Kintsugi Plays Fallen Hero: Retribution (ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ …(^_^)…)

listen we didn't invite her on this car ride! We don't need to explain shit! Also it'd be funny to act like this is a normal carpool.

 

all roads DO lead to car! delightful! ortega get out-

Spoiler: potential spoilers? alt route end

can't wait to see if all roads also lead to car crash lmao, since ortega being with us is apparently railroaded

 

Look, this is the same woman who brought us to a stakeout in Hollow Ground's territory. It's not not a normal date by those standards, right…?​

> "Can I drop you off somewhere?" Pretend everything is cool.

"Can I drop you off somewhere?" Pretend everything is cool. Maybe it will be.

"Down at Mason will be fine," Ortega says, playing along. It's as if someone has stripped all the emotion from her voice and just left what's needed to bring the point across.

"Did he hurt you?" you ask, mouth dry, tongue like wood.

"Please," she starts, in control, and then her voice cracks, and frustration seeps in. "You have to talk to me, Barbara. Right now, you have to help yourself. Otherwise, I can't."

"I'm talking," you say, the traffic outside fading together into streams of neon. "But there's not much to say." You're driving on instinct now, the clump in your stomach urging you to ask. "What were you doing there?"

"I got a tip that Hollow Ground was coming into town for an important meeting. In person. So I thought I would go have a look." A tip. So simple. Every organization has snitches. "I didn't expect to find you there."

"I go there sometimes," you lie, not daring to look at her. Why did you let her close? Harder to lie. "I got into trouble." Keep things simple. Keep things clean.

"Don't bother lying to me." The sadness in Ortega's voice makes your stomach turn, but she shows no mercy as she continues. "I know about your visits to Joes. Your criminal contacts. That's why I approached you in the first place."

"Approached me." You can feel your mouth twitch. So it wasn't just a chance meeting then. "You mean flirted with me."

"Yes." The admission is a quiet one.

>

"Was anything real?" It's not fair. You're supposed to be the liar. The one pulling the strings. The one with the masks. The fact that Ortega has been running a long con is disturbing, to say the least. What else has she been lying about?

"Of course it was," she says, but you can't really take her word on that.

A pained chuckle. "I kept trying to think of reasons you were visiting Hollow Ground that weren't bad."

"Did you manage to find any?" Your answer is supposed to be flippant but just comes off as sad.

"No." The finality of that word feels like handcuffs and prisons. "Are you working for them?"

"Did it look like we were on good terms back there?"

"Not exactly," she admits.

"They were going to kill me." A small exaggeration.

"So, who are you working for then?" Does she already know? You can't be sure. A glance in the rearview mirror shows nothing but a grim stare. One you never thought would be aimed at you.

Is it easier or harder in this body?

　‣ "It's complicated." Like everything else in my life.
　‣ "Anathema," I admit, she probably already knows.
　‣ "No. I've got the right to remain silent."

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 58% / Caution: 42%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 52% (-5)
██████████▒█████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Friends.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 67%
█████████████▒██████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I kinda want to admit Anathema here, see where that takes us

 

While we ponder this choice, I've just realized I can now share one of my favorite bits of foreshadowing!


hey guys, remember that time Ortega found us in a diner?

despite us specifically choosing a random hole in the wall, far beneath Ortega's standards, in order to avoid that exact scenario?

I wonder what she was doing there…

 

Hey, that board with the pictures and strings...........

 

Ortega does like her conspiracy boards, doesn't she!

most relatable character in that respect, tbh

 

> "Anathema," I admit, she probably already knows.

"Anathema," you admit, Ortega probably already knows. The big question is how much she knows about Josie's connection to everything. Fuck. Maybe it would have been a less painful car ride if Ortega hadn't rescued you. At least then, you wouldn't have had to talk.

"I knew it." She tries to hide her triumph, but you know her too well to miss it. "I've been charting their organization for a while now. You're the second-in-command, right?"

"It's not that easy…." You bite your lip hard. You need to think about this clearly. Don't get suckered into confessing. You've sacrificed too much to get cold feet now. It's too late to grow a conscience.

"It's okay; take your time." Why does Ortega have to sound so reasonable? Good at her job. Too good.

"They're going to kill me." You can feel the chill running down your spine, a cold sweat making damp spots on your clothes.

"I won't let them." Her voice is hard now, putting the pieces back together. "I assume that's why you were at the gala? On their orders?"

"Yes," you admit, blinking hard. Your eyes are stinging. "I swear I didn't know what they were planning. I could have been killed. They don't care if I live or die. Just that I'm useful." The bitterness surprises you, part of you hates how you are using Barbara, and it looks like it just got a voice. "They are using me."

