“So you're a precog?” Lily asked from her seat, next to me at the console.

“I guess,” I replied with a shrug, checking the map briefly. “Not a very good one, since I didn't know until the last minute.” Well, a little bit longer than that, but I knew what'd happen if I said so.

“Huh,” she said, blinking. “What's it like?”

“I uh...” I paused, scratching my chin. “I just...remember things. I don't really know what to say besides that they're just...memories.”

“Freaky.” There was a beat of silence. “So like, are they your memories?”

“Kind of,” I replied. “It feels like me but at the same time it really, really doesn't which makes them stick out.” I fiddled with my hair, twisting it around my fingers. “Sorry, it's weird.” And all true, ironically.

“It's cool, I get it.” Lily sighed and laid her head down on the desk. “Power weirdness can get really weird, trust me.”

“Speaking from experience?” She nodded and I cocked my head. “Really?”

“Really,” she replied, taking a deep breath. “I got my powers at the same time as someone else and now that's...”

“Ah.” Right, I'd forgotten about March, or what their deal was. “Do they like, hate you or something?”

“Or something,” Lily said, shaking her head. “Anyway, it's cool, all handled. You uhh, remember anything else?”

“Nah,” I replied, shaking my head. “Nothing except like, yesterday.” Plus a few tomorrows, but who was counting?

“Too bad,” she replied, sighing. “Was hoping you could tell me if console would be any fun tomorrow.”

We shared a giggle and I turned my attention back to the screen. Gallant and Vista were just coming back from their patrol now, with a few members of Fenrir's Chosen in custody; a pretty good day out for them. I'd have rather been out there, but an extra day of console duty for 'inappropriate conduct' had nulled that, bull that it was. Lily said her goodbyes and headed to bed, long overdue. I wasn't sure why she stayed up chatting, but it hadn't been too bad, all things considered. At least she didn't pry that much...

A call came in from Assault and Clockblocker down by the docks, an encounter with a lot of Merchants. I sent the QRF their way at their request, then sent out an alert to the troopers who were on-base and on-call. Ten minutes later, a new response team had assembled in the motor pool. No heroes with them, we didn't have anyone to spare, but they shouldn't really need it. After all, nothing was going to happen today.

The elevator alert pinged and I slipped my hood and mask back on. A moment later, Gallant and Vista shuffled into the room, speaking quietly. They walked right past me without a word, Vista sounded upset. Mm, better not to pry. I turned back and kept an eye and ear out for any more trouble. A little while later, Gallant sat down next to me in Lily's seat, his helmet off. He looked damned tired.

“Hey Amaranth,” he greeted me, voice betraying the exhaustion he tried hiding behind a smile. “Hardly working, huh?”

“Something like that,” I replied, eyeing him. I hadn't forgotten our confrontation from the other day, or the threat of counselling. “What's up?” His smile shrank just a little.

“Do things have to be up for me to talk to you?”

“No,” I replied, cocking my head. “But they probably are, so.” I nodded and got a sigh.

“Just wanted to follow up about the other day.” I tensed. “I'm sorry I was so in your face about it, I was worried and I let it get the better of me.” I blinked, taken aback by the apology out of nowhere.

“I...forgive you?” I hazarded. “Sorry I was kind of shitty, it...wasn't great.” He nodded.

“Forgiven,” Gallant replied easily, smile growing warmer. “And I appreciate it. Are you feeling any better?”

“I guess,” I said, shrugging. “I mean, I'm not a...risk, if that's what you're worried about.” He flinched and I knew I'd struck home. “Sorry, I'm fine, seriously. Not gonna bite it or anything.” Not until the next time I did anyway... Another sigh from Gallant.

“You don't have to talk about it with me,” he said quietly, pushing a little card my way. “Here, tomorrow after your patrol you've got a session with Dr. Yamada.” My guts twisted.

“I didn't ask for that,” I said tensely.

“No, but you need it.” His gaze met mine, eyes harder than I'd seen them. “I'm sorry Amaranth, but this one's mandatory. Everyone's getting some time, when we can spare it.”

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“Okay.” I guess it was, I'd just have to be careful about what I actually talked about with her. “Uh, thanks, I guess.”

“You're welcome.” Dean's eyes flicked down to the desk. “I'm sorry I can't do more.” What?

“Aren't you doing a ton already?” I asked. “I mean, you're dealing with my crap, and you have to run this shitshow on top of living it. If you're arranging therapy for everyone, that's just more shit on the pile. I think you're doing fine, all things considered.” A huff of empty laughter passed his lips.

“Well,” he replied, rising and giving me a grin. “I appreciate the vote of confidence. I'm going to have a nap, don't do anything I wouldn't.”

“Dialing the director right now to call her a sow...” He gently cuffed my shoulder and I returned the grin. “Hey...thanks.”

“It's all good,” he said easily.

“Hopefully soon.”

“Yeah.” Gallant sighed, staring at the map. “Hopefully...”

----------------------------------------

The cuffs clicked shut around the brick shithouse of a man's wrists and I rose with a huff; that was the last of this little raiding party. I gripped the chain linking the cuffs and pulled until the man rose to his feet. He twisted, trying to escape my grip, but I just held still. After a minute of fruitless struggle, he gave up, panting and sweating. He must have been really trying, not that I could tell.

