Keep Calm and Respawn

A Worm Fanfiction

By: Konsaki

07 Jan 2011

I first through it was all a bad dream… No, a night terror. You know, not 'wake up screaming' but 'wake up frozen in fear, unable to breath'. Having to watch the light slowly fade from Mom's eyes after we got t-boned; that kind of terror.

This time, I was the one slowly dying.

Okay, maybe I should take a figurative step back and paint the scene for you...

It was early Friday evening, the first one of 2011 in fact. The halls of Winslow High School were dead silent, save for my own breathing, everyone else already escaped for the weekend. The evening sun shown through an open classroom door behind me, silhouetting my shadow onto the source of my disbelieving terror. The face of the closed door to my school locker.

Yes, my mother was an English Literature professor.

And yes, I know 'my school locker' is anti-climactic' but only if you don't know the context, so…

It all started after Mom died. My dad, Danny, and I were just as wrecked as the car Mom died in. Time heals all wounds is a lie, you just learn to cope with it. They say the best way to cope, though, is to be with friends and family. That would have been an outstanding plan to follow, except my dad was just a hair's breadth away from catatonic and Emma went from 'best friend' to 'worst enemy' around the same time.

Emma Barnes, Sophia Hess and Maddison Clements; the 'popular trio' of Winslow High and my tormentors for the past two years. At first, it was just catty comments and bad jokes at my expense but it all too soon moved on to 'practical jokes' and 'pranks'. Yes, I put those in quotes on purpose, because pouring paint into your backpack and textbooks isn't a 'prank' it's just plain bullying. Once the Trio learned the school would let them get away with it, it was open season on scrawny, gawky Taylor Hebert… open season on me.

That's what lead to me standing here in the empty prison of a school, sun dipping down onto the horizon behind me as I stare at the graffiti covered row of generic metal lockers in front of me.

Well, not completely, I guess, but it explains the history involved.

Winter break, covering Christmas and New Years, was amazing this year. It was almost two weeks of not having to deal with the Trio, where I could finally relax after almost 5 months of constantly having to look over my shoulder or listen to their cutting remarks. Then came the first full school week of the year and, like a mad tinker throwing an electrical switch, I became more paranoid than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Why? Because the Trio had ignored me and with each passing day, my nerves ratched up a notch. It was literally too good to be true and I knew it because they'd done this in the past and there was one general rule for this; the longer the 'ignore Taylor' lasted, the worse off the 'prank' that followed. Even prepared for it, they still got me in the end.

Wednesday I found a hiding spot, a crevice in the storage room where you had to crawl under stacked desks to get to it but it was hidden from all sight once you were there. From that spot, I hid until almost everyone left the school each day, empty halls providing the safety from my tormentors while I grabbed my things and left for home. It worked all the way until Friday afternoon.

Seems I played right into their hands.

I crawled out of my hiding space and skulked to my locker, still wary of the Trio finding me but I guess I still let my guard down once I reached my destination. I remember putting in the combo to the lock, pulling it off and opening the door. I'm not going to go into detail as to what I found inside shocked me to paralysis but just think of the most creepy, disgusting and… well, use your imagination and I might have seen it in my locker, covering all my things.

That's when I heard the whisper in my ear, like it was softly carried on the wind. Sophia's voice sardonically saying, "Surprise!"

Then something hit me and I blacked out.

When I came to, I found myself in the trapped confines of that metal coffin, covered in that disgusting filth while feeling… things crawl all over and biting me in places while I felt blood well from my head wound. Needless to say, I freaked the fuck out like a cat in a cage being dipped into water. I started to scream for help while pounding onto the metal door to my coffin. In a moment of clarity, I tried to work the latch from the inside but that bitch had put the lock back on.

I don't know how long I was trapped in there but it felt like hours. Through it all, I screamed, pleading for help, while banging and scratching at that metal door, hoping and praying for someone to save me. As the minutes passed, my throat burned as I screamed it raw and my fingernails tore off, leaving bloody trails on the interior of that metal prison. Then, as time passed, my screams became shouts, then calls, then moans, then whispers even as my banging and clawing slowed to soft caresses of the metal. Eventually, I just stopped, feeling so drained and tired.

I don't know if it was delirium from my mind snapping, venom from whatever kept biting me though that had gone numb long ago or plain blood loss but I swear I could feel myself slowly dieing.

The one thing running through my mind was how unfair this all was and how I deserved a second chance at… at life.

I… I can't properly explain what happened next. I had some sort of hallucination… a vision or something about lights but not the 'walk into the light' kind. It's… unexplainable.

And then I found myself in the hallway, staring at the row of lockers with my shadow silhouetting mine. The only thing I could think of was it was all a bad dream.

We've finally come full circle. Hurray!

Anyways, so there I was, standing in the hallway. I had to know, was it really a dream? It was one of those 'What's in the box?!' moments that will drive you insane if you don't find an answer.

So, I walked up and ripped the door off.

