Chapter Text
Amy POV
I had to know what this was under any circumstance. I hadn’t rested enough last night and I was still planning to go back to the hospital after this, I agreed to come in today simply because my power desired it. I didn’t understand what was different my power supplied me the information I needed to heal others and if I were willing to… I…
Maybe it was that aspect of my powers that made me agree so quickly, I thought if I take a closer look then I can get it to stop all the whispering stirring my desire to do… something regrettable. After Tuesday when Vicky came back from fighting the Merchants with that new guy that's when it happened. After Vicky told me he healed her ribs I was concerned.
What if he was like me, did he do something extra to my sister. Would he do it, Vicky knocked him out of the sky into oncoming traffic. I felt in that moment I had to check to make sure to verify he didn’t and if he did I would fix it, let Vicky know so she could beat this guy black and blue and we send the sick Bastard to the Birdcage.
I asked Vicky to give me her hand she did thinking nothing of it and accepted that I just wanted to see how he fixed her. Then she gave me her hand I touched it and that moment when I checked her was a moment I regret. I wish didn't feel paranoid when she told me he healed her, that I just accepted he did a nice the a good thing out of sincerity instead of fearing that he was as sick as me.
Everything was fine nothing out of place or changed but one thing was different the energy. The body always needed fuel to operate and it gets it from food, but when I looked at Vicky every single cell in her body had this different kind of energy.
Her corona pollentia had more of this than any other part of her body, and when I was in contact with Vicky I don’t know why but it was like that part of her body communicated to me. Somehow it let me know that it was happy and wanted more to so it could be more, and why wouldn't it that energy that that he produced and gave to my sister was so pure and… this is my power talking, not me my power. It believes it was beautiful.
But it doesn't matter if I don’t share that belief my power does. It makes me feel like it’s beautiful, letting me know of all these ideas of how to change someone into something more. These ideas of this sick inspiration of taking a parahuman and improving them keeps me up at night with this thing.
It goes against my rules, I don’t want to do that to anybody but my power is salivating at the thought and it scares me. I checked Vicky again later the energy dissipated over time but it left a trace of something that while not dangerous it wasn't nothing it was like looking at a structure unfinished yet it was enough to give an impression of it being a masterpiece at least that’s the impression my power gave me. Something was given but I don't know what it is. My power doesn't know either but it wants to know to learn.
I can’t find it in me to resist though because I found if I do the pressure to heal patients, to change people, to change Vicky goes away. It’s replaced with a desire to discover what exactly this is and what can be done with it. I know its not any better but come on maybe it doesn’t really do anything and it's just there, that it's just a weird little after symptom that does nothing. I tell myself that so I can make this easier on myself despite my power insisting there is something more to this.
After all my power doesn't have enough to tell me what this is so just maybe… this might not be so bad.
Walking into the PRT building I’m escorted to the infirmary where everyone is waiting Assault, Battery, Aegis, and Vista. Along with a few spectators too, Armsmaster and Director Piggot were present along with some PRT staff.
I pulled the hood of my costume closer to me as I walked toward them, this was more people than I expected I was somewhat uncomfortable with this.
“Thank you for coming in on such a short notice Panacea.” Director Piggot said, I just nodded stiffly. I was more nervous about coming here to check on the heroes now, I didn’t want to seem strange when I checked on the heroes to see Torchlights residual energy. I don't want them to know just how much this guy's healing has fucked with me, the more eyes on me would mean more of a chance I let something slip and I can’t have anyone knowing how bad checking Vicky left me.
I put my left hand close to my thigh and pinched myself, focus fucking focus Amy. I will be fine I have to be just stick to my rules and look them over it is a simple fucking job then I will have my answers and I can go home and rest. Fuck going back to the hospital I don't need to go back if I have to deal with this shit now.
