Chương 122: B2. 17.1 - An Offer I Might Refuse

"I've never been in this area before," I said, leaning forward in the passenger's seat, back to my original body. I hadn't even toured much of the city, much less its outskirts.

"Are you sure we're heading in the right direction?" I squinted my eyes trying to see through the heavily-tinted windshield. Gangsters and their tints. I think this level of darkness for a tint probably wasn't road-worthy. Likely illegal. I could barely see shit outside. For all I knew, there could be monsters out there. Oh, wait, I was the monster around here.

"Yes, I've passed this way before," Overdrive said, his eyes fizzling with green light. He might be using the night vision feature of his bionic eyes.

"Did a lot of driving around back then. I'm almost sure—there's the sign. We're good. I memorized the map." He tapped the side of his head, making a thumping sound as his aug-finger hit some kind of polymer material under his skin. We weren't using any GPS to guide our way. Not sure if that'd be of any help in hiding our tracks from future investigations, but it showed that I was being prudent. I also talked about my plan of attack with Overdrive, and he agreed that it was good.

Or he might just be too scared to argue with me. As a prudent girlie, I reviewed what I knew about the situation. By now, the PCM scientists would've discovered the artificial Core on Myra's chest. What would they think of it? What would Myra say? Either she'd double down on her story that Red Hood sent her, or she'd admit that she wasn't connected to me, perhaps even try to scare the PCM with the sinister Professor. She'd probably pick the second option—that was what I'd do.

Use the mystery of the Core to claim that the PCM was messing with a government organization. A third option was that she'd claim to be alone, but no way the PCM would buy that. Given these possibilities, why would the PCM want to meet with me? For the first scenario, I could see what the PCM wanted. Since it was their thing to experiment on Adumbrae, they'd also target me. Plus, they'd want to stop my supposed attacks. End the 'war' by capturing the enemy king. Queenpin, in this case.

But if Myra spilled the beans on Dario and the Professor, why would the PCM want to do anything with me? I wasn't connected to that shit. They'd just open another front of conflict, picking a second enemy for nothing. Not to mention that they even had the additional BID problem to deal with. I, as Red Hood, wouldn't even care about Myra. Maybe the PCM knew that I had Kelsey. The PCM might be thinking that Kelsey told me that they were experimenting on our kind?

My crazy theory for now was that the PCM was trying to stop me from becoming their enemy. Maybe they'd present me with Myra, claiming that she was going around spouting lies about me. Not sure how negotiating with an Adumbrae figured out with their beliefs or something. Would the PCM try to pit me against the Professor's organization? In any case, we had to prepare for a trap. And I was going to save Myra to add to my minion pile. Also, I was really, really interested to know what the PCM's deal was.

So, here we were.

"Uh, boss…" Overdrive said.

"Is... is it worth it diving into this trap?" I could tell that he'd been holding on to this question for some time. He asked it now to break the awkward silence in the car.

"It's an investment," I said.

"We won't know for sure if it'll pan out for sure. But I figured saving this woman from the PCM would gain us more favors and allies."

"I see…." Silence for a few seconds. But Overdrive couldn't hold back a few more questions.

"Is the blonde chick an Adumbrae, too? She's probably not augmented because my scanners aren't picking up the usual signs. She's flesh and blood. I know she's not a regular human though, because of this… strange… energy signature on her chest."

"You were looking at her chest, huh?" Maybe I should slam Overdrive's head on the steering wheel. Just being a protective bestie here. Rather, I didn't want a future minion harassed.

"No! I mean, yes. Awesome assets. But that's not what I'm on about, boss. There's this energy inside her. It's not a battery like some of the more advanced augmented people have. I don't know what to compare it with."

"I know what it is," I evenly said. Overdrive was talking about her Core.

"And you're right, she's not human."

"What is it, boss? A battery? A reactor?" I mulled over how to answer this. Curiously, Overdrive didn't say that he detected the same thing with me. If he could see energy readings or whatever of my Core, he would've mentioned it.

"Way too complicated to explain," I said.