Yes, you read that correctly; scrawny, stick girl Taylor Herbert ripped the locker door clean off. I could still hear it clattering down the hallway as I stared at the… mess inside. I didn't see any blood inside but you could clearly see that someone… I had struggled inside with the filth. Belatedly, I checked myself over and found myself completely healed and clean, as if I had… reset to before being shoved and locked inside.

"I'm a Cape." I whispered in incredulity. You know; superhuman, metahuman, mutant or whatever super powered person you read in the comic books. In Brockton Bay, my home city, we call them Capes.

It's hard to explain how I knew… It's sort of like how you 'know' you have a left hand. I guess having a second liver would be more apt but anyways.

With that last thought, I quickly rushed home to find Dad still at work, one of the few times I was ever happy with him having to work late.

Running up the stairs to my room, I slammed the door closed so I could look into the mirror hanging on the back side of it. It wasn't until I gave myself a look over that I realised I wasn't wearing my glasses. My hereditary nearsightedness and astigmatism was cured and all it took was becoming a Cape.

Pulling out a notebook and pen, I made out a list and started testing out powers as I thought of them. Had to have gotten out of the locker somehow, right? So, I started there first.

Teleportation: Tried to teleport across the room and didn't move an inch. Test Failed.

Portals: I looked like an idiot swiping my hand through the air and waving circles. Test Failed.

Phasing or Intangibility: Tried pushing my hand through my bed and nothing. Test Failed.

Time powers: Staring at a clock for five minutes, only sore from straining too hard. Test Failed.

Super Healing: Very slightly cut my finger, just enough to bleed. Still hurt and needed a bandage to stop the bleeding. Test Failed.

Okay, well I at least had to have Super Strength, right? I mean, I ripped off the locker door! Tried to lift the corner of my bed and… yeah, Test Failed.

Finally had to stop for the night when Dad came home. I tried to play off my excitement as him finally being home and tomorrow being Saturday. I didn't want him to know about my plans to continue 'Power Testing' in the morning.

I could barely sleep that night.

o0O0o

08 Jan

After a quick breakfast and a kiss on Dad's cheek, I ran out to find a quiet, secluded place to test out powers. That turned out to be an alleyway between two closed businesses. Once found, I started a new battery of tests.

Super speed, Super Endurance, Super Eyesight, Super Thinking… basically, if you could put Super in front of something, I tested to see if I had it. All failed.

It wasn't until after I had lunch and time to cool down that I put more thought into it. What was the most defining thing about when I became a Cape?

I was dieing.

Now, the thought of stabbing or shooting myself to test this was out of the question. I mean, what if I'm wrong? 'Game over, man! Game over!'

So, I figured that maybe I could trick it into thinking I was in a 'do or die' scenario. I wondered if this counted as having suicidal thoughts as I found a fire escape that had its ladder lowered and started climbing to the four stories to the roof.

Okay, I've never really been afraid of heights but peeking down over the ledge, I felt the world twist as a wave of vertigo washed over me. Yeah, this is definitely a life threatening situation. Looking across the alley, I estimated the distance between roofs to be ten, maybe fifteen, feet apart due to the overhang.

Hey, if James Bond can do it, and he's just a normal human, I should be able to make it since I'm a Cape!

Gathering up my courage, not hard when there's so little there, I backed away to the other side of the roof. I needed to make a running start just to make sure. Hopping on my toes a bit, I kicked off into a sprint, watching the edge of the roof rush up. My left foot hit the edge and I pushed off.

Time seemed to slow down, my target rooftop coming closer as I continued to run mid-air. It was halfway through the leap that I realised that I wasn't going to make it. From that point, it wasn't running in mid air, my only plan now was to stretch out my arms to try and grab onto anything to prevent death!

Turns out I was wrong twice, I did actually reach the other roof; at least my arms did. Physics has a way of punishing you for any and all mistakes, though. You know, like latching onto the inside edge of the raised roof crown with your fingers while your body is now falling into the alleyway.

My chin broke against the stone moulding with a sickening crack.

My eyes flashing with blinding pain, I felt my fingers slip and gravity took full hold once more. Honestly, I'm not sure what happened next but I felt myself tumbling as I fell. Eventually, my face met the concrete below and I think neck broke. I swear, though, I had a couple of moments to realise that this was it, I was dead, before my powers kicked in.

Next thing I remember, I was standing in the same alleyway, perfectly healthy and whole. Believe me, I gave myself a full pat-down to check.

I died… and then, well, not resurrected…

"Reset? No, then I'd be up on the roof." Whatever, my powers were, I might be effectively immortal.

Wait…

That means that I actually died in that locker. Fuck! Sophia Hess fucking killed me! And, since I'm a Cape that… that… that respawns like a video game character, she's going to get away with it!

I screamed out in rage and punched a nearby trashcan. The thin metal can dented in before rocketing down the alley. Blinking, I looked at my fist; completely fine, not even a scuff.

