----------------------------------------
Rebecca hovered high above Brockton Bay, her cape rippling in the wind. Below her, the city spread out in a fractured grid of dilapidated neighborhoods, crumbling infrastructure, and now, a growing verdant barricade that spread like a living cancer across the outskirts. Poison Ivy's handiwork was a mockery of the deal they'd made, a challenge she could not ignore.
It rankled her that for the most part this would all have to be an act. They could not afford to actually lose Poison Ivy and Remedy… For humanity to survive the constant Endbringer attacks and the resultant destruction of infrastructure or loss of entire cities to the Simurgh - they needed the cures, food production and transhumanism the two were capable of.
If Ivy and Remedy could actually cook up something that gave capes, or regular humans - a regeneration factor - they were literally the most important humans on the planet.
She grit her teeth so hard that if she wasn't invulnerable she would have probably cracked something. There was nothing about this she liked.
Two teenagers…
To be forced to bend to their whims, even if it was for the greater good. She did not enjoy this at all. Nor would she enjoy how she'd have to sit on David from now on.
Eidolon trying to come down on these two would be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.
Her intent here was simple; to test the resolve of Amy Dallon - Remedy, as the girl styled herself now. The audacity to poison an entire city, declare herself its ruler, and openly defy the PRT - had crossed every line Rebecca had drawn in her career. Remedy's hubris needed to be met with an overwhelming show of force, one that left no doubt in anyone's mind about the PRT and Protectorate still having a say in things.
If they had to leave the city to the girls, some sort of deal would need to be hammered in that gave the PRT some face, and the best way to get that - was to show the two girls that they now faced people of Rebecca and Keith's strength.
Make them understand that they had to still walk softly from here on - their victory or not - they could still lose, if they pushed the PRT too far.
Rebecca smirked coldly. Remedy and Ivy wanted to act like big shots? They'd get to meet the big shot!
Her descent towards the naturalized sections of Brockton Bay was interrupted when the ground itself answered her approach. From the heart of the forested domain where Poison Ivy's World Tree stood, a colossal limb began to grow, twisting and coiling upwards in defiance of gravity. Bark hardened and smoothed into something resembling polished wood, as tendrils wove together, forming a massive hand that reached toward the heavens. The limb's motion was graceful yet unnervingly fast, stretching skyward until it came level with Alexandria, swaying slightly in the breeze.
Standing in the palm of the wooden hand was Amy Dallon. Her casual jeans and hoodie seemed out of place against the grandeur of her platform, but her posture was anything but casual. She stood with her hands at her sides, her chin tilted up, her expression defiant as the limb settled in front of Alexandria.
This girl… She practically reeked of self delusions. Rebecca thought, studying her more intently than ever before.
"Alexandria," Amy said, her voice carrying across the distance between them, sharp and mocking. "Your request for a visa to visit my city must have gotten lost along the way."
The sheer audacity of the words made Rebecca scoff, her arms crossing over her chest. "Villains don't dictate where I go, Miss Dallon," She replied sternly, her tone a warning as she hovered in place, unmoving and unimpressed. The sheer balls on this girl…
Amy cocked her head, a small, almost amused smile playing on her lips, though Alexandria's trained eye could see the subtle tells of fear beneath her cocky attitude - tightened shoulders, a slight tremor in her hands, minute twitches on her face too minor for regular humans to pick up on. "That's odd. I was pretty sure there are plenty of villains who get to say, 'Don't come here', and you bend over backward for them. What's different about me?"
The jab landed harder than Rebecca liked. Her fists clenched briefly before she forced herself to relax, her face remaining an impassive mask, she was glad her visor hid her eyes as she glared at the uppity chit. "Don't play games with me, whatever you call yourself this week," She said coolly. "You and Ivy can't infect a whole city with a deadly virus and expect no reprisals."
Amy's smile widened slightly, though her gaze darkened. "I don't expect anything from you, Alexandria. I've already decided what happens next. Your opinion doesn't factor into it."
Rebecca's temper flared at the arrogance displayed. Raising a fist, she said sharply, "You will give yourself into custody." She ordered, deviating slightly from the script she'd improvised in her head, but she wanted to deflate the sheer arrogance in this girl with a scare.
They might have to leave them the city, but if the girl was going to get a big head, things could escalate beyond Cauldron's tolerance level. Damn you Contessa! Why this girl? Why Ivy? They can't really be the solution can they?
Rebecca refused to believe it.
Amy flinched - a subtle movement, almost imperceptible - but Rebecca saw it. Despite the girl's bravado, she wasn't immune to fear. But instead of retreating, Amy's expression hardened, her voice lowering to a dangerous calm, Ivy's vines curling lovingly around her waist and shoulders.
"You don't get to dictate terms to me," She said, her words deliberate. "This is my city now. The guilty will feel my wrath, and the innocent will come under my protection."
Rebecca's face grew taut even as her mind raced. Is it not a partnership? Why does she keep saying - my city - when Ivy's power is the greater deterrent here? Is Ivy a subordinate, what am I missing? "We can afford to lose one city if necessary, do not grow too bold, I can still crush you both if it becomes a necessary sacrifice."
The limb beneath Amy bristled in response, as thousands of sharpened wooden javelins slid out from its surface, aiming directly at Alexandria and Legend, who hovered closer now, a silent observer to the tense standoff. She idly noted the discoloration of the javelins, and she had to assume they were much stronger than simple wood.
They were still laughably pointless against her.
Rebecca's lip curled in disgust. "Toothpicks," She said dismissively, gesturing lazily to the projectiles. "They won't do anything to me. See sense, Remedy. You against the world isn't a scenario that works in real life - it always ends badly." Let's see… She thought, her gaze intent. I specifically discarded the mention of Ivy and laid it all under Remedy's feet… How does she react?
Amy laughed shrilly, though the sound carried no humor. "Oh, they're not as simple as you think. Feel free to try it," She said, her voice laced with contempt. Her gaze sharpened, her tone a warning. "Leave my city now, or face the consequences."
… Something is going on… Rebecca thought, her mind turning over everything she knew about the girl and Poison Ivy.
Legend finally spoke, his voice calm but firm as he flew closer. "Amy - and Ivy, who I assume is listening - threats won't work any longer. You've already infected the city. Any further escalation becomes meaningless if the PRT has already written off Brockton Bay, you'll only force us to take a harder stance."
Amy rolled her eyes, her body language exuding irritation. "Which city do you think?" She asked suddenly, cryptically, her tone almost mocking.
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, irritation flaring up again. This girl. I'm beginning to really dislike her…
"What do you mean, which city?" Legend asked, glancing at Alexandria, his confusion mirroring hers. Although she had an awful premonition of what was going on.
