Chapter 3: First Responder's Day

“Why are we here?” Penny demanded. “We hate parades.” Sitting in the belltower of old down-town city hall, they had a good view of the noisy street below, without exposing themselves. “I can smell hot dogs! We could just go down there and get some hot dogs!”

“You need to make a good show of it,” Rue said on the phone. It was on the edge of the window on speaker, partly because Max and Penny needed someone to talk to and partly because Victoria wasn’t available. “Half the city thinks you’re some kind of ARG or ad campaign, and the other half thinks you’re a terrorist.”

“Wouldn’t showing up at a parade cement at least one of those ways of thinking, though?” Max wondered. She sat with her back against one of the pillars of the tower, keeping an eye on the parade below, Penny wrapped around her in case some intrepid reporter decided to look up. 

“Not necessarily,” Rue said. “Not if you wave, make nice, and don’t advertise any products. And try not to destroy any windows or cars or buildings.

“We’ll do our best,” Penumbra chuckled. “Why aren’t you here, anyway? This would be easier with a friend.”

There was a shuffling on the other end of the line. “Because,” Rue grunted, “I have a job that I don’t like taking breaks from, and saving the city doesn’t actually pay my mom’s hospital bills.” 

“That’s fair,” Max said. “You’re still on for next week, though, right?”

“Yes, yes,” the girl on the other end said, with a feigned annoyance in her voice. They’d known each other for years, and Max easily picked up on Rue’s moods. Therapy was doing wonders for her, though. “That little ‘Lit’ project of yours sounds interesting, I’ll admit. But I’m not going to be a superhero.”

“A shame,” Penumbra said. “You’d kick ass.”

“Sure,” Rue said, “right up until the US Military catches wind of it and declares me a weapon of mass destruction. No thanks.” There was another brief pause, and a bit of clanging, tools being dropped, a few muffled swears. When Rue’s voice came back, it sounded slightly out of breath. “Tell me more about the project.”

“It’s still a little tentative, of course,” Max said as she looked out over the parade. “But you know, we have the ability to make the world a better place, here. You and I know better than most that the world is… not exactly kind. But it’s like I told Victoria, people like us, strong people, we can protect the ones the system can’t while we try to change the system.”

“I don’t hate that,” Rue said, “but I have my own stuff at home here. I can’t exactly drop everything and everyone to join your charity.”

“Haven’t you heard, Rue?” Penumbra chuckled. “With great pow—”

“Finish that sentence and I’m going to rob a bank just to spite you,” Rue grumbled. “I see what you’re saying. I don’t like it, but I get it. So what would you even want from me? It’s not like anything I make stays around for very long.”

Max and Penny thought back to their first interactions with Rue, and what they’d seen her do since. Rue was, truth told, probably a lot more powerful than she was, summoning constructs as complex as she could imagine them. If she had known just how big the distance between them was and she had been just a tad more ruthless, Penumbra’s story would have come to a very swift end.

Well, Max’s story, at least, Penny said drily, I don’t cut as easily as you do. Maxine smirked. The symbiote inside her wasn’t wrong. They were likely to survive long after Max had gone, and that wasn’t something she liked to think about. Either of them, really.

“They don’t have to,” she said. “Imagine a one-person construction crew that can build an emergency hospital in minutes, with zero exploited labor. All you’d need is the materials, and time to rest afterwards. Or someone who can assemble life-saving equipment with nanometer-accurate precision, on-site.”

“Yeah, I get you,” Rue said, “but I think you’re overestimating me. Remember, what I create isn’t sentient, no matter how much it looks that way. But I get it.”

Max had been fooled at first, of course. Rue could summon anything she could imagine out of thin air, and it would act out her every command, spoken or unspoken. The constructs went away after a time, though. In her first few fights with Penumbra, it had become clear that maintaining and controlling a large number of constructs took a mental toll that could take days to recover from. But all that was a matter of practice. 

“So yeah, that’s the elevator pitch,” Max said. “Find people like us, make the world a better place, show them how it’s done.”

“And if this nebulous ‘they’ doesn’t listen?” Rue asked. Max chewed her tongue. 

“Problem for future Max,” she said. “So what do you say?”

