Before I get started on today’s chapter, here’s a thing that just occurred to me: 

If this Arc ends with an Interlude, or there’s one mid-Arc, it’ll probably be from Taylor’s POV. I mean, we’re having an Arc where the chapters are like the Interludes we’ve had before, so why would that Arc not end with an Interlude that’s like what used to be the normal chapters?

“Okay,” Vista spoke, pulling herself to her feet. “Guess I’m manning the console.”

Heh, nice.

Feeling strangely calm despite the pain that radiated through the back of her head, where it had struck the ground, Vista spoke, “Weld said it takes a kind of strength to face your emotions.  Are you really that scared, Sophia, that you’d attack me instead of talk to me?”

I really think Vista might be one of the most mature people on the team.

Certainly more mature than Shadow Stalker, at least.

Sophia raised a clenched fist.  Vista screwed one eye shut, anticipating the hit.  It would almost be worth it if she hit me and violate the conditions of her membership on the team, to have her gone.  But we need all the help we can get, right now.

I suppose that’s true.

“The security cameras are watching us right now.”

Sophia dropped her hand, stood, and stalked over to the far side of the room.  She gathered her costume in her arms.  “I’m going on patrol.”

What, so you can run away and take out your aggression on some crooks that the PRT doesn’t mind you punching?

“It’s not your shift,” Vista spoke, sitting up.

“Don’t fucking care.  If Weld asks, I’m doing a double shift.”

…alrighty then.

And then Sophia was gone, having used her shadow state to disappear through the elevator door.

Bye.

“Drop the fucking subject.  You’re irritating me.”

Vista sighed.  Feeling the traces of anger and the hurt from Sophia’s words, she still tried to soften her parting words as she turned to go back to her room, “If you ever do want to talk about it, I’m willing to listen.”

Gallant would be proud. Weld too.

“I’m not about to talk about it with you.  Fix your own shit before you start worrying about me, crybaby.”

Yeah, yeah…

Frustrated, disappointed in herself for failing in her first genuine effort at taking Weld’s advice, trying to reach out to a team member that needed it, Vista shook her head, muttered, “I pity you.”

Interesting choice of words… Wanna elaborate?

Also I have a feeling pity is the last thing Sophia wants.

The sound of a laptop crashing to the ground made Vista turn.  She saw Sophia in her shadow state, wispy, her skeleton visible beneath her skin, warped.  The girl’s eyes were too reflective, her entire body seemed to bend and distort, not completely solid as she leaped towards Vista.

Oh jeez, she really didn’t like that.

Sophia dropped out of her shadow state in time to push Vista flat onto her back, hard, one fist gripping the collar of the younger girl’s t-shirt.  She shook her.  “Pity?”

I think you might’ve found Sophia’s weak spot.

Sophia looked over her shoulder.  “You’re still here?”

“What kind of situation led to you becoming like this?  So casually cruel, so lacking in basic human decency?”

Hella good question.

“My advice is for your own benefit, little tyke.  I’m not the bad guy.”

Supposedly.

“You’re the only one who doesn’t have any friends on the team, you keep yourself at a distance, you talk only with your friend or friends from your civilian life.  Even there, you’re always in trouble.  Getting suspended, picking fights.  It’s like you want to break your probation and go to some juvenile detention facility for the next few years.”

I still don’t know how she hasn’t already.

At least this seems to confirm that her school suspension had an impact on her Ward activities too, in some way. Otherwise, why would Vista even know about it?

“Not your business.”

“Out in costume, you’re scary.  You hurt people like you’re hungry for it.  I just want to know why.  Where did you come from?  What situation led to you being like this?”

It’s too soon for another Cotton Eye Joe joke, right?