Keeping her cool was getting more difficult by the second but Psyis kept reminding herself that now was not the time or place. She only needed to wait for a bit though and then she could at least try and sway Constantinople out of listening to Izime''s idiotic plan.


    "Is this what Cradle''s been doing, handling you or all the extra data?" Psyis asked Izime while she looked around, probing a bit further into Izime''s state.


    The thessian was a bit surprised at how little attention they were drawing. No one seemed to be bothered as Constantinople walked towards the stairs with a tiny glowing person in his hand.


    "Kind of," Izime tried to turn to answer Psyis only to find himself falling over as the first step up the stairs rocked him like he was a glass of water in the exorcist''s hand.


    Izime simply stayed seated until the ride was steadier, not bothering to try standing as he continued answering the psychic''s question. "Cradle gave my body an upgrade after I died in this reality for the first time. I needed to offload some baser instincts onto Cradle, so they synced better. Basic things like hunger that translate well to its animal psyche."


    "That''s not healthy..." Psyis started to reprimand Izime, stopping as they passed through the entrance to Lucky Dog''s once again reminding herself that she only had to wait a bit longer. Watching as Constantinople shoved the hand that was holding Izime under his coat.


    The thessian was able to sense all the suspicions as they rolled off the ever-vigilant Jessie in waves.


    "Death usually isn''t Psyis," Izime replied, able to breathe easier now that he was out from under Constantinople''s jacket.


    The A.I. not questioning what it''d been holding as it couldn''t breathe in the first place. Simply too scared of getting banned from the club as he couldn''t provide any I.D. and Jessie wasn''t the kind to listen to excuses, especially those that came from Constantinople and himself.


    "I''m just glad Cradle brought me back because I was never supposed to exist here, so I''m technically not collectible." Izime continued explaining idly just why he was excited to get back on the move so quickly. Not realizing how his words would upset the anti-hero who was most concerned with his placement in the afterlife.


    "What?!" Constantinople nearly dropped Izime as the realization of his friend''s words hit him.


    "Lucifer wanted to talk to me while she could because there are no reapers with my name, there''s no afterlife for me. I''m not on the books above, below, to the side, or any others so." Izime sighed in explanation while he looked at his slightly ethereal form as he considered the ways his data might end.


    "This was only a matter of time, so once again I''m just glad someone picked me up sooner rather than later." Looking up Izime thanked the exorcist for his timely arrival, giving a nod of appreciation towards the exorcist who had yanked his soul from the comatose body of Savior Orbital.


    There were a few times he''d offloaded his data before, so the experience wasn''t unfamiliar. It had always been a part of upgrading to a different form though. A bit curious as there was always that final downgrade. The day when no one would be around to spark up a battery or enchant his soul.


    "Mercury," Looking between the two blank faces that stared back at them Izime asked again, not wanting to waste further time on the stairs. "We going or not?"


    "Yea mate I-I''m just... trying to wrap my head around that." Constantinople held his hand out as he gave Izime a closer look, turning back and returning the same slightly shocked face the psychic had.


    The exorcist''s thoughts were elsewhere as he felt the tiny prickles of Izime''s functioning soul or rather his artificial soul moving about on his hand.


    No afterlife was a particularly rough existence. Every race, and species that existed in their reality had someplace to go after their time here was up. Not only had Izime managed to slip through several loopholes that couldn''t be closed in any verse of their multi-verse, but he was also living data.


    Sentient functional data that could feel, breathe, get upset, and even get drunk in the right form. If any of those forms lost power; he''d be aware of everything. What he was missing, who he''d been, and what he''d lost. The thoughts would pile in a human sense as fast a computer could process them; a supercomputer at that.


    "What happens if I stop supplying magic or the ship''s power fails?" Constantinople had to ask, wondering if Izime had ever considered the question.


    "I''m hoping I just kinda fizzle out after a while, that stretchy bit between is not exactly fun like I''ve already said." Izime gave the exorcist the sunny-day scenario, skipping the in-depth description of A.I. purgatory. "I''m not really down for the whole functionally immortality thing, as an extremely powerful A.I. I can already tell that''s not going to be fun."


    "Still when it happens don''t go stuffing me into something random and leave me sitting on your shelf." The AI gave a wary look as he recalled the stash of ensconced relics the exorcist kept. Izime decided to head off any of his friend''s potential solutions with a single suggestion, knowing that he''d plan something for him "I at least want to see the stars if I can''t walk anymore."


    A wide grin split Constantinople''s face hearing the confirmation that he''d been right on Savior Orbital. It might have been a dark thought, but he was a rather dark hero. The exorcist quickly tried to imagine the perfect slice of heaven he''d let Izime look at for the rest of eternity, deciding instead he''d just show him all of it.