This is worse than Nilbog, she thought, holding back the instinctive wish to just swoop down and end the threat.
Amy bent down, scooping up a clump of moss from the wooden platform. She rolled it between her hands, the mass shifting and twisting as it grew into a sickly green sphere, its surface bubbling faintly.
"This," Amy said softly, holding up the sphere, "Is capable of spreading a lethal disease to millions."
Alexandria's spine stiffened. "We won't let you," She said firmly, her mind racing. The implications of what the girl held were staggering. If true, the entire situation had just escalated to a catastrophic level. This was Bonesaw all over again, except worse.
The worst thing was, she could read her face, the girl didn't want to do this. But she would, if pushed.
Their strong arm move just died in the crib, before they could even get going. Contessa… I don't understand what you're doing here…
Amy's smile turned ugly, her glare cutting through the distance between them. "I asked which city," She repeated, "Because Strider already has one of these. Just waiting for anything to happen to me due to PRT overreach. One word, and he'll take it to New York - or Los Angeles - and make them graveyards."
Legend faltered midair, his shock evident as he dipped slightly. Alexandria's own reaction was more muted, though her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Her mind raced, heart sinking, as she realized how much worse the situation was then they'd believed.
Strider could go anywhere in the world in a heartbeat. They really couldn't touch her. Even using Clairvoyant to find Strider and take him out after a quick door would not be a final solution. Because she just knew the girl would have a backup.
Like she'd thought… This was Bonesaw, just worse.
"You're telling the truth," She said finally, her voice thick with disgust. More for Keith's benefit than hers, as she'd immediately recognized it for truth the moment she'd said it.
Amy's eyes glittered with something dark and unyielding. "Never threaten what you can't accomplish," She said, her voice filled with venom. "Now, get out of my city."
"Alexandria," Legend said cautiously, his voice low. "We should leave."
Alexandria stared at Amy, her jaw tightening. Just like Nilbog. Just like the Machine Army. Another situation where brute force was no longer an option without a cost so great it wasn't worth it. Not with the Endbringers still running amok. "Fine," She said finally, her tone cold and biting. "But don't leave this city. We will know if you try. And if you do… We will raze this entire area to the ground no matter what, you want this city, then stay in it."
Amy's response was immediate and cutting. "Go suck off Eidolon, at least you'd be useful for something."
Charming, she thought, not letting any of her feelings show on the parts of her face which remained visible.
Officially, Brockton Bay wouldn't be quarantined. Officially. But it might as well be considered that, as it would now completely be in the hands of villains. She could already feel the headache forming at just the thought of informing Emily Piggot that their job would now be mostly for show, and that their strongest capes would likely be transferred out.
Unfortunately, they still needed Ivy and Remedy, no matter how much she wished she could take the girl down a peg… She gave it even odds the Elite would try and move in within the month. Well… Not her problem now…
The wooden platform began to recede, lowering Amy back to the forest below, her defiance lingering in the air like a challenge, daring them to test her. For a girl that feared them, she certainly didn't hesitate.
Rebecca hovered in place for a moment, her expression unreadable as she watched the limb disappear into the greenery. Then she turned sharply, gesturing for Legend to follow. As they flew away, she couldn't suppress the thought that ran through her mind - Teenage villains were bad enough. But powerful teenage villains? They were the worst.
----------------------------------------
Amy felt her heart thundering in her chest as she was brought down amongst the canopy of Ivy's forest in the former trainyards.
She hadn't been bluffing, but she in no way wanted to have to go forward with her threat. Not the least of which was that if she did, Alexandria and Cauldron would have no reason to hold back anymore.
They were basically quarantined by choice, she knew. But with the cures her and Ivy would be able to grow, the specialized food that would begin uplifting humanity to a certain minor extent - specialized drugs and so on - trade and tourism would still come to the area. So it was a quarantine in name only.
The port was technically operational again, so trade would not end no matter Brockton's reputation going forward.
Brockton Bay was about to become too important to completely close off. Amy didn't really care about not being allowed to leave. Brockton would be hers, her own utopia.
And really, if she needed to, she'd just sneak out via Strider, she'd just have to not get caught. Considering her and Ivy, she could just take on another appearance for the jaunt if needed. She still kind of wanted to connect with Blasto in Boston…
Ivy met her at the bottom as she descended fully, "That went well." She told herself, sounding optimistic.
"Let's get back to it, before we were so rudely interrupted. Where did Vicky go?" Amy said wearily.
Although she and Ivy were the same person, Amy had made a habit lately to somewhat partition off that side of her, because it was getting to be a bit much to always be aware of the two sides of the coin - especially as she grew busier and busier.
The triumvirate had arrived so quickly that Amy and Vicky had only had time to be taken by Strider to Ivy, before she had to rise up to threaten Alexandria off - the last thing they needed right now was people panicking even worse, thinking the only healing they had available was about to be Alexandria'd.
"Vicky is at the forest's edge, people are already clamoring to be healed, so she's supervising to make sure no one gets injured." Ivy said with a casual wave of her hand. "It's not really necessary so she probably won't be long."
Somehow people were behaving quite well as they were fearful of Ivy's forest. There had been a bit of a panic at first when her vines had attached to people to heal and read them as her subordinates asked them if they were in a gang.
Apparently the Asian subset of the population watched a lot of hentai and hadn't reacted well to the thousands of vines roaming across the citizens.
Amy nodded her head slowly, "How's that going?"
They both knew that two people alone could not heal the 250 000 or so people in Brockton before the virus started killing people. That's why Ivy was going to do a bulk of the work, able to handle hundreds of people at the same time as long as they were within her forest. She could probably do thousands even - the limit then only becoming in not missing anyone's reaction when asked the important questions that decided if they lived or died.
"I've already cleared 750 people or so." Ivy said, eyes going distant as she followed her forest to the edge, watching over the process more intently. "Jason, Sherrel and Vicky are keeping everything safe, so far no issues." She reported.
It was impressive in a way, it had barely been an hour since the broadcast, and already almost a thousand people had come for healing from the villain.
"Anyone yet?" Amy said, as she stripped slowly, before laying down on the comfortable grass covered table that rose out of the ground before her.
Ivy shook her head, toying with her long red hair, "Nothing important, no criminals have dared try it yet. Neither has anyone from the PRT."
"Alright, do me." Amy said, sighing, closing her eyes. "I'm going to be too busy with healing later." Starlight would be her own set of bodyguards for that cluster fuck, because she didn't have the luxury of an entire forest at her whim where she'd be.
Ivy laughed softly, "Do you indeed." She said, running her nails across Amy's abdomen, "You already did me after all." She said tongue-in-cheek.
With their sudden thrust into the major leagues, the small adjustments, like subdermal armor and such, improvements that they'd added to themselves through time - was not enough any longer.
