I opened my eyes. The Tinker device above my head raised and then sparked before going inert, the glowing lights fading and the machine drooping on its arm. Everything was still foggy, obscured in a haze.

Everything suddenly shook and heat overtook me, I tried to turn away, but I couldn't move. My limbs were like liquid and I could feel comfortable- if firm and unmoving- restraints tied around them, keeping me in place. With no glasses on my fave everything was blurry, but I could make out voices coming closer.

"So, who's going to- ah!"

"Hm, still in control?"

"Fuck you, asshole!"

"Disappointing, but Weaver was- from what I hear- a force of nature. Jason! George! How's the security looking?"

"Undersiders have been woken up," a voice reported.

"Hm, seems we found out what Defiant was up to. Didn't you promise you could keep them contained Cranial?"

"I said I could try. As you'll recall, you never told me we were working against Dragon!"

"Operational security. Metallurgy, you stay near the front, if Bitch sends her dogs at us, you are the distraction."

A deep gruff voice spoke next, "and you'll get me out if they catch me?"

"But of course, I'm a man of my word."

"Then I'm your guy."

"Smear, leave a trail behind us and detonate it when we leave."

The next voice was high and girly, "wait, but that will kill-"

"That's the point, we're lucky we've been able to block them from contacting the Wardens, I'd prefer to keep my wildcard as secret as possible."

"Fuck you, I didn't sign up for that!"

"A shame, Jason, George, hold her."

"What- Get the fuck off me! What are you doing you-"

Here was then a second of silence followed by a man's sigh and footsteps. A man stood over me and produced something from his pocket, lowering it onto my face. My vision sharpened as the glasses were affixed and I was staring up into an ugly face. Teacher. I was already instinctually gathering bugs, but the only ones I could feel were outside the facility, the entire facility kept sterile, no bugs even on the people. It made me feel more exposed than I had ever felt before.

"I believe these are yours dear," he said before shaking his head, looking at something I couldn't see. "So hard to get good help these days."

He stood straight and barked, "Jason! George! You're on pushing duty. Smear, leave a trail."

The girly voice again, except this time with none of the bite to it, "yes sir."

"Any more complaints?"

Silence.

"Perfect."

Two men in white clothing appeared at either side and then the ceiling was moving. I opened my mouth and tried to talk, just to do anything.

"W… warrrrrrrrgh," was all that came out.

I frowned and tried again, trying hard to form the words I knew I could make, eve as I realized how foreign my mouth felt.

"Wyaaaaam."

"Talks funny." Spoke that gruff voice again and I let my head flop toward the source, seeing a large man running with us, no armour on him, just wearing a black vest and cargo pants that jingled with every step.

"I would prefer if she couldn't talk at all," Teacher said, his voice tense, "hurry!"

We were rolling past facilities now, labs and work rooms with machinery and cowering staff, there were no fires weirdly, despite the destruction we were rolling through. I was expecting to see fires, it seemed like they had gone out of their way to avoid them.

Then we stopped, I could feel the floor vibrating.

Metallurgy barley had the time to ask, "what's that?" when I heard the sound of a wall collapsing followed by a familiar snarling and familiar voices shouting.

"Let her go!"

"Dragon now!"

I felt something wet hitting my face and then I was soaked, I struggled to breath for a moment before the water above me stopped and I blinked it out of my eyes. The sprinklers on the roof had activated, but the one directly above me had shut off.

"Metallurgy, you're up!"

"Okay, boss man."

Teacher came to a stop beside me and looked up. He pulled my bed away from that sprinkler and under another, watching as that sprinkler turned off and the other turned back on, then grinned. "Smear, stay near Weaver here, seems the robot doesn't want her surrogate daughter wet. We'll cut through the staff housing."

"Yes sir."

Teacher left and the cart started moving again, a new figure coming up beside me. She was short and covered in tactical looking gear, a gas mask on her face with glowing blue eyes, blonde hair spilling out. She moved similarly to the white clothed people pushing me, like a puppet on strings rather than naturally.

We brushed against a wall and she lifted her hand, trailing it along. A smear coloured aqua was left in its wake. We moved away and then there was an explosion, heat washing over me once more. We moved through the newly created hole.

I focused on the bugs again, the climate outside was cold. Not a pole, but nearer the northern areas, trees informed me we were in the middle of a forest. The facility we were in was mostly above the surface, there was a road on one side. I tried to find the entrance their but was only met with a sealed metal door. In fact, the entire facility seemed cut off from the outside.

I saw cowering people now, we were blasting through housing it seemed, bedrooms and common rooms, breezing past a cafeteria full of cowering people.

"Cranial, where do we go now?"

"Uh… left corridor, stairs."

"Stairs?"

"Hm… there is a garage to the right with loading ramps, we could have Hercules meet us there."

"Will have to do."

I went looking for this garage with my bugs and we turned right and started heading toward it. I couldn't feel any entrance that side, I guessed the entire facility was on lockdown, why they thought they could walk away with me I didn't know.

I did however find a vehicle with a man inside in costume, the vehicle was like nothing I recognised, and so I decided this was Hercules and he was Tinker. With nothing to do I had bugs descend upon him and his car, ramming their bodies into a spinning opening on its surface with a fan. I must have been doing something right as my bugs felt rising heat and shudders run through the vehicle.

More walls were blasted, and we continued through the staff housing. Then gun fire broke out, one of the white clothed people went down, his head snapping back as he collapsed.

