I thrashed and fell to the floor, choking gasps filling the air of my room. Soon they were joined by a violent retch as I emptied what little was in my stomach onto the carpet, followed by shuddering sobs. I wrapped my arms around my knees as I curled into a ball, screwing my eyes shut as tears poured down my cheeks.

I still couldn't breathe, I was still underwater, held in place by a monster that seemed set on hunting me to the ends of the earth. My lips opened to scream, letting water into my mouth, into my throat, my lungs. I gagged again against an obstacle that wasn't there, drool leaking from my mouth as I cried like a wretch.

It took a long time to drag myself back to...myself. Me, Amelia, for all intents and purposes. My breathing began to slow, becoming less desperate and panicked and more ragged, but steady. There was nothing in my stomach to throw up, and fortunately the urge to try began to subside. My mind, consumed by animal panic, eventually calmed enough that I could think.

“Fuuuuck,” I groaned pathetically.

I sniffled and pushed myself up til I was sitting, my knees still pressed against my chest. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and let out a shuddering sigh, lowering my head. I needed to clean up that vomit before it stained the carpet...not that it would matter in two days' time. Still...

I rose and went to the bathroom. I took a second to wash my mouth with cold water, something that threatened to make me vomit again. I managed to avoid it and grabbed some paper towel from under the sink. I soaked a piece of it and returned to my room with the roll. After a few minutes on my knees, scrubbing, it was...fine.

I stared at the remaining stain in the carpet, then looked up at the glowing clock. Time to get up. I continued looking at it as the digits slowly counted up the minutes. I had to get up. I had to. The numbers kept changing, and I kept staring. The time would pass anyway.

Eventually I managed to rise from the floor and stumble my way to the closet. After donning sweats and a hoodie, I headed upstairs. Mom greeted me, just a moment before heading out the door. I stared out as she got in the sedan parked in the driveway and drove off. After another minute, I turned back to the kitchen and went to the coffee machine. I filled it with water and started it up. A moment later, the carafe began to fill. With numb fingers, I shakily made a coffee and took it with me as I went into the living room and sat on the couch.

I knew I had to think about...all this, but I just couldn't, not yet. I sipped at my coffee, staring at anything that drew my attention for more than half a second. The calendar, half filled, a circle tomorrow, 'Mark's birthday'. The china cabinet beside it, full of dusty plates with beautiful, floral patterns. Unloved for years, unused for longer. An antique sewing machine that was missing its belt and had been since I was six.

I exhaled slowly and took a long sip from my mug. I couldn't distract myself any longer, it just wasn't useful. I'd died, drowned, again. I shivered as I remembered, then pointedly stopped thinking about that. What happened before? I continued drinking, waiting for my brain to settle enough to even attempt remembering. I'd been killed by Leviathan again, but directly rather than by a wave. And yet, he hadn't done it by 'popping' my projection, like had happened the time before.

Wait, had it actually been broken ever? I thought it had been wrapped around me well enough the second time, but I'd still been hurt, killed. This time I knew my projection had stayed around me the entire time, and I had come away unscathed by not one but three direct hits by the Endbringer, not to mention being thrown through a fucking van. Considering his strikes hadn't moved me, I was sort of surprised he'd managed to lift me up.

Fuck it, I was surprised by everything. That was supposed to be the safe option, the one that let me get through all this shit and actually help people. Then the shelter sprung a leak and it all went wrong and--

God fucking dammit, that was something that actually happened in Worm. I'd forgotten in the haze of adrenaline and panic, but yeah. Wait, shit, that was right before the end. I'd been that fucking close only to get bodied at the last second. I felt a flash of anger and my mug shattered as I gripped it with force enough to tear apart boulders. Or a van.

I paused as the last dregs from my mug dripped from my skintight projection. I frowned and shook out my hand before gathering the pieces and tossing it all in the trash. I grabbed a paper towel and quickly cleaned off the coffee table. Not that I really needed to, but it stopped me from thinking about much else. Too soon though, I was done and my thoughts began whirling again. I laid down on the couch, staring at the stucco ceiling.

What the fuck could my power do?

If it had a limit on the damage it could take, that was conditional. Leviathan hadn't even scratched me, and I was pretty sure he hit a hell of a lot harder than I'd hit whatever killed me on round two. Plus being thrown through a van...yeah, no, if my projection was able to be popped, it wasn't by normal means...or even abnormal means, apparently.

Invincibility? Obviously not. I still had lungs that needed air to fuel my body, and my projection wasn't nice enough to filter oxygen from the water. Plus whatever had made it through before...had anything made it though? Like the first time, I'd been running on adrenaline and panic when the wave had crashed down on me and the fat man. Most likely, my projection had simply moved on its own, like the first time, and exposed me to harm. Most likely...

