A quick note to the readers still out there waiting for updates - yes, this is a real update, and it's the one I've been meaning to write for the best part of a year. If I'd got off my lazy arse and written it back then, it would probably be remarkably similar to what it looks like now, so at least the interference of Real Life hasn't changed what you're seeing too much. There's probably two more chapters after this one, and I'd like to get them written soon. Watch this space!

Chapter 10: Big Trouble

Mary stared at the blank walls of her cell from the corner of the hard, narrow bed, and spent a few moments wondering if it would be worthwhile hammering her head against them. Someone had checked in on her twice since she'd been left here, and she guessed it was somewhere in the region of four or five in the morning. Apparently, the duty psychologist didn't start her shift until half eight, so she had a while to wait yet before they started examining the insides of her head.

The insides of her computer would another matter entirely. She was enough of a geek herself to be familiar with their usual working patterns, and at this time of night a virgin hard-drive with who knew what inside it would be better than SlashDot on a sugar-rush for the station's sweaty-looking tech. Mary wondered whether SueSlayer would make it easy for him - neat orderly directories of stories and death-footage all scrapbooked together - or if it'd be more cryptic, forcing the tech through a caffeine-fuelled marathon before he found something horrific, incriminating, or most likely both.

It didn't really matter though. Rearranging electrons was nothing for a power that could reorder reality; either way, she was in big trouble. You didn't need much imagination to
figure that out.

"I suppose you find this amusing," she shouted at the walls.

The walls didn't answer.

But SueSlayer did.

This? A little dull for my tastes, really. The voice could have been Mary's own, twisted into a whispering, sibilant mockery. But I suppose it passes the time. Do you want to know what they're saying about you? Oh, I know you do.

Mary carried on staring at the wall, which was now looking very tempting.

No? Then what about those lovely little authors you despised so much? Playing around with their comedic tragedies, thinking that simply Impressing a Pernese dragon would rid them of all of the deep-seated psychological traumas they'd thoughtlessly wished on their alter egos? The madness they invariably die from is really quite delicious, you know. Or I could tell you what DracoMagnet wished himself into? Ah, the details they get hung up on! Imagine thinking you needed to specify how between worked in order to enjoy the place?

"Let me guess. Cosmology 101 wasn't up to it?"

Hardly! It was exhausting containing the consequences to a single universe. Quite set me behind on my targets.

Was that... was that some sign of weakness? Mary decided to push harder - it was either that or let the bastard carry on monologuing like a cliched villain. "But you can rearrange time, space... if it was too taxing for you, why not just not bother?"

Silence.

"Hello? Slayer?"

Silence.

"You can't, can you?"

Mary waited, her mouth dry. Was this the answer she'd been looking for? Eventually, SueSlayer spoke again.

Mary, Mary, Mary. Do you really imagine that my undivided attention isn't up to any task that you or anyone else could devise for me? Try me, test me, if you dare doubt it. You want to, I can tell. Go on. Do it. You'll only make me stronger when you fail.

And with those words, Mary Sue knew exactly what it was that she had to do.