An intercom buzzed on and a female voice suddenly shouted, "cease fire! Cease fire! Khepri in the firing line! Stand down!"

The gun fire stopped, and Teacher reappeared, his smile strained even as he straightened his clothes. "Best let us past boys!" he called out.

"Orders, ma'am?"

"Call them off, Dragon! You have everything to lose! And I nothing at all!" Teacher emphasised his point by snapping his fingers, the remaining white clothed man produced a gun and held it, threat clear.

I hated feeling helpless, but there was nothing I could do, my body was barley responding to me and my bugs were distant from me.

"Teacher, you are breaking treaties by being here, I won't even get started on the laws. Surrender and we can resolve this peacefully."

"I'm afraid not my dear," Teacher said, "Now boys, we're going to move past you."

"Ma'am?"

"Stand down," Dragon said, though she sounded pained to do so.

"Good girl, now Dragon, we're going to be allowed to leave here, with your… whatever she is to you. Either I win today, or no one does." Teacher looked to the man in white, "though I'm not completely heartless, I'll leave you Cranial."

"What-"

A gunshot followed by screaming, I heard someone collapse nearby.

"Argh! You son of a bitch!"

"George, let's go."

"If I open the security doors, will you stop blowing holes through the walls?" Dragon's voice asked.

I saw people in black armour nearby, clutching guns tightly and watching as we passed by.

"What game are you playing Dragon? You realise I'm going to detonate this facility?"

"And you realise I'm going to stop you."

Teacher smiled, "of course my dear, of course." His voice was condescending, as if speaking to a child. He pulled Smear close and murmured something to her, then gave a hand signal, George beginning to push the cart once again.

The explosions didn't start again, and things were calm. As calm as they could be as I heard Teacher panting, George grunting as he continued to push my cart unassisted. Smear was out of sight, but I could hear the sound of liquid informing me she was trailing behind. Leaving a trail of that explosive aqua liquid. The corridors were quiet and empty, I could hear people shouting and doors slamming shut. The corridor walls interspaced with doors, sometimes glass windows set into the doors that faces would peer out of, terrified as they watched us pass.

How big was this facility? Deep from what I could tell with my worms, and on the surface, it felt like a big dome. It was at least within my sphere of influence, though only just, and as we made progress towards one side of it I could feel the loss of connection to my bugs on the other side. The bugs here felt weird, different, we weren't on Earth Bet, but then, where were we?

Something I couldn't answer for now, but that left me dwelling on how useless I currently was. Without my bugs and tied down, I couldn't see anything happening. Were the Undersiders okay? Was Defiant?

We passed under a metal security door, I caught glimpse of a camera watching as we passed by, its lens zooming in. There was a metal thud and then Teacher laughed.

"Oh Dragon, I saw this coming from a mile away."

What was happening?

"Yet you still walked into it. Surrender, Teacher."

"No." Teacher's voice moved away and he screamed "Smear! Detonate!"

"She can't hear your though that doo-"

Heat rushed over me, I felt my bed lifting and tumbling, things were hitting me and I was helpless. My ears were ringing, and my glasses were cracked, yet somehow still on my face, not that that helped with my vision blurring anyway, my head aching. My bed shook and then rolled before coming to a gentle stop near a wall. I felt the need to vomit but forced myself to not, because being unable to move I worried I would choke.

"George!? Metallurgy!? Smear!?" I heard a voice shout as the ringing died down, I turned my head to see a figure stumbling about, there were others as well, not moving on the ground or slowly recovering. It seemed we had fallen several levels deeper into another cafeteria, evidence of a kitchen as well with a destroyed oven and knocked over freezer. Water was spraying and fires were raging, an alarm was going off somewhere. It was chaos.

"That was more powerful than I thought," the moving figure I realised was Teacher stated before reaching down and touching another figure on the floor, "you, get up and help me."

"Taylor?" I heard a hoarse whisper from nearby, a familiar voice, was that my father?

"Come on! One of you has to be working!" Teacher shouted.

I tried turning my head in that direction, I could see a figure on the ground, my vision sharpening slowly until I recognised my Dad's figure, still on the ground. I started to struggle against my restraints, more power having returned to my limbs. Not enough however, I was still unable to do anything.

"Argh! Do I have to do everything!?" Teacher shouted as the people around him failed to stand. My struggling had created noise, noise enough to attract Teacher's attention, marching toward me and reaching forward, "Weaver, be a dear and-"

"Get away from my daughter you bastard!"

Teacher screamed and turned, throwing his arm out. I saw the knife sticking out the back of his shoulder and I saw my dad. He was paler than I remembered, and even skinnier than I could remember seeing him. Bags under his eyes and a snarl on his face.

Teacher's arm smacked him down.

"How dare you!" Teacher shouted reaching forward, "you can join your daughter then!"

I tried to move anything I could reach, but this facility was sterile, and the bugs outside couldn't find an entry point to get in. My limbs were still strapped down, not that I could move them more then a few inches.

I was helpless as Teacher's hand touched my father's shoulder and my father's struggling ceased. Teacher pulled away, putting a hand to the knife wound with a hiss.

"There, I'm not without mercy, a perfect power to work with your daughter's." Teach turned, his glasses obscuring his eyes as he grinned at me with a manic grin. The manic look reminded me of Panacea exposed to the full effect of the Simurgh's song in the simulation.

"You now," he said, reaching again for me.

