Hammer sat in the back of the two-seater hovercraft as it departed the Arsenal Alliance headquarters and broke free of the dense Texas forest. The tight space he was occupying was cramped so tightly that Hammer felt like he couldn’t even breath. The two other people onboard the craft were occupying the comfortable seats as they plotted their course to Seattle. Hammer didn’t really know either of them but they had agreed to let him come along so he could be dropped off in Las Vegas as they headed north.

                The pilot was a man who went by the name Limitbreak and his co-pilot was Shell. Neither of them were members of the Arsenal Alliance and they had been visiting to discuss business with Mr. Cerreria. Hammer had waited outside the conference room like a vulture and when he asked if they would give him a lift they reluctantly agreed.

“So you guys are part of what group again?” Hammer yelled at the two vigilantes over the thrum of the engines directly beneath him. His ass was hurting.

“No one right now. We were hoping to sign up for the Arsenal Alliance but our skills aren’t needed.” Shell responded. Hammer didn’t like the co-pilot very much. The way Shell stood and the way he wore his thick rimmed glasses made Shell seem superior to others. Not unlike Mr. Cerreria but with more apparentness. Hammer wondered if Mr. Cerreria didn’t let them join for that reason alone.

                Limitbreak had been quiet ever since Hammer met the two and didn’t seem to enjoy conversation much. Hammer rested his head against some of the bags sitting in the back of the tiny cargo area and tried to get some sleep. It wouldn’t be long now before he was facing Sandstorm and getting his revenge.

                A jolt of the hovercraft woke Hammer an hour later. The first thing Hammer saw in front of him were the letters U-E clearly stitched into a backpack. Hammer fidgeted with the pack and didn’t bother to sneak because of the engines. When he turned the backpack on its side he saw the name D. Jackson on the flap.

“Which one of you is Jackson?” Hammer hollered at the vigilantes.

“The guy taking your ass to Nevada is Jackson- find his bag did you?” Shell was dozing in his seat.

“Was he a member of the U.E.?”

“We both were a few months ago.” Shell didn’t seem at all ashamed of their previous affiliation and it made Hammer hate the man even more. Shell would’ve fit right in with the U.E. bastards.

“How far away are we?” Hammer tried to forget about their background and focus on his own mission. Neither Shell or Limitbreak knew about his quest for revenge and he hoped they didn’t find out. Or did he? Hammer laughed to himself at the idea of Shell and Limitbreak discovering they were responsible for delivering Hammer to Sandstorm’s doorstep.

“We’ll be landing in half an hour.” Shell checked their navigation system.

                Time didn’t pass quickly enough for Hammer and by the time they were landing Hammer found himself sore and ready to leave the two-seater as fast as he could. He would leave behind the two ex-U.E. soldiers to confront four other U.E. soldiers. Hammer didn’t quite like the odds but it wouldn’t be for nothing. Even if Hammer was killed in the end, he would take down as many as he could.

                Limitbreak opened the hatch of the hovercraft and Hammer crawled out awkwardly. When Hammer tried standing on his own his legs nearly gave way. Shell laughed at him as the hatch began closing.

“Good luck!” Shell saluted Hammer mockingly when the hovercraft lifted into the sky. It disappeared behind a patch of clouds as quickly as it had come into his life.

“Jackasses.” Hammer flipped them off as they flew away.

                The hovercraft had dropped Hammer off about a mile away from the city of Las Vegas which sprawled in the desert like a series of squat glass and steelwork boulders. The road in Nevada was nothing like the one in Arizona and the pavement was unbroken and a fresh black color. Waves of heat radiated off the road and Hammer wiped sweat from his brow. Hammer took off his backpack and put it over his head for protection and started walking towards Las Vegas.

                Cars passed him on the way into the city and Hammer was relieved to see signs of life. He had lived in the Threshold Hollow most of his life and the only people he ever encountered were ruthless individuals. Civilized people were warned away from the deserts of Arizona and it was a fair warning Hammer believed in. No common man would’ve survived in such an inhospitable place.

                One of the cars honked at Hammer and slowed. He tried to ignore the cries from inside the car but when he looked, three girls were blowing kisses and winking at him. Hammer tried not to blush and the shadow from his backpack prevented them from seeing his reaction.

“Hoping to strike it rich baby?” The driver catcalled.

“You could say that!” Hammer yelled back.

“Well when you do- come find us!”

                The car peeled on down the road like a bat out of hell and left Hammer standing in a torrent of dust. After clearing his eyes and mouth Hammer continued towards Las Vegas. As the first cooled shadow of a glittering casino fell over Hammer he was awe stricken. The streets of Las Vegas were lined with people and Hammer had the feeling it was going to be a lot harder to find Sandstorm in such a place.

                Hammer tried to stay away from the people of the city. They were dressed in shorts and t-shirts and their sunhats kept the blazing sun from their pasty skin. Hammer was curious how some of the people lived their lives so mundanely and without superpowers.

                That gave Hammer an idea. Surely a city such as Las Vegas had a place where an Evolved could go to turn themselves in and that would lead him to Sandstorm! Hammer picked up his pace and found the nearest convenient looking civilian he could.

“Can you tell me where the U.E. headquarters are? I’m an Evolved.” He whispered the last line rather shamefaced.

                The older man that Hammer had asked raised an eyebrow and shooed him away. He told Hammer to head for the corner of Western and 12th street. That was where Hammer would find the local police station which could get him in touch with a U.E. representative. Hammer did so right away and when he stopped in front of the police station he praised himself for his ingenuity.

“I’m an Evolved! Don’t you get it? I am dangerous!”

                A police officer who had obviously had enough for the day sat behind the counter scribbling doodles on her notepad. Hammer had been standing at the counter since he had arrived and the woman was refusing to listen. Hammer slammed his hand against the bulletproof glass surrounding the counter and the female police officer jumped.

“Sir- I suggest you get your little scrawny ass out of this precinct of I will have you arrested. We don’t deal with U.E. issues. We are the police. P-O-L-I-C-E.” She waved a finger towards the door just as her phone rang and she answered.

                Hammer stepped back from the counter. He wanted to slap the woman across the face for being so rude to him. Hammer could’ve destroyed the entire building had he wanted to but he was trying to play nice. Maybe it was time he tried things differently. Hammer started for the door and as he did he let the anger the back of his skull swell in his right hand.

“No-” Hammer caught himself. He didn’t want to expel all his power at once and he eased off a little bit.

                Placing his palm against the heavy oak door Hammer let out a sigh of defeat that made the woman behind the counter smile with triumph. When the door exploded in a shower of splinters around Hammer her smile faded and she hit the floor. That’s when Hammer smiled and left the precinct.

                Two police officers who had seen the door explode stepped out of their parked cars and put hands on their firearms. They raised hands to Hammer to keep him from coming any closer.

“Stop right there. Put your hands in the air!”

“You really want to fuck with me?” Hammer sneered.

“Put your hands in the air!” The other officer repeated.

                Hammer did as he was told and the officers rushed towards him. One of the officers pinned Hammer’s hands behind his back and the other drew his gun and aimed it at Hammer’s chest. A smart move because Hammer had been ready to blow the officer holding his hands to pieces.

“We need a sedation team in here now.” The officer with the drawn gun spoke into his radio.

                Hammer’s eyes widened. If they sedated him then there was no way he would get to deal with Sandstorm. He would end up in the same position he had been in when Priest rescued him. Hammer couldn’t let that happen. Sandstorm needed to pay for killing the Anvil Brothers!

                Unexpectedly Hammer’s hands swelled with anxiety and the officer behind him fell to the ground crying in pain as his fingers blew off in a shower of blood. The officer talking on the radio raised his gun but it was too late. Hammer rammed him with his shoulder and landed on his back. Hands placed against the police officer’s stomach Hammer gave a yell that cracked the officer’s ribcage.

                Rolling off the dying officer Hammer stood up and broke the handcuffs around his hands easily.

“Bring me Sandstorm.” Hammer spoke into the radio on the officer’s shoulder. “If they don’t come I will kill even more.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Archer played the message once more so the rest of Sandstorm could hear what the boy had warned. They had no idea who this new enemy was and why he wanted their head on a platter but Archer was sure they’d never met before. Even Fire Soul agreed that their affairs with young Evolved were almost non-existent now that the Helios Society was up and running.

                Turning to his teammates Archer scratched his hair under his mask. Archer had been wearing his facemask for a long time and it was a signature piece of his attire. It had initially protected him from racist bigots when Archer had first begun his career in Texas but anymore it was a sign of his serious and no-nonsense attitude towards crime and villainy. He stared at Fire Soul and Doorman as they watched security of the boy storming the Las Vegas precinct by himself and trapping more than two dozen police officers beneath rubble in the basement.

“That kid has some power in him.” Doorman admitted. The oldest of Sandstorm was a porter but Doorman’s ability could only be used on open doors. “He also seems pretty pissed about something we did to him.”

“Kids these days. Don’t understand the meaning of power.” Fire Soul rewound the security footage as Hammer blasted away the stairwell leading down into the basement of the precinct trapping the officers below.

                Archer looked at Fire Soul. She was a Texas native and his closest friend before they became heroes. The two of them had founded Sandstorm in Texas which was later transferred to the desert states when the big-shots calling themselves The Elite moved to town. It was a shame to have been overlooked to protect the great state of Texas but Archer and Fire Soul had found lives in Las Vegas satisfying. Especially after they were both married in a private ceremony unknown by the U.E..

“Whatever the kid’s issue is, we got to stop him.” Archer attached his quiver to his waist and collapsed his bow on his back.

“It’d be a lot easier if Griffon was with us.”

                They all agreed silently. Griffon hadn’t been himself for a while and when his animalistic qualities completely overrode his human ethics they had sent him to rehab in the Vault. None of them regretted the decision but all of them regretted having not reached out and helped Griffon sooner.

                As they made for the door leading out of the intelligence room the three discussed tactics. Fire Soul and Archer would be engaging Hammer without Doorman. They would lead him away from the precinct long enough for Doorman to find a way into the basement and teleport everyone to safety. Doorman was a little relieved to be out of the action against a kid but didn’t speak on it.

“Don’t let him touch you Pat, Archer.” Doorman said.

                Fire Soul and Archer stopped at the door and Doorman grabbed the handle. Closing his eyes he whispered a prayer for his friends and opened the door. A swirling mass of colors swam beyond the threshold of the door and Archer stepped in first. Fire Soul followed. Doorman closed the door behind his two teammates and said a prayer for himself before opening the door a second time and stepping through.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

“We don’t know why you’re here or what your beef is with us kid.” Archer was standing in the doorway at the front of the precinct with his bow at ease. Hammer was sitting on the filing counter with a surprised look on his face. “You must have your story twisted.”

                Hammer was staring at Archer’s arm. Hadn’t be blown it off in their last encounter? As Hammer stared deeper into Archer’s new arm he tried to see what it really was. Hammer pulled his eyes away when the probe came back and the arm was definitely human flesh.

“So you can regenerate?” Hammer slid off the counter.

                The man cocked his head. “Obviously we aren’t on the same page.”

“We should talk about why it is you want us dead.” Fire Soul spoke up. “Neither of us have ever met you.”

“Liars.” Hammer pointed a finger at Fire Soul. She was definitely less magnetic than the last time they had met.

“We could call you one too.” Archer squinted through his mask.

                That was another thing that made Hammer so hesitant. The Archer he had fought didn’t wear a mask not to mention he should be missing his arm. But they were tricking Hammer and he knew he couldn’t fall prey to their lies. They would do anything to have his power  on their side.

“Look, we don’t even know your name.” Fire Soul tried easing the tension in the air.

                Hammer kept his eyes trained on the two would-be heroes and felt his anger rising. They were murderers! Hammer needed to hold them responsible for the death of the only family he had. There was no way Hammer could let them go now that he had them in his grasp. He had to finish the job and crush them.

“My name is Warren Smith.” Hammer’s shoulders sagged and he sighed sadly. Fire Soul approached him and reached out to console the confused boy. “You can call me Hammer.”

                The woman was faster than Hammer was ready for and when he tried to grab her by the wrist she was dancing away from him. Her foot caught on the rubble and Fire Soul fell to the ground. An arrow sliced across the air between Hammer and Fire Soul.

“A warning shot. We’ve shown you we don’t want any trouble but if you force us we will take you down.”

“I almost killed you once and I will do it again!” Hammer slapped his hand against the wall and it showered Archer in pieces of broken plaster and picture frames.

                Fire Soul rose from the ground and tossed a fireball across the ground at Hammer’s feet. Hammer stared at the fireball as it expanded and was thrown back when it exploded. Flames licked his chest and his clothes were burning in several places. He rolled across the ground and beat the flames off.

“In here we’re going to get buried!” Fire Soul cleared off the debris that blanketed Archer.

“I will bury you!” Hammer sent a shockwave across the ground and the floor gave in.

                Fire Soul slid down the fast inclining floor as it gave way to the sewer system below the precinct but Archer grabbed her hand without a second thought. “I’ve got you babe!” Archer started pulling his wife to safety.

“How cute.” Hammer picked up a piece of broken countertop and slammed it in the back of Archer’s head.

                The hero slid to the ground and groaned but didn’t let go of Fire Soul. Hammer stomped on Archer’s hand repeatedly until Fire Soul was released and she was left to grab at the breaking floor to keep from falling twenty feet into the sewers. Archer slammed his heel into Hammer’s stomach and the boy fell against the wall as his vision blurred.

“Doorman have you got the officers out?” Archer pulled a cord from a pouch on his hip and threw it down to his wife who was just about to fall. Fire Soul grabbed and started climbing back out of the incline.

                Archer looked away from Hammer for a second and when he looked back Hammer was gone.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Doorman had managed to fix his portal location on the least likely area imaginable. A door on a bathroom stall. He was trying to file people through the unstable portal when the ceiling above him began shaking and falling in. There were still ten officers left, some of them wounded and Doorman was afraid of being buried alive but he had to hold the portal open long enough for everyone to escape.

“Archer, find the kid I don’t think I am going to make it out of this one. He’s going to bring the whole ceiling down on me.”

“Working on it!” The labored breathing of Archer’s voice made Doorman worried. How had the boy escaped his sight?

                Doorman hoped it wouldn’t be the death of him.

“You’re a godsend.” A little old lady patted Doorman on the cheek as she was about to step into the portal. She was unaware of the shaking above them and quite content to take her time.

“I try.” Doorman pushed her roughly through the portal. One five more.

“I’ve got him!” Archer’s voice cut through the shuddering overhead that was about to bust Doorman’s eardrums. “Hold on Doorma-“

                Doorman didn’t hear Archer finish his name when the floor caved in and the portal collapsed in the stall. The five officers who were still in the restroom with Doorman never saw the lights and tiles above them raining down. One by one they fell to the crumbling ceiling and were crushed by metal support beams. Doorman was thrown into the bathroom sink as a beam fell into the stall and obliterated the last door left. Another beam fell from above and ended Doorman’s life in an instant.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Archer fired three arrows at Hammer as he knelt on the floor of the cafeteria with his hands spread on the breaking tiles. The entire building was rumbling from Hammer’s power and when Archer released the arrows they missed narrowly as Hammer and the floor crumbled downward.

“Damn.” Archer also went sliding along the ground as it twisted and the support pillars around the cafeteria began crumbling. The windows around the room shattered and lunch trays slammed into Archer’s back.

“Archer!” Fire Soul was also tumbling across the floor before she got pinned to a pillar that was still standing.

                Hammer reappeared from the hole he had created, bloodied and bruised. It took Archer a moment to rise from the ground that was angled dangerously. He fitted an arrow into his bow and aimed at Hammer’s back. Hammer turned just as Archer let the arrow fly and the tip of the tranquilizer arrow sank into Archer’s shoulder with a defeating thud. The boy nearly fell back into the hole but Fire Soul ran up and caught him as he fell asleep.

“Are you okay?” Archer collapsed his bow and ran to his wife.

“Seen worse. You?”

                Archer nodded. “Doorman, tell me you got them all out.”

                Fire Soul looked up from Hammer’s sleeping face when Archer received nothing but silence. Archer hailed Doorman again and there was only silence. Placing a hand on her husband’s tired shoulders Fire Soul tried not to cry. She tried to find words to say, the same words Archer had told her when they first began their run as superheroes.

“Heroes know the sacrifice of their job. It’s what reassures the innocent lives of the people they protect. Innocent people sleep at night because they know that there are heroes in the world that would die to save them.”

                She couldn’t bring herself to say the words as Archer began to weep behind his mask.

                It was impressive how Dr. Zelasko’s stubby little legs could move him down the hall faster than Alaina could keep stride. The good natured doctor had been in a temper the entire morning after hearing about Alaina’s run in with the girl who’s codename was Catscratch. When Dr. Zelasko had seen the deep gash along Alaina’s neck he rushed from his apartment in the Quarter heading straight for the lounge of the training coaches. Alaina had tried to stop the fervent old man but he was relentless. His prize Evolved had been wounded and there had been no repercussions for the attacker.

                For the past week Alaina had been with the Helios Society she had been the target of several new recruits who didn’t seem to appreciate her special relationship with the doctor. Not only the doctor but her own teammates Cassie and Jersey were becoming good friends slowly and the other recruits seemed to be living in one free-for-all. Alaina hadn’t seen the other teams practice but none of them spoke to one another outside of training unlike Alaina and her teammates.

                While their training in combat and ability usage had been separated by teams their academic courses were in one large group. That had prompted the rest of the recruits to see the close friendship Alaina, Cassie and Jersey were now a part of. Catscratch attacking Alaina had been an open act of jealousy and aggression from the alienated girl. Yet Alaina had her own reasons to be jealous of Catscratch who refused to wear any of the assigned garments and was assigned to the team with the man of Alaina’s dreams. Wonder.

                It took Obsidian’s intervening to tear the two girls apart as they rolled on the ground in a fierce melee of Alaina punching and Catscratch clawing.

“Dr. Zelasko. It isn’t a big issue.” Alaina pleaded.

“It is.” Dr. Zelasko entered the coach’s lounge.

                Alaina saw one of the coaches sitting at a table talking with an older Japanese man she had never seen in the Helios Society. The coach was Ember and she pulled away from her conversation to regard Dr. Zelasko and Alaina’s abrup entrance.

“May I help you Dr. Zelasko? Alaina?” All of the coaches knew of Alaina for her rumored Situational Overdrive power and after the altercation with Catscratch conversation was buzzing.

“You let the recruits get into a physical fight?”

                Ember bowed her head to the Japanese man. “Excuse me Mr. Asaka.”

                Slowly moving away from Mr. Asaka, Ember tried to calm the doctor down as he ranted on about how the coaches were all uneducated brats who were only in their positions due to favoritism and seniority. Alaina was impressed with the patience that Ember was showing as Dr. Zelasko vented.

“Look at her neck!” Dr. Zelasko pushed Alaina’s head aside and revealed the red claw mark across her flesh.

“So you want Catscratch punished?”

“That and more. An Evolved who can’t control her animal instincts may not be the best candidate for the Helios Society. I demand you and the other coaches send a missive to Roland Rasmussen to have her decommissioned!”

“No- doctor!” Alaina pleaded. Catscratch may have not been the friendliest of recruits but there was no doubt her confidence and prowess were an asset to the Helios Society and the U.E. that couldn’t be dismissed because of a little bullying. “Doctor please…” Alaina tugged on Dr. Zelasko’s arm and he clenched his jaw trying to resist Alaina’s plea.

“I will talk to the coaches after lunch.” Ember promised. “Pulse and Wonder are the final say on how it should be handled. That is all I can do Dr. Zelasko.”

                Alaina thanked Ember for cooling the fire that was fueling Dr. Zelasko’s paternal rage. The last thing Alaina wanted was to have an archrival as soon as she became a superhero. Catscratch’s claws were nothing short of deadly and the reminder on Alaina’s neck was there to stay.

                Once Alaina and Dr. Zelasko were back at his apartment they began speaking again. He was acting like an overprotective parent when the whole thing hadn’t been entirely unwarranted by either girl. Alaina wanted to let out her own fears and aggression as did Catscratch. Maybe the overconfident exhibitionist was feeling the same as Alaina and it hadn’t just been a singling out.  The girl was more animal than human in most senses of the word anyway. It was natural for animals to express their anger through fighting.

“I am sorry.” Dr. Zelasko had opened a bottle of wine and was drinking half a glass already.

“You mean well.” Alaina said from the balcony and Dr. Zelasko joined her.

“Are classes going well?”

                Alaina had never been a fan of academics but she wasn’t failing the courses at the Helios Society. The coaches were educated teachers who had earned their degrees through accelerated courses in the U.E. training facilities. Pulse taught mathematics, Obsidian taught geology and history while Dash was an English major. Ember was the biology and chemistry teacher while Wonder picked up teaching in the areas of art and music. Alaina loved the final class of the day where she spent an hour listening to Wonder give them lessons on art history or teach them to paint a forest with watercolors.

“They are. It’s just weird here.” Alaina sat on the edge of the balcony overlooking the street. No one was below, no cars, no pedestrians. There was the sound of chirping birds but Alaina hadn’t seen any in the week’s duration.

“How do you mean?”

“For one, my teachers are all superheroes.” Alaina laughed.

“Well they aren’t superheroes. I believe Pulse is the only one of them to ever have experienced that career.” Dr. Zelasko refilled his glass. “The rest of them were educated here in the Helios Society. Jinx was completely raised here.”

