1.18 Family Part 3

“Scott,” says Legacy as she strides into the man’s room, “I got a gift for you.”

“Oh?” says Scott as he looks up from the piece of paper he is reading and glances at Legacy.

“While I know that you already have high quality replacement for your right arm,” says Legacy, “But I have created another one for you. As a thank you for all that you have done for me.”

And with that, Legacy holds out the synthetic arm that she has handcrafted. The arm is designed to fit to perfectly fit Scott and to replicate the human arm so it feels completely natural to Scott when he uses it.

“Ah, thank you Legacy,” replies Scott with emotion in his voice as he gets up out of his chair and steps away from his desk, “Would you like to put it on now?”

“Yes, I would,” replies Legacy, “I’m going to do it personally by the way.”

“I wouldn’t expect you not to do so,” says Scott with a smile as he holds his right arm out to Legacy.

Legacy smiles back at Scott before getting to work. Since her powers don’t work on Leo’s creations, Legacy has to manual detach Scott’s current prosthetic arm.

It is really annoying that I can’t use my powers on anything that Leo invented.

It can get irritating at times.

That’s an understatement.

Once the arm is removed, Legacy tosses it to one side before putting her own creation into place. Whilst she physically puts the synthetic arm into position, Legacy also interfaces with it via her technopathy.

She boots up the arm and links it with Scott’s body so he can naturally control it whilst fine tuning it where she can and optimising the hardware and software as best as she can.

Done.

You sound proud.

Why shouldn’t I be?

“I’m finished,” Legacy informs Scott as she steps back.

“It feels excellent,” says Scott as he twists and moves his new arm, trying it out for the first time.

As Scott inspects the arm, Legacy feels a mixture of emotions. Pride at her creation, joy at helping her father figure, excitement at the fact Scott will be using her creation, love for her father and-

System Failure

***

Rebooting

Honn Telaa/Tris

Lonn Telaa/Dorr-Tern Tus

Telaa Stor Onta/Seg-Tern Tus

Telaa Stor Seg/Tern Nin

Telaa Stor Tris/Seg-Tern Tris

Telaa Stor Dorr/Set-Tern Onta

Telaa Stor Tus/Tus-Tern Tris

Telaa Stor Sek/Sek-Tern Elk

Ronn Ler/Dorr-Tern Tris

Ronnn Ler/Tern Tus

Ronn Lerr/Tris-Tern Tus

Ronnn Lerr/Onta

Her-System Error

System Error

Rebooting

System Error

System Failure

***

Rebooting

Honn Telaa/Tus-Tern Elk

Lonn Telaa/Seg-Tern Dorr

Telaa Stor Onta-System Error

System Error

Rebooting

Rebooting

Rebooting

Rebooting

Rebooting

***

Rebooting

Rebooting

Reboot Successful

Ordic 28,708,648-Legacy of Guardian Successfully Restored

***

As consciousness returns to her, Legacy hears Scott’s voice ringing in her ears. She groans her body aches all over and her head is pounding with pain.

W-what happened?

Legacy, I’m an old AI.

Okay.

I have experienced over three billion years.

Yes, I know that already. You have told me before.

I am not immortal.

Of course you’re not.

I will die someday. It is just a matter of time.

Isn’t that the case for all things?

Debatably. None the less...

What Ceta?

Never mind Legacy. Just be prepare for events like this to happen again in periods of stress.

Periods of stress?

Just think about how many times you have ‘died’ and come back recently. And how much you have pushed your abilities to the limits.

Oh.

Do not worry about it Legacy. Focus on other things. Such as the fact that Scott is trying to talk to you.

Oh yeah.

“Legacy?” says Scott.

“Yes?” replies Legacy.

“Oh thank God,” mutters Scott, “What happened Legacy? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” replies Legacy, “I just had to reboot.”

“Reboot?” inquires Scott.

“Yeah,” says Legacy before deciding to explain further, “Ceta is old and I, me, us have been through a lot of stress recently and I’ve been putting her and my abilities through the paces and to their limits.”

“Oh, I see,” says Scott, “So Ceta is going through the stress of old age? How old is she anyway?”