I could feel the tears rolling down my face, my father had just been enthralled to a madman, and I was about to join him. I didn't want that, I knew I'd be used to do awful things again, and I didn't want to. Bugs? Still outside, my body? Useless and tied down. The Undersiders? Dealing with the other capes.

"NO!"

It was a primal roar, one I had never heard my father make before, I hadn't known my dad could make such a noise. I didn't have long to contemplate as my dad jumped to his feet, face twisted in a complicated expression of both horror and rage.

Teacher collapsed forward, his head smacking with a wet crack on the metal railing of my bed, not that it could do more damage than the brick my dad had slammed into the back of his head would had done.

My dad dropped the brick, looking down at the body with wide eyes, his hands started shaking as he brought them up, tears were beginning to leak from his eyes.

"What have I done?" he asked, hands going to his hair, "oh god, what did I do?!"

My dad started hitting himself, smacking himself in the face and sobbing. That's when a giant mutant dog I didn't recognise burst into the scene, my friends hopping off and running forward.

"Shit! Grue! Stop him, he's been mastered!" Tattletale shouted pointing at my dad.

Grue came up and forcefully grabbed my dad's arms, stopping him from attacking himself as he cried in anguish, just like at mom's funeral…

"Taylor! Oh, thank fuck," Tattletale let out a long breathe as she looked down at me.

Together she and Bitch started undoing my restraints, then Bitch lifted me into her arms in a princess carry.

I opened my mouth to protest but Tattletale silence me with a look.

"Taylor, you can't even move," she spoke at me flatly.

"Unnnnnnngh," I said, then frowned and tried again, "U…nnnnnnnnngah!"

Tattletale frowned at me, "that's a problem, but we need to focus on other things right now. Teacher-"

"Is dead!" my dad cried, "dead dead dead! I killed him! Why did I kill him! Oh god!"

Tattletale grimaced, glancing at my father then looking at the floor, where Teacher lay motionless, "fuck, that's one problem for another then. Classic self-defence case of course, but your dad will need a lot of therapy."

I wanted to reach out and touch him, hug him, cry with him.

I also felt weak again, I tried to fight it.

"Okay, we need to re-establish communications and talk to the Wardens," Tattletale grimaced even as she talked to herself, "they need to be informed-"

"Why? They don't need to know," Imp said, crossing her arms.

"Teacher is dead, that's important, who knows what failsafe's he had in place, dead man switches?" Tattletale shook her head, "they'll investigate anyway, with communication from Earth Dracheheim cut off. They can provide aid we need, we need to get Taylor to a hospital and…"

Things were fading fast, parts of me shutting down without my consent.

"… Wardens… react… -old Morn-… -orgive?"

"I… but… try… mess…"

Everything faded.

~§~

Things were fading back in again, but I wasn't… sure? I wasn't sure of anything.

"Fascinating work, definitely Panacea's doing."

"Is she safe?"

"Of course, her Corona Pollentia is in its original configuration, I can barely see any signs of damage! Of course, Panacea couldn't repair whatever memories were lost from the damage."

"Then let's throw her in a cell and-"

"No."

"Hellhound, you're not even supposed to be here-"

"I'm not leaving, you're not doing anything with her."

"Yeah, you're gonna find a lot of resistance with that one, Cinereal."

"Tattletale, you've lost a lot of good will recently with this whole fiasco you've created!"

"I see why they sent you now, Khepri probably can't control you, she couldn't Dragon afterall. Way to be thrown under the bus-"

"Tattletale! Not helping."

"Right, anyway, Taylor saved the world, a bit of gratitude could be nice."

"Gratitude? Gratitude!? Should I show Heartbreaker gratitude? Teacher? She represents why Masters are so dangerous! She did inhumane things and her 'victory' was a fluke, pure and simple. She's a criminal and nothing you say can changes that."

"Mm, yeah, your mind is pretty set on that, without me around Taylor wouldn't stand a chance. Luckily, I'm here."

"If you two are finished with whatever this is, I'm going to finish up here."

"Thank you, Riley, I can show you to your quarters where you'll be able to rest."

"Aw Dragon! Thanks!"

"Why don't we move this somewhere else Cinereal? Bitch, stay with Taylor."

"Gonna do it anyway."

It all faded.

~§~

I bolted upright, feeling sweat clinging to my body and breathing heavy.

"Wargh," I said, then frowned at my lack of articulated words.

The lights flicked on and I realised I didn't have my glasses on, though I quickly spotted them on a side table, putting them on. Looking around I saw I was in a cosy looking hospital room. Lines fed into my arm, IV drips and devices monitoring my health. There was a window on the wall, showing a snowy landscape with trees and a mountain range off in the distance and a frozen over lake completing the scene.

"Taylor, it's good to see your awake! How are you feeling?" A voice spoke from the ceiling. I looked up, spotting a camera turning to look at me. So like the Warden's head…

It was Dragon, I had to remind myself the voice was Dragon's. We'd made it out…

We'd made it out!

My shoulders relaxed.

"Drargh," I frowned and tried again, "Drag…urnnnnn!"

"Hm, that's an issue. Let's see."

A device powered up next to me and a screen flicked on with a display and a keyboard.

I recognised the letters and started typing, scowling in frustration at how long it took me to remember where the letters went to formulate words.

DRAGON

"So, you can type at least, that's good."

WHATS WRONG WITH ME?

"It's normal to forget things after a coma, so it could just be a case of waiting. But you have sustained some severe brain damage Taylor, this may be a symptom of that."

