Inside of a plain interrogation room.

Visette was restrained with a pair of thick metallic cuffs that were chained to a steel table. It was clear they had been reinforced to account for the strength of a typical Abnormal. She didn’t seem to mind at all though, in fact, her mind was replaying the events that took place.

‘I estimate that her speed surpassed forty miles per hour and she was able to move that fast in less than five seconds. She also slowed herself down just enough to deliver a non-lethal kick.’ Visette continued analyzing the situation.

At that time, she was slightly taken off guard as she didn’t account for the possibility of an Abnormal being so close. She also wasn’t able to guess what the abilities of an Abnormal consisted of but it was clear some of them related to physical aspects.

As far as Visette’s actions went, she paid them little attention. She killed a government official without so much as a second thought. One he was labeled as an enemy, his presence conflicted with her short-term and long-term goals. Her short-term consisted of maintaining optimal conditions for survival and learning more about the world.

Her long-term goal was returning to the Minerva lab and restoring it to operational capacity as well as obtaining any resources that allowed her to grow her psionic abilities. If she were to allow Councilor Richards to survive while designating him as an enemy it would put both of those goals in danger. At least, that’s how Visette saw it. Once she thought of him as an enemy it was an almost instinctive reaction to kill him.

Even now she was making plans to escape if the situation didn’t develop in her favor. It was arrogant, but Visette saw her presence as far more valuable than an ordinary Councilor. Ignoring her psionics, Visette possessed extreme intelligence and could learn far faster than anyone. That automatically qualified her for a more scientific role if she wanted it. There was also her knowledge of technology on Earth which could be used to improve what was already common in Novo Prime.

Visette snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the double-sided mirror in the interrogation room. She sent out a psionic pulse outward and could feel three presences on the other side of it. It appeared that they were observing her since it had been more than three hours since she was placed inside of the room.

Visette prepared to bargain while stating her skills but decided to keep her psionics as a last resort. There was no way anyone would be able to stop her if she decided she wanted to escape. Though, that was under the assumption that Rachel and Charlie hadn’t told anyone about her abilities.

Suddenly, the door opened and Lyn entered with a frown on her face. She across from Visette before placing her large revolver on the table and her sword behind her.

“Do you know why I like this gun?” Lyn asked as she fished into her jacket pockets.

Visette’s eyes flicked to the weapon before going back to Lyn. It was her way of adjusting to each new variable as they occurred but Lyn remained unaware of her terrifying ability.

“The sound,” Lyn said seeing as Visette didn’t say anything. She placed five bullets on the table and placed the sixth one into the cylinder of her revolver.

“The sound of a full metal jacket sliding into the cylinder is just the best. Did you hear it?” Lyn asked before spinning the cylinder and pulling the hammer back.

“You assassinated a government official. The minimum penalty is death even for someone as young as you. Now, seeing as you’re an Abnormal it can be lowered to a life of working for New Mayhall if you tell us who gave you the order to kill him.” Lyn laid out the conditions while toying with the revolver.

“I acted without instructions from a third party. The decisions I made were all my own,” Visette spoke while wrapping her psionic energy around the gun. She used it to feel around and locate the bullet.

“Wrong answer.” Lyn raised the revolver and pulled the trigger but the gun gave a click in response.

Visette didn’t even flinch and looked at Lyn with the eyes of someone unfazed by threats or even death.

“You expect me to believe you weren’t trained with a reaction like that,” Lyn said with a chuckle although she felt herself getting angry for some reason. Not even she could guarantee she would be totally unflinching in the face of death which touched on her insecurities.

“The probability of the gun actually firing is one in six. With those odds, there is no need for me to be concerned and based on what you’ve said you wish to preserve my life until you obtain the information you desire,” Visette replied.

“Well, let’s make it two in six, shall we?” Lyn added another bullet before spinning the cylinder of the revolver. Visette quickly sent psionic energy at slowed it right when she was sure it would be empty.

“Why did you kill Councilor Richards if you weren’t instructed to?” Lyn aimed the revolver at Visette’s head again.

“He was a threat to me,” Visette answered.

“Is that what you really think?” Lyn tried to fire once again but Visette remained unharmed and unshaken.

“I am aware that my thinking would be considered peculiar based on the standards of an average person...Councilor Richards was one of many people on the Council of Commerce and Trade. His presence is easily replaceable while I am an Abnormal with multiple abilities. I am willing to work with this city’s government if adequate resources are provided.” Visette gave her own conditions in a flat tone that showed no indication of a bluff.

Lyn was temporarily taken aback and it showed as her face slowly crumpled into an expression of anger. She placed two more bullets into the cylinder of the revolver and smiled coldly at Visette.

“What do you think your odds are now? Four in six? I don’t know if many people could say they’re that lucky.” Lyn spun the cylinder but she didn’t pay any attention to it like she did previously. It appeared she wanted a bullet to kill Visette or at least injure Visette.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Visette once again manipulated the cylinder before waiting for Lyn to pull the trigger which she did, causing an anticlimactic click resounded through the room.

“You really don’t crumble, do you? I’ve been told that you possess more than one trait. So it's strength, intelligence, and agility, maybe? I’ve been told that you’ve stabbed several people during the evacuation from that town. Were they also threats?” Lyn was growing increasingly frustrated at Visette’s composure.

“They threatened my safety which made them my enemies,” Visette answered simply.

Lyn added the fifth bullet into the cylinder and spun it before pulling back the hammer, “Am I a threat to you yet?”

She pulled the trigger and once again it clicked without firing a bullet, “...You really have some great fucking luck.”

Visette remained silent while examining Lyn’s increasingly unstable mood.

