Chapter 35

I was sitting at a pizza place, waiting for Mimi, when my vision went fuzzy as I felt the Grimoire reach out. It had been a while and I had a large store of energy to draw from for this particular bit of power.

Auriel's Weapons (Elder Scrolls, 600cp) The bow and shield of the elven god Auriel, these powerful Aedric Artifacts are incredibly sought after. Auriel's Bow is imbued with holy sunlight that is exceptionally potent against the undead. Should you fire it into the sun by using Sunhallowed Arrows, of which you receive a replenishing stock of 100 each week, it will cause the sun to undergo an explosion, causing beams of harmful sunlight to rain down on all enemies around you. Auriel's Shield absorbs any physical attack done to it in order to charge it's enchantment, which when used creates a wave of golden kinetic energy that will send others flying.
1900cp-600= 1300

Huh, now those were some powerful items. Perhaps not for me specifically, but I was more than willing to bet I could find some other uses for them…"Hey stranger. You from around here?"

I glanced up from my contemplation to see Lisa grinning at me. "Heya. What are you doing here?"

She rolled her eyes and held up a box. "Being the team mom, that's what. I think Brian is better at it, but he's been spending more and more time on his personal stuff that I've had to take over for Alec's sake."

"How are things with you guys these days?" I asked, throwing up my customary sound baffle. "I mean, Coil is the one who brought you all together. Without him around what's keeping you all…. Anchored?"

"Pft, inertia at this point," Lisa said cynically. "I mean, I provide the money, but I still like going out with them because let's face it, it's kind of fun when there isn't a gun aimed at my head, Brian still needs a steady flow of cash for his own business, Alec is just lazy, and Rachel also needs the cash for her little dog shelter that she's got going. But with how much I've got now from Coil and that bounty money you handed to me, we could just… retire."

"So why don't you?" I asked, already guessing at the answer.

"Because that'd just be boring," she said with a small laugh. "I mean, I gotta do something to occupy myself, I'd go stir crazy otherwise."

Shard conflict drive or just ordinary teenage restlessness? Probably both. "Fair enough I suppose."

Lisa frowned and I could see the telltale tick of her powers going to work. "You aren't here alone, that isn't your preferred kind of pizza, plus it's too big for one, even if you are a big eater… date?"

"Nah, just my roommate. She's in the bathroom."

"You have a roommate? How? Why? You're rich, aren't you?"

I shrugged, trying not to give anything away. "Sure, but just paying the bills isn't the only reason to have a roommate."

She eyed me carefully for a moment, then snorted. "You were going to ask me if I wanted to be roomies, weren't you?"

"I contemplated it briefly," I admitted. "Figured you might want an out from Alec's company, but ah… my current roommate needed the space more. Sorry."

"Pft, yeah I'm not trading one emotionally messed up roommate for another. Thanks for thinking of me though. Who is this new roommate anyway?"

"Well-"

"Who's this?" Mimi asked as she slumped into the seat next to me. "And why are you using your powers?" She muttered to me.

"Habit. You know I don't like my conversations to be overheard. Mimi, meet Lisa. Lisa, meet Mimi."

My biomancy was pretty good. Between getting rid of her scars and doing some cosmetic changes to fool facial recognition, Mimi resembled Burnscar about as much as any other brunette white girl. Lisa didn't bat an eye as she greeted Mimi with a lazy smile. "Hey. Nice to meet you. I'm a little surprised we've never met."

Mimi gave a small shrug. "I just got off the streets, so I'm sure Mak wasn't exactly boasting about being friends with a hobo."

Lisa eyed me curiously. She could tell that Mimi was (in her own mind) telling the truth, while knowing that I would have said something sooner if Mimi and I really had been friends for as long as it seemed.

I gave Lisa a shrug and directed my voice into her ears alone. "Tell you about it later."

"Mak is a big softy like that," Lisa said to Mimi. "I had a horrible boss. He got me a better job, in basically every way possible."

"Hm. Nice. What do you do?"

"I'm a data analyst," Lisa replied, technically not even lying since she did do that quite a bit. "Pretty solid gig."

"Got any openings where you work? I'm on the hunt for a job."

"It's a pretty exclusive company, sorry," Lisa said. "But I'll keep an eye out. You got any schooling?"

