Tag: Wesley Berkley

Wednesday, November 11, 1987
Open World Logistics
700 West End Ave
New York City, NY

Diana began her day as she did for the past few weeks, she searched the newspaper for any mention of her costumed appearance in Philadelphia, to find nothing. Then when she arrived at the office her Uncle Zac announced that he received an offer to sell Carter Industries to Open World Logistics that would be hard to refuse. Talking it over with him led her to believe that something bigger was at play here.

After a little research Diana came to suspect that there is someone new controlling her father’s pawns. It was becoming harder and harder to follow up on the files she was hiding. It was as if someone was taking the people in the files out of play. Following up on that led she ended up in the Here and Now. She and Archie Lincoln are pinned down in what appears to be an empty office building by heavily armed mercenaries. Archie has been shot and she has decided that she has no other choice than to heal him, revealing one of her many secrets.

Tearing open his bloodied shirt Archie asks through glassy eyes, “Ms. Carter what are you doing?”

“Just hold still this will only take a minute,” she tells her loyal cab driver as she touches her hand to the gunshot wound in his chest that gushes blood. “Please don’t make me regret this,” she whispers as a glowing warmth moves from her hand into his chest.

Archie watches in amazement as his wound stops bleeding and heals rapidly before his bleary eyes. “What is happening?” he mumbled. “How are you doing that?”

“Just think of it as a miracle for now, until there is time for me to explain,” Diana tells him. “I need you to be mobile if we are going to get out of here.”

“Whatever it was I feel great!” Archie says taking a deep breath. “Better than I’ve felt in years.

“Because the damage you’ve done to your lungs with all that smoking has been healed too,” Diana says peeking around the corner of the office cubicle. “This would be a good time to quit smoking, there wasn’t any cancer yet, no reason to risk it again.

“You don’t have to tell me twice!” Archie says taking a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and throwing them out in the isle. Instantly followed by bullets that blow the cigarette pack to pieces.

“That’s what I thought, these drones are keyed to motion not sound,” Diana explains.

“Drones?” Archie says. “I thought we were being chased by soldiers.”

“We are, but I think they are linked like some kind of hive mind,” Diana tells him as she reaches for a stapler on the desk of the cubical. “Now stay down I have an idea.” Standing up, taking on full density to increase her strength Diana launches the stapler across the dimly lit office bullpen to shatter a glass wall near the elevators.

Instantly the four heavily armed men in the cubicle turn around to fire their automatic weapons at the elevator. Diana takes full advantage of the distraction. Reaching for her throat Diana touches the invisible necklace, it reacts differently this time. Not only does her face change, but to her surprise and horror so do her clothes. She is again dressed in the red and yellow workout suit that now has a yellow “M” over her left breast with matching yellow boots. “Shanna!” she exclaims drawing the attention of the mercenaries back on her. “This is the gift she was talking about!” she mumbled as she launched herself at the men.

She remains at full density trying to use her body as a shield to protect Archie from the bullets. Her fists are like concrete as she slams them into the men. She grabs the barrel of one of the rifles snapping it off to use it as a weapon on the next gun. It is the first time she uses the skills she learned training with Robin on Magic Island and it feels good to finally let go. Three more of the enslaved men enter the large room. As they fire on her the costumed maiden turns to take them on, hand to hand. At this density, not even missing a block of one of their blows phases her. She fights on knocking the last of the men unconscious. Then she reaches again for her necklace. Her face and clothing returning to normal Diana turns to check on Archie who stands slack jawed behind her.

“I must be going out of my cotton picking mind!” Archie says looking at the unconscious men on the floor. “I knew you were special Ms. Carter, but I never….”

“Look I don’t have time to explain this now,” Diana says, reaching out to take Archie’s arm. “I don’t even understand it all.” “We have to get out of this death trap.” Diana leads Archie back out the way the men came into the room. The corridor to the elevator is calm and clear of people. There are no signs that this is anything other than a New York City office building, just as it appeared when they first entered. They begin to run for the fire stairs door that she spotted on the building diagram when they first came in the lobby.

Nearing the end of the corridor the stairs access just around the corner she hears them approaching. “Shit!” she announced at the sound of another group of armed men approaching. She looks to Archie who is clearly out of his element. “Well I started this charade I might as well finish it,” Diana says reaching to touch her invisible necklace again. The red and yellow costume appears again as she pushes Archie back against the wall saying, “Wait here, don’t move this time.” The cab driver nods his head still in shock over all of the events taking place.

