Disclaimer: I own Jackshit.
AN: Ok, at long last! This damned chapter is done and out of the way! I swear to job, this thing was fighting me half the time and I'm still not too sure about the characterisation of some of it, but I think it's ok, as things go. Still, should be interesting to help progress the story, especially since I'm starting to lose track of some of the ideas I've got for the later sections of this story.
Still, regardless, hope you lot enjoy! :D
XXX
Looking over the Blue that had volunteered for me to heal them with a critical gaze, I couldn't help but notice just how thin they all were.
All of them, regardless of gender, were practically skeletons wrapped in a thin layer of skin, their faces gaunt and almost hollow in appearance, while their hair had all been bleached of all colour. It reminded me of something I had once heard, about how stress produced hormones that could deplete melanocyte stem cells in the hair, causing the hair to be left white or grey as a result. Admittedly, I had only heard about that in the past, but seeing it in person was an experience and a half, especially as I noticed the scars that many of them carried.
Immediately, I could make out that those scars were a bit too... Regular to be from battle. One of the men present had his shirt off and was only wearing a pair of trousers, allowing me to see the scars of what looked like tube connection points that lined several spots on his arms and, from what I could see, his back as well. His face was also lined with scars, giving me the impression of hooks having been connected to his mouth and eyes to hold them open. Memories floated to the surface, of both meta-knowledge and of experiences of the Old Amy, both painting a picture that I couldn't help but find utterly disgusting and wretched. I barely managed to hide my disgust for what had happened to them, as I looked the other volunteers over.
The Old Amy had seen enough people, both injured and whole, to be able to tell whether a scar came from battle or from... Other sources. Certainly, I wasn't stupid enough to think that the scars were from a fight, especially since I couldn't picture someone being so careful to carve lines like those, with a knife, in the middle of a battlefield while keeping them alive and incapable of fighting back. Almost immediately, similarities started to build in the back of my mind, reminders of work that the Old Amy had carried out that were never mentioned in the Worm storyline, either because they weren't relevant, or because this Amy had come from a different timeline than canon. I was assuming that the latter was true, since Panacea wasn't picked up by a big portal in Canberra in the original timeline.
Even so, the tangent of thought that came with that could hardly side track me for long as I mentally compared images: On one side, I had these victims of horrid experiments done by less-than-moral scientists at the orders of one Admiral Maylander; On the other hand, I had the victims of whatever madness that Bonesaw, Jack Slash and the rest of the Slaughterhouse Nine could think up. Survivors were few and far between, but that wasn't to say that there hadn't been survivors of their attacks. Just that thought was enough to cause a dozen more memories to come back as I looked the others over, reminders of attacks by the Nine stretching back years, including a few of the victims that had to be healed personally by the Old Amy. Those memories, in particular, stood out like a floodlight in a dark room, impossible to ignore and so vivid in detail that I could even remember the smell of burnt flesh, disinfectants and whatever else they used to clean hospitals with. Even in my own memories, I could remember my own trips to hospitals, and it always left me feeling as though someone had taken a match to the inside of my nose.
Shaking my head, I shoved those memories and emotions down before I caught sight of the High Councilor standing next to another woman; An older, blond woman that looked to be in her late thirties and wearing a light blue uniform that consisted of a pair of tight trousers and an equally tight top that did a lot to still show that the woman was in good shape. Mind you, given that I could now consider two or three centuries to be 'middle aged' for a Blue, especially with their life span, actually figuring out exact ages was a tad bit on the side of difficult without the use of my power. Then again, given how I could see her giving commands to the others medics and doctors, I guessed that she was the one in charge, probably the most senior since the others looked to be in their late teens or early twenties.
As I approached the two, I did my best to stay out of anyone's way. The Old Amy's experiences in hospitals helped me stay ahead of things, preventing me from crashing into someone doing one kind of test or another, while also preventing me from being hit by someone not paying enough attention to where they were going while carrying various items. A good thing as well, since I doubted anyone would enjoy having to clean up who-knew-how-expensive drugs or other supplies, let alone the various pieces of equipment.
Approaching the two of them, I saw Siphon turn to look at me, swiftly followed by the other woman, who narrowed her eyes as I felt her gaze sliding up and down my figure. I did the same in turn, and picked out the tension in her body that marked her as something of a combat veteran just by the way she held herself. Old memories showed me comparisons with a side-by-side of both PRT Troopers, Guild members and various other veteran Heroes from the Protectorate and other organizations from across the globe. A quick movement caught my eye as I glanced down at the woman's empty hands to see them squeeze slightly, almost like they were expecting to find a pistol grip or weapon handle there.
"Ah, Ms Dallon, allow me to introduce you to Senior Lifeworker Nyma. She insisted upon coming to observe your demonstration and to ensure that the health of the volunteers." Siphon introduced, gesturing to the woman, who had remained silent as he spoke, all the while giving me a narrow-eyed stare. It was a look I could understand, if only through seeing it in the memories of another, as the look of a doctor trying to decide if he or she was going to allow you near their patients.
Given that this was a woman with a clear military background, I decided that it was better to be respectful as I nodded into a shallow bow with a neutral expression. It seemed to work, since I could see the woman raise an eyebrow as Siphon's lips twitched a bit up at the corners as I guessed that it was probably the best thing to do before I straightened back up and spoke.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Senior Lifeworker, and I thank you for the opportunity to heal these men and women, since it is clear they have been through enough as it is." I stated formally as I looked at the probably-older woman with a straight face. For a second, she said nothing as her eyes traced over my face, looking for... Something. Honestly, I had no idea what, but her stare lasted for a time before it seemed to soften, at least somewhat.
"... Yes, yes they have. Admittedly, many of them are on the road to recovery on their own, but many of them jumped at the chance to speed up their recovery, especially given what the High Councilor passed on to us regarding the nature of your abilities. I'll admit, I have some reservations about them, but I will keep them as such unless, or until, they cause harm to any of the patients under my care." Nyma replied, trailing into a hard tone that implied a great many things at once. Namely, that she'd hold me personally responsible for any screw-ups that led to anyone dying, though, I doubted that her ire would be directed solely at me, given the way that she glanced over at Siphon.
"I understand, and once more, I thank you for extending this trust to me. Though, before I begin, may I ask two questions of you?" Truthfully, I already knew the answer to at least one of the questions I planned to ask, but it was better to confirm the facts rather than to work on an assumption. At the question, the Lifeworker nodded with a raised eyebrow, glancing questioningly at Siphon before looking back at me.
"You may." Was all she offered as far as words went, but curiosity was present for all those watching. Even in the corner of my eye, I could see the guards around the room watching me with interest and caution in equal measure. At the back of the room, I could even see Vana, her eyes locked on my skull and seemingly memorizing everything I did. Given what I knew of her character, I didn't doubt that for an instant, even as I returned to the conversation at hand.
"Firstly, I would like to ask if you know the names of those responsible for torturing and experimenting upon these men and women?" I asked simply, forcing my tone to be as flat as possible, Not an easy thing as I remembered scenes from the comics, including several scenes were Finn, the brother of Aspen Matthews, was experimented on and practically tortured by one of Maylander's thugs; One Chris Calloway, who happily ordered the Blue to be electrocuted again, after a much shorter demonstration of how electricity can disrupt the watery form of a Blue.
