Taylor was in deep thought as she went out through the doors of the Brockton Bay Public Library into the late afternoon outdoors, absent mindedly slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
This research session had been enlightening, in several ways.
First was the reason she can even walk all the way here despite the 'Punch-Blast to the foot' incident was only barely a week ago. A quick web search and a look through first aid books confirmed that bruises typically took about 2 weeks or so to heal, and yet her bruised right foot had been as good as new in slightly less than half that time. As it is, she had to play at still being hurt around her dad at home and wear foot coverings to hide the faster than normal healing rate. Even this library trip, she had to sneak out after her dad had left for the Dockworkers Union office, and really should get back home before he did.
At least, she hadn't been idle at home while waiting for her foot to heal. Her further experimentation with the 'Hardlight Shield' power showed some surprising results. That it was both somewhat restrictive and versatile at the same time. If she stuck the 'shape' to anything shield like, the power quickly and with hardly extra 'energy' costs took to it like a duck takes to water. So far, she tried large and small shapes like tactical riot shields, bucklers and variant shapes of the kite shield; and all the shield power creates without any fuss or trouble. She found that the further the creation deviates from the concept, the harder and more costly it is to make, hence why her first 'body armour' took so much time and effort. For some reason, the power wouldn't 'remember' any non shield shape. While it took almost no effort to switch between shield type shapes, she had to re-focus and put it as much effort as the first time if she wanted to force the power to recreate the armour. On the other hand, making small changes like adding a notch/gunport or a sharp cutting edge while having the overall shape be a shield took was surprisingly easy.
Taylor took a deep breath while crossing an intersection, her mind going to the other thing she found. That she may have another Thinker power.
While she didn't have much expectations on the research front after her discovery of the shield power limitations, she thought she could at least browse the PHO forum and wiki sites on the public access library computers for ideas. Upon entering the library however, she suddenly started feeling very giddy and detoured to the bookshelves instead, and....
And within a few hours, Taylor had somehow ravenously devoured (not literally) a large and eclectic mix of books. Subjects ranging from University-level Physics and Chemistry text books and research papers, to books about baking and cooking. For some reason, her attentions even wandered to books about veterinary medicine and human athletic achievements and world records.
The telling thing about the whole thing, that while most of the materials went over Taylor's understanding or capacity to remember, another part of her seems to be relishing, learning and comprehending all the books she had gotten her hands on. Thinking about it, she had gotten the impression as if the information was being read, transcribed, noted and stored away within a... database of library in her head.
She suspected had that had she not have be home by late afternoon, this newly discovered... power? urges? might have led to her reading pretty much everything within the library. As it is, it took a lot of willpower to drag herself away from the stacks, and checked out a few fantasy books (for personal inspiration. She might not buy into the Myriddin thing, but maybe she can get some ideas...).
Taylor shook her head as she cross another intersection.
So... she has a different Thinker power? One very different from the Honesty (wait, why did she phrased it like that?) one, or the social cues one or the minor pre-cog (she suspects) one. A Thinker power geared towards... what? Information? Learning? For the first time, Taylor was glad that her house doesn't have a decent computer or an internet connection, or that the concept of internet didn't seem to have sink in to that part of her, otherwise she might get stuck in front of it all day feeding this power. Even now, she can feel it pouting at her for cutting short the session and trying to plead with her (she's fighting with herself? The hell?) for another library trip.
'That's at least two more to add to the list.' Taylor mused. 'Wonder how many-'
"Get off me you bastards!"
The sudden shout startled Taylor out of her thoughts, her head looking about to find the source. 'Wha-'
"Just give us your dough, you bitch!"
It seems to be coming from that alley across the street. Without thinking about it, Taylor quickly made her way to the alley mouth.
With the afternoon sun behind her, she could see the commotion. A young girl struggling against two shabbily dressed men. One of the men was holding the shorter girl up by her arms, and the other seems to be dodging the girls flailing legs, one hand holding a knife and the other reaching into his pants pocket. "Stop kicking, or we'll-"
"Hey, You!" Taylor shouted. Wait, why did she interrupt a daylight mugging? The words had just... popped out of mouth without her thinking about it.
