Faustian bargain.

The camp was almost empty by the time I came up on it, only a scant few people were loitering about, either scavenging, fishing or just watching my droids at work, as they disassembled it.

But the person I came for was still here. As was Clockblocker, helping around. Good lad.

He's definitely getting and invite to the vacation.

First though comes the most important shard to me.

And it's wielder.

Panacea.

I walked up to her as she was healing a man with a broken rib, while a blond girl in impeccable shape, hovered over his head menacingly.

Victoria Dallon, aka, Glory Girl. Panacea's sister. The Murder Barbie.

As violent as Panacea was gentle.

She was the one who spotted me first and flew down between me and Panacea.

"What do you want?" She asked, glaring at me.

"Move aside. I want to talk to Panacea." I moved to go around her but she flew into my path again.

"Get an appointment." She said.

"Panacea didn't seem to ask for an appointment when she meddled in my affairs. Why should I?" I asked.

"You were on public grounds. Anyone can walk around there. It's not your property. Unless you are finally revealing your true colors and declaring you intentions for world domination?" She cracked her knuckles, raring to go.

"This is public property too. So I can go and talk to anyone I want. And you can't stop me." I countered.

"Watch." She grinned in reply, rearing her fist, when Panacea stopped her.

"Don't." She said.

"Why? You can just heal him later, like always." Glory Girl whined.

"It's not him I'm worried about." Panacea warned, pulling Glory Girl behind her.

"And what do you want, Mr. God of Creation? What can these humble mortals do. We exist on your whims after all!"

"Ugh. I'm never going to live that down am I?" I groaned.

"No. It's just too good." Clockblocker said, slinging an arm around my neck.

"So watcha talking about? Is he confessing? Already cheating on poor little Paige? What a bad boy you are!" He poked my sides, before he showed a confised expression.

"Wondering why your power's not working Clockblocker?" I asked, smiling mischievously as I took out a remote.

Clockblocker had the hobby of tricking people into physical contact with him and then freezing the unsuspecting victim in time as a prank.

He probably thought I was dangerous and worried about the sisters' safety and came over to check.

Knowing this, I had already shut off his power the moment he came close.

".....Will you believe me if I say no?" He asked.

"Nope." I jabbed the remote at him and pressed a button, slowing his time.

"Wwwwwhhhhaaaaaat iiiiiiiiiisssss hhhaaaaappppenii-"

I lifted his chin, and pressed his jaw closed.

"I slowed down your time for the next three minutes. Enjoy some slow motion life, buddy. Meanwhile, I need to discuss some things with Panacea here."

"And what might that be?" She asked.

"I want you to heal someone for me. And unlike your adoptive mom, I'm not going to force you to do it for free." I said.

"Dont you badmouth our mom. She only wants the best for her!" Glory Girl snapped.

"Is that why she pressures Panacea into working longer shifts than some doctors at the hospital, wothout a cent of pay? Is ruining her sleep and health what's best for Panacea?"

"What do you want, GameBreaker?" Panacea interjected before any of us could put in a other word.

"I want you to heal someone. And in return, I will heal someone for you. Your adoptive dad has chronic depression doesn't he?" I said, reaching into my labcoat and pulling out a box of pills.

"One of these babies and he'll be up and dancing like it's Christmas."

"Even without the pills I would have healed someone if they asked me to. Unlike you, I don't make a business out of my powers or doing what's good and right." Panacea replied.

"You're stupid not to. You could make tons of money, hand over fist. You could become powerful beyond belief."

"Is that what you're here for? To gloat? And insult me?" She asked, annoyed.

"Oh no. I'm here to ask a favour."

"You're doing a great job at that!" Glory Girl snarked.

"Yeah yeah. I'm rude. Get over it. I'm proposing a deal. Panacea heals my wife, I cure your Dad's depression. How's that sound?"

"I thought your wife was dead?" Panacea asked, suspicious.

"She is. I want you to revive her. Moments before her death, I put her in cryosleep. Theoretically, it's possible for her to be revived. Unfortunately, I can't do that. The time frame is sliver thin. And if she dies.....I can't cure death. I can clone her. I have her brain scanned. She left that for me for such a day. But I don't want to. I want my wife, not some cheap copy. That's where you come in. Panacea, with your ability, you can revive her. So please. Please save my wife." I pleaded.

Panacea looked at me, conflicted, and nodded.

"How did she die?" Panacea asked.

