Jade allowed Tori to pull her through the door and inside the personal space. Tori dropped her hand and gave Jade room to look around. She did so, seeing Tori's personality touch every aspect of the items and objects her eyes roamed over. With a start she realized she even knew what that looked like.
"Are you okay?" Tori spoke up, concerned. She must have seen the shock on Jade's face.
"It's so 'you'," Jade merely answered. Tori cocked her head, wondering why that caused such a reaction.
"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" she said, opting to go along with it. Jade moved forward and stopped at Tori's desk in the corner. She reached out and ran her fingers over a large pair of silver scissors. If she looked closely she could see initials engraved along the side, joined by a plus and the edges of a heart enveloping them.
"It surprised me," Jade mentioned, looking back at Tori who was quietly watching with her breath held. She was tense with anticipation, a hope that she was tapping into Jade's memories.
"What did?" she barely got out in response.
"That I know you. I know what you like; styles, food, clothes. I shouldn't know things like that, but I do. I just now realized it," Jade confessed. Tori only smiled and shrugged.
"Progress," she said simply.
"Yeah, progress," Jade mumbled, tired of the word. She pulled away from the gleaming scissors as if they were burning hot. Suddenly, she didn't quite know if she wanted to be Jade. She didn't really know what it felt to be a Typhon, nor could she recount anything, but who was to say she didn't want to be someone, something, else? But here she was, changing. She didn't know if it was a good thing or not. To the humans, it was. To the Typhon, it wasn't. So whose side was she on? Was it wrong that she was siding with the humans over her own kind? Had she not been changing she might have wanted to help her own kind and just been another Phantom out to kill those that threatened its way of life. Was there even a decision now? Or had that passed when she lost all recollection of her alien self? What a massive responsibility, being a moral creature.
"You're overthinking again," Tori told her, troubled by her long silence. Jade closed her eyes and held a hand to her head.
"I don't know what to do. I don't know what or who I am. I'm just so confused," she admitted wearily. Tori nodded and moved to direct her to sit on the bed. Jade followed and took a seat.
"That's understandable," Tori commented, drawing soothing circles along Jade's back. Comforting her came naturally and Jade responded just as instinctually. She never knew she liked her back rubbed but she supposed Tori would. They fell silent, Jade not knowing what else to say. There was nothing she could say. Tori's gentle ministrations slowed to a halt, gaining Jade's attention. She raised her head to look at Tori who stared back at her with a mix of curiosity and yearning.
"Jade?" she began. Jade couldn't tell if she was addressing her or the Jade she wanted her to be but she answered anyway.
"Yeah?" she replied, waiting for something to happen in the ensuing silence. The air felt charged but she had no idea why. Tori's hand slid up her back, sending a chill in the opposite direction. Her slender fingers found their way into her hair as she leaned closer. Jade could do nothing but sit still, breath catching when lips pressed to her own. There was a split second where she wanted to recoil, not understanding what was happening, but then a pleasant warmth spread through her.
The pressure and shape of Tori's mouth on hers brought a rush of emotions along with glimpses of similar memories. With their help she relaxed. She understood. She wanted to reciprocate. Her hands came up to cup Tori's jaw and her lips pressed back. Tori let out a content sigh before becoming more insistent. Jade matched her movements, their bodies coming closer, until it was too much. Jade pulled back with a gasp, resting a firm hand against Tori's chest to push her back just enough to give her room to breathe. She panted hard, closing her eyes against the pleasurable rush she received. She hadn't felt anything like it before, even though the memories tried to convince her otherwise.
"I'm not who you think I am. I never will be," she whispered, her eyes finding Tori's soft browns.
"I know," she replied, certain as she stroked Jade's cheek.
"You shouldn't have to settle for a copy," Jade told her, feeling the guilt that her kind were a danger to the human race. For the first time she could separate her true self from the being she was becoming. The Typhon's invasion killed many loved ones, leaving the survivor's in painful loneliness. Tori lost Jade because of her kind. Because of her. But here she was, reaping the benefits of a love that Jade should have been alive to receive.
