Interlude
"...these are only preliminary conclusions," says Jessica Yamada, adjusting her glasses.
"Hmm." PRT Director Emily Piggot leans back in her chair and thoughtfully drums her fingers on the desk. "What would your recommendations be then?"
"I would divide my recommendations into three sections. First – actions that should be avoided in any interaction or engagement with her. Second – what we can do right now that likely won't make the situation worse, but will allow us to show positive dynamics in mass media, as well as report to central office. And third... risky, but the result could be... quite positive."
"Let's hear it." Piggot clasped her hands together, looking at the PRT staff psychologist. Dr. Yamada was exceptionally talented and successful in her field, and an uninformed person might ask what someone like her was doing in such a position in some backwater town. But anyone who understood anything or bothered to think would realize there was no better place for a practicing researcher of parahuman psychology. Brockton Bay, a glass jar full of scorpions, any entomologist's dream... Dr. Yamada was collecting material for her Nobel Prize. After Brockton Bay, she'd be accepted into any institute in the world and appointed to a lifetime paid position... but as a true scientist, the journey itself was important to her. She needed research material, and where else could you find so many freaks with superpowers than on the streets of this God-forsaken city?
"So. Under no circumstances engage in direct confrontation. She manages to keep her inner demons in check, but she's quite unstable and could easily spiral into a bloody cycle of revenge. She has no moral limitations, she kills easily, makes quick decisions in combat. You could say Administrator has two modes. Normal, when she's Taylor Hebert, a fairly modest and pleasant girl to talk to, despite the bullying at school. She's quite erudite, a bit constrained in conversation, slightly embarrassed when meeting physically attractive people, apparently comparing herself to them. In this mode she follows the rules of human society, takes on obligations and fulfills them, her ethics and morals correspond to society's ethics and morals. But in the second mode, which I conditionally call combat mode – she becomes an efficient killing machine. Killing specifically, not fighting or dueling. In this mode there are no boundaries or limits for her, she has a goal and goes toward it in the shortest straight line, destroying everything in her path. Analysis of incidents involving her shows that she constantly escalates conflict to the maximum level and doesn't retreat until others retreat before her."
"Right." Piggot chuckles. "The damn girl is just a maniac."
"Aggressive behavior is common among powerful parahumans," Dr. Yamada shrugs. "However, there's also some strategy on her part. She demonstratively shows exactly how she should be treated."
"What? You mean to say..."
"All her actions are a calculated performance from beginning to end," Dr. Yamada nods. "She deliberately demonstrates two sides of herself to us. She's essentially saying – if you want to deal with good Taylor, act like this. If you pressure, threaten, or especially use physical force – you'll be dealing with Administrator."
"The girl is playing good cop, bad cop with us... damn..." Emily narrows her eyes.
"That's why my recommendations are mostly practical in nature. I'm simply translating her message into words. Don't pressure her. It's preferable to be maximally transparent, and files and materials she shouldn't read – better to store in Boston or New York and in digital copies, no papers. Especially no threats or physical force."
"You're tying our hands, doctor."
"She's tying your hands, not me," Yamada shakes her head. "These are essentially her direct demands. Now, for measures we can take to outplay her on her own field. Any powerful parahuman gets unique status – on one hand they become truly special, on the other they still remain human. And any parahuman's most vulnerable spot is exactly the human part. She has a father, she has a friend..."
"Tattletale. This small-time villain isn't that dangerous by herself, but in alliance with Administrator... birds of a feather..." Piggot grumbles, shifting heavily in her chair.
"I found the same behavioral patterns in her fight with Glory Girl. She wants to be human, wants to have friends and family, she has a deficit of human communication. She wants everything a girl her age would want – slumber parties with girlfriends, family picnics in nature, hanging out in the school cafeteria and dancing outdoors with illegally bought light beer, flirting and romantic relationships." Yamada tilts her head, light glinting off her glasses.
"And what are we supposed to do about this? Organize a picnic for her? Invite clowns? Hire a prostitute? Buy her beer?" The director doesn't even try to hide the caustic sarcasm in her voice.
"None of that is necessary. Teenagers find everything themselves. Our job is not to interfere with that. She'll find adventures and friends herself. This is just a recommendation, ma'am, but I would open Winslow High for attendance."
