＊＊＊
Amy did not enjoy the trip to Washington. Not in the slightest. If only she could have called on Strider but noooo, she needed to fly with the entire Brockton Bay Protectorate to Washington - for reasons. Because apparently they were her escort all the way back to Brockton Bay and would be sticking close the entire trip.
Yeah, Armsmaster was just as excited about that order as Amy was.
He did not get any more personable with her over a transatlantic flight, Amy hadn't even been teasing him… Much.
Fuck Alexandria, because she couldn't see who else would have ordered it. Director Piggot would have definitely ordered her team back immediately if she could, what with the powderkeg Brockton Bay was. So this whole thing was some torture devised by Alexandria.
Because Amy didn't fall all over herself to do whatever Alexandria wanted, she deserved to suffer or something. Fucking Cauldron capes. Maybe her suffering was part of Contessa's path, they'd really been sending mixed messages to her - what with giving her Prism, and then turning around and barking about power testing at her and surrounding her with annoying people to get under her skin.
Or perhaps Alexandria was deluded enough to think that if Amy spent time with the Protectorate capes she'd join the PRT. Becoming another wage slave under the boot of Alexandria did not appeal to her. At all.
Hours and hours she had been shut in a plane with the Brockton Bay Protectorate and she now knew without a shadow of a doubt - that Armsmaster was completely incapable of speaking to human beings properly when he was annoyed - no wonder he got the hots for an AI really... That Miss Militia was actually kind of scary if you'd annoy her - as in omgshutupshesgonnashoot! That Velocity and Dauntless held way too much respect for the aforementioned two and did what they were told pretty quickly, although Velocity at least had a decent sense of humor… Which left Battery and Assault as the confirmed only two members she could stand for a prolonged period of time. When she wasn't gagging at their lovey dovey shit - which she just knew they were exaggerating to mess with her, because PHO had dedicated threads for them that still wasn't sure if they were lovers or siblings or what? So they weren't like that in public - because then there wouldn't be any wondering involved.
Either that or they were some crazy weird siblings. Not that she could throw rocks exactly… She had out of universe knowledge that they weren't siblings anyway, but that was cheating.
Although cheating was winning, so…
Either way, with how many times both Miss Militia and Armsmaster told them to simmer down, looking visibly frustrated, it was pretty clear they didn't normally continue on like that for hours on end. Amy hoped not, because there were laws about public indecency and she felt that in a metal tube with a bunch of heroes - it counted as public enough to not maul each other to the extent they'd traumatize the virgins, cough - Armsmaster - cough.
Personally, Amy was impressed that the top two didn't break when she and Assault - in pure boredom of course - sang the smash hit (It should be at least) 99 halberds on the wall.
They'd managed to get down to 42 halberds on the wall before Miss Militia manifested a very heavy duty cannon of a gun and calmly informed them what height the plane was flying at - and the effects of a basketball sized hole in the hull would have on them. Just as a bit of idle information.
They quieted down.
Didn't quite count as breaking down. But Amy wasn't interested in finding out how much further she could be pushed. Although she was impressed at Armsmaster's self control. Oh, he was obviously very annoyed, but he seemed to do just fine ignoring them all.
Unless he was smooching with Dragon electronically through his visor. Did that make her a voyeur? She was learning so much on this trip. All of it stupid. Like her new favorite song. Although if it didn't annoy Armsmaster enough to deserve a comment she supposed it wasn't a very good song.
Amy acknowledged her singing voice hadn't been that great, but that had made the whole event even funnier in a cringy sort of way. She didn't have her phone after all, her borrowed one had been returned before the flight, and there was no in-flight entertainment for the transatlantic flight. She was a teenager, it was completely their fault for leaving her with nothing better to do.
That's her story and she'd be sticking to it if anyone made a remark. Not like anyone knew about her not being the original Amy - and therefore not actually a teenager.
Either way, the in-flight entertainment she had provided had ensured that when the possibility to debark the plane came. No one lingered after landing. By the time Amy walked down the steps, Armsmaster was already in a PRT van. If he was going to act like that Amy was going to get the impression he didn't like her or something.
Seriously, the tinker had hustled ass, all to get away from her.
Bad news Armsy, she thought with some amusement, after all they were going to the same place in the end, so he wasn't really escaping her.
She didn't get to think on it for long, because near the PRT vans stood her family. All of them. The entirety of New Wave had arrived to welcome her back to US soil at the private PRT affiliated airstrip outside Washington. Joy. This could only end well. At least they weren't in uniform.
To be fair she actually did get along perfectly well with most of her family. It was just the one outlier…
The second she was completely off the airplane steps she was tackled into a hug by a flying Vicky, who lifted her up in the air and spun her, laughing delightedly, "Ames! I've missed you so much! And you've been amazeballs! Kicking so much ass! You've gotta tell me all about it, did you meet any cute french capes? There's like a whole flame war going on online between the French cape community and the American one, all cuz of you!" Then she punched her lightly in the arm, "How could you tell me in a press conference that you're only into girls, Ames! I'm your sister! I'm cool with it though, just in case you were worried."
Flame war? Super. She'd add that to the Nazi propaganda war over her, and the Church of Panacea stuff. Why did the internet suck so much lately? Amy just wanted to sit on a throne and be fed grapes by minions, was that really too much to ask? At least coming out hadn't bothered Vicky, I never thought it would, but she wasn't the one I was worried about…
Amy hugged her sister back, and resigned herself to being carried around as Vicky didn't let go of her, holding her up in her arms as she chattered away, full of excitement and life and love and just drowning Amy in her aura. "I can walk, you know?" Amy finally answered, not bothering to answer any of the dozen questions she'd managed to fire away during that time. She'd save it for when they had time alone. Not when she was right there. Watching her, just waiting for a chink in the armor, so she could sneak through and hit for maximum emotional damage.
