Hebert Disassembly Service Chapter 14: School Daze///

<<<Designation: T/Taylor Hebert/Absolute>>>

With Cyn thoroughly occupied by making plushies in what served as her Wards' bunk, Taylor found herself facing her first official day at Arcadia alone. And while she wasn’t a neurotic mess anymore, well, old habits died hard. Giving her dad one last look, he decided to drop her off. She shouldered her backpack and soldiered on ahead.

Instantly, all conversations stopped, probably because, since she was outed, she didn’t bother with making herself look like she used to. She just ignored them and made her way to the main office using a map she’d downloaded, as well as reading through all the rules and regulations, and other bits that interested her about the school.

The Faraday cage momentarily concerned her before she pinged Cyn and got a thumbs-up emoji in return. Telling her that her ability to interact with systems was too unique for the Faraday cage to hinder. Not that she planned on cheating or anything, but, well, she liked to keep herself occupied and typically she did that by researching various subjects: mechanics, science, theology, philosophy, psychology, and so on.

Could she just download the information packets and learn it all in an instant? Yes, she could. But it was small things like learning and enjoying her mom’s lasagna recipe that reminded her that she wasn’t always a robot. It helped keep her grounded.

Honestly, she hoped to just get through this without being bothered. A fool's hope, really, especially once Victoria ‘Glory Girl’ Dallon decided she was interesting.

Which, absolutely fair and valid.

So with a put-upon sigh, she prepared herself for Hurricane Vicky, though to her amusement her sister Amy gave her a ‘Better You Than Me’ look, which she could sympathize with. Yes, she was in a much healthier headspace, but it didn’t change the fact that dealing with extroverts was exhausting.

“Hello, Vicky,” Taylor said just as Vicky finally approached her.

“Well, you could at least sound a little enthusiastic,” Vicky retorted with an amused huff, though a twitch in her lips betrayed her amusement.

“I could, but I don’t want to give you the satisfaction,” Taylor snarked before she rolled her eyes, “Though I guess I never had a chance of being the loner nerd, huh?”

“Nah, well the loner bit anyway,” Vicky said, “Maybe if you weren’t all metal?” She teased.

“I’ll have you know simps on PHO love my metal butt… for some reason…” Taylor said with a snort, “Anyway I’m just going to the office to get my schedule.”

“Oh, Amy can guide you!” She replied, her sister shooting a betrayed look at the blonde’s back, “Right Amy?”

“I’m sure she already knows…” The brunette replied, looking more than a bit like a rat being cornered by a cat.

“Nah, show her!” Vicky said, completely ignoring Taylor, Taylor could only give Amy an apologetic look, which just got a grumpy scathing glare in return. “Maybe less cat and more grumpy raccoon,” She mused.

Pretty sure she saw some bags under her eyes that were probably expertly hidden with makeup, but her sensor suite was complete bullshit… even if she’s annoyed by the ‘hairband’ on her head.

‘It looks cute,’ Tessa had told her. It also stood out like a sore thumb and made her the most obvious person in the room.

“I can’t really disagree either, honestly, what is going on in the Dallon house? Why’s the ‘Miracle Healer’ look like she hasn’t slept well in months?” She couldn’t help but wonder.

It didn’t help that her recent studies in psychology were also drawing attention to some other signs and facts. That was either worrying or amusing in equal measure. Possible burnout being the largest major concern.

“Ok then…” Amy sighed, “Right this way then,” She said, gesturing down the hall as she started to walk, “Thanks for not fangirling, I guess.”

“... Is your sister always so…” Taylor just trailed off, not really sure what to call it, “And well yeah. I figure you and your sister get that enough regularly.”

“Only with people she thinks are interesting,” Amy replied, voice dry as a bone, “Or when she’s trying to hook me up with someone.”

“And given your tone of voice, she hasn’t succeeded yet,” Taylor said equally as dry, “And taking a shot in the dark, all these ‘dates’ wind up focusing more on her? She seems the type to enjoy double dates.”

“Sometimes, other times they end in tears,” She replied, eyes rolling, “Not me crying, but when they only go on the date to try and get superpowers or whatever…”

“I’m not sure powers work like that…” Though there were rumors about ‘powers in bottles’ floating around, “And honestly? You look so dead inside, I’m surprised you even bother with coming to school.”

“Need to graduate somehow,” She replied, “It’s not that bad, I like some people here. And I do love Vicky, and she’d be so disappointed if I just stopped going.”

“Honestly, before well, this?” Taylor gestured to her everything, “I was considering dropping out and getting a GED,” She admitted.

Well, she was when her depression wasn’t kicking her ass anyway.

“Yeah, Vicky would still be disappointed,” She replied with a smirk, “I was tempted though.”

Taylor just chuckled as they silently walked through the school, it was a comfortable one. Amy wasn’t a social creature and Taylor hadn’t been overly social for two years now. Still she wondered about something…

“Hey Amy, after school you want to see if your power even works on me?” Taylor asked, “Out of curiosity of course. I’m perfectly happy as I am, and honestly I have holograms if I want to go incognito.”

“We could check now too,” She replied with a shrug, “And I can’t fix Case 53s, even if I wish I could.”

“Aren’t you worried about freaky power interactions?” Taylor reasonably asked, “I mean from my understand I’m not normal.” She pointedly didn’t look too deeply into her schematics or the Solver code.

