I was out of bed as soon as my first alarm rang. I slapped it off, then quickly dismissed the backups set to ring just three minutes later. I had been awake for...a while. I pointedly stopped looking at the clock around four. Despite the lack of sleep, I didn't feel that tired. If anything I was pumped up, my heart already thudding loudly in my chest.

I threw on my sweatpants and hoodie, then wrapped the scarf around my neck. Just a fashion accessory, for now. Then I started stretching. I had a half-hour before I went up and warned Mom, and I was going to use it. Mostly to warm up, make sure that my body would move right when I needed it to. Running was obviously a tough one but...

Ugh, I kept falling into the same mental traps. I tugged my boots on and checked the clock. Five-forty. Coffee? Coffee. Facing the day without it seemed...daunting. I headed upstairs and brewed up a quick cup, sitting by the window in the living room and watching the skies as I sipped it. Far off-shore, I could see the black cloud that hung over the monster that I'd be fighting today.

It was hard to pick out from the other clouds on the horizon, right now. A darker bruise against a sky of steely grey. And in the predawn light it was that much harder. I knew it was there though, knew how little time I actually had left. I drained my cup and set it in the sink, knowing I wouldn't be back later to do the dishes.

“Mom,” I said as I barged into her room. “You need to get up.”

“Wh--. Lia what the hell--”

“Leviathan's coming.” Like before, it stopped her protests. I went into the closet and dug out the raincoat I'd given her last time. At least I didn't have to worry about dressing a second person... “You need to get to the shelter. I'm going to start knocking on doors, but I'll be right behind you.”

“Wh-- what are you...” Mom's face was pale, her eyes wide. I sighed.

“We don't have time for this, get up.” I barked. She rose from the bed, looking around slowly like she was half-asleep. Considering the hour... “Take your phone. It should give out the evac instructions.” Hopefully. I hadn't really had a chance to check mine yesterday.

“You need to come with me,” she said flatly. Was she not listening?

“I'm going to make sure other people know,” I countered. “This isn't up for debate. Get to the nearest shelter.” I left the room, ignoring as she called after me.

I jogged out the front door and down the street. I had a little bit of time still, before the sirens started blaring at least. I didn't push myself, that would be wasteful. The steady jog was quick enough that when the air filled with the sound of emergency broadcasts, I was most of the way through the downtown. The streets filled around me rapidly, slowing my progress to a crawl once more.

I fought the tide, pointed my arms ahead of me like a wedge. I was pushed, shoved, but they couldn't move me, so were forced around. I fought and struggled against the crush, the panicked people paying no attention to the girl going the opposite way. That was good, considering in my haste I'd forgotten to do up my headscarf...

I cleared the crowd in the last block to the beach and stopped in a deserted alley, quickly tying my scarf over my head and around my face. It left my eyes uncovered, but everything else was hidden behind the deep blue fabric and floral patterns. With confidence I didn't feel, I strode quickly the last block to the building on the beach, surrounded by armoured PRT troopers.

They halted me for a moment as a sonic boom echoed overhead. I looked up and saw one of Dragon's suits begin landing on the wide parking lot. I went around and entered the building itself. I was early, only a few other capes had arrived. More were coming though, I could already hear the thunderclap of teleporters bringing them in.

I sighed and paced the back of the room, waiting to see. I still didn't know what I was going to do for the fight, I figured I'd wait til they started dividing capes up and then pick somewhere to go. Working with Ravelin and the others...frankly it hadn't gone well. How much of that was their fault was debatable, probably none really, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth.

It felt...weird. Most capes had someone they were hanging out with, coming in. The heroes were the most obvious ones, many with bright colours or otherwise 'heroic' themes. I had been too busy panicking to really take it in last time, but there was a stark contrast between them and the villains, even the rogues really. And of course, none approached me.

Hookwolf glared as he stalked past me to the back of the room. I met his eyes, unflinching. Now there was someone I'd like to try my powers on, just to see how well metal held up... I didn't see any other Nazis, fortunately, but I did see the perfect, Aryan family and Amy wander in and form a cluster to one side with a couple Wards.

There was part of me that wanted to join them, considering I'd managed to talk to both Amy and Vicky without fucking things up too badly. Unfortunately, that was literally a lifetime ago. This time there was no connection and besides, I wouldn't have been able to keep up even if I tried to get involved. Better to wait it out. As my gaze traveled the room, it came across a familiar sight.

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Skitter.

She sat near the back, between the Travelers on one side and, more distantly, the Undersiders, minus Bitch...and Skitter I guess. Ah, right. I clenched my hand. I really shouldn't do anything here. I knew that not only was Taylor capable, she was made for this shit. Well, sort of. Maybe she was just that good at coping. Either way, she didn't need me.

On the other hand, I was alone, she was alone. Neither of us had a power that was cut out for a fight like this. If there was anyone that would get it... I took a deep breath and held it for a minute, then slowly exhaled. It was fine, as long as I wasn't weird then this would be fine. I'd just say hello or something, maybe see if she had any ideas of a game plan cooking. I had a feeling she didn't, I had read Worm after all, but maybe...maybe it would be different. I steeled my nerves and sat a chair over from her, glancing over.