HOW LO

I deleted that message and asked something more important.

MY DAD?

Dragon was silent for several seconds, which just filled me with more dread.

"He… he has been sent to a special facility, he is treatable, and he will recover eventually, but it will take time. What he did though was incredible, and it was to save you, Taylor. How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?"

My left arm did, which reminded me of unpleasant memories as I looked down at my new intact right arm.

LEFT ARM ACHES

"Hm, I'm seeing no signs of damage on my end. Possibly psychogenic? The Undersiders did say… hm, that will require my investigation. Sorry Taylor, do you want some pain killers?"

NO

"Okay, a doctor is on the way as well," Dragon paused for a moment before continuing, "also the Undersiders, they're eager to see you."

HOW ARE THEY?

"Tattletale has been very busy fighting for you and they have all been worried about you-"

FIGHTING FOR ME?

Dragon was silent for a moment before saying, "that can be left for later Taylor."

WHAT DO YOU MEA-

"Right! Let's see the patient!"

The light from the window was cut off as bugs swarmed it, trying to get in, trying to assist me. Bonesaw was in the door, I quickly assessed my exits even as I looked around for a weapon, anything to arm myself against the Slaughter House member.

"Oh! Been a while since I had this reaction!"

"Riley, you're not helping!" A familiar voice shouted and then Lisa was in the doorway, dark bags under her eyes and a bedraggled appearance. She rushed over to me and grabbed my shoulders, forcing my eyes away from Bonesaw to her.

"Taylor, calm down, she's not a threat okay?" Lisa soothed, her voice calming as I let myself relax, "there's a lot you might not remember, but she's good now, she goes by Riley now and she's proven herself countless times. Remember Dr Efficients lair? I told you she was a good guy now there, remember that! We're here as well, all the Undersiders."

"Taylor!" Rachel's voice barked out and I looked at her only to blink as a dog was placed in my lap.

I blinked, looking at the puppy on my lap which blinked up at me before yawning widely and curling up on my lap. I raised a hand and let it settle in its fur, stroking the soft fur and feeling the warmth of the animal.

"Oh, that works as well," Lisa sighed before smiling at Rachel, "good thinking."

Rachel just shrugged, "dogs solve everything." She looked at me and spoke again, "his name is Max, he's a golden retriever, only a week old so he'll be asleep a lot. I'll help you train him."

There was a cough from the door, and I was reminded that Bonesa… Riley was still there. I was still having a hard time trying to be calm with her in the same room, and she seemed to pick up on my discomfort as she scuffed her foot on the floor, arms behind her back.

"Should I come back later?"

Lisa grimaced, "I think that would be wise."

"Okay," the girl seemed very subdued as she left and I almost felt bad… except… she had been a mass murderer, should I feel bad?

"You don't have to forgive her, but she is the best person to look at you right now."

I blinked before reaching over for the keyboard as Dragon spoke up.

"I apologise, I should have realised-"

WHAT ABOUT PANACEA?

Lisa grimaced and Rachel scowled.

"She fucked up," Rachel said.

"Yeah, she's not very popular with anyone at the moment," Lisa stated, "and honestly I'd prefer she be as far from you as possible."

"Heyo! I heard the boss has finally stopped slacking off!" Aisha whooped as she stepped into the room, Brian following a moment later.

"It's good to see you," was all Brain said with a nod, though he seemed content to melt into the background.

Aisha flopped down into a chair beside my bed, reaching over to scratch the puppy's head. It was comforting to see my team around me. I could pick out the changes, we were all older now and I could pick out the new scars I didn't remember on my friend's skins.

"How you feeling, Tay-Tay?"

I frowned at her and began typing.

DON'T CALL ME THAT

"Oh wow, going the full Stephen Hawking approach I see."

"Oh my god Aisha, you can't say that," Brian admonished.

"Can't I? How's it offensive?"

"Maybe you've missed less than I thought," Lisa sighed.

LISA DRAGON SAID YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR ME WHAT IS THE SITUA-

"I'm going to stop you right there," Lisa interrupted, taking my keyboard away from me much to my displeasure. Though it left under Lisa's glare, "this is the sort of attitude that got you into this situation in the first place! You have been in a coma for three fucking years and you have then been in a messed-up simulation. Just. Relax!" She jabbed me in the chest.

I glared back.

The room was silent except for the beep of machinery.

There was a yip and then I looked down at the puppy as it licked my hand. I let out a long breathe and gently stroked its head.

"I mean, I'm one hundred percent on your side," Aisha said, gesturing at Lisa, "but it does kind of… heavily involve and affect her? So, I feel like this time, she should at least know."

Lisa pursed her lips.

"Just say it." Rachel bluntly spoke, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall.

"Fine. But Taylor, there is nothing you can do about what I'm going to tell you okay?" She looked at me for a moment before starting.

"The Wardens know about your… being aliveness. We had to contact them to help with the whole… Teacher fiasco, and we needed their support, because Teacher had deadman switches which are causing some chaos right now. One of which was publicising both your being alive and your role in Gold Morning. So, for better or worse, everyone knows who you are and what you did."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach and Lisa sighed, closing her dead eyes and rubbing her forehead, "this is why I didn't want to tell you this."

"She'd find out anyway," Aisha pointed out.

