Thursday, April 21, 1988
Diana Carter’s Office
The Simpson Building
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY
It is mid-morning when Diana’s assistant, Jan, enters her office to find her sitting at her desk lost in thought. “You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” Jan giggles.
Diana’s trance is broken as she grins at her assistant. “Who?” she inquires.
“You know who, that guy you went on that date with a couple of weeks ago,” Jan says, placing some papers on the desk in front of Diana. “Your Uncle wanted you to look these over.” “You should give him a call.”
“Uncle Zac?” Diana replies, “I can just stop by his office when I’m done with them.”
“No, that guy, silly,” Jan corrects.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Diana replies, picking up the file Jan has brought. “Besides this is a guy who I can’t be too aggressive with, there is a risk of scaring him off again.”
“So you were thinking about him?” Jan teases.
“I’m sorry I even mentioned that date, you’re as bad as everyone else when it comes to my relationships or lack thereof,” Diana says, not sure of what she is looking at in the new file.
“I may have only known you for a year or so, but you have never been this distracted by anything.” Jan turns to leave the office to give Diana back her privacy.
If only Diana could tell Jan the truth, she was thinking about that warehouse full of military issue guns that she busted up a while back. She hasn’t heard anything about it from anyone. It is almost like it never happened, which smells of cover up to her. She wishes she had gotten the names of those two guys she found there in the shoot out. Maybe they know something, for all she knows they were covered up too. Perhaps it is time Miracle Maiden took a more direct approach with Detective Prussia, see if those guys are okay.
On the other hand maybe this file her Uncle has sent her holds a new lead to the General? To the eye of the ignorant it would look like a page typed by a very bad secretary, but she recognizes a code her father used in many of his questionable dealings with the General. It takes her only a few minutes to decipher the code after months of practice. The name Rutherford is the one new name in the coded file.
Rutherford is the name of the man who bought the Hoffman Warehouse from its previous owner. In the past several weeks she has done some research on the warehouse where she discovered the weapons smuggling ring. Now Diana really regrets not following up on what happened with those two men but she was waiting for the heat to be off before going to Detective Prussia. Problem is she still doesn’t think he would go for a personal visit from Miracle Maiden at the office. She needs to figure out another way to create a hidden relationship between Miracle Maiden and Prussia, there is still something about his new partner Lei she doesn’t trust.
At any rate now that she knows that Rutherford had dealings with Carter Industry she knows that she was on the right track to begin with at the warehouse. That night in Central Park when the General showed up in person with all of those weapons made her think about how he could run such a well armed assault in the city without anyone in the media taking notice. Clearly the weapons used were already in the city.
Detective Sgt. Prussia and Special Agent Lei’s office
New York City Hall
City Hall Park
New York, NY
Special Agent Lei returns from the FBI crime lab with an in depth analysis of the orange matter found at the Hoffman Warehouse. “Well the orange stuff is definitely organic,” Lei tells Detective Sgt. Prussia who sits across from him at his desk. “The closest comparison to it is Horse’s hooves.” “The lab says there are several other compounds in its makeup that they have never seen combined before that cause the color and translucency.” “Some of the shards we found had another organic matter on them.” “It has the basic make up of blood, but its origin is unknown.”
“What do you mean the blood’s origin is unknown?” Prussia questioned reaching over to grab the papers away from his partner. “Possible alien blood source?” he reads aloud from the sheet.
“Could it be from your girl Miracle Maiden?” Lei inquires. After all, we do know she was at the scene too.”
Detective Sgt. Prussia hands the paperwork back. “I don’t think so, those two from Philly didn’t mention anything about Miracle Maiden being injured or bleeding.” “Besides, I’ve had her blood tested before, and didn’t get results like that.” “Strange benign radiation is all.” “No mention of anything like this here.”
“Why haven’t I ever heard about that before?” Agent Lei asks.
“I never put it on record anywhere,” Prussia answers. “Besides who would have believed me?” “Seems to me we need to take another look around that warehouse, see if there are any other signs of alien blood.” “Or a body?”
Agent Lei gets a skeptical expression on his face. “Everything we have dealt with in the past few months and now you make jokes about extraterrestrial life,” Lei says. “What would we even put in a report about it?” “Not only do we have proof that there are freaks of nature living among us but E.T.s as well.” “We could both be in padded rooms by morning!”
Detective Sgt. Prussia gets up from his desk chair with a grimace. “Believe me, I don’t want to write that report anymore than you do, but part of this job is to get a handle on those things that no longer want to stay hidden.” “We have solved nearly fifty open cases by explaining the impossible is possible.” “Everyday we learn more about the hidden world of Zeni-humans.” “World governments have tried to keep hidden for decades.” “Perhaps since the beginning of this country!” “What makes you think aliens would have been treated any differently than Zeni-humans?”
“Keyword, humans,” Lei responds. “Everyone of the cases we solved involved a human being with a birth certificate and parents born on Earth, not in space.” “Illegal immigrants are not treated too well by our government, adding space aliens to the mix will be more than that train can carry.”
“Then we better make sure to take this ride slowly,” Prussia says, holstering his weapon and heading out the door. Agent Lei grabs his overcoat from the rack by the door to hurry after the determined detective.
Hoffman Warehouse Private Storage
575 Riverside Dr
New York, NY 10031
Miracle Maiden phasing through the exterior wall of the warehouse. Inside the building it has been stripped down by the FBI and ATF of all of the crates that were stored in it. With all of the possible evidence of the shoot-out gone, what can she really hope to find, she thinks as the clip clop of her boot heels echo on the open space. Miracle Maiden spies an office room at the back of the building. She holds out little hope that anything has been left behind in the office but it is worth a try.
The office is small and dirty but completely empty just like the rest of the building. Miracle Maiden can only assume that the fresh damage to the floor and walls was done by the men moving out a desk, file cabinets, and other office furniture. Evidence of the General in this place is long gone, she thinks looking around the walls of the office.
It is then that she notices something not quite right. Going back out into the empty warehouse she steps back from the structure that is the free standing office. Using her powers to phase through solid matter, in the past few years, she has become good at judging the dimensions of spaces. The walls on the outside of the office are a farther distance apart than the ones on the inside. Returning to the office, Miracle Maiden is surprised that she is the only one to notice the difference in dimensions of the room. Perhaps with the furniture in the office it was harder to judge its size. It is clear to her that there are three feet missing from the left side of the room.
Walking up to the out of place wall Miracle Maiden leaned to phase her head and shoulders through it. There is a hidden staircase that leads down. This is never a good thing in the guide to secret layers. She has no need to find the hidden door to the stairway as she steps through the wall the rest of the way. Taking a deep breath, Miracle Maiden begins down yet another secret staircase that is beginning to become very cle’sha at this point.
At the bottom of the steps a sensor triggers lights to come on. The small room under the warehouse office is instantly illuminated. The room is no bigger than the office itself. It is also just as empty except for a camera on a tripod that points at the entrance. Miracle Maiden can see a red light on the top of the camera come on soon after the lights. “Hello General, so we meet at last,” she says coolly, making the only assumption that makes sense at the moment. “I don’t know if you’ve heard but I am Miracle Maiden.” “I do assume that you know that I am the one throwing a wrench in your works here in New York.” “I have no plans at stopping until I have brought down everyone of your people in William Carter’s files.” “He was very sloppy at keeping them hidden after his death.” “But I guess you figured that out by now.” “Hope to see you soon,” she finishes with a smile that can be seen even through the distortion of her face.
Heading back up the steps to the office she passes back though the wall to discover Detective Sgt. Prussia. He is startled by the appearance of the ghostly woman. “I was wondering if you would be coming back here,” he says to her. She steps away from the wall and he steps up to it. “What is on the other side of this wall?”
A staircase to a hidden room,” Miracle Maiden replies. “I don’t know where the door is but the room is empty except for a surveillance camera.” “I’m sure you will not be able to trace the feed on it.”
Prussia gives a glare to the mystery woman, “You know more than you are telling.”
“It is best I keep it that way, sorry,” Miracle Maiden tells the detective. “If I was to let you in on what I know, it might be dangerous.”
“For Christ sake woman, I am a Police Detective with twenty years under my belt!” he shouts at her. “Either you trust me or you don’t!”
“It is not you I don’t trust Detective, it is your new partner, Agent Lei,” Miracle Miracle Maiden tells him. “If I were you I would look into what really happened to the guns in this warehouse.” “See if these firearms are in ATF custody at all.”
“That is a very loaded and dangerous statement,” Detective Sgt. Prussia replies.
“Not if it is true,” Miracle Maiden says, glancing through the office window to spot Agent Lei approaching through the warehouse. “But he and whoever he might be in bed with is your problem not mine.” “I have a feeling I will be seeing you again soon.” Then in a swell of light Miracle Maiden vanishes leaving Detective Sgt. Prussia standing alone in the office as Agent Lei enters.
“Was that her, Miracle Maiden?” he gasps out of breath from running across the warehouse floor when he spotted her through the window. “What was she doing here?”
“Same thing as always, stirring up trouble,” Prussia tells his FBI partner.
NYC Law School
Manhattan
New York, NY
By some chance of fate Diana managed to arrive on time at campus for her evening classes. As she walks from the bus station she spots Tommi Bradshaw. Diana knew Tommi from Ensign Academy when she was a small, failed, often bullied teenage boy. In Tommi’s first year of college he began his transition into a female identity. The new Tommi was instantly drawn to Diana when she started at NYC Law because in High School Diana was often a defender of Tommi from the bullying of Scott Archer.
Diana and Tommi share a minor class in psychology on Monday nights. “Hey, Diana,” Tommi calls out when she spots her long time friend. “Got a minute?”
“Sure Tommi, what’s up,” Diana calls back as Tommi jogs over to her. “It isn’t like the Professors here expect me on time,” she jokes with a smile.
“Remember I was telling you about that job interview I had in Philadelphia and you said you have a friend who lives there?” Tommi asks as they walk across campus toward the Law School building.