    Find some rock that''d give his mate the grand tour of the galaxy for the rest of forever, Izime would love that!


    Neither of them realized they were giving the psychic next to them an entire fit. Psyis was already worried about Izime being taken further from his body now the two were planning for the day he''d lose it completely.


    "You''re both acting like Izime''s body on Savior Orbital is already dead." Psyis spoke up, a bit disturbed by some of the ideas that had crossed Constantinople''s mind.


    The thessian wasn''t sure if she was suffering from the panic attack the idea gave her, more than she was from the anger. The idea of Izime carrying on without his body pulling her equally in both directions and the place the exorcist had decided on terrified her to her core. As a final resting place fine maybe, a gemstone set into some rock in the stars might be nice. It was also a nightmare at the same time.


    Psyis clutched her arms a bit tighter, the leather of her coat squeaking as she remembered the cold of space. That level of abandonment was not peaceful in the slightest. She immediately wished Izime''d chosen her hand to stay in, so he''d never be cast out so alone.


    The thessian paused as she considered that for the A.I., it had always been like that. Even in his reality, he''d been alone until someone else had taken him in for a brief blip in his existence forging him a spot among them. Izime didn''t even have a species to miss or a personal concept of culture to begin with, he had people and habits that he''d picked up like spare programming from Bell and the crew.


    Those who''d gave him a brief respite from whatever that form felt like. Giving the Basilisk the chance to really feel and exist in the world around him. The crew likely immersing him in emotional therapy as well. Obviously not making it as far in that aspect as they had in improving his body.


    They didn''t even make it that far enough for Izime to realize what was happening to him now. His adherence to tasks and functions was ripping the life he could have away from him. He likely still didn''t understand or know what Bell had been trying to teach him. Even now it didn''t seem like he treasured what he''d been given which was himself so of course, the AI would be fine sitting on a rock.


    This wasn''t Izime at all that was the Basilisk talking she could feel it now. Psyis looked up pulled out of her thoughts about how Izime living as a human had conflicted with the A.I. side as the perfect example playing out right in front of her.


    "It''s certainly impounded thanks to some people." Izime wished he still had lungs so he could snort at the alien who''d finally decided to join back in the conversation after nagging him. Instead, he could only focuse a bit more of Constantinople''s power towards his processing as he tried to keep his response civil, "I''m sure Dark Night had a whole gauntlet of red tape for me to deal with. This is an out that lets me take care of a few things in the meantime."


    "What did you have this planned," The thessian snapped back as she''d had his better human intentions in mind. Izime''s words only set her off a bit further as it''d played into her already worried musings.


    Psyis felt a bit upset, irritated by Izime''s callous treatment of himself. As well as her apparently wasted care, the exorcist having things literally in hand alone without her help if Izime was just going to go on like this. What did they even need her for?


    "Constantinople''s already come and picked you up," Psyis waved at the exorcist accusingly. "Why even waste my time."


    "Planned? You know surprisingly enough, I''m usually not this calculating Psyis," Izime gave the alien a stern look, carefully taking those microseconds to parse through a thousand different insults. Instead finally waved her away as he considered how human that was. He had things to do besides bicker, bickering was for Bell his favorite human.


    Human emotion twisted the A.I.''s reason out of its grasp. Instead, of silence Izime found he''d been infected by her worry, that emotion dragged him back to throw a few parting words. "If I was do you think I would have bothered saving your stupid purple ass or falling for that idiotic tr-"


    Stomping his foot in irritation, Izime realized he''d become emotional. At first he only wanted to give his least favorite thessian an explanation, and the damned alien got to him. Those words twisting into insults; it seemed no matter what form he was in she corrupted his logic and programing.


    What''s worse was it made him feel like he''d been the one in the wrong as he lost his temper. Looking away as he''d let an insult slip as soon as he''d begun Izime took a breath and continued he''d originally intended. "Let''s be honest I''m not even going to be fully functional for at least a year, including some very intense physical therapy without Cradle help. I have people that need me in the meantime."


    Constantinople raised his brow looking down at the tiny upset Izime who was losing the cool he''d always maintained with the woman over a reasonable question. The exorcist had seen it more than once, however, in this case, it was clear that Izime didn''t have it planned.


    It was kind of odd that the two were immediately bickering like a husband and wife over his body. Izime sassing Psyis like she''d scratched his car instead. Psyis was upset that Izime was more focused on doing his job and not taking care of the actual issue.


