The Protagonist System

226 More Than A View

The next day at school was a normal one, even with my growing fame. It was almost a tie between who liked me as a cape and who liked me as a singer between the girls. None of the guys would admit they liked the song, which was expected. They did quote a few of the lines to their girlfriends and that was pretty funny, since the girls knew they never would have come up with the lines otherwise.

Classes passed by fairly quickly, because the teachers knew the weekend was only a day away and they didn't want the extra work any more than their students did. Lunch was another popular group thing and I wasn't surprised when Vicky and Amy tried to not include themselves into the normal spot for the popular kids.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

It was Dean that finally convinced them that they can't separate themselves like that from me, even if I was pretty much rubbing it in their faces with how friendly I was with their friends and not them. I did try to include them in the conversations around me and that made me even more favorable in everyone's eyes. Dean seemed appreciative of it as well.

I hadn't pulled the buying everyone's lunch trick again and I didn't sense any resentment over it, which was a surprise. Usually, when you showed off like that, if you didn't keep doing it, you lost people's favor. Instead, more and more people greeted me or waved and it was refreshing that they didn't expect me to do anything special, despite me being an open cape and a budding musician.

Another afternoon at gym class let me show off a little. I wore the smallest gym shorts available and a muscle shirt, which was little more than a couple of straps. There were a lot of cell phones out taking pictures as the coach put us guys through our paces on an improvised obstacle course. I did successfully avoid going to the dodgeball pit, unlike Dennis.

I think he just enjoyed the extra attention and making people laugh with his pratfalls. It really was pretty funny how he flailed around as he was pummelled by several balls at once.

I went home after a shower and spent the afternoon and evening with my mom. She was a little nervous about my trip to New York the next day and I reassured her that it was necessary for me to handle the next big thing that was coming up in a few weeks. That didn't really reassure her until I promised I wasn't going to do anything that she wouldn't approve of.

*

The entire roster of the New York Protectorate had shown up to greet the newest healing cape on the scene. There normally wouldn't be that huge of a turnout for a meet and greet, because the cape was only there for a work placement session. It was thanks to Flechette's personal campaign to let everyone and their dog know that Atlas was going to be spending time there with them.

It was a little out of character for her to hype up a guy, since everyone knew she liked the fairer sex. If anyone had asked her about it, Lily would have happily said it was because of how he had so easily taken down Lung and how Oni Lee had been dealt with as an afterthought as he saved Miss Militia, her personal icon for feminine rights.

The time approached for his appearance and from one second to the next, without a flash or a sound, both Atlas and Brandish appeared in front of them on the helipad. They wore high quality business suits and carried briefcases. All of the capes there appreciated how professional they both looked, which was exactly what Brandish had been going for.

“Welcome to the New York PRT HQ.” Legend said and stepped forward to shake Brandish's hand. He turned to Atlas and shook his hand as well. “You don't know how much we appreciate you giving us priority for your volunteer work.”

“It's a pleasure to be here.” Carol Dallon said. “Atlas knows how swamped your main hospitals are.”

“I really do. Brandish made sure I had all of the relevant paperwork to make the decision on what to prioritize.” Greg Veder said and Legend smiled. “We also decided my work placement is a school function and doesn't count against my volunteer hours for this week, which I've used none of.”

A few people caught their breath at hearing that, fully knowing what that meant.

Legend's smile grew. “I'm very happy to hear that.” He said and motioned to the capes around him. “Let me introduce you around.”

“There's no need for that.” Greg said and a few people made disgruntled sounds. “I already know all their names.”

Everyone was stunned when he went to each cape and shook their hands, greeted them by name, and said he wanted to thank them for keeping up the good fight and that he hoped he could live up to their expectations. He ended with Flechette and thanked her for convincing Laserdream to push for the NY PRT posting and he hoped they could do a patrol together.

Lily blushed and stammered out an acceptance as the capes around her chuckled at her reaction. She swatted at a few of them and that made everyone laugh. They all went inside the building and confirmed the itinerary for the hospital visit and when they had to be there. Both Carol and Greg excused themselves briefly to change into their cape costumes and came back into the room a few minutes later.

Flechette, aka Lily, definitely batted for the same team and gave Carol many appreciative looks. However, she couldn't stop herself as she also checked out Atlas and how formfitting his costume was. Despite not liking men that way, she still enjoyed seeing how perfectly formed he was. Like a fine artwork.

Carol handed Legend the schedule she had drawn up, thanks to Atlas and his ability to teleport and them staying for the weekend. They would be staying at a nearby hotel on the top floor and would be available for emergencies as well.

Both Legend and the other capes were delighted to hear that and the gathering broke up when it was time for Atlas to attend to the hospital arranged for his work placement. Brandish and Atlas were brought there by Legend in a PRT vehicle and he introduced them to the hospital administrator and several doctors.