“Yeah, I remember how excited you were to get it,” Diana replies. “Don’t tell me they filled the job.”
“No, it is nothing like that,” Tommi explains. “It is tomorrow and I really am not comfortable with riding the train alone.” “I was hoping you could go with me.” “Maybe you could call your friend to help us find the place.”
“Yes!” Diana replies without even thinking twice. It gives Diana a reason to call Steve that doesn’t sound as desperate as just calling him for another date so soon.
“Wow, I didn’t expect such an excited response,” Tommi comments as they reach the front door of the Law School.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” Diana says blushing. “I’m just glad I can help you out.”
“I think it is more like you want an excuse to call your ‘friend’ in Philly,” Tommi smiles as she opens the door for Diana. “I’ll see you after class to discuss the details.”
Diana Carter’s Condo
The Simpson Building
Ninth floor
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY
Diana gets home around ten after her classes at NYC Law. Sitting down on the couch next to the phone on the end table in her living room, she is a little nervous about calling Steve. It is rather late and at the last minute, he probably isn’t even home. But she promised Tommi she would give Steve a call to see if he is available. Taking a deep breath Diana picks up the receiver to dial the home number written on the back of the business card Steve gave her months ago. Her heart is pounding in her chest as she listens to the phone ring several times to no answer. Then just as she is about to hang up.
“Hello?” Steve answers the phone. Diana remains silent for a moment choosing her words. “Hello, is there anyone there?”
“Sorry, its Diana, it’s late, I wasn’t sure you were going to answer,” Diana says timidly. “I was about to hang up.”
“Wow, I was just thinking about you,” Steve replies. “Sorry it took so long, my roommate and I have our own phone lines so we keep the phones in our bedrooms.”
“A grown man thinking about me in bed, I don’t know if I should be flattered or grossed out,” Diana giggles.
Steve thinks over his reply, “Flattered, definitely flattered.” “So what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”
“I have a friend, Tommi and she’s got a job interview in Philly tomorrow,” Diana tells him. “She doesn’t want to ride the train alone so she asked me to come along.” “I just wanted to ask if you could meet us to help us find Double Family Furniture.” “Maybe we could get lunch?”
“Yes!” Steve exclaims in excitement. “I mean, I think I can manage that.” Then Steve chuckles on the other end of the phone line, “You realize this would be the second date we have had that involved the Double family.” “The first one being Wayne Double’s wedding and now this.”
“Is Wayne related to the Furniture Company at all?” Diana asks.
“I don’t know but it is still weird,” Steve replies. “So are you coming on the mid-morning train to Suburban Station?”
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you know the train schedule,” Diana giggles. “Yes, that is the train.” Steve and Diana talk about this and that for the next hour until she says, “I guess we should say good night and get some sleep.”
“I hope I can sleep,” Steve says, feeling like he sounds desperate. “I mean I can’t wait to see you.” “That sounds bad.”
“No, it sounds sweet,” she tells him. “I’m eager to see you too.” “Good night.”
“Good night, beautiful,” Steve says as she hangs up the phone wanting to kick himself for that last word.
Friday, April 22, 1988
Diana Carter’s Condo
The Simpson Building
Ninth floor
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY
Like Steve said last night, sleeping was not easy, Diana is rather excited to see him again. She called her Uncle Zac first thing this morning to let him know she wouldn’t be in today until late. She really doesn’t have a clue where to turn next now that she has made it clear to the General that she knows he exists. Maybe this lunch date with Steve is just what she needs.
“Ohhww,” she grumbles as her hand jitters again making her screw up her eyeliner. She feels stupid being so nervous about seeing Steve. It is so unlike her, maybe that is what makes him so special. He just makes her feel so normal. Like all the craziness in her life doesn’t matter. It is like when the two of them are together the rest of the world just goes away.
As she wipes off the bad eyeliner and goes to start over, the phone on her vanity rings. “Shit!” she exclaims as the pencil line goes down her cheek. Glancing at the ringing phone she sees the caller I.D. identifies the caller as a Philadelphia phone number. “Steve?” she says questioning the caller. “Is that you?”
“It’s me,” Steve replies on the other end of the line. “How’d you know?”
“Who else would be calling from a Philadelphia number?” Diana quips, “There is no way it could be anyone else.” “Please don’t tell me you can’t make it this afternoon.”
“I’m not standing you up, don’t worry,” Steve replies disappointed in himself for not guessing she had caller I.D. “I thought we might get lunch while your friend was having her interview.” “Do you have any preferences?.”
“Nothing too fancy, I don’t know how long Tommi’s interview will go even though it sounds more like an audition,” Diana replies. “Why don’t you surprise me, show me the real flavor of Philly.”
“It’s a deal,” Steve says, “I’ll see you around ten-thirty then.”
“I can’t wait,” Diana replies, realizing how silly she sounded as she hung up the phone. Looking in the mirror she says to her reflection, “At this rate I’ll be the only clown in the train station.”
Suburban Station
16th St. & JFK Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA
It is a warm spring day as Diana and Tommi step off the train at Suburban Station. “Where did your friend say he would meet us?” Tommi questions.
“Not to worry he always finds me,” Diana says, spotting the tall young man dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt that looks a size too small. “There he is in the black t-shirt.”
“Damn girl, you didn’t say he was smoking hot!” Tommi says giving Diana a nudge. “I would have never guessed you were into the body builder type.”
“I never really thought of him as a body builder type,” Diana says blushing. “He usually doesn’t dress that way.” Then again that night at the club his shirt was tight like that too, Diana thinks to herself.
“Well if I thought he would go for me, I would worship that body!” Tommi replies.
“Tommi, your testosterone is showing, now shut up,” Diana says as Steve approaches them. Diana gives Steve a hug around his neck. “Is this some new macho look you are trying out?” she asks.
“Yeah sorry about this, it’s been a long week and I haven’t had time to do any laundry,” Steve explains. “The only clean shirt I could find was my roommate’s.”
“I think you look great!” Tommi says, stepping forward to shake Steve’s hand. “I’m Tommi.”
“Right,” Steve says, shaking the young woman’s large hand. “As it turns out Double Furniture is about five blocks from here, it will be quicker to walk than drive.”
As the trio begin to walk Tommi asks, “So how did you two meet?” “At a gym?”
“Not likely,” Diana laughs. “I hate going to the gym.”
“We met at Summer Camp when we were fifteen,” Steve explains. “We only recently crossed paths again.”
“Oh that was before Diana met me in High School, she was seventeen then,” Tommi explains.
“So you know Tracey then,” Steve quizzes.
“Not very well, I really didn’t hang out with anyone in High School,” Tommi tells Steve. “Diana was more like my hero, than a friend back then.”
“Hero, don’t be ridiculous, I could never be anyone’s hero,” Diana argues, feeling self conscious and fearing a comparison to Miracle Maiden. “You just had a hard time and I helped you out is all.” “We had a common enemy in Scott Archer.”
“Wait a minute, wasn’t Scott Archer your Prom date who you told me you broke his arm?” Steve questions stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
“I knew that wasn’t an accident!” Tommi shouts pointing at Diana. “See you were my Hero!” “I felt so betrayed when you went to the Prom with him!” “But afterward I always thought you had something to do with what happened!” “His story about getting beat up by another scholl always sounded like bullshit to me!”
“He was a jerk, he got what he deserved!” Diana says, “Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Well here we are,” Steve announces as they stand at the front of Double Family Furniture Company.
the Double Family Furniture Company
1401 S 16th St
Philadelphia, Pa
“It’s funny I’ve lived in the city for a couple of years now and there are always new gems to be found,” Steve says as they look in the showroom window of the family business. “Tommi, how did you learn about the job?”
“I go to NYC with Diana three nights a week, but I also go to a Tech School two nights,” Tommi explains. “There was a job posting at the Tech School so I gave them a call.” “I’ll be graduating soon and need to find a job.”
“Have you always been interested in building furniture?” Steve quizzes.
“It’s a carry over from my previous life, something I used to do with my Dad,” Tommi says. “I don’t have my Dad any more but I still enjoy it.”
“Sorry about your loss,” Steve says as he catches Diana shaking her head no.
“I’m not!” Tommi says stepping up to the door to the store.
The couple follow in behind her. “What was that about?” Steve asks Diana.
“I’ll tell you later,” Diana says. The couple watch as Tommi explains to the girl at the counter why she is here. Then they begin to look around the store at the hand made tables and chairs. There are a few wooden floor lamps and table models. “I really like the design of this one,” Diana commented on a table lamp that is carved from maple wood in the shape of a twisted vase of sorts.
“I’d say it would look great in your place but I realize I have never seen the inside of your actual condo,” Steve says looking at the lamp. “Never got past the lobby.”
“Maybe we can change that next time you are in New York,” Diana blushes. “That is if you promise not to fall asleep on my couch.” Steve isn’t sure what Diana is suggesting so he just smiles. Then Diana suddenly realizes how what she said must have sounded. Blushing again, “I wasn’t suggesting that you could….”
“I know it’s fine,” Steve grins.
Tommi walks back over to them with the girl from the counter. “This is Phoebe Double, she would like to know if you would like to take a tour?” she tells them.
Diana looks to Steve who shrugs his broad shoulders. “That really isn’t necessary,” Diana says. “We can just come back when your interview is done.”
“It is no problem at all,” Phoebe Double says smiling, taking Diana by the arm. “It would be my pleasure, after all you came all this way with Tommi, you might as well get the grand tour.”
Diana feels uncomfortable by the young woman’s familiarity at first but when she looks at Steve and he replies, “Okay, that would be fine.” “We will follow you Miss Double, lead the way.” Phoebe releases Diana’s arm and leads the trio though the store to a door at the back of the showroom.
Steve had gotten a strange vibe from Phoebe Double the moment she touched Diana. When the hostess released Diana’s arm the unsettling feeling vanished as quickly as it came. “Are you all right?” Steve whispers, putting his arm around Diana’s back as they walk.
“Fine, she just caught me off guard,” Diana replies in the same hushed tone.
