Lisa clenched her teeth, suppressing a yawn. The cup of coffee and "liquid Panacea" were working properly - she didn't actually feel sleepy anymore, but for some reason she had an overwhelming urge to yawn. The new body was quite strange to control, especially when drowsy. She looked around, assessing the situation.
The PRT conference room. The department didn't have that much money - ordinary cheap furniture, but they hadn't skimped on recording equipment. Cameras in the corners of the room, microphones and speakers, a voice recorder placed on the table - everything brand new and very high quality. Correspondingly - very expensive.
She glanced at Coil, who like everyone else was dressed in a cape costume, his face covered by a mask. He sat on the other side of Taylor, arms crossed over his chest and leaning back.
Anxious, worried, but not too much. Confident he could turn this meeting to his advantage. Ready for escalation and conflict. Afraid of Alexandria, which was understandable. Afraid of Taylor, which was also understandable. Afraid of... Lisa Wilbourn.
She chuckled. Right to be afraid - the cat knows whose fish it ate. As soon as Coil stopped being useful, that's when his end would come. Right away. She had no sentiments or hesitations - Thomas Calvert would die. Even now he was living on borrowed time... while he remained useful. Let him try to stay useful as long as possible. She turned her gaze to Taylor, studying her stern profile under the silk half-mask.
Enhanced body. Lightened facial skin without flaws, facial features approaching the ideal of symmetry and beauty. Improved figure, enlarged breasts, perfect symmetry, golden ratio of buttocks and waist curve... calm, ready for confrontation. Slightly nervous not because of the clash of interests, but from the very meeting with her idol. Experiencing slight sexual interest in Alexandria, but at the same time - afraid of her.
Lisa sighed. Of course, she thought, Alexandria on the poster hanging in her bedroom, Alexandria on her lunch box, Alexandria on her old, faded cotton t-shirt... surely if you looked hard enough, you could find that issue of Playboy from year eight, when Alexandria gave permission to publish photos after the battle with Leviathan - to support the spirit of humanity's defenders. Tay-Tay was still sometimes terrifyingly sentimental... she adored her idols... Glory alone was worth something.
Lisa Wilbourn was jealous of Taylor Hebert over Glory. Lisa Wilbourn thought Taylor was too infatuated with Glory. Lisa Wilbourn wanted to remain the main one, because she considered it a matter of survival. But Lisa Wilbourn couldn't show her feelings directly - it would push Taylor Hebert away. Lisa Wilbourn thought Taylor's infatuation with Glory would pass. Today it was Glory, tomorrow - Glory's cousin, Laser Show, whom Taylor had already set her sights on, the day after tomorrow - Narwhal... and then Alexandria. Or Armsmaster...
"Stupid power," Lisa grumbled to herself. "I'm not jealous of anything. There'd have to be someone to be jealous of." She thought Glory was too much... Glory. Simple, black-and-white, straightforward, a picture-perfect heroine. Someone like that would quickly bore Taylor. Especially if Laser Show proved herself to be an adventurer and thrill-seeker... which she was. Leave Laser Show alone with Taylor somewhere for a sufficiently long time, and she was practically certain something would happen between them. Because Crystal Pelham was actually a very curious and restless person, and unlike Glory - her morals were much more flexible. Crystal Pelham, Laser Show - was one of those ready to try everything - what if she liked it? An energetic restless soul, the life of the party, always up for any action. And for Taylor, Laser Show was from the series of those very idols she once looked up to with a feeling of secret adoration in her chest. This was important to her... because all that remained from her former life were such memories. Taylor was afraid she was no longer the same Taylor who once went to bed looking at those posters on her bedroom wall, dreaming of meeting her idols. Now Taylor might no longer feel reverence for them - in direct combat power she was on par with the country's strongest capes, but she preferred to experience that sweet feeling of a fan before her idol. Because she was afraid of finally losing herself completely, turning into someone else. Butcher Fifteen. Administrator. Anyone.
The conference room door burst open and Alexandria flew inside. Taylor flinched and stood up. Lisa didn't bother, continued sitting and looked directly at the idol of millions of boys and girls.