"... And you wish to know this, why?" Nyma asked, still curious, but seemingly less guarded and tense as I glanced over at the various patients, my eyes immediately moving to those same wounds that reminded me of a connection port so very much.
"... What happened to these people was torture and inhumane experimentation, there is just no other way to describe it, even if only by the scars that remain. I've healed enough people to be able to tell battle wounds from the types of scars left by behind by those types of experiences, hell, I've seen worse than this since I've started healing. Even so, I want to know, if only so that if I ever get the chance to meet them I can pass on my... Opinion of both the results of their work and the morality involved... Or lack there-of." Already, I could place at least two names. I knew that Admiral Maylander had been responsible for the experiments that had caused this, and Chris Calloway had taken over for him at some point, but I also knew that a lot of scientists with few morals had willingly followed those orders, and the excuse of 'I was just following orders' stopped being a valid excuse a long time ago.
To the side, I saw Siphon mouthing something, seemingly coming to a realization. I could guess about what that might have been, but I could also be completely incorrect about it as well, so probably better to just wait and see at this point in time. Returning my attention back to the Lifeworker, I saw her give me a once over with an unreadable expression before nodding once.
"... I see... Though, the final decision rests with the High Councilor and his fellows, I can see what I can do, though I make no promises. The other question?" I forced down a smile at that, already thinking about what I would do to those bastards, assuming they were still alive and not rotting in a shallow grave somewhere, if I got a chance. However, I quickly pushed those thoughts from my mind to focus on the present, especially since this question was a lot more valid to the current situation.
"Which volunteer would you like me to start with?" I asked simply and without difficulty. Nyma raised an eyebrow at that, but I got the distinct impression that she quite liked the fact that I was consulting her about this rather than just starting without saying anything. Admittedly, I could have, but I'd rather remain alive than join the ranks of the dead by pissing off an overly-protective Blue doctor-equivalent with a military background. Siphon seemed somewhat amused by it, if his smirk was anything to go by. Cannon, even while he was talking quietly with Killian and Kiani on the other side of the room, glanced in my direction, followed by the other two, even as he smirked in turn. I got the feeling that I was missing some context, but noted it down and put it as something to look into later.
"We can start with Odal first, he was among those who spent the least amount of time in captivity, and then move onwards to more and more heavily disabled volunteers from there. I've already had my staff line them up in a similar order on the mats. Aside from that, I was told that you require some form of organic matter to use? Is there a specific type that works best, or is it a matter of preference?" Nyma stated before shifting, causing me to raise an eyebrow at the questions as I glanced at Siphon again, more visibly this time as I considered whether he just hadn't told her everything, or if she was just checking to her own satisfaction.
Admittedly, it could have been both, or neither, but couldn't see that being the case. Paranoid assumptions, in certain situations, could only go so far for every minor detail before they reached the point of insanity. I was of the mind that this was one such situation, since I could assume that everyone in the room probably knew about what abilities I had let slip. Considering that Vana had come explicitly to see if my claims were true, I could say that it was a safe bet that everyone knew something about my abilities. Whether that was the full truth or not, I couldn't tell. Then again, I had Casque in the corner, watching like a hawk while doing a good impression of a statue. Chances were also good that people would probably come to see what had warranted the attention of a member of the Black.
"Neither. I can work with any form of biological matter, living or dead, and use it as a feedstock to let me repair and replace missing or damaged tissues within a patient. Back on Earth Bet, the hospital I worked at often used meat purchased in bulk from a number of local Butcher's shops and farms. However, if I can't get that, then anything that could even remotely be called organic could work just as well." I remarked with a shrug. Honestly, I could easily tell that I was giving away a lot of information, more than a few hints of the true scope of my abilities. Whether the Blue and the Black managed to do so, however, wasn't my problem, as I was more focused on being cooperative and not getting myself killed by being stupid.
"Then we can begin as soon as you are ready, Ms. Dallon." Nyma stated with a nod, surprising me with the tinges of respect that I could hear in her voice as I nodded back in turn. A glance at Siphon shows him smiling very slightly, a look of interest in his eyes as my eyes slide over the rest of the room. Everyone, even Casque, was now paying a lot more attention me as I considered the simple fact that, in a room as small as this one, a normal conversation could easily be heard unless in hushed tones. Instantly, I recalled that Blue hearing was a lot better than Human hearing, so even a whispered conversation over the same distance would have done very little to change that fact. A part of me was slightly annoyed by the betrayal of implied privacy, but another part was simply resigned. These people came for a show, and now, they could tell, it was time for me to deliver on my promises.
With a bit of effort, my irritation was suppressed as I gestured towards the volunteers with a smile.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's begin."
XXX
Siphon, along with everyone else in the room, watched with interest as Amy kneeled down next to Odal and smiled gently in that way that all doctors, medics and Lifeworkers seemed to do. Given his own background, Siphon could make out just how practiced and natural the expression was on her face, long hours of experience having engrained it into her muscle memory in much the same way he had been forced how to keep a straight face. If anything, the High Councilor felt the need to remind himself of just how dangerous the young woman's homeworld was, along with the potential patients that she might have healed over the course of her career. As such, being able to put on a friendly and approachable appearance while reattaching a lost limb could have been seen as a survival mechanism to prevent someone from lashing out.
His musings continued even as he observed Panacea looking over the reclined form of Odal as more Lifeworkers arrived, carrying a series of coolers filled with raw meat.
"Do I have permission to heal you?" The Healer seemed to ask, one hand by her knees while the other was in the air, hovering by the injured soldier's arm. Even from where he was standing, he could feel the raised eyebrows around the room, including his own, as they all wondered about the need for such a question. A glance over at Nyma showed that the Senior Lifeworker was observing the situation was a keen eye for detail as a dozen other Lifeworkers were observing in turn, medical devices at the ready while others were either making notes or reviewing something on any number of data pads.
Looking back at Odal and the other volunteers, the High Councilor could see them looking at her, probably wondering the same thing that the rest of them were about that very question. The scared soldier glanced over at Siphon, who gave a very shallow nod even as he saw the way that Panacea followed the line of sight to him, before Odal looked back at Amy in turn. Odal seemed to mull over his answer for a few moments, staring intensely at the young woman's face before giving a sharp, shallow nod of his own.
"... Sure, let's just this over with." The tone was blunt and curt, but Siphon could hear the barest hints of hope under it, along with some amount of resignation. It was something Siphon could understand, since he knew that many of the volunteers were hoping this could get them back on their feet and back with their friends and families. However, even with that hope, many of them were resigned to being disappointed and facing the prospect of another let-down.
Still, if this seemed to discourage the Dallon, she didn't let it show as she placed a hand on Odal's exposed forearm for a moment. Contact was made and they all watched, expecting something to happen even as Amy simply turned to one of the closest Lifeworker.
"Before suffering these injuries, can you tell me what his total weight was, in kilograms if possible?" She asked as the Lifeworker in question paused for a second to look at her before nodding once. Rapidly, the male tapped away on his tablet before looking back up at the Healer.