Turning the corner not caught off guard this time she glares at the men. One by one each of the men is struck by Bio-energy blasts that render them unconscious. She tempers her blast to knock them out long enough for them to get away. She knows she must conserve her energy there is no telling how many more programmed guards are in their path. Turning back to retrieve Archie she reaches for her necklace. Then she realizes, what is the point? Archie has already seen this ridiculous suit and what she can do.

She steps back around the corner of the corridor. Archie isn’t even surprised by her appearance as she walks toward him. “Time to go,” she tells him as she stands reaching out to take his hand. She leads him around the corner where he sees ten fully armed men unconscious on the floor. He is speechless, not wanting to ask her anymore questions about what has taken place out of his view. She leads him down the corridor to fire stairs.

Pulling open the door they are surprised to find Martin Harper standing in the stairwell. He is in shock at the sight of the cab driver and the costumed woman. “We need to move, there are armed men on my tail coming up the stairs,” the reporter announces as he continues up the stairs. They follow after him into the stairwell.

“You go with him.” “ I’ll see what I can do to stall these guys,” Diana tells Archie. The cab driver follows the reporter up the stairs as they flee the noise of the men coming up behind them. Diana waits on the landing as the noise of the men draws closer. The men crowd up the stairs toward her. “Holy shit, how many of you are there?” There are too many to zap, she will have to take them down hand to hand. At full density she begins punching, kicking, and shoving the men. The more of them she takes down the more of them emerge from below. Finally she knows it is hopeless, that she too must flee. Pushing off to jump up, she passes through floor after floor of the building.

When her momentum comes to an end, she is on the landing five floors above where she began. She begins to run up the steps, taking them three at a time until she is at the door to the roof. It is locked and bolted for good reason she assumes. Phasing through the door onto the roof to find Archie and Martin waiting. “Who the hell are you?” Martin asks as the brightly costumed woman walks toward them. “How the hell are we getting off this roof.

She does not reply to the first question but as to the second she has an idea. “Follow me,” she says walking to the ledge at the edge of the roof. “We can escape to the next building,” she tells them pointing to the next roof.

“What, do you expect us to jump?” Martin exclaims.

“No, I’m going to throw you,” she smiles from behind the camouflage of her necklace. “You trust me, right?” she asks, looking at Archie.

“Yes, completely,” the cab driver replies. “Have to admit I’m not sure how to land.”

“I’ve got that too,” she says, stepping forward to take hold of her friend lifting him over her head by the coat and leg. She can feel his body tremble in her grip, she lets go sending him sailing across the chasm between the buildings. The instant she releases him she is gone, reappearing on the roof of the target building. She catches the man as he comes over the side of the ledge to lower him down to the rooftop. “Get out of here, go back to the cab.” The man is still shaken by his first flight. “Archie, Can you hear me.” “Go back to the cab.” “ I’ll get there as soon as I can.” “I need to get Harper.” With that she returns to the other rooftop.

“You are out of your mind if you think I’m going to let you do that to me!” Harper yells as the heroic woman as she returns to him.

“I can just let you here for them to get you,” she tells him looking back to the door where the mercenaries pound to break it open. The reporter looks to the door as it begins to dent and twist from its hinges. “Last chance or I can just leave you here.”

“No, no, just do,” Harper shouts frantically as he quickly changes his mind.

Just then the men bust through the door stumbling out onto the rooftop. “You are going to have to wait now!” she shouts turning back to take on the men and their drawn weapons. Diana knows that she has been out in the cold too long, she can feel it sapping her strength. Even though the suit she wears seems to be protecting her quite well from the cold of the November afternoon she dare not use her Bio-blast on these men. Going hand to hand again she disarms the men, breaking some of their guns beyond repair. Behind her for the first time she hears the sound of a clicking, like that of a camera shutter.

When mercenaries are defeated she turns back to Martin Harper who waits at the edge of the roof. “Give me that camera!” she demands.

“What camera,” the smooth reporter replies. “I’m a reporter not a photographer.”

“I heard you using it!” she reaffirms although she sees no sign of a camera on the man.

“Are you going to beat me up too?” Harper charges. “Take this mystery camera from me by force like you did their guns?”