That was a key issue. I had no fucking idea what I was doing in the moments before dying, let alone trying to remember my projection. A bitch and a half, and worse it was deadly. I forced a gasping breath into my lungs, realizing they were crying out. I was getting too wrapped up in this. I stared out the window as the morning grew brighter, just breathing and focusing on nothing but for a while.

I could test it, of course. The durability of my projection was questionable, but at the very least was significant. Of course testing that was rather...difficult. I couldn't exactly walk up to the PRT HQ screaming 'hit me' until they sent out Aegis to teach me a lesson or something.

Well...could I? I mean, I didn't exactly want to join the heroes; fuck cops etc. They did seem to take all comers when it came to capes, however, and they had facilities specifically to find the limits of what parahumans could do. Going up and calling them out would be stupid but...hmm. I had to think about that first.

I mulled it over, drumming my fingers on the countertop. Ultimately, in two days, my choice wouldn't matter. I'd either die like usual, or somehow survive the destruction of Brockton Bay. If I survived it beside the Protectorate...well, I didn't have to commit to anything anyway. Probably.

But what else could I do? Jumping off tall buildings would attract attention and I was scared of heights so...no. Running in front of cars had the same issue of attention, plus property damage. I guess I could try vigilante shit, but I wasn't sure how to use this power to fight. Sure not getting stabbed or shot was big, but I had regular, fifteen year-old girl strength. Invincibility didn't mean shit when I was five and a half feet tall and maybe a hundred pounds.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

So, the Protectorate...well, why not give it a shot? Going with a different group hadn't worked, neither had following with Taylor, or the shelter. At this point I was willing to try anything that gave me a chance of avoiding another messy death. I shivered and forced my hands to be still. Okay, time? At this point school was a non-starter anyway, so I'd just grab the bus downtown.

I headed downstairs and grabbed my things. I paused at the closet, thinking. Well...I was going as a cape. I quickly donned my leotard, then put my usual sweats over top. I wrapped the blue scarf around my neck, I'd make it into a mask before I went in. If this was my ticket to survival, I'd rather have an intact secret identity.

I headed to the bus stop and waited a few minutes til one came along. It would get me most of the way, and there was no telling when another would come, so I hopped on and took a seat. It wasn't too crowded at least, and the traffic was light. Soon the bus came to my stop and I got off, walking the two blocks it was til I hit the downtown.

Oh, I didn't know where the PRT building actually was. Uhh, shit. Well it was a landmark, right? Surely it would stand out from the other towers of steel and glass. Apparently not, as it turned out. I wandered for thirty minutes, up and down the streets of Brockton Bay, searching for the thing.

It should have been obvious, like it was the fucking hero building right? Their base offshore was flashy as hell, though maybe that was why the one downtown wasn't. One place to draw the eyes and the tourists, the other to work out of. Well...that did make sense. I slowed as I came to another intersection, glancing up and checking the street names.

Nothing that I recognized, so I turned left, taking a more leisurely pace. There was no rush, well, kind of. I figured they could test the durability pretty quick with one or two things, but there was no telling what kind of paperwork I'd have to fill out. That'd be more of a bitch than the testing...

I scanned the facades of the buildings I passed. Steel and glass, more steel and glass, boring boring boring. Every downtown was the same shit, I swore if it wasn't for the one with the bronze shield and PRT's logo, there'd be literally nothing to see.

Oh. I quickly looked both ways and jogged across the street. My hood was already up and I quickly pulled my scarf over my nose. There, not perfect but it would do. At least it wasn't crowded, so no one payed any attention to the shitty teenager with her hood up. That was even true when I walked through the doors of the building. I'd half expected to be tackled right away by watchful guards but...nope. I walked up to the reception desk, unmolested, and cleared my throat as I smiled.

“Hi,” I said, giving a little wave. “So, I don't know if this is the right way to do this, but do you guys...test powers?” I winced, not exactly my best delivery.

“Uhh.” Her eyes widened. She blinked and shook her head, a forced smile stretching her lips. “Would you please wait a moment? I'll...get someone who can answer that.” I shrugged and nodded.

The clacking of boots behind me made me turn. Ah...okay, so those PRT troopers weren't just for show. I stayed still, and they halted a few feet away, both staring at me behind impassive visors, their con-foam guns not quite pointed at me. It was only fair, I had literally walked in here and basically said I was an unknown cape. Still, these guys were like, twice my height and triple my weight, come on.

“Excuse me,” a woman's voice sounded behind me. I turned and saw a hero who must have been Battery, since she didn't have a gun in hand or a gaudy flag around her face. Two more troopers flanked her. Damn, they weren't taking any chances. “Would you come with me, please?”