"According to his last check-up before the... Incident, Odal was around ninety-seven point eight kilograms, about average for a member of our kind." The Lifeworker noted as Panacea nodded at that. From his position, Siphon and Cannon could both see her mouthing the same number for a second before glancing over at the coolers that had been piled up at one side of the room, stacked neatly so as to not take up too much space.
"Can you get me about... let's say sixty kilograms of the raw meat that was brought in here? I probably won't need all of it, but I'd rather have too much rather than not enough to fully repair the damage done. What's left over, I can use to heal the next person in the line. Assuming that is alright with you and the Senior Lifeworker?" Panacea stated, looking from the original Lifeworker, to the Nyma as she stood to one side and watched with keen eyes for any sign of danger to her patients. The male Lifeworker turned to look at his superior before she turned to look at him in turn, nodding only once in a slow manner before returning to look at the Human among them. It didn't take more than a minute for the needed raw meat to arrive, placed on a tray that was set down within arm's reach of Odal as everyone watched with interest at what happened next.
"Ok, you mind just putting your hand on the meat for me?" Amy asked Odal as he grunted, but complied as Panacea smiled back at him for that. Placing a hand back on his arm, she looked back up at him for a moment before glancing down at the pile of meat.
"Thank you. Now, just bear with me for a bit, this might feel a bit weird." The Healer stated as Odal raised an eyebrow, as did a few others, when he heard that and almost opened his mouth to ask the same question that was on everyone's mind.
None of them got the chance, as they all looked on and felt their jaws dropping in surprise and amazement at what they now witnessed.
Siphon was no exception to this, being able to see the shocked expressions on others, and could feel the expression of shock on his own face as his eyes shot wide, mouth dropped wide open and what mental discipline he had utterly shattered at the sight before him. They all watched, with eyesight far better than what was present in a baseline Human, as the stack of meat fused into a single chunk that, in turn, seemed to fuse with Odal's hand even as if it was being sucked through his skin and up his arm. Bubbles of, from what Siphon was willing to guess were, raw organic matter travelled up Odal's arm and seemed to fade as they transitioned up towards the shoulder, slowly creeping further and further up his body as what was left behind became more and more apparent by the contrast.
Thin, atrophied muscles were replaced with toned and well defined arms that spoke of hard training and conditioning, the kind that took a lifetime to engrain into the body. Scars disappeared and skin smoothed out to remove traces of the horrible experiences that Odal had undergone at the hands of the morally lacking Human scientists. Siphon even watched as the scars on the other man's face seemed to fade to nothing, leaving untouched skin as bleached hair transitioned back to its original black colour, surging from the roots up to the ends of each hair.
Off to the side, Siphon heard something hitting the ground, vaguely aware of it as he saw it from the corner of his eye; A data pad dropped by one of the younger Lifeworkers by Nyma's side. No one paid it any attention, too transfixed even as Odal remained motionless, seemingly caught between amazement and utterly petrified of what was happening to him. Even the guards, who were supposed to be paying attention to their surroundings, were staring at the sight with stupefied shock as they watched the impossible taking place right in front of them.
By the time half a minute had passed, Panacea finally removed her hand and smiled as the, much smaller, chunk of meat fell back to the tray with a subdued thud before offering that same hand to Odal. Odal, still in some amount of shock, only looked between the hand and the face of the woman that had just undone the very damage that could have ruined his life, right before he took it in answer to the wordless question in her gaze. Gently, they watched as Panacea stood up as she lifted Odal with her, who slowly stood under his own strength, with no support being needed as he stood with the body any member of the Council Defense Strike Force would be proud of. Cannon was smiling as he saw the work done even as Killian was standing by the Commander's shoulder, narrowed eyes pointed directly at the Human while a low whistle went through the room, carried from one of the guards by the door. Siphon tilted his head just enough to look over his shoulder, seeing the groupings and offering a slight smile and an amused look. He understood why they were amazed, hell, he agreed with them, but he also knew that guardsmen had to be, somewhat, professional while on duty.
Admittedly, some could argue that he and his comrades had had a slightly different standard for professionalism, but that was neither here nor there.
"Ok, I've fixed up the atrophied muscles, some slight nerve damage, and recalibrated your nerves so they should work just as well as before. Still, you might want to try walking around a bit, if only to get rid of any pins and needles you're feeling." Amy stated simply with the same, small smile that she had started with, saying the words not as possible things he might be feeling, but facts. Cannon glanced at Siphon, catching the eye of the High Councilor, both remembering her words and reminding themselves that there was far more to them than might have been apparent.
"... Yeah... Yeah, sure..." Odal mumbled, only partly answering Panacea and mostly talking to himself as his eyes remained firmly fixed on his two legs. He was so focused on them, he didn't even notice when Panacea let go of his hand, and he stayed upright without difficulty. With his eyes still firmly locked on his own feet, he took a step forwards. The first step was tentative and slow, filled with unsure energy even as he balanced on one leg with no more difficulty than he had with two before setting his foot down.
With that first step, came others. A second step, then a third followed by a fourth, fifth and sixth step, becoming faster with each one until Odal had gone from an unsure shuffle, to a full run as he did a lap of the room. Siphon smiled even as Lifeworkers suddenly snapped out of their shock, surprise and awe as they raced over to where Odal was coming back around to finish his lap. A look at the volunteers told him everything he needed to know, as many of them shifted their gazes between Odal and Panacea, hope and awe playing across their features in equal measure as they seemed to sit up just a bit straighter, knowing things were looking up for them.
Looking back, Siphon was just in time to see Odal come around and almost crash into the Human Healer, stopping just before impact and picking her up in two powerful arms and lifting her off her feet with ease. A few guards chuckled as they saw that, many hearing Odal muttering his thanks through tears of joy. The bone-crushing embrace was quickly stopped, if only for fear of damaging Panacea, as Nyma pulled the soldier off her before that could happen.
Even as that happened, as Cannon chuckled at the enthusiasm of Odal and patted the man on the back; As Siphon walked over to Panacea, wishing to ensure that she was alright as Killian and Kiani approached the volunteers, helping them to shift around and bringing supplies closer; Two other parties in the room watched, very different expressions playing across their faces. For Vana, it was a look of great interest and of thoughtful contemplation, wondering how she could leverage the sudden appearance of such an individual for the sake of her people. For Casque, however, his face remained as impassive and unchanging as a rock face, his eyes taking in every single muscle twitch as he carefully studied each person in the room. Senses beyond that of any member of Humanity or the Blue reached out and studied every action, while ages of experience allowed him to quickly piece together the puzzle presented to him.
Still, this did nothing to change the fact that, regardless of what happened in the room, his eyes still remained focused on one individual: Panacea.
And in the back of said eyes, a small glimmer of emotion flickered to life.
XXX
I had to admit, the volunteers were nothing, if not grateful for what I had done for them. Even after I had fixed them all up, as Lifeworkers hovered around them and ensured that they were in perfect health, they still hung around me, thanking me for my work. Handshakes, hugs, pats on the back and plenty of tears seemed to have become the order of the day, and it filled me with more than a bit of satisfaction seeing them all back up and running. Admittedly, it was tinged with dull aches and pains from my own slightly aching ribs, crushed hand and sore shoulders, but that was a minor thing compared to this.