I shoved against his back and got him moving towards the waiting van. A PRT trooper standing there opened the door and pointed the confoam gun in his hands not-quite our way. Added incentive for him to behave. The trooper took over and got the guy into the van while I turned back to the mess.

Ten Nazis, caught trying to loot a supermarket. Rune had been with them, but took off when she cracked three sections of sidewalk on my forehead with no effect. That had been after Miss Militia had nailed her with a few rubber bullets, so it probably wasn't me who'd driven her off. But once the lonely cape was dealt with, the rest were easy pickings.

“Good work,” Miss Militia said as I forced another Nazi to his feet. “We'll try and get this cleaned up quickly, then head right back hm?” I nodded and got right to work.

It was late, past when we should have been finished this patrol. That was bad on a number of levels, not least of which was that Mannequin would be nominating Armsmaster tonight. I still had to tell Miss Militia, and I planned to, just not within earshot of the Nazis. Or the troopers, come to think of it; making one correct prediction probably put a target on my back already. Another would be a life sentence.

It was half past six, nearly time for Mannequin to break in, nearly time for Armsmaster to be almost fatally wounded. I tried to hurry, shoving the Nazis along more roughly than I needed to. I was tempted more than once to tase one, make an example, but restrained myself. All that would do was make it hard for them to use their limbs, more and slower work for me. So I dragged them from the pile that they'd been collected to the waiting transport, again and again.

Finally though, we were done. The van drove off, full of prisoners and a couple troopers to keep them in line. We were left waiting for the next one, ten minutes out now. I checked my watch and tutted, then walked up to Miss Militia. She was talking to one of the troopers, a captain going by the insignia on his shoulder, but this couldn't wait. I reached out and tapped her arm.

“Yes?” Miss Militia asked, turning her head.

“Can we talk?” I asked, glancing at the captain. “Um, in private, if that's okay?” She nodded and the trooper beat a hasty retreat.

“What's the matter?” she asked, turning and slowly walking away from the quintet of PRT officers. “Is this about your counselling session? Dr. Yamada will wait, she understands our work can impact scheduling.”

“It's not that.” Frankly I'd forgotten about that. It wasn't happening anyway, not with what was coming. “It's...you remember my first patrol?” She stiffened and nodded, gesturing for me to continue. “Okay, well...I remembered something.”

“Just now?” I waggled my hand.

“We were busy,” I replied. “Okay, I know this is going to sound crazy, but Man--”

I was cut off by several screams of pain. Miss Militia and I whirled, my eyes widening at the sight of every single trooper clutching at bleeding throats. We sprinted over and I grabbed gauze from the nearest one's first aid pouch, pressing it against a their cut throat. I pulled it away when the trooper didn't move and gasped; the cut had nearly reached their spine. Just what the fuck could--

“Oh please, don't stop on my account.” A deep, smug voice boomed out. “I do so want to hear what sounds crazy.”

I lifted my gaze and saw...a guy. He vaguely reminded me of Regent, with his shirt undone to his belly, exposing a flawless set of abs. Long, greasy locks moved steadily in the sea-breeze, and he crossed his well muscled forearms over his chest. His beard was trimmed neatly, and flanking him was a girl with blonde ringlets and--

“Jack Slash,” Miss Militia spat as my heart sank. No.

“In the living flesh,” he replied, pointing his knife at her. “Now you stay right where you are, I need to have a little conversation with your Ward. Come he--” A loud 'crack' rang out and Jack's head snapped backwards. He slowly turned back, frowning, with a freshly oozing wound on his temple. “That was quite rude.”

He swung his knife at nothing and I heard Miss Militia gasp in pain. I glanced, then whirled, dropping to my knees as she fell to the asphalt. I pressed my hands on top of hers, on the gaping seam Jack had opened in her belly. It wasn't enough, blood spilled from her sides where I couldn't put pressure because I didn't have enough hands and fuck!

“Now then,” he continued, ignoring the murder scene in front of him. My mind raced, trying to figure out how to staunch the bleeding. “I hate being interrupted.”

“Well you taught her some manners,” the girl, who could only be Bonesaw, said brightly. I shoved a kidney back in place.

“Right you are,” Jack replied with a chuckle. No, no organs you go inside. “Now as for our visit...hey, kid.” Fuck fuck fuck why did they have the medic go with the prisoners I needed him here. “Oh for...” Blood sprayed on my face as a new cut opened Miss Militia's throat. A sigh escaped the new hole and she slumped back.

Why? What changed? I had been on patrol today twice now, nothing had ever gone so badly wrong. I stared down as Miss Militia's body, my vision blurred red with her blood. It didn't make any sense, Jack was supposed to be going after Oni Lee right now. He'd never been relevant, so I'd never bothered to worry about him but that had cost six lives now. Blood on my hands.

“Look at me.” I did, numbly. Jack was standing above me now, towering really. A blurry grin broke out on his face. “Better.” His long arm reached down and his hand patted the top of my head. “Now then, little lonely Ward, let's talk about your potential future in the Slaughterhouse Nine.”