“Yeah well you had concerns and it wouldn’t for four heroes to be benched when I could tell you if there is something wrong or if they are just fine.” It was strange that Vicky never mentioned anything about a boost to her powers like anyone else, then again Aegis hadn't mentioned anything either and he was and Alexandria package too. Vicky only got Torchlight's help after the fighting so not enough of an opportunity to notice anything different than usual, but it could also be equally possible that Vicky just didn't notice that kind of thing unless it was a major enhancement to her ability.
“We would very much appreciate any information about what is currently happening with their abilities.” Armsmaster spoke curtly, it made me feel better though surprisingly enough. Nothing overly familiar and no true or false sincerity.
“Well I’m not sure what more I could tell you but I can clear up any worries. So who's first.”
“First Vista, Battery, Assault, and Aegis is going to be last in that order.” Director Piggot Specified. “Is there any reason we are doing it that way first?”
“Armsmaster if you would please explain.”
“Of course Director. Upon their return to the Rig and how their bodies and abilities felt differently I utilized some old tools to scan each of them for any residual energy as you explained over the phone that when Looking over Glory Girl you said he used his own energy to fuel Glory Girl’s natural healing and accelerated the process. After doing so Aegis was found to have been the most affected by Torchlight's healing containing the most energy within his body. Likely due to both the nature of his injuries as well as being healed twice.”
That seemed about right but even still I wasn't sure how the guy did it. Vicky after being healed should not have had the energy in her body that she did but even still she did. Thinking about it was strange the cells of a human body could not normally hold on to that much energy as it exceeds what human beings should be able to hold but somehow Vicky had it for hours and it didn't do anything to her.
“Well than let’s get to it.” Touching Vista I began looking over for any differences and it was more less like Vicky’s body had been. With that trace of something left over it was akin to leaving a fingerprint only it wasn't on an object but in someone’s cellular structure. I couldn't even get rid of it as it was unaffected when I tried tampering with it.
“So how I am doing.” Vista asked in a relaxed manner, she didn't seem to be afraid of the possibility that something would be wrong. She was probably only here because everyone else was and as the youngest Ward she had to be checked up.
“You are know different than how my sister was the energy for the most part has dissipated.”
“My scanner detected traces of the energy used still on her.” I moved on to do the same to Battery pretty much the same.
“That's normal Armsmaster, whenever he does this he leaves this kind of trace in parahumans think of it like a fingerprint. It will dissipate overtime but faint traces remain.”
“Does that have something to do with the increase in parahuman abilities or-…” He didn't get any further because the moment he said that my power supplied the information when the focus went to Battery's Corona Pollentia. The energy he leaves behind, the excess of it should have just left the body and exited but it didn’t. The Corona Pollentia is why, parahumans are effected because their power is taking the energy feeding off it and having the body hold on to the excess until it can absorb the rest.
Why is it that I know now and not before. “Assualt give me your hand.” Holding out my hand waiting for him to take it.
“Okay sure a bit eager don’t you thi-” I tune out the rest of what he says grabbing his hand when it's close to focus on what I picked up. It’s the same with him.
“Panacea! What is happenings.” I feel a shake on my shoulder and find myself facing Director Piggot. Looking around everyone is staring at me, shit I think got tunnel vision and tuned out everything around m.
“Sorry I had to focus to see what was happening.”
“Well then what is it?” The Directors stare was hard with her hand still on my shoulder keeping me focused I didn't like it but it was better than losing myself so I dealt with it. I let go of Assault and Battery and focused on answering the question.
“The reason you all feel differently than usual is an effect by Torchlight's powers but it's also because of your own Corona Pollentia. Its holding on to the excess energy and absorbing it and likely fueling you're abilities, it’s why you are having a boost in power he essentially supercharged you for the time being and whatever wasn't used your power is feeding off it.”
This time it was Battery who spoke up, “Why would are powers do that though?” That was the question but thinking a bit more I came up with an answer. “Well I’ve healed a lot of people and parahumans at this point. When it comes to people like us parahumans some have unique biology and others do not for you three that I checked your bodies are the same as any normal human. Then you have people like Aegis he looks normal but I see the Redundancies in his biology that allows for him to survive anything I can see how his power works better than anyone else’s.”
