Maha Azim, now a Demigod bonded with nearly a hundred God Particles, was going through extensive tactical training, alongside understanding how most of her newly acquired powers worked. Professors and scientists in Lambert Henny's team were brought in to study her, give her better insight on how to use her powers more effectively, but also to track down new Demigods with powers she could use in the fight against Arcadeus. It had now been two days since she had arrived. Armed personnel followed her everywhere even when everyone knew their weapons were now useless against her but it made them feel safe. She trained outside in a courtyard whilst the scientists were narrowing down their list of targets for her.
Professor Lambert Henny had been watching her closely since they met. It was a cloudy afternoon, which meant he could go out to the balcony and take a smoke. The balcony was on the fourth floor up with a clear view of the courtyard and the surrounding grey compound that they were in. Maha was practising her powers on several dummies, each with a different and formidable toughness to their armour. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him and took flight to greet him before he could take a second puff from his cigarette.
"Shouldn't you be helping the others?" She challenged.
"I am but the head of the body." He calmly replied. "My team is my body."
"Meaning?"
"They must first take me where I want to go for me to start working." Lembert inhaled his cigarette and blew to smoke to the side.
"Pray tell where this body of yours would like to go." She crossed her arms while levitating on the outside of the balcony.
"Do you really care, Ms Azim, about what I think?"
"Is that a rhetorical question, Mr Henny?"
"Not quite. I know you're interested in my theories on God Particles but what do you care about what I want in the world?"
"A man of science such as you must have drive to study God Particles to the extent that you have."
"Oh my dear, God Particles are a scientist's wet dream. I may be at the pinnacle of such studies but any man or woman would kill to take my place in finding new information and revealing it to the world." He took a good step closer to the balcony railing, his one arm supporting the other from the elbow as he brought his cigarette to the corner of his lips and inhaled deeply. "This world is changing rapidly, Ms Azim." The smoke escaped his lungs and surrounded her. "We all have a role to play. We all have our dreams and destinies but mind you... the two do not always coalign."
Maha turned away to look at the dummies in the courtyard.
"Why do you walk this path?" Lambert asked. "What has made you turn on your people in such a way that would make you kill your own kind?"
"Sacrifices have to be made for the greater good," Maha answered quick and swiftly.
"You've killed many innocents. You could have easily picked off..."
"Bad Demigods?" she interrupted.
"...yes"
"What is a bad Demigod, professor? Who dictates good and evil when there is an ongoing war?"
"The victor, unfortunately..."
"Precisely. Those who I kill, should I be victorious, will be called evil in the history books."
"And should you lose?"
"You must pray that never happens."
He attention soon kept diverting to the fact that she was floating in midair.
"Would you care to join me on solid turf?" he asked. "I'm well aware of the reality of Demigods but it still takes a toll on a man's understanding of reality and differentiating it with lalaland." Maha hopped over the railings and landed beside him.
"Happy?"
"Very much so." The two leaned forwards as Lambert took a new cigarette from his packet. "I'm sorry, I forgot to offer. Do you smoke?" He extended one nonetheless as she received the question. Maha accepted with a smile and lit the end with the tip of her index finger. "Extraordinary... that there."
"Being a Demigod has its many uses." She grinned.
"And as one, do your lungs get damaged or do you heal?" he curiously asked.
"We heal too fast for it to barely leave a mark. Besides, I have the ability to heal myself and others of any wounds and illnesses." Lambert suddenly felt a lump in his chest.
"You can heal others?"
"I can." she said proudly, looking him in the eye. "Oh..." She smiled. "You have something that needs fixing." Lambert looked away and took a puff. She began to study him from toe to head. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing really." he replied. Maha's eyes gradually pointed up, eyebrows lifted and she gave out a sigh.
"Is it a genital problem?" Lambert suddenly began to cough excessively, almost out of breath as he had just inhaled some smoke.
"It is not, thank you very much, a genital problem." he assured her while trying to regain his previous posture.
"It's ok if it is. I can fix it."
"Excuse me?"
"But only if its a clinical problem, you know? If you're having size issues," she clicked her tongue, "can't help you there."
"There is no size issue. As I said just seconds ago... It is not... a genital issue." he spluttered.
"Then why are you angry?" she said whilst looking at the courtyard instead of him.
"Because you assumed a man like me would have such an affliction of sorts."
"Hey, it's ok if you do. It's none of my business and never will be. Dongs aren't my cup of tea." she said, just as he began to inhale from his cigarette once more. The man began to cough and she chuckled at his demise. "I've seen the way you look at me. You're not getting any of this. One, I'm a lesbian. Two, you couldn't ever..." She took one good look at him, "ever... handle me."
Lambert flicked the butt of his cigarette down below and continued to lean on the balcony railing.
"You know, the human species is actually bisexual. It is because of our common biological expectations that..."
"No." she interrupted. "You're not sciencing your way into my pants, Professor Casanova."
"Fine." He took out a white handkerchief from his jacket pocket and waved it.
"Of course you'd carry a cotton handkerchief with you."
"It's good for the environment!" he quickly defended himself. "Trees weren't made to become paper towels for humans to blow their noses on or wipe their bottoms with. You can easily wash this and reuse it. No harm done to anything!" He proudly tucked away the handkerchief and smirked. Maha gave him a straight look and began to grin.
"Has that thing been up your ass then?" she laughed.
"I take my leave."
"Oh hold on just a minute." Maha grabbed his arm before he walked away. "Just tell me what's wrong with you. You're helping me out with my war on Arcadeus. I need a way of paying you."
"It's my skin." Lambert's eyes dropped down, almost as if he was embarrassed. "I can't stand in the sunlight."
Maha grasped his face with both her hands, engulfing him him white light. For Lambert, it felt like warm water flowing down from the top of his head down his body. Warm, relaxing and refreshing. He almost felt like a new man.
"What did you do to me?" he asked.
"I gave you the freedom to enjoy the sun... my friend."
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