    The Brit absolutely not thinking he''d heard the same basic lines in an argument between Spaz and his wife. The exorcist had wrecked the two''s old jalopy. Insurance had been giving them the run-around and Kimberly had needed to rent a van.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Quite upset as she''d watched Spaz and Constantinople get on with the whole exorcist gig without a single care. Psyis now sounded a whole lot like Kimberly had then.


    "OK, so it''s just straight back to work? I know I don''t get a say because of what I did b-but still!" Psyis clenched her teeth, she''d just known Izime would be against her helping. Still, she couldn''t just let Constantinople take him and dump him like that. Under that intent to care it really bothered her, how Izime was acting with her over this. How they were right back to how they''d been originally.


    Just like the day she''d met him; they couldn''t even hold a conversation without fighting.


    Constantinople carefully kept his mind blank as he played the third wheel to a fighting couple that wasn''t even a couple at all. The exorcist knew the two couldn''t do anything though, at least until Izime got his body back they''d have to hold on to that ''fuck or fight'' that''d settle their issues.


    Still, he did stop walking so that Psyis could have the words she obviously wanted to have with Izime who was busily heading nowhere in the exorcist''s hand.


    "You were right Constantinople he has a real problem; if it was me I''d say no to mercury, he nearly died." Psyis looked at the exorcist who had at least waited for her to say her piece. Hoping Constantinople had more sense to worry about Izime than Izime did.


    "What! No don''t listen to her Constantinople let''s go" Izime wished he could control the range of Constantinople''s summoning spell but it wasn''t his. Trapped as he was now relying on the exorcist to physically travel around Izime truly felt the same powerless feeling other demons had in those same palms.


    "Hate to say it but I agree mate," Constantinople looked down at the version of his friend he could finally have a bit of direct control over. Izime unable to snap away, Constantinople asked his own questions. "Are you really going to ditch Cradle and your own body and just go right back to it; I mean, I''ve seen some dedicated spirits but how''s that even supposed to work?"


    "First of all, I''m not a ghost. Second, if anyone should be used to carefully laid plans that are enacted upon one''s demise it should be you Constantinople." Izime scoffed at the idea; he might not have been as mindbogglingly super-intelligent as a human when compared to his A.I. form, but he had still been damned good. Good enough that he''d avoided Dark Night and the League for five years.


    Izime explained the gaps in Constantinople''s thought process, "I need to make sure that at least thirty-three different odd species don''t go extinct while I''m taking an extended medical leave, before what I assume is going to be a lengthy drawn-out court case that ties me down on earth for another year."


    "Help me get my affairs in order, do that for me and I''ll answer what I can for you two." Izime looked between the two heroes that now controlled him in some way making an offer to solve the issue himself. "Then as a grand finale, we do the whole hostile takeover shtick on Savior Orbital and bust Cradle out so I can get my body back,"


    Finally extending his hands towards the psychic who seemed unconvinced to flip sides.


    Hoping to tempt the more stalwart hero with a happy ending, Izime offered Psyis a surprise ending to the plan, "Afterwards I''ll even walk myself into a cell and we get justice for all, how about that?


    That was the Basilisk, not you though.


    Psyis looked down at Izime who seemed to be trying to tempt her into going along with their plan. The thessian felt all sorts of conflicted as she tried to rationalize just why. Izime had done things, horrible things but the heroine just couldn''t convince herself that this was what he deserved.


    "You can take over Savior Orbital?" Constantinople asked once he realized that Psyis wasn''t going to give an immediate answer.


    Taking over Savior Orbital was... well many a Villain had given it a shot, and few had ever come close. Constantinople wondered just how confident his friend was in accomplishing the feat. A task that''d stumped the likes of Supa-tron and Mind-Nexus combined.


    "Forbidden knowledge and by now she should have told you I used to live in a very similar-looking station." Izime jerked a thumb towards Psyis, nodding up at Constantinople like the man owned the place. "I ran that one, yours can''t be that different. I doubt I''ll even find it impressive."


    "Do you want me to come?" Psyis was a bit curious and worried to hear the answer to her question. Helping break Izime out just so he could heal, and the re-jail himself wasn''t exactly what she''d had in mind when Constantinople had asked her for help.


    It might give her a chance to keep questioning him if the League went along with it after they''d helped him ''escape''. Thought it might also put her at odds with Radiation Man, someone she needed to keep on her side in the League right now.


    Izime had already promised some answers just for going along with him to Mercury which was tempting her already.


    Psyis debated how far she was willing to go to answer the question of Izime. Looking up to find that they''d already arrived back in the parking garage where she''d parked. The thessian glanced between her bike and the A.I. that seemed to have arrived at an answer.