There was a silence on the other side. Max was about to ask again, unsure if she’d been cut off, when a dull ring told her she’d been put on hold. Penny raised an eyebrow. Sometimes Penny’s responses were so immediate, they showed on Maxine’s face. 

“Rude,” Penny said. Max tried not to overthink it. Her and Rue went way back, after all, and even back then she’d always been… responsive. Max didn’t deal well with people who just stopped talking. It always made her feel like she was doing something wrong, but she couldn’t fix something by talking to someone who didn’t answer.

“You think she’s interested?” Max asked. “I still can’t get a read on her.”

I think so, Penny replied. Probably a client. Girl is busy. Therapy is doing wonders for her. Not to mention transitioning. It was true. After just a year and a bit of hormones and voice training, Rue looked every bit the butch mechanic that made the gay girls swoon and the straight boys worried. She even wore overalls, good god. 

“Don’t make me jealous,” Max said, and then held up a finger. “About the therapy, smartass.” 

I didn’t say anything, Penny said with a smile in their voice.

“Yeah, didn’t think so,” Max chuckled. The phone beeped to let her know she was on the line again. Rue was short.

“I’ll think about it,” she said. “Not sold on anything, so don’t write my name down yet. I’ve seen how you operate and I like being in one piece.”

“Oh, you’ll be f—” Maxine protested.

“Not all of us are borderline immortal, Max. I’ve seen you walk off some gnarly shit.”

“We got hit by a train yesterday!” Penumbra couldn’t help but exclaim enthusiastically.

Rue sighed. Max could practically hear her rolling her eyes. “I know, I saw the news. That’s my point. I’ve got one go, and that’s it. And if this project ends up being risky, you’re putting others in more danger than yourself.”

“Yeah, that’s fair,” Max said, lowering her voice. Rue sounded upset. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be pushing this on you, you’ve got your own thing going on. Thanks for t—”

“Nah. Nu-uh. Not doing this. Listen, Max, I had a shitty client on the line right now, so I’m in a shitty mood. But I can see those little gears of yours turning. I’m interested, and I’m your friend. Neither of those two have gone away. Get out of your own head.” 

“God, you suck,” Max groaned, called all the way out the way she was. “Fine. You’re not mad at me. Sorry for assuming you were.” 

You two have known each other for way too long, Penny said. Communication like this just isn’t natural. I’d know, I’m a weird alien goop monster from beyond the stars, and this freaks me out. Maxine grumpily nudged them internally. 

“Forgiven,” Rue said, unaware of the interruption. “Now, I’m going to hang up, or I’m going to throw this bastard’s car through a window. I hate rush jobs. I need to let off some steam.” 

“I’ll see you next week at the barbecue?” Max asked as she stood up, narrowly avoiding bumping into the old bell in the tower.

“You bet. Now go, get seen. There’s a parade, and a lot of people like you. It’s probably good PR or whatever,” Rue said, then hung up. Max put the phone in her pocket, which was a bit of an experience when she was wearing Penny. Something she didn’t tell people was that, these days, there was no real part where she ended and Penny began. The part where they met in the middle was Penumbra, but she didn’t wear them as a suit. 

The way they were bonded, they were one creature. And so were her clothes. Sure, it meant her clothing was always on point, but it also meant that technically she was naked.

Don’t be weird, Penny chuckled. Do you want to go get seen? 

“No,” Max said. “But it’s for the best.” 

Penumbra crawled up the side of the tower, carefully. While their skin could get adhesive enough to stick to walls, it was genuinely easier to just dig their claws into the brickwork. The downside was the substantial damage to public property, so when there was no emergency, they preferred to play it safe. Perching on top of the tower like a gargoyle, Max looked at the parade. A part of her wondered if there really was a place for her in spaces like this. Even when Penumbra didn’t grin a hundred sharp teeth bare , the purple-black oil-slick skin didn’t exactly look… inviting. 

There will always be people who judge by appearance. And there will always be people who don’t. We don’t do this for approval, Penny said. They were right, of course. There was a shout from the street below. Someone had spotted them. Showtime.

Well… at least they weren’t all screams of terror. Some people waved. Penumbra waved back, then leapt from the building, easily clearing the street and landing against the glass and steel of the office building on the other side. Over the past year, their control of their considerable mass had improved, and they barely ever shattered windows by impacting with them anymore. 