"Are you certain about this, Amy?" Ivy's voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of the impending transformation.
Amy met her gaze, unwavering. "I am. To protect those I care about, I need to be stronger."
Partitioned like this, she almost felt like they were two different people, she'd have to be careful she didn't leave it for too long - or who knew what could happen…
With a nod, Ivy extended her hands, tendrils of bioluminescent vines emerging from around the grass covered table, weaving intricate patterns in the air before gently encircling Amy's form, leaving her head free. The process was about to begin.
The first phase targeted Amy's skeletal system. Utilizing her biokinetic abilities, Ivy initiated the synthesis of carbon-based nanostructures within Amy's bones. These structures, akin to naturally occurring carbon nanotubes, interlaced with the hydroxyapatite matrix - which by itself was 65-70 percent of the mass in human bones, resulting in a composite material surpassing the hardness of diamond.
This biomimetic approach ensured that the enhanced bones retained their natural regenerative capabilities while providing unparalleled durability. Even someone like Alexandria would have to work very hard to break their bones from now on. The process also ensured said durability was lighter than human bones - giving another bonus in how flexible and agile they could be.
As the transformation progressed, Amy could feel a subtle pressure within her bones, a sign of the fortification taking place. She clenched her fists, grounding herself as her skeletal framework was redefined, it was an annoying itch, nothing more. Her sense of pain, something Ivy had already muted permanently.
She was able to feel pain, but only akin to a paper cut at most, whether she cut her finger or got shot, or had a limb removed - because completely removing a sense of pain would increase injuries due to carelessness, and completely dulling any sense was just a bad idea.
Next, Ivy focused on Amy's integumentary system - her skin. By inducing the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, a gelatinous, viscoelastic layer formed beneath the epidermis. This subdermal layer, rich in proteoglycans and collagen fibers, acted as a dynamic cushion, capable of dissipating kinetic energy from impacts and providing resistance against penetrative forces. The layer's regenerative properties ensured rapid self-repair, maintaining its protective function over time.
Amy's skin tingled as the new layer integrated seamlessly with her existing tissues and the subdermal armor she already had. She marveled at the sensation, feeling both the softness of her skin and the underlying resilience, she felt almost… Bouncy now, when she poked herself lightly.
Moving away from the skin, her hands now fully on Amy's abdomen, Ivy worked on her muscles next, to tie together the improvement of bone and skin.
The enhancement of Amy's musculature involved the bioengineering of myofibrils with increased elasticity and tensile strength. By upregulating the expression of specific myosin and actin isoforms, the muscle fibers exhibited properties similar to synthetic myomers, allowing for greater force generation and flexibility. This modification not only augmented her physical strength but also enhanced her agility and endurance.
As her muscles adapted, Amy flexed her limbs, noting the newfound power coursing through her. Each movement felt more controlled, more potent. She'd already felt this through Ivy before, but somehow it felt more real in her real body.
She had already enhanced herself to a brute level before. If a minor one. With this change she'd probably upped herself a whole rating or two on the scale.
The next phase of Amy's enhancement targeted her internal organs, a crucial aspect of her durability. Ivy's biokinetic expertise guided the creation of a second skin for each of Amy's vital organs. This layer was a bioengineered gelatinous material infused with proteoglycans, elastin, and fibrous proteins.
The material's viscoelastic properties allowed it to conform snugly to the surface of every organ, providing a regenerative and protective shield. The layer had two primary functions - dissipating blunt force trauma and absorbing kinetic energy from impacts. Additionally, the material was imbued with rapid regenerative properties, ensuring that even if the organ beneath were damaged, the second skin could restore it almost instantaneously.
To achieve this, Ivy introduced a custom cellular scaffold system. Amy's mesothelial cells - the natural protective lining of her organs - were genetically reprogrammed to secrete this jelly-like substance. The secretion process was carefully accelerated, coating her heart, lungs, liver, and other critical organs in this protective layer within minutes.
Embedded within the gel were specialized nanovesicles, engineered to release growth factors and stem-cell-like agents upon detecting damage. These agents expedited the repair of any injury, healing ruptures or abrasions in moments. With the cheat of her power, this regeneration was fueled solely by oxygen - something she'd never run out of - her body's intake of oxygen massively enhanced as another change to her body.
To ensure the continuous cellular regeneration would take care of any issues, Ivy had introduced a genetically modified bacterial symbiont into Amy's system. These microorganisms, designed to utilize oxygen as a metabolic substrate, produced bioactive compounds that facilitated rapid tissue repair. Upon any injury, these bacteria would localize to the damaged site, secreting growth factors and cytokines to promote regeneration, effectively acting as an internal healing mechanism to add to what she already had working away.
Amy felt a peculiar sensation deep within her chest as the process began. An odd awareness of her body reshaping itself from the inside out. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the rhythmic beat of her heart, now shielded by the regenerative jelly.
Ivy monitored the transformation closely, her expression calm yet meticulous. "This layer is critical." She murmured, and Amy only noticed Vicky had returned due to this, Ivy explaining things to her sister. "Her organs are her most vulnerable components. With this, even a direct bullet to the heart won't be fatal - if it somehow got through everything else - her heart will heal before it can fail."
Ivy glanced at Vicky at the same time Amy did, "You're next." Both of them said firmly, not giving Vicky a choice in the matter.
It would probably have to wait for tomorrow, but there is no way Vicky wasn't getting the same superhuman treatment.
Vicky rolled her eyes, "No… Regeneration and being almost impossible to injure, don't do it. The horror." She said in a monotone.
Like Amy, she'd already gotten upgraded, just not to the extent this would do. This would overwrite and improve on what they'd had.
"Don't sass me!" Amy said, not willing to take any chances that Vicky would be anything but unkillable.
Vicky grinned cheekily, "You just want to be able to stick your hand deep inside me, and rearrange my guts until I feel so ~good…" She teased in a sing-song manner.
Ivy and Amy both blushed beet red, "Don't make this weird, I don't need more than a touch!" Amy spluttered.
Vicky pouted, an amused twinkle in her earnest blue eyes, "How about a finger or two at least."
"Vicky… Right now is so not the time." Amy said, clearing her throat slightly, willing her blush to go away.
"Alright, I have a list of improvements though I want you to give me." She said, bouncing over to Ivy and handing her a A4 paper, both sides filled with tiny writing to the very end.
"Bigger breasts!" Ivy said, raising both eyebrows, Amy immediately sliding back in to living both minds in real time as she peeked at the list through Ivy. "Why would you need that?"
Vicky smirked, waving a hand casually, "Not so much need as want." She hefted her bust, "Tell me you don't want two huge melons to just rest on your head when I hug you from behind, Ames?" She teased.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Amy gawked at some of the things on the list. "Vicky, why… Why is this entire list sex things!?"
