NIGHTVIPER: Chronicles of Moon City

Chapter Two: NIGHTVIPER

A lithe figure, appareled with lightly scuffed magenta body armor padded into the middle of an open expanse. The dimly lit room seemed endless, a void containing only the dark warrior.

She paused, willed her armor off with only a thought, and then assumed a meditative position in the tough but lightweight endo-suit underneath.

"Technician."

Faint blue lines in the shape of a globe enveloped the Nightviper, and at the sound of the word, they sharpened in definition.

>>Password accepted<<
>>Accessing Viperscape<<

"New entry. Title, recovered memory."
>>Begin dictation<<
"I am recording any and all previously repressed memories. Computer will continue analyzing new data to identify source point for these recollections and whatever purposes they could serve. Matron confirm."

>>Affirmative NIGHTVIPER<<
I was in my high school again, heading to my 9th grade algebra class. As I walked through the door of the room I was met by cacophony of voices. It was an overwhelming chorus. But this wasn't the discourse I'd normally hear. What I heard was a chorus of insecurities, frustrations, preoccupations—the innermost thoughts of the very people I'd always felt so walled off from.

Feeling all these sensations for the first time nearly drove me insane, but just when I thought it couldn't get weirder, it did. I locked eyes with a kid in the second row and all of a sudden I was engaged in some bizarre game of mental tug-o-war.

Initially it was only a gut reaction that made me resist the yanking feeling. I slowly realized, as the voices slid in and out of focus, that this power I had was somehow transferable, and this kid was after it.

I could see inside his mind, I knew, if I only tried. But there was no need. Just from word of mouth around the school, I knew this was one guy who could not be trusted with this mind-reading ability. I sensed the potential chaos that would have ensued.

Just as I made this decision in my mind, it was as if a door slammed shut between between us. The voices died down, and a gentle ease had come over me. I knew I had made the right choice.

>>End dictation<<

"Results?" prompted the warrior.

>>Confirmed first manifestation of psychic abilities. Confirmed first manifestation of ability to manipulate deny or revoke the transference of psychic abilities<<

"Are these memories doctored in any way?"

>>Preliminary scans show no evidence of tampering<<

The dark figure stood. "Still, she's sending these recalls, from wherever she is, wherever the current personality displaced her. For what purpose..."

>>Intent of the rogue personality "Bira Beck" unknown<<

"You don't say," mused the figure. "And what of this new player? Can she be trusted? I might not be the default personality but I still have more dominance than anything else that came out of the Viperscape."

>>Identity pending. Control level 5. Resisting this personality would be a futile effort. Your hold is weakest during the day, which is when she will take command, and her awareness shows no sign of waning. This is no doubt because—

"Go on, Matron. Give me the good news."

>>Identity confirmation. Stephanie "Stevie" Sagrado. Original personality is set to take back control in 6 hours. Plan accordingly<<

Nightviper smiled to herself.

"Enough introduction. Here comes the FUN."