Chapter 1090 - 10

Waking up on Thursday morning I find that the answer to 'can I sleep more than an hour a week?' is yes! Unfortunately, that yes is relative. I manage two whole hours before waking up feeling positively brimming with energy. With a dejected sigh I get out of bed and take my time getting ready. I even take a nice, long shower! It's still not even 5am by the time I finish.

Reluctantly, I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen. Maybe I can make something a bit nicer than usual? As I pull open the fridge door to see what I have to work with I freeze. Looking over the items in the fridge I find myself flooded with Ideas. Recipes I've never even heard of popping up, being considered, and then discarded for the next, and the next. Then a thought occurs to me, and I flick back through my notifications.

And there it is, one of the most insane powers in my arsenal hiding behind the innocent 2 SP cost. Jack of All Trades. It applies to anything that can be made in a mundane manner. That includes cooking. By the time dad comes downstairs the table has been occupied by a small collection of truly spectacular food. Even his coffee is slightly fancier than normal, even if I didn't have much to work with.

He, of course, freezes in the doorway, staring at it in incomprehension. Then he turns to me, standing by the stove just finishing off some kind of breadcrumb and cheese dusted egg dish… My power doesn't tell me what any of the stuff I make is called.

"So… does your power also help with cooking, or are you just trying to bribe me?" His tone is light, and I think it's supposed to be a joke but…

"Yeah, yeah it does." He freezes again, blinks, blinks again, then finishes pulling out his chair and taking a seat.

"Well, I suppose you did say it was complicated. Talk while we eat?" He's clearly trying to be genuine in the question, offering me the option to either talk before or after the meal. But I can also tell he really, really wants to dig in. I take mercy on his poor stomach and wave him ahead as I turn off the stove and dish out the last of the food.

"Before we start, I need you to understand that you can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. Not even the Protectorate or PRT. No, especially not the Protectorate or PRT." I try to sound serious, but just end up sounding about as nervous as I actually am, which is to say, incredibly.

He nods, finishing off a bite of some kind of honeyed sausage before speaking. "Alright. If you really think it's that dangerous, I'll trust you for now. Heaven knows your mother was never exactly fond of either organization."

I let out a sigh of relief, even if I know it's flimsy, I just have to take his word for it. "To simplify things a bit, I gain new powers over time, and the strength of the new powers I gain also increases over time. The longer I go without people knowing what I'm doing, the safer I'll be when they figure it out."

Dad hums softly, taking a bite of the cheese and breadcrumb coated egg dish as he thinks. Then he groans, because apparently it's as good as I was expecting it to be. Speaking of which, I take the opportunity to start digging in as well.

I think we both kind of get lost in the food for a few minutes before he seems to remember he should probably actually reply. "Okay… I can see how that might make a lot of people nervous. So right now you have… Floating hands, that strange teleportation, I think I heard something about you making fog and being hard to see in person, and cooking? Is there anything else?"

I take my time finishing my mouthful, both because it's incredibly tasty and because I need a minute to decide how I want to phrase what I'm about to say. I opt for blunt honesty. "Dad, right now I have 40 different powers of varying levels."

He freezes with his fork halfway to his mouth, then a moment it falls from numb fingers. "F-forty? I- What? H-how?!"

"Wait wait wait hold on okay? They aren't all exactly… real powers. Some of them are super minor, like one just lets me change my hair colour! Or, or I have one that makes it so I don't produce any waste, like sweat and oils and stuff." I realise I'm waving my hands around frantically as I try and calm him down, which may in fact be counter productive.

It takes him several more minutes, during which he doesn't even take a bite of his food, before he manages to rally himself. "You went out for the first time on the 9th. How many powers did you have at that point?"

I do a quick mental tally before I respond, and for some reason the answer makes me blush. "Six. I had- Okay, so, uh, my power gives each of the… sub-powers names?"

He seems like he wants to comment, but settles for simply nodding and taking another bite of food.

"So I had Corner Creeper, which is the power that makes me hard to see in person, then I had Public Relations, which is basically a parahuman fashion and design sense that helps me make things with a specific, uh, emotional resonance? Like it helps me make sure my costume is the right blend of spooky and charming. Then I got The Perfect Shot which lets me see through any camera pointed at me, and helps me position myself in the shot to get the impact I want." I take a breath, drinking some of the mixed fruit juice I'd mixed. Right, gosh this is a lot when I'm actually spelling it out like this.

"Then there's, uh, Waste Not Want Not, which basically makes my body more efficient and helps me be more efficient in the stuff I do. Graceful is basically exactly what it sounds like. Then I got Bat Ears, which really improves my hearing, and protects me from hearing damage and stuff."

I see his eyes flick to the sides of my head and can't hold back a giggle as I show off my perfectly normal ears. "It's just the name of the power, don't worry."

He lets out a sigh of relief, then seems to remember he had an actual point when asking besides just finding out what I had. "Right, so you had six on the 9th, and now, on the 20th, you have forty. You've gained thirty-four powers in twelve days. That's… yeah. Yeah. Yes, yes I can see why that would make even the heroes nervous. Even if all of your powers were on that level, getting enough of them together would still make you a massive threat."

Another thought seems to occur to him. "You said the newer ones are more powerful right? What… what's your most powerful… power? Ability?"

I fidget awkwardly at the question, because it's not exactly a straightforward one. That said, I think I have a solid top three. "It's not exactly linear. I still gain a lot of those little low level powers along the way, and even among the more major powers it can be hard to compare. I think it's between Cheshire, Grave Face, and Jack of All Trades though."

I take a deep breath, counting them out on my fingers. "Cheshire is the teleporting, which allows me a huge amount of flexibility and mobility. Grave Face is what allows me to survive and regenerate from anything that doesn't destroy my brain, but also allows me to trick people into thinking I'm already dead so they don't bother trying to finish me off."

He nods along, seeming especially pleased with that extra bit of information about Grave Face.

"Jack of All Trades though is…" I gesture at what remains of the meal I'd prepared. "If it can be made on Bet without the use of powers, then I know how to make it. From sandwiches to cars to computers and cellphones, and all the way up to spaceships. It can't let me do anything a normal person couldn't, but it lets me skip spending decades learning how to do it."

Dad whistles at that. "Just that would probably be enough to make the government pay attention."

Then he looks over the remaining food and sighs. "Alright, well I should probably call your school and my work to let them know we won't be coming in today."

I grimace. As nice as it is to actually talk to my dad, I really, really don't want to spend the entire day talking about my power. If nothing else I want to try and tinker up some small projectiles I can throw around. "Hey what if, uh, what if you went in after lunch? A half day?"

He turns to me, raising an eyebrow but not shooting down the idea out of hand.

"I just, I think I'll need some alone time today, you know? Just… some time for myself." The memory of the woman in the alley flashes through my mind and I barely resist a flinch.

He sighs, running a hand through his thinning hair. "Alright, I think that's fair. Do you promise not to go out until I get back from work at least?"

It's easy enough for me to nod at that. As much as part of me is terrified of just who else I might fail to save while I'm stuck here feeling miserable, I can't help wanting a break. IF dad wants to offer me an excuse, I'll take it.

In the end we spend the whole morning going over my powers and escapades and still don't get through everything. As we finish eating lunch It's obvious dad would rather stay and keep talking, but he already called in and we made a deal so off he goes.

With a deep sigh I settle in to get cleaning up the dishes from lunch while my mind goes to the notification I got earlier that morning.

To Mend a Broken Heart Part 2: Assistance​All relationships must be a balance of give and take, and this your father needs more than most. Find a way for your father to assist you in your activities as a cape.

Failure will not result in the loss of the Quest Chain To Mend a Broken Heart, however it will significantly hinder future Te Mend a Broken Heart quests and lower the rewards for finishing the Chain.​Rewards:

200 EXP

1 Loose SP​

I'll need to do some research before bringing it up, but already I have some ideas. Nowhere near as hard as part one, but I suppose it did warn me the first step was the hardest.

Let's Play​

It's several hours into the afternoon, when I'm drawn out of my tinkering by the doorbell ringing. Setting aside the most recent blend of irritant powder I make my way up to the door, more than a little on edge. All of dad's friends should know to contact him at the DWU at this hour.

I open the door cautiously, ready to slam it shut if need be. "Yes? How can-" Then I freeze, because standing on the other side of the door is Madison.

"Hey Taylor! You weren't at school so I brought your homework!" She says with a smile on her face and a folder in her hand. I don't move a muscle, still trying to process the truly bizarre sight in front of me.

