Chapter 34: Choices and Decisions

"What were you thinking last night?" Max reprimanded me the second I stepped into her house on Saturday night.

"My shoulder is fine, thanks for asking," I gestured to the sling I had bought on my way over.

"How are you hiding that from your dad?"

"Not wearing it around him. And about last night, I had no choice. She would've found me in some other way. Victoria is relentless."

"She tried to trap you. I told you so."

"And I believed you. But this isn't about my safety. It's about figuring out how my best friend's murder is connected to my mother. There's still too many questions left."

"Jamie, I understand the need for answers, but its not worth the trouble you seem to be getting into. We should go to the police."

"With what evidence Max? We don't have enough proof to convict MedCorp or Victoria of anything. I need more time to figure this out. I promise I'll be fine," I reassured her.

"You and McGinnis are determined to worry me to death aren't you," She sighed.

"Only because you're so insistent," I teased and gave her a one armed hug, "So anyway, you said you finished the decryption?"

"I did, and you need to see this," She handed me a tablet.

12Jun2039

Two subjects have been chosen for the trial run of the chip. Both inmates in New York will serve for trial one. Inmate one has an obedient behavior record. That is ideal for a first test. The second inmate has a daughter who will be used to see how far the influence of the chip can go.

23Jul2039

Discovered today that Subject JVT from phase one has interacted with Inmate 2 before. Subject JVT and inmate 2's daughter are friends. This is an added positive for testing, as monitoring Subject JVT's reaction to phase three trials will help find any remaining flaws.

Subliminal messages will start on the 1st.

15Aug2039

Made a final evaluation on the inmates this afternoon. Both are ready for the trials. Their escape has been planned and prepped for. Now all that's left is to chose a date.

25Sep2039

Though today was a last minute choice, the escape was successful. Subject JVT made an unexpected appearance with Inmate 2's daughter for a visit. Too good of an opportunity to not use this to monitor Subject JVT's emotional response.

Now that they're separated, the inmates objectives will differ from each other.

01Oct2039

Inmate 1 has been subliminally tasked with petty crimes for now. Inmate 2 has been tasked with finding a safe place and contact his daughter.

22Oct2039

Inmate 1 has shown immense obedience. Next task is small acts of arson.

Inmate 2 has fulfilled his tasks as well. Contact with daughter will continue until further notice.

Inmate 2's secondary task is to rejoin trafficking ring, to find more potential subjects.

20Nov2039

Inmate 1 has completed all assigned tasks. He will standby until end of trial.

Inmate 2 is making more frequent contact with daughter. Task is now to convince daughter to visit him. A list of 13 more potential subjects has been gathered.

Last night was first contact with Subject JVT since subject was released in 2024. Subject seems unaware of lineage or chip. Will continue to monitor through end of the trial.

06Dec2039

Inmate 2 performed the trial more obediently than anticipated. To test the limits, Inmate 2 was told to use two different objects to perform final task. Inmate 2 performed everything subliminally suggested with little to no resistance. Truly the ideal test subject.

There was more, but I couldn't bring myself to finish. I didn't realize I was crying until Max asked if I was okay.

"It's been over a month. I should be used to this by now," I wiped my eyes, "But to hear how she was killed in such a- I don't even know the word, impersonal?-way, its like the wound has been torn open again."

"It's gonna take a lot longer than a month to heal," Max reasoned, wrapping me into a hug.

"I know but, god dammit, I hate this! I just want it to end. I hate that I can't call my best friend. I hate I didn't say anything. I hate myself for not doing anything to stop Victoria before. I hate myself. I hate myself so much!" I cried onto her shoulder.

"Jamie, there's nothing you could've done. You didn't know Victoria was involved with Anni's dad. You made a promise to someone you saw as a sister. You can't hold yourself at fault for her death. It'll tear you apart."

"Yes I can. You've never had someone ripped away from you, how could you possibly understand?"

"I can't."

"What?" Not what I was expecting.

"I can't understand. You're right. But I can be here for my friends. You don't have to go through your grief alone. I'm here for you, Jamie. Friends are my everything because my family isn't. I want to help. Even if it's just being a shoulder to cry on."

I cried harder at that. In the time since Anni's death, no one had out right told me I didn't have to do this alone. I knew it, I had so many people looking out for me, but it was different hearing it said out loud. I had felt so alone in this whole thing, and here was Max, who had known me less than a year, willing to put so much at risk to help me. I would never be able to repay her for that kindness.

