Omen 6.1
2001, August 2: Washington, DC, USA
"Simulation start," I spoke, voice steady despite the stirrings of trepidation in my chest.
The pool I stood in was a collaboration project between Zero Day, Bluesong, and Hero, a marvel of hardlight, wave motion, and texturing technology that could replicate any number of waterside environments. It was the size of several Olympic swimming pools and contained a number of modular outcrops that could be moved and reskinned to look like buildings, collapsed bridges, or whatever else was necessary. It was one of the best places in the country to train for disaster response.
In a sense, it was the Danger Room from the X-Men, but more limited towards floods, tsunamis, and similar natural disasters.
And right now, as I stood waist-deep in the water, the pool looked a lot like Busan.
There was no Leviathan. No amount of hardlight constructs and fancy machines could replicate the terror and gravitas of an endbringer bearing down on you so they didn't bother trying. Still, as the artificial pumps sent undulating waves ever higher up the "coastline," I could feel my heart tremble and clench.
I grit my teeth and refused to get out of the water. The water level rose around me, up to my chest now. I balled my hands into white-knuckled fists and endured.
"More," I told myself. More, until I didn't fear the waves any longer.
The waves reached my head and I forced myself to pay attention to every crest and trough. Inspiration was enough. It was a fragment of the infinite, a letter of creation used to carve mountains, drain oceans, and burn skies. I had power, so much more power than a tidal wave. More than Leviathan. More than Scion.
Behind me, the Ymelo burst into eerie blue flames, its light illuminating the chaos around me.
I stabbed Isolde into the pool floor to anchor me. Even with the Elixir of Iron, my increased size and weight were not enough by themselves to withstand the waves that could sweep away cars and houses. The waves crashed above me as I held myself under, forcing myself to stand tall against the currents.
Until, I finally ran out of air.
I activated Ghost and kicked against the ground as hard as I could. I skipped back and was caught with the current. Just before I would have been dashed against a simulated car, I swung, Isolde gleaming with my resolve. The car was split clear in two and vanished into motes of light behind me as I made my way underwater and through the city.
The simulation included a dozen mannequins, dummies designed to act as rescue targets. When I first began, I couldn't even stand in a pool with a wavemaker without going into a panic attack. It was only the Ymelo's light that allowed me to get a hold of myself and drag myself from the water. I remembered sitting there at the edge of the pool and breaking down crying because I couldn't forgive myself.
I remembered thinking it was all a joke. How could I hope to save the world and kill Scion when just the memory of Leviathan reduced me to a shivering wreck?
So, I did what every Champion did: I got better. I threw myself into the wall again and again until the wall broke from my obstinance.
Was this the safest way to overcome my thalassophobia? No, of course not. Every psychologist in the world would be up in arms over child abuse and malpractice if someone actually recommended this kind of immersion therapy to a nine year old.
But I didn't have a psychologist. I had a Contessa.
She was Pathing me now, so I was going to abuse the hell out of her Path, trusting that she intended for my well-being. Every monotonous Wards patrol and PR event, every time I was dragged away to help with tinkering or review some Cauldron document, I took as a part of the Path, breaking up the slew of near-drownings to force myself to recover.
It was working. Hellish, but working.
So I drowned myself. Again. And again. And again.
I smiled grimly as I breached the waves, a trail of the White Walker's clouds and Isolde's mist framing me like some mythic beast. I crested a building and looked around for my first target. Finding the dummy, I forced myself to hit the waves again. I could run on the air and clear the exercise with ease, but I refused. That would defeat the purpose of immersion.
First one, then two, then twelve, I smiled as the robotic voice declared the end of the simulation. Forty-two minutes. It was slow compared to Hero or Bluesong's records. There were rescue-oriented teams that came by to use our facilities and they knocked our times out of the water. But… it wasn't bad for a solo cape and certainly not for one child.
I patted the Ymelo fondly as I headed towards the showers. I had room to improve but for now, it was enough.
X
I leaned back into my chair and sighed, satisfied. My brand of extreme therapy was progressing well. Not fun, but well, and my continued progress left me feeling content. The chair in my room wasn't quite tinkertech, but it was custom-made to fit my diminutive frame with plush gel cushions and excellent lumbar support. It was easily one of my favorite things about the house and I'd even made sure to get a few copies for Babylon and the Madhouse.
But, snazzy chair or not, Ymelo or not, I couldn't be working all the time. My focus easily warranted a minor thinker rating on its own, but it had limits. So, I took some time to kick back and relax.
I opened my laptop to browse one of the newest sites floating around on the fledgling world wide web, one I strongly suspected to be a Richter project.
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Topic: Cape Wiki?
In: Boards United States General Meta
Mezcal Mike (Original Poster)
Posted on August 2, 2001:
So guys, I've been thinking. Has anyone ever considered making a Wikipedia for capes?