"Can I come in?" I move slightly to the side, and she squeezes herself inside, apparently unbothered by the still half closed door. "Thanks! It's still freezing outside. I can't wait for summer! So, Mr.Gladly just wanted us to do some reading, and I'm sure you've already done it, but you do have a math worksheet though, which is just yuck!"

It's at this moment I have a horrifying realization. "You're my best friend."

At that Madison stops and puts a hand to her chest. "Oh my god, that is so sw-"

"I hate you." The words come out flat, matter of fact, without a hint of venom.

Madison stops. "I, wha, um…"

"Don't ask why. You know why I hate you. You literally fucking spit on me." It's a moment I'll never forget.

"But I'm your best friend?" She seems confused, and a little nervous. As if only now realizing she's alone in a house with someone who's both bigger and stronger than her.

"You bringing me my homework is literally the nicest thing anybody has done for me in over a year. We have plans to go shopping tomorrow. I don't make plans with anybody else, because anybody else I could have been friends with was scared off because of your fucking rumors. So yeah, you're my best fucking friend because there's literally nobody else in the running. Sophia's still an asshole even to people she seems to like, and Emma's burned me too much to ever take that spot again; not to mention I still have no idea why they decided to extend a fucking olive branch!" I'm yelling by the end, and I'm not even ashamed that the way Madison flinches makes me happy. "I at least know you weren't part of that decision so if this is all some long con I know you aren't part of it."

"I'm sorry." Her voice is so quiet I'm not sure I was actually supposed to hear it until she repeats herself. "I'm really sorry for what we did. I really want to try and make things right now."

I take a deep breath, then look her right in the eyes. "Why?"

Her shoulders hunch slightly as she replies. "I don't know. When high school started I just-"

"I don't care why you bullied me." I can guess, but ultimately it doesn't matter to me, because she did it, and reaped the benefits of hurting me. "I want to know why you're apologizing now. Wanting to do better now."

"You know how that superhero saved me last week?" I roll my eyes and she blushes. "Right, yeah, haven't shut up about it. Sophia actually said if I brought it up at lunch one more time she was going to stuff me in a trash can." She gives an empty laugh, and I continue glaring at her impatiently."

"Well, when she saved me she said something that sort of stuck. That bad things happen and that the only people to blame are the people that hurt you. I- It made me think about how I treated people, how I treated you. Nothing you did excused what I did. I can't blame the school, or Emma and Sophia, or my parents, or anything. The only person to blame for me hurting you is me." She sniffles and wipes tears from her eyes, but doesn't look away. She's actually having an emotional epiphany, or had one and is reliving it at least.

I did that. I inspired Madison to be a better person. Now, years down the line when she has kids of her own she'll use me as an example, as a story to inspire them to treat others kindly. Here's what Phantasm told mommy, and this is what mommy did to Taylor that you should never do. I think I want to scream, and I don't know if it's in joy or rage.

"Taylor?" Her voice is so soft, nothing like it is at school. Genuine. Painfully, desperately genuine.

"Fine." I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. "I… I forgive you." The rage still boils in my veins, a mire of miserable emotions she helped put there, but compared to what I saw just the night before? This was more personal, but that put it in perspective.

I'm not sure if the way her face lights up helps or not, I'll have to think about it later. "Thank you! I mean, you don't have to, I just…" I don't know if what I'm feeling can actually be called forgiveness, for all my intellectual understanding of how small what she's done is, but somehow just saying those words causes those emotions to settle slightly. Just a bit. But maybe that's always how these things have to go, a bit at a time.

"Want to hang out?" The words are out of my mouth before I even consider what I'm saying, and soon enough we're on the couch watching TV. Neither of us says a word.

A few hours later the door opens and dad wanders in and Madison is on her feet, a hand held out towards him. "Oh! I'm Madison, from school!"

I can see the moment she realizes who she just said that to. After all, only an idiot wouldn't tell her father about her bullies. I decide to take mercy on all three of us and step forward. "She brought me my homework, and we're going shopping tomorrow. If that's okay?"

He smiles at that, not that I'm particularly sure why. "Of course sweetie. That said, I do think you should get a bit more sleep tonight first alright?"

I'm briefly confused about what he means until I realise he called me out sick today. The exact reason Madison came over in the first place. Right.

At my nod, he turns to Madison, shaking the hand that had remained frozen in midair since he entered the room. "And it's nice to meet you Madison. Do you need a ride home?"

Madison hesitates for a second before nodding. "Alrighty then. Let me just get all my stuff inside and then I'll get you home."

The moment he gets home, we go right back to discussing my powers, and I slip in the first probing questions as I try and figure out how best to finish my most recent quest. We barely even break for dinner.

Name: Taylor Anne Hebert​​Lovable Horror LVL 8​SP Cap​6​Loose SP​25​Tier 1 Powers(12)​Mover(2)​Shaker(1)​Brute(0)​Breaker(0)​Master(0)​Tinker(1)​Blaster(1)​Thinker(1)​Striker(2)​Changer(0)​Trump(1)​Stranger(3)​Tier 0 Powers(27)​Synergy Powers(3)​

AN: A transitory chapter, and one with a fair bit copied over from the main fic, but hopefully it was still enjoyable!

Our first chapter not posted in the original thread! I'll be reducing the post rate to one every 2 or 3 days from here on out.

Gonna put the build info here again just for continuity even though nothing in it has changed since last time.

Shopping with the trio is an odd experience, not just because of who it is, but because of how differently they act outside of school. Or maybe it's more accurate to say they act even more like themselves.

Madison holds up a top, looking at herself in a mirror. "Do you think this looks good on me?"

Emma doesn't even look, she just gives a dismissive hum as she focuses on looking through a rack of pants, while Sophia continues to hide how absolutely lost she is behind feigned indifference. At school, Emma would have at least pretended to care, maybe tossed some idle jab alongside actual advice, but at the very least she would have been paying attention. Part of me wonders if it's a sign of how little she actually cares about Madison, but another, more innocent part that still remembers a childhood best friend who was happy to listen to me ramble about my latest obsession, wonders if it might be a sign of trust. That Emma doesn't feel the need to put on the performance, is fine to ignore her because she doesn't feel like she has to keep an eye out if she wants to avoid a knife in the dark.

Regardless, it means responding to Madison is left to me, and Public Relations is plenty happy to assist. "It looks fine, but…" I grab a top I've been eyeing and offer it to her. "Try this one on. I think it'll make you look amazing."

I don't mention it'll also make her look more mature. If she's going to make an effort to try and actually grow as a person, the least I can do is help improve her wardrobe.

We end up going back and forth on several more pieces, and I quickly come to the conclusion she has absolutely no clue what she's doing outside the performative cuteness she'd unintentionally trapped herself in. I'm not actually sure she even likes the look anymore, or if she's just bitter about it being the only look she's able to manage on her own.

Between bouts of correcting Madison and filling out my own wardrobe (at a price tag that still makes me wince even with the tentative plans to start trying to make money off Phantasm merchandise) I spend my time observing the other two members of the trio. If I'm going to convince one of them to apologize to someone, I'll need to understand them better. Emma at least I have some frame of reference, even if it's been twisted and warped into something strange and other. For Sophia I have nothing but the surface level violence and cruelty she always seems to delight in. Or I thought she did. Seeing her here, like this, bored out of her mind but clearly relaxed, I think I'm starting to see where Emma picked up the idea to lash out to try and feel safe.

Let's Play​

I spend all Saturday out and about, putting on a show of approaching people in public spaces and playing Tag with non-parahumans, especially children. People are nervous at first, but quickly relax as the children laugh off a few seconds of sleepiness. A big game at a park in one of the middle class neighbourhoods ends up joined by Miss Militia and Velocity, adding to the indulgent chaos. It's genuinely impressive seeing how well Velocity can manage his speed so that the kids feel like they have a chance.

When I finally manage to pull the two of them into a more formal game I also find myself impressed with how quickly Miss Militia adapts to Corner Creep. I knew she was one of the inaugural wards, meaning she's been an active cape for ages at this point, but seeing her apply that experience is something else. She's not perfect, I manage to position my hands and body such that at least part of me is always going to be either in a blind spot or straight ahead, but even then she's clearly keeping a mental estimate of my position.

I do end up tagging her though. While she was able to use her power to block several tags, and she managed to dodge several more through luck and skill, in the end her power just isn't well suited to playing defence.

Velocity, of course, does much better on the power assisted front, but after seeing Miss Militia I can't help but feel like he isn't applying himself. Then again, we're basically just playing around in a local park so maybe he's just not taking it especially seriously. I might still feel a little smug about managing to knock him out after barely ten minutes.