Slightly irritated that the meeting with Taylor was happening not privately, but publicly. Regarded Lisa Wilbourn and Thomas Calvert as Administrator's own Think Tank. Regarded Taylor's gesture as an attempt to establish equal cooperation. She didn't like this. She preferred to control the process, to be in charge. Irritated that Taylor dared to set her own conditions.
"Administrator," Alexandria said, stopping in the middle of the conference room, looking around at those present. She stopped her gaze on Coil, nodded. She also nodded to Lisa.
"Coil. Tattletale," she said, and neither irritation nor approval could be heard in her voice. Following her into the room came Director Piggot and Deputy Director Renick. And of course - Armsmaster along with Miss Militia.
"Alexandria," Taylor nodded. Lisa smiled approvingly. She restrained herself, didn't rush forward asking for an autograph and expressing gratitude for a happy childhood and other "I'm your biggest fan" stuff.
"Thank you for responding so quickly to my request for a meeting," Alexandria said. "Though I would have preferred a private meeting."
"I apologize, I misunderstood the message," Taylor lowered her gaze. "When I was summoned to the PRT as Administrator, I understood this as an invitation to negotiations on behalf of the organization. Accordingly, we came here as representatives of the Administration. If I had known this was a private meeting, I would have come alone. But we can always talk with you privately, Alexandria. I'm a big fan of yours, by the way."
Lisa covered her face with her hand. Taylor still couldn't restrain herself. Why? She was a big boss, she was supposed to stand with a stone face, not melt into compliments. Rattling opponents - that's what they had Lisa for, she could dish out compliments and insults in equal proportion, in such a way that a person wouldn't understand whether it was a compliment or an insult after all...
"In that case, I suggest staying after the official part ends," Alexandria said. Lisa squinted.
She needed something from Taylor. Something personal... considering recent events and her knowledge of Taylor's capabilities - ninety-nine percent this would be a request for resurrection. But whom? Whom would Big A want to resurrect? Whose death did she experience as a personal failure and tragedy? Hero! Of course! Hero once headed the Protectorate, Hero was the leader, Eidolon, Alexandria and Legend were in his shadow. He was torn apart by the Siberian and even Eidolon couldn't heal him, he died a final death. And this death was still on her conscience, it was her personal trauma, just like that very eye that the Siberian had torn out. None of the healers could heal it - this organ simply shouldn't exist, the Siberian negates existence with her attacks. All these years this hadn't given Alexandria peace and now she was trying to fix the past again. Alexandria hadn't come here only with an official visit, she could have done all this remotely, through video conference. But she came personally... this meant only that she had brought with her - Hero's body. After the meeting ended, Alexandria would ask Taylor to resurrect Hero!
Lisa bit her lip. Was it possible to resurrect Hero? Could Taylor do it? When was he killed? In the two thousands, autumn. So many years had passed... was resurrection possible? DNA lasted much longer, but consciousness and memory - that was a question. And most importantly - the probability barrier, negation of existence - how to deal with that? Wounds inflicted by the Siberian were final and couldn't be healed.
But most importantly - they couldn't allow the PRT and Alexandria personally to use Taylor for their purposes just like that! They couldn't... otherwise everything would turn into Panacea's exploitation again. If resurrection technology became easily accessible and didn't require Taylor's personal efforts - that would be fine, after all they were all allies here. But while each resurrection required Taylor's personal participation, and they couldn't afford for her to rush to help at the first whistle from the PRT or Protectorate. Because she would tear herself apart. And one more thing - they should get something in return. What was done for free or cheaply wouldn't be valued.
"Boss, we'll need to exchange a few words later," she said aloud and Taylor looked back at her. She peered into her face and nodded. Lisa leaned back in her chair, quite satisfied. Taylor understood that before meeting with Alexandria, she would need to talk with her. Excellent. Lisa caught Alexandria's frowning gaze on herself.
Understands what this is about. Understands that Taylor won't be led by the PRT and Protectorate. Understands that I want to warn Taylor and that this warning will backfire on her. Sincerely... what?! Sincerely wants to kill Lisa Wilbourn.
Lisa felt the hair on her head stand on end. To cross Alexandria's path... she swallowed and met her gaze again.
