Guilt

 

 

“I really have to protest,” Dyna said, hurrying down the hall alongside Administrators Theta and Gamma. “Id came in good faith to deliver a warning. I admit that I don’t like her much, but even still, this is an asshole thing to do.”

“Id is not being imprisoned, Onyx,” Gamma said. “Her presence here is for her protection. We have not even demanded that she remove her mask despite the advantage Sapphire could give us over Tartarus.”

“Has she asked to leave?” Dyna asked. “Because on the way over, she sounded an awful lot like she didn’t want to be here. Beatrice wouldn’t deviate despite both our protests, under your orders.”

Theta and Gamma glanced at each other as they walked. Gamma, muscular and armed, looked like she could snap the thin, lanky man in two with one hand tied behind her back. Yet Theta was the one to nod his head before taking the lead in the conversation.

“Id will be released as soon as Walter’s team finishes their inspection of the area and determines the extent of the threat.”

“So she is being held captive,”

Really, Dyna should have realized something was up the moment she heard Beatrice operating at an elevated level. Only the administrators had the ability to do that. They had to know that this would alienate both Dyna and Tartarus. Was Id’s capture worth the ire of someone apparently worth an entire organization forming to assassinate her? Dyna didn’t know about the administrators, but to her, the answer was an easy no. Especially with Id opening up dialog like that; they could have used that dialog to further Theta’s information-gathering goals without upsetting anyone.

Sure, Dyna might have mentioned those goals when she shouldn’t have, but Id already knew.

Considering things that Id already knew, she had probably known what she was getting into when she got into the car. While Dyna had been too preoccupied with snipers and bombs to worry about her own organization betraying her trust, Id wouldn’t have had the same blind spot.

Everyone’s motivations were suspect. Sapphire must have it so easy, just instantly able to tell who was telling the truth and who was lying…

“Confirmed safe personnel are not restricted from visiting Id,” Theta said after a long moment. “As I said, she is not a prisoner. If you would like to see her, the guards will let you through.” He stopped at a door at the end of a long hall. Gamma pushed it open, entering it immediately.

It was a meeting room. One of a many down in Psychodynamics, containing a large table with several terminals built into it. Dyna didn’t see anyone else inside, but also didn’t get a very good glimpse before the door shut.

Theta waited until the door shut before turning fully to face Dyna. “The information she revealed is highly alarming. If anything, you should be the one under lockdown for your protection.” Dyna opened her mouth, ready to protest, but Theta held up his long fingers. “I know, I know. We didn’t think it would go over well, so we decided against it.”

“Well… good,” Dyna said. “But I don’t like what you’ve done either. It makes me feel like I’m working for the bad guys.”

Theta had a deep voice, but his laugh was even deeper. “I’ll be honest with you, Dyna. It is true that we are going to do everything we can to keep Id from leaving. Not because we want to hold her captive, but because of the severity of the situation. Both the actions of Ignotus toward you as well as Tartarus as a whole. Their actions against entities such as the Hatman and this so-called murder doll are a stabilizing force in the world. While it is true that we would prefer the entire organization absorbed into the Carroll Institute, fostering closer ties in the interim is desirable.”

“And keeping her effectively imprisoned is going to give us a better working relationship with them, of course,” Dyna said, tone flat.

“Forcing a working relationship using the current crisis might be… touchy at first, but we hope it will unfold into a more stable relationship down the line. Keeping her here might feel bad at the moment, but I think you’ll agree that it is a far better alternative than dumping her on the streets only for her to get killed as soon as we take a step away. Hard to have relations with a dead woman and I doubt her death would endear us to the remaining members of Tartarus.”

Dyna crossed her arms. She still didn’t like it, but Theta did have a point. “So what is the plan of action now?”

“No idea,” Theta admitted with a carefree shrug of his shoulders. Pointing his thumb at the door Gamma had entered, he went on, “That is what this meeting is about. I’m sure it will involve you, Id, and Ignotus to a great extent.”

“If I’m involved, shouldn’t I sit in on it?”