She clenched her teeth, hands dropping to her lap to turn into fists. Black wisps seeped through her fingers, subtle but present. Her brows dug down with a spike of anger. Tori saw all this and placed her hands over Jade's, messaging them until they relaxed.
"You aren't a copy," she assured softly.
"What am I then?" Jade asked, desperate to know. Unfortunately, Tori didn't have the answer.
"You're…something else," she concluded. Strangely, Jade was fine with that answer. As long as Tori accepted her for whatever she was, she could deal with the rest. Jade took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out, feeling better. She stopped when she caught sight of Tori's small grin.
"What?" she asked.
"She always did that to relax before she blew a fuse. It was an exercise I taught her. She stubbornly denied being a hot head but when it saved us more than once from trouble she decided to hear me out," Tori shared with a fond chuckle. There was the pain again, but there was also happy remembrance. It was Jade's turn to comfort her. She listened to instinct when she reached out to brush back Tori's hair, placing a kiss on her forehead. Her lips lingered a moment before she pulled away.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. Tori's eyes watered but no tears fell.
"I forgive you," she accepted. Neither knew what the apology and forgiveness was really for, but it felt right. The atmosphere seemed to lighten afterwards. Tori gave Jade a smile which she returned with an easy smirk. Taking in Tori's features and reflecting on the exchange of strong emotions clicked something into place for Jade. Shock took over at the knowledge that suddenly revealed itself to her.
"What's wrong?" Tori inquired.
"I remember," Jade said, recalling the blueprints now branded in her mind.
"What did you remember?" Tori asked next.
"The Nullwave device. The one I- Jade, had been working on. I know how to make it," she exclaimed. Tori's expression brightened at the news.
"Are you sure?" she questioned.
"Positive," Jade confirmed, getting to her feet. Tori followed suit.
"We should let them know," she stated, rushing to the door. She stopped at the entrance when Jade didn't readily follow. Tori looked back to see her hesitation.
"If we succeed, the blast would…" Jade tried to say, glancing down at her hands. It wasn't the first time she questioned herself, whether she really was human enough. It was a test she couldn't afford to fail. Tori didn't need her to elaborate. She walked back over to her with confliction in her frown.
"You can't know that," Tori told her.
"I know," Jade replied.
"Are you scared?" Tori questioned, taking her by the hand. Jade squeezed it in return.
"I should be, but I'm not. I know what has to be done," she acknowledged. It was exactly what her Jade would have said, which meant that she was at least a bit scared but didn't show it. Tori smiled, and in an instant, Jade was gathered in a tight hug.
"You have nothing to worry about then," she said, releasing her. Jade got the sense that she said the right thing. Maybe she was more human than even she knew.
"Come on. We have to tell everyone," Tori reminded her, heading back to the door. This time, Jade went with her. Tori sent a message ahead from her TranScribe to gather everyone. They jogged to the main elevator and took it to the bridge where they could hold a meeting. When they reached the captain's loft Andre, Beck, and three others were present.
"You already know Andre and Beck. This is Caterina, our head researcher. Cat for short. She keeps track of all our information down in storage. Robbie is her assistant. And this is Trina, our captain and my older sister," Tori introduced, pointing to each. Jaded nodded, her gaze lingering on Trina who stared back just as long. Neither backed down.
"If I didn't know any better this would be just like the old days," Andre whispered to Tori, both watching Jade and Trina square off.
"Can we get back on topic? What did you call us here for?" Beck snapped, impatient as ever.
"Jade remembers the fabrication plan for the prototype Nullwave device," Tori announced excitedly.
"A Nullwave Transmitter can only do so much," Beck informed her.
"This one is stronger," Tori countered. Beck didn't look convinced but didn't object further.
"With that we could disrupt every Typhon out there. We would just have to find the heart of the Coral," Andre elaborated. Vaguely, Jade knew that the Coral was the neural network that connected every Typhon.
"How will we even find it?" Cat asked.