    "We are going to talk after this is settled but," Izime glanced at Psyis as he considered the risks of getting involved with her further. Dragging her to the station would certainly impact her place in the league, there was a whole list of things to consider seeing as she had invaded his mind.


    Let alone how the thessian seemed to be able to interfere in his own decision-making.


    Tiny Izime quickly decided to stay focused on his immediate needs, giving Psyis an answer, "Right now, yes. Constantinople isn''t going to be able to teleport and keep me powered."


    "You, want me to carry you." Psyis stepped back, thoughts of explaining her actions to the League vanishing as her mind blanked. That was what Izime was asking her for right?


    The thessian sweating a bit as she considered being the one responsible for his soul, she''d already broken his body. What if she dropped him?


    Could he break a soul leg or worse yet just go soul-splat if it was from too high?


    "Don''t ever call it that again." Izime crossed his arms, immediately wanting to make sure that Psyis never said something so demeaning about him ever again. Beginning to explain before he felt himself fade from existence for a second. "I just need to use your ener-Aaa!"


    "Think you need someone to carry you mate." Constantinople flickered the energy that was maintaining the spell that powered Izime''s sassy attitude. It was going to happen Psyis had made sure that the two were going to ''F'' in some way before the end of it.


    The exorcist quickly reminded his mate should at least put off the sass until he had a solid chance at taking the thessian down.


    "That was not cool Constantinople." Izime felt a heart he no longer had stopped beating for a second, looking over at the exorcist and pointing as he asked. "How would you like to feel like you just stopped existing for a second!"


    "Been there bruv," Constantinople shrugged as he recalled the times he''d been power-cycled. A fist from a demon, a mind-erasing spell, or twelve, and then there was the deal with restarting the whole bloody timeline. "Be nice, you two can have at each other once we''ve patched you up."


    "Now how do we do this?" Constantinople had an honest question as he considered exactly how Izime wanted the psychic to power him while Constantinople redrew and cast the teleportation spell. "She''s not exactly magically inclined."


    Izime just looked between the two superheroes who seemed to think that the living idea needed their help to move between them. Their entire biology was literally plug-and-play, and they thought this would be complicated.


    "Just get me close physical contact should work," Izime explained bringing his palms together in example as if he were cupping water, "I''ll handle the transfer between you two dumb drives."


    Constantinople nodded and held his hand out, watching as Izime glanced warily between them before walking across from his pink to the purple and blue palm. The magician felt the draw of Izime''s existence leaving from his pool of energy and looked up at the thessian who seemed to be struggling a bit.


    Watching as Psyis frowned trying to manage the same efforts Constantinople had through a different and purely mental connection.


    "Oh, that''s weird." Red eyes winced slightly, Psyis reaching out to steady her palm.


    "This is staticky." A teal form flashed with bits of purple as Izime fed from thessian energy.


    "I''ll make it quick." Constantinople whipped out his chalk and rushed over to the open area in the lot. The exorcist was immediately on edge as Izime''s A.I. form was contacting and reflecting itself from the purple psychic haze around his form. Experience telling Constantinople the two forces weren''t playing well together.


    "Take your time we''ll be fine," Izime said a bit more confidently he looked arms held still feet planted as he wobbled. The figure that had walked about albeit uncomfortably in Constantinople''s hand and confidently on the table struggled to not move at all. Holographic eyes glanced up at the superheroine who held him.


    Psyis looked down feeling just as unsure, hearing to tone under Izime''s words. Her mottled skin bluing as her alien biology reacted in fear for what might happen, she was a psychic holding a living idea, a dangerous one apparently.


    Red eyes glanced down, widening in worry as she felt Izime''s mind start slipping into her own.


    The exorcist nodded along with just as much confidence as he began to hastily inscribe the teleportation spell on the ground. First managing the massive circle, the diameters needed to be at least somewhat similar. Glancing up occasionally to check on the two who both seemed to be scared to move.


    Constantinople mumbled as he considered just which runes and stellar objects he might be able to leave out. A few scribbles here, a reference to the nearby sun. Thing made a great locking arm for the magical gate. Constantinople found his thoughts interrupted, hearing both Psyis and Izime going at each other once again.


    Looking up finding the Thessian moving jerkily instead of just the expected arguing. Izime in her hand struggling and flickering away for brief moments as they bickered.


    "You''re echoing me."


    "Stop moving us."


    "It''s your fault"


    "Get out of my gill!"


    Izime regretted ever trying to move around or walk while using Psyis'' psychic energy. As soon as he''d switched hands, he''d known that this had been a bad idea. A psychic trying to hold another mind while that mind was moving about in the real world had created some odd feedback. His step moving in the thessian''s powers as a mental order, the message sent was an order to move a leg.