The costumed woman marches forward at the reporter as he stands his ground. “We don’t have time for this!” she asserts grabbing him by his jacket. “I have no idea how many of those guys there are.” She lifts the man up swinging him back much rougher than she did the cab driver to throw him across the street to the next building where she catches him and then vanishes before he can ask anymore questions.

McDonald’s
2549 Broadway
New York, NY

Detective Prussia & Agent Lei wait at a table in the fast food restaurant. It is their third attempt at making contact with Dr. Woodlawn. Agent Lei is convinced this is a dead end Dr. Woodlawn will never show to tell them anything about his apparent resurrection. Detective Prussia still holds out hope that he will show up sooner or later and all they have to do is eat lunch at this McDonald’s one day a week.

“I love a Big Mac as much as anyone but this is getting pointless,” Agent Lei says finishing up his burger. “This is one of the many things my ex-wife would have hated, me eating like this.”

“I only said we had to come here to meet him, I never said you had to eat the food,” Detective Prussia replies nibbling on French fries. “If you want to stop coming go right ahead, this is not my first rodeo.” Mike Lei glares at his new partner still not sure if he should trust him or not.

“Looks like you were right,” Agent Lei says as he sits facing the door. Dr. Woodlawn enters the restaurant making no outward acknowledgement of the two officers sitting along the back of the dining room. He orders his food and then makes his way to the table next to theirs along the back wall.

“I’m only here because my son is becoming suspicious and that is because of the two of you showing up at the clinic,” Dr. Woodlawn says in a low tone as he begins his lunch. “If I go back on the deal I made it will put my family at risk.”

“I thought as much,” Prussia replies, not turning to look at the man. “Who is behind all of this?”

“I can’t tell you that,” Dr. Woodlawn says sipping his soda.

“Then how can we help you?” Agent Lei asks.

“I’ve given a lot of thought and the only answer is an old friend,” Dr. Woodlawn tells them as he takes a slip of paper from his pocket to lay it under the place mat on his tray as he gets up to leave. Prussia can not see what the man has done behind him but Lei does.

After Woodlawn has gone, Agent Lei gets up to retrieve his tray from the table. “Some people just have no respect,” Agent Lei tells the McDonald’s employee who has come to clean off the table. Lei takes the tray before the young girl can and he leads Prussia toward the trash can.

“What are you doing?” Detective Prussia asks.

“Getting a clue,” Agent Lei responds, retrieving the paper from under the placemat to shove it in his pocket.

Outside in the car Agent Lei retrieves the slip of paper. “What does it say?” Detective Prussia asks.

“Just two names and a number,” Agent Lei responds. “Colonel Steven Roberts, the General 55” “Doesn’t make much since if you ask me.”

“He implied that the only one who could help him was an old friend,” Prussia suggested. “Maybe this Colonel can help?”

“We didn’t have much luck with getting into military records before,” Lei reminds.

“What Else do we have?” Prussia says as he starts the car to head back top the precinct.

Open World Logistics
700 West End Ave
New York City, NY

Hidden down the street from the building Diana arrives back at the taxi before Archie. Unseen she switches back to her normal clothes as if she has been doing it for years. The taxi doors are locked but she easily phases inside to wait in the backseat. It is only a few minutes before Archie arrives to take his place behind the steering wheel.

Archie sits in the front seat for a few minutes catching his breath before turning to Diana in the back seat. “What the hell was that in there?” he asks her.

“I think it was some kind of mind control,” Diana replies as the wail of police syringes begins to come down the street. “The way they fought was like they were one.”

“I don’t mean them, I mean you!” Archie shouts. “What the hell was that with you?”

“This isn’t the place, it isn’t secure,” Diana replies. “We need to get out of here, back to my place.”

Archie starts the car but before he can pull away from the curb there is a knock on Archie’s window. It is Martin Harper, “Who was that woman!” he demands through the glass. Archie rolls down his window. “What just happened back there?” Harper demands as he looks to see Diana in the back seat. “Carter, I should have known you’d be here.”

“Driver let’s go,” Diana says. “Harper I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“But he does, he was there,” the reporter shouts. “Who was that woman!” he demands again.

