Готовый перевод Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 8. Дуэльный Клуб профессора Вездесвоя

Chapter 8. Professor Niceguy's Duelling Club
* * *

The next day (December 21, 2022)

"Don't think the previous attacks went unnoticed by the Headmistress and Wormwarts' systems," Lisa declared, "so all precautions, etc., have been tightened. If we want to carry out the raid successfully, we have two options. First, catch the virus and put it to work for us, using it to disable Wormwarts' systems around Eidolorin's premises when we invade. Second, catch the virus and publicly announce it, improving our reputation and deflecting all suspicion. Personally, I choose the second option, as it's not very feasible for us."

"That won't work," Taylor immediately objected, "they'll just say we created the virus. Remember what Snape said two lessons ago? And why a virus?"

"Yes," Amy agreed, "isn't it about the perpetrator?"

"The Dursleys' house. The entrance to Platform Nine and three-quarters. Filch and his cat. Malfoy and the match with Eidolorin, in which the armor exploded more often than it should have," Lisa listed. "And the incredible brutality of the match, coupled with the admission of Team Eidolorin and Taylor's permission to summon the battle tree."

“They’ve already banned it,” Taylor sighed.

Potter did not say that she did not summon him.

And then there's the attack on L33t Montague, after which the rules and restrictions were dramatically tightened. I'll skip the chain of reasoning, but most likely we're dealing with a virus, not some mindless piece of code, but the most complex of viruses, akin to a miniature artificial intelligence. Infection, attacks on Taylor's surroundings, and the display of a face saying "Don't go anywhere!" The goal? To prevent Taylor from entering Wormwarts or to expel her from it. Why doesn't the virus attack directly? I don't know, because it could have, for example, blown up the tablet in Taylor's hands or done something else, interfered with the food delivery system, or ruined her clothes by planting a bomb. What happened every time? Taylor was considered guilty of what was happening."

"Okay," Taylor said after a long pause, "let's say that's how it happened. What does our raid have to do with it?"

"If the virus is targeting you, Taylor, it won't miss a chance and, say, activate the public address system just as we enter Snape's office. Oh, yes, the security has been tightened, and the virus can't get in on its own, but that doesn't stop it from running in the publicly accessible areas of the Wormwarts system. And what publicly accessible areas are we? That's right, those connected to the school tablets. Remember that face it drew for you?"

"So you think..."

"Yes! It lives in tablets and moves between them, evading capture. I'm telling you, it's a very complex and intelligent virus. The only thing we can be sure of is Amy's tablet," Lisa said, taking the tablet from Amy before she could protest. "Look!"

There was a pause, Lisa mentally burst into the Evil Laughter of the Evil Megamind.

"Amy?" Taylor asked, confused. "Why are there photos of you healing me after the battle with Dark Cape on your tablet? And why is my suit so torn?"

Blushing, Amy snatched the tablet away and quickly hid it in her suit.

"We'll come back to this part in the second phase of the plan!" Lisa announced almost solemnly. "And now, the most important thing. How do we catch the virus and clear our reputation? That's right! We need to gather all the students together and simultaneously disable all the tablets, covering the room with a suppression field! Then the virus will have nowhere to go, and it will die. Chris has already kindly designed such a device for me; it's exactly his specialty, modular and multipurpose.

"Wait, wait," Taylor shook her head.

Lisa saw that Potter wasn't thinking about viruses at all, and she continued to Laugh Evilly in her mind. The right emotional tone, the skillful delivery of information — all of it was important. If Snape had been here, he would have definitely given Herofindor five points for her skillful plotting!

"Why would the virus die? It could lie dormant, take up residence in one of the Wormwarts elfs, or in some sideline, for example."

"I told you," Lisa grinned, "it's complex, it needs to be constantly active, and it can't sit in Wormwarts' systems. There are checks and restrictions, you know. The Dimension of Secrets — the Headmistress saw it all firsthand so she won't ignore the danger. Therefore, a mass suppression of the tablets will almost certainly kill it. The only thing that could be damaged there are the recent photographs of Professor Niceguy. Why? Because we need to gather everyone together without arousing suspicion, and only the Headmistress or Professor Lockhart can do that.

“Okay, I’ll talk to him,” Taylor nodded.

The professor's presence always made her feel better, as if all the pressure and alienation from the students had faded. He taught lessons skillfully, supported his students, encouraged them, and never pressured them. With a kind word and a dazzling smile, it seemed Lockhart could charm even an enraged trollung. The professor himself singled out Taylor, saying she had a natural talent for Defense Against the Dark Powers and teamwork, and predicted a bright future if Potter continued to strive as fiercely as she had this year.

Amy jumped up and, snorting, ran back to Wormwarts.

"What's wrong with her?" Taylor asked, watching Weasley leave. "Is she upset that Victoria wasn't invited?"

"You're right in some ways," Lisa smiled mysteriously, also watching Amy's back, "but it's not about Victoria, or rather, not only about Victoria.

"What then?"

"Be patient, Taylor, it's not time yet. The information must be released at precisely the right moment, or else disaster could strike, and this is no joke."

"When will the time come?"

