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Taylor and the Dream

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Chapter 44
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    Since Victoria and Sarah left, Selene and I settled into a routine together. Occasionally I'd miss having the others around, but other times I appreciated the solitude. The best thing about it though, was that neither Selene or I had any responsibilities to prevent us from training.


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    "Berenike."


    I look up from the long table I'm making to test my knowledge of joints. "Yes Selene?"


    "We need to talk about your encounter with the Sleeper and how you could have done better."


    I lay the stick of charcoaled wood on the wood, and stand up to face Selene, "I thought my problems stemmed from my overconfidence due to destroying my memories, my in ability to hide fast enough due to exhaustion, and not checking in with you when I started having trouble."


    Selene smiles, "Come, join me by the fire." As I walk beside her she continues, "It is good that you recognize those failings. However, I was referring to my own failings as well as your own. Much like so many of my failings, I erroneously assumed that you would have time to learn and grow as my apprentice."


    "How much time were you expecting?"


    Selene laughs, "At least a couple of decades, maybe even a mortal lifetime. Time enough for each of the basic techniques to become as natural as breathing. Time enough for you to explore your own magic and chart your own path with me as a mentor. Instead."


    "Instead?"


    Selene looks up at the sky with a faraway look, "When I last roamed the world, there were many people who erroneously assumed that if they could just get rid of all the gods and magical people and monsters. Well, it was rare that we didn't have at least one Sleeper incursion every century. They believed that they were attracted to magic use."


    "Were they wrong?"


    Selene chuckles and looks down at me, "Why not answer that yourself Berenike?"


    I think about the answer for a few minutes before I say, "I'm the black swan, aren't I."


    "I am unfamiliar with that phrase."


    I lean back on my elbows so that I can watch the clouds run across the sky, "I sort of remember it from one of the books I read when I was younger. For a long time they believed that all swans were white. That was until someone found a black swan. Since then it means the thing that disproves a theory."


    Selene nods, "It is an apt analogy. You are unlikely to be the first one since your myths and legends tell of people who used magic. Merlin and Morgana, Flamel and his wife, both spring to mind. You are merely the first to not only travel so deep, but also survive the process. As things stand, the discomfort you have felt about being unable to return to the mortal world. I have also been feeling about being unable to return to the sea for the next few decades. It is not something I had envisaged doing, but knowing I could take the time to put space between memories was something I took comfort in."


    "Why can't you go out there?"


    "Berenike, while we cannot die. That does not mean that we cannot be killed. Without a body I am particularly vulnerable, as I cannot shield my presence the way you could. Not only would I be revealing the location of Gaia after all the effort and sacrifice you gave to ensure she stayed hidden. With whatever conflict is happening around that iron sphere you made, I would be eliminated in order to protect their chance at getting a scrap of iron."


    Quietly, I ask, "How could they kill you."


    "Much like you would kill someone with your spear. Except, once you've stabbed them, you draw out everything that is them until their body can no longer hold itself together. That could have easily happened to you because I wanted you to have time to grow."


    I take a deep breath, "What do you need me to do?"


    "I have been teaching you to deflect stones I have thrown at you. Once you stopped thinking about it, that would have led into creating an area around you that you control. Typically the maximum reach of your favored weapon. Inside this area you have total awareness. After that, you would learn to make that area one of total control. I would have taught you to bring your magic back into that area whenever you are pressed, and hold it as a bulwark against anything that comes."


    I wince as I say, "And now?"


    Selene looks at me seriously, "Now, I take a tablet from Ares library, and teach you to be a bulwark. I do not wish to do this, as it makes many things harder as you will need to learn how to relax your control and work out from the bulwark. In this, maybe the fact that you have not regained most of your school memories will be a boon. For I would not have considered teaching you this way with your learned paranoia."


    I frown, "Was I really that bad?"


    Selene shakes her head, "No. But the bulwark will give you a sense of security that can feed into paranoia, and make it hard to let go and relax. While you would be far from unbeatable for one such as I or a Sleeper. Against most mortal threats…"


    "Against mortal threats?"


