"So, how does it feel?" I ask, sitting on the edge of the table and swinging my legs—a habit I just can't shake. I really should. According to some newspaper articles and internet posts, I'm Brockton Bay's warlord and crime boss in service to the PRT, practically a privateer like Francis Drake or Pirate Queen Zheng Shi, with the courts, media, and even the PRT itself along with Deputy Chief Director Rebecca "Mad Becky" Costa-Brown in my pocket. And here I am swinging my legs under the table like some middle schooler.
"Strange," Edward admits—I haven't called him the Third Butcher in ages. He looks at his hand, clenching and unclenching it as if testing a new glove, stretching the skin at the joints. He raises his hand and stares at it, then lowers his eyes, looking down. I silently hand him a towel, which he accepts and wraps around his hips.
"I'd forgotten what it was like to have a body," he says.
"Technically speaking, it's not your body," I point out. "It's better. Stronger. More resilient. Enhanced regeneration, some senses are amplified—vision, hearing, and so on. Most importantly, you control it through me; I'm allowing you to control it. You're still not capable of direct control. So... there might be some lag between command and execution, but I assure you, you won't notice it. Unless you decide to get into a fistfight with Glory—she's fast."
"I'm not planning to fight anyone," he says, stepping over the edge of the vat filled with organic gel. His legs buckle and I catch him.
"It's unfamiliar. My legs won't obey," he sits on the edge of the vat and lowers his head, examining his own bare knees. "Is this really happening? I can't believe... that it's possible."
"It wasn't possible before," I reply. "But now that I have Panacea, it is. I'm planning to grow bodies for all the others and distribute them—but only as long as you all abide by the agreement's terms."
"Agreement? Why?" he shrugs. "You can disconnect any of us from a body at any moment, and that's that. And... with your ability, you're watching everyone twenty-four seven, right? Oh, I completely forgot—you do sleep sometimes."
"Actually, I can go without sleep now," I assure him. "It's not such a complicated modification. Dolphins don't sleep at all, and they're mammals. And I only need the agreement to have moral justification for trapping some of you in cockroaches for the rest of your lives."
"Hey!" First protests in my head. "What's this about?! We had a deal..."
"Everyone will have a chance," I reply. "But that chance needs to be earned. Edward is the most reasonable of you psychos, so he goes first. The next body will be made for Tok. And for Tactic. Numidian Lioness—if you get your random aggression fits under control, I'll consider it. The rest—in order of the queue and according to your merits before me, the Great and Terrible."
"You're losing your mind, you four-eyed nutcase," First confides to me. "Already getting a big head."
"Taylor! Listen, you personally killed me, right? Stung me in the neck, anaphylactic shock and death by suffocation," says Svara, the Fourteenth Butcher, speaking in an unexpectedly soft voice.
"Svara. Let's not do this..." I grimace. "Let's not go over who killed whom right now. See, Edward's having a celebration—new body and all. Really, I killed you and that's that. It was a long time ago, and you're still holding a grudge?"
"It was very unpleasant, by the way. You suffocate, grab at air with your hands, the last air leaves your chest..."
"Oh, shut up already!" First interrupts her. "Taylor, she just wants a better body for herself, that's all! In her previous body she had no ass, no tits, just tattoos all over her back and ribs sticking out like frames on an old tugboat hull at the Ship Graveyard!"
"Nothing of the sort!" Svara doesn't give up. "It's just that since Taylor broke my previous body, let her make this one better! You all died before her, but me—she personally finished off! I demand compensation for moral damages! Did you see what she did to herself?! I want the same!"
"Everyone shut up," Fifth says, and the noise immediately dies down. He continues speaking in the gentle voice of an older comrade and faithful friend. "You don't understand what changes Taylor will bring to all of us. You should be groveling at her feet for her to provide you with any body. Any at all. And honestly, we have no right to demand anything from her. Not an inch. We're all just pathetic saboteurs, a pack of hyenas snapping at each other, laughing at her every mistake. Who here helped and sympathized with Taylor from the very beginning? Nobody. Except maybe Edward... so he deservedly gets the body. And all the rest—keep your asses down and don't make trouble! If Taylor decides someone deserves a body, then they deserve it. Until then—shut up and scatter into your cockroaches. Think about how you can help Taylor. At the very least—don't interfere."
