Juniper’s head shook as her consciousness flickered like faulty light bulbs, dragging her in and out of reality. Her legs became like heavy rubber, shaking under her own weight. She hardly registered when Annemarie took her bridal style, which seemed physically impossible for someone so petite. Juniper chalked it up to the gravity bullshit, how else could she move without being strained.
The path forward blurred away. Streetlights were flickering in a narrow alley of shadows of low-light indicators, the stench of damp air, metallic decay thick. A skinny teenager leaned against the wall, looming in the darkness, his face lit by the ember of his cigarette.
He exchanged a brief glance with Annemarie, muttering something she couldn’t hear. Then, he disappeared into the darkness, the smoke trail following him.
Her ears were drumming like moving tectonic plates. Sound dissolved away, white, brown, static. It was like she was submerged in liquid oxygen. Her [Enhanced hearing] was dysfunctional, leaving her ears bare and defenseless.
Annemarie carried her through a rusty door. She shoved it open, dragging Juniper inside. The grating of the metal irritated her head like it was grinding against her skull. They limped together through a dim lit corridor, she felt herself blurring away. The rot vanished, replaced by sterilized and clean scent. Doors were line up in the hallway, faint vocies spilling out of the frames, distorted shadows standing passed them.
Her strength gave out completely, she fell away.
***
When she woke again, she was slumped into a metallic chair, cold and unyielding. Time has skipped and stretched forward. Her vision was hazelike, lacking clarity. She could feel herself being held down by several belts.
A man loomed over her, his entire figure completely black–mask, gloves, boots, all blending away. His movements were clinical and mechanical as if he’d been a machine. A strange device was stuck in his hand–small and opaque–he hovered it near her face.
The thing clicked as it started scanning. He waved it all over her body tracing her limbs.
She shivered when his gloved hands touched her, The sterility of his latex took away her warmth. He pressed deep into her bruised ribs, sending streams of pain up her body. She wanted to swear, but she was too weak, the rage stayed. The man remained detached to her pain, nodding occasionally like he was checking off a list.
There beside him stood a new figure. Evelyn. She was a stark contrast to the bland room. Crimson hair that flowed and glowed under the lights, her bangs obscuring her one eye. Her clothing was dark. A blazer, light blouse, high heels, and long flowy pants. Her arms crossed, she stared at Juniper stoically, observing.
There was tension in the room, ready to snap.
Annemarie sat in a nearby room, her legs swinging as if she weren’t in a grim medical room. Her carefree demeanor was a jarring sight. Juniper’s mind briefly flickered back to the day she had lured her along–she was pushing Annemarie on the swing at the park. Her laughter was childlike ringing out with joy. Annemarie had told her vulnerable story, about her brother, was it even true?
Words she could barely make out were thrown throughout the room.
Blood evaporation…low blood pressure…hyper starvation…regeneration…anomalous…imposssible…”
The words settled in her head, she didn’t dare try and string them together, but their weight was undeniable. She was being analyzed.
“Hurry it up!” Evelyn had said, snapping, her tone low.
The man moved towards a cabinet in which, rows of vials, needles, and pills were lined up with the organization of someone, psychotically perfect. The man fingers bounced around until he settled on a syringe and something else–something glowing blue.
She jerked when the blue tube was attached to her veins, the needle eating into her skin. The liquid raged through her, icy but the sensation of being burned. Time slowed, every second became an eternity as her body ate the substance.
She drifted, her world spinning.
The procedure was only halfway done. The man removed the tube once it was drained, replacing it with the quick succession of two fat syringes. One went into her arm, the other straight into her chest.
The effects were immediate. A surge of energy tore through, setting her nerves on fire. [Iron drive] activated on its own, her body amped up slightly, muscles bulging. She ripped free of her restraints, the belts shooting away.
The obscured doctor stumbled back, Evelyn stepped forward fearless. Juniper barely registered with her. Energy pulsed through her, she wanted to release it. She wanted to destroy something–anything–to punch, kick and destroy.
Then came a hard slap.
Evelyn’s hand cracked across her face, making it sting. The sound was like a wet blade cutting away. Juniper snaps back to reality. Her senses were normalizing. She held her hand on her burning cheek.