    "Taylor, Berenike, you need to understand that Ares taught this to his followers so that they could stand on the battlefield against a Sleeper and hope to survive. If you wished to render everything that enters your bulwark down to dust, you could do so. But to do so you sacrifice your range. Against most opponents, it is simply more than you would ever need. Think back on your fight with Lung, and what you know now. Do you believe that he would be able to overcome you?"


    I nod my head, "He fought Leviathan to a standstill, I wouldn't stand a chance."


    "Berenike, you could hold him off for long enough to move the entirety of your city through one level of the dream like they did with Atlantis. You can teleport and he cannot. You can lift mountains if you wished, he weighs far less than a mountain. As you are now, what you lack is experience and confidence. Both of which will only take time to resolve, and is far more preferable to lacking experience and being overconfident."


    When I look at Selene skeptically she says, "Come, I shall prove it to you."


    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​


    Month 13 addendum


    Note: iron fucks magic up something chronic. Lifting a mountain in the next world was as hard as lifting the iron sphere.


    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​


    Month 13 addendum 2


    I hate bulwark training, as it involves being crushed by Selene's magic until I can create a small dome of my own magic, or I collapse. Guess what, I haven't managed to create the dome yet. On the plus side, I've found out how to hide myself so completely that Selene can't find me. Yay for traumatic school memories and wanting to be unnoticed.


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    Month 18


    I managed to get the Bulwark to work for a couple of seconds. Long enough to escape at any rate. Then I had a panic attack, and the locker memory grew two feet.


    "Berenike."


    I look up from my diary as Selene sits down next to me. "Yes?"


    "I just want to say that you did well today. You had the beginning of the technique. What happened?"


    I look down at my diary before handing it over for her to read.


    Selene looks up and takes my hand, "Berenike. How are you visualizing your bulwark?"


    I shrug, "An impenetrable barrier, why?"


    Selene sighs, "Because it is supposed to be a fortress, not a tomb. This is why I don't like teaching it the way Ares did. The point is to have somewhere unassailable that you can retreat to, not that you are trapped in. For a courier or a gate keeper, your visualization of Ares method was ideal, as it would allow mortals to fight against the thralls of a Sleeper. But for near immortals and immortals, you are sacrificing most of your ability if you lock yourself away behind an impenetrable barrier."


    I nod as my mind races with the distinction that Selene's making. I was thinking of something more like an Endbringer shelter, but she called it a tomb. Well, I didn't exactly tell her that I was thinking about an Endbringer shelter, but that's what they are isn't it. They're tombs that people hope they can survive in. Fuck, they even have memorial services outside the New York shelter Behemoth hit in 94.


    Wait, didn't I do something like this when I survived Lung? I created a very small area where his fire couldn't burn because I made it so cold.


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    Month 19


    Training is on hold, as dad's just made it for his therapy sessions. Is it wrong that I resent him being here now? I mean I need to spend more time in the mortal world. Given what I just wrote, I definitely need to spend more time around mortals normal people.


    And Lacey's just turned up with Kurt in tow. Right, I'm off hunting before she starts trying to get me to teach her stuff I barely understand myself.


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    Month 20


    How do you explain to someone who's old enough to be your mother that they just have to practice, practice, and perfect the basics before they move on. I mean, I appreciate that she turned up to provide support. I can't even head back to th Earth Bet for a few hours, as my legs have only regrown down to just above my knees.


    Ok, Sarah's just turned up, at least I get on with her. Well, I guess that's not really fair on Kurt. But he's spent most of his time with Dad.


    I almost had a go at Sarah for not keeping an eye on Victoria. But I can't really do that as it's not like keeping an eye on a mortal child who can only run away. I've got her started on Jedi training instead, that way she'll have half a chance of following Victoria's teleports in future.


    Athena's tits, I can't believe I missed that. I can set up my bulwark inside my awareness rather than squeezing my magic inside my bulwark. I am so stupid. It's like those old European forts that sat on hills. Oh, and Susan's complained about how she couldn't feel the magic I was using to throw stones after I tested her progress after she and Lacey got into a match together. I pointed out that she was supposed to be feeling the stones, not my magic. I guess it also means that my practice at hiding my magic is becoming second nature too. I do not want to be caught unable to hide again, as next time I might not be so lucky.