Archie looks to the man standing in the street. “She was a Miracle, a Miracle Maiden,” the driver says as he pulls away from the curb into traffic as the police arrive at the scene. Martin Harper stands in the street watching the cab leave to quickly jot down its license plate on his hand.

“Miracle Maiden, really?” Diana comments. “Now he has a name to go with those photos I know he took.” “I’ve got to figure out a way to get that film.”

“I always felt that you were different after what happened in New Rochelle, but I never realized how much different,” Archie comments.

“Archie, we need to keep what you saw in there a secret between us,” Diana insisted, leaning over the seat. “I never wanted that to happen, I was tricked.”

“No argument from me I know the whole secret identity M.O.,” the cab driver tells her looking at her in the rearview mirror.

“That’s just it, the whole costume thing I never intended for that to happen,” Diana explains. “It was someone else who slipped it in without me knowing it.” “I’m no superhero!”

“That is not what I saw in there,” Archie comments. “I saw a Superhero saving my life.”

JFK International Airport
Queens, NY

Detective Prussia and Agent Lei sit on an FBI charter plane filled with FBI new recruits. “I can’t believe you got us on this charter flight to Miami so quickly,” Detective Prussia says to his new partner. “The NYPD would have never lined something up like this so fast.”

“It wasn’t so much lined up as slipped in by dumb luck,” Agent Lei replies. “This is a class of new recruits headed to Miami for additional training.” “If I hadn’t known the instructor we would still be sitting in JFK.”

A pretty young girl with shoulder length brown hair sits down in the aisle seat next to Detective Prussia. She takes out a text book and begins to read. Making connections is one thing Nathan Prussia has always been good at. “Always studying huh?” he smiles at her.

“Got to know it all if I’m going to be the Director of the Washington FBI bureau,” the girl replies, not looking up from her book.

“It’s good to have goals,” Prussia commented, letting the would-be Bureau Chief continue to study.

Leigh Hicks is a headstrong young woman who rarely gets a compliment like the one just given to her by Detective Prussia. She puts down her book for a moment to turn to the man, “Thank You, most people mock me when I say that.” “Leigh Hicks,” she introduces herself with an outreached hand.

“Detective Nathan Prussia, NYPD,” he replies, taking her hand. “I know how it feels to have goals no one else thinks you can achieve.”

“What’s an NYPD Detective doing on this flight?” she asks curiously.

“Agent Lei and I are going to Miami to interview a person of interest,” Prussia replies, not wanting to give too much information. “We’re part of a joint task force.”

“I hear the FBI has been doing a lot of that of late on the down low,” Hicks replies. “Because of stuff like this,” she says, closing her book to show him the cover. “GODS OR ZENI-HUMANS?” is the title. Prussia takes the book from her to flip through the pages, Zeni-humans, the term sounds familiar. The book was published by Howard Publishing St. Louis, MO. There appears to be no author listed on the title page that strikes Prussia as odd. “That is the Task Force I want to be on,” Hicks comments.

“The Gods or Zeni-human Task Force?” Prussia smiles as he hands back the book.

“No, just Zeni-human Task Force,” Hicks answers. “Thanks to Master Warrior and Sentry they are popping up in all the big cities, it is only a matter of time before the FBI has that kind of Task Force.”

“What exactly is the book about?” Prussia asks.

“It theorizes that the gods of myth were in fact just humans with great power, Zeni-humans like Master Warrior and Sentry,” Hicks explains. Zeni-humans have existed all alone through history mostly staying hidden.” “But every few centuries some make themselves known, becoming the stories of legends.”

“If there are people with superhuman powers living among us why would they stay hidden?” Prussia suggests.

Leigh Hicks smiles at him, “Surely you know the answer to that question.” “Hello?” “People in general never like things they can’t understand or others who are different.” “Master Warrior changed all of that by using his power to help others rather than himself.”

Detective Prussia considers what the young woman tells him. He hadn’t really given much thought to that guy over in Philly. Zeni-human, huh? Then his mind turns back to what has been going on in New York the past year. He turns to Agent Lei sitting next to him thinking, “Is this what we are?” Lei looks to him without saying a word. “Are we some kind of experimental Zeni-human unit?”

“I really didn’t know,” Agent Lei replies. “We both have similar backgrounds that brought us here to this point.” “She is right, there are Police departments that have Zeni-human units.” “I have heard talk that the FBI has been keeping a close eye on them.”