Wanted Lisa Wilbourn to understand that she wasn't the only smart one in the room. Wanted to warn on a non-verbal level. Seriously considering the possibility of confrontation with Administrator right here and now. Ready for conflict escalation to extremes. If not for the capes present here and Piggot with her deputy - she was ready to remove Thomas Calvert and Lisa Wilbourn from the conversation.
Lisa hastily looked away. She saw how the muscles on Coil's cheekbones turned to stone. Aha, she thought, Alexandria's message got through to him too, in another probability, but it got through - look how he flinched.
"So, let's skip the pleasantries. Please sit down," Alexandria said to all participants. All present took seats at the large table arranged in the shape of the letter "U". Alexandria remained floating in the air in front of the table. A psychological trick, Lisa thought, this way she seemed bigger, taller, had influence, suppressed everyone... though why did she need this? She was Alexandria anyway. The name alone was enough.
"I asked everyone present to gather together so as not to convey the same thing several times. And to avoid attempts at double interpretation or searching for hidden meanings," Alexandria continued. "And I have only one question. Administrator - is it true that you can bring back the fallen?"
"It's true," Taylor nodded. "Not everyone and not always. But some - I can."
"How exactly did this miraculous acquisition of resurrection abilities happen?" Alexandria folded her arms across her chest. "And isn't this connected to Butcher's abilities?"
"Uh... well, in short, Panacea developed a virus that was supposed to put me in a coma upon touching Glory. In case we... came into conflict. She didn't want her sister to get hurt," Taylor quickly added, seeing how Alexandria frowned, how Piggot stirred in her chair, saying something in Renick's ear. Miss Militia squinted her eyes, and only Armsmaster remained motionless as a statue.
"She couldn't have supposed that Glory would try to evacuate me during the battle with Leviathan. And who could have?" Taylor shrugged. "The result - I was put into a coma, Butcher's ability counted this as death, and I was transferred into Amy's body. And, answering your unasked questions - then I raised myself from the dead. By the way, I must complain about the disorder in which the bodies of capes who died in this battle were stored. Mine was simply terrible to look at. And... that's basically it."
"Amelia Dallon, Panacea - attacked you during the Battle with the Endbringer? This is a direct violation of the truce," Director Piggot said, making a note in her notebook.
"I don't think she planned such a thing. It's like a mine - it just went off at such a time and in this place," Taylor replied. Lisa tensely followed the conversation, tracking the facial expressions and movements of everyone gathered in the conference room.
"And... what about Amelia Dallon's personality now? And... who is in her body now?"
"The personality is safe and sound inside me," Taylor replied, and Lisa saw how Director Piggot winced and Miss Militia frowned.
"Amy's body also has me in it now," Taylor continued. "Just as I can control all my insects simultaneously - in exactly the same way I can control two bodies. I want to immediately state that I took no aggressive actions against Amelia or Victoria..."
"You beat Glory half to death," Director Piggot pointed out. "She was barely healed afterward."
"Yes, but that was before we became friends," Taylor replied and Lisa saw a smile in the corners of her mouth. From the outside, Tay-Tay seemed like a naive simpleton, but she knew that she was subtly mocking Piggot. Apparently I really am a bad influence on her, Lisa thought, no wonder there's a whole department at PHO dedicated to complaints about how Administrator's Tattletale corrupted her.
"And if I'm about to be charged now, I'd better return with my lawyer," Taylor crossed her arms over her chest.
Irritated. Ready for conflict... no, wants conflict. Deliberately provoking conflict in order to bring everything to a climax, and then roll back and make peace on favorable terms. However, ready for non-verbal conflict if it comes to that. Calculating options for destroying or neutralizing Alexandria and Armsmaster as the most dangerous capes. Regards the threat from Miss Militia as insignificant.
"No one is accusing anyone," Alexandria said, making a hand gesture to Piggot, restraining her. "We're just talking. However, I have information that you don't just raise capes randomly. That you somehow influence their psyche, so much so that they then can't attack you."