Vicky pouted, but floated over to where the rest of the family stood, still holding onto Amy, resting her chin in her frizzy hair. "Mom, I found this weird girl, can I keep her?" She chirped brightly, as she stopped right in front of Carol and Mark. They looked odd together, what with Mark's sweatpants and sweater look, his expression drained and tired. Carol looked perfectly poised and put together in an expensive looking blazer, fashionable blouse and smart pencil skirt combo. Amy wondered how long Carol had spent bitching at Mark for not making an effort to dress up today.
Really a trick question. Because she never said anything in a non-bitchy way.
He'd probably taken the brunt of Carol's bitchiness with Amy in Europe. She'd feel more sorry if he'd ever done anything to really have her back over the years, as it was, she just didn't want to deal with either of them, and just clung tighter to Vicky.
"Is she housebroken?" Mark asked tiredly with a crooked little smile. Amy sent him a dirty look, even if inwardly she was kind of glad he was having a decent day, if he was able to joke around with them he must be on one of his good days. Even if it was at her expense of course. Because who else could be the butt of the joke in the Dallon household. There was no comment made about her newly revealed lesbianism, but she never expected much from Mark.
Vicky shook her slightly as she giggled, and Amy sighed, reaching up and patting Vicky on the check patronizingly, "If anyone is a pet here it's you, butterball…"
"Oooh, playing dirty, Ames, I like it." Vicky retorted, the warmth of her body pressed up against Amy's as she literally felt Vicky brimming with cheer and happiness. "I'm fine with that old nickname…" Amy could feel Vicky smirking evilly into her hair, "~Pan-Pan…"
"No. You are not calling me that!" Amy protested with a pained grimace, but she knew it was too late. Once Vicky got an idea in her head it was impossible to move her with conventional means. Gah, such a ridiculous nickname, it made her sound like she was five!
"Girls, that's enough now." Carol said shortly, looking impatient. "It's rude to ignore the rest of the family like this Amy, especially after dropping such news on us with absolutely no warning, come say hi at least." Yeah, just me right? Not like Vicky is standing here holding me up… Amy thought, but didn't bother to voice it.
At least Aunt Sarah had her back, immediately jumping in with a wave of her hand and an easygoing smile, "No big deal, Carol, let the girls have their fun, we're in no hurry." She gave Amy a compassionate smile, "I'm glad you are alright sweetheart, we're all here for you."
Amy sent Aunt Sarah aka Lady Photon, a smile, she was the only one in the family who'd sometimes cool down Carol before she could get going. Her husband, Neil gave her a wave with a quick accompanied grin, Manpower never stepped in-between the two women, but he'd always treated Amy as well as his own daughter, she'd gone to him for advice more then Mark over the last year and a half.
If she would have come out before that press conference it would have probably been to Neil or Sarah first. Vicky was… Complicated. With both their weird feelings involved. Both artificially created.
Carol, back ramrod straight, sniffed, making it clear she thought otherwise vis a vis the topic of fun, but didn't say anything further. Her pointed stare at Amy told her she better do as asked anyway or she'd hear about it later.
Likely in great detail, with peppered in pearls of wisdom like - only by sacrificing yourself can you truly be heroic. Amy liked that one, no other little idiom more perfectly encapsulated Carol's hypocrisy. Because she sure as hell wasn't sacrificing shit, while she made Amy jump through hoops to even be considered part of the team. And she wasn't even the team leader - that was Aunt Sarah!
Amy elbowed Vicky, not that it did anything to her, but she did release Amy back onto solid ground at the hint, Amy quickly stepped over to give Aunt Sarah a hug. Photon Mom definitely deserved one. Notably she did not hug Carol and Mark, as she sidestepped them both to say hi to the Pelhams, and get her fair share of hugging. Uncle Neil tousled her hair from his great height, grinning down at her. Before he stepped out of the way of his two children.
Crystal and Eric. Laserdream and Shielder. Amy didn't see nearly enough of them with all her work and the expectations on her by Carol unfortunately, but they were pretty cool people.
"You're almost cool enough now that I can admit we're related, only need to fix your sense of fashion still, or maybe find you a girlfriend." Crystal teased her, sharing a grin with Vicky, nudging Amy in the ribs as she held one arm around her shoulder, squeezing them both together. "Me and Vicky have been talking, how do you feel about rebranding from Panacea to Pan-Pan?" Her grin was markedly vulpine as she continued the lighthearted teasing.
Amy only thought about giving her the runs for the next 48 hours or so for one second. Honestly. Like maybe two seconds at the most. She was family after all.
"You're all the worst." Amy deadpanned as she fistbumped Eric. Shielder was obviously too cool to be hugging any relatives in public. It would disturb his masculine rep or something, Amy wasn't really sure how boys thought but it sounded right.
"You sure you're okay though?" Vicky asked softly, quietly. Still hovering right by her other side, one hand interlocked with hers. "You kind of look like… Well…" She hesitated slightly, flashing her a quick smile.
"Shit. You look like shit." Crystal took over bluntly, getting a dirty look from both her and Vicky. She shrugged, letting go of her to raise both hands defensively, a tiny smirk on her face, "Hey, I was saving us time, you were taking forever, Vicky." She knocked a knuckle against Amy's forehead gently, "Just worried s'all."
"She could have been more polite about it," Aunt Sarah said with a chiding look at a completely unrepentant Crystal, "But she echoed my thoughts, you look a little peaky, Amy dear."
"I'm fine." Amy lied, with a practiced smile. "Just didn't get much sleep."
Carol, who'd kept herself apart from the family huddle, glanced at her watch, "I think that is enough of a spectacle on the tarmac, in front of the entire Brockton Bay Protectorate no less, we have places to be, Amy is fine, some makeup will hide her complexion for when we arrive at the White House if she still looks the same tomorrow, we can't have her looking like a homeless person in front of the President."