                Alaina had forgotten about the young girl who was also a coach. She hadn’t seen Jinx the entire week, like the birds who made noise but never took flight.

“So what are their powers?” Alaina had been wondering why they had all been separated into teams and felt they were to keep things moving quicker but that left everyone guessing what one another’s powers were. Some of the recruits spoke freely of their own abilities save a few but the coaches never talked about their powers and Alaina only knew what Obsidian’s were.

“They still try and keep their powers a secret?” Dr. Zelasko laughed. “That was an old rule implemented before Roland Rasmussen became the head of the Helios Society. It kept the other recruits from trying to overpower their coaches or feel superior. Anymore it’s just a spoken rule amongst the coaches.”

                It wasn’t hard to guess what the powers of a few coaches were. Obsidian, Dash and Ember’s were more obvious while Wonder, Jinx and Pulse’s could be countless things. Without a direct explanation it was harder to get an idea of their individual abilities. Alaina imagined it was hard for everyone to get a good sense of her own abilities. Her codename had been selected by Obsidian himself. To all the recruits and her teammates Alaina was now: Grace.

“Jinx is a porter.” Dr. Zelasko spilled the beans.

                Alaina knew from her lessons that a porter meant an Evolved with the ability to teleport and transport others to distant locations or even just a short distance. Dr. Zelasko continued rattling off their power-titles but didn’t actually give their abilities descriptions. Obsidian was called an augmenter. Ember was a manipulator and Dash was a speedster. Pulse’s title was a cannon while Wonder was also a manipulator like Ember.

“Ember has to be a fire manipulator right? Or a heat manipulator?”

                Dr. Zelasko smiled at her ability to put two-and-two together.

“So what does Wonder manipulate? Girls’ hearts?”

                That made Dr. Zelasko spill his wine glass with laughter. The subject of the conversation changed and soon the two were talking about a more somber issue- Alaina’s life outside of the Helios Society.

“Do you think my dad misses me?”

                Alaina’s father had been told that the parents of the recruits were all given a letter of acknowledgement that their children were now undergoing Evolved-therapy and training to use their powers to protect others and live in a society where they didn’t feel threatened. Alaina felt like her dad would’ve tried his hardest to get her back out of U.E. custody but Alaina wouldn’t have known since the Helios Society was strict about their clause concerning outside communication while the recruits underwent their most crucial stage of power development.

“A daughter like you.” Dr. Zelasko nodded. “He’d be an idiot not to.”

                It was Alaina’s turn to smile and she hugged the doctor. If she couldn’t have her real father then Dr. Zelasko would have to do. He had already proven himself overprotective enough. Her father and Dr. Zelasko even shared their love for alcohol.

“What do you think the U.E. will do with us when we’re ready?”

“Some of the older recruits could be asked to stay on as coaches. Others will be enlisted into a regional taskforce somewhere around the globe. A few may even be accepted into U.E. high command. I think you’re the most likely candidate for that future.”

“Because of my power?”

“No-” Dr. Zelasko sat his glass down and held Alaina’s chin in his hand. “You’re going to be a hero Alaina. I can see that and I’ve seen thousands of them.”

                Did she want to be a hero? Alaina had swore to Roland Rasmussen, the Twins and Lisa Green that she would try her hardest to excel. The eyes of the Helios Society were watching her and Alaina wasn’t even sure if she wanted to become a hero in the end. Working for the U.E. as a global police force was nothing but heroic. Would Alaina be happy dealing with supervillains or constant fighting?

“That won’t happen for a while.” Dr. Zelasko let Alaina go gingerly. “Until then enjoy the company of friends.”

                Alaina excused herself to go to the restroom before tears came to her eyes. It was nothing Dr. Zelasko had said but Alaina couldn’t help but feel she was making decisions before thinking them through. Her own hardworking pride had practically forced an unwary Helios Society into accepting her as a recruit but Alaina wasn’t sure if she even wanted what came with being a recruit. It was fun to explore her powers, to learn of the superhero community but she couldn’t stop feeling like she was being selfish.

                Pausing at the bathroom door Alaina wiped tears from under her eyes. When her eyes were dry Alaina caught something out of the corner of her vision. Dr. Zelasko’s bedroom door was opened and the bedside table was within sight. Sitting atop the table was a cell phone that Alaina hadn’t known Dr. Zelasko owned. Who would he call living like a hermit inside the Helios Society’s protective enclave?

                With a shudder that felt like betrayal Alaina reached into the room and lifted the cell phone off the table. Alaina slid into the bathroom and turned the device on. The screen on the phone was remarkably simple and a symbol of a telephone at the center of the screen tempted Alaina. Ten digits later Alaina heard the resounding ring of her father’s phone on the other end of the line.

                The phone rang all the way to the voicemail, frustrated Alaina threw it on the countertop and tugged at her hair. What was she doing? Contacting her father was a direct violation of the Helios Society rules. She would be punished, possibly decommissioned. Alaina didn’t know where that left her but she didn’t want to find out.            

                Alaina left the restroom and placed the cell back on Dr. Zelasko’s table. When she went back onto the balcony Dr. Zelasko was sitting in a chair, dozing from the liquor swimming behind his eyelids. Alaina brought a quilt from the living room and placed it around the doctor quietly. She didn’t say goodbye as she left the apartment and wandered through the Quarter on her own while the artificial sun melted into night.

                The streets were vacant as they usually where and when Alain saw a shopkeeper pulling in his sale-signage she waved casually. The man waved back and retired for the evening. Alaina felt she should be heading back to her quarters in the Facility but there wasn’t anything exciting for her in the stark white room. Maybe some dinner but Alaina wasn’t hungry and after nearly betraying Dr. Zelasko by contacting her father she only felt upset. Alaina soon found herself alone in the Quarter and close to the edge of the training city where she had been informed was strictly off limits to new recruits unless they were accompanied by a coach.

                High stone walls circumvented the middle of the street like a sudden danger had presented itself inside the training city and had been stopped, unplanned, right where she was standing. One of the buildings nearby was pierced by the stone wall which went straight through both walls like it wasn’t even there.

                Alaina walked along the wall for a few minutes before the sun was completely sunken. A starry night sky illuminated the quiet city with its unabashed full moon. The allowance of the moon’s light was not the only way Alaina was able to see the figures creeping across the rooftop along the side of the Quarter’s boundaries. One of the figure’s hair was glowing like a candle flame. Alaina wasn’t an idiot and she knew where the figures were headed. They were trying to get into the training city and she wanted to find out why.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Staying hidden while Alaina tailed behind the slow moving figures was done easily enough. None of her fellow recruits anticipated a person being out within the Quarter, especially on such a dead end of town. After being one-hundred percent sure the figures skulking along the rooftops were recruits Alaina felt less guilty about following them through the night. Not that she had a doubt the coaches or even more experienced members of the Helios Society would be sneaking around. Alaina recognized the flaming head of Kalvin Wicker a.k.a. Matchstick as well as the lithe figure a girl named Beth Rider a.k.a. Bantam.

                Alaina had finally gotten ahead of the four recruits by reaching navigating through an alleyway that was clear of empty dumpsters and barring fences. Now she was waiting for the recruits to arrive at their destination, a portion of the boundary surrounding the Quarter that dipped down the side of a hill allowing someone to leap over if they jumped from the roof of a useless gas station. Alaina sank back into the shadows of a vending machine and waited.

                Bantam descended from the top of the nearest building as light as a feather. Her thin figure and near-bald head were consumed by the darkening night. Alaina didn’t even hear the girl land on the gas station roof before calling to the rest of the recruits behind her. A boy called Gill jumped down to the gas station followed by Matchstick’s flickering head and a girl named Jawbreaker. Alaina’s nerves clenched as the recruits made their way above her and inspected the low rising wall that sat too closely to the rooftop of the gas station.

“We’re almost there. I wonder why the coaches keep telling us to stay out.” One of the boys asked.

“Can’t be too bad, looks just like the Quarter. If there really were dangers over on that side then it wouldn’t be this easy to get across.”

“Looks like we’re going to find out.” The boy said again with much excitement.

                Below the four recruits Alaina was cursing herself for ever having followed them all this way. It was too late to turn back now. She should have alerted the coaches of Dr. Zelasko. That would’ve been the responsible thing to do but Alaina hadn’t been thinking things through at the time. She doubted she’d be able to find her way back to the Facility or Dr. Zelasko’s apartment now they were on the far end of the Quarter that was the size of twenty city blocks.

                One of the recruits lead the charge off the side of the gas station and dropped down behind the boundaries surrounding the Quarter. A few seconds later and all of the recruits were no longer within earshot. Alaina moved from the shadows and used the vending machine to look over the wall after them. The four of them were slowly moving into the darkness of the vacant skyscrapers while using Matchstick’s illuminated head as a guiding light. There were no street lamps on the vacant side of the boundary and Alaina feared if she let them get too far ahead she could be lost as well.

                The thought of going back to get one of the experienced members of the Helios Society crossed Alaina’s mind but she pushed the thought aside and leaped after the recruits.

                Scrambling down the rest of the hill behind the gas station Alaina nearly slammed into a sidewalk railing when it appeared from the darkness. Swiftly she hurdled over it. Alaina could still see Matchstick at the center of their foursome as they walked on ahead of her.

“What am I doing?” Alaina hustled to get within earshot of the recruits and when she did, ducking behind hollow automobiles, their conversation piqued her interest.

                Bantam was at the head of their foursome and carrying on like some storyteller.

“They say the psychics used to train over on this side of the boundary. That was before the accident.”

                The thin girl had a knack for the dramatic. Her companions let her continue.

“When the Trivium were still in training they were part of a team of seven and when they left there was only the Trivium left.” Bantam’s eyes widened as she tried to spook the obvious weak-link, Gill.

“How do you know all this?” Jawbreaker was listening while watching the lightless windows of the skyscrapers around them.

“Dash told me.” Bantam rushed back into her story. “So the Trivium were the only survivors and some say they killed four of their teammates during their training here. Killed them for their psychic energy.”

“That’s not how it works.” Jawbreaker scoffed.

“And how do you know? You’re not a psychic.”

                Gill started the story back up. “I think she’s right Jawbreaker. I remember when I was little the man named the Gray Mason was a serial killer who preyed on psychics. The news reports said that he ate their brains to try and live forever.”

“That’s different than absorbing their psychic energy. Have you met the Trivium? Pulse says they are a little odd but harmless unless threatened.”

“Ahem-” Bantam continued. “But the Trivium didn’t actually finish the job. The four psychics that were supposedly dead were actually alive and their mindless corpses now walk this side of the boundary hungering for living energies.”

“So the Helios Society kept on a bunch of murderers?” Jawbreaker threw her hands up. “I knew this was a bad idea. You’re just trying to scare us.”

                Matchstick laughed. “Gill’s scared.”

                Alaina could see Gill had stopped a few feet behind the recruits and was shivering with fear. Gill’s eyes were distant and watching the darkened alleyway between a Chinese restaurant and one of the skyscrapers. Was the boy just messing with the other recruits? Alaina stayed behind the truck she was kneeling behind and watched the darkness with Gill.

“Gill? It’s just a story.” Jawbreaker came up behind Gill and shook him but the boy didn’t budge.

“Bantam.” Jawbreaker hissed at the other girl.

“It was just a story fish boy, I’m sorry.” Bantam apologized.

                The recruits were too busy talking to one another and trying to get Gill to budge and they didn’t see the dark figure in the alleyway. Alaina knew danger was afoot and bolted from her hiding spot and telling the recruits to run.

“Grace?” Matchstick was the only one who saw Alaina before the group was sent flying across the street by an invisible force.

                Alaina skidded on the heels of her boots. Something was appearing from the alleyway and Alaina didn’t want to find out what it was. She ran towards the recruits who were rising from the ground where they had been thrown. As Alaina ran she cried for everyone else to fallback.

                The invisible force knocked the wind out of Alaina when it collided with her spine. She fell head over heels into a bus stop and glass shattered around her.

“What is that thing!?” Matchstick pointed at the figure now appearing in front of them.

                A sharp metal diamond the size of a human stalked across the street on four spindly cable legs that went click-click-click along the pavement. At the center of diamond was a shattered glass bauble that was barely flickering a faint orange color. It wasn’t stopping as the recruits readied their powers against it and showed no sign of hesitation.

                Matchstick flung both hands out and darts of flame soared towards the walking diamond. The fire exploded across its metallic hull leaving a streak of sparks. An orange pulse at the center of the diamond began pulsing even more and as Alaina rose Matchstick was sent flying backwards through a storefront.

                Speeding towards the diamond Jawbreaker brought up a blow so hard into the hull of the robot creature it staggered off balance. Lashing at Jawbreaker with a leg the girl found both of her hands ensnared in its grasp.

“Do something guys!”  Jawbreaker cried out. Alaina could see the muscles on Jawbreaker’s arms resisting the robot’s tug.

“Coming in!”

                Alaina looked around and Bantam was nowhere to be seen. She thought she caught sight of a something tiny cross her field of vision but Alaina couldn’t follow it. Jawbreaker was still struggling with the robot when Alaina rushed in. Using a kick learned from Obsidian, Alaina half-stomped half-high kicked the bauble at the diamond’s center. It turned on Alaina and released Jawbreaker.

                Another invisible blast from the robot sent Alaina falling onto her back.

“GOT IT!” Alaina heard Bantam shout from somewhere far away. The girl’s voice echoed out of the robot like she was inside of it.

                Something tiny and dark flew from inside a shattered the glass bauble and then Bantam slowly grew out of thin air before landing next to Alaina. In Bantam’s hand was a collection of wires that were still sparking.

                The diamond robot began to fall on its side as it began shutting down. It crashed and stopped moving after the faint glow in its glass bauble flickered for one long second and gave up. Jawbreaker clapped her hands together and lifted Bantam off the ground.

“You did it!”

“Who knew being the size of a pixie would do anyone any good.” Bantam sounded surprised. “I didn’t even know what cords to pull.”

“You guys!” Matchstick ruined their excitement.

                Alaina, Jawbreaker and Bantam rushed over to Matchstick who’s flamed head was not as fierce as usual. On the ground beside him was Gill. A large piece of glass was sticking out of Gill’s chest and blood had pooled around him. Alaina knelt down and inspected the wound.

“Don’t touch him. We need to get a doctor here before we can move him.” Alaina knew the wound was inches away from mortal. If they moved him they risked lodging the glass further inside of him.

“How do you know Miss Bigshot?” Bantam pushed Alaina and Alaina had to hold herself from punching the cocky little shifter in the mouth.

“My power lets me know what to do in situations.”  Alaina rose and looked around the street.

                Something wasn’t right about their attacker. It obviously had a power source of some kind and was manmade. That meant there could be more of them lying in wait for the recruits. One hadn’t been terribly hard to take down but several could pose a problem. Alaina thought she heard something high above them and she looked up.

                Standing atop a skyscraper above the street was a dark form that Alaina knew couldn’t be good for them and she could make out a faint glowing resonating at the center of the dark form.

“Get ready to fight.” Alaina pulled Jawbreaker and Matchstick up from the ground.

                A click-click-click crept towards them from the alleyways and down the streets. More of the robots were fast approaching and Alaina couldn’t be sure just how many there were or if they stood a chance against them.

“We’re going to die aren’t we?” Gill whispered to Bantam who was holding the fish-boy’s scaly hand.

                Alaina shook her head angrily as the first robot stepped out from an alleyway nearby. Matchstick was already attacking and a gout of flames seared the robot and then a second before they could attack. Jawbreaker ran towards the stumbling robots while they were on fire.

“We aren’t going to die.” Alaina clenched her fists. “I won’t let that happen.”

                A long exasperated sigh breathed life into the conversation Gladys had been having with the youngest sibling of the Tapia children. The first diplomatic step in their mission had been taken and Magus Doran, despite the terse finale, hadn’t been fruitless. Gladys wanted to clap herself on the back but her position and current demeanor didn’t allow for praise.

“I don’t think Alma or Astara were really expecting such a reaction from a Magus.” Aigo was trying to ease the anxiety in Gladys’ worried mind for the umpteenth time. “A Magus rarely sees eye to eye with anyone.”

“Suppose he does stick to his word and spread news of the U.E.’s mission, do we believe he will do it for-or against us?”

                Rolling his glowing orb against the floor of the Yellowjacket and his palm, Aigo shrugged and looked towards his two sisters who were huddled in their seats with heads down. The sisters had told Gladys they would be making regular contact with their mother as their mission progressed and that made Gladys wonder if they were mocking her attempts at diplomacy. Had the Tapia Coven set her up for failure by meeting with Magus Doran first? Gladys’ rubbed her forehead.

“Gladys can you come up to the cockpit?” Nate’s voice over the intercom sounded urgent.

                Gladys rose, Nate’s summon hadn’t broken the girls’ concentration and they were still apparently locked in communication with their mother but she was aware of Aigo following her towards the cockpit. At first Gladys had found it odd to talk with the boy who’s powers were so mysteriously precarious but Aigo was proving himself to be a likeable youth who yearned for affection and ever since they had left the enchanted forest of Magus Doran the boy had been trying to assuage Gladys’ worries.

                Climbing the ladder up into the cockpit Gladys saw Nate was decelerating the Yellowjacket for reasons she wasn’t immediately aware of. When she looked out the cockpit window for herself and saw the woman floating on a cloud ahead of them Gladys knew something unexpected was going on. Alma and Astara’s usual awareness of their surroundings hadn’t been provoked. So the woman standing on a cloud in the middle of the sky was likely an unforeseen obstacle that Gladys was trained to be cautious of.

“Open the loudspeaker.” Gladys stood behind Nate and made sure Aigo was at her side, guardedly.

                Nate pressed a button on his console, a green light flickered.

“This is Agent Goodstone of the Union Empire. Who may I have the pleasure of talking to.” Gladys wanted to kick herself for the choice meek of words but if she presented herself as a threat then whoever this was, potential ally or not, could turn the situation quickly southward.

                The cloud mistress spoke and her words were a raspy, cold dialect that Gladys found hard not to perceive as the words of a bitter rival.

“I am Lady Aurora. The Tapia children are onboard your vessel. I have unfinished business with their coven.”

                Gladys was taken back. Unfinished business usually meant an issue that needed to be settled with shouting, bribery or even violence and Gladys was shy to any of those altercations. This woman had no business with the children but perhaps their mother. Gladys had to stall.

“Aigo, get your sisters. Tell them your mother has a visitor. A Lady Aurora.”

                Aigo disappeared back into the cabin of the Yellowjacket while Gladys kept her eyes on Lady Aurora who’s whimsical appearance reeked of the supernatural. Had Magus Doran already spread the word of Gladys’ mission and by fleeting chance Lady Aurora found an opportunity to settle her unfinished business with the Tapia Coven? The idea made Gladys keep communication while Aigo rallied his sisters.

“Have you spoken with the Magus recently?”

                Lady Aurora’s willowy silver hair stretched all the way to her bare feet but didn’t seem fettered by the wind around her. The ensorcelled air between the Yellowjacket and Lady Aurora must’ve been charged with tantalizing magic. These traits reaffirmed Gladys that Lady Aurora was a member of the magic community and in that respect, a potential ally.

“I have no idea what a Magus is.”

                Gladys’ heart sank. Had her own training in the subtleties of magic been for nothing if she wasn’t able to readily identify a magic-user?

“Then why are you here?”

“You’re prying isn’t becoming. My business is of none of your concern.” Lady Aurora attempted to slice Gladys down a few notches but Gladys wasn’t going to have it.

                This woman was not a member of the magic community. Gladys had no reason to be diplomatic, especially while her children were being threatened. If Lady Aurora expected a fight then Gladys would give her one.

“The Tapia Children are under my care and supervision. They are ambassadors of the U.E. and-“

                A violent gust of wind caused the Yellowjacket to sag from side to side. Nate kept his hands on the flight controls and the hovercraft recovered almost immediately. Gladys spun around in the cockpit to see if the children were alright after the gust. She found them nowhere in sight. Spinning around almost to quickly Gladys stumbled into Nate’s chair and found the cloud Lady Aurora had been poised on top of was gone as well. Taking Lady Aurora with it.

“Nate- find them!”

                Nate began moving as fast as he could, adjusting the sensors of the Yellowjacket in an array of variables that Gladys was not trained on. It frustrated her to be unable to help so instead of bothering Nate while he adjusted his sensors to scan for any source of arcane anomalies, Gladys slid down the ladder and went for the armory locker.

                When Nate had found the children nearly a half mile away from their position Gladys was already equipped with a sedative handgun and an assault rifle which fired three different kinds of ammo: ablative shells, tranquilizers and pulse rounds. Throwing a few extra rounds of the tranquilizers into the satchel at her waist, Gladys headed for the landing hatch.

“I wish you could see this!” Nate called from the cockpit as a muffled crash came from below the Yellojacket as Nate closed in on the children’s position.

                Gladys didn’t care. She had to get down to her children as fast as she could.

“Don’t try and find a landing zone, get me ten feet above and I will be fine.”

“Gladdy-“

“I have to get down there and rescue my children.” Gladys ordered Nate to submit.

                A minute later Gladys was leaping from the side of the Yellowjacket and flying over a small stand of trees that buffeted her descent. Gladys was aware that her skills didn’t come from training in combat or advanced firearm classes but she and Nate were the only ones able to save the children from Lady Aurora who had managed to whisk them away. The strap on her rifle snagged on a tree limb when Gladys was six feet from the ground but she left it hanging and rolled onto the grass without the weapon.