Looking back at the memories of the Old Amy, I suppressed the need to shake my head, wondering how she grew so desensitized to seeing this; Of doing what should have been medically impossible and giving someone back a chance at their life. Truthfully, I could probably guess that it had to do with a mixture of things: The pressure from Carol; The constant push to cure every ailment no matter how mundane it was; The mind-fuckery that had been caused by the Shard connected straight to her brain. That last point was enough to make me pause for a second.
Since I was now Amy Dallon, or just using her body, then that technically meant that the Shard was hooked straight up to my brain. Did that mean that it had a hotline straight to what I was thinking? A backdoor into my nervous system? Admittedly, I hadn't felt anything that I could consider as being outside the norm for me, but who could say how long that would last? Long term conditioning was something I knew was possible, entire studies had been carried out on the subject. Hell, a very good example of that was Pavlov's Dog, where they conditioned a dog to salivate every time it saw a given individual, because it knew that said individual was going to give it food. Thinking back, I could vaguely remember that they managed to fully complete this conditioning after only a few repeats. It was a rather brute-force method done to something that didn't share the same mental development as a Human, but it did make me wonder just what form my own conditions might come in...
Shaking my head slightly, I turned back to reality for a time, plastering a smile back on to my face as I saw the approaching form of Siphon, followed by Nyma, with Cannon, Killian and Kiani in the distance. A look to the side showed that Casque and Vana were still present, the former having shifted a fair bit closer while the latter having a quiet conversation with another member of the Arctic Blue that seemed to have slipped in when I wasn't paying attention. Noting those facts down, I turned back to face Siphon as he finally came within range of polite conversation.
"I trust this has been a sufficient demonstration of my capabilities? Or, if you want, I can start working through the current rosters of the closest Hospitals for you." I quipped as Siphon smiled and shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes even as I saw Nyma's lips twitch upwards.
"No, I don't believe that will be needed, especially not after seeing that you do, in fact, deserve that name of yours." Siphon stated with a smile as I shrugged, not really caring as I already knew how well-earned that name was. I had the memories to prove it, and the capability to back it up if anyone wanted to try it.
"I'd imagine so, but I doubt you just came over here to compliment me on a job well done... Well, not entirely, anyway." I remarked simply as I looked over the volunteers once more. Lifeworkers were having to gently remind them to sit down and let them run a few checkups to ensure there weren't any unforeseen side-effects of my ability to heal them. Naturally, I could see that none of them enjoyed it as a few of them tried to make a break for it before being turned around by the various guards around the room.
"Partially. I will admit that I wish to thank you for the work you have done to speed up the recovery of these men and women. Most of them are old friends of mine, so even if they didn't thank you, I'd still want to thank you on their behalf, along with my own. However, the main reason I wished to speak with you was related to the volunteers, or, those that wanted to be healed after it was confirmed that your abilities were as effective as you said." I nodded at that, understanding that this group had been the trial run to ensure that my abilities were up to par. Judging by the excited chatter I could hear among the various Lifeworkers as they bounced between annoyed patients, I could probably say that they were happy with the results.
"How many more want to be healed?" I asked after a moment of consideration, mentally calculating the time it might take to heal a single Blue before trying to figure out the best way to allocate time based on that. The fact I didn't need to worry overly much about Thinker headaches was a godsend in this manner, since I could keep working for longer periods of time, but I still had to keep an eye on the mental fatigue that might build up from over working things. Still, Siphon grimaced as I asked the question, telling me that it was a rather significant number, all told.
"A little over three hundred others, all with similar injuries from being used as experiments and lab rats. If you're willing, we were planning to have them ready to be healed by tomorrow, along with getting them to a central location and supplying you with the needed materials to ensure it's all done. And before you ask, yes, we will compensate you for healing them, though how we do so can be agreed upon at a later time, so long as they are within reason, of course." Siphon stated, adding that last bit quickly and causing me to snort slightly at the rushed addition to the request of his. Absently, I did a bit of math in the back of my head.
Assuming that each Blue was as wounded as the worst individual I'd already healed, then it could take me between twenty and thirty seconds per Blue. Multiplied by three hundred, that was... nine thousand seconds, or one hundred and fifty minutes. So, assuming that I took no breaks at all and was efficient to an inhumanly degree, I could have them all healed inside of two and a half hours. Taking everything else into account, and I felt it was probably going to take a fair bit of time longer than that, probably in the range of five to six hours given how both I and the volunteers had been shuffled around, along with the rather enthusiastic thanks given by those I'd healed. Still, the reward for doing such was certainly something to look forwards to, especially since it had been left rather open-ended so long as they didn't dip into the stupid end of the spectrum.
However, before I could offer my own answer, a familiar voice joined the conversation as I turned to see Vana and her conversation partner standing to one side of the three of us. The new Arctic Blue stood with a relatively flat expression, while standing just behind Vana's shoulder as a clear bodyguard for a woman who clearly didn't need it. Probably just fell into the position from long experience of letting her do the talking while staying silent, but I could guess that it wasn't all for show, considering the build the guy sported. In contrast, Vana offered a seemingly friendly smile as she glanced between both Siphon and myself, I could feel her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer, seemingly being dragged over my frame before moving onwards.
"I apologize, but I feel that if the good High Councilor is making such a request, then shouldn't I be within my rights to do so as well? Especially since, As you've already heard when you entered, my people suffered greatly during their encounters with the warriors of Aescylot, not all of them survived the encounter, but those that did were crippled extensively by their injuries. I will, of course, personally see to it that you are rewarded for your efforts in healing them, along with our, and my own, debt of gratitude... Assuming that you are willing to do so, that is." I raised an eyebrow at that, already feeling the gears in the back of my mind slowly turning as I tried to consider the various angels that the Arctic Queen might have been coming from. Admittedly, this could have been the move of a queen trying to do right by her people, but given what I knew about Vana, I had my doubts about that being the primary reason for this course of action. Though, I considered, could I really afford to not jump at this kind of opportunity? Even with the potential long term consequences that might follow?
"... Before I agree to anything, could you tell me how many people you want me to heal? Along with that, can you give me any general information about the kinds of injuries they might have? Anything related to any kind of physical damage can be fixed, but I don't do Brains." I stated simply as I saw Vana raise an eyebrow in turn, curiosity clearly visible in her eyes as she kept her smile up at that.
"Oh? And why not? With your talents, I would have thought that any kind of injury, regardless of where it was located, would be a trivial matter for you to fix." My shoulders rose and feel with an apparent casualness that I still hadn't felt since I woke up. A look out the corner of my eye showed that Siphon was paying exacting attention even as Nyma was skimming over her pad, probably looking through patients with brain-related traumas, either to remove from the waiting list, or for some other reason, I just didn't know.