Sunday ends up with a rematch against Vista, though this time with Gallant playing support and Glory Girl cheering them on. I end up failing to tag Vista this time, but am immediately able to put the power I got from Velocity to use for tagging Gallant. Vista is an absolute terror when given the space and time to work, keeping me from even getting close even with my constant Cheshiring and Corner Creep. I think her spacial sense might be warning her about the first, and bypassing the second entirely. Gallant on the other hand, while seeming to benefit from the cameras in his armour, didn't expect my hand to pass right through his armour.

Glory Girl also takes a turn, and it's just sad. Apparently I can't leave marks through her shield.

Sadly, Monday afternoon and night end up being more a fit of petty crime than anything substantial. I level up, but level 9 doesn't actually give anything so that sucks as always.

Tuesday night however makes up for it with an E88 safe house with guns, drugs, money, and most importantly: cameras. I spend over half an hour putting on an absolutely incredible performance, and by the time police arrive the eight gangsters are perfectly happy to offer themselves up to escape my tender mercies. I even got another Loose SP for that one in addition to 600 EXP between the thugs and the safe house itself.

The online response is amazing, even if I have to filter out the regular slew of gang members and sympathizers trying to sound reasonable while blowing their dog whistles.

In fact the response is so amazing that when I get the drop on Kid Win the next day he's so startled he actually manages to hit me with a stun blast from one of his guns! The look of horror at what he just did mixing with the horror of how little it seemed to do is absolutely priceless and I'm glad somebody got it on video. The part where he felt me tap him on the shoulder immediately after was a wonderful follow up. The dread and resignation as he turns to face the floating hand, the grim resolve, and then the startled bewilderment when I poke him on the nose is also excellent internet fodder.

Clockblocker, on the other hand, soon learns he can only freeze one hand at a time, and that if he wants to touch them, then they get to touch him too.

Let's Play​

That evening I take some time to review my newest collection of powers and make modifications to my costume to accommodate them. On the one hand, it's incredibly annoying having to constantly change up my equipment. On the other, I'm not exactly going to complain about massively increasing my collection of powers.

Spoiler: New Powers

Of course, beating parahumans gives more than just a power roll, and in the end I earned an extra 5 Loose SP.

In the end, I Tinker up a new costume made to specifically induce the kind of fear a movie monster does, complete with the relief that comes when the film ends. I should be extra scary and creepy at the moment of viewing, without leaving anyone scarred for life after the fact.

I also finally got around to making some cameras of my own that I can deploy before particularly interesting events both to expand my field of view and to make sure there's good video of the performance. I even made a few specifically to be thrown, allowing me to get at least some use out of all those powers.

By Friday night, either someone was going to present me with an opportunity to show off all my new goodies, or I'll be making my own fun at their expense regardless. Who knows, maybe I'll finally find another villain to nab.

Name: Taylor Anne Hebert​​Lovable Horror LVL 9​SP Cap​6​Loose SP​31​Tier 1 Powers(17)​Mover(2)​Shaker(1)​Brute(0)​Breaker(1)​Master(0)​Tinker(2)​Blaster(3)​Thinker(1)​Striker(3)​Changer(0)​Trump(1)​Stranger(3)​Tier 0 Powers(41)​Synergy Powers(11)​

AN: Mostly just an upkeep chapter. Like I said at the start, the whole "Tag" thing has kind of gotten out of hand to the point I can't justify heroes not dropping by anytime Taylor is out long enough. Fortunately we're running low on heroes who're going to be willing to lose on camera.

Dauntless, Aegis, Glory Girl, and Shielder are basically all that remain for easy power grabs! Of course, that's ignoring the fact there's all these tasty tasty villains who've failed to make an appearance… which is probably fine right? Lung is well known for just letting people mess with him then run off!

Assault knew things couldn't stay calm forever, but he still can't help but be a little bitter that he's part of the first big fight in weeks. As far as anyone can figure out, the gangs have been anxious about Phantasm, trying to find weaknesses they can exploit before going out themselves, which means the E88 starting something now probably means they've got some ideas they're looking to test.

Not that the PRT hasn't been just as anxious, but at least Phantasm seems to be on our side. Hearing that she managed to tag Robin over the weekend didn't do Piggot's blood pressure any favors. Personally, Ethan likes the kid. She's spooky, sure, but it's pretty clear it's all a performance. You only have to see her playing with kids once to see that.

Assault dodges to the left, allowing the chunk of concrete to sail past and re-aquaint itself with the road. Right, supervillains, should probably focus. Not that he and Battery have much chance of actually bringing Rune down, they're basically just playing distraction until MM shows up to scare her off. At least they'd managed to take down most of the gangers, though Alabaster was also proving a pain to keep down, as always.

He's about to throw out another joke at the Nazi's expense when he notices the fog, and his face splits into a wide, eager grin. Then the giggling begins and he almost wants to start clapping, because seriously A+ presentation. Multiple overlapping voices, all young children, giggling from within mysterious fog? Beautiful, love it, he hopes there'll be a good video.

Then one of the gang members is grabbed right out front so everyone can see it. The gangsters had clearly been expecting Phantasm though, because they do manage to hold it together… Until she starts picking them off one by one. It's beautiful, a work of art. He just hopes that's fake blood they're leaving behind.

Rune looks about ready to bolt, her various floating objects pulling in tighter and tighter as she apparently realizes tossing heavy objects into obscuring fog that contains your own allies isn't the most stellar plan. But whatever plan the E88 came up with to deal with Phantasm apparently requires her, and she's evidently more scared of messing it up than the horror movie monster prowling the mists below.

Alabaster starts ranting, but the fog muffles things just enough to make it an indistinct blur of smarmy vitriol, which is honestly a massive improvement. Maybe they can convince Phantasm to attend all their E88 fights?

A hand pushes out of the fog, black nails extending half an inch forward into what look like genuine claws, pale white, almost gray skin, held up as if reaching for him. But it's slow, steady, and literally dripping with fog. One of Alabaster's handguns snaps up, and three shots are fired off in quick succession. At first Assault assumes he just missed, but the fear on the whitest Nazi's face implies otherwise.

Another hand joins the first, then another, and another. Bullets begin to fly as Alabaster apparently absolutely loses his composure. Ethan isn't actually sure why. He does however note that the number of gunshots and bullet impacts seems to be getting more and more skewed. Then a dumpster and several pieces of stone slam down on top of the hands.

Hands that proceed to phase right back out of the objects as if they aren't even there! Okay, yeah! Assault can see how that might be freaking Alabaster out a little bit! Speaking of whom, this is apparently the point where he decides to cut his losses, because he tries to make a break for it… Only to trip and fall as a hand clamps itself around one of his ankles. Then he's dragged off into the mist as well.

This is also evidently enough for Rune to decide to cut and run, which is when Phantasm finally decides to show herself in full. Or, at least mostly full, there's a couple limbs missing. As is often the case, her costume has changed once more. Not dramatically, but practically. Scraps of fabric split between white and black cover her from head to toe, splattered in what looks like blood in ways that look a bit too much like screaming faces for him to be entirely unaffected by it. Long, pitch black and dark blue hair pours out of her hood, shocked through with strands of an eerie green and electric purple.

Rune flinches back, her floating platform jerking to the side in an obvious attempt to dislodge her newest passenger, which does work to an extent as Phantasm leaves the platform… and simply remains floating in midair. The creepiest hero Ethan's ever heard of reaches forward, and Rune begins throwing everything she has at her. Some of it she seems to flicker past or around, while other times she simply floats through, hands shaking and jittering as they reach for their target.

Rune's lips are moving, and if Ethan had to guess, he'd say she's probably babbling right about now. Maybe begging. Then one hand clamps down on her face. Long, thin fingers wrapping themselves from cheek to cheek and chin to forehead. The hood dips forward, leaning in close to Rune's ear, and a moment later Rune is nodding eagerly and lowering herself and her weapons onto the street. Slow and steady with wild, terrified eyes.

The moment they're grounded the hand pulls back, her eyes follow it, and Ethan's not actually sure she notices the other one appear before it taps her on the nose, knocking her out. The fog begins to fade revealing, as expected, every E88 gangster asleep on the ground. Alabaster having a boot pressed into his back and a hand clamped around his wrist is less expected, but rather obvious in retrospect.

The cleanup is quick and efficient, with Alabaster soon sporting a pair of brute rated cuffs and all the gangsters properly disarmed. MM shows up near the end and helps double check injuries, which confirms that what he'd seen was in fact fake blood, which is good. Finally it's time to actually talk to their spookiest friendly, and he has to resist a pout as console explicitly instructs him to let MM do the talking.

