The three of us met properly a night later. Despite my strict diet, I asked them to meet me at Danny’s. Screw it, I’ll just do a few extra hours at the company gym. I need a burger.

I sat in a booth in the corner of the diner. I love this place. I used to come here to study when the library at the university got too crowded. The owner, Francesca, used to have a seat reserved for me and everything. All the burgers and shakes I used to consume must have helped pay her mortgage ten times over.

When they first arrived, we talked casually for a bit. It was wonderful to finally put faces to voices.

Suzuka wasn’t what I imagined her to look like. Although her voice was cute and bubbly, her daywear was a mixture of dark colours and pastels. It reminded me of the mid 2000s scene look, like how my grandmother used to dress. Old fashioned, but cute.

Mateo, on the other hand, looked almost exactly as I pictured him to. A plain grey shirt and black jeans. A timeless classic, and similar to what I was wearing. I just had a university sweater on as well.

Suzuka was the one who steered our conversation to work.

“Last night was amazing.” She said, leaning in close. “I mean, what happened to the little girl wasn’t amazing, but the fact that we got her out of that bear was!”

“What was amazing was the fact that nobody got killed.” Mateo mumbled, “you both got way too close to the patient.”

“Well, all that matters is that Chloe got home safely.” I replied.

Mateo snorted. Suzuka and I shot each other confused glances. He must have noticed this because he continued, his hand gripped around the glass of water he was cradling.

“Yeah, we’re safe for now. Suppose she hulks out again though. What if she does it at a kindergarten, or in a mall?”

The protector’s utterances took me by surprise and the venom in his words more so. He’d sounded so kind when we first spoke.

“Don’t say that!” Suzuka replied, sounding annoyed. “It’s called a relapse, and you know it.”

“Same difference.” Mateo muttered.

I could feel the tension growing in the air. To say I felt uncomfortable was an understatement. I had to do something.

“Suzuka does have a point, relapse is the correct term. The other one is, um, it’s considered a slur to some people.”

Mateo rolled his eyes. I could feel Suzuka fuming beside me, her gaze burning into the man sitting across from me. My heart began to race.

“Besides, they’ve got that medicine now. The suppressors. They’ve just finished trialling them.”

I couldn’t help but add that. I just wanted to diffuse the hostility.

“Good.” Mateo said firmly.

Suzuka said nothing. She just stared down at her menu.

Great, the first social interaction I’ve had since graduation and it’s off to a terrible start. How was I supposed to know they’d have clashing personalities? I guess that’s why everyone always says to socialise outside of this sort of work. The Department of Psychological Defence has a history of attracting people with different ideologies. Some want to help the clients exclusively, and others want to protect the citizens of Ardour.

I can see both sides, but I’m just doing my job. I aid individuals and I help the community. It goes hand in hand.

The rest of the night went as well as I expected, which is to say it was disastrous. We ate in silence and then left one by one, saying nothing but brisk goodbyes.

As I got onto the monorail, I felt a sense of dread creeping up my body like a spider.

What was my purpose for joining the DOPD? Did I want to help the clients? Of course, I’m a psychologist. I’m trained to help people. On the other hand, I also wanted to protect the city. It’s possible to do both at the same time, right?

Last year, a client went on a rampage. He was choleric, the catalyst being that his wife had been cheating on him with a friend for ten of the twenty years they’d been married. In the form of a red winged angel with a golden horn, he took his fury out on two buildings filled with innocent bystanders.

159 people died that night, including two counsellors and a rounder. The client was eventually recovered safely. In the inquiry following the tragedy, it was found that both counsellors had insisted on talking to the client. This was despite the obvious aggression the client was displaying. It was concluded that the client should have been terminated after the first attack, a decision that’s been hotly contested to this day.

What would I have done in those counsellors’ places? If I had done what I did a night ago, I would have not only died but been responsible for the deaths of most likely many people.

I’m second guessing myself again. I would have made the right call. I trust my judgement. I want to protect both the city and the clients. After all, anyone from the city could become a client.

What was the percentage again? One out of every ten people living in Ardour, regardless of race, sex and age. It just takes one bad day.

One very bad day.

~~~~~

“My name is Lilliana. Lilliana Myers.

Thanks, thanks. I…to be honest, I haven’t been sober since I found out the news. It’s funny, I never even used to drink that much. I’d have a bit of wine during a celebration, that sort of thing.

Did you know that you can get alcohol delivered to your door? Drone deliveries, 24 hours a day. Ah, I’m sure you all…well, never mind. That’s probably in poor taste.

Anyway, my point is that ever since the accident – this – I haven’t stopped, really. I mean, what’s the point? If I sober up, I’d have to face reality, right?

Nothing matters to me anymore. Nothing. I’ve lost everything that ever mattered to me.

O-ow. Ah, sorry. I’m okay. Chest pains.

Anyway, where was I? Losing everything? Yeah, everything. My whole life was flushed down the toilet after one stupid goddamn accident that could have easily been avoided.

Ah, crap! I said I was fine! Why are you all looking at me like that? I thought this was supposed to be a judgement free place!

Well screw all of you then, I’m leaving…can someone open the door for me?”

