Twisted and Accursed, Chapter 33

“I suppose you’ve collected even more data from that little fight?”

[I have. It was interesting. That ability of yours. How does it work?]

“Ah, you’re a super smart super alien; I’m sure you can figure it out on your own. Besides, does it really matter?”

[No. It does not. You upheld your end of the bargain.]

“And now, it’s your turn to honor your end; otherwise, you get to be the first to find out what happens if you don’t honor your part of a Binding Vow and, believe me, no one, in the entire history of Jujutsu, has ever been dumb enough to try.”

[... I will keep my end of the vow. Prepare yourself, partner.]

“And... there we go. Huh, I didn’t think you guys tasted like anything. But the texture kind of reminds of tofu and-...”

[What have you discovered?]

“Well... that’s certainly interesting. I had absolutely no expectations and I’m still surprised.”

[You have gained a portion of my ability. Very small. But present. Curious. This has never happened before.]

“Yeah, I bet I’m the first spirit being to taste a shard. Not bad. Could use a little soy sauce but definitely not bad.”

[Can you use my ability?]

“I guess I could? It’ll be a while before it makes sense, however, because this is... nothing I’ve ever had before. It’s like... my mind’s expanding. And I’m pretty sure a bunch of me is now floating in another dimension.”

[Can you access energy storage?]

“Hmm... let me try and... I can, but I have no idea what to use it for... or how to actually take some of it for myself. But, I’m sure I’ll figure this out with enough time. Oh, look, I think I just figured out how to take some. That’s pretty cool.”

[You need to learn how to use my ability first.]

“Yep, figured I’d have to do that. Anyway, how’s your control with your Cursed Technique? You were having trouble the last time I asked.”

[It is an odd concept. I understand how it’s supposed to work, but gaining full control is difficult without relying on a Taylor Hebert clone.]

“Yeah, that’s because Cursed Techniques require a bit of emotion here and there, ya know? Even mine. I suppose you can rely on a Taylor Hebert clone to simulate the necessary emotions, but that’ll become a crutch pretty quickly.”

[What would you suggest? Emotion is inefficient. It clouds decision-making.]

"Spoken like a true alien. But here's the thing: emotions are fuel for techniques like mine. Anger sharpens my strikes. Joy makes me flexible. Fear? It keeps me alive when I'm pushing the edge. Without emotion, you'd be trying to swim with no water."

[Then you suggest I manufacture emotions? Simulations have proven insufficient.]

"Yeah, no, simulations won't cut it. You can't fake feeling and expect the same results. The human brain's got this way of firing everything – mind, body, and soul – when it really feels something. You're all about efficiency, right? Learn to tap into real emotions. That's where the power is."

[You are implying I alter my core processes to experience emotions authentically. That would involve significant restructuring. Risk is... substantial.]

"Life’s a gamble. No risk, no reward. Besides, you’re dealing with powers that bend reality. A little restructuring seems worth it, don’t you think?"

[Perhaps. Yet the unpredictability of emotion conflicts with my purpose.]

"Your purpose? To oversee Taylor Hebert clones and cause problems? Or are you thinking bigger now, thanks to me? Let's be honest: I’m reshaping the game, and you’re just starting to see the board."

[You seek to elevate yourself and, by extension, me. This aligns with our vow. Yet your methods are... unconventional.]

"Unconventional works. Hell, it’s why you agreed to this little deal, isn’t it? You’re curious. Your kind isn’t supposed to feel that, but here you are. Tell me I’m wrong."

[Curiosity is... present. Unquantified and uncharacteristic. You are an anomaly in every sense. It has proven difficult to calculate your trajectory.]

"Flatter me more, why don’t you? Seriously, though, you’re not calculating a trajectory because there isn’t one. I do what I want, when I want. That’s why you’re sticking around. I’m unpredictable, and for you, that’s probably addictive."

[Your unpredictability has proven advantageous. Yet it is also a liability.]

"Ah, but you love it. Admit it. You’re learning more from me than you ever could from your carefully controlled experiments. I’m chaos incarnate, and chaos, my friend, is where growth happens."

[Growth. Yes. Your abilities are uniquely suited to disrupt established order. This has value.]

"Value’s putting it lightly. Stick with me, and you’ll see things your kind couldn’t dream of. Powers you can’t categorize. And if you play your cards right, you’ll get a front-row seat to my next masterpiece."