"We'd have to justify why we're not letting her in there, and you said yourself – no pressure."
"You don't understand. Open the school and let her attend too. No special treatment, no 'she's special.' Keep all requirements the same as for other students. Of course, we'd have to change some things in the school itself, raise standards for staff and plant our own person... but overall it's preferable that nothing changes. Moreover, Miss Hebert clearly indicated she's not pressing any charges against Sophia Hess and her friends. You wanted to use Sophia as an indicator of sanity, adequacy and degree of control anyway, didn't you?"
"It's a risk. They'll crucify me as soon as they find out... and everyone already knows."
"I'm not a lawyer, but I believe revealing a cape's identity in public is a crime. There's no proof that Miss Hebert is Administrator. Of course, we should consult with legal, but it seems to me you bear no responsibility here. And from the perspective of controlling her – it's the best solution. The worst thing we want in the city is her alone, rejected by everyone, inspiring terror and disgust in people, without friends and attachments, without leverage, without everything that makes a person human. At the same time, if she attends school, she'll maintain discipline during studies, obey teachers during lessons, follow rules established for students... understand? The habit of obeying certain people in certain situations could be very, very useful. She'll develop communication skills in society, which means she can continue to effectively interact with people, develop empathy. And constant obedience to teachers and pedagogical staff at school will establish conditioned reflexes in her head. We'll be able to control her even during her combat mode, and the more such levers, the better. It's in our interest to integrate her into society, make her acquire as many friends and rivals, family and acquaintances, colleagues and classmates as possible."
"I doubt she'll obey teachers..."
"Miss Hebert hasn't shown signs of aggression and disobedience toward school staff so far, even though they didn't treat her very well. And she was already Poison Ivy then. To sting a teacher at school – she wouldn't need much effort, just thinking about it would be enough. She didn't do it. I doubt she will in the future. Her behavioral pattern is clear and simple. She does everything to remain human, she values the connections she already has, for example – Tattletale. You can see that girl is manipulating her and I doubt Miss Hebert doesn't see it, she's smart enough. But she allows her to behave that way. Because she wants to be human, or at least appear so. For her, all these connections are like anchors that prevent her from losing her identity. Glory Girl... with Glory Girl she has an even deeper history, friend-enemy. Rivals. Unlike Tattletale, Glory Girl doesn't recognize her dominance, even nominally, argues, disagrees, and of course that's why Glory Girl appeals to her even more. There's a lot of sexual feeling here, a lot of first love, first attraction... we can tie her to Brockton Bay. We can show her that she's human and will remain so. And... we can still make her not just an efficient killing machine, but a professional for your big events. Though I hate this... but I acknowledge the necessity. She could save many lives, starting with her own," Yamada says firmly.
"Administrator in the battle against Scion," Piggot pronounces. "I was sent analysts' projections on possible scenarios the other day. The think tanks believe Slaughter won't change identity anymore. Even if Miss Hebert dies in this battle and transfers to another body, her ability allows her to remain the leader of the collective. We... are forced to deal with her long-term. From now on there won't be new Slaughters, just Miss Taylor who gains new abilities and combat experience. Central office gave me full authority, completely untied my hands... you know what that means, doctor."
"That if you fail, you'll be blamed for everything," Yamada nods. "But when have you been afraid of responsibility, ma'am? Your position as director of the PRT branch in this city was a dead-end job from the start. Whatever you do – you'll be blamed."
"Open the school. Let Slaughter attend school with normal children. With those who bullied her, driving her to trigger. With Sophia fucking Hess! They have plenty of teenagers at that school who openly wear ABB and Empire symbols – that's an invitation to conflict. Ignore what she's doing on her territory... and she's subjugated Coil! ABB has essentially capitulated, and these patrols on the streets?! 'Administration'! She's mocking us!"
"And that's a good sign. Sense of humor is an important part of communication and also indicates developed intelligence. To joke well – you need to be smart. Humor is basically the most highly intellectual activity."