“You’re out of control,” Evelyn said, her voice firm, almost commanding. “Calm down.”
[Iron drive] settled on its own. She felt compelled to at any rate. She focused on Evelyn’s face, her words sharp. There was a strange undercurrent of authority to her voice. Her anger and frustration dissolved, leaving only clarity.
She let herself breathe slowly, taking deep breaths first.
Then she glanced down at herself. She was wearing a thin gown, her ‘new’ suit folded neatly on a table nearby. Suddenly being aware of her exposed state made her unforgettable. She had been undressed without her consent, it was a violation. She’d been touched and examined.
The doctor had left. Only her boss and her ‘stalker’ remained. Evelyn’s gaze lingered, unyielding staring into her eyes. Annemarie, perched on the bed tensed up, looking away.
“I realize being undressed without permission is making you…uncomfortable.” Evelyn started. “Though it wouldn’t be happening again, if you weren’t being reckless.”
A lump started building in her throat.
Why does it feel like I’m on trial?
[Because… you are.] Sys-chan hummed cryptically
“um…Where am I?” juniper asked, voice groggy and disconnected. It was like waking up from a nightmare and being dropped back again.
Evelyn’s face remained stoic, but her eyes betrayed her. The look sent a chill down Juniper’s neck, and then she spoke, calm like still waters.
“Safe house number fifteen. But that’s irrelevant.” Evelyn’s tone had as much warmth as a winter wind, her steps were slow as loomed closer like a predator.
She yanked Juniper’s hand away, cupped her hand on Juniper’s cheek where she’d slap, and dragged her across the face.
“Has no one told you how fucking reckless you are, Juniper?”
“Ow, ow, ow—” Juniper winced, trying to remove the woman’s arm, but she was afraid of using force. So she bared the pinch.
Annemarie let out a giggle behind her, it was out of place, only working against her nerves.
So she found me being hurt amusing pastime.
“Panzer could have ripped you apart,” Evelyn snapped, her grip tightening. “Like tissue paper. He's a dumb brute, but he is an experienced supervillain. What if it went wrong?"
"I...I did what I had to."
"Did you? Do you want to be found dead in the street, Juniper? Do you have a death wish? Don’t you have a family? Siblings who care about you?”
The mention of her family was a sucker bunch. She bowed her head on instinct, a flicker of guilt rose to the surface. What if she really did die? Evelyn let go of her face, her words weren’t entirely frosty, and there was an inch of concern. Then her anger ignited again.
“The SCRA registered you. When I wasn’t looking. You’re not invisible anymore. You’re on a cape database. Do you have any idea what that means?” Evelyn’s voice rose, every word hammering into Juniper like a fist. “You can be targeted. Used. Manipulated. Especially for being an independent.”
Is that why POP sent a heliogirl after me?
Juniper eyes fell to the floor. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had scolded her like this—it dredged up feelings she’d long buried.
“Look at me,” Evelyn commanded, her voice dropping to a deadly calm.
Juniper reluctantly obeyed, turning her face but keeping her eyes downcast.
“Do you even know how this happened to you?” Evelyn’s words were laced with a trap, like she was daring Juniper to have an excuse.
“I…” Juniper hesitated, the words catching in her throat. “I was confronted by a drunk cape while escorting a civilian to the hospital. H-Heliogirl de-escalated the situation. I went along with her, she got instructions from Paragon HQ. To fetch me...”
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed as she absorbed the explanation, her mind clearly working through the implications.
“Heliogirl, Of course, the perfect doll,” Evelyn repeated, voice dripping with disdain. “Did you forget she wanted to arrest you not too long ago?”
Juniper nodded.
“So now you’re buddies? Girlfriends, That explains the suit at least. But apparently, you can't see the Paragons are using her to get to you.” Evelyn’s voice turned sharper as she pressed further. “And this drunk cape that was harassing you?”
“R-Renegade, I think her name was,” Juniper stammered.
“Oh, naturally,” Evelyn said, rolling her eyes. The way she said it made it clear Renegade had a reputation for causing trouble. "Now SIOC wants a piece of you."
She summoned what little courage she had, willing herself against the woman’s authority.
