"I'll find out what I can. But Whippoorwill, he's not taking her back. She might trust him, but she's still Shayera. There's too much good in her, and in her life for him to truly corrupt."
The hint of a smile touches Whippoorwill's face. She turns slightly to look at Bronwyn, meeting her eyes. She begins to nod. "Yeah. Thank you, Bronwyn."
She gives her a kind of salute, then her large feathered wings launch her into the air.
After a while of looking, Bronwyn sent Shayera one more set of messages.
Bronwyn: Abacus: Disable auto-respond
Bronwyn: Hey :-)
Bronwyn: If you want to vent or talk about it just let me know
Bronwyn: And whenever
Bronwyn: Don't worry about waking me
Bronwyn: I promise to be up all night with projects just so you don't have to feel guilty either way :-p
Bronwyn: Just want to make sure ur ok
Bronwyn: <3 <3 <3
李秀英: hey back
李秀英: of curse im
李秀英: ok
李秀英: I shouldn't text while flying. Perched on Halcyon Insurance bldg now.
李秀英: are you ok?
Bronwyn: Not really.
Bronwyn: but close enough
Bronwyn: (tried to patch things up with papa and now I don't think I can go to my favorite diner ever again)
Bronwyn: But Alexandra said you guys got in a fight and you stormed off?
李秀英: Sorry to hear about your dad.
李秀英: figures A would say that. Just cause my dad is willing to help she doesnt have the right to
.
.
.
李秀英: maybe I got defensive
李秀英: left before it got too bad
李秀英: we got major league bad guys circling. We needed some good news and I got it. Dad's gonna help Alexis.
As wingblade soars through the air, she feels a tug on her mind, something drawing her to a low roof, in oldtown
Apologies, Madam, but I would like a word. a voice in her mind says
on the roof is a woman, likely in her early 20's. short and slight and dark of hair, and wearing a flowing, conservative and dark dress.
if Wing lands, she looks up. Wingblade. it is a pleasure to meet you... care for any tea? it's Oolong.
As soon as she hears a voice in her head, Wingblade taps the side of her domino mask to activate the heads up display. Thankfully, telepaths were a rarity, but Whippoorwill had given her the basic training in dealing with them. The HUD outlines moving objects in a green or orange outline to help in tactical awareness. She usually finds such digital assistance annoying, but the HUD will only outline things in actual existence. Any sort of attempt to make her see things that aren't there would not show up on the HUD.
Taking care not to think about what she just did with her mask, Wingblade drops to the roof and eyes her warily. "Hi. No thanks, it makes me jittery. You Triakosia types sure are persistent, aren't you?"
as soon as Wingblade lands
Triakosia? the woman says, seeming genuinely unsure. No. I cannot say I represent any such group.
I'm... we're using codenames, I suppose, so call me Jezebel. Or Rose, if you prefer, many don't like calling a young Lady that. she nods, taking a sip of tea. I am a member of the Church of Nephilim. we Strive to see the gifts we got, from the lord, and put them to use. We in this case meaning people like you and I. We strive to do good works, and celebrate the abilities, or Talents, as we've taken to calling them.
she takes a bit of paper from the table. If you ever want somewhere where you can be yourself, without having to hide your gifts, do stop by. we're always around, and we've usually got a project we could use an extra set of hands on. Or just people who live with what you do. she hands over the paper, with an address and phone number written on it.
李秀英: figures A would say that. Just cause my dad is willing to help she doesnt have the right to
.
.
.
李秀英: maybe I got defensive
李秀英: left before it got too bad
李秀英: we got major league bad guys circling. We needed some good news and I got it. Dad's gonna help Alexis.
Bronwyn: Hey, even if you trust him, don't forget that he works with some horrible people.
Bronwyn: There are probably safer alternatives again if there's any brain stuff that needs doing.
Bronwyn: RT is probably a little too close to home for Alexis in any case. I don't think he'd be comfortable there.
Wingblade straightens her stance, but looks skeptical. "I'm not really religious," she says. A glimmer if curiosity strikes her. "You're not, like, Catholic, are you?"
================
李秀英: Not you too. He got out, like Idid
李秀英: theres no one i trust more with brain stuff
.
.
.
李秀英: what's RT?