“From the look in your eyes, I thought you were going to give her a karate flip or something across the room,” Steve explains.
“That wouldn’t have really been a help to Tommi,” Diana giggles. “I do know how to defend myself, but I still have a little self control.”
Once through the door into the factory Phoebe introduces them to her father William and twin brother Philip. “So Mr. Double, I have a friend with your same unusual late name, Wayne.” “He works on Wall Street, is he related?”
“No, I’m sorry to say, I could always use some good investment advice.” Mr. Double smiles. The tour is rather informative to the novice wood workers, but Tommi is very impressed with the factory. She even asks some challenging questions of the family of owners. William and Philip Double are clearly impressed with Tommi’s ideas and suggestions. The tour takes about fifteen minutes. After that Mr. Double tells Steve and Diana that Tommi’s audition will take about two hours, giving them plenty of time together for lunch.
Pat’s King of Steaks
1237 E Passyunk Ave
Philadelphia, PA
Steve takes Diana to a Philly staple, Pat’s steaks for lunch. He orders their food remembering Diana’s likes and dislikes from Camp Tandy. It is something that more than impresses her when he returns with their lunch. “So what is the story with Tommi and her Dad?” Steve asks as they sit down at a picnic bench.
“I guess Tommi wouldn’t mind if I told you,” Diana begins. “Tommi is transsexual, when I knew her in High School she was a timid confused boy.” “Something that made her the perfect target for that asshole Scott Archer.” Diana looks up to Steve to apologize. “Sorry about the language but he was an asshole!”
“Not a problem, I knew the type too,” Steve grins unwrapping his sandwich. “So I assume her father was not happy with losing his son and gaining a daughter?”
“I don’t think Tommi’s father was ever happy with anything she did but that was the final straw,” Diana explains while taking a bite of her sandwich. “Hey this is really good!” she says, finishing the bite in her mouth.
Steve breathes a sigh of relief. “I was afraid you might say you were on a diet and couldn’t eat it.”
Diana laughs to herself as she wipes the cheese whiz from the corner of her mouth. Steve has no idea that dieting is something that is not necessary when you are in full control of every cell in your body. She could eat as much as she wanted or as little and never gain or lose an ounce of weight. “Never been much of a dieter, my metabolism is phenomenal.” “What about you aren’t you on a strict regimen of protein shakes and supplements?”
Steve isn’t sure how to respond. People often assume he is some kind of bodybuilder, but rarely does anyone ask about it. “It’s my day off,” he finally says. “I’m going to have to run ten extra miles tomorrow.”
“How many miles do you usually run?” she asks, stumping him again.
“I don’t know about fifteen, yeah fifteen,” he guesses out loud. Taking another bite of his steak a large blob of cheese drips down into the middle of his chest.
“Sounds like you have a pretty incredible metabolism too,” Diana suggests. She watches as he continues to eat completely unaware of the blob of cheese. “Looks like you are going to have to get that laundry done now for sure that you messed up your roomie’s shirt.
Steve looks down at the shirt as he grabs for more napkins, “Shit, Paddy is going to kill me, he always complains I stretch his shirts out.”
“Looks to me like he is right,” Diana comments as Steve manages to smear the cheese into a stain double the size. “How did you meet Patty?”
He was my training officer when I joined the force,” Steve explains, trying to make the best of his mess. “It’s Paddy, short for Patrick, no Ts.” I was in a bad place when we first met, his wife had just passed away and he needed a friend.” “I kind of conjolded him into letting me be that friend.” “When my parents retired to Florida I talked him into be roommate.” “At first he wasn’t keen on the idea, but it has been close to two years now and he actually thanked me for getting him out of the rut he was in.”
“You really are an amazing guy, Steve Roberts,” Diana says, making him blush. “You are good at ruining a shirt too.” “Give up on saving that shirt, let’s just buy a new one.”
“I think you are right about the shirt,” Steve signs, tossing the sticky napkins on the table to go back to eating his sandwich.
Columbus Park
1100 Wharton St
Philadelphia, PA
After stopping to buy two shirts, one to replace Paddy’s shirt and one for Steve to wear the rest of the day, Steve and Diana walk through the park on the way back to meet Tommi. It is a beautiful spring day as Steve reaches out his hand and Diana eagerly takes it. The couple stroll on holding hands. It’s a school day and there are no children in the playground. “I used to love the swings,” Diana says. “I always imagined it was the closest I could get to flying.
“You fantasized about flying as a kid?” Steve asks.
“Sure doesn’t everyone?” Diana replies. “I still do, I loved Superman 2!”
Steve has a twinkle in his eye when he begins to pull her toward the playground. “Come on then, let’s fly.” Each of them takes a swing and begins to race to see who can go the highest. It is a tight competition until Steve feels as if he is about to go 360 around the frame. Bringing himself to a stop he watches as Diana goes even closer to rounding the pole than he did. Then to his shock she jumps off the swing jettisoning herself almost fifteen feet into the grass. “Holy Shit!” he shouts as he jumps off the swing set to run to where she has landed.
When he reaches her she rolls over onto the grass giggling, “That was fun!” “Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough careless fun like that anymore.”
Steve kneels down beside her, still surprised that she isn’t hurt. “Shit!” he says again. “I can’t believe you did that!” “You could have broken your leg!” “Are you Okay?”
Diana continues to giggle, “I was queen of the long jump on my High School Track team.” “Looks like I still got it.”
Relieved Steve lays down next to her in the grass. “Then it finally makes sense,” he says.
“What?” Diana questions.
“How you out ran me that day at Camp Tandy,” Steve answers. “I racked my brain for years trying to figure it out.”
“What a girl can’t run faster than a boy?” she comments, turning her head to look at him.
“I had a little bit of an inflated ego back then,” Steve chuckles. “I’ve come down a few notches since then.”
“You got away from me that day I kissed you,” Diana comments.
“Yeah, there was that too.” Steve reaches out his lips to kiss hers. He moves his arm under Diana’s neck as they lay back in the grass to look up at the clouds in the sky.
Diana rolls onto her side to lay her arm across Steve’s chest. She is rather impressed with the firmness of his psychic. She can’t believe how excited she got when he changed his shirt in front of her outside the store. His nipple perks up as her hand grazes across his chest. She closes her eyes to listen to his heart beat for a moment as she takes in the fragrance of his Old Spice and Irish Spring.
“This is great,” Steve whispers. “You aren’t falling asleep on me, are you?” Steve says jarring Diana from her daydream.
Diana opens her eyes to see her cheek is still pressed against Steve’s chest and his pants are unopened, even though she swears she can see the outline of his penis. Sitting straight up feeling embarrassed and self conscious she says, “We should be heading back.”
“I guess you are right,” Steve replies, sitting up next to her.
Diana looks away down the path for a moment giving him time to adjust what is going on in his jeans. For a split second she thinks she spots a familiar face at the edge of the playground. She turns back to Steve to ask, “Look over there, isn’t that?” “No, that is silly, it couldn’t be.”
Steve scans the path and the surrounding area to see only couples and young mothers pushing strollers. “I don’t see anyone,” he replies standing up. “Who did you think you saw?”
“No one, forget about it,” Diana says as Steve reaches out his hand to help her up. “I must just be paranoid.”
As they begin to walk Diana asks, “Just out of curiosity, what color underwear do you have on?”
“What a strange question, why do you ask?” Steve replies in surprise. “White.” “No clean laundry, remember?” “I’m at the back of the drawer.” “All the colors are gone.”
“Oh, its nothing, a friend told me once, you can tell a man’s objective by the color underwear he wears on a date,” Diana explains.
“Let me guess, Tracey?” Steve grins. “Tell her I was wearing red crotchless underwear.” He laughs, “With chaps!”
“That is so gross!” Diana laughs. “Not at all sexy!” “But if she knew I was seeing you it would make her crazy.”
“Still ashamed of me, huh?” Steve jokes.
“I just hate telling her, she is right is all,” Diana tells him.
“Right about what?” Steve questions.
“How great it is to have a man in my life,” she says blushing.
“Great huh?” Steve smiles. “So now I am the man in your life?”
“Only if you want to be,” Diana says coyly.
“I feel great when I am with you too,” Steve confesses. “You make me want to take you flying for real.”
the Double Family Furniture Company
1401 S 16th St
Philadelphia, Pa
When Steve and Diana arrive back at the factory Tommi is waiting on a bench on the sidewalk eating a hot dog from a nearby cart. “So how did it go?” Diana asks to let go of Steve’s hand as they approach. Tommi doesn’t reply, just shrugs her shoulders. “Oh Tommi, I know how excited you were about this job.”
“In the end it is just a job,” Tommi says, not at all sounding like herself. “Moving to Philly was a big step to take anyway.” “I’m ready to just go home to let what happens, happen.”
The mood is brought down a bit by Tommi’s situation. Diana takes Steve aside to say good-bye. “I had a great time today.” “We should do it again soon.”
“Sounds like a great idea to me,” Steve says leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll give you a call the first time I get a chance.” “Things have been rather busy for me lately.”
“I know the feeling, I have a pile of stuff to deal with at home,” Diana tells him with an impromptu hug. “Till next we meet, then.”
“Till next we meet,” Steve repeats, letting go of her even though he doesn’t want to.
Suburban Station
16th St. & JFK Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA
Tommi and Diana quietly take their seats on the train. It is clear to Diana that Tommi is in no mood to talk. As the train leaves the Philadelphia City limits headed north Diana glances over at her friend to see that she has a fresh bandage on her arm. “What happened there?” Diana asks, gesturing to the bandage.
“It is just a scratch, no big deal,” Tommi replies in an irated tone.
“I feel like more happened at that interview than just a scratch,” Diana comments.
“You should talk,” Tommi says before asking, “Why do you hold back so much?”
“What do you mean?” Diana replies. “What are you asking, when do I hold back?”
“With that man?” Tommi replies. “You have such a strong desire and passionate feelings for him but all you give him is a kiss on the cheek good-bye.” “The two of you should have been fucking in a motel room this afternoon not eating lunch!”
