Jesseca recovered quickly and sneered at Hannah before running full bore at her, sword overhead in preparation of a strike. Hannah leapt over Jesseca and let her run underneath before landing behind her. What Hannah hadn’t noticed was that Jesseca had spun on her heels and brought her sword back around, slicing Hannah in half at her waist.
“…and smarter.” Hannah managed to choke out before the two halves of her separated and fell to the floor with a sickening wet thud.
Jesseca breathed heavily as she looked around at the horde of enemies still surrounding her. “One down, a thousand to go.” she thought with a sigh as she lifted her sword once more, readying herself for a fresh onslaught, but none came. As Jesseca stood still, waiting, she heard someone clapping.
“Very good Ms. French, you passed with flying colors.” an unseen voice said from somewhere in the vast courtyard.
Jesseca watched as the army of Thorns disappeared before her eyes, and the courtyard faded into a stark steel room, void of everything except one man. “Who are you? What’s going on?” Jesseca asked, noticing that her attire had changed to a simple shirt and disposable diaper, her sword and other enchanted items gone along with her jumpsuit and her surroundings.
“I am Ernesto Hess, and you have passed your trial.” the man said with a smile.
End Part II
Part III: Trial Of The Century
Chapter I: Back To The Beginning
Jesseca watched as the army of Thorns disappeared before her eyes, and the courtyard faded into a stark steel room, void of everything except one man. “Who are you? What’s going on?” Jesseca asked, noticing that her attire had changed to a simple shirt and disposable diaper, her sword and other enchanted items gone along with her jumpsuit and her surroundings.
“I am Ernesto Hess, and you have passed your trial.” the man said with a smile.
“Trial? What are you talking about?” Jesseca asked, still disoriented by what was happening.
“At the beginning of their career’s all heroes are subjected to a trial to test their resolve and dedication to being a hero, as well as their ability to function as a cohesive unit with other heroes. You, Diapered Dandy have passed your trial and are now a full fledged hero of Paragon City.” Ernesto explained to Jesseca.
“So everything that I’ve been through was a lie? My friends, Hannah’s death, everything, you willingly put me through all of that for my supposed benefit?!” Jesseca shouted angrily.
“Calm down Ms. French, this is the way we’ve operated for decades.” Ernesto said.
“That doesn’t make it right! These are peoples lives you’re toying with. Forcing me to lose Hannah was one thing, but then making me kill her! How can that possibly be for my benefit!?” Jesseca shouted, tears forming in her eyes.
“Because if a situation like that were to ever come up in real life we have to know that you’ll be able to rise to the challenge. I’m sorry that we deceived you, but you must understand that it was quite necessary.” Ernesto said.
Jesseca wiped her tears away. “So was any of it real?” she asked with pleading eyes.
“Only the powers and abilities that you got while in the trial. The other heroes do exist, but you’ve never actually met them. I’m sorry, if it’s any consolation, you won’t remember any of this soon.” he said.
“What do you mean?” Jesseca asked.
“Sister Psyche if you please.” Ernesto said.
Suddenly Jesseca felt a tingle in her brain, as if someone were running their hands over her mind. Thoughts of Hannah and the others faded from her mind, she fought desperately to retain the memories but they slipped away from her like sand through an hourglass.
“Congratulations Diapered Dandy, you’re now a full fledged hero of Paragon City.” Ernesto said to Jesseca as soon as he saw a vacant look in her eyes.
“Thank you! Mr?” Jesseca said joyfully as she went to Ernesto and shook his hand happily.
“You’re very welcome, my name is Ernesto Hess, I’m in charge of new hero relations. Allow me to give you these to commemorate this event.” he said as he fished two tickets from his pocket.
“What are these?” Jesseca asked excitedly.
“One of these coupons will provide you with a free session at the Icon Tailor, they’ll outfit you with a costume that will help you establish your own identity in the city. The other will allow you to visit the R&D labs at Crey Technologies, using ground breaking technology they can modify your genes to provide you with a “travel power”.” Ernesto said.
“Travel power?” she asked.
“Flight, teleporting, super speed, or leaping are the travel powers that you can choose from. They’ll help you be on a more even keel with heroes that are already endowed with those particular abilities.” he explained.