Vicky's smirk became positively sinful, "Come on Ames, we're two healthy teenagers, you can't tell me you don't want to experiment a little…" She winked, "It's a great stress reliever…"
"Vicky… I just declared war on the gangs and the PRT and have a city to heal and take over. So not the time." Amy said, biting her lip as she hid the list away. For later. Was Vicky always like this?
Vicky sighed, "Fine, fine, but you need to relax too, not just play overlord." She chided, coming closer and brushing a hand through Amy's hair softly.
"Alright…" She breathed out, partitioning herself from Ivy again, allowing her to continue. It was just easier if she wasn't in the driver's seat doing this kind of finicky work. Feeling both ends at the same time risked a mistake.
The final enhancement addressed the vulnerability of the brain. Ivy synthesized a hydrogel composed of cross-linked polysaccharides and polypeptides, which adhered to the inner surface of Amy's skull, enveloping the brain. This viscoelastic layer functioned as a shock absorber, mitigating the effects of concussive forces. Additionally, the hydrogel possessed selective acidic properties that targeted inorganic material.
Which meant if a bullet or a blade slid through her eyes for example, the gel would eat through the material on contact, nothing ever reaching her squishy brain.
A slight pressure enveloped Amy's head as the gel formed, but it soon subsided. She also had now, hidden away in her body, a second, smaller brain, one that couldn't think for her if say her head got blown off, but one that could still control her other functions, ensuring her head would regenerate.
As the process concluded, the luminescent vines retracted, their glow fading into the ambient light of the forest.
"Feeling good, Ames?" Vicky asked, still stroking her hair.
"Yeah…"
"Let's do this."
----------------------------------------
The dark room was suffocating, its air heavy with the acrid tang of Cherrie's growing panic. A single bare bulb hung from the ceiling, swaying slightly as if mocking her fraying nerves. Shadows stretched and shifted across the cracked walls with each flicker of the bulb, making the space seem alive, conspiratorial.
Cherrie Hart, otherwise known as Cherish, paced in tight, agitated circles, her boots scuffing against the warped wooden floorboards. The old desk she'd set up her tinker-tech laptop on was scratched and battered, a relic scavenged from some thrift store no doubt. It wasn't like the place she broke into was up to her standards, but this shit hole was out of the way - her main need right now. Her breath came in short, shallow bursts as she clenched her fists, nails biting into her palms.
"Fuck," She hissed, slamming a hand against the wall. "Fucking fuck!"
Everything had been going perfectly. Her plans to infiltrate Amy Dallon's life through the Church of Remedy were on track. Amy - or Panacea, as Cherish stubbornly still thought of her - had unwittingly played right into her hands. People were desperate for saviors, and Cherish had cultivated that desperation into blind, zealous devotion. She had her followers ready, her cover established, and a clear path to the girl she wanted to manipulate.
And now this.
Her eyes darted to the laptop's sleek, black surface, the tinker-tech whirring quietly as it attempted to establish the connection. The device was supposedly untraceable, courtesy of one of her siblings who specialized in acquiring such things. But even with that reassurance, Cherish felt exposed, as if Amy's eyes were already on her.
"I was so close," She whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and fear. "Fucking biokinetics. Who the hell infects an entire city?"
She stopped pacing, leaning against the desk and glaring at the laptop. It was taking too long. Each second felt like an eternity, and each eternity dragged her closer to the edge. The reality of her situation gnawed at her. She was infected. The crazy plant lady and her lapdog - no, lover? Partner? Whatever they were - had poisoned the entire city.
Their plan was insidious, brilliant in its cruelty. The only way to be healed was to go to Panacea or Poison Ivy. Cherish's lip curled at the thought of kneeling before either of them, but her mind screamed at her that it wasn't just pride on the line. Being healed meant being exposed. Amy would see her for what she was - a parahuman, the daughter of Heartbreaker, the mastermind behind the church. It wouldn't take long for Amy to put these pieces together once she was exposed.
And then what?
Her father had plans for Amy Dallon. Plans that depended on her church remaining undetected until the right moment. If she got exposed now, before those plans bore fruit...
She shuddered, bile rising in her throat.
The screen flickered, and Cherish straightened, her heartbeat spiking. The signal was finally going through. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to smother the anger and fear clawing at her insides. When the screen stabilized, the image of Nikos Vasil filled the monitor.
Heartbreaker.
Her father.
His disinterested, pale blue eyes met hers, and the cold detachment in his gaze made her stomach twist. Nikos was seated on an ornate armchair, the room behind him dimly lit but lavish, filled with rich fabrics and elegant furniture. In his lap was a head of blonde hair, bobbing rhythmically as someone knelt before him. Cherish recognized the hair, but she shoved any idea of sympathy aside, unwilling to confront it.
Her father loved women, everyone knew that, but that didn't mean that his sons could escape performing if they'd failed. She bitterly wished he'd choke on it, because if he'd failed - his father was already in a bad mood and that didn't bode well for her.
"What do you want, Cherish?" Nikos drawled, his tone lethargic, almost bored. His free hand rested lightly on the blonde's head, his fingers tangled in his hair.
Cherish bowed her head slightly, a gesture of deference that made her skin crawl. "Father," She began, her voice tight, "There's a situation in Brockton Bay."
Nikos's gaze didn't sharpen. It didn't change at all. He didn't care. That indifference chilled her more than any open hostility ever could.
"Go on," He said, idly pushing the blonde's head down further, the choking and gagging sounds audible on the feed.
Cherish swallowed hard, clenching her fists behind her back to keep herself steady. "Panacea… Remedy…" She corrected, not knowing if her father was aware or not about the brand change, but not wanting to invite censure. "She has quarantined the entire city. Everyone inside, including me, has been infected with a disease. The only way to be cured is to go to her or Poison Ivy for healing."
"And?" He prompted, his tone flat, uncaring.
"And," She said, her voice rising slightly despite herself, "if I go to her, I'll be exposed. She'll figure out who I am. She'll figure out about the church."
For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the faint, wet sounds coming from the blonde. Nikos's fingers tightened slightly in his hair as he forced him down, cutting off his air, and Cherish's stomach turned as she saw the faint tremor as an arm fruitlessly rose to scratch at her father's arm.
"So what?" Nikos said finally, his voice devoid of emotion.
Cherish blinked, her mind stuttering at the words. "Father, if I'm exposed, the church project will be revealed," She pressed, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice. "Everything we've built will be ruined."
Not that it had been him, it had been her doing all the work. Not something she'd ever dare to say out loud. The Heartbroken ran the Church of Remedy, and it was her hard work that had made it a success.