“Oh my God Tommi!” Diana exclaims. “Why would you say that?” “Steve and I are just good friends, we do not have that kind of relationship.”
“But you wish you had that kind of relationship,” Tommi responds. “Believe me, once I have my bottom surgery I will be screwing every man I can!”
“Tommi, what has gotten into you?” Diana asks in shock. “I’ve never heard you talk this way before.”
“Maybe it is time I did,” Tommi asserts. “I’m sick of being the bullied little boy or the ignored Trans-girl!” “And you should be sick of being the cock tease that you have always been since High School!” “No man or woman needs to ever be treated that way!”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Diana apologizes. “I really don’t think that is what I am doing with Steve.”
“What about Scott Archer?” Tommi charges. “You tricked him into asking you to the Prom.”
“That was different, that was payback for what he did to Tracey,” Diana defends.
“If that is what you want to believe, fine.” Tommi says falling silent for the rest of the train ride home.
Diana can’t help but to wonder what happened at that audition at the furniture factory that has caused such a drastic change in her friend’s attitude. It scares her to think that Tommi might be right. In some ways she is leading Steve on. Even though she does have fantasies about him she knows that she can never really risk having sex with him. Even Shanna warned her that if she couldn’t fully control her powers she could possibly hurt someone. Diana couldn’t live with herself if that someone was Steve.
The rest of the ride home to New York is quiet as Diana thinks about what Tommi has said to her, almost feeling guilty. When the train crosses over the bridge into the city Diana turns to notice that Tommi is sweating rather profusely. “Are you feeling okay?” she asks. Tommi shrugs Diana off as the train pulls into the station, jumping up from her seat.
Pennsylvania Station
4 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY
As the train comes to a stop Tommi pushes her way through the people in the train car. Diana is still in her seat as she watches her friend leave her behind. Climbing down from the train, Tommi stumbles and falls onto the platform.
Watching out the window on the train Diana sees Tommi fall and the conductor rush to help. It takes only a moment as a blast of energy comes off Tommi to send the conductor hurtling back onto the side of the train. Then a second and third person are sent sailing away from Diana’s fallen friend.
I knew something was wrong with her! Diana thinks as she steps forward to phase through the side of the train. It is Miracle Maiden that emerges out the side of the train onto the platform. “Just calm down Miss, everything is fine,” Miracle Maiden says, clearing the people away from around Tommi, who stands back up on her own.
Tommi’s face is crinkled in an angry grimace. “Nothing is ever going to be fine again!” she shouts. The appearance of Miracle Maiden has made it clear to most of the people on the train platform to clear out of the area. All of Tommi’s attention is now focused on the red and yellow garbed woman. “It is time everyone paid for the way I have been treated my whole life!” “I can feel what everyone here is feeling at the sight of me!” “Even you, hero!”
It is a shimmer of green in Tommi’s brown eyes that Miracle Maiden sees seconds before a surge of force comes at her. Solidifying her body she is an almost immovable pillar on the concrete platform as the mental blast hits her body. Miracle Maiden’s boots slide only a few inches leaving black rubber marks on the pavement. “Tommi you need to calm down, get control of yourself,” Miracle Maiden suggests, unwittingly using her friend’s name.
The raging young woman glares at Miracle Maiden. “I know you, I have felt you before now,” she replies. “You should know poor little Tommi Bradshaw doesn’t need your protection anymore!” “For the first time in my life I know who and what I am!” “I am Androgyny!” “And the world will fear me!” With that statement Androgyny swings her arms out in front of her as if to stir the air. A green fog flows from her body. The sweet smelling gas hits Miracle Maiden first and then encompasses everyone else on the train platform.
Miracle Maiden backs away from her friend who is now calling herself Androgyny. She suddenly feels an irrational fear. Miracle Maiden looks down at her clothing then around at the other people on the platform. What is she doing here dressed like this? she suddenly thinks. Can these other people see her in this ridiculous costume? She has to get out of here! She has to hide! The fear takes complete hold of Miracle Maiden as she begins to run, pushing her way past the other people who are dealing with their other phobias that have been multiplied by three.
Miracle Maiden runs for twenty blocks through the city drawing the attention of everyone from people on their way home from work to tourists that snap photos of her and a News crew on a hunt for a story. When she finally comes to her senses again she is only a few blocks from her condo. Miracle Maiden is covered in sweat and not completely sure why she was even running.
“Miracle Maiden, Miracle Maiden, what are you running from?” A news reporter with a microphone that he shoves in her face asks. “Or are you just out for a jog?”
“That is a very good question,” Miracle Maiden replies. The next instant she is gone as she teleports back to the train station. When she arrives Androgyny is gone, leaving in her wake chaos. Not all of the people affected by her friend’s new power were affected as benignly as she. There are police on the scene trying to help people who have injured themselves or others when overcome by the irrational fears Androgyny released on them. Miracle Maiden can not believe how dangerous a few minutes of unbridled fear can be in a public place.
Nor can Miracle Maiden imagine what happened to the shy kid she knew from High School to cause this transformation into Androgyny. Tommi never showed any signs of Zeni-human power in the past, but then again she kept her powers hidden for a very long time too. Something was different about Tommi from the moment she and Steve returned to the Furniture Factory. Whatever changed her happened there! Miracle Maiden hears the shouts of a policeman nearby. The office deals with a man laying on the concrete in a pool of blood.
Hurrying over to help Miracle Maiden can see the man’s throat has been slit. There is no telling if he did it himself or if it was someone else. “Step back, let me help,” Miracle Maiden says, moving the officer aside to get better access to the wounded man. She places her hands over the deep slash on the man’s neck. Miracle Maiden’s hands glow with her healing power that quickly slows the bleeding.
“That is a miracle!” the officer exclaims as the man on the pavement’s neck heals completely closed. “You need to help the old man next, the conductor is in bad shape.” Miracle Maiden wiped the blood from her hand onto the healed man’s shirt as his eyes slowly opened. Then the officer takes her to the conductor who lays at the edge of the platform against the train.
Miracle Maiden bends down to examine the conductor. It is clear to her that his neck is broken, just the same she checks for a pulse. “I’m sorry, but this man is already dead,” she tells the officers standing around her.
“But can’t you work a miracle like you did for that other guy?” the officer asks. “Can’t you bring him back?”
“I’m sorry, I can only speed healing, not bring someone back from the dead,” Miracle Maiden tells him sadly. “It is too late, there is nothing I can do for him.” “The best I can do is find the person responsible for all of this.” The policemen standing around Miracle Maiden believe she means Androgyny, but in her mind she is referring to the people who gave Tommi this terrible power. “Until then I will gladly help anyone else here I can.”
When the EMTs arrive it takes about a half an hour to get everyone the help they need before Miracle Maiden can leave. This is the first time she has worked so closely with the people of New York City. The real heroes; the policemen, the EMTs and just regular people who are willing to give their time in a crisis situation. It makes her feel good to be a part of it. Perhaps helping people the way Master Warrior does is more than just being a Showboat. Most of the people Miracle Maiden has healed are still making a trip to the hospital. It is something that she agrees is for the best. She can never be sure if she has healed all of their injuries or just the ones she can see.
When everything seems to be well in hand, Miracle Maiden slips away looking for any trail left by Androgyny. Unfortunately she does not find a clue. Walking away down the street away from the train station Miracle Maiden slips down a side street to transform back into her street clothes. She continues to analyze the things that Tommi was saying. She really wasn’t Tommi anymore, the hatred and anger that she was spewing as Androgyny was nothing like the person Diana knew. Diana knew something bad happened between Tommi and her father. It was an unspoken connection Diana felt between them.
The Simpson Building
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY
As Diana rides back to her apartment in the elevator she realizes that her own father was the focus of her ire when she returned home. Perhaps with the new powers Androgyny has plans for her estranged father as well. Diana stops at the fifth floor to go to her office at Carter Industries rather than home.
Arriving in her outer office her assistant Jan sits at her desk going over some papers. “Oh Diana, I didn’t expect you today,” Jan says at the surprise of the arrival of her boss.
“Jan I need you to find the home number of a Joseph Bradshaw in Queens,” Diana tells her assistant crossing the outer office to her own. Heading straight for her desk she drops her purse strap over the back of her chair as she reaches for the phone. The number she dials is answered by a machine. “It’s Diana Carter, I’m calling with information about what happened at Pennsylvania Station this afternoon.” “I believe you need to check on Joseph Bradshaw in Queens, I’m not sure the address.” “I’m going to try and contact him now.” Diana hangs up the phone as she looks up to see Jan enter the office. “Did you find the number?”
“There are four Joseph Bradshaw in Queens, can you narrow it down more?” Jan replies, crossing toward the desk.
“Did you get addresses too?” Diana asks, reaching for the sheet of paper in her assistant’s hand. Diana looks over the sheet at the four addresses. She remembered that Tommi used to walk to Ensign Academy. Her eyes are instantly drawn to the address closest to the school hoping that Tommi’s father hasn’t moved since then. Diana quickly dials the number next to the address.
“Diana what is going on, you look worried,” Jan asks, seeing the frustration on Diana’s face as she hears the buzz tone on the phone.
Hanging up the phone Diana clutches the sheet of paper as she grabs for her purse on the back of the chair, “I need to head over to this place.” “You should go home to be safe,” Diana instructs. “If you see my friend Tommi, avoid her, she is dangerous!” Diana rushes from the office back toward the elevator.
“Diana what is going on?” Jan calls after her hurried boss.
“Just do as I say, go home!” Diana calls back as the elevator door closes. The moment the door is sealed Diana Carter vanishes in a burst of light.
The home of Joseph Bradshaw
Bay Terrace
Queens, NY
Miracle Maiden appears in a burst of light inside the front door of the modest four bedroom home. “Hello,” the heroine calls out into the large living room. The room is slightly disheveled, but nothing that would indicate a struggle. She steps farther into the house to hear the sound of the buzzing phone that draws her attention to the side of the sofa. There on the floor she finds the phone laying unhooked. “Hello, Mr. Bradshaw,” Miracle Maiden calls out as she returns the phone receiver to the base and to the table next to the sofa. “Mr. Bradshaw, are you home?”