Amy would have been upset, if any of that had a single line that surprised her anymore.
"Is it time to go already?" Mark asked blandly, blinking like he'd not been paying attention for a few minutes and just realized what was going on. "I'll get the van." He muttered and shambled off.
Amy would have healed him of his depression long ago if he'd ever shown any inclination of being there for her. Even with her wish to hide her ability on the subject. But no matter how she'd tried after taking over from original Amy, Mark just didn't put in any effort in being her dad. Not when it mattered.
Damn, her home life was depressing. Original Amy should have left. She should leave.
Huh… Why not?
"I'm not wearing makeup. They can take me as I am or leave it, someone that worked their ass off healing and is exhausted with their bullshit doesn't need to be prettied up" Amy said distastefully, meeting her mom's eyes stubbornly.
"Ames don't say it like that, you're definitely pretty." Vicky said seriously, turning her around to meet her eyes, trying to show her how serious she was.
"Amy, get in the van, you will be wearing makeup, you're right, you're not anywhere near as photogenic as Victoria, so all the more reason to add some makeup. This is not a negotiation, you are not in France anymore partying it up on your lonesome, here you're part of New Wave and you need to look the part." Carol said with ironclad certainty that Amy would obey her. Not even waiting for an answer, instead grabbing Aunt Sarah's arm and walking over to the vans talking about something quietly.
There was only silence for a moment as everyone processed that tirade. And then like proper New Wave members, they all slid right past the horrible things Carol said and pretended it didn't happen.
Amy loved her family, mostly. But she really wondered sometimes if she liked them.
"I can help with the makeup, we'll make it a sister thing, that will be okay right, Ames?" Vicky said softly, holding her hand still, jumping right past her wishes trying to soften the request from her mom. "She's just stressed cuz of all the press, she doesn't mean anything by it." She tried to weakly defend Carol, Amy didn't know why she bothered anymore.
Crystal and Eric both shared looks, before saying their goodbyes with slight grimaces on their faces, things always got uncomfortable when they were all together like this. There was a reason they were all mostly retired. Mix both the Dallons and the Pelham's together and eventually Carol would find a way to make everything uncomfortable until everyone ran away.
Brandish everyone, the real cornerstone of New Wave. Amy thought sarcastically.
"We'll have to go shopping." Vicky said to fill the silence, trying to enforce a positive atmosphere through pure cheerfulness and bullheadedness. "Get you something other than a burqa."
Amy sighed, pushing her sister away with a palm to get face, getting a splutter and a dirty look in return. "First of all, not a burqa." She said irritably, "Second of all, Carol picked that to begin with, you know that right?" She continued with some bitterness leaking through, no matter how she tried to hide it. "As she pointed out, I'm nothing special to look at, that's why she made you a princess outfit and covered me up in all encompassing robes." Lucky for me that I could train my own skin bacteria to deal with sweat because it's outside my body, or I'd die in that thing, working at the hospital. She thought, thinking back on how pleased she'd been with that first discovery, back when she was new at this.
Vicky grimaced, floating an inch off the ground, looking sad for only a moment before she forced a grin on her face, "Well, she's wrong. You're plenty special and plenty good looking, Ames! You'll definitely have plenty of girls chasing you!" She said with some insistence, cheeks reddening for a moment before she fumbled with her phone.
"Carol will get angry if we don't get moving." Amy warned her tonelessly, not overly affected by her declaration, she'd messed with Vicky's hormones after all, she only thought Amy was pretty because she'd literally been set to it.
Simple as that. She knew she wasn't anything special. She hadn't been in her previous life either, she was used to it. Not everyone got to be pretty people, it was just facts.
"Just a minute, where is it, AH! Here we go, feast your eyes on this, oh, sister of mine!" Vicky declared triumphantly, a cheshire grin on her face that boded ill. "I'll prove to you that people think you're pretty!"
"Do I want to know?" Amy asked, briefly making eye contact with Carol, who'd stepped back out of the van they were obviously going to be transported in and was giving her an ominous look. "Carol is going to give me shit for this, you realize?" She groused, grabbing the phone from Vicky's hand.
Fuck, not another PHO thread about me, how many are there!? She thought in dismay, seeing what was on the screen. No… Vicky…
You absolute BITCH!
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♦ Topic: Panacea needs a girlfriend!
In: Boards ► America ► Brockton Bay ► Capes ► Relationship & lifestyle
►Glory Girl (Original Poster) (Verified Cape) (New Wave)
My sister just came out on live tv, she's just cool like that amirite!?
But never mind that.
Now to the important matters! Life and death matters! Stuff needing doing right now!
My sister needs a girlfriend STAT, so this is like the super Panacea appreciation thread, girlfriend applications go through me, no pics yet tho, no one needs to see all that, save it for my sis.
Obv be in Brockton Bay or be a teleporter or something.
(Showing page 1 of 63)
►TheGreatandTerribleAisha
Replied On May 17th 2010:
Glory Girl If my brother did something like this post for me I'd rip his balls off, I'm laughing my ass off right now imagining the look on @Panacea face when she sees this thread.
Fifty bucks I don't got says she's gonna request a thread lock! Either way Imma munch imaginary popcorn and look at the carnage, carry on cape geeks and weirdos.
►Aurelian (Verified Cape) (Équipe nationale de grève)
Replied On May 17th 2010:
There is no one in America worthy of the divinity of Panacea. I will immediately contact the female French cape community for volunteers.
She will be worshiped, so I swear.
@Panacea if necessary, you can change someone's gender, correct? As you can even regrow amputations I believe this changing of the body to be the case. I would become a woman for you.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
►Circusfreak (Veteran Member)
Replied On May 17th 2010:
I don't think Panacea okayed this, just a feeling, but sure, I'll throw my hat in the ring, she's actually super cute when she's in civvies, a real girl next door look, you know?