Ah yes. We have a number of members who feel that way. most of our outreach programs, like the halfway house we're building here, or the community meals we host there, are largely secular. We have moments of prayer in each meal, but so long as you are respectful of others beliefs, you are more than welcome. She says, cheerily. But yes, we are a christian institution, and we do these things because we believe it is what our Lord asks of us. We'd like to think even those more humanist could agree with us on the thought that our works are good and right.
She shakes her head and smiles. We're Baptist.
Wingblade finds herself frowning. "Oh. I think if I was going to join a church I'd probably become Catholic. Or-- wait. Are you okay with gay marriage?"
At this, the girl's brow furrows, as if thinking. Well, the Official position of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is that performing Gay weddings is neither required nor prohibited. Some of our older parishioners have interpreted that as being a mandate to keep that status quo, but my dad has said to me before that he would perform one if A parishioner asked him to. she says, quite formally.
Well, whatever faith you are called to, you are welcome anytime. If you want to explore, maybe come over next wednesday, around 4. we're finishing the collectiong of supplies for war refugees, and we have our youth group, with Talented helpers, packaging and transporting the goods to a shipping container we and few local churches went in together on. she beams as she says this. If you'd prefer not to join us for Mass Immediately. it would let you get to know some people.
Bronwyn: RT=Reaver Tech
Bronwyn: Maybe we could get Matrix or someone to help?
Bronwyn: I know - broken record
Bronwyn: But we've gotta get some help from being legit right?
Bronwyn: sometimes?
.
.
.
Bronwyn: So who's he work for now?
"Okay. Maybe," Wingblade says, a little more interested than before. She accepts the card and tucks it into one of her pockets.
Unless Rose says anything more, she takes flight again.
====================
李秀英: he's not with Reaver anymore!
李秀英: he consults
李秀英: it'll be his own lab, and Matrix doesn't know the human brain!
李秀英: I can't believe you said that. Without him I wouldn't even be here
李秀英: twice
李秀英: why do you hate him so much?
Bronwyn: I don't hate him.
Bronwyn: Can we talk in person?
Bronwyn: i don't know what part you can't believe.
李秀英: I guess
李秀英: where do u want to meet?
Bronwyn: idk...
It's broad daylight or I'd say St. Ambrose's.... I'd rather avoid having to get a ride somewhere...
Bronwyn: there's a playground near me. Across from
Forest glades? Woodglen?
Bronwyn: Forest hills Elementary
Bronwyn: Its the one with the dinosaurs & stuff made out of old tires
李秀英: K
.
.
<3
Wingblade lands hard on the spongy turf after nearly a half hour from her last text. "Sorry I'm late, but I got grabbed by some church for supers. They're Baptist, I think they said? But they're okay with gay marriage! Do you think--"
She blinks as she takes in Bronwyn's suit. "What are you wearing? --Omigosh! Is Kaoru right? Do you want to be... like, the guy?"
"What?! No! I don't want to be a guy! Not that there's anything wrong with that!"
"I'm just not wearing shorts or leggings to church, and Mary-Beth's dad's old suits are the only thing I could find that would fit and were at all appropriate." She grimaced faintly, "If I wanted to Suit Up, I'd definitely go for something better tailored to me anyways." A quick vision of Shayera in a slim cut suit that showed off the lines and curves of her legs and torso flitted through Bronwyn's head, but she shook it away. Now really wasn't the time.
"Oh. Were they the Church of Nephilim? They made a pitch to Bran, but they came across as really cult-y, and I kinda thought we should- No, I'm sorry. That's probably important, but we can talk about it later."
Feeling newly awkward in her borrowed suit she took off her jacket and started to roll up her sleeves. "So first: Can we agree that Alexis is the one who should be making choices about who he goes to see about this? Because I really think that at least for a first opinion we could find a neurologist- who isn't a monster -who won't be associated with any unpleasant memories. That's good for everyone. Alexis will be more comfortable, he won't be all stressed out and giving weird readings, and he's less likely to be all stressed out and go into survival mode.
"But no matter what, he gets to choose. Okay?"
Shayera stood and listened while Bronwyn talked, going over her idea of having Alexis choose between having her father do the neurological work to help her keep her memories or going to some other specialist. There were things there that she could pick apart, especially given the information she'd learned last night, but it all just kind of buzzed in the background while her mind fixated on another topic.
Her wings droop to the point they touch the ground and her shoulders sag. Her lower lip trembles a bit as her eyes go wide and vulnerable. "What about the dresses I got you?"
