2.3: The Impression That I Get Part 1

Royal Knight, Apartment Complex 12:00 A.M

Jesmon P.O.V

I looked around, we had all gathered in Duftmon's room. Multiple computer screens lined the walls, all showing different data feeds. I turned my head to Magnamon, and quirked an eyebrow up so as to ask why we were here. He looked back at me and shrugged. Okay, so I wasn't the only one. Still, Duftmon wouldn't have called us here together if he hadn't found something important, and I needed something more worthwhile today, after I had mucked up my first day of school.

"My brothers, I realize that we've all been rather stressed lately," at this he sent me a look, and I felt my face warm up. "However, I've come across some information you all might find interesting." At this he grabbed thirteen manilla folders, and he gave them to us. I flipped my copy open, and I felt my eyes widen as I took in the information.

"Holy shit, that is a lot of money! I mean we could own five small countries, and have them flourish too, if we had the money these Cauldron guys have!" Ulforce burst out, ignoring the other information on the page that I felt was far more important. Like the fact they sold what I assumed to be pieces of the Abomination.

Gallantmon looked up from his copy, a frown of confusion on his face. "While they do have impressive resources, Duftmon, I can't see the importance of destroying them. Not to mention that we can't do it without the rest of the world coming down on us."

"Au Contraire, Gallantmon, I suggest the exact opposite, that we ally with them." At this the room exploded with Crusadermon shooting out of his seat, expression furious.

"You expect us to ally with these… Heathens that pass the infection for money? Humans are bad enough, these are the worst of them! More so, out of all of us I would expect you to advocate for their destruction for this heresy," Crusadermon finished with a growl

"Oh, and why would you think this, Crusadermon?" Duftmon asked, fixing Crusadermon with a cold stare.

"Probably has something to do with being on The "Let's Kill All of the Humans" Faction during the Dream Eater incident," Alphamon muttered flipping through the folder again, sipping his cup of coffee occasionally. 'How can he always be so calm?'

"Differing opinions aside, even if we were to approach this group, what could we offer? Like Ulforce said, the money they have is enormous, and considering the investments they've made in the past..." Omnimon trailed off. I assumed he was referring to the fact that a lot of money Cauldron had invested had gone into silencing nay-sayers of parahumans and the PRT alike, sometimes permanently.

"Humans have always craved power," Duftmon said, coldly. "Let's face it, even among these parahumans we would be like gods."

He ignored Master's mutter of "Then why are we hiding, Duftmon? If we're so superior?"

He was about to continue when a buzzing sound was heard. As one our heads turned towards Magnamon.

"I have to go," he said. "I'm on call." Seeing our confused looks, he continued, "They need my help in the hospital, and since I need this job if I want to make observations on the parahumans, I really need to get going. Ulforce, can you drive me there?"

"Sure thing bro, just let me get my keys, and we'll be there in no time and then you'll be able to knock em' dead!" he exclaimed, clenching a fist. Then he looked at everyone staring at him. "On second thought don't, you're a doctor you can't kill them." He spun around and pointed at Gallantmon, "Tell me what happened once I get back."

Magnamon P.O.V

I practically leapt, out of the car as soon as we came to a stop. I flashed my I.D to the security guard, around us ambulances lights flashed around the building with a couple police cars. I entered the building, and I glanced back at Ulforce who had simply bypassed the security guard, by saying he was with me, and considering our shared hair, the officer didn't check for my approval.

I practically flinched as I felt multiple carriers of the Abomination in the building. Still that could wait, I needed to put on my work clothes. I got into my locker and threw a spare pair to Ulforce, "Put these on." I said. "Do exactly as I say."

"Maggie!" A voice caused me to turn my head to see one of my co-workers. "Get your ass to the ICU! They need all the help they can get." I nodded, already striding in that direction.

"Doctor Cox, what' all this about?" only for him to scoff, and motion for Ulforce to come with us, the situation must have been really bad if he was accepting help from a volunteer.

"What always happens. The gangs in this town start to fight, the Wards join in, and we end up cleaning the the mess. Also, Blueman # 2, you will do exactly as I say unless you want your ass thrown out of this building, and not out the front door."

"Yes, sir," he muttered.

"Doctor Cox, is Panacea here already? Her help would be vital considering the amount of ambulances we saw parked outside."

"Nope, it's one of those days, although she should be here in a couple of minutes. Still, a couple of minutes is something not most of these guys have."