Nikos's gaze shifted to the boy now desperately scratching at his arm, the lack of oxygen making him desperate. "If you fail, I have other children," He said coldly, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather.
The words hit her like a slap. She froze, her heart plummeting. "Father…" She whispered, the word trembling on her lips. "If I'm exposed, it's not just me. The entire church -"
Her voice faltered as Nikos's grip tightened on the blonde's hair. The arm clawing at him weakened, the movement slowing until it was barely a twitch. Then, with a shudder, the blonde went limp, their body slumping against him. Just unconscious, she believed, having gone through much the same treatment too many times during her childhood.
Nikos shoved them away like trash, letting them fall to the floor with a thud. His eyes half lidded for a moment as he enjoyed the aftermath of his release. She knew better than to speak up and interrupt, so she stood there awkwardly, waiting.
Nikos leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "Die if you must," He said icily, his voice like a blade sliding between her ribs. "But if you reveal the truth behind the church before we bring Amy Dallon to me, I will deal with you myself."
The screen went black.
Cherish stared at the laptop, her body trembling as the cold finality of his words settled over her. For a moment, she couldn't move, couldn't think. Then, slowly, she sank into the chair beside the desk, her head falling into her hands.
"What am I going to do?" She whispered, her voice breaking.
The room around her felt colder now, the shadows pressing in, suffocating her. Heartbreaker had made it clear - she was expendable. She always had been.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she forced them back, gritting her teeth. She couldn't afford to cry. She couldn't afford to break.
If she wanted to survive, she would have to find a way to turn this around.
But how?
What could she possibly do?
----------------------------------------
Medhall, Brockton Bay.
The room was sweltering despite the state-of-the-art climate control system, tension thickening the air until it felt like a physical force. The hidden chamber deep within Medhall's sprawling headquarters was as luxurious as it was secure, outfitted with soundproof walls, polished mahogany furnishings, and tasteful art designed to project wealth and control. Normally, Max Anders - Kaiser - found solace here, but tonight, it felt suffocating.
This was not where he met with the regular members of the Empire, this was where he met and discussed plans with its leaders. For whatever worth the ones he had right now were.
Max sat at the head of the elongated table, his perfectly tailored suit immaculate despite the chaos within his mind. His face betrayed none of the turmoil swirling inside him, though his jaw was set tight, and his piercing eyes flicked between his two subordinates with mounting frustration. To his left, Krieg stood stiffly, his normally precise demeanor unraveling. To his right, Hookwolf paced like a rabid animal, his movements erratic, his teeth bared in a snarl.
So nothing new there.
"She's a fucking coward!" Hookwolf roared, his claws extending and shredding the nearest table. With a metallic screech, the mahogany surface gave way entirely, splitting in half and clattering to the floor in a mess of splinters.
The sound grated on Max's nerves. Without thinking, he thrust his hand forward, summoning a wide, gleaming beam of metal from the floor. It smashed into Hookwolf's face with a resounding crack, slamming him into the wall.
Hookwolf staggered, wiping at his bloodied face, his nose clearly broken. "You wanna go!?" He growled, his metallic frame expanding as rage overtook him.
Max lowered his hand, forcing himself to exhale slowly as he stared Hookwolf down. He hadn't meant to lash out, but his patience was hanging by a thread, and the man's incessant barking had frayed it to the breaking point. "Enough," He snapped coldly, his voice razor-sharp.
Hookwolf glared at him, but hesitated, his clenched fists loosening slightly. He might have been a reckless brute, but even he knew better than to challenge Kaiser directly in this state. Begrudgingly, he stepped back, wiping the blood from his face and glaring at the floor like a chastened dog.
Max turned his attention to Krieg, who stood at the opposite end of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "Any news?" Max asked tersely.
Krieg hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. His normally unflappable demeanor was visibly shaken, his movements stiff and uncertain. "We've been cut loose," He said finally, his fake accent more muted than usual.
Max's lips twitched in irritation, though he wasn't surprised. The Gesellschaft had always been fair weather friends, and now that their hold on Brockton Bay was slipping, they were wasting no time severing ties. Still, the confirmation stung. "I see," Max said softly, his mind already racing for alternatives.
Hookwolf growled from across the room, his impatience bubbling to the surface again. "Fucking cowards," He spat, his claws twitching. "They abandon us when we need them most. Figures."
Max raised a hand, silencing him with a sharp gesture. He didn't have the energy to deal with Hookwolf's tantrums right now. His thoughts churned, searching for a way out of their predicament. Gesellschaft wasn't an organization he'd want to rely on to begin with.
They were a necessary evil, one they were now rid off without the complications that would have arisen had Kaiser left their partnership himself.
Yet… In this situation, he would have bitten the bullet and accepted aid…
The infection Remedy and Poison Ivy had unleashed wasn't just a biological attack; it was a checkmate. The only way to survive was to submit, to beg for healing. For someone like Max Anders, that was unthinkable. He had spent his life cultivating power, control, and an image of unassailable strength. To kneel before Remedy would shatter all of that, leaving him vulnerable - and likely dead - right after.
But the alternative…
Max's eyes flicked to Krieg. "Suggestions?" He asked, his tone clipped.
Krieg frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. "Direct confrontation is suicidal," He admitted. "Their numbers and abilities give them control over the battlefield in a way we cannot counter now that we've lost Night and Fog, not to mention Purity switching sides. Diplomacy would likely end in exposure and execution. That leaves subterfuge, but…"
"But?" Max prompted, his voice low and dangerous.
Krieg hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ruined table. "But I do not believe we have the resources or allies necessary to execute a successful operation in that manner. Not anymore."
The admission was like a dagger to Max's chest. He tightened his grip on the armrests of his chair, his knuckles whitening. "Unacceptable," He growled. "We will not go down like rats scrambling for scraps. There has to be another way."
Hookwolf laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that echoed off the walls. "The solution's fucking obvious," He said, his grin savage. "We grab one of her family and use them as leverage."
Max's head snapped toward him, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "You want to repeat the exact mistake that brought us to this point?" He said, his voice icy.
Hookwolf shrugged, unrepentant. "Worked before, didn't it? Made her go nuts… Her sister's the whole reason she's doing this. Take the sister, and she'll fold."
"It's suicide," Max bit out. "Even if we succeed, she'll retaliate. We're already dying, you fool. Do you want to ensure our deaths?"
"Better to go out swinging than on our knees," Hookwolf retorted, his voice filled with venom. "You can sit here and plan all you want, but we don't have time. We're already out of options."
Krieg cleared his throat, inserting himself into the conversation. "It is… possible," He said cautiously. "But we would need to ensure the target is valuable enough. Remedy's family is fractured. If we choose the wrong member, we gain nothing and alert them to our intentions."