"Probably even better that you don't know much about it. Big Marcy got his fake Adumbrae. The PCM have their jigsaw puzzle monsters—you haven't met them yet, but probably will later. Some other groups out there have their own experiments. It's just such a mess."

"There are that many superhumans around? The world's a whole lot crazier than I thought. It makes me appreciate the simple life I had when I was just focused on selling drugs."

"Doesn't sound like much of a simple life." Were we having a moment? The second one, I think? He really was opening up to me. I considered it quite the achievement that I made a human—a drug dealer, at that—to be comfortable with an Adumbrae. Somewhat comfortable. Overdrive sighed.

"Much simpler than this. I don't want my scrawny ass to get gangbanged by twelve different kinds of monsters made by organizations I don't even know. I'm betting this car and all the others I have that the government is making monsters too."

"Probably."

"It's a shitty situation to be in for a human. I'm literally out of place in this fight. But I also feel… more alive. As if I have a sense of direction now."

"Stopping a Purple Bloom is a good enough purpose. Even fighting the pesky PCM members should make you feel good about yourself." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"That's it. Fighting for something rather than just being a criminal and raking in money—it's kinda monotonous. Finally, I understand what my grandpa always ranted about when he'd return from the factory after a workday's end. Ah, our situations are vastly different, but the lack of purpose is there." More backstory? I hoped that Overdrive wasn't raising a death flag by bringing up his past. Maybe I shouldn't let him fight later. I didn't have anyone to replace him with.

Teflon could be trusted, but he couldn't control the gangs. Just his own group. Still, having this conversation with Overdrive built his loyalty to me. He couldn't usurp me, an Adumbrae, so my position was secured. And he was really the de facto leader of the gangs, anyway, because I was always away. It was to his benefit that I'd stick around to maintain his authority over the gangs not his own. What I needed to cultivate was loyalty so that'd he'd do stuff beneficial to me even if I wasn't around.

"Purpose…" Overdrive wistfully said.

"But I could also die. Very easily die. I'm not like you, chewing ComExos and bathing in bullets like they're, uh, not bullets. You know what I mean, boss." I really enjoyed getting called 'boss'. Maybe I could get Deen to do it before revealing that I was Erind? Would be a fun challenge.

"You could also die while dealing drugs. Rival gangs and such can take you out."

"Yeah, but those are just humans with guns. I also have a gun; I can shoot back. But what can I do if a monster wants to eat me? I'm just a puny prey in a very literal sense."

"Unfortunately… that's your life now," I said, feeling pretty philosophical. Our little talk made my giddiness for the PCM meeting subside. In a way, what I told Overdrive also applied to me.

"We just have to deal with it. Maybe have fun while doing it, whatever it is. Surviving? Living? Going to suck if we continue living just to mope around." Overdrive didn't immediately reply. Though he did grip the steering wheel a bit tighter. In the silence of the car, I picked up a few hisses and other noises. His machine parts might be injecting into his something because the small tubes on his upper arm stiffened a bit.

"Boss, uh, I hope you don't kill me for asking this. But I have to know. Do you still have your human side?"

"What?" I didn't expect he'd have the balls to ask me about this. Wouldn't it have been better if I hadn't tried to be nice to him? But I was prepared for this topic to eventually come up.

"How does being an Adumbrae work, boss?" Overdrive's voice became stronger since I didn't instantly kill him for asking such a question.

"Is it still you there? The human you, but there's also another voice? That's what I see in movies about Adumbrae. It's not like a different entity has replaced you because the way you talked… It's like you're still human." It wasn't a mistake that I gave off that impression—I wanted to be known as the Adumbrae with a connection to her human side. If I tried to be an Adumbrae like Keke, for example, it'd probably feel quite alien to Overdrive and the other gangsters.

Would be difficult to gain their loyalty and cooperation if they viewed me as a monster both inside and out. There were a lot of people who probably didn't want to work under an actual monster. The gangsters would find it easier to get used to me if I made it seem that I still had some humanity, which was the truth. Fewer chances of them getting eaten.

"Think of it more like a new personality, but I'm still me," I said.

