Electra

Miss A remained quiet in the elevator, studying and memorizing all the data being broadcast on the news programs. If this mutant issue was new in Tronik, it could mean that the simulation was breaking down even faster than they'd realized, Relatively small programming errors could lead to extreme parsing problems, especially in programs as complex as the citizens of Tronik. They could be dealing with more than an environmental problem, they could have a fatal epidemic on their hands. Of course, that was nothing to be said in a crowded elevator, so she quietly followed Sharl out and down the hall toward his habitation.

Wander rubbed a hand over her face and looked around at the group. She felt like she'd gotten things planned up until about this exact point, and from here on out, she was playing by ear. "You all make good points," she said, "and we all know how irritating you can be in a good cause, Edge. Midnight, if you go with him, the two of you can handle Summers no problem, and get all that straightened out. Sage, yeah, it would probably be useful having you around for backup at Blackstone." She nodded, satisfied with her own plan, then regarded the team soberly. "I owe all of you a lot. I never would've been able to do this on my own, and it means a lot to me."

Some hint of fear flickered in Singularity's eyes as Edge approached, but Sage's powers were still doing their job, and it disappeared as quickly as it had come. She was definitely interested in the sandwich, though, snatching it away and eating it in quick, big bites as though she were afraid it was going to be taken away. A few steps away, Wander took the teacup that Supercape had brought out to her. "Thanks," she told him, but handed the cup to her counterpart. Singularity took that too, not even seeming to notice the heat, and gulped it down. With her counterpart dealt with for the moment, Erin-Wander was able to take a few much-needed steps away to try and regain some distance. She sighed and reached for Trevor's hand when he came over, squeezing gently. "I think it's going to be hard," she said quietly. "I think she's not going to want to be in a cell, even an observation one that's nicer than what the typical bad guys get. It'll probably take hours to get through all the paperwork and stuff. It'll be easier if you guys can get Caryatid and her family taken care of, all our gear dealt with, that kind of thing." Behind the impassive mask, she looked tired and very sad, but she didn't seem to be in any danger of losing her composure. The lip Singularity had split had yet to heal up, a testament to the force behind the blow.

"It's all right, Bay-bee," Stesha told the beeling soothingly, coming around on Bay-bee's other side while Tarrant worked. "We'll get you right out of there." With the geokinetic there, it was a trivial matter to free the trapped insect from confinement, though she was so worked up that as soon as her head was free Bay-bee shot backwards halfway across the room. "Bad!" Bay-bee chided the offending wall, waggling her little antennae with rage. "Zzztuck!" It did not look as though any actual harm had been done, either to Bay-bee or to the new castle. "You have to be more careful!" Stesha warned the bee, "you're growing so quickly, places you might have fit when you were a larva are too little for you now. You don't want to get stuck again!"

Miss A battled displaced vertigo for a moment, first from the bizarre mix of data signals imposing themselves on her consciousness, and then from the sheer height of the buildings. She'd been in big cities, but this was insane, absurd. Her brain told her that it couldn't exist, even as another part was calculating tensile strengths and material load and another part was reminding her that of course it didn't exist, it was a computer program. She took a deep breath and looked to where Sharl was pointing. "They'll be glad to have you home," she told Sharl kindly. "I'm sure they've worried a great deal." She paused when she saw the other sign. "Are there very many mutants in Tronik?" she asked him. "I didn't realize that was a phenomenon here."

"Miss Americana has done several scans on me over the course of my pregnancy, just because I run into so many strange situations in my line of work," Stesha assured him with a smile. "No strange radiation on me or the baby, just the gravitic radiation signature that any baby of Dark Star's would be likely to have. If there is a Terminus presence here, the radiation hasn't affected either of us. And I would definitely like to keep it that way, and for the other sentients who live here."

Miss A took the lead again, working the complicated set of locks that barred the door from the outside. Most users wouldn't even see this door, and those who did would have to navigate its fierce security. Even knowing the codes, it took a little bit to get through. That was just as well, the idea of any hacker or curiosity seeker with a yen for something new being able to access Tronik was not a good one. "All right guys," she told the others, "here's where it gets weird. Sharl, you might experience a few minutes of disorientation. Your mind has gotten used to processing data through the emulator, but now you'll be back in your home system and using processing paths you haven't accessed in months. It's all right if you need a moment. Dragonfly and I will have our own adjusting to do, since it's an alien computer system." She pulled open the door and led the way in.

"We did find one Grue artifact out in the ruined city, Victory and I," Stesha explained, "but we couldn't tell if it was a Grue invasion, or a lost Grue artifact, or neither. It was dangerous, so he tossed it into space and gone. I don't go into the ruined city much," she admitted, "especially not lately. It's a sad place, and the air isn't terribly good. But if that's the best place to analyze radiation is there, we can go for a little bit." They'd emerged into a clearing in the middle of a verdant forest full of seemingly-ancient trees. Around them were several other plant huts, none as nice as the one they'd come out of, seeming more like sheds than homes. "I don't know what you need in order to know whether the Terminus was here."

