"Come on, just one more time!" "No." "Please!" "No, and don't even ask." "Please, please, please! I'll tell you about Vicky's sexual fantasies. And show you my breasts. Want me to hook you up with Armsmaster? Please!" "No." I cross my arms over my chest. "Lisa, this is harmful to you? Did you see how it messed you up? I barely managed to revive you afterward!" "For a second I understood everything! Everything! Who the Endbringers are and how to deal with them and why they're here. I think I even understood how to control them!" "What?!" "Or... convince? I don't know. I don't remember. It's all spinning around right here." Lisa twirls her finger at her temple. "Right here. And so close, you understand? Give me another burst, I'll understand everything again. But this time I've prepared paper, I'll write everything down immediately! And I'll turn on the recorder - let's do this: you give me a constant burst to my brain, and I quickly-quickly say what I understood! The recording will remain, even if I forget everything again." "No way. It hit you so hard you nearly cracked your skull on the floor, what's wrong with you? No, no, no." I say and wave my hand. "Lisa, let's wait at least a day. How safe is this anyway? You're starting to scare me." "But I have you! The coolest healer and biotinker in the entire universe! If something happens to me - you'll pull me out, right? Right. And this is important! Maybe this is the most important thing of all the most important things! You understand? Answers to everything!" Lisa's eyes burn and she breathes heavily. "Lisa..." I shake my head. "Maybe I can restore health, bring the body to ideal physical condition, but if your personality gets destroyed... I don't know how to work with the brain more delicately. Health - okay. Form unhealthy attraction or a direct control module - also easy. But for example, make a person think they're a snail or a bird, make them not see clouds or something like that - that's completely different. Psychology is needed here, and what if what you saw there is generally inaccessible to the human mind? If it's sacred knowledge, I don't know... like in Ecclesiastes - give a bird a bit of human wisdom, and it will immediately fall to the ground dead. So humans aren't meant to know the divine. What if it's something like that, knowledge that your head simply won't handle and will explode like an egg in a microwave?" "Pfff... of all the people on the planet, I least expected to hear religious nonsense from you, Taylor. You're already half a deity yourself, you can do what not all gods could in bygone times. You're immortal, almost invulnerable, you can easily feed everyone and make them love you twenty-four seven. Divine... remember what old Nietzsche said? God is dead, Taylor. Only we remain." She raises her hands and turns her palms from side to side. "God has no other hands but these. Come on, please?" "That's it, conversation's over." I say, straightening up. "Maybe when I can be absolutely certain that last time didn't harm your condition and that you still adequately perceive the surrounding world. Which I doubt right now." "God... you're insufferable, Tay-Tay. Fine, fine, fine!" She runs her hands through her hair and ruffles it all at once, as if trying to tear off her scalp. "Okay. I'll work like this. I'll drink more coffee and work." "In your place I'd rest and..." "You don't understand, Tay-Tay. Just now I had Enlightenment. I understood. And then it was taken away from me. Yes, yes, it might be unsafe, but I don't care. I finally understood. But now I don't understand again. And if you think you can send me to sleep when I'm two steps away from solving the puzzle, from exiting the labyrinth, from..." "Shh... alright, alright... you really need to rest..." I put my hand on her palm. "Sleep and rest." "What?!" Her pupils suddenly dilate and she glances at my hand. "Don't you dare..." and she sinks down, I catch her in my arms. Healthy and full eight-hour sleep from Panacea... what a convenient ability. I lift her surprisingly light body and exit the room. Her sleeping place was somewhere around here. I walk down the corridor, people in dark uniforms I encounter politely give me way, asking if I need help. I notice merry sparkles in their eyes, politely decline help in such an important matter. The Tattletale in my arms snores sweetly and seems to have already drooled from the corner of her mouth. Good night, restless soul.
Amy-me at this moment looks into the eyes of Gallant, who bites his lips and looks back without averting his gaze. That's his power - he can feel others' emotions, and also plant them. Anger, pain, depression, happiness... and yet he's a Ward. Isn't that funny? Without moving from this spot, I can think of so many applications for his ability both for evil and good. However... if you think about it, he's the only guy Victoria Dallon was ever close to. It's not so hard to become close to someone if every time they meet you they feel slight elation and euphoria... or maybe even happiness. Of course, it's easy to confuse that with love, especially if no one else evokes such emotions in you. Did this Gallant attach Vicky to himself by affecting feelings with his ability? Wait, if he can influence feelings, that means he can transmit love too? If he can do anger, hatred and malice - then love too. What a bastard... on the other hand, what right do I have to judge him? I don't exist right now, Panacea killed me, that fool with her stupid feelings for her sister, an idiot with abilities, a monkey with a nuclear bomb. I'm just a shadow of my former self, what transfers the Butcher's ability to new consciousness... it's like quantum teleportation, which isn't teleportation at all, but creating a new "me" on that end while simultaneously destroying the old me here. Who am I - just a voice in Panacea's head who removed herself from control? Or a personality imprint that the Butcher transfers from body to body? Whoever I am - I'm no longer the Taylor Hebert I used to be.
