Agents from LFoS in the Detroit: Become Human AU. The serial number is encrypted: release date of LFoS 08/08/2020 and birthday (my headcanon) of Jane 14/11/1953
Pairings: Ray x Ursula
Other characters: Jane Doe
Synopsis: While New Paris stands on the brink of global political change, psionics from opposing sides of society attempt to change the world around them for the better and find support in each other.
Rating: R
Taglist: @rc-catalog
Word count: 2446
Notes: in this text characters from LFOS in the setting PSI. Sorry, I`m translated my fanfic with the help of DeepL, because I`m not native English speaker.
Cover art from TvMG
My fanfic in native russian on Ficbook
The Termitary never sleeps. Ray was convinced of this once again as he walked Ursula home. Not that she needed it, but she didn't object to his company. At a time when the clean streets of the Center were quieting down, peacefully enveloping themselves in soft light, Termitary, bright enough to hurt the eyes, was bustling with life: the heavy air, reeking of alcohol and biological waste, trembled with the sound vibrations of cheap clubs and loud conversations of passersby. But worse than that was the emotional noise that betrayed the intentions of those around him. Aggression, sexual frustration, and envy swirled around his head like annoying flies. Ray would never let a young woman go alone in a neighborhood like this, even if she was a tall, blonde valkyrie who could take down intruders without using her psi.
But, of course, that wasn't the only reason: he enjoyed spending time with Ursula. She was never deceitful or mean, and he felt at ease with her. Yes, her words were sharp, awkward, and rude, but they were sincere, unlike the deceptively polite words of other members of the Assistance Corps. Around them, he always had to control himself so as not to respond to hypocrisy and flattery with sarcasm. Ray Aster knew that his colleagues disliked him: a member of an influential Council family, and a psionic empathic to boot—who would like that? But, of course, no one would say that to his face. He accepted this test, assigned by his father, with understanding and humility, but the real emotions of those around him weighed heavily on him, and the inability to express himself morally drained him to the point of becoming an empty shell. In order not to exhaust himself completely, Ray avoided unnecessary communication, focused on training, and tried to separate other people's emotions from his own.
This continued until he was assigned a taciturn psionic telekinetic named Ursula Stern from Termitary as his partner. She made it clear during their first meeting that she had no intention of babysitting him. Of course, Ray had felt her irritation before, but the sudden honesty of his new partner disarmed him. He couldn't help but smile and replied, “Thank you.” Ursula's disconcerted expression was hard to forget. From that day on, she was no longer so hostile towards him, and after several joint missions, she completely thawed, sometimes smiling and making innocent jokes. A couple of times she even accepted his invitations to lunch, although each time she stubbornly paid her own bill, no matter how much he insisted otherwise. But Ray wanted so much to thank the girl who, with her strong hands, had taken away all the darkness that poisoned his soul, and for whom he now went to work with enthusiasm. With every awkward pat on the shoulder, every honest word, and every clear look, Ursula Stern took up more and more space in his thoughts and heart.
Ray glanced at her profile, illuminated by neon signs, refraining from pulling the collar of his sweater over the lower half of his face so as not to inhale the smells of Termitary unnecessarily. Ursula had already joked about this once: “Don't like it? Get used to it, since you're stuck with it.” Now she was staring gloomily at the asphalt, her lips pressed together. Even someone who wasn't empathetic could tell that something was bothering her, especially since she hadn't been herself in recent days. Stern stubbornly remained silent about the reason for her bad mood. Perhaps that was why she didn't mind his company, so she wouldn't be alone with her heavy thoughts. Ray spoke cautiously, choosing his words carefully:
— I see things aren't going as well here as they are at the Center.
Ursula sighed, turned to him, and said sarcastically,
— Really?
Ray ignored the sarcasm. He could feel the girl's emotional tension, which had nothing to do with him.
— Unfortunately, I'm not all-powerful, — Ray approached Ursula, keeping a polite distance between them. — But I could try talking to my father.
Ursula didn't answer. Ray could have touched her and found out everything without words, but that would have been unfair and wrong.
— For example, — he tried to keep his voice neutral and matter-of-fact. — I would increase patrols in Termite Hill. Maybe then there would be fewer crimes.
— That's all well and good in theory, — Ursula replied grimly. — The police can't keep track of everything. And they don't want to.
Ray swallowed slowly: his companion's mood was oppressive, but he held his ground.