"Nonsense," Taylor replied without blinking. "Nothing like that. We can call Megawatt and Barrier here, let them try to attack me. I won't say I'm thrilled with such a turn of events, but they'll quite manage it. Besides... even if I could do such a thing - why would the Protectorate be against it? Does someone want to attack me? If I had such a possibility - I would do just that."
Lisa turned her gaze to Armsmaster.
Checking what Taylor said on a lie detector built into his helmet. So far can't catch her in a direct lie. Somehow letting Alexandria know whether Taylor is telling the truth or lying. All these people and capes around are only needed to hide his presence and functionality. All this is one big test. Alexandria and those who stand behind her are afraid that Taylor will be able to subordinate most capes to herself and become... what? And who are those standing behind Alexandria? Coil cooperates with them... but very one-sidedly - they just give him tasks, and he failed the last one - to tame Taylor. Does this mean... yes, Alexandria is definitely going to punish him.
Lisa turned her gaze to Taylor. Interesting, she thought, so it wasn't for nothing that they prepared... I never would have thought Alexandria was capable of such a thing. Still, power sometimes goes to people's heads, preventing them from making rational decisions.
"Well then," Alexandria continued in a dry voice. "Considering your new ability, you become a cape with a potential danger level of twelve plus. An SS-class threat."
"I'm flattered by such a high assessment of my abilities," Taylor replied no less dryly. "But I don't like where our conversation is heading. Perhaps I'll leave this... warm gathering. It's a pity to end the conversation on such a note."
"You can go wherever you want, Administrator. But Tattletale and Coil present here are criminals on the federal wanted list," Alexandria said and rose slightly higher.
"Present here?" Taylor raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you're going to arrest them, eh? And this after Armsmaster set up almost all the villains participating in the Battle against Leviathan under his attacks? Another violation of the truce?"
"I heard that you raised Kaiser!" Alexandria raised her voice. "And his minions!"
"Rumors spread quickly here," Taylor shook her head. "Well yes. I raised him. Because Purity came to me and asked humanely. And didn't threaten my people with arrest."
"You're working with Nazis, Administrator!" Piggot interjected. "With scum! With criminal elements!"
"Thank you for stating the facts, Director Piggot," Taylor folded her arms across her chest. "And I thought the PRT and Protectorate would have enough sense not to pull the tiger's tail."
"I'm offering you cooperation, Administrator," Alexandria said. "And this is your only chance. You immediately stop destructive activities and join the Protectorate with your entire team. We'll help you remove charges of mass murder, and you'll undergo rebranding under the guidance of PRT and Protectorate specialists. Cooperate with scientists from our Think Tank, help heal and resurrect heroes and all your crimes will be forgiven. But you don't have that many chances."
"I refuse," Taylor stood up and looked directly into Alexandria's face. "What kind of cheap blackmail is this?"
"You refuse?" Alexandria raises her voice: "So you don't care what will happen to your comrades?"
"What will happen to them?" Taylor smirks: "I can find people like them anywhere... in any sewer."
"What?" Alexandria shifts her gaze to Coil, Lisa looks there too and sees how Coil's figure shatters and scatters into thousands of insects with black chitinous shells. Miss Militia jumps to her feet, a nozzle of a jetpack flamethrower forms in her hands, Armsmaster raises some kind of sprayer, Piggot and Renick hastily move away from the table.
"See," Taylor says, shaking her head: "I had to bring clones instead of my people. Because I don't trust you. And as history shows – I'm right. The Tattletale sitting here is just a clone. A controlled puppet. Here and now in this room, only I am the real one. Want to try to fight me? Let's go. I'm all for it. If I win – you lose. If someone manages to kill me... well... you still lose. Want to become just another voice in my head? I can arrange that."
"Administrator!" Alexandria straightens and soars upward: "I think you have too high an opinion of yourself!"
"Boss," Lisa reminds her: "please don't kill her. It will be a PR disaster. We can still negotiate..."
"Sometimes you put difficult tasks before me..." Taylor growls, taking a fighting stance: "Well, Big A, how long has it been since someone kicked your ass?"
"Repeat what you said, brat?!"
"Well... I guess we won't be negotiating anymore," Lisa sighs: "So... kill her, boss... we'll figure something out..."