“Uhh, am I under arrest?” She frowned, but I wasn't going to take the chance. I met her gaze.

“You're not,” she said after a moment. “But I don't think either of us want to talk out here.” Well...

“Alright,” I replied with a shrug.

Apparently satisfied, she turned and began walking. I followed, and the troopers boxed us in. We went through a door marked 'authorized personnel only' and headed down a pretty normal office hallway. We came to a very heavy looking door, and Battery punched in a rapid sequence on a pad beside it, and it swung open pendulously.

I was led down a narrow corridor and into a room off to one side. There was a table in the center, and three uncomfortable looking chairs. One was already occupied by another hero in red, Assault. Oh, Assault and Battery, how the fuck did that get past the PR team? Well, I guess 'Clockblocker' did too so whatever. Battery sat next to him and the troopers fanned out into the four corners.

“Okay, I gotta ask,” Assault said as he leaned forward, wearing a grin. “Did you seriously just wander up to the front desk and ask to be a hero?” I felt my cheeks warm, but forced myself to keep a steady gaze. And to not squeeze the table too hard...

“No,” I answered evenly. “I asked to have my powers tested. I want to know what they are.” His smile shrank, just a little.

“Well unfortunately, we can't do that on this short notice,” Battery said tersely.

“Why not?” I asked, cocking my head. “You two are already here, same with them.” I gestured to the troopers. “It can't be that hard.”

“Sadly it is.” Assault sounded genuinely remorseful. “You wouldn't believe the paperwork around this stuff, seriously. And god forbid you want Brute testing; the waivers? A stack as thick as my arms.” His arms were quite thick. I winced.

“Please go to the PRT website,” Battery said, sliding a business card across the table. It had the general number for the Protectorate, as well as a URL. “You'll be able to find a form to submit online with your information, confidential of course, and we can book you in as soon as possible.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Why not just do that now?” I asked, frowning. “Can't the receptionist just...pencil me in for tomorrow morning?” They both shook their heads and I sighed. No, why would the supercops be fucking helpful Amy, you dumbass. “Fine then, I guess I'll just...go.”

“Well, you don't have to right away,” Assault said quickly. “How about a tour? We can't show you everything but, between the two of us...” He leaned in with a conspiratorial smile, lowering his voice. “Could probably swing a visit to see something off the books, you know?” Well, it wasn't like I had anything else planned this afternoon. And power testing was off the table for now...

“Sure,” I replied with a sigh. A tour would be...interesting, actually. I hadn't really had the chance, or desire, to play tourist before. Besides, if I really could see something that was usually off limits that would be cool.

“Alright, well, stick close.”

He nodded to the troopers, who all filed out the door. After a moment, Assault stood and gestured for me to follow. I rose and did, just behind and to his side. Battery fell in behind us as we made our way out of the concrete and steel corridor, back into the office space then into the lobby again.

“So I figure we'll start with the usual stuff,” Assault said amicably, leading us through another door into another office corridor. We passed a few cubicles with haggard looking workers in suits, the admin staff. “The office. I mean...what more can you say?”

“Plenty, knowing you,” Battery bantered, earning a grin from the other hero.

“True,” he agreed. “But I'm above office gossip, unlike some people.” I found a smile on my face at the exchange.

Next was the parking lot for...some reason. Why did the tour go here? I asked and got a simple shrug in reply, but Assualt did let me climb inside the back of one of the vans. It reminded me of an MRAP, nostalgic in a weird way. I hopped out just in time to see a team of armoured troopers racing to one of the vans and taking off with a squeal of tires. Well, that was exciting and--

“Oh, dammit,” Assault swore, frowning. “Sorry kid, we're gonna have to cut this one short. Duty calls.” Both heroes ran off as a pair of troopers replaced them.

I sighed and followed my new escort out the front of the building, squinting in the afternoon sun. It had been cool while it lasted, but I hadn't gotten anything done! No school, power testing, not even a fucking tour. With a frustrated groan I quickly trotted away from the PRT building and down the road until I found an isolated alley I could unmask in. That done, I headed straight for the bus stop.

I leaned my head against the glass when I finally got to sit down, staring out as the city slowly passed by. I shut my eyes and breathed deeply in and out, over and over. It was fine. I could go on their website tonight and see what it actually took to get officially tested. It was still possible I could get in under the wire, if I was lucky. And I had to admit...what I had seen of the place was kinda cool. Not so much the containment cells, which seemed to be where they'd taken me, but the rest. Oh well.

I sighed again and settled in for the ride, hoping for a luckier tomorrow.