"You're right, Councilor, in that healing the brain is not beyond my capabilities. However, that would merely be for the physical organ itself. Unless I have a perfect before and after picture, down to the very last neural pathway built between each, individual neuron, then I run the risk of doing more harm than good. After all, I have no way to know what was held within that missing Brain matter, so the result could leave the patient with anything from a few missing memories, to personality shifts, or entirely new mental disorders. At the very worst case, I could render someone into little more than a breathing vegetable simply by trying to heal their brain. So yes, while it can be done from a purely biological stand point, I would still refuse to do it on the off chance that I would just make things worse." I explained simply. In truth, what I had said was accurate as I was more than aware of just how fragile and how adaptable the Human brain was. Though, that was only really the case for those who managed to live through massive head trauma that resulted in missing sections of the brain. However, I wasn't about to tell them that, especially since I could use the false image presented to my advantage.
Especially since I had far less qualms about the idea of modifying or adding to an existing brain structure, rather than regrowing missing chunks. If only because the end result was something I could control to suit my needs and further create an advantage for myself. I already had a few ideas for how to use such a concept, but using it would take a bit of time, even more so since I didn't want to run into anything half-cocked.
"I understand, and can fully respect, your reasons, Ms. Dallon, if only because I know all too well just how much damage can be done by such actions due to... Prior events..." Vana intoned solemnly, her eyes glazed as she looked over to one side as I simply waited. I didn't need to have the Old Amy's memories to recognize the look of loss in her eyes, though, my own knowledge of her two, probably, dead sons helped since it gave me context that I wouldn't have had otherwise. Even then, it didn't take long for Vana to recover from her trip down memory lane before pulling herself back up and addressing me with her smile back in place. It was a frail thing, a mask to cover the emotions I could see in her eyes from her little remembrance, but I didn't call her on that even as she continued onwards.
"... I do not have the exact information with me, but I will have it sent to the High Councilor when I next have an opportunity. Now, I thank you for your time and efforts, but I'm afraid I must be off as I have other duties to attend to." I bowed slightly with Siphon, who did so a bit shallower than my own bow, but Vana didn't pay him any mind as she directed her own bow my way. Absently, I made a mental note to look up any Blue cultural references for formal greetings and the like, since I honestly was just guessing at what I was doing. However, with that thought, both of us rose from our bows and before Vana and her guard/assistant walked off.
"Interesting woman..." I muttered to myself, before I heard Siphon snort in what sounded like bitter amusement.
"Depends on what you might consider 'interesting'. I know a few people who would use far more... Abrasive language to describe her." Siphon noted as I offered a half-shrug in turn, understanding what he meant all too well.
"I prefer to judge people on the actions I've seen rather than solely on the word of others, if only because I seen too many good people being labeled as Villains simply because they wouldn't bow to the demands of others, or because they had very little choice in the matter. Like a good man committing a crime to feed his family." I commented as Siphon absorbed that for a moment before nodding slowly, understanding what I was saying, even if he probably didn't agree with it, at least in the case of Vana.
"I can respect that kind of view, though, I'd warn you to tread carefully around Vana. The woman is, admittedly, a genius, but like all geniuses through the ages, she straddles the line between that and utter madness." Siphon remarked, his own tone conveying his personal experience with the woman, though I knew that it was mostly from the suffering of Cannon. I nodded along, but chose not to comment on his own opinion, since I doubted that I could change his mind with a few words and metaphors. Instead, I decided to change the subject.
"So, with that out of the way, what happens now?" I asked, partly out of curiosity, but also because I wanted to know if I could get some time to myself, if only to think without being on a near-constant adrenaline rush. Everything was coming at me thick and fast, and I could only muster so much energy to deal with things. It probably didn't help that I was I could feel my body wound like a tightly coiled spring from the sheer tension of being in the same room as some of these people, with some of them ramming down on the 'fight-or-flight' button rather hard just by standing still.
At my question, Siphon hummed in thought as he looked around before he answered. Most of the volunteers had already either left or been guided out by the Lifeworkers, with only a few guards remaining. Cannon was hovering by the door while Kiani was helping some of the other volunteers get used to having working muscles again, if only for psychological reasons rather than purely physical ones. Her father, likewise, was standing by the door, but was talking to one of the other group of guards that stood by the door, now that the Arctic Blue had left. A look around and I suddenly noticed that Casque had managed to slip out while I wasn't looking and that most of the room was otherwise empty, an odd feeling given how it had been packed just a minute ago.
"Now...? Now, I think, we should head for lunch."
XXX
Unsurprisingly, lunch turned out to be a trip to a rather nice bar-style restaurant that served sea-food in various forms. According to Siphon, the stuff they did was surprisingly similar to Sushi in many ways, but with the rice replaced with some kind of finely shredded, edible sea sponge or something similar. Drinks were apparently bit more varied, but seemed to mostly come in the form of various types of flavored water with a range of smoothies that doubled as energy drinks. Mind you, I had absolutely no way to tell one way or the other, since the menus and such weren't written in English but the native language of the Blue. I couldn't make heads or tails of it, so I didn't bother and simply took Siphon's word for it, since I could hardly do anything else.
As such, I let Siphon order a few things as the both of us sat in a booth near the back of the room, with a spare seat attached to the end of the booth for another person to join us, though, I was pretty sure who it was for, given that it looked like it was a pretty big chair. Food and drink came about five minutes later, with the waitress offering a smile and an 'Enjoy!' before leaving us to eat in peace. However, one thing I noticed was the fact that her gaze seemed to linger on me for a second longer than on Siphon, her smile becoming just a bit more... I couldn't really put my finger on the exact emotion, but I could see that something was there.
Taking a note of that, before pushing it to the side, I took a sip of the drink that had been ordered for me, something Siphon described as a something akin to Innocent Super Smoothies, apparently something really popular with those that needed to get moving quickly. As soon as the mixture hit my tongue, I was made aware of every single aspect of its structure, allowing me to check for anything that could be considered as dangerous or potentially lethal. Results came back almost instantly, and I promptly chose to ignore the substance as it slide down my throat and into my stomach. It was actually interesting to note that the biokinetic ability I had inherited only needed 'physical-contact' as opposed to 'skin-contact', since I could still see and feel the Smoothies' component pieces even as it slowly disappeared into my stomach acid, which, oddly, did not appear in my senses. An interesting thing to note, as I pushed such things to the back of my mind for the time being and pulled the glass from my lips, glancing at it before I looked as Siphon.
"Very nice stuff." I commented as he snorted, hiding a smile behind his own glass as he took a sip before putting it down on the table.
"Indeed, which is one of the reasons why I decided to bring you here for lunch... Well, that, and the fact they do a very good Ligmana steak for lunches." Siphon quipped, before adding that last bit at the end and causing my eyebrow to rise, both at the seeming familiarity that Siphon had with the place, and the mention of having other reasons for bringing me to this spot in particular. I felt the tension in my body, having dropped a bit, suddenly skyrocket at that admission, but tried to force it not to show. I honestly wasn't sure how well I did on that front, instead taking another sip of my smoothie due to having a rather dry mouth.
"And... those other reasons would be?" I asked, trying to pass it off as a casual question without coming across like I was ready to bolt. Admittedly, it had been easier when I had something to focus on, a task to carry out like healing those volunteers, and I couldn't focus on examining the DNA strands I had gathered without giving away that I wasn't paying attention. Still, it seemed I did a good enough job as Siphon smiled and nodded his head towards the open entry way as I heard shouts and cheers coming from that direction. Turning in my seat, I caught sight of the cause of the noise; A group of Blue in the front of the restaurant had risen from their sofa-like chairs and had ran up to meet some others as they came in the door.
