Confrontation

The 30-foot high, 1-foot thick Great West Doors of St Paul's are easily thrown open, revealing a single feminine figure silhouetted against the twilight. She strides forward, and you get your first good look at Girl 2.0. Despite the distance between you, you can tell she's exceptionally beautiful - even by your standards. Her shockingly violet hair billows behind her as she walks, and with the confident smile on her lips, you could believe she'd just walked out of a shampoo commercial. She's wearing a purple evening dress that perfectly matches her hair. It's elegant, stylish, and reveals exactly the right amount of skin to leave any{if Futa==true}body{else} man{endif} **** for more. Her stiletto heels click rhythmically against the cold stone floor, her amethyst eyes fixed on the {if Futa==true}powerful female{else}masculine{endif} figure waiting for her beneath the cathedral's great dome.

It's not you, of course; the Contortionist perfectly imitates you, from the subtlest colouration of your eye to your relaxed but ready stance. The only thing she can't imitate is your pheromones, so you've had Emma lace a cologne containing them, which Sara now wears. You watch from your perch on the dome's balcony as Girl 2.0 comes to a halt several paces away from your doppelganger.

"Alpha. I'm glad to finally meet, face-to-face."

You detect a hint of sarcasm in her words, explained by Miss Veritas's whisper in your earpiece:

"Zoe - her name is Zoe - she knows or strongly suspects about the Contortionist. She expects you've brought along friends, and she has, too."

"Likewise," responds the Contortionist. It's unnerving to see someone wearing your appearance, even more so to hear your voice out of their mouth. "But let's dispense with the pleasantries. Why did you request to meet me?"

"Can't a girl just want to meet a {if Futa==true}beautiful woman{else}handsome man{endif}?" pouts Girl 2.0, and you instantly realise that she knows far more about you than she should. "I didn't think you'd be so business-like. Ah well. I saw what you did in Westminster the other day, of course. I see the power you possess. So I wanted to extend a peaceful invitation to join our cause: Humanity 2.0."

"I'm listening," says Contortionist-{if Futa==true}Mikaela{else}Michael{endif}, whilst Miss Veritas murmurs, "her friends are near, but I need more time to find where they're hidden. Her mind is both extraordinarily fast and highly focused."

Girl 2.0 begins to slowly pace, her pale legs flashing every time they emerge from her dress. "Gemini was right in her response to the Mutant Act. Rash, but right. Those of us with powerful mutations have been treated like weapons. **** to serve the government or else be locked in a prison cell. But Humanity 2.0 is not just for the mutants with powers. Even those whose mutation only affects their hair colour -" she brushes her own locks, "- are treated as freaks, or like they're somehow dangerous. But the truth is," she leans in conspiratorially, "they treat us with fear because they ought to fear us. We are more powerful than any weapon they've ever built. And we represent the next evolution of humanity. It is time for Humanity 1.0 to die, and for Humanity 2.0 to inherit the future."

Zoe pauses for a moment, smirking at your doppelganger. "And I'd rather have hoped that the {if Futa==true}woman who named herself ‘Alpha’ would have the guts to talk to me face-to-face.”{else}man who named himself 'Alpha' would have the balls to talk to me face-to-face."{endif}

"Wait, {if Futa==true}mistress{else}master{endif}, I still don't know -" You pull the earpiece out, and jump over the balcony, landing seconds later with an impact that cracks the marble floor.

Both Girl 2.0 and the Contortionist turn to you, the former's smile totally unphased, the latter reverting to her usual appearance with a worried frown.

"I see you didn't come alone," smirks the purple-haired girl. "How honourable. Was the decoy really necessary? It was hardly effective."

Sara steps towards her angrily, but you hold her back with a conciliatory smile. "My sources tell me you've been no more honourable than I."

She shrugs carelessly.

"Well, you gave a lovely speech," you continue. "Didn't even need a PowerPoint. But am I right in assuming that Humanity 2.0 is, and will continue to be, led by you?"

"Yes," Zoe replies bluntly, amethyst eyes unwavering as they meet yours. You detect no sign that your pheromones are having any effect on her. "I am stronger, smarter, faster, better in every way than the old humans. I represent everything that Humanity 2.0 is, and everything that it will become. Of course, there will be representation, but if the past decade has shown us anything, it's that democracy is past its expiry date." She steps closer to you, and you have to resist the urge to look at her glossy lips, or her delicate collarbone, or her porcelain cleavage. She smells of lavender. "I see the power in you, Alpha. Just as I know you see it in me. Join us, and you will have a place of power by my side when we rebuild this earth."