"Not that I've seen. I figured that they either just stayed in security rooms or the school relied on the monitors because they're cheap. Now that you mention it, most big schools have their own police departments."

I take out my phone to check the student handbook and search up 'security,' 'guard,' 'police,' or any related term I can think of.

While searching, I comment, "Now that guy over there, he's really suspicious. Who drinks Mr. Pibb on purpose, let alone Pibb Zero? That has to be some kind of crime against nature."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 8):

Dad shrugs.  "Could be worse.  Could be a Fresca.  Or a Chocolate Soldier.  Do they even make those anymore?"

The phone wouldn't be able to pull up the handbook while you are in Limbo, would it?  Wouldn't you need to step back into real time to get a signal?

I shrug. "I don't know what those are, but I don't like soda anyway."

I figured it would be downloaded already, but if that's not the case, that is fine.

I thought I'd downloaded the manual, or at least the pdf would still be in my browser history, but no luck. I put my phone away.

"I've never investigated something like this before. To me it looks like any of those three suspicious people could be a problem, so we might want to interrogate all of them. Who would you start with, Dad?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 10):

Sorry.  Missed this post.

It's reasonable you would have downloaded it.  I think you did in the very first story arc now that I think about it.

So let's assume you did

Per the Handbook, there is a number for "Security".  But that's all it really says.  The handbook advises students to contact their closest Monitor in cases of emergency.  Or call 911 as needed.

Dad studies all three and shrugs.  "Ladies' choice."

I forgive you.

I pause for several seconds, wheels turning. This is completely unlike the parents I know. They've always had a plan for me. Always demanded specific things in particular orders.

"You two have never been this uncommitted about anything around me. Am I being tested again?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 12):

Dad blinks several times.  You seem to have actually surprised him.  His looks is a bit unreadable.  "Seraphina...do you think all I do is test you?"

"No, but this is starting to seem like a test. I've never seen you noncommittal before. The same regarding Mother."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 14):

Dad slowly shakes his head.  "No more tests Princess.  You're a big girl now.  You'll need to make your own decisions.  And while I'll always have your back, I can't tell you what to do.  I'd like to.  If I'm honest, I'd love to set it up so you'll always be happy and safe."

He smiles, a sort of crinkled up smile that looks like it's been thrown into one of those machines that smash old cars into cubes.

"But...you wouldn't like that, right?  You are capable.  And you can handle things on your own.  Am I wrong in wanting to give you a chance to prove that?"

I am so terribly busy. And sorry. I really need to pick this up as a daily habit again, like in the Good Old Days.

I put my hands on my hips and think about what Dad said before responding. He's either lying or just not as smart as I thought. Of course this is a test. Apparently, a test of my ability to take initiative. I hope it's as competent as it appears, rather than Dad just not understanding himself well enough.

Or maybe that means I have surpassed my parents.

Maybe.

"No, you're not wrong." I smile at him. "I'm just not used to it. Security guard guy is the most out-of-place, so I'll start with him."

Unless Dad interrupts me, I go over that-a-way, grab the "guard" by the shoulder, and pull him into Lim-

Sideways.

I really don't like thinking about being able to enter and leave the land of the dead at will.

"Don't panic, sir. I just need to ask you some questions."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 16):

No worries.  RL always comes first.  Always

Dad says nothing and doesn't stop you.

The security guard blinks, jumps sideways, blinks some more while looking around, and pulls out his Taser.

"Stop!  Don't move!  Unless that's how your power works!  Then move!  Or something!"

Brusquely, "There's an active terrorist threat. I'm a monitor for the school. Do you have a badge?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 18):

He peers at you.  Then taps the badge on his uniform.  He's not close enough for you to make out much detail on it though.

"How do I know you're not the threat?"

I walk a few steps closer so I can make out his badge.

"I am Seraphina Martel. What's your named and badge number?"

If he's really security, he'll know who I am, either directly or as a monitor.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 20):

He narrows his eyes farther. "You're a student here, aren'tcha?  Well.  That don't mean you aren't involved!  So stay back!"

You can make out Harry Hillson.  You can't quite make out the badge number yet.

Getting closer?

Yes.

I keep getting closer, but slowly. I don't want to spook him. Well, if he's a terrorist, then actually I do, but I know what I mean. "Mr. Hillson, I've never seen a security guard at St. George's before."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 22):

"Maybe you just haven't looked for one.  Ever thought a' that?"

His eyes flick in Dad's direction and then back to you.  "Ah hell."

He fires his taser.

We've never spoken of this, but I am assuming that since he is in the Gray Scale/Limbo/Outside Time with you, then he can take actions.  Like firing a taser at you.

