Chapter Two: The Commissioner

Arriving in the Commissioner's spacious office as expected, Agent Lexington opens Tyra's defense with a respectful "Commissioner, sir."

"Yes, Harold, what is it? Who is that?" the Commissioner asks in response.

"Unfortunately, I'm not a liberty to say, sir." he answers.

"'Not at liberty to say'? I'm your fucking boss … or did you forget that little fact Harold?" the Commissioner counters, visibly annoyed.

"This young lady has levied an accusation against one of our own, and chooses to invoke Article Thirty-Nine, paragraph 'C'. So again, unfortunately I'm not at liberty to say." Agent Lexington -- Harold -- counters.

Turning to face Tyra, the Commissioner asks her "Who are you accusing, young lady?"

Her voice low and feral, dripping with righteous fury, Tyra replies "Angela Brennan, sir. Sargent, First Class." Her voice breaking slightly, she drags the words next two out of her mouth. "My … Mother."

Pressing the intercom button with his finger, the Commissioner calls "This is the Commissioner. Angela Brennan, report to my office. NOW."

Removing his finger, the Commissioner looks at Tyra dismissively, saying "I don't know what game you're playing, Tyra. I've got to admit, though -- this is a lot more nerve than I thought a little rat-fink coward like you would have. Obviously the past three years have been far kinder to you than you deserve."

Just then, Angela walks in. "Boss, you wanted to see...." she starts to ask. Noticing Tyra, she finishes her question. "...me? So, my crazy bitch of a daughter is here. Wait, why is she here in this office? As a Class 5 felon -- and I know Tyra is Class 5, as I gave her that rating myself? She should be in a maximum security shielded cell somewhere." she asks the Commissioner.

Drawing on all the inner strength she's managed to acquire over the past three years, Tyra forces her rage back, locking it away.

Her voice clear, controlled, and icy cold, Tyra says... "I'm the crazy bitch? Exactly what 'crime' did you charge me with to justify a Level 5 rating, Angela? Other than escaping from rapist thugs and running away from home when you decided I should have let them have their 'fun' and tried to beat me, that is. Strictly for the record, of course."

"See, sir? I told you that she's crazy. Why would..." Angela sputters indignantly.

"Angela, your daughter is a Talent. Not that you needed to be told." Harold interjects.

"No, I didn't, Harold. What does..." begins Angela, still sputtering.

"She came out of nowhere and helped us out with the Four Corners Plaza Incident, Angela." Harold told her, obviously annoyed with his partner.

Incredulous, the Commissioner jumps in again, Angela joining him in saying "That was HER?"

The Commissioner continues, "Granted, an unknown female Talent put that crowd down … but surely you're either joking or mistaken if you're crediting Tyra, Harold."

"No sir, I'm not mistaken! I was there, after all." he replied, recounting events from his perspective.

"My Tyra actually took a leap of faith? She just dropped her defenses and stood there waiting for you to mindfreeze her, Harold?" Angela asked her partner incredulously.

Facing Tyra and looking her in the eye, she addressed her daughter "I'm impressed. I don't think I would have had the courage to do what you did. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

The Commissioner sticks out his hand. "I've known Agent Lexington here his entire LEO career. If he says something unequivocally happened a certain way... well, I for one personally consider his word to be Gospel. On behalf of all of us here at LEO, I offer you our sincere gratitude and apologies. I also dismiss all charges filed against against you in by your mother with this Agency. Not that a simple apology can return the years this Agency has stolen from you...."

Tears in her eyes, Tyra interrupts the Commissioner, saying, "T-Th-thank you, sir. I would ask that you NOT punish my mother in any way for her part in all of this. When my Talent manifested, she was simply afraid that I didn't have the personality to use my gifts correctly."

Shocked at her daughter's unexpected mercy, Angela breathes, "You would really let me off that easily, Tyra?"

"Yes, Mom, I would." Tyra answers. Ticking off her points with her fingers as she lists them, Tyra continues, "One, I know how much that apology cost you. Two, if I hadn't been driven into hiding, I never would have had a reason to come up with the little trick that saved the day today, and a lot of people would be dead right now that aren't.

Tyra shrugs dismissively and flashes an an impish smile at her mother before finishing her speech with, "Finally, as you've always pointed out: 'Más dorcha an oíche, más gile na réaltaí.'"

Wrapping her arms around her daughter, Angela hugs Tyra tightly to her chest. Tears in her eyes now, Angela whispers, "Tyra, thank you. You've taken so much of my advice to heart, but that's the last thing I expected."

Puzzled, the Commissioner dryly remarks, "Would someone mind translating that the non-Irish speakers in the room?"

Her head resting on her mother's shoulder, Tyra lets out a contented sigh and translates. "'The darker the night is, the brighter the stars are.' Ancient wisdom from Irish tales concerning the Mother Goddess. Mother prefers to see Talent as tied to the dark powers, I prefer to consider it tied to the good powers, those aligned with the Mother Goddess." Another contented sigh, and Tyra adds "But I think she's finally ready to accept Talent instead of tolerating it as distasteful but useful."

Bolting awake, Tyra remembers Rachel and all her other charges. "Commissioner, can the two of us have a few hours together? I forgot about my charges – other kids with similar situations that I took under my wing. Most have Talent themselves, actually." she asks.

"Sure, take her and round them all up." he replies.

"Sir, if I could gesalt off of some generator, I could 'path them all from here. Have them come to us. What I need Angela for is to greet the others with me, show them this isn't all some sort of sick joke." Tyra elaborates.

"Sure, sure, go ahead and knock yourself out." the Commissioner replies, clearly having already dismissed the matter and not caring either way.

Thanking the Commissioner politely, Tyra pictures each of her charges in turn. Tapping into the gesalt and 'pathing them all the same message. Tyra speaking. Code Blue, I repeat, Code Blue. Meet me at the Downtown assembly point STAT.

"Finished with part one, sir. Shall we go and meet up with my friends, Mom?" I ask.

"Sure, why not?" Angela replies.

"Hold on to me then, we're going the short way." I warn her, well aware that she isn't completely comfortable with the fact that her daughter is a Talent.

Grabbing my arm, my mother nods. "Ready, Tyra."

Leaning into the gesalt again, I 'port the two of us to our destination.

Upon our arrival, Mom looks around. "What a dump!" she complains.

Laughing, I can't help teasing her a bit, "You were expecting the Hotel Royale, leannán?" I ask.

"You might be used to places like this, young lady, but I'm not! ... But that's my failing, not yours -- you did what you had to ... no, what I forced you to do. Tha mi duilich, leannán." she replies.

"Lighten up, I was teasing. You've nothing to be sorry about, Mom."

"You're not a child any longer leannán. Please refer to me as 'Angela', as any other equal would." she admonishes.