a big relief in Brockton Bay. It no doubt was a load of her mind when she needed to go grocery shopping outside her villain persona - the benefit of being white and cute in a white residential and business area
She also wasn't too far from Coil's territory, which helped her safety for as long as she was useful for the man - in case she needed a quick getaway. Amy was kind of flying by the seat of her pants, not really that interested in long term planning, so Tattletale wasn't really a bad choice as far as who to get in bed with. (Heh)
"Panacea… Kaiser wants a word." Amy jerked her head up at the calm words uttered not far from her position.
Oops, she'd gotten lost in her mind and stopped paying attention to her surroundings, that was annoying. She idly looked down the street to the cape standing there. Victor, not too bad for her, all things considered. He wasn't Hookwolf or Stormtiger, or Night and Fog. Really, he was as ideal as could be for a cape she could tell to fuck off without having to create a plague on the fly for, that would likely be entirely indiscriminate due to time and material constraints.
It's not like America really needed Brockton Bay anyway, it didn't exist in her world after all and that world worked just fine without it.
He was by himself too, which meant either this was a completely coincidental meeting, or they were trying some sort of soft sell. She snorted quietly to herself, they were really shooting high if they thought she could be recruited when this all started with her turning one of their men black. She had a feeling this was simply a meeting of opportunity, she was near their territory after all, and her last post just happened, so unlikely Victor even knew about it.
"Victor." She said politely, continuing to walk, forcing him to make the choice to either step in line to follow her, or to attempt to stop her. Either way, he'd have to touch her if he wanted to stop her, and that would not end well for him.
Victor stepped in causally to walk next to her, just enough space between them to be out of range if she were to attempt to reach over. "New Wave won't be able to protect you from the PRT." He said mildly, "Kaiser just wants to talk, explain his side of things for a young woman that's been fed lies."
Amy felt a smile tugging at her lips, "I guess you're behind the times, is the internet too gay for you guys to use?" She said, being slightly unfair, because she'd just posted her split with New Wave, but seeing the confused body language of the villain next to her was admittedly funny.
"Am I to take it that you're turning down a meeting?" Victor asked, shedding his confusion and focusing on his task.
Amy chuckled darkly, flexing her fingers, side-eying the now slightly tense Nazi next to her. "You want me in the same room as Kaiser? Shooting for a coup, Victor?" Her lips twisted into a vicious smirk, "Because it sounds like you want the girl capable of creating plagues in an enclosed space with your leader."
"...You're a hero…" Victor said, stepping away a couple of extra steps, watching her more warily now.
How cute, Amy thought, laughing lightly, pulling some of her hair behind her ear, giving Victor a teasing look, "~Am I?"
Victor rallied remarkably quickly, "We would happily take you in, we could protect you if you're leaving heroing behind, even if you're a rogue, the Empire would support you, even behind the scenes if necessary."
Amy shook her head, even when almost right out saying it, he still thinks I meant rogue, not villain. How amusing. "Sure, I'll join." She said idly, waiting for Victor to take that in and puff up with achievement, before she continued, "One condition though." She held her hand out, "I can tell if you're lying by touch, so show me you're telling the truth and that I wouldn't be walking into a trap."
Victor eyed her hand warily, different needs obviously warring within him. "You're playing me." He said with sudden realization, voice suddenly rougher then the pleasantly calm voice he'd used up until now.
Amy snapped her fingers cheekily, "Oh well." She said with a quick laugh, "I guess not every Nazi is entirely retarded."
"You don't have the kind of backup to talk like that anymore, New Wave don't fight the Empire for a reason." Victor said forcefully, his body language much more aggressive, even as he kept his distance. "Ask Fleur…"
Amy couldn't exactly walk into Tattletale's apartment with Victor, the girl would never forgive her. She eyed the Nazi contemptuously, She couldn't give less of a crap about Fleur, except she had been family, which meant she wouldn't allow the whole thing to stand now that she was going to become someone. "Oh, I know, but unlike New Wave, I don't fight." She purred, taking a step forward towards Victor. "I'm much worse." She took another step, smile growing wider as she intentionally widened her eyes giving herself a somewhat crazy expression, "You'll never know if that next beer you have was tainted and would turn your guts inside out, if that shower in your apartment has a flesh eating virus inside the pipes waiting to be released. If the very air you breathe will turn against you."
Victor jumped back several steps, getting into a marital arts stance, before realizing how bad of an idea that would be, and halting, ending up in some half frozen stance. "You wouldn't, that's enough to get that kill order!" He snapped, but his voice was strained, the man suddenly realizing what he was dealing with.