My heart is suddenly gripped by melancholy. I understand that Tattletale is with me not because she loves and values me as a person, but only because of my abilities, only because I'm strong. She needed protection, then power, and she simply chose the shortest path. Vicky hates me for what I did to her sister, though I didn't do anything - Panacea killed me first. Generally in this city there's no one who would be interested in Taylor Hebert before she gained her abilities. Everyone didn't care about me, even my own father didn't notice what was happening. Sophia... and she changed too. Tried to rebel and was subdued, humiliated and brought to heel. Now I can tell her "jump" and she'll ask how high. Just like that. There's nothing in the world but power. Taylor Hebert doesn't exist... or rather - I exist, but everyone doesn't care. Everyone is only interested in my power. What's the point of doing anything if everyone only needs my power, my authority, my abilities from me? I can just lie down here and die, needed by no one, an empty shell with powers and abilities...
"Stop sniveling, four-eyed whore!" growls my senior comrade and faithful friend in my head. "Don't you understand that he's affecting you?! Learn finally to distinguish your thoughts from others', your feelings from those imposed on you. Get a grip!"
"What?" That's right, Gallant's ability! He hit me with depression?! And I underestimated his power, thought it was useless in battle, but no. The most important thing in any duel, battle, fight is fighting spirit. Moral-volitional qualities. There's nothing worse than fighting when you don't really want to. When you're depressed, killed by grief, crushed by depression. Real depression is when you can't even properly lift your hands, what fighting is there. And even with the Fifth's help, even realizing these feelings aren't mine, it's still hard for me to overcome them. But I have an ability...
I close my eyes, exhale and banish all my emotions, dark or light - into my swarm, into insects that slow their movements and descend, folding their wings, several even die and I feel each death.
I grit my teeth. Raise my head (when did I manage to lower it?!) and meet Gallant's gaze.
"Stop it!" I tell him in the Fifth's voice and immediately the pressure disappears, the world becomes bright, clean and transparent again. It's as if I'm breathing air for the first time, so sweet it seems.
"Who are you?!" Gallant begins, but I already take a step forward and grab him by the throat.
"Listen here, you bastard, try using your ability on me one more time, and I'll rip off your balls and stuff them down your throat!" I growl right in his face. "Do you understand me?!"
"Amy!" light-as-a-feather Vista hangs on my arm. "Amy, what are you doing?! Stop!"
"Do you understand me?!" I pay no attention to Vista. Gallant nods his head. But stays silent. Silent, you bastard? I squeeze my fingers a bit tighter and his face turns crimson, he starts gasping for air.
"I can't hear you!" I raise my voice. He nods again, but not a sound. Decided to outstubborn me? I squeeze my fingers...
"Amy! He can't speak! Put him down! Please!"
"What? Oh, yes..." I release my fingers, feeling a bit stupid. Take a step back. Dean grabs his neck and breaks into coughing, Vista stands next to him trying to help. A nurse runs into the room, sees coughing Dean, throws up her hands and rushes to him.
"How long has he been conscious? Panacea, did you heal him?" The nurse, unlike Vista, acts quickly but doesn't fuss.
"Just now." I answer, crossing my arms over my chest.
"We didn't even hope... he had a head injury. Good thing nothing else threatens him!" says the nurse, checking Dean's pupil with light, immediately offering him a glass of water to wet his throat.
"That remains to be seen." I say threateningly. "Maybe he won't live to see tomorrow. I have a feeling this person really wants to go to the other world."
"Amy!" Vista exclaims indignantly and puts her hands on her hips. "What are you saying?"
"You be quiet." I push her aside. "We haven't finished talking yet. Nurse?"
"Panacea?"
"The patient needs an additional healing procedure. Please leave the room." I say. The nurse gives me a quick look. This is the same nurse who recently let me go home, so I wink at her. She hesitates for a second. According to instructions, Amy doesn't even have the right to treat in the absence of medical personnel... however, we seem to have reached some understanding.
"I'll go check on Mr. Wolanski in the next room. And then tell the attending physician that you've regained consciousness, Mr. Stansfield." she says and winks back at me. "I definitely won't be here for twenty minutes."
"Amy?!"
"Missy. Fine, you can stay." I see that indignant Vista is very worried about Dean - has she become interested in him? Or is this Gallant also a pedophile, the girl is only twelve years old! Vicky wasn't enough for him... or am I wrongly suspecting him again? Ah, what's the difference, right now Dean Stansfield really doesn't appeal to me.
"Dean." I say, looking directly into his eyes. He swallows and noticeably pales.
"I still haven't heard an answer, Dean. Should I repeat the question? Do you have memory problems?"
"N-no." he answers. "Yes. I mean..."
"So yes or no? And which specific question are you answering?" I lower my voice, taking a step forward. "You heard what exactly I said to you?"
"Yes."
"Repeat it."
"You weren't thrilled that I used my ability on you. But I didn't know... that it was you... I mean you. I mean... Administrator?!" his eyes suddenly widened. "Amy?! She..."
