342

Chapter 342:

– Layla –

The way these entities granted powers to humans fascinated me deeply as I utilized my divine senses, peering carefully into Taylor Hebert's brain.

What I saw was intriguing, if unsettling. It wasn't as if the entity directly gave Taylor her abilities. Rather, there was an unnatural structure deeply embedded within her brain—an alien, organic implant. It was entirely foreign, pulsating slightly with a strange, almost rhythmic movement. This organ functioned as a conduit, opening a dimensional channel that linked Taylor to the entity in another dimension.

Once Taylor realized she was a parahuman, this connection would activate fully, enabling the entity to channel its powers through her.

But that was for later, of course.

Taylor had calmed significantly since we'd brought her back to my office. She sat on the plush leather couch, nervously fidgeting, eyes flickering between me and Carol with awe.

Captain Marvel was seated comfortably beside her, the iconic costume slightly rumpled from earlier events but still vibrant.

Taylor looked positively starstruck, cheeks flushed bright red. “Oh my gosh, you're Captain Marvel! And I was just hugging you all this time!?” Taylor blurted, eyes wide with excitement. Her voice trembled slightly. “I saw you on TV! Oh my god, I’m so sorry for staining your costume and, you know, crying all over you…”

Carol smiled gently. "It's completely fine, Taylor," she said warmly. "Costumes can be cleaned easily. The important thing is that you're safe now. I'm just glad we got you out of there." Carol shifted slightly, her expression growing more serious. "But I have to ask—how exactly did you end up locked inside that locker in the first place? Does Winslow High have a serious bullying issue?"

I frowned deeply, feeling my annoyance spike at the very thought of school authorities ignoring such blatant cruelty. "Yes," I added, keeping my tone steady but firm. "What exactly happened there? And don't hold anything back."

Taylor snorted bitterly, folding her hands tightly on her lap. Her voice shook as she spoke. "Bullying issue doesn't even begin to describe it! There are three girls who've made it their life's mission to torment me—Emma, Madison, and Sophia." The venom dripping from the name "Sophia" was particularly intense, nearly tangible. Taylor took a deep breath, visibly trying to steady her nerves. "They've been bullying me relentlessly for over a year," she continued, voice cracking slightly. "I've reported it to every teacher I could think of, and I've spoken directly to Principal Blackwell more times than I can count. But nothing ever changed. None of the adults ever did a single thing about it, no matter how bad it got. It just made things worse because Emma, Madison, and Sophia realized they could do whatever they wanted without consequences." Tears welled up again in Taylor’s eyes, her voice wavering as the trauma resurfaced vividly. "Today was the worst they've ever done. I thought I was going to die inside that locker. I was sure no one would find me in time."

Carol reached out and gently placed a comforting hand on Taylor's shoulder. Her tone was soothing, compassionate. "Hey, it's alright now. You're safe, Taylor. Those girls aren't going to get away with this anymore."

Taylor looked up, eyes shining with gratitude and lingering disbelief. "Thank you so much for getting me out of there. Really, Captain Marvel. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't—"

"No thanks needed," Carol interrupted gently, smiling warmly. "That's exactly what superheroes are supposed to do—help people who need it." She turned her head towards me, her eyes blazing fiercely with conviction. "Layla, we can't let this stand. Something needs to be done about Winslow High. Clearly, the staff there is either incredibly incompetent or dangerously negligent."

A smirk crossed my lips, and I tossed my long black hair behind my shoulders confidently. "Damn straight," I said, gesturing grandly at the sleek and expensive suit I was wearing. "I'm a sexy CEO bitch now, Carol. Believe me, I'm more than capable of completely ruining that school administration’s day. I'll flood them with injunctions, lawsuits, and investigations. Hell, I'll personally ensure every single adult responsible for this ends up permanently unemployed!"

I winked at Taylor, who was staring at me with wide eyes, clearly not expecting such bluntness from someone in my position.

"Wow," Taylor finally said after a stunned pause. "I definitely didn’t expect the CEO of one of Earth Bet's newest, most influential corporations to be so... childish?"

