Chapter 143: Interlude Twenty-Five: Maria - I Don’t Deal With Fakes

Maria grunted, rolling around her neck and nudging her head toward her little brother. "I’ll be down in a moment. Shit. Bitches be actin’ like I’m a soldier. And don’t think I be doin’ this shit for free," she grumbled, nose twisting as she looked at the large green beret. "How y’all goin’ ta compensate me for all this bullshit, huh?"

Her brother laughed. "Aye, that’s right! And, uh, we gotta go down the back stairs because of the paparazzi. Shit’s been insane."

"Tch. ’ight, I’m sure the big meathead here knows the route." Maria hissed.

Roy observed her as she brushed back her long silver locks and put a hand on her hip expectantly. "I’ve heard you’ll be compensated when all of this is over."

"Good. Yo, you’re wasting my time. Let’s go! Time is money," she prompted, snapping her fingers as she stared him down. "You want my help, or what?"

He didn’t blink or shy away, his large chest shaking with silent laughter as he took the lead back inside the tall hospital. "This way. Rachel and Scarlet need to be kept out of the sun. And again, how do you feel?"

"Mhm," Maria grunted back, working around her arms. "Like I’ve been sunbathing for three days. Shit. Worry about yourself. I’m good. Actin’ like you care."

Maria’s eyebrows came together as he turned to give her a small smile, guiding them down the door and opening it for them to slide past.

"I do, believe it or not."

"Huh... Well, shit. If you want my number, it’s a hard pass."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Ouch. I have a girlfriend, though, so I’m quite alright. Not that you aren’t gorgeous."

She snorted at the look her brother gave her as they descended the stairs to the top level.

"So you care about your healing robot, huh?" she shot back. "Like I said, my services ain’t free, ya know. I owe the moon hare for saving my ass, is all, and I hate debts... The interest only stacks all the way down to hell, if ya get what I’m sayin’."

"No, I hear ya," Roy said, leading them into the relatively empty space, excluding military personnel, and he gestured to a clearly marked bathroom. "You can change in there first if you’d like. I know all of this must seem a bit rushed to you."

"Huh." Maria eyed the man up and down; he was actually being somewhat nice and accommodating. It had to be for her abilities, though. Everyone wanted something, and nothing was free. "So, you gonna be ridin’ 3rd wheel with us? Damn government shit."

Roy shrugged, waving at a few other soldiers as they passed by. "Depends on what the lieutenant orders; right now, he’s in charge."

Hand pausing on the doorknob, Maria looked back at him. "And what happened to Captain Glamorous?"

The man’s face scrunched up with confusion in their Spanish conversation, glancing at the ground. "Captain...Barbara? I’d thought you’d call her Saint or something since you’re Catholic, but that’s where we’re going first. She fell into a coma, as all of you did. None of our own healers can tell what’s wrong with them physically."

Maria’s vision narrowed. "I ain’t know shit about the woman ta tell if she’s a saint or not. I don’t call just anyone a saint, jefe. Saint Barbara earned her Sainthood. And she earned her shit... I don’t deal with fakes."

A tad heated at the disrespect put on Saint Barbara, she said, "Jeremiah’s my dude: ’Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.’ She ain’t ridin’ Saint Barbara’s coattails in my book, vato. And James is my guy: ’faith without works is dead.’ This chick? I ain’t never heard of her."

Going inside the restroom, she slammed the door, leaving them in silence as she grumbled to herself while getting dressed. Everyone wanted to scream "miracle" or that they were the way, but didn’t actually do shit to live that belief. She wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t try to hide behind anyone else’s accomplishments like these ’legends’ seemed to do.

Slipping on her 808 tank top and fixing her bra, Maria checked the string on her jogging pants and shoes before looking herself over in the mirror. Her lips pulled into a line as she studied her shimmering appearance, enhanced proportions, pointed ears, and the star symbol on her forehead.

Am I this vain? Why would I change into...this? Why the hell did my skin color change?! I love my Mexican roots... Why am I a celestial unicorn? Shit doesn’t make sense...

Now that she was away from judging eyes, she swung back to lean against the wall, letting her head fall back as she closed her eyes and gripped her elbow. She rehearsed a few Bible verses that helped her get through hard times, allowing whatever constituted her heart to settle down.

None of this shook her faith; it was just another trial she had to get through. She’d long come to terms with all the Bible bashers that always posted up, screaming at the small church she went to. If it was real or not, it didn’t matter in the end to her. They wouldn’t judge her for how she lived her life as much as she judged them; God would sort everything out in the end.

All she had to do was live her ideals and principles; the world could laugh at her, but their opinions were worth as much shit as hers were. And God did bless her for healing Rachel because now she’d gotten to [Heal II] and [Purify II].

I have to do it today... I should be strong enough after the shit Terrell put me through...

Opening her eyes, she looked from the side into the mirror, her sparkling silver hair making her think about the insane lunar hare that had barged into her life.

Damn... Rachel’s a real one. How the hell did she do all of that? And she wants to make some kind of private military company? Is that what she was hinting at when she left? She’s crazy as all hell, and has a death wish...but she’s a real one. That devil shit, though...