“Thank you very much Mr. Hess, I won’t let you down.” Jesseca said cheerfully as she left the room.
“She seemed quite unstable when she found out about the trial.” A woman’s voice said from across the room.
Ernesto looked toward the tall red headed woman that entered the room. “That’s why we wipe their memories, to ensure that they don’t go rogue.” he said.
Sister Psyche looked intently at Ernesto Hess and let her telepathic powers creep into his mind.
“Careful Psyche,” Ernesto said as he held up a remote control and let his thumb hover above the button on it. “I wouldn’t want to have to blow that pretty head of yours up.” he said with a smile.
“Yes sir.” Sister Psyche said with a bow as she retracted he telepathic wanderings and left the room.
Jesseca departed her cab as it stopped outside of Crey Technologies in the heart of Galaxy City. As she entered the large building she felt very tiny in comparison to the cold steel behemoth. Jesseca made her way to the front counter and smiled at the woman behind the counter.
“May I help you?” the woman asked with a smile.
“I have this coupon.” Jesseca said as she held up the ticket that Ernesto had given her.
“Head to the elevator and go to the thirtieth floor.” the woman said as she pointed down the hallway behind her.
Jesseca’s bare feet slapped softly on the cold linoleum as she walked to the elevator. Standing in the metallic box as it climbed upward she blushed as she saw her reflection, clad in a disposable diaper and a t-shirt, she suddenly felt very silly looking in this highly professional environment. She hurriedly departed the elevator when it reached her floor and made her way to the front desk of the R&D department.
“Hello and welcome, how may I assist you today?” the young man behind the counter asked.
Jesseca again presented her ticket and was led back to a laboratory by the young man. “Dr. Ashford?” the young man addressed a tall gray haired scientist as they entered the lab.
“Yes? Ah, another new hero I presume.” Dr. Ashford said when he saw Jesseca.
“Yes sir, I was given this ticket by…” Jesseca started to explain but was cut short.
“Yes, I know all about it, now what can we set you up with?” the man asked rather curtly.
Jesseca felt nervous, she hadn’t thought about what she was going to get yet. “Umm, well I’ve always wanted to fly, I guess.” she said, tripping over her words clumsily.
“Right then, please step into this chamber here, and we’ll have you aloft in a jiffy.” Dr. Ashford said as he pointed out a large chamber on the other side of the room.
Jesseca padded over to the machine and stepped inside, as the door closed she felt nervous upon hearing the machine begin to hum loudly. Suddenly a blinding light filled the chamber and washed over her, she felt a tingle all through her body and somehow felt lighter.
As soon as the light and noise had started it was over, and the door to the chamber slid open and Jesseca stepped out slowly, her eyes struggling to focus after the barrage they’d just endured.
“All done, thank you for stopping by.” Dr. Ashford said as he ushered Jesseca back out of the lab.
“But how do I fly?” she asked the doctor.
“Part of the process is that your mind is hardwired to allow you to use your power by thinking about it, just think of flying and you’re off.” he said as the door shut behind Jesseca.
“What a jerk.” she thought as she left the building. “Just think about flying.” she scoffed and then noticed that she was now hovering a few feet off the ground.
“YAHOO!!!” was the excited shout that was heard by citizens on the street below as Diapered Dandy flew overhead in a blur.
“First time I take it.” came a woman’s voice from above her.
Jesseca stopped and looked up, she saw a beautiful green haired woman hovering above her. “That noticeable, huh?” she asked with a blush.
“I think the “YAHOO!!!” might have tipped me off.” the woman said with a smile.
“Sorry, I just got excited.” Jesseca explained with another hot blush.
“No need for apologies cutie.” the woman said giving Jesseca’s nose a playful tweak with her fingers. “My name’s Hannah, Half-Life Hannah to be exact.” the woman said with a smile.
“Jesseca, umm Diapered Dandy.” Jesseca replied with a smile and another blush.
“Nice to meet you Jess, you wanna grab a cup of coffee with me?” Hannah asked.
“Sure!” Jesseca said with a smile and the pair flew off together, all the while Jesseca feeling a profound sense of déjà vu ever since she’d come into contact with Half-Life Hannah.