"Ames what's wrong talk to me."
"Victoria, Glory Girl, let her rest."
"But she is crying."
"And it is healing her."
"What, but she can't heal herself?"
"The release of emotions can activate certain chemicals in the brain that allow a stressful situation to resolve itself and clear the mind. Combat is never calm and can magnify current emotions to greater extremes. Plus, you need to turn your aura off, or I will turn it off for you."
"It is always on. I can mute it like I am now, but I can't turn it off?"
"Can you turn your shield off?"
"Yes?"
"Then turn your aura off. It must be the same." She glared at the girl for nearly a minute before the aura fluctuated and then remained only muted. Skye gave out a disgruntled sigh before her hand reached out and slapped Glory Girl on the forehead. She did not worry about her shield as it was close enough. She tapped the dual personality and shoved the Force inside. The aura dropped as well as her shield. Another jolt and it came back before she tweaked it. It was only then that Victoria reacted as she backed away.
"What the fuck did you do?"
"Can you turn it off?" Her aura flared and several people moaned and whimpered before it reversed, and they giggled or laughed as they got up to get closer and then nothing. It was like her shield on or off. The rage in her face turned to confusion as she worked with her aura and her shield.
"What did you do?"
"I see parahumans as I observe multiple personalities. I just told the other inner part of you to cooperate." Several more emotions could be seen as they slowly change her expressions. Fear was one that grew along with worry as she got really close to Skye.
"You can read my mind? Alter my mind?"
"The Force can show me what needs to be done. It can allow me to see what you feel and pick up on the meaning of your thoughts. Most people have a mental shield, one that prevents another from seeing. However, the Force is in all things. It can allow me to see what is in your thoughts, but only if you allow it."
"But that is impossible."
"No, only if that is your focus. With the Force, all things are possible and as a Jedi we have learned this. Be glad that I am not a Sith as I would have torn your mind apart just to see how you can project your aura."
"I would kill you first."
"Your shield is there, but it did not stop me from helping you. It would not hinder a Sith." Amy pulled away from Skye and she got to her feet with the help of Victoria. Her eyes grew as she finally realized who had helped her and she jerked her hand free of her sister.
"Amy talk to me later. I can help you work through what you are feeling. You will need to learn how to shield your mind and I can also train you how to use your healing ability." She nodded as she reached her hand up to her head.
"You healed my mind?"
"It is just cells, fluid, and bone. Your mind was not damaged. Just stressed from being assaulted constantly. I bet you no longer felt your sister's influence." Skye felt Victoria's shock as she made the connection as Amy nodded. She then blushed before hugging Skye again.
"What is in your pocket?"
"My lightsaber. Why?"
"No reason." Victoria's laugh was loud, and it forced Amy out of the hug as her face burned. Skye let the two emotions flow around her and through her and it was as embarrassing to her as it was to them. Victoria laughed to cover her feeling awkward as Amy blushed revealing how she felt shame and guilt. Skye blushed as it was awkward and such a nice feeling compared to the average of hate, rage, jealousy, sorrow, greed, and lust. It was nearly as rare as feelings of love. Joy was common, but so often too fleeting.
She wondered what made it so funny or embarrassing? She wanted to ask but the Force warned her it would not be a good idea. She expanded her awareness of the Force as she projected calming waves. Amy was not the only person in the area that had been projecting fear. Slowly they calmed down enough to continue on their own.
"Are you okay now?" Amy nodded but Skye searched out her eyes as she tried to hide attempting to pull up her hood.
"Yes."
"Good and the bistro had a good sandwich. Want to go get one."
"We can't we have to give the PRT a statement and I am sure there will be paperwork about the damage."
"Oh, the Wards probably need healing."
"Then I will stay and help you."
"But you are out of costume."
"Costume. I do not wear a costume."
"But I saw a picture of you in your armor. Helm and all."
"Ames, I saw some pictures from Winslow she was wearing several tunics and a cloak. Her face was clear as it is now. Just without makeup."
"I was told it would be seen as unusual. Is it done correctly?"
"Barely could tell if it was not for the eye shadow, but Ames got this and the PRT knows her. You are a rogue and some think you might be a villain."
"Why is that?"
"You don't leave any money behind from your raids."
