Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 4: Worlds Apart

Pam walked through the dusty path towards the tower in the distance. The sky above her shifted between hues of red, purple, and black with brief flashes of white obscured by dark clouds. The ground quaked and shifted the closer she got to the tower in the distance. It had been too long since she'd been here, and the landscape was different than she remembered. Whether it was because of her absence, or because of her experience in cyberspace, she couldn't be sure. Regardless, she had felt something was amiss before Jake's death. Afterwards, she'd had a splitting headache that she'd been trying to hide. While she'd kept it together, she was glad to have the opportunity to commune with herself.

"Finally decided to return, eh?" a harsh and irritated voice came from off to the side of her, "We were beginning to think that you only saw us as tools to be used."

Pam looked over to see herself wearing a crimson dress that came down just above her knees. "Rage," Pam said, continuing her walk, "Have you been feeling lonely, or are you simply bored?"

Rage snarled before her body erupted into a trail of flames that raced over and cut Pam off. Her eyes burned a deep shade of red as she glared at Pam, "You have neglected us, Pamela! You use us to solve your problems, clean up your messes, and escape your struggles! Your negligence is what nearly cost us Beth!"

"Do not presume to lecture me on my mistakes!" Pam snapped, unafraid of the temperamental facet of herself, "You think I'm unaware of what happened? You think I didn't blame myself? What would you have had me do?"

"Take control like our mentor taught us," Rage growled, "We do what we must to keep her safe, to keep them safe. Would you have her wind up like Jake?"

Pam glared at Rage for a moment before looking away, "We are not her, and we never will be. It is our differences that drew Beth to us. As for Jake…do not use him against me. Where are the others?"

Rage stared at Pam before stepping aside and pointing at the tower, "They wait in the prison you constructed for them. We felt you coming, saw it, and so they wait to hear what you have to say."

"Yet you stand here wasting my time," Pam shook her head and shoved past her doppelganger, "Say your piece, but walk and talk as you do it. Time is a luxury that we do not have right now."

Pam quickened her pace to the tower in the distance. Rage trailed behind her and continued, "We should have killed that woman when we had the chance, when she held that office. She would have been an easy target then."

"She had Samantha," Pam reminded Rage, "Striking against her, even if it had been successful, could have cost her her life, Zoey's friendship, and-"

"The weakling that harbored feelings for our pet," Rage cut her off, "What a loss that would have been."

"Must you be so insistent and belligerent?" Pam scoffed, "Zoey is our friend, and she's taken great care of the others when we've been away. Beth, Jake, Samantha, she has been a better friend than we deserve. To my original point, we don't know the extent of this woman's abilities. We knew even less then. What we've done, we've done out of necessity and caution."

"Hmph, the excuses of the weak," Rage spat, "We are stronger than anyone alive, Pamela, and you know this. We pushed our Goddess-"

"Do not refer to her as that," Pam snapped, memories of her past slipping to the forefront of her mind.

"Deny it outwardly all you want, but we both know you still revere her," Rage smirked.

"Rebecca meant the world to me, but the Goddess threatened to take Beth from us," Pam growled, "Have you forgotten that?"

"Must you two argue?" a much calmer voice asked in the distance, "Some of us prefer to have actual conversation rather than debate."

Rage glared at the duplicate in the distance wearing a yellow dress with golden eyes, "Wisdom, I'm surprised you came down from your damned library. Isn't patience supposed to be a virtue of yours?"

"Hmm, indeed it is, but the others don't share my virtues," Wisdom replied, gliding over to the two of them, "You waste time dredging up old memories better left forgotten when we have much to discuss. Have you forgotten the nature of this meeting in your fury, Rage?"

"Of course not," Rage huffed, "I just didn't want to listen to the others blather on."

"What are you talking about?" Pam asked, pausing for a moment.

"It's better to discuss it with the others, Pamela," Wisdom replied, "Unlike our hot-headed counterpart, I prefer not to speak for them. I will say that we've been troubled as of late by the events that have taken place."

"Tch, you talk as though you've called a meeting," Pam scoffed, "I am here to ensure we are on the same page, Wisdom. We need to be for what comes next."