Miracle Maiden steps around the furniture toward the dining room. The open floor plan of the house has a large marble topped peninsula that separates the kitchen from the dining room at the back of the house. As she moves closer, the thing that first catches her eye is the empty knife block that is spilled over on the marble counter. There is no sign of any knives anywhere as she scans the disheveled home.
Instantly Miracle Maiden makes her body as hard as stone to fend off any possible knife attack. Then stepping around the counter into the kitchen she discovers that she has no need to fear a knife attack. It is a horrific sight that she can’t bear to look at for more than a few seconds to acknowledge what she is seeing. Turning back to the dining room Miracle Maiden almost gags at the sight she has witnessed. Every knife in the house must be plunged into that poor man on the kitchen floor.
All of the blood, all of the wounds to his body, there is nothing she can do to help him. There is no question that Androgyny has been here or that the man on the kitchen floor was Joseph Bradshaw. Androgyny has gone too far to be saved now, whatever happened to Tommi in Philadelphia there is no question to Miracle Maiden that her friend is gone now.
Then there is a knock at the front door followed by the ringing of the bell. “NYPD,” Detective Prussia’s voice calls through the door. “We’ve gotten a wellness call.” She walks to the door knowing that Prussia will not be at all happy to see Miracle Maiden there. So, it is Diana Carter that opens the door. “Ms Carter, what is this all about,” the annoyed police detective says when he sees her face.
Diana explains to Prussia everything she knows about Joseph and Tommi Bradshaw while they wait for a forensic team to arrive. She even tells the detective of her suspicion that something happened to Tommi at the Double Family Furniture Company to change Tommi. Detective Prussia is either not impressed by Diana’s suspicions or doesn’t care. “So this Androgyny persona your friend has taken on, is there anyone else that might be on a hit list?”
The events of the day have taken more of a toll than she realized. She hadn’t given any thought to who Androgyny might go after next. There is only one name that comes to mind after Tommi’s father, Scott Archer. But Diana knows from that reporter that Scott Archer has been missing for years. She looks to Detective Prussia who glares at her as he often does when she is about to withhold information. Even knowing her own history with Archer, she knows she has to tell him the truth for once.
“Tommi was bullied in High School by a football player, Scott Archer,” Diana tells the Detective who quickly writes the name in his notebook. “I should tell you, I also had some problems with him back then too.”
“Is there anything else I should know about this Scott Archer?” Detective Prussia questions with intent.
“I haven’t given Scott Archer a thought since I left for college,” Diana informs him, holding back the information she learned from that report, Martin Harper.
The New York Bulletin
4501 Rockefeller Center
New York City, NY
Using up most of her teleportation energy Miracle Maiden arrives at the Newspaper office expecting it to be mostly deserted for the day. She never considered that the news cycle in the city is 24-7. Finding Martin Harper’s cubical is not going to be an easy task with people still milling around the office. Then by dumb-luck the reporter she is looking for steps out of the elevator into the fourth floor lobby where she stands alone.
He nearly drops his takeout dinner and coffee at the sight of her. “Have you finally come to make me famous like Pete Stapleton over in Philly?” he asks in a monotone.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Miracle Maiden replies. “I need some information I know you have.” “I believe that Doris Archer is in danger and I need to get to her A.S.A.P.”
“How do I know that you’re not the one who is a danger to Mrs. Archer?” Martin Harper replies.
“Because I am not the one who caused chaos at Penn Station this afternoon, I am the one who helped clean it up,” Miracle Maiden explains.
“Wait a minute, you were there?” Harper exclaims. “Come with me.” Miracle Maiden tentatively follows the reporter into the newsroom where plenty of people are still hard at work. It goes without saying that Harper’s guess draws the attention of many of them as she follows him to his cubicle. He sits his dinner and coffee off to the side of his computer terminal. “There is no mention of you, only this woman!” Harper says pulling a black and white sketch from under a pile of papers. “The police released the sketch but not much else.” “Labeled her a terrorist who released a drugged gas or something.”
“That is not at all what happened,” Miracle Maiden reveals. “Androgyny is a Zeni-human who can tap into people’s worst fears and make them lose control.” “She even affected me, now she is out for revenge on everyone who ever bullied her.” “She has already murdered her father and I fear that she will be looking for Scott Archer next.”
“Then she has no other choice than to find his mother,” Martin Harper suggests.
“Yes, that is why I need to find Doris Archer first to protect her from Androgyny,” Miracle Maiden pleads.
“Thing is, Doris Archer has been missing since last February,” Martin reveals. “And her second husband was murdered, the same night she disappeared.” “The local police wouldn’t admit to it but I believe the damage to the house could have only been caused by a Zeni-human.” Harper then turns away from Miracle Maiden to unlock a desk drawer. “Since I now have your attention, perhaps you can tell me about this,” he says, handing her a small ring box.
Miracle Maiden takes the box from him to open it. “It’s an empty box,” she replies, showing it to him.
“What!” “That is not possible!” he shouts, grabbing the box back from her. “It has been locked in this desk, no one even knew it was there!” He looks at Miracle Maiden’s distorted face. “It was the Platinum ring that you gave Dee Moore.” “After she gave it to me I put it on and it gave everything I needed to know to write the story on Open World Logistics.”
“I wondered who your source was,” Miracle Maiden replies. “It didn’t work for you again after that, did it?” “How much information did it give you beyond the story of the Owl?”
“Not enough,” the reporter confesses. “It didn’t tell me who you really are.” “If that is what you are getting at.” “No one else at this paper knew I had that ring, I could have used it to find Doris Archer.”
“Not likely,” Miracle Maiden explains. “From what I know about that ring it has a tendency to get lost on its own.” “Turn up where you least expect it.” “I only gave it to Dee so she would know what happened while I was undercover as her.” “She was never meant to give it to you, but that was the risk I took by giving it to her, I guess.” “But I still need Doris Archer’s address if only to find Androgyny.”
The home of Doris Archer
113 Pleasant St
Norwich, NY
Archie Lincoln’s cab pulls up alongside the curb on Pleasant St, Miracle Maiden sits in full costume in the back seat. “Are you sure about this, Miss?” Archie asks over the front seat.
“Yes, there is no telling what Androgyny might do if she learns of our friendship,” Miracle Maiden explains. “It would be best if you are not here just in case.” “I can call you on that fancy new mobile phone I got you when this is all over.”
“I’ll head back to that truck-stop on the interstate we passed on the way here to wait for your call,” Archie responds.
“That would be for the best,” Miracle Maiden says, getting out of the cab. Standing on the sidewalk in front of Doris Archer’s house, Miracle Maiden takes a deep breath. She has never met this woman, only seen her once outside the Dean’s office back at Ensign Academy after the Prom. Back then she appeared to be a hardened woman, but from what Martin Harper has said she has been on a downward slide since losing her son. Miracle Maiden has no idea what to expect from a woman who raised such a horrible person as Scott Archer.
It is just after ten at night as she calmly walks up to the front door of the modest suburban house. Miracle Maiden knocks on the door and then rings the bell not knowing what kind of greeting she will receive when the door opens, if it opens. She rings the bell a second time before stepping forward to phase through the door.
Inside the front hall of the home nothing appears out of place. On a glass topped table in the front hall there are an assortment of framed photos. Most of them show a mother and son as Scott Archer grew up away from home. There is a clear affection between mother and son but all Miracle Maiden can see is the bully that lurks behind the young man’s eyes even at the youngest of age.
To her left are glass French doors, obscured by curtains on the inside. Still across the outside of the doors is yellow police line tape. She can only assume it is the home office where Raymond Hartman was murdered. Clearly no one has been here since February. That doesn’t lessen her fear that this is Androgyny’s next destination. The only person Tommi Bradshaw hated more than her father was Scott Archer. Finding his mother would be the first step in finding him.
Exploring the house a little more, Miracle Maiden is curious to see if there is anything the local police missed. The house is rather high end in decor making it clear to her how Raymond Hartman could afford to send Scott to boarding school at Ensign Academy. After a year at Ensign Academy it was clear to Diana Carter that most of the students that lived on campus felt entitled to some extent or angry. The latter applied to Scott Archer, that is why had become such a bully.
Stepping into the kitchen, Miracle Maiden turns on the lights to spot something out of place. The pattern of the tile on the floor under where the telephone is mounted on the wall is off. Looking out over the rest of the kitchen she can see that the high-end marble tile is laid in a specific pattern, but the tile pattern at this spot on the floor appears to be reversed. It strikes Miracle Maiden as something that no customer paying to have it laid would allow to go uncorrected. Miracle Maiden hasn’t really used the vision powers she discovered she had since returning from Ghaza, but this seems like as good of a time as any to give them a try.
Turning to stare at the ornate light fixture that hangs over the breakfast table she tunes her vision to see the invisible spectrum. Then looking back to the mistake in the tile pattern she sees something much different. There is a swirling of pale green light floating over the spot on the floor in front of the telephone on the wall. She reaches out to touch it and her hand passes through it making it swirl more as if she was waving through smoke. Miracle Maiden gets an off the wall idea, what if she makes her body the same consistency as smoke?
Reducing her body’s solidity she watches the swirl of pale green energy. Slowly at first it begins to change, coming into better focus as she becomes more intangible. What appeared as a puff of smoke takes the shape of a woman in her late fifties. The woman appears frozen in time, somehow trapped between the dimensional fabric. Even with her face cringed in horror, Miracle Maiden is certain this woman is Doris Archer. Taking a risk, Miracle Maiden reaches out to the woman in hope of somehow pulling her free of this trap.