"True, but I needed those funds to feed the homeless. I run a lunch counter during this time normally."
"Where?"
"The lighthouse gift shop that ABM used to use. I find it is in the center of the area."
"Alright, but you better go. Less hassle. Ames got your number?"
"She does." They watched Skye go.
INTERLUDE: AMY
Panacea frowned, then gestured to the far end of the room.
"I'll take a look at you over there?"
"Go figure, Glory Girl's boyfriend gets special treatment," Clockblocker grinned to make it clear he was just poking fun. Gallant just smirked in response. The pair went to Gallant's alcove, and she sat him down on the bed before laying a hand on his shoulder. She pulled her hood back and furrowed her brow.
"You don't have a punctured lung. Why?"
"I lied. I wanted to talk to you, alone," he took her hand. She scowled and pulled her hand back before she folded her arms.
"You know I can sense emotions. Everyone's emotions, like a cloud of colors around them."
"Victoria mentioned that." Amy's mind whirled with all the thoughts that she could have. How Sara or Skye said she could feel emotions too.
"So, you're an open book to me. I know you're scared, terrified, and that's why you're not talking." She sighed and sat on the bed, as far from Gallant as she could.
"I never wanted these powers, period." He nodded.
"But I got them anyways. I'm forced to be a hero. Burdened with this obligation. It's such an opportunity, to save lives."
"But?"
"But at the same time… I can't cure everyone. Even if I go to the hospital every night for two or three hours at a time, there are thousands of other hospitals I can't visit, tens of millions of people who are terminally ill or living in a personal hell where they're paralyzed or in constant pain. These people don't deserve to face that, but I can't help them all. I can't help one percent of them if I put in twenty hours a day."
"You have to focus on what you can do."
"Sounds easier than it is." Panacea answered, with a touch of bitterness.
"Isn't it?" She sighed again. He did not understand.
"The last person I really remember healing. It was maybe a week ago, I was working on a kid. He was just a toddler. He had Ectopia Cordis. That's where you're born with your heart outside your body. I was putting everything in the right place, giving him a chance at a normal life."
"What made him so memorable?"
"I resented him. He was lying there, fast asleep, like an angel, and for just a second, I hated him." Gallant didn't say anything. Scowling, Panacea stared down at the ground.
"No, I hated that he would have a normal life, because I'd given up mine. I hated him because I could not let him lie there and die. I am so tired, so tired."
"That sounds like more than just exhaustion." Gallant replied, quietly.
"Is this how it starts? Is this the point I start becoming like my father, whoever he was?" Gallant let out a slow breath.
"I could say no, that you're never going to be like your father. But I'd be lying. So yeah. It's possible."
"Okay," she said, just under her breath. He waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't.
"Take a break. Tell yourself it's something you have to do, to recharge your batteries and help more people in the long run."
"I don't think I can, but I have to." They sat in silence for a few moments. He turned towards her.
"So, what does this have to do with what happened at the bank?"
"Tattletale knew everything. As if she's psychic, and from what she said, what she knew, I believe it." Gallant nodded.
"She took her words and used them as knives and cut into both Vicky and I and there was nothing left. All the little things that you hide from, and she was able to tear away those walls and rip off your clothes. Then you are left there naked. You do the same thing."
"I'm sorry."
"Can't really blame you. She is just worse by telling you."
"What did she say?"
"She threatened to ruin my relationship with Victoria and the rest of my family," Amy hugged herself.
"My sister's all I've got. Carol never really wanted me. Mark is clinically depressed. My aunt and uncle are sweet, but they've got their own problems. So, it's just me and Victoria. That smug little monster threatened to tear my sister and I apart using yet another thing I had no control over." Gallant started to speak, then stopped. "What?"
"Does… does this have anything to do with the, erm, rather strong feelings you have towards me?" Amy looked at him and then laughed. He had it so wrong, and she knew what it had really been another thing to add to the pile of uncontrollable things. She touched his hand healing him instantly before moving her hand back while she started to giggle and alternately snort. Any other time had he said that she would have frozen up, been offended or too worried that he would have figured out the truth, but Skye had taken that all away and did something to give it right back, so it made sense.
Then it clicked what he was saying and how she just ignored it. Skye was a healer, but she had never seen her in the hospital. She had never seen her in any of the clinics. She was said to have torn apart the Merchants and fighting Lung with another unknown cape. All she said to her was that she ran a lunch counter with the money she confiscated.
