by P. S. Power
The large golden skinned man took a few steps forward and rested a large hand on the Director's shoulder gently. His grin looked stunning, white teeth gleamed, suit fitting too perfectly to be allowed. Denis kind of hated him a little for a second, knowing that as much as he wanted to, he'd never look that good.
Scott spoke, his voice rich and happy, “see everyone? I could tell right away that Denis here wouldn't hold a grudge... I'm sorry about the arm though. I just grabbed and didn't think I was holding on that hard to tell the truth. Char said that she might have been a little unfair to you, later, after Brian and Karen spoke to her about the whole thing. I know she's sorry too. She can't say it herself, but it's there. Her first mode...” The man smiled again and shrugged.
Everyone got that kind of thing here, there was no need to explain it each time. Charlot Chambers' first mode meant she'd find it nearly impossible to apologize herself, most likely. This was about as much of one as Denis could reasonably expect from her.
The tiny red-head who looked like a child sized version of Rachel stepped forward and wrapped both her hands around the splinted arm. Gently. Really her hands cradled it but didn't go around and she had to reach up at near her own shoulder height to do it. Her face looked a little grim for some reason.
“Really? No bad feelings? Dad didn't mean it, but sometimes things like that are hard to let go of. Is it really cool between you?”
That got a smile from Denis, a careful one. The little girl may be small, but he wanted to keep the arm, so starting shit with her wouldn't play at the moment, hands actually on him. If she planned to take him out, given how fast the girl was, that would be a really good starting point. Given how quickly she could potentially react it would be impossible for him to stop her if she decided to move.
“Hey, you know, water under the bridge and all that. Just, Scott, in the future be careful? Please?”
The girl let him go suddenly and smiled herself.
“Super! And you saved me too. I mean, I could have totally taken those guys, so I don't know what they were thinking, there were only a dozen of them and they were claiming I'd kicked the asses of like, sixty, but before I even had to stand up, boom, to the ground. Teach them to mess with us, right? From now on we should take you to all the press events. I bet Brian would like that. The cops always try to kick his ass and now mine too I guess, just for hitting a few of them. Man this is screwed up. They hit people all the time. Everyone always said that the police were the good guys, but that isn't true is it?”
She spun to look at the other three men, her back to Denis suddenly.
“Is it?”
No one spoke for a bit, they just looked uneasy. That was something Denis could see himself. After all, did they warn the impulsive girl that all men in blue were her enemies, meaning the next time she saw one she'd probably deliver more than a light kicking or did they lie to her leaving her vulnerable to the real bad guys that just happened to have uniforms on? Not knowing why, he spoke for them all.
“Well, some of the police have been behaving badly and we don't know why. The easy thing would be to say they're all just bigots and hate us and some probably do, but there may be more to it than that. I don't know what it is myself mind, but just because some of them seem bad, that doesn't mean all of them really are. After all... I just had it confirmed by a doctor that a few months ago I tortured a bunch of people even though I don't remember it. That... just isn't like me. I mean I may make someone hurt, but I try to save torture for people that actually deserve it and not draw things out more than I have to. Not really.” Denis shrugged, which pulled at his hurt elbow enough to make him stop suddenly.
“Maybe it's the same for some of the cops?”
Oddly enough the Director and Torque both nodded and agreed with him instantly, as if he'd said something brilliant. Moore even gave him a very considering look before speaking.
“Yes. That's... Very possible actually, now that you mention it. I'll be sure to look into that possibility.” The man smiled and took a few steps to the side and turned, his body blocky in motion, a professional look on his face.
“So Robert, it looks like we worried over nothing again. Well, part of the job I'm afraid. So, Scott, you'll work with Mark Steinberg on his program for the foreseeable future?”
The big man grinned.
“Of course! I would have been anyway. After all, who doesn't love a little me in their day?”
No one laughed but Denis. Prime winked at him. The man was obviously joking, but the others just seemed to think he was being ego driven. That was the other side of the first mode problem. Even when you tried to control yourself some people thought that you just couldn't, not ever.
Quickly enough they made arrangements to meet early the next shooting day. Hopefully Mark would be pleased enough with his replacement, since Denis didn't have anyone better to offer for the time being. A silence took over the scene in the hall for a bit and everyone left, finding some reason to vacate the now uncomfortable situation. Just standing around didn't help him any either so he took off too. Oddly enough followed into the elevator by Bridget Chambers.
Hopefully not to kick his butt for anything. Denis eyed her a little warily, but made himself grin.
The girl hit the button for floor nine, where he was going himself, making it glow a golden white and then stood next to him as the whole thing dropped suddenly. Just as it started to move she jumped into the air and appeared to float for nearly ten seconds before setting down lightly.
“The old elevators were better for that. I blame Lauren and team two for breaking them. It was all their fault.” This came out sullen and angry, hurt and bitter all at once. The girl didn't look at him as she spoke, instead her eyes locked forward hard.
“They wouldn't believe me. I told them, but no one would trust me except Brian and they tried to kill my dad. Maybe mom too. And they were the ones that were wrong. Yeah, someone screwed with their minds a little, but they chose to attack on their own. I know it was a set up, but...”