"Anyway, there's… A lot of capes want to put you on trial, there are only a few who don't. Whereas a lot of the public want a statue of you, because Teacher's documents were… very unflattering to the cape community, he emphasised the infighting and separation of Gold Morning and bigged you up as the sole reason we won that day. The Wardens are deciding what to do and I'd like to think they sent Cinereal because they weren't sure if you had your mind control powers still and they wanted her around because Khepri can't control robots- Cinereal being a robot is a different thread we don't have time to cover right now," she dodged my question.

She took a deep breathe, "But more likely I think they sent her because she really doesn't like you- don't take it personally she hates everyone, literally. They want a negative report back, so they can better justify throwing you into a cell. Currently I am arguing your case via video. Though in two weeks there's going to be a trial, so me and Dragon have been gearing up for that."

That was a lot to take in, the puppy on my lap stretching out and nuzzling into my hand again because I'd stopped stroking.

"Happy now? Cured your innate need to get involved in everything?" Lisa asked rhetorically.

I didn't answer, trying to think things over in my head. Trial? I was going to be put on trial? For something that was only a vague hazy memory in my mind? Being woken up only to be thrown into prison?

"Lisa," Brian said quietly, "pull back."

Lisa ran her palms along her face.

"Sorry, it's hard work right now, and I would have preferred you to not be involved or even know for a bit longer," Lisa shook her head and looked at me with a face of tired acceptance. "But… I should of known better from you, can't let anything lie, huh?"

"Pot, meet kettle." Aisha said before grinning at the glare she received back, "she's not changed much at all then," Aisha shrugged, "which is good."

A comfortable silence settled amongst us before I gestured at Lisa, specifically the keyboard she was still withholding from me. She handed it back with a warning look to which I rolled my eyes back.

I THINK I CAN SEE THE 'DOCTOR' NOW

I paused for a moment and pursed my lips, not sure how to say what I wanted to say. Of course, Lisa had me covered.

"We'll stay with you!" she said, making it sound like a causal suggestion that she came up with and cleverly hiding her recovering dead eyes behind clapping her hands. I just nodded in acceptance.

"I'll send for her again," Dragon spoke, thinking of Dragon reminded me, however.

HOW IS DEFIANT?

"Grumpy, he doesn't like the Wardens poking through his stuff," Dragon reported from the roof before then muttering, "neither do I now that I mention it."

AND ALEC? I REMEMBER YOU SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE FOR HIM?

Lisa grimaced, rocking her hand from side to side.

"Probably. It's still really new technology, but Cinereal is walking around amongst us. Speaking of, Dragon?"

"Yes Lisa?"

"Cinereal, have you told her about Taylor being awake?"

"I am under orders to inform her of the moment Taylor wakes… but it appears her communications device is experiencing interference and cannot be contacted at this time."

The Undersiders all adopted amused expressions, even Brian who had been a blank slate for the majority of the get together.

"What a shame, oh well," Lisa shrugged.

"Wow, is that the old Lisa coming through?" Aisha asked in a teasing voice, resting her head on a fist as she planted an elbow on my bed, leaning toward Lisa with a smirk.

Lisa rolled her eyes back "Oh, for sure."

"Burning up a lot of that goodwill you were building," Brian pointed out with a tilt of his head.

Lisa just shrugged before turning back to me, "Alec will be sorted after we have your situation sorted."

"You called for me again?" Riley said from the doorway, hands behind her back likely trying her best to appear non-threatening. It would never work for me because I could avidly remember the time she tried to cut into my forehead and made Brian a fridge. I saw that Brian clearly remembered as well as he shifted uncomfortably, eyes staying fixed on the girl as smoke began to wisp off him.

"Yeah, Taylor's up for an examination," Lisa said.

"Perfect! It's a bit invasive but you won't feel a thing!" Riley exclaimed with a grin that nearly made me vomit.

Brian quietly left the room exactly at the point where Riley opened my skull, with me still fully conscious and listening to the awful sounds as Riley looked over my brain.

I wished I could join him.

~§~

The time with my teammates was nice, but Cinereal had to be informed at some point.

I couldn't take my eyes off Cinereal, she put me at unease, made my bugs swarm unconsciously, the spiders start spinning silk. She looked like she normally did, there was of course a costume change, but for the most part she looked the exact same from what I remembered from my old Ward days in the brief times I had seen her.

She didn't even look odd when she moved. But then she'd move to fast and she would flicker, the projection going faster then the Tinker tech machine below her could keep up with. Some of her movements was weird, too… something… I wasn't sure how to describe it…

Also, the glare she would fix me with whenever she looked at me were pretty concerning. But I appreciated her up front-ness rather than hiding behind pretty words and closed doors. She was up front about her dislike of me.

"This is Cinereal, interviewing the subject 'Khepri'."

"We'd prefer Taylor," Tattletale said from beside me, arms crossed and an unimpressed look on her face.

Cinereal glared at Tattletale and spoke through grit teeth, "due to subjects' impairment, an interpreter is with us. Lisa Welbourne also known as 'Tattletale'."

"Hello, she has a keyboard, I'm just here to make sure she's treated fairly," Tattletale leaned back, crossing her legs.

Cinereal continued as if she hasn't been interrupted.

"Subjects answers will be recorded in a text format due to her condition. This interview is taking place before subjects' trial for using a Master power on five thousand, two hundred and twelve individual capes. Additionally, the subject is charged with second degree murder of all capes under her power who perished."

"The 'interpreter' would like to point out that without the 'subject'," Tattletale used quotation marks with her fingers, "that the interviewer, interpreter and interviewee would not be present to have the current conversation, nor would a trial be possible."

"Noted," Cinereal growled.

