//------------------------------// // Interlude 1 // Story: Shard of Magic [Worm crossover] // by blake0831 //------------------------------// "Colin, you should take a look at this", chimed a voice from the workstation speakers. Colin Wallis looked up, his micro-soldering waldo and gripper pausing at their current positions. "Dragon? How urgent is it?" he inquired, putting away the tools and the circuit board he was working on. The bearded man stood up from the workbench and walked to the workstation next to the automated alcove containing his latest Armsmaster 'Field Patrol type' general use powered armour. He was hoping to get the sub-assembly for the arm of his 'Endbringer-Combat' Heavy type done soon... "Not immediate", the familiar computer rendered virtual avatar of the famous Canadian Tinker reassured him. "But concerning. One of my monitoring sub-routines flagged a report just filed with the BBPD by a Daniel Hebert. It alludes to a ongoing bullying case at Winslow High that he claims the school administration is negligent in resolving the issue." The avatar 'took a breath' before continuing (Fascinating how she took the time and dedicated effort to render all these little facial tics and expressions instead of taking a shortcut of simply using a video link and a 3D capture of her own face, Colin mused.) "The case report states that the bullying campaign targeted onto his daughter had been on-going for nearly 3 years, culminating in a particularly nasty 'prank' on the first day of the semester. The victim, Taylor Rose Hebert," a school picture of the fore-mentioned bespectacled, black curly haired Caucasian girl appears in the screen, "had been reportedly shoved into and locked within her own locker that had been filled with rotting garbage. Despite him first reporting it to Principle Blackwell, the administration's inaction prompted the report to BBPD." Colin frowned as he sat down at the chair. "While bullying of this scale is a serious issue, and the school's disregard was disturbing, why did this report needed my attention?", he asked, looking at the split screen of Dragon's avatar on one side, the electronic copy of the BBPD report on the other. "Because Sophia Hess has been named as one of the main perpetrators." Dragon stated. Colin's eyes widened. "...shit. Are there any evidence? Anything we can use as a lead?", he inquired, paying closer attention to the report now. "...nothing concrete enough for BBPD to act." Dragon admitted. "Daniel Hebert submitted scans of Taylor's journal recording the bullying, printouts of email messages harassing her and a couple of pictures of the locker itself post-incident." The screen displayed each piece of submitted evidence. "Unfortunately, the school janitors had already cleaned up most of the mess. There are a few bullying reports filed within Winslow High's computers from Taylor Hebert, but all of them were dismissed by Blackwell, citing that Taylor Hebert is one of the many problem students Winslow High has." Colin resisted the urge to curse again, "So we don't have sufficient concrete evidence whether Sophia Hess actually did it, or was framed by someone with a grudge? All circumstantial? Do we have any independent avenue for clues?" Dragon shook her head. "None. Not even a hospital record. If Taylor had been imprisoned in close proximity to rotting garbage for nearly 8 to 10 hours, it's likely that she could have suffered severe infection at least, and yet there's no record of treatment in any clinics or hospitals." The screen showed a grainy timestamped CCTV screenshot, with a circle pointing out the figure of Taylor as she walked by an ATM camera on her way to her school. "Her attending school a few days later with no visible injury or scarring didn't help matters." Colin frowned, studying the still frame. "Bring up the photos of the locker," he requested. Dragon's avatar minimized itself to a postage size window at the lower left corner, while the screen showed the only two photos available of the suspect locker. "There's some residue lines still on the locker walls in the picture." Dragon pointed out, rendering the indicted parts of the photo lighter. "Taylor must have been practically covered in garbage when she was stuck in there." Colin frowned, then used his finger to point at certain parts of the photo showing the locker door. The computer helpfully placed red circles around the points. "Look at this. If we analyze the locker door, it looks like it has forced opened from the inside. Look at the padlock flange, see how it had been bent and torn away? The dent in the door and the damaged hinges suggest the damage was done with a single strike rather than a continuous push or multiple hits." "That must taken a lot of force." Dragon remarked, creating another small window, this one attempted to render the door as a 3D wireframe based on the photo. Colin nodded. "Yes. More than what an average human body can exert, even taking account of cases of 'hysterical strength'." He locked at the locker cavity, mentally calculating the space within and how an average teenage girl would have fit. "Especially since that there is little leverage inside the locker to do it. It's a tight fit." "...do you think that Taylor Hebert may have triggered within the locker? Maybe as a Brute?" Dragon ventured. "...it's probable, but not conclusive." Colin admitted. "That alone is not enough for the PRT to involve themselves. But with this report naming Hess...", He frowned, thinking deeply. "I'll have to bring this up to Director Piggot." he declared as he straightened up. "Considering Hess's history, this warrants keeping a much closer observation on her. If Hess had been violating the terms of her probation and Blackwell had been negligent in reporting to the PRT," he took a deep breath, "then we should remedy the issue. Before we and the PRT drops the ball any further on this." Dragon's avatar emulated a frown. "Computer records and email transcripts might shed further light on this. I'll see what I can access publicly." Colin nodded. "Good idea. I'll get you the legal initiative to do so." he stroked his beard. "I see if I can wrangle one or two troopers to observe Hess undercover. Her probation also covers her behavior in her civilian life as well. Maybe they can catch her bullying on body cam." "The director might not approve the diversion of available manpower," Dragon remarked. "A bullying case, even one done by a Probationary Ward is a low priority on the totem pole, especially in the face of the villainous capes and gangs crimes in Brockton Bay." That is teeth-grittingly true. The PRT and Protectorate forces here in Brockton Bay have their hands full as it is. "She might." Colin countered. "She frowns on para humans abusing civilians, and this is the mandate the PRT is founded on." He looked at the screen again. "Hess is already a red flag, particularly her penchant for 'unauthorized solo patrols' and excessive violence. Short of able-bodied Capes we may be, but a loose cannon like her will be detrimental." He leaned back. "I'll see if I can discretely get a record of her phone messages..." "The Youth Guard won't like the breach of privacy of a Ward." Dragon warned. "Also, it is likely she has a 'burner' phone for her 'non-approved' activities like this." "Hess is a Probationary Ward. PRT already has leeway in regards to keeping tabs on her." Colin answered. "She may use a burner phone for any incriminating messages, but she's required to keep her PRT issued phone at all times." He gestured. "That phone has a built-in GPS tracker and internal memory to record where she's been for a few days." His face tightened. "And if she had violated her probation on something like this, it's very likely she had renegade on other parts of her probation as well. Like keeping stashes of lethal bolts for use on her solo patrols." Dragon looked in thought. "Multiple angle approach to charge her." She paused, then continued. "We shouldn't tell the other Wards about this. If Hess picked up some word of this, she'll change her behavior and it'll compromise the investigation." "Noted." Colin agreed, then he tiredly leaned back. "Despite my gut feelings about her, we need to be sure Hess is actually guilty, otherwise we might worsen our problems by condemning an innocent Probationary Ward." "Rather have ten guilty men go free than an innocent man convicted." Dragon recited. "Colin.... What about Taylor? If she really had become a Parahuman..." She trailed off. Colin sighed. "We pray that she decides to be a Hero, and that we didn't burn our bridges with her with this fuckup."