“Hey,” I said as calmly as I could manage. “Skitter, right?” Her head rose fractionally, staring at the front of the room, then snapped towards me quick enough that I flinched.

“What do you want?” She demanded, her voice toneless.

“Nothing,” I assured her. “I just...you were the only cape I recognized who wasn't with a team.” I shrugged.

“Ah.” She replied, looking away. The conversation died, but I tried my best to be a necromancer.

“You uh,” I began, then cleared my throat. “Any um, plans?” Skitter turned back to me and cocked her head.

“Not die,” she said simply, gesturing to the windows as rain began to pound against them. “I don't think my power is going to work here.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Mine's not much use either. No strength, no speed, not even a way to fight.” I sighed and scratched my cheek through the cloth of my scarf. “Probably just--”

I was interrupted as Legend began speaking from the front of the room. Taylor turned to pay attention, and I did too. This time I studied everything he said, any information he offered about Leviathan. About his apparent powers, his abilities, his few 'weaknesses' if they could even be called that. Scratching a monster so it bled a little accomplished nothing.

Legend mentioned his hydrokinesis, the reason we couldn't afford to lose. Leviathan's waves...they must have been part of it too, the way he talked about it. No wonder one had appeared right when he was beginning to lose, like it was summoned. It was, clearly.

Dammit, those would be a problem. My field hadn't popped, it had just let me drown. If swamping everything with water was the Endbringer's response to getting bodied, I'd really have to figure out a way to survive that. How had Taylor done it? I wracked my brain, but nothing came to mind. It had been years since I'd read the actual story so...yeah, that made sense. They handed out wristbands and I clicked mine around my wrist. They began dividing capes, and I clicked the buttons on the display.

“Inominate,” I spoke clearly. It beeped twice and blinked red. 'State name' it read again. “I-no-min-ate,” I enunciated each syllable. It beeped again and blinked red, making me let out a frustrated huff.

“You named yourself 'no-name'?” Skitter asked, cocking her head as capes continued to be sorted. I blushed.

“I didn't have time to come up with a real one.”

“How long--”

“Wave!”

The bellow interrupted what would have been a really awkward conversation. Legend yelled something as hastily erected force-fields began to give way. There was a flash of light and a tremendous boom, then the sound of pounding rain. I stood in the knee-deep water that flowed towards the sea, towards Leviathan.

My clothes were soaked, of course, and I had to pull my sodden scarf away from my mouth to breathe. I glanced to the side and saw Skitter on her hands and knees, coughing, struggling to do the same. I offered a hand once she'd collected herself, and she studied it a moment before pushing herself to her feet. Well...okay. I turned my attention to the sea, to where the Endbringer stood.

He crouched as Legend warned everyone to be ready, then pounced. I was closer than I had been when working with Ravelin and the others, which meant I got to see first-hand as a cape was bisected by Leviathan's tail. Others were thrown aside, or battered to the ground by torrents of water pouring off his lizard-like skin. And here I was, doing nothing.

When Taylor took off running, I followed numbly behind her. Lucky for both of us, I knew the basics of first-aid as well. We came across one cape, a Ward I guessed, with a crushed leg. With a bit of effort, we got him up and started carrying him away from the thick of the fighting. Not a minute later, a flier dropped in, grabbed him, and vanished into the sky. Skitter moved on, and I followed.

When she demanded a young parahuman cauterize a woman's face, I turned away. It wasn't a good choice, but it sure as hell was the one she made. Being here though, hearing the sizzle of skin with the scent of cooking meat in my nostrils...ugh. Too many memories there. Skitter didn't seem to mind me following, or even notice.

We came across a fat cape who wasn't breathing, and a smaller one giving bad CPR. We took over, Skitter went and tilted his head back as I knelt by his chest. She nodded and blew a breath into his lungs, and I began compressions. Did he need ten? Thirty? Fucked if I remembered, I had been taught at least three methods in the past. I split the difference with twenty, then paused and let Skitter blow another breath in his lungs.

We continued until he coughed and threw up a stream of black water. I helped roll him onto his side, in the recovery position, and sat there watching the fight. It was going well, Leviathan was taking a real thrashing. I saw burns around his eyes and trickles of blood from cuts in his skin. We were winning, we were--

Oh no.

“To me!” I turned my head and saw...shit was that Eric or whatever?

Skitter spared a glance for the guy we'd literally just saved, then took off running. I was stunned for a second, she didn't even try. Fuck her then, I could and I would. I grit my teeth and forced my hands under his armpits as a wall of water became visible. Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck fuck! With a grunt, I hefted him up and started dragging. It was slow going but I was almost th--

The wave crashed down and tore me off my feet as it grabbed the big man. I was sent tumbling, my lungs burning as I tried to inhale. I wasn't drowning, but I couldn't breath. I felt my limb strike an obstacle and tried to curl in on myself, to protect myself. A sharp pain blossomed in the back of my head and the whirling fell away into inky stillness.