“Um, sorry, half a year spent in a tiny cell means I really don't know what you're getting at. Is this about that big fight a few months back?”
Denis tried to look concerned and kind, and probably didn't make it. As long as it wasn't a sneer that would have to do, right?
“Oh, right...” The tiny girl looked at him for a second and then away as if in shame.
“Well, everyone else knows. Here at least. Some bad guys made a fake video showing my dad and me, um, and mom, doing sick things and everyone thought it was real. We proved it wasn't but only after the huge fight, when everyone attacked us. Until Brian stepped in and made them all stop. Him and Hobbs from team two. They were the only ones that even tried to do anything.”
She shook her head and blew out a hard puff of air as the doors opened.
“No one wanted to take on Brian, because he never loses when he's protecting someone. Only once and that was before he came here. Hobbs actually stood up to Lauren over the whole thing too, even though he's a new guy. I only like them now. The rest of team two can go fuck themselves for all I care.”
Ah. Well, that told him a lot he didn't know. So when he'd been trying to mess with Yi that day... Fuck, how did he even live through it? Denis would have killed someone doing what he'd been, given all that, if he were Brian.
“Which one is Lauren? Is she on team two?”
The girl took his left hand and led him down the hallway toward the dining room. Apparently they were going to dinner? Almost that time, Denis realized. The small form next to him looked down again as she spoke.
“Level. The nine foot tall bug tank looking one? She used to be my best friend, until she tried to kill my dad over lies someone else told her. She wouldn't believe me! I told them all it was a lie, but only Brian trusted me...”
When they got into the room no one else seemed to be there yet. Denis examined the chairs, but all were pushed in, feeling awkward he held out his left arm.
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“Um, Penny, are you in here? I...”
A voice came from the silver and metallic blue plastic box on the table.
“In the other room Denis. Everything OK? I heard that there was an incident earlier?”
“Nothing too major, just don't grab my right arm for about eight weeks or so and we should be fine. Remember that if you have to grab me or something, please. Left arm for the time being, or slap me in the head if it's an emergency. So, how are things going in Penny land today?”
That started a small talk conversation, that, oddly enough got handled pretty well. The trick, Denis found, had to do with asking polite questions and smiling a lot, even if some of the people were in the other room. Bridget didn't bring up her hatred of team two again even, distracted by the invisible girl. Bridget was apparently a big Penny fan, thinking being invisible was cool. When everyone else came in a dark skinned woman named Janine, the evening cook, started bringing out large bowls of food. Spaghetti night then. Ah. Denis stood up and started to leave suddenly, which got everyone to stare at him. The Director really looking concerned.
“Oh... Um, I really need to change out of the nice clothing before I eat red sauce, that's all. I kind of have to use my left hand for it, so you know, it's going to make a mess.”
Penny chuckled from the other room and Brian got up smoothly and walked with him down the hall. At first Denis wondered if Yi thought he was going to try and run off, but it turned out to be simpler than that.
“You'll need help getting your jacket off. I know this one firsthand. It will only take a bit but without help it's a pain.”
The guy was right of course, he did need help, but it felt awkward. Bad enough to need it in the hospital but in his own room? Brian didn't say anything, just got the jacket around for him carefully, then the button up the front shirt. The white t-shirt got changed for a team three workout one and sweats replaced the nice slacks.
The whole thing took about ten minutes and everyone else had gone ahead and started eating without them. The food was good, way better than what they got in lock-up. Not a high bar to move past, but he appreciated it. He also got to use a fork and knife, instead of just his fingers. After the meal he did something that he hadn't done before and went to the kitchen doorway.
“Um, that was very good Janine. Thanks. I should have said that before, since you always do a good job, but, you know, it's really appreciated.”
The woman smiled and patted him on the shoulder, a friendly gesture. She glanced at his right arm but didn't ask after it. You generally didn't here. Too many injured all the time, it would be the main topic of conversation if you tried.
“Why thank you honey! It's always nice to know people like your cooking.” She really did seem pleased at least.
Denis smiled and went to sit back down, since there seemed to be a bit of a meeting starting. Everyone moved out to the main sitting area, out past Christian and Jason's offices except Peggy. Maybe ex-prisoners weren't invited? Technically Peg still was one, but in name only. The Director waved to him gently.
“If you'd join us Mr. Tompkins?” The older man said, looking more than a little uncertain about the idea.
“Call me Denis... please.”
“Very good Denis. This way?”
The round table wasn't the nicest in the place, but suddenly all of team three sat, along with the red-haired and bearded team two guy. Bridget got sent away with a swat by her grandmother, but jumped into Brian's lap first and hugged him a good bit more ardently than was strictly correct. Laughing the man pushed her off and sent her on as well. No one else batted an eye at the scene, so Denis let it go. What was he going to do if Brian was sleeping with her anyway? Maybe get Prime to help ambush him? Or Marcia? No one seemed worried though, so it was probably nothing. The guy had pushed her away after all.
