[Sparks drags himself back into the precinct after just a few hours sleep. He's been running on empty for weeks now, but there's still a lot going on he needs to take care of that he can't afford the break. At least he's going home now to rest, and isn't just asleep in his chair.

As he heads towards his office to start on the day's paperwork, he sees Dylas inside his cell, and stops.]

Why are you still here.

[Sparks stops in his tracks, staring at his desk from afar. He does like doing paperwork, but he really wasn't up for the extra work today.]

Yuffie. How's she still gettin' into this place? Is everyone else sleepin' around here?

[He gives Dylas a raised eyebrow though.]

Y'didn't answer my question, though.

That's an understatement. And no, yer not. We're not runnin' a flop house here, this is a jail. 'N I can't hold charges against people who were mind controlled. So ya need to mozy along already.

[He hangs up his hat on a nearby rack, and runs a hand through his hair in a tired gesture.]

'Sides, that means yer as much of a danger as all of us. Any one of us could be mind controlled. A lot of us were. You don't see all these cells filled up with Heroes.

[At least he has someone to talk to. Even Sparks's roommate was locked up here for awhile. Not that he's home much anyway.]

My guess? They know yer past. The stuff you alluded to durin' the interrogation. Made you an easy scapegoat, someone suspicious to start with. But if Palitutu has the scoop on all 'a us, who's so say someone else doesn't either? But I can't prove that. Can't prove a lot that went on.

Considerin' how everything shook down with Rialynn, I think it's over, for now.

Maybe ya should've. Or maybe ya don't even know what hit ya. How do ya resist somethin' ya don't even know's happening?

[Sparks answers Dylas's question at first with a quiet sigh, and a pause.]

Yeah, I was there. That Rialynn girl was mind controlled, used some kinda black crystal to kill off a few more people after we all stumbled across the scene of ten dead already. The culprit was probably on the scene, but got away in the chaos.

[He tried to quit after that debacle, but Biggs pretty much wouldn't let him. He felt uncomfortable wearing the uniform lately. He let the city down and shouldn't be here.]

[Sparks doesn't even jump when Dylas starts yelling. But he does turn to face him, his face serious.]

I coulda happened to me. As a matter 'a fact, it did. Not long after I first got here, I got brainwashed 'n attacked a whole bunch of Heroes. So don't gimme that nonsense. But ya don't see me lockin' myself away. Or anyone else who it happened to, for that matter. We may all be on the same side, but we're not yer babysitter, either.

I don't see how that's relevant. [He's not always a good person.]

[Sparks huffs a short sigh, doing his best to not just be snarky at Dylas. He walks slowly over to Dylas's cell. He unlocks it with a key from his belt, but he doesn't open the door.]

If ya wanna be a good person, ya go out 'n be a good person. Hidin' in a cell ain't gonna help that. You ain't gonna be anything but a ghost just hidin' in there. But all I can do to help ya is unlock that door. The rest is up to you.

[It is abrupt, stopping Sparks, who turns and shoots a raised eyebrow in Dylas's direction.]

Yeah. Twice, if ya must know. Why?

[It takes him a moment to realize that, though.]

What? I'm pretty alive right now, ain't I? [A beat.] I mean, I came out of crystal stasis both times, so. Yeah. I mean, what am I if I ain't alive then?

...A ghost? A zombie? A doppleganger? A Jupiter Spy? I dunno, could be a lot of things. What're ya gettin' at? [He's genuinely curious now.]