Bronwyn replied gently, without flinching, "I gave them away to people who needed them more. The church has a program where you can donate suits, and nice dresses and things, and they loan them or give them to homeless people for job interviews."
The hurt look doesn't entirely disappear from Shayera's face. Her head tilts to the side in confusion. "That's... nice, I guess. But you couldn't have kept one? The cream one, especially, I thought that it would--"
She stops herself while she tries to stave off tears. She looks away from Bronwyn, avoiding her eyes. She hugs her shoulders while her wings come back to life, twitching like they're ready to take flight. She still avoids looking at Bronwyn. "Okay. Um, I'll see you at school tomorrow, I guess? I should go back to the apartment and see what Alexis wants to do."
Bronwyn stepped forward to put a hand on Shayera's shoulder, "Hey, before you go. I feel like we're talking around something big, and I want to make sure we're on the same page. How do you think I feel about Dr. Li? And why?"
Shayera looks at the hand on her shoulder, then up at Bronwyn. Her eyes are wet. There's the briefest look of confusion, but then she answers, "Oh, Dad? Well, I think you can't get over the fact that he was part of the project that made me, and had me kill for them. And despite all he's done since then, that's what you see him as.
"So, like, what? Whippoorwill's killed, too, you know. She was a bad guy once, and now she's trying to make up for it. Why is Dad any different? He can't fly, or knock out giant robots, but he's got science, and money."
"I've seen Whippoorwill save lives for no reason other than that those people needed saving.
"I've seen Him use you as a shield, and I've heard Him offer to sell your body and your love. Everything I've ever seen Him do has had His own protection and ambition at its center. How does He help make up for things? He's given you wealth, but only to keep you as his hostage in a golden cage.
"I know you love him, and I understand why. I don't want to hurt you Shayera, but I'm not going to lie to you."
"Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me why I'm wrong.
Tell me that he's bothered to even tell you his name."
Wingblade's lower lip trembles again, but her eyes blaze in defiance. "No one's perfect, Bronwyn. He's not Whip, but who is? I asked him to turn me into your perfect lover. How is that bad? He's helping us!" She throws up her hands. "Isn't that better than your parents? Who tried to manipulate me out of your life?"
Tears start to fall freely as she takes a step back, knowing she probably crossed a line but unable to help herself. She feels her heart breaking, but she forges ahead anyway. "So, yeah. You're wrong this time, Bronwyn. I don't need to know his name because all I need to know is that he's my Dad."
The Silver shadow patrolled the city, Maple leaf eyes darting back and forth over the still bustling city. F#%+in’ Wing. F+@$in’ Whip. F~$%in’ SCA. Gods, why are all the people I’m pissed at nominally on my side? She thinks. She is distracted by a pair of teens necking on a nearby bench. Normally, she wouldn’t give a shit, but it was late, and this park was in a bad part of town. Hey, Probably about time to call it a night, you two. Or at least get inside. she offers,
The boy lifted his head, fierce anger in his eyes. What the f&$*’s your problem, jackass! he asked, a bit of blue fire enveloping one of his hands. A minor super with delusions of power.
A bolt skittered on the stone of the asphalt, less than an inch from the boys foot. I’m gonna go check for anything deeper in the park. she says, fixing the boy with a stare. He didn’t know who you were. Step into the light. Let him see the hat. she thinks, doing so, and watching much of the fight in him drain out through the soles of his feet. Be somewhere else when I get back. .
The Boy nodded, too spooked by almost picking A fight with a legit Cape to speak, and he lead the girl, who hastily put her coat back on, to what Alexandra assumed was his car, Well, almost a legit cape. She mused. More than Shaun or B. less than the others. Except Kay. Alexandra thinks No, don’t think about Kay. It’s complicated, and there’s stuff she hasn’t told you, but that you know, and she’s, like, not gay, but not straight, and gods, kissing her is fun, but...well, when anything further happens. She just freezes up whenever you kiss her. Imagine when she finally decides she wants to push further… If She ever does. Alexandra wonders as she walks through the park.
Her musing is interrupted by sounds from just beyond the park. A blaring alarm. A glass door shattering. A loud crash. Alexandra jumped the wall, to find a gas station, with a car overturned. Thankfully, passengerless Glass covering the area, knocked out of the frame, but only that one. No explosion. and a clerk cowering behind the counter of the attached convenience store. A robbery, by a super.