Amy laughed, wiggling her fingers at him, "Prove it's me and not some Nazi victim pouring poison into your pipes, if any of you are alive to complain anyway." Her expression turned vicious, her half lidded glare meeting Victor's gaze, "Any of you take Fleur's name in your filthy mouths again near me and you won't even realize you're dead, you'll just all drop one day, without a single word of warning."
She grinned widely, "Bonesaw has a kill order too, a shame though, seems she's still alive anyway… People that messed with her… Not so much…"
Fleur's death had ruined New Wave, and that had nothing to do with Amy. But using her dead family member (even if step family) as some sort of threat against her. No. She wouldn't allow it. They were all still hers. No one touched her things. She took another step towards Victor, changing the bacteria she uses to smell nice, giving it a fluorescent sheen for a few moments, her hand glowing sickly green. "Get out, and tell Kaiser that I'll let him and his continue to live, only if they never darken my doorstep again. You touch anything of mine even for a second, and a biblical plague will come your way."
"We don't take well to threats, Panacea." Victor hissed out, eyes focused on her hands as he backed up slowly.
"Neither do I. Any of you come near me, I'll see it as a threat." She said, changing the bacteria on her skin back to its regular setting, letting the green glow fade.
She eyed Victor, sneering disparagingly, "Why are you still here?" She bit out, turning her back on him, affecting nonchalance, "Run back to your master, deliver my message."
Victor walked away, never once leaving his back to her the entire time, Amy saw it all out of the corner of her eye. Sighing as he walked onto another street.
Picking a fight with the Empire was probably more of that whole, not planning things out problem she had. But really, they'd thought she was ripe for recruiting? She'd meant what she said, if they came after her, she'd eradicate them.
Hopefully they'd be smart enough not to push, but she doubted it would last long. It's her own fault for walking in her Panacea uniform anyway, she should have changed at home before the whole argument.
At least the Empire would have a hard time finding her to bother her. Ditch the uniform, color her hair, and not even her own family would pick her out of a crowd, while Victoria Dallon is well known, Amy Dallon is practically invisible. Small changes would ensure she wouldn't be bothered even if the Empire wanted to start anything.
Her phone dinged, and she fished it out of her pocket, keeping a wary eye on her surroundings so as to not be blindsided by a Nazi again.
Oh it was Sophia, she must have finally been released from the various dressing downs from sneaking into the Rig.
"What the fuck, you're homeless now!!!?"
Amy scoffed, texting back, "Three exclamation marks seem excessive."
Finally she was arriving within sight of Tattletales apartment building, instead of heading onwards she ducked into an alley, just in time to receive another text. Sophia must not be alone, or she'd definitely have called to yell in person.
"That's what you text back? Not anything on how the fuck you ended up with your parents kicking you out!?" Sophia texted back, the frustration bleeding through in her words.
Amy chuckled to herself, fingers flying as she texted back quickly. "Yup, how's life in heroville? You get grounded for the year?"
She put her phone on a nearby dumpster, quickly divesting herself of her uniform. She wore clothes under her uniform obviously, and Tattletale would probably appreciate her not walking into the building in uniform.
She didn't need it anymore anyway. Panacea was dead.
She picked her phone back up just in time for her phone to ding again.
"The other Wards actually defended me to Piggot, it was weird, I only got a month of console duty. Wait, stop fucking changing the subject. Homeless!!!? Where the fuck are you, do you need a place to stay?"
"Nah, someone off PHO offered me their couch. Aww, you and the other wards are going to be bwestest fwiends!"
"Fuck off! And what the fuck, you can't just crash on some random fucks couch, do you want to be raped and murdered? Because that's how you get fucking raped and murdered you idiot! Just come stay at my place, my mom won't give a fuck."
Amy let out a disbelieving laugh, four days of hanging with Shadow Stalker, and now she has a psycho friend begging her to come live with her. Well, at least she had options if Tattletale wanted to be as bitchy as she remembered.
"I'll keep your offer in mind, gotta go meet the murderer who's couch I'm crashing on - unsure if she's a rapist though, I'll check, enjoy braiding your hair with Vista!"
She turned off her phone notifications, putting it away, feeling like she'd gotten the last word.
She poked her head out of the alley, looking both ways, no one out and about that she could see. She walked out onto the street and made her way to Tattletales tenement building.
Time to see how this would go.
At the very least it should be interesting.