"Thank you," I said after I had calmed down. She just nodded and released me from the hug so she could get up. She came back with more painkillers.

"You've been here awhile, I figure you might need these."

"Anni would've liked you. Another kind but stubborn spirit," I smiled.

"Tell me about her," Max took a seat next to me.

The next few weeks were mostly uneventful. The news didn't even mention my break in. The calm made me uneasy. Everyday I expected Bruce to show up and demand the suit back, or Dad ready to yell at me and send me away. Or Terry would accidentally let it slip about my shoulder to Bruce, and then Bruce would ask Dad about it. I had been hiding that fairly well. Didn't really want to explain it to Dad.

"Jamie, can I talk to you for a second?" Mr. Stauffer asked after robotics one day.

"Um, sure," I glanced at Sharon who just shrugged and packed up her stuff.

"Don't worry, you're not in trouble. I wanted to know what colleges you've applied to," He smiled kindly at me. Oh yeah, that was a thing people my age worried about.

"Actually none," I admitted sheepishly. I hadn't put much thought into where I would go for college. I always thought Anni, Ko, and I would go to the same school, but now with Anni gone, I wasn't sure I cared enough to even go. Not to mention I had been preoccupied with more important things.

"Oh. Well you might want to get on that soon. Do you have a major in mind?" Why did he care? Mr. Stauffer was nice enough, but still mostly professional. He encouraged my ideas and taught me through trial and error. But beyond that he'd never taken an interest in me before. Actually no teacher had. I was always pegged as the troublemaker, even thought my grades were high.

"Not really. In all honesty, I've kinda put everything on hold for now."

"I understand," He gave me a sympathetic look, "I see great potential in you Jamie. One that could change the robotics industry, if that's what you'd like to do in life. Here," He handed me a pamphlet, "This is a list of schools in the US with the best robotics programs. Its a good starting point."

"Why are you so eager to help me?"

"You're the top of the class. Your ideas are innovative and creative. I haven't seen someone like you in a long time. Your biggest strength is your determination. You have the will power to see just about anything through. I wouldn't be surprised if one day you changed the world. Just give it a thought."

"Thank you, I'll consider it," I headed out of the lab.

College. It was a little over a year away. After everything going on with Anni and now Victoria, I had forgotten life was still moving on. That it would continue and I needed to still plan for it. I was so unprepared.

I skimmed the pamphlet on my way to the car. Some of the most well know schools in the US were listed. MIT, Berkeley, Stanford, and a few lesser known ones. I doubted I could get into any of the schools on the list, but Mr. Stauffer seemed to think I could. It was a starting point at least.

.

I got to the car and was surprised to see Commissioner Gordon of all people waiting for me.

"Commis- I mean Barbara- what are you doing here?" How did she even know that was my car?

"We need to have a talk," She said sternly, making her badge visible. Uh oh, what did Bruce or Terry do now?

"Whats wrong?" I perched myself on the hood of the car.

"A few weeks ago, someone broke into the MedCorp office here in town. On the same night Ms. Rogers just happened to have her meeting about the break in in New York. Seemed a little odd." Oh. This was about me.

"I didn't hear anything about that," I faked ignorance. She didn't buy it for a second.

"You're a smart girl Jamie, a lot like your father. You also have seemed to inherit his and Bruce's belief that the justice system can't do it's job." She knew I was Shadow. Shit.

"I'm here to give you a warning. If you don't stop whatever this is with Shadow, I'm going to have to arrest you."

"Commissioner, you have to understand, I've been around cops my entire life. Just like you. I know the system works. I'm so proud of my dad and what he did. But Victoria Rogers is influential as hell and knows how manipulate the system. I don't have solid proof yet, but she's behind my friend's murder. If you just let me prove it, I promise I'll never wear the suit again."

"I can't keep making exceptions. The only reason Batman is around is because I owe Bruce."

"Please Barbara!" I grabbed her arm desperately. I needed someone other than Max on my side, "If I don't stop my mother, she'll just pay off the police like last time." She pulled away from me.

