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Chapter 34 - Ego Poking

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Despite Kione’s prediction, Discord didn’t turn up the next day. Even if he had, Shift wouldn’t have been subjected to the man's unpleasant aura because Raph had more or less locked him down inside the med bay. 

He suspected the isolation was intentional on Raph’s behalf, since he’d been denied any device that could connect to the net and the signal on his wrist communicator was mysteriously absent. Forced inactivity drove him to something he tried to avoid if it could be helped, but with no company but the stark white furniture he didn’t really have a choice. 

Thinking. 

And not just any thinking. Deep thinking. About himself, which was terrifying enough without the subjects that wormed their way into his mind.

What he was doing, why he was helping Athira do less than legal things. Why he’d lied for her to Raph’s face, although he had an excuse for that one. The tiny camera in the far corner might be connected to Indigo’s internal security system rather than an open Colour network, but as long as it was connected to a system, any Elites--or Wardens--would have had direct access to a straight admission of guilt from Athira and himself. 

That was obviously a huge no-no. 

Did he plan on telling Raph the truth somewhere in private? Shift was surprised to find that he was reluctant to do so. For all her show of ‘dropping the issue’ with Athira, Talia remained pushy as ever. Shift suspected it was rubbing off on Raph, and Athira’s nightly antics weren't helping to soothe his worry. Zoe though, she was different. She needed to know. She was an unwilling victim directly in the war path of the Warden's master plan.  

Shift continued to ask himself the big questions, re-examining each memory of Athira, the sleepers, Wardens, Elites, machines, Kione’s cracked files, until boredom finally claimed him and sent him to sleep. 

When he woke up, someone had unlocked the doors of the med bay. Shift had never moved so fast in his life. 

A glimpse at his wrist communicator told him he'd slept through the night with a quick message from Raph saying they were expecting Discord in an hour, to find Zoe and shift some of her colour to ensure he was in top form, and that if he stepped a toe out of line the guy who helped keep Indigo base clean was going to find himself out of a job for a month. 

Wouldn't want to deprive Ripley from a job now, would I? thought Shift, rounding the corner into the stairwell. He took them two at a time, raced across the main room and through the doors of the kitchen. 'Recovery' food just didn't cut it. 

He was halfway through an OmNom bar when the wall shimmered. 

Shift tensed and relaxed in the same breath as Athira's face appeared. She gave the room a quick glance before the rest of her followed, upper body appearing to slide along the counter until she stepped out of it. 

He took one look at the way her colour refused to settle back into her skin and read her like a book. With just her presence, the apples no longer appeared settled in their basket. 

"You haven't meditated."

"Didn't have time," she shot back in a whisper. "There's too many things going on. Too many things I need to understand."

Shift tried to take her hand. "Let me shift some--"

His fingers only managed to brush hers before she snatched them away, but even the brief touch was enough for him to feel the volcanic heat her colour was creating. 

Athira held her hands to her chest. "You need Zoe's. I'll be fine."

The basket was now following the apple's race to the ceiling. "I have my doubts. What's so important now that you couldn't tell me with a visit to the med bay?" 

"I came to see you once but you were asleep," she said. "And then Raph wanted me out on patrol with him at night, which I think was--" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. What does matter is that we need to break Reader out."

Shift blinked. "Break... what?" 

Athira's gaze was unwavering. "We need to break Reader out of the Elite HQ, probably from the underground jail area."

He'd heard her right. "Erm, I don't think he'd be there, being a criminal of his status."

She frowned. "It's the only place that makes sense."

"Have you ever heard of the Hall of Villains?" 

The raised eyebrow told him she hadn't. 

"It's some initiative the Elites started up a few years ago to try and scare the criminals in Sirah and the surrounding cities. Basically, any villain that's caused a public scare or pulled off some particularly destructive stunts are put into an unconscious, suspended state and placed in what I'd tentatively call a display. Because Sirah's the biggest, the 'display' is here. They open it to the public a few times a year, or when they get a new addition."

Athira looked disgusted. "And Talia has the nerve to defend them, but that still doesn't matter. We need him out of whatever place he's in as soon as possible."

"Can I ask why we need a notorious villain who has caused us several problems in the past free again?"

"Because he can read mindscapes," said Athira. 

Mindscapes. For some reason, the word stuck out, like his subconscious was trying to make a connection between it and the previous line of conversation. His tentative grasp on the idea was pulled away as Athira continued. 

"After the conversation in the med bay, it left me wondering about the Wardens. How little I actually know of them, how much of a mistake that ignorance was, so I paid a visit to the Elite HQ, hoping to find the ones we met before," she hinted. "Except I couldn't find them. Who I did find, however, was a certain Elite that stabbed--"

"The Owl's apprentice as they were trying to escape," Shift finished quickly, taking the final bite of the bar. He held out the empty wrapper to Athira and nodded at the bin to her left.