And baby got back, all those hospital stairs working for ya girl.
Glory Girl I pmed you, hook a sister up!
►AllseeingEye
Replied On May 17th 2010:
She's cute, sure, but she probably knows everything about your body with a touch, kinda ruins the romance doesn't it? TMI is a thing, trust me.
Besides, Panacea's girlfriend? Can anyone say kidnap bait?
No thanks. But props on screwing Kaiser over with your coming out party, it was hilarious to see online as they all stopped simultaneously, having no idea what to say until they could get direction from the top.
Aurelian Getting serious serial killer vibes off you, seek help. Or at least stay over there.
Srsly, don't come here.
►Applejack (Veteran Member)
Replied On May 17th 2010:
Honestly when she isn't in those robes, she's super cute, and that frizzy hair, doesn't it just make you want to, you know, grab it?
Besides you know girl gonna be good with her hands, right? ;) [https://forums.spacebattles.com/styles/sbforums/smilies/wink.gif]
►GstringGirl
Replied On May 17th 2010:
I think it was really brave to come out like that, but I think it's a little mean for her sister to post this, she probably just wants to be left alone right now.
►BlackWidow (Verified Cape) (Protectorate NWC)
Replied On May 17th 2010:
I'd date Panacea in a heartbeat, yeah she's cute, but like the balls on the girl, I mean who doesn't want a confident chick like that!
So, gorgeous, check. Smart, check, ballsy as fuck, check. Biggest damn heroine in the world. Check.
And uh, expert knowledge about the body… Do I need to say anymore or am I drooling enough?
Yes please.
Hit me up @Panacea Glory Girl I'll totally bribe you for her number. Name your price.
►Glory Girl (Original Poster) (Verified Cape) (New Wave)
Replied On May 17th 2010:
@Circusfreak what kind of name is that anyway? Better not be anything weird in those PM's my eyes are innocent in this you know.
@BlackWidow We'll talk ;) [https://forums.spacebattles.com/styles/sbforums/smilies/wink.gif]
…
Amy shut the phone down, unwilling to continue on for the sixty three damn pages the thread had so far. "You… Are going to pay, so goddamn much, Vicky." She said dangerously, clutching the phone hard. "You realize I'm sixteen! How did you not get locked down yet?" She doubted many of those comments were from people her age…
"Aww, come on, Ames!" Vicky said, taking her phone back, "They totally think you're super cute, I was right, you should read some more, bask in it." She suggested, seemingly not understanding why it was not okay to post something like that right after she came out. She almost… Trivialized it all.
"I'm not you." Amy said, trying to ignore the wish to set fire to the world. She really, really wasn't happy with the circumstances of the last few days. And Vicky was pouring fuel on the fire. "You earned this." She said, grasping her hand for a moment, before she started walking. Carol was tapping her foot on the pavement as she glared at them both, for once realizing Vicky had her part in delaying them.
"Wait, what did you do? I feel, funny." Vicky hissed, grasping her arm, "It's just a joke, Ames!"
"You'll be peeing standing up for a few days, or weeks, or whatever, just as a joke, you understand." Amy responded blandly, all done with shit and not taking anymore, not even from Vicky.
"Amy!" Vicky whisper-screamed, horrified.
"~Enjoy, Victor." Amy sang quietly, climbing into the van.
Carol would probably make her reverse it soon enough. But it would make her point. Victoria would get to enjoy being Victor for at least a little bit.
She was not taking anymore shit. Online, PRT, New Wave. Her sister.
None of it.
If Carol made a big deal about it. She'd make her bed too and couldn't complain once she set it on fire. Panacea didn't need New Wave. And Amy sure as hell didn't need Carol Dallon.
Fuck around and find out.
＊＊＊
Brockton Bay
Brad leaned back against the derelict wall behind a shit hole gook bar down by the docks, comfortable in the shadows under the rusted awning, feeling the cold metal against his back as he waited, mask on. Feeling more in his skin with the steel wolf mask covering his face. As usual he hadn't bothered with a shirt, the metal under his skin making armor superfluous.
Besides it was a challenge, it was telling people, yeah, you can't even scratch me, bitches!
He was the fucking wolf of Brockton. When he prowled there wasn't a single soul who felt safe. He was a born predator, some people just had it in them, knew how to fight, how to survive, how to kill. Brad had no need to sugarcoat life, he was made to be a killer. He was a savage, he readily admitted it.
Even so, he wasn't quite the hot blooded youth he'd been in the fighting pits. A fight would still get his blood singing, and he was down anytime for a scrap. But he'd realized something, watching Kaiser work his plots, dealing with underlings. Watching them survive - or fail at surviving. Every wolf needed a pack. Brad hadn't expected to give a shit, honestly He really didn't bother with the whole friends thing. Or he thought he hadn't. But he'd accepted Cricket and Stormtiger as allies during his early years fighting, and now it had expanded quite beyond Brad's fondest nightmares.
He let out a grunt of satisfaction as his underlings arrived. They'd listened, so they weren't complete dumbfucks. They'd killed the lights and cruised along slow enough there were no rumbling engines to give them away.
Not that it would matter in about two minutes.
Jonathan jumped out of the passenger seat, the kid was probably eighteen, or close enough, and built like a gladiator, Brad didn't exactly bother with resumes or shit. Him and his buddies had been hanging around Brad's crew trying to get in. It had been pretty boring lately, so he figured he'd blood them a bit, see what's what. Tonight was the night. See if they were worthy of being pack, or were just useless brats he couldn't count on.
Brad couldn't stand useless things.
Brad didn't need people to be as strong as him, there weren't many like that around. He needed people he knew would fight until the last breath, spitting death in the face and trying to knife it in the groin as a last fuck you. He had the smallest group of underlings amongst the Empire 88, even that little kid Rune had more, although just a bunch of posers and pansies. Hangers on and cape groupies. Less than useless.