— I'll take your word for it, — he nodded and glanced at the man leaning listlessly against the wall in the alley, clearly not entirely sober. He didn't look like a local: he was dressed too ascetically for a resident of Termitary. Nothing special, just another man mired in his own problems, full of inner anger and complexes, the kind who don't accept help. Surely he had his reasons for being in a place like this. Before Ray had time to think about it, a monstrous rage burst into his mind like an uninvited guest. Reflexively clenching his teeth, he didn't even notice how he grabbed Ursula's wrist as she lunged forward, spun her around as if in a dance, and pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Her heavy braid, twirling in a pirouette, whipped his cheek and fell onto the girl's heaving chest. Ursula was taller and stronger than him, so she could easily break free, hit him, and continue on her path of revenge. But it was unclear whether his psychic powers had worked or whether Ursula herself did not want to hurt him, but she only jerked, intending to break free from his grip, and hissed through her teeth:
— Release me.
Ray, keeping his arms wrapped around her, whispered soothingly:
— It's not worth it.
Now he felt everything: the bitterness of loss, the overwhelming guilt, and the desire to destroy the culprit. Ray felt sick from the flood of emotions and thoughts that had come from someone else.
— It's not up to you to decide, — Ursula jerked again and looked him in the eyes, proudly, without turning away. She knew how psi-empathy worked, and now she was angry: at herself, at him, and at the person who had provoked her anger.
Ray withstood Ursula's heavy gaze. It was unusual to be so close to her. The strong smell of sweat, dust, and a faint hint of mint tickled his nose, separating him from the unpleasant smells of the alley with a weightless embrace. Ray counted to three in his mind and slowly said:
— I know, but you'll be kicked out of the Corps if you get involved in conflicts...
— What do you care? — Ursula snapped angrily and desperately. —They'll give me another partner, or...
Ray interrupted her.
— I don't want another one.
The girl's lips trembled. Ursula turned away, glaring at the object of her rage.
— I don't know this person, but I can see that he hurt you.
— Not me.
Ray buried his chin in Ursula's shoulder, hoping to reach her and calm her down.
— I don't want you to suffer because of this.
— But... — came a hoarse sound near his ear.
— Please, — Ray pleaded quietly.
The young woman's rage subsided, replaced by waves of bitter sadness, disbelief... and something else. Something undefined, but captivating and bright. Realizing that Ursula was no longer rushing headlong into revenge, Ray exhaled, loosened his embrace, and stepped back. He kept his hands on her shoulders. He was about to let go with regret, but suddenly, the girl's strong fingers clasped the collar of his cloak.
— I should never have gotten involved with an empathic, — Ursula muttered, lowering her head. Ray, recognizing the familiar intonations in his companion's voice, relaxed.
— If I weren't an empathic, I would have decided that you weren't happy about it.
Ursula poked him in the chest with her fist.
— I'm telling you, I'm screwed. And anyway.
A wave of goosebumps rushed down his back from the brief, surely accidental, touch of her lips to his ear.
— If you wanted to grope me, you could have done without this circus.
— I didn't... — Ray wanted to protest, even though he knew Ursula wasn't angry, but he didn't have time.
The young woman`s strong arms wrapped around his shoulders, and her bright blue jacket crumpled under his chest with a plastic rustle. There was no passion in this sudden embrace, only despair and gratitude. Ray froze, listening to her breathing, and gently hugged her back, closing his eyes. The world around him seemed to collapse, time slowed down: now he didn't care what high society or his family would say. He was here, with the girl who had given him peace and hope, and he wanted to show her that she could rely on him. After a couple of minutes, Ursula whispered insinuatingly in his ear:
— You know, it's high time that sign was taken down.
Ray reluctantly looked away and followed her gaze. Indeed, the rusty structure hung dangerously over an unsuspecting passerby.
— I agree. It wouldn't be good if it fell on someone.
They looked at each other. Understanding the plan without words, they pursed their lips. Yes, what they had in mind was wrong. But if they couldn't punish the man openly, they would have to act differently. He could clearly sense the girl's doubts about his participation in this venture, but Ray had already made up his mind. Making sure they were out of sight of the only camera in the alley, he grabbed Ursula by the shoulders and pressed her against the wall, shielding her from accidental witnesses with his raised palm.