The moment Miracle Maiden touches the frozen woman there is a spark of energy, like a hundred volts of static electricity exchanged between them. It feels like that strange energy that she was forced to steal in Ghaza. The shock is not enough to truly harm Miracle Maiden but she must resist the urge to let go of Doris Archer if she is to free her. The pain lessens and then there is an electric explosion that sends both women in opposite directions.
the Double Family Furniture Company
1401 S 16th St
Philadelphia, Pa
It is late when Steve Roberts awakes from a deep sleep. He can’t shake the feeling that something was off at the Furniture factory that he visited today with Diana. Not wanting to go back to bed he slips into some sweats to head out for a run. It is a cool clear night as Steve jogs through the city streets. It is unusually quiet as well. Most nights he goes out at one in the morning he comes across some kind of situation that needs special handling. It is like every trouble maker in this part of the city has decided to behave on this April night.
Without even realizing it Steve has jogged across the city to find himself at The Double Family Furniture again. What is it about this place, he thinks standing on the sidewalk in front of the building. It isn’t a premonition or even a sense of danger, it is something else, something smaller. Steve has learned long ago that his premonitions and danger sense are linked together and centered on him. Perhaps this feeling has something to do with someone else that came to the factory with him, Diana or Tommi. He knows full well that running home to call Diana at one-thirty in the morning is something he will never be able to explain to her.
Walking around to the side of the four story building Steve finds a narrow alley that leads around to the back. It is dark and dank, smelling of garbage from the Chinese Restaurant next door. From the looks of the fire escapes on the side of the building, there are clearly apartments above the factory. No doubt the Double family lives in those apartments, making it even more important that he not be too obvious about his presents here tonight.
At the back of the building is a loading dock. On it are several pallets of wood and lumber used to make furniture in the factory. Steve looks around for the possibility of any cameras before he makes the five foot jump up onto the platform. It is rather surprising to Steve that there are no security cameras with the stock merchandise left on the dock. He walks to the entry door that bears a small sign that reads,” Ring bell for delivers.” Off to the right of the door is a small doorbell button. Steve reaches for the doorknob, stopping himself before he touches it. The cop in him tells him that what he is about to do is wrong. But the P.I. says he needs to know what this strange new feeling is about.
“Hello,” a voice calls from behind him. “It’s Steve isn’t it?” the voice asks as the former cop is frozen in his tracks. He turns to spy the Double twins standing in the alley. “What are you doing here so late at night?” Philip Double asks calmly.
Steve has never been a good liar, especially under pressure. “I was, I was just checking your security,” he finally spits out, stepping forward to the front of the platform. “I noticed when I was here earlier, when Phoebe gave us the tour that you didn’t seem to have much security.” “You see I’m a private investigator and my firm does security for some clients.” “I thought if I could show you holes in your setup here, I might be able to help you.” Steve stands on the platform looking down at the Philip Double standing under the street lights. There is something about his eyes that draws Steve in. He fully expects them to want to call the cops and have him arrested after his ridiculous lie.
Instead, Phoebe Double smiles at him as she starts to walk for the steps up to the platform. “That is a very clever way to get your firm new business Steve,” she says, coming up to him to take him by the arm. “Why don’t you come inside and we can all discuss this further over some coffee.” The strange feeling that had brought him here seems to slip away as she walks with him to the loading dock entry door.
Inside Steve catches sight of Philip’s eyes in the light of the factory. They are the most beautiful shade of ice blue he has ever seen. It is almost as if he can’t turn away from him as they walk to the break-room. “Take a seat,” Philip suggests to Steve and the former cop instantly sits down still focused on the man’s eyes.
“I’ll make us some coffee,” Phoebe says, going to the kitchenette at the far side of the room.
Philip sits down across from Steve at the table taking notice of the man’s focused stare for the first time. “Is there something wrong Steve, why are you really here?” Philip asks.
“I don’t know,” Steve replies honestly. “I was out for a run and I just ended up here.”
“Is there something you want from us?” Philip asks directly.
“Answers,” Steve says flatly.
“What kind of answers,” Philip asks, confident he will get the truth.
“I made instant coffee, its faster,” Phoebe says, returning to the table with three mugs. The focused stare between her brother and the handsome young man breaks Phoebe’s happy facade. “What is going on here?” she demands.
“I think I’ve got him,” Philip replies.
“How is that possible?” Phoebe asks. “It didn’t work before.”
“Watch this!” “Steve, take off your shirt!” Instantly Steve Roberts reaches behind his neck to pull off his sweatshirt over his head. He sits there shirtless with his shirt in his lap. “What should we do with him?”
Phoebe moves around behind Steve to run his hands down his chest. Pulling her hands back through his chest hair. “I know what I want to do with him,” “He is fucking hot!”
“Calm down, you’ll break the trance,” Philip urges. “I think it was the attraction he and the woman Diana shared.” “If you stir that in him he could break free.” “Somehow, they are stronger together.”
“So can I go after Diana too if she is alone?” Phoebe eagerly asks, moving around next to her brother.
“Maybe, but we have to figure out what to do with this guy first.” Philip says. “He is clearly going to cause us trouble if we don’t take care of him.”
“Let’s just kill him, so I can have fun with him,” Phoebe suggests.
“Don’t be stupid, he is far too powerful, can’t you feel it?” Philip scolds.
“I know I’d like to feel those powerful hips on top of me,” Phoebe growls.
“You are disgusting, that is not what we agreed to use our powers for!” Philip asserts. “We agreed that would help angry and lost people to get what they deserve, like Tommi Bradshaw.” “By now she should have come into her own powers and used them to get what she deserves from everyone who held her back.”
“Well we can’t just keep him here all googly eyed,” Phoebe tells her disagreeable brother. “Can you tell what his powers are, can we make use of him?”
Philip leans across the table to touch Steve’s bare arm. He appears to concentrate for a moment before answering his sister, “No, only that he has a lot of powers and he knows how to use all of them.” “He could be dangerous if left go.”
“How about we do the opposite to him that we did to Tommi?” Phoebe suggests. “What if we could lock away his powers, make him forget he has them?”
“That sounds like a stretch to me,” Philip replies. “I know I can make him forget he came here at night, but maybe if we worked together like we did with Tommi, we could make him forget more than that.”
The home of Doris Archer
113 Pleasant St
Norwich, NY
Miracle Maiden’s head is spinning as she hears a familiar voice ask, “Miracle Maiden are you all right?”
The moment her eyes open to see Mrs. Archer’s kitchen she remembers what happened. “There was a blast, it must have knocked me out,” she says, looking around to see who has found her. The instant she sees him the shock sets in at the sight of nearly nude and overly sexualized Master Warrior. “Oh My God?” Miracle Maiden exclaims at the sight of the man walking toward her. “Master Warrior, what are you wearing?” Miracle Maiden’s eyes nearly bug out of her head as he comes into focus. The imposing man is dressed in the smallest blue bikini she has ever seen on a man. Hanging low around his waist he wears a thin golden belt with a large gold cod-piece attached to it. At the sides of the cod-piece a bush of dark brown pubic hair fans out onto onto his thighs. His legs are bare down to his knees where he wears only high strappy sandals. His hairy chest is bare accept for two inch thick leather straps that chis-cross it like some dominant slave master.
“What?” he questions. “I’m wearing the costume I always wear when I’m crime fighting,” Master Warrior replies, running his hand over his hairy belly as she stands to her feet trying to look away from him.
“Crime fighting?” Miracle Maiden repeats. “You look like something out of an S&M club!” “I really can’t look at you like that!” Miracle Maiden says blushing as she turns away from him to inspect the rest of the room. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I’m here because you want me,” Master Warrior tells her, moving to rub his body against her back.
Miracle Maiden instantly pulls away in disgust. “That is completely ridiculous!” she shouts, still unable to look at him. “Of all the men in the world you are at the very bottom of the list of men I would want!” “You are a conceded Showboat!”
Master Warrior reaches out to take hold of Miracle Maiden’s arm, his grip is like a vice. “I think you resist too much!” he says with his hot breath on her face as he jerks her around to take hold of her other arm. “Women like you are always looking to prove they are above it all, but deep down the only thing you really want is a man to dominate you!” Master Warrior forces his lips over hers as she tries to break free of his grip.
Miracle Maiden soon finds that she can not escape him, not even by turning intangible. Something is very wrong here! As she gasps for breath she catches a whiff of the smell of his sweaty body. Maybe he is right, maybe she does want to be dominated deep down. Then Master Warrior throws Miracle Maiden down on the kitchen table shattering it into pieces with their combined weight. The two heroes wrestle on the floor for a few minutes as she tries to free herself from him. Then suddenly as he begins to tear at her costume revealing her ample breasts, she realizes that not even that Showboat Master Warrior would treat her like this! This is not her greatest fantasy, it is her greatest fear!
“Androgyny is here!” she shouts out finally getting her legs in position under him to send the man twice her size across the room and into the front of the refrigerator. Miracle Maiden sits up on the floor, her clothing torn. “You aren’t real, just like the fear Androgyny gave me at the train station!”
“I’m real enough!” the perverted Master Warrior says freeing himself from the kitchen appliance. As he steps back towards Miracle Maiden he tears off the large cod-piece he wears to expose his package underneath.
Miracle Maiden laughs aloud, “I’ve seen bigger ones on babies!” The brute looks down at his tiny bulge in his bikini and the phobia is shattered. Instantly, Miracle Maiden is back sitting on the floor against the wall in Mrs. Archer’s kitchen where she awoke minutes ago. There is not even a scratch on the refrigerator. She springs to her feet knowing that if that was Doris Archer she rescued from that extra-dimensional trap, it may already be too late to save her for Androgyny.
Returning to the front of the house Miracle Maiden charges across the living room back into the dining room on the opposite side of the kitchen. There, just as she expected, Androgyny pins Doris Archer to the table shouting, “Where is your son!” “Tell me or I will make you live out every horror from every nightmare you’ve ever had!”
“Let her go Androgyny!” Miracle Maiden calls out over the cries of the woman being held down defenseless. “I’ve overcome your powers twice now, faster each time, don’t make me prove I am immune to them now!” “Let her go before you make me do something I’ll regret!”
“REGRET!” “REGRET!” “What do you know about Regret?” Androgyny shouts at Miracle Maiden without releasing her captive. “I have lived my entire life with regrets!” “I am finally feeling joy for the first time in my life!”