It didn't click immediately, but then I caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd and my eyes narrowed as I scanned other faces and compared them to memory. An easy thing to do since my short-term memory was working fine, so I recognized a number of the volunteers I had just finished healing not even half an hour ago. Almost immediately, the first thing that I wondered was why they weren't under observation, in a hospital room where the Lifeworkers could keep an eye on them, as to ensure they weren't going to suffer any kind of unexpected side effects. Admittedly, I knew they wouldn't, but the Lifeworkers didn't know that.
That thought hadn't even finished being processed as I saw the crowd sweep up the various volunteers in various embraces as they rejoined what I could guess were old friends, comrades and even family members based on some of the interactions I could see. Though, I could see at least one woman that had almost jumped one of the volunteers, legs wrapped around his waist and doing her very best to shove as much of her tongue down the man's throat while pressing her own body against his. Just watching it was enough to make me feel joy at my good deed, even as I wondered if that was Siphon's aim with this. To show that my work had far reaching effects and that it was appreciated? Turning back to him, I raised an eyebrow with a flat expression, a dozen unspoken questions all put into that one look, seemingly drawing an amused look of his own in turn.
"This restaurant, Calvic's Refuge, is a pretty well-known and well-liked place for off-duty members of the Council Defense Strike Force to come and have a drink. Back when I was still a member of the Strike Force, we used to come here when things were quiet and just enjoy the night. Calvic, the owner of this place, was a former member of the Strike Force as well, up until he retired to raise a family of his own. However, the reason this is important is because I thought you might enjoy seeing this: That what you did changed things for the better." Siphon commented as he gestured to back at the group, who had calmed down a bit and were now pulling the volunteers back to their space. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the barman, who I guessed was Calvic, nodding towards Siphon as he nodded back in turn before continuing onwards.
"Aside from that, most of the people who eat here are members of the Strike Force in turn, so they know about you and what you've done for their friends, so you won't need to worry about anyone starting anything while you're here. Even then, this place is pretty out of the way and most civilians don't really know it's even here, which also helps when you want to have a private meeting over a meal. Speaking of which..." The High Councilor listed off before pausing, something catching his eye as I turned and followed his line of sight past the crowd of happily chatting Blues. It wasn't difficult to see what had caught his eye, as I spotted Casque in full armor towering over everyone else in the area. Though, aside from us, I noted that only the barman and the waitresses had even noticed him, with the barman only offering a single nod to the bigger, older member of the Black. It would have been amazing just how easily he moved without making a single sound, had it not been for the fact that I felt a growing dread and terror with every step he took, if only due to the age-old instincts that happily flared to life in the Reptilian Complex of my Brain.
By the time Casque actually was at the booth, sitting down on the massive chair that had remained free, I felt like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming eighteen-wheeler going at seventy miles per hour. My self-control and self-restraint was probably the only reason I didn't run for the hills, and even then, I kept my hands in my lap, trying to cover the white-knuckled fist I held as a way of distracting myself from my own fear. The pain was a minor thing, if only because it gave me something to focus on rather than the very big Apex Predator that was sitting very close to me.
"Siphon, Ms Dallon." Casque spoke as a greeting as he sat down and nodded at each of us, a waitress already coming over with a drink in a tall, wide glass containing what looked to be some kind of dark green liquid. Idly, I wondered about whether or not it had a high alcohol content, but that quickly took a back seat as Casque turned to look at me directly. I took a sip from my own drink as his was placed down, trying to hide my nerves from being seen, even as his eyes scanned over me, looking for... Something. I honestly couldn't tell what, but regardless of whether he found it or not, he leaned back in his chair with a face made from granite as he took a quick sip of his own.
"That was a very impressive demonstration, Ms Dallon. A bit... Excessively dramatic, but the results certainly speak for themselves." Casque commented as I saw him gesture towards the happily chatting group of off-duty soldiers closer to the front of the restaurant. A small smile was plastered across my face at that as I nodded back in thanks for the compliment, but remained silent as I glanced over at Siphon, who was currently eating through some of his own food, but still observing the conversation with a keen interest.
"Indeed, I knew Senior Lifeworker Nyma long ago, and I know for a fact that she is not easily impressed, nor does she offer praise lightly, and yet she had nothing but extremely high praise for what you had done for those that you had healed. Admittedly, when I spoke with her, she seemed rather incensed that she could not figure out the exact process by which your abilities worked, but that is something that can be discussed another time. For now, there are other matters to attend to." The member of the Black paused for a second, almost like he was collecting his thoughts as he took a large gulp of whatever drink he had been given. It could smell... I had absolutely no idea what it smelled like, but it was potent, if nothing else. Putting the glass back down, his attention returned just as swiftly as a frown slowly developed on aged features.
"Such as the matter regarding your ability to manipulate biological materials. An ability that, I believe, is not as restricted as you originally led us to believe. Certainly, it would have to be much more flexible than an ability only capable of healing if you were to create the addition around your left wrist. Though, I would ask if you would be willing to enlighten us to the purpose of your creation, if it is at all possible?" As Casque spoke, I felt a pit forming in my gut as each word came out. I had guessed that they would know about the band, but the implications of them both knowing that my abilities were a far bit more potent than I had even hinted at...? Hearing it come out of the larger male was enough to make me freeze, my mind going into overdrive as I considered solutions before discarding them one after another. More than once, the thought of simply releasing the bio-plague came to mind, but doing so at this point was dangerous, especially since I had no idea about the genetics of the Black, and didn't want to make the plague itself too open-ended on who it targeted. If I did that, then it could result in damage to the biosphere of the planet.
Still, at the end of the day, I knew one thing for sure: I enjoyed being among the living, and I knew that, as a member of the Black, Casque could probably kill me well before dying under the effects of the bio-plague himself. Suppressing a sigh, it was easy to see that this was a no-win situation, if only due to the fact that I'd need to let them know something. Admittedly, this word had had longer to get used to superpowers and what they were capable of, but I didn't know how they would react to an unrestricted biokinetic, especially since the closest things to such that I could think of, off the top of my head, were beings like Poison Ivy.
Not the best comparison to make, especially with reminders from the Old Amy's memories, but my choices were limited and I didn't particularly rank my meta-knowledge as being good enough to guess which way they'd jump. So...
"My insurance policy." I answered vaguely and tried to keep myself steady even as my heart thundered in my chest. Casque's eyes seemed to flicker over to Siphon for an instant as his frown grew in size as he leaned back a bit in his large seat. I could recognize it as him trying to come across as being less threatening on an intellectual level, but that didn't stop him from being utterly terrifying on an emotional level, not to mention on an instinctive level.
"... I see, though, I apologize for making you ill-at-ease, but you must understand that you are still an unknown. Simple curiosity, in most cases, would drive others to seek out more about you, and your abilities in particular, especially after your demonstration. My own people are no exception, chiefly because we are putting whatever fragile hope we have for the future in your hands." Casque explained softly, I tried keeping my face straight and my heart stead as he spoke, but I couldn't help it as a look of morbid humor slipped on to my face at the end of his explanation, the first cracks appearing.
