We try to work the system, but have a back up

Work the system before it works you. (rough draft v2)

Josh sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers interlaced, eyes staring intently at the holographic screen in front of her. It displayed case files, photos, and data—all centered around Felicia, or as she was now known, Voltara.

"Options, AISYS. We need to move fast. The longer Felicia stays in custody, the more danger she's in."

"Agreed," AISYS responded, its voice emanating from speakers around the room. "There are three primary approaches we could take."

"Let's hear them."

"Firstly, the Legal Approach: We could hire the best lawyers to argue her case. The evidence we've gathered could potentially make a strong case for diminished capacity, or at least an involuntary intoxication defense."

Josh frowned. "Given how the justice system treats supers, especially those who've caused damage or loss of life, I don't want to gamble on that."

"Understandable. Second option: the Medical Approach. We reveal our findings about her father's experiments and work with medical experts to merge Felicia and Voltara personality with therapy to deal with it, this would allow her to have anger and stress without going on a rampage and would be whole if scared. Essentially, we'd be making it a medical issue that needs treating, not a criminal issue that needs punishing."

"AISYS, do you think the current advanced neuroscience capabilities available to the public can actually separate Voltara's emotional trigger, then safety merge her and Felicia? Or that they would let you help?"

"There's a possibility, but it would be highly experimental. There's a risk of causing permanent mental or emotional damage. We don't have the necessary certs for them to let us help and we don't have the time to get them. "

"So, it could save her or destroy her. What's the third option?"

"The Direct Approach: Break her out and cure her ourselves."

"That's risky and illegal," Josh pointed out.

"And it would make you a fugitive, hampering your ability to function as a hero, or even live a normal life."

Josh sighed, her eyes drawn to a photo of a younger, happier Felicia. "We're running out of time. Being in custody, stressed and angry, will only make Voltara stronger and Felicia weaker."

"You're correct," AISYS added. "Prolonged exposure to such negative emotions could make the separation more difficult, or even impossible."

Josh felt a momentary sense of paralysis, torn between moral imperatives and love, between the law and justice.

Finally, she made up her mind.

"Option two, the Medical Approach, but with a twist. We present our evidence to the authorities, but we also prepare for the medical procedure ourselves. If they won't allow it, we break her out and do it anyway."

"A hybrid approach," AISYS mused. "It gives us a fallback option if the system fails her."

"Exactly. Start preparing what you need for the medical procedure. If we have to act, I want to be ready."

"As you wish," AISYS complied, its processors already running through the complex calculations needed for such an intricate mental operation and it invasive nature.

"And AISYS," Josh added, her voice tinged with a fierce determination, "start scanning for suitable locations, remote and secure, where we can conduct the medical procedure, if it comes to that. Also compile everything we've found so I can file it first thing on my shift, I'll use my access to make sure it gets to the right people without the normal red tape delay. Please leave out any connection to my Civilian Identity being involved."

"Understood," AISYS replied, her voice tinged with a note of approval.

Josh looked back at Felicia's picture on her HUD one last time before closing it and getting ready for bed, her heart heavy but resolute. Hopefully some dream training will calm her.

Her dreams are filled with lessons inter-spaced with nightmares about Felicia.