Hookwolf's crew were different, the elite. The real badasses that didn't shy away from anything, that saw a fight as the proper way to communicate, that knew that the only way to know a man, or woman for that matter - was to meet them fist to fist. The Empire 88 wolfpack was what Kaiser called on when he wanted the other side to leave their body parts behind in the gutters.
There was a reason the ABB and Merchant fucks didn't grow in capes, they fucking tried and Hookwolf and his pack hunted them down and ripped them apart. The PRT had no fucking clue how many disappearances his crew was behind.
"Ain't you missing some, brat?" Hookwolf growled, kicking off from the wall, spotting only six brats In-between the two trucks.
Jonathan, head shaved completely bald and a swastika tattooed on his neck, put a fist to his heart, saluting Hookwolf, "They pussied out." He said, grimacing. "It's why we're late, had to teach them a lesson."
Hookwolf hummed thoughtfully, head tilted as he inspected the group of brats. He could see the blood splatter on some of them, good, a willingness to enforce standards was a good sign. "Alright, whatever, I don't care how many of you there are, we're gonna fuck up some ABB chinks tonight, and I'll see if you're worth my time." He growled out, feeling the battle lust rising, but riding herd on it, tonight was about his guys, not him.
Well… If they performed well enough to earn a spot as his guys. Otherwise he'd have to cut them loose. The wolfpack was an exclusive brotherhood, he wouldn't lower standards for nothing. And hadn't that burned some. Kaiser didn't like it, but Brad didn't give a fuck, people had the balls to try and get into the wolfpack he gave them the respect to end them personally if they failed. Fuck PR, they were Nazis, what fucking PR? Kaiser could go kiss a baby for recruitment or something, wasn't Hookwolf's fucking department.
You couldn't have a more uphill battle then trying to fight a PR battle for Nazis. Hookwolf didn't even waste his time trying to help that angle.
"Oh, yeah, by the way I told the ABB you'd be here, so you got 'bout thirty seconds now that they saw the trucks, since you're late and all." Hookwolf snorted, leaning back against the wall again as Jonathan immediately reacted, barking at his friends, all of them stepping out of the trucks and slipping on knuckle dusters or holding baseball bats. Hookwolf's style was up and personal, his guys didn't do guns unless they were absolutely forced to, like when facing Coil's motherfuckers.
Hookwolf wasn't stupid. Fuck all knuckle dusters was gonna do to mercenaries with tinkertech laser rifles.
Slowly, groups of ABB in their green and red colors streamed out of the surrounding buildings. Hookwolf simply observed as Jonathan's group split into teams of two, using the trucks at their back so they couldn't be hit from the back. At least they weren't retarded, Hookwolf leaned forward, blood singing in anticipation as the ABB came closer, outnumbering his guys 4 to 1. Fair enough numbers.
Only in real life or death battles did someone's true spirit come out. He'd see if they were wolves or if they were sheep.
"You're gonna die tonight you dumb Nazi fucks!" One of the Asians in the front taunted, waving a machete around, gesturing towards the people around him. "There's more of us…"
Jonathan spat on the ground, grinning wildly, "If you counted for shit maybe that would worry us, your blood and guts gonna be in the gutter where you gooks belong."
The Asians didn't like that one bit, rushing forward, although the pussy machete guy hung back. Hookwolf hated that kind of degenerate - the one that dared to order men to fight and die, but didn't get down in the gutter and slit some throats himself.
Only reason he could still respect Kaiser, even with all the corporate shit and respectable persona, Kaiser was still willing to go out and skewer some punkasses, willing to fight and kill with his own two hands.
Couldn't trust a man who hadn't killed up close and personal.
Hookwolf watched as the fight started, the shouting, the screams of pain, the stench of the dying as they voided their bowels, all familiar to him. He watched as slowly Jonathan's guys were whittled down, being overwhelmed. He didn't see anything special from the guys who got swarmed and died, they didn't claw and scratch for every eyeball, didn't draw on that last bit of energy to claw themselves out from death to spit in the enemy's eyes. Just regular scrubs, Hookwolf could find a dozen of them by pissing off a roof, better that they died then continued living on as disappointments.
Everyone in Brockton Bay knew how Hookwolf handled disappointments.
'Sides, Kaiser could just use their deaths to rally the troops and spread some more propaganda, so really, it didn't hurt the Empire to lose some worthless hangers ons like this. As long as more ABB died so they could call it a win, of course.
But that's why Hookwolf was there observing, so that no matter what, the Asians were fucked in the end.
Eventually it was just Jonathan and another guy who's name he hadn't bothered to learn yet left, both of them covered in blood and with several corpses surrounding them. They were barely standing and still doing their best to kill. He chuckled loudly as Jonathan bit a finger off a chink who put his hand to close to his face. He'd seen enough.
"Oy, so who's gonna die first?" Hookwolf growled as he stomped out of his shadowed corner and stepped into the light. The ABB goons all freezing as they cottoned on to his presence. Hookwolf had stayed hidden enough even when talking to Jonathan before that the ABB mooks had never realized who exactly had been there. They realized now, and he exhilarated in the feeling of fear that permeated across the street.
The Asian man that had spoken before laughed, seemingly unconcerned. Which told Hookwolf he was either new as fucking grass or suffered from a brain injury. Either way he'd let the fool shoot his wad, they were already dead after all. He could afford to let them get their last words out. No one got away from Hookwolf once he'd set his sights on them.
"I'm surprised you dare show your face, isn't your boss busy praising all the homos? Is that why you're here, huh? Gonna bend over and lift your tail? It's what Kaiser likes, yeah?" He said smugly, pointing his Machete at Hookwolf.
