Marvel Template System:Spectrum

- I congratulate you," Mr. Kramer snorted skeptically, shifting his gaze from the embarrassed Chris to the furious Jessica. - But let's talk about the "robbery".....

At this point it was basically clear. Of course he didn't believe the story he'd made up. And what kind of moron would believe it? Especially at the sight of Christopher Wallace, who didn't know where to put his hands, who not only couldn't lie, but as if he wouldn't hurt a fly in everyday life!

- Irish mob. Two of them. They took all the cash from the till. И... - Chris is a bit confused. - They've gone off in the middle of nowhere.

- And what are we going to do? - Mr. Kramer mumbled a little thoughtfully. - In principle, there are records from CCTV cameras ... Should we go to the police?

- Ha-ha-ha-ha... - Chris laughed instantly. - Ha-ha-ha... Huh? - But was immediately deflated by the not-so-hilarious looks from Jessica and Kramer. - Wait, are you serious?!

- What's the big deal? - Mr. Kramer frowned.

- The police are as useless as the.... - Chris couldn't find anything else to say, so he immediately lost it. - All right, do as you please.

Chris didn't have a very favorable attitude toward any government officials.

First of all, he grew up in the very, very bottom of the American ghetto, full of "gangster" notions and various stereotypes that did not arise out of nothing. Chris, of course, is white, but he grew up among blacks. And let everyone be sure, both the police and the "ghetto" had fair - well, from which side to look - claims to each other. One could say that fear of the police is a conditioned reflex, ingrained in him with "mother's milk." Even if he has done nothing illegal.

Secondly, the "state apparatus" also had claims, and not small ones. Although, here from what side to look at. Chris was an orphan from birth, so he was in the care of the state. And many will tell him to be grateful even for what he got, but Chris felt the difference in the social structure on his own skin. Let's just say that the two orphanages, one in Harlem - the poorest and most dangerous neighborhood in New York City - and the other on Long Island - the wealthiest neighborhood in the city - are different. Very different. Even though on paper their budgets should be equal to each other.

Don't think that there is no corruption in the United States. It is everywhere.

But specifically these claims are purely "subconscious" in nature. After all, in fact, the state did indeed maintain it until adulthood. But "how" it did it.....

In general, Chris is willfully biased against any cogs in the state mechanism. Simply because the environment in which he grew up, imposed his point of view.

- The police won't get involved in a gang fight," Jessica shook her head. - Especially when the victim is only one pensioner and his cash, and there are no bodies," she gave Chris a blank look. - Almost none.

- That's right," Mr. Kramer confirmed. - They'll come, make a report, file a case, but later ... It'll all go cold.

A simultaneous sigh expressed the general opinion that the state apparatus was not perfect.

- I don't understand one thing, old man, - Jessica frowned, trying to formulate a thought... tactfully. But tactfulness and Jessica were two completely different things. - Why the fuck did they decide to dig in on you specifically? They're Irish, you're Irish... Doesn't that at least put you on opposite sides of the fence?

- Uh-oh, Jessica," Kramer clucked emphatically. - There's something you don't seem to understand. I'm Irish. And they're stupid mutts who fuck each other in the ass.

- Uh-huh," Jessica grinned. - I think I've figured out where the dog's buried...

- Everything I've achieved, I've achieved with my own hands! - His hands clenched into fists. - Honest labor! Blood and sweat! And those bastards are just parasites who think that because I'm Irish, I need their protection! - Exhaled the accumulated anger Kramer. - Anyway, they came to me, offered to "help" for a percentage, and I sent them to suck each other's dick....

- I guess they didn't like your offer," Jessica nodded.

- Homophobes, probably," Chris shrugged and shook his head. - Mr. Kramer's offer came from the heart! And they, uh...

- I'll close the store for today," Kramer said with a tight lipped smile. - We'll see what we can do. When I have to go out, I'll call you.

- I'm not fired, am I?

- No," Mr. Kramer smiled. - You did it nicely. Better not do that next time, though. You might get shot.

- Yeah," Chris smiled a little awkwardly.

*****

After leaving the store, Jessica and Chris came to a consensus. They needed to take a walk and clear their heads. They'd have to get to know each other better, since they were "friends" now.

- The old man likes you," Jessica gave him an inquiring look. - How did you two meet?

- We were in the same psychiatric hospital," Chris answered after a moment's hesitation. - He had post-traumatic stress disorder ...

- Right, he's a Vietnam veteran," Jessica nodded to her own thoughts and made a cautious attempt to find out about Chris. - Why were you lying there...?

- Я... - Chris pressed his lips together nervously, trying to calm his accelerated heartbeat. - Just a little thing, here and there...

- You don't put little things in places like that," Jessica made a fair remark. - Especially since you were there for four years. From fourteen to eighteen. And later, in an incredibly surprising way, you were "cured" right at the moment of adulthood, when the orphans' government health insurance runs out. I recognize our crippled system.