Hey, how many people just robbed you? Alexandra asked the cowering boy, maybe two years older than her
Two. Both were really strong. One of them just ran through the door when the alarm went off, so maybe invulnerable too… or something. He said, halfway to hyperventilation Wearing ski masks.
Way to be a cliche, lads. Stay here. Wait for the police. I’m gonna go after them. She didn’t wait for a reply. Running off in pursuit. She saw them round a corner, and headed off toward them. It was hard, they moved fast. Not supernaturally so, but super strength tended to lend some stamina to the wielder. At one point, she began to fall behind. Only rounding a corner in enough time to catch sight of them fleeing down an alley. Gods, flight would be great. Not calling Wing in for a damned convenience store robbery though
As she rounded the corner, she found a strange sight, even by Halcyon standards. A man in priests garb, broad shouldered and with salt and pepper hair. He stands over the two robbers, both clearly knocked down. Nearby, on a few crates, a young man lounges.
You two are better than this. Stealing, and destroying what isn’t yours. Sons, you must know This is wrong. He lectures the two ALexnadra stepped toward the trio, and the boy moved to block her.
No, let dad speak. Besides, You, I’m curious about. Any of your teammates mentioned us yet? He asked her.
No, Evan. she said, watching the boys face move to surprise as she gave his name None of them mentioned being approached by the church. she said.
Oooh, I was curious how well my power would work on you. To match our Talents, so to speak. Seems yours is capable of remembering me, to a greater or lesser extent.
You do have a power then. Light perception filter? Must be pretty weak, if I can see through it this easily.
Not especially weak. Most people would have trouble keeping my existence in their minds for very long. My features tend to fade in seconds. I could rob someone in broad daylight, and by the time I went around a corner, no one could describe the mugger. But you… well, You’re Talented. The boy said to her, smiling.
I’m good, but I think you’re overestimating yourself Alexandra said. I’m not even above Baseline, technically
Did you hear that, dad? The Silver Shadow isn’t above Baseline! Looks like I owe Rose ten bucks. the youth laughed You aren’t baseline. Figured it was just an act… but you believed it too
I’m not… I can’t be… I'm just human, She said.
Just humans can’t do what you do. What your predecessors, I’m guessing genetic predecessors at that, did. Your brain knows things it has no right to. Makes connections no one could make. Learns fast too. How long did it take you to pick up all those fancy martial arts, all those detective skills? 4 years?
Two, but ...
And you think you’re baseline? Give me a break! the boy says No one is that good. Face it, Silver. You’re a Psychic.
I’m not, I can’t be. I earned all this! I’m just smart! Alexandra was shouting, hands clenched into fists.
Okay, you want proof? Dad, prove she’s super! he called out. The man’s eyes turned on her, and she felt… off. She knew she was talking to someone, but who eluded her. She felt clumsy too, in all this gear. The guy facing her was... Older… maybe… crap, could be 30’s, could be 50’s. He’s, almost 6 feet… I think… f$#~, why isn’t my brain…. he thought process tried to put the situation together. After 20 seconds passed, A voice said I suspect she gets the point.
And the fog lifted. That was Christopher Marshall, had of the church of Nephilim… and just outside her sight was Evan Marshall, his son, the concealed one… What the…
Yeah. Subtle powers are hard. I thought I was just being quiet for a few weeks. The family started forgetting to put out a plate for me, until I came into the room. he gave her a sympathetic look I know this is a lot, but… Well, if you need someone to talk to, who has gone through stuff like what you are… stop by. I’m sure you can get the address, if you don’t have it already. We really do understand. He offered.
Alexandra nodded curtly, but scampered off, not even bothering with the robbers being lectured on the evils of theft, and being told to beg forgiveness.
Alexis was worried about Wingblade. She hadn't come back. Shayera should have come back by now. He wasn't sure what if anything he could talk to her about. But he also knew that if he didn't attempt to get a semblance of trying to be someone who was normal today then he wasn't sure that he'd be able to function properly for a time.
Though he didn't know what he should do. So he just decided to hell with everything, found Shayera's purse and took a hundred dollar bill from it, and set outside of the penthouse as quick as he could. Wearing casual fashion, with the shined shoes and suit pants and waistcoat that he liked how it looked on him, he figured that he could find something to do right now.
So he texted Cassie again, reminded that he'd screwed up last night and hadn't texted her back before. I'm sorry if you were worried. Things are better now. I would still like to see you. I need a friend, he sent out to her, hoping that she got it.
