章 2583: 8
Chapter Eight—A Dish Best Served Cold
~~~Memories of Iron~~~
Taylor took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Okay, Tony, she thought, do your absolute worst, but be careful of Emma. She's the most dangerous one here. Tony must have been listening because suddenly, Taylor knew exactly what to say. Her first words aloud were, "Sophia Hess. Emma Barnes. Madison Clements. Funny running into you here. Then again, the smell should have given it away. Emma, you really should keep your attack dog on a shorter leash. See what happens when you don't?"
"You..." Emma breathed, the intensity of her stare far outweighing her volume of her voice. "You complete..." She took a deep breath, and released it. Her voice calmer, she asked, "Why do you keep coming back here, Taylor? What are you trying to accomplish? Don't you know how everyone feels about you?"
Taylor waited, her expression bored, even as her stomach roiled at the confrontation. Finally, she yawned for effect. "That's it? That's all you got? Seriously? After all the things you've said and done, you question my motives for going to school? Pull up that same tired bullshit that you created? That's kinda sad, really." Then to the struggling girl upon whom her foot still rested, Taylor said, "Bad dog. Stay."
Madison intervened at this point, her voice shrill, "You don't get to talk to her that way! She's-"
Taylor interrupted her, while waving a finger at Emma. "Now, now. We don't want to hear the yap dog either. This is between you and me, Emma. Call off your little doggie or I'll have to get a rolled up newspaper."
Madison stamped her foot in annoyance and opened her mouth to respond. As she did so, Taylor, with deadly precision, interrupted her, "Yap." Then she did it again when the petite girl tried once more to speak. "Yap, yap." There was a cold contempt audible in her voice as she finished with one final, "Yap."
After that, Madison just stood there, a look of stunned disbelief upon her face. She actually flinched as Taylor mouthed one more "Yap" at her. Taylor could barely believe that had worked, but it had. Now to deal with the leader of the pack.
Emma was visibly seething at Taylor's treatment of her friends. It was likely what made her fall back on old habits. "You really shouldn't have done this, Taylor. Now you're going down for assaulting us. How much of a suspension do you think you'll get? Or will you be expelled? I should just call a teacher right now."
Taylor casually clapped her hands while nodding her head. "Bravo! You know, for just one second, I was actually trembling. Not in fear, but there was an emotion there. Oh wait, it was contempt. Emma, you really are a fucking idiot. Besides, you want to tell me how much you hate me more than get me in trouble with a teacher." That was pretty much the truth, Taylor thought, her fear slowly fading as her anger grew.
Emma's eyes grew dark and deadly even as Madison defended her. "She's not an id-"
"Yap." Taylor smiled in cold amusement as Madison shut up. "Good dog."
Emma's expression grew thoughtful. In a fake tone of sympathy, she said, "You know, Taylor, I would have thought you'd be more upset after just spending Christmas with only one parent. Your mother being dead and all. Which was completely your fault. Imagine killing your own mother? I would have thought you'd cry yourself to sleep for a week straight."
Taylor slowly raised one brow, her expression showing only disbelief even as pain ripped through her. It was a low blow to use something that she'd told the other in confidence during the lowest point of her life. But then again, that was who Emma was now. Taylor would not give her the satisfaction of reacting, although by the slight widening of Emma's eyes, she still must of seen something. "That's it? That's your big plan? To give me a hard time because I cried myself to sleep for a week when my mother died? Emma, anyone would cry like that if their mother died. What? Were you raised by wolves? Even someone like you, if you found out that your mother died, would cry. I bet even Sophia here would shed a tear. Isn't that right, attack dog?"
Taylor ground her shoe into the other girl's back as she spoke, anger at what had been said to her making her press harder than she intended. For a moment, almost her entire weight rested on Sophia's back, then she backed off. Regardless, only muttered imprecations and gagging sounds answered her. She wasn't really listening to Sophia, all of her attention focused upon the other two girls in front of her.
"Then again, maybe not." Taylor pinned Madison with an icy stare. "How about you, yap dog? Would you cry if mommy dearest headed into the great hereafter? If she got mangled in a wreck and bled out at the scene?" Taylor knew she was projecting, but she couldn't make herself stop. It was how her mother and both of Tony's parents had died and it still hurt to think about it.
