Taylor admired the gauntlet that encased her right arm. It held an explicitly draconic design, looking like a claw of one with sharp ridges. She can call this to her arm, and make it disappear. However, she was able to keep the minor strength, endurance and regeneration that her power gave her. She dispelled the gauntlet, lying on her bed. Her first patrol will be happening tonight and she knew that she will need all the sleep that she can, even if it will be a four hour patrol.

Her strength was enough to break hardwood with a simple punch, a punch that was done half-heartedly. Taylor was forced to be as conscious as possible with her strength whenever she went through the daily motions. Her endurance allowed her to take a brick to the face, even if she was a little dazed afterward. That was awkward to find out, as she threw the brick directly straight into the air to test her strength and she stood there in surprise of how high it went, before it smacked her in the face. She had a minor regeneration that allowed her to heal from that same bruise that she accidentally inflicted on herself. In addition, she was unable to stab herself with a steak knife that she took from the cabinet. So, she should be able to defend herself against most muggers. Taylor resolved not to test her durability against a gun, seeing as those are lethal.

She found out that she had wings when she was in the Boat Graveyard, checking if she can fly. She was able to, but she accidentally crashed into a rusty hull in an extremely fast speed, causing her to get stuck in the steel. She was forced to bend the metal outwards, the horrific screeching of metal resounded through the air. She was able to discover that her gauntlet boosted her strength in that arm, along with serving as a shield, she presumed. The gauntlet was also able to store items in it, seeing as she accidentally absorbed a sheet of metal into it. However, it appeared that only primarily-metallic objects can be stored, as food nor anything organic can be stored. Even fabrics or plastics couldn't be stored. Maybe it can be used as a weapon storage, seeing as she can store knives into it. She also discovered a blade that already inside it, the blade felt like it was holy for some reason. She was never big on Christianity, but she can imagine that this sword is what one would feel if they met God. After briefly researching for holy swords, she decided to name it Ascalon as it is both a holy sword and its a dragon slayer. It'll be cool for her to defeat Lung with the sword.

And finally, the cream of the crop of her power was its ability to double anything…. anything about her every 10 seconds. That is insane. She can double the power of any of her base powers. She can make her punch now crack concrete, or her body theoretically capable of blocking bullets, or maybe after a couple of doublings, capable of regenerating a lost arm. Think of all of the capabilities that this can offer! With this, she can essentially be on par with one of the Triumvirate. The literal definition of Escalation. The only issue with this ability is that the power over time will start to give her extreme fatigue, as if the act of doubling power is giving her breaking her cells.

Now that's enough about Taylor's power. She was able to get her application to go to Arcadia forwarded as the regeneration that her power provided was able to keep her lucid enough during the lawyer's attempt to have her sign what amounted to a gag contract. All she agreed to was that the school wouldn't be sued as long as she can get into Arcadia. Therefore, she can finally remove herself from the Trio. The prestigious academy had finally accepted her application after she was forced to take a multitude of examinations in order to prove that her grades were false.

Now, all she needs to worry about is how to hide her identity. It would be cool to have a knight-like costume, something that will offset the draconic gauntlet that she has. After all, she doesn't want to be compared to Lung, one of the strongest villians in the New England area. She had to settle with wearing a black hoodie and one of those fake and plastic knight masks that have an open slit for the eyes. This way, she would have decent stealth for her crime-fighting adventure.

Standing with one foot already out of her window, she breathed. She still had yet to talk to Danny about her newfound Cape power. Logically, she knows that Danny should know as it is duty as her parent, but Taylor knew better. She knew that Danny will just always be petrified when she will go on patrol, sitting there in the dinghy seat by the kitchen table, wondering if his last link to life is bleeding on the street. She cannot let Danny do that, he needs his sleep to go to work.

"Well, it's now or never." Taylor murmur, "Activate." The draconic gauntlet materialized on her right arm and her wings unrolled from her back. She closed the window behind her as she leapt out. Experimentally flapping them, she grinned, ready for another fly through the air. A dark shadow swept through the neighbourhood as Taylor flew over roofs. "It's time to find some criminals."