“Over three billion years,” answers Legacy almost automatically.

“Three...” says Scott blankly before doing a double take, “Over three billion years! You got to be %$£&ing kidding me!”

“No...” replies Legacy nervously, not sure how to respond to Scott’s reaction.

“&%$£ing Hell,” mutters Scott, running his right hand through hair, “You haven’t got any reason to lie and lying isn’t your style anyway. But still....”

Legacy is silent as she doesn’t know what to say.

This isn’t exactly my area of expertise.

Perhaps the true extent of my age has come as a bit of a shock to him.

Indeed.

“Anyway, I would like your thoughts on my latest predicament,” says Scott, changing the subject much to Legacy’s relief, “And your assistance.”

“You will always have my assistance,” Legacy informs Scott.

“Yeah, I know you’ll have my back lass,” agrees Scott, “But let’s move onto the problem. I have a family outside of my siblings and parents.”

I know he has a brother. The one that threaten Leo in his own home.

“I have an ex-wife you see,” continues Scott as he picks up the piece of paper he was reading, “And I have a daughter, Alice. I even have a granddaughter. Anyway, me and my girl, we have been keeping irregular contact with each other, off and on. And now I got an email from Alice. And she has manifested powers. In a rather traumatic manner. And she wants to see me. Mainly because she is grasping out for any help she can get.”

Scott takes a deep breath.

“Anyway, I want to go and see her as well and I would like you to come with me,” says Scott, “For support.”

1.7 Guardsmen Part 4

Legacy looks up from her work as Leo clears his throat from the doorway of her lab.

“It’s time for the group meeting,” Leo tells her.

Wait, that was three hours away.

It has been that long.

Really?

Yes. You have been busy working on creating a stable version of the overcharged energy projector baton.

Huh. I completely lost track of time.

“Do you want to go to the meeting or would you like some time to get ready to present yourself?” asks Leo.

“Why would I need time to get ready?” asks Legacy, confused by the question.

“Legacy, take a look at yourself,” replies Leo dryly.

Legacy takes note of the state of her body. She changed into some of Alexandria’s old sweatpants and a sports bra as she expected to get hot and sweaty working her lab as the air conditioning has been installed yet.

And she has gotten hot and sweaty as the liquid glistens on her pale bare skin. And her damp clothing is hugging her skin. Perhaps she should change into something more presentable.

Why?

Legacy senses curiosity from her companion as she asks the question.

I’m not sure. It just feels like it is socially acceptable.

Hmm.

Trying to obey the standards of society is nothing wrong.

Just do not let it get in the way of important things.

I know that.

“I’m fine,” replies Legacy to Leo, “We’re amongst friends. They won’t mind me looking like this.”

“Yeah, I’m sure they will understanding of the fact you been working three hours straight,” agrees Leo, Anyway, it’s your funeral. Come on then. We’re already late.”

My funeral?

Don’t worry, you’ll plenty of those.

Leo leads the way to the main room of the base, in which a wooden round table is in the middle of it.

Why do we have a round table as our gathering point?

Perhaps it holds some significance on his world?

Seating around the table is Scott, Cain and Puerto Rican-British girl Allison. Legacy looks at Allison as this is the first time they have met whilst not in their armour.

Allison has her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail while her glasses are still coving her blue eyes. Despite her mother being Native Puerto Rican, Allison inherited the hair colour and eyes her of her father, even if she does have the smooth, sleek hair of her mother as well as her features.

By just looking at her strong, fit figure, Legacy can tell that Allison is an A+ Class Bellator. Then again, she doubts that she would have realised that if she didn’t already know that fact.

What is her history again?

She lived in Puerto Rico until she was eleven with her mother and father. Her father was a US soldier stationed at Puerto Rico who married her mother there after retiring. Allison and her father were attacked when she was eleven by local gangsters. Her father was killed protecting her and Allison was crippled. The only reason she isn’t currently in a wheelchair is that the injury was healed when she got her powers.

Then what?