With the Director removing her hand from my shoulder I took a breath and continued on. “Bringing it back to you three nothing in your biology tells me how your power works it’s all controlled by the Corona Pollentia. However every time I ever healed one of you after an injury that is all I do, nothing indicates in your body something is being spent for you all to use your abilities except for the Corona Pollentia being more active. So while this may be delving into the realm of speculation what is happening is your power absorbs the excess energy Torchlight let’s off when healing you, holding onto it rather than releasing it. It’s why you feel more energized right now what's left is still going away but it’s going into your Corona Pollentia. Using it as a way to restore whatever energy is required to use you powers, a byproduct is a temporary increase to your abilities while your powers are in the process of absorbing the residual energy held in your bodies.”
Everyone was looking at me now absorbing the information I gave, not entirely sure they believed me but they could not dismiss me as no one could look at someone from the perspective that I was capable of.
Director Piggot spoke up again her face rigid and her voice unflinching, “Could you still look over Aegis and see what his unique biology could tell you.”
I just nodded, after examining this I was more curious about boosting the effects of powers. Part of that was learning more kept my power under control no thoughts of and horrific biological manipulation just a sense of satisfaction delving into discovering this new information. So for as long as I can I will feed my power that way, learning more about this if it can keep me at peace why not feed this hunger for knowledge. If I ever do meet Torchlight again I think I will thank him and after that I will almost certainly be taking a look at his biology to see if it can answer anymore questions.
Johnny POV
How do you heal a wounded heart, what does it take to help someone stand tall once more with a head held high? A lot of people hide their pain and all their problems and carry on despite pain, sadness, suffering, and maybe even rage. Never seen they carry on even if it's a path I of self destruction.
My mother… my true mother from the first life not the one who I have never known in this one. She told me to be strong always even in the most difficult moments of life, she was someone who reminded me always at the weakest point even if what I needed something as simple as a loving hug to hold me when I just fell apart.
She was someone who grew up in an environment where you weren't allowed to be weak that you had to be tougher that words were just words and you just had to shake it off because no one would say sorry or truly offer comfort. Don't think for a second my mother never hugged me or said she loved me, she made damn well sure I knew but her upbringing would show itself.
In the moments I felt like breaking she told me to just be strong. I know it was because of her upbringing, but more than that I think that in her heart strength was what mattered most. It hurt because I so badly wanted to be embraced and just be loved even in my pitiful state of anxiety and sadness but was forced to keep moving forward. It wasn't perfect and frankly it wasn’t what I needed however I made do with it because I believed that this was her way of showing she loved me the only way she knew how so why did I accept it? If I said her love wasn’t enough I would break her heart for something she couldn't truly change it was part of her nature at this point, I loved her too much to do that so I endured the bad times and held myself together because I never wanted her to fear for my well being.
I made friends I shared my pain with and I felt happier in time and part of the reason I was able to was that I just held on like my mother taught me and I stayed strong until I got to that point in life. Despite it not being what I always needed to hear I would thank her… at least I would if I could… but our time together has long since past, all my strength that keeps me going, is derived from the memory of the love shown and given to me. I know that that love is still there and undying in that ordinary world even if I am not alive there anymore.
Now why am I thinking about any of this, it is because currently at four something in the afternoon on my Friday I am running with Taylor for the second time today.
I’m trying to do two things here, help my friend and getting a better understanding of her. I know my past experience is different to hers but even still I can sympathize with her and do my best to try and relate so that she grows to trust me and chooses to talk to me about anything that bothers her.
She asked me if I could help her start exercising, I get what she is trying to do, she is building herself up both physically and mentally, I understand the idea of exercising to build yourself up, I’ve done it when I was ordinary and it was difficult as I started when I was overweight and never really worked out before either sure I did sports but it was only for a short time every year not consistently throughout the year.