"Listen here, Dean Stansfield, right now I don't give a shit about your realizations and enlightenments. These are your personal sexual dramas. I asked you a very simple question. First said a very simple phrase..."
"Administrator?!" Vista jerked up nearby and in a moment I found myself at the other end of the room, spatial distortion...
"Tsk." I say and raise my finger. Vista immediately freezes, raising her hands. Two "Medicis" sit on her neck - enhanced ant queens with neurotoxin. Their stings tickle the tender skin at the carotid artery from both sides.
"You just won't learn, damn it." I say and sigh. "Missy, stop. I'm not going to do anything to your precious Dean... yet. Yet... what?" I turn my head to Dean, who sits in bed with bulging eyes.
"U-until I use my ability ... I mean on you?" he says and his voice is very similar to a student's voice trying to guess the right answer.
"Smart boy. One more time you extend your dirty emotional rays to me and I'll turn you inside out. Then heal you. And turn you inside out again. Is that clear to you, Dean Stansfield?"
"Yes." he says firmly. "It's clear to me. May I ask a question?"
"You're bold, Dean Stansfield. Fine, go ahead." I allow. I always liked brave ones - this Dean is a moral freak with a disgusting ability, but a brave guy.
"If you're in Amy's body, does that mean Amy... killed you?"
"Unfortunately I recently signed a non-disclosure agreement here." I answer. "Talk about it with the brass. And generally I wouldn't advise you to blab about this left and right. You see, I don't care. Administrator is alive and will live. But if something happens to Panacea... it will seriously damage the PRT and Protectorate's image. And that's not even mentioning that I just healed you, you ungrateful creature. You'd be lying on this bed until the end of your days shitting yourself in a vegetative state, but no. Noble me saved you from that fate. Now I even regret it a little. Should have at least given you a pimple. A purulent boil like that."
"What? Uh... sorry. I apologize. As soon as I opened my eyes and could feel - I felt that you're not Amy, so I panicked." Dean says. "I'll definitely ask official persons about everything. And... thank you for healing me."
"You don't need to thank me... honestly, I would have left you shitting yourself if not for Missy." I nod at Vista frozen in the corner. "You can relax now, they won't sting you."
"I... would be more comfortable if you removed them from me!" Vista says. Interesting, so small but so brave, I think. Though... the girl's been in the Wards since young, she's a veteran by their standards. Twelve years old and already a veteran. Shitty world here, that's what I'll say.
"Okay, heroine. Just no foolishness. I have an agreement signed with your superiors, and I act within this agreement. We're allies and it would be extremely unpleasant for me if someone here died from friendly fire. Or a friendly insect bite. A friendly pain impulse. A friendly blade swipe. A friendly festering wound. Friendly plague... there are many options."
"I'll check this." Vista says, slowly lowering her hands. "And if you deceived me, then I..."
"Yes, yes, yes." I roll my eyes. "You'll catch me and kick my ass. Cool down, girl."
"I'm not a girl!"
"Really, a boy?" I look at Vista choking with indignation and wave at them. "Alright, I have to go. Dean - remember, you have one warning, but I'll count it as two since I really didn't like your ability. I'm barely keeping myself on the edge of emotional stability here, and then you with your depression." I say and at this moment an interesting thought comes to mind... what if?
"Sorry." Dean answers, looking down.
"And generally - screwed up - fix it. You can transmit any emotion, right?" I ask, testing the waters. The idea begins to captivate me, I feel excitement.
"Uh... well yes, but..."
"There. While I was coming to you - I felt joy and happiness. Satisfaction from a job well done, you understand? And you ruined it all for me. Fix it."
"What?"
"Come on, transmit happiness and satisfaction to me."
"But you yourself said you can't be affected, you'll tear something off me and stuff it somewhere!"
"Forget it. I meant negative emotions. I lack positive ones. Come on, hit me with joy and happiness. You can also add orgasm... can you make an orgasm with your beam?"
"Amy! I mean... no!" Vista shouts, jumping up from indignation. "No!"
"Someone's jealous, huh? Well fine, just happiness, joy, satisfaction after a job well done, pleasant fatigue and light nostalgia for Paris..."
"I'm afraid I can't do that..."
"Screw Paris. Let it be Miami. Come on, don't be shy, Dean, give me happiness. I used my ability on you, why are you being shy? Listen, can you hit a crowd with orgasm-beam? Why are you making such eyes... fine, how about hitting Tattletale once? I healed you, mind you, you're in my debt." I jump closer to him and sit on the bed. Vista choked on her saliva from indignation and started coughing.
"That... would be unethical..." Dean mutters, trying to cover himself with a blanket.
"Ethical, unethical. She's a villain! We'll punish her! I'll tie her up and bring her to you, and you'll hit her with the beam! But at full power! So her slippers fly off! Super-orgasm! Can you do it? Though what am I saying - you definitely can, Victoria was your girlfriend! And..."
"AMY!!" The door bursts open and angry Victoria Dallon appears on the threshold, her nostrils flaring like an enraged bull before a matador's red cape. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Uh... hi Vicky?"