All three looked at her. The surprise on the knife man soon replaced by a sneer. "Oh? What's this? This girl a friend of yours?"
A part of Taylor quailed, wanting to run. A larger part (or two?) instead put a stern look on her face and stand defiantly before the two scoundrels. "Let her go."
An ugly smirk came over the knife goon's face. "Or what? You're going to call the coppers?" His other hand came out the pocket, drawing out a handgun. "How about you don't, and give us your cash now." He gestured threateningly with the gun at her. "Or I popped you a couple holes."
Taylor wanted to cower back at the sight of the gun. A smaller part noted the way the gun held rather unsafely and carelessly (how did she know that?) as the now-gunman waving it at her....
A sudden twitch in her left shoulder and a strong urge alerted Taylor, and she without hesitation wiped up her left arm and created a large teal riot shield, just as the carelessly held gun discharged itself and sent a bullet towards her.
All four present froze momentarily; both at the sudden gunshot and where the shield stopped the bullet, before Taylor snapped out of it and on impulse, bring up her right arm around the shield, her fist already have a glowing corona of teal coloured energy around it.
"Crap! Cape!" The other man yelped, dropping the girl as Taylor fired a wildly aimed Punch-Blast at the gunman. The bolt passed by his head causing him to flinch and returned a couple of shots in panic. She peered through the transparent view slot of the shield and correct her aim.
Her second shot hit a nearby garbage can and sent it flying, prompting the gunman to scramble back while firing again and the second man to just turn and ran.
Finally, her third shot nailed the gun wielding goon in the chest, sending him flying and knocking down his buddy, causing both to tumble together to the ground in a heap.
Taylor paused, still covering behind her shield and her right hand ready to fire a fourth shot at the pile. Are they down? Are they going to run? Are they de-
"Holy shit, that was awesome."
The statement cause Taylor to remember that there was still another person in the alley. The girl just sat in the ground with a wide eyed look at her.
Cautiously, Taylor crab-walked her way towards the girl while keeping an eye on the softly moaning and groaning heap (they're not dead!), keeping her shield and Punch Blast at the ready.
"Are you alright?" Taylor asked the girl got close enough to get a proper look at her. The slim black girl with dreadlocks appears to be younger than her, but yet curvier than she was (That's not fair), dressed in a punk goth style shirt, vest and jeans (why did Taylor had a sudden urge to screech in indignation of the girl's clothes?).
"Yeah, I'm good." The girl said dismissively, waving a hand. "Those two didn't get a chance to do much." The girl looked at Taylor speculatively "So, are you a new cape? New Wave?"
New Wave? Why New Wave?
Taylor's confusion must have been plain to see, because the girl gestured to her face. "You know? Helping people? Glowly powers? No mask?"
No mask?
What mask?
Oh crap! No mask!
Again, Taylor's feelings of sudden dawning horror must been plain easy to see, as the girl quickly hold up a pair of placating hands. "Woah, woah. It's okay. Just chill! I won't tell anyone! I promise!"
Taylor took a deep breath to calm down. "I- I-" another deep breath. "You promise?"
"Yeah" The girl took a glance at the heap of unconscious (?) attempted muggers. "You did me a solid. I won't tell. With the sun behind you just now, it was hard for me to see your face, much less those two drugged idiots can."
Taylor took another breath. "Thanks" She took another look at the downed goons. "How about we- we just get out of here? Can you get back okay?"
"Don't worry," the girl waved at Taylor dismissively. "I can take of myself. See you later, hero."
With that, the girl was out of the alley and vanished around the corner. Taylor took one last look at the heap before dismissing her shield and Punch Blast and quickly beat feet for home.
'Well' Taylor thought 'That was eventfull.'
**************************
"Aisha! Where have you been?!"
"Chill, Brian. I was just hanging around."
"You know the neighbourhood is too rough for just hanging out."
"Relax, big bro. I can handle myself."
".....nothing happen?"
"Nope. Nothing at all."