She landed on a warehouse roof, looking down at a woman being mugged in the docks. She had heard a scream in the night and hightailed it for the scene. For some reason, an E88 gang member was doing it, even if this territory was that of the resident Asian gang, the ABB. Maybe this man is brave. Taylor shrugged. It was the first exciting thing that she'll be able to do in the night.

[Boost]

She jumped down and landed while doubling her endurance. One can never be too careful, the mugger may have a firearm after all. "You are under arrest for mugging!" she cried as she grabbed his arm. The young asian woman, happy that she was free, stumbled away and leaned against the wall. Taylor grabbed the mugger's arm as he vainly struggled and called her deplorable names. She had stopped caring about name calling, as that was one of the main ways that the Trio harassed her.

"Please stop struggling." She calmly spoke as she tied him with some metal wiring that she had stored in her gauntlet. Internally, however, she was shaking in excitement. She was able to be a hero. After tying up the man, she turned to the woman who was bleeding on the alley ground. Panicking, Taylor attempted to staunch the blood flow.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." Taylor thought as she tried to bandage the wound. Taylor searched the man, finding a bloodied knife that was folded in his pocket. How can she deal with this? Does anyone have a phone? She searched the mugger's pockets. Unfortunately, there was none. There is no way that she can heal this.

Her first night on the job and she has already failed her duty as a hero. That is unacceptable. [Transfer] The voice in her head announced. Taylor paused, realizing that her regeneration is temporarily gone. If the voice said transfer, she mused, than that means that! She unraveled the hasty bandaging that she had done. And at the wound site, the ugly slash had started to slowly knit itself together. Realizing what she can do, she resetted her power and doubled her regeneration and transferred it once more to the bleeding woman.

The asian female's laborious breathing have finally calmed down as the regeneration did its work.

"Ma'am." I call softly as her eyelids fluttered open. When her eyes seen me, they start to dilate and she backs away in fear.

"Careful! Careful! I had to heal you. I am the hero that saved you from the mugging." I placate her.

"Thank you." she muttered, clutching the purse that was almost liberated from her dead self.

"Do you have a phone so I can call in this crime?" I asked, all the while the Nazi kept on yelling obscenities at the both of us. "I don't have one myself."

The woman smiled and called 911, explaining that there was a new hero that saved her from a mugging. The receiver asked who the new hero may be and the woman turned to me in askance. I stood there. What kind of name should I choose? I looked down at my gauntlet, admiring its red color. That's it!

"My name is Vermillion." I said. She repeats my words to the receiver. She stood there for a while more and looks at me.

"They are sending police cars and a Protectorate member on site. The Cape wants to meet you." she says. I nodded, I do have around to two hours left to patrol. If I can get into the goodwill of the local authority, it will make my life easier. I leaned against the wall and waited.

I heard the whine of the police car's sirens long before I actually saw the cars arrive. I tensed as I see a motorcycle came driving in. I can only think of Armsmaster. I may not like him in comparison to Miss Militia, but one cannot argue that he is an efficient hero. I then saw the star spangled bandana that Miss Militia always wear and calmed down. People say that she is easier to talk to in comparison to Armsmaster. I waited as the police came to take the raving criminal to the squad car and the hero walked up to me.

She looked at my costume, twerking her eyebrows up in amusement.

"First night?" she asks, obviously pointing out my dark clothes. I blushed in embarrassment. "Yes, madam." I said.

"Good job on the capture. Now, since you are a new cape, I assume, I'll give you the basic rundown."

"Okay?" I asked in confusion.

"One of the most important things that new capes like you should know is that you can never go after any cape's civilian identity. To do so will be so invite the retribution of all capes within the area. That is the basic gist of the unwritten rules." she warned with a slightly savage tone. It calmed down when she saw that I flinched a little at her intimidating tone.

"I can see why that is important." I answer. So that is why villains are so hard to catch. It is because of these rules.

"Good. Good." she states. "Is there any chance that you can tell us the basics of your powers. The PRT prefers it if you want to join them, but seeing as you didn't call us, I am going to assume that you want to remain independent? I know that the Wards program is very exemplary."