"Phantasm, thank you for the help. This battle could have gone a lot worse if you hadn't stepped in." Cool and professional, Ethan can't help but think she's a bit on edge. He might have to warn Phantasm off using this version of her costume again, it might be a bit too effective.

"Welcome. Happy to help, yes." Oh good, she can use the multiple voices to talk! That's… not extremely terrifying at all! Okay it's also extremely cool, but yeesh!

It takes a moment for Miss Militia to recover, but she does ultimately get herself under control before it gets awkward. "Yes, well, we actually have a request in that regard. Would you mind providing a phone number we can contact you with in cases where your ability to quickly and harmlessly neutralize hostiles might prove especially useful?"

The creepy cape slowly tilts her head to the side, one of her signature mannerisms the PRT believes she uses to put people at ease. Surprisingly, it does actually work. It makes her look a little more like a confused kid than a living nightmare, even if her current costume is diminishing the effect slightly.

"Would not mind, but no phone for contact, no no." The voices are a bit more subdued, more conversational than they had been. Still creepy, but better! Definitely better.

MM for her part just nods at that. "That's a relatively common issue for independent parahumans. While not common, we do occasionally provide such individuals with a simple, sturdy phone specifically for keeping in contact. Would you be interested in receiving one?"

Phantasm freezes. Normally, the vigilante is constantly moving. Bobbing, weaving, fading in and out, or tapping her fingers on whatever they can reach. Seeing her go completely still is even more unsettling. It takes far too long before she starts moving again, and when she does, there's a clear nervousness to it.

"Yes." Just the one word, repeated three times, layered on top of itself.

Miss Militia seems to take it in stride however, turning back towards her bike and pulling the phone in question out of one of the many, many compartments. "Very well, here you go. It's nothing especially complex. It can only handle call and text, but it is sturdy enough to survive most cape fights. The PRT will handle the bill for as long as you remain in good standing. As a Tinker, we understand you may wish to improve it, but we ask that you please leave it as is."

Assault takes a moment to consider what a horror Tinker could do with a cellphone while still having it stay a cellphone. Then he realizes the answer is absolutely nothing he wants to be part of and moves on with life. By which he means, helps the PRT troopers start packing away their newest captives.

As the meeting comes to a close and Phantasm fades out piece by piece, Assault breaths a sigh of relief. "So… Drinks after work?"

Let's Play​

I find a safe place to hunker down, then let out my excitement in one big, full body shake. That went so well! I hadn't expected Rune to be so scared she actually offered to defect, but I'm not going to complain! Not that I'm entirely sure how that's going to go, but at the very least it'll keep her away from the E88 for a bit. Who knows, maybe someone will actually manage to deprogram her.

With a grin I pull up my newest alerts.

Defeated Alabaster​Gained:

200 EXP

+1 Loose SP

1 Cape Power Roll​

Defeated Rune​Gained:

300 EXP

+1 Loose SP

1 Cape Power Roll​

Which means another Shaker power and my first actual proper Brute power! I'm half tempted to dump nine Loose SP into them, but can't bring myself to do it. The powers I'm getting with my default SP Cap are already good enough for normal villains, and once I unlock Tier 2 powers I'm going to need all the Loose SP I can get to raise my cap enough to actually potentially hit them.

My eyes flick down to the palm sized brick of a device Miss Militia gave me, and let out a sigh. I know I need one, there've been plenty of awkward times where I had to use a criminal's own phone to call them in. It's just... An uncomfortable reminder of what happened to mom. I take a deep breath, then tuck it away in one of my pockets. It'll take time to get used to, but if I can spend entire lunch periods around the trio without flinching, then I can handle owning a cellphone.

I make my way home as I consider what I want to make for dinner tonight, while also reviewing the encounter, and keeping an eye out for anything useful left out on the curb. Multitask can be a pain, but dang if it isn't useful.

I end up arriving home with the internals of a broken microwave and two alarm clocks, adding them to my stock of Tinkering scrap.

Dinner ends up a chicken alfredo because dad needs to go grocery shopping, and we spend a couple hours discussing our days and working on how to monetize the Phantasm persona. Dad doesn't actually mind the cellphone as much as I expected, though he did make me promise not to use it while driving once I get a license. He's much more interested in the prospect of having the PRT manage my merchandise, with a half mumbled consideration for possibly seeing if they still have contacts in Hollywood.

He was much more concerned about the fact I let Alabaster shoot at me, and it took me a while to convince him I was fine. Passing my hand through the table as a reminder of Manton's Ghost did help, and eventually he relented. He still wasn't happy, but he admitted I probably wasn't actually in any danger.

Eventually he ends up heading to bed and I'm left to my own devices. Devices like my new and improved PC, upgraded with Optimal scrap and parts from around town. The internet connection still sucks, but at least the computer is slick and new and easy to use!

As I begin searching through local and nearby news sites I finally decide to roll my two new powers.

Afterimage

Shaker: Afterimage​Cost: 5 SP​Whenever you make an attack with your body, you can make a mirror image of you repeating the same move. This afterimage is half as strong as you, and dissipates after a second.​

That… doesn't sound like a Shaker effect at all! That said, it also sounds absurd if it works how I think it does, which a bit of testing confirms. Yup, the afterimage can be delayed enough to let it land the second hit of Knockout. Mind you, that only works if they don't move between the hits, but still. If nothing else it should let me cover them in marks much faster.

Solar

Brute/Thinker (Solar)​Cost: 1 SP​While stationary, sunlight invigorates you in both body and mind. The invigoration of the body provides sustenance, a quickened metabolism, decreased fatigue, enhanced cellular regeneration, and improved physical capabilities. The invigoration of the mind provides improved clarity, perception, rationale, and willpower.​

I think briefly on my costume, which hides every inch of skin it can get away with, and very firmly place this in the box with the projectile powers as something to consider for if I end up making a new persona.

Man of Steel

Brute: Man of Steel​Cost: 4 SP​You are stronger than steel. That's about it. Your flesh is like steel, your blood is like molten steel, and your bone is like reinforced steel. They're still flesh, blood, and bone, but they're as strong and durable as liquid steel, the steel itself, and reinforced steel, respectively. You regenerate more quickly than normal.​

That is the most textbook Brute power I've ever heard of. Hopefully it's at least additive with my other strength and durability boosts, but I don't exactly have a good way to test it. I'll definitely take the increased regeneration though. Every bit of extra regeneration makes Grave Face more useful.

That said, I think I'm at the point where I'm at serious risk of being outed if the bullying starts back up again. The moment someone tries to shoulder check me it's going to be pretty obvious something's up.

Sharp Teeth+Skin

Brute/Changer (Sharp Teeth)​Cost: 1 SP​Your teeth become incredibly strong, like titanium, and are sharp like razors. You can also change their shape, color, and slight structure—defaulting to a shark-like appearance. Your oral cavity and tongue gain equal strength, ensuring you don't accidentally cut your tongue and if you try chew on concrete or metal, swallowing such materials is not advisable.​

Strong Jaws​Cost: Sharp Teeth+Contortionist+Hysterical Strength​Your jaws are enhanced to complement your teeth, significantly increasing both its range of motion and its bite strength.

With this, you could even fit and crush multiple bricks in your mouth if you wanted.​

It's a pretty minor power all things considered, even with the synergy power, but a look in the mirror does confirm it can really add to the creepiness factor… Though a couple of these configurations are also weirdly kind of cute. I suppose they might serve as a useful juxtaposition?

Changer/Brute (Skin)​Cost: 1 SP​You can manipulate the texture, color, density, sensitivity, and health of your skin. You could for example harden your skin alongside changing its texture to appear rocky on the surface so it could offer a slight protection, or change the hues of your skin as a makeshift camouflage. By consequence, you have a borderline parahuman sense of touch.​

That on the other hand is much more obviously useful. I was already using some tricks to make myself look paler in costume, this just lets me skip those. Or I can make things stranger! Give my skin an odd texture or colour. The trick would be making it look creepy without making people genuinely worry about my health.

With Skin I give myself a cloth like texture with an artificial looking skintone, use Chroma Hair to make it look bright artificial red, then Hair/Nails to give it a rougher texture and shrink it down to shoulder length. Colorful Eyes is a bit reluctant to give me the flat black iris and pupil and it takes some work to make them look appropriately flat but I manage. Finally, I turn my teeth into sharp, interlocking triangles and smile wider than any normal human should be able to.