Hookwolf felt irritation grow, he'd fucking told everyone else that going balls to the wall for a fucking hero was stupid as fuck, white or not didn't fucking matter - it was a hero! And now they were a fucking joke - a damn punchline. He'd heard the same thing everywhere he went today, same fucking joke. He was so damn tired of it. Despite the tattoo's he wasn't really that deep into the whole Nazi thing, but it was what his gang was about, so he represented. And he'd have to kill a lot of people now that Kaiser had made them a laughingstock.
He let his power manifest into his favorite form, several members of ABB breaking off to run, good, he enjoyed the hunt just as much as a good fight, and these mooks wouldn't be a fight. "Run…" He growled to the delusional leader, his wolf form blurring forward, a literal murder blender of blades shredding through everyone that got in his way.
He didn't bother wasting time with the leader, the one who only now screamed in fear, finally realizing what he stood against. New and green, Hookwolf thought with a scoff as he sideswiped him on his way by, his blades and hooks ripping a chunk out of his side. Leaving him alive, but ensuring he'd suffer and bleed out as he continued on after the slightly smarter ones, the ones that had run.
Ten minutes later he'd finally finished hunting down the runners, having spent half that time slowly picking them apart for his own amusement, he returned to the site of the battle feeling moderately pleased at the outcome, two more members for the pack, and he'd gotten to sate his bloodlust, not much of a fight, but a good hunt was almost as good.
He'd need to convince Kaiser to up their attacks on everything. Their reputation was on the line with all the online bullshit coming back on them. Usually people stepped lightly around the Empire 88, even online, no one messed with them seriously. Now because of the damn girl and Kaiser's damn video - everyone was making fun of them.
Hookwolf growled in anger as he made sure to crush the skull of the already dead leader of this pathetic pack of ABB pussies. He wasn't no fag and he was fucking tired already of being made a joke - it hadn't been the first time today he'd heard that. Usually he'd just brutalize his opponents leaving them barely alive, killing them all tended to make the PRT a pain in his ass for a few months, but he wasn't gonna stand being ridiculed, so today everyone died. He'd deal with the PRT being more up his ass than usual.
His mind turned towards the healing girl, Kaiser wouldn't go for it - the precious rules bullshit. But there were people around her, they didn't necessarily have to hurt the chit herself. Yeah, he'd put some of his men on finding that shit out, then they'd pay a visit. No one got to make fun of Hookwolf, or the Empire 88.
Once the deed was done Kaiser wouldn't have a choice but to approve, or he'd look weak.
Hookwolf dumped the two injured men into one of the trucks and set off; he wouldn't bring them to Othala. Part of the test was surviving, besides the scars would tell a good story. Of the time they ran with Hookwolf for a night.
Jonathan had a brother in Arcadia didn't he? He thought he'd heard something like it at some point when they were all making noise at the periphery. Couldn't go after the fucking girl herself? Well she had friends that weren't capes probably, they'd be fair game…
＊＊＊
The Jefferson Hotel, Washington D.C
Once they'd reached the hotel that New Wave was staying at, because naturally she couldn't just get the whole shebang over with today - the medal ceremony was tomorrow - she was forced through the experience of having Carol's undivided attention.
Vicky, Uncle Neil and Aunt Sarah all tried their best to distract her, suggesting family game night, (Uncle Neil) a movie marathon, (Aunt Sarah) and strip poker (really helpful, Vicky…)
In short order, Amy was left alone with Carol in one of the bedrooms. An illusion of privacy only. Because she was sure they were both going to get loud enough the rest of the family would hear them.
Either that or Carol would reach levels of bitch never before seen, breaching the space continuum so that everyone in the hotel would know what she said no matter the sound level.
"So… Say what you want to say." Amy said eventually, arms crossed, leaning back against the ornate dresser with actual gold inlaid in the design. At least they're putting us up in style for this dog and pony show, she thought, eying the rich caramel coloured carpet and the richly decorated and practically ancient furniture.
"As easy as that, Amy?" Carol asked harshly, before taking a deep breath, visibly trying to rein herself in. "Do you even have any idea? Do you care?" She snapped, one hand clenching into a fist.
So much for reining herself in. Amy thought snidely. She shrugged, "You're going to have to actually tell me in what way I've disappointed you this time for me to be able to answer you." She drawled out sarcastically.
Carol shook her head, "The fact I have to ask in the first place is ridiculous. Can you not see the issue, Amy?" Carol took a step forward, almost looming over her as her face reddened slightly in anger, "You came out on TV, without telling anyone!"
Amy scoffed, "So that's what this is about, me being gay. Should have figured." Even so, a tiny part of her, deep inside, twisted in pain. She'd been right in not telling Carol it seemed.
"Stupid girl!" Carol said coldly, shaking her head again, having pulled back her temper slightly, "No one cares about that. You left us flapping in the wind, all of New Wave fielding questions about it and unable to answer. If we said yes we knew? We didn't know if you'd told anyone we didn't know! If we said no we didn't, we would look out of touch, and again - we wouldn't know if you'd said something different to someone else!" Carol laid out, step by step, voice as chilly as the arctic. "You put us all in a horrible position that could have been solved by a simple phone call."
Amy felt slightly better and at the same time worse - at knowing it wasn't being a lesbian that was the issue. It was the PR aspect of it. How it affected Carol. Of fucking course. She smiled bitterly, closing her eyes, refusing to let any tears drop, she'd already given up on Carol long before this, there was no need in trying. She knew she didn't matter compared to Vicky or New Wave. "I'm sorry if the press release didn't get enough time to be prepared." She ground out, hating the slight hitch to her voice.
Amy was older than this, better than this. She wasn't even family. Not really. There was no need to be upset about Carol hating her.