I shook my head. I don't want to deal with something like school, except including superpowers. That feels like a bad idea. I paused at her first question. I knew that I cannot tell her my true power, so I gave her the description of some of my lesser powers.

"Well.", I respond, "I am a pseudo-Alexandria cape, with minor strength, durability, and flight. In addition, I have a healing power in the form of having an increased regeneration that I can temporarily transfer to others." I see her stiffen and look at me in shock.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"Do you know how rare Healer capes are?" she asked incredulously. "We have so few of them, and you claim that you can heal people as well?"

"Yeah." I huffed, "I helped that lady over there heal the knife wound that the mugger got her with." The asian lady, who was within earshot of our conversation affirmed that even if she was drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness, she knew that she was dying of a knife thrust to her chest.

Miss. Militia crossed her arms. "Is there any way I can convince you to join the Wards?" she asked almost desperately.

"I'm sorry." I reply, "I don't think that I can join the wards. Maybe later, I had a lot of bad stuff that I had to deal with a long time ago, and I prefer to use these times as a release, rather than something stifled by bureaucracy."

She nodded in understanding. She gave me a business card with Miss Militia's name and a phone number on it. She waved her hands goodbye and mounted her motorbike. "Vermillion. If you ever feel like changing your mind or just want to talk, you can call me at this phone number!" She drove away as I looked at her.

Well, this night was a productive night. Taylor was able to meet one of my idols. Miss Militia may not be Alexandria, but she is still cool nonetheless. She flew away and went to her house tiredly. Her hands felt for the keys in her pocket and she inserted the metal item into the lock. She turned it and entered her home. She sighed as she removed her mask and hoodie and went to place it on the kitchen chair.

"I guess it's time to go to sleep." Taylor mused as she tiredly walked to the stairs.

"Taylor." she turned around. Her eyes widened, realizing that her father was looking at her with a cup of tea. "Where have you been and what is that on your arm."

Taylor looked down at her arm, realizing that she had forgotten to dismiss it.

"Ummmm." she desperately began. "I can explain."

So. This was a pilot chapter for a story that I was thinking about. Now, I have decided to do something interesting. I am going to throw one chapter of a story that I had stuck in my mind and then people can let me know if I should continue it. Now then, in case anyone needs clarification on what Taylor's power is in this AU.

Vermillion:

Main power: She can double anything, from strength to endurance, every 10 seconds. The mental strain of maintaining it starts to stack. She can train to increase the amount of times she can double. Currently, she can only double 3 times.

She has minor strength, enough to break through hardwood-like a door.

She has minor endurance, enough to not have her skin pierced by bladed items

She has flight in the form of draconic wings that she can make appear or not

She has minor regeneration, enough to heal cuts and remove bruises

Now. This is where her power starts to grow a little more insane, as evidenced by Issei's own usage. Keep in mind, the Boosted Gear is essentially almost the same as Issei's by volume 18, where he can penetrate any barrier with her gauntlet.

The ability to store any metallic items within the jewel of the gauntlet

Ascalon, mythical dragon-slaying sword and giving off a feeling of holy warmth, is sealed within it

She can also gauge power levels and therefore now if she has enough power to defeat that entity

She can see through solid objects if she doubles her vision (Issei was able to naturally see through clothes… We cannot have that)

She pierce through any barrier, even force fields. Actually, come to think about it, what does it mean for an endbringer, if the gauntlet can reach the core, the main target?

She can transfer the power that is stored within her: only strength, endurance, and regeneration. She retains a lesser copy, but the receiver temporarily gains that copy with whatever power up it had received for 10 minutes

She has access to Juggernaut Drive: However it causes insanity and reduces life-force while removing limiters on doubling time and amount. In addition, she turns into a dragon, rather than like the armor that Issei gains.

I don't know if I should include Ddraig's voice, in order to warn against this

Finally, I'm planning on giving her the flames that appeared around Vol. 21. You know, the one that is capable of burning anything to the ground. However, I'll be giving it an extreme charge-up time and most likely as a second trigger.

Meh. Anyway, this has been the start of my series of pilot chapters that I'll probably never continue unless people want me to.

So. Do remember to review if you really one to see this story's continuation.

Tata!