Hookwolf's grin widened. "We don't need the whole family," He said, his tone almost gleeful. "Like I said, we just need the one she can't live without. The sister. Victoria Dallon."
Max closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as his mind raced. The idea was madness. Victoria Dallon was not only a member of Starlight but also one of the most powerful parahumans in the city. Even if they managed to capture her, the retaliation from Remedy - and Starlight - would be catastrophic. The odds of a successful hostage negotiation and subsequent healing were so low he couldn't see it working.
But as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't see another way out. They were cornered animals, and cornered animals did desperate things.
"What's your plan, then?" Max said reluctantly, his voice laced with disdain.
Hookwolf's grin turned feral. "Simple," He said. "We set a trap. Lure her out. She's cocky, thinks she's untouchable. We just need to remind her that she's not."
Krieg nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It would require precision," He said. "And coordination. But it could work. Even if we fail, we might still gain the upper hand by forcing Remedy to act rashly."
That, Max thought, was the height of foolish optimism. Act rashly? Did he want her to nuke the city? How much more rash did he want…?
Max leaned back in his chair, his mind whirling. The plan was reckless, dangerous, and almost guaranteed to fail. But it was a plan, and in their current situation, that was more than they'd had minutes ago.
He steepled his fingers, his expression cold and unreadable. "Do it," He said finally. "But if you fail…" He let the threat hang in the air, his gaze boring into Hookwolf.
Hookwolf sneered but nodded, his bloodlust barely contained. "We won't fail," He said confidently.
Max said nothing, his gaze shifting to the window overlooking the city. He refused to die like a rat. But as the walls closed in around them, he couldn't shake the feeling that their end was already written.
Hookwolf and the others could perform this… Plan. He needed to start working on one that saved Max Anders, and only Max Anders.
His lip curled bitterly. If only Kayden would answer my calls. She won't even answer Theo..
No matter, he had enough money to set up elsewhere, he just needed the right idea, the right leverage, while the heroes were busy killing the rest of the Empire.
Poison Ivy had to be more reasonable than Amy Dallon. That was his way out.
----------------------------------------
With Amy, Starlight Headquarters.
The crowd outside Starlight Headquarters was a chaotic sea of humanity, a mixture of desperation and defiance ringing out loudly. Angry chants clashed with cries for help, creating a cacophony that echoed off the walls of the surrounding buildings. Amy walked through the main doors without so much as a glance back, her gait steady, her expression set in a mask of cold determination. She knew Victoria would keep the crowd at bay.
Victoria floated above the throng, her arms outstretched as she addressed the gathered masses, her voice loud and clear. Beside her, Purity stood like a beacon of light, her glow casting long shadows as she projected calm authority. Mouse Protector darted through the edges of the crowd, managing to soothe some of the more belligerent protesters with her trademark humor. Strider stood ready out of sight, on call for transport if the fools managed to injure themselves by running head first into Vicky.
Inside, the atmosphere was no less tense. The main meeting room was a study in contrasts; freshly donned Starlight uniforms on most of the capes gave the room a veneer of unity, but the unease on their faces betrayed the truth. Even among the loyal, doubts lingered. Two figures stood apart, conspicuously in separate uniforms, their postures stiff with disapproval.
Carol and Mark.
Amy didn't slow as she approached the gathered group, her sharp eyes scanning the room with the same detachment she reserved for a broken body under her hands. Her family stood out like splinters in the polished framework she was building, their presence a stubborn reminder of the life she'd cast aside.
She was willing to give them a part. To let them in on the periphery. But she refused to do so as anything but the one in charge. They'd already accepted joining Starlight, but with recent events…
Carol, as expected, wasted no time. She opened her mouth, the familiar sneer already forming. Whatever cutting remark she had prepared never left her lips. Amy brushed her fingertips against her mother's arm as she passed, a barely-there touch, but the effect was immediate. Carol's body went rigid, her eyes wide with shock before she crumpled like a marionette with its strings cut.
Mark lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground, his face a mixture of alarm and fury. "Amy!" He barked, lowering Carol gently to the floor.
Aunt Sarah's voice cut through the stunned silence as well. "Amy! That was uncalled for!"
Amy turned, her expression ice cold, her voice sharper still. "Tell me this doesn't make things easier?"
"She's your mother," Uncle Neil said, his voice quieter but no less reproachful.
Amy snorted, a sound utterly devoid of humor. "Are you sure? Did anyone ever tell her that?"
Her words hung in the air like a slap, drawing shocked looks from the assembled capes. Amy's gaze swept the room, her arms crossed over her chest as she squared her stance. "Alright," She said, her voice steady and commanding. "Out with it. I know you all have opinions."
This was the last time she'd give them the option. They were in. Or they were out. After this, she wouldn't have another discussion.
Eric was the first to speak, his face flushed with anger. "When did you go villain, Amy?"
Amy arched a brow, her lips pursed as she regarded him. "That depends entirely on your perspective."
Uncle Neil stepped forward, his tone heavy with disapproval. "Amy, there's nothing ambiguous about poisoning an entire city."
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "That just shows how thoroughly you've all been indoctrinated," She said, her tone almost pitying.
"Amy!" Sarah snapped, her voice filled with sharp admonishment.
Mark, still cradling Carol, added in a softer voice, "That's crossing a line."
Amy's response was a derisive snort. "No, what crossed the line was letting the Empire run rampant, killing anyone they deemed 'impure', while the PRT turned a blind eye. What crossed the line was Hookwolf and his cronies putting a bullet in Vicky's head while everyone sat on their hands. I crossed no line. I took the necessary step to solve the issue that's been around since Fleur."
"You didn't give the PRT a chance to deal with this, sweetie," Sarah said gently, though her voice wavered under the weight of her own doubts.
Crystal, standing slightly apart from the group, scoffed loudly. All eyes turned to her, and though her cheeks reddened, she squared her shoulders, meeting their gazes head-on. "Aunt Sarah, when have they ever? When exactly have the criminal capes in the bay ever been punished? Like really?" She asked bitterly. "When Aunt Fleur was murdered? Totally not having anything to do with the Empire? When the Empire slaughtered entire families for being the wrong color or religion? When the ABB just grabs girls off the street? Tell me when the PRT did something? Anything?"
Sarah's shoulders sagged slightly, and her silence was all the answer Crystal needed.
"Crystal…" Neil began, his tone gentle but firm.
"No," Crystal cut him off, her voice rising. "Why? Why do we have to follow laws that only protect monsters like Hookwolf and Kaiser? Why do we have to pretend the system works when it doesn't?"
"That's not true!" Eric shouted, though his voice lacked conviction. "We can't just ignore the law, Amy! Crystal! That's how civilizations collapse!"