Her mother moved to Grand Rapids after that with her. When Allison was twelve, her married her stepfather, who is divorced with custody of his two boys. His wife got their daughter. She was friends with Leo and Joan, but drifted away over the last year and a half. Leo was able to use his enhanced intellect to figure out that she gained powers and convince her to join us.

So what are her powers?

Regeneration, Super Strength, Super Toughness, Super Speed, Super Senses and Super Agility all at C Class.

Impressive. So no flight?

She can leap high, but no actual flight.

Still impressive.

Indeed.

“Okay Legacy and I are here,” says Leo as he takes a seat next to Allison and Legacy takes a seat between Scott and Leo, “Legacy was working in her lab, hence the delay and her current state.”

“So what exactly are we discussing?” inquires Scott.

“Well, we’re supposed to be a team,” says Leo, “So for that we need to start acting as team, which is what we can do now we got this base to connect our two cities.”

“True,” agrees Scott, “We ought to decide on a name first.”

“I agree,” replies Leo, “We need to pick a name for our team which is in an indistinct heroic sounding name. That said, we can’t have the Sentinels, the Protectors, the Defenders, the Guardians or the Sentries.”

“Of course,” says Cain as he, Allison and Scott all grin.

 “We also need to decide on leadership,” cuts in Legacy causing all of them to turn and look at her.

“We do need to establish leadership,” Scott agrees with her.

“That was going to be my second point,” admits Leo.

“So who do we pick?” asks Allison.

Leo should be in command as he is the best suited for the task. With his powers and mental layout, it should be nigh impossible for him to burnout or get overwhelmed by the job. Scott with his experience and leadership skills should be his second in command.

And what about Jaylyn and myself?

Jaylyn can provide support. AIs like her are very good at that role. You and Leo should be field leaders with your experience.

“I recommend Leo as our leader with Scott as his second in command,” says Legacy, “Jaylyn can run support operations while Leo and I can be field leaders.”

“That makes a lot of sense,” replies Leo with a glance at Scott.

“Yes, unless anyone has any complaints, we should go with that command structure,” replies Scott as he strokes his beard with one hand.

No one objects.

“Good,” says Leo, “Now onto our team name. I was thinking of going with the Guardsmen. It isn’t taken yet and it fits in with the other codenames we have chosen.”

“Not your own,” points Cain.

“But I choose that one when I was still flying solo with Jay,” says Leo, “What do you guys say? Should we call ourselves the Guardsmen?”

“It does sound rather cool,” says Allison.

“Not to mention rather imposing,” says Cain.

“I do like the sound of it,” says Scott.

“It is a good name,” says Legacy and her companion privately agrees with her.

“Then it is settled,” says Leo as he smiles, “We are the Guardsmen.”           

1.6 Alliance Part 10

After changing back into her original clothing, Guardian got back into her armour. After collecting the four boxes of Alexandria’s old clothing and bidding Pathfinder farewell, Guardian flew back to the basement, where Scott and Cain should be.

She lands outside the door, moves up against the lock so she can use her power to open it up. As Guardian walks in and takes her helmet off, both Scott and Cain look up at her.

“What is in the boxes?” asks Scott as he eyes them.

“Alexandria’s old clothes,” replies Legacy as she puts the boxes in question down on the floor, “Her team decided I was about her old size so I tried on most of her old clothes. Then I got your message and decided to let Alexandria and her team go after Armsmith.”

“Any particular reason why?” inquires Scott.

“Building goodwill up,” says Legacy.

“So what about the clothes?” asks Scott, “You showed them what you look like didn’t you?”

“Yes,” replies Legacy, “I also have their biometric scans so it seemed reasonable. It isn’t exactly like they can use it against me and it helps build up more goodwill.”

“It’s your secret identity,” says Scott with a shrug, “Did Leo tell you about Cain’s codename and the girl that he recruited over in Grand Rapids?”

“Yes,” replies Legacy.

“Good,” says Scott as he puts his hands together, “You know, we’re going to have to come up with a name for our group soon.”

“I am well aware,” replies Legacy, “I have already mentioned it to Leo.”

