Trojan

Gil headed out first with Keilnei and Snow in tow. Boco could lift substantially more weight, but his back didn’t have space for more than three people. Ultimately it worked out; there was almost nothing Gil could plausibly do to overburden the giant bird.

In retrospect, he regretted the decision to sell off the few people Rose had managed to make pacts with in Brockton. It would have been nice to have a local guide for Candress on hand. They would have even been in Merchant territory. As things stood, if he sent Candress out alone to do anything useful, then she’d be too tempting a target.

Armed or not, glowing eyes or not, she was a slender, highly attractive woman who wouldn’t be able to mask that she was entirely out of her element. If three or four guys decided they wanted to jump her, then it would be a tremendous stroke of good fortune if she was merely robbed. The task he’d given her instead, to trade fresh water and meat to the refugees around the memorial in return for some local clothes she and Keilnei could wear over her armor, was as much busy work as anything else.

The trio walked a few blocks before Gil summoned Boco from his ball, at which point they flew low and fast, keeping in between the buildings. Inevitably some people would note the giant fucking bird zooming through Brockton Bay, but Gil hoped they’d move on with their lives quickly when it didn’t start hurting people. Boco went back into his ball when they reached the edge of a fairly intact suburb, which Rose had marked as the location where the Dallon family, half of New Wave, lived.

As they approached the surprisingly normal house, Gil noted the total lack of security. He wasn’t sure if that was because of a lack of funds or a sense of invulnerability, but he decided that would need to change if he did team up with them. Only one member of this little family was functionally invulnerable; all the rest could be murdered quite easily by a sufficiently clever enemy. Supers in most settings kept their identities secret for a reason: to make sure weirdos couldn’t look up their address and come straight to their house.

Gil didn’t see any reason to be subtle; he had Keilnei walk up to the front door and knock. He knew he looked both ridiculous and threatening, wearing a skintight body suit under a cloak and cloth mask, complete with a medieval longsword and revolver, so he hung back initially. The initial knock received no immediate reply, and then the door opened and a hand shot out like a viper, grabbing Keilnei by the wrist.

“Try anything funny and I’ll seal your eyes and ears shut.” Said the hand’s owner, a short girl with bags under her eyes. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

She wasn’t a particularly pretty young woman, but might be considered cute in a less tense situation. She had frizzy brown hair and enough freckles to blow straight past a dusting. Her grey eyes were guarded, but not entirely focused. She didn’t seem like she’d been getting enough sleep.

“Panacea, I presume? We heard about Flashbang.” Gil said, “I understand you don’t do brains, but I think we might be able to help. It would be an honor to assist someone who was hurt during a battle with an Endbringer.”

That, unfortunately, did not calm the young woman down. She tightened her grip, while Keilnei met her gaze with her own flinty expression.

“Who are you?” The freckled girl demanded, then narrowed her eyes and looked Keilnei up and down. “What are you? Are you a case 53? The last time I saw someone who looked like you under the skin they were begging for cosmetic surgery.”

Gil raised his eyebrows. It seemed like this healer had a few extra senses, and they were strong enough to pierce Keilnei’s illusion of humanity. Rose had briefly explained Case 53s as people whose powers had altered their bodies, since the current team captain of the Brockton Bay Wards was one. A young man made out of solid metal, if Gil remembered correctly.

“You are correct, Keilnei here would draw some unwanted attention if her original face was visible.” Gil said, “My powers allowed me to make a few skin-deep adjustments; you could consider her part of my resume, if you’d like. May we come in?”

Panacea looked at Gil and Snow.

“Not right now.” Panacea said. “I don’t know you, and I’d rather not wake up my sister. Leave a name and number and my mom will call you when she has time.”

She didn’t let go of Keilnei, instead focusing on her again.

“Can this guy actually do something for a brain injury?” She asked, “Would it be real if he did? He doesn’t need a face lift; I could handle it if he did.”

“Gil is a decent man, and a pragmatic one.” Keilnei said. “I don’t think he’d make the offer if he didn’t think it was possible, or if he didn’t think he’d benefit. I don’t know what side effects may come, however. I found myself with a magnified libido, for example.”

Keilnei blushed slightly. The casual use of his name made Gil groan internally, but he got over it easily since it wasn’t like he was in any local records. Further, direct honesty seemed to do the trick. Perhaps the (precisely) 18 year old healer was reading Keilnei’s stress levels. Perhaps she was just more likely to believe the sales pitch when it didn’t seem too good to be true.

Whatever the reason, that lukewarm recommendation had somehow made Panacea calm down slightly. She released her grip and slammed the door shut. A few minutes later, she cracked the door again just wide enough to speak through it.

“Name and number.” She said. “I’ll write it down.”

“Call me Nomad.” Gil said. “I’m sort of a tinker with a focus on body and power modification. I have a few things I might be able to do, and the most **** among them would definitely grant him a full cognitive recovery at the cost of his powers.”

Gil gave the young heroine the number on the burner phone provided by Rose, as well as a warning.

“Look, I intend to leave town tomorrow, before noon.” He said. “You can call me back any time before I’m headed out, and I’ll give it a shot. Call me too late and I’ll get back to you next time I’m in town, probably in a few weeks. Got it?”

“Understood.” She said, and closed the door.

“Oh dear.” Snow said. “I’m so sorry we can’t help that man yet. I was ready to try, too.”

“Don’t worry.” Gil said. “There’s a decent chance we’ll get another opportunity. If not, he’s probably in good hands.”

“Exactly what was your planned treatment?” Keilnei asked as Gil called out Boco.

“First, get Snow to try crying on the guy.” Gil said. “As far as I can tell that has zero side effects or drawbacks. It also wouldn’t cost me anything, which is a plus.”

“And if that didn’t work?” Keilnei asked. “Her tears are potent, but they seem to work like conventional potions. They restore things that would typically heal in time regardless.”

“Yeah, it’s a long shot.” Gil said, “If that didn’t work? I repeat what I did with Silky. If Rose is right, that man can’t feed himself or go to the bathroom. I can’t think of many people that would choose an existence like that over turning into a teenage girl.”

“His daughter seems to disagree.”

“His daughter saw a snake oil salesman trying to peddle miracles.” Gil said with a shrug. “I’m not sure if we’ll go through with it, but if Rose does join up with them, then she should be able to talk to him one on one at some point. If he thinks the trade is worthwhile, then she can make a pact and I’ll take care of things remotely. Hell, maybe it’d be for the best.”

“How, Master Gilbert?” Snow asked, “It just seems sad to me.”

“If I pick up a card that’s a little more hefty than Shiho, Flashbang would be much easier to make a deal with directly.” Gil said. “He’s a man whose wife and daughter both fight on the front lines of a war. He got injured by trying to throw down with some kind of city destroying sea serpent. He’d sell his soul for the ability to get back into the fight; I guarantee it.”

He let Keilnei guide Boco for a bit while sending Rose a quick update.

“I checked with P about medicine for her father. She didn’t seem keen on it; could you talk to her when it’s convenient? Or him.”

Her response came several minutes later, but he wasn’t expecting much. She had a busy day ahead of her.

“Ok”