“I’m sorry, that isn’t how the council operates.” His watch beeped twice as he spoke. He checked the screen, tapped it a few times, then nodded his head. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to cut our discussion here for now. Rest assured, both you and Id will be informed of pertinent details.”

Dyna didn’t get much of a chance to respond. Theta pushed open the door before he finished talking and stepped inside. Dyna could have followed; the door was not guarded. She didn’t, however. That would only result in being shooed out.

They would talk later.

For now, Dyna turned around, intent on locating Id. Armed guards had ushered Id away. Another pair had tried to do the same to Dyna, but she had rushed off to find the nearest administrator, ignoring the protests of the guards. Given that they weren’t following her now, the administrators must have called them off at the same time as they let Dyna know where they were via Beatrice.

Dyna turned her head, quickly finding the nearest camera with its bright red light trained on her.

The sharp tapping of shoes against the tile floor stopped Dyna before she could ask where Id was.

“Changed your mind that easily, did he? Theta always knows just what to say.”

A woman pushed off the wall where she had been leaning, right around the corner nearest to the meeting room. With her graying blond hair and violet stripes adorning the shoulders and chest of her black uniform, Dyna immediately recognized her.

“You are Administrator Alpha?”

The woman pressed her lips together as if upset by Dyna’s question. Maybe she expected a more definite response from someone who definitely knew her. Or maybe she expected to be a complete unknown. Either way, after that irritated glance, she simply walked past Dyna without a word.

“Wait, what did you mean by that?”

Alpha paused and looked over her shoulder. “That should be self evident, no? You were upset. Theta said a few words. You’re not upset anymore. He has a way with words or you have an especially fickle mind.”

Dyna bristled at the insult. “Excuse me?”

“I was being courteous in initially only mentioning the former, but since you asked for elaboration, you appear to be the type of person who agrees with whoever spoke with you most recently. Your views, values, and ideas stem from others, rather than yourself.”

“That’s just not true.”

“No? A week ago, you probably would have locked Id up yourself if given the chance. Now you’re advocating for her release. And after all the trouble we went to.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

The corners of Alpha’s lips quirked as she turned away. “I have a meeting to attend. Excuse me.”

Scowling at her back, Dyna called out, “I don’t agree with you!” just as Alpha reached the door. The woman pretended as if she hadn’t heard, ignoring Dyna as she entered the same meeting room Theta and Gamma were in.

What had she meant by that? After all the trouble they went to? To get Id here? It didn’t seem like it had been that much trouble. Just a simple command to Beatrice not to stop the car until it reached the Carroll Institute. The car hadn’t even stopped at lights—they had all been green, presumably thanks to Beatrice. Elevating Beatrice’s operations was hardly a lot of trouble.

Which meant… they did something else?

A small shudder ran down Dyna’s spine.

Had the whole thing been a setup? Dyna didn’t want to think that Emerald, Ruby, or even Walter would lie about there being a bomb threat—or lie to her at all—but she didn’t have the same trust in the administrators. It would have been simple for them to send someone to plant a bomb knowing that it would be discovered and what the likely response would have been.

That would also explain why Dyna’s mirror had never triggered. There had been no hostility against her in the first place.

Except, he had stayed behind. That left him vulnerable to capture. The administrators wouldn’t have wanted their man caught out and open to interrogation. He would have planted the bomb and disappeared, not stuck around to set the bomb off. Id had confirmed that someone suspicious was inside the restaurant. Would they have left him there in an attempt to fool her?

Dyna didn’t think so. Not with the way he had been acting. If they wanted someone to act suspicious to trick Id, they should have had him throwing more glances in Dyna’s direction. Maybe even try to trigger her mirror. They couldn’t have known that Id would have spotted such subtle cues of suspicion.

Mollified somewhat, Dyna pulled out her phone and called up her most frequent contact.

“Bit busy,” Ruby said.

There weren’t any gunshots going off in the background and Ruby didn’t sound like she was trying to keep her voice low, so Dyna went ahead and asked her question. “There really was a bomb under Id’s car, right?”