"Do not underestimate us, Pamela," Wisdom said, taking the lead to the tower, "While we are all a part of a whole, we are not solely dependent on you. However, we are not unreasonable. Well, not all of us anyway."

"I resent that," Rage growled.

Pam shook her head and followed Wisdom down the path. What was she talking about? It was ridiculous to even consider that her emotions weren't dependent on her. They were her emotions. The rest of the walk was blanketed in silence as they approached the tower. It was reminiscent of the same tower Jake had climbed so long ago to face her former mentor. Black stone, cold floors, and torches and sconces lining the walls. Pam never denied her reverence for her former mentor and fallen friend, but she refused to use her old moniker. Nothing Rage said would change her mind on that either. Wisdom led them into a second room on the bottom floor where all of her facets sat at a round table as though awaiting her arrival.

All eyes turned to them as Pam stepped in and took her seat at the head of the table. Wisdom sat beside her, while Rage chose to stand defiantly. "Our host has arrived," Wisdom opened the floor, "I believe most of you have something to discuss, yes,?"

Pam frowned and looked at Wisdom. Was this supposed to be some sort of debate? A version of herself wearing a green dress with green eyes, Courage, spoke up, "I'll go first. What's been happening beyond these walls is a travesty, and I'm beginning to question your ability to lead, Pamela."

"Excuse me?" Pam balked, "Who are you to make such an outlandish claim?"

"The aspect that gives you the will to stand and fight," Courage replied, crossing her arms, "The very one that has stood beside you on the battlefields time and again, much like Rage."

"We're just worried, that's all," Sorrow, the gray dressed version of her, said, "We've worked so hard, done so much together, and we're scared."

"Speak for yourself, not us, Sorrow," Courage quipped, "You may be afraid, but I fear nothing and no one."

"I think she means concerned, dear," Passion, the purple clothed aspect clarified, "There's no reason to fight amongst ourselves. Our focus needs to be on the dilemma at hand: our would-be pilot and host."

"That's the second time one of you has referred to me as a host," Pam said, narrowing her eyes, "Now you're referring to me as a pilot. Would one of you care to explain to me just what you're planning?"

"There is no plot, Pamela, but there are things that I believe you need to be reminded of," Wisdom replied, "We are more than just projections of you, we are you. You exist as a culmination of us, but we are capable of more than mere assistance. While you are the external force that brought us into existence, your body is also ours."

Pam's eyes widened as she realized what Wisdom was referencing. It had been years since she'd studied empathic magic, but there were stories of individuals who lost themselves to their emotions. She'd thought them mere expressions, but Wisdom was proposing something literal, almost sinister. "You cannot be serious," Pam frowned, "One of you would take control of me?"

"Why not?" Joy, the blue version of herself asked, "It could be a ton of fun! Gives us a chance to take the reins, and it gives you a chance to take a little staycation. Everybody needs a break, right?"

"We could ensure that the careless mistakes of the past aren't repeated," Rage growled from behind her, "Beth would be safe, and we would extinguish all threats to both her and others. Whereas you continue to play the part of some mindless follower pretending to be something she's not: a hero."

Pam felt her blood begin to boil. She'd come here hoping to ensure that all of her was on the same page, but her emotions were proposing a riot and revolution. She slammed her fist down on the stone table and a shockwave of energy rippled out and nearly blew the flames out. "That's enough!" Pam exclaimed, "Do you all think I'm so careless, callous, and cold that what's happened doesn't bother me?! Jake's death, Beth's abduction, threats moving unseen while we've been distracted by others, it infuriates me!"

"Breathe, Pamela," Wisdom instructed, "This is not meant to be a fight, but rather a discussion."

"Let her fight," Courage scoffed, "We can battle for supremacy."

"Do not think so little of me," Pam warned, "I will not be imprisoned in my own mind by the likes of any of you. What happened happened, and there is nothing we can do to change it. I will not suppress the woman we love, I will not return to the teachings of a false prophet, and I will continue to carve out a legacy for my life!"

"Goth dealt with threats, what do we do?" Rage asked.