I felt slightly… not weaker but… empty? I guess? It felt odd. As soon as I punched the trashcan, I… spent something but I only felt it now that it was gone.

Like any good idiot teenager, I punched rocket trash can's brother. "God damn, that hurt!"

Holding my right hand, I felt it tenderly. Nothing broken, no cuts in the skin; just hurts like hell. Shaking out the pain if only to start ignoring it, I thought about what I'd learned so far.

First, if I die, my power 'respawns' me near where I died in a fully healed state. I don't know the limitations on what constitutes 'death' but a broken neck and whatever happened in the locker count.

Second, I somehow gain… charges? I guess that works. I can spend these charges to do what? I guess I can punch things really hard without breakin my hand. Maybe I can kick stuff, too? Wonder what else I can do…

Looking around the alleyway and the destroyed trash can lying farther down, I cringed a little and decided I needed to move along. Besides, this was something to celebrate!

"I'm thinking ice cream…"

o0O0o

09 Jan

I decided to stay in today… could have been the hangover from the excitement yesterday, could have been the next step in my self discovery of my new future or it could have been the violent thunderstorm raging on outside.

A flash of lightning illuminated my darkened bedroom just then, as if in answer, followed by the rolling chorus of thunder a moment later as sheets of water splashed against the window.

Okay, so it was the raging storms keeping me inside.

The door cracked open, Dad knocking softly as small kerosene lamp he held flooded the room with flickering amber light. "You doing okay, kiddo?"

"Yeah, Dad… just, you know, hanging out in the darkness."

Dad just sighed, not happy either about the power outage. "I know. I've already called the power company but they can't do anything till the storms pass."

Sometimes living next to the Ocean sucks. Get some fresh fish and moderate temperatures but when it rains, it rains hard.

"You want to join me downstairs and share the light?"

"No thanks. I'm… thinking on stuff." We were watching some movies earlier in the morning but with the power out…

Dad blinked and looked interested. "Oh? What about?"

About me being a Cape and what I'm going to do about it. Instead of saying that I just shrugged while still laying on my bed. "You know… stuff."

Dad just rolled his eyes. "Okay, then. Well, if you need to talk about anything, let me know." With that, he closed the door but I heard him muttering something about me being 'that age'.

Back in the darkness, occasionally broken by the lightning that caused said darkness, I actually thought about the problem instead of just letting my mind wander. What did I want to do now that I had powers?

Another flash of lightning illuminated the room, letting me see an Alexandria poster I had on the wall. One of the Triumvirate, the three most powerful Capes in the United States and the original Capes of the Protectorate. If you had to classify Alexandria's power set to a few words, she's a flying brick… a beautiful flying brick that fights Endbringers and does other heroic things to make things safe for normal people.

I had the power to die and then laugh it off. I wasn't beautiful, I can't fly and my punches need charges or something to even work. Alexandria I was not.

Still, the fact that I had powers and the Trio at Winslow didn't brought a smile to my lips.

My mind wandered at that, thinking of how I could have messed with them if I had other, more versatile, powers. Spraying them with water or liquid, dropping bugs on them with levitation, set their hair on fire or any number of things powers do.

As nice as it would be to strike back at them, my new powers weren't really set up for that. I mean, I could set up an elaborate death trap for me to 'die' in but the respawn would definitely out me as a Cape, which I really don't want. So going after the Trio was out of the question.

The storm lit up Alexandria's heroic pose once more.

"Hero. Definitely a Hero."

Hero vs Villain question: Answered. Just call me Aristotle, cause I have all the answers apparently. So, what am I going to do as a hero? Save people but how?

Maybe start small. Set myself up as a Hero with small-time heroics until my Cape name is recognized. That way I'm not mistaken for a villain. I've read too many comics that have that stupid plot device.

Cape name? Not Phoenix or any spelling of that. I can think of at least three other heroes and one villain with that name. Also nothing to do with zombies, vampires or undead. One Revenant is enough and my powers are not 'corpse coming back to life', thank you very much!

Maybe I should just keep it simple for now. It's not like I can't just 'rebrand' myself later on if I think of something better. Guess I'll go with Respawn till then. I mean, it matches my powers, right?

Now, the biggest question; what am I going to do about a costume?

Shit.

Even if I saved my allowance for months, I'm not going to make a good costume. Why couldn't my powers be like Narwhal's and make my own costume with forcefields. Nah, I don't have the guts or figure for that.

Running through my meager wardrobe by memory, I winced at my limited options. I guess the most important factor is keeping my 'secret identity' secret right now instead of impressing everyone. Who knows, maybe there's some sort of fund for new Capes. In the meantime, I'll make due with what I have.

At least I don't have to worry about weapons, glancing over at my small desk. Inside the top drawer was a collapsible baton and a can of mace. Dad got them for me last year for my birthday. He probably thought I'd have filled out more and needed something to fight off all the boys. Well, jokes on him and me; I'm as figured as a stick!