“Sure looks like it. I’m holding it right now.”

“You’re… You’re what? Ruby! I know you’re hard to kill, but—”

“Relax. I already pulled the detonator out. It’s just a lump of plastic right now.”

Dyna let out a small breath. “Good,” she said, then frowned. “Wait, you pulled it out? Not Emerald or a robot?”

“I’m durable.”

“That’s not—”

“Emerald has to enter real time to interact with the bomb. If she takes it into stopped time, radio signals stop. Then, if it is fail-deadly… boom.”

“Alright. Point. What about a robot?”

“Didn’t exactly bring a bomb defusing robot with us.”

“Then you’re supposed to wait for one,” Dyna said with a sigh.

“I handled it,” Ruby said, voice firm. “I’m not a child. I can handle myself.” After a short pause, she added, “Why did you think there wasn’t a bomb?”

“It wasn’t that I thought there wasn’t one, I just… I don’t suppose you could arm it again and try setting it off? From a safe distance, of course. Maybe with a robot.”

Ruby let out a scoff, then a small hum as she seemed to consider the suggestion. “You want to blow up Id’s car? Jeeze, what did she do to piss you off? I mean… other than everything she did do to you. Never mind, silly question.”

“That’s not it. I—”

“I think Walter might be a bit upset. They cleared out the people but didn’t remove their cars. Not to mention the buildings. It sounds like a fun idea, but you know how they get about collateral damage.”

“Ruby, all I want to know is whether or not it is a real bomb.”

“Feels right. Smells right.” She paused. “Tastes right.”

“You didn’t.” C4 was probably toxic. Ruby could handle that, she supposed, but it probably wouldn’t taste good anyway.

“I’ve used detonators like this before,” she said. “If it is a fake, I would be surprised.”

“Alright. I believe you. What about the guy who planted it?”

Ruby paused, clothing rustling like she was moving a bit. “He looks real too.”

“Human or tulpa?”

“Tulpa. I can see his… shadow? That’s probably why I thought he was suspicious in the first place, but I was too far away to get a good feel of it.”

“Good. Good.” That, more than hearing about the bomb, assuaged Dyna’s worries. If the guy had been a normal human, she might have thought otherwise, but sending tulpa fit within Ignotus-33’s modus operandi, even if a random bombing didn’t. After their normal tactic of sending soldiers wielding PP-2000s after her had failed so many times, perhaps they were branching out. The sniper shot from afar would fit with that idea as well.

Now there was a new worry. Psychics and artifacts were, according to Id, being collected to use as weapons.

Weapons against Dyna.

Dyna shuddered.

What had she done to upset someone this much?

“What got you wondering about all this?” Ruby asked.

Dyna glanced back to the meeting room door. “Just an odd comment from one of the administrators. I feel… I don’t know. My therapists would probably say I’m indulging in a bit of unhelpful paranoia at the moment.”

“You just heard that an entire organization is out to get you specifically. I’d say a little paranoia is warranted.”

“I’ve told them something to that effect every time the subject comes up. Now that I have proof, I’ll have the last laugh,” Dyna said, trying to make sure her grin came through audibly. “Thanks for the info. At least I don’t have to worry about that bit.”

“Sure thing. I’ll let you know if anything comes up. But I got to go take care of this bomb.”

“Stay safe,” Dyna said, hanging up.

Dyna still wasn’t quite sure what Alpha had been talking about, but at least the Carroll Institute hadn’t set up the entire affair. They just used the situation to their advantage. Was that better? Well, yes, but…

“Beatrice?”

“This is Beatrice.”

“Where is Id being held?”

“The Carroll Institute Administrative Council would prefer to avoid such pejoratives in reference to guests staying in our protective custody.”

Dyna turned slowly, staring directly into the nearest camera.

“Psychodynamics Wing Five, Accommodations.”

“Thank you, Beatrice.”