The visual is striking, disconcerting, and absolutely getting used at some point. I quickly grab one of my cameras and set it to record as I test out a few different ways of moving before finding one that feels appropriately unnatural. It almost looks like my limbs are being dragged along by some unseen force, my body barely actually supporting itself. A few test voices are declined before I settle on a slightly modified version of a girl from the park over the weekend. Just a little squeakier than the real thing, with a synthetic fuzz underneath.

I test a few tweaks here and there before finally settling on something I like. I'll need to make some clothes with the appropriate emotional resonance, both for looking more innocent and for really amping up the creepy factor. I briefly contemplate buying Chibi, but decide against it. Not worth the SP.

I quickly revert most of the changes, only to quickly be reminded that Sharp Teeth has changed their default shape. It takes me nearly half an hour to change them into something I'm happy with, and even then I'm sure the moment I visit a dentist they'll know something's wrong. I'm once again reminded of Tail and how lucky I am that I haven't randomly been assigned it yet. Fortunately the Tier 0 power list is… extensive. Even if it does mean occasionally missing the existence of something like Histskin.

I briefly wonder if my powers are messing with my sense of aesthetics, or if it might just be my time as Phantasm, because as I return to my room I can't help thinking the default look is actually kind of cute.

I set the question aside as I sit back at my computer, the video from my cameras loaded into the image editing software I threw together when I realised Jack of all Trades also applies to programming. Honestly, the power is truly absurd. Between my various Thinker powers I'm able to breeze through the process with relative ease, though I do end up having to re-edit a few earlier sections as I figure out new tricks along the way.

The video does however highlight that I might have gone overboard with my costume. I'll need to put together something more Saturday morning cartoon for afternoon patrols and PR events like the park. I suppose I can probably skip my Friday patrol to make sure I'm the right kind of scary. It'd suck if civilians felt safer with the villains than they do with me.

Name: Taylor Anne Hebert​​Lovable Horror LVL 9​SP Cap​6​Loose SP​31​Tier 1 Powers(19)​Mover(2)​Shaker(2)​Brute(1)​Breaker(1)​Master(0)​Tinker(2)​Blaster(3)​Thinker(1)​Striker(3)​Changer(0)​Trump(1)​Stranger(3)​Tier 0 Powers(44)​Synergy Powers(12)​

AN: I decided Rune doesn't like horror movies so this was extra bad for her. She probably won't be showing up again in this fic because she's defecting to the Wards in exchange for getting her the fuck away from Phantasm.

Friday ends up being spent gathering materials and making myself three new costumes rather than just one. The first is what I'm calling my 'Saturday Morning' costume, for when I expect to be interacting with children. It's imbued with a bit of curiosity and fascination alongside a small amount of fear and discomfort. Honestly it might be a bit too child friendly, but it seemed wise to aim low.

The second is what I'm calling my 'Fear of God', or FoG costume, for when I really want to scare someone senseless. Disquiet, fear, disgust, shame, embarrassment, confusion, and just a hint of fascination should result in something that makes the viewer not only scared, but forces them to consider why exactly I'm after them and feel bad about what they've done wrong. The fascination encourages them to keep looking to help reinforce the effect. None of it is especially strong, nothing stronger than someone would experience from watching an incredibly compelling movie, but a good movie can leave someone in tears, and if I ever need the FoG costume, I intend to do just that.

The third is actually an experiment, intended to enhance a person's natural feelings about me, so that villains that know to fear me will become more scared, while heroes who know I'm there for them, or viewers who know I'm an entertainer won't be as affected. I'm honestly not sure if it'll work, but I intend to wear it out on Saturday to test it out.

Let's Play​

My experimental costume has mixed results as I make my patrol. I think it's likely a result of those who have watched previous videos of me having the feelings from the videos reinforced, while those who've only heard of me have their general opinion of heroes enhanced. The effect is also a bit stronger than I intended, and I have to consciously move in such a way as to mitigate it.

I'll have to rework the costume a bit more, but fortunately I already have ideas. I'm a little worried about what I'll do if I get another Tinker power. Even with just the two I have, I find myself trying to apply them whenever I have free time.

It's a little past noon when I finally manage to locate the wards on the boardwalk, and am delighted to confirm that it's Aegis and Shadow Stalker. I'm somewhat curious if the PRT has intentionally been trying to introduce me to all the wards in some kind of recruitment attempt, but decide it doesn't especially matter all things considered. If I can beat both of them, that should finish Friendly Competition.

The pair are surrounded by civilians getting autographs and taking pictures, so I take a moment to observe and plan. Shadow Stalker looks absolutely miserable, while Aegis seems perfectly happy to spend all day as is, it's a fascinating dichotomy and I wonder if that's intentional? The group focused on Aegis is definitely larger, but the one focused on Shadow Stalker appears more focused, more engaged.

It seems like Aegis is more generally popular, but is sharing that general popularity with a lot of the other heroes in the bay, while Stalker has a more niche appeal but lacks competition. I can practically feel Garment whispering the suggestions for improvements to their costumes, but I stifle it. Even if Stalker's costume could use a dozen little improvements. Even just a mask with three different expressions would-

I refocus, and soon enough I hear someone whispering about my presence to the two Wards. That seems like my cue and I'm perfectly happy to take it. Neither hero flinches as I Cheshire in front of them, Corner Creep suppressed, though many of the civilians do.

I roll my fingers in a slightly unsettling wave as I appear, a smile on my slightly too wide lips showing off my knife like teeth. "Greetings, yes? Tag, yes?"

Stalker huffs, but whoever's talking to them through their earpieces gives the all clear just as they have every time before. Aegis is the one to respond, and the one to claim the first round.

He's unfortunately a pretty easy target, going down in short order from a trio of Cheshired hands. Sadly he just doesn't have a way to bypass Corner Creep or detect Cheshire so there wasn't really much he could do. Fortunately he laughs it off and so it's Stalker's turn next.

Even with the mask I can tell she's focused and ready, there's an eagerness to her posture as Aegis counts us down, and the way she dodges and goes shadow the moment the round begins tells me she's been paying attention. I kind of wonder if she's a fan? Has she been studying my fights in preparation for her turn?

She keeps flickering in and out of her shadow state as she moves and looks around, and I quickly realise that however she perceives the world while in her breaker form, it's bypassing Corner Creep. Her dodging my Cheshire's though? That seems to be all instinct. I can tell she's getting more and more excited, especially when my hand passes through her without applying a mark.

I'm holding back, not using Afterimage, Manton's Ghost, or The Mist of London Night, but even still her performance is well above most others I've played against. She's taking it seriously, and clearly enjoying it. Fitting In encourages me to banter and I decide to do so, because honestly? I'm having fun too.

"Good good, yes! Excellent excellent, yes! You are skilled, you are fast, you are hunter, yes? Show, show! Show what you can do, yes!" My voices echo out, letting my eagerness bleed in even as each takes it in a slightly different direction and with a slightly different base.

Shadow Stalker doesn't need to be told twice. She draws her crossbows and our dance grows considerably more energetic. It's several more minutes before she fires her first shot, and First Strike allows me to land a hand on her for the first time before Stop! Steals the momentum from the bolt.

I let the Mist start pouring off of me as she fires a couple more shots before figuring out it's pointless. She dives into my fog as if it's not there, seeming perfectly at home in the murky world of blurs and shadows. She stows her crossbows and holds a bolt in each hand, quickly revealing her plan as she manages to stab one of my hands using her power as it goes for a tag.

The paralytic goes in, but doesn't spread beyond the hand, which goes limp as my various regeneration's try and purge it. I decide to leave it out of the fight even if it does recover. "Good good, yes! Very good, fight yes! More more more, yes!"

I try to encourage her as my movements grow a bit more erratic, managing to land two more tags on different areas but failing to tap any existing marks. I actually start getting worried about the time when she finally makes a mistake. I Cheshire the arm of the paralyzed hand right where she's about to step and she loses her balance. She uses her power, but she's grown predictable. The moment she comes out I'm ready, managing to land a second tap on her stomach, applying Knockout.

I let my mist fade as stalker stumbles back, then falls on her butt with a snort that soon evolves into a giggle and then a full blown laugh. I'm just following Fitting In as I approach, offering her a hand up with a wide, toothy grin. "Good fight, yes?"

Surprisingly, if the reaction from her partner is anything to go by, she takes it, allowing me to pull her up. "Yeah, good fight. Honestly, that's the most fun I've had in months. Heck, maybe years." I can hear the grin in her voice as she says it.

"Yes, very fun. Should play again sometime, yes? Clever and strong, studying Phantasm, yes?" I might only be saying it because of Fitting In, but it's honestly true. I don't think any of the others had bothered actually studying me enough to be ready for our games of Tag and it shows.

Her pose grows a bit cocky as she waves a hand idly in the air. "Yeah I did, and yeah we should."