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    As Selene and I finish dressing a kill ready for Victoria's return, I ask, "Selene, is it me or does Victoria feel closer than she did?"


    Selene looks off into the distance for a moment, "The way between worlds has opened, that is probably what you're feeling."


    I cock my head to one side, "You can tell that from here?"


    Selene laughs, "Tartarus no, I just checked on Catlin. Connor has been a bit unwell today, so she is not coming till after the way closes."


    "Is he ok?"


    Selene nods, "Just wind, but she doesn't want to risk him waking up while the way is open."


    I sigh with relief, "That's good. Also, way?"


    Selene smiles, "It is what we used to call what you call the canyon."


    "Ok, I'll bite. Couriers, gate keepers, and now the way. What's going on?"


    "Those who were born blessed in the cities generally had one of two jobs. They could be a courier, running deliveries and messages between the different worlds. Or they could be a gate keeper, transferring goods and people between the different worlds using way stones. In a few mortal days, we are going to play host to the first representatives of the mortal government. How long do you believe it will be before those jobs become common once more? Or that people will start to follow the way out into the dream?"


    I hesitate before I answer, as I realize that it's not just the PRT that are coming, it's also a reporter. How many people would want to leave Earth Bet for a world with no Endbringers. Even if it does have its own dangers. I'm not sure I want to answer that question just yet. I'm not even sure that Selene wants me to answer either.


    Selene interrupts my thoughts as she says, "I'm going to gift the PRT and the reporter with the designs for the way stones. They are not exactly secret anyway, as just about every Greek town had at least one. They just need well trained blessed in order to activate them."


    I nod and change the subject, "I've been meaning to ask, but how do you preserve the meat and vegetables with magic. I've tried to…"


    I trail off as I feel Victoria get a little closer, and then her resonance goes flat. With a hurried "Something's happened to Victoria!" I disappear into the next world closer to Earth Bet, heedless of the fact my knees and lower legs have just disappeared.
     
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    Amy's fate
  • Voting
    • So, Amy is in a bit of a pickle as the solution that they used for Victoria is likely to get the attention of the Sleepers. There are a number of possible solutions and I'm not sure which one to use.

    Merging magic - This is a step beyond being marked and means that the people involved cannot get too far away from each other (same solar system, so doesn't apply for this fic - See Dream Effect Ch10 and The Deep Dream, Bk3/Ch59 for more info). Must always be in the same dimension (in either direction). And share the same inner world.

    [] Fuck it, let her die
    [] Victoria and Amy are sisters anyway, so have Victoria merge her magic with Amy.
    [] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.
    [] Fuck it, Taylor can hide her magic. Take the risk that she won't attract the attention of the Sleepers and do the same thing as Victoria.
     
  • Voting
    • [X] Victoria and Amy are sisters anyway, so have Victoria merge her magic with Amy.
    [X] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.

    I can see pros for both choices here.
    also some cons too, but eh.
     
    [X] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.

    By how fast Taylor was and how she didnt care for her own safety to get to Victoria she went full Mom and Amy really needs a Mom in her life
     
    [X] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.

    Amy will need a lot of nurturing,
    NEW Victori could not provide it.
     
    You've written Victoria into a mental state where 1/2 are unconscionable for an adult to let happen to a child. 4 is just asking for trouble.

    So 3.
     
    [X] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.

    I can't see Taylor letting anyone die in front of her or passing off a responsibility onto someone else.
     
    [X] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.
     
    [X] Victoria is Taylors daughter and her responsibility, so have Taylor merge her magic with Amy.
    [X] Fuck it, Taylor can hide her magic. Take the risk that she won't attract the attention of the Sleepers and do the same thing as Victoria.

    Either of three or four.
     
    [X] Victoria and Amy are sisters anyway, so have Victoria merge her magic with Amy.