"Or maybe I'm changing because I've turned superhuman. Inhibitions disappearing, more confidence, a different outlook on life. Stuff like that." Overdrive glanced at me as he nodded. He should know about my fake cancer story from Teflon.

"I've heard of cases where people got bonked hard on the head, and they suddenly get a new personality. Is it like that? It's not that you're a demon wearing a human's skin—that was what my grandpa used to tell me about Adumbrae."

"If that were the case," I said, "I wouldn't bother continuing my current life. I wouldn't bother hiding my identity from you."

"True, that. By the way, boss. Do you… hear voices in your head? Is that part of being an Adumbrae true?" I nodded.

"Yes. One voice. But very sparingly. I'm not sure how it is with other seeded people, but the Adumbrae who had latched onto me seems to be very chill. Maybe that's why I still have my mind compared to others who go on a rampage."

"That's, uh, good to know. May you stay that way for a long time, boss."

"Seems to me that you have more questions about being an Adumbrae. What is it? This is the only time that I'll answer them."

"Boss, since, uh, you're sticking with your normal life… Does that mean you want to be human again someday?" I didn't expect this question from him. I had asked myself the same thing many times with no satisfactory answer.

"There's no way for that. But if there is, then… I don't know. It is fun to be this strong, though I also miss having a simpler life." That was probably the most honest I'd been this entire day.

"How did you become an Adumbrae, boss?"

"Oh, the questions are continuing? I don't think I'll answer that one. Why are you so interested, by the way? Do you want to be an Adumbrae?" Overdrive slowly nodded.

"Sometimes I think about it. I'm tired of this body of mine kept alive by machines. I want to be much stronger."

"It comes with many downsides," I said, making a mental note of this.

"And you might not be as lucky as me when it comes to your seeding." Someday, I could tell Overdrive that I knew how to make him an Adumbrae, even if I didn't, dangling it as some sort of salvation. Add that I could 'control' the seeding with my link shenanigans. That'd certainly make him loyal to me.

"You're right, boss." Overdrive nervously laughed.

"I'm just not thinking straight." We turned left onto a dirt road that I didn't even spot in the darkness.

"I see lights in the distance, boss." It took me some time to spot the pinpoints of light through the branches and leaves of the trees lining the sides of the bumpy path. Those were definitely not twinkling stars.

"They're expecting us to come," I said. This confirmed that the PCM knew that I had Kelsey and that Kelsey was Myra's sister.

"Tell the others that we'll stop a bit up ahead, far from the PCM compound. You remember the plan, right?"

"Yes, boss."

"Good. Just surround the place and wait for shit to start." I reviewed the notes that I had written down. My penmanship was a bit wonky because we were riding in a vehicle, which was a good thing. After all, Deen might recognize my writing. I didn't want drama between us in this crucial moment. I'd give Deen, Kelsey, and Johann their instructions later. I summoned my Blanchette mask. I wanted to power up a bit before meeting the PCM.

I had thought of going in my Erind form—I could talk and my artificial Core would negate some effects of their anti-Adumbrae machines. However, Myra got caught. It'd be much better to go in my strengthened Blanchette form that could power through electroshock weapons. The 2Ms couldn't do anything to me at the docks; the PCM probably wouldn't fare any better. Most importantly, I'd bring Deen along for Gabe's protection.

I hoped she wouldn't blab with her self-righteous mouth when we'd talk with the PCM, but I didn't really think there'd be any actual negotiations. A fight would be the eventual outcome. As the path opened up to a clearing, Overdrive parked to one side. Everyone piled out of their vehicles for one last pep talk from Overdrive. Next time, I'd think of a cheer for our team. Go Marsh Row Marmots! Something like that. What other animals started with the letter 'M'?

The gangsters were surprised to see my transformed state—this was the first time I showed it to them. But they had seen videos of my incredible performance at the docks, so they knew that I could grow. I could tell that they were a lot less nervous with a werewolf on their side. After fifteen minutes, our team was ready. The gangsters divided themselves into three teams and fanned out around the compound. Johann was with one of the gangster teams to have a bit of coherence in the rabble. Kelsey had her assignment.

Deen and I headed to the PCM compound.