There were oohs and aahs from below, and Max decided to give them a little show. After all, their grip strength was considerable. They stood upright, which of course meant they were standing perpendicular to the ground. There was some laughter from below as Penumbra walked along with the parade, and now that it was clear they were just… there, the attitude of the crowd was quickly changing from shock to an amused surprise. A few cameras were already turning their way. 

“I hate this,” Max said through gritted teeth, grateful Penny covered her face so her pained smile wasn’t actually visible. 

The parade is slated to continue until four this afternoon so… only seven more hours! Penny piped in cheerfully.

“You know, from this height, if I just fall on my face it would hurt you too, you know?”

You wouldn’t, Penny chuckled. You’ve learned to respect yourself too much.

Max huffed. “And whose fault is that?” Penny didn’t say anything. Instead they just bowed which, of course, made Penumbra bow. Their audience below loved it. People were now shouting to get their attention. Some people were shouting for less pleasant reasons, but that was to be expected. 

They decided that seeing the rest of the parade — as well as being seen — was a good idea, so they crawled around the corner and jumped from building to building, hopping over the crowds and the floats. The gasps continued. This wasn’t Penumbra’s first sighting, of course, but she preferred being more low-key. Making a showing like this during the First Responder’s parade felt right, though. It sent a good message. 

They walked down the side of the building to where a news van had secured some space and a reporter was eagerly waving them down. This was, of course, also a part of the plan. Good PR. Max felt dirty. 

“Hi,” Penumbra said as soon as they got close enough, and waved awkwardly. Still standing on the side of the building, they were looking straight ahead at the reporter. He was a young man, maybe in his mid twenties, and he had to crane his neck to look up at them. 

This feels a little mean, Penny said, and Maxine could hear they were trying not to laugh. Let’s put him out of his misery. Max agreed. Penumbra jumped down, did a flip for the flourish, and landed in front of him with catlike grace.

“Hello,” the reporter said, clearly more than a little intimidated. Max didn’t blame him. As Penumbra, they were almost seven feet tall, and fairly muscular. That they had a feminine frame anyway put a lot of men at a disadvantage. “I’m, uh, Jimmy Dansen from LLN, I was wondering if we could ask you some questions.”

Max was really, really restraining herself. She wanted to smile and show off every single one of Penumbra’s many teeth, but she knew she couldn’t ruin their first proper appearance. As it was, Penumbra’s ‘face’ was a black mask, featureless save for two milky-white catlike eyes. 

“Go right ahead, Jimmy,” Penumbra said, putting their hands on their hips. 

“What’s, uh… Do you go by…”

“Penumbra,” they said. “The name is Penumbra.” 

“So… you’ve been seen around town, but this is your first real public appearance. Is there any reason you’ve decided to show yourself publicly now?” the reporter asked. He was clearly making it up as he went along, but Max and Penny had to hand it to him, he seemed very professional about the whole thing. He was barely sweating at the sight of them.

“The First Responder’s Parade is an important tradition,” Penumbra said. “I’m just here to pay my respects.” That was truthful enough, they figured. 

“People have a lot of questions,” Jimmy said. “Are you really an alien?”

Penny chuckled at that. “That’s a complicated question, Jimmy. I—,” Max started, and then the whole world shook for a second. It was only a second later that she realized there had been an explosion. 

Two blocks, Penny said. Due north. Max felt them try to figure out the strength of the explosion based on the noise. Penny was good at that sort of thing. She turned to the reporter. 

“Sorry, Jimmy, we’ll have to continue this conversation some other time.” She saluted him as she leapt as high up as she could — a not inconsiderable height — and hoped the reporter hadn’t been too observant. She didn’t want to explain why her voice had sounded different at the end there, but Penny was busy. 

They leapt across the street in arcs, towards the source of the sound. There were screams coming from the crowds below, but from what she could tell, most people were unharmed. Ironically (and thankfully), with this many first responders on the streets, panic was kept to a minimum. She rounded the block and saw the police station engulfed in fire, just in time to see a young boy run inside. Without thinking, Max ran along the side of the buildings towards the inferno, but she felt a hesitation. 