    [X] Fuck it, Taylor can hide her magic. Take the risk that she won't attract the attention of the Sleepers and do the same thing as Victoria.

    I really don't like it when the protagonist ends up in this kind of annoying situation where they are stuck with another character, other than that I'm fine with the other options.
     
    [X] Fuck it, Taylor can hide her magic. Take the risk that she won't attract the attention of the Sleepers and do the same thing as Victoria.

    We might get an Amy who grows up again with a much better mom like with Victoria. I'm hoping to see that.
     
    Vote closed
  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by Darkphoenixlady on Jan 16, 2024 at 7:49 AM, finished with 13 posts and 11 votes.
    Click to expand...
     
  • Voting
    • Aww my vote didn't count. Probably because I just posted the vote and couldn't figure out where the actual poll was
     
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    Chapter 45
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    • Chapter 45


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    It's not until I'm lying next to Victoria that it occurs to me that I didn't need to hurry as much as I did. As I reach over to pull her into my arms, I feel dampness.


    Quickly pulling my hand back, I stare at it in the darkness as I lift Victoria out of the way and I realize that she's not the only person here, and the other person is bleeding from everywhere.


    It takes me a second to realize that the second person is Victoria's sister, Amy. In that time I've already moved a world closer to the sea.


    "Selene, goddess of the moon. I need your help."


    "What do you need?"


    "I'm bringing Victoria back through the dream as she's collapsed and bleeding again. But she brought her sister with her. She's bleeding everywhere, not just from her eyes and ears."


    "Berenike, I, we. It might not be possible to save her."


    "    Surely we can do the same thing we did for Victoria?"


    "I can not leave Gaia without bringing doom on the world. Doom that we are ill equipped to deal with."


    "We have to try, I'm not going to let Victoria believe that she's a killer just because she wanted to be nice to her sister."


    "Taylor, death comes to everything eventually."


    I sag and start feeling out for Amy's soul as a couple more worlds pass. "Selene, goddess of the moon. I know, it's just. Victoria's so young mentally. If she was older and more mature. I'd still try to save Amy, because it was Victoria, but."


    "Much like I chastised you when you brought Lacey to see me."


    I nod as I get closer to the world where Selene can start to help, "I've found her soul, I think her body is dying. I can't feel her heartbeat."


    Selene stays silent for a few minutes, before she suddenly appears next to me, "I'm going to take Victoria home, we won't be able to protect her and heal her sister."


    "Selene, are you…" I trail off as Selene disappears with Victoria's body and I'm left moving towards the sea on my own again.


    Selene catches up with me a few minutes later when I stop just before the sea of magic. I know it's probably been less than a minute for her, but it feels a lot longer for me.


    As she starts to work I keep a solid grip on the soul at the same time I try to follow what she's doing. After a few seconds Selene looks up at me with a serious expression, "Berenike, this is beyond me. I could repair the brain the same way I did for Victoria, but her internal organs have been shredded. Even if you took her to the shore now, she wouldn't have a body to grow back into."


    My heart sinks and I kick my stumps on the ground impotently, "There must be something we can do. You made me a new body, can't we do that?"


    Selene shakes her head, "She doesn't have her own magic yet, so her soul would just leave if I did. You'd have to share your own magic with her soul, and not pull away when her own magical body forms inside it. You'd basically be tying yourself to her for eternity, closer than sisters or lovers. You'd have no private thoughts from each other. The same would be true for her, you would be condemning her to living with you the same way."


    I look down at the body and absently clean away the blood that's covering her face to reveal the almost solid covering of freckles and rather plain features of the girl I've only met a few times.


    I take a deep breath, and my hold on her soul waivers, "Selene. If I do this." I lick my lips, as I now know enough to know I have no idea what I'm getting myself into. "If I do this, will you raise her as your daughter. I don't think I could raise her like I did Victoria and build the sort of relationship we'd need going forward."


    Selene doesn't say anything for a couple of seconds. "If you accept this doom, then I would be honored to give her a second childhood as my own daughter."


    I hesitate once more before saying, "What do I need to do?"