“Did you feel joy when you murdered your father?” Miracle Maiden asks to send a new chill of fear into Doris Archer. “He was a cruel, bigoted man, but did he deserve what you did to him?”
“Yes, yes he did!” Androgyny growls turning back to the woman she pins down. “As does this bitch for raising such a horrible bastard of a son!” “Her asshole son never gave me a moment of peace before…”
“Before what?” Miracle Maiden questions, stepping closer.
“Before my friend Diana defended me to him,” Androgyny says softly.
“Is this what Diana would have you do?” Miracle Maiden asked, relieved that Androgyny has not figured out her connection to Diana Carter. “Would she want you to be murdering people for revenge?”
“Why did you ask me that, because she had a shitty father too?” Androgyny asks to face Miracle Maiden for the first time. “Did her father ever call her a faggot?” “Did her father ever beat here because she was a sissy-boy?” “Was Diana ever locked in a closet for the weekend to test her resolve in how she felt about herself?”
Diana often talked about her father with Tommi because she knew his home life was hell too. But Tommi never let on just how bad things were at home for him. Not like this anyway. How could anyone ever treat their child like that? Looking at the spandex clad form with ratted hair she can see nothing of the person she called friend twice in her life. Tommi has gone from a girl afraid to ride the train alone to Androgyny, a being of complete hate and vengeance. It makes no sense how such a dramatic change could have happened in only a few hours. The only thing that she can guess is something happened to her at that audition.
“I intend on making every person who disrespected me pay!” Androgyny shouts as she lets out a telekinetic blast that sends Miracle Maiden sailing back through the wall into the living room. Androgyny then turns her attention back to the nearly unconscious woman on the table.
Miracle Maiden is not injured as she sits up on the floor of the living room thinking, How can she ever turn Tommi back? How could Androgyny ever be contained when she does subdue her?
Then there is a whisper in Miracle Maiden’s ear, it is an all too familiar voice to her. “You know what to do.” “You must use your secret weapon.” It is Shanna Chaffee’s voice. Looking around she is not sure if Shanna is in the room with her or if it is just some sort of memory being triggered. The secret weapon the disembodied voice speaks of is one she had hoped she would never have to use. While training on Magic Island Shanna showed her how to use her stun and phase powers together to disrupt someone’s mind. Up until now every foe she has come up against did not require such a drastic measure. Only Shana has the power to reverse the disruption, maybe even bring back the old Tommi. Miracle Maiden hates the thought of asking Shanna for help after their disagreement over the use of that android.
When Miracle Maiden hears Mrs. Archer’s screams coming from the kitchen she knows she has been left with no choice. She must stop Androgyny! If there is any chance of helping Tommi, she can not let her friend have another murder on her conscounce. Androgyny’s powers can not affect someone she can not touch as Miracle Maiden becomes intangible to charge back through the debris of the wall.
The scene is like something out of a slasher movie. Androgyny raises her hand and a knife from the block on the counter across the room sails to her call. The transsexual villain draws the knife back over Mrs. Archer as the woman futilely struggles to escape. “If you will not speak then it is time you got what you deserve!” Androgyny tells the sobbing woman.
Arriving through the wall, Miracle Maiden strikes out at Androgyny with an eye blast that is only enough to drive the monster back away from Mrs. Archer. There is fury on Androgyny’s twisted face as she falls back against the wall. Dizzied but not unconscious, the she-male volleys by throwing the knife at Miracle Maiden. The knife passes through the heroine to be embedded in the wall behind her.
The ghostly heroine launches herself at her former friend to slip her fingers inside the head of her foe. The surge of bio-energy directly into Androgyny’s brain literally scrambles her marbles, sending her to the floor.
Pulling back away from her fallen foe, Miracle Maiden is nearly in tears at the thought of what she has done. But there is no time for that now, with Androgyny out of the way she must tend Mrs. Archer who has fallen to the floor unconscious. Solidifying her body, Miracle Maiden touches the woman’s bare skin to speed her healing. Miracle Maiden only heals the woman back to consciousness, she has learned the hard way that too much miracle healing can lead to trouble.
“What, what happened?” Doris Archer says as she comes around. When she spies the strange looking Androgyny laying on the floor next to her, she goes into a panic trying to get away. “That thing…that thing tried to kill!” she cries out.
“It is going to be okay, Mrs. Archer, she can’t hurt you anymore,” Miracle Maiden explains, annoyed at the older woman’s use of the word “thing” to describe Tommi.
“Who are you?” Mrs. Archer asks.
“I’m called Miracle Maiden and right now I have to take Androgyny somewhere she can get the help she needs.” the heroine says helping the woman up to a kitchen chair. “I need for you to call the police and tell them what happened.” It is then that the front door burst open and Martin Harper rushed it. “What are you doing here?” Miracle Maiden asks the reporter.
“You didn’t think I was going to let this story get away did you?” Martin replies. The reporter pulls out a camera from the bag over his shoulder and begins to take photos of the room and Androgyny’s body lying on the floor. “Incredible!” “I wish I had gotten here sooner!”
“It is for the best that you didn’t,” Miracle Maiden tells him as she wants to rip the camera out of his hands, but doesn’t. “At least you can make yourself useful now by waiting with Mrs. Archer for the police to arrive.” “I need to go!”
“No wait, I have so many questions,” Martin pleads.
Miracle Maiden swore to herself that she would never do this, but now she has no choice as she calls out, “Shanna I need your help!” It takes only a few seconds for the call to be heard and acted upon. Miracle Maiden and Androgyny vanish from the kitchen in a burst of light much different than her usual teleportation.
the Double Family Furniture Company
1401 S 16th St
Philadelphia, Pa
Steve Roberts sits shirtless at a table in the lunch room of the factory while the twin brother and sister argue over what to do with him. “Put your shirt back on,” Philip commands. Instantly the spellbound man moves to pull his sweatshirt back over his head.
“Awwh, no,” Phoebe whines. “I like him with it off!”
“Look I have to go meet with some people to figure out what to do with him, I don’t need you messing with him while I am gone!” Philip insists as he puts on his coat. “You need to just go back to bed and forget everything that is running through that head of yours!” “He will sit there in that chair until I get back if you don’t do anything to break the trance!” “Now go to bed!”
“You were a lot more fun when we were in High School!” Phoebe complains, as she turns to leave the room to head back to her apartment upstairs.
“We are not in High School anymore!” Philip says watching to make sure his horny sister walks through the factory. “There is no place now for those silly games I let you play back then.” Philip locks the door that leads up to the residence above, not at all trusting his sister.
Phoebe watches from an upstairs window as her brother gets in his car and leaves to meet whatever creepy people he thinks can help them. Once he is gone Phoebe takes a key she keeps hidden between her mattress and heads back down to the factory. Arriving in the lunchroom Steve Roberts sits right where they left him. “Well pretty boy would you like to have some fun?” Phoebe says, peering at him from the doorway. She struts over to where he sits still in a trance. “I don’t have powers like my brother, in fact most of the powers I have don’t work on men.” “So I rely on other means.” She walks behind Steve to massage his shoulders. “Men are so easily seduced I really don’t need to have special powers to do it.” “And since my brother has made you little more than a sack of flour, you can’t stop me.” Phoebe reaches out to take hold of Steve by his jaw. Turning his head to draw closer to him. She kisses him on the lips to no response from him. “Hmm, I bet you are a much better kisser than that when you want to be.”
Phoebe walks around the table to stand in front of the seated man. She gazes into his glassy blue eyes. She can see no sign that anyone is even home behind them. “This was much funner in High School when Philip would tell the guys what I wanted them to do with me.” Phoebe whines. “Maybe a little visual stimulation.” “I heard it said that men are more visual when it comes to sex than women.” Phoebe begins to slowly unbutton her blouse, moving in a very seductive manner. Tossing her dark blue blouse to the floor she leans across the table at him wearing only a small lacy black bra. For the first time Steve’s eyes move to inspect her cleavage. “There you are,” she purrs.
Sliding across the table Phoebe flips around to sit in front of the man with a leg on each side of his still body. She pulls his head to her chest burying it between her C cup breasts. “I knew all you needed was some stimulation.” “What say I give you some more!” Phoebe slides down onto Steve’s lap pushing the table back away from them. She wiggles her ass and crotch on his lap trying to get a response. “There we are,” she purrs, nuzzling his neck. “I can feel someone waking up in your pants.” “Why don’t I take a look and see?” Phoebe gets up from his lap moving to her knees on the floor in front of him. She rubs her hands over his bulging erection inside his sweatpants. “Wow, I bet the ladies love this thick monster,” she says looking up to see if he reacts. A single bead of sweat runs down the side of Steve’s face even though the room is rather cool as Phoebe tries to get his fleece covered meat stick in her mouth. “I might not be able to get it in my mouth but I’m sure I can find some place to put it,” she coos as she moves to slide down his sweats.
“STOP RIGHT THERE!” Philip Double shouts walking back into the lunch room. “I knew I couldn’t trust you!” “Sometimes you are still just such a child!”
Phoebe jumps up from the floor to face her brother. “What I am doing is far from childish!” she asserts.
“Molesting a helpless man is just sick!” Philip insists. “Besides, I told you this guy is dangerous!” If you had gone too far, like you usually do, the trance would have been broken!” “Now go to bed while I deal with him!” Phoebe Double picks up her blouse to leave again, this time not at all happy with her brother. He might be in charge now but that will change one day, she thinks to herself not speaking another word to him. Philip looks Steve in the eye again to reinforce his hypnotic control. “Now, say Thank You.”
“Thank You,” Steve responded.
“She messed up some of those guys in High School pretty badly,” Philip explains. “That is why I stopped letting her have ‘Fun’ with them.”
Saturday, April 23, 1988
Suburban Station
16th St. & JFK Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA
Returning to the outside world from Magic Island where Shanna has spent most of the night trying to turn Androgyny back into Tommi Bradshaw, with little luck. Diana Carter arrives back in Philadelphia where all of the trouble began. Whatever happened to Tommi, it happened here in Philly at the Double Family Furniture Company. Shanna instructed Diana that the best way to revert Androgyny back to her friend Tommi would be to find the source of the disruption.
