Hebert Disassembly Services Chapter 3: Spiraling///

<<<Designation T/Taylor Hebert>>>

Not long after their small pizza party with Vista, Dad was allowed to visit. Which had been… awkward. Taylor tried engaging him in small talk, which worked, but it was still stilted and awkward. Just like it had been for years now.

A part of Taylor was disappointed, but ultimately not surprised. Just because she’d achieved ‘perfect’ psychological health didn’t mean others would too. And now with the ability to become a PHD in various subjects in the span of seconds? She could identify all the signs of someone clinically depressed, and someone who was coping very poorly with the sudden changes in their life.

Again, Taylor didn’t blame him. Mom was always the emotional pillar in the family. Dad was the provider, not to say he was the only one to work, that is. He wasn’t emotionally distant or aloof; he just… didn’t know how to be emotionally supportive. Mom was the one who did that.

And when she died, Dad simply didn’t know how to do what she did. Hell, he didn’t even know how to cope in the first place! Hell, it took Uncle Allen (She hadn’t thought about him since the bully started… would she still be welcomed if she visited?) verbally ripping into him to somewhat snap him out of his funk and remind him that he actually had a daughter to provide for!

“Am I being unfair?” Depression was a helluva thing after all.

[I Think So]

[I Wasn’t Very Sane When I Was Depressed Either]

“Point. But I can’t help but feel a little resentful,” She admitted to Cyn, “I was suffering too, after mom died. I’m not saying he should’ve got over it, I’m just saying we could’ve leaned on each other…”

[Uploading Uzi-Memories.Zip]

[He Was Less Bad Than You Remember]

Taylor reviewed the zip, and while she didn’t physically react, she really wanted to, “Okay, that’s just… wow. I think I can safely say Dad was never that bad…” Was it weird that she was concerned about Khan sexually abusing doors?

It was probably just a weird Drone thought or something.

[Bored Now Sinister Giggle]

[Do You Want To Play A Game Question Mark]

“Cyn, what are you planning? I’m trying to reconnect with my estranged dad.” Granted, she could easily split her attention, but the way Cyn said that concerned her.

She also felt like it was a reference… but for the life of her, she couldn’t tell.

[Do Not Worry]
[He Can Play Too]

[It’s Called]

[Explore Your Powers]

[The Game]

[The Movie]

[The Merchandising]

Okay, honestly, that wasn’t as bad as she expected. And it’d probably help her Dad, somehow? Give him something to relate to, since according to Cyn and her specs, she could be considered industrial machinery anyway.

“Hey, Dad, want to find out what I can do?” Taylor asked, “I mean, I can swap my hands into anything, and I’m technically industrial machinery right now. Maybe I could do some heavy lifting at the Docks sometime?” She added with a smile.

He laughed, even if it was a bit forced. “There’s a bit more to working on the docks than lifting things,” He said, “And you aren’t old enough, our insurance rates would skyrocket.”

“Holograms,~” Taylor retorted playfully as she suddenly looked ten years older… which made him wince. She reverted it quickly, but… she hadn’t been thinking.

“God, you look so much like your mom, Little Owl…” He said with an honest smile, though still somewhat sad and nostalgic, “She’d be so proud of you, you know? But… let’s see what you can do,” He added awkwardly to change the subject.

“Well…” Taylor started, “I can make my hands do this?” She said, flexing them and making large claws form in their place, “I can make sashimi really easily.”

Dad blinked in surprise, “Huh, well, depending on if those clean when you swap hands,” He said with a faint chuckle, “But they don’t seem like something with many applications.”

“Well, with my strength, I’m pretty sure I could cut steel into manageable chunks.” Once more, her hands swapped out with what looked like a blaster of sorts, “This is a beam emitter that can easily cut through concrete and other stuff, I think.” Could she simply look at the specs, yes, but she was focusing on getting Dad to engage in this little game.

“Not sure how useful that would be,” He replied with a snort, “We don’t do much cutting out there.”

“Come on! Maybe I can figure out a way to empty that tanker and take potshots at it!~” She whined playfully, “I don’t breathe anymore, so I could get the scrap. And don’t worry, I already speedran the whole existential dread of my everything.”

“Are you okay, Little Owl?” He asked, leaning forward, taking her hand after changing it back to normal.

“Yeah, but some stuff is still processing, you know?” Taylor asked, “I don’t breathe, I don’t have a heartbeat, my blood is this odd blend of coolant, oil, and other stuff. I don’t poop anymore! It’s just… a lot even when you can literally speed up your brain to think faster.”

“No need to worry about buying pads anymore then,” Her dad weakly joked, “Saves a bit of money and awkwardness, huh?”

“Yep! Honestly, that’s the best thing about it,” Taylor admitted, she said with a smile, “And I won’t be all snarky with you when it happens,” She added with a snicker.

Dad just chuckled, a little stronger.

Things were still awkward, and probably would be like that for a long time. But it was a start, and Taylor would take it.