We hate fire, Penny groaned. I can’t do much against fire. Penny was sturdy, but they weren’t fire proof. On the contrary. 

“I know, I know,” Max responded as the heat of the fire blasted them in the face. “This is going to suck.”

Elamimax Finally got around to publishing more of this!

This is your friendly neighborhood author reminder that the full story is actually already written up to chapter 23 which is available for Patrons! I'd really appreciate it if you checked it out!

Also! I have also updated Flipping Out and Verdant, so head over there for new chapters of those too :)

Ela

Chapter 3: First Responder's Day Why are we here? Penny demanded. We hate parades. Sitting in the belltower of old down-town city hall, they had a good view of the noisy street below, without exposing themselves. I can smell hot dogs! We could just go down there and get some hot dogs! You need to make a good show of it, Rue said on the phone. It was on the edge of the window on speaker, partly because Max and Penny needed someone to talk to and partly because Victoria wasn't available. Half the city thinks you're some kind of ARG or ad campaign, and the other half thinks you're a terrorist. Wouldn't showing up at a parade cement at least one of those ways of thinking, though? Max wondered. She sat with her back against one of the pillars of the tower, keeping an eye on the parade below, Penny wrapped around her in case some intrepid reporter decided to look up. Not necessarily, Rue said. Not if you wave, make nice, and don't advertise any products. And try not to destroy any windows or cars or buildings. We'll do our best, Penumbra chuckled. Why aren't you here, anyway? This would be easier with a friend. There was a shuffling on the other end of the line. Because, Rue grunted, I have a job that I don't like taking breaks from, and saving the city doesn't actually pay my mom's hospital bills. That's fair, Max said. You're still on for next week, though, right? Yes, yes, the girl on the other end said, with a feigned annoyance in her voice. They'd known each other for years, and Max easily picked up on Rue's moods. Therapy was doing wonders for her, though. That little Lit' project of yours sounds interesting, I'll admit. But I'm not going to be a superhero. A shame, Penumbra said. You'd kick ass. Sure, Rue said, right up until the US Military catches wind of it and declares me a weapon of mass destruction. No thanks. There was another brief pause, and a bit of clanging, tools being dropped, a few muffled swears. When Rue's voice came back, it sounded slightly out of breath. Tell me more about the project. It's still a little tentative, of course, Max said as she looked out over the parade. But you know, we have the ability to make the world a better place, here. You and I know better than most that the world is not exactly kind. But it's like I told Victoria, people like us, strong people, we can protect the ones the system can't while we try to change the system. I don't hate that, Rue said, but I have my own stuff at home here. I can't exactly drop everything and everyone to join your charity. Haven't you heard, Rue? Penumbra chuckled. With great pow Finish that sentence and I'm going to rob a bank just to spite you, Rue grumbled. I see what you're saying. I don't like it, but I get it. So what would you even want from me? It's not like anything I make stays around for very long. Max and Penny thought back to their first interactions with Rue, and what they'd seen her do since. Rue was, truth told, probably a lot more powerful than she was, summoning constructs as complex as she could imagine them. If she had known just how big the distance between them was and she had been just a tad more ruthless, Penumbra's story would have come to a very swift end. Well, Max's story, at least, Penny said drily, I don't cut as easily as you do. Maxine smirked. The symbiote inside her wasn't wrong. They were likely to survive long after Max had gone, and that wasn't something she liked to think about. Either of them, really. They don't have to, she said. Imagine a one-person construction crew that can build an emergency hospital in minutes, with zero exploited labor. All you'd need is the materials, and time to rest afterwards. Or someone who can assemble life-saving equipment with nanometer-accurate precision, on-site. Yeah, I get you, Rue said, but I think you're overestimating me. Remember, what I create isn't sentient, no matter how much it looks that way. But I get it. Max had been fooled at first, of course. Rue could summon anything she could imagine out of thin air, and it would act out her every command, spoken or unspoken. The constructs went away after a time, though. In her first few fights with Penumbra, it had become clear that maintaining and controlling a large number of constructs took a mental toll that could take days to recover from. But all that was a matter of practice. So yeah, that's the elevator pitch, Max said. Find people like us, make the world a better place, show them how it's done. And if this nebulous they' doesn't listen? Rue