Madison's lips actually trembled. She didn't answer and finally a tear spilled its way down her cheek. Emma turned her way and exclaimed, "God, Mads, you're letting her get to you. Get it together!"
Truer words were never spoken, Taylor thought as she shook her head. But it was she who needed to get it together. "Tsk, tsk. Emma, you really are an evil bitch. Which makes it amazing that the teachers here actually believe your act."
Emma gave her a cold glare. In a voice made all the more deadly for its syrupy sweetness, she explained as if to an idiot, "Of course they believe me, Taylor. Because they're a bunch of pathetic, idiotic losers who couldn't find their own ass with both hands. All I have to do is tell them something and they're ready to say, 'You poor dear, we'll follow right up on that.' Don't you wish they believed you like that, Taylor?" This last was said in a tone of false sympathy, as if commiserating with Taylor.
Taylor's tone was even as she said, "Like Mrs Reese." Like the ultimate betrayal, she thought dully.
Emma's eyes gleamed darkly. There was sadistic glee in her voice as she said, "Mrs Reese couldn't wait to buy what I was selling her. I could have told her that the moon was made of green cheese and you'd stolen it and she would have believed me and had you in to see Principal Blackwell. That test was just a bonus. Poor Taylor, she was one of the teachers that you actually liked, wasn't she?"
Taylor held up a hand and idly examined her nails, while inwardly shaking. She forced her tone to be casual as she stated, "I never did figure out how you got a hold of her test. I would have thought she'd keep them locked up."
Emma shrugged in utter unconcern. "Sophia got it. I don't know how. But it was easy from there. You were so desperate to do better. You must have studied a ton. Then you end up blowing chunks after Reese said you were a cheater. Classic Taylor. So pathetic since your mom died."
Taylor's response was instant. "Classic Emma. Such a bitch since she met Sophia." But she was left wondering how did Sophia get a hold of the test? Dismissing the thought for now, Taylor pushed again, "Are there any teachers you like? I mean, you must at least like Mr Gladly. He lets you hang out in groups in class and figure out ways to torture me."
Emma's face was a picture of frustrated anger at not getting more of a reaction from Taylor, which probably made her go further than she meant to. "As if. That loser is worthless. He's so pathetic. He must have been some nerdy geek back in high school, desperate for everyone to like him. Especially the popular kids. And he still is. I get away with murder in his class and either he doesn't know it, or worse, knows, but won't do anything about it. I mean, he watched me pour orange juice on your seat one day and I told him I spilled it by accident. And he bought it! That's what happens when you're popular, but then you wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Taylor?"
At that moment, Sophia tried to twist around. Taylor let her, stepping mostly off of her, and for the first time, she was treated with a view of Sophia's face as it came free of the bottom of her locker.
Sophia's face was covered in blood, bugs, and vomit, as was the carefully corn-rowed hair. Bits of rotted stinking tampons clung to her cheeks and forehead. Her nose was clearly swelling and likely broken either from the collision with the back of the locker or when her feet were swept out from under her. Looking up at Taylor, Sophia snarled, "I'm gwonna kwill yoo, Whebwet."
Twisting around so that she could see Emma, who visibly recoiled at the view, Sophia snapped, "Swhut wha fook wup, shwe's pwaying woo. Dwon't well wer anythoong mo'." Emma's face changed from disgust to confusion as she seemed to consider Sophia's words. She also looked concerned for the plight of her friend, making an aborted attempt to reach down to her, then apparently rethinking it.
Before Emma could respond, Taylor mockingly said, "Ooooh, the attack dog turns on its owner. Or were you trying to save her from herself? Then again, you were never that loyal a doggie, were you, Sophia? Not like little Mads here. Yap, yap!" This last was a warning and again Madison shut her mouth. The only sound she made was a sniffling one as her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
Emma stared down at her friend. "What were you trying to say, Sophia? Why couldn't you get this skinny bitch into the locker?" This last was said in a plaintive tone. "And after Mads and I managed to get all that waste and dump it in. You should have put her in the locker!" Emma stamped her foot in frustration.