"We find our own way, as we have since we left her," Pam answered, turning and glaring at Rage, "She is no Goddess, she never was. She is a cautionary tale of what happens when magic is left unchecked, deals are made with forces beyond our control, and what can happen when passion goes too far. I would rip the cosmos asunder if it meant keeping Beth safe. You all should know that about me."

"Yet the girl who took her lives," Courage pointed out, "Worse, you're willing to allow her access to Beth."

"It is her choice, not ours," Pam growled, her frustrations bubbling over, "If any one of you had sense, you would know what happens when you try to control her. We are drawn to her because she is a wildfire, because she stands firm in the face of fear, because she is wise beyond her years, because she brings us joy, and because her passion knows no bounds. Her sorrows are resolute, but she knows when she needs help. We belong to her as much as she belongs to us, and I will crush anyone who tries to take what is mine."

Silence fell over the chamber as Pam paused. She'd struck a chord in each of them with the truth. Even Rage looked down in response to Pam's outburst. "If any of you think you can do better, try me," Pam continued, glaring at each of her emotions, "I came here because the threat we face is bigger than anything we have faced to date. We've already lost one friend to them, and I will not lose my beloved. To ensure that, I wanted to confirm that we would be in agreement, rejuvenate our reserves, and prepare for the storm on the horizon. Instead, I arrive here to a coup to overthrow me in the midst of a battle that could shake the very foundation of the material plane. Argue and squabble amongst yourselves, but do not presume me as inept as mages long since passed."

"That arrogance is what cost Rebecca her sanity, her life, and her love," Wisdom pointed out, "Overestimating yourself will lead to your downfall, Pamela. Whether it be against us, or in battle, the costs are higher than you are prepared to pay."

"I would rather die than let someone harm those that are precious to me," Pam countered, "If you all are more concerned with self-preservation, then try to take control from me."

"We want the same thing," Courage sighed, "Finally, the spark of bravery catches fire. We stand with you as long as you can keep from falling into these same holes, Pamela. Our concern is Beth, not our well-being. Jake's death was an example of how quick one can fall when we are left unprepared."

"He was like our brother," Sorrow added, "We should have done more, but we were weak."

"Then let us do more now," Pam declared, "United, as one, we nearly broke the false Goddess. We forced her to run and retreat, and we can do it again. However, this petty squabbling over my mistakes, which I don't need reminding of, will only cause us to fail. Ask yourselves this, is that what you want? A war amongst ourselves while those we hold dear suffer? What good is your control if we have already lost what's precious to us?"

"She's right," Wisdom said after a moment of tense silence, "We can only succeed if we work as a united front. Do any of you object?"

"Hmm, as long as we are taking the fight to our opposition, I'm on board," Courage shrugged.

"No more losses, no more pain," Sorrow shook her head.

"We keep what's ours and we make sure those who would harm her pay," Passion nodded.

Rage growled her frustration and agreement, "They die, Pamela, no questions this time. Jake was a friend, like family, and they stole him from us. Eva, Emily, and any others who stand in our way will pay the price."

"We will do what needs to be done," Pam assured them, "We honor Jake's legacy, but we make sure that the ones responsible pay."

"And Tellar?" Rage asked, "What of the girl who dealt the final blow?"

"We will handle her together," Pam replied, "Jake was ready to put her down, and the parasite is all that's left of her. Would be grand, but you know there are much more pressing threats to deal with."

"Then we are in agreement," Wisdom concluded, "We stand as one on this. Time is of the essence now. Come, Pamela, I'll walk with you back to the gate."

Pam nodded and gave a parting glance to the others before standing and following Wisdom. She waited until they were clear of the tower before asking, "What was this about, Wisdom?"

Wisdom shook her head as she replied, "You need to understand that this wasn't intended to be a fight. However, the others are concerned that you are losing your grip on leading. No matter how hard I try, I cannot convince them that their pain and yours are one in the same. Rage, in particular, has grown more frustrated than usual."

"And what of you?" Pam asked, "Do you think I'm unfit to lead?"