"Don't be silly," Stesha told him, pointing her fork in his direction. "You wouldn't have lived this long or come this far if you weren't both clever and wise, not to mention extremely brave. If you're motivated enough to want to learn, you'll catch up, and I'm sure you'll do very well. And you're right, you would be different than most students, but so what? This is Freedom City, on Earth Prime. Do you know how many aliens and mutants and dimensional refugees and magical creatures and scientific marvels are wandering around this city? I know I don't, but there are a lot of them You shouldn't let the fact that you're different keep you from having the best future you possibly can."

"The emulator I built for you lets you perceive the data in a way your senses can understand," Miss A told Sharl, stepping forwards towards the door. "None of the architecture is actually here, of course, but your human mind isn't made to see datastreams the way Dragonfly and I can. This should make it easier for you. Stay close, though. Being overconfident on the net can get you in trouble very quickly. She pulled open the door and ushered the others through. The other side of the door was very different from the quiet order of Miss A's computer. It was as though they'd stepped into a frantic city street, as busy as Tronik at the close of the business day, with things rushing every which way. Glowing shapes that looked very much like people milled and rushed about, while vehicle shapes went by even faster, jockeying for position and blocking each others' access. Sharl couldn't read any of the many glowing signs all about them, but even so, it was an almost overwhelming amount to take in. Still it made sense, not like it had on his first trip.

"Have you considered going back to school?" Stesha asked him, pushing the bowl of fruit salad in his direction in case he wanted seconds. She made a mean fruit salad. "It wouldn't be fast, but I'm sure if you went to school part time you could get a diploma, even a degree. That would open up so many opportunities for you! And there's financial aid available, grants and loans and scholarships. It would be a good way to learn about Earth as well," she added encouragingly.

Stesha hustled down the passageway with Tarrant, a distinct waddle in her step as she gained speed. "Bay-bee!" she called, "Where are you?" The buzzing noise increased in volume and agitation as they got closer, though the echoing of the earthen chamber made pinpointing an exact location more difficult. After a minute's rapid searching, they finally found the baby giant bee. wedged headfirst into what was obviously supposed to be an access alcove for the wiring. Her little wings were beating up a storm, but bees just didn't fly backwards very well. "BZZZZZZZ!" Bay-bee called, apparently forgetting English for the moment.

Singularity heard the voice in her head, and suddenly the world plunged back into nightmare. Pathos was gone, but now there was a new girl instead, staring at her, looking into her mind. She hadn't gotten away after all, it was impossible to escape, just like Pathos said... Horror and panic began to well up in her mind as she scrambled for mental defenses that just didn't exist and hadn't for a very long time. There was nothing to stop the tide of power that swept into her psyche, overwhelming all the fear and replacing it with... calm. Just simple, removed calm, the sort that seemed to suggest that no matter what happened, it couldn't be too important. Singularity's spine bowed as she slumped in place a little. Her eyes, still locked on Sage's, went slightly glassy as she let the teddy bear fall into her lap.

"Yeah, a couple times," Erin admitted, frowning again. "But I probably didn't make a very good impression. The first time was at that citywide sparring match where I beat up Dead Head. And then he came around while I was babysitting Avenger and Phantom's baby and got into a bunch of books he wasn't supposed to. He summoned some kind of freaky monsters and was acting all possessed, so I decked him and beat up the monsters." The corners of her lips quirked. "I did get a hazard bonus that night, Avenger always pays extra when I have to beat things up while I'm on the clock. But I'm not sure it'll be very good for me going into a job interview if that's what he remembers me for."

"That's a good idea," Stesha agreed. "Less cooling strain on the generator, and you'll get some amazing breezes from up here. You may have to raise the castle or lower it on certain days though. When the wind starts blowing off the ocean too hard, it's all I can do to keep the air clear to a dozen yards above the treetops. It's so polluted all around us still." She shook her head a little bit. "I imagine that once you get high enough, the heavy particulates won't bother you." The conversation was suddenly interrupted by a loud thudding noise and a high-pitched, alarmed buzzing noise from the back of the castle! Stesha, looking alarmed, asked "What's the best way to the bee alcove?"

Stesha smiled. "I definitely will," she promised. "The Hero Museum is one of my favorite destinations in Freedom City. And it's where I had my first real superheroic adventure myself, so it has a special place in my heart. The date I was on at the time was uniquely awful, but in a way it led to me meeting Derrick, so I can't even be too sorry about that. How do you like working at the restaurant? Do people treat you all right there, give good tips and such?" She was glad that Harrier had a job, but busboy was not really a career for a grown adult superhero.

"The kitchen's right down the hall on your left," Wander told Supercape, still quite distracted by her own concerns. "Help yourself." She nodded at Alex's grandpa's words, then looked over to Trevor as she got up and cautiously released Singularity. "If I can get a ride straight into Blackstone with her, I think I should be able to manage things. It'll probably take hours to get her settled and, you know, stuff. Is it all right if I come by your place when I'm done?" Erin rather suspected that this was a night it would be good to have some ammunition against the nightmares. For her part, Singularity was not reassured at all by these new surroundings. The talk of holding pens seemed especially ominous, especially since she could tell they were talking about her. She was too tired to run or fight anymore though, and she was so hungry. At least she didn't hear Pathos in her head, she reminded herself, picking up the bear and carefully dusting it off as she sat cross-legged on the floor. Even a little while where she could think clearly was good. If she could just get a little food, a little rest, if Pathos stayed gone, she was sure she could get away from anything.

