Hydra Heart

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter 39: Forward

Banner's body, broken and dented in ways an ordinary human body cannot be, landed in a grove by the beach. Blood seeped out of his mutilated corpse and into the soil around him. His dented face was locked in an expression of rage until the insects and bacteria took care of it.

--

Molly knocked on Vesta's door. The second she had been cleared to visit, she had raced to the hospital.

"You know, the expression is 'break a leg,' right? Just a leg."

Vesta laughed. "You came all the way out here just to tell me that?"

"No, uh... Will it hurt if I hug you?" Molly approached eagerly, barely able to contain herself.

"It will hurt if you do not," Vesta replied. "You know, in a lot of countries, people really go wild for soldiers who get injured."

"Yeah?" Molly smiled. "You want a medal? Closest thing I have is this bottlecap I found on the ground outside. Probably shouldn't have kept it, but..."

Vesta smiled and reached out her non-broken hand. "Maybe..." She let softness win. "I'll let you keep it if you stay a little longer."

Molly could resist her no more. She sat down on Vesta's bed and leaned in, holding her gently. "I missed you," she whispered.

"Locked in this hospital bed, I have had little to do but miss you. Why did they let you out and not me?" Vesta asked.

"I didn't cheat death twice in fifteen minutes. I only did it once." Molly replied.

"Ah," Vesta dismissed. "I've done it before, these quacks just think I plan to pay my medical bills. When I am healed, they will find a polite note redirecting them to a nonexistent address. I take it the organization has no insurance plan?"

Molly ran her fingers through Vesta's hair. "Nay, dear. I know we have one Kit user who can heal people, but I don't think we're the best use of his time. Plus, he just doesn't like me."

"I can not blame him. But, out of curiosity, what did you do?" Vesta wrapped an arm around Molly's waist.

"Well, ah..." Molly tapped her finger on Vesta's head. "I kept pushing him off small cliffs. Keep in mind, these are, like, thirty foot drops we're talking about. With grass at the bottom and everything. Then I'd run away before he could heal himself and catch me. I don't even think it hurt him. The screams were from rage... probably. I was fifteen, tough age. Anyway... uh, can we...?"

"What?" Vesta asked.

Molly leaned in and kissed Vesta. It was sweet, tender, and drawn out by the fact that both of them had been waiting days for the moment. They pulled away, but before a second had passed, Molly kissed her again. Then, she slipped under the covers to doze off.

--

"Mom, what the hell? You can't just walk in on us together like that!"

"This is a public hospital," she retorted.

"Whatever. I will be able to walk again soon, and then I will have that rebellious teenage phase you missed out on. With both my arms fixed there will be much slamming of doors!"

"Yes, yes, I look forward to it. But, actually, I came here to talk to Molly. In private, if that is okay." Violet said.

Molly stretched, kissed her girlfriend on the forehead, and then snuck out into the hall. "So, what's up?"

"Well, to be blunt, I want you to run against me."

"I just got up, I have not stretched my legs."

"I mean for leader of the organization."

Violet's request shocked Molly. "Uh. What?"

She explained. "Well, if I just step down, your election might not be what people want. So, I want you to run against me. It might take a few tries, but I think soon our guys will realize that you're a better fit for the job."

Molly had to sit down with her back against the wall. "Why me?"

"I figured you'd ask," Violet stated. "You're perceptive and smart. A team full of Kit users at your command is exactly the right position for creative solutions. You're passionate, a hard-headed idealist who will tend to do the right thing even at your own expense."

Molly needed a minute to digest the news. Eventually, she agreed to run.

--

Shay asked Priscilla out on a date. He said, "No, you're like fifteen." She told Molly about what happened.

--

Once Vesta had recovered, Violet had her chance to apologize. She approached her daughter, who was trying to get her muscle back. Vesta saw her coming, and set down her weights. The man assigned to be her physical therapist was having a terrible, terrible week.

"Hi, mom."

"Hey, Vesta, can we talk?"

"Yes."

"Uh, okay," Violet started. "I know this is sixteen years late, but I am sorry for my irresponsibility. I am sorry for your childhood... and I am sorry you were alone. I am thankful you still talk to me."

Vesta tilted her head. "Well, it is hard for me to wrap my head around putting you at fault for all that. I have blamed Alogos my whole life." She tapped her foot for a second. "I think I will continue doing that."

A moment passed where neither of them spoke. Violet's relief was bittersweet. How am I supposed to make up the time to her?

"You are welcome to be my mom now that you are back. There are a lot of things you never taught me to do."

"Like?" Violet said eagerly.

"I do not know how to fish. I have never had a job interview in my life, and I cannot drive a car. I have also never kept a plant alive for more than two days."

Violet laughed. She hugged her daughter tightly. Neither of them let go.

--

Years later, Vesta lost Backlash, which was replaced by Caduceus. It was a good thing she got a new Kit too, because a new president succeeded Banner, and another president after that one.