"I think that you need to be careful when playing with forces that are stronger than you realize," Wisdom answered, "The powers that you have, the ones that utilize us, come at a cost. We were created out of a desperate need, but we have grown into much more than just extensions of you. There is a danger beneath the surface that you need to consider."

"What would you have me do then?" Pam asked.

"Commune more often to start," Wisdom said, "Let the others out for something more than a fight. Address the concerns that come from each of us, and give us the assurance that you are in your position for a reason. Otherwise, I cannot promise what will happen."

"Fine," Pam sighed, "I suppose I can do that. Talking and arguing with myself isn't exactly at the top of my list, but you're right. This type of magic comes with inherent risks that I've neglected for long enough. Once we finish this, I'll make the arrangements."

"It is my hope that you do," Wisdom said as they approached the gateway back to reality, "We will stand with you on this, Pamela. We are ready for what comes next. I only hope that you're prepared to keep your word."

"I'm many things, but a liar is not one of them," Pam replied as she stepped through the gate, "I'll see you soon, Wisdom."

The energy crackled and hummed as a purple flash filled the stone archway. Pam closed her eyes as she let the surrounding area fade away and returned to reality. When she opened them, she was back in the Birdcage. She sat, hovering in the air, with her legs crossed and let out a sigh. That hadn't been what she expected, but at least she knew her emotions were with her for now. The headache she'd been nursing was gone, and she felt recharged and ready for the battle to come. It would have been nice to have been able to sleep, but she knew that was little more than a pipedream at this point. She was far too shaken by everything that had happened to sleep.

"I was just coming to get you," Sally said from behind her, "Glad you came out of your weird trance because I wasn't sure what to do to break it."

"I'd have sensed you," Pam said as her feet touched the ground, "I take it we're ready?"

"Just about," Sally replied, ignoring the part of her that wanted to question Pam sensing her, "We've got a bit of a divide on our hands, but Jason and Kait agree that we can't afford to waste any more time."

"Terrific, another schism," Pam sighed.

"Another what?" Sally asked as Pam started walking.

"A split," Pam clarified, "Don't worry about it. Let's see what we have on our hands."

Pam and Sally approached the command console where Jason and the others were arguing. "It's too risky," Jason said, arms crossed, "We need to stick to the original plan."

"It'll be fine," Sam argued, "Bruce said he's going to stay here, and I can help fortify the place. Besides, as much as I don't want to, someone has to help get Jake's affairs in order. I'm…I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm next of kin."

"You think legal shit matters when we have a tyrant threatening your entire home?" Jason asked, "Someone back me up on this."

"What's going on?" Pam asked, stopping beside Beth who stood with a frustrated frown.

"Sam wants to stay behind while the rest of us head out for some recon," Beth explained, "Jay is right, though. Those freaks are going to be banging down the door before long, and it's better for us to be gone when they do."

"Bruce doesn't need to be here by himself!" Sam defended her opinion, "Yeah, he's kind of a badass, but he deserves to have someone watching his back too, doesn't he?"

"This has been going on for twenty damn minutes," Beth sighed, putting her hands behind her head, "Jay, she's not going to let this go."

"I'll stay with her," Zoey said, "I'm not leaving her alone again, and I know when her mind is set on something that there's no talking her out of it."

"Dividing our forces is going to get us into more trouble," Jason pinched the bridge of his nose, "We already lost one because there weren't enough of us to cover the other."

"Then I'll stay with 'em," Sally spoke up, "I can cover them, and fortifying this place ain't a bad idea. You were talking about a shell game, and that means we'll probably be falling back here at some point. It'll be better if we have it secured."

"Is nobody listening to me on this?" Jason asked.

"No, I hear you," Sam replied, her voice calm and even, "Sal, you need to be with them. Jason isn't wrong, but this is something I need to do. Please, just let me do this. I'll catch up with you all, I promise."

Jason sighed and shook his head, "Alright, fine, but don't take too long. I won't lose anyone else, not if we can help it. One Blackridge gone is enough, Sam, this city needs that name alive and well when this is all over."

"I can't take Jake's place, Jay," Sam shook her head, "I'm street trash, nothing more and nothing less."