"...Exactly," said Athira, disposing of the wrapper. 

She might have believed their words were secure, but Shift wouldn't have put it past Discord to have every aspect of Indigo base locked down. He doubted the nosy Elite cared what calories they were consuming, but Shift preferred keeping something directly incriminating like that off the airwaves. 

Her next words were just as damning as the previous ones would have been. "I liberated him from the hospital--don't look at me like that, he was fine--and took him to a friend, but she said she could only read his surface thoughts and that I'd need to find someone who could go deeper if I wanted something from him. And what's deeper than mindscapes?" 

"Just say that you convince me of this--" began Shift.

"Even if I do, I'm doing the actual thing myself," said Athira. She squeezed his fingers. "You're just intel, possibly a distraction."

Shift didn't comment on it. "Even if you convince me to not tell Raph what you're doing, assuming I'm above pulling out the Zoe card, why is it worth--"

A friendly 'ding' over the intercom announced someone's arrival through Indigo's main doors. A glance at his communicator told Shift it was Discord. 

"He's not supposed to be here for an hour, at least!" hissed Athira, looking at the kitchen door for reasons that escaped Shift. "I'll find you again later."

With that, she became one with the wall and disappeared. The apples crashed with a wet thud into the counter top, having drifted away from the basket which fell along with anything else that wasn't nailed down. 

Shift was starting to wonder if Athira would accidentally levitate Discord to victory of the fight she wasn't supposed to win, even if no one was about to tell her that. None of them stood a chance against Discord solo with the exception of Shift, who Discord considered to be a cheater, and Zoe, but she rarely unleashed her potential on anything that hadn't threatened the life of a nearby kitten. 

Raph's head poked around the corner. He looked flustered. 

"Shift, there you are! Foyer, now! Hope you managed to borrow some of Zoe's colour!" 

Shift followed Raph to the stairs and down into the foyer, not about to mention the black colour he'd pulled from Athira that was currently setting his veins on fire. 

She needed help, he reasoned. Besides, she'll be the focus today. Not me.

Sure you're not getting addicted to it, just like she already is? asked a smaller part of him. 

Discord was conversing with Talia in the foyer as Shift and Raph arrived, the rest of his posse -- three Elites Shift didn't recongise-- standing behind him. As usual, the permanent scowl holding his features together was present. It only deepened when he caught sight of Shift, who resisted the urge to return a finger wiggling wave. 

He doesn't know, Shift told himself. It's just his natural reaction. Chill.

Kione was next to arrive in the foyer, earning the same deepened scowl Shift had recieved. Athira and Zoe followed a minute later, side by side. No doubt she'd been giving Athira last minute pointers for her assessment and combat trial, probably while trying to convince her wearing the indigo cloak was a bad idea. 

Shift was mildly impressed. Her colour's all but settled back into her. Even with the amount I took, unless she's figured out some way to settle it in about thirty seconds... Mid thought, he caught sight of the recently used colour on Zoe's fingers. Ah. Wonder how long that'll hold her over. 

 With Indigo assembled, Raph stepped forward. 

"Discord," he said, inclining his head. "While we weren't expecting you for another hour, the necessary preparations are in order for Athira's assessments on her path to becoming a full team member. If you'd like to step through to the training area, we have--"

"Passed and approved," said Discord. Shift could hear the tiredness edging the yellow Elite's voice, which almost surprised him more than the actual words themselves. 

From the look on his face, Raph didn't know how to respond to that. He glanced back at Athira for a moment, who had a single eyebrow raised before he faced Discord once more.

"I don't understand, sir. The trials, they're necessary--"

"My analysts tell me there is nothing negative in your reports of her," said Discord. "And Indigo will be needing a new team member after today, so that saves me the trouble of filing the transfer papers."

"New... team member?" Raph said. "Is someone being released?"

It took everything Shift had to hold his face in check. With Athira's colour in his system, the urge to attack Discord before he could name Athira and Shift traitors nearly overpowered him. Did they know? But why approve Athira if they were only going to take her? 

"Sort of," said Discord. "It's why we're here in the first place. Honestly, I'd completely forgot about Athira." He yawned. "We're here to take Zoe."

At her name, Zoe leaned ever so slightly back towards Athira. 

"Like before?" asked Raph. "For a few days, and then--"

Discord seemed amused. "Permanently. She'll no longer be a member of Indigo and will live at Elite Headquarters until other arrangements are made."

No one had a reply for that. 

"Why?" asked Talia. "Did she do something wrong?" 

"Threats have been made against her life," supplied one of the Elites, an older blue coloured male judging by his suit. "We feel it is a necessary precaution that we sever all ties with her current life and place her under Elite protection."