***
Strict, dressed in a black closed uniform with a metal badge on her chest and straight as an arrow, Prior Janet Duran looked them over. The invitation to an audience with the head of the Inquisition surprised Ray and Ursula, but their father insisted on cementing his position in the Corps, so they had no choice but to agree.
— Don't think that you have surpassed others in your abilities and physical training, even though that is important.
Ray tensed up: so the unexpected tests before the meeting were not “routine.” The Prior sat at the table with her hands folded in front of her.
—The most important thing in this matter is unity and loyalty.
Duran pressed an invisible button under the table, then lowered her voice.
— And you demonstrated that perfectly last week in Termitary.
Ray sensed the emotional tension of Ursula, sitting in the chair next to him. It was necessary to remain calm in this situation, and so he clarified without hesitation:
— Mademoiselle Stern and I did not have a mission in Termitary, Madame Duran.
Ray froze under the condescending gaze of the woman's light eyes.
— Of course. Instead of carrying out your mission, you decided to take the law into your own hands.
Ray clenched his teeth, feverishly going over everything that had happened that evening in his mind: the sign that had fallen on the man, the call to call an ambulance, the escape through alleys known only to Ursula, the night spent on the sofa in her apartment building, because “no one will come for you at this time, it's dangerous.” Everything had been done carefully so that the offender would not die but would get away with moderate injuries, and while the victim was in the hospital, they could try to find a way to legally hold him accountable for his crimes. No one was supposed to suspect them. Where did they go wrong? As if reading his thoughts, the prior tapped her fingers on the table and said measuredly:
— Your plan wasn't bad. Only the most meticulous and experienced investigator would have noticed the unusual curvature of the fasteners, and the witnesses would never have thought that the couple embracing in the alley had anything to do with the fall of the faulty sign, which could have fallen at any moment. And the person you wanted to cripple so badly, although innocent, is of no interest to anyone. Except you and the victim's family, Stern.
Ray made every effort not to turn to Ursula, who was breathing heavily, and not to touch her hand, reassuring her that they should not behave in this manner in front of a high-ranking member of the Church of Unity.
— On any other day, you could have avenged your friend and gone unnoticed. But life is unpredictable and not always fair.
Duran leaned back in her chair and interlaced her fingers, resting her elbows on the armrests.
— The involvement of psionics in crimes against the pure ones is a cause for concern and a reason to impose new restrictions on them. It is also a good reason to reconsider their participation in the Assistance Corps team.
Ray exhaled slowly, looking away from Prior.
— It is in your best interest to accept the new position if you do not want to end your days in the mines and lose the Aster family's reputation in the Council.
There was not a single note of sympathy in the woman's voice. On the other hand, it would be foolish to expect anything else from someone who had served the people faithfully for so many years, ridding New Paris of genetic security violators and cold-bloodedly overseeing the executions of everyone, including psionics. And no matter how influential his father was, the Church's decision was final. Ray understood that he and Ursula had no choice.
— It's perfectly clear to me, Madame Durand, — Ray forced himself to smile, clenched his fingers into a fist, and relaxed, shaking off the heaviness in his body. — I see no reason to refuse your offer.
Ursula picked up on his words, without smiling, however, and reported firmly:
— I am ready to take on my new duties, Madame Prior.
Duran nodded.
— I'm glad we've come to an understanding.
She pressed the button on the desktop transmitter.
— Miranda, Aster and Stern need to receive new instructions. Escort them to Jakob.
— Understood, ma'am! — replied a familiar melodious voice.
The woman stepped away from the transmitter and looked at them.
— You have a lot of new information to learn today, but for now, wait.
She picked up a folder from the table and opened it, studying its contents. Ray took advantage of the fact that Duran wasn't looking at them, took Ursula's firm hand in his, and squeezed it in a gesture of support. The girl immediately squeezed his fingers in response, promising protection. Perhaps they were nothing more than partners now, but whatever their joint work might lead to, the main thing was that they had found in each other the support they would need in the future.
___
Notes 2: In this story some names have been changed for plot and PSI lore purposes. In prologue Jane Doe – Janet Duran, Jacob reading like [Yakob].
Notes 3: I have a few more chapters to read, but they need to be translated. I'll post them gradually.
Notes 4: The title is a reference to a famous song.
Notes 5: Since Ray and Ursula do not pretend to be relatives in this universe due to their different origins, they have different surnames, but with the same meaning, “star”: Stern (German) and Aster (Greek).