Yay… go me.

o0O0o

15 Jan

Well, this week has been a real shitshow.

First off, the principal of Winslow somehow managed to blame me for the locker. Me! I'm the victim in all this! I mean, sure, I ripped off the door but that was extenuating circumstances.

Thankfully, and I say that with as much sarcasm as humanly possible, they aren't charging me for the vandalism. The principal sure talked my ear off, though.

Then the Trio started up on their catty comments again. Guess Sophia told them what she did or they were all in on it and she just did the deed. Either way, they're starting from the bottom of the bullying scale, which… well, I'm not fine with it but I can deal with it for now.

Anyways, it's Friday! Time for Respawn to make her debut!

Took a nap this afternoon, Dad's asleep right now and weather is decent tonight. Going to patrol the downtown alleyways for petty crooks. Gotta start somewhere.

Looking into the mirror, I do a quick equipment check. Hiking high-tops, blue jeans, grey hoodie with an old surplus army jacket Dad never wears and a black winter snow mask that covers my mouth and nose. Even though I've got my frizzy brown hair in a low ponytail, pulling the hood up covers pretty much everything but my eyes. It's more than Ms Militia, so I think that's good.

Patting the front pockets to the army jacket, I feel the collapsible baton and mace cans. Remembering, I pull on my thin leather gloves. Nothing like holding cold metal in winter.

Looking in the mirror once more, I have to sigh. I look like a malnourished homeless person than a hero. Still, you gotta start somewhere, I guess.

Sneaking out of the house was relatively easy, just making sure to avoid the creaky fourth step on the stairs.

It took me around thirty minutes of walking before I reached the edge of Downtown Brockton Bay. By then, a soft snow had begun falling from the sky, though it melted off once it hit the ground. Slipping into the alleyways was easy and no one even gave me a second glance in the darkness.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I skulked through the shadows. I felt so dirty, like I was a thief or something. Glancing at my watch, I was surprised at how little time had passed, only fifty minutes.

A door opened ahead of me and I ducked behind a trash can. A man peeked his head out and glanced around. If my heart was pounding before, it was a freaking V12 engine now!

After a moment, the man stepped out into the alley and lit up a cigarette. The minutes pass as his cig shrinks. Finally, once my heart rate calms down, he tosses the butt of the cig into a nearby can before going back inside.

The alleyway to myself once more, I let out a nervous giggle. All worked up for a smoke break. I felt exhausted as the giggling continued, my body sliding down to sit next to the trash can.

Some hero I'm turning out to be, getting freaked out like this. What if it was an actual villain or just a normal mugger?

I think I'm suffering an adrenaline crash.

Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, stand up, brush myself off and turn back towards home. I'm not getting anything done tonight, not with my nerves fried like this.

Kinda disappointing though, such a short patrol and nothing to show for it…

o0O0o

16 Jan

The soft snow started back up once the sun set on Saturday. It was just as easy for me to sneak out of the house, though I decided to ride my bike further downtown before I started my patrol.

Once more, I skulked down the alleyways. I might look like an idiot, trying to keep in the shadows but it was boring to just walk around at night. At least this time my heart decided to keep a normal tempo.

After almost two hours of patrolling, I was just turning back towards where I left my bike when a muffled scream echoed off the alley walls. Freezing in place, my heart heard it's cue and revved back up to V12 redline. Silence had taken reign over the area once more.

Straining my ears, I finally heard the quiet muffled crying and forced myself to take one step towards it. One became two and three and I stalked forward towards an intersection in the alleyway.

Peeking around a corner, I saw a man standing over a woman on the ground. In his hand was a knife, red dripping off the blade.

Well, there goes my heart again and this time my lungs decided to join in.

It took me way longer than I'd have liked to pull out my baton. Flicking it to full extension, the resulting clack of metal on metal resounded loudly off the walls.

"Who's there?!"

My breath hitched as the man hissed out dangerously, obviously hearing my actions. Come on, girl, relax. Remember that you're a Cape now and he can't kill you. I slowly let out my breath before hearing him slowly move towards the intersection I was hiding at.

My gloves groaned slightly as my grip on the baton tightens. Wait for him to turn the corner, then strike to the face. Wait for him to turn the corner then, STRIKE!

"Gah!" The man cries out in pain, falling to the ground. Another grunt of pain when he hits, then he's still.

"Oh, god. Oh, god." Gotta check! Make sure I didn't just kill him!

Leaning down, I see the growing bruise from where I bashed him in the face with the baton along the jaw. He's breathing still, little plumes of steam coming out of his mouth. I breath a sigh of relief.

A groan of pain from behind me. Oh, yeah, the woman. I move over to her before coming to a halt. She's scared of me, trying to push herself away while holding her shoulder. I pull my hood back, showing I'm a girl hopefully. "It's okay, I'm here to help."