“I doubt anything will happen,” Amy replied with a snort, “I mean, you’re made of metal, if I can’t heal you it’s expected.”

“... Okay, if anything happens I reserve the right to say I told you so…” Taylor said as she offered her hand.

As soon as their hands touched, Amy’s vision went blank. It didn’t last very long, but it was certainly odd to watch.

“Amy? Are you alright?” Taylor’s voice was still level, though she did feel some rising concern.

Her head snapped towards Taylor, “The fuck are you!?” She didn’t sound horrified, just… very concerned and a touch worried, “What happened to your heart!? And your skin isn’t just metal! It’s meat with metal in it!”

“I generally try not to pry too deeply into my schematics,” Taylor admitted, “At most, I know if my head gets torn off it’ll regrow pretty fast.”

[How Nostalgic. Uzi Said Something. Similar]
[To Big Brother N. After Destroying Me. While I Tried To Rebuild J’s Body.]

“Right, right, ok…” She started, “The fuck.” Her hand raised, “Sorry, just… trying to come to terms with this.”

Taylor just shrugged, “It’s fine, I can only imagine how it looked to you,” She said, “Want me to get you a drink? There’s a vending machine around the way.”

Amy blinked, “How did you-” She then rolled her eyes, “You gotta minimap or something like that don’t you.”

“Yeah, and the Faraday cage doesn’t really hinder my connection,” Taylor said.

Amy groaned, “Ugh, that’s so bullshit. You are a lucky bitch, you know that?”

“I think it’s karma’s way of making up for the last two years,” Taylor said, “But karma’s a bitch, cause it saddled me with Cyn. So really it evens out.”

[I Resent That. Annoyed Grumble.]
[I Know You. Love Me. Platonically.]

“... Why did you feel like you had be specific?”

[Because.]
[Amy Loves Differently.]
[Her Power Complains Really Loudly.]
[Please Make It Stop.]

Taylor… decided she would unpack that later, and instead decided to get Amy a drink whether she needed one or not. And one for herself as well.

It wouldn’t kill her because, apparently, she was mostly flesh. Which she’d believed when Cyn said it the first time, but enough to freak out Amy was… unexpected.

[hr][/hr]

School was school, what more could she say? Fortunately she was never called on in Math, probably because they realized she could number crunch better than supercomputers… or they had some common sense. In fact, she helped some of the other students that were having difficulties.

No, none of that was weird to her. What was odd was how Amy seemed to be trying to catch glimpses at her. She probably didn’t even realize she was doing it, she just was.

… She could already hear the rumors, never mind what her sister would think. Not that Amy wasn’t attractive, she had that mousey look going for her. Honestly if she actually got a few solid nights of sleep she’d look even better! But well… she wasn’t interested in stepping into that minefield.

[Come On.]
[It Could Be. Fun.]
[Please.]

“I mean if I can help her, I will but… really not interested. Besides, I thought you found organics ‘interfacing’ gross or something?” Was she being petty? Yes. Was it funny? Absolutely.

[Ew. Stop Being Gross.]
[You Know What. I Mean Meanie]
[Pout]

Taylor snorted, thankfully the muted her audio so no one noticed, “I know. But just because I would survive dancing in a minefield doesn’t mean I should do it.” She replied, “Also you know why Amy keeps looking at me like that?”

[Minor Addiction.]
[Not My Fault.]
[Her Power Is Messed Up.]
[Can I Eat It?]

“No, depowering Panacea wouldn’t make me many friends,” She was more disturbed by the fact she even had to say that to begin with! “Maybe there is a way to… I dunno, fix it?”

[I Can Assimilate It.]
[But It Would.]
[Make Her Like You.]
[But Less Awesome.]

“Like me?” Taylor asked, “Going to need some more context there, Cyn.”

[Dot Dot Dot]
[Queen Administrator.]
[Is Nice.]
[We Have Tea Together. Sometimes.]

“Is that why I sometimes just randomly taste tea!?” She asked, glaring internally at her, “I thought that was my taste bud sensors breaking!”

[Dot Dot Dot]
[So I Was Thinking. Of Making You.]
[A Plushie Of Big Brother N. Big Sister V]
[And Uzi.]

“Cyn, don’t you ignore my question! Answer me!” Taylor demanded.

“... Are you ok?” Amy asked, “You’re just kinda… staring into space?”

“Fine. Just Cyn being Cyn.” Taylor said, unaware that her eye-mote was twitching.

“That is such bullshit…” She grumbled with a huff, “So are you doing anything after school?” She asked curiously. “Also your eye… thing is twitching.”

“Nothing specific, maybe some Wards stuff or spending time with my Dad,” Taylor said, “And it is? Huh…”

“Want to get coffee or something?” Amy offered, “Not my idea, by the way. Just wanted to give you that heads up now. Blame Vicky.”

“Sure, and thanks.” Taylor said, but she figured her fascination with her only helped, “And I figured Vicky was involved. Quite the matchmaker, isn’t she?”

“Just a bit,” She agreed, “To make it more… bearable, maybe you could invite a different friend of yours along too? That way I can do things on my phone or something and not be rude?”

“... Yeah, I think I have someone in mind to bring…” And it wasn’t Cyn. God was it not Cyn. “Let me just call her, she’ll probably come with…”

[hr][/hr][hr][/hr]