"Jade could show us," Tori suggested, resting a hand on Jade's arm. Jade eyed it, trying to work out why she was feeling uncomfortable. Was it the contact, shown so openly in front of the others? Was it the thought of tapping into her other side to find such information? Or did she dislike the thought of the humans using her to kill off her kind? She didn't know. And just like that, she was once again confused about the situation.
"And what? We expect it'll just give us the location?" Beck inquired skeptically.
"She isn't an 'it', Beck," Tori practically snarled, showing a side of her Jade hadn't seen before. It was hostile and sent a prickle through the air that she could sense. What part of her enjoyed seeing it was lost on her. It might have been both but she wasn't sure.
"Now calm down you two. This is our only shot, short of blowing up Earth. We have to learn to trust. We're all we have left," Andre reminded them pointedly. Beck and Tori reluctantly stepped down, Beck crossing his arms and Tori letting out a hard sigh.
"Fine," Beck allowed.
"We didn't need your permission," Tori mumbled.
"You need my help," he retorted.
"Guys!" Cat shouted. They fell quiet under her reprimand.
"So who will place the device once it's fabricated?" Robbie wondered.
"I'll go!"
Everyone turned to look at Beck and Tori who were quick to volunteer at the same time. Jade couldn't help but respond to both instincts that clashed within. The human side wanted to fight to save others while the Typhon side pushed her to fight or die trying to survive. Whatever it took, they were on the same side for once. She stepped forward.
"I'll go alone," she proposed.
"No. We'll go with you," Tori declined. Jade raised a brow at her, eyes flicking at Beck. Tori only rolled her eyes and shrugged. Their non-verbal conversation settled matters rather quickly. Jade nodded her agreement and turned to the others.
"Ok then. Tori, fabricate the Nullwave device while Beck gathers some firepower. I need time alone to think," she told them. Beck turned on his heel and disappeared. Andre folded his arms, curious about how Jade would go about acquiring the needed information. Cat and Robbie excused themselves and left now that a plan had been agreed on. Trina left them to it too, going back to her tasks. Jade moved to leave but Tori kept her in place.
"Will you be okay?" she inquired. Jade scoffed.
"I feel like I should take offense to that," she replied. Tori chuckled, amused.
"You would be offended. Ok then, send me the fabrication plan. Should we meet back here after?" she wondered. Jade nodded, already fiddling with her TranScribe. Tori gave her hand a parting squeeze before leaving. Jade watched her go, eyes studying her retreating figure. The suits they wore were unflattering, but Jade could still imagine her lithe form underneath, a product of strengthening memories solidifying in her mind. She was all too aware of just how much she knew Tori's form. Someone cleared their throat next to her and she scowled, caught. It was Andre, and he had a large grin on his face.
"Don't say anything," she warned him.
"I wasn't gonna," he said with a devious quirk to his grin. Jade huffed out a frustrated breath and walked away but he caught up to her.
"I was thinking. What were you going to do to remember?" he asked, formal now. She shook her head.
"I don't know. I'm so far removed from that part of myself. But there has to be a way to reach it. It's what I truly am. This farce can only go so far," she responded. Andre didn't miss the bitter note in her tone.
"Maybe I can help? Let's go to the lab," he offered. Jade accepted his assistance, and together, they headed for the labs. When they entered, Jade took a seat and waited while Andre busied himself looking for the tools he would need. He returned to her equipped with a GLOO gun in one hand and a shotgun in the other. He tipped his head in the direction of the next room and walked off. Jade hesitantly followed. It went without saying that Jade put trust of her well-being in the hands of these people, but right about now she began to question it. They entered a simulation room where they held the majority of the tests they administered on her back before she began to accumulate a human conscious. He set the weapons on a cart and gestured to an enforced chamber.
"Step in, please," he requested. She sized it up, turned to look at him uncertainly, and then back at the cage. That was essentially what it was.
"Relax. Trust me," Andre added, sincere. She moved to step inside and he shut the door at the control panel. She could hear the locks click into place.
"Now, let's get in touch with yourself. I would tell you not to be alarmed but we want you out of your element," he postulated, hands running over the console. In seconds she was in zero gravity, arms flailing. Panic skittered through her thoughts, hands grasping air in an attempt to regain stability. She only managed to right herself when the sound of a gun loading caught her attention. She looked up to see Andre pointing the shotgun at her.
