When they got outside, Cleo led Joey to an alley with no other people in it, then opened a portal to the Top. Joey was amazed at the apparent simplicity of it. She could go anywhere she wanted without accounting for travel time. When they went through the portal, it closed behind them and Cleo slumped onto the ground, her hot chocolate in one hand and the container of cream puffs in another.
"Wow," Joey said. "That's like some kind of ultimate Miracle for traveling."
"Except I can't use it if other people are going to see," she replied, mumbling into her knees.
"Right. I can't exactly jump up and down five levels if I'm not dressed up as Jumper." Joey sat next to her and took a sip of his hot chocolate.
"At least the visions let me see if there was anyone here before I ripped a hole in reality." Cleo lifted her head and popped a cream puff into her mouth.
"So you saw the purple person too?" Joey asked. "I don't remember it very well, but I've heard Achilles mention it."
Cleo nodded, a sour look on her face.
"What were they like?"
"Arrogant. High-handed. Acted like they knew what was best for me. Like they were oh-so-kind for letting me go find my dad whenever I wanted. Not even considering the problems it's caused for me. If I ever see them again, I'm going to hit them as hard as I can."
Joey smiled wryly. "That sounds a lot different from Achilles' version."
"Can you trust that man's version of reality?" Cleo glared across the city, as if she could see him at that very moment. Perhaps she could.
"Guess not. But apparently some stuff happened that might make him better. I don't have all the details, but apparently something happened with - uh - the person who makes the Legion's costumes."
"Louise Morris, owner of Little Fancy Masques and Garments. Went to high school - ugh!" Cleo slammed a hand over her face, her hot chocolate forgotten on the ground beside her.
"That's kind of terrifying," Joey said. "Can you do that with anyone?"
"I try not to. The information just kind of filters in. I've seen more of what is and what will be than I care to."
"That's how you knew we needed to help Achilles?"
"Yeah. I don't ask for it, but I realized back then that if I didn't do something, he'd end up dead. And...I dunno, I felt like it was my responsibility to do something. Even if I never asked for this, even if I never wanted anything to do with Miracles. If I hadn't done anything and he died, it woulda eaten away at me."
"I know that feeling," Joey said with a sigh, staring out across the city. "Ever since that first time I saved his butt. Wondering if I can afford to live normally. Wondering if my inaction will cost someone their life. Since the Legion's getting bigger, I can relax more, but...there's still a part of me that wonders if this is what I should really be doing. I mean, according to Lightning, I'm one of the sturdiest people out there."
"What's wrong with wanting to be normal?" Cleo asked, grimacing. "We never asked for any of this."
"In your case, yeah. In my case, sometimes I wonder if I would have died if that purple thing hadn't intervened. According to the doctors, my chances of survival were almost zero."
"Right. Fell off a bridge. Sorry. It just floated into my head just now." Cleo looked away. "I'm a real freak, aren't I?"
"No more than the rest of us," Joey chuckled. "No matter how hard you hit me, no matter how far I fall, I just bounce right back up like nothing happened. Lightning can move faster than anyone else. Achilles is immune to rayguns. The most normal one of us is Prime."
"Your freakishness doesn't constantly open up the doors to people's private lives. It doesn't tell you things that you shouldn't know. I study harder than anyone else because this stupid power keeps telling me test answers. I wish it would just go away." Joey looked at Cleo in surprise as she ate another cream puff.
"So you could basically cheat your way through?"
"Reason to hate me, right?" Tears started forming in her eyes again.
"No," Joey said slowly. "If you coasted along on it without making an effort, maybe. But you said you work hard to make sure it's not carrying you."
"And, I mean, it's always bombarding me with stuff," Cleo said, her voice cracking. "Stuff I don't want to know. Stuff I shouldn't know. And the portals keep trying to open up on me. I can't remember the last time I slept properly. I'm just constantly barraged by these visions, and I've seen people die, and..."
She coughed, dissolving into sobs. For some time, those sobs and the hum of the city were the only sounds.
"Y'know," Joey said slowly, "I found it easier to handle when I had someone to talk to about this stuff. Meeting Lightning might be the best thing that's happened to me since the accident. She's older than us, so she's got more life experience, and she gets where I'm coming from. Just because she's decided to dedicate her life to saving people doesn't mean other people need to make the same choice."
Cleo's crying had subsided a bit and she looked at him, the lower half of her face hidden by her knees.
"What I'm trying to say, I guess, is...you don't have to be alone in that. I can leave you my number and you can message me or phone me if you need to. I can be your person to talk to if you want. Or we can just be friends. Up to you." Joey pulled out his phone and left the screen with his number on it. He put it between them in case Cleo wanted it.
"You know I could find out your number without that, right?" Cleo asked.
"Doesn't it matter more if I give it to you, though?" Joey asked, refusing to look at her. This was too awkward for him.
"Yeah. I'll take it. Since it's one thing I'm allowed to know now." A couple moments later, she held the phone over his shoulder and Joey stuck it back in his pocket.
"Great. My days off are pretty unpredictable, but if you want to hang out or talk or anything, I'll let you know when I'm not working."
"Thanks."
When Joey looked back at her, Cleo was smiling gently.
"Can I actually talk to you about something?" she asked, her expression darkening. "It's...heavy."
"I can at least listen," Joey replied.
"Lemme know if you want me to stop, but...the visions...they've told me something I can barely handle. Honestly, I think I keep blocking out the memory. I just keep hearing the voice. And..."
She took a few deep breaths as Joey waited for her to continue.
"There's someone exterminating Miracle holders. Like I said, I keep blocking the memory, so I don't have much, but...they're terrifying. They killed Phantasma. Asked if she wanted drugs or bullet. And...someone else is going to die soon I think."
"Do you know who?" Joey asked anxiously. "Do you know anything about this person?"
"No. I think it's a man, maybe? He doesn't have any remorse about it either. His next victim...I think...no, I can't tell. But at some point, someone from the Legion is going to die. And I don't know how to stop it."
"Someone from the Legion?" Joey asked, frowning. "Do you mind if I mention this to Lightning?"
"Just keep my name out of it. Don't tell her anything about me. And...when this person goes to kill someone, he asks if they want drugs or a bullet. Either he injects them with a lethal drug dosage or puts a bullet in their head. You know, those old school things you sometimes see on TV? Mostly in the old stuff."
"Like...the physical lumps of metal they used to shoot out of guns?"
"Yeah. And...it's gross. The aftermath, I mean. It's just impressions left now, but I remember that there was a reason I blocked most of the memory."
Cleo shivered slightly and Joey pushed the hot chocolate towards her. She took a swig of it, then let her head fall on her knees again.
"Sorry," she said. "I'm getting really tired. No, I've been tired all day. But I think talking to you helped a bit. Maybe I can sleep now. I'm not as scared anymore. So, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go home. Anywhere you want me to drop you off?"
"I'm good," Joey said with a smile. "Go get some rest. I'll talk to Lightning about handling this Miracle exterminator."
Cleo nodded, and a portal opened up under her. Within a moment, she was gone without a trace.
Joey sat there for a while longer, going over things in his mind. Then stood, dialed Lightning and started walking home.
"Jumper?" Courtney asked over the phone.
"Hey. Can we meet up sometime soon? I came across some information the Legion should know about."
"I can meet whenever."
"Great. This evening, I'll drop by HQ."
"Okay. See you then."
Joey put his phone away and sighed. Today was suddenly much busier.