She pauses for a moment, tilting her head slightly to the side before straightening up. "Actually, you wanna join us on patrol today? Maybe we can hit somewhere with a bit more action than the boardwalk."

Whoever's on the other side of her earpiece is clearly exasperated as he gives the green light for both. I'm at least partially correct about the PRT hoping to use the Wards as a recruitment vector as he encourages Shadow Stalker to try and get friendly and encourage me to sign up.

New Quest​Crossover​It's time for the next step in being a superhero. Meet with another cape and work together.​Rewards:

200 EXP

2 Loose SP

1 Cape Power Roll with associated cape​

Of course I'm also talking at the same time, so who knows how much she actually caught of that. "Oh? Yes, yes sounds fun, yes." I make sure not to sound too eager, just a bit of curiosity and interest.

Sadly for Shadow Stalker's desire for a starring role in my next takedown of a major gang location, and my own desire to complete my newest quest, the PRT manages to guide us along an entirely crime free path. Not even a single mugging or purse snatching. At least it gave us plenty of time to chat.

Turns out Stalker is actually on probation for going too far against some of the gangsters she brought in, and isn't actually especially fond of being a Ward. She talked about her time as a vigilante, revealing she's been a cape for about three years at this point which does explain a lot of her skill in our game of Tag.

"I just hate having to play with kiddy gloves! Why the fuck-" She entirely ignores the agent in her earpiece reminding her not to swear. "Can't I pin a rapist to a wall? Who the fuck-" The agent hasn't even finished complaining about her previous swear. "Is going to care?"

I waved a finger in front of her face. "Court. Jury. Gang. They care, they use. You pin to wall, court goes easy, jury feels bad, gang uses it to rally support. One gangster down, but two more join, what's point? You think, you plan, you fight Phantasm with mind. But you not fighting gangs with mind. Why?"

She scoffs, holding up a hand and pulling aside the glove enough to show off her skin tone. "Yeah, I wonder why I'm not eager to play nice with the fucking Nazis."

I nod, then bob slightly from side to side. "Yes yes, understood. But Phantasm does not want one Nazi off the streets. Phantasm wants all the Nazi's off the streets. Want Nazis scared to be Nazis. Want Nazis to see foggy morning and decide today they stay inside. That not happen if not fight smart, yes?"

Shadow Stalker stops moving as I speak, and by the end I feel like I have every ounce of her attention. "So that's your plan? Become the big bad boogeyman of the bay? You really think you're going to scare Krieg or Kaiser or fucking Hookwolf into hiding?"

I use Fitting In to confirm what I'm about to do, but even then it's my idea that moves me to begin producing a shroud of fog, skin growing a rough, slightly spiked fog gray as my teeth shift into long, viscous needle points and my eyes begin to swim and swirl with sickly greens and violent purples. My voices come out as a cacophony as I blur into the fog, a chorus of cackling, mad beasts eager for blood. "No. No, they shall become the examples that teach the others to fear."

There's only ten minutes left on the patrol before they'd be calling her back, so I don't feel too bad running off after that. Besides, I have a lot to think about, and a lot of notifications to go over.

New Quest​Gang Busters​Take down a Prahuman backed gang. You can receive assistance but you must be the primary contributor to defeating the gang, either physically or intellectually.​Rewards:

1000 EXP

2 Loose SP

+1 SP Cap

Additional rewards depending on gang defeated​

New Quest​Teaching Hate to Fear​Become an object of true and distinct fear for a super majority of the E88.

Note, if the E88 dissolves before you complete this quest, it will fail the quest.​Rewards:

500 EXP

1 Loose SP

Additional rewards for each terrified cape​

Yes, a lot to think about indeed.

Let's Play​

Defeated Aegis​Gained:

150 EXP

+1 Loose SP

1 Cape Power Roll​

Defeated Shadow Stalker​Gained:

300 EXP

+1 Loose SP

1 Cape Power Roll​Level Up!

Level 10

+1 Loose SP

+1 SP Cap

1 Power Roll

Tier 0 Upgrades Unlocked​

Quest Complete! Friendly Competition​Gained:

400 EXP

+2 Loose SP

1 Wards Cape Power Roll​

I knew I was getting close but… level 10 already. What a day. Five Loose SP, an increase to my SP Cap, four new powers, and apparently an entire new function.

Before I make any decisions I need to know what Tier 0 Upgrades are. Focusing on the idea brings up a list similar to the Tier 0 list, though much shorter and with much more robust items. Ten items, each related to one or more Tier 0 powers, purchasable with Loose SP. I look at my 36 Loose SP and can't help but giggle. I'd been saving it for trying to roll Tier 2 powers, but I might be going a bit overboard in my hoarding.

Voice Amplifier is a full power in its own right, but at a cost of 8 SP I can't bring myself to buy it. On the other side of things, Parallel Processing seems like an easy buy at only 2 SP. Circus Acrobatics seems like a fantastic way to augment Kinesiologist for a similarly low price. Full Body Detachment offers a similar upgrade to Cheshire and adds yet more regeneration.

Comakinesis is another full power offered for a rather steep cost, though unlike Voice Amplifier I can actually imagine using it as Phantasm. The ability to restrain people that I can't Knockout would be useful, and if I take Parallel Processing my number of appendages becomes a real limiting factor that this could alleviate.

Functional Clothes makes Garment buzz in anticipation of all the madness I could incorporate with it forcing the outfit to remain functional. Full Potential honestly seems like more trouble than it's worth given the heightened degradation rate. Aimbotter is being set aside for if I ever end up deciding to make that second persona. SolarHouse of the Cell wouldn't normally catch my attention, but with a cost of 1 SP I think it's probably worth it. The upgrade doesn't specify how much it enhances me by, and how much sunlight I need to get any given level of benefit, so it's a bit of a gamble, but it's not exactly an expensive one.

Straight Shooter also finds itself on the list alongside Aimbotter, and I briefly wonder if I might be able to design the costume to accommodate SolarHouse of the Cell before remembering I plan to buy Functional Clothes which means the answer is absolutely yes. Then I consider what that would actually mean and push the idea back into the box of things to consider later.

So 9 Loose SP to buy everything I definitely want, and the option to buy a power for 5 Loose SP… Before I start buying, I have four power rolls to make. Each of them will probably give more Tier 0 powers, which might offer even more upgrades.

Do You Even Lift?

Brute: Do You Even Lift?​Cost: 5 SP​You have tactile telekinesis that allows you to lift anything. This doesn't enhance your punch speed or durability at all. If you pick up something large, you don't need to worry about structural integrity, your power will keep it intact.​

This feels like a power for someone with a lot more brute strength than I have, which is a shame… But then again, I haven't actually tested my maximum lifting capacity.

Icy Hot+Painkiller

Breaker (Icy Hot)​Cost: 1 SP​You can change the temperature of your body from -50°C to 100°C with no negative effects on yourself.​

Brute/Thinker (Painkiller)​Cost: 1 SP​Your sense of pain is replaced by a light, undistracting fizzy sensation, allowing you to operate at full capacity regardless of injuries. A different sensation like an itch will occur if what you're doing will exacerbate an existing injury.​

Small improvements to some of my remaining weaknesses is never a bad thing I suppose.

Weld

Breaker/Brute: Weld​Cost: 6 SP​You can transform your body into a metallic physiology and alter your shape and composition to a degree. In this form, you are stronger and more durable than most. Your malleable physiology allows you to survive what would be fatal injuries to a baseline human. In this form, you can assimilate any metal you touch. This can be used to repair your form. If you fully transform, you gain a highly-favorable Manton Effect: powers that only affect organic beings tend to not affect you, and powers that only affect inorganic material also tend to not affect you.​

Even as I'm appraising the incredibly useful power, another part of my mind is trying to figure out why this sounds familiar. Then it hits me. I rush to the computer even as the Tier 0 power is rolled.

Ritsuka

Changer (Ritsuka)​Cost: 1 SP​You can transform your gender and appearance into what you would have looked like had you been born the opposite gender, as well as switch back to your original gender and appearance at will.​

I have enough time to consider what I'd look like as a guy and how much I can change my appearance as is anyway before the Parahumans Online Wiki finishes loading and my search goes through. Weld, a Case 53 in Boston. But unlike him this is a Breaker power that I can turn on and off. That feels… vaguely unfair. Is this what his power is supposed to be? I wonder if there's a power in here that might let me fix it for him.