“I wonder how lucky can one person be,” Lyn added the last bullet, filling up the cylinder, before aiming it at Vis again.

“You’re a threat to me now.” Visette’s eyes narrowed with complete focus as she watched for even the slightest of movements in Lyn’s finger. She gathered her psionic energy and placed a barrier around herself for added protection while preparing to move.

“Good,” Lyn said with a satisfied smile before pulling the trigger.

Visette was able to react and lifted the cuffs just in time to block the bullet and instead use it to break the chain holding her. Once she was free, she jumped across the table and tackled Lyn to the ground before wrestling for the revolver.

Lyn fired off another shot reflexively before opening the cylinder and dropping the bullets so that neither one of them could use it without loading it first. Then, she let go of the gun while kicking Visette in the stomach sending her flying back into a wall. 

Lyn reached for her sword and unsheathed it before jumping to her feet and charging Vis the metal cuffs blocked her attack. Seeing that Visette was still cuffed, Lyn began a rapid assault of sword strikes which the former was unprepared for.

Lyn shouted as she swung upward with a ferocious attack. Her strike finally cut through the restraints and would've sliced open Visette's eye if she hadn't placed a psionic barrier around herself. After being freed from the metal cuffs, Visette put psionic energy into her hands and went on the attack. She threw a punch toward Lyn’s chin but as soon as it was about to be blocked she opted for a kick to the ribs that caught Lyn off guard. 

As soon as Lyn stumbled backward Visette rushed forward and tried to resume her attack but she was kept at bay with the length of Lyn’s blade.

What Lyn was unaware of was the revolver on the being loaded with a single bullet without anyone touching it. There was also someone at the door trying to enter the interrogation but neither one of the girls paid it any mind.

Lyn thrust her sword once again and Vis stepped to the side to dodge while leaning backward. Lyn didn’t panic and dropped her stance low before sweeping Visette’s leg with a low kick. As soon as Visette’s back hit the ground Lyn tried to stab her with the sword but she rolled away and grabbed the gun. She pulled the hammer back and aimed the .44 magnum at Lyn who had her sword pointed at Visette’s neck. It appeared to be a stalemate but Visette was about to hold the sword in place with her psionics.

“Stop!” Commander Wakefield burst through the door with a group of soldiers behind him. Several assault rifles were point and Lyn and Visette causing both of them to stop.

“Commander...She’s dangerous.” Lyn seemed unwilling to let it go which caused Visette to add more pressure to the trigger.

“That’s an order, O’Hara,” Commander Wakefield said coldly.

“Tch.” Lyn clicked her tongue before stepping back and retrieving her scabbard while Visette pushed the hammer of the revolver up.

Commander Wakefield sighed before speaking up, “We’ve found out that Councilor Richards was involved with dozens of illegal activities. A quick search of his terminal and his personal safe turned up evidence of his crimes. And there’s another thing...”

“What?” Lyn asked angrily.

“It hasn’t been confirmed yet but he may have been involved in the incident that led to your father being killed and your grandfather being crippled,” Commander Wakefield said.

Lyn was visibly stunned and she felt a sense of nausea filling her body.

She took a few seconds to collect herself before she narrowed her eyes at the Commander, “Why were you searching through his belongings? Wait, why are you even here in person?...You knew, didn’t you? Is that why you made it an official order because you knew that he would come running?”

“I wasn’t aware that he was involved with what happened to your father,” Commander Wakefield responded.

Lyn kicked a chair sitting near her feet. “You didn’t think to tell me about that bastard?! Richards visited my Grandfather for years and you’re telling me he’s the one responsible for all of it?”

“Calm down, O’Hara.”

“Oh, fuck you!” Lyn slammed her fist into the wall until her knuckles turned bloody.

“O’Hara.” Commander Wakefield called out to her with a strict tone.

Lyn didn’t say anything and let her breathing return to normal and then she pointed to Visette, “What about her?”

“Well, after the evidence about Councilor Richards is reviewed she’ll likely be let off after serving a few years under the condition she’s mentally stable and not a threat to any other government officials. With her status as an abnormal with multiple traits, I recommended that they let me try to reform her. Of course, that’s just on the surface, during the few years she’s in prison you’ll be tasked with her combat training since I want her to join your squad.”

“...Are you serious?” Lyn questioned with clear disbelief.

“I am...What about you, Visette? Rachel went out of her way to defend you so I need to know if you’re worth the trouble.” Commander Wakefield turned his attention to Vis.

“I have no problem with the arrangement as long as I am provided with proper materials and resources.” Visette stood up and handed the revolver to Lyn who accepted it with a cramped face.

It appeared she forgot that Vis was holding the gun the entire time. If Visette was an assassin sent from another city she could’ve killed Commander Wakefield at any time.

“We’ll discuss it further but before anything, we’ll get a psychiatrist to examine Visette and then give her an aptitude test. After that, she’ll be given a minor assault charge to appease those who disagree. All matters pertaining to her status as an Abnormal will remain classified until further notice. Councilor Richards died due to heart failure brought on by Visette’s random attack. That’s the official story as of now.” Just as Commander Wakefield was about to leave, Lyn spoke up.

“...Why did you come here personally knowing that she could’ve killed you?” Lyn asked.

“Rachel assured me that she wouldn’t do such a thing.” The Commander smiled.

“And that was all you needed to hear?” Lyn questioned suspiciously.

“Don’t you see the Special Ops team with me? I can’t be too careful after all.” Commander Wakefield gestured toward the soldiers dressed in black fatigues. Their faces were obscured by balaclavas but the threatening air around them didn’t diminish.

Visette took notice of Commander Wakefield's shrewd nature and immediately designated him as someone to be wary of.