Thea's super-vision could see inside the body. Her circulatory system had been completely destroyed by rampaging electrical currents. Her organs were mostly carbonized, with only faint movements between her heart and lungs—residual electricity assimilating with her body.
But this process was excruciatingly slow. Theoretically, in seventeen or eighteen years, she'd be able to come back to life. Of course, that was assuming her body wasn't buried or deliberately destroyed.
Given that she was alone in the world, with no one to care for her, and had been tossed into a morgue, following her original trajectory, there was no way she'd survive.
This woman was similar to Poison Ivy—both had undergone irreversible life-form transformations due to foreign substances entering their bodies. The difference was that Ivy had too much vitality, while this woman had too little.
"Hook her up to IV nutrition. Maximum output," Thea told Deathstroke.
Three thick needles pierced her severely damaged skin. Various nutrients flooded into her nearly desiccated body. Ten minutes later, Thea watched a layer of electricity wrap around the woman's heart, which began to beat faintly.
"What abilities does she have that caught your attention?" Deathstroke asked thoughtfully.
"She can control and absorb electricity. When her body stores enough electrical charge, her explosive power and speed will increase dramatically. She can fire electrical shockwaves and move at high speeds between charged objects," Thea outlined several points she'd thought of in the short term.
"Oh, sounds impressive. But there's definitely a weakness, right?"
"Obviously. She got this power suddenly—her mentality will be completely unbalanced. The other thing is she's extremely vulnerable to water. She could easily wipe out a fully armed Army division, but she could also be defeated by a group of kindergarteners with water guns."
Seeing Deathstroke's expression darken, Thea quickly amended, "Kindergarteners is an exaggeration. But firefighters could definitely take her down."
"And you still plan to recruit her?"
Thea didn't answer immediately. Livewire had equally pronounced strengths and weaknesses. You didn't need some genius scientist to figure out how to counter her—anyone with a few years of education could do it.
But her advantages couldn't be ignored either. Modern cities were packed with electrical equipment that would provide her with enormous energy. Her mobility and destructive power were unmatched.
After thinking it over, Thea said, "With proper training, she'll be a valuable asset. Oh, and she'll probably need some attitude adjustment. I can't stay here long. Leave the ring with you—give it to her once her arrogance is gone." Thea handed Deathstroke a replica yellow ring.
Time moved toward evening. With continuous nutrient supply, Livewire's carbonized body began cracking. Charred skin fell to the floor and shattered. The newly exposed skin was nearly transparent. Where blood vessels should have been, electrical currents now flowed.
"I... where am I?" Livewire sat up groggily. She first clenched her fists, watching the electricity dance across her palms in a daze. Then she became alert and examined her surroundings.
Various intimidating instruments. In the distance, dozens of fully armed men standing at attention.
Some organization's base! That was her first thought. I'm an experimental subject who's been modified. It wasn't a strange conclusion—American movies were full of these exact plots. Her thoughts naturally ran in that direction.
"Ms. Leslie Willis, do you remember what happened before? I saved you. Otherwise, you'd be lying in a morgue right now." Thea noticed her eyes were unfocused, but she wasn't screaming like a lunatic, which was a good sign.
"Who are you?" Livewire's gaze automatically skipped over the two-meter-tall, bear-like Deathstroke. Not because he wasn't intimidating—the man was a walking nightmare, standing there with twin swords and a stern face, the kind who'd normally terrify any sane person.
But today, Livewire's attention was drawn to Thea. Unlike Diana's heroic classical beauty, Thea—having entered mid-demigod status—embodied modern aesthetics more closely. Combined with her extensive knowledge, her overall presence had reached another level. Even other women rarely felt jealousy when looking at her.
In public, Thea usually used magic to slightly alter her features, making her appearance less stunning. But in her own base, she saw no need to disguise herself, showing her true face.
"You recognize me, don't you?"
The details were different, but the overall appearance remained. And with Livewire's enhanced body granting improved vision and hearing, recognition wasn't difficult.
She asked uncertainly, "You're... that billionaire? Did you bring me here? You rich people are all the same—not one decent person among you!"
Her tone had started normally enough, but then something set her off. Her voice turned shrill, and the lights in the base began flickering with her agitation.
"What do we do? She seems to hate rich people," Deathstroke said cheerfully, clearly enjoying the show. He wasn't worried about her attacking—his agility and strength now exceeded human limits. Combined with his masterful combat skills, superior physical condition, and vast battle experience, he feared no meta-human, let alone this newbie who didn't know her limits.
Thea remained unfazed. Livewire's class resentment existed, but more importantly, the electricity was affecting her emotions. She couldn't control herself.
"I am a god!" The more Livewire thought about it, the angrier she became. What little rationality she had was replaced by rampaging electrical currents. Her eyes rolled back white, and her entire body levitated. The electrical power in the base began converging on her frantically.
Several guards seemed ready to rush in, but Deathstroke waved them back.
Thea was exasperated. Unlike Dr. Light—a middle-aged man with a wife, children, a happy family, and a comfortable middle-class income—this host was struggling. She'd endured all kinds of contempt in life. Without proper guidance, she'd definitely become a villain.
Blue light flashed between Thea's fingers. Water Shield. A water-blue membrane covered Livewire's body.
Violent electrical sparks erupted. The former host's majestic floating form couldn't be maintained. She fell to the ground like a dead fish, trembling violently. She'd short-circuited.
"Why won't you just listen? I told you—I'm here to help you. Think about what happened to you before. Without me, you'd be dead," Thea crouched beside her, speaking unhurriedly.
Livewire wasn't sure if this was true or false, but her current powerlessness was undeniable. With the rampaging electricity gone, her naturally cautious personality resurfaced.
Never having seen magic before, she assumed Thea had implanted something inside her—just like in the movies. Realizing she was fish on a chopping board, she became completely docile, putting on a flattering expression as she waited for Thea to continue.