Carol laughed, hard and cold, the sound almost echoing in the room as the tension between the two of them built. "You still don't get it. Blindsiding us was bad for press reasons, yes. And I am upset about it, but you never thought about how any of us would feel, did you?" She asked, before she took a deep breath, speaking more quietly, "How do you think Victoria felt?"
Amy refused to be cowed, staring straight back at Carol, lips pressed together tightly, angry that she dared to bring Vicky into it. "She's fine with it, haven't you seen her stupid PHO thread?" She said with a sneer.
Carol rubbed her face, sighing, "Tell that to the heartbroken girl that was sobbing in my lap about how horrible of a sister she must have been for you to not trust her with this!" She said with quiet rage and hurt simmering under the surface, "She bounced back, because she is Vicky and because she didn't want to upset you or make you think she didn't approve of your sexuality. Because be honest, Amy. If Victoria acted upset with you when you got here, what would you have thought?"
Amy opened her mouth, but no words came out. She would have assumed the worst immediately. She knew she would have. She was testy when it came to her family sometimes. Had Vicky really been upset? "But the PHO thread?" She protested weakly, feeling a stirring of something uncomfortable in her gut.
"Was her way of acting out a bit no doubt. Shunt off some of her hurt and anger in a silly prank." Carol explained, grimacing as she pulled a hand through her hair, "Amy, none of us care about you being a lesbian. You can date who you want…" She paused for a moment looking pained, "No supervillains!" She clarified. "But you can't say you handled this appropriately, you came out so that you could screw with Kaiser and the Empire 88 for God's sake! When were we, or at least your sister, a consideration in all that?"
Amy would have to say something she'd never thought she'd say, ever. "You're right." She admitted. Oh, it burned her. She'd butted heads with Carol so much lately, but she was right. She'd just pushed her family to the wayside and acted out of spite more than anything. And apparently she'd been so self absorbed she hadn't even noticed that Vicky was upset with her. She face palmed, and she'd retaliated for the PHO thread by giving Vicky a penis. Great. Best sister of the year award right there. "I need to see Vicky."
Carol raised an eyebrow, looking deeply unimpressed. "I have yet to hear an apology, a declaration to do better, to act differently, any sign of contrition." She said sternly.
Amy nodded, she was right. This was on her this time. Not that she appreciated the telling off for the press related reasons - because fuck that. But any hurt she'd caused Vicky or the rest of the family, that was on her. "I'm sorry, mom. I didn't think it through, or realize I'd hurt you guys." She said softly, actually meaning the words. Partly at least.
"At least you realize it now. But no, you will not see Vicky tonight." Carol said, putting her foot down her face set in a stern visage. Back to being the cold bitch Amy knew so well.
"What? Why not? I need to!" Amy's back straightened as she stood away from the dresser, anger flaring up again, "You'd just be punishing her as well!" I need to restore her to normal and let her know I didn't mean to hurt her!
"You need this time to get your head on straight young lady. We have the White House and the press tomorrow. You can not be making these mistakes or all of New Wave will pay for it. So no, clear your head and think over what you've done. I will send someone with food for you, but you, Amy, can consider yourself grounded." She bit out, a superior smug look coming forward, the; I just won the case, lawyer look.
Amy hated that look. She hated it even more that for once, Carol had been right about something. Not all the nonsense she'd just said about the press and New Wave, but about Vicky. She'd probably just fuck it up if she talked with her now. Hurt her more.
She'd have to apologize in the morning. And turn her back to normal. And eat a lot of crow.
Because she'd definitely not taken Vicky's feelings into account when she did what she did. Or her family.
She watched Carol leave, watched the door close behind her, she sank down onto the edge of the large bed in the suite, feeling frustrated with herself. She'd been so ready to fight Carol. And almost eager to be honest. She was at the finishing line, ready to take the plunge and leave New Wave and Carol behind. And she couldn't. Because this time she'd been in the wrong…
She wouldn't cry about it. She was stronger than that. But she would… Fix things. Apologize properly to Vicky, to her family.
This hadn't stopped her plans.
But…
Maybe she needed to watch out that she didn't miss the forest for all the trees.
Having tunnel vision would make for a really short lived villain career in Brockton Bay.
Sorry, Vicky. I should have told you. She mentally apologized.
She was still a bitch for that thread though.
＊＊＊
In the end she could only sleep so much, not much, she felt guilty, and angry at herself for feeling guilty. She was especially angry that she'd allowed Carol to be right. Just as she was gearing up to pull the rug under her and tell her to fuck off.
Four hours was enough sleep, right?
So instead of sleeping more, she tried playing with her powers a bit. Manifesting her 'clone' which really was more of a phantasm than a clone. An almost transparent copy of herself. One that disappeared just if she poked it. Utterly useless in a fight. Not even as good as a Naruto style shadow clone.
It also gave her the weird sensation in the back of her head, of seeing things from the clones point of view. She could shunt it away and not pay too much attention, but after some practice she could also be aware of everything her clone did. Unfortunately it was so weak it couldn't even speak, although she could feel it somehow could use her power, so at least that was something. It really was a weaker imprint of Prism's powers. Much weaker. Just as her ability from Strider had actually turned out to have a limited range in the end. She'd thought she'd been clever only showcasing the ability to heal to about a hospital building's worth of range - but when she tried to reach further it turned out she couldn't. So she'd need actual contact with Strider to reach a whole city again.
Still, she couldn't really complain. She was basically becoming a grab bag cape, except with the ability to choose her powers. Prism's power was fairly useless right now, but if she could move the phantasm into a real flesh clone - she'd be getting somewhere.
Theoretically it could work, if she made a brain identical to her own, why shouldn't her clone be able to access it? In theory. Contessa had to have sent her in this direction for a reason.
She sighed as she watched the alarm clock, she'd be exhausted again, as usual. If only she could heal herself. That would solve so much…
Wait…
Heal herself…
Clone…
It can't be that easy?
