Mercy's training wasn't always about learning how to use her bat body. She also had to learn the other aspects of being a cop, such as filing and paperwork. Needless to say, it was the dullest part of her training. However, she couldn't just slack off during this part.
"Look, I know it's not the most exciting thing," said Luke, who was in charge of monitoring Mercy's training today, "But it is an essential part of police work. Without files, important evidence could be misplaced or lost. And they could be important in other cases later."
"Well, I get that part," said Mercy, "But there's practically nothing worthwhile in these files. The only things in these files are speeding tickets, drunkenness in public, and minor civil disturbances. It's too peaceful here."
"Yeah, it can seem that way," agreed Luke, "Though really is that so bad?"
"Not if you're a police officer with nothing to do," grumbled Mercy.
"Well, there has been talk of having our officers working in other areas on loan," said Luke, "Including yourself once your training's done."
"Which won't be any time soon," grumbled Mercy, "Meanwhile, there's no real criminal records to look at except Heather Green, Mary Piper, and my own."
"Well, there is this new criminal, even if she hasn't actually committed crimes in Animalia," said Luke, "You've heard the Destroying Angel?"
Mercy thought it over. It sounded familiar, but she was pretty sure it was more than just a toadstool. "Hmm... I think I heard of someone with big self-hate issues on some kind of 'crusade'," she said uncertainly.
"Let me pull up her file," said Luke, "She's already in custody and she's going to start her life again. After her punishments, that is."
The file was about a young woman named Miriam Strite, AKA 'Jezzie', AKA 'Destroying Angel', charged with multiple accounts of sexual assault on other women. Though the term 'sexual assault' was misleading. Her M.O. was to seduce other lesbians, get them to have sex with her so as to infect them with her HIV, then leave a scathing letter saying they were sinful creatures who deserve damnation. Her last mark was less receptive to her seduction and she apparently lost patience and physically assaulted her. At least she attempted, her target was better at self-defense than she expected and Miriam was subdued and arrested.
"Huh, you here about these kinds of urban legends, but you never actually see one," said Mercy.
"Miriam wasn't the first and she may not be the last," said Luke, "There are a lot of people whose religions cause them to hate themselves and think they're unclean."
"And her religion was probably less tolerant than others," said Mercy.
"There's an understatement," said Luke as he pulled up her backstory. Apparently her parents were one of the various splinter branches of Christianity. It was hard to determine if it was Catholic or Protestant, but apparently it was a lot tougher on lust than most churches. It decreed that sex was only for reproduction, all other thoughts were sinful, people who think lustful thoughts were forsaken, etc., etc. Of course, that meant this branch was very homophobic. Which couldn't have been good for Miriam when she realized she preferred girls.
"Yeesh, no wonder this girl got messed up," said Mercy, "I hope she didn't think her parents approved of this 'crusade' of hers."
"Well, that would be hard to say," said Luke, "Apparently her parents both died of HIV before she started."
"Wait, they all had HIV?" asked Mercy.
"Apparently," said Luke.
Mercy thought over before saying, "Something doesn't really fit together."
"How's that?" asked Luke.
"Well, HIV is primarily passed through sex," said Mercy, "I find it hard that a family who practice such an anti-sex religion could all get it."
"Perhaps her parents didn't practice what they preached," said Luke scornfully.
"Perhaps so, but how could Miriam have gotten it?" asked Mercy, "Did she get infected from a one-night stand to satisfy her 'unholy lust'? Did she infect herself so she could 'right wrongs' in her parents' name? Could..her parents have infected her when they found out what she was?"
Luke growled and said, "Well, I don't blame Miriam for wanting to put all that behind her. She's starting a new life, new identity, wants to 'cast off the oppression of her parents like a dead skin'."
"So she's going reptile?" asked Mercy.
"Cobra, actually," Luke said, "She's been converted by Ki-ko, that Spanish girl who came with the rest of the Fabina troupe."
"Well, I think she'll have a better life in Animalia," said Mercy.
"She'll certainly have better luck with Ki-ko," said Luke.
"How's that?" asked Mercy.
"Ki-ko was already bisexual before she converted," said Luke.
Mercy blinked slowly. "Oh... Well, it'll certainly make her feel more comfortable with her new self," she said.
"But I doubt she's going to get a lot of comfort before her punishment's over," said Luke.