I pouted dramatically, feigning offense as Carol chuckled beside me. "Layla only acts like this occasionally," Carol assured Taylor with a teasing glance in my direction. "Usually, she's much more mature—" Carol paused, then snorted softly, shaking her head. "You know what? Scratch that. She acts like this most of the time. But it’s part of why I love her."

Taylor’s eyes went wide at Carol’s words. "Wait—love?" she gasped. "Hold on, are you two actually together? A lot of students at school have been wondering about that. Everyone saw those commercials and noticed the way you two look at each other!"

I grinned delightedly, feeling warmth spread through my chest. "Well, I'm glad our chemistry comes across clearly on camera!"

Carol’s cheeks flushed slightly, but her smile was genuine and affectionate. "Yes, Taylor, Layla and I are very much together. And yes, I do love her. Even if she drives me crazy sometimes."

Taylor giggled slightly, momentarily distracted from her earlier trauma. It warmed my heart to see the young girl smiling again, even if briefly.

"But seriously," I said firmly, bringing the conversation back to the urgent matter at hand. "Winslow High is going to regret ever allowing this kind of behavior. This city—and especially its kids—deserve much better than that."

Taylor looked at me, hope flickering tentatively in her eyes for the first time since she'd been rescued from the locker. "Do you really mean that?"

"Absolutely," I confirmed firmly. "I promise, Taylor, I'll personally ensure things change drastically."

Taylor looked so genuinely relieved and happy hearing all our promises and support that I almost felt bad for what I had to say next. Still, I had to be upfront, so I didn’t sugarcoat anything.

"...Taylor," I said gently, catching her attention. "I just want you to know that right after I teleported us here, I sent a message to your dad."

Her reaction was immediate and obvious. Her eyes went wide in shock, and she tensed up all over. "What... what do you mean you told my dad?" she asked nervously, her voice barely above a whisper, fear and embarrassment flickering across her face.

Carol and I exchanged a look. I recognized the worry in Taylor’s eyes all too well. I remembered from my own experience—and from just being around teenagers—that most kids hid the worst of what happened to them at school from their parents. Adults rarely found out about the worst bullying until it was far too late. With what Taylor had just gone through, I wasn’t willing to let that slide. She could have been killed, or at least ended up with a serious infection, if she’d been stuck in that locker any longer.

I leaned forward, my tone steady and serious. "Look, Taylor. We want to take real action against your school, and to do that your dad needs to know what's been happening to you. He also deserves to know what happened today—and that you have powers now."

She stared at me, her mouth open in disbelief. "I have powers?" she stammered, blinking in confusion.

I nodded. "Yes. I sensed it the moment it happened, right before we got you out of that hellhole."

Taylor pushed her glasses up her nose and looked away for a moment, trying to process everything. When she looked back, her brow was furrowed. "I did feel kind of weird since we got here," she admitted. "It's like there's this buzzing all around me, and I keep getting the urge to reach out and do something, but I don't know what…?"

Carol smiled kindly at her. "That's completely normal, Taylor. Every parahuman goes through something like that after their first trigger event. It means your powers are active but still new."

I nodded, giving her an encouraging smile. "You’re in a safe place now. If you want to try experimenting with your powers, go ahead. Don’t worry about accidents—I can heal you instantly if anything goes wrong. We want you to be comfortable with yourself."

Taylor chewed her lip, looking a little less nervous. "Um, thanks. That... actually makes me feel better."

Then she tilted her head at me, curiosity replacing some of the anxiety. "What about you, Layla? You never said what your powers are. You didn't even mention them in any of the commercials! You teleported us all the way here from Winslow? That’s so cool! And you healed me? Can you do anything else!?"

I smirked. Was she what was known as a ‘Cape Geek?’

Carol jumped in before I could answer, grinning at me and giving Taylor a wink. "That’s by design, Taylor. We want everyone—including villains and government agencies—to underestimate Layla. The image we put out there is just a drop-dead gorgeous, but otherwise normal, CEO. That way, if anyone tries to pull something, they get a very nasty surprise."