    Selene continues working for a second before pulling the body onto its side, "Lay down next to her and imagine bringing her inside your bulwark or inner world. But make sure her soul stays in her body. When the body starts to form you need to let it join with your own, and you'll be able to tell as it will affect your inner world."


    I nod and try and do as Selene asked.


    I must be doing something right, as a bloody pair of lungs appears on the ground nearby and my diagnostic spell tells me that she's replaced them with a magical equivalent.


    When it happens, just like with Victoria, it's very sudden like the reverse of a soap bubble popping and I almost jerk back as it rips open a hole in my own body. I only stop as I feel Selene's soul touch both my soul and Amy's soul ever so delicately and leaves a tiny part of itself behind. Then the moment passes as Amy's body fills in the gap and the process is complete.


    For a moment I'm awed by just how small her soul is compared to mine, but that feeling only lasts for a the couple of seconds it takes to start growing to fill its new body, along with an uncomfortable feeling of my own inner world shifting around to accommodate a new forest of tree stumps. These trees and plants all seem to be common to this part of this world. As I glance up, I'm not surprised when I spot streams of magic in the sky.


    At the same time I can't help gasping outside my inner world, and I look at Selene with wide eyes, "What was that?"


    Selene smiles and kisses me on the forehead, "That was me taking a chance and marking you as my daughter. It's a deeper mark than the one I gave your father, and it means…"


    I shake my head, "I meant how… vast, massive, big…"


    Selene chuckles as she keeps working on Amy's brain. "Berenike, that is how you would appear to a mortal if you marked them. It is the difference between getting your feet wet on the shore, and going swimming in the sea."


    I shake my head, "I don't understand."


    "I don't expect you to. Now go and find your sister and keep her company while I save what I can."


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    Catlin groans as Selene prods her awake.


    "Priestess, I need you to speak to the Dallon's and inform them of the fact their daughter is gravely injured."


    Catlin sit bolt upright, "What happened?"


    "Victoria decided to show her sister my home. It killed them both, but Victoria will be back to normal soon."


    Catlin blinks a couple of times, "What?"


    "Her heart was still beating so she'll be fine. She'll probably have a bit of amnesia for a couple of days, but that's it. It's the sister that's the problem."


    Numbly Catlin starts to get dressed in her uniform. As she's lacing up a sandal she says, "Selene, goddess of the moon. What do you mean, 'It's the sister that's the problem'?"


    "Amy Dallon has no memory of who she was yet. Much as Victoria didn't. However, while I was able to heal her brain, it was at the cost of her internal organs. She will be restricted to my home for at least a year while they regrow. It will also take at least that long for her new personality to develop and grow, and to start getting her memories back. I'm sure you remember Victoria's progress."


    Catlin nods, "I understand, what do you want me to do?"


    "First, tell them what happened. Then bring a trusted representative to see the sisters… Check with Berenike before you bring them, as I seem to remember something about Barnes and Dallon, and I know there's a problem with a Barnes. Before you come, they must agree to swear that they won't bring anyone further than 4 worlds into the dream until they have progressed to the next world themselves. I'm not going to have random people keep turning up at my home. Thinking about it, I should probably think about moving my home deeper into the dream."


    Catlin sighs as she starts on her other sandal, "Are there any other restrictions on who can go?"


    "Yes, they can't have powers. If they have powers it would be a death sentence, assuming you could even bring them yourself."


    "What about Connor?"


    "Sarah might be at my home if you hurry, you could also take the time to sleep so that you're refreshed while talking to the Dallon's."


    Catlin steps over to Connor's room and smiles as she spots Spike sleeping on his bed. Then she disappears into the dream.


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    Catlin appears on the street outside the Dallon's house, and swiftly walks up the garden path to the front door. There she rings the doorbell a couple of times before stepping backward.


    "Don't forget to shield yourself. They wouldn't be the first distressed parents to attack first."


    Catlin belatedly brings up the defense that Selene taught her just as the door opens and a man wearing pajamas, "Can I help you?"


    Catlin nods, "Mr Dallon?"


    The man nods, "Call me Mark."