asked. Max chewed her tongue. Problem for future Max, she said. So what do you say? There was a silence on the other side. Max was about to ask again, unsure if she'd been cut off, when a dull ring told her she'd been put on hold. Penny raised an eyebrow. Sometimes Penny's responses were so immediate, they showed on Maxine's face. Rude, Penny said. Max tried not to overthink it. Her and Rue went way back, after all, and even back then she'd always been responsive. Max didn't deal well with people who just stopped talking. It always made her feel like she was doing something wrong, but she couldn't fix something by talking to someone who didn't answer. You think she's interested? Max asked. I still can't get a read on her. I think so, Penny replied. Probably a client. Girl is busy. Therapy is doing wonders for her. Not to mention transitioning. It was true. After just a year and a bit of hormones and voice training, Rue looked every bit the butch mechanic that made the gay girls swoon and the straight boys worried. She even wore overalls, good god. Don't make me jealous, Max said, and then held up a finger. About the therapy, smartass. I didn't say anything, Penny said with a smile in their voice. Yeah, didn't think so, Max chuckled. The phone beeped to let her know she was on the line again. Rue was short. I'll think about it, she said. Not sold on anything, so don't write my name down yet. I've seen how you operate and I like being in one piece. Oh, you'll be f Maxine protested. Not all of us are borderline immortal, Max. I've seen you walk off some gnarly shit. We got hit by a train yesterday! Penumbra couldn't help but exclaim enthusiastically. Rue sighed. Max could practically hear her rolling her eyes. I know, I saw the news. That's my point. I've got one go, and that's it. And if this project ends up being risky, you're putting others in more danger than yourself. Yeah, that's fair, Max said, lowering her voice. Rue sounded upset. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be pushing this on you, you've got your own thing going on. Thanks for t Nah. Nu-uh. Not doing this. Listen, Max, I had a shitty client on the line right now, so I'm in a shitty mood. But I can see those little gears of yours turning. I'm interested, and I'm your friend. Neither of those two have gone away. Get out of your own head. God, you suck, Max groaned, called all the way out the way she was. Fine. You're not mad at me. Sorry for assuming you were. You two have known each other for way too long, Penny said. Communication like this just isn't natural. I'd know, I'm a weird alien goop monster from beyond the stars, and this freaks me out. Maxine grumpily nudged them internally. Forgiven, Rue said, unaware of the interruption. Now, I'm going to hang up, or I'm going to throw this bastard's car through a window. I hate rush jobs. I need to let off some steam. I'll see you next week at the barbecue? Max asked as she stood up, narrowly avoiding bumping into the old bell in the tower. You bet. Now go, get seen. There's a parade, and a lot of people like you. It's probably good PR or whatever, Rue said, then hung up. Max put the phone in her pocket, which was a bit of an experience when she was wearing Penny. Something she didn't tell people was that, these days, there was no real part where she ended and Penny began. The part where they met in the middle was Penumbra, but she didn't wear them as a suit. The way they were bonded, they were one creature. And so were her clothes. Sure, it meant her clothing was always on point, but it also meant that technically she was naked. Don't be weird, Penny chuckled. Do you want to go get seen? No, Max said. But it's for the best. Penumbra crawled up the side of the tower, carefully. While their skin could get adhesive enough to stick to walls, it was genuinely easier to just dig their claws into the brickwork. The downside was the substantial damage to public property, so when there was no emergency, they preferred to play it safe. Perching on top of the tower like a gargoyle, Max looked at the parade. A part of her wondered if there really was a place for her in spaces like this. Even when Penumbra didn't grin a hundred sharp teeth bare , the purple-black oil-slick skin didn't exactly look inviting. There will always be people who judge by appearance. And there will always be people who don't. We don't do this for approval, Penny said. They were right, of course. There was a shout from the street below. Someone had spotted them. Showtime. Well at least they weren't all screams of terror. Some people waved. Penumbra waved back, then leapt from the building, easily clearing the street and landing against the glass and steel of the office building on the other side. Over the past year, their control of their considerable mass had improved, and they barely ever shattered windows by impacting with them anymore. There were oohs and aahs from below, and Max decided to give them a little show. After all, their grip strength was considerable. They stood upright, which of course meant they were standing perpendicular