I laughed, flipping my hair behind my shoulders. "Exactly. If someone comes after me thinking I’m just a powerless businesswoman, they’re going to regret it."

Carol added, her tone turning a little smug, "And for the record? I’m not even close to being as powerful as Layla."

Taylor’s jaw dropped as she glanced from Carol to me and back again. "Wait, what? But in the commercial you said you’re the strongest parahuman in the world!"

Carol shrugged. "I am, as far as the public knows. But Layla… she’s on a completely different level."

I held up a finger to my lips and winked at Taylor. "Keep that part to yourself, alright?"

Taylor nodded quickly. "Absolutely! I won’t tell anyone." She hesitated for a second, then asked, "Hey, isn’t Fallcorp recruiting superheroes? Can I join you guys?"

I grinned, delighted. "That’s something you’ll need to discuss with your dad first, Taylor. But honestly? I can’t see him having an issue, especially since we just signed a massive contract with the Dockworkers Association. Your dad’s the union leader, right? That makes this all pretty convenient."

Taylor actually cracked a small, hopeful smile at that, though I could still see anxiety lingering beneath the surface.

Carol chimed in, "If you decide to join, we’ll make sure you get all the support and training you need. I can be a harsh taskmistress, but I'll make sure you'll be able to handle yourself in the field."

—

For the second time today, Taylor's father, Danny Hebert, arrived at Fallcorp headquarters. The first time he'd come here, he was nervous about negotiating a business contract with me. This time, he was practically frantic, pushing past the receptionist and rushing straight for my office. The look in his eyes was pure panic as he spotted his daughter. He didn't hesitate—he dropped to his knees in front of Taylor, reaching out, grabbing her shoulders, and checking her over with trembling hands.

"Are you all right? Taylor, please, talk to me. Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice strained and desperate, searching her face for any sign of injury.

The message I'd sent him earlier had been short and to the point. I'd told him we’d saved Taylor from a life-threatening situation and that she was safe with us. But I hadn’t given him the details. I figured he needed to see for himself that she was okay, but the truth couldn’t wait.

Taylor, doing her best to act like the tough teenager she wanted to be, still shook a little as she sat there. She tried to give her dad a weak smile. "I'm okay, Dad. Really, I'm fine."

Danny didn’t look convinced. He turned on Carol and me, his eyes full of anxiety and anger. "What happened? I want the truth. All of it."

Carol didn’t waste time. She spoke clearly, every word landing with weight. "Mr. Hebert, we found Taylor locked inside a locker at her school. She’d been stuffed in there by three girls—Emma, Madison, and Sophia. Taylor said this has been going on for over a year. She told us she’d tried talking to teachers and the principal, but nobody at Winslow did anything. And this time… it was bad. It could have been fatal."

Danny's face twisted with rage. He shot to his feet, pacing the office, hands balled into fists. "I'm going to sue the fuck out of that school," he growled, his voice shaking. "I swear, I'm going to ruin every one of those teachers, every administrator that ignored this shit."

Taylor's cheeks turned a little red and she pouted, "Language, Dad!"

That actually got a little smile out of him, and for a moment, the tension in the room eased. He let out a small, shaky laugh, but then the smile faded as he started muttering again—this time about shitty teachers, useless adults, and how school districts protected each other more than the students they were supposed to care about.

He finally stopped, took a few deep breaths, and faced me again. "CEO Layla, I mean it. Thank you. Your presence in Brockton Bay has been a blessing for my family. I don’t even know how to begin to thank you."

The genuine gratitude in his voice caught me off guard. I actually felt my cheeks heating up. From the side, Carol let out a snicker, clearly enjoying my rare moment of flustered embarrassment.

I shot her a playful glare, then turned back to Danny, waving my hand as if to bat away his gratitude. "It's fine, really. I'm just glad we got to Taylor in time. That’s what we’re here for."

Of course, my System couldn’t leave me alone.

[People praised you all the time on your home earth. Why are you so fidgety now?]

I rolled my eyes mentally. 'Because all that praise usually didn’t happen in person,' I snapped back at it. Or if it did, it was short and sweet. I would leave right after helping people.