Stroking Max's fur was a comfort, but it didn't stop the words from washing over me and spin around my head. How the fuck was I going to not be thrown in a prison cell, with charges like that? People had been birdcaged for far less.

"Now, I have some questions, bear in mind that any answers you give now could be used against you later." She tapped on her screen in front of her and looked up, "were you aware of what you were doing at the events of twenty-fourth of June, twenty-thirteen?"

Was I aware of that date? I frowned as I tried to think before Lisa leaned over and whispered.

"She means Gold Morning, day your power was modified."

I nodded and looked down, typing out my answer.

THAT EVENT IS VERY BLURRY AND HARD TO REMEMBER. FROM EVENTS I DO REMEMBER HOWEVER, I WAS AWARE OF MY ACTIONS IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THIS DETERIATED AS TIME WENT ON.

Cinereal nodded, "next question. Do you recall the events after the twenty-fourth of June, twenty-thirteen?"

That was easier.

NO.

Cinereal frowned but continued.

"Did you coerce Panacea to modify your power?"

NO, I ASKED.

"What motivated you to Master five thousand capes?"

NO ONE WAS WORKING TOGETHER, I MADE EVERYONE WORK TOGETHER. NO TIME FOR PETTY SQUABBLES WHEN FACING EXTINCTION.

"What gave you the right to choose who lived and who died?"

NOTHING, I TRIED TO MINIMISE LOSSES WHERE I COULD, BUT WINNING WITHOUT SACRFICE WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

Cinereal didn't give anything away about my answer as it was recorded, but when she looked at the next question she sneered before schooling her expression.

"Was it your intent to sacrifice yourself?"

Had it been?

I DON'T KNOW.

"Were you, prior to the events of the twenty-fourth of June, twenty-thirteen, exposed to or in the vicinity of the Simurgh for longer than the time recommended by the Protectorate and PRT?"

That was a foggy memory, but there was something vaguely there.

I THINK SO, I CANNOT SAY FOR SURE.

"I can. We were in the vicinity of the Simurgh prior to the events of Gold Moring. However, so were many other capes and I saw no signs of manipulation with my power," Tattletale cut in.

"Can you be sure of that?" Cinereal asked, looking at Tattletale.

"A moderate amount, yes," Tattletale shrugged, "any manipulation was likely much longer term."

"You realise this is all being recorded yes?"

"Yes."

Cinereal narrowed her eyes and there was a tense silence for several moment s before she continued again.

"Do you have any intensions to use your Master power again?"

I went to answer when Tattletale cut in.

"That's a very unspecific question, because Taylor's power is to Master bugs, so yes she going to use that again because she cannot turn it off. If you're talking about Khepri's power, then the answer is also no because she has no access to that power."

"Answer the question."

"Only when you specify which power. The one she currently has that she can only use on bugs, or the one she doesn't have she can only use on people?"

Cinereal jaw set, her fists tightening for a moment before she growled out, "the human master power."

That was easy enough to answer.

NO

Cinereal flicked her finger on her screen and I asked.

HOW MANY QUESTIONS ARE THERE?

Cinereal glanced up at me before back to the screen.

"Many."

I sighed.

~§~

Thankfully, I could still read at least.

Unfortunately, it was a blow to learn that most of the internet and literature was gone. Aisha had been upset about all the Cape-fiction she had been following being lost, I was upset at the loss of Shakespeare and other such works.

So, what this meant was that when Dragon said she had some 'stories saved into her archives that she liked reading' it was mostly full of sci-fi stories involving A.I. Sci-fi had never been my favourite topic, but it had been two days and I'd read through half of the collection already and I was having a good time.

The reason I was still bed ridden when Riley could easily make some concoction to combat the muscle atrophy I was suffering from was for an image Lisa wanted to sell at my trial. She said that a lot of the post Gold Morning Capes were starting to rally support for me and that a few of the pre-Gold Morning capes would be happy enough seeing me so effectively crippled. I had been pretty exhausted when she explained it to me.

I was enjoying peace and quiet though, after several days of non-stop action. I could see the appeal in why Brian liked to stay in the background honestly, it felt as if something was different about my power too, but I wasn't sure. Maybe a memory thing.

Max had stayed with me the entire time as well, Rachel coming in to either take him away for bathroom breaks or food. I had never had a pet before, not even the snail I had once claimed was my pet when I had shown it to my mom after finding it in the garden. It had to be a tearful goodbye to Mr Shell when my mom told me that I couldn't just remove him from his habitat. I was anxious, because I didn't want to disappoint Rachel, but she said she'd help me, so there was some comfort there.

My peace and quiet was interrupted by the door to my room opening and a manically grinning Aisha coming in, rubbing her hands together.

"Oh, you're gonna love this!" she exclaimed.

She was followed by a man with many parts of him replaced with metal, I tried to think why he looked familiar until I placed him.

Colin!

This was the first time I had seen the man since waking up. He was part man, mostly machine. He had a fully developed beard however rather then that ridiculous goatee he'd had in the simulation.

"Taylor," he smiled at me, "sorry to be away so long, several things required my attention. However, I was able to make something useful for you. It is a modified mobility devic-"

"He made you a Tinker wheelchair!" Aisha exclaimed with a grin.

Colin rolled his eyes, but the smile remained, "yes, I made you a Tinker wheelchair."

That drew my eyes to the thing he was wheeling forward. It did look like an ordinary wheelchair, no hints to its supposed Tinker knowledge.