"Don't sell yourself short, sweetheart," Zoey said, putting a hand on Sam's shoulder encouragingly, "I keep telling you that you're so much more than that."

"Words are just that, Zo," Sam frowned, "You can say whatever you want, and I appreciate it, but it doesn't change the truth."

"Your brother didn't think he was fit to take over the legacy of his family either, Ms. Samantha," Bruce spoke from behind them, "He too had his reservations, concerns, and doubts when the time came. I assure you that you are far more than the sum of your past."

"Bruce, I-" Sam began.

"You have nothing to explain, defend, or promise, madam," Bruce cut her off, "These are things that can be discussed later. I only meant that Ms. Zoey is right. You have more to offer than you believe. Your willingness to put aside your past differences with Master Jake, as well as your decision to aid me today speak volumes of both growth and character."

"You're a far cry from the airhead that I met years ago, Sammie," Sally added, "You're still thick headed half the time, and impulsive, but you've grown more, kid. Whether it's from your girlfriend, or your brother, I can't say. All I know is you're capable of more than you give yourself credit for. Brass balls on one of the baddest bitches I've ever known."

"Well that was touching right up until that," Kait rolled her eyes, "Sam, you're sure you'll be alright? I'm not one for sentiment, but Jason is right about us needing all hands for this one."

"Yeah, I'll be fine, Kait," Sam assured her.

"I've got her," Zoey said, "I'm not leaving her alone, and I can handle myself."

"Alright, that's good enough for me," Kait nodded, "Let's focus on the plan then."

"Right," Jason sighed, "Striking back without intel is a surefire way to get us killed. We need information, and luckily these freaks have been working behind the scenes for months. Their base might be a mystery, but we know one of theirs that frequents the Ritz downtown. Phillip Moralis, a mover that runs a number of businesses that have been seen linked to a few seemingly unrelated crimes. What was it you said, Zoey?"

"Several eye-witness accounts of delivery trucks, vans, and people in uniforms showing up either during, or shortly after, different chains of events," Zoey replied, "We brushed them off as just happenstance, but given what the link to the shell companies Jake was looking into here, I think there might be something to it. Moralis may be affiliated with the Children of Darkness, but I doubt he's as fanatical as them. This is a man that's motivated by money, success, and above all else, self-preservation and survival."

"So we have a chat with him," Beth finished, "Even if he's on Eva's books, men like him are easy enough to break. We get in, take care of his security, rough him up, and make him tell us what we need to know. We ensure his cooperation by guaranteeing his safety, but he talks first and outlines everything he knows."

"This involves you working him over like you did that member of Goth's guard, right?" Kait asked.

"It might not be pretty, but it gets results," Beth shrugged, "The biggest hurdle is going to be getting to his room without alerting the opposition. Luckily, Jake had an investment in the hotel. So we should be able to track what floor he's on, which room number he's in, and we should be able to access security footage and feeds. Loop them to keep Eva and the others from noticing anything out of the ordinary, and we can handle the rest with relative ease."

"Once we do this, it's going to put Eva and the others on high alert," Jason said, "They'll be looking for him, and by extension, us. We'll need to keep moving once we have him if we're going to uphold our end of the bargain."

"We could always just kill him and send a message after he gives us what we need," Kait offered, "If he's going to bring extra heat, then maybe we shouldn't risk carrying him around."

"We need him alive," Beth countered, "We keep him that way, and he'll start to trust us eventually. It never hurts to have an extra ace up your sleeve when dealing with shady fucks like this."

"What if he tries to sell us out and contact his current employers?" Kait asked.

"Then we make his death slow and painful," Beth shrugged, "It's his choice, but he'll get the message once I'm through with him. I can inflict a lot of pain without killing him, and I'll make sure he knows it's just a taste of what will happen if he screws us."

"Fine, but I want it on record that I don't like this," Kait sighed, "It feels like we're carrying a liability rather than asset."