For those of you who don't know, a wiki is an online encyclopedia, with articles on different topics compiled by experts on the respective subjects. It's all community-driven and you can find it here. Neat, right? Need to know how many people live in New York? Done. Why jet engines are so loud? There you go. Wonder what the difference between mezcal and tequila is? Wonder no more! (I actually wrote that one and I'm damn proud.)
So yeah, the idea is to have individuals write articles about the heroes and villains of their city. I made a sample post for Alexandria, here. It's got her cape name, debut date, affiliation, powers and ratings (as far as I'm aware, had to guess on a few), and a history of her activities that I could dig up. Check it out.
If you want to help out with some of this, give me a shoutout.
(Showing Page 3 of 3)
► 8008-Ez
Replied on August 2, 2001:
You forgot Alexandria's cup size. What do you think? 36C? Mmmm...
► Netizen-0451
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Dude, what the fuck? Seriously? OP makes something useful and your first response is "Can we add tits?"
Mezcal Mike, I'd love to help. I think that instead of heroes, we should maybe focus on villains. You know, help new indie heroes know what they're up against.
I live in Columbus, OH, so I decided to make one for Death Wish, our most prominent gang leader.
► Mezcal Mike (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Just ignore the twelve year old. Seriously, people like him makes me think the internet may have been a mistake.
But yeah, that's a great idea. Thanks for your contribution, Netizen-0451. I'm going to code something so the cape wiki is sorted by location, with some of the nationally prominent capes like the Founders in their own section.
PS: You have fantastic taste in video games, my friend.
► Netizen-0451
Replied on August 2, 2001:
^ - ^ Thanks!
► Hang Ten
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Mezcal Mike, awesome plan, dude. I'm in San Diego so I'm always happy to see Lexi get some love.
But, here's a thought... Can we use this as a national tracker for the S9?
Those fuckers killed my cousin a month ago. Maybe if we could set up a community-driven warning system, we could save some lives, you know?
► Mezcal Mike (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
*Furiously takes notes*
Yeah, I gotcha. I'll set up something. Use the wiki for updates to the S9 roster. Powers, personality, that sort of deal. Use this site to set up some kind of national alert.
Fishie, lord admin the mighty, can this be done?
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Mwahahahaha, I have been summoned!
Lady Admin the Mighty, thank you, but yes. That sounds like a good way to use our growing site.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
► Grimlord Wildbow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Huh, neat.
I'll add one. The Siberian, the cape who managed to escape the Founders in New York on September last year, joined the S9. She is completely invulnerable because she selectively ignores the laws of physics at will. Any and every form of force gets ignored. Kinetic, electric, thermal, the whole shebang. She cannot be poisoned, hypnotized, or otherwise mastered in any way. Hell, she's even immune to radiation so dropping a nuke isn't an option even if the US was willing to go that far.
She's also a cannibal and likes to play with her prey, letting them run so she could chase them down.
She can grant her invulnerability to anything she touches, people included.
But the real secret is that she's a master's projection. She's invulnerable, but her master is just a squishy human. Find him. Shoot him. Just remember that she can turn something surrounding him invincible even if she can't affect him directly. For example, he might hide out in a camper or a car and she might lift the whole car with her to protect him.
► Mezcal Mike (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Wait, Grimlord Wildbow, how the hell do you know that? If it's true, holy shit... Can anyone else verify this?
► West is Best
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Yes. She's fucking invincible and ate my friend three weeks ago. Fuck her and fuck the Slaughterhouse.
I don't know about the rest though. If it's true… Let me go find my rifle…
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Are you a thinker, Grimlord Wildbow?
► Grimlord Wildbow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
No. I am the creator of this world, the author of this play. I am lord and master of the grimderp, he who rules the wild and the bow.
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Right… Thanks for the intel anyway. I'm going to give you the Unverified Cape tag and The Guy In The Know tag.
► Grimlord Wildbow (The Guy In The Know) (Unverified Cape)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Finally, the recognition I deserve.
Also, here's Eidolon's page.
► Netizen-0451
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Sweet! Speaking of the trumpiest trump, has anyone seen the video of him with Make-A-Wish? Because holy shit I nearly died of diabetes. He seems to be way more active in the community these days.
► Bananabread Bakery
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Yeah, I bet he's trying to stay ahead of a scandal he thinks might come to light. Why else would he suddenly start with this crap?
► Life Is 42
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Hey, fuck you, fag. Make-A-Wish isn't "this crap." And you have no clue what Eidolon's thinking so fuck off with that sanctimonious bullshit. Not everyone wants to see a hero brought low.
► Bananabread Bakery
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Lol Am I a fag because my name has "banana" in it? Not everything is a euphemism, or do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class? And why else would Eidolon go on his social justice crusade? Celebrities do it all the time to blunt some predicted scandal so I don't see why a bigtime hero wouldn't.