"Got a GED, but not anything else. I've been on the streets for… a long time."

To my surprise, a bit of sympathy leaked into Lisa's expression. "That sucks. I was in a similar position for a bit until I got to where I am now. Streets aren't easy and the way you're talking… how long?"

Mimi's expression went blank as she thought about it, drawing upon both her real memories and the ones I'd implanted, plus coming up with a lie because she probably didn't want to broadcast her stint in the parahuman asylum. "Since I was a teenager. I honestly lost track. I just know it sucked big time." Her hand unconsciously rubbed at where she'd been shooting up, just one of many drugs she'd taken when a member of the Nine. "Just glad I'm good now, you know?"

"I get that." She glanced up at the counter and then stood. "My order is ready and my roommate gets cranky when the pizza gets cold. Catch you later, Mak and it was nice meeting you, Mimi."

I waved goodbye as Mimi took another slice and thoughtfully watched Lisa. "Hm. Why do you have so many chick friends?"

"Because most of the guys I do know have circumstances that make it difficult to actually hang out," I said with a shrug. Ethan and Shawn were married men, Robin was… odd, and Colin wasn't the kind to grab a casual beer after work. "Most of my girl friends on the other hand, are either in college or high schoo- okay that sounds creepier when I say it out loud."

"You're a freaking weirdo," Mimi agreed cheerfully.

"Stop aiming for the ego, Mi. Anyway, I didn't just get us pizza cause I was hungry, I wanted to float an idea by you."

"I'm listening."

"So… I'm not just Magus. I have an alternate identity that I use for when I need my actions to be a bit… deniable."

"Ooooo…" She perked up with interest. "An alter ego when you already have one. Ambitious of you. And stupid."

"I try. Anyway, I go by Kage in that identity. I've purposefully kept my powers vague, mostly revolving around shadows and illusions, but it's hard to limit myself when I know that holding back could get someone killed. I've got a bit of a team going, but we could use more firepower. So… Whaddya say?"

"You have a team in this other identity?"

"Eh, just one other member so far. A bug controller who isn't fond of the PRT at the moment. I'm trying to get her to join them eventually, but… Well it's a work in progress. Also we worked with Purity once, but I'm not planning on making that a full time thing. I heard she might have gone back to work with the Empire. Not confirmed, especially since she didn't show at that little attempt to kill me, but even still, she's kind of a racist bitch. Anyway, I think you could work well with us, if you wanted." I held my breath, knowing that with what I'd already done to her, I had to let her start making her own decisions, even if I didn't agree with them.

She frowned thoughtfully as she laid a finger against the pan holding the half eaten pizza. Within a moment, steam was rising from the entire thing, the cheese once again becoming melty. She took a fresh slice, chewed on it and finally gave a small nod, as if coming to some kind of internal agreement.

"Yeah, okay. I won't promise to stick around, but I'll at least give it a shot, see if me and the bug girl can get along."

"Arachne," I corrected. "She won't like it if you call her 'bug girl'."

"Tough shit," she grinned, but I could hear the playfulness in her tone. I didn't think I'd have to worry about her actually giving Taylor much of a hard time. "So tell me about this little group you got going. What kinds of things have you managed to pull off?"

"Well when we worked with Purity, we managed to take down a large ABB distribution center. That was pretty fun. Stopped some minor crimes the other day…" I gave a sheepish smile. "Might have also pissed off Lung to an unhealthy degree. He wants us to arrange to ambush Purity or else he'll go on a rampage trying to kill her."

Mimi's head hit the table. "Dammit, Mak, you can't start with that kind of shit?"

"Cause I'm an idiot? Hold that thought, it just occured to me that I have a phone call to make…"

I walked outside for the fresh air, put up another sound bubble, and dialed the number of the burner that I'd given Taylor.

"Mak?"

"Hey, Taylor. Sorry I've been out of touch. How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, just been keeping my head down with everything that's been going on. Where have you been?"

"House arrest. How much do you know about what went down with the Empire?"

"The news just said that the PRT would be releasing an official statement at a later date, but that you'd been cleared of any wrongdoing. Online… Well PHO is full of different stories, but almost everyone agrees that you killed some other capes."