"Maybe so, but it's a risk we have to take," Jason sighed, "We can't afford to leave anything to chance. He'll talk once Beth is finished with him, but he probably won't tell us everything he knows then. The city has gone strangely quiet since everything went down too, but that doesn't mean we're even remotely close to being in the clear. Odds are they've pulled back to lull us, and the city, into a false sense of security. My guess is the debacle with Tellar and Jake was a set back they weren't prepared for. Make no mistake about it, they're out there and waiting for their moment. We don't know what they're planning, but whatever it is won't be good for anyone. When they strike, it's going to be hard and fast."

"Gives us the opportunity to make it to a safe house uninterrupted, though," Sally pointed out, looking over at Pam, "Part of the reason they were arguing is because we were already splitting up. You, Jason, and Beth are going to head out and grab this Phillip fucker, and the rest of us are going to head to the first stop. We'll be checking for anything out of the ordinary on the way there, and we'll radio if anything major happens. Unless some big shit goes down, we maintain radio silence. It's a sure as shit safe bet that these bitches will be listening for anything from us."

"So instead of diving two ways, it's not three," Pam nodded, understanding Jason's apprehension, "And since we don't know the time frame of their next move-"

"It means shit could hit the fan before we're ready," Jason finished for her, "This is their game, not ours, but we can still play it by our rules if we're smart. However, one wrong move could bring everything down."

"I'm staying here," Sam said adamantly.

"I'm not arguing with you anymore, kid," Jason shook his head, "I just want to make sure everyone is aware of the risks involved here. You and Zoey stay behind, but you get to the first rendezvous the second you're done here, got it?"

"We will," Zoey said, "Are you sure you don't want to send Addy with Beth and Pam?"

"No, her skills are better suited to ensuring the safe house is secured," Jason answered, "She and Kait have trained together the same as Beth and Pam. They're strong enough alone, but it's better to have them together in case things take a turn. I can keep any meddling neighbors out of the way while Beth works, and Pam can get us out quickly once we're done."

"Let's get this show on the road," Beth said, checking her equipment and grabbing her helmet.

"Be careful, be swift, and be ruthless," Addy said, speaking up for the first time since Pam had returned.

"They'll be fine, Addy," Kait said, picking up on her concern, "They've taken on more daunting tasks than this in the past. They can handle this small job. We need to remain focused on our part so they'll have a safe place to bring this dickbag to."

"We've got this," Beth agreed, flashing a confident smile before donning her helmet, "Don't worry about us. We'll see you soon."

"Alright, that's enough talk," Jason stood up, "It's time for action. Beth, you're ready for this?"

"Ready to blow off some steam?" Beth asked, her modulator activating, "Fuck yeah. Moralis might get to live, but I'll make an example of his security team."

"Ideally, we do this without firing any shots," Jason pointed out, "No magic until we leave either. Emily and Eva may not use the arcane arts like Goth, but they've spent years studying it. Their tech is built upon it, and they'll have ways of tracking any disturbances in, what do you call it again?"

"The weave," Pam replied, "Very well, I can make do with minimal spellcasting."

"Good, that's what I like to hear," Jason nodded, "The rooftops across from the Ritz, we can start there and scope the floor out."

"You have all your gear, Kitten?" Pam asked as she prepared the spell.

"Clips, grenades, guns, and freshly sharpened knives," Beth listed her equipment off, "I've also got my grappling gun, and I've got a spare for you too."

"Ms. Samantha, Ms. Zoey, if you would follow me whilst the others attend to their respective duties," Bruce cleared his throat, "Mr. Graves is right about time being our enemy. The sooner we finish here, the sooner you two can join the fight to stop the threats surrounding our fair city."

"Right, okay," Sam took a deep breath and nodded.

"I'm right here," Zoey gently reminded her.

Sam shot Zoey a grateful smile as they followed Bruce towards the main floor of the manor. The stage was set for their first move, and all of them were itching to strike back in the wake of what had happened. Their enemies were larger than life, more powerful than anything they'd faced to date, but if their plan worked they'd pull off a miracle. The first step was gaining intel from a weak link, and Beth had never been more ready for a fight. The odds were against them, but a storm was brewing on the horizon that would shake Metropolis to its core.