Amelia, Worm AU [Complete]

Amelia, Ch 241- Missy


I had to admit the party was fun. I considered going out to associate with the adults, be taken seriously, but I could only do that if I left Riley here alone. She was my best friend, and this would be her first Christmas since she was six years old that she'd be able to enjoy. That she'd be able to have surrounded by family and friends that cared about her. Of course I was going to stay with her.


I wonder if we could use our cloning tech to bring back Jack Slash. Being covered in acid and drowned in cockroaches was nowhere near a horrible enough death for that twisted bastard.


Riley, at least, seemed happy now. Not the false cheerfulness of Bonesaw or Aceso, but a simple contentment while spending time with her friends. We had, out of some mutual agreement, chosen not to do any major Christmas gifts. Simple trinket gifts like cute outfits, nothing more. We had an evening of just spending time hanging out and relaxing. Mostly by keeping the Tinkers away from their labs for a night. Which was a lot easier said than done.


"No, they totally got a thing going on," Zach insisted. "They even chased me out of my own bedroom."


"Zach," Emma sighed. "First of all, everyone chases you out of your bedroom. It's the only way to make you leave. Second, Sabah would kill them both."


"Well, that's one possible solution," Zach smiled. "But maybe they thought it'd be fun to add a little vanilla swirl to their- OW! Riley, you don't even- OW! Emma, seriously, what the hell?"


I laughed. The two of them were really good at reading each others' reactions with stuff like that. I still couldn't figure out why Zach still said something like that, it always got him in trouble for no reason. Then again, Zach joined in the laughter, too. Maybe that was the point.


"Besides, Vicky's into men," Theo pointed out. "And not even girly looking guys."


Ain't that the truth, I agreed silently. She and Dean had been quite the pair, much to my younger self's constant disappointment. It still hurt a little to think about him, though the last seven and a half months had eased the pain. He was a friend, and I still missed him dearly, but I no longer carried the torch for him that I used to. It helped to have so many good friends to support me, and a wonderful boyfriend.


"She turned me down," Zach pointed out.


"Dear," Emma said with exaggerated sweetness. "I think that proves Theo's point."


"Yup," Trevor agreed.


"Sorry Zach, it's true," I added.


"Ouch," he pouted. "Just when I think I might be able to have some self esteem of my own, you find and murder it in front of me. Using fire."


"Don't worry Zach," Riley offered. "By most standard of masculine attractiveness, you are actually measure quite satisfactorily. Symmetrical features, greater than average height and muscle build, no significant injuries, greater than average intelligence and emotional stability. Even with your health issues before acquiring your powers reducing viability by approximately twenty percent, you still average out at a seven point two four, with a twelve percent margin for error based upon the cultural and psychological preferences of the perspective mate."


"Why do I feel like I just went through FDA inspection?" Zach asked.


"She says you're cute, but you aren't her type," Emma offered, giving Zach a one armed hug. "Don't worry, you actually are my type."


"Huh," he replied. "I knew that sounded familiar. Well, since it's 'pick on Zach day', then I'm the one who gets to pick the movie."


"No," Trevor insisted. "You keep showing us these dumb ass movies from Aleph. That last one was utterly retarded. Alien invaders is cool and all, but why the fuck would anyone be dumb enough to terraform a planet that gives their entire species all the powers of Alexandria and Legend combined? Don't get me started on the parts that can be summed up as the single most poorly written Jesus allegory in the history of storytelling."


I found myself nodding in agreement.


"Well, at least it had awesome special effects?" Theo offered.


"I liked the dubstep cannon," Emma added.


"The whole point of watching Aleph movies is to laugh at how shitty they are," Zach argued. "That's what makes them fun. That and all those companies we've never heard of that pay for their businesses to be the ones that get blown up in the fighting. Truly, they are geniuses of product placement. Besides, this next movie's by a really good director. The guy who did Pan's Labyrinth. You all liked that one, didn't you?"


"Depends, what's it about?" I asked. Is this one going to make Riley cry, too?


"Well, it starts off with these giant robots and they fight..." Zach hesitated for a second. "Actually... now that I think about it, maybe we shouldn't see that one."


I was about to make a remark, but then a tunnel opened in the wall. Taylor stepped through, along with a girl that couldn't have been much older than ten. "Don't worry, she's safe," Taylor said as Riley moved to hide behind me. "Everyone, this is Dinah. She wanted to meet all of you."


"Good evening," the girl spoke up, walking more or less straight toward Riley. "I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate Typha. She's everything I hoped for and more. Your work is truly amazing."


"Thank you!" Riley responded excitedly. "I put a lot of work into making her perfect. Have you tried her roosting feature?"