The woman breaks down crying in relief, letting me relax just a little. I'm sort of lost on what to do now, though. I don't have any first aid gear but her wound doesn't seem that bad. I guess I'll just call 91…

I close my eyes and take a breath.

I don't have a cell phone. I can't call for help. I'm an idiot.

"Ma'am. Ma'am!" It takes a bit to get her attention. "Do you have a phone I can use to call 911?"

Talk about awkward but I use her phone and call 911. After passing on the location and condition of the victim and man, I try to keep the woman and myself calm. I leave just as the sirens start getting loud. It's already getting too late and I'm suffering an adrenalin crash again.

I can't help but feel elated as I ride home on my bicycle. I helped someone! I'm a real hero!

Awesome!

PS to Self: Get a prepaid cell phone or something!

o0O0o

22 Jan

All suited up and ready to head out, I glanced at the mirror in my room again. This… costume still has a lot to be desired. You know, actually being a costume?

I just let out a sigh, just like I've done the couple times this week I've gone out in it.

Tonight, though, it's going to be different. Instead of going downtown I'm heading into ABB territory!

The Protectorate, or PRT, are like the Super Police and they technically keep the peace in Brockton Bay. The technically isn't a mistake as they still haven't cleaned up the three main gangs in town: the ABB, the E88 and the Merchants.

The ABB, or Azn Bad Boys, are basically the Chinese Triad under Lung. They control the train depot and part of the warehouse area north of my house.

The E88, or Empire 88, are basically Neo-Nazis and lead by a man named Kaiser. Original name, I know. Anyways, they have the run of the commercial districts west of here.

Lastly, and certainly least, are the Merchants under Skidmark. Thinking about it, Respawn is actually a good Cape name, but I digress. They technically run around the Docks on the other side of ABB territory but they're really just drug users who also make drugs. I'm honestly amazed that they haven't overdosed and died yet.

So, why did I choose the ABB over the Merchants? Cause the ABB are closer and I'm not sure I want to deal with a gang of homeless people when my costume looks like 'The Hobo Avenger'.

Taking a deep breath, I shake out my nerves. Well, enough delaying, time to go looking for trouble.

It took me about forty minutes to find some ABB goons. Problem was, they weren't doing anything! They were just standing around at the mouth to an alley smoking cigs and talking in what I think is Chinese to each other. So, I had a decision to make, do I watch these goons and wait for something to happen or move on…

I let out a soft sigh and settled down to wait it out, just another lump of rubbish in the darkness. Why couldn't I have a mover power so I could patrol a larger area faster?

It wasn't too much longer till someone walked up to the duo of ABB goons. There was some hushed talking, then the stranger shook hands with each of the goons.

If I hadn't been paying attention, I would have missed the drugs swapping hands and eventually going into the stranger's coat pocket. Thank you powers for the free eye surgery!

Okay, it's show time. Time to bust some drug dealers!

Now if I could only stop shaking.

I took three deep breaths before finally building up the nerve to stand and move towards the two thugs. Come on, Taylor, you're immortal! What are they going to do? Shoot you? So what!

Mentally talking myself up, I strode forward until I was ten or so feet away. A last second thought had me trying to deepen my voice. "You two are under arrest for…"

The sound of two gunshots rang out in the confined alleyway and I jerked back twice to clutch my belly. Looking up, one of the thugs had a pistol pointed towards me. The motherfucker shot me! Twice!

That's when the pain hit. Huh… who knew getting shot in the gut hurt so much. How much? Enough that I could only curl up into a ball and keen in pain. I think the thugs said something but all I could concentrate on was my own panicked breathing and the growing pool of red life fluid growing under me. I'm such an idiot… and it's getting colder…

Twisting my head up slowly, I glared at the two thugs calmly examining my prone form like it was nothing to them. Stupid powers… why can't you have pain immunity or some other bullshit. The thugs turned away as I let out one last haggard breath.

You know, it's quite a jarring feeling, going from excruciating pain from being shot in the stomach to instantly being so full of life that you feel supercharged.

With that in mind, I think Thug #2 could be excused for his shriek of surprise when I, the dead body behind them, punched his partner into the parked suburban before them. Oh, and I don't mean bounced off of said suburban; Thug #1 is literally in the vehicle with only his legs hanging out of the shattered back passenger window.

Okay, there's a charge spent. Guess I get some charge when I respawn? Something to check later.

Seems Thug #2 rubbed his two brain cells together and realised he's messing with a Cape. Why do I think that? Cause he just busted off in a harried sprint away from the 'Murder Hobo'.

"Get back here, asshole!" I yell out, taking off after him.

Damn. He's faster than me and I'm getting tired already. It's all I can do the keep him in sight as he turns corners ahead of me. Ung… this stitch in my side hurts!

Panting for breath, I turn the final corner to see Thug #2 crank up the SUV with Thug #1 now fully in the back seat. Huh, I guess he's smarter than he looks, cause he just ran me in a circle. Oh, and he's about to run me over with t…

My body goes flying from the impact and wraps around a light pole… backwards… If the pain of being shot was excruciating, I've found something worse as my spine shatters.