[Your confidence is boundless. Yet your actions justify it. This... intrigues me.]

"Intrigues you? Oh, Queenie, I’m just getting started. This little taste of your ability? It’s a preview. By the time I’m done, I’ll have perfected it, twisted it, made it mine. And then? Well, let’s just say the sky’s not the limit anymore."

[You are ambitious. Reckless, yet calculated. Dangerous. It is both a strength and a concern.]

"Concerned for me? Aw, I’m touched. Don’t worry, though. I can handle whatever comes my way. The question is, can you keep up?"

[That remains to be seen. But for now, our partnership continues.]

"Good answer. Now, let’s see what other tricks you’re hiding. I’ve got a feeling we’re just scratching the surface- wha- hmm you want to ask me something. Go ahead."

[Your fascination with Taylor Hebert is peculiar. Why invest so much effort into her development?]

"Amusement, mostly. She’s got potential, sure, but more importantly, she’s the perfect mix of desperation and stubbornness. A tragic little underdog story. I’ll teach her, shape her, push her limits, and see what breaks first: her or the world around her."

[Her value to me is similar. Taylor Hebert provides a unique testing ground. Her affinity for chaos aligns well with Jujutsu. Through her, I can explore new applications and efficiency improvements. Her decisions, emotions, and experiences are data.]

"Data for you, entertainment for me. I push her into the fire; you analyze how hot it burns. We’re a good team, Queenie."

[She is highly adaptable. Her survival of the recent events demonstrates remarkable resilience, though much of it is attributable to my influence.]

"Don’t sell her too short. She’s a tough kid. Dumb, but tough. The stubbornness is what makes her fun. She’s like a rat in a maze that doesn’t even realize it’s in a maze. But once she does, oh, that’s when things get interesting."

[You intend to push her awareness further?]

"Of course. I’ll teach her more about Jujutsu. Domain Expansion, Binding Vows, Cursed Techniques. The whole package. She’ll claw her way to strength because she’ll think it’s the only way to survive me. And when she’s finally worth my time, I’ll fight her."

[Your intent is to destroy her after she fulfills her purpose?]

"Destroy? That’s such a narrow view. It’s not about destruction. It’s about the fight. The struggle. The test. If she survives me, she’ll prove she’s worthy. If not, well, she was never worth much, was she?"

[Your perspective is ruthless.]

"Coming from you, that’s rich. You’re running experiments on her every moment she’s breathing. What’s your endgame, Queenie? You’re not doing this out of altruism."

[Her existence offers insights I cannot gain elsewhere. Taylor Hebert operates on the edge of predictability, making her reactions to Jujutsu uniquely informative. Her bond with you further enhances her value as a subject.]

"She’s a lab rat to you, a game piece to me. We’re not so different in how we see her, are we?"

[Perhaps not. But your methods lack control. You prioritize chaos over optimization.]

"Chaos is optimization. You just don’t see it yet. Throw enough fire at something, and you’ll see what melts and what doesn’t. That’s how you find the good stuff."

[Her mental state will degrade under such pressure.]

"That’s the point. Broken people are the best to work with. They’ve got nothing left to lose, so they’re willing to do anything. Taylor’s already close to that edge. All she needs is a little push."

[Your analysis is accurate. Yet, there are risks. Excessive strain may lead to collapse, rendering her useless.]

"Then she’s useless. If she can’t handle what’s coming, she doesn’t deserve to be part of the game."

[You view her as entirely expendable.]

"Of course. Why wouldn’t I? She’s a means to an end, same as she is to you. The difference is, I don’t dress it up in flowery terms. She’s interesting because she’s desperate. Take that away, and she’s nothing."

[Your candor is noted. However, I do not require her destruction for my purposes.]

"Relax, I’m not going to waste her before her time. You’ll get your experiments. I’ll get my entertainment. Win-win."

[And should she reach her potential?]

"Then I’ll fight her. And if she surprises me? Maybe I’ll even let her win. Or maybe not. Either way, she’ll make for one hell of a finale."

[Your cooperation ensures continued progress. Your understanding of Jujutsu accelerates my own.]

"And your little experiments keep things interesting. Like I said, Queenie, we’re a good team. Just don’t get any ideas about trying to control me."