Diana is also worried that Steve might have been affected too by whatever happened to Tommi. She finds a pay phone in the train station to give Steve a call to see if he is all right. The phone rings several times before an answering machine picks up. It is good to hear the recording of Steve’s voice but it is not enough to ease her fear. It isn’t even six in the morning, but in truth she isn’t sure what time Steve leaves for work in New Jersey.
the Double Family Furniture Company
1401 S 16th St
Philadelphia, Pa
When Miracle Maiden arrives at the Furniture Factory Store the sign on the door still reads closed. While they were being given a tour of the factory yesterday it was mentioned that the family lives upstairs. So she decides that is as good a place as any to begin searching for answers. At the end of the store front there is a door with the street number on it, clearly on street access to the apartments above. There is a doorbell mounted on the frame, the thought of ringing it crosses her mind, but this is one case where jumping in with both feet appears to be the best thing to do. Miracle Maiden phases through the door to the carpeted stairs on the other side. There are family photos framed on the wall as she begins to climb the stairs. There are many school photos of the Double twins as they grew up. Some of the photos are of father and son in his little league uniform. Others are of a proud father and his little girl in her Girl Scout uniform. They appear to be a perfectly normal family. Oddly there are no photos of the twin’s mother, not one.
At the top of the stairs in another door that Miracle Maiden assumes is the entry to the family’s apartment. Taking a deep breath she makes her way through the door into the hallway on the other side. The fragrance of fresh brooded coffee draws Miracle Maiden down the hallway to the kitchen. She steps into the doorway to spy Mr. Double sitting at the table. In front of him on the table is an empty breakfast plate.
“Excuse me Mr. Double,” Miracle Maiden says to the man sitting at the table. He does not respond to the sound of her voice. He does not even make a move to acknowledge her presence at all. “Hello Mr. Double?” she says as the man gets up from the table to take his breakfast dishes to the sink.
“He can’t hear you dear,” Phoebe Double says, reaching out to take Miracle Maiden’s hand. “He is trained to do the same thing everyday without interruption.” “You being here is outside of his routine.” “Why are you here, beautiful?”
When Diana first met this girl yesterday she could tell there was something off about her, like she was hiding something. Now she has a pretty good understanding of what that something was. Now Miracle Maiden is sure that this girl is trying to manipulate her somehow through touch. She must have instinctively shrugged it off yesterday, but today the girl is giving her the full juice. Perhaps it is best to play along.
“Would you like to come see my room?” Phoebe asks, pulling on Miracle Maiden’s arm. “Daddy will be fine, he won’t even know you are here.” Phoebe Double leads Miracle Maiden down the narrow hall to her room at the front of the building.
Miracle Maiden had guessed that this girl was in her mid-twenties, older than her, but the room looks like that of a young teenager. The walls are adorned with magazine pages of shirtless models and celebrity men. There are also Playgirl centerfolds tacked to the ceiling over her bed. Even photos of men on the street or in what appears to be a gym as they workout. It is abundantly clear to Miracle Maiden that this girl has an obsession with men.
“Come here look at this one,” Phoebe says as she pulls Miracle Maiden by the hand across the room to a particular photo on the wall. “This one is my favorite,” she says, lifting the 8×10 photo of a blonde bodybuilder posing in a competition. Underneath it is a 5×7 candidate photo of a man taking a shower. There is a surprised look on the soapy nude young man’s face as the shower curtain is drawn back.
Miracle Maiden doesn’t realize what she is looking at, at first. Then it strikes her that it is Philip Double in the shower photo, this girl’s twin brother! She tries to conceal her surprise at recognizing someone she should not otherwise know.
Phoebe releases Miracle Maiden’s hand and strolls over to sit on the full sized bed. “Come on over and sit with me, I can show you some other things I think you will like.” Phoebe lays back on the bed making room for her guest to lay beside her.
“Clearly you have no idea who I am and why I am here,” Miracle Maiden states. The moment Phoebe released her hand whatever strange influence the girl had over her vanished. “I am called Miracle Maiden and your trick, whatever it is, will not work on me!”
Phoebe coyly sits up on the bed. “Oh I know who you are, I’ve known about you from the first time I saw you on the News.” “You’re out of your city.” “I would guess it is about that one we helped.” “I saw what happened at the train station on the news.”
“So you admit you did something to her!” Miracle Maiden charges not getting any closer to this strange young woman. “You need to undo what you did!”
“More like we did something for her, what she needed to be happy,” Phoebe giggles. “She was very suppressed, we simply freed her of her restraint that kept her so sad on the inside.” “She was an interesting case.” “We had never met someone both man and woman before.” “Philip said she could be our most successful one yet.” “You see Philip’s power works on men and mine on women, both of our powers worked on Tommi.”
“You turned her into a monster!” Miracle Maiden shouts losing her self-control.
“No, we only freed the monster that was always there,” Phoebe says, standing up from the bed. “She has at last met her potential.” “It is what she was looking for when she answered our ad.” “Isn’t that what everyone wants to do, be all you can be?” “I for instance always wondered if my power would work on someone like you.” The strange young woman steps closer to Miracle Maiden who backs away. “As one of us who makes herself publicly know you must be like the other one that Philip said was too powerful for us to handle.” “By handling you, I can prove him wrong!” Phoebe lunges at Miracle Maiden grabbing for both of her hands.
Miracle Maiden, still feeling strange from what Phoebe had done to her moments ago, her reaction time has slowed. Phoebe is able to take hold of one of her hands. Miracle Maiden feels a rush of emotion come over her that prevents her from trying to slip away again. “Don’t leave yet,” Phoebe purrs. “Not when you love me so much!” Miracle Maiden tries to fight the girl’s overpowering emotion. “You love me so much you would do anything for me!” “Even sacrifice your life!” Phoebe looks to the window that faces the street. “Why don’t we go to the roof, my love!” Phoebe is sure not to let go of Miracle Maiden’s hand this time, clearly she must retain contact with this one.
On the street out front of the Store Philip Double returns to open the shop for the day. Checking his watch he is sure that his father is already hard at work in the factory. As he moves to unlock the door he hears his sister’s voice shouting, “I hate you, I hate you!” “You should just jump off the roof and get out of my life!” What is she doing now? he thinks. Stepping back from the building, she looks up to the top of the four story brick building. He barely has time to get out of the way as a red and yellow dressed body hits the pavement at his feet.
The woman’s body lay there on the sidewalk unmoving for a few minutes. “What the hell has she done now?” Philip questions out loud. He moves to check the woman on the ground. As he reaches out his hand she rolls over to reach out and grab his arm.
Realizing who he is, Miracle Maiden sends a Bio-blasts coursing through Philip Double’s body. She quickly jumps back up to her feet as he collapses into her arms. She sits the unconscious man down on a hand carved wooden bench in front of the store.
“Is he alright?” a couple walking down the street toward the scene asks. “Is he the one we saw fall from down the street?”
“He will be fine, he’s just unconscious,” Miracle Maiden tells the couple. As the police arrive more people begin to gather.
“We got a report of someone falling from the roof,” an officer says getting out of the police car. “Is this man hurt?”
“No, nothing that dramatic,” Miracle Maiden responds. Then they all hear a woman scream. Miracle Maiden remembers that Phoebe was on the roof. But the scream came from an alley at the end of the building. As an Ambulance arrives Miracle Maiden finds herself surrounded by spectators that she pushes past to run toward the alley.
In the alley Miracle Maiden finds Phoebe laying on the ground at the feet of a familiar young man. Steve Roberts stands over the unconscious young woman on the pavement. Trying to stay in character, Miracle Maiden inquires, “Did you do this, sir?”
Steve smiles at the heroine trying not to be too smug as he replies, “No Ma’am, she was laying there when I walked up.” “I was just coming by to look at some floor lamps I saw here yesterday.”
Miracle Maiden finds it hard to believe the ex-cop’s smiling face. “You don’t look like the kind of guy to just be walking around Philadelphia this early in the morning to find women unconscious by chance.”
“Not my fault if she ran into me and knocked herself out,” Steve replies. “Sometimes you just need to stop and stretch, ya know.” “Looks to me like you have this well in hand.” “If you’ll excuse me I have somewhere else to be.”
“I think that might be best,” Miracle Maiden tells him, even though the situation has snowballed out of her control. Miracle Maiden watches Steve Roberts’ firm butt move under his sweatpants as he walks away toward the back of the alley away from the excitement on the street. She was supposed to bring whoever it was that changed Tommi back to Magic Island to help Shanna undo what was done to her. How is she going to do that with the police here?
“A problem easily solved by me,” Shanna says as she steps from a glowing warp portal into the alley. A wave of Shanna’s hand and Phoebe Double vanishes from the scene.
Miracle Maiden is not at all happy with this solution. “What did you do?” she exclaims. “Where did she go?”
“I sent her to Magic Island, she will be returned when I am finished with her,” Shanna replies as she walks down to the end of the alleyway. Shanna makes another gesture at the scene on the sidewalk in front of the store where the police try to move the passersby along. Philip Double vanishes as well. Then even stranger, the police and people gathered act as if nothing unusual has even happened. The police get back in their car to leave the scene not even caring to question why they stopped. Even an ambulance that has arrived turns off its light and siren to keep driving on by.
“You just cast a spell to change everyone on the street’s perception!” Miracle Maiden gasps. “How can you do that and not even blink an eye?”
“It is not easy, very strenuous in fact,” Shanna replies, not looking at all strained. “I must return to Magic Island to examine these two if I am to help your friend.”
Miracle Maiden glares at her not so trusted assistance. “How long will that take?” she asks. “What will happen when you return the Doubles?”
“They will have no memory of any of this and perhaps I can even nullify their powers so they do not cause trouble again,” Shanna explains before stepping back through a portal to leave Miracle Maiden alone in the alley.