And now I'm standing on the sidewalk, the SUV already rocketing off into the distance.

"Well, shit."

Letting out a deep sigh, I turn around and start walking home. I think I'm done for the night.

o0O0o

23 Jan

Uhg… so exhausted…

Somehow, I managed to drag my worn out body up the front stoop of my house without falling. I had to lean against the door as I fumbled with the locks, my legs feel like jello. Finally unlocking the door, I opened it up and stumbled through, managing to pull it closed behind me.

Dad looks at me from the stove, I think he's making lunch? "You okay, kiddo?"

I smile slightly at the concern in his voice as I collapse at the table. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just tired."

Dad quirked his brow at me, must be thinking of why I'm looking like this. Don't blame him really, I'm drenched in sweat and wearing my workout sweats. "Anything I need to know?"

Yes but I'm not going to tell you… I feel dirty thinking that. "Don't worry, Dad. I know I can talk to you. I'm just… trying to improve myself, you know?"

"Improve yourself, huh?" Dad mused, dumping some noodles into the boiling water. Spaghetti sounds good right about now. "Is it about a boy?"

I blink at that before sighing. "No, Dad. You don't have to worry about any boys trying to date me." Why would they look at me when almost every other girl in Winslow outshines me in the beauty department.

"Is it… a girl then?" It takes a moment before I squeak in surprised incredulity at his question. "Hey, I just want you to know, I'll love you either way, Taylor."

"No, Dad! There are no girls, either!" I roll my eyes before standing up, legs still weak but not wobbling anymore. "Anyways, I'm going to go take a shower and change."

"Okay. Lunch will be ready once you're done. Love you, kiddo."

"Love you, too, Dad" I call back down the stairs. Hmm… a hot shower sounds amazing right now.

o0O0o

25 Jan

"Running's just going to make you tired!" I panted out, not mentioning how tired I already was.

The cutpurse finally had a turn of bad luck, finding himself in a fenced off alleyway with that curly barbed wire on top. When he turned around to run back, there I was.

"Take a wrong turn there, buddy?" The mask covering the bottom of my face hid the smirk but you could hear it in my voice plain as day.

The crook scowled before dropping the purse and unsheathing a knife. And not a baby switchblade but a full on Bowie knife! "I don't want no trouble, so just let me go, girl."

You've got a knife, so what? I've been shot twice and even that didn't keep me down! I flicked my wrist, extending my baton while taking a deep breath. "Come at me, bro."

You know those movies where the hero and villain stare each other down before rushing forward towards a well choreographed melee fight? Well, I got half of that right.

We stared at each other until I shifted my foot slightly, then we rushed towards one another.

After that, well… He dodged my baton and sliced my neck open. The fight was over that quick. Somehow, and I'm still not sure how, I managed to pull out my mace and sprayed it into his face.

Damn, who knew choking to death on your own blood could be that uncomfortable.

Eventually, but not quick enough, I finally respawned, fresh and ready to fight. Looking around, I saw and heard the crook trying to scrub his eyes clear of the burning liquid. Reaching over, I picked up my baton, walked up behind him and whacked the hand holding the knife. He screamed in pain, clutching his injured hand, giving me just the opening to hook the baton under his chin and start choking him out.

"Let's see how you like it, jerk." I muttered, burning a charge to drop him down on his stomach, all the while holding the baton over his windpipe. Sitting on his back, I held on as he thrashed wildly, trying to buck me off and regain access to air. It took longer than a thought it would before he finally settled down and I let go.

I wanted to arrest the man, not kill him!

Still, to the victor goes the spoils, right? With that thought in mind, I divested the criminal of both knife and sheath. Who knows, it could prove useful. Thinking on it, I also found his wallet and became more wealthy by sixty-seven dollars.

Now all that was left was calling the police and heading home. Not bad for a Tuesday night.

o0O0o

29 Jan

Powers are weird.

Okay, maybe some context might be nice for that statement.

Last night, I found out I can 'force' a respawn if I'm hurt. It's kinda acts like I died but without giving me a charge. Thing is, I force it unless I'm hurt 'enough'. How much is enough? Damned if I know!

I mean, I 'know' when I can because it's like a button lights up in my brain and I can press it to do the respawn but exactly how hurt I need to be to activate it is still up in the air. Papercuts and other minor things are no good but slamming a Bowie knife into my thigh can trigger it if I wiggle it enough.

Yeah, thinking about that 'experimentation' still disturbs me some. Still kinda surprised I actually went through it, really. Wonder if that's a part of having powers or a sign I'm slowly going insane.

Shit. Did I clear the internet history on the computer at school? I guess I could always explain it as just researching anatomy for a biology test or something. I mean, does Winslow High really need to know I was trying to figure out the best way to stab yourself in the heart? It's between the fifth and sixth ribs, by the way.