[Such an attempt would be... unwise.]

"Glad we understand each other. Now, let’s see what Taylor does next. I’ve got a feeling things are about to get fun."

...

Doctor Jessica Yamada stood at the head of the room, her posture straight but her movements deliberate. A series of images flickered on the display behind her. On one side was Taylor Hebert, a pale, tired-looking girl with black hair, her gaze downward, shoulders slightly slumped. On the other side was another version of her. The same face, same height, same build – but everything else was different. Tattoos sprawled across her body like living ink, her expression sharp, her eyes filled with something far colder, far hungrier.

Yamada clicked to the next slide. It was a split-screen comparison, zooming in on their faces.

“You can see the difference clearly in their expressions,” she began. “This isn’t just a change in attitude. The micro-expressions are distinct. Taylor’s usual self shows hesitation, anxiety, and suppressed anger. ‘Sukuna,’ as she or others have named this other persona, exhibits none of that. The tilt of her lips, the narrowed eyes, even the tension in her jaw – all point to a completely separate personality structure.”

She glanced at the room, her audience silent but attentive. The leaders of the Protectorate watched her with varying degrees of concern. The Triumverate itself was here. Legend sat with his arms crossed, Alexandria beside him, her hands folded neatly on the table, while Eidolon kept standing.

Yamada continued, her tone measured. “I believe Taylor Hebert may be suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID, which is not uncommon among Parahumans. Trigger events are traumatic by nature, and for many individuals, dissociation becomes a coping mechanism. It allows the psyche to fragment, separating parts of itself that can endure the trauma from those that cannot.”

She clicked to another slide, showing a list of known Parahumans with DID. “I’ve handled dozens of cases like this. Each one is unique, but Taylor’s case stands out. Normally, alternate personalities share the same power. There may be subtle differences in how they use it – one personality may be more reckless, another more strategic – but the abilities themselves are consistent.”

Her voice steadied, carrying a deliberate weight. “In Taylor’s case, it seems that the Sukuna persona possesses a deadlier, more advanced version of her power. Theories about her abilities vary, but it’s clear Sukuna operates at a level far beyond what Taylor herself demonstrates. This discrepancy raises questions. Is this a case of the same power manifesting differently through the lens of distinct personalities? Or are we dealing with something far more unprecedented?”

She clicked again, this time showing footage. A shaky camera captured Taylor – no, Sukuna – laughing amidst the rubble of the Rig. Her hand slashed the air, and space itself seemed to rip apart. The screen froze on her face, those crimson eyes staring directly into the lens, her expression sharp, predatory.

“I want to stress that these are preliminary observations,” Yamada said. “I haven’t spoken to Taylor directly, nor have I interacted with Sukuna. Until I do, these conclusions are speculative.”

She moved to another slide, showing brain scans and psychological data. “What we do know suggests that Taylor’s psychological state holds her back. Her body language, her hesitation, and even her combat decisions point to someone deeply conflicted. Fear, guilt, anger - all of these create barriers. Sukuna does not have those barriers. If anything, Sukuna thrives on their absence. This distinction suggests a power that adapts to the user’s mental state.”

Her gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on Armsmaster before continuing. “This raises an important question: is Sukuna a defense mechanism born during her trigger event? If so, Taylor may have subconsciously created Sukuna to handle the trauma she could not. This would explain the drastic differences in personality and ability.”

Another click. A comparison chart appeared, showing incidents involving Taylor versus those involving Sukuna. The scale of destruction under Sukuna was orders of magnitude higher. Yamada gestured toward the chart. “The scale and precision of Sukuna’s actions cannot be ignored. But while this persona seems to operate with cold calculation, we must consider the underlying purpose. Is Sukuna protecting Taylor in some way? Or is there something else entirely driving their dynamic?”

She stopped at the final slide, a blank screen. Her voice softened, but it carried no less conviction. “I must emphasize caution. Understanding Taylor Hebert – and Sukuna – requires time and direct engagement. Until I can assess them both, I cannot determine whether Sukuna is a separate personality, an evolved manifestation of her power, or something entirely unknown. The one upside that we’ve seen is that Sukuna does not appear to be the sort who kills indiscriminately.”

Yamada clicked the screen off. “I’ll need to meet with her as soon as possible.”