"... Yeah... I suppose I can understand that... Though, saying that I'm 'ill-at-ease' is one way of putting it. A better way, in my opinion, of putting it might be as 'existential terror' might be closer to the mark, considering that I'm currently stuck in an underwater city, inhabited by a race of miniature Leviathans that could command about sixty percent of my total body mass to explosively vacate my body. So yes, I'm a bit ill-at-ease..." I snarked as I picked up my glass and took a sip, my hand shaking very minutely, but clearly enough to be noticed as Siphon visibly looked to it, a frown across his own features. Casque and him seemed to share an entire conversation with a look even as I tried to force down my nerves. The shaking didn't stop, but it became less pronounced as I tried to put on a brave front. I had my doubts about how long I'd be able to keep that up for, fatigue already creeping at the corners of my mind, but I'd be damned if I dropped everything to cower in fear and beg for mercy.
"... For one of your youth, I would say that you do an impressive job of hiding such fear. However, I suppose such a thing is relative, given what you have discussed of your former home. Even so, I offer my apologize for any undue apprehension I may have caused with my actions. It was not my intent, nor the intent of any other to cause you to fear for your life while you remain within this city. I wished only to learn more about the one I entrust the future of my race to, nothing more." Casque intoned solemnly, his aged features seemingly aging even further as he bowed his head slightly, looking down at the table and away from me. I mentally wondered just how much of it was an act, a way of trying to make me lower my guard for one reason or another. A thousand fears and thoughts warred in my head while I did everything I could think of to prevent my heart from exploding in my chest, even as I felt it thump against the inside of my ribs.
Eventually, I just sighed. My body felt boneless as it sagged into the seat behind me as I questioned just what awaited me in the future. I knew I was in DC, and I knew the kind of shit that got thrown around on a nearly daily basis. Alien invasions basically happened every other Tuesday and Supervillains were as common as sand in the Sahara; Already, I could think of a dozen ways I'd probably wind up dead if I didn't pay close attention and mind myself. Admittedly, just staying where I was could probably be counted among that number, but I couldn't find it in myself to care as I glanced up at the ceiling for a moment before looking back at the two non-Humans before me.
"... Earth Bet wasn't the kindest of places, nor was it the kind of place to give the benefit of the doubt. A lot of people have gotten the wrong end of the stick just because they had powers that had been tarred by the actions of a few, particular examples. My own power is one that, if the public had known the full extent of, they'd have probably thrown me in with the bad apples for what I might do; For what I could do, if I was forced into a corner and had no other options left to me. Then again, after the things people like Blasto, Nilbog and Bonesaw have done, I can understand why a lot of people fear those with biokinetic abilities." I snarked, taking another gulp from my drink as I finished, leaving the two other men in silence as I saw them look between themselves before Siphon looked to me. I didn't bother hiding the resigned expression on my face, if only because I figured it hardly mattered at this point.
"I... Can't say that we can understand what that might feel like, but to judge someone on the actions of another, for such simplistic reasons...? That is not our way. And even so, those names you mentioned mean very little to us, not just because we know nothing of them, but because we are taught to judge others only on their own deeds." Siphon spared a moment to gesture to the gathering of soldiers, having grown bigger since last I looked as I idly noted that the conversations had quietened down a bit. They were still talking rather animatedly to each other, but their faces still held the same expressions since they came into the restaurant; Happiness, joy and a kind of eagerness that could have only come from long term separation. I looked back at Siphon, but stayed silent as he continued on, returning the look even as I noted Casque was simply observing and giving me a bit of breathing room. For which, I was thankful for, no matter how little it changed the situation.
"Humanity, as a whole, isn't well liked due to their own deeds and actions of the years, if only because of the nature of the faceless masses that seem to make up their population. You, as an individual, on the other hand, have already gone a long way to gain much trust by the simple act of healing others. That is something that will be remembered, not because it of your power to do so, but because you were willing to do so." Siphon spoke, his tone resolute and full of confidence that I felt myself lacking even as I saw movement from Casque, nodding his head in turn, apparently in agreement to what was being said by the High Councilor.
"Young Siphon is correct, Ms Dallon, for while some may dislike you for being born Human, they will admire you far more for Healing those that might have every reason to hate you. And, while your abilities may be a point that register with many, they are not the deciding factor by which you are judged by. What you do with those abilities, that is what matters." Casque affirmed with a nod, as though to reinforce his statement as a fact as certain as the laws of reality itself. Giving it some thought, I could see how that might be the case, but still didn't want to speak too soon. I still knew little about the place I now found myself in, let alone the about the people that had probably saved my life.
"... I... Don't know if I can accept that... It's just, I'm so used to it... So used to being seen as a Healer because of an ability that I got because of one bad day, I don't think I can stop thinking in those terms; Of thinking about the powers before the people, and what they've done." I muttered quietly, both hands holding on to the glass I had in front of me like a lifeline as I looked down into the semi-reflective surface of the drink. A hand entered my vision a second later, coming from across the table as I looked at Siphon for a moment as he offered a reassuring smile.
"Sometimes, all it takes to change is a single attempt to try." The High Councilor offered as I considered that. A leap of faith, that was what he was basically saying. Admittedly, sometimes it would work out, but it was a gamble on either you lost everything, or won big. I was never much for gambles, neither had the Old Amy. Certainties, those were things I preferred dealing with given that I knew which way things might go if I fucked them up. Still, at this point, I had to wonder if I even had any other option but to just jump...
However, for trust to be built, moving past just mutual self-interest, someone had to make that jump.
"... Alright... Alright, I'll... I'll try." I muttered, still unsure as lingering paranoia warred with the building fatigue of the day. All the changes, shifts and revelations of my new situation having reached the boiling point and I, frankly, just wanted a chance to decompress. The temptation of just talking, without needing to spill my guts, was something I quite liked even as feelings of relief came from nowhere. It took a second to see where they came from, resurfacing from the Old Amy's memories and fluttering around as I was reminded of just how much survived the merger. Hearing my words, I saw Siphon offer a comforting smile as he placed a hand on my own, giving a small squeeze meant to be reassuring as I got a full read of his biology as I tried to ignore it. Mind you, the information still lingered, a reminder that, for however friendly they might have acted, I was still sitting at a booth with two miniature, non-Manton-limited, Leviathans.
"And that's all anyone can ask." Siphon offered in reassurance in turn as he glanced at Casque. I saw something... Hard, flicker through his gaze as I noted the elder member of the Black lower his head very slightly before raising it once more. Another message, but what I guessed to be a reprimand of some kind. I couldn't be sure, but that was something I didn't want to think about, lest my own tension build to an even greater breaking point and I do something I might regret... Well, regret more than what I had already done, anyway.
However, with the ice crack, just talking... That became easier to deal with. Conversation shifted around a fair bit, going both ways as I learned about the cultures of the Blue and the Black, while they learned a bit more about Earth Bet. I told them about the power classification system and how it rated things of threat potential rather than flexibility of the powers being used, while they also told me about the task that lay ahead of me. They, in turn, told me about the recent history of the place, the founding of the Justice League in 2003, as well as a few things about the political situation both above and below the waves. Siphon explained the things were pretty split between the isolationists and the militarists, both pulling in opposite directions while the Black mostly stayed out of the internal politics of the Blue. In turn, Casque asked me a bit about my own capabilities and what would be required to heal his kind. Admittedly, I tried to keep it vague, but I didn't doubt that Casque probably picked up on a few implications and figured the rest out himself.