Can it?
Her clone moved closer, sharing a mind as they did, it had immediately cottoned on at the same time as she did. Amy waited with bated breath as clone Amy put a ghostly hand just a few inches from her face. They both shared the thought of the problem of the clone popping at any physical touch, growing frustrated. But they had to try.
Amy drew in a sharp breath as she felt the cool touch of the ghostly hand. Apparently while nothing could touch her clone without disrupting it, her clone could touch things. Could touch her. Considering she could only heal with her Strider aided distance powers, making the cells of the human body fix themselves with an infusion of her power, instead of proper bio tinkering. She wouldn't be able to do anything to herself with that long distance effect. She needed touch for anything more invasive, this was… If she could…
She watched through the eyes of her clone as she used her power, letting out a delighted laugh as the usual feedback she got when she touched a person and let her power loose, filled her mind. She was fairly healthy all considered, but there was some light damage to her system from the bio tinkered drugs she'd totally never tried, some fat stores around her body that she could repurpose and give herself a more slimmed look, perk up her boobs, her mind ran with the potential improvements.
Oh, this was… Oh god, the possibilities. She forced herself to dispel her clone. Not changing herself at the moment. She had her entire family around, a press conference and the whole Brockton Bay Protectorate around. Now was not the time for improvements. It needed to be more gradual.
Panacea couldn't suddenly gain a brute rating, there were limits to what she could visibly do to herself. But there were plenty of ways to improve her body that were not as visible or potentially outing her powers as more than healing. Strengthening her organs, making her immune system supercharged. Perhaps she could be fixing herself up so she would be a regenerative cape, she could claim it as her powers continuing their expansion. A healer suddenly self healing isn't too odd. She had given Coil regenerative cells, so it was easy enough to do that much for herself - even if that wasn't the same as actual regeneration from injury, like Lung.
With some experimentation she should be able to figure it out.
She gritted her teeth as the urge to shape herself became almost unbearable. Apparently with all the work she'd done, her shard still jumped at the opportunity and wanted her to do more. She wasn't going to let it make her decisions for her. She knew it was there, she could identify the craving as not her own. She wouldn't allow herself to end up like the original Amy.
There was no way she would sleep more at this point either. She manifested her clone again.
She'd test how long it could be out, how long it could use its ranged power, there were plenty of people in the hotel she could long distance heal through her clone to see how much it could do, if there were limitations. Her shard enforced hunger lessened somewhat as she began to test the limits, allowing her some relief.
She brushed up against her family, not doing much other than feeling out their system.
Oh…
She blushed bright red, dropping the feedback. She couldn't blame her. She wouldn't. Of course she'd be curious - it's not like she was a shy person.
She'd still have a hard time looking Vicky in the face in the morning knowing about it though…
＊＊＊
Coil leaned back in his chair, mind whirling, Panacea had truly catapulted herself into worldwide fame this time. Unfortunately it definitely ensured he couldn't use her for anything, she would be too hot.
It made him feel all the more smug about already having taken advantage of her abilities. Although he'd probably have to send her a message in his civilian identity warning the girl of the dangers of revealing what she could do, since he could no longer risk forcing her to be quiet through more underhanded means.
If he kidnapped anyone in her family now, the response would be much more dangerous than before, that's if Cauldron itself didn't appear, that woman popping out with a gun to his head for daring to touch a hair on the new golden goose.
He was immortal now, he didn't need to rush. He had all the time in the world. Eventually someone would get the better over Cauldron, perhaps it would even be him.
With that pleasant thought, he shut down any further plans to poke and prod at the healing cape.
It was a waste of timelines to bother with her anymore now that she had the attention of the world on her.
Coil worked best from the shadows, his abilities became markedly less useful once he became at risk. The fact his base was completely hidden ensuring he'd always have a safe timeline.
Still… It wouldn't hurt to have one last check…
He split the timelines. In one he continued on, researching his opponents in Brockton Bay. In the other he grabbed his phone and dialed the number of his new little songbird. She was busy gathering up a team for him, but she'd answer his call.
He'd made sure she was very well aware of his tolerance level for her ignoring him.
"Yeah, boss?" His Tattletale answered wearily after a few rings.
"Panacea, your thoughts on her becoming an issue in the future?" Coil asked calmly.
"Panacea? Holy shit, really? What's she going to do? Heal that cold empty spot where your heart should be?" Tattletale said irreverently as was her habit.
One he'd need to train out of her eventually.
"I won't ask again, Tattletale." Coil said coldly.
"Ugh, fine, let me get a good look at her last presser." Tattletale groaned, Coil waiting patiently for several minutes as Tattletale found a video of it online.
"Wow, never bothered much with heal bot girl, but she's kind of fucked up." Tattletale said, letting loose a whistle, "Far as I can tell she's about ready to tell her family to take a hike, either going independent or villain, not PRT she loathes them."
Coil raised an eyebrow unseen to his minion, "Really? Anything else?" Panacea leaving New Wave would be a big deal. If she went villain… Coil would have to eliminate her before she became a threat.
"She's sandbagging, like a lot." Tattletale said bluntly, her teeth gritting together, it seemed she'd overused her power again today.
"Explain." Coil ordered, sitting up straighter in his chair. He'd found nothing of the sort when he'd 'interrogated' the girl.
"Not sure, but as far as I can read, she's afraid of letting the breadth of her abilities out, as in getting a kill order afraid, don't bother asking what the abilities are, I'm good, but I can only get so much from a video."
"Make a guess." Coil said coldly, dread filling him, Tattletale picking up on it annoyingly enough because she immediately got a bit of a chirp to her voice as she answered.
"I'd guess full out Biotinker." Tattletale said brightly, before she hung up, already knowing Coil was done talking through her power.
"Shit."
＊＊＊