Sophia blinked rapidly as a bug skittered across one eyelid. She seemed about to vomit again. Her expression was one of confused anger. "Swe twicked muh."
Taylor casually put her foot back on Sophia, this time on her hip, rubbing it over the material. "No tricking was involved. I wasn't the one trying to stuff someone into a locker full of disgusting crap. I mean, where did you even get all of that, Emma? Are you hanging out in the girls' locker room and taking donations? Or maybe you're offering to remove them yourself? Kind of a tampon changing service." Okay, that last bit had grossed even her out, and Taylor could almost feel Tony agreeing.
Emma's face screwed up into an expression of disgust. "You're sick!" Madison, while staying silent, looked like she was about to throw up.
Taylor's tone was deadly as she drove the knife home, all her rage at her treatment evident in her voice. "I'm not the one who tortured and tormented my former best friend for over a year and a half for no reason. I'm not the one who treats everyone around me with contempt, with friends who are just as bad. I'm not the one thinks the teachers are idiots and uses them as patsies in her schemes. The only sick one here, by your own confession, is you, Emma!" Taylor's voice, which had been steadily rising throughout her diatribe, was shouting by the time she said Emma's name. Calming down a bit, she finished, "Although, personally, I think you're just a sociopath. Like attack dog here."
Taylor went to put more weight on Sophia, when suddenly she stumbled as there was no resistance and her foot hit the ground. Quickly recovering, she watched as Sophia stumbled to her feet, her hands now free of the zip tie and frantically rubbing over her face. Insects and other things went flying as she continued to try to clean them off of herself.
Emma made a disgusted sound and stepped back as a wad of toilet paper teeming with maggots landed near her foot. Then she seemed to find her courage as she reached over to start wiping things off of Sophia as well. That seemed to snap Sophia out of her funk. She turned back towards Taylor, who had been looking at the still fastened zip tie lying on the ground and trying to puzzle out how she'd gotten loose. Taylor immediately focused on the other girl, ready to move whichever way she needed, all the while registering the rage and hatred in Sophia's eyes. The girl looked positively murderous. For a moment, Taylor feared for her life, suddenly conscious of how alone they were and of the muscular form tensing as if preparing to attack her.
Then it was all rendered moot as a shrill voice demanded, "What the hell is going on out here?"
Taylor allowed her breath to leave her as she slowly relaxed. It was all she could do not to vomit in sheer relief from the tension. Or maybe it was the adrenaline pounding through her veins making her queasy. Regardless, she needed to keep her head on straight. After all, it wasn't going to get any better for a while. Actually, here was where it was going to get really ugly for her. Not for long, but she needed to just relax and take it. Then she'd dish it out one more time.
Taylor still didn't know where half the things she'd said had come from. Or how much of that had been Tony and how much had been her. The sheer viciousness of the exchange sickened her. But she only had to hold on for a little while longer.
Even as Emma went into a song and dance about her attacking them, Taylor carefully reached into her backpack's side pocket and hit a button on her new phone. One that automatically uploaded a video to YouTube. A video that had already been labeled. One that showed all of the events that had just taken place. Then the action erased itself from her phone as if it had never happened. Nothing linked her to the video except that she was one of the figures portrayed within.
It was done. Taylor focused back into the conversation going on around her.
"-coming with me to the office to speak to Principal Blackwell, Taylor. The rest of you, escort Sophia to the nurse's office. Stay there until we come get you."
With that, the teacher, now identified as Mr Gladly, caught her attention and ushered Taylor along. Taylor couldn't help the cold smile that overtook her face at the furtive, angry whispering that was occurring behind her. She ignored anything Mr Gladly said as they walked and generally tuned out the world around her, thinking instead of fifth dimensional matrices and solving them in her mind, a difficult exercise even for her. Until, that is, she was finally escorted into Principal Blackwell's office after waiting at least forty-five minutes, the whole time watching flunkies go in and out.
Taylor looked around casually at the decor, a mix of cheap paneling and lower end office furniture, the walls covered in various awards, diplomas, and certifications. Finally, she focused her attention on the woman who was giving her a narrow stare, one that had been honed by years of dealing with difficult and recalcitrant students.
