Interlude: Lung and Reina

still too sick to finish the main part, but this was mostly done, so here it is. It's free to all, as an apology for my tardiness. 

***

The sirens were dim in the room, the reverberations of the explosion faded. Reina said nothing.

Lung had called her. She had demonstrated her power, but he hadn’t been interested in that. Which was surprising. They sat down to a light meal, hot, brewed tea poured by a woman more beautiful than Reina could ever be.

But that is her purpose, to be beautiful. Much like Mom had dressed up for her trips. Reina’s purpose was to be loyal and useful to Lung.

“I had traveled to Boston, to seek out a tinker,” Lung told her. “She was named Bakuda—or that is what she named herself.”

“Bomb?”

“Yes, that was her specialty—or what she believed it to be.” Lung speared some fish in his chopsticks. “She never considered the fact that powers are often… not what they seem. I believe her abilities were more based on short-term, disposable effects.” He chuckled. “She was, at several points, close to attempting to kill me. It was a stimulating conversation.”

Real danger. His mind only expands when the risk—the danger—is real. “Ah.” Reina said. “Will she be joining us?”

Lung shook his head. “I notified the Protectorate, anonymously after our meeting. She is in custody. Do you know why?”

Reina frowned. A test. But… Why would he not want such a tinker. Oni Lee with her weapons would be unstoppable… “She… would not be loyal?”

“Possibly, but there is another reason. She spoke to me of what she could do. Put bombs in the bodies of my enemies, even our less-loyal soldiers. Make all fear us. Even bombs big enough to destroy the city, or more…” He paused, took another bite of fish. “Did you ever hear the tale of the two generals and the Emperor?”

Reina shook her head. “No, Great Lung.”

“There were two generals who had been ordered to a new location by the Qin Emperor. To be late, for any reason, would lead to death. They were blocked by a flood and according to the tale one said ‘Brother, the punishment for rebellion is death. What is the punishment for being late.’ His friend said, ‘Death, brother.’ And then the first said, ‘Brother, we are late.’” Lung paused. “The rebellion did not overturn the empire, but it weakened it, and sowed the seeds of its destruction. Fear is useful. But too much fear, leads to your enemies having nothing to lose and so they will fight you, out of desperation is nothing else.”

“She did not understand this.”

“No. She would glory in the idea of all around her in terror of her, respecting her.” Lung shook his head. “And in a day, a week, a month, she would bring destruction down upon us. The Empire has the same limits. Everyone knows there are places you do not go if you are not white, things you do not say. But have they ever sent Night and Fog to purge an apartment building?”

Reina shook her head, and nodded. “Because that would turn fear to desperation and rage.”

“Yes. That is when I made the decision to secure the vial. Do not attempt to inquire further into the source.”

“Of course, Lung, I would not defy you.”

“It is not a command but a warning.” Lung looked at her and smiled, the expression strange on his face. “Do you know what my power does when I think of the source of those vials?”

“What?”

“Absolutely nothing. Almost as if it knows that they have tools I cannot possibly match. So I—and you—will heed the warning of my power.”

“Yes.”

“But I do know much of the vials, and I will now tell you why I secured one and chose you. You think. You do not speak without forethought. You are willing to sacrifice for your goals. You are loyal, but unafraid to speak your mind. You are not… marred.”

“Marred?”

“Now I shall tell you the great secret, and you shall not repeat this to anyone else, save at my command.”

“Of course.”

“Powers come from failure.”

Reina paused and frowned. How can that… Aisha. “Krewe.”

“Triggered after nearly being murdered by the Empire. Others have the same story and most of them trigger only when all else has failed—as did I.” Lung took a deep breath, and Reina thought he’d grown a few inches in height.

She said nothing as Lung continued. “It took much time to puzzle this out, many uses of my power, focusing on that one fact.” Lung shook his head. “Bakuda’s meeting, the clarity I gained provided the last piece of the puzzle. A brilliant student, talking about fear and implanting bombs in people’s heads because she was broken by her failure, however minor it might have seemed to anyone else. A “B” grade, I believe.”

Reina blinked. She triggered from a bad grade? If that was the case, Winslow should be—her giggle died. No. Because nobody cares. But if you put all your hopes, all your image into being the best and then failed, by however slight a margin…

Lung nodded. “Every parahuman faces this, even I. But you… you are not. You chose this power, rather than finding yourself given it as you were broken. You will be able to use it, without being hagridden by the memory of the past. Your power will make you strong enough to secure respect, but…” He smiled. “We will use your management skills and charisma to present a new face of the ABB. All fear me. Few respect me.”

A public face…Reina considered it. Her power wouldn’t help there. Not… well it would. But not entirely. “Will I be an open Cape, Great Lung?”

“No. For now, you will maintain your identity. I have several suggestions for your image, and I have also secured the services of some professionals. I went to the trouble to purchase a power, your public facing identity is no time to skimp.” He looked down. “Ah, our food is growing tepid. Let us eat. Madame Chao’s bounty is not to be wasted so cavalierly!”

And they ate, but Reina barely tasted the food, her mind whirling with what she had learned.