A ringing silence falls in my head. Fifth really knows how to keep them in line... and I still don't understand how he manages it.
"Go take a shower, wash off the gel residue, comb your hair and get dressed," I say. "In your room, they've prepared a suit and documents for you." Taking advantage of the fact that the Administration is an official subdivision of municipal self-defense, we can issue our own identity documents. Obviously, in case of serious trouble this won't work, but if someone stops you on the road, it might be enough. Besides, attached to the documents is a card with ten thousand dollars on it—more than enough for a trip to see your daughter. How exactly Edward will talk to her and explain why he's alive is his business.
"Thank you," he says. I hop off the table and point him in the right direction. After the door closes behind him, I continue on. Two doors down—Tattletale's room.
I open the door and look at snoring Lisa. She's lying on the bed having wonderful dreams. The burst of her analytical abilities at full throttle led to her passing out in the process and falling asleep. I wonder if she has some kind of built-in safety switch? I shake my head and close the door. Let her sleep it off. Maybe then she'll understand that there's no point in enhancing her abilities. She simply can't handle that burden. It's like putting a powerful engine from a mining dump truck on a scooter—it won't hold up.
"Boss." As soon as I closed the door to Lisa's room, Thomas Calvert appeared nearby. Today he's in his usual office suit, even wearing a tie. Tough guy—polishing shoes and wearing a tie when only two days have passed since the Endbringer attack.
"Thomas," I nod. "Something urgent?"
"Your phone broke again," he says dryly. "They're calling you to PRT headquarters. Alexandria has arrived."
"I see," I say. So the PRT decided to start with the hard approach after all...
At this very moment, I-Amy along with Victoria are sitting at Aunt Sarah's house and... feeling embarrassed. At least I'm definitely embarrassed. Because I've never been hugged so much. And here they hugged me all over, smeared me with tears, practically promised to wash my feet and bring me water. Especially when Crystal hugged me, I-Amy blushed deeply. Crystal was somehow similar to Vicky, her flexible and strong body pressed against me, and she was also shaking with sobs and hugging me, so...
I shake my head. No, really, is this Vicky's aura or am I a corrupted girl? Here's such a situation, and I'm with my thoughts... good thing Tattletale isn't here, she would definitely understand what I'm thinking about.
"Amy," Aunt Sarah squeezes my hands in hers. "I'm sorry I didn't call you right away, but I just felt like... I felt like everything... this just doesn't happen!"
"Sarah, leave the girl alone, can't you see you're embarrassing her," says Uncle Neil, smirking. "Let the girls drink their coffee properly. They had a difficult conversation with Carol."
"Amy, Vicky," Aunt Sarah perks up. "You can live here as long as you want. You've always been like daughters to me, and Carol... can go overboard."
We're sitting in the Pelhams' kitchen, in the place of honor, and I really feel a bit awkward about how Aunt Sarah is fussing over us. Crystal sits next to Vicky and holds her hand, her eyes still red. Uncle Neil has folded his arms across his chest and looks at us with a slight smile. He's already gone through all the stages of acceptance and isn't going to complain. Next to them sits Eric, Vicky's and my cousin. He just rolls his eyes at all this commotion.
There's no room on the table because of all the dishes—today they're receiving us as if Her Majesty herself had deigned to visit.
"Uh... well, nothing special here," Victoria says. "Amy after the battle with Leviathan got... well, something like a Trigger and suddenly realized she could work with brains and even... uh... fix the irreparable."
"Ha!" Eric says, grinning from ear to ear. "Fix the irreparable?! Amy learned to resurrect people! I wouldn't be surprised if she now feeds all of Brockton Bay with five loaves and two fish, walks on water, or whatever other miracles are supposed to be done before people believe in you?"
"Eric!" Mom raises her voice.
"Well, Ma! She's Saint Amy! And by the way," he turns to me, "don't let them put you on a cross or whatever. People have a stupid habit of crucifying at the slightest thing. And, dibs—I'll be your first Apostle! Eric the Apostle—has a nice ring to it?"