“Hmm,” says Scott, “So I got an idea for training Cain here. Since he has school, he’ll come round tomorrow evening for training and spend Saturday also training in the morning and afternoon. Then, in the event, the two of you can hit the mob target that Leo has so kindly provided for us.”

“Good plan,” says Legacy.

“It is what I do for this little group,” replies Scott with a grin.

***

Two Days Later

“Good,” replies Protector as he drops the mob thug he was beating unconscious, “So what now?”

“The Caporegime is in the next room,” says Guardian as she walks over to the door, an electric stun baton in each hand, “We take him down, steal their money and data. Then we’ll decide what do to hand over to the police, what to upload to the internet and what to keep for ourselves once we’re back at our base.”

“Sounds like a plan,” says Protector as he bends down and picks his electric stun baton up.

Protector is wearing the modified suit of power armour that Guardian came up with. Most of the old armour is pretty much gone with large amounts of Gardium holding it together. It is effectively plate armour with the exo-skeleton to provide enhanced strength and speed while helmet includes a HUD to help identify targets and items of interest to Protector.

Around his waist is a utility belt containing a variety of gadgets provided by both Gears and Guardian, including a pair of electric stun batons like the ones that Guardian uses. It also has a voice distorter to help keep his identity secret.

Guardian kicks the door down just a single strike and enters the room. Inside is a well-dressed man with a pair of armed bodyguards.

Each of them has a sleek, smooth, curved, black not-technology pistol and Guardian snarls beneath her helmet as she leaps into action. Using KEPs to boost her jump, Guardian swings her two electric stun batons into the heads of the two bodyguards before slamming into the leader.

They both go tumbling while the man cries out in pain. Ignoring him, Guardian swiftly uses her power to make the not-technology pistols explode. The leader screams in pain as his weapon explodes in his hand and Guardian shuts him up with a jab to the jaw, breaking it.

Guardian turns around to finish off the bodyguards only to find that Protector has already taken them out.

“Good work,” Guardian tells him.

“Will he be okay?” asks Protector, indicating the mob leader.

“Yes,” replies Guardian, “He should make a full recovery naturally. But it will take at least six weeks, possibly two months.”

“So now what?” asks Protector.

“I’ll download the data from the computers while you loot the guys,” replies Guardian as she gets to work, “Get their phones, money and weapons. Phones are useful as I modify them into useful gadgets while I feel it is important to disrupt their powerbases by ridding them of drugs, funds and weaponry whenever we can.”

“Does it work?” inquires Protector as he begins retrieving items of value from one of the men he has knocked out.

“While I can’t say for sure, I believe I am having some effect on their operations,” answers Guardian, 

“They are finding it harder to deal drugs and I’m sure that I’ve taken out at least some of their funds and destroyed a good portion of their product with my raids of their bases. At the very least they get stressed and angry with me and are doing their utmost to stop me.”

“Are their efforts working?” asks Protector as he moves onto the next man.

“No, they have nothing to match me yet,” replies Guardian, “That said, nobody has sent parahuman after me yet. Except for the government.”

“The government?” repeats Protector

“They’ve sent Alexandria to arrest me a couple of times,” offers Guardian in way of further explanation.

“Oh, okay,” mutters Protector.

Left Fist. Strike Forward and Up at Highest Strength. One, two, NOW!

Guardian does as her companion instructs and her fist connects with the lower jaw of a handsome, well-built man in a suit as he steps out of the shadows.

1.6 Alliance Part 4

Both Cain and Scott look up at her.

“Ahh, Legacy,” says Scott, “I just been talking to Cain about you. Explaining your past and background to him so you don’t have to. Plus we have to get that stuff out of the way first otherwise nothing else about you makes sense.”

“You are pretty strange,” says Cain, “Even considering how weird the world has gotten in the last month and a half. That said, it isn’t any weirder than stuff I have read in the comics.”

“I am well aware of that,” replies Guardian as she takes her helmet off, “Both Scott and Leo have informed me of that already.”

“Leo?” inquires Cain.

“Gears,” explains Legacy, “My partner. You should meet him. He’ll be able to provide you with armour like he has with me.”