Taylor breathes in and out heavily hands on her knees, face red, and dripping with sweat.
“Come on Taylor stand up straight and walk the rest of it if you have to but don't stop.” I said as I overtook her.
Honestly for a girl who never exercised before I expected this as a result but I push her just a bit because, well she asked me to. She wants to not just be in shape not to look good but mainly to feel strong. I think she got the idea from me mentioning how I started the parkour/free running club back in California. I think she got excited from the idea of it but I made her a deal if I was going to show her how to do it and be able to navigate through the city like a jungle gym she had to get to a level of stamina that satisfies me.
More over this is a test not just to see where she is at but also how determined she is to do this. I did cross country for my high school sport and the most difficult thing is pushing yourself to keep running no matter how you feel keep your pace and don't stop moving.
“…No I… can keep going… I won’t stop running… I promise.” She breathing heavily but she pushed herself to start running around the cones I set up sprinting as fast as she could despite being tired. This morning I started her running one mile and depending on how she handled it add half a mile to her run, I didn’t end up having her run another half mile. I was fine with it just being a mile but Taylor knows I’m athletic and she wanted me to push her if I was going to help her.
She had something in her eye and it was driving her to do as much as she could pushing herself hard and get better. I respected it so I added a bit of challenge in the morning we work distance afternoon it would be speed. One exercise for speed I new for is taking three cones and lining them spacing each one away from each other and jogging once around them. Upon completion you sprint one time around and jog one then sprint two times around and jog once.
When I ran cross country me and my teammates did it until we got to ten and what made it harder is we would sprint to the middle cone then back to the starting cone and finally sprint to the last cone and back to the start. Tough training but I’m only having Taylor sprint to the end and cutting it to five. I didn't have her do this in the morning because she struggled and I didn't think she could push herself to sprint after a long distance run.
When she finished the last set I smiled as she fished running and pulled a cold water bottle out for her that I got for her. She took it eagerly and chugged as much as she could down, before sitting on the grass on my front lawn. I decided to have her do this in my neighborhood since it was pretty quiet and not too busy, if I have a complaint it's that in the time since my sister lived here with our parents E88 made it part of their territory. They don't bother me because I’m blonde but if I go far enough into the neighborhood I can easily find the people who wear the gangs symbol on their clothes. I usually stay inside because it makes me uncomfortable but at some point I will kick these guys out, eventually.
“So how often will I be sprinting around these cones?” She looked a little a little concerned about it, understandable considering it was her first time and I didn't tell her that it would be made harder when she got used to it.
“Just one every other day. You are new to this so well start off easy and build yourself up progressively. By next week you will be running two miles non stop in the morning.”
“And your sure I’ll be able to handle it?” She looked to me and I was going to be honest with her.
“Well the first two weeks are the hardest as bad as this seems now after two weeks your body will adjust and you won't be so wiped out after this. I’m trying to put your body through progressive overload, if you do it like this you will progress faster than you would only running one mile for two weeks.”
“Then will you teach me about free running and climbing up buildings.”
“Only if you stick with this and again the earliest time I can start teaching you is in February, you need the time to build a solid and reliable foundation. Now come on well finish up the rest inside.” Taylor was a skinny girl long legs but not much muscle and her stomach jutted out a bit. It wasn’t much so I had to help build her up physically if I was gonna show her how to scale a building like she was an Assassin's Creed character.
Taylor's eyes widened a bit, “The rest what else are we doing? I thought you said this was all the running you would have me do.”
“That’s still true, but you said something about climbing buildings. Gotta build muscle to pull yourself up from things, after all your legs can only do so much of the work. It's just some calisthenics nothing like heavy weight lifting equipment, you don’t have to do that.”
Lifting up my sleeve to show my bicep I brought my arm to her. “Go ahead touch it.”