~~~

I had just gotten back to my apartment when my phone buzzed. Duty calls.

Stepping into the launch bay several minutes later, I was surprised to see Mateo and Suzuka there. They were hurriedly getting into their aircrafts. I was thankful we didn’t need to talk right now.

Dr. Bourne said nothing as he gestured to the screen in front of me. On it, I saw the city skyline at night. Ardour was a city renowned for its innovative architecture. Every building was placed with a purpose. Even at night, I could recognise the buildings. From hospitals to police stations, schools to prisons, it all fit together like a puzzle.

It took me a moment or two to see the ballerina standing on top of the bank tower, her slender arms poised above her head. Her body glowed an unnatural blue colour, helping to illuminate the torn black tutu and leotard she wore. The spotlight that shone on her face showed an expression of pure sorrow.

“Her name is Lilliana Myers. She was leaving an AA meeting when she transformed. She’s a level two, borderline level three melancholic and waxing.”

Level three? That was bad. This more than a bad day, it was a life altering event. I hurriedly got ready for my exoskeleton as I spoke.

“If she has alcohol in her system, she’s going to be dangerous. Has anyone been hurt?”

Dr. Bourne hesitated. He wasn’t expecting me to ask that.

“Several casualties so far, no deceased. She keeps jumping onto other buildings.”

“Anyone out with her yet?”

“No, unfortunately. All other teams and back up teams have been dispatched elsewhere. We have another level three on the other side of town.”

“Got it.”

Slipping into my exoskeleton was starting to feel like second nature to me now. Sure, I’d only used it on one actual mission, but I’d had plenty of practice in the weeks leading up to it.

Before I knew it, I was in the night sky. I began to fly towards the ballerina.

“Suzuka, she’s a mover. Try to keep her steady in one place.”

“Already on it.”

Suzuka sped on ahead, her crescent shaped aircraft turning translucent as it did. Cloaking technology always helped with potentially aggressive clients. If they couldn’t see you, they wouldn’t attack you.

“I’m going to stay behind her, around twenty metres from the client.”

“Great, tell us if you change positions.”

I watched as Suzuka placed herself behind the ballerina’s back. The invisible airplane had a slight shimmer to it, like the heat reflection off a hot road. It’s only noticeable if you’re looking for it.

Mateo said nothing andfloated his machine to the sidelines. It was far enough away not to scare the client, but close enough to come to our aid if we needed it.

With great care, I approached the client. She looked disturbingly beautiful, like a perfectly painted masterpiece that depicted a bloody war. I could see the details in her face as I drew closer. Her eyes were shut tightly. Tears poured down her gaunt cheeks. Her mouth was drawn into a despondent frown.

I turned on the external speaker in my suit.

“Hi Lilliana.”

No response. Unlike Chloe, she didn’t react to my presence. It was as if she didn’t know I was there, or she didn’t care.

At a slow speed, the client began to spin on a pointed toe. As she did, she began to bounce up and down in small, jerky movements. It reminded me of a figurine in a wind-up music box.

“Should I do something?” Mateo asked through our private intercom.

“What would you even do, threaten her?” Suzuka hissed back. “If you scare her, she’ll move, and I’ll have to chase her.”

I could hear Mateo breathing deeply but he didn’t say anything. He sounded mad. Oh no, not now. I was tempted to switch my headphones off, but I needed to keep the lines of communication open.

“Just hold on.” I said to the two of them. “I want to see if she’s lucid.”

I tried to speak to the client again.

“Lilliana, are you aware of where you are right now, or what you are doing?”

“Be quiet, I’m performing.”

Her voice rumbled crystal clear into my headphones. She sounded regal and refined, like a member of a royal court. Before I could speak again, she leapt. The ballerina sailed through the air with grace. Something didn’t look quite right though. Her leap was spectacular, but one of her legs seemed to be splayed at an unnatural angle.

She landed on another bank building a block down from where she was standing originally. The entire structure shook under her weight. The few lights that were on in the bank began to flicker.

“She’s going to cause the building to fall, there are people inside!”

Mateo made his move. His mecha soared through the air and floated in front of the ballerina in a confronting manner. He lifted a mechanical arm to her, showing the machine gun at the end of it. A universal gesture to halt. Whether the client understood that in this state is uncertain.

“Mateo, wait!” Suzuka shouted. I could see the twinkle of her hidden aircraft as she rocketed towards the two of them.

She placed herself between Mateo and the ballerina. I began to propel myself towards them. I was only halfway there when I heard the client speak in a booming voice.

“You interrupted my performance.”

Her regal tone suddenly sounded hostile. Before any of us could react, the ballerina opened her eyes. It was at that point I realised we’d all made a grave mistake.