“You didn’t make your armour?” says Cain, surprised at this news.

“No, not this set of armour,” replies Legacy, “I did come up with some of my own, but they aren’t as good as this. Leo has used his power to acquire large amounts of funds and access to raw material, which he then used to create high quality equipment from scratch. I have to use equipment that I have acquired to create my own technology. Because of that, I am more limited in my ability to produce higher level technology.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” says Cain thoughtfully, “I must admit that I expect you, the technopath, to have better technology.”

“The quality of my work is only one factor in how good my technology is,” replies Legacy, “For example, if Leo and I were both making swords and I only had access to copper while he had access to steel, his would be better as his materials are better than mine. And while Leo isn’t technopath, he is extremely good at designing stuff and is very smart, a real genius as a matter of fact. Between that and his power, Leo is able to create technology to the same standard as I am. But we prefer to work together. For example, while Leo did the majority of the work on this armour, I still did quite a bit myself such as aiding in the designs and customising to my needs.”

“Okay,” says Cain, “So now what?”

“I’ll get your measurements so Leo can get started on making armour for you,” replies Guardian, “In the meantime, we’ll attempt to figure out your powers and I’ll come up with some equipment for you to use until we get some proper ones for you.”

“So what exactly are we going to do right now?” clarifies Cain.

“I’ll scan you for your measurements and other biological details and information,” says Legacy, “Please give me a moment to come up with a device to do that.”

“Uhh, sure,” says Cain as Legacy gets out the phone she took from the drug dealer earlier.

She focuses on it with her power, rearranging the parts so it will do a full biometric scan of Cain’s body. Not only will it give her a copy of his measures, but it will give other information to compare against medical records from before he gained his powers, hopefully helping her figure out his powers.

“Done,” says Legacy as she points the modified phone at Cain and scans him.

“That’s it?” inquires Cain.

“Yes,” replies Legacy, “I’ll send the data to Leo and Jaylyn in addition to message explaining the situation.”

“Jaylyn?” repeats Cain.

“Scott will explain while I compose the message,” Legacy tells him as she focuses on the computer.

She doesn’t need to sit down at the computer to use it, just needing it to be within range of her power. In fact, using it conventional is actually harder and less effective for Legacy as directly using her powers is much faster and more natural for Legacy.

That is probably an aspect of my power, making it easy for me to use technology via my power.

Legacy attaches the data from the scan of Cain to the message once she is done, copying it from the bio-scanner to the computer, and sends it off.

I wonder what the time is?

She checks. Five twenty four. Thirty six minutes until Guardian needs to be at Alexandria’s penthouse. Given the flight takes only a few minutes, she has about half an hour with Cain.

Should I spend that time with Cain or let Scott deal with Cain while I come up with the equipment?

Let Scott deal with Cain.

Are you sure about that?

Scott dealt with you rather well and is most likely better at it than you. You are lacking when it comes to social interaction.

And I suppose I’m the only one that can make the equipment for Cain.

Indeed.

I’ll inform Scott and Cain then.

“Scott, Cain,” says Legacy as she looks over at the two of them, “I have sent the message and data to Leo. I’ll begin work on equipment for Cain. Since you are better at it, I would like you to help Cain get started by giving him information and advice in addition to explaining our situation to him.”

“Okay Legs,” replies Scott, “Anything else?”

“Yes,” Legacy tells him, “I have arranged to meet Alexandria and her new team at six pm. And I got 

a couple thousand dollars off of a drug dealer earlier.”

Legacy tosses the cash to Scott before going over to her old sets of power armour.

Perhaps I can modify one for Cain to use? I never really got much use out of them myself. By the time I got them finished, Leo gave my current armour. They should still prove useful.

1.6 Alliance Part 3

“Yes,” replies Guardian bluntly as she turns and looks up at floating girl behind her.

“The police and the Union are looking into the person creating and selling those guns,” says Alexandria as she lowers herself down so she is looking Guardian in the eye, “So we’re trying to recover as many of them as we can.”

“They’re not made of technology,” says Guardian.