Surprisingly, he was actually the first to move away from that topic, quickly moving towards the use of my abilities to try and heal his race. The suddenness of the change was a bit confusing, but just going with it meant that I agreed and left him eager to see when I could complete a cure for the fertility problem that plagued his kind. Thankfully, he was willing to provide a blood sample for me to work with, which I thought would have been a big issue with the older male, but insisted that he come and check my progress daily. Honestly, that was fine by me, since Casque made a comment about how I'd 'be allowed' to augment myself with Black DNA, if I provided results that were promising enough to him and the rest of his kin. Absently, I made a note to work through the DNA and try and figure it out once I had a chance, especially with the sizeable sample that Casque provided, having drawn it from his own hand and put it into a sealed container.
The fact that said container had almost thirty millilitres of the life-giving liquid was something I could envision as his way of extending a bit of trust to me. Mind you, it could have also been his way of apologizing for earlier, but I didn't know for sure. It was a problem of knowledge and not knowing how they thought as a people, and as individuals, so that I could guess which way they might jump if push came to shove.
That didn't stop it from being a nice gesture, of a kind.
However, as the afternoon faded into the evening, and the natural light slowly being replaced by the artificial counterpart, I found myself growing more and more tired. The world around me grew less and less clear as a result, my body finally coming down from all the built up stress and tension as it crashed down. Darkness started to colour the corners of my vision as a yawn r three escaped my lips, something that I noted that Siphon and Casque were not surprised about even as they helped me up from the booth. From there, things shifted to a blur as they part-guided, part led me to a room and showed me the bed. I remembered hearing something about 'having enough excitement for one day', but that quickly faded into the realm of Morpheus.
Where I dreamed of possibilities and stars...
XXX
Closing the door quietly behind him, Siphon relaxed slightly as he looked around the corridor with careful casualness. Old training and instincts meant that the carefully hidden guards and security systems were rather easy for him to spot, letting him recognize the signs of their presence with practiced ease. It was an old feature of many buildings, especially in Dor, where the main military garrison was stationed for much of the Capital. Security was something that was never considered as a laughing matter, and even those that advocated against military spending still agreed that security wasn't something to be left to chance, especially in military facilities.
This, of course, went doubly so for the Diplomatic chambers reserved for the visiting diplomats, politicians and various ambassadors from the other city-states, with a dedicated garrison in its own right and walls think enough to prevent all but the most powerful of attacks from breaking through.
Walking away from the door, Siphon noticed the way the subtle weaves of ancient scripts were engraved into the walls, helpfully disguising the motion sensor systems and full EM Spectrum viewers that lined the entire corridor. Alcoves were dug into the walls, carefully obscuring the positions of the various guards that also manned the hallway, each one standing just slightly more at attention with his passing as he noted their chosen weapons and armor before moving on. It was with that, he noted how many of them had chosen weapons that verged on the heavier side of the spectrum, while their bodies subtly tilted to face outwards, as though unconsciously preparing to shoot down any attackers without hesitation.
Seeing that was enough to know that, as usual, gossip was making the rounds faster than the speed of light. Recalling the past afternoon, he could remember seeing at least a few separate shifts of people coming in and out, meeting Odal and the other newly-healed patients. The word had probably already made the rounds, and by now, Siphon was sure, every single soldier either on or off duty would probably know what the young Ms Dallon had done for their friends and comrades. The thought of it was enough to draw a smile from him, remembering just how strong the bonds of camaraderie were between soldiers, and still were. In that respect, Siphon honestly wasn't surprised to discover that some of them probably already considered the young Human to be 'one of them', as it were. That fact was probably helped by the fact that Siphon recognized several of the current guard roster, identifying them as being very close friends with Odal and the others, and having been off duty around the same time that Siphon, Casque and Amy had gone for lunch.
Imagine that...
Turning a corner and taking an elevator to the ground floor, Siphon turned his mind to slightly less pleasant thoughts as the doors opened to reveal the source of some of those thoughts. Casque stood off to one side of the reception area, standing by a floor-to-ceiling window and looking out into the dark ocean beyond. Crossing the space, siphon nodded to the night-shift staff on duty as he passed them, offering a smile to them before moving on. Within moments, the High Councilor found himself standing by the side of the much larger man, his face blank of emotion and his stance neutral as neither said anything in acknowledgement of the other as silence filled the void. The silence stretched and lasted as neither spoke for what seemed like an eternity, laced with tension that seemed to have been stolen from their guest, but it was finally broken when the High Councilor chose his moment to speak.
"... What you did...? That was needlessly cruel." Siphon stated, his voice flat and hard as Casque only offered a grave nod in turn, neither looking at the other as the elder man took a moment to consider what to say before answering in turn.
"... Perhaps, but I, and the others, needed to know what kind of woman we were to place our hope with. As such, we needed to know more about her reactions and thoughts, something that had proven somewhat difficult due to her own efforts to hide her reactions." Casque countered, not denying what he had done, and Siphon saw that just as well as Casque did.
"There were other ways to do that; Ways that didn't involve putting her on the spot and, potentially, pushing her away from fear of us, of what we are capable of, and just how much we remind her of the monsters of her home." The Blue pressed on, pushing his point home hard as Casque nodded once more, agreeing more fully with these point even as he looked up, towards the ocean surface far above and to the faint glimmers of moonlight that seeped through.
"With the benefit of hindsight, I can agree. I chose to put her on the spot and see which way she might jump, in a position where she could not hide such things and had no easy way out of the situation. With what I know now, I can see just how dangerous that could have been, especially if she had been less restrained with her abilities. However, such actions are in the past, and cannot be changed beyond wondering eternally on 'what-ifs' and 'might-have-beens'. All we can do, is to keep moving forwards." Casque intoned simply as he slowly turned to look at Siphon from the corner of his eye, taking the measure of his younger companion as he noted the deep-set frown that had plastered itself across his features, eyes narrowed and emotion still dancing in darkened eyes. The High Councilor said nothing, merely looking at the older man for a long moment before speaking, almost as though he was having trouble accepting what he was hearing and still wanted to dispute it.
"... Was it worth it...?" Siphon asked, biting out the question with traces of distaste colouring his voice. The Member of the Black only nodded once, the gesture heavily weighted by the hidden knowledge behind it as Casque slowly started to turn back towards the rest of the, now empty, reception hall.
"Indeed it was. And, because of it, I can go back to my people and tell them that they can, at last, look forwards to the future ahead of us with hope and joy, at long last." Was all the armored man said before walking off, leaving Siphon on his own, with only his thoughts for company and those parting words. Turning back to the window, Siphon couldn't help but wonder...
What kind of future awaited them...?
XXX
AN: So, things look to be... Progressing? Tell me what you think, since comments help me figure out how to improve, along with offer such interesting ideas. :D
Still, hope you lot enjoyed!