Atmos Terrace: great food, slick neo-futurist design, and a rooftop patio with one of the best views of the city. Margo couldn't have chosen a better place to celebrate. At least in her opinion. It had only been one of her all-time favorite restaurants since Carl took her and her high school friends there for her seventeenth birthday.

Hundreds of feet above the rest of the neon and holograms glowing throughout the rest of Downtown Philadelphia, Margo and her mother awaited their meals at their table, occupying their time by playing a game of holo-chess. Taking another drink of her glass of water, she made her final move, trapping her mom's king between her rook and her queen.

"I'd call that a good game," Margo declared.

"That's usually what the winners tend to say," Karen groaned.

"No hard feelings, Mom?"

"Of course not. Chess was never really my thing. I just wish Carl was here to avenge me."

Margo laughed. The waiter arrived at the table with their orders. The holographic chess pieces vanished back into the glass as Margo was greeted by a plate of steak and fries and a glass of wine. Once the waiter offered Karen her food, he flashed a quick grimace toward Margo before making his way back toward the kitchen.

Margo realized she was still wearing her ThoughtControl piece.

It wasn't even the fact it was a ThoughtControl piece; in fact, anybody could buy one. Who wouldn't want to be able to unlock doors, activate lights, and send messages to friends with just a single thought? That look of disdain was simply because he could tell it was from Psychwatch thanks to the blue Greek letter psi emblazoned on the little plastic device.

"What was that all about?" Karen asked, aware of the waiter's distasteful look.

"Guess he isn't too fond of doctor-cops," Margo replied. "Doesn't matter. Let's eat."

While her daughter was busy taking bits and pieces off her plate, Karen didn't seem too hungry. Every thirty seconds or so she'd grab another scoop of pasta and maybe another sip of wine, but it was clear something was bugging her. She took her phone out to check if Carl was still planning on joining them but quickly stuffed it back into her pocket once she noticed Margo staring at her.

"Something wrong?" Margo asked.

"Nothing," Karen replied. "The linguini isn't as good as it usually is, that's all."

That's when Margo realized it was the perfect time to take advantage of her ThoughtControl. With just a single thought, she activated her piece and connected to the nearest SanityScan, which hung from the corner of the restaurant's exterior just above the entrance back into the building. A few seconds later, a small part of her mother's mind flashed across the holographic lens hovering in front of her eye like an article in a newspaper.

Karen chuckled halfheartedly. "That's what I get for having a daughter that works with Psychwatch. Now you're really gonna keep an eye on me."

"Is there something you wanna talk about, Mom?" Margo asked with a half-smile. "The Scan says a little talking could go a long way."

Karen took another bite before wiping her mouth with her napkin and clearing her throat. "Even after all these years, I still can't help but worry a little. I mean, your job requires predicting the unpredictable. You'll be surrounded by people who could snap at any moment."

"Nothing to worry about, Mom. There are Scans on almost every corner of the city. As long as I got those, reading minds won't be a challenge at all. Besides, all those dangerous psychopaths with meticulous plans and philosophies are just Hollywood stereotypes. Carl told me most of the people they catch are either nonviolent or recover pretty fast anyway."

"But what about the psychos who are a part of Psychwatch itself?"

"Oh yeah. They're usually a part of this new rehabilitation program called redemption therapy. If they prove they can reenter society and distinguish reality from whatever their condition shows them, they can start gaining some of their personal freedoms back. Too bad they're permanently stuck at a Threat Level of 3."

"Can't they hurt their own squad mates?"

"This is Psychwatch we're talking about, Mom. If they even think about harming one of their own, extra therapy for them."

"That's good." Karen paused to drink her wine.

"I don't mean to sound rude, Mom," Margo continued. "But I feel like you're slightly missing the point of Psychwatch. We're not just ordinary cops looking for criminals to bust. We're also here to remind people that they are not alone in this world. That whatever battle they are fighting within themselves, we'll be here to back them up."

A small smile formed on Karen's face. "I haven't forgotten that. If there's anyone I know who's destined to help people, it's you, dear. Thank you so much for caring. I can see why Commissioner Mason assigned you to be an Empath."

Margo shrugged nonchalantly, as if they weren't talking about one of the most controversial jobs in the country. "Meh. It's alright," she replied.

Karen couldn't help but laugh. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm definitely looking forward to being an Empath," Margo replied sheepishly. "But being a Neutralizer is more exhilarating. That's where I can go around the city busting crooks and using my Fatemaker! Too bad that's a role I have to work my way up to."

