Iridescent Stars: You Can Almost FEEL the Love...

"Why do YOU care anyways?" - Asked Heider - "The agents told me about you. You are just... A woman they have on a leash..." Deborah smiled sweetly. "Oh, come on, Doctor Heider. You know they didn't tell you that. They told you I was a *psycho* they had on a leash." "Same difference..." - Muttered Heider - "Why do you care what happens to him?" - he pointed Hiro. "Because it gives me an excuse. You know, Doc, we are very much alike and yet so different..." - Said Deborah. "Don't start some trite bit about how I use the power that is mine to wield." - Said Heider - "They hired you to watch me, not pontificate to me." "Oh, please. You insult me. You should have figured out it wasn't anything remotely like that!" - Said Deborah, smiling theatrically - "You and I, doctor, are both pretty bad people. We both enjoy wielding power, trampling others underfoot. So, yes, fundamentally, we are the same. The differences are as follows: One, I don't trick myself into thinking I'm doing this 'for the greater good' or whatever. Two, I know my place in the pecking order. Three, I don't do what I do out of a need to *show* power, I do it because it *amuses me*. But you know what *actually* sets us apart, good doctor? It's difference number four. I have power. You do not." "Heh. I am nothing like you. As for a pecking order... You seem to be quite powerful for an angel-changed. So, if you know your place, why are you serving *them*?" - Said Heider, trying to get her to rebel against her 'masters'. "One, it gives me an opportunity to have my fun and not be arrested for it. Two... Yes, there is a pecking order, even among angels, Doctor Heider. And I may be pretty strong as angels go... But do not for one moment think I'm the strongest there is." - Said Deborah - "Heh..." "What is it you find so funny?" - Asked Heider. "You think I'm strong. And you think I can do a lot of evil. Especially, right now, to *you*. You're pretty much right on both accounts, you know. However, good doctor, you should be thankful... Making children cry for no reason, sealing up someone's mouth... Forced nudity... Oh, Doctor, you should be so thankful you don't run a country..." "...why?" - Asked Heider. "Because if you did, you'd not be dealing with *me*. You'd be dealing with someone else, doctor. You'd be dealing with the person that sent me to the agents in the first place. You'd be dealing, Doctor Heider, with someone able to go so much further up than I, and so much further down... And you'd go through something a lot worse than just being held upside-down over the ground." "But I wasn't held..." - The doctor suddenly paused with utter dread as he realized just *what* was about to happen. - - - "So, Doctor! *Can* you or can you *not* cast Feather Fall? You know, that's a *lot* of blood on your head..." - Said Deborah, giggling. Heider tried to focus on not tearing up and on not thinking about falling four floors, face first, as Deborah held him. After a few more torturous moments, she got him back to the bedroom and set him down. "See, Doctor. I have power. You don't. That's how all those people must have felt about you. Don't get me wrong, I'm not passing judgement. God knows I'm just like you. And on the same side of the equation, no less! Aren't we lucky? Now. Enough friendly banter. You have two minutes to recover and then you'll *actually* see what's wrong with Hiro there." - Said Deborah, sweetly. "Wh... How dare you...?" - Said Heider, weakly. "With a fire sword. And a chronometer." - Said Deborah, sweetly, as she picked up a chronometer from her pocket - "Time's running, doctor. Chop-chop!"