The first of many confrontations

Hecate... expected this. Yes, she certainly did; there was no need for her to be ruffled about not getting the response she wanted.

"These are things for me to know and you to never find out," she told him, pulling away from him. "Sure, I guess meaning in life is somewhere we can start. But I could also say purpose since I get to do something worthwhile rather than bum around the city."

Hecate knew she could probably ignore the spikes--but she decided not to put up with it, just like the irritation that was bubbling up. She released him from her grip, hopping backwards with her staff to defend her from the oncoming attack. "I don't suppose you have anything important to do since you went rogue? Zach doesn't seem to be doing anything productive from what I gather."

The staff held up, but Hecate's stance, for one moment almost broke but she wouldn't have it. Too soon. "I like to make the most of what I have in life; and really, I like that 'most' being something that sounds productive," Hecate pushed him back again, using the force of both her hands on her staff, but she stepped back further, creating more distance between them.

For a moment they were at a stand still, Eden on defensive as she pondered his question. Had she chosen the job, or was it the reverse of it? She recalled volunteering, but how much of the person she is was of her own choice and how much was the work of the scientists?

He's distracting me, she thought. She refused to fall into that line of thinking. "This job was made for me to choose," she declared, charging up to Eden with her staff to the side, only this time, she had raised her right palm at his direction and releasing the electrode from its pod aimed directly at him.

Hecate took back the electrode into her palm, walking with such ease with her staff to her side. "I don't think you're in any position to speak, 3817." She stood over his form, curled up from the shock. She expected he'd have something up his sleeve to stop the electrode--she was warned enough about Eden's abilities but seeing as one electrode already had an effect on him, she can only imagine how easy this could have been if she had him wired with both.

"To answer you question: not really. I might have another trick up my sleeve. Are we still doing this the hard way or will I really have to forcibly detain you?"

Hecate, truly, honestly had tried to keep herself from rolling her eyes. And failed. She could probably wrap this up if she wanted it to end soon. "Well, there's the hard way off dragging out this fight until one of us drops," she began, standing tall with her staff, aimed pointedly at Eden as if daring him to step any closer. "A waste of time honestly."

Just as the words left her, she abruptly swung the staff, hitting the side of his head with it to topple his form, followed with a swift kick to the side of his stomach. "I would have preferred the second option but I'll indulge you, since it could be your last when I bring you back to the lab."

Nobody could have missed the way Hecate grit her teeth. What kind of response is this?! She dropped her heel on him once (and she was glad she was wearing pumps and not any of her stilettos). "This is is funny to you, huh?" she taunted, throwing another kick to his side. She wanted to see the smile wiped of that face of his.

Hecate never missed a beat, dropping her staff to the ground, the mental clashing with the concrete echoing in the alley when she released both electrodes on him and letting the current flow. "Laugh at this then, you psychopath!"