Carter Industries
The Simpson Building
Fifth floor
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY

Diana storms into her Uncle Zac’s office. “You can not sell this company to Open World Logistics!” she announces to her Uncle sitting behind his desk on the phone. “They are completely crooked!”

Zac Carter cuts his phone call short to look up at his favorite niece. “Don’t be ridiculous the lawyers have gone over every piece of paper work and everything is completely on the level,” he replies.

“Somehow they missed something, I went to their offices like you asked and the whole building is overrun with mercenaries!” Diana tells him. “There is no legitimate reason for any Logistics company to have armed men on attack mode!”

“Diana you know as well as I do that this type of thing follows you around,” Zac Carter says to her, completely out of character. “Most likely what happened to you had nothing to do with O.W.L.” “Those men were probably after you for whatever it is you have been stirring up.” “All the more reason to sell this company for the safety of our family.” Now Diana is positive that there is something more at play here. The Uncle Zac she knows would never say such a thing. This company has been his baby, he was nearly heartbroken when he found out what her father had been doing behind his back.

Trying to calm herself Diana takes a different angle. “Do you think I could have a look at the contracts?” Diana asks, guessing the answer. “After all, I am in Law School.”

Walking around the desk to put his arm around her shoulders Zac tells her, “That’s not necessary dear, the lawyer still has them.” “We can start a new company with the money.” “Something we can build together without all of this government interference.”

“Government interference?” Diana questions, “What are you talking about?” That was a clue to something she hadn’t considered. Her father was in the military for years before joining Uncle Zac in building the company. Could all of this possibly link back to that? All of the people from William Carter’s file were former military with some special ability.

“Oh Diana, you know how it is once you reach a certain level of success the government wants a piece of the pie,” Uncle Zac tells her with a calming smile. Uncle Zac has always been a staunch Democrat, fully in favor of bigger government. Diana is certain now what she is dealing with, someone who can control minds. Arguing with her Uncle will get her nowhere she just has to find the person in control before this deal goes through! “Why don’t you just head back to your office to work on one of your little cases?”

Diana has had about all she can take of this new condescending attitude from her Uncle. Clearly she needs to find another way to learn what is going on at Open World Logistics.

FBI charter flight 320
Somewhere over Georgia

Prussia and Hicks have been talking softly discussing her book for most of the flight. All the while Prussia can’t help but notice that they are being watched rather closely by another young recruit across the aisle. He is a young white man with light brown hair and green eyes that suggest to Prussia just what he is feeling. Every time Prussia looks to the young recruit she turns away not making an attempt to make eye contact. When the young man gets up to use the bathroom, Prussia can see that he is tall and in rather good shape. Passing by Leigh he drops a small tab of paper on her lap. She opens the folded scrap and reads it before crumpling it up to put it in her pocket.

“Does that young man have a problem?” Detective Prussia asks.

“Where do I begin?” Leigh Hicks sighs. “His name is Connor Zachary, we had something of an encounter or two that he puts much more importance on than I do.” “He wants me to meet him in the bathroom.”

“He has been giving me a very jealous look,” Prussia confesses of his observation.

“That is why I am not going,” Hicks replies. “What I have with him is fun, but he has no right to be jealous!”

Sitting back in his seat Detective Prussia has little interest in the co-ed’s personal lives. He thinks over what he has learned from the young woman and her book. The discussion of Zeni-humans draws his thoughts back to the mysterious Diana Carter. He has never seen the young woman do anything incredible, beyond normal standard except that night at the club when she rendered him unconscious with a touch. But that is what Leigh’s book talks about, Zeni-humans keeping themselves hidden from society at large. Back then she was still young, a teenager, perhaps she didn’t even know what she was doing or how to control it. In his mind that is no excuse.

“You’re thinking about that girl, aren’t you?” Agent Lei asks Prussia when he becomes lost in thought. “Are you going to tell me her name?”

“What girl?” Detective Prussia asks knowing full well who Lei is referring to.

“The one from years ago that got you to where we are now,” Agent Lei replies. Prussia does not comment on his new partner’s accusation. He is still unsure if he can even trust this man. All though it does help him to realize he has been treating the young woman as if she is guilty with no real proof.