Taylor merely allowed it to roll off her back. When Principal Blackwell finally spoke, it was only to say, "Well, Taylor, do you have anything to say in your defense? I wouldn't mind hearing your side before I speak to the other girls involved."
On the surface, it sounded fair and impartial, but Taylor remembered how things were dealt with here. Here, there was no justice. Here, if you were popular and had enough friends who supported your position, you were right and the other person was wrong. Here was where she had lost so many battles before. But not today. Not ever again.
Taylor spoke carefully, as if to make sure the other woman could understand every word. "Here's what's going to happen, Principal Blackwell. You're going to approve me testing out of school and award me a full diploma two and a half years early after I pass. Then you're going to set up a series of protocols in place for how to handle future bullying. I'll have to sign off on it. You can use the one in place at Arcadia High as a template for it. If you don't, you, and this school, are going to be in a world of trouble."
The other woman's eyes bulged in disbelief for just a moment, before she visibly got control of herself. Her expression settled into one of faint contempt, while her tone was steely as she asked, "Why would I do that, Taylor? My initial impression is that you caused a great deal of trouble today. Trouble which you were solely responsible for. And this after all of your claims about being bullied. Why would I want to help a troublemaker? Why would I believe you?"
Taylor shrugged, as truthfully, she didn't know either. "If I were you, I'd look up a video that's just been posted on Youtube. It's called 'Popular Girl Bullies Get Handed Their Asses.' You might find it enlightening."
The other woman seemed to register the casualness of Taylor's tone and her lack of fear. There was a moment of indecision, then she pulled her keyboard towards herself and typed a few things. After a moment, what was clearly a video began to play on her monitor, the sound low, but still audible.
Taylor pulled the phone she'd secured from the side pocket of her backpack and looked up the same video. She was less interested in watching it than checking the views and reading a few of the comments. Wow, she thought, there's already over fifty thousand hits in less than an hour. Then she read some of the comments. Then some more. Isn't that interesting, she thought dully, as blood pounded in her head making her dizzy. No wonder it was so popular, what with all of the links from Parahumans dot net. No doubt the forums there were blowing up over the news.
Principal Blackwell seemed to have finally finished viewing the video and sat there, her fingers steepled in front of her. Her expression appeared as vaguely nauseated as Taylor felt and she didn't speak for several minutes.
Finally, though, she spoke, "You're responsible for outing a cape, Taylor. I don't know how that's going to play."
Taylor shrugged. "I didn't take the video or upload it. I was the person starring in it, and afterwards, I was waiting outside your office, then inside with you. Regardless, even if I had posted the video, the only person responsible for outing themselves is Sophia. Imagine that, using your powers in school, in front of several people. And the things she said? Is that how they train members of the Wards these days? Psycho 101?"
It had been near the end of the video that it had occurred. The angle it had been shot from was from above and behind Taylor. It clearly showed Sophia phasing into a shadow state for just one second to get out of the zip tie, then phasing back in even as she spun her body around to get away from Taylor and struggle to her feet.
Neither Taylor, nor any of the others present had seen her do it as they'd been completely focused upon one another. If not for the recording, Sophia would have gotten away with it. But not now. Now there was a video on Youtube, in crystal clear high definition, showing her using her powers while in her civilian identity. Powers that had already been commented upon by thousands. And not just that.
All of Sophia's muttering, which Taylor had mostly ignored and tuned out during her confrontation with Emma, had come across clearly in the video, the microphone apparently being better than expected. She must have been very creative in her threats towards Taylor because the comments under the video had grown increasingly freaked out as a cape, one of the Wards of the Local Protectorate, made death and torture threats towards a fifteen year old girl because she'd somehow turned the tables on her during a bullying attempt.
Taylor leaned forward, resting her hands on the desk in front of her. "So tell me, Principal Blackwell, when exactly are you going to make the arrangements for me to take those tests? Also, when do you think you'll have that plan to handle future bullying ready for me to look over? By the way, a good contact over at Arcadia High is Principal Howell. I think she's one of the vice principals there." Make that know as Taylor had spent quite a bit of time researching Arcadia High, even before getting suspended. She had so desperately wanted to get away from Winslow High. Principal Howell had been kind even if she couldn't help Taylor with her specific situation at the time.
