1.4

A\N: This is kind of too short for a full chapter, though I think the ending is in the natural place. I split this off from 1.3 initially because I planned to write this from Lisa's perspective, and I have a loose 1-viewpoint-per-chapter rule, so the first person doesn't get too confusing, but I just could not make it work. Obviously she has her power going full bore, and keeping up with that level of insight was exhausting to think through and tedious to read through. I guess I get now why she's not a common viewpoint character. Think I should edit it into 1.3?

-- Tanya von Degurechaff --

She led me through a room stuffed to the brim with computers and henchmen (are they still henchmen if they're just doing office work for the supervillain?) and then into a bedroom. Actually, it was quite nice. I imagine the shelter's other residents were unaware of this luxury behind closed doors. Well, not my concern.

She turned to me and started, "W--"

Still reacting inhumanly fast, I immediately cut her off.

"I will let you know when you may speak."

She stopped, and for the next several seconds we just stared at each other. This isn't working. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, reaching for my lost equanimity. In half a minute I had found it, and half a minute later, I had the right line, the single way to thread this needle. I agonized over the choice for another half minute. It was worrying that despite it all, despite how very close her words had brought her to death, they had in the end been just the right thing to say. Was I still dancing to her tune?

Surely not, right? There was no way someone who could do that would waste their time scrabbling over territory in a disaster area. No way she would need to rely on me for her schemes when she could have suborned any of the local powers with a few minutes conversation. Being X may hate me personally, but Tattletale was just picking on me because I'm convenient. Well, it was probably Being X who had dropped me right in front of her. Still... I like to think I'm not the kind of person to jump at shadows, but she'd rattled me. And the matter was so easily resolved! All she can do is talk, and I can make sure she could never speak again. It wouldn't take a quarter second. I suppose in the end the only way to be certain whether this threat actually existed was to kill her, which would prove it to be simple paranoia, and wouldn't that be pathetic? One way forward, then.

"Mutual benefit, right? Very well. But the transactional relationship you seem to want is untenable. War is the continuation of diplomacy by other means, right? It follows that diplomacy is itself combat, and it's an arena in which I can't beat you, and why should I take a fight I know I'll lose? But if I move the fight to the grounds favorable to me, you die and neither of us benefit. So, let's not fight at all. Tie your fortunes to mine. Join my team."

I extend my hand. She did not move immediately to take it.

"You may speak."

"Tanya, what the hell? That's insane. You're insane. You can't go from promising my death with abso-fucking-lute conviction to offering to take me on as your protégé in 2 minutes."

I quirked an eyebrow, hand still extended.

"Perhaps you can't."

She reached up and rubbed her temples, eyes closing.

"Look, I see the logic. Ensure our incentives align and we both know we can trust each other's motives. But that's not enough. The position you're offering me is as a subordinate, not an equal partner. How can I trust you'll make the right calls?"

Well, fair enough.

"A major world power entrusted me with a battalion each of infantry, artillery, and aerial mages, plus a medium tank company. I did not disappoint them. My former command, the 203rd, enjoyed the lowest casualty rate per engagement of any mage unit in the war. On all sides, I'm told, but take Imperial Intelligence with a big grain of salt. I assure you I am more than qualified to manage a five person cape team."

She did not look impressed.

"New world, new threats. Even you can make mistakes in unfamiliar situations. What if the next person you decide is basically the Simurgh is Gallant? You kill him without provocation and we all get kill orders."

"Good reason to recruit a thinker, wouldn't you say? If I know I can trust you, I'll take your advice seriously."

"And the other option? I can refuse, right?"

"Of course. If you say no, we go our separate ways. You will not contact us and I won't hurt you. Simple. If I enslaved you, you'd naturally work against me, undermining me in subtle ways I can't counter. Exactly the situation I'm trying to avoid." I shook my head. "What sort of idiot would I have to be to put myself in that situation?"

Strangely, that was what did it. She grabbed my hand and gave it a good shake with a chuckle.

"Yeah, what sort of idiot?"

"So, first order of business, who is it that you need me to kill?"

She gave me an exasperated look.

"When did I say I needed you to kill someone?"

This time I allowed myself to roll my eyes at her.

"You said you wanted something from me. You know where my talents lie. Unless you wanted me to do your taxes?"

"No, you're completely right. But that's not the first order of business, boss."

"Oh?"

"I've got a working shower in here. All the hot water you could want."

My eyes narrowed. Now, this was serious.

"Where?"