Hmm… is it really murder or suicide if the victim comes back to life?

Oh, I'm starting to feel that 'runner's stitch' again. I'll do it in the alley right there. Stepping into said alley, I unsheathe my hidden knife and jam it into my left arm between the radius and the ulna before cutting out towards my hand. Mental button lights up.

Respawn completed and now refreshed, I resheath the knife and continue my sprint.

Yeah, I figured that out two nights ago, chased after a mugger and got hit by a delivery truck. Truck drove away from the scene but I wasn't after him anyways. Yeah, the mugger got away too but I learned yet another thing about my power.

If I respawn, either by forcing it or death, I'll be reenergized like I'd just had a power nap . Haven't tested it yet, but maybe I don't need sleep now? Something to think about later.

Best thing about respawning like this is that I keep any progress I made before respawning! So, if I run five miles then respawn, my muscles seem to keep the… I don't know, 'memory' of having run them? Is that even a thing? Whatever.

The thing is, I can feel myself getting stronger and faster! I may not be track team quality but it's going to be near impossible to outrun me now.

I come to a screeching halt at another alley to puke into a trash can. Spitting out as much as I can, I force another respawn. Yeah… go me.

I start sprinting again.

o0O0o

12 Feb

A student died at Winslow High last week. Caused a huge commotion, closing down the school for the rest of that day and the next. They did an 'official investigation' but everyone already knew what happened.

Terry died popping Ecstasy he bought from a Merchant dealer.

Rumor had it, this was his only 'experimentation' with the stuff. I didn't know the guy but he seemed nice enough based off what everyone said about him. So as a last respects for him, the last couple of weeks instead of patrolling downtown or hunting ABB goons I decided to hunt Merchants.

And once I struck, it was going to hurt them bad.

See, I wasn't messing with any of the street dealers, since I figured if I take one of them out another will just fill the space. But, if I take down one of their drug labs, or whatever they call them, there's nothing for them to sell!

So, here I was on a Saturday afternoon, watching Merchants go in and out of a dilapidated building. I think it used to be a small staging warehouse sometime in the past, but with the docks under hard times, I guess it was abandoned until the Merchants took it over.

When I cased the building yesterday night, I saw three entrances but the dealers only use one. Sneaking up in the darkness, I found that it's because they barricaded the other two. Makes a little sense if you're worried about someone stealing your stuff but there's only one escape route now.

Well, I'm not just going to walk in the front door. I might be able to respawn but pain still hurts!

Glancing around, I notice a nearby two story building. Maybe I can jump down from that roof and land on the Merchants' roof. From there, I can look through any skylights or whatnot to see what I'm dealing with inside.

I decide to take my time getting up to the second story roof. No need to make noise and get caught, right?

Okay, I'm looking down on the Merchants' building and it's got one skylight directly in the center. So, all I need to do is land on the warehouse and look into the skylight. Sounds easy enough, especially since I'm jumping down to a lower roof.

No time like the present, I guess!

Stepping back from the edge, I pace myself for a running jump. Three quick breaths and my shoes pound forward. I push off, feel the slight moment of weightlessness before gravity takes hold once more.

Hah, I'm gonna be right on target! No missing the roof this time!

I bend my knees slightly, prepping for the landing. My feet touch metal. Knees bend more to absorb kinetic energy. Roof sags with my weight.

Crack!

I have a split second to realise that was the support beam under me as the roof drops a couple inches. Maybe it's a primal part of the human mind, but sometimes you just know things are going to get worse.

"Shit!"

The roof fell out underneath me and gravity dragged me in.

Thankfully, the hard wooden table cushioned my fall. Ung… feels like I broke my everything when my back hit wood. Blinking the stars out of my eyes, I noticed the shocked Merchants standing round the table. Apparently they were playing poker or something before I crashed their party.

We had another of those 'stand off' moments, where none of us moved as the dust settled.

"What the fuck?!"

Don't know which one of them shouted but all hell broke loose after that. I twisted and scrambled off the table, knocking chips and cards around. Just as my feet touched the floor, I found out they had guns.

Boom! My body jerked to the side, another wave of pain flashing over me before the respawn hit.

Standing up straight, I turned my head towards the shotgun wielding Merchant. His eyes widened as he witnessed all the damage his buckshot inflicted disappear in an instant. "Cape!"

Well, that was quick. Reaching out, I grabbed hold of a wooden chair before chucking it at the man. The chair slammed into him, driving him to the ground in a moaning heap.

This was the green light for the other three to open fire as well.

Long story short, I died four more times and took out the remaining Merchants. Sorry about the lack of detail but it's all sort of a haze once the adrenaline kicked in and the action started. Hey, if it helps, picture me doing flip kicks, cartwheels and whatever else to win.

As the warehouse settled into silence and my ears finally stopped ringing from the gunfire, I took stock of everything. I'd landed in a drug warehouse, not a lab. While most of the shelves were broken or barren, one wall was covered in jars of powders, pills and other drug related things.