Pain flooded Bronwyn's eyes, but she stayed very still and calm as she responded, one hand fluttering up to where her crucifix wasn't.
"I'm not trying to tell you my parents are right, Shayera. They were wrong; they are wrong. And I knew I should have a safe place of my own to go before I told them about me. I knew they'd be too hurt and surprised to be who I needed them to be. It's why it took so long, Shayera. You didn't listen to what I was trying to tell you then either.
"But this isn't about them. I know this is hard, Shayera. He might have made it so you really just can't even hear this, but I have to try:
"You can't remember him doing anything good because he is evil.
Every hero you know thinks he's a villain because he is one.
He offered to sell you in exchange for Bran's secrets because he doesn't think of you as a person.
The memories you have of a normal childhood when he wasn't torturing you don't make sense because they aren't real.
You don't know who he is because he's not your father."
As B travels through the city, they run across a... concerning tableau. in a park, a bit off the path, undetectable but for their superior senses, they hear soft, hitching sobs. an examination of the area it is coming from reveals a fedora, discarded at the base of a tree. the same one Alexandra wears.
as they approach, Alexandra hears them, and they hear scrambling, and the crying stops. they find Alexandra with her Coat half on, and domino mask sloppily applied
Wow. Umm... Okay, I guess I knew she had feelings, just...
Okay. She didn't see me. She's clearly upset... I'll give her a friendly face.
Bran stepped forward softly, but not so carefully as to do more than muffle the clink and clank of his plate and mail. "Alexandra?"
He took off his helm, real concern showing in his eyes as he unerringly sought her out amidst the leaves.
"What troubles you this night?" A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, "Burdens shared are burdens lightened."
Pain flooded Bronwyn's eyes, but she stayed very still and calm as she responded, one hand fluttering up to where her crucifix wasn't.
"I'm not trying to tell you my parents are right, Shayera. They were wrong; they are wrong. And I knew I should have a safe place of my own to go before I told them about me. I knew they'd be too hurt and surprised to be who I needed them to be. It's why it took so long, Shayera. You didn't listen to what I was trying to tell you then either.
"But this isn't about them. I know this is hard, Shayera. He might have made it so you really just can't even hear this, but I have to try:
"You can't remember him doing anything good because he is evil.
Every hero you know thinks he's a villain because he is one.
He offered to sell you in exchange for Bran's secrets because he doesn't think of you as a person.
The memories you have of a normal childhood when he wasn't torturing you don't make sense because they aren't real.
You don't know who he is because he's not your father."
Shayera trembles with anger. Her fists clench and she lowers her head while her wings flare out like she's about to do battle. "He
"I remember him taking me away from the lab when the surgeries got too painful for me to bear. I remember him giving me moments of happiness when I knew nothing but agony. I remember him saving my life!!"
She waves her hand at Bronwyn as she staggers back, turning away from her. She wipes her face, which is now completely wet from her tears. She starts to take off.
Bronwyn's hand snakes out with all the speed of her enhanced reflexes and seizes Shayera before she can run away again.
"Shayera, I know. I'm so sorry sweetie. I know I'm asking you for something impossible, but I know you're strong enough. I need you to think. Why would I be saying this, why would I be doing this if it wasn't true? If we talked to Whip right now, would you believe her if she told you all the same things? Shayera I love you. You have to trust me!"
Bran Alexandra says, removing the mask, and letting the coat slide off her again it's... Tonight, I met a few people. a priest and his son, both with powers she says
The SCA's own files say that the Priest is a power canceler. the other... he has a perception filter. He and his dad wanted to talk to me. They run a church for superheroes. she said, They wanted me to join. Because I'm Gifted... I'm parahuman.
she tosses a stick, and watches it break on a tree nearby. I didn't want to believe them, but... well. It took me two years to learn what my father wanted me to know. I'm at low black belt level in 6 martial arts. do you know how long that usually takes? How long it takes to be trained as a police detective? how long it takes to learn chemistry and to design explosives... gods. two years. how didn't we notice
And then, they took it away. for 20 seconds. and I'm useless. an idiot child, in her mothers coat. clumsy, inattentive. I rely on it so much, and I never knew it was there.
Bran nodded slowly, not wanting to divert from what was important to give warning about these Nephilim.
"I am sorry, Alexandra. It is no easy thing to see the saga of your life rewritten before your eyes."