Out loud, I added, "You don’t have to thank me, Mr. Hebert. But you should know—this isn’t over. I plan on making damn sure Winslow High and everyone responsible for Taylor’s suffering faces real consequences."

Carol chimed in, her tone just as serious. "And we're going to be there with you every step of the way. Taylor’s safe now. That’s what matters. But we’re not letting the people who let this happen get away with it."

Danny let out a long breath, visibly calmer but still wound tight with anger and protectiveness. He squeezed Taylor's hand, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Thank you," he whispered again, his voice barely holding steady. "Thank you, both of you…"

Of course, that was the moment the multiverse decided to remind me that even with nearly unlimited power, I was still a Gamer, and Gamers lived in chaos, no matter how high their stats got.

My luck stat was off the charts, but that didn’t mean I could avoid the randomness.

[That luck stat makes all the chaos turn out for the best, you know.]

My phone started buzzing insistently in my pocket. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. It was my sister, Penemue. She almost never called me out of the blue. As a fallen angel who’d been around for more than a thousand years, she preferred to handle things face-to-face.

She was old fashioned like that.

Carol looked over at me. "Everything alright?" she asked.

"We'll find out," I said with a shrug.

I held the phone to my ear and answered quickly. "Penemue? What’s up? You usually don’t call unless it’s important."

"Layla, I hope you’re ready for a show. We’ve got a problem—a very loud, very stupid problem. The ABB gang is coming to attack Fallcorp HQ. Lung himself is leading them. They’re maybe a block away, armed to the teeth."

I rolled my eyes, sighing. "Really?"

Penemue didn’t skip a beat. "These humans—parahumans or not—are no threat to you, me, or Carol. But they can still cause damage, and if any of our staff or civilians get hurt, it makes us look incompetent. That can’t happen." Her voice was laced with annoyance. My big sister was a ruthless businesswoman at heart and didn’t like anyone fucking with her work!

I glanced at Carol, who was now fully alert and practically vibrating with anticipation. Taylor and her dad both gasped, looking nervous but Carol told them both it would be ok.

I put Penemue on speaker. "Alright, so what’s the plan? You want us to handle it quietly, or…?"

Penemue’s voice actually sounded a little smug. "No, we’re doing this loud and public! I’ve already called the camera crew. They’re setting up out front. We’re going to smash these idiots into the pavement, and we’re going to do it on live TV. I want the entire city to see exactly what happens to anyone who tries to mess with Fallcorp. This is our chance to show off! The general public will be eating even more out of our hands after this!"

I couldn't help but snicker at her sheer ruthless professionalism. Only my big sister could turn a gang assault into a business opportunity.

Even as the Supreme Goddess, I was still learning from her.

Carol leaned over and grinned at me. "You heard the boss. Time for a little public relations beatdown."

I flashed her a feral grin. "Let’s make it a good show. They picked the wrong day to fuck with us."

I turned to Carol, and my eyes couldn’t help but drink in every inch of her body. Carol was standing tall in her skintight Captain Marvel suit, the fabric stretching over her powerful thighs and toned calves. Her legs were pure muscle, every line defined and smooth. My gaze slid upward. Her arms were solid, clearly sculpted by years of hard work and battle. My eyes lingered, for a long moment, on her chest—her breasts were full and firm, the suit straining to contain them.

Finally, I reached her face. Carol’s face was striking. Sharp cheekbones, a confident mouth, intense blue eyes, and just enough softness to make her smile devastating.

She caught me staring, rolled her eyes, but there was a teasing smile at the corner of her lips. "You done checking me out, Layla?" Carol asked, “Because the look you’re giving me is gonna make me say fuck this fight, and just drag you off to the bedroom instead!”

I grinned back at her, no shame at all. "Too bad we can’t have that… Till a bit later at least."

She smirked, flipping her hair behind her ear, and stood there with one hip cocked. "Alright, Layla, what’s the plan?"

“Alright, Captain Marvel,” I said. “Time for the world to see what you can actually do. This is your chance to prove you really are the "strongest parahuman.""

