GREED AND CHARITY
Story by LiveIron on SoFurry
'On'
>You pull around back, hiding from the road.
>You're not sure it'll help, but at least passerbys won't get curious about the car full of bulletholes and clawmarks.
>Something bumps and knocks as the engine spins down. The electronics still work, thankfully.
>You tune the radio to Steele's frequency, but hesitate.
>"Rebecca?"
>You slide open the cab window and look back. The weak interior lights reveal red, orange, white, and black.
>"Rebecca, you awake?"
>The tigress doesn't respond. She's curled up in the bed and filling most of it. Her legs almost brush the ceiling.
>Her chest moves slowly.
>You grunt and turn back to the radio.
>"Steele, this is Hummingbird. Put some distance between me and the threat. Can report, now."
>Her voice is strained over the airwaves.
>"Receiving, Hummingbird. What exactly happened?"
>"Radio cut out the further I went into the AO. After I got attacked, I needed to secure the place to run scans."
>"I caught that," she says.
>"Went inside and found a --"
>You pause, choosing your words.
>"--A civilian engaged with a paranormal threat. She's still with me, condition unstable."
>"Unstable how?"
>"Some form of catatonic state. Breathing, heart's beating, but consciousness seems in and out."
>"I'll add a medical attachment to your extraction," the white tigress sighs. "Now, the manor."
>"She gave me a lot of intel, that's why I brought her up. The paranormal threat she was fighting when I got there was her husband. Died a year ago, supposedly. Apparently not all the way."
>"He have a name?"
>"Patrick Madlovich."
>Steele grunts on the other end, and orders someone to search it up while you relay the spelling.
>"He was in charge of the corrupted civvies I came across. Turns and controls them with his staff, guessing that's what was causing the anomalies."
>"What's his goal?"
>"It -- civilian says it's from his past life. He saw anthros as monsters, and now he's got the means to prove it."
>Steele manages a chuckle.
>You know what she's asking next.
>"What's her name? And what's her connection?"
>"Rebecca," you say after a moment. "She -- I met her before everything happened. Briefly."
>Her hum comes through mostly as static.
>"And how did she engage the primary threat and survive?"
>"Alright, alright," you growl. "She's extrahuman too. But tell the medical team to use agent procedures."
>"You don't get to make that call, Hummingbird."
>Fuck.
>You hammer the door.
>You knew she'd be like this.
>"Steele, you're not bringing her back as a specimen. She's -- she was cognizant. No mind drift, no possession, she was clean!"
>"You weren't issued bioscanning equipment. You don't know that."
>"I talked with her. She gave me that intel."
>"Hummingbird... assuming no psychic interference, you're influenced by --"
>"Yes, I'm influenced by my past!"
>You take a breath. Your throat hurts.
>"But that doesn't matter, Steele. She saved my life. She disabled the threat."
>"And I lugged her ass through a burning building to save her."
>Your heart beats in your ear.
>"You're not wiping her fucking mind."
>It’s a few moments before you hear a sigh over the radio.
>"I will consider it," is all she says.
>It means she's coming out herself.
>Good.
>"Now stay where you are and don't cause any more damage."
>"Understood."
>You set the radio down and collapse back into the seat with a sigh.
>The debate isn't over. You'll have convincing to do when she arrives.
>But between the amount you’ve done and the escape from the mansion, you've earned a little --
>"Thank you."
>You jump and look to the rear window; Rebecca is pressed halfway against it, eyes glinting in the weak cabin light.
>How the hell she moved so quiet, you're not sure.
>"You're awake," you manage.
>"Yeah," she says.
>Her voice is light. You can't tell if it's from nerves, weakness, or both.
>"What's going to happen to me?" she asks.
>She can't hide the fear in her eyes.
>"You're going to 'disappear' like me," you say.
>"Are they going to --"
>"No."
>You grab onto the window ledge, then offer your hand to her.
>"No. I promise, Rebecca. I promise they won't do that. You'll get to decide."
>She hesitates, but takes your hand.
>Her grip is firm and warm.
>You turn away when she lets go, whispering "just like I did."
>"What do you mean?"
>Damn those feline ears.
>"What happened, Anon?"
>You groan, then turn back to her.
>"You want to do this inside?"
>Her eyes narrow.
>But she says yes.
>You hop out of the truck, gingerly testing your ankle as you walk around to the back.
>The morning air is brisk.
>Just like it was that morning.
>You grunt.
>Your whole body tenses.
>Footsteps like funeral bells.
>Knocking like gunshots.
>"Anon?"
>Rebecca's voice is muffled.
>"Anon, are you out there?"
>"Yes -- sorry."
>You open the trunk and step aside.
>You notice new holes in her clothes -- bullet shaped ones.
>There's blood, but the fur around them is clean.
>You sigh. Bioscanners would be nice.
>"Sorry about, uh..."
>Rebecca's voice trails off as she wrenches the sword from the cab.
>You grunt.
>"I'm already in trouble. Drop in the bucket."
>You motion for her to follow you to the back door.
>The exposure suit's zipper is quiet, but the slight jingling of the keys isn't.
>Your hands shake.