                After a large tree crashed to the ground in front of her Gladys regretted leaving the assault rifle up in the tree. Gladys ran to the side of the tree when it shook the earth and drew her sedative firearm. Once Gladys was around the tree she saw the battleground of her children and Lady Aurora.

                The ground had been replaced by scorched earth that could’ve been torn straight from the pits of hell itself. Smoke and tiny flames rose into the smoky air as Gladys stalked across the warpath. Who had caused the damage to the forest? Gladys worried for her children even more. A female painful scream forced Gladys to run through the smoke.

“Gladys?” Astara appeared from the smoke beside Gladys. She was no longer wearing her black formal wear and was wearing the jeans and track jacket she had arrived at U.E. headquarters in. “Why are you here?”

“I’m rescuing you.”

                Something made Astara look into the dense smoke ahead of them. “Leave now!” Astara leaped into the smoke so fast that Gladys didn’t register the girl’s words until they were irrelevant. Gladys pushing through the smoke after Astara and the other children.

“You must be a fool.” Lady Aurora’s raspy voice crept up behind Gladys. Reflexively Gladys spun and fired a tranquilizer at the woman.

                Knocking it aside with a gust of heated air Lady Aurora strode for Gladys with a menacing look across her once whimsical face. Silver hair streaked with ash and dirt made Lady Aurora lose all her previous grace and Gladys’ first instinct was to run away but she didn’t and fired more sedatives at the woman who was fast approaching.

                Each round fired was deflected by the increasingly hot air. Lady Aurora raised her a free hand and her silver eyes glowed like the moon.

“Gladys!”

                Aigo and Astara ran up beside Gladys and arched their fingers in the air at Lady Aurora. A terribly hot gust of wind escaped the space around their enemy and warped the air around Gladys and the two Tapia siblings. Yet Lady Aurora’s attack was foiled by the iridescent orange globe that appeared from the fingertips of Aigo and Astara like strands of molten gold. Gladys took the chance to reload her handgun.

“Get away!” Lady Aurora’s eyes glowed even more and the Tapia children were sent sliding sideways in the ground. Aigo rose first but Gladys was being hurled in the air before the young brujo could protect her.

                Gladys screamed as the hot air that held her aloft began to burnish her skin. When Aigo reached Lady Aurora he sent his magical orb at the woman like a dodgeball. Unaware of the orb’s destruction power Lady Aurora didn’t react defensively and sent a blast of wind in Aigo’s direction. Astara was at her brother’s side in a second and created a much smaller orange globe around the two of them.

                When Aigo’s orb reacted to Lady Aurora’s proximity Gladys was set free, albeit on a course much higher and flying backwards head over heels. Lady Aurora screamed as the orb enveloped her but Gladys couldn’t see what the end result was as she found herself tumbling into the side of a large tree.

                Gladys felt like her neck was broken when she landed in the grass below the tree that had pummeled her upon decent. She was aware of footsteps running towards her and young hands helping her sit up.

“She’ll live.” Astara wiped blood from Gladys’ nose.

                The two siblings were covered in dirt and soot. A scent of harsh smoke stuck to their clothes like a magnet. Gladys wished she could make everything better but not until she knew what had happened to Lady Aurora.

“She’s probably dead after-“

                Astara began to choke on her words. Something was wrong with the air around Astara’s head and Gladys could tell it was warping and superheating dangerously. It was sucking the oxygen right out of the girl! Aigo’s own gasping made Gladys look around for Lady Aurora.

                Hovering on the other side of the large fall tree was Lady Aurora. The hair around her face was swirling in a mass of silver tentacles and the glowing eyes of the woman told Gladys she wasn’t finished with her business just yet. Gladys rose and her toes kicked something hard and metallic. The assault rifle! Gladys wasn’t out of the fight just yet.

                Gladys switched off the safety and clicked the button by the trigger which would change the rounds being fired. Lady Aurora was too busy suffocating the children to realize the real threat in front of her. If Gladys’ stores of knowledge paid off then they would be free of the raspy bitch trying to kill them!

“Hey psycho!” Gladys poised the assault rifle and fired.

                The bullets escaped the chamber of the rifle like a swarm of mad bees. Gladys’ entire body rocked from the lack of training and her knees buckled. Lady Aurora raised a hand to deflect the bullets and when her superheated air blasted the bullets away they reacted as Gladys had predicted.

                Pulse rounds exploded all around Lady Aurora in separate waves of electrical arcs. Each wave passed through Lady Aurora’s body repeatedly and she descended from the air blow by blow. After the last pulse round went off the silver hair that had once been beautifully elegant was fried and fell from Lady Aurora’s head in clusters. Gladys stood back up as Astara and Aigo regained their breathing.

“Think I did it?”

“Definitely.” Astara gasped, impressed by the effect of the pulse rounds.

                Lady Aurora remained still strewn halfway across the fallen tree. With a nudge of her boot Gladys confirmed her sedation and called for Nate to head back to the newly excavated clearing.

“Where is Alma?” Aigo looked around the smoke as the jets from the hovercraft began to clear it away.

“Right here.” Alma stepped out from behind a group of bushes. Her clothes were unmarred by the devastation around them.

“Too bad you didn’t get any action.” Astara fake-jabbed at her older sister.

                Alma blushed behind her dark curls and Gladys didn’t blame the eldest Tapia sister for hiding. Her powers were merely passive, having the ability to confer with spirits and see the undead didn’t place Alma on the front lines.

                The Yellowjacket shadowed over the group and Nate opened the landing platform for them to get back onboard. Dragging Lady Aurora onto the platform they ascended into the cabin of the Yellowjacket as Nate steered away from the desolation as fast as he could.

                Gladys found restraints in the armory locker and made sure their new passenger had a good dose of sedatives to keep her unconscious while they returned to headquarters where the wardens could take her into custody. After the stressful day they were having Gladys was going to be happy when Lady Aurora was tightly locked away and monitored by U.E. authorities.

“So what will happen to her?” Aigo inquired when Gladys came up to the cockpit where all three children were gathered around an uneasy Nate.

“She’ll be taken to the Vault where she will undergo rehabilitation.” Gladys was no longer wearing her gold U.E. uniform but only a tank top.  It was obvious that Nate was trying hard not to stare at her exposed flesh.

                Alma told her siblings to go back down to the cabin while she explained the story of Lady Aurora to Gladys. Neither child argued and they retired to the cabin below. Alma and Gladys sat down across from one another.

“Our mother has many enemies.” Alma began. “Lady Aurora  was one of them.”

“What did your mother do to her and how did she find us?”

“Our mother stole her husband- twice.”

                Gladys couldn’t help but chuckle. She had met Matron Tapia and wouldn’t blame any man for abandoning his wife to be with the exotic Latina bruja.

“Lady Aurora’s husband was the Northman.”

                When Gladys picked her jaw up off the floor she shook her head. The Northman was an extremely advanced Starborn who had been sent to Earth twenty years before the U.E. was even formed. Everyone knew of the Northman’s legendary missions to undermine countless alien threats and the most powerful villains. He had been the first Starborn emissary to actually work for the protection of Earth and its people. He was an ambassador of his time that Gladys had studied extensively during her training. How had she not know of his love affairs?

“And your mother stole him away? Twice?”

                Alma nodded. “The Starborn are mostly immortal and invulnerable but their weakness is magic. Before my mother ceased her tirade on the minds of others she manipulated Northman ceaselessly.”

“I wish I could’ve done that…” Gladys mused the idea.

“But how she found us I don’t know. From what my mother says Lady Aurora has been inactive since her second divorce.”

“We should be careful.” Nate broke the womanly chatter.

“Nate?”

                Nate spun his flight chair around after turning the autopilot on.

“Sure Lady Aurora wanted revenge but for her to know the Tapia kids were with us-“

“Slim chance.” Gladys finished.

“I will go tell my siblings.” Alma left the cockpit.

                Nate was right about caution. Nothing could be allowed to happen to the Tapia children while they were in U.E. custody or the entire mission would be a failure and the magic community would see it as a blow against them. Gladys wanted to mend the rift not tear it open. Even the Magus had called the Tapia children overpowered and seemed to respect their lineage and if a man as prevailing as a Magus showed them respect then their deaths would not be overlooked. By a long shot.

“I do want to say another thing.” Nate leaned in close to Gladys. She could smell his aftershave and it reminded her of Vanguard. It was heroic to say the least.

“Yeah?” Gladys didn’t want to be rude but she turned her head slightly away to avoid inhaling the intoxicating reminder of her ex-superhero boyfriend.

“You were calling the kids, yours.”

“I was?”

                She didn’t want to acknowledge what Nate was saying but in the back of her mind Gladys could remember the exact thoughts she had when the children were threatened. Gladys had been calling them her children. She never saw herself as one for maternity but when it came to the Tapia children there was a natural link between the four of them and it had started before they arrived at the U.E. headquarters.

                Gladys had practically forced the remodel on the children’s quarters and she couldn’t deny the fact that using a fire team ever again was out of her mind entirely. Why was Gladys feeling the way she did about the Tapia children?

“I guess I was.” Gladys admitted.

“Just be careful Gladdy. You saved them down there against that psycho but would they do the same for you?”

                They already had done so. Astara and Aigo had used their magic to protect her against Lady Aurora. Gladys wanted to know if they felt the same way she was coming to feel about each other but that would be crossing the line of professional acumen. If Gladys was going to get answers or understanding of the feelings that were occurring she would have to head straight for the source. Gladys was going to visit Matron Tapia once again.

                Bolt Girl was the name of the young lady dressed entirely in green and her short blonde hair was constantly being forced behind her ears as the wind tousled it without consent. Hammer’s eyes had never wandered from the face or body of the fairy-figured rescuer who’s domino mask informed Hammer that she was secretive but all the more made him feverishly interested. It also was the first female Hammer had seen near his age, for he didn’t know how many years.

                Having left the U.E. hovercraft behind, Priest, the mace wielder assured Hammer that they wouldn’t be pursuing them anytime soon.

“Dealt with Archer and Griffon myself.” Priest patted his spiked mace.

                Hammer wished he had been the one to beat down Archer but he would take the alternative of letting Archer live without being able to use his arm ever again. He would have a chance to kill Archer eventually and Hammer would cherish the time he would have to learn more about his power.

“So how did you know where to find me?” Hammer was finally able to pull his eyes from Bolt Girl as she and Wildcard scouted ahead of Priest and Hammer.

                The Arsenal Alliance had taken down the hovercraft over a dense patch of forest near the Texas border and their own vehicle was damaged in the fight forcing them to abandon it. Half the day had passed while they trekked through the verdant wildlife that Hammer would’ve been stunned to explore if he hadn’t been so drawn to one of his traveling companions.

“Lucky for you we have a base in the forest here. We keep a watchful eye out for any U.E. movements just to make sure we remain hidden.”

“So you only saved me because you were afraid of being found out?”

                Priest shook his head. “Nah, our team psychic sensed a powerful Evolved onboard as a captive. Turns out it was your lucky day.”

“Right.” Hammer didn’t agree with Priest. He had watched the only two remaining family members he had left slaughtered by the U.E. and that didn’t make for a lucky day.

                Wildcard returned from the forest ahead. “We don’t see any signs of U.E. activity within the vicinity. Sandstorm must’ve been unable to get off a distress signal before we took them out.”

“Good thing we had Bolt Girl fry their communications array.” Priest hurried his steps and followed Wildcard. Hammer kept pace with his companions until they slowed and their hideout was revealed.

                Hidden from view of birds or planes the forest concealed a rectangular structure that seemed to meld into the mossy ground and trees surrounding it. Wide windows provided a view of the structure’s innards as the three of them approached. Hammer could see people moving within the structure’s three stories and the feet-trodden path leading to the main entrance of the building seemed to have been walked for years before Hammer’s arrival.

                At the front of the building, where the path came to a head there were a flight of wide stone steps leading to a large cement and tinted glass entrance with guarded doors. The guards were as eccentric as Hammer’s rescuers. One of the guards wore a pair of black briefs and nothing else. Although his skin was less human than anything Hammer had ever seen, it glowed a feverish yellow that made Hammer pull his eyes away before he saw the true makeup of the guard’s radioactive colored flesh.

                Wildcard walked ahead of Priest and Hammer, the guards let her pass without a word and she shouldered the heavy glass door open as if it weighed a ton. Hammer could hear the mechanical pieces of her armor working together with clicks and whirs as they gave her the strength required to open the door.

“It’s a type of trick glass. As strong and heavy as the toughest alloy.” Priest commented on the door as they passed.

                The inner construction of the forested bunker was void of any sort of decoration. Hammer could tell the structure had been constructed a long time ago from the way the cement walls and pillars had turned color. Wide corridors and large open spaces where low stone benches sat around an old dried fountain made Hammer wonder who would’ve created such a place and for what purpose.

                Across the main entrance of the building were two sets of stone stairs one leading down into the floor and the other rising up to the second floor. Wildcard and Priest stopped at the bottom of the stairs as a man descended. The man wore a pinstriped suit which had been pressed to perfection and the way he wore his hair back, accentuating his widow’s peak, gave him the impression of a malign individual. Hammer dismissed his assumption when he realized that Priest and his other two rescuers must’ve worked for the man which couldn’t make him all bad.

“So Mentalia was right.” The man in the suit said from halfway down the steps.

“He calls himself Hammer.” Priest inclined his head. “Those Sandstorm bastards were trying to get him to the U.E..”

“As we thought.”

                Wildcard received a look from the man in the suit and she disappeared down a corridor. Her scrap work armor clinking as she did.

“My name is Mr. Cerreria.” He introduced himself. The way Cerreria said his reminded Hammer of some mobster from the 1920’s that the Anvil Brothers had told stories about.

“And you’re the leader of the Arsenal Alliance?” Hammer guessed.

“The people in the Arsenal Alliance look up to me. Maybe it’s for my money- I don’t know.” Mr. Cerreria turned to start back up the stairs. “Walk with me Hammer.”

                Hammer did so after Priest pushed him up the stairs. Together Mr. Cerreria and Hammer ascended the stairs. The leader of the Arsenal Alliance was quiet as they slowly made their way around a corner and then another, shorter flight of steps. A large gallery opened up in front of them with various sections dedicated to either a platform with computers all aglow or something that looked like a medical tent. There was even a large pile of storage containers against the right wall being used as a garage. A group of greasy looking men were working on a sleek black hovercraft from within and Hammer had the right mind to believe the hovercraft itself was far beyond more advanced than anything the U.E. was using.

“You said maybe it’s your money?” Hammer probed Mr. Cerreria.

“It was a joke but anymore I have the right mind to believe it. The Arsenal Alliance is growing and my long-term investment in the team cannot sustain this place forever.” Mr. Cerreria stopped in front of one of the computer platforms and began typing on a terminal.

“What did you used to do before running the Arsenal Alliance?” Hammer was still looking around the gallery. The far wall was completely taken by a wide window which Hammer could assume was formed from the same trick glass as the entrance. Beyond the window a beautiful view of the forest was visible.

                Mr. Cerreria grabbed something from the terminal that looked like a suction cup. He handed it to Hammer and told him to put it on his forehead. Hammer did so without thinking.

“You’re going to feel a slight pulse. Don’t be alarmed. We are only going to restore your connection to your hands.”

                Hammer looked down at his hands. He still couldn’t feel them after Sandstorm had disarmed his sense of touch which deactivated his destructive powers. The pulse began in his forehead and slowly warmed through Hammer’s skin and veins. It felt like he was standing against the sun as his body grew hot from the restoration process and it made Hammer wonder if it was such a good idea to restore his powers so quickly.

                When the process was completed Hammer flexed his fingers and made fists. He could feel again.

“Thank you but how did you know?”

“Wildcard recovered the intelligence unit from the U.E. hovercraft. It let us know what your powers were and what measures they had taken to bring you into custody.” Mr. Cerreria walked away from the terminal as he spoke and Hammer couldn’t help but feel like what Mr. Cerreria had said was a delicately disguised threat.

                The two walked along the gallery in silence again. Hammer didn’t have too many questions for the leader of the Arsenal Alliance. It was obvious their team was a rebel group of superheroes who had no like for the Union Empire. Hammer didn’t need to be a genius to realize that.

“As for what I used to do before running the alliance…” Mr. Cerreria and Hammer had walked all the way to the far end of the gallery and looked out into the forest through the protective glass. “I don’t really remember. All I can remember about my past is waking up here- in this bunker with a near unlimited supply of wealth at my disposal. A few dossiers on who to recruit first and a mysterious link to the founders of the Arsenal Alliance.”

“You’ve lost me.” Hammer leaned against the window.

“The Arsenal Alliance was founded long before the Union Empire. A safety net for heroes who found themselves displaced over time. I’m merely a figurehead. A face for those heroes to rally behind while the founders wait for the opportune time  to strike.”

                It was making sense albeit riddled. “To take down the U.E.?”

“You are correct.” Mr. Cerreria’s cell rang in his suit pocket. “Cerreria.” He answered and moved a distance away from Hammer casually talking to whoever was on the other end of the phone.

                Hammer began to think of the way things were turning out. About the Anvil Brothers and how they had been killed without mercy. Hammer wanted to destroy the U.E. for destroying the only family he had known for a long time. The feeling was engraved in his body as deeply as his power and Hammer felt he needed to quickly make up his mind before Mr. Cerreria ended his conversation. There was surely going  to be an offer of recruitment like the U.E. would’ve offered if Hammer hadn’t been rescued by Priest, Bolt Girl and Wildcard. Hammer knew which side he wanted to be on even if it was only for revenge.

                When Mr. Cerreria returned he opened his mouth to speak but Hammer gave an answer before he knew the consequences.

“I’ll join the Arsenal Alliance. Teach me how to use my powers and I will help in your fight.”

                Mr. Cerreria didn’t smile but simply nodded. He dialed a number on his phone and held it to his ear and when Mr. Cerreria spoke to whoever was on the other line Hammer knew his decision was final.

“Tell the founders we’ve got a new recruit.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Indigo entered the secret office of Mr. Cerreria without knocking and the man who was so perfectly dressed and always held his manners in check was taken by surprise at his right hand’s entrance. Her deep skin caused her to disappear in the darkness of the office as she stepped out of the light and then back into it as Cerreria’s desk light beamed across Indigo’s body. Placing both hands on Mr. Cerreria’s desk Indigo leaned in close.

“You did well.” Mr. Cerreria commended. “Hammer has no idea that wasn’t the real U.E.”

“It wasn’t the best decision you ever had- sending Shatter to capture the boy.” Indigo’s words tried to force a reaction out of Mr. Cerreria but he just leaned back in his chair.

“I knew you’d still be up in arms about him.”

“His arm was blown off because he couldn’t control his anger.”

“Maybe he learned his lesson.” Mr. Cerreria spoke casually.

                Indigo slammed a hand down. “Wrong. Shatter isn’t going to let that slide. He had to completely reconstruct his arm out of crystal and it still doesn’t work right. Having both him and Hammer inside the same building is a bad move.”

“Then kill Shatter.”

                Taken back by the suggestion Indigo blinked. Kill Shatter? Indigo had never killed a man in her life. Of course she worked for a ruthless, homicidal mastermind but she had never been the one to deliver a killing blow.

                Mr. Cerreria leaned forward. “There is a reason you’re my right hand Indigo. You’re not a killer, merely a woman who’s circumstances dictate you work with me toward a common goal. I rely on you to handle the situations which would cause others to hate me. You always handle them much less- what is the word you use to describe me behind my back? Ruthless.”

“Fine.” Indigo didn’t let her boss see that his words were wounding.

                Indigo started for the secret door out of the room that would lead into one of the cargo crates in the gallery when Mr. Cerreria rose from his desk. She had played this game before and knew it had been a mistake coming to visit him privately. Mr. Cerreria was behind Indigo with bloodthirsty speed and his long tongue licked her majestic skin with fervor. Indigo cocked her head to the side just enough that the saliva from Mr. Cerreria’s tongue wouldn’t drip down her blouse.

“You know I can’t resist you Miyako.” Mr. Cerreria used her given name and Indigo tried not to shudder.

                Whatever perverted or homicidal tendencies the leader of the Arsenal Alliance kept hidden behind his businesslike shell Indigo knew she couldn’t resist the way he drove her senses wild. Indigo let herself fall back against the man in the pinstriped suit and gave herself freely.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                The swing of Priest’s spiked mace nearly tore Hammer’s head off as it whipped by. Air whistling around the sharp prongs and dense metal sphere made Priest seem all the more intimidating during their sparring lessons. Hammer remained in his crouch and slid back along the cement floor. Priest drove in on Hammer again with his mace and Hammer found it much harder to dodge a downward swing as the spikes ripped a few holes in Hammer’s durable combat vest.

“So you got your mace from a time traveler?” Hammer rolled under another swing. Priest was nowhere near as fast as a boy of seventeen but the forty year old veteran superhero had more than enough combat experience to take down even the fastest foe.

                Hammer was just trying to distract the warrior.

“The original Gauntlet!” Priest’s mace slammed into the cement causing splinters to extend from the crater he created. “Not that twerp who uses the name now.”

                Throwing out a punch Hammer tried to land the blow in Priest’s chin but the warrior brought his mace up causing the shaft to knock Hammer’s strike away. Priest then used the shaft to knock Hammer to the side.