"Eric Pelham, stop trolling your sister and blaspheming at the same time! And with those lips you'll later kiss your girlfriend!" Aunt Sarah rises from her seat, looking menacingly at her son. He just raises his hands palms toward her, showing he surrenders.
"He won't be kissing anyone," Crystal speaks up, raising her tear-reddened eyes. "He's an idiot even when resurrected. What girl would go out with him?"
"You're just jealous," Eric parries. "But it's fine. In the next Endbringer battle—just get yourself killed, sis. And then Amy will..."
The sound of a slap in the small kitchen sounds like someone fired a rifle. Eric holds his cheek while Aunt Sarah stares at her hand in shock. Then suddenly she jumps up and presses him to her chest, starts sobbing. I feel awkward. My hand is squeezed like in a vise. Victoria. She also has tears in her eyes. And honestly, I feel a lump rising in my throat too...
"She's been like this for two days," Crystal says quietly. "Either she yells at them and tries to fight, or like this... hugs and cries. Thank you, girls. Aunt Carol called, said nasty things about you," she looks at me, "but we don't believe a single word. Stay with us. There's a free room upstairs."
"You'll have to forgive us, Amy," Uncle Neil says. "But it's not every day someone can resurrect loved ones. To be frank, I think this is the first case in human history, so we don't know how to react yet. What the protocol should be in such cases." He stands up, hugs Aunt Sarah and Eric. Smiles warmly.
"Thank you, Amy," he says. "Without you, I wouldn't have the chance to hug my wife again and see my children. Dying is a shitty idea if you ask me. I'll try not to cause you any more trouble."
"No more Endbringer battles! None!" Aunt Sarah raises her voice. "No! Do you hear me?!"
"Yes, yes," he strokes her head. "Of course, dear. Whatever you say. I'll even wear a hat."
"You'd joke about everything! Do you know what I went through?!"
"I'm not joking! I'll do just that. Here." Uncle Neil pulls out a knitted ski hat from somewhere and pulls it over his head. "See?"
"You!" Aunt Sarah shakes her fist helplessly. Uncle Neil catches her hand, pulls her to him and kisses her. Aunt Sarah freezes. Crystal gets up from the table and grabs Vicky and me by the hands.
"Mom!" she says. "I'll show Vicky and Amy their room for now! This is embarrassing even for me!" And she drags us upstairs.
"She's been like this for two days," Crystal grumbles. "They're kissing everywhere now. Ugh... nightmare! And... listen, Amy, are you really a Butcher now?"
"It's more complicated," Victoria says. "How to put it..."
"Here. Your room. I cleaned up in here. Not the Hilton, of course, but no worse than your rooms at home," Crystal says, opening the door to a room for us. The room is on the second floor, an attic, so the window is angled, but otherwise everything is quite nice and clean. Right under the window is a large bed, against the wall is a desk, and there's also a small sofa and a wardrobe.
"All of Victoria's clothes won't fit in here, of course," Crystal says, "but if needed, I'll give you my wardrobe." She plops down on the bed and pats it with her palm. "Shall we sit and talk? Too much has been happening around you lately. And this... well, it's totally cool that you can resurrect people now, Amy, but if you're a Butcher, does that mean you'll go crazy soon?"
"I don't feel sane enough even now," I grumble.
"Yeah... Amy definitely wouldn't have said that." Crystal turns her head to Victoria. "So she really is..."
"Chris! Don't make things up. Uh... how to put it..." Vicky kicks off her white sneakers and sits next to Crystal on the bed, crossing her legs. I sit in the office chair by the desk. It's a regular office chair with adjustable height and a reclining back, on wheels. Taking advantage of this, I roll a bit closer to the girls.
"Basically, Amy wanted to protect me," Victoria says, "and went a bit overboard. Taylor and I were already fine and then..."
"Taylor?" Crystal tilts her head. "So you call the Administrator by her first name? You're that close? So those rumors that you kissed her..."
"Chris! What are you saying?!"
"Everyone's talking about it. There's a whole forum section on PHO about Big A and you. Talented fanfics, by the way. They say you always wanted to dominate the Administrator, but met your match... and then she grabbed you by the hair with a firm hand and... you made such a moan..."
"Chris!!!"