Principal Blackwell momentarily looked concerned before her mask went back into place. "Well, Taylor, I think this has gone far enough. I'll be punishing the girls involved, of course. If only you had brought this to me earlier, we might have been able to avert a tragedy."
Taylor shook her head. She wasn't done yet. "You knew."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You knew that Sophia Hess was Shadow Stalker. That she was a Ward. You knew and you covered up instances of her misbehavior. That's why no one would help me. That's why the teachers stopped bothering to intervene when they saw her and her friends bullying me."
There was a tic in the corner of Principal Blackwell's eye. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Do you honestly believe you can keep that covered up? That teachers won't come clean if there's a lawsuit? Hell, I could go to the police and while they can't involve themselves in Sophia's situation, there's nothing to prevent them from dealing with Emma and Madison. They'll ask questions you don't want asked because the answers could put you in jail."
The principal's hand was visibly trembling as she held it up as if to stop Taylor from speaking. "I need to think. I-"
Taylor shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Tick tock, Principal Blackwell. That's the sound of time running out on my offer. Schedule the tests or I'm going forward with the lawsuit and the police. Once the police are done with you, I'll sue the school, the teachers involved, you personally, the three girls, their parents, and maybe the city itself. Certainly the PRT and Protectorate. I won't even have to pay a dime to do so. There's not an attorney in the city who wouldn't take this case on a contingency, knowing there's a fat payday at the end. As it is, I'll be fighting off ambulance chasers for years."
Principal Blackwell's tone was desperate as she asked, "You'll have your father sign a waiver absolving the school from any responsibility for what happened if I arrange for those tests? Get that plan for you?"
"Uh, no. You'll just have to take my word that we won't sue. I mean, surely you trust me. Right? After all, I'm the innocent victim here. What reason would I have to lie?" This last was said in such a vicious tone that the woman flinched. Taylor leaned back in her chair. "Arrange for the tests. Let's say, Friday morning. I'll swing by and take them. Once they're graded and I get my diploma, you'll won't see me again until it's time to approve that plan. Although, I do expect you to have talked with Principal Howell by Friday as well. Anyway, once the plan's approved and implemented, you'll never see me again after that. At least so long as it's being administered fairly."
There was almost a stutter in the woman's voice as she replied, "I-I should be able to do that." For the first time since Taylor had been ushered into her office, the woman looked defeated.
Principal Blackwell stared at Taylor as if she'd never seen her before. Then again, Taylor thought, she hadn't seen the new her. The one who had the memories of a pretty vicious SOB. Tony had verbally flayed alive more than one person in his day and compared to some of those beat downs, this was nothing.
Now that she'd won, Taylor just had to figure out a way to tell her father what had happened. She had a feeling he wasn't going to be too happy. Just how not happy he was going to be depended on how well Taylor was able to explain what had occurred and how it wasn't her fault.
And she was going to have to figure out what to do about the Protectorate, both short and long term. That Sophia had turned out to be a Ward only confirmed everything that she'd ever thought about them. Bullies and monsters filled their ranks. They needed to go down. Maybe, afterwards, some of the decent ones could be saved, once she figured out if any such animals actually existed. Unfortunately, those same bullies that littered their ranks were going to have questions for her that she was going to have to answer before she could put this behind her. Questions that were going to take time away from more important things.
Taylor slowly got up from her seat and walked out, ignoring the requests of the person behind the desk to sit back down. She had too much to do to waste anymore time here. She needed to hurry home and integrate JARVIS, who was officially ten minutes overdue as of this moment. She needed to get with Trish to make a quick plan on how to deal with the Protectorate response. She needed to finish working on the various inventions for the meeting with the attorney. But first, and most importantly, Taylor needed to get to the girls' restroom to throw up. And quickly, as her stomach was heaving like the sea at the moment, intent upon regurgitating its contents all over her shoes.
~~~Memories of Iron~~~
Madeline Blackwell stared into space for several minutes, mulling over what had just happened. It was an unmitigated disaster. In the end, she doubted she'd get to keep her job, although there was a chance she could place the blame squarely onto the PRT and the Protectorate where it certainly belonged. Whether anyone would believe her remained to be seen.