“Big sis, I have reason to believe why’d you brought me here. But… I was doing fine. I just needed some rest, and I feel fine now. I want to go back out there. Help people. I can’t be confined to this bed.”
“No,” Evelyn said flatly. “You feel fine because you were injected with a modified adrenaline and illegal steroids. Your powers might be anomalous, but even regeneration has limits. Your body was a day away from eating itself, the energy you expended was unnatural. You are not fine. And the answer remains no.”
Juniper’s chest tightened, frustration and helplessness bubbling up like a storm inside her. She hated that feeling. “People are dying—”
“People die every day,” Evelyn cut her off, her voice cold. “And it’s not your responsibility as a vigilante to clean up after the SCRA and other agencies. Your not a public servant, nor are you a superhero.”
“But I–”
Evelyn cut her off. “This needs to stop, Juniper. You’ve been left unsupervised for far too long.”
With that, Evelyn turned on her heel, clicking towards the door. “Annemarie, get her something to eat. High calories. Anything.”
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving a suffocating silence in her wake.
[Wow’s she way scarier than I remember, (·•᷄ࡇ•᷅ )] Syschan said, its tone unusually dry. [She totally just gaslit you, Are we sure she’s not secretly a villain? 'Cause this feels like emotional warfare.]
Juniper groaned, did Sys-chan even understand what gaslighting means? She pressed her palms into her eyes.
Annemarie left as well, and when she returned she carried a tray full of greasy, sloppy food. Her stomach growled at the feast before her. She grabbed the tray her body moving on automation. She started devouring the meal. The burger vanishes one bite at a time.
It was intoxicating.
“Hey, Don’t I at least get a thank you.” Annemarie pouted.
Juniper stopped, clearing her throat. “T-thanks…”
Annemarie stared at her disappointed.
The taste was both revolting and intoxicating, her body demanded more and more. She chugged down a glass of cold water. It did not go well with the food.
Annemarie dragged her chair closer, watching Juniper eat, her expression suddenly solemn.
“I… I’m sorry you know,” Annemarie said, her voice low. “I know I messed up. I got carried away, and you didn’t deserve that. I shouldn’t have…” She trailed off, her words faltering.
Juniper stared at her, skeptical. Stuck between resentment and gratefulness.
“It’s my fault you got shot, I should have been a–”
“Shut up, Annemarie just shut up.”
Annemarie complied, Juniper finished the meal, sitting uncomfortably, she wasn’t used to being watched while eating, and even with her siblings she preferred eating alone, in her room.
“You’re a weirdo, Juniper,” Annemarie added, her tone shifting slightly. “But I told you before—I like you. And I mean it.”
Juniper’s expression hardened. “I’m not ready for this conversation, maybe I won't ever be. You hurt me. You used me. And this really isn’t the time for fucking melodrama Annemarie.”
Annemarie nodded slowly, her eyes cast down. Then, as if a switch flipped, her sadistic smirk crept back into place.
“Well, don’t say I didn’t try to be nice, perhaps you want me to show my affection in a different way.” She leaned forward suddenly, her lips puckered, aiming straight for Juniper’s face.
Juniper shoved her back, hand in her face.Her lips smooched her skin. Annemarie tumbling sent off the chair and onto the floor.
She licked her lips as if nibble of Juniper’s skin was enough. Juniper starred in disgust.
“Oh, Juniper,” Annemarie cooed from her position on the ground, her voice dripping with mock hurt. “You’re so mean. Won’t you take responsibility for your actions?”
Juniper ran a hand through her hair. “What the fuck is wrong with you, seriously?”
Annemarie shrugged, her grin wide and unrepentant. “Childhood trauma. Tee-hee.”
I have trauma too, why does she use it as an excuse?
[She’s one of those. Either she’ll ruin you, or you’ll end up fixing her. No in-between. Good luck]
Juniper wanted to respond, but the clicking of heels echoed in their direction. Annemarie sprang to her feet. Demeanor shifting in an instant. She sat prim and proper, like a schoolgirl who had just been chastised.
Who am I kidding, I’m the school girl.
[And the teacher's pissed. (ó﹏ò｡)]
Evelyn entered, her presence demanding attention. She threw a clipped page on the bed, and a pen next to it. A dossier followed, landing on her chest.