I grabbed my keyboard and typed.

THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU COLIN?

Colin smiled, crossing his arms. "Tired, I've just been working on several projects with no break. I have Alec successfully isolated from the system which is a good first step to have done by this point. I have worked to improve security and-"

"Yeah yeah, real interesting," Aisha interrupted, hopping in front of the man and taking up my line of sight, "get in the chair!"

Colin leaned to the side so he could roll his eyes at me but wheeled the chair closer, up to my bedside.

"Would you like some assistance?" Colin asked.

I nodded and handed Max to Aisha who carefully took him despite the excitement making her body vibrate. I lifted my covers- thankful I was wearing a hospital gown- and Colin easily lifted me before depositing me into the chair. Aisha passed Max back onto my lap and I stroked his fur as Colin spoke.

"You'll find a few buttons, this one will bring up the joystick to allow you to drive yourself around, the battery has a twenty-four-hour lifespan and can be charged in any electrical outlet. This button with the stair's icon can be pressed to traverse stairs, this button will produce a holographic screen that you can use to type, the words are then produced from these speakers here and here."

I experimentally grabbed the joystick and did a few movements, able to spin on the spot and then drive forward and back.

"If you disable the joystick system this allows someone else to push you around, which-"

"Well Taylor, I am honoured you would choose me!" Aisha exclaimed as she pressed the button and then slid behind the chair.

I snorted and rolled my eyes at Colin, the pair of us sharing a knowing look before Aisha began to push.

"Now, let's go find someone to torment by threatening to run them over."

Aisha was quick with pushing me through the corridor, Colin easily keeping pace with long strides.

"Do you think we can bother Cinereal?" Aisha asked rhetorically.

"Very easily," Colin commented, "she has only worsened after becoming a spirit. I'd recommend against it."

Aisha smirked, "that wasn't a direct no~."

Colin glanced at her before looking away, was he hiding a slight quirk to his lips?

I pressed the keyboard and started typing.

CAN WE GO OUTSIDE?

The two changed direction instantly, going down a different corridor. I was looking at the details, there were signs indicating these were laboratories and work rooms, sometimes I was able to glimpse details through slightly open doors or windows set into them. Machines working with metal, a device that looked like a satellite being worked on by people in full hazmat-like suits. I was so preoccupied that I had to be startled from my looking by Aisha poking my shoulder.

"Wow, she has been cooped up in that room far too long," Aisha said to Colin before looking back down at me, "it's a bit cold outside, so just say and we can go back in if it's too much."

Aisha was not lying. It was cold, my breath coming out as a mist. I pulled Max closer to me, hoping to both leech his warmth and share it. It was delightful to feel against my skin, after days of the same bed sheets and the same perfectly controlled climate, it was refreshing. The air tasted fresh and the wind sent a chill through my body. Pieces of snow fell to the ground in little flecks, one coming down and landing on Max's nose, making him sneeze.

It was good, tranquil.

It was real.

I decided to head back in soon afterward, not because I wanted to, but Max was beginning to shiver in my grip and I knew I was shivering. But going back in we were met with crossed arms and a disapproving stare of Cinereal and what looked like a team of capes behind her, gathered and looking ready for a fight.

"Why was I not informed the prisoner was being moved?" Cinereal asked, voice clipped, clearly expecting an answer.

I noticed a lot of malice filled looks were being sent form the capes behind her, only from the people wearing a little gold badge on their costumes.

"She's not a prisoner," Aisha pointed out, "and we can do what we want."

Cinereal sneered, "she is a criminal awaiting trial, I am to be informed of all her movements. What if while you were out frolicking amongst the flowers, she incapacitated you with spider silk and made off in this… unauthorised Tinker wheelchair," she growled the last part, glaring at Colin.

I saw Colin's fist clench before he stepped forward, "I will remind you that you are guests here, we are only allowing you to stay because we choose to. If you do not like how me and Dragon run our facility, then you can take that up with us. You are here to represent the Wardens and so far, it has not been a particularly flattering representation."

Cinereal's ire turned upon Colin, "I don't like your tone, Defiant."

"Tough."

"You agreed to cooperate with the Wardens-"

"Aisha, take Taylor away please. It appears me and Cinereal need to have a talk," he crossed his arms with a glower, seemingly unafraid on Cinereal or her group of capes, "A long talk."

"Come on Taylor, let's see if we can bother someone who's fun to bother!" Aisha said enthusiastically, wheeling me away.

I felt Cinereal's and the capes glares on my back the entire way.

~§~

The trial date was moved up, throwing Lisa, Colin and Dragon's plans into disarray. They would enter my room just to ask a question of me before then darting away, Lisa's eyes had grown deeper bags and Colin's face seemed to be set in a perpetual frown.

Aisha, Brian and Rachel tried to distract me whenever they could.

Aisha liked to come in and talk to me about goings ons, pranks she'd pulled, sometimes she'd even bring games and we would play them together, whether they were board, card or digital. Brian liked to come in and just sit with me, sometimes we'd talk, sometimes we'd just sit in a peaceful silence. Rachel would come in and take me out in the wheelchair, walking around with her dogs or telling me tips for Max and how best to train him.

I would like to claim that I wasn't worried about the trial, but I was. All too soon the day was upon me. I was fascinated by Dragon's synthetic body, so much so that Dragon spent 10 minutes letting me look it all over and showing how realistic it was. I was dressed into some clothes-

("None of your original clothes survived, and even then, they wouldn't fit you anymore. Just be glad I know what I'm doing," Lisa winked at me.)