He didn't trust the branches of the tree to easily bear his weight, so instead he removed a gauntlet, and stretched up to place that hand upon hers.
"But this does not make you less a hero. No more than when you thought your acumen lay solely within the bounds of mankind. It was still your will that turned your gifts to study as you have. Your gifts may have their origins in some quirk of your ancestry or blessing from above, but they remain yours, Alexandra."
He shook his head ruefully, "I would hope that I have earned some measure of your esteem, and after all, while I may strive to better myself, there is no doubting that I was Blessed to be reborn to my might and stature."
Then with a smile with more than a hint of mischief he added, "I can assure you that even if you were to confide this to Bronwyn, her opinion of you as a "Badass b!~*#" would not be tarnished, though of course she would not describe you thusly in your presence."
I know. it's stupid. I don't think you guys are less for being able to fly, or bench 18 wheelers. but... Alexandra pauses
But, it was easier when, after everything went wrong, and I wasn't enough... I could say I'm only Human. Alexandra says
and Kay... gods, how am I gonna tell him. I mean, I can't just lie to him, no matter how much he does to me, but, like, He'll resent me. I'm a fake. I'm not smart, I just... have some thing in my head that gives me the answers. and He's already a little skittish around me, and I'm psychic now... Christ
Alexandra stops, and takes another breath Sorry, this is just... A lot. She pats his shoulder But, thanks. I really do mean that.
I somehow suspect One of those words is your own addition to B's description of me. She says
Shayera tugs hard against Bronwyn's unrelenting grip. She fights to override her instinct that would have her striking nerves and pressure points to force her to release. She focuses on Bronwyn's face, managing to hold her battle haze at bay.
She pulls away, her wings flapping instinctively like a snared bird's. She wouldn't let herself strike at Bronwyn, and that limitation made her realize that she couldn't extricate herself from the far stronger girl. A feeling of helplessness strikes her.
"Bronwyn, let go," she says, a faint trace of panic in her voice. She hated being tethered, and feels a sudden urge to stab at the restraints. She folds her wings up with deliberate effort.
She tugs hard again. "Let me go, please."
"You don't have to believe that he tried to sell you. Just believe that I needed to tell you that. If you Decide I'm lying, or crazy, or just too stupid to understand what he was offering... Well then I'll keep trying to convince you, because I love you too much to turn aside.
"But you can't just run away from this Shayera. I'm telling you what happened, and I won't let you just ignore it."
She let go of Shayera's leg.
"You don't have to do it all at once though. Take the time you need; I know how strong you are, and I trust you. But you have to start facing this."
"In the end whether human or divine, none of us is perfect. All of us come to a time when our burdens are too great for us to bear. That is precisely when you should go to those who care for you.
"This is your secret to share or hold close, Alexandra. I will not speak of it against your volition. In time though, if you care for him, you will have to give him your trust."
A sheepish look comes over Bran's face as Alexandra calls him out on the quotation, "Well... in truth, Bronwyn is not much for profanity. But both sentiments are her own."
The Hawkins Rec Center was a community center with a large gymnasium that was a couple blocks away from the high school. It was used primarily for the local youth athletics basketball, volleyball and badminton team practices, as well as a number of community sponsored social events and dances. Tonight it was being used for something more exciting, and a surprising number of high school kids as well as wrestling fans from all over Halcyon had made their way here.
The gymnasium is already packed with at least two hundred people, some on the bleachers as the seating around the square wrestling ring in the center has filled up. A large curtain has been set up by the locker rooms for the wrestlers to come in by, as well as a projector screen above for playing promo reels for the acts. Steel barricades have been set up around the ring, between them thick mats to help prevent injury from tumbling on the outside. Many people had come wearing T-shirts promoting their favorite wrestlers, including a few that showed off wrestlers like the Granite Slammer or Mantis Joe.
Already performing in the ring at the moment was one of the undercard matches. Orange Cassidy seemed like an ordinary wrestler, though one that moved very slowly in the beginning. His opponent was a masked wrestler named Gentleman Jarvis, whose strangely fluffy torso hair seemed to be able to produce all manner of intriguing props. 'Cottonbelly', as he was nicknamed, was currently in the middle of a comedy bit as Orange slowly attacked with blows that looked pathetically weak, yet the audience cried out enthusiastically as if they were devastating. When Orange suddenly burst into speed, his power seemed clearer, as it seemed that he could store up his speed by moving slothfully in order to get short bursts.