    "Um, ok Mark. Selene sent me to inform you that your daughters are both alive, though Amy has amnesia and will need to grow up before she can start remembering stuff again."


    Mark frowns, "Oh, you would want my wife then. I think she just left though."


    Catlin sighs, "Do you know where she went?"


    Mark shakes his head, "She might have said, but I don't remember. She was shouting on the phone first. She does that a lot."


    Catlin frowns, "Are you ok?"


    Mark smiles cheerfully, "Oh, don't worry about me. It's my meds. They stop me wanting to kill myself, but they make it hard to think."


    "Oh… Do you think you could phone your wife, and find out where she's gone?"


    Mark stands there for several seconds while he thinks about it, then he turns around and walks away from the front door. A minute later Mark's voice floats out of the house, "The Emissary is here… They're alive… Why are you going to the PRT?… Kidnapping? When did that happen?… I'll let the Emissary know… Ok, I won't let the Emissary know."


    Catlin rubs her temples as Mark hangs up, a few seconds later Mark reappears at the door, "I'm sorry, I can't talk to you anymore."


    Catlin sighs and holds out a card, "It's ok, I'm going to head to the PRT to try and head this off. If you could let the leader of New Wave know what's happened I would appreciate it. You can send text messages to that number, and I'll get them when I switch on my phone."


    Mark smiles as he takes the card, "Thank you."


    Catlin nods as she turns around and teleports to the PRT building.


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    Somewhat nervously, Catlin sits in a PRT interview room as she is unsure of the reception she'll be receiving. Only Selene's comforting presence in the back of her mind stops her from dwelling on the worst aspects of what could happen.


    A couple of minutes pass before Lt O'Donnall walks in with a large mug of coffee, a folder, and a tape recorder.


    "Good morning Emissary, the reception said your message was urgent."


    Catlin nods, "It is, as it involves a minor, and I was unable to speak to a responsible adult at her home."


    O'Donnall nods, "What's going on?"


    "Victoria Dallon nearly killed her sister by trying to take her into the dream." As O'Donnall reaches for a button under the desk, Catlin hurries on with, "Berenike and Selene were able to save her life, but she's going to have amnesia. I was sent to inform the Dallon's and offer to take a trusted representative to see the two of them. As long as that person isn't a parahuman that is."


    O'Donnall glances up at the glowing symbol on Catlin's forehead, "What guarantee do we have that this isn't just a ploy to gain control of a powerful healer?"


    Catlin swallows hard, "We understand that you are just asking for the sake of completeness. However, Selene has informed me that you will have to take some things on faith and the fact that we sought to inform you of the problem as soon as we were able to. After all, without trust it is impossible to prove any sort of motive. This is why we are willing to take a trusted representative of the Dallon family to see their daughters."


    "Why not just bring them back here for a medical evaluation?"


    "Amy Dallon is currently relying on magical replacements for her internal organs, as whatever granted her power was spread throughout her body rather than just in her head. She would not survive returning to Earth Bet if we brought her back before she healed. Victoria Dallon, is currently somewhere between six and 11 years old mentally, and she can teleport. We didn't consider that when we allowed her to return to the mor… Earth Bet."


    O'Donnall checks her folder as someone speaks into her earpiece, "You understand that we would need to send more than one person to verify this. We would need to send qualified medical professionals to evaluate your story, as well people to back them up."


    Catlin grimaces as Selene takes control of her hand and waves it over the desk, leaving a clay tablet with an oath printed into the surface.


    I swear on my life and magic that until I have made it through to the tenth world beyond Earth Bet I will not take anyone further than four worlds beyond Earth Bet.


    "This is the oath that anyone that comes with me will have to make."


    O'Donnall's cheek twitches as she reads the text, and the people observing the interview start shouting at each other. After taking a swig of her coffee to give her a moment to think, she asks, "What would this accomplish?"


    Catlin gestures to the pad and pen on the desk, "Do you mind if I draw you a diagram?"


    O'Donnall pushes the pad and pen over the desk, "Go ahead."