Quotation marks included, since we both knew damn well she's not actually a parahuman.

Carol stood tall and flicked her hair back with practiced confidence, her posture radiating power. “You want me to crush an entire gang led by a so-called dragon? No problem. And let’s be real—a dragon that held off an Endbringer isn’t as impressive as people think. If it had been me, I would’ve snapped that overgrown lizard’s spine and thrown him into the sun for good measure.”

Taylor, seated on the couch beside her father, gasped. “Wait, you’re serious? YOU COULD THROW AN ENDBRINGER INTO SPACE?”

Danny looked shocked as well!

Carol grinned at her and winked. “Dead serious. Trust me, kid, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Taylor jumped to her feet, her whole body tense with excitement. “I want to help! I want to fight too!”

Danny instantly panicked, his protective instincts flaring. “Absolutely not! No way, Taylor. You’re not fighting anyone! You’re just a regular girl, Taylor.”

Taylor squared her shoulders and shot back, “That’s not true, Dad! I have powers now!”

Danny’s eyes went wide with horror. "WHAT!?" He then shot me a look that looked like betrayal.

I winced, realizing we hadn’t gotten to that part of the conversation yet...

“Yeah, so… surprise,” I said with an apologetic shrug. “Taylor’s a parahuman now...” Taylor looked at me expectantly, wanting validation, but I turned stern. “Sit back down, Taylor. You don’t even know what your powers are, let alone how to use them. If you went outside right now, you’d just get in Carol’s way. Let us handle this.”

Taylor huffed and slumped back onto the couch, arms crossed, clearly annoyed but not about to argue further. “Fine,” she grumbled.

Carol gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Taylor. We’ll help you figure out your powers soon enough. For now, just turn on the TV. I’m about to give you—and everyone in this city—the greatest beatdown this world has ever seen.”

I stepped closer to Carol, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “Show them what happens when you fuck with us. By the end of today, there won’t be a gang in Brockton Bay that doesn’t know who runs this city.”

Carol grinned, her eyes alight with anticipation. She looked at Taylor and Danny one last time, then gave me a quick, fierce kiss before striding out the door, ready to put on a show for the world.

– Carol –

Be dramatic, be unmistakable, send a message that would echo across the city and beyond.

She threw open the window of the top floor, feeling the wind slam into her as she rocketed straight down, moving at speeds that left a visible trail in the air. She aimed herself right for the pavement in front of Fallcorp’s headquarters. The impact sent cracks spidering out from her landing point, a perfect superhero landing—fist and knee to the ground, rainbow energy blazing in all directions.

'Nailed it...' she thought with a smirk. Layla always loved dramatic entrances and that had definitely rubbed off on Carol. Although, Carol would definitely prefer other things being rubbed off right about now, with her and Layla under the sheets.

But unfortunately she had these idiots to deal with first.

She rose to her full height, aura crackling around her body like a living warning. Every inch of her was lit by power, her suit clinging to her curves, hair whipping behind her.

She turned and saw the camera crew standing behind the cordon, nervous but steady—each of them paid very well by Layla’s sister Penemue to get every second of this broadcasted.

Carol gave them a slow smirk, then winked, her lips quirking as she heard the click and whir of their equipment catching her in perfect HD.

Then she faced forward, squaring her shoulders and looking directly at the threat that brought her here. Civilians lined the edge of the street. Some, wisely, were already running, getting as far from the confrontation as possible. Others—foolish or maybe just too eager for drama—stood their ground, phones up and recording.

Carol could hear their nervous excitement:

"Is that Captain Marvel?"

"Holy shit, this is gonna go viral."

"Everyone hurry up and record this! It's Captain Marvel vs Lung!"

On the other side of the open space, dozens of gang members stood together. Some were covered in tattoos, all of them bristling with aggression and a mix of cheap and deadly weapons—baseball bats, knives, crowbars, even a handful of assault rifles and pistols.

Behind them stood the two parahuman leaders of the ABB. Lung and Oni Lee. Both wore cheap, grimy masks, though everyone knew exactly who they were. Lung was a hulking brute, his exposed arms covered in burn scars and ink, breathing hard and glaring at Carol with undisguised hatred.