“I’ve been doing this a long time kid.” Priest kicked Hammer in the stomach as he rose. “Fighting enemies and talking at the same time is what us superheroes used to do!”

                Priest hadn’t taken long to catch onto Hammer’s attempted distraction and was about to bring the blunt end of his mace down on Hammer when the boy placed his hand, palm down, on the ground. Bringing all of the blows Priest had scored against him so far, Hammer funneled that energy and pain into his hand.

                The ground exploded beneath Priest’s feet in a shower of shattered cement and force that sent the man tumbling back along the ground like a basketball. Priest used his mace to stand but Hammer was rushing in. Swinging his mace out at Hammer awkwardly Priest kept the boy at bay but Hammer had another tactic in mind and fell to his knees below the swing. Now with both hands on the cement he channeled power into his hands.

                Nothing happened.

                Priest slammed his boot into Hammer’s chest and the boy fell back onto the ground. Standing over Hammer with his mace poised dangerously close to his face Priest declared himself the winner which there was no denying. Hammer cursed himself for not being able to control the amount of energy he channeled into his hands. He had extended it all in the first attack by accident.

“We’ll have to do this again tomorrow.” Hammer was upset he had been defeated for the fourth time two days.

“Can’t tomorrow.” Priest slung his mace over his back. “Heading out with Wildcard tonight. There have been sightings of the Shadowbeast in Missouri and the boss will take any chance he can get to undermine the U.E. taskforces by taking down a villain in their own ballpark.”

“I could go too-“

“Right. So you can blow Shadowbeast up?” Priest let out a hearty laugh. “Mr. Cerreria wants to bring him in, alive.”

“I just won’t use my powers.”

“And then you’re about as useless as a toddler.” Priest watched as Hammer’s eyes sank heavily. “You know what I mean. Wildcard’s armor has all sorts of gadgets and my mace gives me near-invulnerability and super strength. Until you can control your powers Mr. Cerreria won’t be putting you on any squad. He’d probably be angry that we’ve been sparring.”

                Priest was right. Hammer’s powers were solely destructive and there was no way he was safe around any of them until he learned to control the level of power he could channel. Although Hammer hated being left out of undergoing a mission with Priest he didn’t want to cause a failure or a disaster.

                They walked out of the large area they had been sparring and entered one of the wide corridors which was vacant. It was dinnertime for most of the Arsenal Alliance but Hammer had eaten a late lunch and Priest never seemed to eat. Perhaps it was an attribute of Priest’s near-invulnerability but he hadn’t so much as complained about hunger or thirst or even pain when they sparred.

“Why can’t I have a power like yours.” Hammer wished.

“Mine?” Priest laughed. “I don’t really have a power. Without my mace I’ve only got my training. Without my mace I am just a human.”

“So you’re a hardware?” Hammer used the term he had learned from Wildcard while she tried to teach him the differences of superhero power sources.

                There were many and some of them undermined others. Some heroes were aliens but also psychic. Hardware could be common, magic, alien or even divine while magic-users boasted powers from across the board by exhibiting alien spell casting, divine prayers or just plain old powers that resembled and could be confused with Evolved powers. Wildcard admitted she was only a tech hardware and most of her armor was stolen anyway.

“Hardware.” Priest thought about it. “I guess I am. Not sure what kind though because my mace resists all scanning attempts.”

“Maybe I could look at it?” Hammer suggested.

                Priest slid his mace off his back and placed it against the wall. Everyone within the Arsenal Alliance had already heard of the newest member who’s powers of destruction were highly volatile but they also knew about his secondary ability to see the makeup of physical objects. A few of the scientists among the Alliance suggested that Hammer’s vision was atomic based allowing him to see the atomic structure of things. Hammer didn’t really care what his powers were as long as he knew how to use them.

                Kneeling next to the mace Hammer knew it was going to be difficult to see what it truly was. At first glance the mace seemed to bend Hammer’s vision so he could only focus on the boring cement wall it leaned against but as he stared even harder in an attempt to focus this vision came together. The mace was a loud object, a term Hammer had used for a long time to describe something that had a makeup so jumbled he couldn’t quite focus. Hammer began to sweat and he thought he heard Priest tell him to stop.

                Hammer continued gazing into the mace. His green eyes flickered and before he knew what was happening Hammer fell onto his back and everything was blurred.

“Hammer.” Priest helped Hammer sit up.

                Shaking his head, Hammer tried to keep the vision of what he saw inside the mace clear but it was fading rapidly. There were flashes of imagery like none he had ever seen before. A world with great forests and mountains but it all became a mass of color that swam away from Hammer when his vision returned. The only thing Hammer retained in his mind was the feeling of desperation the Hammer gave off.

“You okay kid?”

                Hammer wasn’t sure how to explain what he felt to Priest. “Yeah- I think so. I couldn’t really get a good read on the mace. Sorry.”

“Don’t feel bad. Even Mr. Cerreria had a hard time using our best technology.”

                Once Hammer had regained his footing Priest lead him back to their quarters. Priest and Hammer shared a room inside the base. It was dark but cozy with two soft beds and the required furniture to flesh out a bedroom. A bookcase near Priest’s bed was littered with different biblical studies and religious documents and readings. It was how the former clergy man, Robert Brady, had received the name Priest by his teammates.

“Were you always called Priest?” Hammer asked as he lie down on his bed. His body was sore and after trying to scan Priest’s mace he was feeling groggy.

                Priest pulled a black jacket over his combat vest. The symbol of a spiked mace was emblazoned on the back of his jacket and Hammer wondered what his insignia would be when he graduated into a superhero. A hand? Or maybe an exploding hand? The latter was rather morbid but Hammer smiled at the thought.

“Before joining the Arsenal Alliance I was known as Morningstar.”

“What does that mean?”

                Laughing Priest started for the door. “That’s what this baby is actually called. A morningstar. Not a mace.”

“Oh.” Hammer felt like an idiot.

“I’ve got to get to the hangar and meet Wildcard. Be careful around here kid and don’t do anything stupid.”

                Priest left Hammer lying in the room wishing he could go along to Missouri. Having never left the Threshold Hollow before recently made Hammer feverish with the travel bug and the more Hammer thought about it the more Hammer realized there was nothing keeping him inside the bunker or the Texas forest. Hammer could undertake his own mission if he really wanted to and an idea sprang into Hammer’s mind.

                Maybe it was time to pay Nevada a little visit.

                Alaina’s powers were desire based. Not in the romantic sense either, she needed to be in danger or threatened. Situational Overdrive confused Alaina at first but after a few hours of diligent instruction given by Dr. Zelasko she was beginning to understand why her power was so unique. Several Evolved either physically changed or could manipulate energies or simply fly or breath underwater for ever but Alaina’s powers were not always active or graspable. Alaina needed to be in a situation that put her to the test. Such was the way of Situational Overdrive.

“So as of right now- at this very second I am powerless?” Alaina was sitting on a stool across from Dr. Zelasko.

                The apartment of Dr. Zelasko was located inside a short skyscraper on the outskirts of Helios Society. Alaina had seen the skyscrapers and otherwise typical cityscape from her confined window that morning. The Helios Society was not simply an organization, it was a true society. Dr. Zelasko couldn’t tell Alaina exactly where the society had been built but he admitted the sun was artificial and the skyscrapers and buildings had been built long ago to serve as a training ground for psychic trainees and now the Evolved. A few of the buildings were occupied in an area called the Quarter. Dr. Zelasko’s apartment and Evolved Research lab were located only a few blocks away from the major hub of the Helios Society, the Facility. The Facility was where young Evolved lived or displaced Evolved resided under U.E. agreements with the Helios Society.

                Dr. Zelasko had even told Alaina that if one was to fly up into the sky so far they would eventually come into contact with a metal ceiling. They were completely encased in a protective dome that served as both a prison and a shield to outside villains who would seek to undermine the Helios Society’s goals of creating superheroes. Alaina didn’t like the idea of being enclosed but when she and the doctor had walked from the Facility to his apartment she would never have known the difference to the outside world. The air was cleaner and the birds were still present. Even the artificial sun gave off heat. The only real way of knowing that the Quarter wasn’t like a real city was the lack of people.

                A few stray members of the Helios Society were walking around the park or doing some grocery shopping at a convenient store which was manned by government hired sales associates but the general vibe and energy of city life was not present. It would take some time for Alaina to adjust. Anyone to adjust for that matter.

“Technically you still harbor your powers but you are powerless until a threat arises.” Dr. Zelasko sipped from a wine glass. He had offered Alaina her own glass but she took water instead.

“Someone attacks me. My powers react and they help me runaway?”

“Or fight back, maybe even help you hide.” Dr. Zelasko poured himself some more wine. It was dark red and smelled like tangerines. “Situational Overdrive is not to be taken lightly. Take the scenario of someone attacking you. Your first instinct is to escape but you don’t make it very far before your attacker closes in. Your next alternative is to fight back but let us say you’re a pacifist. Situational Overdrive will try and force you to fight your way out of the encounter.”

“So if I fight against it I’m screwed?”

                Zelasko nodded. “Call it natural survival instincts, its much simpler to understand. You have a drive to survive and you will as long as you think one step ahead. Just like when you were running from the spinners you managed to dodge every last one by getting them wrapped up on the bleachers. That was not luck or coincidence.”

                Staring at her glass of water Alaina thought back to the escape attempt.

“Tell me, do you remember why you ran across the bleachers?”

                Alaina thought back. “They were metallic and the helicopter would’ve had a hard time seeing me run if their own searchlight was being reflected back at them.”

“And have you ever ran from a helicopter? How did you know that would even have an effect?”

“I didn’t.”

                The doctor leaned in and whispered dramatically. “But you did know. At least your power knew what to do. Consider it a preview of your power.”

                Alaina and Zelasko left the conversation at that. There was no further reason to delve into the possibility of her powers without actually activating them. Everything else was sideshow conversation that the doctor seemed to have grown tired of. Alaina accompanied him onto the balcony and watched as he leaned over the railing peering out into the Quarter and beyond, the silent city of the Helios Society. She wondered how long he had worked for the Helios Society. Despite how Lisa had acted during her grading everyone else seemed to respect Dr. Zelasko.

“Why are you here?” Alaina leaned on the railing with the older man.

“Now that’s a story.” Zelasko smiled.

                He was quiet for a second or two before Alaina’s blue eyes coaxed him into a response. There was something to be said for Alaina’s height and athletic physique. Not in a perverted sense but when Dr. Zelasko looked at Alaina she felt like he respected her on an equal level. She was glad to have found such a friend this soon in her stay.

“I graduated from the first university to ever have coursed dedicated to Evolved studies. Nowak Academy. That was thirty five years ago. Long enough for me to see nearly four generations of Evolved to come and go on Earth. The Helios Society is older than the Union Empire. In fact the Helios Society was founded by Graham Craine who’s study of psychic beings was his eventual downfall. This little society here was reinstated after the U.E.’s formation.”

“That doesn’t explain why you’re working for them. Someone as intelligent as you doesn’t work somewhere he isn’t happy.” Alaina saw the look on Zelasko’s face change from reminiscence to melancholy.

“My son, Adam was a third generation Evolved.” Zelasko choked on his words. The wine was settling in on the weary doctor and Alaina wanted to take back her prying question. She had just  met Dr. Zelasko and she didn’t want him to push her away. “He was one of the first superheroes to sign on with the U.E., went by the name Lightspeed.”

“I think I’ve heard of him.” Alaina couldn’t remember if she had heard the name in a textbook or some historical documentary of the U.E.’s founding.

“Anyone older than you knows the name. My son was fast. He was Grade A in the super speed classification.” Zelasko was struggling with the words. Alaina felt sorry for the old man but it was too late to stop him. She had to hear the story and Zelasko needed to let it out. “His power, the raw speed he possessed, destroyed all of Arizona. My son is responsible for the Threshold Hollow, the destruction of Scottsdale and the death of nearly two million civilians.”

                Alaina was silent. The story was ironic. A patriot for the U.E. ended up causing desolation in such a massive amount it was recorded unbiased in public history books. Nothing like that could go without being recognized even if it was for the greater good of the U.E.. The battle in Arizona was the first stepping stone in the U.E. passing a law to require all Evolved to register and become U.E. employees. Without that battle the Union Empire could’ve fallen. The desolation of Arizona ushered in a new era of living for the scared, grief-stricken civilians of the world, they needed a common banner to hide under while superheroes and super villains battled it out in the skies above their cities.

                And it didn’t take long for Alaina to connect the dots.

“You feel that what happened in Arizona was your fault? That all of this- the new Evolved way of life…you blame yourself doctor?”

                Dr. Zelasko swallowed whatever sadness he had been harboring and looked straight at Alaina and his face had turned to stone. “My son is the reason that the Evolved now have to fear the U.E. and if I can help make the transition easier I will. Helios Society is the buffer between the harsh reality that is the Union Empire and the already confused life of an Evolved.”

“Thank you for telling me.” Alaina stood.

“You should get going Alaina. It’s late and you’re getting your team assignment in the morning.”

                As Alaina left the balcony she gave Dr. Zelasko an unwarranted hug. The doctor wasn’t quite ready and a haggard sigh of trepidation brushed across Alaina’s neck. For what it was worth Alaina wouldn’t let the doctor down. He was her friend and she needed all the friends she could get.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

“Rawlins, Alaina E.”

                The Helios guard called out her name first for roll call as Alaina and seventeen other Evolved recruits between the ages of twelve and twenty-two formed a line along the wall of the stark hallway outside the grading room. Alaina felt her hand shaking after her name was called. That name, the first name spoken the entire morning was more than enough to set her wits on end. She hadn’t slept well after leaving Dr. Zelasko’s apartment and most of the night was spent staring out the small window overlooking the training city. The dark windows of the skyscrapers accompanied her as the artificial stars mapped a cosmic display of beauty overhead.

                Alaina had one good thing to count on in the morning. The attractive man who had brought her breakfast the previous morning did so again but when Alaina tried to engage him she was met with silence. Maybe he had heard about her power? Alaina didn’t know why but she felt her Situational Overdrive ability would incur jealousy. She felt like she would always be cheating her way out of situations. She was standing in line next to a kid who’s hair had been replaced by waving tendrils of fire that licked at the air. How in the world could they be jealous of her?

“Holliday, Cassandra M.”

“It’s Cassie.” The guard’s call was met by a rather obstinate looking girl at the far end of their line. Alaina could see the girl had some sort of sporting background the way she stood with her legs slightly apart as if she was ready to run. A tennis player perhaps.

                The guard didn’t pay her any mind and continued reading off names. Wicker, Kalvin R. Hauser, Edward B. Wildman, Sean J. The list went on for twelve more names before the guard’s voice quit calling them out one by one. Alaina wasn’t sure why their names were being called until she dared lean forward to see who the guard was reporting to.

                It was a group of experienced looking men and women. The attractive man who brought her breakfast was one of them. They all wore the same white jackets, black pants and boots but their features were wildly different. Alaina’s nervousness caught in her throat as the group of white jackets passed by her and stopped in the middle of the hall. She thought she saw the attractive man eye her over but when Alaina looked he was staring at all of them and not just her. It made her feel less nervous.

“Call me Pulse. I am your group leader and these are your coaches.”The woman who spoke was black and her violet hair was cut in a mohawk that hung limply to one side. A silver loop of metal pierced the center of her bottom lip which Alaina didn’t feel was quite regulation. One by one she introduced the coaches in her group.

                   There were five of them in total the first one introduced was a pale but fair looking woman with curly brown hair called Ember. The attractive man was given a name and Alaina smiled when she heard it: Wonder. The other names were Obsidian, Dash and Jinx divided among the last three.

“Today we are assigning you teams. We are going to be your team leaders.”  ”We’ll give you uniforms, show you where we practice and start working on codenames.”

“Codenames?” The girl named Cassandra- Cassie rolled her eyes.

“Yes, codenames.” The attractive man barked a bit harshly. Alaina flinched.

“We’re going to teach you what we know. None of us are those big shot superheroes you hear about, we’re just going to teach you some tricks of the trade and how to use your powers responsibly.” The pierced girl finished and snapped her fingers. A young girl, barely into middle school stepped out of the experienced group and began reading off a computer pad, Jinx. Alaina wondered what made the little girl so special to have already become a coach.

                It took no time at all for Alaina to be assigned to a team. Her named was read off first after all.

“Rawlins, Alaina E.” Alaina stepped out of line as her name was called. “Team A.”

                Alaina moved over to where the young girl directed and found herself joined by the obstinate Cassie. They didn’t say a word to one another. The young girl continued reading the team list and only when the last name was read did they find themselves a third member of Team A. The last name belonged to Jersey Steranko. A tall, lanky kid with thick glasses and shaggy hair. He hurried over to Team A since everyone else had already been split off into the four teams, A through C. They were the only team to receive three members while everyone else had four.

“Alaina.” She offered her hand to Jersey.

“I already know your name.” He said rudely.

                Pulse called out to everyone once they were with their groups. “Stay in your groups as we walk down the hall. You will be divided up into your training rooms as we go. Your coach will also accompany you at that time!”

                The procession moved down the hall in a murmur of excited voices. Alaina could tell more than half of the Evolved in the hallway were frightened of their powers and being in Helios Society but she could also see a few of them were excited to explore their powers. Alaina being one of the latter.

                One by one the teams split off into their own circular doorways marked with their team letter and Alaina saw that the attractive man had been assigned to coach team C which consisted of the gray fur covered girl Alaina seen the previous afternoon. The shamelessly naked furry girl.  after team B left the procession and all that remained was team A. Alaina, Cassie and Jersey stopped in the hallway with the violet haired woman. A muscular- beyond natural, young man stood next to her, Obsidian.

“Here you go Team A.” A door on the right opened as the woman tapped a command console.

                The muscular man stomped into the room first, his footsteps dangerously loud. Cassie followed as did Alaina. Jersey remained poised in the doorway. The door began to close with its characteristic hiss and Jersey had to jump out of the way to avoid being crushed.

“Where are we?” Cassie was looking around them.

                The very ground they were standing on was made from fine sand and it swam between their toes soothingly. A few scraggly looking trees rose from the sand near a grouping of boulders, Alaina could hear a bird singing between the leaves. Above the wide room was open air and white clouds while the walls of the room were constructed from thick sheets of riveted steel that were painted white to keep the heat rising away from the trainees. Alaina wished she could’ve been given this room to stay in instead of the stark one she was currently shacking up in.

“Here’s your training outfits.” The muscular man lifted a duffel bag off the ground and tossed it onto the ground in front of Alaina. “Get dressed so we can begin.”

                Alaina leaned down and unzipped the duffel bag. Inside were three matching outfits. A tight pair of stippled black pants, a white tank top and boots identical to the ones the coaches were wearing. Alaina lifted a stack of clothes and handed one to Cassie, then to Jersey. Cassie asked the question Alaina was thinking.

“Where do we change?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just get dressed.” The man seemed to be getting annoyed.

                Cassie rolled her eyes and walked over to the group of rocks and vanished from view. Alaina followed. She heard Jersey walking up behind her and turned to look at the rude boy. Jersey gave her a look of disdain and set about taking off his white gown in front of the other man. Alaina found Cassie half dressed when she came around the boulders. She had to be a sports player.

“So what did you used to play?” Alaina forced the small talk which Cassie didn’t seem to mind.

“Tennis. Had to change on the bus a few times.”

“Basketball.” Alaina pulled her gown over her head and started with the tank top.

“Are you afraid?” Cassie slipped her boots on and buttoned the sides.

                Alaina shook her head. She had an advantage over the rest of the new recruits. Dr. Zelasko had taken a liking to her and they even shared an evening together. Alaina didn’t feel superior but rather enlightened. Having Dr. Zelasko share his story with her said a lot about the Helios Society. That not all of them were horrible militants. Cassie waited for Alaina to finish dressing before asking the question again.

“No. I’m determined to make a difference.”

                Laughing a little mockingly with a hint of tenderness Cassie walked away. “Let me know how that turns out.”

                When Cassie and Alaina reappeared from behind the boulders Jersey was also dressed and waiting for them. Their coach was still standing where they left him looking more than agitated.

“My name is Obsidian.”

“What’s your real name Obsidian? We know your codename.” Cassie asked.

“We don’t use real names.” He took a step towards the three of them. “I am here to teach you to use your abilities. How to adjust to them. You may think this is just some game but there is only one way to teach you how to use your powers to their fullest.”

“And what would that be?”

                Obsidian clenched his fists together. “To fight.” Alaina watched as their coach began to transform and his power was revealed. Starting with his hands Obsidian’s skin began to mineralize into what Alaina could only dub obsidian itself. The black mineral quickly covered every inch of his muscled form and the white veins running across the shining skin were all too realistic for Alaina to believe. Their coach was a living-breathing rock!

“Get down!” Alaina tackled Cassie and Jersey to the ground before she knew what she was doing. Obsidian had swung one heavy arm at the three of them and Alaina had reacted just in time to save them from flying across the sand.

“Holy shit!” Cassie was crawling back on her hands as Obsidian brought up both fists to pummel the three of them into the ground. “Alaina watch out!”

                Alaina tried to dodge the incoming blow but found herself taking the brunt of the blow in an attempt to protect her two teammates. She was hurled backwards and her back landed in the soft sand that was now suddenly much rougher.