"I don't want to find out what will happen if I shoot you. After all, I have no idea whether you'll absorb the shot like you did when we first contained you or if you'll bleed like any other human. This is a first for everyone. So I'll give you three minutes to find a way out," he said, taking aim. Something other than panic began to take shape, a clarity quickly taking over. Determination to get out alive forced her to think. She glanced around for a weak point and saw the grate above. She kicked off the wall to reach it. She fitted her fingers in the holes and gripped, pulling with all her might. It didn't budge.
"Two minutes left."
She tried harder, shadows beginning to mist from her straining hands. It began to bend, and with a grunt she yanked it free.
"One minute left."
She plunged her hand into the wiring and yanked, arcs of electricity shooting forth. The sting of the currents were temporary. The zero-g shut off and she was falling, barely catching herself upon impact. Her body was now a livewire, feeling the electricity race over her manufactured skin. Shadows seeped from her arms and her hands were losing color. Without thinking she sent out an electrostatic burst, shattering the thick glass around her and upsetting electronics around the room.
Andre jumped back, awed and a bit afraid. Jade stepped forward, eerily intimidating. Her expression was blank but her eyes were alive with power. All she could think about doing was clearing her path of the threat. She shot forward with such speed and agility but Andre quickly countered with shots from the GLOO gun. A few missed but one succeeded in sticking her foot to the floor, halting her. She yanked but couldn't get loose. Andre took advantage and fired until her whole body was held in place. She struggled, frustration growing.
The electricity running through her dampened, replaced by a heat that began to build. Flames burst forth, making short work of the GLOO prison. She threw out a hand, sending a jet of superheated plasma straight at her target. Andre dodged, falling over but righting himself just in time to dodge again. Jade swiftly advanced, fire dissipating. Andre felt better now that the fire was gone but his heart rate spiked once more when it was replaced with a shifting purple cloud he knew all too well. Toxic ether.
He started to cough, skin tingling uncomfortably. He felt it through his suit. She was covering ground too fast to do anything but defend himself. He tossed the GLOO gun and armed himself with the shotgun again. He wavered only a second, staring down the all too real Typhon, eyes glowing white instead of the ocean blues he expected.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, taking aim and pulling the trigger just as Jade approached. He shot her almost point blank in the stomach. She cried out, feeling the pain, but there was no blood. The force knocked her back and she hit the ground hard. When she didn't move, Andre ran over. The black hole in her stomach was the only sign of injury.
"Jade?" he called, too timid to do anything else. Within Jade's subconscious voices invaded. They didn't speak words but she could still understand what they meant.
Danger. Help. Injured. Heal.
Andre gasped when the wound began to stitch itself together. Jade woke with an inhale, eyes searching her surroundings. As the hole closed the shadows draping her body went with it. She began to regain control again, but something was different. Her mind was open to something. She explored, instinct guiding the way to the origin.
"I know where it is," she rasped, gaze focusing on the scientist.
"It worked?" he stammered, emotions still fluctuating. She sat up, and he hastily helped her to her feet.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Disoriented," she answered, a hand on her head.
"You're not in any pain?" he checked. She shook her head, just as much to answer him as it was to clear her mind of the newly acquired voices.
"I'm sorry I had to shoot you," he apologized.
"You already said that," she mumbled, rubbing at her stomach where her suit was hanging in tatters. It was the only proof that she had been shot.
"You heard?" he inquired.
"Yeah, but I couldn't stop. It was like an avalanche. All I could think was that you were a threat and you had to be eliminated," she replied evenly. Andre gulped, refusing to let the past several minutes run through his head again.
"Glad I could snap you out of it," he commented, walking over to an operator dispenser. He rested his hand on the panel and an operator came forth. It spoke a standard greeting before floating over to fix her suit. She stood still as it worked, eyeing it with distrust. When it was done it wished her a good day and wandered away.
"Tell the others we have a location," she told him, leading the way out. He sent out a message and followed her quietly, returning to the bridge.