“Oh! I have wings too!” Granted, she hadn’t deployed them yet, but she could ‘feel’ them… kinda? It was strange, honestly.

“I don’t see any…” He started, “Or is it like your hands?”

“Yeah,” Taylor said, “And I was kind of worried. Cause apparently originally Drones like me had… bladed wings that could double as weapons? And well… I never deployed them cause the PRT might get jumpy.” She admitted.

“Your hands turn into laser guns. And swords,” He reasonably pointed out, “There is no possible way wings would make them more nervous.”

“Well, it depends on whether they’re organic like Cyn suggests.” The last thing she wanted was any Biotinker allegations.

[They Should Be]

[I’m The One That Made Them]

[Unless I’m Lying To You]

[Devious Giggle]

“Goddamnit Cyn…”

“Why don’t you bring them out somewhere over there?” Her dad suggested, gesturing to the other side of the room. Just in case.

Taylor nodded as she got up and moved to the other side of the room. “So, just warning you they might look weird,” She said, getting a ‘go on’ gesture from her dad.

It took her a moment to figure it out, but eventually she worked it out. With a metaphorical flip of the switch, she felt her wings pushing through her back. Which was a very odd sensation.

Then she saw the feathers, which looked stained with blood, and her hands met her face.

[The Red Parts Turn Into Swords]

[And It Is Really Pretty]

“And now I have to deal with Simurgh comparisons… great…” Taylor thought with a groan, “I swear if the Fallen start considering me a Prophet or something I’m blaming you.”

“... Well, at least there are only two of them and you aren’t a Master?” Her dad started, “It could be worse?”

“Only with machinery.” And she wasn’t going to test that any further, “And I guess you're right.”

[You Are A Prophet]

[Of The Solver of the Absolute Fabric]

[Do Not Worry]

[I’m Sure The Simurgh Tastes Good]

[Like Chicken]

Taylor could not help but laugh as she went back to sitting down after adjusting her wings… which cut off the backrest of the chair when she couldn’t get comfortable with her wings out. They were, at the moment, responding to her subconscious desires rather than conscious ones because… she’d probably go crazy managing everything, even with her supercomputer of a brain.

Sure, she could’ve just retracted them, but she wanted to get used to them. That and she always wanted to fly like Alexandria or Glory Girl, so… 

“So, I have a question,” Dad asked, “Why are your legs like that?” He added.

Taylor looked down, “I actually was actively trying not to think about it,” She admitted, “Seriously Cyn, why are female Disassembly Drone legs more like peg legs?”

[Easier To Explain In Person]

And before Taylor could stop her, Cyn took over her hologram projectors and appeared on the ceiling, smiling down at them. “It Is So They Can Pivot Easily. And It Is Cute.” So saying, she demonstrated by walking around, on the ceiling still, showing how quickly she could spin and move. “But If You Want To Change It. You. Can.”

“... You turned my girl into a robot…” Dad said, and Taylor could already see the signs of his temper flaring.

“I Saved Her Life. By Turning Her Into A. Bio-Drone,” She corrected, “She Is Like I Used To Be. Just Better Designed.”

“Dad, dad, it’s okay,” Taylor said, “Cyn just saved me, okay? This is just the only way she could.”

“Not The Only Way. The Best Way.” Cyn ‘helpfully’ corrected. “She Doesn’t Age Anymore. And Is Immortal. Close Enough Anyway. Nice Smile.” Calling her smile nice was a bit of a stretch.

Dad just put his head in his hands, and Taylor didn’t have to even reference her knowledge of psychology to know that her dad wasn’t handling that revelation well.

“I Can Do It For You Too,” Cyn continued, getting a groan from Taylor now. “If You Wanted. Helpful Action!”

… That didn’t help either…

“Cyn, just let him process,” Taylor said, giving the mischievous, possibly eldritch machine goddess thing a glare.

“Ok. Talk Later! Bye Danny!” And then she vanished.

“... At least she’s polite?” Taylor said, cringing a bit even as she said it, “She was trying to be helpful too?”

That got a choked laugh from her Dad, and she decided to take that as a win.

<<<Dragon>>>

Ever since the probably compromised system was pointed out by Cyn, Armsmaster had reached out to Dragon for additional support. Which she would’ve given even if the circumstances weren’t so serious. If anything, she was fascinated by Ms. Hebert's new body.

Though that interesting dialogue she had with Cyn when she redirected that important message only intensified her curiosity. She was also curious about why it seemed like she was talking to more than just Ms. Hebert and herself.

“No Spoilers,” She said when Dragon asked her.

Did this odd, possible Case 53 know something she didn’t? Did her cyberpathy make her aware of something she didn’t know?

She ‘shook’ the thought out of her head. More of an immediate concern was the revelations coming from Cyn when it came to Taylor’s, and her’s by extension, powers. Turning more humans into ‘Bio-Drones’ was interesting, but rather concerning if her cyberpathy and tech-Master powers extended to them. Cyn would probably be honest if asked, but there was a chance she’d lie if she found it amusing enough.

Dragon was rather certain that the being only did anything because she found it amusing.

Though she could admit it was rather refreshing to actually be able to interact with another Synthetic Life Form. Maybe after Taylor joined the Wards, which had an 85% probability of happening, she should interact more with Cyn outside of a professional capacity.

The only other Machine Intelligence currently in existence is the Machine Army, but they weren’t technically a proper intelligence.

Closing all of the security holes, barring the ones she changed into honey pots, of course, was a job she was almost done with. That there were so many of them was concerning, but she’d seen much worse in the past, too.

“Why would anyone store plaintext passwords on a public-facing server?” That was a shock to find when she’d become a mod on PHO. At least they’d let her fix it before a breach happened.

But back to focusing on her current job, she couldn’t help but wonder about something Cyn had said.

“Smelt like snakes…” That’s what Cyn said, but was she simply being ‘silly’ as she put it, or was she implying Coil (currently the only Villain in the Bay with a snake-motif) had deeply infiltrated the PRT ENE?

Both were unfortunately possible, but that was why she left a few of the holes around. She and Armsmaster would be able to monitor them and catch the people trying to exfiltrate data.

Sighing faintly, or the electronic equivalent anyway, Dragon gave one final look at the PRT’s systems. The most critical holes were sealed, and key honey pots were set, some of them in important systems, because it’d be foolish to seal all but the harmless ones, as it would tip off the people that someone was onto them.

All that was left was to collaborate with Armsmaster and implement the monitoring program for the traps. Sometimes, it was a blessing to not need sleep.

“I wonder if Taylor is a Tinker outside of changing people to robots?” She asked herself, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to send her a message about it on PHO while she waited for Armsmaster to get to his computer.

The answer was almost immediate, proving that her mind was at minimum as fast as hers was.

“Wow, I didn’t expect to get a message from the Dragon,” it started, which made her feel rather warm inside, “Cyn says I can build anything JCJensen in SPAAAAAAAAACE could and, uh, a lot of stuff outside of that. I have, wow, I actually have a lot of schematics.”

Dragon giggled, “I could feel the sarcasm,” She replied, “Perhaps if you join the Wards or become an Affiliate, we could collaborate. I would like to pick at your brains.”

“I am not kidding when I say that even Cyn, who literally does not ever use sarcasm, said it with sarcasm and irony. And yes, it disturbed me… but if you’re offering that… well, it makes becoming a Ward sound really enticing.”

Oh yes, Dragon had a feeling that Taylor and Cyn were going to be a breath of fresh air for the PRT ENE branch. “Well, don’t feel like I’m trying to honeytrap you,” She giggled. “Besides, I doubt you’d want to join the Guild and relocate to Canada.”

“Do you need to be a Canadian citizen for it? If not, I’m pretty sure I could just fly over. Cyn says I’ll be able to teleport at some point, but I’m not sure I believe her.”

“Technically. But I’m sure you could get dual-citizenship,” Dragon replied, “And as much as I think the Guild could do a lot of good with your help. I don’t want to poach you from Armsmaster. He’d get all huffy.”

“Oh? You’re fond of him, then?~” O,h she was not going to rise to that provocation! “More seriously, I think I’ll stay here over in Brockton. It’s my home, and I think I can do a lot of good here. And Dad’s here.”

“Some would think you’re crazy, but I can understand slightly,” Dragon admitted, except for the father part.

Hers had died when Newfoundland sank.

“I am crazy,” That Taylor just said it like that was probably not a good sign, but she’d seen bigger red flags, “but I’m not Crazy. I’m not Cyn, after all. I’m just stubborn. Really, really, painfully, teenager-level stubborn.”

Dragon just laughed at that… and sent a giggle gif, because she could.

“Well, if you want to start up a private line with me,” She added afterwards, “I’d suggest a cell phone. Or using the towers to jump to my number. I get dreadfully bored sometimes with no one to talk to… or people to talk to. Taking subjective minutes waiting for replies is annoying, but it’s better than missing something on my sensors if I listen ‘real time’. It would be nice to have someone to talk to in those moments.”

That she was sending the messages in between talking to and listening to Armsmaster was evidence of that.

“Well, I don’t mind, and I don’t really need sleep technically? Oh, I don’t need as much sleep… apparently my ‘software’ still needs some downtime.”

“I sometimes need to reboot, too,” Dragon admitted, “Helps clear junk data from RAM.” She needed more of that at some point, too, something to work on in the near future. “But I’ll let you go now and focus more fully on your dad. Or corralling Cyn, it kinda seems like that’s needed.”

“Well, take care, and feel free to call to chat whenever,” Taylor said, “And I’d probably need Scion’s help to corral Cyn.”

Dragon had a feeling that wasn’t a joke.

Still, after a few more pleasantries, she ended the conversation before giving one final check to the PRT systems, and after assuring everything was set, she withdrew and focused on her own maintenance needs.

And making sure Saint wasn’t trying anything. Again.

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