“Sign the paper. Now. Read it later,” Evelyn ordered, her tone brooking no argument.
“What is this?” Juniper asked, her suspicion rising.
“The loose page is your informal registration as a sanctioned vigilante. We can formally do it later. The law doesn’t simply ignore us, and my lawyers will need every scrap of documentation—your consent included,” Evelyn said sharply. She tapped the stack with a finger. “And the dossier? That’s your first job. ”
The weight of her scrutiny is almost unbearable. “ Go home juniper, or commit.”
The tension in the room was unbearable. Evelyn was a force of nature, it’s like she twisted the air into a weapon.
Is she just going to throw me into the deep end like this?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Syschan’s familiar voice, whispering in her mind like a devil on her shoulder.
[You have every right not to trust this woman. The way they took you into their care was manipulative. They’ve been manipulative from the start, but… think clearly. If you want to walk a better path, you could simply turn yourself into the SCRA, join POP, and live the glamorous life of a goody-two-shoes cape. Or you could accept the bitter poison this woman offers and live a more grounded reality. Seven years from now, you want to be hardened, not naïve. I’d accept if I was in your position Jun.]
Juniper looked over at Annemarie, who was smirking again, her head cocked to the side as if she found the whole situation amusing.
“Fuck it,” Juniper muttered, grabbing the pen. She skimmed the form briefly, her hand shaking as she began to scrawl her name.
“Language,” Evelyn chided, her voice cutting through the moment like a whip.
“S-sorry, ma’am” Juniper mumbled, finishing her signature.
Evelyn nodded in satisfaction, a smile on her lips. “Now read the dossier. Let Annemarie brief you on the way. You know where your suit is. And for the love of all things holy, let her help you shower before you go. You fucking reek of burned rubber and wood..”
Juniper stared at her.
“Wait, right now?”
“Yes, you wanted to help, this is how we do it? You wanted to play the hero, Juniper? Here it is. No more half-measures. ”
Juniper hesitated but nodded her resolve hardening.
“All you need is in there, big girl. Now get moving or get lost,” Evelyn said
Juniper chewed on her bottom lip, her mind racing. She wanted this. She’d decided on this. Evelyn made it sound like it wasn’t going to get better than this, that the stakes were high. She knew that.
She lifted her gaze. “Can I ask something, Big Sis—Ms. Evelyn?”
“Ask away, but you’re running out of questions,” Evelyn replied, crossing her arms. "I have other people to tend to."
Juniper took a deep breath. “If I commit to this, I want my siblings safe. I want security. Their safety is my only condition for joining. No exceptions. Can you give me that?”
Evelyn’s eyes softened, just a fraction. “ You ask me that, after you signed the consent form, are you dense?"
Juniper tensed.
"But to give you some peace of mind. Yes. That’s understandable, and we can discuss more formal terms later. Don’t worry about them, they'll be safe, just fall in line.”
Juniper nodded hesitantly, but Evelyn wasn’t done. She loomed closer, her gaze piercing.
“I’ll be clear. I don’t recruit without a valid reason. Your sense of heroism doesn’t belong to a group of misfits. You’d fit right in with Team New Hope, wouldn’t you? And I bet you’ve wondered what I want, what I have planned for you. Why I recruited you. Why do I watch you like an obsessive mother?” Evelyn’s voice lowered, her words curling around Juniper like smoke. “I won’t tell you, yet. I’m going to give you a reason to distrust me, keep you in suspense.”
With that, Evelyn turned on her heel and strode out of the room, her heels clicking against the floor.
Juniper pretended she didn’t hear all of that. Before she could process anything, Annemarie leaned in closer, her arm slipping under Juniper’s shoulder.
“Ready for our second date, partner?” Annemarie whispered, pseudo-sweetness.
Juniper glared at her, her mouth twitching. Annemarie was mentally unstable, but she was beginning to grow accustomed to her antics. She pulled her arm away sharply.
She did go through all the trouble of fetching her. Juniper sighed.
“You’re going to learn to behave. Or I’m going to teach you!"
Annemarie giggled, the sound almost musical. “Please do…”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco9fDPfI8E