It was just as well that she'd caved in to Hebert's demands, which had been mostly minor in the end. If Madeline had held out on principle, she'd likely be talking with the police right now. And the PRT wouldn't lift a finger once Sophia was back in their hands other than to pressure her into silence. Certainly they wouldn't have helped her. Madeline knew she certainly couldn't count on the silence and the support of the faculty, especially after that diatribe that Emma Barnes had leveled against them. Stupid, stupid girl.
She sighed heavily at the thought of the sheer amount of work that would be involved with developing a policy to prevent future bullying. And the cost for it, as well as sensitivity training for most of her teachers. Madeline had no idea where the money for all of that was going to come from. She would have to get extremely creative with the budget. Still, that might be the single thing that would allow her to keep her job, a proactive stance against such things. Especially once more people viewed the evidence online.
The video was beyond damning, the words, that amounted to confessions, said there by one of its central figures devastating. The threats by one of the others were even more problematic. At least that one wasn't her problem any longer. Nor likely ever again.
Madeline slowly lifted the receiver for her phone and placed it to her ear. Dialing a number from memory, one that she'd at one time treasured knowing, took only a moment. Sadly, now her knowledge tasted like ashes in her mouth. It rang twice before being picked up. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before a woman's voice brusquely said, "Director Piggot."
Madeline kept any tremors out of her voice, instead speaking with equal briskness, "Director Piggot, Principal Blackwell of Winslow High here. I'm afraid there's been an incident involving Sophia Hess."
There was a sigh from the other end of the line. "How bad?"
Madeline shouldn't feel satisfaction, but it would take a better person that herself to avoid the emotion. At least she wasn't the only person who'd endure a sleepless night tonight wondering about their future. "Very bad. I'll direct you to a video that currently playing on Youtube. I'd watch it first. After that, I'd send someone here to pick up Sophia Hess."
~~~Memories of Iron~~~
Taylor walked the remaining distance from the bus stop to her house, her stomach now mostly settled. It had been a rather epic hurling session in the girls' bathroom at school that was responsible for its current empty state. At the moment, it was just sitting there, not doing much of anything. Still, Taylor was going to be careful with what she ate for the next few hours as she wanted to avoid worshiping at the porcelain altar again anytime soon.
She entered her house through the back door and almost immediately ran into Trish in the kitchen. Taylor seized upon the distraction the other girl presented as a way to avoid thinking about the events of the morning. Studying the girl, she couldn't help smiling at the way the other girl's short dark hair gleamed as it surrounded her head in a pixie-like cut. Trish hadn't wasted any time getting her hair styled after Taylor's dye job and it now actually suited her quite well, the dark color going along with the pallor of her skin.
It was a pallor that was slowly dissipating as Trish was exposed to more and more sun as a result of being dragged along on Taylor's morning runs. The former blonde drew the line at learning to fight hand to hand, but at least she was willing to run with Taylor, a situation which her dad greeted with such relief that Taylor couldn't say no, even if she'd wanted to.
So Taylor now did her katas in the back yard after returning home, which in retrospect was probably better than doing them in a public park, no matter how isolated. She was slowly improving, as was demonstrated by how she'd been able to take down Sophia. It hadn't been easy, but she'd managed. Then again, they had been designed by Captain America to get the absolute maximum from a normal human physique. Which, sadly, Taylor possessed despite having Tony Stark's memories.
Taylor's idle thoughts were interrupted by Trish voice as she asked, "Are you hungry after a morning of taking tests? I made lunch." In the middle of the slightly inane chatter was an underlying tone of curiosity which asked a completely different question. One Taylor knew she eventually had to answer.
Still, Taylor was struggling with the idea of even small talk after the events of this morning, let alone a deeper reveal, so she merely said, "Not really." She sighed. "Aren't you going to ask me if I passed my tests?"
Trish gave her a look of disbelief, then rolled her eyes. Her tone was flat and incurious as she asked, "Taylor, did you pass your tests?" No, all of Trish's curiosity was reserved for a different matter, one which they'd discussed ad nauseum for the last week or so as the testing date approached.