“Wha- I don’t… I know you have muscles. Wha- what does this.” She was a little shy so I grabbed her hand and had her squeeze it.
“That is… hard.” I think she got the point I was trying to make but I decided to still explain my point since from the squeezing it was like she didn’t believe it was real. “I got the muscles I have primarily through calisthenics, I don't use weights really. I may not have the biggest muscles but they are strong and reliable.”
“Yeah they are solid alright.” She stopped squeezing my arm and moved inside.
Once we got in the garage I pulled out two mats for us.
“So were going to start off with a plank since it's the hardest and it's better to do it when you're still fresh ready.”
She looked shaky at the mention of a plank but she swallowed and nodded. “Okay for how long though?”
“As long as you can Taylor.” She breathed a sigh of relief at that. Its still gonna suck though.
When we finally finished wrapping up Taylor was drenched in sweat and exhausted from everything.
“Hey if you want you could have dinner here, Alfred made more than enough and I could give you a ride home after.”
“Sure that’s cool. Hey just a question who is Alfred exactly, you told me you lived with your sister then I see that British guy in your house and it’s… how does he fit in with this because he doesn't look like a relative.”
Okay time for the vague not too detailed answer, “Alfred is an old friend of the family, he shows up sometimes to check in on us or keep an eye on me when my sister was working late.”
“That's pretty cool of him.”
I grabbed a towel from the rack nearby to give Taylor so she could wipe off the sweat I didn't need one because I don't really sweat anymore, I don't even think that I can.
“He’s always looked out for me and can vouch for him he's trustworthy.” I would know made his entire code and the server he operates out of.
We went to go eat on the kitchen to eat dinner where Alfred already had two plates ready and waiting perfect timing. If I could name one perk of basing my ai’s personality on the most famous butler in comics it's that I never have to worry about food. Even before he had a body to cook with his instructions on how to make and prepare dishes were flawless. It really help my sister learn to be a better cook, I’m not saying she was a bad cook just… it felt weird that my sister could be a bigger fire hazard when in the kitchen while I live in the same house, it really shouldn't be up for debate.
“Jonathan and Taylor enjoy your meal, and Johnny if you two require anything I will be down in the basement don’t hesitate to call me.” I would love to have Alfred here but it would be kind of weird since he would be the only person not eating. Just feel like that one too many times people would catch on, not saying Taylor would know what he is immediately just that there would be questions.
“Thanks Al.”
“Thank you Alfred…” After that we just sat eating our food for a bit before Taylor would decide to make conversation again.
“So what is Alfred doing your basement did he not want to have dinner or was this…?”
“Ohh he ate prior to this he would've stayed here but he likes to spend time crafting things. It's one of the things he and I spend time together on building things.”
“He builds things like is a tech guy or something.”
“Well it's more… he helps me with personal science projects building what I wish and making sure I don't hurt myself when I try to invent something.”
“Your an inventor I didn't expect that from you. You didn’t seem like the type.” I smirked at that.
“It’s not something I really bring up. I haven't really built anything worth putting out there into the world but I have built other things like my laptop and my phone here.” I pull out my phone handing it to Taylor and as she examines it I think about the stuff I have made that I can’t just share with the world.
Reinventing the ark reactor alone can solve the world energy crisis, it’s frustrating because it could prove so helpful but so many people would come after me be it an attack from the Simurgh doing whatever it took to kill me and destroying all records of how to recreate arc reactor technology and brainwashing everyone who knew the process to Mannequin sneaking into the house at night to cut my throat while I slept or worse my sister.
Alfred could probably protect me and my sister while we sleep but if Mannequin brings the Slaughter House 9 he’s not stopping them all it’s just gonna be chaos at that point, things would get very difficult and I'm not sure I would be able to get my sister out safely.
“It’s very sleek and well designed. I don't know much about technology but I figured it would be clunky.”