"Allergies. She...her species, they have a slightly different biology than humans. Their bodies can't handle cortisol like we can. It causes a violent allergic reaction. The healing serum I use? It has cortisol as one of the key products of it's healing process.

When she died, I tried to use it to save her. But it only prolonged her suffering. All you need to do, is eliminate all the cortisol in her body and keep doing it till she revives. Simple."

"If it's so simple why can't you do it?" Glory Girl asked.

"Because if I try to operate on her while in cryosleep, the frozen tissue can get permanently damaged, killing her.

If I remove her from cryosleep, she will die before I can do anything.

It's a no win scenario. Not without significant power. The kind I don't possess yet. So the easiest route for me is you, Panacea. Save my wife, Panacea. You're my only hope." I said.

"Did you just quote Star Wars at her?" Glory Girl rolked her eyes.

"Told you he was a drama queen."

"Hey! There's no rule saying I can't convince Panacea to save my wife AND have fun at the same time!" I rebutted.

"Yes there is. It's called reading the mood!" Glory Girl shot back.

"Well I read the mood and the mood was sucky. Maybe because of you, Mrs. Nitpick. Why don't you take your" I looked past her at the man running away, "fleeing victim and deposit him where he belongs. And while you're at it, do me a favour and deposit yourself too."

Glory Girl's eyebrows shot up as she looked back and frowned.

"You wait here. This is not over." She said, zooming away.

"Yeah. I don't think so." I muttered, "Anyway, Panacea-"

"I can't do it. I don't do brains. A major part of this involves the brain. And I can't do brains." She said, "Sorry."

"Can't or won't?" I asked, venom on my tongue, "Don't take me for a fool, Panacea. I know exactly what your powers are."

"Won't." Panacea said, standing her ground.

"Then sell me your shard. I'll buy it." I said.

"Not interested. I need my powers to help people. Save them." She said.

"You care about saving people? Tell me Panacea, how many people do you heal in a year? A thousand? Ten thousand? And you operate mostly in the Bay area. How many others out there are suffering without your help?

If you care about healing and saving people, Panacea, then I have another deal for you. I will cure all diseases and ailments on this planet. All of them. In all places. I will heal everyone on this planet. All at once. That's more people than you could save in ten lifetimes. But I'll only do it if you give me your shard. So make a choice. If you truly care about healing others, weigh the value of your shard and their lives. Unless you are lying and only care about hoarding your power to yourself?"

"No." She said, "I don't trust you. And nothing you can say will change my mind. If you want my shard, you'll have to rip it out of me." She said, daring me to do otherwise.

Foolish girl. I will do exactly that.

I checked my contacts, and opened the progress bar for Project Harvest.

ETA 2 weeks. Good enough.

I can wait two more weeks.

Two more weeks and my perfect shard will be ready.

Two more weeks and then I'll reap her shard along with the rest of them, right from under their noses, without a squeak of resistance.

For now though, I need a vacation.

"Fine. Have it your way then." I said, turning to Clockblocker.

I jabbed him with the remote afain a d reset his speed to normal.

"Woah! That was neat. Can I do this again? But like jumping off a diving board? Or..or bungee jumping!"

"Sure. Actually that's something I wanted to ask you. I'm going on a vacation to another world. Wanna tag along?"

"Why me? I barely know you!" He asked.

"Eh, just felt like it." I shrugged.

"Hmm.... what's on the menu?" He asked.

"Mermaids for one. Beaches. Lush Archipelagoes. Some power testing. I wanna see how shards works in other worlds and you seem like a guy who can handle some fun." I said.

"But what about the PRT and the Protectorate?" He asked nervously.

"They don't have to know! Barely any time will pass here while we are gone. It'll be fun. Don't think too much about it." I said.

"That sounds like a Faustian bargain." He smiled.

"It's not." I assured.

"Well, if you're so sure...." He said, extending a hand.

I took and shook it.

"You know it! Let's go."

"Wait now?! But I need my swim trunks-" He said surprised.

"I'll lend you mine. Now hold on." I said, as I pulled out a time crystal and attached it to the portal gun, opening a portal with it.

The time crystal cracked, shattering into dust, but it worked.

A portal that was marked at a certain point in the world's timeline.

Now when I want to return here, I can just use that mark that this portal made on the timeline of this world as coordinates and return within minutes of leaving, even if a while has passed between worlds.

Though, given my small supply of time crystals, this might be more a luxury than a staple.

With that I dragged him away, into the portal.