Well, not a lab but still better than some random street dealers. Fishing out my pre-paid cell phone, I dialed up a programmed number.

A woman's voice responded. "PRT Hotline. Please state the nature of your emergency."

"I just took out a Merchant drug warehouse. Need an ambulance. One of them shot another in the arm trying to get me. I bandaged it but…"

The PRT woman paused on her end, maybe typing into a computer. "Okay. Could you please identify yourself?"

Alright, time for my real debut! "My name's Respawn and I'm a new hero."

"Okay, Respawn. Where is your location?"

I started giving her the general location but couldn't remember the building number and description. I told the PRT woman, Cindy, that I was going to step outside to check, putting actions to words.

Opening the door, seeing a blonde girl in a white leotard rearing back to punch wasn't what I expected.

"Fuck!" I groaned out, pushing myself out of the pile of wrecked shelves. Considering just her punch alone was enough to fling me across the warehouse and trigger a respawn, I'm just thankful she didn't punch me into the wall of drugs.

"Give up! You're under arrest!" Looking towards the voice, I spot the blonde girl flying a few feet above the ground looking down at me.

Oh, okay. I was just punched to death by Glory Girl.

Feeling the phone still in my hand, I raise it up to my ear. "Hey, PRT lady? Glory Girl just showed up and I think we're having one of those Hero to Hero confusion conflict things."

Cindy was silent for moment before hesitantly replying. "I see… Do you need any assistance?"

"Nah, I think I can handle it. Just make sure an ambulance and whatnot get out here to arrest these guys."

I don't wait for a response before flipping the phone closed and putting it back in my pocket. Floating in the air, Glory Girl looks a little wary, glancing around before returning her eyes to me.

Awkward silence attack was super effective!

Eventually, Glory Girl got tired of the wait. "You're a hero?"

"Respawn." I replied back curtly. I mean, she did just kill me with a single punch. Right now, that was overwhelming the giddiness at meeting one of the New Wave heroes.

Glancing around once again, Glory Girl indicated one of the unconscious drug dealers. "And you did this?"

I nodded. "Yeah, right before you punched me."

"Right before I punched…" Her confused words trailed off as her face drained of color. "Ah… Sorry about that! At least you're okay, right? Brute power?"

I didn't feel like going into details on my powers right now. Hell, even I didn't fully understand their limits yet. "Sure, let's go with that. Anyways, what are you doing here?"

Coughing in embarrassment, the blonde hero lowered herself to the ground. "Well, I was patrolling and heard gunfire."

"And you saw me leave and thought I was one of them." I finished for her, picking at my olive drab army jacket.

"Well, yeah. No offense but I hope that's not your final costume."

I sighed, pulling back my hood to show my tied up hair. "It isn't. I'm trying to save up but it's slow going."

She smirked at that statement. "Oh, well that's easy to fix." With those words, she floated up and flew around the warehouse a bit.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for… there we are!" She exclaimed happily, reaching down to pick up a lockbox. Flying back, she set it on the table and broke it open to reveal stacks of cash. "Here you go. Go make your costume."

With that, she dropped two rubberband wrapped stacks into my hand. Looking from the stack back to Glory Girl in surprise, I was speechless for a moment. "Wait. Isn't this, I don't know, stealing or something?"

"Eh…" The blonde girl replied offhandedly with a grin. "It sort of an unwritten rule between independent heroes and the PRT. If we bust a villain or criminal base, we can loot a little so long as we turn the rest in. Besides, every hero needs a costume. Why not let the Merchants pay for it?"

I'm not sure if it showed through the mask but I grinned back at her before pocketing the money.

"Actually…" Glory Girl started saying, grabbing a pen and writing something on one of the playing cards before handing it to me. "Once you get your new costume set up, give me a call. We can do a patrol together or something!" Pulling her phone out of her utility belt, she winced. "Look, sorry but I have to get back home or my Mom's going to kill me."

With that, I watched Glory Girl fly out the hole in the roof I caused and was alone with the unconscious Merchants once more. Hearing the sirens echoing in, I started home as well.

Now, how am I going to make this costume...

o0O0o

End of Chapter 1

o0O0o

A/N

So, I read 'Death is a Vacation' by Tarkus the Jaguar here on FFnet. I liked the idea of Taylor's new powerset but I didn't like the direction and writing style of Tarkus. So, I decided to write my own story.

I'm also experimenting with First Person Narrative instead of using the usual Third Person Narrative. Basically, anything you read is as if Taylor had thought it or experienced it. There will be PHO message board breaks every once in awhile but for the most part, it's Taylor's point of view.

Additionally, I've done something different in how I planned out this story. In all my previous works, I had a vague idea of where I wanted to end the story but would only really plan a chapter or two in advance. For KCaR, I've written an outline from story start to story end. This should keep me from writing myself into a corner because I've already planned everything out and scrapped around three chapters worth of ideas.