“I put a lot of thought into it how to make it as durable as can be, 24 hour battery life, and it won't just break down after a few years like iphones so it's reliable I used it for five years now as good as the day I finished it.”
“Anything else?” The question hung in the air not because I didn't have an answer but because I needed to say something that wasn't world changing, then I remembered. “Yeah actually I made my own video games.” That means I remade games I remembered that didn't exist on earth Bet or Aleph, not much is reminiscent on this earth or the other one but Earth Bet does have one famous actor I know existed from my first life, Nicolas Cage.
He was in the Earth Bet version of the Breakfast club and that… that's an experience as are all the other movies he wasn't supposed to be in, it’s interesting like every movie he's been in he plays like one of the later movies where he ups the craziness.
Taylor looked at me inquisitively, “Why make games of all things?”
“Part of its because not a lot of good ones are out there, another is because I guess I like escapism. Imagine a good book you read it and it’s so good you can get lost in it, something you can immerse yourself in to just forget about all of life's worries. Away from all the dread in the air, so you can just breathe.”
We had finished eating at this point and were just talking, I don’t think I have shared this much in this life it was nice.
“I get that life being rough I mean you already know my story.” She paused for a moment but continued on hurrying away from that topic. “Then we have the Endbringers attacking on rotation with some places never able to recover not a lot of hope things will get better. But that's just how things are.”
“I think we can still turn things around, that it doesn't have to be this way.”
“Capes have been coming together for about twenty years and it hasn't always worked out that well. Most people aren’t so optimistic, so why are you so hopeful about it, you say it so easily as naturally as breathing, have you ever looked at the statistics.”
I didn’t have anything to say for a moment so silence hung in the air uncomfortably so it would have Taylor expand on her point.
“I’m not trying to tear you down or anything, I just think you should be realistic and temper expectations. I don’t want you to be disappointed when reality comes knocking because when it does it doesn't knock on a door it simply strikes you in the face over and over again until you get the message.” Well that is a lovely picture I'll be sure to hit back if life starts knocking.
“I have looked at the statistics the number of injured, the people dead, the destruction caused and the ripple effect it’s had on the world, to say reality is grim would be an understatement… I just think that it does no good to dwell on the reality of the situation the danger is real it’s like we are all standing on an edge we can’t walk away from, as were all waiting for the moment someone pushes us over to fall. I think we have to still dream of achieving the impossible even in a situation this horrible look for a way out even if we don't know how to start.”
I got up from my chair and moved over to her side of the table and sat on the edge of it closest to Taylor.
“We have to chase the impossible because for all the horror the world is always going to be worth fighting for because there's people in it that makes life worth fighting for but more than that to live for, so we can’t give up on trying to forge the best future for those around us even with the odds stacked against us.”
“How would you fight for it then Johnny, what can you do to help?” It was a blunt question that was filled with more uncertainty than anything rather than something meant to be dismissive of me.
I thought about it for a while from her perspective she doesn't know I have powers so she is thinking about how can a normal person like me help the issue, I smiled at her and gave her the best answer I could, “Maybe it's not much in the grand scheme when looking at capes and all the powerhouses in the world, but lending someone a helping hand along with a little kindness when they need it can go a long way. A wise woman once said when you help someone you help everyone and so far I helped you. Wait and see I bet you will do something great.”
“Can you even point out one thing about me that makes you certain about me doing something like that.” She was doubtful of whether or not I meant that but I do even if you’re a regular person you can still be the cause for a great change the actions you take and the words you speak can make all the difference.
“Well I know your a good person and your determined you proved that with how much you pushed yourself today. So at this point if I have feeling that you will do something great, well sorry to say but that's your fault I believe in you and I'm not taking back these words my gloomy friend.”
Despite her attempts to keep me from being overly optimistic and being more realistic Taylor failed to do so. I think from the smile the was creeping at the corners of her mouth I helped her be a little more hopeful. Good, smiling looks better on her than that dour frown she usually has hopefully one day that’s a regular habit for her.