Reflection Realization

I knew Sophia Hess probably better than anyone on the Wards. I knew how much of a violent, borderline sociopathic bully she was when she felt she could get away with it, and combined with Shadow Stalker's career, I could hypothesize what went on in that twisted little heart of hers.

"I'M SORRRRYYYY!"

This was not Sophia Hess. This girl looked like Sophia Hess, had the power of Sophia Hess, but those two little words cemented that this was some other cape.

I had my doubts already when my bugs saw her ignore a mugger to call 911 for his victim, and then smelt that same soup they dole out at homeless shelters, and I doubted Sophia was destitute enough to eat at one (or that her savage pride would allow it).

But this proved that, occasionally, Occam's Razor is wrong and sometimes the ugly and complex solution is the right one. Either that or Sophia had a psychotic break in which her heart grew three sizes that day.

"I'msorryIhurtyoujustpleaseleavemealoneI'llmakeituptoyousomehow!"

Okay, four.

Regent and Tattletale looked just as flabbergasted. "Same nerves," the former said, shaking his head, "utterly different emotions."

"I second that." Tattletale stared at the problem, apparently hoping her power would crack it if she looked hard enough. "Kind, doesn't like conflict, an intellectual...yet she still reacts to the name Sophia Hess like its her own."

"It is! I don't know how you know that, but I am!" The girl struggled a bit against Regent's hold. "Look, I didn't even know you were Taylor until I got behind your mask. I still feel really shitty about not stopping the bullying and leaving you to die after the Dread thing, but my mom-you're getting this, right Insight?"

Insight? Huh?

"She's...talking to me," said my blonde teammate, clutching her head. "She wants me to confirm she's telling the truth. Wish granted."

"Um, dork? Her name is Tattletale. Say it with me: Tattle-"

"She doesn't recognize that name." Tattletale was rocking back and forth now, obviously feeling very sick. "She's never heard it before in her life."

Then, something lit up her face. Followed by an expression of utter dread.

"Er, pardon my asking, but, what would be the name you know Regent and Skitter by? And then yours?" She gestured to the owners of said monikers as she did so.

She looked utterly lost now. "...Dictum and Weaver. I'm Penumbra."

Tattletale turned very white and nodded, apparently taking all of her in.

She turned towards me. "Does not show symptoms of psychotic breakdown characterized by delusional belief. Working off basic information and factoids. Feels utterly confused and out of place. Either she's a clone or...remember that voice?"

I shivered as I remembered the alien presence that had briefly shared my brain. "Uh-huh."

"Remember how he said we didn't have the same thoughts as the beings he identified us as?"

"Yes?" Now Regent was getting interested.

"One last question," she said as she turned back to...Penumbra. "One last question. Does the name 'Megiddo' mean anything to you? Likes to commandeer bodies to talk to people?"

Even I could tell the shiver that went up the captive's spine.

Tattletale turned around, wearing the smile one associated with one's sanity throwing up its arms and going out for lunch. "Fellow Undersiders, we have made first contact with the Sophia Hess of an alternate universe."

Then she fainted, obviously overexerted.

I weighed the benefits of following her example.

After Lisa (and the other-Sophia) recovered from the shock, the next bit was fetching the Undersiders in total and asking for a full explanation.

"You're all Wards where I come from," Penumbra explained. "A famously competent chapter, the and I quote, Pride of Brockton Bay. You have movie deals, for crying out loud!"

One could feel Aisha's head swelling a little at that. I was suddenly mobbed by paparazzi in my mind's eye, and felt the need to shrink a little.

"So, let me get this straight," Brian said, holding out his hands. "We're Wards..."

"Uh-huh."

"Everybody who's a Ward now is a member of your gang, the Predators..."

"From the sound of things, yeah it looks that way," said Lisa from the back. "Not confirmed, but identical build, similar tactics, and identical powers."

"And you are completely opposite of our Sophia."

"I would hope so. She sounds like a total bitch."

I already was planning to swap ours for this one.

"Okay, good." A very long silence followed.

Nobody wanted to say it. It was on the tip of our tongues, but we didn't want to acknowledge just newfound fact about the universe and possibly wave all sense of reason in the cosmos goodbye by giving this legitimacy.

Nobody except Alec after working up the bravery. "...We have a Mirror Universe? Seriously?"

Aisha stood up. "Well, if you don't mind me, I am going to brazenly ignore underage drinking laws, and hope this is all a symptom of hangover in the morning. Anyone want to join me?"

A pair of affirmatives. Alec and Rachel followed.

Meanwhile, the other Sophia looked to be digesting this confirmed information...

And suddenly broke out into the widest grin I ever saw.

I heard Lisa break out into a laughing fit.

"What? What's so funny?"

"Haa..Haaa...No...bad Soph...Ha...He's...take..hee..."

He? Who was...

Wait. If our Sophia hated Brian...

And this was our Sophia's opposite...

I saw her beaming at Brian. From the mortified expression on his face, he just came to the realization I did.

I moved a bit closer to my boyfriend than was strictly necessary.

A/N: Just a reminder I still live. I suppose you could call this Worm/Star Trek. Maybe.