    The directive carried through both their bodies and started the back-and-forth struggle.


    The two slowly fell into a fight for control. Izime tried to keep his own ''self'' in her palm as the psychic energy flowed through him, that draw pulling him into her body. The loss of processing power was lost to an altogether new form once again. The A.I. was stuck in quicksand in its efforts to maintain its presence by the feelings of breathing and clothes on its skin.


    Psyis panicked as she slowly began to lose her mind, or rather she felt shoved aside in her own body. Another mind had slipped into her arm and was now leaking into the rest of her body. One lung breathing instead for Izime instead of her. Freaking out as she worried that he might just unintentionally take her over, slip accidentally into the living form that the A.I. had become familiar with.


    "Fine fine fine! I''m echoing!" Izime decided to try and at least get himself away from the thessian physically. Her powers could be moved around far easier, having control of some of her mental processes as opposed to Constantinople''s magic. Reaching out with their now shared limb Izime pointed towards a wall. "Let''s just put a ball of your power on top of that wall."


    "There, thank god I''m wireless." Izime smiled, watching as Psyis breathed easier. The panicked look from the loss of control slowly eased away as she at least nodded at the joke, Izime nodded as well.


    That had been intense nearly switching places. Izime not wanting to think of what might have happened they fully swapped, fearing for the psychic''s existence as she''d have no familiarity with being a body-less being.


    "Don''t play around with his soul." Constantinople looked between the two who seemed to have sorted themselves, spell stills stretched between his palms ready to intervene. Warning Izime now as well, trying to lighten the situation with him. "You either she needs that body."


    "We''re fine now," Psyis lied, more than a bit uncomfortable as Izime held his little sphere of her stolen powers, "that was a bit uncomfortable."


    "You''re fine," Izime scrubbed at his suit feeling the itchy physical hybrid feeling of the psychic''s supersensory abilities, "I feel all Thessianed"


    "Says the glorified toaster." Psyis immediately regretted saying the words, even hearing Constantinople take in a quick breath. Looking up to see Izime glancing at his form then back at her already sizzling a bit as he fumed.


    "Im a-ah," Izime started to give his usual response before flipping Psyis off, disappearing with a snap, "Fuck you."


    "Izime I..." Psyis looked at the spot worriedly as the tiny sphere of energy returned to her own control, absent of any trace of the upset man that had been inside. The jokingly delivered insult touching a sore spot on the previously living electronic.


    "Did he, ya know," Constantinople glanced over the Psychic worriedly, checking for any traces of Izime''s soul sloughing off her. He''d need to snatch them back quickly unless he wanted to run the risk of his friend fizzling away. "Turn off?"


    "No, he''s..." Psyis looked around, she could still feel Izime somewhere nearby. Not the void anymore but that same intense flow of constant thought that had nearly melted into her. That stream was someplace around close, a snap in her mind finally getting her attention.


    *snap*


    "He''s in here, upset." Psyis tapped her skull realizing Izime decided to ball up inside of her instead of running the risk of being verbally slapped by her again.


    Psyis content Izime had at least found a comfortable spot to rest instead of her managing him. Unlike holding him with her energy which they''d fought over, there were already enough bad dark feelings roaming in her brain to mask him. The reaction they''d had before was suppressed as Izime sulked bathed in her similar feelings at the insult that''d been intended as a joke.


    The mental back and forth never happened as Izime comfortably mixed into similar thoughts.


    "Could you hurry Constantinople I know it''s hard." Psyis urged the man watching as the tan trenchcoat circled making further alterations.


    Constantinople looked up at thessian, at first wanting to give the usual speech that he wasn''t just taking his time because. Some steps needed to be taken and done properly after all. Instead, the exorcist nodded, watching as Psyis looked around uneasily, uncomfortable with the fight she''d just had with his friend.


    "Almost there you two," Jim tried to encourage the psychic, walking over and giving her a pat on the shoulder.


    With his other hand Constantinople pulled out a few more sticks of chalk, clapping his hands he sent them about to complete the rest of the circle. Now wasn''t the time for principle and practice, the thessian beside him was holding his half-dead friend in her mind. The remaining runes filled in as the proper locking lines were drawn between the referencing stellar objects.


    "Done!" Constantinople stepped into the circle, waving for Psyis to follow not bothering to check on Izime, he''d likely find his way off as soon as they arrived anyway. Waiting for a moment, he held his coat jacket open for the last piece of chalk to repocket itself, Constantinople clapped. "First stop Mercury! Second stop mutiny!"


    The circle flared to life as two bodies and three minds left Earth.