The Doom that Came To Winslow: 10

Transitions:

From: Protectorate Threat Analysis section

To: E. Piggot, Director, PRT ENE

RE: Overwatch

Our Analysis currently confirms that the Master’s (current reporting name: Ostracizer.) ended upon her death. All later instances of psychological and physical harm were due to her influence before her death, not some lingering Master ability. As such, we confirm that the PRT ENE and Protectorate are no longer at risk of being compromised. For that reason, Director Costa-Brown has determined that Oversight is no longer necessary.

*****

From: E. Piggot, Director, PRT ENE

To: Dragon

RE: Possible Data Breaches

Dragon, during the lock down a number of potential security holes appeared. We have confirmed that they are not due to Ostracizer, however, we cannot rule out the question of other agents. I would like you and the Guild to take the role of vetting our information security from off-site locations.

*****

From: Dragon

To: E. Piggot

RE: Possible Data Breaches.

Understood. I will start setting up an analysis section immediately.

*****

From: Dr. Jessica Yamada

To: E. Piggot

RE: Vista.

Director Piggot, Vista remains reluctant to discuss the Master incident and how it impacts her, and has been claiming no difficulty in sleeping. Last week, our unannounced drug test confirmed that she has tested positive for OTC sleeping pills, which while not illegal, are not intended for long term use, or use by a child of her age. Furthermore, the medical examination triggered by that detected at least one old wound, consistent with a knife or other bladed instrument, as well as signs of amateur medical care. As I consider this something that may lead to imminent self-harm, I am informing you that Vista encountered Hookwolf, was injured, and then due to fear of being benched (and returned to her home, full time), operated on herself. I feel I do not need to explain just how badly a 12-year-old trying to suture her own wound could go or how desperate she must be to stay away from her home to consider such an operation. I feel we need to discuss this.

*****

From: E. Piggot.

To: Armsmaster, Miss Militia, Dr. Yamada, Legal Officer Collins, Dr. Green

RE: Vista and 0800 meeting.

Vista is currently confined to the base.  We will be meeting at 0800 to discuss this situation, and how everyone missed it. I expect all records to be complete, and we will go through just how we managed to miss an eleven-year-old girl getting either attacked or run over by Hookwolf, and then missing the fact that she used her mother’s sewing kit to treat herself. If you’re wondering, yes, I am extraordinarily unhappy at this state of affairs, and make no mistake, this will be reported up the chain, to Youth Guard, Legend, and the Chief Director, and I would prefer to have some answers for them. Armsmaster, brief Dauntless on any operations tomorrow, because short of an Endbringer attack, you’re not leaving the meeting.

*****

From: Legend

To: E. Piggot, Armsmaster

RE: Vista

We shouldn’t need the disaster of a Master appearing to clean our own dirty laundry. I am extremely unhappy that things were allowed to escalate this far. As I understand it, her home situation, while not rising to the level demanding CPS involvement, is not helping Vista adopt a healthy lifestyle.  We can ask if she wants to swap out with Flechette for the next month or so, as a development program—I’ll drop by and convince the parents. I know that you’ll be happy, Emily, since Flechette is older and has fewer restrictions on her, and we’ll be able to put Vista in a better environment while we figure out a long-term solution.

Attachment to Armsmaster’s copy:

Armsmaster, I need you to clear your calender for a few talks. You’re one of the best tinkers, and heroes in the Protectorate, but a twelve-year-old girl is not Teacher.  You or your other subordinates should have noticed things before it got to this point, so we’re going to go over how the Wards operate. This isn’t official, but I hope you’ll be willing to listen to any advice I have.

*****

From: Alexandria

To: E. Piggot, Armsmaster

RE: Weaver’s transfer to LA.

Accepted.

*****

From: Dr. Jackson, PRT Power Analysis Section

To: Chief Director Costa-Brown, PRT

RE: Emma Barnes

Our Evaluations of Ms. Barnes are complete, and as expected, her powers revolve around being protected from both physical and mental control. As seen in the attached videos, she can cover herself with armored scales that can defend her from physical attack while also enhancing her strength. She also has an ability to ignore many Master effects, as far as we can see, although obviously testing such resistance, given her current mental state, is ethically impossible.

Now for the bad part. Her defense comes at the cost of her hearing, sight and ability to speak, and no parahuman healers have been able to restore those senses or ability. She has what we’ve termed a “Sense of perception” to use the old Sci-fi term, which lets her sense objects within a 30 meter radius with great accuracy and more vaguely out to 100 meters. This sense doesn’t include color, sound, or anything else. She can see, but by her own description it’s “all shades of gray.”  Put simply, her defense against most Masters is not having the senses many masters use, as well as a brain that seems to naturally resist Mastering, though we’re not fully understanding that.

Because it is unlikely we will be able to restore her normal sight, hearing or speaking, we are starting to teach her ASL since she can ‘see’ others with her sense of perception. Needless to say, her mental state remains immensely fragile, and I think it will be a matter of months or longer, before she is psychologically capable of functioning in anything other than a very structured environment.

*****

From: Chief Director Costa-Brown, PRT

To: Dr. Jackson, PRT Power Analysis Section

RE: Emma Barnes

Understood. Her Parents will be relocating to the region, so that they can be in closer contact with their daughter. Please extend every courtesy and see if they can assist the psychologists assigned to Ms. Barnes.

*****

From: Superintendent Wilma Givens

To:  Mayor Christner

RE: Winslow Replacement.

Mayor Christner, I know about the budget. Believe me I do. But I just had four parents, two ABB and two E88 tromp up to my office and tell me that their children are not going back, ever. And when the E88 and ABB agree on something… Not to mention just over 75 percent of the faculty and administration have quit and I know the students and parents won’t trust the remaining 25 percent.

And physically, in the last week, the school has had its windows busted, its doors busted, with people throwing bricks, throwing rocks, throwing Molotov Cocktails. With all the damage done, I’m not certain how much more expensive a new school would be, but nobody’s going back to Winslow.

The district has a few empty fields on the North Side. We can start with portable classrooms, so that we can hopefully complete the school year, while getting ready to build a new school. While that’s happening, I can spend my copious free time trying to find teachers to replace the ones we lost.

*****

BBFD radio dispatch:

Dispatcher: Company 6, Company 8, Company 9, Structure fire, Winslow High School. BBPD on scene.

Captain Evans (responding unit): This is Company 6. We need more units. The structure is completely engulfed. Looks like Arson. We will be containing the fire from neighboring structures.

Dispatcher: Understood. Dispatching Company 12.

Briefing note to BBFD and PD:

Item 1: The PRT has declared that the Master’s influence ended with her death. However, all personal are to be reminded that post-Master trauma often leads to a variety of issues, including suicidal ideation, violence and possible truama triggered panic attacks. For that reason officers are expected to be alert, especially for any former Winslow students. The PRT has provided us with a list of adults and juveniles who they feel may be most severely impacted, and we will be scheduling occasional safety checks for them.

Item 2: Uber and Leet’s latest prank has left a very slipper surface on Fifth, between Main and Textron. Until the Protectorate can figure out a way to get rid of it, preferably without destroying the road, that section will be closed to traffic. Be aware that this is going to lead to much worse traffic—and watch out for road rage incidents.

Item 3…. 

And the world continues spinning...