- I'm telling you, it's no big deal! - Chris snapped at him, irritated.

- Chill," Jessica held up her hands in reconciliation. - I'm just trying to understand the nature of your powers. Maybe it's a typical scenario of a scary, scary hospital run by a mad scientist-maniac.

- Hold your imagination," Chris shook his head. - I've been in the Manhattan Psychiatric Center. And there was nothing 'incredibly creepy' going on there. People like people, doctors like doctors....

- Well, come to think of it, you really couldn't know where you got your powers from. To activate them, you had to, well.... - Jessica shrugged. - Die, sort of. But immortality is cool, too!

- Not immortality," Chris shook his head negatively. - I have ten lives left.

God's Hand: Twelve Great Feats [10/12]

SYNCHRONIZATION: 2%.

- What?" Jessica looked at him dumbfounded. - What do you mean ten lives!

- Directly," Chris shrugged. - I can die nine more times.

- And then?!

- Then that's it, isn't it? - Chris wasn't sure of the situation himself.

- You had ten lives?!

- Twelve, to be exact," Chris corrected her. - Two I've already. well, spent.

- That doesn't make any fucking sense! - Jessica exploded with indignation. - Why twelve lives?! Like you ate a cat when you were a kid, and then, like. a third of a cat or something?! Why is that specific?! How do you know?!

- I don't know," Chris replied irritably. - 'More precisely, I just know that there are ten lives left. Then that's it. Kaput.

- Can you think a little harder and think how you know that?! Fuck knows, God's revelation, fortune teller, tarot cards, seven-color clover in a dumb unicorn's ass or what?! Where did that number come from?!

- I don't know," Chris answered nervously.

- Chris, just tense up a little bit.....

- Okay," Chris sighed and closed his eyelids, trying to call for... something.

SYNCHRONIZATION [????????] [Rank: Legendary]: 2, 98%

- Nothing... - Chris swallowed the lump in his throat with difficulty. Sweat soaked his t-shirt and ran down his temples. - I don't feel anything...

Phantasm [Rank: A]: God's Hand: Twelve Great Feats [10/12].

Your fame and your feats have not just impressed the gods, but have gone down in history! So receive your reward! Now you...

- I KNOW NOTHING! - Chris clutched his head, shouting to the entire street. - I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING! I DON'T SEE ANYTHING! I'M ALL RIGHT!

- Calm down, Chris!

- I'M NORMAL! I'M NORMAL!

- It's okay, I got it! - Jessica grabbed him by his clothes and shook him, trying to bring him to his senses. - You're okay, Chris! You're fine!

- Am I okay? - Chris said quietly.

- Yes, you're normal, I'm normal, we're all-we're all normal," Jessica said slowly, almost syllabically. - I'm Jessica, remember? Your new friend...

- Friend, right, Jessica, right," Chris swallowed the lump in his throat. - I'm sorry...

- It's okay," Jessica laughed a little nervously. - It's no big deal, is it?

This... incident at once destroyed any mood for a walk.

Jessica, taking Chris under her arm, headed home, trying not to inadvertently provoke a... Chris's seizure. Now the half-time detective was beginning to understand the roots of Chris being in a mental institution.

Looking at her new "friend," Jessica decided to cheer him up a bit and, at the same time, share a little about herself. 

"Actually, I have powers too." 

Chris didn't react immediately, but it was clear that Jessica's "revelation" had shifted his attention away from his depressive self-reflection. 

"You have powers?" Chris asked, fairly skeptical. 

"Yep." 

"And… what kind of powers do you have?" Chris tried not to offend Jessica. "Are you, like, super strong and super independent? A super-femme?" 

The look Jessica gave Chris carried a fair amount of threat. But, surprisingly, she didn't prove her point by demonstrating on Chris, as she usually would. 

Instead, Jessica walked over to the stove and, with unnatural ease and casualness, lifted it with one hand. 

"See?" Jessica rolled her eyes at Chris's gaping mouth. 

"Holy crap…" Chris was stunned. "HOLY CRAP!" He turned into a full-on superpower fanboy. "Now it all makes sense, Jessica! Now I get it!" 

"What makes sense?" Jessica frowned in confusion. 

"You're actually fighting crime at night!" Chris said excitedly. "And your public image is just a cover!" 

"What the hell public image?" 

"You know, at night you're out there battling criminals, but to throw everyone off, you pretend to be a pathetic, broke alcoholic who's one step away from being a homeless person!" 

Jessica, resisting the urge to hurl the stove at Chris, slowly hissed through her teeth: 

"No." 

"Uh…" Chris awkwardly smiled. "You don't fight crime?..." 

"No." 

"And the public image?..." 

"Yes." 

"Got it…" Chris, trying his best to avoid Jessica's gaze, nodded slowly. "Well, you know, not caring what other people think is kind of a superpower in its own way…" 

"Chris." 

"Yeah?" 

"Shut up. Just. Shut up."