The Carroll Institute had a number of personnel that effectively never left the premises. People like Doctor Cross, Walter, and some other high level scientists. Doctor Cross in particular seemed like the kind of person who had literally no life outside his work. While there were staff dormitories topside where most of the doctors and professors stayed, Psychodynamics had its own apartment-like section of the facility. Though perhaps Accommodations was more akin to a hotel than apartment. Some rooms, like the one Doctor Cross used, were permanently checked out in his name. Others were used by anyone who didn’t want to drive home one night.

That Id was being held in Accommodations instead of the literal underground prison was a good sign, at least. Though Dyna wasn’t sure that Id would see it that way.

Entering Accommodations, Dyna did note the dozen armed guards that weren’t normally present. Even if they were purely for safety rather than imprisonment, it didn’t exactly paint the best first impression.

Luckily, nobody stopped Dyna from walking right up to the door Beatrice pointed out. Dyna gave a few quick knocks then waited.

“Come in, Dyna,” a muffled voice called out from the other side.

“You knew it was me just from my knocks?” Dyna asked as she stepped inside. “Was I too timid or aggressive or…”

“The cogitator brain told me,” Id said, pointing toward a terminal.

The room looked like any hotel room Dyna had ever stayed in. Not even a particularly nice hotel room. The one difference was the large terminal and desk against one wall. A station for employees to work even when they were supposed to be on break. Dyna had to imagine that they rarely saw use, with Doctor Cross as the possible exception. Most people just didn’t want to work around the clock.

Id, still in her fancy black dress with her mask securely in place, sat on the edge of the bed. “Not the worst prison I’ve seen,” she said, head turning around as if she were looking at the room for the first time. “They even said I could contact Tartarus all I wanted to do work, manage my facility, or just let them know I was safe.”

“Did you?”

“Not with the cogitator brain looking over my shoulder.”

“Beatrice? She… would definitely watch you, yes. But it isn’t her fault. The administrators—”

“Yes, I know the administrators and how they operate. Quite offensive, honestly.”

“Sorry,” Dyna said. “It feels like a pretty bad way to pay you back for warning me about Ignotus. I tried to protest their actions.”

“Didn’t work?”

Dyna waved a hand around the room. “You’re still here. The official stance is that they don’t want you dying anywhere within their jurisdiction, so better keep you here to be safe.”

“There is a quote about those who give up liberty for safety, though I think it lost a great deal of context in the centuries since it was penned.” Id leaned forward and crossed her legs. She rested her chin on her knuckles and her elbow on her knee. “Interesting that you are here at all. I wonder what their angle is in giving me access to you.”

“Uh… access?” Dyna frowned. “That is an odd way to phrase it.”

“Ostensibly, you are present to lessen the impact of my being a captive here. Convince me that it would be alright to divulge information about Tartarus. Convince me to work with them. But there would be other ways to achieve that goal,” she said, shaking her head. Her hair flowed around her. “No, they sent you here.”

“They didn’t send me here,” Dyna protested. “I came here of my own volition. I didn’t have to come and nobody gave me an order.”

“Of course. You feel guilty. You don’t like me, but don’t like being used like this more. Did they account for that? They should have barred you from accessing me, given what I did when we first met, but they’re taking a gamble. They want to learn something.” Id harrumphed, then leaned back until gravity took over and she flopped onto the bed. Grabbing a pillow, she pulled it under her head.

Was she going to sleep in that mask? They weren’t that comfortable. Dyna knew from experience.

“I don’t want to play their games tonight,” Id said. “You can tell them that, cogitator brain.” She picked her head up from the pillow and angled her mask toward Dyna. “If you wish to lessen your misplaced feeling of guilt, all I would ask for is that you contact Maple and let him know what the outcome of our meeting was. Otherwise, I have much to think on before I can take any action, so please leave me in peace.”

“I’ll be sure to do that right away,” Dyna said.

Id didn’t respond save to wave a lazy hand. She apparently didn’t want to talk anymore, or didn’t want to give any additional information to the administrators. Under other circumstances, Dyna might have considered that paranoia. Given her own thoughts just a few minutes ago, she was hardly one to talk.

Oh well.

Misplaced guilt or not, she at least had something she could do to make the situation marginally better.