Paperwork is really embarrassing, mostly because of my name. They probably expected the last name of course, my dad legally changed his name long ago to fit the Dr. Damnation moniker. What they might not have thought of is what name he would choose for a daughter to keep up the theme. Which is how I ended up with the legal name of Lilith Damnation. That’s why I usually go by Lilly. At least they don’t make much of a fuss about it, although Pyre does stare. I don’t know why Albert told him to come, he’s not much help with paperwork, according to his phone he hasn’t had to do it on his own for a year or so.

  We eventually finish, although it takes over two hours. I really want to go to sleep after all this work. Al collects everything back into one almost comically big stack of papers. “And that was the last one, don’t worry, this is the most paperwork you’ll need to do. Do you need a ride back home?”

  “I guess.” Before I’d just ask a car to drive me back home whenever Mom or Dad got chased off by the police in the middle of something, but I guess they’d rather I not do that.

  “Great, Pyre, can you deal with that? I unfortunately must deliver all this paperwork, and I’m sure you know the address by now.” Oh, not this again. Our last conversation was so awkward, that I just ended up talking to the security and phone systems about the call Mr. Albert was having with the police. I really can’t multitask with my power, it’s another reason it’s so much worse than my dad’s, he can even talk with people while he’s making things … not that he usually does.

  “Ugh. I mean, yeah, I can drive her there.” I know there’s a rule about not getting in cars with strangers, but I’d feel safer in a car than in this building. Cars are polite and helpful, and even with all the friends I have in the building, cars are one big friend. Besides, my parents never cared about that rule anyway. “Hey, back to earth kid.”

  I jump a bit at that. I guess my power isn’t the only issue with my conversation ability. I don’t really get much practice usually. “Ah, right, I’m coming.”

  The two of us walk back outside the front of the building in silence. That is to say he’s silent. There are a lot of cars parked outside, so I get into a lot of conversations on our way. Eventually we get to his car, it looks older than I expected for him, but I don’t know a lot about car models. When he unlocks it I hear the strange mental noise for the third time today. I’m not talking to someone at the moment, so this time I focus on it. It’s a weird sensation, like there’s an unwound string sitting in my mind, and a part of my mind is focused on something I’m not actually thinking about. I mentally follow the string, and it leads to a connection. “Sorry to bother you madame. I just noticed you accompanying my usual driver, and wanted to be sure everything was acceptable.”

  I … didn’t know that was possible. “Uhh, yes, I’m fine, at least for now … but how did you do that … thing?”

  It responds as I start getting into the passenger seat. “Oh that? Some strange fellow mixed a phone into my radio, so I simply contacted you to ensure that I could properly enact your will..”

  That kind of raised more questions than it answered, but I probably won’t get any answers without some testing. I should save that for later though, otherwise I’ll just creep out Pyre more than I already have. Speaking of him, he starts up the car, and I hear something like a cough come across our mental link. “Are you ok?”

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  “Ah, my apologies miss, I have a few mechanical faults. One of my engine pistons is severely damaged, but I’ll endeavor to keep misfires to a minimum while working with you. Additionally my wiring is growing old, but I’m quite certain it won't fail for a few more trips.”

  How cruel, forcing his car to run while damaged like that. “Mister Pyre, your car is injured, you should get it looked at.”

  He gives me a bit of a strange look, which probably isn’t safe while driving. “Uhh, sure kid. It’s kind of a pain to get car work done. They do something to the radio to let it receive emergency calls, and suddenly you can only go to approved mechanics, which is like two supers who are never in. But yeah, it’s been misfiring recently.”

  How sad, the car’s trying its best after all. “I could probably fix it … with some parts at least.”

  He actually seems to consider it for a few seconds. “Well, as amusing as it would be to see Al’s face at that, the eventual write-up would be far too annoying. I’d say you should try and get into the whole mechanic thing, but the two guys who have it now are pretty keen to keep all their business, so it wouldn’t be worth the effort.” I don’t fully get what he means, but it sounds unpleasant. We spend the rest of the drive in silence. Dad setup near the local Heroes’ Association office to deploy drone armies against them, so it’s a short drive.

  I hadn’t gotten a good look at the house while being escorted out, and the difference hits me immediately. The house itself is gone with a blackened crater where it used to be. Reaching my power into the aboveground reveals nothing. Absolutely nobody, not even a light. Pyre looks over the charred remains. “Ah, right. You might have to use the underground lair for the most part.”

  I can feel tears welling up. I was friends with a lot of the upstairs. I still remember the tracker they snuck onto one of dad’s drones that very politely didn’t broadcast our location once I talked to him, and used his internet connection to read me stories. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. I’ve lost a lot of friends before. Dad breaks a lot of the drones whenever he uses them, even just for trivial tasks like moving furniture, and even though his power can substitute for parts, he disassembles my friends for extras all the time with no warning. Still, this is … a lot. I walk into the center of the property. There used to be a steel trapdoor here, controlled by a security system. I remember when she tried dabbling in palm readings to have something to do with the handprint scanner. It didn’t amount to much since she only had two samples, and handprints don’t really change much. Now all that’s left is the ladder down, and even that looks fire damaged. I climb down into the darkness eventually reaching the landing. The door’s missing as well, but at least there’s something here. Floodlights are set up to make up for the melted light fixtures. “The police’ll probably want those back at some-point, but one of those forms you signed was for materials, so you’ll get something to make replacements.” Pyre apparently followed me. I guess I was a bit distracted.

  I don’t really feel like responding though. I reach my power towards the floodlights and the nearest one responds immediately. “Hello my lady, I hope I can be of assistance.”

  Even that little bit of contact is helpful. I close the contact and take a few deep breaths. I’ve lost a lot of friends, but that’s always the way things go. I can make new friends, ones that nobody can break. I’m shaken out of it by Pyre speaking. “Alright … well Al just said to drop you off, so I’ll be going … people will be by to check up and such, but get some rest I guess … see ya.” He sounds a bit scared, after what he did, I honestly kind of like hearing him like this. Before I can dwell on that particular thought he’s gone. Still, at least I’m not completely alone.