                Her teammates were now up and running across the room as Obsidian gave chase. His massive form of organic rock caused the ground to tremble in his wake. Jersey split off from Cassie and took cover in the boulders but Cassie continued running straight towards the wall! What was she doing? Alaina took off running towards Obsidian who was swiftly gaining on Cassie with his long strides. Alaina was also fast and by the time she reached Obsidian she had no idea what to do. Even if her powers were now active what would she do against a man covered in stone?

“Hey fatass!” Alaina jeered. Obsidian turned. The distraction would give Cassie enough time to reach the wall but Alaina wasn’t sure why that was important. Obsidian pointed a blocky finger at Alaina and charged. Sprinting off in the other direction Alaina had no clue how to escape but luckily an escape found her.

                Something slammed right into their coach’s side as he was about to grab Alaina. Spinning, ready to defend herself by whatever means necessary Alaina saw Cassie had nearly knocked their massive coach to the ground and just like Obsidian had done, Cassie was now coated in some sort of armor. Alaina saw that the armor coating Cassie were pieces of riveted steel painted white.

“Would you look at that.” Obsidian recovered from Cassie’s side tackle. “Another augmenter.”

“Whatever that is.” Cassie ran straight at Obsidian. He swung at her and despite how ferocious she looked in her steel coating the girl was swatted into the sand as easily as Alaina had been.

“Cassie!” Alaina slid in the sand next to Cassie and helped her stand. Obsidian turned to hit them both but Alaina spun while holding onto Cassie and the two girls disappeared in a spray of sand Alaina kicked up with her feet. The girls were on the run again.

                Cassie’s steel skin where she had been hit was peeled of paint and Alaina understood what Cassie’s power was. She could take on the texture traits of objects she touched. Alaina didn’t really know how it worked but maybe they could try a different approach. Their coach was most likely only able to take on an obsidian form which is why he hadn’t needed to touch something to armor-up. Cassie had run to the walls which were made of steel but maybe strength versus strength wasn’t the way to go.

                The two stopped running. Obsidian was rushing at them but his lumbering pace gave them a second to catch their breath. “Cassie can you turn into this?” Alaina picked up a handful of sand and put it in Cassie’s.

“I-I don’t know.” Cassie shook her head as the sands fell through her metal fingers.

“You’ve got to try. Maybe there are cracks or something you can get into to take him down!”

                Obsidian was on them as Alaina finished her idea. He knocked both girls aside. Cassie went flying into a bolder where more paint chipped off her skin while Alaina rolled in the sand. Her shoulder was going to swell from the blow but it was still usable. She had to give Cassie enough time to try and turn into a sand form. Alaina crawled into a run at Obsidian. He swung and missed. Alaina grabbed his thick arm as it flew out to the side. Her feet left the ground as Obsidian swung Alaina in the air but she didn’t let go. Instead she used his own momentum to slam her heel into his forehead. The blow didn’t do much but anger her coach and he sloughed her off into the sand again.

                When Alaina recovered she didn’t see Cassie anywhere. Obsidian didn’t either. He turned his head from side to side but something was happening directly below his feet. A whirlpool of sand was whipping its way up his legs and waist. Obsidian swatted at the sand but his blows passed right through. Cassie had done it! Alaina cheered for her teammate as the sand wound its way up Obsidian’s torso, his chest and then finally around his face. Rapidly the sand receded and Alaina thought her idea hadn’t worked but the sand was receding into a tiny fracture that must’ve appeared on Obsidian’s forehead.

                The sand was gone in a slurping sound and Obsidian struggled to remain standing. Piece by piece his black stone armor faded across his body and sand poured off his skin. Obsidian choked and spat sand into the air trying to catch his breath. Their plan had worked.

“Cassie?” Alaina didn’t care about their coach. Her teammate was dispersed in the sand in tiny granules that Alaina hadn’t thought of beforehand. Would Cassie be able to reform? “Cassie!” Alaina was on the verge of sinking to her knees when she heard a weak voice come from behind the boulder.

                Jersey came around helping Cassie stand. She had a frazzled look on her face and Alaina couldn’t help but draw her close in a hug. “I thought you were lost.”

“Uh-no…we did it though.” Cassie nodded at their coach who was rising from the sand.

“A good run.” Obsidian rubbed his forehead.

                Alaina smiled to her teammates. Even though Jersey hadn’t helped he was still on their team. It was hard to say what his ability was but Alaina wanted to believe it was something halfway decent since he had been kept on to train at the Helios Society. Cassie had proved herself by saving Alaina and then risking her life on an uncertain augmentation. Alaina couldn’t help but hug Cassie a second time.

“Enough, enough.” Obsidian stomped up to the three recruits and smiled a look that took Alaina by surprise. Had Obsidian been simply acting tough this whole time? Obsidian pushed the three recruits towards the door. “It should be time for lunch. Who’s starving?”

                Gladys Goodstone stared at herself in the mirror a few moments longer. The U.E. uniform she was wearing had never looked appropriate enough for the occasions it was reserved for. The gold shirt that fit a little too tightly was obviously a nod to the golden era of superheroes where women dressed like harlots and their costumes were always set to reveal flesh at the first sign of combat. The neck came halfway up her throat and the metal pips acknowledging her rank of lieutenant commander pushed against her skin uncomfortably. The pair of black slacks were the only fitting piece of the outfit with their breathable fabric and ease of movement Gladys wished she could wear just the pants

“You look fine.” Gladys reassured herself.

                The day had come when the Tapia children would arrive at U.E. headquarters and Gladys had never felt more anxious. Having read every document on the Coven Tapia and the children’s magical abilities she was still ill prepared for her initial encounter with the three of them all dressed in black clothes reserved for nobility. Gladys remembered being frightened by Matron Tapia and when she met the children she was horrified to find they were every bit as stoic.

“You look fine.” She forced herself away from the mirror and left the women’s restroom before she had another notion of vomiting.

                Passing by two lower ranked members of her building Gladys heard them whisper something about how they pitied Gladys. She knew what they pitied. Gladys had been put in charge of one of the most outrageous taskforces to ever be created. To bridge the gap between the magic community and the government of the Union Empire was political farce at its finest. If Gladys hadn’t been so high-strung that morning she would’ve reprimanded the two ensigns with cleaning duties the rest of the week.

                Gladys almost passed up the garden where she had arranged with Matron Tapia to meet her children when they arrived. Before anyone in the hall noticed Gladys turned all too quickly into the garden and nearly tripped over her own feet. Sweet smelling flowers eased Gladys’ nausea, she stood up straight and walked out into the tree lined garden.

                The first man she saw standing at the center of the garden was a man she recognized physically and emotionally. Vanguard. Broad shoulders and muscles that bulged against his red and white colored spandex made Gladys want to lose her nerves again. Having been dumped by a superhero wasn’t so bad but when the superhero was a leader of the U.E. there were lasting repercussions. Gladys tried not to be catty as she introduced herself to the second man she knew of only by name.

                Yuiji Asaka. The man in charge of hunting down magic-users and imprisoning them. His job was the opposite of Gladys’ and she felt the air charge between her and the short Japanese man.

“Nice to meet you.” Gladys lied.

“How have you been Gladys?” Vanguard placed a strong hand on Gladys’ shoulder.

“Fine. I hope things in Russia went well?”

                Vanguard smiled his perfect, white smile. “We found some evidence that may connect the Red Mask to the A.A. but we’re still investigating.”

                Gladys knew of the Arsenal Alliance but hadn’t had much experience with the rebel organization. All she knew was that Vanguard was ruthless when it came to finding information about the rebels and that one-track mind was the downfall of their relationship.

“Madame Goodstone.” Yuiji Asaka’s English was broken but polite. “May I ask why still you saw necessary to have the Tapia Coven here? They kidnap your partner yes?”

                A wound still fresh on Gladys’ career was not something she had wanted to discuss but it was better to confront those sort of things before they grew into something that could fester. Gladys responded in kind.

“Richard Kelly was a likeable man but he underestimated the power of the Tapia Coven.” Gladys thought about what the children had said two days ago. That they would always be ready to destroy the U.E. if they needed to. Or was it Gladys they would destroy? “We shouldn’t do the same.”

“That must be them.” Vanguard pointed to the center of the garden that was glowing a soft white. Gladys and Yuiji covered their eyes when the light began to grow stronger before fading into a shower of tiny sparks.

                Standing in the center of the garden were three children. Each of the dressed dramatically different than the when Gladys had first met them in Argentina. Alma was wearing a modern looking dress with leggings and sandals while her sister, Astara, was wearing jeans and a track jacket. Aigo, who was playing with a little glowing orb was wearing a baggy sweatshirt and cargo shorts. Gladys immediately had the feeling of shame for having brought children into the U.E. but had to remind herself what they were capable of.

“Welcome to the Union Empire.” Vanguard said like a spokesman.

“We know where we are.” Astara jabbed.

                It was good to see they were still the same children Gladys had encountered. Vanguard frowned heroically.

“My name is Yuiji Asaka.” The little Japanese man approached the children. He was unafraid having dealt with magic-users during his entire tenure with the U.E.

“Yuiji Asaka. The Wanyudo as some in our community call you.” Astara stopped Yuiji in his tracks with her words. “Do not act like a friend of ours. We are here to work solely with Ms. Goodstone. Not a witch hunter.”

                Gladys intervened timely and told the children to follow her to their headquarters. As she guided the three of them to the door leading back into the hallway she was stopped by Vanguard who held her back for a second. Out of earshot of the children.

“Be careful Gladys. They killed your partner. They would do the same to you.” Vanguard’s words were unidentifiable as sincere or merely commandeering.

“If I wasn’t qualified for this job you wouldn’t have elected me, Max.” Gladys pushed past her ex-boyfriend and followed the children out of the garden.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Matron Tapia had informed Gladys that the room in which the children would be staying was to be located on the ninth floor of the U.E. headquarters in the western most corner with a view of the setting sun. Gladys had obliged and construction had just finished in the western most corner to accommodate the window the children required to see the sunset. The three children were silent as the elevator took them up the nine floors to their new bedroom.

                Gladys hadn’t been into the room since it began remodeling upon her immediate arrival back at headquarters and she was impressed to see such a beautiful renovation. A large window encompassing both the western and southern portions of the wall would give the children complete view of the sunset.  A set of identical couches were sat facing the windows respectively. A kitchen had been installed in the north corner of the suite and a hallway lead off into the three bedrooms that would give each child privacy to sleep at night. Gladys would have to put in a commendation for whoever had done the remodeling.

“What do you think?” Gladys finally asked after the children had explored the entire suite and were now sitting around the island in the kitchen.

“I love it!”

                Gladys was stunned to hear one of the children make such a laudable remark. She imagined them all to be like their vocal sister Astara who’s words were negative and condescending. Aigo had ceased playing with the little glowing orb and it was rolling on the countertop of its own accord. Gladys realized it had been the youngest of the Tapia children to get so excited.

“I am glad.” Gladys was relieved when Aigo smiled back at her. Of all three children she believed Aigo to be the most dangerous after seeing him cause her partner’s entire hand to disappear with what seemed like a simple stage-trick.

“We will each need a hairdryer.” Alma ran a hand through her beautiful Latina hair. Gladys hadn’t noticed but both Tapia sisters had marvelous just like their mother.

“Of course- of course.” Gladys pulled her computer pad out and began making a list. “What do you children like to eat?”

“We never eat.” Astara said eerily causing Gladys to look at the children dumfounded.

“She’s joking.” Alma conceded. “Astara likes to cook, we would need plenty of rice, chicken, flour and sugar. Spices. Aigo likes to drink chocolate-cola but I prefer lemon sodas-.”

                Gladys couldn’t keep up with the children’s list as each one, even Astara, kept throwing out necessities they must have. It was good to know the children were not complete zombies and Gladys and the children retired to the lounge area as they started naming of things they’d love to experience now they were free of their mother.

“You’ve never been to the movies?”

                The children shook their heads. Gladys noted that she would have to plan recreational activities for the children on the days they weren’t helping her track down neutral magic-users.

“So what is expected of us?” Alma asked politely.

“As ambassadors?”

“Yes.”

                Gladys looked at each of the children. The reason they had requested all three was because their powers were reliant upon one another. None of the children could properly cast a spell or activate their inborn magical talents without being in the vicinity of another sibling. The U.E. had originally sought out Matron Tapia alone but found her alignment and disposition too shifty. They then settled on Alma Tapia who had a refined disposition and calm head but upon investigation found the link between the three siblings. If one of the children was alone they didn’t even register as magical to trained eye and in order for neutral magic-users to keep their hostilities at bay they would need to see another magic-user in the company of the U.E..

“Our task is to meet with neutral heads of magic families or organizations and find a way to coexist.”

“And we’re expected to gain their trust?” Astara cut in.

                Not wanting the children to think of their mission as underhanded Gladys proposed it a different way.

“The U.E. has done wrong by magic community. We seek to make amends by whatever means necessary whether it be money, positions of power or alliances. Having the last members of the Tapia Coven aiding our attempt will only make things go smoothly.”

“What if we hadn’t joined?” Alma asked before Astara could do so rudely.

“I can’t say.” Gladys didn’t want to lie. She felt lying to these three children was the worst move she could make. “Things would never change perhaps. I am not sure.”

                The three children looked at one another and Gladys felt a hundred different thoughts being processed between their three minds. Gladys could also feel something else about the children. A desire to take care of them and nurture them. To protect them and ensure their innocence.

“We should begin tomorrow morning with a man named Magus Doran.”

                Gladys had never heard of the man. Many people had taken up the name of Magus throughout magical history but the most recent was Magus Gabriel who had been killed at Threshold Hollow. It made her curious as to how many magic-users the children knew about that the U.E. did not. Maybe they had stricken a gold mine with the Tapia children. Gladys hated thinking that way but her job was going to be a lot easier having not just one, but three magic-users to accompany her into the private and secretive lives of the magic community.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

“Give me back the orb!”

                Aigo’s shouts from the back of the Yellowjacket made Gladys turn from the cockpit in alarm. She had purposely not assigned any sort of fire-team to this particular mission due to it being the children’s first. The men who were often assigned to her were unfortunately all prejudice against magic-users in some way or the other. Nate called them jealous which was the truest testament of their character. Most non-powered individuals in the U.E. didn’t like magic-users for their powerful abilities while still retaining their human qualities but just like the Evolved there were those magic-users who’s powers caused their bodies to shift and transform. Those were the magic-users that prejudice minds didn’t consider.

                The orb which Aigo always carried with him was now in Astara’s possession. His second oldest sister seemed to have a playful side to her when it came to Aigo and she was now holding the ball over Aigo’s head taunting him to jump as high as he could, which wasn’t very far for the short, slightly stocky brujo.

“Should I say something?” Gladys asked Alma who was sitting in the cockpit with her and Nate.

“Take advantage of Astara’s reverie into playtime. It doesn’t happen very often.” Alma stood up from her seat and looked cockpit viewscreen.

“Are we getting close?” Nate sounded irritated. Alma had told the experienced pilot to fly north and they would eventually find Magus Doran. That lack of direction clearly disturbed Nate and it had taken Gladys a reassuring stare to get his engines started.

                Alma stepped from the window and down into the cabin where her siblings were. “We should land in the clearing south of the tall oak tree. Magus Doran will be waiting on us.”

                As Nate started turning around to roll his eyes at Gladys she spun his chair back around with her foot and he groaned something about taking direction from a teenage girl. The Yellowjacket dipped to the side as Nate began descending from the air above the alpine forest they had reached after an a hour and a half of flight time. Gladys was glad the flight was almost over and she left her own set to make sure the children were getting ready.

                She was surprised to see all three of them already dressed in their magical clothes as Gladys called them. Entirely clad in black, Aigo in a Spanish-styled suit and Astara in a matching outfit with splashes of red strewn in. Alma was dressed in a long black gown like her mother. Gladys wondered how Alma could even breath in such a tight garment and Alma caught her staring in curiosity.

“These are the same clothes I was wearing a second ago, they just appear different.”

                Gladys nodded as if she understood. Magic wasn’t entirely lost on Gladys but the powers of the children were still an enigma. Calling from the cockpit Nate told the team to prepare for touchdown.

                The Yellowjacket found a soft patch of ground in the clearing Alma had designated, just south of the tallest oak in the otherwise cut-and-paste forest. The hatch opened in the sidewall of the Yellowjacket and Gladys stepped out with the Tapia children right behind her. Nate wished her good luck over their ear-bud headsets and sealed the Yellowjacket shut once they were standing in the clearing.

                Gladys stared around at their surroundings and felt completely naked. She had never liked the wilderness and having grown up in New York City her entire life made Gladys a city girl. The Tapia children were slowly making their way across the clearing as if they’d visited many times before and it was as simple as going to see their long-distant grandmother. Gladys hurried after them when she heard something, a rabbit perhaps, move in the bushes nearby.

“So where is this Magus Doran?” Gladys asked Alma.

“He’s watching us right now. Trying to decide what we’re doing coming out of a U.E. hovercraft.”

                Astara stopped and raised her hand, pointing at a bush. “Why doesn’t he just ask us himself?”

                The bush rustled and a velvet haired rabbit appeared from beneath its boughs. Sniffing the air the rabbit remained very still and its eyes never left Gladys and the children. Gladys thought that nothing was going to happen but when the rabbit began shivering violently she knew otherwise. The rabbit grew three times its size before losing all hair. The ears fell away and became wooden branches as they hit the ground and human ears replaced the rabbit ears. Gladys was astounded as the rabbit became a full sized man with a lazy gut and a long white mustache covering his red lips. Beady eyes stared around the forest as they slowly became human and all traces of the rabbit disappeared.

“As a matter of fact why don’t I!?” Magus Doran poked a finger at the air. “Why are members of the Tapia Coven in the company of a U.E. agent?”

                Magus Doran’s voice was remarkably high pitched and sing song. Gladys looked at the magic-user and all she could see was some fictional character from a medieval play. Even his clothes were so renaissance she wouldn’t have been surprised if they were stolen from a the London Historical Museum.

“And why is a Magus hiding in his backyard disguised as a rabbit?” Astara’s spitfire attitude retorted.

“We are here on a mission of diplomacy.” Gladys stopped Astara before the girl could ruin Magus Doran’s first impression of their troupe. “The Tapia Coven has agreed to work the U.E. to mend relations with the magic community.”

“And you believe that by sending a group of overpowered children to shake down an old Magus like myself will bring about peace- HA!”

“I understand it may seem ridiculous.” Alma was the voice of clear spring air that prevailed. “Gladys Goodstone has dedicated her life to this cause and we find her attempt won’t bring any more harm than good.”

“Right.” Aigo had to add.

                Magus Doran stroked his mustache and eyed Gladys. “Did you say Goodstone?”

“Yes.” Alma and Magus Doran seemed to know something more than they were allowing themselves to say. Gladys didn’t press the matter. Her last name was obviously something of a boon to their cause.

“I will listen to what Ms. Goodstone has to say but that does not mean I will bend to U.E. will.” Magus Doran turned around and grabbed an invisible doorknob on a nearby tree. He pulled a door shaped piece of bark open to the side and stepped through.

                Gladys and the Tapia children followed through the tree door and were suddenly standing in a room with lavish oriental rugs lining the floor and walls and large pillows for sitting around a table stacked high with fruits and succulent sweets. Gladys looked behind her and saw the forest still waiting for them through the same door they had entered. It reassured Gladys that Magus Doran wasn’t going to try anything to keep them captive.

“I have to ask, how did you come to hold the title of Magus?” Gladys asked inquisitively.

“So you know something of our history?” Magus Doran plopped himself down on a pillow. “I took it from Magus Gabriel during that big war down in Arizona.”

“Took it?”

“I killed him over it.” Magus Doran said maniacally and the door back to the forest seemed even more important.

                So did that make Magus Doran a villain? Gladys thought that all holders of the Magus title were only allowed to be good-aligned magic-users. Perhaps the Tapia children were in over their head or leading Gladys into a gruesome trap.

“That was a while ago. I promise I do not practice the same infernal magic I used to.”

“On the contrary, you’re a glutton now.” Astara snapped forcing Aigo to laugh quietly. Gladys shot them a stare of motherly sternness and they both stifled their snorting.

                Magus Doran slapped his stomach and admitted he was a bit of a glutton. “So Ms. Goodstone you wish to talk diplomacy with me?”

“I have to admit you were not even on my radar. I had no idea you even existed.” Gladys admitted which Magus Doran didn’t seem offended by. “The children here told me to come to you first.”

“And they revealed to the U.E. how to get to my backdoor.”

                Gladys shook her head. “On the contrary. I may work for the U.E. but everything I do and everyone I work with will remain classified until necessary for our cause. Your backdoor is of no interest to us.”

“Very well.” Magus Doran began eating an apple. “What does the U.E. have to offer me if I decide to become one of your allies?”

“We are limited in our assets especially when it is compared to the assets of the magic-users. Amnesty is our biggest bargaining tool.”

“Amnesty!” The older magic-user nearly choked on his apple. “It is the U.E. that banned us from open practice and use of our powers in public. Before the U.E. the world had superheroes who worked together, not against one another. Even the magic community was respected, not feared or shamed into hiding.”

“I don’t mean to completely ignore what the U.E. has done with the magic community. I am here to try and mend it. If you do not wish to bring peace between the two of us then I am forced to remind you- the U.E. is the reigning government of the globe and ninety-three percent of the magic community still reside on this planet.”

“Is that a threat Ms. Goodstone?”

“A reminder.” Gladys was unwavering and the Tapia children were completely silent. She felt their eyes on her and wondered if they were eyes of disbelief. Maybe even confidence. Gladys took Magus Doran’s silence as a notion to leave and started for the door.