Quest Chain Begun​Administrative Obligations​Something has gone wrong in the power manifestations of certain parahumans. Find out what, find out why, and find a way to correct the issue. Permanently.​Rewards:

30000 EXP

+5 SP Cap

3 Power Rolls

Hidden Reward​

I choke on thin air as I read the reward. Like, yes this is obviously a huge deal and significantly harder than the whole Emma thing, but what the heck? That's… a 5 SP Cap increase is enormous. That's 25 Levels worth.

New Quest​Issue Investigation​Meet, speak to, and observe one or more C53s​Rewards:

100 EXP

1 Loose SP

Additional rewards based on thoroughness of investigation​

Okay, okay that's a much more reasonable quest reward. I try to put the chain rewards out of mind and focus on what's in front of me. Checking the Wiki shows that in Brockton Bay the only known Case 53s are with Faultline's Crew. It doesn't take long to find enough information to pay them a visit. I can probably get a meeting with them but… The next best option would be a visit to Boston. That… might actually be possible if I talk to dad about it. Huh.

I suppose I could do both, really. I confirm dad's still not home yet and make a note to talk to him about Boston tomorrow morning if he doesn't come home before I head out to visit the Palanquin, which is apparently either Faultline's base, or just a favourite hangout.

First though, I need to finish dealing with… so many things. I take a deep breath and look at the Wards Cape Power Roll. Shaker, Brute, Breaker, Tinker, Blaster, or Striker. I already have three Blaster and Striker powers so those are out, and apparently Brockton Bay is just lousy with Shakers so I'll skip that one as well. As anxious as I am about it, I think I have to go with Tinker. There's only two left in the city as far as I can tell, and somehow I doubt Armsmaster is going to be eager to play tag.

New PowersTraps

Tinker: Traps​Cost: 6 SP​You have a Tinker specialization focused on traps, with the ability to create complex and destructive devices with anomalous effects, such as landmines that erase everything within its radius, or simple objects made to surprise people. You also have a minor specialization in hiding your creations in plain sight and a minor Thinker power focused on strategic positioning. These powers enable you to strategically place your traps, keeping adversaries off balance and increasing your chances of success in battles.​

Suddenly my little cameras seem so… pedestrian. Thinking back on my various performances my mind lights up with ideas on how I could have done them better, how I could have prepared the groundwork, and what I could throw together to really improve the impact of my own antics. Oh this is going to eat so much of my time…

Third Person POV

Thinker (Third Person POV)​Cost: 1 SP​Just like you'd see the back of the characters you control in video games, you can now examine yourself from a third-person perspective centered around yourself. This perspective can zoom out up to 5m. It can go through thin walls if you press yourself to them, but cannot go through thick walls or the ground. This perspective will always be focused on you and as such, will always look into your direction. Your normal sight will remain unaffected and you can control both separately without much difficulty—this vision remains unaffected even if your normal senses are impaired and you can hear through it. This power can serve as a vector for any other sensory powers you possess.​

The new perspective pops into being before I actually read the power. It's neat I suppose? I shift it around, zoom it in and out, then leave it five meters in front of me to give me a view of what's behind me. I'll likely move it around as needed, but being able to watch my own back seems like a useful default.

I sigh as I look at the last Power Roll, which taunts me with total freedom of choice. Well I already ruled out three during the Wards roll, Add to that Tinker and Stranger for already having three, then Mover, Brute and Breaker for being at 2 which leaves… Master, Thinker, Changer, or Trump.

I decide that I'm probably not actually interested in higher cost Master powers, and would rather save my Trump rolls for when my SP Cap is higher. I just have to hope it's not a human Master power…

Ditto

Master: Ditto​Cost: 6 SP​You can duplicate everybody that you can currently see and yourself. Duplicates spawn directly behind the original, facing in the opposite direction. Everybody duplicated by your power controls both their original body and the cloned body; however, because you can't give secondary multitasking power to anybody they clone, the overall effect is highly disorienting rather than empowering. Duplicates are 'fragile'—if they're knocked unconscious, even for just a moment, they vanish.​

That's… actually pretty useful. A permanent clone of myself so long as it doesn't get knocked unconscious? Considering all the powers I have at this point that actually seems quite reasonable. I even already planned to get more multitasking.

Diagnostic

Striker/Thinker (Diagnostic)​Cost: 1 SP​With a single physical touch, you can diagnose yourself or others, identifying any and every ailment, wounds, or even toxins affecting the body. This ability allows you to pinpoint the exact location of the affliction, understand its nature, determine how long it has been present, and predict potential side effects or complications, etc. You can even use this on the recently deceased, to understand the full cause of their death.

While this power provides comprehensive information about the condition, it does not reveal a cure or solution—only the full scope of the issue.​

I don't think I'll be getting much use out of that one unfortunately. Maybe if I get a healing power at some point.

With that I look back at the Tier 0 Upgrades and find Ritsuka has added two different upgrades to the list. Living Opposites seems- Wait what? If one of my forms perishes, I automatically switch? Then restores the dead body after 24 hours? That… so that if something actually manages to kill me despite Grave Face I'll get another chance? Which I can do once a day? It's expensive, but I think it's kind of hard to pass up that kind of safety. The fact it also has a kind of emergency healing option as a bonus is just icing on the cake.

The second option, Bio-Dial is significantly less impressive, but would mean that both Living Opposite bodies could be female, which… I use Ritsuka to switch, briefly look myself over, and then switch back. Honestly doesn't seem like a huge deal? I suppose it's there if I need it.

Finally it's time to start buying, and I make my way down the list in order.

Parallel Processing​Cost: 2 SP; Multitask​You can have a nigh unlimited amount of thought processes running in parallel. Each thought process will think separately and focus on a different subject from the rest. Your primary thought process will manage the others and keep them up to date with each other. This power does not improve your thinking speed or ability to make good decisions.​

I buy the first power and immediately have to pause as I feel my mind… expand. It's a little disorienting, but even that quickly fades. Then another alert appears.

Mental Computer​Cost: Parallel Processing+Autopilot​With both parallel processing and the ability to self-program, your mind has gained a mental computer. Able to interface with both your conscious and subconscious, it can process the data your mind receives at an enhanced rate, as well as actively react to any commands you give it. While you yourself do not gain superhuman levels of thinking, you are able to utilize your mental computer to do something similar, as you can have it feed you data by overlaying your senses in any particular manner you desire. Be careful about overloading your senses with this, as due to this power not being able to modify your mind directly, any negative effects from the additional information that you provide through your senses will have to be taken at full force.​

Oh. So there are synergy powers hidden in the upgrades as well. That's… well it makes me hopeful for several of my following purchases.

Circus Acrobatics​Cost: 2 SP; Graceful+Contortionist​You've become a one-person circus act capable of astonishing acrobatic feats. With an unbreakable sense of balance, you remain unshakable, unable to be knocked off your feet without your say-so. Expert control over your sense of nausea keeps you steady through even the most dizzying acts, and juggling comes effortlessly to you—stacking, balancing, and throwing objects with flawless precision.

Your flexibility and agility now reach superhuman levels, letting you perform and move in ways most would consider impossible. Having gained an intuitive understanding of which surfaces can be climbed or balanced on, you leverage this instinct to achieve unparalleled fluid and efficient movement. Running, scaling, and vaulting over obstacles have become second nature to you, turning you into an expert at freerunning and urban traversal.

You also possess a sixth sense of spatial awareness, letting you instantly orient yourself and judge distances with pinpoint accuracy, even while in mid-air, for leaps and climbs. As a bonus, you now know how to maintain a baseline of fitness, ensuring you stay in top form to support these skills.​

Be Like Water, Float Like the Wind​Cost: Circus Acrobatics+Kinesiologist​Your acrobatics inherit your boundless maneuverability, applicable to any environment or situation you find yourself in, both helping in freerunning activities and compensating for terrain. Now, you're up to the task of any form of movement from animalistic to mechanical, performing any kind of activity, and with an athletic physique bordering on a Breaker effect to facilitate all your actions.​

I grin at the Synergy Power. Well, I'd just been thinking those two would work well together, apparently my power agrees.

Full Body Detachment​Cost: 2 SP; Creeping Hand​You are no longer limited to just detaching hands, and may now detach any major parts of your body from another, such as your arms, legs, torso, or head.

Additionally, your ability to slowly regrow body parts extends throughout your entire body, though it still does not help mitigate any symptoms of such injuries, including death. You may only have one torso at a time.​

No Synergy Powers appear, but detaching my arm and letting it float around confirms that it's essentially also receiving the synergy with Minor Telekineses anyway.