Why did she not heal people if she was a hero? Amy could not see that as something she could do, but why not? She knew the reason was that she did not go out to fight. This made her angry. She had no training in how to fight. In fact, it was frowned on and another thing that Carol had been holding her back on. A rage built and it was enough to make Gallant move away from her. She didn't have to be like her unknown villain father, but she was sure she was not going to listen to Carol anymore.
She got up and marched over to the white board. Gallant waited to follow her as every head in the room turned as Panacea picked up the marker by the computers. With a grim expression on her face, she began filling in Tattletale's section of the whiteboard. Then stopped before looking at them reading what she wrote so far. She opened her mouth to say something then shut it. The Wards would be a place for her, but like New Wave she hardly doubted they would allow her to fight, but she knew who did. She split the board in half with another line and wrote Knight Skye on the other half of the board.
"She can heal, but she fights too. For every line I write about Tattletale, I want what you know about her." Several things about Knight Skye were said as Amy wrote one of them down before writing a bullet point on Tattletale. In the end she had left out how Skye could influence emotions and how she had done something to Vicky that she could turn off her aura. However, she did write in that she could mess with Skitter's control before leaving.
INTERLUDE: VICTORIA
"Ames, hey what is wrong?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes, ever since you triggered you have been the center of attention."
"Come on Ames you know that is not true. Not all the time."
"Yes, all the time, but you know what. You can turn that damn aura off now."
"Okay ya, but Ames."
"No more excuses. Vicky this and Vicky that. I am just glad she does not compare me to you."
"What mom? She has nothing to do with my aura."
"Doesn't she. Is Carol not completely focused on you? Can you not see that? Mark is even affected as when your aura flares, he perks up, but as soon as you leave the room he sinks right back down."
"If you really feel that way." Vicky lifted off the ground making sure her aura was off. It somehow felt wrong.
"Wait?"
"Why? You obviously do not want me around." Amy sighed as she suddenly paced back and forth. It was the only thing that stopped Vicky from leaving as she was reminded; they were still on the roof of the PRT. She couldn't just leave Amy there.
"I want you too much. Skye made me see what was going on and I know now that it was going to ruin us. Vicky our powers do not care what we think, say, do, or feel."
"Okay."
"Your aura has been affecting me for two years and I triggered when you did because I thought you died when you suddenly collapsed, and you are the only one who ever treated me like family."
"Wait you didn't trigger when..."
"No, and I think that the reason Tattletale's words held so much power was not my father's name being Marquis, but because of what your aura has done to me."
"What did I do?"
"Nothing. It wasn't you. It was your power."
"My power."
"Yes. I feel so stupid. So blind. Even with everything that was in front of me I just could not get it. How I am jealous of Gallant for being your boyfriend." Vicky looked even more confused. She could see how Amy could be jealous of Gallant and that is why she had been trying to set her up with several boys. She knew that one of them would appeal to her.
"Oh?" It came to her as Amy's words rolled back around in her head. What she said and how her aura worked and how even if she constantly said she was immune she was not. The words that she used had a completely different meaning if there was one more thing different.
"Ewe?" Letting that slip out made Ames cringe and hid her face even more. Then the sob came just before her entire body hitched. Vicky moved closer to Ames, but then froze. If that was true, then her comforting her would hurt even more. Vicky shot up in the sky screaming louder than she had ever done before.
She did not stop until the air became hard to breathe and her tears began to freeze as soon as they slipped outside of her shield. She then dropped back down and pushed herself passed the point of terminal velocity. She could only normally fly about eighty miles an hour but going so high up she was able to push past 500 mph a speed that her shield could barely contain. She had drifted out over the ocean, so she started angling back towards Brockton Bay.
Her tears long blown away she managed to level out just above the oddly calm water and felt the spray of the water on her feet as she was still flying faster than she normally could. By the time she got back to the roof Amy was still there, but no longer on the bench. She was shaking her head as Vicky came in, to land. This turned into a tumble that had her sprawled out at Amy's feet. For the first time in a long time, she was totally exhausted. Between the lack of air for a bit and the unprotected dive plus the strain of trying not to crash she had no energy.