-and wheeled into a Dragon craft built for comfort, barely feeling it take off. I was sat by the window and watched as the landscape passed by below. Seeing the portal was fascinating, the massive glowing spiral with a road going in one side but not coming out the other, surrounded by what looked like a border crossing station.

We flew through it with no problems and the landscape changed. It was hard to describe it all. Lisa and Aisha bantered back and forth most of the ride, with Colin occasionally joining in from the cockpit. It was a nice distraction, but when we started passing over The City, and the Warden HQ loomed in the distance, it wasn't as effective and became strained, slightly forced.

The touchdown was smooth enough that if I hadn't been looking out the window, I wouldn't have realised we had.

"Okay, Taylor, try to look a bit sicklier," Lisa instructed.

I turned to her with a raised eyebrow and she flashed a thumbs up at me, "just like that!"

I was pushed forward by Rachel, along the windy roof and then into the warm interior of the Warden HQ. We were met by a cape escort, who were shooting me suspicious looks, again they all had the golden badge somewhere on their costume.

The inside of the Warden HQ wasn't that dissimilar from the PRTHQ in Brockton, except more glass in the offices, allowing me to see the people working inside. They could see us as well, as when they spotted me, they would turn to a colleague and start whispering and talking, glancing at our group or just staring at me.

We passed more capes as well, the ones with the badges shot me hateful, angry or fearful looks, I was aware of one having what felt like a panic attack through my bugs as we passed by, that simply tightened the knot in my stomach.

The capes that didn't have the badge stared with wide eyes, similar to the office workers as they talked to their companions in low voices while we walked by. Also, I noted that there were quite a few more Case 53's then I ever remembered seeing in any Protectorate base.

We entered an elevator large enough for all of us, the doors shutting and music playing as we descended.

"Y'know, I've always wondered, back in Brockton the protectorate supposedly had a Tinkertech elevator, is this a Tinker elevator?" Imp asked, looking between the capes escorting us.

"No," was the short answer.

Defiant intruded as well, "Also, the one in Brockton Bay was normal, a Tinker elevator would take too much of my time to maintain considering the daily use an elevator typically receives."

"That's lame."

Dragon smiled from the mouth visible beneath her helmet.

The doors stopped and we were led out, through more corridors until finally we were left in a waiting room where a man was waiting.

"Ah, there she is just in time! Taylor! You look awful!" he said with a familiar tone.

Guess I was supposed to know this guy.

Tattletale realised my struggle when I didn't respond in anyway and stepped in.

"Quinn, she's lost chunks of her memory, seems a chunk of that was you."

The man put a hand to his heart with a hurt expression, but I could tell it was an act as he exclaimed, "oh! The misfortune of someone not knowing me!"

He leaned down and extended an arm, flashing a charming smile with white teeth.

"I'm Quinn Calle Chambers, I'm a parahuman lawyer and have represented you before. Tattletale has been calling me regularly over the past few days to discuss your case."

Someone in a suit poked their head into the room. "You're up in sixty seconds!" they informed us before ducking away.

Tattletale rolled her eyes before looking back at Quinn and cocking her hip.

"How's Glenn by the way, you two settle down okay?"

Quinn rolled his eyes, "yes yes, dear, I do owe you, no need to rub it in… but yes, the place is lovely and he loves his new job."

"Good, good. You three," Tattletale used three fingers to point at Imp, Grue and Bitch, "you three are sitting in the stands, do not say anything and try not to react to anything, okay?"

Imp stuck a hand up but talked anyway, "how long is this gonna take?"

"Days most likely."

Her head tipped back and she groaned.

"Now go, shoo," Tattletale made shooing motions and they left through a side door. Tattletale got behind my chair and made me face the wooden double doors.

I clenched my fists.

"We're here with you Taylor, you're gonna be okay, no matter the outcome," Dragon comforted.

A chime sounded and Tattletale sucked in a breathe.

"They're ready for us," she squeezed my shoulder before beginning to push me forward, the doors opening before us.

"It's gonna be okay."

~§~

I don't know how satisfied I am with the first section surrounding Teacher's escape, but I wanted to keep this story solely focused on Taylor's POV because this story is about Taylor specifically. I didn't want to have like, twenty interludes from other people's POV's. Also, I don't care if its 'unrealistic' for Danny to temporarily break through the Master effect, that scene was one I've had planned for a long long time and I'm actually pretty happy with it, it was just getting there that was hard.

Was Teacher OOC? Probably. Blame the Simurgh.

Additionally, I didn't want to go with the classic hard-ass character with no motive to be like that. But Cinereal was a good ay to show how much has changed between the events of Ward and now and how the Titan-afied people are being reintegrated into society.

The last section may seem a bit messier, but it was me trying to show how the stress is affecting Taylor and making her try to latch onto anything she can to distract herself.

Also if I got her character wrong then I apologise, but I re-iterate that I haven't read far into Ward so I don't really know her character. I didn't want things to be too perfect for Taylor however, and this will be reflected in the Epilogue which shouldn't take as long as this chapter did. It will still be happy, but not everything ever happens perfectly.

But, enough with that, Limbo has been a blast to write, and sure, some parts were much harder then others, but I've enjoyed writing this story from day one, and while my plot bunny definitely spiralled into something else, I wouldn't change anything. Thank you for all your support and criticism and I'll see you again in the Epilogue!