                Magus Doran took another bite of his apple and spoke through a full mouth. “If the Tapia Coven is involved then there is more at stake than a simple mending of superpowers and although I will not willingly become an ally of you or the Union Empire I am not above spreading the word of your cause.”

                Halfway through the door into the forest Gladys nodded to the Magus.

“Thank you for your time.” She said before stepping back into the forest with the Tapia children in tow.

                Even at four miles’ distance the woman who’s skin took on the deep majestic color of indigo could see the three riders making their way along the dusty road leading out of the Threshold Hollow. Having taken her namesake from the color of her skin, Indigo continued to watch their progress; the riders’ powerful motorbikes pummeling their way across the broken tarmac unfettered by the rocky ground. Such practice and ease with which they steered their steeds was only gained from several years wandering in the wastes of the Hollow. It was a shame Indigo had to end their lives so abruptly.

                Stepping down from her natural watchtower amongst a tumble of rocks Indigo slid the rest of the way down to her three teammates. Indigo would have chosen a better amalgam of allies from the ranks of the Arsenal Alliance but that hadn’t been her master’s request. Indigo was only to track and accompany the team into the Threshold Hollow after the boy called Hammer.

                The only other female of her squad smiled as Indigo came down from her perch above them. Indigo knew the smile was meaningless and the woman, called Mentalia, was posturing to Indigo’s position as the Master’s right-hand. “Are they closing in line as we suspected?” Mentalia spoke calm and calculated like most psychics Indigo had met.

“We should start moving before they reach the border of the Hollow.” Indigo walked past Mentalia and spoke to the two men sitting by a stolen U.E. hovercract. One of them was named Shatter, his skin composed of flesh and sparkling crystalline deposits. The other was Ogre and Indigo could’ve smelled him from farther than four miles away. Fortunately for the three riders who didn’t have Indigo’s sensual acuity the Ogre’s stench went unnoticed by anyone save his teammates.

                Shatter gave Indigo a hesitant look. “Mentalia, are you sure you’ve got the illusion intact?”

“This isn’t my first time.” Another fake smile from Mentalia.

                Ogre and Mentalia boarded the U.E. hovercraft leaving Shatter and Indigo standing outside and Indigo knew what Shatter was going to say before he opened his mouth.

“Start giving orders again Indigo.” He dared. “I’m in charge of this mission.”

“Understood.” Indigo passed Shatter as she boarded the hovercraft and took her seat next to Mentalia. Ogre was in the cockpit, his bloated bulk barely able to fit into the flight seat. Indigo wondered why she had gone through so much trouble to be a part of this mission beyond her tracking capabilities. She suddenly remembered why when Shatter stepped onto the vessel.

                If they were going to be responsible for killing a couple of innocent humans she didn’t want their deaths to be merciless. Shatter had a knack for the gruesome and Indigo began to resent him even more.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                Over the roar of their engines the three riders didn’t even hear the U.E. hovercraft as it cleared the copse of craggy rocks a few miles away from the road. Hammer was in the middle of their three man line with Bart in front of him and Greg behind. They were headed for Nevada after Hammer had come home two nights ago covered in blood. When the boy confessed as to how he became drenched both Bart and Greg Anvil decided it was time to explore Hammer’s powers just a bit more. There was more to Hammer than either of them had anticipated years ago when they adopted him into their camaraderie and  neither brother liked surprises. Especially the deadly ones.

                Nevada was the headquarters of the U.E. taskforce Sandstorm, responsible for the protection of the desert provinces, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Although the most former was never a concern for Sandstorm due to the low, unbridled population within the Threshold Hollow. The Anvil Brothers believed the only way they could get help for Hammer was by seeking out Sandstorm directly. They had experience with Evolved issues and a direct line of communication with the U.E., that alone could bring Hammer back out of his depressing shell to which he had receded after the night of bloodshed.

                The U.E. hovercraft closed in on the three riders swiftly carrying four unknown assailants within. Greg was the first target. Hammer saw the reflection of the sun off the hull of the hovercraft just as it fired a wave of energy into the road behind his own bike. A loud boom accompanied a wave that kicked the broken pavement into the air and Hammer looked back over his shoulder as Greg flew from his bike which exploded in flames. When Greg landed in a scraggly bush he wasn’t moving.

                Hammer slammed on his brakes and forced a lead foot out to slow his bike. Having heard the explosion Bart did so as well and seeing his younger brother lying in the bush he dropped his bike to the ground as he rushed to Greg’s body.

                The hovercraft was still hovering in the air above the road as it tried to pinpoint another target and Hammer was already off of his bike and running after Bart.

“THIS IS THE DOORMAN OF THE TASKFORCE SANDSTORM. WE HAVE LOCATED AND IDENTIFIED A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EVOLVED IN YOUR COMPANY. RELEASE HIM TO OUR CUSTODY IMMEDIATELY.”    

                Hammer stopped running and looked up through his broken visor. The hovercraft was not moving and the sound of its energy weapon wasn’t present. But why had they attacked? Hammer could hear Bart sobbing and swearing as he tried to wake his dead brother. Why had they been attacked?  They could’ve easily demanded Hammer’s custody without opening fire but they were just like any other rogue in the Threshold Hollow. Shooting first and asking questions when it was too late. The thought brought up images of the men Hammer had killed nights ago.

                Their blood was still fresh on Hammer’s mind when the hovercraft spoke again with the same message only it ended with a warning of opening fire again.

“You assholes!” Bart rose and Hammer saw the grieving brother draw out his pistol. Opening fire on the hovercraft himself Bart ran, firing at the vessel. The bullets barely dented the plating. “You killed my brother!”

                A figure flew out of the hovercraft so fast that Hammer thought it was a bird. The second it collided with Bart Hammer saw that it was almost a bird. The half-human half-hawk figure dragged Bart across the road with its large hooked talons that replaced human feet. Bart’s gun rolled into the dust as he was thrown backwards. Hammer made a run for the gun when it burst into flames and scorched his palm.

“Back off or it’ll get worse.” A thick Texas accent carried by a woman’s voice reached Hammer’s ears. He turned to see who else had left the safety of the hovercraft.

                A stout woman dressed in red leather was standing next to an African American wielding a heavy composite bow. They didn’t look too dangerous and now that they were out of the hovercraft maybe Hammer could take them down. He had killed two men with his new power already and two more that had killed one of his friends didn’t make Hammer think twice about  the act.

“You’re going into U.E. custody, Warren D Smith.” The archer commanded. “If you don’t comply we will be forced to kill your other accomplice.”

                Hammer looked over to where Bart had been taken by the bird-man and saw he was now a captive of the bird-man’s sharp talons. Bart was a large man, bigger than the bird-man but he was defenseless against the talons and sharp beak that replaced his captor’s mouth. Yet Bart wasn’t quite ready to give up. His brother had been killed without mercy and Bart was ready to die avenging Greg. Hammer knew the man was going to fight back when he saw a grim smile spread across Bart’s face.

“Fire Soul, give him a sedative.” The archer ordered the woman in red leather.

                As the woman named Fire Soul came closer Hammer tensed. He needed is anger.

“Eat me bitch!” Hammer threw up both hands and tried to grab Fire Soul but she backed away obviously aware of his deadly powers.

                A lashing streak of flame rose from the ground and Hammer shied away. The sound of a bowstring being drawn made Hammer duck to the ground and an arrow pierced his leather cloak harmlessly.

                Bart had broken free of the bird-man’s hold and slammed an elbow up into his beak. A talon sliced a clean ribbon of fabric off of Bart’s side and blood spilled from the wound but the large biker continued fighting back tirelessly.

                Hammer scrambled on the ground until he found the gun, rising onto his knee he was aware that the gun was still scolding hot and it burned against his palm. Hand shaking, skin scorching he found it hard to aim at the archer who had closed in on him. With a trained kick the gun was sent flying from Hammer’s hand. Another kick planted Hammer on his back. The archer grabbed Hammer’s helmet and tore it off, which wasn’t a smart move because Hammer grabbed the archer’s hand in response. There was a terrible, bone breaking sound that vibrated Hammer’s entire body. A second later the archer’s arm exploded in tiny little fragments and he pulled away screeching.

                Seizing an arrow out of quiver at his waist the archer threw it. The fine tip scored a direct hit in Hammer’s abdomen and now it was his turn to howl in pain. Hammer doubled over with the arrow stuck in his gut. Blood trickling from the protruding shaft.

“Archer back down.” Fire Soul pulled Archer away from Hammer.

                Blood had stopped pouring from Archer’s shattered arm but his teeth were clamped shut and his furious eyes were set to kill the boy who had blown off his arm.

“He’s going to fall unconscious before our sedative would work so we’re finished here.”

“N-no.” Hammer reached out for the bird-man as he came from the side of the road dragging a bloodied Bart by the ponytail.

“Good work Griffon.” Archer spat and Griffon flexed his wings as a show of strength.

                Those hawk wings so strong but magnificent were the last thing that Hammer saw before his vision closed in around him and the smell of his own blood carried him into unconsciousness. He would have his revenge. That much Hammer vowed. He would kill every last member of Sandstorm.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                A Texas voice that Hammer recognized as Fire Soul’s woke him. He was pinned to the wall by metal clamps around his neck, his stomach, his wrists and ankles. He was stripped of his riding outfit except the boxers covering his crotch. Hammer tried to struggle against the clamps but found they allowed no succor. Wherever Hammer was being restrained, he was there to stay.

                Once his eyes had adjusted to the dim red light inside of the U.E. hovercraft he saw the two figures of Archer and Fire Soul arguing over something he couldn’t make sense of. He heard things like: No need- and stupidity, ruthlessness. Whatever the two were arguing over had been going on for a while because even in the red light of the overhead Fire Soul’s cheeks were brazen with redness. Archer looked at the wall where Hammer was hanging and glared.

“Looks like you’re still alive.”

“About time too-“Fire Soul waved Archer away and he gave her a steady look of hatred before leaving her alone with Hammer. “Warren Smith. I apologize for the way things turned out.”

“You killed them.” Hammer croaked, his throat was sore.

“Which we will be severely punished for by the U.E. but Archer isn’t one for taking his missions lightly. As you saw.”

“Shove off.” Hammer closed his eyes. He tried to find some sort of anger within him. It swelled up into his chest easily but when he tried to find an outlet he couldn’t. Hammer flexed his fingers and found he couldn’t feel them anymore.

“What have you done to me?”

                Fire Soul put a hand on her hip. “To keep ourselves and this ship intact we had to shut off the a few neural pathways to your hands. It is only until we assure that you’re not going to start blowing things up.”

“Trust me. When I get off this wall I am going to kill each and every one of you.”

“I can’t wait.” Fire Soul left Hammer hanging on the wall alone.

                Hours passed and Hammer began feeling they weren’t headed for Nevada because they would’ve reached their headquarters by now. They were headed elsewhere. Somewhere farther than Nevada. But where?

                With a little more effort to find a way to break the clamps Hammer tried to force the anger in his chest out through his ankles or his wrists. Even his neck was a potential outsource for his well of anger but none of it worked. His powers seemed to only respond through direct touch by hand. Hammer stared at the red light above him and imagined it was the sun and time began passing a little quicker.

                Fire Soul returned after the red light was burned into Hammer’s eyes.

“Are you hungry Warren?”

“That isn’t my name- and no.” Hammer didn’t bother looking at Fire Soul.

“Well you have to eat even if I force it down your throat. The U.E. won’t like you famished when you arrive.”

“It’s an illusion.”

                Fire Soul’s next words caught in her throat. This caused Hammer to look at her finally.

“What do you mean?” Fire Soul crossed her arms.

“The red light. I can see what it’s made of. It’s like a thousand tiny little flecks of energy swirling inside of that fragile glass bulb. The flecks aren’t even red.” Hammer looked back up at the light. “It’s an illusion of the sun. Just an imposter.”

                Relaxing her shoulders when she noticed Hammer wasn’t looking at her, Fire Soul spoke less harshly to the boy. He was confused and Fire Soul could understand that. She had gone through her own recruitment rather horridly but this wasn’t really a recruitment. Fire Soul looked at her hand. The skin was normal and pink. No trace of indigo. Hammer was right but he didn’t know how right he was. This was all just an illusion.

“It’ll all be better a few years from now.” Fire Soul reassured the boy pinned to the wall.

                A sudden lurch of the hovercraft forced Fire Soul into the wall herself. An emergency beacon activated causing the red light to begin swirling leaving Fire Soul and Hammer in the occasional breadth of darkness. Hammer called out to Fire Soul to know what was going on. The hovercraft lurched again and Fire Soul had an answer for the boy. The attack had begun.

“We’re under attack.” Fire Soul pushed off the wall and as she did a large dent appeared on the wall opposite of Hammer and Fire Soul.

                Another collision on the outside of the wall tore the dent open and fresh air rushed into the cabin only to be sucked back out by the speed at which the hovercraft was flying. Fire Soul rolled across the floor as the hovercraft spun madly. Hammer was held in place by the clamps on the wall but he hoped a dent didn’t appear on the wall he was hanging or he’d be split open.

                When the hovercraft crashed into the ground the lights went out for a long minute. Hammer couldn’t hear Fire Soul in the darkened cabin. Light from the tear in the hull provided some illumination and Hammer saw Fire Soul’s body on the ground unconscious.

                There was a loud tearing on the outside of the hovercraft as if it was being torn in two and right before Hammer’s eyes the wall with the dent was suddenly ripped away cascading real sunlight into Hammer’s prison. He was blinded for a second but through the white haze clouding his vision he saw three silhouettes appearing through the exposed wall. They entered slowly, cautiously at first before spotting Hammer pinned against the wall.

“I’ve got him!”

                Hammer saw an older man with a long goatee approaching and was curious what the large spiked mace on his hip was for. The man loosened the mace on his hip and brought it up to swing at Hammer. Bracing himself for the blow that never came Hammer breathed a sigh of relief as the mace collided with a conduit on the wall and the metal clamps over his body receded. Hammer fell into the arms of the older man who helped him stand.

“Thank you.” Hammer gently pushed away from the mace wielder and looked at his companions.

                A girl with short blonde hair dressed in a tight green outfit immediately caught Hammer’s attention. The last figure was also a female with a patchwork suit of armor made from what looked like scraps salvaged from the Threshold Hollow.

“Who are you people?”

                The man with the mace spoke for the trio. “We’re the Arsenal Alliance and we’re here to save your ass.”

                The night began fading away and Alaina could see the coming sun through the small window in her stark confines. It was the only source of color within the white walls and amongst the white bed with white sheets and a white pillow. A table made from metal, painted white to match the bed still held her dinner from that night. A healthy portion of mashed potatoes and a pork cutlet with a side of sugar peas was left undisturbed where she had found it upon awaking from her heavy sleep. Passing memories of how she had come to be in confinement were drifting lazily in her fear riddled mind but Alaina refused to give in. She hadn’t cried since arriving.

                Alaina rose from the bed and looked out the window. The glass was thick and crossed with near invisible lines in a diamond pattern, Alaina wasn’t sure why but she felt those lines shouldn’t be trusted. There was something so uniform, so intricate about their make that they were intentionally placed into the glass. Alaina backed down from the window just as the sun brought its head up over the rise of vacant skyscrapers situated in a perfect display of urban planning covering the distance between where the sun seemed to blossom and her little window.

“Where am I?” Alaina walked over to the platter sitting on the white table and inspected the meal. She was hungry, the plan to go out to dinner with her teammates after the championship game fell through. Alaina wondered if her friends worried about her. Or if the news aired that the U.E. had recruited another Evolved and the name: Alaina Rawlins, was plastered all over the internet. What did they think of her now? An Evolved who was the star athlete of her high school would surely attract some sort of scorn. She had cheated after all. Or had she?

                Poking the modern style fork into the mashed potatoes she wasn’t even hungry. A mouthful of the buttery whipped potatoes and Alaina knew eating wouldn’t assuage her anxiety. So instead of eating Alaina began inspecting the walls of the room. There was no sign of a door so that meant it was hidden. Probably unable to be opened from her side but maybe if she found the door she could wait for someone to enter and escape. Alaina placed both hands on the cold wall by her bed and began to move slowly to the right. Rubbing every possible spot she could reach she cleared two of the four walls quickly. The fourth wall with the window wouldn’t have a door on it. Alaina could see the walls outside the room when she looked out the window and there was no way a door would be leading into open air. That left the third wall.

                She felt stupid for not having checked the third wall first. It was the smallest and farthest away from her bed and table. If there was going to be a door they wouldn’t have put one right next to her bed or where she would sit down to eat.

                After a slow inspection Alaina found the crevices in the wall so carefully constructed that they were nearly flush with the wall itself. The door was a circle bout seven feet tall and the crevices that ran into the floor made Alaina think that it retreated downward instead of to the side or opening in or out. She folded her arms and stared at what she now saw as a circular downward-sliding door. If something bad happened in this place- wherever it was, surely they wouldn’t just leave those in confinement to rot away without being able to escape. There had to be a failsafe to get out. Alaina began looking for something else to be out of place along the wall but her inspection revealed nothing that time around.

“Damn.” Alaina kicked the wall with her barefoot.

                She had been dressed in a white gown with sleeves and her hair was loose down her back. Alaina hated her hair when it wasn’t up in a ponytail and wished she had a good hair band to pull it back with. She always thought better with her hair up.

                Alaina went back to sit on her bed and ran her hands through her hair and twisted it tightly so it would remain coiled for at least a little while before it became a mess again. The meal, still sitting on her table made Alaina stop fussing with her hair. Someone would have to come pick up the meal eventually and bring her breakfast. That would give Alaina the chance to escape. At that thought Alaina rushed to the door as if someone was entering at that very second. She didn’t want to miss a chance to escape.

                An hour must’ve passed before Alaina felt the wall shudder dully. The door was opening! Alaina pressed herself against the wall as flat as she could and waited a little longer. The door let out a hissing noise and rapidly receded downward into the floor. Someone entered. Alaina didn’t look to see who it was and she bolted out the open door.

                Strong arms grabbed her wrists as she breached the threshold. Alaina cried for help as she struggled. The two men that held her were dressed in matching uniforms with a symbol of a blazing sun on a patch above their heart. Both of them weren’t surprised that Alaina was trying to run and they dragged her back through the doorway easily.

“Let go of me! Where am I!?” Alaina cried for help again. “Help! Help!”

“Quit acting like we’re going to murder you. We aren’t here to hurt you.” A calmer voice prevailed over her shouting. Alaina looked at the man who had first entered her room. He was muscular and skinny at the same time. With chestnut hair and olive skin Alaina found him immediately attractive. He wore a white jacket and tight black pants which met a pair of short black boots on his feet. Whoever this man was, Alaina wasn’t quite as afraid now.

                The two guards who had caught her let Alaina go as they placed her on the bed. Together they stepped back towards the doorway where they waited silently. The attractive man was carrying a tray of eggs and sausage that he replaced the previous night’s dinner with.

“Who are you?”

“I thought you wanted to know where you were?” The man replied, stirring the cold potatoes. He looked hurt that she didn’t eat the food.

“I do- yeah I do.” Alaina stammered. “But who are you? Who are they? I have so many questions!”

“I did too but I can’t explain right now. You’ve got to eat before your busy day starts.”

“And if I’m not hungry?”

                The man sighed. “I’ll be deeply offended you don’t like the food I picked out for you.”

                He turned away from Alaina carrying the old dinner tray and nodded at the two guards. They exited the room without another word and the door sealed shut behind them with an uncomfortable hiss. Alaina felt like she was once again being buried and forgotten.

                With nothing left to do and the attractive man clogging up her thoughts she decided to eat something. The eggs were scrambled the way she liked them but the sausage was peppery and reminded her of an old person’s breakfast. There was also a still glass of orange juice in the corner of the tray that Alaina drained without pause. The food quickly settled in her stomach but didn’t make her feel full.

                Just as Alaina rose from the dining table there was a familiar hiss from behind her and the circular door opened again. Alaina turned hoping to see the attractive man stepping through but the man who did was far from attractive. He was short for a man and his wispy hair and fleshy face marred the image of the man she had met earlier that morning.

“I am so glad you’ve finally eaten something.” His voice was heavily accented but Alaina couldn’t place it.

“I was kind of forced to.”

                He waved a hand. “No matter. You’ll need your strength.” He stopped short of arms length and held his hand to shake Alaina’s. “It is so nice to finally meet you Alaina Rawlins.”

“Yeah.” Alaina shook the man’s hand. It was clammy.

“I am Dr. Zelasko.”

“German?” Alaina couldn’t help but asking. Her attempt at making small talk worked and the doctor smiled.

“I’m Polish.”

“I’m a Hoosier.” Alaina shrugged.

“And a good one at that. Your final basketball game, remarkable!” Dr. Zelasko patted her on the back.

                Alaina was shocked. Had this man been watching her championship game as well? Why was the U.E. so interested in her. Of course her gift was like nothing she had ever heard of before but it was nothing that could be used to take down villains or criminal masterminds. There was something else about her gift that the U.E. knew and she didn’t. Alaina direly wanted to find out that secret.

“Where am I?”

                Dr. Zelasko began leading Alaina out of the room. There were no guards and no attractive men waiting to intercept them when they stepped out of the doorway. The equally stark white hallway was as vacant as the skyscrapers outside of Alaina’s small window.