"You're... taking her?" stumbled Raph. "Can we still see her?"

"Generally what 'sever all ties with current life' tends to mean," said Discord. "Is no."

Raph's shoulders fell. 

He looked about as helpless as Shift felt. Though Shift could only see the back of his head, he had a pretty good idea how Raph's face was struggling to hold back the flood of emotions. 

Shift wondered if the rage building in his cheeks would burn through if he held on to it much longer. 

"So if that's all questions done," said Discord after a moment. "We'll be leaving with Zoe and you can all continue with your new day."

"I don't think that's 'all questions done', Discord."

Athira's expression was balanced on the razor edge of her voice. She'd stepped in front of Zoe, effectively placing herself between the Elites and her friend. 

A surge of hope flushed away Shift's previous one to force the Elites out of Indigo's home. Oh you beautiful thing, you.

Discord sniffed. "No, you can't keep the cloak. Zoe, let's--"

"You're telling me someone threatened her safety?" said Athira. "Would that someone happen to be one of your Elites, perchance?" 

"Yes, that's why we're putting her under Elite protection," said Discord, rolling his eyes. "Makes so much sense. Congratulations, I can see why Indigo wants you."

Athira folded her arms. "Interesting how that armband you Elites put on her affected her so badly, isn't it, Discord? And isn't it interesting how when I removed it, her lethargy almost instantly disappeared?"

Surprise broke Discord's scowl. "You broke that armband?" He shared a look with the Elites behind him. Specifically, the blue tattooed woman and the elder man. "I think we'll be borrowing you for a time to investigate that particular incident."

Athira's eyebrow reached new heights. "I'd rather put a campfire out with my face, to be perfectly honest with you. And, unlike Zoe, you can't really order me around."

"Is that right?" said Discord. "And why, pray tell, would that be?"

"I'm not a full member of this team." She paused. "Yet."

Discord didn't look impressed. "Does she suffer from short term memory loss, Raph? Is that her flaw?" 

"It's in the Colour's Code," said Athira. "An initiate must undertake their combat trial with the team's governing Elite to claim their full membership. No exceptions."

"I waived it," said Discord through gritted teeth.

Athira shrugged. "Your book, not mine. I don't really care to show you up in a fight. It's really just a waste of my time when there's villains with real colour running rampant on the streets."

"You're assuming a lot, girl, considering you've never gone toe to toe with me before."

"I assume," Athira said with pursed lips, "that it'd be similar to sparring with an eight year old. Predictable, impatient, and over in about ten seconds."

Shift was... well he didn't know what he was. To his knowledge, no one had ever talked to Discord quite like this and it was clear that Discord hadn't expected Athira to break the conga line of ass kissers. The shades of red Discord's face was managing to turn were a sight to behold. 

"My analysts have told me all about you," said Discord. "They've broken down reports, profiled your fighting style and figured you out."

"So what you mean, is that your analysts have probably told you to avoid a fight with me at all costs. Assuming you listened to them while they were trying to help you preserve your dignity."

Colours be damned. Shift had never loved Athira's sarcastic sense of authority more.

"I will--"

One of the Elites behind Discord, the regal looking woman with blue ink tattooed across her face stopped his words with a polite cough. 

"I think," she said, "it would be in our best interests if you at least undertook the combat trial, Elite Discord. As the commanding Elite of this team, you are required to prove yourself to the members of the team as well as give a personal assessment to the initiate's abilities, since you cannot assume the villains she faced to have been sufficiently challenging."

There was something odd in the way she stressed the word 'Elite' that pricked Shift's ears and made Discord set his jaw. 

"Fine idea," he said. "Shall we move to the arena?"

As Discord gestured to the double doors leading to the training area, Shift looked closer at the tattooed woman and memorised her face. 

Though she wore a blue Elite style uniform, there was something off about her that Shift couldn't quite put his finger on. He was sure he'd never seen her before, but it felt like he had. 

Athira waited until Zoe filed in through the training doors with Talia and Kione before she moved from her position. Shift was just after her, followed closely by Raph. Indigo's leader muttered something behind him, but he was too caught up trying to figure out the identity of the woman to pay it much mind. 

Maybe I've shifted her colour before while she was disguised. It'd explain why I feel like I know her, even if memory says I don't. 

And with the end of that mysterious thought, they were in the training area, with the arena directly in the centre. 

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A/N - So Indigo hit #12 ranking in Adv and #14 in fantasy. You guys are amazing. Vote / Comment if you think this chapter is worth it ^.^ 

I've posted a short 'Not Legit' chapter to the not-legit book on my profile of a certain green colour we all know rather well at this point... in his true form. ^.-