"I'm sorry Jamie. I'll give you a chance to turn in what you've found so far. If Shadow makes another appearance anywhere, I'll be forced to open an investigation against Batman, using this," She held up an evidence bag with a batarang in it. It was probably the one I had used to shatter the window. She put the bag away. "I'm trying to help you in the long run. Get out while you still can. This is your only chance."

"With all due respect Commissioner, I'm not in this for the same reasons you or the rest of my family was. I need to uncover the truth and this just happens to be the most efficient way for me. I promise the Shadow will be non-existent in a month."

"Listen Jamie," She sighed, "I've seen what vigilantism does to people. Not just in your family. The Justice League used to be bigger. It pulls you in so far that you can't get away."

"You sound like Dad," I muttered, "Commissioner, I appreciate your concern, but it's unnecessary," I unlocked the car and hopped off the hood, "I'll turn in what I have, eventually. I just need more time."

"I hope for your sake, you make the right decision." She walked away. Why did I get the feeling she wasn't really leaving this up to me?

It had been two weeks since my meeting with Victoria. Two weeks since I learned she was the reason Michelson had killed Anni. I still couldn't bring myself to read the rest of that Phase 3 file. Max had read it and that was good enough for me for now.

I was sitting at the dinning room table, staring blankly at the pamphlet Mr. Stauffer had given me. Maybe I should just give up on the whole MedCorp thing and focus on my future. Who was I kidding? I couldn't let this go even if I wanted to.

"Hey Kiddo, what you looking at?" Dad asked as he came in. Business had been really good for him since the gym opened. I hadn't seen him much lately because it had been so busy. He looked over my shoulder.

"Stanford? Nice choice," He said, noting the opened page, "Sunny California, and pretty close to San Francisco. That would be a nice weekend getaway city. Plus it's very diverse."

San Francisco? That's where MedCorp's headquarters was. But I couldn't wait another year before getting more evidence. And there was no guarantee I would even be accepted. There had to be a better way. I scanned the pamphlet page. Plan your visit toady!

A college visit. That would be perfect. Stanford was on the list, so it wouldn't be too hard for anyone to believe I was interested. Prestigious schools weren't too far fetched for me, especially when I attended Einstein Prep. Dad seemed to like the idea too.

"My robotics teacher thinks I have great potential in robotics. He gave this to me. Said I should consider these schools."

"I thought you didn't know what you wanted to do yet," He teased.

"It's an option," I shrugged, "A lot of people keep telling me I'd be good at it."

"You have held an interest in it longer than anything else. Except gymnastics," He chuckled and I laughed. Growing up, I was notorious for changing what I wanted to do.

"I like how it challenges me. Keeps me interested."

"Well, I'm proud of you no matter what you do," He hugged me, bumping my shoulder. I bit through the pain and hugged him back. It had healed some, but it still hurt.

"I was wondering if we could do a visit?" I played it off like I hadn't just come up with the idea, "Maybe even explore San Francisco. Make a vacation out of it. Please?" I needed him on board. I could figure out the details later.

"That's a great idea!" Yes! "But it'll have to wait a bit," No! "The gym is too busy for me to leave and I still need to hire another coach," He looked genuinely disappointed.

"I could go alone."

"No. I don't like the idea of you wandering a strange city alone. Maybe by this summer, but right now it isn't possible. You should apply in the mean time. I want you to have a few prospects before this fall."

"But I wanted to visit before applying," Not that I actually cared, " I don't want to waste effort if I don't even like the school."

"You're going to have to," He said sternly.

"Fine," I pouted.

Two days later I was talking to Ko about the whole thing.

"Well Stanford is on my list too. Mama will be in LA for a business trip next month. Maybe I can convince her to extend and take us on a visit! I'm sure she'll love the idea, since that's where her and Papa went."

"Kohana, I could kiss you!" I squealed, jumping on my bed.

"Maybe later Jay," She laughed, "I'll see what I can do," She paused for a second, "If I call now, they should still be awake! I'll call you later Jay!" she hung up.

I couldn't believe it. Things were working in my favor for once. I was one step close to stopping Victoria and her messed up idea of helping.

Mrs. Togchi was all for showing us her alma mater. After some convincing, Dad agreed to it too. Everything was set, I was going to San Francisco at the end of March.

Things are finally headed towards a conclusion! Do you think Jamie will find what she's looking for?

Fun Fact: Ko's parents met at Stanford, but didn't get married until after Ko was born. It was scandalous for sure.