I winced. "Yeah. It was a bad situation, I almost died and just… acted. Them or me. I'm not proud of it, but what's done is done. Think you can still work with me?" I asked with a light tone, but ready for her to throw some kind of moral tantrum. I wouldn't have been surprised.

Instead I was actually given a pleasant surprise when after some silence, Taylor spoke again. "I don't condone murder, but it sounds more like extreme self defense. You did what you had to. If this was some kind of habit, I might be worried, but you're a good hero. I'll trust that you know what you're doing and so do the PRT."

"Why Ms. Hebert, showing trust in the authorities for once?"

"They can't screw everything up," she said with only a little sarcasm. "Lung's deadline is tomorrow."

"Yeah, I had some ideas about that. Can you meet tonight?"

"Sure. Where?"

"Text me when your dad goes to sleep, then sneak into your backyard. I'll pick you up. I also might have another cape that can join us, if you're up for it."

"How'd you do that?"

"She's a newcomer to the city. I'm showing her around town for a bit. She's packing some serious firepower. I think she could be really helpful against Lung."

"Why are you asking me? You're the one who started helping me out, not like I've got a say."

I winced at the self deprecation, even if she didn't sound bitter, just matter of fact. "Cause we're a team now. You've definitely got a say in this sort of thing."

Taylor again went silent before speaking again, her voice tightly controlled. "That's fine with me."

"Cool. We'll be on standby, just call when you're ready."

"Okay. And Mak?"

"Hm?"

"...Thank you."

"What are friends for?"
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We took a minute to stop at our apartment and costume up. Well, Mimi costumed up. I went about preparing my little surprise for Lung. I had a feeling that negotiations were going to break down in a spectacular fashion.

Just a pinch of blood… And I think we're ready.

"Mi, c'mon, it's getting late and I have actual patrols tomorrow," I said, giving a light tap against her bedroom door.

"Don't rush me, asshole!"

I rolled my eyes and contented myself with staring out the window in the living room. We still didn't have a couch, so I had to stand. Kayden had sent a text (to Mimi of course, even if I was the one writing the checks) saying that there was a bit of a delay, but everything would be ready to go by Monday.

"I still think you should make me a costume," Mimi grumbled as she walked out of her bedroom. Her current costume was basically just grungy cargo pants, a rather dirty denim jacket, a scarf to hide her face, and a beanie. She looked more like a hobo than a superhero.

"I'll ask Arachne to do it. She's better at that kind of thing, not to mention the material will be way better if she makes it."

"Your powers are bullshit though! I bet you could make something at least better than… this," she whined, waving at herself. "C'mon man, if not for my sake, think of your professional pride!"

She did have something of a point… I waved a lazy finger at her and the clothes at least cleaned themselves up, small tears repairing as well. Her scarf and beanie also changed color to a bright red. "There. Oh and take this," I handed off one of my generic silver necklaces. "I'll make you a custom one later, but that will give you a weak personal forcefield. Not that you need it much, but…" I shrugged. "Better safe than dead."

"Thanks." She slipped it on and I noticed a very faint warping of the air around her before it settled into place.

"Hm." I kept staring out the window at the city beyond. Same buildings, same streets, but something felt different. Odd. Something was gnawing at me. What was I missing?

My burner phone going off snapped me out of my thoughts and I glanced at it. Taylor was ready.

"Alright Mimi, good to go?"

"Born ready." Flames kindled in her palms, her eyes flashing colors for a moment before she extinguished them. "You sure about this? About… trusting me?"

I smiled reassuringly and gave her arm a good shake. "You're more than your impulses. And I've got some tricks of my own to keep you on the side of the angels even if you start to slip. You aren't the girl in the asylum anymore. You're Mimi."

"No, not Mimi." She shook her head firmly. "Firestorm."

I grinned. DC could suck it if they tried to sue. The name fit her well. "Sure, Firestorm. Let's head out."

I put a hand on her shoulder and we vanished into darkness.

A/N: A reviewer here pointed out some inconsistencies, for which I thank them. Taylor had her eyes fixed by Amy a while ago, but I noted her as wearing glasses still and Cricket was said to be dead in Chapter 12. Let's just pretend that Taylor was/ has been wearing fake glasses for the sake of her civilian i.d and that Cricket didn't actually die, it was just Coil having misinformation. Yeah. Totally that and not just a case of a stupid author forgetting small details when his story has gotten so long