JUMPING ON A WORM
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story.
Chapter 1: The Circus.
I let my forehead rested on the cool surface of the metallic table in the interrogation room of the PRT building. My stomach was protesting the absence of food and water and my bladder was almost full. My clothes were crumpled and I wanted to sell my soul for a hot shower.
Almost 24 hours since I kicked the wasp nest and it was far from being finished. I was alone with the cameras and microphones hidden in the room (better hidden than behind a giant mirror on the wall at least), waiting for the official PRT agent and my lawyer. I really hoped my parents were… I sighed. No, they weren't good, but I hoped they were relieved and proud of me.
You know, many fix-it stories just showed the hero with the support of everyone having a heart-to-heart discussion with the antagonist, showing solid proofs with many videos or simply saying one little sentence near a big wig and watched the carefully constructed lies of the opposition crumbled like a card house…
Yeah, right…
Oh, it began easily… My mother just looked at me in horror and my father slapped me before hugging me and asking for my forgiveness since he hit me in anger. I didn't make things better for them by saying that I merited such a slap.
They agreed that the situation was serious, especially since they knew the reputation of Alan Barnes. I reminded them that he was good as a "divorce" lawyer and not as a juvenile lawyer which prompted a discussion of my options and some consultations on the internet.
They asked me why I had such a turnabout and were perplexed by my explanation about a nightmare. I had, then, to explain that I triggered as a parahuman during the night after an intense dream about a sort of "what-if" scenario (couldn't really say anything about Worm and the fictions, but the message was understood that it was terrible for all).
After a little demonstration, they agreed it warranted to go to the police first before contacting the PRT. Guilt gnawed at me as I understood they were thinking that Emma and Sophia were indirectly responsible for my trigger… It was right and wrong but I couldn't really say anything about it…
Speaking to the police had been also easy. I just entered with my parents the nearby station and asked for someone to take my confession about a crime I committed.
They were perplexed at first. It was something that the school staff should have taken care of. The mention of Winslow and its gangs, that one of the bullies was the daughter of a powerful lawyer, that another bully was the current and only track-star of the school and that "we" ensured that the staff closed their eyes on our depredations made the police more interested and they searched the public server of the school for proof.
Principle Blackwell, despite her flaws, was still a competent administrative if not a competent educator. She had most of the incidents I reported on files, but it wasn't presented as bullying of course. A simple reading of what she wrote, knowing about what I and the Trio did, showed a different picture. After presenting my own proofs, I asked the police to give me a lawyer since my parents didn't know anyone in this profession except Alan Barnes.
The circus then began with interrogations and counter-interrogation. No, it wasn't a joke. Yes, I was guilty. No, I wasn't forced either by my parents or by the other members of the Trio. Yes, I believed they were traumatized girls because it wasn't normal behavior. No, I didn't want a deal, I was guilty. No, it wasn't only for myself but for the victim who was still being bullied.
Why didn't the bullied speak herself? Because she still considered Emma her best friend and wanted to know why she was doing this. My role? The cute one who smiled to teachers while putting glue on Taylor's seat and spitting paper-balls in her hair or the one who stole her homework and gave it to the teachers as mine.
The lawyer in service during my odyssey was a reasonable one. Jimmy Anderson was his name and I almost smiled thinking about some famous quotes from "Matrix". He promptly understood I wasn't here to escape what I did so he pointed at me that I was in for at least some community service and a permanent note in my school file. It was the only time I looked at my parents (oh god, why do they had tears in their eyes then) and they nodded at me.
It was then as the case file was finalized hours later that the PRT entered the fray. A few keywords such as "Sophia Hess" in the police's servers probably raised a few flags in the PRT mainframe and alerted whoever was in charge that a problem was developing.
Fortunately, the PRT agent who entered the police station wasn't the one in charge of Sophia Hess. She was PRT sergeant Fokker, a solid woman with a no-nonsense view and I felt she had some personal encounters with the abrasive side of one Shadow Stalker. She promptly DIDN'T stop the investigation, she simply stated that due to the gangs' presence in Winslow, the PRT will help the police in this particular case.
One policeman asked if a Ward was at Winslow and the "no comment" answer made them nodded. She looked at everything they uncovered and asked me a few questions, mostly a repeat of why I was doing this. She then talked to my parents, asking the permission to have me, my lawyer and them at the PRT building for more questions but related to the PRT side. My father had a bittersweet smile as he looked at me while giving his approbation.
A standard and unmarked van took us to the PRT building and I was impressed by the passive and active security measures: armed PRT agents, some I swear were even disguised as visitors, cameras both hidden and visible, electronic portals which scanned everything passing and whatnot. I could almost guess where the seams in the walls, floor, and ceiling could open to reveal defensive turrets armed to the teeth.