    Catlin nods and levitates the pen as she draws out a quick diagram.


    Sea of Magic


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    10th Selene's Home


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    4th World


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


    Earth Bet


    Once she's finished, she turns it around to face O'Donnell, "From listening to Berenike, each world is a, um, resonance point on the gradient between magic and physics. She says it acts like radiation, except it's not directly harmful to biological bodies. Ah, Selene just told me to say it could also be like the lines you get when you drop iron filings around a magnet. One moment, she's relaying something that Berenike's saying."


    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​


    O'Donnell looks at the diagram while the Emissary communicates with someone. Presumably this Selene person.


    After a moment the Emissary starts talking again, "I think I understand the explanation now. What Berenike said is that the first two worlds after Earth Bet don't hold enough magic for people that aren't already protected from it to develop protection. A bit like incredibly fair skinned people don't need to worry about sunscreen on a cloudy day. As you go further out, people start to adapt to the level of magic, but that also means that they then carry this level of magic with them when they return. But once someone has adapted, it is then harder to adapt to higher concentrations of magic. So the oath is there to ensure that people your representatives expose to magic are no more dangerous than someone with a gun unless they put in a lot of time and effort to learn about their abilities."


    O'Donnell nods, "I'll need to speak to my superiors about this. Will you be ok waiting for a little longer?"


    The Emissary nods, "I can wait until 4:30 this morning at the latest, though I would prefer to leave before 4am. There is also a request that nobody from the Barnes family is part of the delegation, as Berenike is, uneasy about certain members of that family."


    O'Donnell nods and makes a note on the pad before tearing off the top sheet and walking out. As she passes through the doors to the observation area, she winces at the sound of Mrs Dallon demanding that they arrest Berenike and bring her daughter back. Walking into the observation room behind the Emissary's interview room she hands over the diagram for scanning.


    As she does Dr Yamada yawns loudly as she walks in behind her, "What's going on?"


    Deputy Director Renick glances up from a computer display where the scanned image is now being displayed, "Thank you for coming Dr, I know you volunteered to be part of the delegation next Wednesday, but it looks like we need your expertise tonight."


    Yamada runs her fingers through her hair, "What? I'm supposed to be getting an early flight back to the asylum in a few hours."


    Renick grimaces, "I know, but we need a trained psychologist to check the mental state for Panacea and Glory Girl, and you're not technically part of the PRT and you have a medical degree on top of that."


    He clicks a couple of buttons on the computer to bring up a video of Victoria in her carrot coloured chiton, "What would you say the effect of a parahuman having their powers removed would be?"


    Yamada shrugs, "I'd need more details than that. As it depends on how and if it's temporary or not. Most parahumans seem to find interacting with power nullifiers to be disconcerting, the Faerie Queen's method was always fatal, we don't have enough information about Bonesaw's victims to draw conclusions, and Transplant in Russia has around a 50% fatality rate, though there are questions about their numbers as they are based on Law enforcement intelligence."


    Renick gestures to the small two way mirror that's hidden behind a painting, "According to the Emissary, it has resulted in brain damage. However this is a video taken outside Arcadia High School yesterday afternoon."


    Yamada shakes her head, "I've never interviewed anyone from New Wave, so I can't give you any sort of professional opinion."


    O'Donnell coughs, "Sir, I think we're straying off topic. Has anyone contacted the Pelham's to find out if they know of any one Panacea trusted?"


    Renick gives O'Donnell a frustrated look, "They don't know, and all of their trusted contacts are capes. We've got initial feedback from Watchdog on past interactions, and they don't think Berenike or the Emissary are untrustworthy, but that's as far as they go."


    "Sir, it's 2am, we need to stay on track if we're going to meet the Emissary's deadline."


    Renick swigs a cup of very black coffee and mutters, "Right, focus on priorities. Emily should be doing this, not me." More loudly he adds, "Right, here's what we'll do. O'Donnell, head back in with Yamada, if you're willing to visit as the Emissary says they suffered massive brain damage and have Amnesia. We'd obviously like a 2nd opinion on that. While you're doing that I'll get someone to call the Pelham's and see if they'll trust Yamada to be the 'trusted person'. Peterson, call the hospital again and see if they've found anyone that Panacea trusted more than anyone else at the hospital. Oh, and O'Donnell, keep this unofficial. We'll plan on keeping the official visit for Wednesday. It will give me time to get the last of the waivers."