Amy's laughter was cold, bitter. "Oh, you mean like how they're already collapsed?" She shot back, her eyes narrowing. "How many heroes die every year, Eric? How many innocents? And how many villains walk away untouched? Do the math, and then tell me the system is working."
She made a gesture with one hand, out towards the city, "The system is in place to keep Villains safe for Endbringer fights. You get raped? Murdered? Enslaved? The important thing is that the cape doing it to you isn't hurt too badly." She said mockingly.
Crystal crossed her arms, her expression fierce. "When was the last time someone actually did anything about the villains in this city?" She challenged them all.
Silence met her question. Neil and Sarah exchanged a glance, their faces drawn with the weight of unspoken truths. Eric seemed to be wavering, as he tried to think of a single villain in the last few years that had faced justice.
"The PRT doesn't always have the resources," Sarah began weakly.
Amy's scoff cut her off. "Oh, please. Legend could wipe this city clean in an afternoon if he wanted to. But they won't. Because keeping villains alive to fight the Endbringers is more important to them than protecting innocent lives." She shook her head. "Legend could start from the East Coast, Alexandria from the west, while Eidolon goes down the middle. And every villain in America would be gone by next year. But the system isn't set up for that. It's set up to safeguard those villains."
"That's not wrong," Mark said quietly, admitting it, still holding Carol's unconscious form. "We do need all the capes we can get, and the world is set up that way…"
Amy's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "So you'll sacrifice innocent civilians on the altar of the 'greater good', but when I sacrifice only the guilty, I'm the villain? What a joke."
Crystal nodded emphatically. "Maybe we'd have more heroic capes for the Endbringers if they weren't being murdered by people like Hookwolf in the meantime."
Eric lowered his head, his voice barely audible. "I hate that it sounds right." He looked at his parents with a pained expression, "How many times have you quoted the death statistics for independents to me?"
Sarah and Neil remained silent, their expressions conflicted. Finally, Sarah spoke, her voice hesitant. "No civilians will die?" Her countenance was one of resignation.
Amy tilted her head, her tone pragmatic. "I can't guarantee that. But compared to leaving the Empire and ABB alive for another few months? The numbers speak for themselves - far more will die to the gangs if they were still around."
The silence that followed was heavy, tense. Amy's gaze swept the room, her arms still crossed as she waited.
"It's not ideal," Sarah said finally, her voice low. "But… We can understand."
Amy shrugged. "Good enough." She turned, her tone brisk. "Let's get you all healed. We've got work to do."
"I'm not happy about this. But family sticks together." Uncle Neil muttered, hugging Aunt Sarah tight.
As she walked up to them to cleanse them from the virus, she caught Crystal muttering under her breath, "I'm actually pretty happy about it."
Amy allowed herself a small, grim smile. Tentatively, her family was bending. They didn't like it, but they were beginning to understand. Except Carol, of course, but Amy already knew her opinion. She wasn't interested in hearing it again.
Her and Mark could go at it themselves. It wasn't her problem.
----------------------------------------
Two days later, Brockton Bay.
The crowd outside Medhall was awash in a roiling sea of emotions, the intensity of their desperation palpable even from Amy's position near the front entrance. The air buzzed with shouts and murmurs, a mix of protests, pleas for help, and the occasional chant in favor of the Church of Remedy. Amy glanced over the heads of the thousand-strong crowd with a grim smile. She knew more would come as the day went on.
She had to admit some surprise that two days had gone by, and neither the PRT or the gangs had made a move yet. She wouldn't complain about the easier time she was having - but she was suspicious of it.
The members of Starlight kept a tight perimeter, the presence of so many capes alone able to keep the peace for the past two days. The PRT and Protectorate loitered at the edges, carefully watching both the crowd and Amy herself, their presence as much about containment as observation.
She noticed today they'd only sent Dauntless and Velocity, it made her wonder what the rest of them were preparing - because she refused to believe Piggot wouldn't be up to something - orders be damned.
Amy's gaze lingered on the large Medhall building rising behind her. Its pristine facade was a facade in every sense, hiding the filth and rot that had festered within its walls for years. She had chosen this spot deliberately. Let the Nazis seethe; she would make her statement in their territory. She glanced down at the table and chair set up for her on the street - a simple, sturdy setup with a cooler of drinks at her feet. It would be a long shift, and she intended to make herself comfortable.
As she settled into her seat, Purity descended from above, her glowing form streaking the early morning sky with light. Amy straightened, the faintest flicker of apprehension flashing across her face.
"What is it?" Amy asked sharply, her gaze briefly flicking toward the Protectorate capes. They stood still, their attention clearly on her, but not making any moves. Amy was still hyper-aware of their attention, expecting some sort of plot any day now.
Tattletale was busy trying to figure out what the response would be like. As an all out attack was unlikely with the necessity of her healing.
Purity landed lightly beside her, her glow dimming slightly as she folded her arms. "The Church of Remedy is setting up food trucks around the perimeter," She said, her tone tinged with amusement. "They're handing out free meals and water, in exchange for people joining them in prayer and hearing the good word of Remedy."
Amy groaned, slumping back in her chair. "Of course, they are here," She muttered, rubbing her temples. "Those nutjobs follow me everywhere. At least they're helping, I guess."
She'd been surprised they hadn't shown up sooner if she was fully honest.
Purity chuckled softly. "They seem harmless enough. Enthusiastic, but harmless."
Before Amy could respond, a loudspeaker crackled to life. Aurelian's voice boomed over the crowd, rich with fervor. "Rejoice! We may be plagued for our sins, but the holy light of Remedy will cleanse your soul and body! You will thrive under the new sun, born again under the hands of our savior!"
Amy let out a loud, exaggerated groan, her head falling into her hands. "Does he not realize that I was the one who actually plagued them?" She grumbled.
"With people like that, I doubt it matters," Purity replied with a smirk. "They'll twist themselves into pretzels to justify anything you do, changing their entire worldview to make things make sense."
"Lucky me." Amy sighed, motioning for Purity to begin. "Let's get started. I'd rather focus on healing than listening to more of his preaching."
It was annoying that whats-her-name, the woman who led the church here, wasn't around to keep Aurelian on a leash. It would at least have been quieter, she thought, wincing as the loudspeaker continued.
Purity had already taken off as per her request, relaying instructions to the volunteers tasked with managing the line and the roped off walkway leading to her table. Amy leaned back, faux-smiling as the first elderly woman was led to her. Without preamble, she grasped the woman's hand, her tone clinical. "Are you, or have you ever been, a member of a criminal gang in Brockton Bay?"