After signing an NDA document (that I read entirely and asked my lawyer if I should sign), the circus continued for an "encore".
The PRT presented each piece of proof I revealed and asked again the same questions as the police. After a few instants, another agent would enter the interrogation room and would ask the same questions but in a different order and with different words.
Despite their efforts, I could see that they were focused on what I thought and knew about Sophia Hess and why I was sure she was a traumatized girl lashing out at the world to prevent being hurt again. Many times, the lawyer reminded the agents that I was a cooperating minor and that only the police could deal with me since it wasn't really their jurisdiction. I hid a cringe at that.
Finally, the remake of the ordeal of Sisyphus ended and my lawyer and my parents were taken to the office of Director Piggot for some finalizing while my forehead was making friend with the surface of the table. A good thing I was soon promised some water and donuts and a visit to the toilets.
And the other shoe fell. The very same Director Piggot that was supposed to be talking with my parents entered the interrogation room and with folders, not food.
My eyes widened as Emily Piggot was someone to meet to really understand her character in Worm. I couldn't see in her assured walk the problems she had with her legs and while she was over-weighted, it didn't reduce the sheer impact of her charisma. This was a woman that people would follow into hell if need be and if she could retake the field… This was not a person to cross…
She sat in silence and began to read her folders without so much a blink in my direction. Wow… I was impressed, I knew it was a tactic to have the upper hand on me but still, the real Madison Clements … No… Never think like that… The "ME" of my past would have cracked thirty seconds after her entry.
I blinked several times but remained silent and focused on her. A good thing, she had a name-tag so I wouldn't be too suspicious by recognizing her. The folders she was opening and consulting seemed to be genuine about me according to the photos and some text fragments I managed to decipher.
After a few minutes, I perceived a very faint electronic noise coming from her left ear and she finally looked at me. I gulped at the intensity of her gaze. Medusa can go home.
"Madison Clements. Do you know why I am here and not with your parents?"
Wow… What a voice… Commanding, assured and… respectful..?
"I asked myself that when you entered, Director Piggot." I shook my head. "The very fact that I was required to sign an NDA in the PRT building was… a little suspect..."
"Oh..?"
"Even if a Ward is at Winslow, the PRT shouldn't have acted so… directly. A reasonable hypothesis is that same Ward is… more or less implied in my case..."
"Continue."
I breathed in. God, I could swear her presence just increased. "I first thought that it was because of me since… I am a parahuman."
"Are you?" Oh, gods, intensity raising and something rather sharp entered her tone. I felt like I was before twin particle beams and I was sure that the faint electronic whine coming from around was the security system priming the defensive turrets.
"The intensive nightmare I spoke of in my deposition was my trigger event. My parents and I decided to contact your agency after the resolve of the police case. I don't know who your Ward is, but it can only be either Emma Barnes, Sophia Hess or Taylor Hebert as no other people are as implied as me and them."
"So you plainly recognize your bullying."
I bit my lower lip but maintained my eyes locked with hers. "I'm a monster, Director. I tortured a girl for more than a year for absolutely nothing but wanting to be in a clique. Emma Barnes and Sophia Hess are two deeply deranged girls with an unresolved trauma. Taylor Hebert must be withdrawn from Winslow or she'll break from what we did."
Her Medusa-like gaze remained locked on me and I hoped I didn't blink too much before she returned to her folders.
"What do you wish of our agency?"
I took a deep breath and hoped I won't sound like I was in a "Perry Mason" episode. "Since you are recording this conversation, I acknowledge that I'm a Parahuman under your jurisdiction. With the accord of my parents, I am formally waiving away my rights and placing myself at your mercy. My only wish is that you do everything in your power to help those three girls. Emma and Sophia need desperately some psychological help and Taylor must be out of the toxic environment of Winslow." I bowed my head to her. "Please..."
"You understand that under the hypothesis of a Ward among them, I cannot do something for two of them."
"Yes, but you have the power to hinder or help their cases… Please, I'm begging you..."
I risked looking at her but wasn't sure of what I was reading in her eyes. Weariness? Disgust? A little fear? Some respect? Wondering about what I was doing?
"We will see. An agent will escort you to sanitary facilities and then the cafeteria. I'll discuss future arrangements with your parents and lawyer, but you will remain in this building until we can test if you are truly a Parahuman and only then a decision will be taken. Your cooperation is mandatory if you want your case promptly and fairly solved. Do not attempt to use your power unless ordered and for your safety what is your power?"
"I used it only once to prove that to my parents. According to what I felt then and my instincts, I'm a changer."