    Yamada leans tiredly against a wall, "What about Master/Stranger, I'm scheduled to have two weeks starting Wednesday, but I've still got the rest of the protectorate adjunct staff to see for their six monthly screenings."


    Renick grimaces, "We'll send a message to New York and ask them to send up one of their permanent staff to take over. Were you able to finish the Wards and Protectorate?"


    Yamada nods, "I did. I still think they need more than one session every six months."


    O'Donnell sighs, "With all due respect, that's a conversation for when we're not on a deadline."


    Renick nods, "Very well. It's now your lead lieutenant. I'll go and deal with Brandish. The important thing is to ascertain that they are both alive and healthy, as well as what impact this has had on them. I hate to say it, but Panacea has to be the priority if you're short on time. Politically, she's kept the protectorate competitive with the Empire since she triggered two years ago. Thats beyond the amount of tourism she brings in from people hoping to be healed by her."


    Renick checks his PDA before O'Donnell can leave, "One last thing, I know you've both signed the waivers, but I need verbal confirmation that you are aware that you will be gaining powers, and how it might affect your future employment."


    Yamada scowls, "Of course, and if Berenike was a parahuman I wouldn't have signed. As it stands I was supposed to remain here, but I agreed to the emergency clause so I'm following through."


    O'Donnell just nods as she's leaving, "I am aware."
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • That's a nice call. Making sure that one of the first people who is going to go with them is the best mental health specialist we see in the story.
     
    PRT, or someone with an functioning brain, should have noticed that "link for power through whole body" is what caused Amy's issues, and is likely to have been corrupted or removed. Wouldn't that preclude Amy still being "the most desired healer" in the world? Wouldn't that make them realize that taking Amy deep into the Dream was NOT something desirable, and to be avoided at all costs to not only save her life, but to keep her able to heal? Someplace that Berenike would NOT want voluntarily, or deliberately, to have Amy taken?

    Sending Yamada to eval Amy, and probably Vicky too, is a good idea, but all she'll be able to tell is that Amy is alive, and basically unharmed physically, and missing most of her memories, and barely functional as a human at the moment. Vicky is coming along well, but still has a child like mind at the moment, otherwise she wouldn't have tried to bring Amy back and kill her in the process (well, she was mostly dead).
     
    Assembler Maniac said:
    PRT, or someone with an functioning brain, should have noticed that "link for power through whole body" is what caused Amy's issues, and is likely to have been corrupted or removed. Wouldn't that preclude Amy still being "the most desired healer" in the world? Wouldn't that make them realize that taking Amy deep into the Dream was NOT something desirable, and to be avoided at all costs to not only save her life, but to keep her able to heal? Someplace that Berenike would NOT want voluntarily, or deliberately, to have Amy taken?

    Sending Yamada to eval Amy, and probably Vicky too, is a good idea, but all she'll be able to tell is that Amy is alive, and basically unharmed physically, and missing most of her memories, and barely functional as a human at the moment. Vicky is coming along well, but still has a child like mind at the moment, otherwise she wouldn't have tried to bring Amy back and kill her in the process (well, she was mostly dead).
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Why? Vicky could still fly when she came back, they even have video of it.
    The Emissary has already said that it's deadly for parahumans, and that this wasn't something they wanted to do. She already went to the PRT after the father proved to be unable to make decisions on his own (due to medication) and the mother was already on the way to the PRT. So that's not new information.
    The whole point of the Emissary being there is to take trusted non-parahumans to validate that Amy and Vicky are both a) alive, and b) amnesiacs.
    The whole thing is team Berenike holding their hands up and saying, "Shit happened and we're doing our best to resolve it. This is what we're doing, and we'd like to invite a couple of people to see that we are in fact doing this."
     
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