The woman's reply was a demure "No." Amy nodded and rushed through the rest of the questions - support for gang activities, knowledge of trafficking, and similar inquiries. Satisfied with the answers, she healed the woman, removing the virus and treating her arthritis, glaucoma, and the early stages of dementia in one efficient motion, touching her body up so that it was as healthy as possible for a human being.
"Next," She said briskly.
…
About a hundred people in, a blur of people of whom she could hardly even remember a thing about, she saw someone she recognized, a distasteful look flashing across her face.
Emma Barnes sat before her, a hint of hidden excitement on her face, seemingly not caring about her recent reputation, just excited to meet her.
"Emma, isn't it?" Amy almost purred, grabbing her hand.
She'd bullied some ABB wannabes to keep an eye on Winslow for her. Canon wasn't quite here yet, date wise. Even if it had been completely destroyed by her actions anyway.
But with everything going on, she'd completely forgotten about Taylor Hebert.
"You know who I am?" Emma gushed, excited, a proud smile on her face.
"You model, right?" Amy said, using it as an excuse, even as she idly went through her body, tweaking a few things.
Emma was about to have bigger worries than bullying Taylor. Much bigger.
Amy would like to see her try to pull the popular girl routine with horrible skin and tripling in size.
"Yes I do! But umm… You're so cool, and an amazing cape for dealing with the gangs like this, but I'm not gay…" She said, giving her an apologetic frown, a flash of disgust briefly seen in her eyes.
Amy quirked an eyebrow, this girl certainly thought highly of herself, thinking Amy was flirting with her for simply knowing about her modelling.
She was certainly pretty, but Amy had other options if she wanted to go for a girl who was rotten and broken on the inside. "There you go, you're done." She said with a fake smile, releasing her hand.
It was probably mean of her to give the girl an incontinence problem, but the flash of disgust was enough of a reason.
"But you didn't even ask me any questions?" Emma said, pouting slightly.
"I'm sure you're not a gang member." Amy said patronizingly.
Emma seemed to be looking for an excuse to stick around for some reason, so Amy waved for one of the volunteers to escort her away.
That's when she heard, "What are you doing here?"
She looked up, and sure enough about ten people down in the line, trying to hide herself in a too large hoodie, was Taylor Hebert. Emma having spotted her while being escorted away past the line.
Luckily her volunteers did not care for teenage drama, and kept escorting Emma before she could say something more cutting.
Soon enough, Taylor Hebert herself was before Amy, eyes downcast and refusing to even look at her as Amy took her limp sweaty hand in her own. She pursed her lips, thinking, while she went through the motion of asking the questions.
She hadn't really bothered to do anything about Winslow, what she just did to Emma being a wholly random event. Should she help Taylor some more? Or would that make it worse?
It wouldn't hurt to give the girl some self esteem back, surely?
Slowly Amy began making changes, most of them not immediate. Stimulating some hormones here, setting up some processes to slowly migrate fat reserves across her body to her chest over time, tweaking her lips slightly making them fuller.
She let Taylor go, the girl having not said a word except for the quiet answers to her questions.
There. Her growing much prettier should help a little. It was an unfortunate reality, especially in High school, that looks were what mattered the most. Hence why Emma was about to be humbled very quickly…
…
A few hours in, the rhythm had settled into monotony. Amy ate a sandwich one-handed while healing people, a volunteer beside her taking over the questioning. The crowd had thinned slightly, though it still stretched far down the street.
Her routine broke when a young girl in an oversized hoodie and a face mask stepped up. Amy froze for a moment, her hand brushing the girl's. She felt it instantly - parahuman. Her gaze sharpened as she met the girl's eyes. Slowly, she brushed crumbs from her lip, letting a sly smile spread across her face.
"Hey… Missy," Amy said softly, after waving away the volunteer.
The girl stiffened, her eyes narrowing. After a moment's hesitation, she lowered her face mask slightly, confirming Amy's suspicion. "They don't know I'm here," Vista hissed. "Don't tell them."
Amy's smirk widened. "Trouble in paradise?"
Vista crossed her arms, her glare intensifying. "No one's allowed to get healing until piggy says so. I'm not waiting for that bullshit." She paused, then muttered, "Even if you're a villain now."
Amy raised an eyebrow, her voice dry. "Yes, the villain and her partner who together are succeeding in eradicating the gangs, cleaning up the docks, revitalizing the economy, and enhancing the infrastructure of the city to be less of a shit hole. All without sacrificing civilians for it. Tell me again, what exactly have the heroes done in the past decade? Take your time. I'll wait."
Vista shifted uncomfortably, her glare faltering. "It's still not right," She mumbled.
Amy shrugged and healed her without hesitation. She didn't bother with the usual questions; Vista wasn't ABB or Empire. "Maybe not," Amy admitted, "But if the result is better than staying morally superior while people die because of it, I know where I stand."
Vista pulled her hand back, her expression conflicted. "Maybe piggy was right. I shouldn't have come."
Amy narrowed her eyes. "Don't stick your head in the sand, Missy. If what I'm saying makes sense, it's not a sign to reject it. It's a sign to think for yourself, look around and gather your own facts and make your own choice."
Vista hesitated, then sighed. "Like there's any choice left."
Amy's tone softened. "You always have choices. You could join Starlight, for instance. We'd be happy to have you." She smirked playfully. "We need a little V to go with our big V."
Vista's eyes widened slightly, her face flushing at the offer. "Stop seducing me." She hissed, flustered.
Amy chuckled. "You're a bit young for me, Missy. But give it a few years, and we'll see." She winked, enjoying the younger girl's flustered expression.
Vista glared weakly, muttering, "I'm leaving. I'll… Think about it." She hurriedly added, "The team thing, not… The other thing!"
"Of course," Amy replied, her voice laced with amusement.
…
As the day wore on, Amy settled back into her routine. The sun dipped lower in the sky, the crowd thinning further. She was nearing the end of her shift when a man stepped forward, his demeanor setting her on edge. His answers to her initial questions were clipped, his posture rigid, and for the first time someone failed the first question. When she reached the next critical question "What gang are you in?" His superior sneer confirmed her suspicions.
"Empire," He grunted.
Amy's smile turned icy, her grip tightening on his hand. "I see."
With ease she sent the man sprawling to the ground, unconscious. The volunteers around her tensed, but Amy's expression remained calm. She gestured for him to be dragged off. Mouse Protector doing so, not even bothering with a pun as their first doomed man was removed.
If Kaiser thought she was foolish enough to kill one of his underlings in front of a crowd, he had miscalculated. This man would be interrogated, his knowledge extracted. Only then would she dispose of him properly.
Let the Nazis learn - Amy Dallon was no one's fool.
At least everything was going on track, and it looked like they were going to be able to pull this off without too many issues.
Just after thinking that, the Endbringer sirens went off.
----------------------------------------