As you look for a seat by the bleachers, you notice a man in his thirties pacing and whispering into a phone. He's wearing a red suit with a black turtleneck and gold chain underneath. "You're serious? This is unbelievable. I can't...what am I going to do? I can't just...well, yeah, maybe, but who could I...?" He mutters, scanning around - before locking eyes with Shaun. "You!" He snaps his fingers, gesturing to him. "How would you like to make, err...a hundred bucks?"
What does he do?
Shayera takes to the sky and flies high, pushing herself to go higher and higher. She couldn't help but feel betrayed, her heart aching as Bronwyn's words try to shake her faith and love for her father. A nagging question, why, keeps bouncing around her jumbled thoughts. Why is she doing this? Why does she keep insisting he's a villain? Why won't she stop? She forces them away, not wanting to think on the possible answers, since someone's clearly wrong. And if it's me...
Desperately, she pushes it all out of her mind. Alexis. She and her father had risked too much, Alexis's situation too dire to ignore because of some spat between her and Bronwyn. She pulls out her phone from her pocket and dials the boy.
"Hey, it's me. Look, I know there's some... questions about my dad, and he doesn't have maybe the best reputation. But I trust him, and I hope that counts for something.
"Anyway, I saw him last night, like I promised. I told him about your situation. The memory gaps, the things that I was told by Hokori and Pokora. You know, the rebirth issues. Well, he's sure he can help. He's kind of an expert, as it turns out."
Desperation fills her voice. "I know the others are going to try to talk you out of seeing my dad, but I think it'd go a long way to showing he can be trusted if he helps you. So, uh, what do you think?"
The line is quiet as Shayera makes her case, before Alexis finally answers. "Did you ask him if he worked for them?"
"...I have a lot to be grateful for to your dad, you know. He fixed my powers so I'm not Midas cursed. So for his sake, don't let things end up in a fight where everyone gets hurt senselessly."
"If he doesn't know about them, then maybe it's okay. I trust you, Shayera."
The line is quiet as Shayera makes her case, before Alexis finally answers. "Did you ask him if he worked for them?"
High in the sky, gliding on zephyrs, Shayera gets an odd expression. "Long ago he did, but believe me, he doesn't have anything to do with them now.
"But that's a good thing. That means he knows how to help. I'll tell him to get the equipment ready. He said it'll take a couple days to calibrate everything, so probably after school on Tuesday we'll go to his facility."
You're a good friend, Bran. Alexandra says, , patting him on the shoulder. This is just a lot... oh god, Shaun is going to be insufferable once he learns... Oh god, I have to tell Gill. Goddamnit. she says, but she laughs some. she slides out of the tree and uses a lower branch to remain eye level with Bran.
her Green eyes pierce through him once again, and a little smile creeps across her face, as she kisses him on the cheek quickly. She draws back, but remains close, her proximity an invitation for reciprocation.
"...It's not a good thing. Because if he worked for them before, then he must have been one of the people who tested me."
"I'm doing all right. I don't need to be fixed. I might not remember things from the past but as long as I don't die a lot it won't matter. I don't want to meet your dad in a lab..."
A thought occurred to Alexis.
"...Can you invite him for dinner instead? You and me and him and your mom? We can talk more then. I can decide if I want his help after speaking with him."
Bran jerks back from Alexandra's kiss, eyes wide with surprise. Where Bronwyn's cheeks could color with embarrassment, Bran's paler ones almost seemed to catch fire!
Ah! Ahhhh!! Weird! Weird-weird-weird!
Why have more girls kissed me as a **boy**?!
"I... believe you mistake my intent. I'm... I would not seek to stand between you and Kaoru. If you are indeed..." Bran trails off, face a mask of scarlet consternation, though he does still extend an arm to serve as a final branch down towards the ground.
After even more hours spent trying unsuccessfully to backtrack the virus, Kaoru had still gotten nowhere. She still had ideas about things she could try, but they were starting to get further and further into long-shot territory. She sat there, glaring at the laughing dog. What exactly was the point of it all? Was it really just a "haha, I got you" thing? It just didn't make sense. She took a closer look at the program once again, to confirm that it really hadn't tried to do anything too malicious to her system. Then she noticed something: the file size of the virus was definitely way too big for what little it had done. She had definitely missed something. But a second look also confirmed that it still wasn't trying to break into anything. So if it wasn't trying to do something malicious, what was it doing?