Lung stepped forward, voice rough and thick with accent, every word laced with venom. "I'm going to kill you, bitch! The whole city will see who's the real dragon. Everyone will know who runs Brockton Bay!"

That was all the invitation his men needed. They broke out in a chorus of crass, disgusting catcalls and threats. One guy closest to the front cupped his hands and shouted, "Look at the tits on this bitch! I can't wait to rip that costume off and fuck her in front of all these cameras!"

Another voice chimed in, laughter cruel and ugly. "Yeah, but Lung gets first crack, you know the rules!"

"Don’t worry, I never mind sloppy seconds!"

The crowd of gangsters erupted into jeers, hoots, and laughter. The people on the street gasping at their taunts.

Carol’s jaw locked, rage boiling in her chest. She felt her hands curl into tight fists, knuckles popping.

"...Don’t kill them, Carol..." she muttered angrily.

She was being recorded by the crew and half the goddamn city. So outright murder was BAD.

Unfortunately…

But she could HURT these monsters—she could make damn sure they’d never threaten another girl in this city again.

The ABB were infamous for kidnapping women, forcing them into the sex trade, and laughing about it afterward. The entire city had been afraid of them for far too long. Carol felt that cold, electric fury rise up inside her and let it burn in her eyes as she looked at Lung.

"...I’m going to break you." She didn’t shout, didn’t need to. Her words cut through the jeers and reached Lung directly.

Lung glared back, taking another step, fire already licking along his skin. She knew all about how his and his slaves' (Oni Lee’s) powers worked.

"Come on then, bitch! Show me what you’ve got, gaijin whore!" he roared angrily as all of his gang members either charged or raised their guns at her.

Oh, she would show them alright! She was about to give them a fucking lesson they’d never forget!

– Armsmaster –

Colin gripped the handlebars of his Tinkertech motorcycle with both gloved hands, the vibration of the engine thrumming up through his palms. The custom-designed seat hugged his thighs and lower back as the bike tore through the streets of Brockton Bay, weaving effortlessly between cars that honked and swerved in alarm. The digital HUD inside his helmet showed his speed, his route to Fallcorp headquarters, and a flurry of incoming notifications from the PRT.

He ignored them all. Knowing he'd be in big trouble later for this.

Dragon’s voice sounded clearly inside his helmet. “I think you’re making the right move, Colin. Doing what's right, but not easy.”

He clenched his jaw as he leaned hard into a turn, nearly scraping the pavement with his armored knee. “Thanks, Dragon. I just want to make things right. I know I can come off as an asshole sometimes, and honestly, I still don’t trust Fallcorp or their CEO. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back and let the director or the PRT leadership make the call to let innocent people get hurt! If the gangs think they get a free pass to burn the city down, they’re wrong!”

A car honked as he flashed past, the force of his passage rocking the vehicle as he shot through a narrow gap. Colin’s breath was steady, focused, every muscle tensed as he scanned ahead for trouble.

He couldn’t see Dragon’s face—he needed every second of focus on the road—but he could hear the warmth in her voice. “That’s exactly why you’re my favorite hero, Colin! You’re a good man, no matter how much you try to hide it.”

He felt a flush of embarrassment, glad Dragon couldn't see his face. "Thanks, Dragon. Seriously. I know I don't always make it easy, and honestly, sometimes I don't feel like I deserve your friendship. You're always so good to me. Just... don't go spreading that around, okay? If the others found out, they'd never let me live it down—and I'm not sure I could handle that kind of reputation!"

He was supposed to be a stern Tinkertech badass after all! The Legacy of Hero!

Dragon’s voice sparkled with a hint of laughter. “If you get kicked out of the PRT for this, there’s always room for you in the Guild. Or maybe even Fallcorp. They’re going to owe you after this, you know.”

Colin grunted, eyes narrowing as he wove around a delivery truck, his whole body shifting with the weight of the motorcycle. “Me? Join Fallcorp? Yeah, that’ll be the day...”

XXX