Let me know your thoughts.  And if you think the taser would effect you.

That makes sense to me. I don't know if it should affect her. You've made it seem like superpowers are super duper before and that truck-juggling strength is common, but it also seems like powers are generally pretty low-tier at the same time. I don't know. What do you think?

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 24):

Thanks.

I am assuming Dad and Sera are kind of on...uhmmm...maybe The Thing from the Fantastic Four level strength.  Not the strongest (in terms of raw power), but up there none the less.

Invulnerability is different than super strength.  Even an Olympic weight lifter is going to feel a taser.

So it just depends on how you define Sera in that category.  Is she super strong, but just as vulnerable as anyone else?  A glass cannon so to speak.

Or does she have some toughness that goes with it?

Last year in the date episode she got in a truck-throwing contest and everybody involved was able to clear like two football fields with a hurled pickup, which is where I'm getting my impression. If you want to tone it down, that's okay by me. I just want to have consistently-defined parameters. Same thing with speed and toughness. Maybe we should take some time to define things. Or not. Your call, really. That level of strength was noted, as was super speed and toughness independent of the time powers, the former inherited from her father and the latter form her mother, and the whole suite at very high levels. But again, if you want to change it, then okay.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 26):

I'm fine with the strength level.  She's meant to be super dupes strong and she is.

For Invulnerability:  I am assuming Sera can shrug off the taser this guy is trying to hit her with.  If someone dropped a live power cable on her, how would that affect her?

And what about being shot?  What kind of gun/rifle/tank would be powerful enough for her to feel it?

Speed:  I am assuming she can super leap.

I would not think she could run like the Flash, but then again with her time freeze power, I wouldn't think running speed would be much of an issue.  But let's define that as well for reference.  I would not think Sera is the Flash.  But I could see her being a very capable sprinter.  That sound about right?

Anything else you can think of?

Well, before when her power was time control, she was more durable than a normal person but not so much invulnerable as able to regenerate so fast that it might as well be invulnerability, and more severe damage took concentration. I.e., she still felt pain and took damage, but she reversed her personal timeline to when she wasn't damaged.

Since it's been revealed that she never had time powers at all, regular invulnerability is probably better.

As for what's powerful enough to hurt her, I'd like to know what the general super level of the setting is. She should be on the very high end, whatever that is, but that could be anywhere from 'doesn't need a bulletproof vest' to 'may as well be a deity.' Same with strength and really everything power.

I never envisioned her as having super-speed in and of itself, just time powers that made it look to external observers as if she had supreme speed faster than anything else. You know, cheating, rather than actually being faster. But she doesn't have time powers.

Basically, I'm fine with just about any level of superpowers, but whatever the levels are in the setting itself, I want Sera to be in the the top ranks of them.

Does that make sense?

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 28):

Makes perfect sense.  Thanks.

So you are about at the Fantastic Four level of power.  There aren't any Supermen  in this world.  Though there are some bad guys who are on the world threat kind of level (think I mentioned them in a post waaaaaaayyy back at the start of the game).

Okay.  I will assume then it takes a great deal of electrical power to make you notice.  So...

The taser wires leave smolder marks on your shirt.  The current doesn't even tickle.

The "guard" looks at you, then at Dad, then mutters, "Shit.

"Look.  I'm just tryin' to pay off my student loans.  They said this would be an easy score.  I can show you where the bombs are."

I would prefer, ideally, that she would be able to take on the biggest baddest villains in one-on-one combat and win more often than she loses.

I slowly look down at my shirt, brush off the taser wires, and look back up at the fake guard.

"Sure. Go ahead."

I wait for him to do that. I expect that we found them all, but there may be some we didn't get. I am careful to be taciturn and not promise him anything, since once we release him to the real cops, it'll be out of our hands what they charge him with.

You did find them all.

Each time he shows you a new spot, and the bombs are already gone, he seems to get more nervous.

At the last spot he wipes sweat off his forehead.  "Okay.  You really gotta believe me.  This is all of 'em that I know about.  I don't know of any others.  This should be all of 'em.  So...I'm guessing you're not going to let me go?"

He chews his lip a moment and then says, "Look.  There's one more thing I can tell ya.  It's who's running the show.  I mean...I don't know their name or anything.  But I do know something that might help you find them.  You let me jet, and I'll share it."

I don't promise him anything, mostly because I can't in good faith.

"Who else is in on it?" I prompt, using my patented ice queen stare, stance, and general aura of menace that has, in fact, made grown men wet themselves on several occasions.