Carol opened her briefcase and handed over a copy of the appropriate paperwork, just in case they hadn't received it. Atlas was quickly approved to use his powers under observation and was brought into the ICU. He easily dealt with everything in only a few minutes and it shocked everyone, including Carol Dallon, because she hadn't realized just how powerful the healing ability was that Atlas had.

The emergency room was next and even the missing limbs were repaired without him slowing down or needing extra time, no matter how severe the injuries were. The children's ward was next and Atlas did an improvised magic show to distract them as he healed the children and gave them little gifts from nowhere.

Even Carol had no idea how he was doing it, until they left the ward and Atlas told them he had set up a spot previously and teleported everything in. It was technically true, too. The spot was his inventory and moving things between that and the world he was in, was teleporting from one place to another. When the work shift was over, they returned to the main desk and Atlas signed out.

“There's not much left here for me to use up my first volunteer shift on.” Atlas said to Legend. “Should we find another nearby hospital and clear out their most problematic cases, too?”

The hospital administrator and the doctors there looked shocked.

Legend enjoyed seeing that expression on their faces. “Seaside General is only about ten blocks away and I already called ahead.”

“We're flying?” Atlas asked and he nodded.

The three capes left the hospital through the front doors and came to a stop.

“Brandish, may I assist you?” Atlas asked her and she looked a little nervous as she handed over her briefcase and it disappeared. “Remember my promise.”

Carol took a deep breath and let it out. She nodded once and Atlas very gently scooped her up into his arms. She couldn't stop herself from holding onto his neck with a vice-like grip and Atlas didn't say anything about it.

Legend nodded and pointed where they needed to go and they flew at a normal pace to the next hospital. They landed in front of the doors and Atlas put Carol down and handed over her briefcase. She gripped the handle tightly and gave him a slightly strained smile before the three of them went inside.

They met that hospital's administrator and several doctors. Carol handed over another copy of the paperwork and Atlas was approved to use his powers under supervision, so he signed in for a volunteer session. He cleared out the emergency room first this time, since the ICU patients were already stable and could wait for a short time.

The ICU and the children's ward were cleaned out as well, then a few troublesome patients were handled discreetly. The long-term ward was last and it was mostly cancer patients. Atlas was the only one that knew one of them, whom was not a cancer patient at all at the far end of the ward, was secretly the villain named Uppercrust.

His organization was the least violent ones in the world and he created defensive systems, like the forcefield that covered the Rig in Brockton Bay. He was also suffering from a medical condition that had caused his trigger event that gave him powers, so healing him was something Atlas had no problem with. As a tinker, he needed to stay around to maintain all of his defensive equipment.

“Thank you.” The older man said, his voice full of gratitude.

Atlas gave him a smile. “You're going to be around for a long time to come, Mister Crust.”

The older man's face went a little white at me saying that.

“It's Mister Cross.” The attending doctor corrected.

“Huh?” Atlas asked and looked at the clipboard. “So it is.” He said and patted the older man's shoulder. “You're going to live for many years to come, Mister Cross. Enjoy it and good luck.”

The older man could only nod as the powerful cape walked away without arresting him. He was also grateful that Legend hadn't been close enough to hear the mistake in the name.

*

“That was exhausting and you did most of the work.” Carol said as we entered the hotel's presidential suite.

“You were dealing with Legend and the administrator for most of that, so I had the easier time.” I responded and she gave me a pointed look. “I only had to heal people while you had to keep one of the Triumvirate entertained for six hours.”

Carol nodded. “I'll concede that point.”

“How magnanimous of you.” I joked and she huffed. I could see her smile, though. “Are you having a bath to relax?”

Carol gave me another pointed look. “Do you want me to relax?”

I snapped my fingers and stored my cape costume. “I'm asking if you want me to pamper you before I take you on every surface in this room.”

Carol's eyes roamed around the different things, like the furniture, the walls, and the floor. At the last moment, she glanced up at the ceiling and her face flushed red before she looked right at me.

“Afterwards, then.” I agreed and then I was on her.

Carol was naked a second later and moaning my name as I had her right there on the floor. The table was next, then the chair, then the wall, then the bed, then we were on the ceiling and she cried out her pleasure, over and over. Apparently, fulfilling my promise really did it for her.

We ended up back in the bed eventually and Carol kissed me tenderly and lovingly. I also healed her, just to cover up her walking funny afterwards. She was both happy and disappointed by that, which was funny, because she wanted to keep that lasting feeling and also didn't want anyone else knowing she had been so thoroughly worked over.

In the morning, Legend called and we met him at the PRT HQ and took a tour of the place. I was sent off to spend time with the Wards and to join them on their patrol. It was actually pretty fun spending time with Flechette and I didn't try to tease her too much. I wanted to be friends and only friends, which she appreciated, and she grilled me on how it felt to go up against Lung.

It was nothing special and I told her so, because I had a direct counter for his epic regeneration. I showed her after she begged me to reveal the disintegration power I had and she showed me her power as well. Being able to shoot anything from anywhere and always hit your target, was a great power. Yes, I copied it. Unfortunately, I couldn't steal it and fix her shard, because I didn't want to lose all my Karma Points.