I decide to wait on Comakinesis until the end, unsure if I'll even end up buying it. Instead I move on to Functional Clothes

Functional Clothes​Cost: 2 SP; Clothes​Your clothes will always work exactly how you need them to. No matter how impractical an outfit is, it won't slow you down, restrict movement, or cause any inconvenience. Long dresses won't trip you, heavy coats won't weigh you down, and high heels feel as stable as sneakers.

This extends beyond just comfort—your clothing will never get in your way. Loose fabric won't snag or catch, oversized armor won't limit flexibility, and even the most ridiculous accessories, like massive hats or flowing capes, won't block your vision or movement. If an outfit has pockets, they'll always be easy to reach. If it doesn't, anything you store will still stay secure.

Not only does your clothing never get in your way, but it actively works in your favor. Long coats and capes flow perfectly to mask your movements, skirts and robes shift to avoid interference while still providing coverage, and even bulky outfits somehow enhance balance rather than throw it off. High heels subtly adjust to keep you stable on any terrain, gloves improve your grip without sacrificing dexterity, and even the heaviest armor distributes its weight so efficiently that it feels like wearing everyday clothes. Exposed areas of armor, no matter how open or vulnerable they seem, are protected just as effectively as if they were fully covered, without altering its appearance.

Even if an outfit looks impractical, it will function as if it was designed for whatever you're doing. You could run a marathon in formal wear, fight in a mascot costume, or climb a mountain in a full robe, and it would work just as well as wearing the best gear for the job.​

Picture-Ready​Cost: Functional Clothes+The Perfect Shot​No matter what you're wearing, your outfit will always look its best on camera. Whether you're in motion or standing still, your clothes will adjust just enough to ensure they fall naturally into the most flattering and striking positions. Fabric will never bunch up awkwardly, cloaks and coats will billow at just the right moments, and even the most impractical outfits will arrange themselves to appear seamless and intentional.

Beyond just looking good, your clothing will always maintain a sharp, well-kept appearance, no matter the situation. Formal attire stays crisp and smooth, never wrinkling or getting stained, even in a fight. Suits and dresses remain perfectly fitted, never sagging or stretching out of shape. Even after intense movement, your clothes settle into place with an almost unnatural precision, ensuring that you look as composed at the end of a battle as you did at the start. If you're wearing formalwear, it enhances your presence, making you appear more dignified and commanding, while casual wear never looks sloppy or out of place, keeping you effortlessly put-together in any scenario.​

I'm once again delighted at the free Synergy Power, adding yet further convenience to this already monumentally convenient Upgrade. Given I'm wearing casual clothes there's not much immediate difference from Clothes, but now that I know I have these available I'll definitely be… making more modifications to the costumes I just finished. Is this just what being a Tinker is like? I take a moment to use Ditto to create a copy so that I can get to work on that while I continue working through my Upgrades.

Now it's time for the big one. I buy Living Opposites.

Living Opposites​Cost: 8 SP; Ritsuka​Now your own and opposite gender form separated while sharing your mind and powers and growth. You still have one body, but whenever you change into your opposite form, your previous state is stored in a hibernating state in which it can rest and recover physically. This allows you to swap your form when you become fatigued to let it recover naturally or even recover from injuries, albeit this by default doesn't grant enhanced healing beyond what natural rest would grant. Changing your forms will take at least a few seconds depending on how drastically different the forms are.

Any power growth, practice and training are shared between both forms at once with your muscle memory naturally adapting to be able to use any skills and powers you have in both forms. For powers which affect your own biology, you can choose to apply them only to your current form or both at once.

If one of your forms perishes, you automatically switch to the opposite, which becomes your new default form, which will be mirrored into a new opposite form available to use after 24 hours. This effect also fully heals your resting form if it remains unused for the same 24 hours.​

One Size Fits All​Cost: Living Opposites+Clothes​Now your clothing and armor will automatically resize and fit your current form. This can even modify your outfit slightly based on your physique, like a bulky form thickening your armor. This will also benefit all other humanoid changer forms you have.​

Immediately I become aware of the state of my second body, but that's honestly about it. I try switching back and forth a couple times and find it honestly doesn't feel much different from Ritsuka. One Size Fits All will be convenient when I actually pick up Changer powers, but for now it's not exactly doing much.

I cross my fingers as I buy the next upgrade, hoping it's not too finicky.

SolarHouse of the Cell​Cost: 1 SP; Solar​Your individual cells now function as integrated hybrid battery/capacitors—simultaneously absorbing, storing, and channeling solar radiation. As your internal charge increases, so too does your physical and mental performance—reflexes sharpen, regeneration accelerates, and endurance surges. However, this comes at a cost: higher levels increase baseline consumption, meaning you'll burn through reserves faster unless you're continually recharging.​

Solar Kinesis​Cost: SolarHouse of the Cell+Minor Telekinesis​Each cell is now wrapped in a shell, providing localized defense and microscopic motility enhancements. The more solar energy your body holds, the stronger this cellular shielding becomes—resisting heat, cold, impact, and elemental degradation.​

Fission Eater​Cost: SolarHouse of the Cell+Radiation Eater​Solar energy is your optimal fuel, but it's no longer your only one. Your biology now accepts ionizing radiation as a viable substitute for sunlight. From cosmic rays to fallout zones, you can feed off of ambient radiation with efficiency. You still suffer from the same side-effects as the base power unless you have Fusion Capacitors or Plasmalemma Mass Ejection.​

Nuclear Divergence​Cost: SolarHouse of the Cell+Icy Hot​Your cells can now expel built-up solar energy as directed thermal effects. You can channel this release as a searing heatwave through your skin or project it as concentrated cold breath, flash-freezing surfaces or enemies.​

Fusion Capacitors​Cost: SolarHouse of the Cell+Efficient Autonomic Systems​Your cells have been structurally reengineered into resilient micro-reservoirs capable of storing solar energy in highly condensed form. Exposure to intense solar input—such as concentrated mirrors or orbital reflectors—merely amplifies your storage potential. Where others would burn, you metabolize and convert the overload into heightened combat effectiveness.​

I slowly count out the five separate boxes and feel vaguely annoyed they weren't compressed down into just two. Regardless, this probably counts as winning my gamble several times over. Honestly, I won't know what to think of it until I try it, but it's hard to feel like it's a waste of just one point.

Speaking of points, I look at my remaining 19 Loose SP, and then at Comakinesis. Considering most of my power rolls come with a Loose SP, that means that by the time I can get Tier 2 Powers I'll have gained at least 13 more Loose SP. That… that should be plenty, even with other Upgrades opening up.

I decide to leave a couple Parallel Wills dedicated to justifying the purchase better than simply deciding I want it because I do, and then buy it anyway.

Comakinesis​Cost: 5 SP; Hair/Nails+Chroma Hair​Your control over your hair allows you unrestricted control over its growth, regeneration, reshaping, and length. It functions as a fully controllable appendage, capable of moving independently or acting in unison.

Integrated with your nervous system, your hair provides precise feedback and fine motor control, allowing delicate or forceful maneuvers with ease. Damage is inconsequential, as instant regeneration ensures no permanent loss. Your hair is also highly resistant to physical, thermal, and chemical harm, retaining its durability even in extreme conditions.

Its properties are fully adjustable, letting you modify density, volume, and flexibility at will. It can harden to steel-like strength for defense or offense or soften for intricate tasks. Colors and patterns are endlessly customizable, including dynamic glowing effects or shifting multi-toned hues.​

Immediately I have my Ditto start using her hair as extra hands and am relieved to find it's actually as effective as I'd been hoping. On my real body I take a minute to play around with my suddenly prehensile hair, then move down to the basement to start making use of my new Tinkering specialization. I'll have to stop and go to the Palanquin once I have at least one of my costumes ready, but there's no reason to leave one of my bodies sitting around doing nothing until then.

Besides, isn't attacking a Tinker in their base supposed to be a very, very bad idea? I should probably get to work on living up to that.

Name: Taylor Anne Hebert​​Lovable Horror LVL 10​SP Cap​7​Loose SP​14​Tier 1 Powers(23)​Mover(2)​Shaker(2)​Brute(2)​Breaker(2)​Master(1)​Tinker(3)​Blaster(3)​Thinker(1)​Striker(3)​Changer(0)​Trump(1)​Stranger(3)​Tier 0 Powers(49)​Synergy Powers(19)​Power Upgrades(6)

AN: I removed "Auto Battler" and "Social Thinker" from the Tier 0 upgrades because I can see Taylor wanting it, but absolutely don't want to write about it. "Off Screen" similarly got the cut because it just seems annoying to describe the experience of using it.

The rewards for the new quest chain are due to a combination of it being legitimately very very difficult, but more so because QA is personally offended by the issue and wants it SOLVED.