She spent some more time re-examining the code. There was some simple ray-casting, some random path generation, a lot more animations, and it looked like it was looking for mouse input? If she didn't know better, she'd almost think it was a simple game. But that couldn't be right, could it? She could probably try just running the executable to find out. It was a terrible idea. Such a terrible idea. But...on the other hand, the computer was isolated and she had guaranteed that it couldn't connect to a network. So really, the damage it could do was pretty limited. Non-existent really, given her backups. And she was pretty sure that it wasn't going to try anything terrible anyway. But...she could be wrong. She was pretty sure she wasn't. But she could be. She gnawed on her lip for a few moments before finally biting the bullet and running the program.
It looked like...the actual Duck Hunt game? She was vaguely familiar with it, though it was well before her time (and she preferred Time Crisis as a shooter anyway). Playing it would probably kill some time. And maybe there would be more information if she beat the game? She began idly clicking, shooting the ducks with relative ease. And then the game just reset. She hadn't won. She hadn't lost. The game had just started over. Did the code have a bug in it? Had it crashed? She tried again with the same result, except it reset faster this time. A compounding bug? The output still wasn't showing any obvious stack traces indicative of a crash. And the third time through she got further. What the hell was going on?
She spent more time playing the game, trying to discern any sort of pattern. It seemed like the shortest number of rounds before a reset was 1. The longest was 10. That seemed far too narrow to be arbitrary. She had gone through enough games by now that it seemed unlikely there was a real "end state," so that was all there was to it. A bit longer of playing and she started to notice a pattern. Writing it down, it looked like it was a sequence of numbers that repeated on loop. Clearly, it was a message. But what kind exactly?
On her clean computer, she inputted the numbers into a program she had written to help out with escape rooms. That pretty quickly confirmed that it wasn't any sort of typical letter to number cipher. Not the standard A = 1 or ASCII or even a mapping between old school telephone keys and letters. But then what could it be? Too many digits for a phone number or zip code. Plus having a 10 in there didn't make sense. But then both zips and phone numbers had 0's in them, and in this kind of setting, how else would you represent a 0? She tried swapping 10's for 0's as well as subtracting one from each number. The result gave her a 16 digit number. It was still too long to be a phone or zip code, but then, what else could it be?
Or perhaps a better question was, what information could be conveyed only with numbers if it wasn't a text message? It didn't seem like it was a way of telling her how to get in contact with the other hacker. Next best option was...a location maybe? Wait...could it be lat/long coordinates? A quick search confirmed that those were indeed 16 digits long if you added leading 0's to values below 100 degrees. Given that she didn't know how 0 was being encoded or where the sequence was supposed to start at, that gave her quite a few possible options for coordinates. Supposing she was even on the right track with this. She created a document and started trying different permutations. She was able to eliminate several possibilities just because of limitations of possible values of latitude and longitude. But it was still a long list of coordinates to painstakingly check one by one. Sighing, she began mapping each and every one of them. Maybe she'd come up with an idea for a different approach while she did that.
One advantage to living on a planet that was mostly water was that the majority of the possible coordinates put themselves in the middle of the ocean. Which has probably (?) not meaningful. That still left a score or so of possibilities that were on land though. One of those possibilities stood out the most as a location in Halcyon City. Surely that couldn't be a coincidence? Kaoru leaned back in her chair, stretching as she contemplated her next move.
"I don't actually, um, have a mom. But that's fine, it can be the three of us. I'll see when he's available." Shayera tries to focus on the positive and not dwell on the fact that Alexis walked back his agreement to let her dad help him. She shuddered at the thought of the rest of her team talking him out of getting the help he needs just because they think he's a supervillain.
She realizes she left Alexis hanging. "Uh, I'll get back with you. Bye."
Nagging doubts begin to creep in again and her stomach sours as her spat with Bronwyn catches up to her. Flying was usually cathartic, but she wasn't feeling better. After circling in the skies over Halcyon for a while and not improving her mood, she decides to visit her sisters.
Alexandra stops as Bran goes scarlet. Sorry, I just thought... like, in the legends, you were pretty... It wouldn't have t be a recurring thing, just... Like, Kaoru hasn't said the L word yet we haven't... done anything, it's not real yet, just, if you wanted... Alexandra trails off, letting herself down to the ground.
I'll... see you around, I guess. She says, trying to rush off