"I mean," Karen added, "I'd prefer if you chose the less dangerous position."

Margo's face lit up with excitement. "I can alternate between the two when the time comes!"

"Oh dear," Karen sighed. And once again, Margo couldn't help but laugh.

Just then, her piece started buzzing. Someone was calling her from work. As usual, a single thought was all it took for her to answer the call. "Officer Sandoval speaking," she greeted.

"Margo, mi preciosa!" Carl replied. He spoke with a Mexican accent and a more effeminate tone of voice. His alter Catalina had taken over.

"Oh hi, Catalina!" Margo said. Catalina had always been her favorite alter. Or rather "part", as Catalina preferred to be called since it made her feel more valuable. "Where are you and the others?"

"Carl was feeling a little stressed out by all his work, so I convinced him to let me take over for a while."

"Wouldn't you help him a little more by just letting him work?"

"Sí, that's what he told me, but I threw him out anyway."

Margo snickered. "Someone's insistent."

"Unfortunately, Carl wrote in his notes that this situation is urgent, so he's afraid he won't be able to make it tonight. But he also adds that he will make it up to you, especially because he knows what I will do if he doesn't."

Margo's eyes widened. "I'd like to see what would happen, but at the same time I don't."

"I think it'd be best if you didn't, mija." Catalina paused for a few seconds, but Margo noticed she had a very conspicuous stutter when she last spoke.

"Are you alright, Catty?"

"Sí, just...feeling a little lightheaded," Catalina croaked, though her voice was soft and weak as if she were in pain. "Pretty sure Carl wants to switch back. I should probably stop for now."

"Okay then. Keep him safe for me please."

"Of course, dear. Oh, and by the way, he also recommends watching the news if you want to see what's keeping him occupied. Bye bye!"

Catalina hung up with the sound of beep. Ellie chimed in as soon as their conversation ended. "Congratulations on becoming part of the most polarizing job in the country," she said.

"Thanks, smart-ass," Margo replied. "Where are you?"

"At this rate, I'm pretty much everywhere you're not. I kinda like it, though. It's like a world record for the longest game of Hide and Seek or something. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if you forgot what I look like."

"Not gonna lie. I really don't. And it would help a lot more if you actually spent time with me and Mom instead of going out doing whatever the hell you do."

"We may be sisters, but I prefer to keep most of my business a secret. Not even because it's dangerous, but because it probably wouldn't even interest you. Now...have a goodnight."

Her presence vanished from Margo's earpiece. Margo turned back to look at her mother, who was scrolling through the newsfeed on her phone to find Carl's report.

"This looks interesting," Karen said. "Four mutilated bodies were discovered in an offline neighborhood, most likely resulting from a drug deal gone wrong." She scoffed. "No, I don't want to see pictures of the crime scene! I just ate, thank you very much!"

"Offline" was considered a politically correct term for any neighborhood that was a part of the Psycho Slums. The Psycho Slums themselves were neighborhoods and sometimes entire city districts that remained unconnected to Psychwatch's Societal Stability System. That meant no SanityScans, no fast-access diagnoses, and no medical health experts persuading them to get the help they needed. Without the P3S, humans still had the right to their unpredictable nature and thoughts as well as the freedom to do whatever they felt could fix or satisfy their conditions.

"Catty told me Carl wouldn't be able to make it tonight because of an important assignment," Margo replied. "He said he'd make it up to us somehow. Doesn't matter though. I have to get ready. My first day on the job starts in two days."

"Wait," Karen spouted as the holographic display of her phone's screen blinked out, "don't you want to enjoy the night a little more? We haven't even had dessert yet."

"I'd love to, but I have to practice my self-defense moves and review the Psychwatch codes of conduct a little longer. I could give you a ride home if you like."

Karen smiled. "If you say so, honey."

Half an hour later, Margo had taken her mom home and made her way back to her own apartment. The neon lights of the cityscape, especially those decorated with Psychwatch's logo and slogans, illuminated brighter in her eyes that evening. Everything decorated with their iconic teal shade stood out like a flower in a wasteland. The SanityScans hanging at the corners of every building. The motivational holo-posters projected against the walls.

And in just two days, she'd have complete access to the Psychwatch Societal Stability System's data. She'd learn a citizen's identity as well as whatever psychiatric disorder they were diagnosed with. It would be wise of her to avoid the mistake many Psychwatch officers have made by confusing the two.