Taylor nodded, thinking it was better to just get it over with, like pulling off a band aid all at once. Taking a deep breath, she answered all questions, both spoken and not, "Yes. I did. Then I got into it with Emma and her bully buddies. The camera drone came in handy when I had to prove to the school principal that they started things. Oh, and it turns out that Sophia Hess is Shadow Stalker, one of the Wards. She outed herself on the video I made of them bullying me. Which I uploaded to Youtube for the entire world to see. Uh, there might have been death and torture threats in there as well. I'd look it over online and then come talk to me. See ya."
Taylor turned around, ignoring the open mouth and unfocused stare of her friend, and headed downstairs to integrate JARVIS. She was now officially an hour late and that was an hour longer that she would have to do without his services. Hitting the button and watching the code compile was somewhat soothing. As was fixing a few minor recursive errors that had cropped up during this iteration. It gave Taylor a brief respite from thinking about how she was going to deal with the Protectorate response.
Taylor's calm was disrupted by the sound of a voice from behind her. "Taylor! You do not get to drop that on me and walk away! If I had been using my ability at that moment, it would have fried my brain. As it is, I can't help but see the various ways this is going to complicate things. In theory, that is. You know the PRT is going to be here by the end of the day. They're going to want to talk to you. What are you going to tell them?"
JARVIS was ready to go, so she reset parameters, made a couple of adjustments, then hit Start. He had started merrily chugging away at a new block of code by the time Taylor thought of a reply. She slowly spun in her chair and looked at her friend. Trish's eyes were gleaming in excitement and she clearly was enjoying the drama a great deal more than Taylor, herself, was.
She shrugged. "I'm going to tell them the truth. That I don't have a Corona Pollentia. That I'm not a Parahuman. Or rather, they'll tell me." Taylor smiled at the thought that part of her plans would be advanced with the help of the Protectorate. She continued, "That I'm not responsible for outing Shadow Stalker. That Sophia Hess is a complete psycho that they should never have allowed into the Wards. A psycho whose actions they're responsible for, not me. I'll tell them that if they don't leave me alone, my dad and I will sue them for a billion dollars. Instead of an Armsmaster action figure, I'll own the real suit by the time I'm done." Taylor gave Trish a hopeful look as the other girl seemed to consider her words, her eyes briefly distant.
Slowly, Trish's knowing grin widened. "I think that they're going to fold."
Taylor stomach eased at the confirmation and she returned Trish's grin with one of her own. "That's reassuring. When are they coming?"
Trish shrugged. "They'll be here no later than four thirty. Sorry, but I can't be any more exact than that. Want me to tell your dad where you are?"
Taylor slowly nodded, her expression grim. "Please. I'll leave a note as well, but keep an eye on him if you would. I don't want him to be alone. Also, please make sure he understands that unless I, or the PRT, call him, he's not to come looking for me. Well, unless I'm there longer than twenty-four hours." Again, there was an unspoken question in her words.
Trish actually had the gall to laugh. "Ha! Like that's going to happen. They won't even bring a search warrant when they come for you. The pick up will be designed to intimidate you, not because they really think you've done anything wrong. They also try later to get you to sign a waiver absolving them of any wrongdoing as regards Shadow Stalker. Don't do it even if it's not legally binding what with you being a minor and all. It could be good leverage in the future. Damn, but I love how they're going to overlook you in the future after establishing that you're not a Parahuman."
Taylor's look of surprise at at the other's perceptiveness drew another laugh. Taylor eyed her speculatively. "Yeah, there is that. You know, I really like your ability when it works for me. It's pretty cool."
Trish eyed her back. "I know, right? Of course, you know this is all just generalities built around hypothetical Taylor. I can't focus on your exact situation or it gets all migrainey, which isn't something I want to experience. At least not any time soon."
Taylor nodded in sympathy, memories of a half-conscious Trish dealing with a migraine fresh in her mind. "I understand. It's good enough for me." She checked her stomach to find that the roiling had pretty much stopped and she was starting to feel hungry. "By the way, what did you make for lunch?"
Taylor frowned as Trish started laughing like a hyena in response to her question. She had been serious, after all.
~~~Memories of Iron~~~
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