"Yes, indeed," Dinah nodded. "I admit, I haven't used my actual bed ever since. She is indescribably comfortable."


Oh god, she is so adorable in her tiny little business suit trying to act all grown up! I paused for a second. Oh. Is this what everyone thinks when they look at me? No wonder the adults never take me seriously.


"Well, clearly you're getting along," Taylor spoke up. "I'd love to stay here with you, but I have to go back to the adults. They need to be supervised or they might actually start having fun."


"You have my deepest sympathies," Dinah responded. "If you see my uncle, let him know I'm busy and that I apologize for not having time to see him."


"I'll be sure to do that," Taylor agreed as she turned and left.


"We were just about to watch a movie," Riley informed the girl. "But since you're new, you can pick something."


"Don't let them fool you," Zach remarked. "She's only saying that so I don't get to pick the movie."


"I don't have a preference for movies," Dinah answered.


"We didn't get you any presents, either," Riley said apologetically.


"That's quite alright. Typha's the best present I've ever had," Dinah answered. "Besides, I am the guest here, you shouldn't have to get me anything. In fact, I should be the one bringing you gifts."


"Ooh, could you tell us the future?" Riley asked. "Like who I'm going to get married to? Can you do that."


She frowned for a second. "Not exactly. My prediction powers only give percentages and possibilities. I can tell you if you'll ever get married, and if you point someone out to me, I can answer if it'll be between the two of you, but I can't simply give you a name."


"Oh, I guess that works," Riley replied. "Will I-"


"Maybe you should wait on that," I interrupted. "Dinah's questions are really valuable. Like, huge, she probably charges thousands of dollars for each one."


"Fifteen," Dinah confirmed. "I sometimes offer discounts for bulk requests. In addition, Minerva and I have come to an arrangement to help counter my predictions of the end of the world. But the money isn't really a concern anymore. These days, my fees are more about dissuading people from coming to me at all than it is encouraging them to use me for their own purposes. And I'm taking something of a vacation."


"A vacation?" Trevor asked.


"Yes," she responded. "My parents feel I overwork myself and should focus more on relaxing and enjoying life. I refused to stop working on finding solutions or improving the numbers for the end of the world."


"It's good to have parents that worry about you," I agreed. Mine sure didn't, but at least I didn't have to worry about that anymore. It had taken some time for me to figure out how to make it work, but I convinced my mother that Pantheon was a paying job with responsibilities, and I was making a lot of overtime. Really, I was paying myself out of my share of the reward money for killing the Simurgh. It was more than I could ever imagine spending. So I used it to create excuses for me to spend all my time with my friends and the people who actually acted like a real family.


"It is," she agreed. "So I have enough power for everyone to ask a question, without any risk of tiring me out."


"You don't have to," I insisted. She reminds me of Riley, so eager to make friends that she'll offer them gifts like this. "We're not going to treat you any differently for not letting us use your power."


"You misunderstand," Dinah answered. "The numbers get better if you accept my offer."


"Numbers?" I asked.


"The end of the world," she answered. "It's a marginal difference, granted, less than a point oh one percent increased chance of stopping the end, and between fifteen to thirty thousand more survivors if the end occurs anyway."


"So, basically, if we don't start asking, we kill something like seven thousand people each?" Zach asked. "How the hell does that make sense?"


Dinah simply looked at him. "All I know is what," Dinah answered. "How and why are not things my power gives to me."


"Well, can't argue with that," Zach nodded. "Alright. So, what are the odds that two or more people in this room will participate inathreesomewitheachother." He spoke the last few words fast enough that he could complete the sentence before getting jabbed hard enough to dust and reappear.


"The hell is wro-" Emma started to yell at her boyfriend, but was interrupted by Dinah.


"Ninety four point seven seven three," the girl answered.


We all fell silent.


===============

A/N- The second half of this chapter is, in fact, already finished. You'll just have to wait until I choose to post it.

 

Have an Omake! (Its my omake-virginity, you had better take responsibility)
Title: Alternate questions:
So many things flashed through his mind:
"What is the chance that we succeed in averting the end of the world?"
"What is the chance that I will outlive the rest of Pantheon?"
"What is the chance that Lily recovers?"
And the worst one of all:
"What is the chance that by the end of this, I will regret it?"
But that wasn't what was needed at the moment. He couldn't change the world with his power, hell, he could barely change himself. But he was able to help out anyway, by helping those who could. And right now they needed to break the ice.

"Alright. So, what are the odds that two or more people in this room will participate inathreesomewitheachother."

"Ninety four point seven seven three," Dinah answered.

Huh.