"Not anymore." She reaches out to put a hand on your shoulder, and you almost swerve into another car by mistake. "I'm sorry, Barbara, but I have to arrest you. We'll protect you from them," a faint hitch to her voice, but the smile is confident. "If you help bring them in, I will talk to the prosecutors. I'm sure we can work something out."

Your hands are shaking, and you fumble the seat belt on as if that could steady you. "I can't," you mumble, staring straight ahead. Are you crying? "You don't understand. They won't let me go. They'll always reach me." You feel feverish; the truth is so mixed with lies you don't even know how to begin to untangle it. Or if you should. Are you talking to yourself? You can't let Ortega bring you in. There's no difference between losing Barbara to death or prison. Lost all the same. The car is picking up speed.

"Make me understand then," she snaps, an edge of frustration to her voice. "Make me understand what kind of hold they have over you. I want to help." You want to mumble, don't say it, don't say it, but she says it all the same. "I care about you."

"I didn't want to hurt you," you lie, but the tears in your eyes turn it into truth. "They do." You smile a little as you (they) turn the wheel, sending the car crashing into oncoming traffic. The airbag hits you like a punch.

You are wearing your seat belt. Ortega is not.

 

> !!!

Time.
Time flashes by.
Time slows down.
Time stands still.
Time is relative, time is elusive, and time is not on your side as the world turns upside down in glass and light. Your hands still clutch the steering wheel, but for a moment, you're not sure if it was you that turned it. Was it your hands that caused this? Ortega is screaming in your ear, but your internal clock has slowed the words, and they are now distorted beyond comprehension. Someone is laughing. Perhaps it's you. Perhaps it's someone else.

There is freedom in onrushing doom. To know that nothing you do matters and all endings are the same. Lying on the ground, breathing through broken ribs, blood bubbling from your lips, twitching. Would be easier to stop. Would have been better if you did.

But you don't want that. You want to live. You're willing to crawl through hell to get there, and that thought is odd enough to give you pause. Don't you want to rest? Just stop? No, not this time, leave skin and blood on the ground, but you won't let go. Not like this.

Never like this.

You know that with a certainty that hurts.

Hands on your face. Withered. Skeletal. Slipping down a tunnel faster and faster, and oh god, it hurts so badly. Losing words. Losing memories. Losing yourself, thoughts disconnecting, lights flicking off one by one, and nothing makes sense. Nothing connects. It's the end, you're dying, but you also know with the same certainty that this is not the end.

not the end

different hands on your face

words unremembered

soft. hands and words.

"just look at you"

kind?

"you're worth a better fate than being cut up for spare parts"

bitter.

a kiss on your forehead?

a name whispered in your ear?

"Barbara."

The airbag rises like a cloud to meet you.

 

Spoiler: alt route

ah, so all roads do lead to car crash! I have to wonder whether it's"ortega is an enemy" or "sent the puppet to HG" that tips it from an attack on us to an attack by us

FASCINATING overall tho. I was hoping we'd get some new info on the puppet by sending her to HG- I only got a vague hint in the epilogue of my run- but this is something else entirely! I love it!

 

> Darkness Takes You

Dark. Flat on your back. Everything aches in the distant way of sleeping wrong but not being awake enough to turn over.

"Why did you do it?" The voice is a whispery thing, an echo of your inner thoughts given form. A memory? No, this never happened.

"Do what?" You look over toward Anathema, sitting on the table, a familiar table, a fast food place. A diner.

Did you use to come here?

"You know."

They look directly at you, something you've always been uncomfortable with. Scrutinized. You know eye contact is important, so you meet their gaze anyway.

Your comfort never mattered.

　‣ "No, I don't. I don't know. I don't know anything."
　‣ "Take your name?"
　‣ "Switch sides?"
　‣ "I had no choice."

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 58% / Caution: 42%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 52%
██████████▒█████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Friends.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 67%
█████████████▒██████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Unhelpful non-spoiler answer to spoiler question: Most traffic collisions have multiple underlying causes :) Some more immediately apparent than others.

It's wild how many new discoveries you can run into on replay. (I got more-or-less this route on my first playthrough, and had basically your reaction in reverse when I replayed and saw how differently it could go!)

 

Okay I initially thought this was going to be our borrowed body's ghost talking, this is not the ghost I was expecting!

.... Name is my current vote

 

> "Take your name?"

"Take your name?" You touch your head. It hurts. Just like everything else. Just like the look on their face.

Freckles. A slightly stubby nose. A mouth more used to smiling.