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Shut up. Both of you. Being gay is fine so stop using it as an insult. You're both banned for going off-topic and for being foul-mouthed idiots.
► Netizen-0451
Replied on August 2, 2001:
I'm sorry I brought it up…
End of Page. 1, 2, 3
I added a few more comments about the burgeoning cape wiki in my alternate account. Grimlord Wildbow was one of several I made knowing just how critical PHO would become in the future. I felt like I owed it to the public to contribute at least some of the intel I had. After all, for all of Cauldron's resources, Contessa was just one woman. If a few threats and loose ends could be tied up without her direct involvement, all the better.
I couldn't do it at the Madhouse because the PRT network was monitored by Zero Day there, but home was fine, especially with the Cauldron-provided laptop. It wasn't unhackable or anything, but its security was pretty good and no one outside of Cauldron knew I had it. I found this to be a decent way to keep my thumb on the pulse, at least as far as general social temperature went.
After typing up a few more heavily redacted dossiers on famous villains, I opened up two other laptops, mostly to hide my IP address. VPNs weren't exactly common in this day and age, but going the tech-stupid route of simply buying extra hardware worked fine.
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Topic: Who's your favorite hero and why isn't it the Hero?
In: Boards United States Mid-Atlantic General
Zero2Hero (Original Poster) (Cape Groupie)
Posted on August 2, 2001:
I thought I'd make a post to talk about how awesome Hero is. Like seriously, not even the other Founders compare. He's handsome, super creative, kind, friendly, and crazy strong.
Like, does any other tinker have anything close to the repertoire he has? I couldn't find links for them all, but here are all the things I know for a fact he's made:
The golden disintegration ray he used to deck Behemoth in New York,
Smaller versions for lesser threats,
Shoes that let him stick to walls,
Flight pack that lets him keep up with Alexandria's speed,
Forcefield generation thing that looks like it's in his chestpiece?
Super radar that he used to find some lost kids in Yellowstone,
Some kind of flying gurney that puts injured people in stasis and lifts them away,
A hardlight fabricator that makes temporary housing for endbringer victims,
A lightsaber (squeee!) he used to duel Armsmaster this Fourth of July. I GOT TO SEE IT LIVE!
Anyone know anything else he's made? I LOVE Hero and I really want to make a proper list of everything he has. Also, here's a picture of me with Hero's autograph!
(Showing Page 1 of 2)
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Zero2Hero, I appreciate that you like our ultrageek technerd overlord so much, but please be careful about self-identifying information. I can clearly see the name Hero signed the autograph to and your face.
Fishie, can you take down the picture?
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Yeah, good call. And… aren't you one of those "ultrageek technerds?"
Zero2Hero, if you want to post a picture of the autograph, that's fine, but keep your face out of it.
► Haha Bro #1
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Haha
► Haha Bro #2
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Hoho
► Haha Bro #3
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Hehe
► Penguin-Man (Unverified Cape)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
What the hell?
Oh, OP, here's a video of Hero at Disneyland with the Orlando Wards.
► Zero2Hero (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Weee! That's so awesome! I wish I had powers! :(
Also, what's an OP?
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
It means "Original Poster" i.e. you.
Fishie, Yes, but I'm young and cute.
► Zero2Hero (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
What's i.e.?
► Undertow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Well, that certainly dates her if the picture wasn't a clue.
► Haha Bro #1
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Huehuehue
► Haha Bro #2
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Hehehe
► Haha Bro #3
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Hyohyohyo
► Penguin-Man (Unverified Cape)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Okay, seriously, can we ban the Haha Bros?
► Lucha Loco (Moderator)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Ehh, I'll allow it. They're not being insulting or starting fights.
► He Who Inspires
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Well, Zero2Hero, here's a bloopers reel of Hero testing his flight pack.
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
How do you have that?
► Zero2Hero (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Oh my god, that's hilarious! :D:D:D
► He Who Inspires
Replied on August 2, 2001:
*Shrugs*
Who knows? Maybe I'm just a mysterious mystery. I also may or may not have Hero's bathwater for sale. PM me for deets.
► Zero Day (Verified Cape) (Protectorate DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
This is a big breach of lab security. I'll be going over the network logs with a fine-tooth comb.
► Undertow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
What? Why the hell would anyone want Hero's bathwater? Why do YOU have Hero's bathwater? What the fuck is wrong with you?
► He Who Inspires
Replied on August 2, 2001:
*Shrugs*
What can I say? I am He Who Inspires. If I must inspire a few sexy dreams, then inspire I shall.
► Lucha Loco (Moderator)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
No. Nope. Not touching this. One more out of you and it's a ban.
► He Who Inspires
Replied on August 2, 2001:
But Lucha Loco, commercial uses of PHO are not against the rules. I've not revealed any identities nor espoused "hateful and racist rhetoric." What am I being banned for?
