Story 4 Hero Within, Monster Without Chapter 5

A Lucario was fast to be put plainly. Sure it wasn't an Arcanine who could literally break the sound barrier with how fast it could run. But with a light jog's amount of strain, I could run faster than the cars around me as I headed towards the cities hospital and thankfully no one wrecked seeing the wolfish-shaped humanoid running beside and past their cars as I followed the directions I picked up to get to the Brockton Bay, General Hospital.

Once I got to the hospital I paused at the entrance seeing some security guards and finally, I shrugged and walked over with the security guards' hands slipping down to their guns at their sides as they eyed the clearly monstrous cape walking toward them. "Hey guys! Can you call your manager or something. I have a healing power and wanted to make a deal." I called out and they paused at that.

The guards shared a glance and one held up a hand as he said quickly. "Alright... Uhhh do you have a name? I haven't heard of you yet?" 

Even as he said that, he still went for his walkie talkie at his side but I shrugged. I didn't have a 'hero/rogue' name planned out and neither did I honestly care for one.

I mean my ability was to turn into monsters... What other names could I take other than something overused like Menagerie or whatever?

"My name is Jake Barris, I have registered with the PRT as a parahuman a few hours ago if the hospital would like to call for a reference," I answered simply and the two guards looked kinda skeptical but regardless the one with the walkie talkie relayed the information. Sending my details to the head of security who probably bounced all that info elsewhere.

After a good five minutes of standing awkwardly in place, I twitched as I felt a weight of some kind of emotional disturbance shifting my clear mind that this Lucario form seemed so used to being in.

And flying over the edge of the roof was a curvaceous young woman with long blond hair, wearing a classical tight-fitting super hero dress like Super-Girls but with it being mostly white with golden highlights. 

The guards looked up at her in 'Awe' while I just felt the aura of emotional output form her that tried to make me worship her with merely a raise eyebrow as I watched the heroine fly down towards me. "Heyo! So you are the weird changer that Gallant mentioned that registered with the PRT... You are a lot less furry and smaller than he said?" She finished with a confused tilt to the head.

I wryly smiled with my bestial face exposing a bit of fangs, but like a clearly happy dog smile. So it was clear to everyone that it was a smile thankfully as I spoke. "Yes, well I was able to do some more exploration with my powers and thought with the ability to heal wounds, I could come to the hospital and get paid to do so."

The heroine paused at my answer and then said with a small frown. "My name is Glory Girl, but... Parahuman healers aren't really paid when they work at a hospital though? I mean my sister Paneaca is a volunteer and the rest of the healer hero's are with the PRT and don't charge for healing?" She muttered and I got more than she was.

If 'hero' healers were being pigeon-hold into doing their expensive healing for 'free' while the hospital made butt loads of money for the super healing... I sighed and said flatly. "Yes, well I am a rouge. I want to actually have a roof over my head, and food on my plate. I cannot and have no interest in 'volunteer' work." I said with disdain at the volunteer part. "So would it be possible for me to setup a meeting with the hospital director so we can make up a contract or something in terms of payment for services rendered?" I asked the guard who was clearly listening into their earpiece.

The guard swallowed and my eyes tightened on his form as I knew a bad sign where it was plainly displayed as before the guard even said anything I knew bullshit was coming. "Uhm, Jake was it? The director says he is and I quote. 'Appalled, that someone with the ability to so dearly help others will only consider doing their duty with financial compensation being offered." The guard froze as my feet cracked the concrete as I flexed them in irritation at the Directors bullshit.

I knew he was an asshole who helped gaslight Glory Girls sister Panacea who could heal into slave labor basically with her 'volunteer' hours but I didn't think he was ballsy enough to do it straight to my face.

My face went utterly flat as I then said with a cold smile. "Well fine then. I can see where I am not wanted... Utter racists." I threw back making them all boggle at me as I turned around and without another look back I stomped away from the hospital.

I wanted to do a cool thing, and be able to earn money while doing so. There was nothing wrong with that. As much as I wanted to turn into a Tropius or something to make Pokemon berries or something to fuck with the hospital by flooding the city with berries that can heal wounds. I didn't want the gangs to get a hold of them.

So rather than being a good boy healer and exploring my powers in relative safety, I was going to wait till tonight. And then tonight I was going to follow Gang members to their hideouts and loot them for the cash I needed to survive in this world...

"And what better gang to bully then the Merchants who sell drugs heh." I chuckled to myself as I mentally reviewed what I knew about the Merchants and came to a realization that I really didn't want to get shot as a Lucario as I doubted this form was bulletproof... Or could I?

I took a breath and with a grunt of effort I felt my 'aura' cover and fill my form with strength and it... Seemed like I became harder somehow. "So Iron Defense and Bulk Up works. But..." I shook my head with a frown as I pushed down my fear.

I was a higher-end Pokemon. Sure I wasn't a Steelix or something that could only be hurt by artillery or other Parahuman powers but I had some good durability I thought. With that in mind, I started leaping from building to building towards the poorest side of the city where the Merchants held territory.