"Stupid joke. 'Administration'... as if they're responsible for everything here... well, at least they don't deal drugs. Her stunt with ABB dens cost me gray hairs, doctor. Everyone understands what happened to those who guarded the dens and tried to resist. Not even DNA remained, the police department walks around practically glowing, they worship her there, and she's a vigilante, God forgive me. How many people were there? In one day – almost twenty locations. At least five people at each. That's a hundred corpses in 24 hours! A new record. Slaughter in previous incarnations never reached such numbers! Good thing they surrendered at two locations, they say an ultimatum was given – either surrender or insects will devour you. You don't need to be a Thinker to understand what happened to those who didn't surrender. But no evidence, even those clowns, Leet and Uber didn't film anything, though their flying camera was seen there. Twenty locations! And at each one afterward – her mercenaries in black. Where the hell is the mayor looking... they signed an agreement with them to form militia squads! You should have seen Miss Militia's face!"
"I did," Yamada nods, suppressing a smile. "She came to me for therapy after that."
"Damn Hebert. Damn Brockton. Damn Mayor Christner. When I'm done here – I'll resign, doctor, I swear," Piggot grumbles. "I'll write my resignation and throw it in Legend's face. They hung all the dogs on me and said 'you have freedom of action, director.' What if Slaughter snaps at school and kills all the students? She could turn the whole school into a mausoleum in a couple minutes!"
"Can't she do that even if we don't let her into school?"
"She can. How would we stop her? Drop a nuclear bomb on her? Only call the Triumvirate..."
"If she can do it anyway – then what's the difference whether we allow her to attend school or not?"
"The difference is that then it would happen with my consent! They'll crucify me!"
"So the whole difference isn't in the final number of corpses, but in how much you personally manage to avoid responsibility?" Dr. Yamada adjusts her glasses. Emily freezes. Turns her head toward her.
"What are you trying to say, doctor?"
"Me? Oh, I'm just asking questions, ma'am. What's more important to you – preventing deaths and chaos, establishing cooperation with one of the strongest capes on the planet, or avoiding responsibility?" Dr. Yamada leans forward. "I'm just asking questions. You're the one answering them. You don't have to answer aloud... it's enough if you answer them for yourself, here..." she points to her chest. "The real answers are very close."
"Doctor, you're overstepping!" Piggot stands and towers over the fragile Yamada sitting across from her. "I'm not here for a therapy session! This isn't about me! Leave your psychological tricks! I'm your boss, after all."
"And I'm doing what I'm paid for," Yamada tilts her head, her expression unchanged. "And I'm following your orders. Sometimes – even before you realize them yourself."
"Don't play doctor with me. I need answers, not riddles and puzzles. I..." Piggot draws breath, but then Dr. Yamada opens her mouth.
"Please sit down," she says, and the Director of the PRT Northeast Branch in Brockton Bay, Emily Piggot – finds herself in her chair before she can even realize it. The doctor's voice sounds dry but commanding, one cannot even think of not obeying this voice. Please sit down. Emily sits and shivers run down her spine. Yamada – a parahuman?! Yamada – a Master?! But how?! There was a security call button somewhere here, would she manage to...
"No, unfortunately, I don't have superpowers, ma'am," Dr. Yamada shakes her head and smiles sadly. "I just know so much about you. You studied well and always tried to be an excellent student, always obeyed your elders. For five years, from first to fifth grade, your homeroom teacher was Mrs. Grazenberg, ethnic German. It's exactly at this time that all unconscious reactions are established, all conditioned social reflexes. She wore glasses, didn't she? Just add a bit of accent to the voice and tilt your head like this..." she tilts her head and daylight glints off her glasses again. "And your subconscious will react. No, consciously you won't obey me anymore... such a trick only works once, but... that might be enough, don't you think?"
"You continue to surprise me, Dr. Yamada," Piggot says, composing herself. "But I ask that you refrain from demonstrating your skills on your superiors in the future. I'll... think about what you said. You'll be informed of the decision."
"My apologies, ma'am. I want to say immediately that I'm ready to take on more responsibility than just consultant. Allow me to personally control the process."
"You want to get a job as a teacher at Winslow?" The director raises an eyebrow. "Note that there's no subject called 'parahuman psychology' there."
"I have a doctorate and degrees from Harvard and Cambridge with honors. I think I can find a subject I'm qualified to teach with my degree. I also have some teaching experience at the University of Massachusetts."