Chippie’s Cafe
17 W 32nd St
New York, NY

Worried about her Uncle, Diana meets up with Aunt Jean for lunch hoping to shed some light of the situation. Diana’s Aunt Jean is something of a bubblehead but she often knows important information without realizing it. As always Aunt Jean is early, already waiting at a table for Diana when she arrives at the local cafe at which she has become a regular. As she walks in Diana spots her Aunt who is talking to the man at the next table. Something that is far from uncommon for her overly friendly Aunt. It is a good thing that her Uncle is not the jealous type. Walking closer Diana realizes that the man looks familiar to her.

“Making a new friend I see,” Diana comments as she approaches the table. The man turns to greet Diana and she does know him as he stands up. It is the man she met at the bus stop a few weeks ago. “Trevor Main, how odd to see you again, here talking with my Aunt.” “Who is married with two kids.”

Trevor Main reaches out to take Diana’s hand, “The world is full of surprises.” he says, guiding her to her seat in the booth. Diana gives him a suspicious glare as she sits down across from her Aunt.

“Oh Diana, don’t be that way,” her Aunt Jean says. “I was the one who approached him.” “I was admiring his lovely jacket.” “It’s made of deer leather, it looks so handsome on him,” she says with a raised eyebrow at her niece. Diana knows that look as well as Jean knows her expressions, this is a fix up. “Mr. Main why don’t you join us?” Aunt Jean asks.

“Aunt Jean this really isn’t a good time, I have something I wanted to discuss with you, privately,” Diana explains.

“Oh, then I can just be on my way, I was just about to pay my check anyway,” Trevor Main says, reaching for the check on his table.

“Don’t be silly, Diana and I can talk anytime,” Aunt Jean tells the young man as she grabs his arm to sit him down next to her niece who clearly wants no part of this fix-up. “So Trevor how do you know Diana?”

“We met at a Bus stop actually, I think she was out for a jog,” Trevor replies.

“Oh that’s my niece always keeping in shape, I’m still struggling to lose that baby weight as you can see,” Jean grimaces. “They say the second one is harder.”

“Don’t be ridiculous you look great,” Trevor compliments with a charming smile. “I would have never guessed you have two children.” “What about you Diana?” he asks, turning to her. “Married?” “Kids?”

“No,” Aunt Jean chimes up. “She is very single!” “How about you, Trevor?” “Are you looking for a beautiful smart young lady?”

“Aunt Jean this really is inappropriate!” Diana insists her only thought is to get up and leave. “Before my Aunt digs me in any deeper, you should know that I do not date.” “Nothing personal, I have no interest in dating at this point in my life!”

“Well then, I think I should be going,” Trevor Main says getting up from the booth. “Give you ladies your privacy.”

Aunt Jean glared angrily at her niece. “I’m so sorry Trevor, she didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” “Please Diana, at least get his phone number!” she insists.

Diana can tell that this is a no win situation, if she doesn’t get this guy’s number her Aunt Jean will never tell her what she needs to know. “I’m sure you are a very nice man, if you want to give me your number I will take it,” Diana says trying to smile. “But I can’t make any promises.”

“That is fine, my husband and I throw a New Year’s Eve party every year, I’m sure you will get a call!” Aunt Jean adds as Trevor Main takes out a preprinted business card. “Look honey he has business cards.”

“Yes, they are very nice,” Diana says, starting to feel weird about this whole thing. “Oh you are a Financial Advisor?”

“Yes, its kind of a family business,” Trevor explains. “Well you ladies have a nice day.” Trevor really isn’t her type but she can’t help but watch his butt as he walks away across the diner. It’s rather small and flat.

“That was just rude!” Aunt Jean says once the young man is out of range. “How are you ever going to get a man if you don’t give anyone a chance.” “At least you got his phone number.” “I said New Year’s Eve but I was thinking more like Thanksgiving,” she grins, never missing a beat on her enthusiasm.

“I don’t want to argue with you, but he was not at all my type,” Diana tells her Aunt that she loves dearly knowing she is only doing what she thinks is best. “And for the record, when I bring a man to your New Year’s Eve party I will fully deserve, I told you so!”

“What is your type anyway?” Jean asks. “You never even talk about men.”

Thinking about ‘Her type’ Diana hates that Master Warrior pops into her head and she doesn’t know why, but the guy is a total jerk! “Taller, more muscular and smaller ears.”

