Koreatown, Los Angeles, Wednesday

[spin_kick_snap]

After discovering that Anders could heal the infected, the heroes of LA had been buoyed up by the knowledge that they could stop the spread of the zombie virus. Regenerator couldn't change anyone who had become of full-fledged zombie, but he was able to heal those they got to in time. It helped that the victims tended to have as much as a whole day between when they were bitten and when they turned. Stealth got word out to the populations that were most vulnerable, promising 'free and discreet care' to anyone who needed it, for whatever reason, and soon people were coming to them, either to be healed by 'Genny or two get heroes to help transport the infected back. 'Genny set up a walk-in clinic in a warehouse Stealth had procured and rather than patrolling, Banzai had started helping him there. She was fast, she was agile, she was good at calming people down--she made an excellent assistant and a new rapport sprang up between them.

They were saving lives. They were making a difference. It even made having to move back in with her family (under the guise of visiting for 'spring break') more palatable.

This rush of good feeling lasted for three days. Just three days. They knew they weren't stopping new zombies from turning, but between the people they were healing and the zombies the rest were killing, they really thought they were making a difference.

They were wrong. They were so wrong.

It was Sarah who woke Kathy up from her nap, eyes wide and a little scared. The fear alone had the bottom dropping out of Kathy's stomach; Sarah didn't do scared. She'd gone to school everyday through Seventeen territory and hadn't even flinched. "Sarah," she said, holding out a hand. "What is it?"

"Something's happening," Sarah said, going to sit on Kathy's bed and curling up against her big sister. "Something big. There was some kind of terrorist attack today--like a biological thing. People were screaming and rioting and attacking one another on Hollywood and Highland. Just out in the street in the middle of the day! Like--people ripped one another's throats out and stuff. It's all over the net--people were taking videos and running and screaming--they attacked little kids! And the way they looked--!" Sarah shuddered, hiding her face. "It was awful. Like a horror movie but for real. I watched people die. It looked like some were getting eaten."

"You shouldn't be watching this kind of stuff," Kathy said absently, stroking her sister's hair while her mind whirled. "It's just going to freak you out. Don't worry, the superheroes will fix it."

"I hope so," Sarah said, cuddling close. "Cause the videos I saw? It looked like the end of the world."

[NFB, but Kathy's going to be calling people. If you want her to call you (or want to call her), ping in and she did!]

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Kathy was damn proud of herself for that!

"You did! That's awesome!" Kathy enthused, mostly talking about the orange, but, hey, that other stuff was cool, too. "How did Ringo like meeting Nanika? Were they nice to one another?"

Please say yes, Alluka. Pretty please?

[that_oldsaying]

To be fair, Alluka had only told Kathy because she'd known Kathy would be happy with her.

Alluka always wanted to be considered a good girl.

"I, I think so?" Alluka said, a bit uncertainly. "Nanika was happy after. She doesn't get to say hi to many people."

But Alluka hadn't been awake for their meeting, so the details were hazy.

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"You know I love talking to you," Kathy said, because it was important that Alluka know she was loved and valued, especially after what Kathy had seen in the estate, "but if Nanika ever wants to talk to somebody, I'm happy to say hello to her, too."

And hopefully keep some poor, unsuspecting student from making a terrible choice.

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka beamed. Kathy couldn't see it, but she'd be able to hear it.

"Yeah! I'll remember! And she will too!"

Probably better than Alluka would, all told.

"Are, are you having fun doing things? I haven't see you this week."

And there'd been no care package of things this week. Alluka wasn't going to mention not getting snacks from Kathy--since that was rude--but she did wonder about it.

Kathy was probably just too busy for her. Alluka understood.

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Oh Alluka, baby, you were going to make Kathy's heart hurt.

"I'm back at home with my family this week," Kathy said carefully. She didn't want Alluka worrying about her, after all. "I was hoping I'd be able to come back to the island by this weekend, but it doesn't look like that's something I'll be able to do."

Kathy was starting to wonder if she'd be able to get back to the island at all.

"Truth be told, though? I'd rather be back at the dorms with you, drawing on walls and convincing you that one more carrot won't hurt."

[that_oldsaying]

"They're all weird and squishy when cooked. And they're boooring raw. And a slice of carrot cake really should count as a carrot, Kathy."

Because, really, why else would they call it that?

"Um, um, if you'd rather be back here, then why don't you come back?" Alluka asked. "Is your family saying you can't? Because... because...," she struggled for something that Kathy would think was important and came up with, "you're missing school, Kathy. Don't you need that? So you have to come back."

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"I have a new recipe for a nice glaze we can try for the next time we cook carrots together," Kathy promised. "It's got honey in it to make them nice and sweet!"

And at least honey was healthy!

"And we agreed, the vegetable has to be the main ingredient for a food to count. Sugar is the main ingredient of carrot cake, so it can't count as a carrot." Okay, so they hadn't actually agreed on that, but that was Kathy's rule and she was sticking to it!

"And...I know I am, Alluka. I'm missing school and my friends, too. But there's something going on here that is really important and I can't come back till it's all taken care of. Being responsible sometimes means doing stuff you don't want to, remember?"

Honestly, that was most of what being responsible meant.

[that_oldsaying]

Being responsible was really no fun at all. No wonder Kathy was making so little headway teaching Alluka how to be!

"I remember," she said, a bit doubtfully. "Is, is there anything I can do, Kathy? Did you want a toy? I could send you one! I bet Anders or Sparkle would help me do that."

That was... about all Alluka could offer. Nanika could offer a lot more, but Kathy would have to ask for that.

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No fun--but it was important! And didn't Alluka want to do important things? Like....laundry? And eating healthily? And her homework?

Kathy was on the verge of saying no, that Alluka should keep her toys safe with her, but she'd heard some of the uncertainty in Alluka's voice earlier and had an idea that Alluka hadn't really every had a chance to help before.

Maybe hadn't ever been asked.

"You know, that would be a super-great idea," she said. "If you really wouldn't mind? It'd be nice to have a friend out here with me. I never really had toys after I was ten."

Her parents had decided she was too old for such things and had given her stuffed animals and dolls away.