After the patrol, we returned to the PRT and it was time for me to go to the next hospital to repeat the day before. Carol came along again, as did Legend, and I cleaned out two more hospitals of the worst cases, including the cancer ward and children's ward. It was both rewarding and saddening, because there was always going to be more patients to handle.

That was why, even with both Amy and my mother working at Brockton Bay General Hospital, there were always more people to heal, day after day, and week after week. There was nothing that could be done to stop it, either. There was always going to be people that needed healing, even on worlds that didn't have people with powers.

Carol and I went back to the hotel and enjoyed another evening and night of being alone and not having any real restrictions on what we could do with each other. She was a lot freer with expressing herself physically and had no trouble letting me know exactly what she wanted me to do with her, to her, and for her. I did the same and told her what I liked her to do and she did it without question.

Sunday was the last day and my volunteer hours had been used up, so we did a single patrol with the PRT and Wards in the morning, signed out of the hotel, and played tourist for the rest of the day. We ended the makeshift tour just before suppertime on Staten Island and Carol looked sad as her eyes took in the broken in half Statue of Liberty and the rusted torso that was sticking out of the water nearby.

“Why haven't they fixed it?” I asked, even if I knew the answer was probably the same as the ferry terminals back in Brockton Bay.

“Cost, mostly.” Carol answered, confirming my thoughts. “The cleanup would take months, as would gathering up all the shredded pieces of metal from the under-structure that Leviathan tore apart. Putting it all back together and restoring it to what it looked like before?” She shook her head. “The patina alone would take years to fix and not even tinkertech could smelt the parts of the statue together to repair it.”

I looked over at the memorial for all the deaths caused by the Leviathan attack years ago and back at Carol's sad face. “All right, you convinced me.”

“Of what?” Carol asked as I switched my casual clothes out for my costume. “What are you doing?”

“Giving New Wave a massive reputation boost.” I said and handed her my phone. “Be a dear and record this, will you? It's ready to stream.”

Carol took the phone and hit the button as she held it up to record me. I smiled at the camera and floated over to the upside down torso of Lady Liberty. Her torch must have been embedded into the bottom of the harbour pretty solidly for it to hold the torso so steady for years. Well, it was either that or it was crushed with the head and there was only the torso remaining.

“This has been an eyesore for too long.” I said, just loudly enough for Carol to hear me. Everyone else had already left to go eat, so it was just us there. “The Statue of Liberty was an icon for all immigrants. It was a symbol of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Then, Leviathan showed up and wrecked it with half of the city.”

Carol gasped when I dropped down into the water and disappeared from her sight. I used several different abilities to bring all the metal pieces to myself, including the Accio spell, and shoved it all inside the statue's torso. It didn't matter what the metal was from, either. I would use it all.

I touched the statue and felt out with Overhaul's power, then mentally nodded at it all being intact and only buried under silt and debris. I flew down into that debris and to the shoulder by the upraised arm that held the torch and braced myself. I used telekinesis to reinforce it to stop the arm, head, and torch from breaking off, and floated upwards.

The look of complete shock on Carol's face was worth the effort of pretending to struggle with the weight. I carefully tilted the thing to let a lot of the water run out of the various holes that were in the statue, then I pretended to struggle to float it over to where the bottom of the statue was.

I braced what I carried against the highest edge of the thing and held it in place with telekinesis, then I very slowly floated upwards and straightened the thing up to the right position. It was never going to stay there like that, not with part of the torso torn out like it was, so I used a combination of Overhaul's power to tear it all apart piece by piece and and Eri's power of rolling back the age of things.

When I was done, the Statue of Liberty had been reformed to the way it was before it was damaged. I also used all the extra metal pieces I had scavenged from the harbour to reinforce it inside to add more braces and secured them where no one would notice.

“This is New Wave's gift of hope to New York City. This lets everyone see that things can be be fixed. Things can be rebuilt. Our homes, our lives, our everything.” I said and floated back down to land in front of Carol. “Be proud of where you live, be proud of your family, and most of all, be proud of yourselves. There's no one else like you in the whole world.”

Carol hit the end button and handed me my phone back. “A-Atlas.” She whispered and her hands were slightly shaking.

I scooped her up into my arms and flew up to the top of the statue and stood on the statue's crown. “Just look at that view.” I said and Carol did so. “You gave it back to the people, Brandish.”

“No, Atlas. You did.” Carol denied and looked at me.

“I was going to do it before and chose not to, because I thought it was too big of a thing to reveal to the world.” I admitted and she looked surprised. “Then you convinced me that if I didn't do anything about it, then no one would.”

Carol blushed and looked out at the view again.

“It's still too big of a thing.” I said and she nodded. “But, we'll handle it like we always do.”

“Together as a team?” Carol asked.

“Together as a team.” I confirmed and teleported us home.