Smiling at you even.

You can remember it clearly. Falling apart. Under their hands. Freckles turning to blisters, turning to wounds. A horrible way to die.

"Drag it through the dirt, you mean." Anathema swings their feet back and forth. Short. Shorter than you. Sitting on the table pretending to be a kid.

Pretending to be alive.

　‣ "No, I wanted you to be remembered."
　‣ "You're dead. Why do you care?"
　‣ "Did you think we were on the right side? We were not."

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 58% / Caution: 42%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 52%
██████████▒█████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Friends.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 67%
█████████████▒██████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>right side?

 

Our public story was picking the name to make a point about things to the Rangers, among others

 

> "Did you think we were on the right side? We were not."

"Did you really think we were on the right side back then?" you ask with a shrug. "We were not." Tools. All of you. Cogs in a machine neither of you understood.

"We were heroes." An accusatory finger pointed right at your chest. "Not killers."

"Tell that to Steel."

"He was a soldier."

"And that is different, how? Because his country told him it was fine? Because his superiors told him that people needed to die because they were in the way?"

"There's a difference, and you know it."

"Is there? Is there really?"

"Don't try to distract from the issue at hand."

"We were tools. That's what we were. Tools of a system we knew nothing about."

"And now you do?"

"Oh, believe me, I do." You cross your arms, staring them down. "And the truth is ugly."

"Then why won't you tell the others?" There's a look of earnest confusion on their face, "I mean, if you think they're wrong and you're right."

"Don't you think I want to do that?" You press your hand to your aching head. You should stop talking, but it was always safe with them. "They won't believe me. You don't believe me."

"Even if they won't, they're still your friends. You should talk to them."

"They'll try to talk me out of it. Besides, it's gone too far." You look away, finally. "I'm seeing this through to the end. No matter what I need to do to get there."

"That doesn't sound like the Sidestep I know." They slide off the table, taking a step toward you.

"…breathe, dammit…"

"Of course it doesn't." You hold your ground, giving them a confident stare as you continue…

　‣ "Sidestep is dead."
　‣ "You never really knew me."
　‣ "You're just a delusion. I don't need to explain myself to you."

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
███████▒████████████
Daring: 58% / Caution: 42%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 52%
██████████▒█████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
████████████████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Friends.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 67%
█████████████▒██████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

I'm inclined towards "none of you knew me" out of curiosity if it leads to any of our Secrets

So far I can't think of any hints of us knowing of anyone who meddles in dreams... but this Anathema seems to know both things the real one did, and an odd mix of things we've done and yet not know some things we've been up to. Would we think of this as anything but a dream?

(I also note that non-italics line over there, Ortega or someone else?)

 

> "You never really knew me."

"You never really knew me."

"Really?" Closer. Did they even move? "I thought we could talk about everything."

"Just because we had a few things in common doesn't mean that I told you everything."

"I know. I wish you would have. Talking to you about…who I am helped."

"Huh, and here I thought you were the very poster child of enbies."

"Just because I know who I am doesn't mean the rest of the world agrees. It could be tough, being a public person." Closer now. Almost close enough to touch. "You helped."

"I find that hard to believe." You cross your arms and hold your ground.

"You've gotten more cynical."

"Blame life for that. And death. Though I have no idea why I keep talking to you considering you're not really here."

"…come on…"

"If I'm not, then why do you care?" A touch to your chest, but their hand doesn't connect. Intangible, like mist or hope.

"Who says I do." The mindscape around you has gone darker, Anathema a pale wisp of a candle in front of you. So easy to snuff out.

"I do. And you need to wake up now. Otherwise, you'll die." The most fleeting of smiles. "And that would be a shame."

 

> …

have…have you been here before?

shattered in darkness a thousand pieces in the sky like stars

oh if you could be oil and melt together again

reflecting unseen rainbows

oil burns. oil poisons the ground. oil and tar and animals that sink and are preserved and then someone will dig them up and put their bones on display and say "this was a person."

wrong. of course.

lies.

six years of life is spent dreaming. you have four years left, and you try to fit them all in your last remaining seconds.

who's keeping count?

life flashes before your eyes, but is it your life or simply dreams undreamt?

　‣ Pull it together. Don't let go. Focus!
　‣ Nothing matters anymore. Drifting here feels peaceful.
　‣ Am I sinking or falling? No. I'm being pulled. Down.

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
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Leadership: 63%
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Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
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Ruthlessness: 36% / Empathy: 64%
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Daring: 58% / Caution: 42%
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Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
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Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 52%
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Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
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Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
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Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
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Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Friends.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 67%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters