Chereads / Rebirth of Artemis / Chapter 41 - Tainted Love

Chapter 41 - Tainted Love

Terra watched Amelia wake up from her fight. Terra didn't know if she was doing the right thing by keeping Amelia around. But her gut told her she couldn't leave her. Integer could do something terrible with her. And if she let her loose she'd probably kill people. Plus, if she was put in prison Integer would probably just get her out. So here she was. Staring the woman who killed her in a different time in the face.

Amala: Something tells me this is going to end badly.

Terra was startled by Amala's intrusion into her thoughts.

Terra: Y-yeah. Er...no. I have the firepower to protect anyone she attacks.

Amala: Unless she aims for your arms. Don't forget that she could…

Amala straightened her hand and hit Terra in the stomach.

Amala: Kill you just like that. Lucky for you, your speed boost is great in destruction.

Leon: Hey Terra, where are we off to anyway?

Terra: Your asking me?

Leon: I mean, I don't think it's a stretch to call us team Artemis.

Terra: Team Artemis?

Leon: Catchy right? Much better than blue coats. Plus, we all don't wear blue.

Terra: In that case, we should track down Integer.

Amala: What about Mike? He should probably be dropped off somewhere. Considering he isn't that useful anymore.

Mike: Don't worry. I have somewhere I need to go.

Terra: Where?

Mike: The speed force.

Amala: How are you expecting to make it into the speed force? You got no speed.

Mike: Don't worry. I have a way. I can just exit here.

Terra: Wait, if you get your speed back, wouldn't you be at risk of Amelia taking it again?

Mike: Yeah, sadly for me, I'll have to limit myself on speed. But I'll make sure to be faster than Amelia.

Mike jumped out of the RV and walked away.

Amala: I wonder what he's up to...Hey Leon, you wanna take the wheel?

Leon: Me?

Amala: Yeah, who else would I be talking to?

Leon: I mean, I don't see why not…Are you sure?

Amala: Goddamnit yes! I'll sit shotgun.

Terra smiled and sat down. She didn't even feel like talking to anyone. She had to relax before the fight of her life happened.

Millie: Just promise me you won't do anything to anyone here. We're giving you a second chance.

Amelia: A second chance? I don't deserve a second chance.

Millie: You're so indecisive!

Amelia: My mind is still scattered. I just want to go back.

Millie: Well let's try and make something good out of this world. Why don't we try something normal?

Amelia: Normal like what?

Millie: We could go out somewhere.

Amelia: Out somewhere? Like a date?

Millie: ...uh. Yeah.

Terra: You guys are going out somewhere? Amelia, can you run wherever your going? Without doing anything illegal?

Millie: Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her.

Amelia: Where to?

Millie: I don't know. Let's just go for a run around here and see where.

Amelia grabbed Millie and ran her out of there.

Amala: You think it's going to go over well with Millie when Amelia shows her true colors?

Terra: What do you mean?

Amala: Amelia isn't going to last long. She's broken. I don't think you get the gravity of the situation.

Leon: Hey Terra. I have a question for you.

Amala: Don't change the subject!

Terra: Yeah?

Leon: Why do you even want to defeat Integer so bad?

Terra: It feels like a duty. For my people and the metas she hurt. For people just like Donny she caused the deaths of. I'm the only one who can defeat her.

Leon: Are you though? What about people like the Sentinels?

Terra: She controls politics. The government. Why do you think slave camps are still around?

Leon: That's kind of smart of you.

Terra: It just disgusts me.

Amala: Well actually, it's not smart. You are planning on going right up to her and defeating her. If you beat her in a fight, are you going to kill her?

Terra: No. I don't know if that's right either.

Amala: In that case. You didn't think. I figured we were going to get something on her. Or, more simply. We just kill her and collapse everything she built. Your choice. That was what I thought the idea was at first. No matter what. You have some thinking to do. She clearly has a real plan laid out. And we have to come up with something.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Amelia and Millie were both sitting across from each other at a restaurant called Henry Hall's. Amelia was bumping her knee up and down and twiddling her thumbs.

Millie: Something wrong?

Amelia: N-nah. It's just all these people around us.

Their server came up to them. He had a Henry Hall uniform on. Which was a combination of red and white. He had blonde short hair and a little facial hair.

Server: Nice night today, isn't it ladies? I'll be your server this fine evening. What can I get both of you for drinks?

Millie: Just a pepsi or coke.

Amelia: Whatever your hardest mixture is.

Server: Blimey! You really think you can take the tequila sunrise, eh?

Amelia: Wait…

Server: What's wrong, Luv?

Amelia started to vibrate her hand. Before she moved it Millie grabbed her wrist under the table.

Millie: That sounds just right. Thanks.

Server: I'll be right back with that.

Millie: What the hell was that?! Control yourself! There are people around us!

Amelia: Why should I care? They could care less about us! And I know that guy. He roofied me. His name is Constantine or something.

Millie: And you respond by trying to kill him?

Amelia: He wouldn't be a random server here!

Millie: Who cares. Maybe you altered his destiny by traveling back in time.

Amelia: Let's just...change the subject.

Millie: Okay, but promise me. No vibrating hands.

Amelia: Okay.

Millie realized she had been holding Amelia's hand for a longtime. She let go of her.

Millie: ...what kind of things did you get up to when you were time traveling. Like how was Donny?

Amelia: I think all the questions everyone asked me were aimed at the bad things I did. They didn't imagine how much better off life was for all of us. Donny was great. I finally got to correct my past mistakes. I loved deeper, And I spoke sweeter, And I gave forgiveness to myself. Donny was surprised. He asked me if I was sick because I was a better sister.

Millie: I'm happy for you in that regard. I can understand why you did what you did. Even if it was fucked up. I think we can bring you back to the way you used to be. If we put in the work.

Amelia: ...thanks.

The server came back with their drinks.

Server: What would you like to order?

Amelia: I'll get a hawaiian pizza.

Millie: and I'll order the BLT.

Server: Absobloodylutely. I'll put those in as soon as I can.

Millie and Amelia talked for a bit over small things. How Kris was, etc. They finished their food and walked out to wait for the RV to come and pick them up.

Millie: So...I have an interesting question.

Amelia: Yeah?

Millie: Isn't there supposed to be like...a cosmic balance? Like you saved Donny. Does that mean someone else died?

Amelia was quiet for a second.

Millie: So that's a yes?

Amelia got close and looked Millie dead in the eye.

Amelia: You died. Ivan snapped your neck in front of me.

Millie: Me? I DIED?

Amelia: Yeah. And it wasn't long until I couldn't take staying without you. So I went back. I saved everyone.

Amelia looked away.

Millie: You...saved me from death? Everything could've ended much worse.

Amelia: I know.

Millie drew Amelia close. Closer.

???: Figured you lot were a buncha dykes. I'll save you the pain.

Constantine now had his tan trench coat and a white shirt and black tie and black pants.

Constantine: But you need to know what you did. Because you really cocked up this time.

Amelia: I remember you. You already told me.

Constantine: About Empyrean?

Amelia: Yeah! That was his name!

Constantine: I wouldn't be excited about the fact you just used his name. I hear you have an RV with other friends. They all need to know the truth.

Amelia: Do they really?

Millie: Amelia. Don't.

Amelia stepped away from Millie and tried running at Constantine. She ran through him. But he was untouched. Amelia got some sort of chip on her arm. And she was frozen in a block of ice.

Millie: Hey! What did you do?!

Constantine: Don't worry. She's fine. I had to be prepared in case she attacked me.

Millie: But you weren't prepared for me.

Constantine: Ah ah ah. Before you attack. Think about what you did to yourself. As Repulse you are all about justice. But you don't know shit about it. Because you help someone who is full blown nutters. She did some bad shit. She might be the cause of the end of the world. And you just want to get in bed with her. I do know girl on girl is better though. So I won't blame ya.

Millie was straight up speechless.

Millie: You don't even know anything about her!

Constantine: If you really know more about her than I do. I won't blame you. Here, I'll help you.

Constantine went over to the frozen Amelia.

Millie: Hey!

Millie went to attack. But Constantine threw down a marble. Which she slipped on. He put his hand over Amelia's head. His hand lit up. And then his eyes lit up with energy. He let go and was heavily breathing.

Constantine: Wow. She really lost the plot here.

Constantine went over to Millie and tapped her on the forehead with his finger. She saw everything. Everything that Amelia did.

Millie: Wha..

Millie fell unconscious from the shock.

Constantine: Well that's just great.