"What you see here," Stesha told him, gesturing to the lush forest visible outside the window, "is all new. This place is barely habitable anywhere outside the radius I've been rehabilitating. The air isn't very good, there's hardly any plant or animal life... there are a few survivors, but they barely hung on this long. As far as I can tell, the whole world is like this. I've had testers for more mundane radiation and poison out here and they tell me that it's safe enough, but I don't think they detect Terminus radiation. If you can tell me anything, it would definitely ease my mind. But first, we should eat!" Stesha was a pretty good cook, and the portion sizes were more than adequate. As they ate, she asked him, "So what have you been up to lately? We haven't had a chance to talk in months, it seems."

"I'm sorry," Stesha said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I really need to start remembering that not everyone is used to traveling like I do. You're not the only one I've surprised," she admitted ruefully as she sat down at the table. "This is Sanctuary, my headquarters dimension, and this is my cottage. Sanctuary is what I wanted to talk to you about, actually. Something awful happened here in the long past, and I'm not sure what. I was hoping you might be able to take a look at the ruins and, well, tell me if Omega or the Terminus had anything to do with it. If they did, I'm concerned about the long-term effects of Terminus radiation, and the possibility that they might come back someday."

Stesha paused for a moment, then laughed, her whole face crinkling up with amusement. "That's a new one!" she told him, "and here I thought I'd heard them all. Thank you!" She looked around to be sure no one was watching, then touched Harrier on the shoulder. In an instant, they were in her cozy cottage on Sanctuary, and instead of a park bench, Murdock sat on a comfortable and surprisingly sturdy couch. The air smelled of Italian spices, melted cheese, and warm bread. "I made meatball subs and a nice salad," she told Murdock, walking over to where the table had already been set. "I hope that's all right with you. Coffee, tea, pop, water?"

He wasn't kept waiting long, though it was hardly an unpleasant occupation. Within a few minutes, he heard a soft noise nearby and turned his head to see Fleur de Joie approaching, also in civilian garb. The plant controller looked substantially different from the last time he'd seen her. Her long green hair, done up in braids and clips, was still the most striking part of her appearance, but now her popping stomach vied for the honor as well! At nearly nine months pregnant, the petite woman seemed almost as round as she was tall these days, but she still looked as cheerful as ever as she spotted Harrier and headed over. "Hello!" she called as she approached. "Thanks so much for meeting with me today. I know you're awfully busy, but I was hoping to get your expert opinion on a few things, if you have a little while. I've made lunch," she offered with a winning smile. Stesha suspected that Harrier wouldn't turn her down anyway, but the always-pensive-looking Murdock could use some meat on his bones anyway.

Erin thought for a minute, but ate while she thought. The pie was really very good. "And I guess it would be nice to work someplace where I was still in contact with other heroes, instead of just, you know, my close friends from school and nobody else. Probably not easy to even get an interview someplace like ArcheTech, though." She gave Mona a crooked sort of smile. "I guess it would probably be unethical or something to ask you to put in a good word for me. But maybe the school could do something, or knows somebody there."

"I'm flattered you think I could create an AI as sophisticated as Sharl, Doctor," Miss A said with a smile, "but he's not one of mine. I've never delved too deeply into the realm of creating sentient machines, it's simply not an area of interest to me. There are so many already-sentient beings who could use a little mechanical assistance, building new brains for the machines seems superfluous. Colin and his friends," here she gestured to Mavis, powered down and silent in one corner of the lab, "are just smart enough to help me with my work. They don't think and feel the way that Citizen does. There's a story there, but this isn't really the time for it."

"It's not really medical care I'm worried about," Erin finally admitted, poking at her pie with her fork. "I mean, I don't get sick, and when I get hurt it just gets better. But I've been in, you know, pretty intensive therapy ever since I got here. And I'm a lot better now than I was, but the idea of just going without kind of makes me nervous. But it's not really essential." She frowned down at her pie, suddenly not quite as hungry for it as she had been. "I think ASTRO and ArcheTech probably both have enough superhumans working for them who are smart too that they probably don't need one just for busting skulls. I guess it wouldn't hurt to apply."

Stesha laughed and sneezed at the same time as Bay-bee darted away, then rubbed her face ruefully. "I used to think I was immune to pollen allergies, but I'm starting to learn it's all a matter of scale. For the pollen, and the bees! The way she and the other juveniles are growing, any cubbyhole you make now isn't going to fit her for long. Beeatrizz says that the typical growth to maturity for a giant fire-breathing bee is about a year. Bay-bee's a month old now, so by the end of summer, she could be the size of a pickup truck or bigger." Rising from her seat, she walked towards the castle, looking it over. "Can we take a look inside?"