>"This is some kind of safehouse, right?" Rebecca asks.
>"Yeah," you breathe.
>The inside is just as you remember.
>Just like last time.
>Just as you'd like to remember it.
>You've got the forethought to step aside and let Rebecca in while you push things down in your mind.
>She's not talking to you.
>Rebecca looks idly at the mild mess on the coffee table, blowing off the layer of dust.
>Is she pissed? Or just resting?
>Rebecca gingerly places her huge blade on the table and sits down on the couch.
>Her tail flicks as it creaks, but the worn sofa holds.
>You knew it would.
>Her ears stand straight when she notices you standing there, and closes herself up.
>Offers you a spot.
>You stare at the empty, old cushion.
>Say something.
>Please.
>"Anon?"
>You look up.
>"Are you alright?" Rebecca asks.
>"Y-yeah," you say.
>You don't bother with an excuse. You just get onto the couch.
>"So..." the tigress asks after a minute. "What... happened, Anon?"
>"What will happen?"
>"With luck, you'll end up like me," you say. "The agency usually spares civilians that get caught up in paranormal events.”
>”But your case is different. You're not technically a civilian anymore, Rebecca. You're a new... ‘paranormal actor.’ An unknown actor."
>"And despite F.E.R.A.L.'s specialty being the unknown, they can't stand it."
>The tigress stays quiet, clasping her hands to her stomach.
>The burns are mostly gone. Her fur is pristine in the half-light of the moon.
>"What does that mean, Anon?"
>"It means they're going to be cautious," you sigh. "Even though I'll fight for you, there'll still be bullshit to go through."
>Rebecca chuckles.
>"You just can't escape the bureaucracy, huh?"
>You laugh; you're surprised.
>It’s been a while.
>"No,” you chuckle. “Add that to death and taxes."
>Her smile is warm.
>Like when you first met her in the sunshine on the range.
>When she'd first gotten everything on target, when you told her she was getting the hang of it.
>"Why are they calling you 'Hummingbird?'"
>You blink, and you're back in the house.
>"Codenames," you say quickly. "You take one on when you become an agent."
>The tigress hums.
>"You don't see it that way," she says.
>You look up, finding her gaze firm. An ear flicks.
>It was a statement, not a question.
>"What happened, Anon?"
>You take an internal breath.
>"Why did you fight for me?"
>She doesn't know. She wouldn't.
>"Why did you disappear?"
>"Because I fucked up!"
>It comes out more explosive than you intend.
>"I... I was targeted by an entity. A ghost. Used one of my guns as a host."
>Silver moonlight. The scent of black powder.
>"I listened to it. Used it to do what I wanted."
>Moaning. Shattering glass.
>Old metal and wood.
>You gasp. You didn't know you were holding your breath.
>A weight lands on your shoulder and you tense.
>Rebecca's green eyes catch yours when you look up.
>"Anon?"
>She catches you.
>You nod, taking a breath.
>You're not what matters here.
>"I wanted revenge, Rebecca," you say. "I wanted Patricia."
>Her eyes widen.
>"I wanted wrath."
>"And I got it," you say, clenching your fists. After a moment, you sigh.
>"It didn't do anything good. She -- the entity had taken control of me. Taken advantage of those desires."
>You chuckle.
>"And when I figured it out, she showed me she'd always had the leash."
>"That's why I said that stuff when I was patching you up, Rebecca. That's why I tried to get you to stop."
>Her snout wrinkles.
>"If you let it control you, it will consume you. And there'll be nothing left."
>You brave her harsh expression.
>"Why do you think you collapsed after you got your revenge?"
>She blinks. She huffs and turns away, her expression still snarly.
>Her tail flicks between the two of you.
>"That's not everything," she says. "How did it end, Anon?"
>Your heart races.
>Words catch in your throat.
>"Anon?"
>Your hands burn on polymer.
>Spectral claws dig into your bones.
>"Anon."
>You gasp when she grabs you again. It takes a second for it to be comforting.
>Rebecca's ears are flat, her green eyes mournful.
>"I -- I'm sorry," she says, turning away. "I shouldn't have --"
>"This."
>You hold up your hand and summon Talia.
>"This is how it ended, Rebecca."
>The soft glow of the Kolibri illuminates her features.
>Talia is still silent.
>"I fucked up," you sigh, closing your hand around the tiny gun. "I came here, and shot Talia."
>Rebecca gasps quietly; you grit your teeth.
>"Virina toyed with me. Pretended like I'd have a chance to slip from her control. But it was happening either way."
>"Then I... tried to end it. Make sure she couldn't use me to hurt anyone else.”
>"I shot myself."
>Rebecca's grunt is soft.
>You open your palm and let the moment stand.
>You stroke the gilded grips of the gun, wishing she'd answer you.
>"Still don't know how, but Talia ended up in here," you say, gesturing to the Kolibri. "Gave me a headache instead of a one-way ticket to the Styx."
>"Virina -- the entity from before -- she was trapped."
>You sigh. Talia disappears in a small flash.
>"That's how it ended."
>"That's why I did what I did. Said what I said."
>"Because I don't want you to end up like me."