"Oh, okay! Okay! Don't hit me with the pillow! It'll tear!" Crystal laughs, trying to defend herself from furious Victoria.
"Don't mess with me, Chris," Victoria threatens her with a fist. "Look what you're believing! There's also a pairing of you and Eric there, by the way."
"Ew... that's just gross. Me and Eric... never. I officially declare that I don't even consider him as a man," Crystal announces, raising one hand up and pressing the other to her heart. "No and no."
"Uh..." Victoria glances at me quickly and sighs. "Well... basically Amy went overboard and slightly killed Taylor."
"WHAT?!!"
"Just a tiny bit," I confirm Victoria's words. "It didn't even hurt."
"AMY?!"
"What was I supposed to do?" I shrug. "That bitch Administrator wanted to take my Vicky for herself. My treasure... my joy... my..."
"Taylor!" Victoria throws a pillow at me. "Shut up! Let me explain everything properly to Chris!"
"Taylor?" Crystal turned to me and measured me with her gaze. She moved back slightly.
"Chris, wait..."
"Who did you bring into my house, Vicky?" Crystal's voice noticeably changed, her eyes narrowed, she soars into the air and is enveloped in a blue haze of force field, while her palms glow golden. Laser Show. When she's in costume, she's Laser Show. Force fields, flight, laser beams from her palms. They say that in terms of striking power, she's almost on par with Purity. Almost.
I tense up. So much for talking. Now it begins... we'll blow Uncle Neil and Aunt Sarah's house to hell, and that's a shame. I liked Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Neil's a decent guy.
"Whoever you are..." Crystal was raising her voice, but the next moment Victoria launches upward, grabs her and throws her down onto the bed, holding her by the hair.
"Cut it out right now!" she hisses at her. "Cut itit out right now! She saved your dad and brother from the dead, and you're acting like this?! Turn off your force field immediately! I'll kick your ass right here!"
"Vicky!" Crystal's muffled cry as she's pressed face-first into the bed by her hair. "Vicky! Stop!"
"I can't hear you!" Victoria raises her voice again. "Can't hear you, Chris!"
"Enough! That's it, I've had enough! Let go!" Crystal frees herself, sits up, and spits out some fluff from her mouth, her hair disheveled and sticking out in different directions.
"Okay," she says, raising her hands. "Fine. If you're that sure of her, you should've just said so instead of starting a fight, bruiser."
"As if you could be convinced any other way," Victoria folds her arms. "You and your brother are both stubborn; you don't understand until you get a good kick."
"Good reminder," Crystal grumbles, shaking her head. "Back then Eric was about twelve, I think. Well, alright. So this means that in Amy's body is the Administrator? And you—you don't care?"
"It's more complicated," I say, rolling closer in my chair. "Amy is in my head now too. But she doesn't feel like communicating. Honestly, it seems like she's fed up with everything. Like she's... resting. For the first time ever."
"That sounds like Amy," Crystal admits. "She always looked sleep-deprived with circles under her eyes. The only thing that could get her out of it was the desire to be with Vicky..."
"What? You knew?!" Victoria's eyes widen, her cheeks flush.
"Everyone knew! You were the only one walking around blind! When you turned away, you know how she looked at you! I immediately noticed this Amy from the old one—she doesn't look at you like that. At first, I even thought you finally slept together!"
"Well..." I look away. No need for extra troubles, extra rumors... and so much has already been said about me...
"Aha!" Crystal pokes me with a finger. "Vicky! So you did it?! Crazy, with my parents always kissing, now you too! Disgusting!"
"There was nothing like that!" Victoria's cheeks are now crimson, and she speaks too quickly and heatedly, so I wouldn't even believe her.
"Oh, don't brag," Crystal squints. "You're terrible at lying, Victoria Dallon. Look how red you are, like a tomato. Crazy, all my relatives are perverts. Mom and dad have been kissing for two days... You don't want to hear about what they were doing at night! Not a word!"
"Alright," I nod.
"And... how did you do it?" Crystal immediately turns to me. "I mean, now you two aren't sisters, technically. Like the forum says, right? You grabbed her by the hair with a strong hand, and Vicky..."
"CHRIS!!!"