What If? A Post Ward Mystery! Part Four
Characters:
(Honorary) Doctor Victoria Dallon
Lisa Wilbourn a.k.a. Tattletale
Dragon
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Post Ward Mystery: Mixed Messages
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Victoria knew that this was a bad idea. Neither she nor Lisa were young, teenaged troublemakers any more, and a couple of naps were no replacement for a good night's sleep. But Lisa had an idea in her head that would not leave, and the Earth Aleph federal government was keeping a very close eye on their movements now. So all that could realistically be done was carry out a crazy scheme that might accidentally cause an major incident.
It would not be the first time. Hell, it would not even be the hundredth.
Now they were waiting in a train terminal near the northern Maryland border, Lisa holding a fairly nice burner phone and an extra strength espresso. The flying blonde was fortified with a horribly expensive iced coffee blend of some sort and another two hours of sleep. The crowd was sparse, and they had discovered a little private alcove to make the call. Not to mention that Dragon was observing from Victoria's own emergency cell. This was going to be resolved today, one way or another.
Licking her lips, Lisa carefully dialed the provided number. It took nearly three rings before a synthetic voice came through. "Hello, Lisa. It's been a while."
Frowning, the normally snarky blonde replied. "You appear to have me at a disadvantage. I'm afraid to say a name in case this is not who I think it is."
There was a pause, but then the reply made Vicky snort and Lisa blush. "Fair enough. I believe that our first kiss was better than the times I had sex with Grue. It probably also said something about how I latched onto a confident, pretty girl after another confident, pretty girl hurt me badly enough to Trigger. So, do you know who you are talking to now?"
Clearing her throat, Lisa managed to reply. "Well, well, well. You got salty while presumed dead. It's good to know you're alive, Taylor." The tone was filled with pure Tattletale snark.
The shining eyes told a slightly different story.
The reply was still synthetic, even if the words were comforting. "It's nice to know that you survived the Apocalypse, Lisa. At least the two times from what I know? But that aside, I have to ask. How did you discover that I was still alive?"
Snorting, Lisa replied. "You cribbed one too many facts about the bad old days when writing your e-books. I mean really, a Triumph clone? There were way more obscure players you could have used."
The reply was almost too quick, but just as snarky. "Oh yes, let us discuss the lovely adventures of Cinderhands, or Biter, or maybe Bad Apple? I'm no Shakespeare, and needed the money. I honestly thought that contact with the survivors of Earth Bet wouldn't happen in my lifetime. It looks like we were both wrong there."
That brought the two blondes up short.
Finally, after a moment of silence, Lisa spoke in a much more determined voice. "Taylor, what happened to you? Why are you using a voice simulator? Why won't you talk to me directly? Please?"
The reply was longer in coming this time, but it was still in that matter of fact tone. "I am doing this because I don't want to give you enough information to track me down or gain insight into what I've been through. I want you to remember me as I was, not as I am. Because that's where I need to stay. In your memories and nowhere else."
The rejection was absolute and personal, vocal synthesizer or no.
It was also Vicky's cue to cut in. "I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not going to stand by and do nothing! Hebert, where do you get off pulling something like this? Do you know how much effort Lisa has put into finding you? And now you are too good to even meet with us in person? Do better, because she deserves to at least be treated with basic human decency!"
The silence was almost long enough to make them believe that Taylor had hung up. However, she did eventually reply. "Well, if it isn't the Honorary Doctor Dallon. I had heard you two were working together, but it still seems like a shift from the good old days. However, I would ask that you not judge me too harshly. I'm afraid that, if given the chance, Lisa would try to convince me to come back and visit. That would be a disaster for far too many reasons."
Taking a deep breath, Lisa bit out her own reply. "Please, don't shut me out again, Taylor. Talk to me! I had to live with the idea that I had helped kill you for a world that tried to tarnish your memory within seconds of your victory. You don't owe me anything, but please? For me?"
There was a pause, before a quiet, tired voice replaced the synthetic tones. "Damn it Lisa, that's not fucking fair and you know it."
Unfamiliar with the voice of Taylor Hebert, Victoria turned to her companion for confirmation. Watching her turn a pasty white was assumed to be a bad sign. "Taylor...what happened to you?"
Sighing, the other woman on the phone began to explain herself. "I was out of control near the end there. I was basically merging with my Passenger the longer the fight went on. Miss Bitch Tornado isolated me and gave me brain surgery with a glock. So yay, my mind was restored, but my powers are long gone. I'm a defenseless normal these days, and would be eaten alive in The City. Far too many people there want me dead, and are better served believing that it has already happened. So here I am and here I'll stay. It's better for everyone involved."
Taking a long, wet breath, Lisa nodded to herself before narrowing her eyes. "What are you involved with, Taylor? There is no way that you are just retired peacefully trying to sell bad Cape fic for a living. That lifestyle would drive you crazy in a week."
The other woman returned the sigh, muttering something under her breath. "The Golden Age of Parahumans is over on Aleph. They got to live vicariously for years on the reports of Bet's problems. But once that connection died, and the Shard Network went nuts, there were repercussions. I am currently networking different parties to try and keep things from devolving into the mess that we ended up with. But it's strictly off the books, need to know, and unofficial. To be clear, no one on this line is needs to know. The days where someone like Ballistic can make millions as a superhero are done. Now, I'm helping mentor people to do better. So hopefully, after this call is done, you will never hear my name on a single report ever again."
Giving a final chuckle, Lisa leaned over the phone. "You know I missed you, dork. I had forgotten just how much. Alright, I'll keep quiet. But this isn't goodbye. We're going to see each other in person one day. It might be five years or fifty, but you aren't getting away from me that easily. Understood?"
Sighing fondly, Taylor replied. "Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Get back to the people who need you, Lisa. I'm going to make sure your future efforts are going to be a challenge. Oh, and Victoria? Keep her safe, please?"
Shocked at the turns that the conversation had taken, Vicky mumbled an acceptance before the call was ended.
Dragon spoke up at that point. "I can't do much officially, but do you want me to start looking into her actual location? It's amazing what sort of metadata is out there just waiting to be analyzed legally."
Looking at the phone in her hand, Lisa suddenly started dismantling the device with practiced ease. "No Dragon, that won't be necessary. We're under too much surveillance right now. Let's focus on building better ties with Aleph. Maybe one day we can go and track her down for a vacation. But after the last couple of days, I think we could use some sleep."
Depositing the now cracked and shattered burner phone into the nearest trash bin, the normally snarky blonde held out a hand to her companion. "Coming, Victoria? We might be able to get some extra shopping in before leaving for home."
Smiling at the attempt to distract them both, Vicky grabbed her friend's hand. "That sounds like a great idea. Let's go."
That was Dragon's cue to hang up before the discussion got too ridiculous.