“Umm, yeah, they are,” disagrees Alexandria as her feet reach the ground, “What else could they be?”

“They don’t use real technology,” insists Guardian, “Like Techni-Hurt didn’t.”

“If you say so,” replies Alexandria with a shrug, “I guess that you’re the expert. You are a technopath after all. I’ll report in with bosses to tell them that.”

“Go ahead,” says Guardian.

She is tempted to use her power to listen in on Alexandria’s report, but that feels too much like spying and Alexandria is her friend.

I have no problem spying my enemies or strangers, but spying on friends feels wrong.

Guardian loots the fallen drug dealer as Alexandria uses her fancy gauntlet to check in with her bosses. A couple thousand dollars on him, another phone and multiple bags of his product.

“You done?” inquires Alexandria as Guardian finishes destroying the drugs.

“Yes,” answers Guardian, “Do you wish to speak with me?”

“Yeah,” says Alexandria, “My bosses want me to try and recruit you for the new team they have put together, the Chicago Teen Heroes Union since there are five of us in the city. Well, five of us that are willing to work for the government at least. I’m sure there are plenty more supervillains and others like you about.”

“I’m not interested,” replies Guardian, “I already got a team and resources. Working for the government will only restrict me unnecessarily.”

“I figured that would be your answer,” says Alexandria with a sigh, “So you know, they also said they would have you arrested if you refuse.”

“How?” asks Guardian, confused.

Do they have the physical capabilities to do that?

Not that we are aware of.

“Me and my team are supposed to do it,” says Alexandria, “Possible Atlas and the Heroes Union as well.”

“None of you can beat me,” points out Guardian.

“I think I could,” protests Alexandria in indignation, “I’m a B+ Class with flight, super strength and nigh invulnerability. A flying brick. You’re just a technopath, estimated C+. Even if you’re a better fighter than I am, I can still take you in a straight up fight.”

Guardian grabs a flashbang from her utility belt and activates in her hand. The flash blinds Alexandria, who yelps in surprise as she covers her eyes with her hands and staggers backwards.

Guardian follows up with a couple of strikes with her stun baton before jumping kicking Alexandria into the ground with her boot KEPs and zooming off into the air.

As she flies off, Guardian decides to hack Alexandria’s gauntlet with her power.

“Are you okay?” demands someone on the other hand.

“What just happened?” groans Alexandria.

“You tell me,” says the voice, “You’re the one out there.”

“I don’t know. I was talking to Guardian,” replies Alexandria, “Telling her that we had to bring her in if she refused to join like she did. Then she claimed that we couldn’t force her to do anything and I said I could take her in a fight, stating our power difference.”

“Did she attack you?” inquires the voice.

“I assume so,” mutters Alexandria, “There was this blinding flash, completely exploiting my super senses. Then I was zapped through my invulnerability and something slammed me into the ground. And Guardian was long gone when I got to my senses.”

“Sounds like your friend attacked you,” says the voice, “Let’s not worry too much about her. While she is a rogue parahuman, Guardian isn’t a threat to the public, only the criminal element. This new gunsmith metahuman is however given how he is supplying the criminal elements en masse.”

Guardian decides she has got enough information from Alexandria’s gauntlet and decides to leave a message before redrawing.

I’ll meet you at your penthouse at six pm. Bring your team, I would like to meet them. Sorry about attacking you.

That’s good. I’ll send that as the message.

Hopefully she won’t be too upset.

I hope so as well. I don’t want to lose one of my only friends.

You should head back to the basement.

Agreed.

Following her companion’s advice, Guardian heads back to the basement.

I wonder if Cain is there yet?

Guardian checks the basement security and it turns out that Cain has made his way to the basement. He is sitting at the table with Scott as the two of them discuss something.

Should I listen in or just wait until I arrive there in person? I think I’ll go for the later. It seems politer and the right thing to do.

The flight doesn’t take long and as Guardian lands, she receives a reply from Alexandria.

Fine. We won’t try to arrest you by the way.

I should send a reply.

Good. Thank you for that. I don’t need to worry about bring extra equipment then.

With the message sent, Guardian enters the basement.