“This place requires a lot of explaining. I can’t just simply say what it is and have you understand what that means. If you understand what I mean?” Dr. Zelasko was still holding Alaina’s hand admiringly and she felt awkward as they walked hand-in-hand.

“Am I in the Union Empire?”

“Silly girly.” Dr. Zelasko laughed. “You’ve always been in the Union Empire, it encompasses the entire globe. Well unless you are in China…no my girl you are at the Helios Society. A branch of the U.E. where we educate and train Evolved to better use their gifts.”

“Why didn’t you just say that?” Alaina let go of Dr. Zelasko’s hand.

“It sounded more complicated in my head.” The doctor turned to the right as the hallway reached a crossroads. Alaina stopped walking and looked down each passage. Could she escape? Alaina doubted it would even be worth the exertion if this really was part of the U.E. then surely they had agents and soldiers at every possible exit.

                Dr. Zelasko stopped walking and turned around to Alaina. “We’ve no intention of keeping you here if you really want to escape.” The words made the cogs in Alaina’s mind start reeling. “I only ask that you make that decision after giving us a chance.”

                Alaina still stood at the crossroads.

“Just remember.” Dr. Zelasko suddenly became a goblin of seriousness. “You run out of here and the U.E. will keep coming after you. Evolved are too dangerous to be left unattended.”

                The idea of being on the run was not appealing. She had experienced it firsthand already and a life of running was a draining thought. Alaina looked once more down the empty passageways and started following Dr. Zelasko again. She’d give them a chance. Even if it was just to see the attractive man one more time.

                Dr. Zelasko lead Alaina down the hall passing several circular doors along the way. She imagined there were similar situations behind those doors, Evolved taken from their lives to be recruited by the Union Empire. Alaina didn’t dare ask the doctor how many others were locked up in the Helios Society like she had been. Zelasko stopped in front a much larger circular door that had the words: GRADING ROOM, printed boldly at its center. Alaina watched Zelasko enter a quicker than the eye code into the console by the door and it hissed open. The room beyond the door was quite large and the amount of people milling about made Alaina fear entering.

“Don’t worry. They don’t bite.” Dr. Zelasko ushered Alaina inside the room. “Well, the majority of them.”

                The ceiling of the room was domed with a cap of glass and tall pillars supported the glass dome in a circular formation. Alaina could’ve easily lost the short Dr. Zelasko in the multitude of people had he not grabbed her hand. There were all kinds of people, old people, young people, children and even some people that were glowing!  Everyone inside the room was Evolved and Alaina found herself gawking at all the bizarre evolutions that some of her people had undergone. Alaina caught sight of a girl who’s skin was covered in smoky colored fur. The girl had a set of sharp claws and seemed to be unashamed of her naked hairy body. Another Evolved was floating slightly off the ground but a heavy ball and chain clamped around his ankle kept him from floating too high.

“Dr. Zelasko!” Alaina tried to get the doctor to quit his hurried pace but he only stopped when they reached a clearing at the center of the room where a long table sat. Four black tie dressed individuals sat at the table talking amongst themselves. They seemed completely ignorant of the energy in the room or the noise generated by the many voices and footsteps.

                Dr. Zelasko started toward the desk and as he did he reached a hand up to the air and pushed. A pressurized hiss accompanied the movement and Alaina followed Dr. Zelasko through what she thought was an invisible door. As they stepped into the room she saw it was actually a glass cube supported on the inside by four metal beams in each corner. From their view inside the cube the men and one woman sitting at the table could see all of the Evolved and be protected at the same time. Complete silence enveloped the glass room.

“Good morning Dr. Zelasko. We never thought you’d show.” The female chided. Alaina immediately did not like the woman who’s blonde hair was cut into a dike-spike and her gray suit made her square form even more dull.  

“Is this your special case?” A lean, big nosed man stared at Alaina curiously. The thin glasses on his birdlike nose reminded Alaina of a cartoon character.

“Wait- special case?” Alaina spoke out.

                Patting her hand, Dr. Zelasko cleared his throat. “As Chief Scientist of Evolved Research I undertook the investigation of the Rawlins case myself. Her power is unique.”

“How so?” Dike-spike rapped her fingernails against the table.

“Lisa, allow me to explain.” Dr. Zelasko took a few steps toward the table leaving Alaina standing by herself. “Alaina Rawlins is the first recorded Evolved since the Joy case to develop what we call in the E.R. as Situational Overdrive.”

“Oh?” Lisa sounded incredulous.

“Please hear me out-“

“The Joy case was proved invalid.  She was nothing more than a technologically enhanced human.” Bird-nose cut Dr. Zelasko off.

                The two men at the table who had since remained quiet both spoke up in unison. Alaina looked at the men, they were identical twins and their eyes were milky white. It made Alaina’s skin crawl as their voices went on monotonously.

“Anne-Marie Dawning, a.k.a. Joy was a first generation Evolved who’s powers were classified as Enhancement Physical. After her incident with the Night Mistress she underwent bionic alteration derived from the Eos Era, alterations known as Zero Research.” The twin’s words left everyone else in the room rather stale as they wrapped their heads around the information.

“I am not going to debate whether or not the Joy case was valid or not, Roland. I am here to present to you a rarified Situational Overdrive.” Dr. Zelasko pleaded.

                The man named Roland pulled his glasses down his nose and stared at Alaina above them. She tried to smile but found herself as nervous as ever. Her usual nervousness before a basketball game was nothing compared to where she stood at that moment. “Very well.”

                Dr. Zelasko stifled a sigh. “Thank you Roland.” Pulling what looked like a remote from his pocket Zelasko pressed a button and an opaque black screen appeared between the table and Dr. Zelasko. Images began to roll over the floating view screen as a recording of Alaina’s escape attempt in the soccer field. Roland seemed to be interested in the recording while Lisa looked bored. The twins remained vacant in their expression. Alaina was extremely pleased with herself. Albeit she had been caught there was a genuine skill where her attempt at escape had failed. Watching as the spinners missed her every time and the helicopter had a hard time even following her quick movements. Alaina was impressed.

                The recording ended with Alaina being yanked from the backyard of a small house as she screamed for help. The screen went black and Zelasko closed it with another click on his remote.

“Well, I have to admit it may take some time to convince us that her power is classified as Situational Overdrive but there is something worth studying.” Roland concluded.

                Lisa nodded and put her chin in her hands while she looked at Alaina and Dr. Zelasko. “But is she worth the investment?”

“Certainly!” Dr. Zelasko responded as if there was no other answer.

“We can’t just take on every Evolved who shows up on our radar, Zelasko.” Lisa jabbed.

“No but-“

                This time it was Alaina who cut the doctor off. “What do you mean? Are you saying that not all Evolved join the Union Empire? What happens to those who don’t join?”

“And she’s annoying to boot.” Lisa scoffed.

                Roland held up a hand to quiet Lisa. “You have every right to ask questions but we cannot answer all of them. Lisa, the Twins and I are responsible for screening candidates who will become superheroes. The Evolved who do not qualify for a high enough grade are put into regular taskforces or low-ranking divisions. Would you rather have a man who can shoot quantum blasts from his eyes protecting innocent people or the Evolved who’s power was to change the color of inanimate objects?”

“Color Man would be less dangerous in the long run.” Alaina fired back at Roland without meaning to sound contemptuous.  Roland raised an eyebrow and sat back.

“In the long run- yes.” The Twins began their unison words. “The Helios Society, the U.E. and several other organizations are engineered to produce suitable candidates for the superhero community. In the long run a man who’s power over quantum energies could prove dangerous to civilians and teammates around him. Rather, a man who’s only power is to warp the color bands to change around objects could develop psychological inferiority complexes which in turn would prove dangerous.”

“What are you saying?” Lisa was growing irritated.

“It is our job and those under us to educate and train individuals who may prove dangerous or detrimental to the Union Empire and the world’s wellbeing. That is what we are saying.” The Twins didn’t even look at Lisa when they spoke.

                Lisa sighed. “Fine. Let’s say this girl has Situational Overdrive. That power classification means that her powers only work to accomplish a common goal, we saw for ourselves how she nearly escaped one of our best agents. Doppleganger was knocked unconscious during the ordeal.” Lisa pointed at Alaina. “This girl could become trouble if she decided this wasn’t the place for her.”

“You underestimate me.” Alaina had been growing angry at Lisa the more she spoke. Who was this woman to dictate how dangerous she was or that Alaina was some horrible villain. The thought made Alaina hot behind the ears. She took a step towards the table. “You give me a goal and I will accomplish it. I don’t need you or anyone else at your table to believe in me. I can accomplish anything.”

                Alaina hadn’t realized she had been yelling directly at Lisa but Lisa had and was standing behind the table with her square shoulders set to tackle Alaina through one of the glass walls where the rest of the Evolved and guards of the Helios Society were now watching Alaina’s grading. Dr. Zelasko cleared his throat.

“There you have it. Alaina Rawlins wants to explore her power with us.” Dr. Zelasko added. “Determination amongst the new Evolved is highly admirable.”

                The Twins closed their eyes and nodded in agreement. Roland typed a few things into a small computer that sat in front of him and Lisa, reluctantly sat back in her seat. Eyes still trained on the hardheaded Evolved in front of her.

“We’ll give her a team assignment tomorrow morning. Until then- I suggest you work with her Dr. Zelasko, answer a few of her questions.” Roland finished typing. “According to the Craine Grade Classification, Alaina Rawlins hasn’t received a score until her powers are further developed.”

                Dr. Zelasko thanked everyone as he backed Alaina out of the glass cube. All of the eyes outside the cube were now straying to train on Alaina and Dr. Zelasko. She felt naked all of a sudden as if the other Evolved were jealous of her. Pushing the feeling aside she gained the courage to ask one more question.

“Excuse me but…do you all feel safe here with all the Evolved around you? Couldn’t they just work  together to break this cube and kill you. Kill your guards and escape?” Alaina should’ve known the answer to her question would be backed by self-assured confidence. The Twins responded.

“Look above you.”

                Alaina did so. High above the room, nearly touching the glass dome she could make out three floating figures. Two women and one man. They wore long white robes and their omniscient position above the Evolved told Alaina that they were more powerful than anyone below.

“The Helios Society began as a psionic training facility. Its strongest and most intimidating psychics have remained here to protect it. We call them the Trivium and they are the most powerful beings on our planet.”

                A gun might as well have been held to Matron Tapia’s back as she sat in the dusty little parlor of her summer home with the two agents sent by the Union Empire. Matron Tapia held her gaze in a faraway look as the ruffled waves of the beach down the hill receded away from the soft sand of the private beachfront. It was such a magnificent retreat that had turned into a prison of its own when the Tapia Coven fell from grace in the South American jungles of beautiful Argentina. Now, inside the parlor that had seen better days, Matron Tapia was forced to make a decision she never wanted to make. She was to decide if her children would become enemies of the Union Empire or their allies.

“It is hard to say how well they will adjust under the Union Empire, our knowledge of the arcane is far from perfect.” The female agent was strumming her finger on the iridescent computer pad as she scrolled through the files of the three Tapia children. “I do know that they will be treated with the upmost respect.” The agent’s halfhearted smile did nothing to alleviate Matron Tapia’s disdain for the U.E. and she rose from her cushioned seat and went to the open window.

“Caza de brujas.” Matron Tapia rolled her eyes.

“Excuse me?” The male agent questioned.

“The witch hunt.” The female answered when Matron Tapia did not. “The U.E. isn’t trying to threaten your family but you have to understand what our aim is. To have magic-users, let alone a family of them, running without U.E. registration is a mark against our government.”

                Matron Tapia bowed her head slowly. “The brujas and brujos of our family have been free from anyone’s rule for centuries. Before the U.E. and before even the Evolved. Only the Divines and Starborn came before us. To simply bow our heads- se absurdo.”  

“We’re not asking for you to bow to the U.E., we are here to try and make an agreement. Find some sort of diplomacy in the situation between the U.E. and the magic community.”

“So my children becoming U.E. soldiers is only political?” Matron Tapia allowed the breeze from the ocean to carry the dark curtains around her body. Whether by magic or sheer coincidence the effect caused both U.E. agents to shiver as they watched the bruja.

“Not soldiers, ambassadors.” Breaking the austere silence the male agent stood. “You’re children don’t exactly exhibit the kind of magic prowess capable of being soldiers.”

                If Matron Tapia took offense to the man’s words she didn’t let it show but continued staring out onto the beach with the curtains caressing her tanned skin. “I see.” She finally said and without a word the door opened on the opposite side of the parlor and three children, two girls and a boy, entered, all of them wearing black finery which only added to their already dark faces.

                The female agent smiled at the children. “Good afternoon, my name is-“

“Gladys Goodstone.” The middle daughter, Astara, stared at Gladys knowingly.

“That’s right.” Gladys smiled sweetly.

“Then you must be Richard Kelly?” The boy Aigo, much smaller than his two sisters, spoke with a surprisingly deep voice of a boy going through puberty.

                The agent named Richard nodded.

“Mother, we sensed your call.” The oldest daughter Alma placed a hand on the back of her mother’s former perch and slid into the cushioned chair. Gladys couldn’t help but see the resemblance between Alma and her mother. Their skin was tanned naturally and their curly black hair swam about their face in sweltering locks. Any girl would be jealous of such exotic qualities.

                Matron Tapia continued looking out the window and didn’t turn to see her children’s faces as she spoke. “You’ve known for a while that the Union Empire would send agents to collect you.” The three children were silent and the agents were surprised at their lack of emotion at the news. Was one of them clairvoyant? Gladys looked at each of the children slowly.

                Alma’s record showed her arcane talents as a bruja were heavily seeded in mediumship and communication with deceased spirits. Astara’s were less specified as her position in the Tapia Coven had never been announced. While the third child, Aigo’s, were subject to varying discussion. Many of the U.E. scholars believed Aigo’s powers lay somewhere between the boundaries of the astral realm and the real world. Astral projection, teleportation and time-travel were just a few of the abilities that the novice brujo was speculated to be capable of.

“You also know that the outcome of their visit could end in plenty different scenarios but I leave their fruition up to your own decision.” Matron Tapia incurred a look of confusion from the agents.

“Mother?” Aigo also looked confused.

                Alma spoke sternly. “You’re asking us to decide whether we let these agents leave here alive with us but if we decide not to become ambassadors of the Union Empire then they most certainly shouldn’t be allowed to leave here.”

                Gladys’ jaw dropped and she felt Richard tense next to her. Richard was getting angry and that was dangerous. She hated having a partner who’s Evolved abilities stemmed from his own rage. Needless to say he hadn’t been her first choice as a partner. Especially when it came to tactile negotiating.  The children and their mother were extremely fluent with their magical abilities even if their coven had been broken, Gladys had no intention to discover how fluent they were exactly and she spoke out to the children.

“We have no intentions of forcing you to join or to force you into situations you don’t want to be in. We only ask that you consider the opportunity to mend the divide between the magic community and the Union Empire.”

“From my point of view.” Astara touched a finger to her chin. “The Union empire has done this to themselves. Alienating powers they did not understand only to hunt them down whenever the chance presented itself.”

                Alma touch her sister’s shoulder. “We’ve had several months time to consider the opportunity Ms. Goodstone, Mr. Kelly.” Aigo nodded but Astara still stared at the two agents with indifference.  “As a new age begins perhaps the children of the Tapia Coven really can help the Union Empire change their ways. But understand us when we say this- we will always be ready to destroy you if need be.”

                It took Gladys more than a few seconds to absorb the words of the eldest daughter. They had joined so easily, so efficient was their decision it seemed as if they had concocted the whole idea themselves. Richard was concerned and it showed on his face. Before Gladys could stop him, Richard was crossing the room towards the children. “Richard stop!”

“Mr. Kelly what are you doing?” Alma started to rise from her seat just as Richard’s hand slapped across her face. So hard was the blow that Alma and the cushioned chair slammed against the far wall like toys.

“Damn.” Gladys leaped across the table for Richard but he was already lifting Astara by the next with one hand. Gladys slammed her hand against the large man’s back and he didn’t stop choking Astara.

                Matron Tapia was stoically staring out the window while her children were under attack by the enraged U.E. agent. She had no intention of stepping in to stop their tussle. Such things were childish.

“Richard!” Gladys lifted a bowl of fruit off the table and slammed it into Richard’s head. That did not stop the man and he only let go of Astara when her face had turned a pale blue color.

                Aigo was next. The small boy stood in front of Richard waiting for his turn. Gladys paused her flurry of passing blows long enough to see Aigo smile at the agents. A split second after he smiled the boy was gone and a small white orb floated in his place. Richard stood in bewilderment at Aigo’s disappearance but Gladys saw where the boy had gone. Aigo had appeared a few feet away from Richard and Gladys and was playing with an identical orb in his palm. A moment passed before Richard noticed the boy’s reappearance and he started on his rampage again. Knocking an end table aside he reached out to grab Aigo.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Richard let out a wailing yelp as Aigo tossed the orb at the agent. When Richard staggered back, what once had been his hand was now a glowing white glove of white that began to dissolve back into the small orb. When it was finished Richard’s hand had been removed and the wound didn’t shed blood. Pain registered across Richard’s face as he realized he was out of his league.

“Back off Richard, that is an order.” Glady stepped between Aigo and Richard. She could hear Richard cussing over the loss of his hand but Gladys didn’t care about her partner who would soon be discharged for unnecessary offensive action. “I apologize.” Gladys tried to calm the situation.

“This doesn’t change their decision.” Matron Tapia interjected.

                Gladys looked over her shoulder at the bruja still gazing out the window to something only she seemed able to see. “It doesn’t?”

“My children will arrive at the Union Empire’s doorstep in two days. This was only to show you that the Tapia Coven will once again reign supreme.” The cold words coming from the Matron’s lips made Gladys stare angrily at the woman. “Now leave us Ms. Goodstone, I must prepare my children.”

“I look forward to their arrival.” Gladys regained her composure and started for the door. “Come on Richard.”

                Richard started to follow Gladys but the Matron turned from the window like a living statue and pointed a finger at Richard’s back. He stopped moving, paralyzed. Gladys grew alarmed. Had this been a trap?

“Mr. Kelly harmed my children. I do not take that lightly.” The matron glided up behind Richard and wrapped her tan arms around his manly shoulders. “I will make him pay. Consider it compensation for my children’s’ services.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

                When Gladys entered the transport-class hovercraft called the Yellowjacket she received several concerned stares from the rest of the crew onboard. They were still wearing their fireteam armor and carrying advanced assault rifles capable of penetrating three walls of cement, all of them ready to invade the summer home of the Tapia Coven on Gladys’ word. That word never came and when she appeared back onboard alone, without Richard Kelly, they fidgeted with their weaponry. Gladys stopped halfway up the boarding ramp and told them to be at ease.

“Where is Agent Kelly?” One of the men asked in confusion.

“He won’t be coming back with us.” Gladys cut off any further questions by hurrying her pace and climbed the ladder into the cockpit above the passenger space.

                The pilot, Nate Polizzi, leaned around his chair and watched Gladys standing there rubbing her forehead. “You don’t look too happy Gladdy. I thought being assigned to your own taskforce was what you wanted.” Nate was forty two, five years older than Gladys, with salt and pepper hair around his temples. Gladys liked his company because Nate was the only man she worked with who wasn’t a meathead or trigger happy. Nate often said that the life of a pilot was the only way to live. He could fly without superpowers and that meant he was a relatively free man. Although being a pilot in the U.E. did offer up a few questions from Gladys from time to time but she didn’t press the matter when Nate feigned answering.

“It was.” Gladys sat on the console of the flight controls. “That doesn’t mean I wanted to be given the reigns of rallying neutral magic-users into joining the U.E.”

“Vanguard really stiffed you by giving you the job.” Nate began firing up the Yellowjacket and its engines hummed to life. Gladys could see the fireteam below buckling themselves in for the flight back to the Union empire. She knew she had let them down. All of them were itching for a fire fight or to take down some magic-users. Many of them had joined her team simply because of their prejudice against magic. It was a volatile mix.

“Vanguard’s an asshole.”

                Nate laughed as did Gladys.

“So Gladdy, what happened to Rich?” Gladys wasn’t sure how to tell him. The two had been friends since the taskforce was created.

“Let’s just say I have a long report to file when we get home. Leave it at that?”

“After that report you and I should go on a date.”

                Gladys blushed and kicked the back of Nate’s seat. “Get some super powers and then we’ll talk.”

“Oh right- you’re a super-sleaze.”

“I take offense to that.” Gladys kicked his seat again. “I’m just used to guys who shoot energy out of their hands or can deflect a bullet. A guy who flies without a giant hovercraft.”

“You know I could be called a superhero.” Nate was now flying the Yellowjacket high over the jungles of Argentina. They were nearing the ocean and Gladys realized why Matron Tapia had been staring out the window that entire afternoon. It was breathtaking, the view. It was also depressing at the same time. Was Matron Tapia wishing for something she never knew would come true? Maybe she doubted the chance to mend relations between the U.E. and the magic community. No- she did doubt the idea but how was Gladys so sure that the enigmatic woman felt so strongly about it?

“Gladdy?”

                Gladys pulled her vision away from the ocean view and realized she had missed every word of Nate’s rambling so she started out of the cabin and said. “This conversation is over Nate, you’re more like a brother than a boyfriend anyway.”