Also, don't I deserve a Guy In The Know tag? Verified by Zero Day and everything.
► Lucha Loco (Moderator)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Fuck this. Kicking this up so I don't have to deal.
Fishie!
End of Page. 1, 2
(Showing Page 2 of 2)
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
I have been summoned!
And ew! What is wrong with you?
*Sighs*
Fine… I made a new tag just for you. Happy?
► He Who Inspires (The Creepy Guy In The Know) (Temp-Banned)
Replied on August 2, 20 01:
I'm just providing a good that may or may not be in demand. It's a good derived from a parahuman so where else would I sell it but Parahumans Online?
*User has been banned for one week.*
► Fishie (Board Admin)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Nope. Nope. Nopenopenopenope. Rules updated. Here. Happy?
Take your temp ban. You're not coming back until you've learned your lesson. That's just gross.
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Well... that escalated quickly. I took a screenshot of this just so I could mail it to the big boss. I can't wait to see his face.
► Haha Bro #1
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Huhuhuhu
► Haha Bro #2
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Heeheeheehee
► Haha Bro #3
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Hyukhyukhyukhyuk
► Penguin-Man (Unverified Cape)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Oh for fuck's sake, go away!
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Shishishishishi
► Haha Bro #1
Replied on August 2, 2001:
?
► Haha Bro #2
Replied on August 2, 2001:
?
► Haha Bro #3
Replied on August 2, 2001:
?
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
No? Not that laugh? Ugh. Uncultured plebians.
► Zero2Hero (Original Poster)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Ooh, Hyunmu, while you're here, can you tell me what working with Hero is like? Does he have a PHO handle yet?
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Sure, why not. I've got some time.
Hero's a surprisingly normal man once you get past the shiny tech. Actually, he can be a bit of a spazz, but in a good way. He cares a lot for the Wards and goes out of his way to make sure we can all have some time to unwind and be children. He arranges pizza parties and movie nights for us when he's not off beating up endbringers. I think that it's difficult to appreciate sometimes because we sometimes feel like we're being treated like children, but… we are children. At the end of the day, he's very careful about helping us balance our lives as normal kids and as heroes. I'm very grateful for his efforts.
► Undertow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Well, guess we know that the PRT's watching. There's no way a ten year old wrote that.
► Penguin-Man (Unverified Cape)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Are you really surprised? I'm pretty sure PHO has an age restriction.
► Undertow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
True. What's with your tag? Are you or are you not a cape?
► Penguin-Man (Unverified Cape)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Wouldn't you like to know?
► Hyunmu (Verified Cape) (Wards DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
*Rolls eyes*
I am a PRT-sponsored media relations liaison. I am here to tell everyone that from now on, visitors to our offices must wear a fedora at all times to distinguish themselves from employees. If you lack a fedora, you will be tattooed one on your left buttcheek upon request. All violators will be detained and forced to sit through a three hour seminar on the complete taxonomy of fashionable headwear. Each week, wearer of the dandiest fedora shall be crowned the Countess of Hats.
► Zero Day (Verified Cape) (Protectorate DC)
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Don't pretend to be PR, Hyunmu. Powell is enough of a pain as it is.
► Undertow
Replied on August 2, 2001:
Woah, that was actually Hyunmu? Damn, my bad.
End of Page. 1, 2
I sighed happily. The man was surprisingly fun once you got through the quiet exterior. Being a flavor of software tinker, he figured out I was dicking around on PHO pretty fast, though I doubted he knew just how many accounts I had active. I did know for sure that he was aware of my two official accounts, Hyunmu and Rubedo.
He'd likely dig into He Who Inspires, if only to try to prevent another "leak," though I was assured by Kurt that the laptops we used had top of the line security and Zero Day did focus more on data management than cy-sec. Just in case, I promptly tossed the laptop I used for He Who Inspires into another dimension. Zero Day couldn't track something that wasn't on this earth.
Author's Note
I don't write trauma well. The answer to that? Don't write much of it at all. Instead, I just decided to write the scene of Andy overcoming his thalassophobia. Does this reduce the narrative impact? Yes. Does it also dramatically reduce the angst you need to read through? Also yes. It's a balancing act and this is what I settled on.
Ultimately, this is the kind of resolve you'd need to be a world savior. We like to imagine power fantasies, but the truth is that most of us would actually still be afraid, too paralyzed by uncertainty to do anything. Power alone does not a hero make.
All hail Andy Yusung Kim, patron Aspect of Shitposting. Don't take the PHO segment seriously, it's written mostly for shits and giggles. I have no plans at this time to make Zero Day an important character.
Thank you for reading. To reach a wider audience, and because I enjoy a more forum-like setup to facilitate discussion, I like to crosspost to a wide variety of websites. You can find them all on my Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/fabled.webs.