Turn 57

--- Maya ---

“So, is there a reason you followed me to the park?”

“Um… No?” She lied. (Poorly by the way.)

“Then do you care to explain how you followed me to this park, when I had my chauffeur drive me here?” Ying pressed with a single raised brow.

“No…”

(She caved and used her COMP!)

(Shut up!)

Ying smirked at her. “Well, since you’re here I suppose that means you can join me.”

“For what?” She asked, not particularly trusting the glint in her friend’s eye.

“Oh, a simple run around the park.” Ying told her with a smile she was sure had too many fangs.

“That uh, that doesn’t sound too bad.” She admitted, following as the other teen began jogging away. “You know I’ve been joining Izzy on a bunch of her runs.”

“And what brought this about?” Ying questioned as Maya caught up to her.

“I found out she’s apparently been doing morning runs by herself. Which, well… she’s in middle school you know?” She tried to explain.

“Ah, big sister concern.” The only child nodded in understanding.

“Exactly.” She nodded back, before noticing how Ying’s jog was becoming a bit of a run.

---

“How are you not… out of breath?!” She gasped, staring at the other teen who looked like she hadn’t even broken a sweat after, “We just ran like… two fucking miles!”

“Trust me, this is not the most… draconian regime I’ve seen or done.” Ying laughed at her agony. “Honestly, if you were in better shape I’d probably keep going.”

“You can keep going?!” She cried.

“Yes.” Ying nodded succinctly, before smirking at her. “You really should work on that stamina, I’d hate to tire you out after a single round.”

She couldn’t help but stare at the other girl in disbelief. “Have you always been a stamina freak and I just didn’t notice it or what?!”

“It may be a matter of perspective.” Ying admitted, crossing her arms in thought. “Because as much as I care for you, you are a bit… round.”

Her stare turned into a glare. “Did you just call me fat?”

“More of you to love.” Ying teased, before giving her a once over. “Not that I’d say no if you want to… burn some of that off working up a sweat.”

“You know I’ve been sparring with Izzy too.” She warned with narrowed eyes.

“Really?” Ying smiled with too many teeth. “Now that sounds like fun.”

(Why do I feel like a mouse in front of a hungry snake?)

---

(I’m not going to lie, part of me was hoping that after so long we were beyond this.) Her inner reason admitted with a sigh.

(You may not be lying to us, but you sure as hell were lying to yourself!) Her inner passion cackled.

“She’s kind of got a point.” She agreed, stuffing her backpack full of electronics. “Scavenging supplies is going to be part of our routine for a fair while.”

(Perhaps but between our deal with the M.A.D. club offering us free supplies, as well as funds via giving tours, I’d hoped we could do something a bit more… productive with our time.)

(There’s also beating up criminals for their money!) Her inner madness suggested.

(Actually, I’m not entirely sure if that’s legal…)

“Sure it is.” She argued. “Otherwise it would discourage people from becoming independent heroes.”

(Which given how there is a paid form of heroism in the Heroes’ Guild is a full possibility, given how many Deviants don’t become masks.) Her inner reason reminded her. (Discouraging cocky young Deviants from picking fights with the gangs is likely one of their priorities.)

(It would also help them distinguish who’s in it for the fortune.) Her inner passion added in a rare moment of insight. (Fuck you!)

“Guess that’s just something we’re going to have to look into.”

(If we ever go on another patrol anyway.)

---

(So why are we working on memory compression when we’ve got all that space after offloading our programs?) Her inner madness asked curiously. (Seems kind of redundant right now.)

(Perhaps, but at the same time cleaning the program up would give us a superior starting point should we decide to rework it into the next version.) Her inner logic explained succinctly.

(Still seems kind of pointless when we’ve got other things to be prioritizing.) Her inner passion yawned.

“Yes, I know I should be working on something to help us track down Tommy’s attacker.” She admitted, pawing at her eyes. “But at the same time when we pick a fight with whoever is responsible for enslaving Tommy we need to be prepared to fight them.”

(Oh, speaking of, we should probably go out and pick a fight or two.) Her inner madness added casually.

“Uh, why?”

(Have we been in an actual fight before?) Her inner passion pointed out.

“There’s all our sparring with Izzy, I guess.”

(Sparring doesn’t count.)

“What about my fight with Decker and his constructs?” She frowned. “I won that fight, and his a gang lieutenant.”

(Pretty sure he was sandbagging.) Her inner madness dismissed casually.

“Well, um…” She blinked trying to think of another fight she’d been in since starting this whole mask thing. “Oh…”

(Yeah, if a more experienced Deviant fights us we’re probably screwed right now.)

---

“Hey, how you feeling, hermano?” She gently asked as she entered Tommy’s room.

“Got a migraine from hell, hermanita.” Tommy grinned tiredly as he rubbed at his head. “Other than that? Muy bien, chica.”

“Yeah… figured you’d be having a rough day.” She admitted taking a seat on his bed.

“Hmph, yeah… I can think a little clearer, but at the same time it’s like I’m thinking slower.” Tommy tried to explain, before shaking his head. “Honestly, I can’t wait until this crap is over.”

“Well… at least you’re no longer enslaved?” She offered weakly.

“That’s a plus.” Tommy nodded before sighing. “Still can’t believe I was enslaved though… It’s one of those things you hear about but only as, like, a cautionary tale or some shit.”

“I know what you mean.” She sighed herself. “Don’t suppose you remember anything that’ll help the guild catch whoever got you?”

“Nah, just…” Tommy shook his head. “I don’t even remember where I saw the girl I was drawing or anything like that. Just that I couldn’t get her face out of my head.”

“And now?” She asked.

“I still can’t but… it’s different?” Tommy frowned. “Like I still remember, but it’s starting to get that foggy memory quality, instead of that crystal clarity I’d had before.”

“Well… that has to be a good thing, right?” She tried to smile.

“Yeah, though…” Tommy ran a hand down his face. “Still feels like this is going to haunt me or some shit until I know I won’t get whammied again.”

“Yeah…” (I’m working on it bro…) She thought before reaching into her pocket. “If it makes you feel better, I got you this.”

“A brain shield?” Tommy asked, managing to crack a smile at the little charm. “I appreciate the thought but, uh… Nah, you know what I could do with whatever good luck this thing brings.”

“Thanks for sparing my feelings.” She told him, before shaking her head. “But, no. I got this from a local Arcane shop, it’s supposed to protect you from a single Slaver effect if anyone tries to ‘whammy’ you again.”

“Oh.” Tommy blinked, staring at the charm in a new light. “Thanks…”

“I figured… I don’t know, maybe you’d feel better knowing you’ve got a bit of protection if someone tries to enslave you again.” She shrugged, not really knowing how else to explain it.

“I… My…” Tommy blinked once more before pulling her into a hug she quickly returned. “Thank you Maya.”

“No problem bro.”