Scene 33 - October 26th

Interior Cell Block, Continuous

Quinn Kaufman

“Director Shepard,” my father said as he shook the woman’s hand, only an inch or two taller than me but probably twice my weight in solid muscle. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“And you as well, Professor Kaufman.” She turned to me and offered a hand as well. “And Mx. Kaufman too. I’m sorry we haven’t had the chance to meet yet, but as I’m sure you understand I’m unspeakably busy.”

I shook her hand despite the distinct possibility that she might accidentally break me in two - or deliberately. Regardless of what she said, her face and voice were stern, and she certainly didn’t seem happy to meet us. My anxious mind aside, what I said was, “Nice to meet you too.”

“So,” Dad said, “why did you call us here on such short notice? And to a cell block, no less?” The green line had led us to a metallic door where a uniformed MLED officer had scanned us and patted us down before allowing us in - the PA4 that I wore beneath my clothes most days had required him to consult with the Director, who had been waiting on the other side of the door. And now we were standing at the entrance to a long row of incredibly secure cells, most of which - but not all - were empty.

The director frowned. “Nothing good, I’m afraid.” She seemed to catch the look of fear in my eyes, because she added, “not something that either of you two have done, but... well, do either of you know much about the villain known as Legion?”

“I know a decent amount - I’m sure you know that, of course.”

“I know what’s in the papers,” Dad said. “Shapeshifter who can duplicate and heal people, or something along those lines.”

“Close enough,” the director agreed. “She’s agreed to resurrect a deceased hero, in return for a concession. A private conversation with the Kaufman family. First you,” she nodded to me, “and then your father.”

We absorbed this for a moment. “...why?”

“She has refused to say. We absolutely guarantee your safety, however. Her powers are being suppressed and there will be a force field in between you and her at all times. If you agree to speak with her, you will be saving a man’s life.”

“...I thought power suppression wasn’t real,” I said.

“Not as such,” Director Shepard admitted, “but many powers are inhibited in certain environments or by certain stimuli. Someone who can control water has little power in a desert, for instance. In Legion’s case, it appears that cold temperatures slow the speed of her shapeshifting, and her cell is therefore being kept at 20 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Dad sighed. “Quinn first?”

“She specifically requested your child first,” Shepard confirmed. “Whatever information has led her to seek this conversation did not include your transition, and she specified you using your deadname,” the director warned me, and I tensed, “but after being informed of your name and pronouns she immediately corrected herself and has not slipped up as far as I am aware. I wished to warn you that she knows it, however.”

“...thank you.” I managed after a moment. It wasn’t the director’s fault that Legion apparently knew my birth name - in fact, it seemed like the director had been the one to correct the villain.

My father was looking at the floor. “Lift your chin and set your shoulders, / Plant your feet and take a brace,”[1] he murmured, then looked up at us. “I’m willing to do it if Quinn is.”

I shrugged. “Sure, why the hell not? It’s not the first time I’ve talked with her.” Inside my heart was pounding, because that conversation had been terrifying, but I recognized the lines Dad had just quoted - he always quoted them when he was trying to be brave. And if Dad was going to face down the dangerous supervillain without powers, how could I do less with them?

The director smiled thinly. “Thank you.”

[1] See It Through, Edgar Guest, 1916