"After dealing with the virus, I have no desire to become the target of another strange attack without a trace."

"Why not tell Headmistress Dumbledore?" Taylor asked.

"You know," Lisa thoughtfully began, twirling her hair around her index finger, then lowered her voice tragically, even though there was no one around to eavesdrop, "I think that thing from the Dimension of Secrets affects the capes' abilities. Nullifies them or distorts them. Anti-cape weapons, remember?"

"How then did Fortuna defeat Eden de Wald?"

"I don't know," Lisa sighed, "but she's considered the strongest cape of our time for a reason, isn't she? So I wouldn't risk it."

"Okay, you're the Thinker. What about Amy?"

"Oh, she's just worried about you, like the rest of us," Lisa giggled, hugging her friend, "and it seems she likes Professor Niceguy, too."

"Like everyone else, not just me," Taylor muttered. "Why are you worried about me, while everyone else is afraid?"

“Because we are your friends,” Lisa smiled.

Watching Taylor's retreating back, Granger scooped up some snow and rubbed it onto her burning face. Oh, it was hard to lie to her friends' faces without even batting an eye! Turning off the tablets and the virus were only part of the plan, but there was no doubt that Taylor would persuade Professor Lockhart, or rather, he would happily agree and help.
*

In class, Lockhart seemed the infallible embodiment of teaching skill and friendliness, but outside of his presence, Lisa's superpower repeatedly raised Granger's suspicions. The virus had clearly been brought to Wormwarts, and students' belongings were being checked on the train, but what about Lockhart? There had been a conversation in his office after the attack on Filch, and he had greater access than the others, as the Defense Against the Dark Powers professor, meaning he could have been harboring the virus. Or maybe not? Lisa's plan, however, included that: disabling the tablets and observing Lockhart's reaction, and so on and so forth.

There was a third, inactive party in this battle of the Thinkers: Headmistress Fortuna Dumbledore. Lisa had lied to Taylor about her reasons for not contacting the Headmistress, and at the same time, Fortuna's inaction worried young Granger a little. The Headmistress, after all, had encountered what was hidden in the Dimension of Secrets firsthand... if that was what it was. An AI virus in 1945? Lisa highly doubted it, meaning either the virus was a byproduct or the weapon in the Dimension of Secrets evolved.

The information obtained during the raid was supposed to help determine, or at least point to, a new direction for the search. Breaking into Snape's office was supposed to satisfy an itch within Lisa, to bring her the satisfaction of the information she craved almost as much as it was to help Taylor. In fact, with the growing itch, the simultaneous desire for information and Taylor's help, Lisa's plan began to intensify and branch out a month ago. After all, up until then, it had all seemed like a simple raid.

The fact that such a hack could land her in jail no longer bothered Lisa.
*

December 24, 2022, Wormwarts

Professor Lockhart stepped up onto the makeshift platform at the back of the Great Hall, waving and smiling. Now that she was looking at him in person, Lisa thought he was elegant, handsome, fit, blond, and overall, the guy of her dreams. Nice guy. Judging by the dreamy faces of the students around her, Lisa wasn't the only one who thought so, and she felt a slight twinge of jealousy.

"Thank you, thank you for coming," Lockhart said, activating the microphone. "I know many of you thought this Duelling Club was a joke, but perhaps this knowledge will come in handy in your future life among the capes. Dueling is a common occurrence in cape life, so the most important thing is to conduct them in authorized locations and, of course, to notify your opponent in advance so they can prepare. Attacking from behind, long-range sniper shots to the head, and taking family members hostage are all highly frowned upon in Cape society, and the least understanding are hauled off to the Cage by a Guild ship. Well, now that you've had a brief introduction to dueling etiquette, I'll give the floor to the true hero of our gathering, Miss Lisa Granger, second-year Herofindor!"

"Thank you, professor," Lisa also climbed onto the platform.

She had no doubt everyone had brought tablets, as a student without one could do practically nothing in the vast space of Wormwarts. Sure, they could access the system, but that was (in the eyes of students, of course) like asking your parents to wipe your nose. Not to mention that the school-model tablets were designed for the wildness and occasional stupidity of young capes, and were meant to be carried everywhere.

"Now that everyone's here," Lisa announced loudly, looking somewhere at the ceiling, "then let's get started right away! Turn it off!"

Chris's modules, Taylor's insects, and some extravagant organic solutions from Amy — all of this allowed Lisa to strike, without sharing the details of her plan with anyone, everyone thinking they were working on part of another project. Of course, Wormwarts' systems would have detected what was happening, but that was precisely why Amy's organics were needed: to buy a little time, just a little, while Taylor's insects destroyed the modules, covering the Great Hall with them like a web.

Taylor, hearing Lisa's scream, gave the command, and the network was activated—just twenty simultaneous button presses, a trivial matter. But what happened next was not trivial at all.

"What did you do, Granger?"

"She burned our tablets!!!" A shrill screech bordering on ultrasound.

"Are attacks not enough for you?!"

"Beat Thinkers!"

Taylor reacted reflexively, using a web to deflect the girl's hand as she flew up, and a laser beam cut through the wall above Lisa's head.

