Her Last Alarm

Fighting For New York's Bravest

— ██████████, ██████ ██, 2025

Since the first superhero set foot on American soil, New York's emergency services have made up the majority of collateral damage incidents.

"Every casualty involving supes and their powers is referred to as collateral damage. Vought has a 'maximum' that they allow each supe," explains Supervising Fire Marshal Aurelia Lucius, FDNY's foremost expert on superhuman-involved disasters. "Even when they exceed that maximum, there's little recourse: Vought just shrugs and throws money at the families, then sweeps it all under the rug."

We're seated in an office that looks like a throwback to the 1970s: wood paneling on the walls, a massive desk with an outdated PC perched on top, and behind that desk, Supervising Fire Marshal Lucius reclines with her boots up. She's clutching a big FDNY mug in her hands.

The Newfoundland native is the only collateral damage survivor among the FDNY's ranks. Nobody else, in over 70 years of supe-on-emergency-services violence, has ever lived to tell their tale.

Father's Day 2021. Engine 76 and Ladder 22 of Battalion 11 were among the units called to a fire at a Manhattan brownstone. What should have been a routine rescue was interrupted by an uninvited guest.

"Some supes think they don't have to follow procedure. That gets people killed—civilians and firefighters," Aurelia points out. "We were doing everything right. The last thing I heard was the roof giving way."

One firefighter—Ms. Lucius' father—and two civilians were killed when a superhuman went through the burning building to 'check for survivors'. His entrance destabilized the structure; it collapsed on top of both firefighters and two residents that were trapped inside.

Only one person made it out alive: Ms. Lucius, who was unconscious and remained in a coma for six months after the incident.

Three years and countless hours of physical therapy, specialty training, and supplemental surgeries later, Aurelia fights for people like her father: emergency workers whose supe-involved deaths have never seen justice.

"There are 70 years of collateral damage cases, families whose loved ones went off to work to save lives and wound up losing theirs because Vought refuses to hold their supes accountable for their [actions]. If I can help one family, I'll consider it a win. If I can help all of them? It'll be a miracle."

Since joining the Office of the Fire Marshal in 2023, Lucius has solved 30 collateral damage cold cases in her off-time—on top of performing the primary duties of the job. FDNY responds to over 300,000 fires and non-fire emergencies every year. - Ed.

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Warnings

This is an account written by a middle-aged queer with barely-contained ADHD. I work full-time and my activity is sporadic, so, my tolerance for bullshit is extremely low.

About

Aurelia was born in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. At age 6, she moved with her father to New York City, to be closer to his parents and siblings.Her roots run deep in Newfoundland and in New York; her grandfather was raised on The Rock and lived half his life in New York City. Her father was raised in New York, as were most of her aunts and uncles—but that doesn't change the fact that Newfoundland is home.Her parents' divorce separated her from her twin sister. Aurelia grew up a regular girl with normal worries, while Aurora received Compound V and all the expectations that went with it.Aurelia's death and hasty rebirth after her 'collateral damage' incident have left her with permanent scars. She walks with the aid of a cane, is often tired, and has issues with chronic pain—and a mysterious fungal infection that is keeping her alive. Apparently.She is a mess of scar tissue, metal screws and plates, and rage.In 2023 she went through the training required to become a Fire Marshal for New York City, and has since become a Supervising Fire Marshal (equivalent in rank to a Captain in the fire service). She works on solving line of duty collateral damage cold cases in her off-time, bringing her own brand of justice to Vought's supe population.

Verses

ONE CHICAGO / LAW & ORDER / MVRP —A firefighter with Chicago Fire's Engine 76, Battalion 7. Leah survived an arson that killed four other firefighters, including her father. She is not part of the main Battalion represented in the One Chicago franchise. This is the Leah you want if you prefer a friendlier Leah.— @5Alarms on TwitterMARVEL/DC —Much like in The Boys' universe, Leah is a New York City fire marshal standing alone against a corrupt superhero-producing corporation. Vought is still a Nazi eugenics company, just, more likely to be flattened by The Avengers or something. Leah understands the difference between real superheroes and Vought supes, by the way.STAR TREK —Lieutenant Aurelia Lucius, unusually durable armoury officer of the USS Enterprise, has big secrets and bigger trauma. Basically, she's just like everyone else on the ship.@PunchesFirst on Twitter

FINAL FANTASY XIV —Daughter of Gaius van Baelsar, loyal soldier of the XIVth Legion, and... Scion? She doesn't like it, much, either.FINAL FANTASY VII —Former experiment. Chocobo Rancher. Brawler. Aurelia has done a lot of stupid shit in her short life. Continuing to live in Shinra's all-consuming shadow is just the tip of the iceberg.@WarkWarkBitch on Twitter