He was right. As soon as I entered the ICU it was filled to the brim with people shouting, doctors were running around with carts of supplies. I could see a person on a stretcher screaming clutching what remained of his side, as he was rolled by us.

I went to the first patient that caught my attention. It was a black haired and skinned man, and he had a bullet wound in the abdomen. He was lashing out, I made to give him Anesthesia, after ordering Ulforce to restrain him. Then Doctor Cox was shouting at me.

"Don't bother Newbie, that's a Merchant. He has so much dope in him right now giving him that will either kill him or have no effect at all.

"Great so we'll do this the hard way," I muttered absently grabbing a clamp and getting to work.

I made to move on to my next patient after I had finished resuscitating the asian man, only to pause when I felt two of the Abomination carriers approaching. I turned around, and gave a sigh of relief as I noted that the first was Panacea... Although next to her had to be her polar opposite where Amy was short and could be easily missed, the person next to her demanded attention... Wait, that wasn't right, I had a work to do.

"The blonde one has something like Lilithmon's shtick," Ulforce muttered as he absently grabbed my next patient. He easily overpowered him as I prepared to remove the bullet, and hopefully save this human's life. "Not nearly as strong though," he confided to me.

In return I shot him a glare that said, "No shit, now focus," as I made to remove the bullet. I nearly growled when I felt one of the carriers approach, before depositing the bullet in a bowl.

I was putting stitches in his wound when a voice spoke up. "I haven't seen you here before."

"Victus, entertain her, and I'm new," I said, already moving onto the next bed, I felt Panacea flit from one bed the next. Any relief I felt at Panacea's appearance was drowned as I looked to the side and saw more beds entering just as fast as they were clearing out. This was going to be a long night.

I leaned against the entrance to the rooftop, and breathed heavily. I could make out the sun rising, still I looked down at my hands, they were clean, and not blood soaked, I had helped save lives, and that was something at least. I ignored the fact that two thirds of those people I saved had handcuffs put on them. My relaxation was cut off when I sensed a cape approach. I stood up and moved towards the railing to get a better view at the rising sun. I heard the door open behind me.

I felt the carrier pause once he or she caught sight of me. "You don't have to leave," I said, careful not to take my eyes off of the skyline...

"I wasn't going to," the carrier replied, her voice unsure before firming up as she spoke. It was Panacea, or Amy.

"Then come on and enjoy the view. You might as well get something nice before heading home to crash."

At this she tip-toed up beside me, and looked at the rising sun. She looked so tired, expression completely apathetic.

"You know, forgive me for being too forward, but you seem remarkably sad for someone who just ensured multiple people will live again."

She just smiled without any happiness. "Half of those were gangbangers who will probably be out within the month."

"And the other half are just regular people who will go back to living their lives, peacefully, I take the bad and the good."

"It never stops though," she muttered. turned to me "Today it was the Merchants; tomorrow, the ABB; then the E88. And heaven forbid we take one of them out, then it will just be someone new! Or…"

"Then why continue?" I countered, "You've sworn no oath, you're just a child practically. Nobody can force you to do this."

"I'm a Hero," she said as she looked me in the eye. "Doing this… It's what Heroes do."

"Heroes don't do things out of obligation though, they do it because they desire it. Had I wanted to I could have stayed in the slums of Athens, and probably been one of those criminals. Instead I decided I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to help people, and despite the odds, despite the fact that there were people better than me I clawed my way here, and I'm happy for it." I countered.

"Heroes do things because they want to, huh?" she asked, almost laughing at her own personal joke. "But aren't you a doctor?"

"I am, and I have the pleasure of knowing that somewhere a father and a mother will be coming home to their kids, if I didn't gain any satisfaction from this. You are not however a doctor, you're a teenage girl and trust me when I say it's a big world out there with plenty things that you can do to be a hero or to make a positive difference, without healing people." I finished

She turned away and I barely heard her whisper to the breeze, "Try telling that to everyone else."

More loudly she said to cover up what she thought I didn't hear, "But this is where I can do the most good."

"And if it makes you miserable to the point that you're questioning why you should do it, to the point you are talking to a person you've known less than half an hour, then you need to consider if it's really worth it. And whatever you decide, follow through on it. Now if you'll excuse me, I just realized I just left my brother alone for I don't know how long, and I should probably go find him before someone tries to kill him." She just nodded, face back to impenetrable apathy staring into the rising sun.

End 2.3: The Impression that I get Part 1