                There had been a terrible sandstorm earlier that morning carrying with it the debris  from the mountains along the border of the Threshold Hollow and now pieces of scrap metal and lightweight tech-plating littered the large area of desolate landscape in a smattering of glinting metallic. The sun was high over the Arizona roughness and it gave no rest to the three men who were riding their hideous motorbikes along what was once a patch of tarmac. They seemed to fit perfectly into the landscape, their scrappy looking steeds that roared with dying motors added to the desolation that had overtaken such the arid, yet stunning, vista. Only as they slowed their motorbikes did the landscape become quiet once more as the motors took a rest.

                Each of the men, one larger than the other wore ragged capes of leather and their protective helmets were caked with dust save a hand wiped portcullis allowing them to see what road ahead of them they could. The smallest of the three men hopped off his bike and raised the visor on his red helmet. A set of dark green eyes stared out from the depth of the helmet, scanning.

“Anything worthwhile Hammer?” One of the other two men barked.

                After probing his eyes into every piece of scrap metal within sight the man named Hammer shook his head in dismay. Without saying a word he closed his visor and began to straddle his bike once more.

“Been two days and we haven’t found a piece of trash worth shit.” The largest rider barked again.

“Hard telling how long people have been picking off this litter. We’re in the deepest part of the Hollow, where the most fighting took place. It’d be stupid for any other scrapper to look anywhere else.” Hammer leaned on the bars of his bike and watched the other two riders.

“We made a good profit picking off the middle grounds Bart.” The second rider patted his bike. “Enough to get some fixings for the hogs.”

“See how long they hold up.” The largest, Bart, started up his bike. “Let’s go boys. Get to town by nightfall.”

                The three riders parted from the debris ridden field but only after one of them hung back for a moment. Hammer watched the landscape from within his helmet and wondered what it had once looked like.

                After a few hours of riding across the beaten down pavement the three riders pulled up on a ramshackle looking diner along the road. The sign that once read: Didi’s Diner, was no longer flickering and its yellow bulbs had all been sniped out by a some bored scrapper long ago. It was impressive the diner had even survived the fighting in the Threshold Hollow. Save the gaping hole that nearly took out the entire kitchen the diner was relatively defensible and served the Anvil Brothers well.

                Bart Anvil and Greg Anvil made their way inside the diner as Hammer pulled up behind them. It was no coincidence their names were all relative, they’d gotten rid of their real names when Arizona had been turned into a warzone. Hammer knew that neither brother was as vile as their reputation provoked. In fact Bart was one of the biggest pushovers Hammer had ever met and that is why Hammer was allowed to be in their company, share in their spoils and eat their food. Not to mention Hammer’s status as one of the few free Evolved in the United States. Hammer sat on his bike for a little longer. The sun was descending over the low rocky mountains and the purple haze that painted its way down from space was engaging. The sky was the only thing that Hammer could look at without seeing what it truly was and for that he was thankful.

“We’ve gotta’ come up with something soon or else we won’t have anything to trade come the weekend.” Greg, the smaller of the two brothers, was now reclining in an old barber chair they salvaged from some nearby town.

“How about that damn chair.” Hammer threw his helmet on the counter  and took up residence on a stool.

“This old thing?” Greg playfully adjusted the levels on the chair and it went up and down with loud creaks.

                Bart came from the back of the diner carrying a pot. A salty smell rose from the inside of the pot and Bart set out about ladling bowls of what Greg called desert slop. Coyote meat and baked beans. When Bart handed a bowl to Greg he let out a gagging noise which made Bart angry and he shoved the bowl into Greg’s hands. More than half spilled onto the younger brother and he howled from the steaming heat of the slop. Hammer gratefully took the slop set about eating.

                Life in the desert was not so bad. Hammer had been in middle school right before the Threshold Skirmish which destroyed most of Scottsdale, Arizona and all of his family. Ever since then Hammer had been on his own for nearly four years until he met the Anvil Brothers. He was lucky to have found such charitable company amongst the inhabitants of the now feral Arizona.

“What are ya’ thinking about kid?” Greg had already finished his desert slop and was ladling out more.

                Hammer shrugged. “Nothing really.”

“Always thinking something though.” Bart called from the kitchen window.

“Unless you’re some kind of retard.” Greg shoved some slop into his mouth as he spoke.

” You guys ever traveled?” Hammer put his bowl down.

                Greg laughed. “Travel everyday Hammer.”

“I mean, before all- this.”

“Oh, some. Been to Texas once.” Greg thought to himself. “Never was much for leaving the beautiful Arizona peace and quiet.”

“The world changed a lot leading up to all of this.”  Bart was now leaning on the counter across from Hammer. “A kid like you wouldn’t be safe out there nowadays. After the U.E. began rounding up anyone and everyone with superpowers.”

“Remember Melinda?” Greg asked his brother.

                Bart closed his eyes. “Yeah- I think so. Big woman? Nose ring?”

“Shame they got her. Man now that was a woman.” Greg growled.

                Hammer paid Greg no mind but he was curious who this Melinda was. If she was an Evolved Hammer was more than willing to learn more. After all he had only met one other Evolved in his life and his power had been to hear things from far away. Hammer hadn’t liked him that much. “Tell me more about her.” Hammer asked.

“Melinda.” Bart began. “Taller than you and Greg, nearly my height. We called her the Bull. She was Evolved like you, second generation I think. Her dad was some sort of big-shot super-villain back in the day who eventually got put on the death sentence in Texas.”

“What was her power?” Hammer glued.

“What was it Greg?”

                Greg flexed his skinny arms. “Super strength! She also had the knack for getting angry.”

“Man, Melina…” Bart sighed.

“Melinda.” Greg agreed.

                Hammer didn’t want to be left hanging. “So what happened to her?”

                Greg and Bart looked at one another trying to decide who should finish the story. Hammer knew it didn’t have a happy ending but he needed to know more. He understood what the Union Empire was and what it represented for himself and any other Evolved but he was hooked on this Melinda, the Bull.

“The U.E. sent a taskforce to take her down. A few of her dad’s old buddies who reformed. Melinda didn’t go down without a fight though-“

                Bart finished. “I heard they had to eliminate her because she was too much of a threat, uncontrollable and unsuited for the U.E.”

                Hammer breathed for the first time since the story of Melinda had begun. It all seemed so fictional. Like something taken from a story. How could the world they lived in have changed so much turning friends against one another and friends against their most trusted allies. Times had changed and Hammer hadn’t even experience those times Bart and Greg reminisced about. All of a sudden Hammer felt a longing. To understand the world around him. His power gave him the ability to see things for what they truly were, the strength of metals, the composite of materials and the potential of their use. And for all his insight on inanimate things Hammer felt he was extremely ill-suited for the world around him.

“You okay kid?” Bart put a hand on Hammer’s shoulder.

                Hammer looked at Bart and then to Greg.

“I need some fresh air.” Hammer left the counter and started out of the diner.

                The Anvil Brothers made a start after Hammer. It was dangerous going out into the night and even worse alone. Hammer was already on his bike when they reached their own but something made Bart stop his brother.

“Let him go. If he comes back he comes back.”

                Greg nodded solemnly. “We’ll be here when he does.”

                As the night air rushed in around Hammer he felt himself growing hot instead of cold. He was sweating as the motorbike picked up speed and began to ride smoothly over the tarmac areas Hammer knew were intact and safe. He wasn’t sure where he was headed or why he was driving into the night but he needed to clear his head. Why had he been born into a world with so much despair? Hammer pounded his fist against his handle bar in anger. His family had been taken from him and the life he could’ve had was destroyed by selfish fighting between people calling themselves superheroes. It was all so stupid. There was no right or wrong in it. It was simply stupid.

                Steering his motorbike onto a rising patch of pavement Hammer drove up onto what used to be an interstate onramp. What were once safety rails on either side were now crumbling edifices of a lost time when people used to travel in Arizona’s vistas. Hammer slowed his bike as it came to the top of the ramp and empty air dropped in front of him. Broken pieces of pavement lay below and a few broken cars with their metal twisted inward slept below. Hammer had never seen a graveyard but he felt like this was the equivalent.

                Hammer knelt down at the edge of the ramp and picked up a handful of dirt. Sprinkling it over the hollow cars below he wondered if someone had been inside the cars when they were buried. Or if heroes had come to rescue the trapped victims. Taking a step back away from the edge as his vision blurred he took off his helmet and wiped the tears forming under his scintillating green eyes. Was all this worth the fight? That is what bothered Hammer the most; what was the fight all about?

                Returning to his motorbike Hammer set off for the diner. As his bike rumbled down the ramp he immediately felt there was something wrong about what he saw in front of him. A thin wire rested at mid height near the bottom of the ramp. Hammer had no time to stop as the wire caught his front tire and he was sent hurtling head first into the dirt and broken pavement. His vision went stunningly white and he heard his motorbike crashing into the ground nearby with a loud pop and crash.

                Hammer’s vision returned slowly and he thought he was bleeding but when he started to rise on his hands he saw the red streaks along the ground were paint from his helmet.  His breathing was heavy and he found it awkward to stand but something rushed from behind and knocked him back to the ground. He heard the metal swing of a pipe and his back seared with pain. Hammer twisted to the ground as two voices laughed behind him. Another smack from the pipe, this time to the head. A crack appeared in the visor of Hammer’s helmet and he rolled over to see his attackers.

                There were two of them, rough looking men older than Bart. One of them was wielding the pipe while the other was trying to stand Hammer’s bike back up. The pipe wielder swung down at Hammer and he moved to the side and the pipe slammed into the dirt. Hammer kicked out with one leg and the blow connected with his attacker’s shin causing him to stagger back. Hammer rose and grabbed the small knife at his waist. It came free easily and Hammer went to stab at the man.

                His accomplice had stopped fiddling with the bike and grabbed Hammer from behind pinning his arms in a hold that Hammer couldn’t break.  Instead Hammer slammed his head backwards and connected with the man’s face. Hammer rushed forward just in time to meet the incoming swing of the pipe. It completely shattered the visor on Hammer’s helmet and he spun wildly to the side as his head rang from the blow.

“Kill him!” The one Hammer had hit with his helmet was bleeding out the nose and mouth. He was picking up the knife Hammer hadn’t even known he had dropped.

                Anger swelled up in Hammer. Not fear. There was nothing frightening about two gangly old men who were preying on a seventeen year old boy. Hammer let that anger rise in him as the two men came nearer. Instinctively, as they closed in, Hammer rose and grabbed the man with the pipe by the shoulder. Releasing that anger with a grip so tight he could’ve shattered glass Hammer shouted in such frustration it could be heard for miles. Hammer’s scream was accompanied by that of the man as he exploded into chunks of blood and bone. Hammer was covered in the remains of the man he had exploded and he turned slowly, his helmet dripping red.

                The rogue with the knife was standing in silence as his friend’s body lie on the ground in dislodged pieces. He dropped the knife but Hammer wasn’t finished. As the man apologized he dropped to his knees and pleaded to be shown mercy but Hammer wasn’t going to give any mercy to such a murderous, preying vagrant. Hammer grabbed the man by what little hair he had left and the second he did the man’s head ripped open on the side and his brain spilled out like a slug.

                Releasing the man’s hair Hammer suddenly felt                 queasy at the amount of blood around him. He couldn’t help but vomit before he took his helmet off and fainted.

                The young woman sat on a bench in the aisle of the humid, sweat-scented locker room, staring at her feet in silent disbelief. Water from the shower on the other side of the room had spilled onto the tiles, snaking its way between the grout making its way nearer and nearer to Alaina’s scuffed basketball sneakers. Yet Alaina didn’t bother to move her feet out of the way and the snaking water was forced to split apart as it continued its journey across the locker room. “Why me?”

                No one answered Alaina’s question and that absence of an answer left her to tread deeper into the recesses of her already confused mind. She could’ve been sitting on that bench for hours, Alaina wouldn’t have noticed the passing of time. Her thoughts were elsewhere. Thoughts on the hours before. Thoughts on the state basketball championship she had cheated to win. In Alaina’s defense it wasn’t entirely her fault, the natural gift she had been born with was nothing more than remarkable and Alaina had tried her damndest to keep that one big secret hidden for her entire high school run. It was a shame that the truth of her athleticism be revealed without her consent. Or had she allowed herself to use her ability? Alaina looked up from her sneakers and rubbed her sore eyes.

“Why me?” Alaina let out a weary sigh. The sweat on her skin had already dried and she felt more than disgusting. Rising from the bench she peeled her black and gold jersey away from her skin and headed for the showers that were still running from her last teammate. 

                Alaina kicked her shoes off once she reached the shower. Her socks were damp from sweat and seeping shower water. Alaina reached down to take the waterlogged tubes off her feet when she saw a man’s reflection staring at her in the sheen of the soaked tiles. Faster than she thought capable of, Alaina was facing the man, jersey covering her bra and legs set to run.

“Get the fuck out you creep!” Alaina’s voice cracked with fright.

                The man was dressed in a fine black jacket with a tailored mandarin collar. What would pass as a common man’s  face showed no signs of surprise or shame at seeing Alaina half naked. Alaina was immediately frightened more by the man’s lack of stoicism rather than his presence in a teenage girls’ locker room.

“You’ve been in this locker room alone for nearly forty-five minutes. I never thought you’d come out.” His voice was equally as plain as his features.

“What do you want?”

                Alaina thought she saw a smirk on the man’s face. “You know, you’re very hard on yourself Alaina Rawlins.”

“How do you know my name?” Alaina began stepping away from the shower and into an adjacent aisle of the locker room. She remembered the nearest door out of the locker room was not too far from the showers. It was also a heavy door Alaina recalled for some odd reason.

“Your name is on the roster card.” The man held up a roster given to all spectators at basketball games.

                Alaina didn’t want to stick around to see what this guy wanted or why he had stalked her into the girls’ locker room. She was poised to run backwards as fast as she could. A common exercise for basketball players before a game, running backwards. But what if she was caught? Alaina sized the man up, he was nothing extraordinary. They were actually about the same height at five-eleven. Alaina was sure she had more strength training the weeks leading up to the state championship than any other person in the state of Indiana. That didn’t mean she wanted to test that training. Yet something made her pause in quiet thought at what the man had said.

                You’re very hard on yourself Alaina Rawlins.

“What do you know about me?” Alaina hadn’t stopped treading backwards.

                The man made no attempt to follow her and still stood by the shower watching her back away, his arms were now folded behind his back and he looked as passable as any other man Alaina would’ve encountered on any given day.

“I know that you’re a smart girl Alaina Rawlins, that you’re gifted.”

                Alaina let out a gasp. She had reassured herself that no one caught onto her gift during the championship or that maybe the audience all thought she was just lucky. Alaina shook her head and thought for a second longer, being lucky in the world she lived in meant something more. Something Alaina didn’t want to acknowledge.

“Get away from me.” Alaina turned and ran. She heard the man’s shoes running down the aisle after her but Alaina was at the door leading out of the locker room just as the man closed in. With a turn learned from extensive defensive basketball training Alaina flung the heavy door shut behind her like a side pass and the resounding smack it made against the man’s body gave Alaina a burst of speed.

                A thousand new thoughts danced inside of Alaina’s mind as she ran down the now darkened corridors of her high school. Glass trophy cases destined to hold that night’s award jeered at her as her reflection danced off their surfaces. Who was that man in the locker room? Where was she running? Alaina couldn’t process both thoughts at once and by the time she slowed her sprint to a jog and finally a slow, quiet walk Alaina was stricken by fear again. The man would be following her. Alaina knew who he was and who he worked for. She even knew why he had come to Indiana, to her specifically.

                Alaina Rawlins was a fourth generation Evolved and he was an agent of the Union Empire sent to bring her into Union custody where her Evolved gift would be determined as an asset or unusable by the global government. Either way, Alaina felt she was a fugitive now.

                The story of the Evolved goes far beyond Alaina. It had been written into the history books and had changed the very way the world worked within only a few years. People were given powers, or gifts as Alaina called them. It was supposed to be a natural process, part of human evolution but not everyone was capable of undergoing such changes and a predominant amount of humans remained sterile to the evolutionary process. Superhero fever spread across the world. Geniuses created advanced weapons and enhancements to allow those who did not evolve into super-humans. The dramatic change in history even brought about great entities known as the Divine and the extraterrestrial Starborn. Yet all eras meet their demise and the fashionable trends fade out of the limelight. With the newfound powers, the myriad superheroes and countless organizations the world needed a solid, substantial paragon to believe in. So with all prejudice and hate aside the Union Empire had to be formed. A leader in global superhero harmonization.

                Or so the story was written. Politics have their ugly sides and the Union Empire fell in step with the figureheads of warring nations, crazed Evolved touting villainous regimes, foreign aliens with hidden agendas and the hubris-ridden intentions of the Divine. The Union Empire began its totalitarian rule only a few years after its installment and the heroes that felt the U.E. was asking for only a militant-superhero reform rebelled. It didn’t end well for either side. Those superheroes who rebelled became outcast by the Union Empire’s nations and other branches spread through the globe. While the U.E. was respected through fear and intimidation. The superheroes under the U.E. were reformed villains or self-serving superheroes feeding off the wealthy government. There were even some stalwart patriots of the Union Empire like the Steel Giant and Alpha Female who were the poster children of the Union Empire’s superhero taskforces.

                And for the last ten years, Evolved were hunted down like criminals by the agents of the Union Empire. The Evolved were tested, recruited and some say even brainwashed to join the U.E..

                Alaina didn’t want to find out what actually happened to the Evolved taken into U.E. custody and she hurried her walk back into a sprint as she headed for the back exit of her high school. She hadn’t noticed the man following her. Maybe the slamming door had knocked the agent unconscious. Alaina felt she could only be so lucky.

                A winter chill swept around Alaina as she exited the school building. The lights in the back parking lot were a dull orange color that burned several large shadows across the vacant lot. Her own vehicle was in front of the high school and she’d have to walk around the entire building where it was more likely that the U.E. agent was going to be waiting. Alaina kept low to the grass just in case the agent was watching her from inside the many-windowed building of her school. She didn’t like the way his features seemed to slip away from her so soon. It was as if Alaina had seen the man years ago she couldn’t even remember what he was wearing.

                Behind the back parking lot were the soccer fields and beyond those, a street lined with small ranch houses where a predominately elderly people took up residence. Alaina hated that her cell phone was back in the locker room and she couldn’t call for help. Not that her father would’ve answered. He had been working a double and missed her biggest game ever and his hour commute to work wouldn’t have given Alaina much comfort anyway. Who would she call? The police were practically useless anymore with all the superheroes running around under U.E. jurisdiction. The police were used for everyday disturbances while bigger issues like grand-theft and murder were undertaken by members of the U.E.. Alaina wouldn’t be surprised if the police ended up turning her over to the U.E. since they were the ones signing the paychecks. In her gifted situation, no one was safe to trust.

                Halfway across the soccer field Alaina heard the whipping air behind her. At first she felt like running and then she knew it’d be useless as the large hovercraft rose from the roof of the high school speeding straight towards her. A large orb shaped light hanging from the front of the heavily armored hovercraft beamed down into the soccer field and danced around Alaina daring her to escape. It made her feel like a villain, like the one in the newspaper she had read about a few months back. Haywire was what he called himself and his powers of technopathy had nearly turned a large software firm into a virus cloning facility. Although he had been apprehended by the midwest task force called the All-Stars it had taken them nearly three days to storm the fortress of rabid computers and traps Haywire had created. Alaina was no villain that much she knew, she was gifted.

“ANY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE INTERCEPTION.” The human voice behind the loudspeaker made Alaina remember that even inside the metal hull of the hovercraft there was a living human being. Maybe he was Evolved or something more. Alaina had no plan to find out.

“SHE’S RUNNING!”  Alaina sped off under the hovercraft as fast as she could. The man on the loudspeaker had forgotten to cut off his link with the microphone and Alaina could hear him arguing with his copilot on how to catch her. Alaina was almost to the bleachers when she heard one of the pilots shout something that sounded like- spiders?

                There was a loud ka-thoom as the hovercraft turned about and fired something at Alaina. She ducked uncannily to the side just as a thick spinning rope connected by two rubber balls lashed onto one of the seats of the bleachers and tightened instantly. A spinner. Alaina had heard about the spinners and knew there was no escape from one. She’d just have to evade them until she could get away. Another spinner flew at her and wrapped itself around a large lamppost but Alaina was already rolling away from a third spinner as it came in. The third spinner was flying lower than the other two and Alaina found herself leaping up just in time. She  grabbed the side of the bleachers as the spinner missed her feet and shook the bleachers as it made contact. Alaina climbed up onto the bleachers and took off running nimbly.

                By the time she leaped from the bleachers onto a dumpster and then with a quick vault over a chain link fence two more spinners had missed her. Alaina landed on her hands roughly and felt herself getting dizzy. The hovercraft was slowly coming around the fence trying to get another shot off but Alaina forced herself to run. She was overexerting herself. Never had she used her gift this much. A basketball game was nothing compared to dodging flying spinners.

                The hovercraft didn’t fire another spinner once Alaina broke the tree line behind a small home. The lights inside of the house were all off but a lone bedroom light clicked on as the sound of the hovercraft shook the ranch.

“Help! Hel-” Alaina’s last cry was cut off as a large metal claw closed around her shoulders and waist. She started to shriek but the wind was knocked out of her as the claw lifted her off the ground and swiftly carried her up into the hungry underbelly of the hovercraft above. Kicking and prying at the impending claw Alaina knew she had been caught. It was over for her. The Union Empire would have her gift.