"Potter's in on it!" came the cry.

"They conspired!"

"It's a trap!"

"Beat Weasley!"

Taylor was almost certain it was Malfoy who'd shouted it, but there was no way to prove it. The only thing that worked was Amy's malfunctioning tablet, displaying some nonsense about flying squirrels instead of a desktop with program icons. However, Amy wasn't paying attention to the tablet; she, too, was being pressed, pushed back, pressed into Taylor, and everywhere she looked, she saw only angry faces, mouths contorted with screams, and raised hands.

"Beat Weasley!" Someone supported the previous cry.

Taylor, holding Amy, tried to think of a way out. It was clear that if the young capes hadn't formed into the pressing crowd, they would have already attacked. But the crowd was only here, near the platform; further away, it was more open, and something had to be done. Taylor's usual tactics wouldn't work here. The only option was to disable all the capes, but how?

"Beat!" Thundered overhead, and Victoria crashed into the crowd. "Here you go. Get what you wanted!"

The blows of her fists scattered the attackers, and before Taylor could shout to Victoria, the space around her cleared. Now the students had a chance to shoot them off from afar, and Taylor, who hadn't had time to increase the number of her insects, was powerless to counter them. Horror for her friends overwhelmed Taylor, and, as in previous moments of extreme despair and anger, she felt something crunching and breaking inside her, something bursting out.

Something dark and overwhelming.

Taylor's hands shot up, a hissing sound escaped her mouth, and several chunks of insectoid balls splattered down from above, causing the crowd of students to recoil in disgust. However, Taylor didn't need more than that, just to buy herself a few seconds.

"Protect!" Taylor hissed, stepping forward and hiding Amy behind her.

Victoria, within the radius of her new power, punched the floor, and Dennis immediately jumped, freezing the debris, creating a makeshift wall. Amy hastily touched the insect orbs, kneading them with her hands like giant lumps of Play-Doh, molding super-insects, one from each orb, much like Rachel Hagrid enlarging her dogs. Then, at Taylor's behest, she touched Taylor herself, bringing her back to order. Complete and utter order, for the new Taylor knew that if she wanted to win the battle and protect her friends, she had to be completely healthy. True, she didn't know who her friends were, but she knew she had to destroy this crowd before her.

Lisa, watching from the platform, noticed Taylor's strange behavior and narrowed her eyes.

\\Out of control, a sudden surge of power. A new level of power, dominating capes instead of insects, ready to burn herself to protect her friends. Ready to burn herself, an unimaginable level of power, unaware of herself, driven by the power, thirsting for conflict, ready to attack the capes around her.

The winged monster spiders behind Taylor had already reached the size of a large dog, and Lisa bit her lip until it bled.

"Ph, ph, ph," she swore incoherently, not knowing what to do.

If anyone in the Hall were to realize now that Taylor is manifesting a portion of the Dark Capes' power (the domination of the supers around her), they would be swearing so much that Lisa couldn't even utter it. But even if they weren't, ten seconds later, a battle would begin that would make a Quidditch match look like child's play. The power driving Taylor would fight in earnest, and then the entire Hall would be drenched in the blood of young capes, after which Potter would be sent to the Cage, if she wasn't killed on the spot. And all because of her, Lisa Granger, who hadn't considered the young capes' reaction! She had thought that Professor Niceguy's presence would be enough to quell the outbreak, but how wrong she had been! The students' wrath was directed at Granger, whom no one desired or considered nice gal.

"A-a-a-a!!!" Lisa, in desperation, snatched up her folding baton and rushed to attack.

Pointless and useless, as she'd have been overwhelmed by Taylor's new power as soon as she approached, she channeled Granger's Thinker abilities to increase the effectiveness of her attack. As she ran toward her, Lisa saw two bullets, one after the other, slam into Taylor's head and bounce off. The second bullet ricocheted into Granger's chest, knocking her to the floor, preventing her from being bitten by one of the spiders.

"NO ONE MOVE!!!" Boomed Fortuna’s voice, lowering the pistol that shoots rubber bullets.

The spiders and beetles, of course, didn't obey, but the disk that fell from above crushed them, exploding into foam that splattered everyone, including Lisa. She crawled away, trying to crawl away from the growing mountain of foam, when a hand from the heavens grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back onto the platform.

"Thank you, Professor Lockhart," Lisa muttered, feeling like she had bitten her tongue so hard she was about to bite it off.

Wormwarts's elfs, electronic live forms, countless robots, some flying, some not, overwhelmed the students. The attack was suppressed in seconds, and Fortuna gracefully leaped from the flying disc straight into the foam, tossing the ampoule into it as she went.

"Please, Miss Weasley," she said to Amy, who had been pulled out of the foam, "turn all the insects back."

"Headmistress, I..."

"I know, do it."

Fortuna approached and stood next to Granger, looking down at her. Lisa sensed something unexpected was about to happen, and it would be a good thing if it ended with verbal humiliation.

"Excellent work, Miss Granger," the headmistress said, before turning and leaving.

Lisa collapsed onto the platform, feeling like she was about to wet herself with relief.

*

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