to the ground. There was some laughter from below as Penumbra walked along with the parade, and now that it was clear they were just there, the attitude of the crowd was quickly changing from shock to an amused surprise. A few cameras were already turning their way. I hate this, Max said through gritted teeth, grateful Penny covered her face so her pained smile wasn't actually visible. The parade is slated to continue until four this afternoon so only seven more hours! Penny piped in cheerfully. You know, from this height, if I just fall on my face it would hurt you too, you know? You wouldn't, Penny chuckled. You've learned to respect yourself too much. Max huffed. And whose fault is that? Penny didn't say anything. Instead they just bowed which, of course, made Penumbra bow. Their audience below loved it. People were now shouting to get their attention. Some people were shouting for less pleasant reasons, but that was to be expected. They decided that seeing the rest of the parade as well as being seen was a good idea, so they crawled around the corner and jumped from building to building, hopping over the crowds and the floats. The gasps continued. This wasn't Penumbra's first sighting, of course, but she preferred being more low-key. Making a showing like this during the First Responder's parade felt right, though. It sent a good message. They walked down the side of the building to where a news van had secured some space and a reporter was eagerly waving them down. This was, of course, also a part of the plan. Good PR. Max felt dirty. Hi, Penumbra said as soon as they got close enough, and waved awkwardly. Still standing on the side of the building, they were looking straight ahead at the reporter. He was a young man, maybe in his mid twenties, and he had to crane his neck to look up at them. This feels a little mean, Penny said, and Maxine could hear they were trying not to laugh. Let's put him out of his misery. Max agreed. Penumbra jumped down, did a flip for the flourish, and landed in front of him with catlike grace. Hello, the reporter said, clearly more than a little intimidated. Max didn't blame him. As Penumbra, they were almost seven feet tall, and fairly muscular. That they had a feminine frame anyway put a lot of men at a disadvantage. I'm, uh, Jimmy Dansen from LLN, I was wondering if we could ask you some questions. Max was really, really restraining herself. She wanted to smile and show off every single one of Penumbra's many teeth, but she knew she couldn't ruin their first proper appearance. As it was, Penumbra's face' was a black mask, featureless save for two milky-white catlike eyes. Go right ahead, Jimmy, Penumbra said, putting their hands on their hips. What's, uh Do you go by Penumbra, they said. The name is Penumbra. So you've been seen around town, but this is your first real public appearance. Is there any reason you've decided to show yourself publicly now? the reporter asked. He was clearly making it up as he went along, but Max and Penny had to hand it to him, he seemed very professional about the whole thing. He was barely sweating at the sight of them. The First Responder's Parade is an important tradition, Penumbra said. I'm just here to pay my respects. That was truthful enough, they figured. People have a lot of questions, Jimmy said. Are you really an alien? Penny chuckled at that. That's a complicated question, Jimmy. I, Max started, and then the whole world shook for a second. It was only a second later that she realized there had been an explosion. Two blocks, Penny said. Due north. Max felt them try to figure out the strength of the explosion based on the noise. Penny was good at that sort of thing. She turned to the reporter. Sorry, Jimmy, we'll have to continue this conversation some other time. She saluted him as she leapt as high up as she could a not inconsiderable height and hoped the reporter hadn't been too observant. She didn't want to explain why her voice had sounded different at the end there, but Penny was busy. They leapt across the street in arcs, towards the source of the sound. There were screams coming from the crowds below, but from what she could tell, most people were unharmed. Ironically and thankfully, with this many first responders on the streets, panic was kept to a minimum. She rounded the block and saw the police station engulfed in fire, just in time to see a young boy run inside. Without thinking, Max ran along the side of the buildings towards the inferno, but she felt a hesitation. We hate fire, Penny groaned. I can't do much against fire. Penny was sturdy, but they weren't fire proof. On the contrary. I know, I know, Max responded as the heat of the fire blasted them in the face. This is going to suck. Elamimax Finally got around to publishing more of this! This is your friendly neighborhood author reminder that the full story is actually already written up to chapter 23 which is available for Patrons! I'd really appreciate it if you checked it out! Also! I have also updated Flipping Out and Verdant, so head over there for new chapters of those too : Ela