Marcia walked in along with an older woman wearing an old fashioned dress and a lavender shawl. Even old lady white stockings and buckled shoes. The whole look screamed “put on” to Denis, but she smiled nicely enough and walked over to him directly, left hand outstretched to be shook. Without thinking he returned the move.
The woman spoke, her voice warm and a bit distant.
“Tampering, old now mainly. Much of it in the early years. I can't count it all at this remove. Mental intrusions as well as extensive and prolonged physical and psychological torture...years. Nearly decades. Definitely an Infected doing it back then. More recently, at the event a few months ago. Told to attack Brian Yi specifically, then later to attack anyone he could. Similar in feeling to the main influence of the day, what affected everyone else, though the first unique message. Medical earlier today as well, some non-standard. I've seen some similar things in Proxy.”
She smiled at him, something in her eyes shifting subtly.
“Nice to meet you. Ellen Doer.”
“Um, nice to meet you too? Denis Tompkins.” They still held hands, which he let go rapidly then just in case the woman had to feel all that stuff about him all the time they were in contact.
Marcia patted him on the back.
“So you're only half the prick we thought you were. Good to know. Ellen can tell if anyone has messed with something. She basically just said that you got screwed with hard and a lot over the years. Fucked up.”
The older woman looked at her primly.
“Watch your language dear.”
Denis had to fight not to laugh, it just seemed so... Weird. After a second everyone else chuckled, so it wasn't just him. Marcia stuck her tongue out.
“Sorry Ellen. I'll work on it. Can we get you to go over the prisoners we took later? If it's the same intervention...”
The old woman told them that would be fine, then left to let the meeting go on without pause.
The idea that someone had screwed with his mind... Yeah that could explain a few things maybe. What did it mean someone did that to him growing up? An Infected... Prophet Darren? That didn't seem exactly right. The guy hated Infected people, sure, and no one hated harder than those trying to deflect from their own sins. Still... The man was just a monster, not sick. Denis couldn't handle it if everything that had happened was beyond the prick's ability to control.
He couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for him. It would be too much to ask.
The rest of the meeting seemed to be all about letting him meet the other players and gently letting him know they were expected to go up against some kind of ultimate super team. Brian spoke first, pointed to the red-haired man who still dressed like a bum. A very clean one, but the clothing didn't just look like cast-offs, they looked worn and repaired, torn and patched over and again. Some of the patches had obvious patches on top of them.
The guy did wear a newish pair of running shoes however. IPB issue, just like what he wore at the moment himself.
“Denis, this is Advocate Hobbs. Hobbs to his friends. He's... from another reality... and isn't Infected at all.” Brian tapped on the fake wooden top of the table with his right index finger, then frowned.
“I guess the easiest thing to say about him is that his people have some with powers like the Infected, without the overt drawbacks.”
“Aye. Advocate Yi stands true on this. The seven families run the lands I come from, more or less. Perhaps fairer to call them the five now. Not in the way you people organize your lives, more as workers in a bee hive. I'm not one of them, a mere sport, who's ability to aid plants in growing is considered inconsequential to the greater scheme. Hence being allowed more productive and moral work than governance.”
Denis looked at the man openly and tried to take it all in. A guy from another world who dresses like a bum, made plants grow and could kick Marcia's ass? Freaky.
The Director took over from there.
“So, since our current problem involves a very dangerous person from his world, one of their seven families, a woman known as Devorah Timberland, we've enlisted... Advocate Hobbs into our defense and he's proven very helpful so far.”<
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The man continued without pause, rushing, as if he expected Denis to call them all liars or something. The basic deal, past the addition of people from other realities wasn't hard. The original “team one” of the IPB, “Alpha Squad” was working to take the world down and start a war, because their leader, “Braid”, was a crazy bitch that thought she could influence all of reality to her will. Simple enough.
Most of their problems seemed to be directly coming from there. Maybe. It was really hard to tell what was their influence and what things just happened. Any situation could be either or even both, or neither. Basically a really messed up set of things that hardly made sense at all. Worse it sounded like that original team could really kick their asses and the Timberland woman actually might be able to pull her little megalomaniac act off, given her super-powers which Hobbs described only as “strange precognition”. More than that, he was assured, simply defied explanation, other than the fact that whatever she had, it worked.
Marcia sat back, her white uniform thick and stiff looking, quilted canvas or something equally uncomfortable with about eight layers to prevent easy tearing. After a few seconds she leaned forward, her light chocolate eyes finding Denis' and holding them.
“We don't know where Hooper and his friends are in this. They could be influenced by these people or really just what they seem, heartless bigots that make the Nazis look like kittens. It's tough to know. Technically, based just on what we have right now, we have enough to take in Hooper, except that if we try that, his followers will go to war instantly. Probably not against the IPB either, but some little Infected kid that glows in the dark or something useless like that. To make it worse, the Infected are starting to fight back, targeting Hooperites, which is just making everything spiral out of control. I can't blame them, but...”
But if they attacked, the Infected all look like monsters, since the non-Infected controlled the government and the media, there was almost no way to get around that. Then, Denis knew, there wouldn't be any good way to stop the Infected from fighting back either and most of them doing so could do a lot more damage than a hippie with some love beads back in the sixties.