“What about a nice ass,” Aunt Jean suggests. “I saw you check him out as he left.”

Blushing slightly Diana changes the conversation, “I wanted to talk to you about Uncle Zac, is he all right?”

The ever present smile on Jean’s face vanishes, for perhaps the first time since Diana has known her. “He is fine, it has just been taking some getting used to with having two kids now.” “Even with Jessica full time it is a lot of work at home.” “I barely have time to do my shopping now.”

“I mean, has he talked to you about selling Carter Industries?” Diana says point blank.

“Selling Carter Industries?” Jean repeats. “No he would never do that.” “He loves that business as much as me, maybe more,” she said in a low tone. Diana can see the shock in her Aunt’s eyes and instantly regrets beginning this line of questioning. Thankfully the waitress finally comes over to take their order giving Diana a chance to regroup so as to not upset Jean any farther.

“It was just some gossip around the office, that’s all,” Diana says as the waitress leaves them alone again. “I figured it was nothing to worry about,” she says while thinking it is a much bigger deal if Uncle Zac hasn’t told his wife about his plans.

The home of Dona & Steven Roberts
3005 NW 14th St
Miami, Florida

Since retiring to Florida Steven Roberts life has become much more sedated and mundane, bordering on boring. His wife Dona has taken a job at a local museum and his daughter is at school for the day leaving him home alone most days. The thought of getting a part time job has crossed his mind, but what would a man with thirty years in the US Army intelligence do for work.

He occasionally checks the national News to see what his son has been up to in Philadelphia. But after what happened last month to Master Warrior on live television, he has found more comfort in not doing that anymore. He and his wife have both talked to their son and Steve assured them he would be fine, but seeing it happen on television is too much for any parent.

Finishing up some yard work Steve heads inside for a shower and an afternoon beer. Barely two steps up the stairs there is a knock at his door followed by the ringing of the bell. Reluctantly he turns around to investigate his unexpected guest. Looking through the peephole he spies two men, an African American and Asian man. “Can I help you gentleman?” he asks through the door.

“FBI,” the Asian man replies holding up his I.D to the peephole. “Are you Colonel Steven Roberts?” “We would like to ask you a few questions.”

Roberts opens the door to inspect the men in person. They are the opposite of each other. The black man stands over six feet tall with broad shoulders and large arms. Whereas the Asian man looks to be almost a foot shorter than him with a smaller in build. Agent Lei’s badge looks authentic to Roberts as he invites the men inside. “Please come in, how can I help you?” the homeowner says stepping back to further observe the men. The big one does not look like the FBI to him, he is too relaxed. Probably why he didn’t show a badge, Roberts thinks. “Why don’t we talk in the sun room.” Steven Roberts leads the men to a large sunny room with a wall of windows at the back of the house.

Detective Prussia is eager to find out what this man knows after the long trip to interview him. “Colonel Roberts,” he begins. “Do you know this man?” Prussia retrieves a photo from the inside of his jacket pocket to show to the man.

Steven Roberts takes the photo and replies, “Mr. Roberts will be fine, I’m retired” He looks at the military issued photo of a Naval officer. It is clearly several years old by the look of the uniform the man in it wears. Although the man is a little older than he remembers him, Roberts does recognize Captain Abraham Woodlawn in the photo. They were in basic training together nearly three decades ago. In the line of work he did when he was Colonel Roberts of the US Army, Steven knows that he must still be careful about what he tells civilian authorities. “Why do you ask?” Roberts replies. “What is this about?”

Agent Lei takes the photo from Roberts answering, “This man recently returned from the dead or at least a reported death.” “He appears to still be in some kind of trouble.” “The only clue we have to this mystery is this note he passed us.” Lei hands Roberts the slip of paper from the diner. “It has your name on it, that is how we found you.”

Steven reads the short message, “Colonel Steven Roberts, the General 55,” knowing what it means instantly. “Surely, I am not the only Colonel Steven Roberts,” he suggested to them. “And this, the General 55 I have not a guess on.”

“Actually the only other “Colonel Steven Roberts died in World War two,” Detective Prussia replies. “He spent his whole career on the Pacific coast, whereas you spend most of your time on the Atlantic coast.” “Making you our obvious choice.”

“I did know Abraham Woodlawn in basic training, but after that we went our separate ways, he to the Navy and me to the Army,” Roberts tells the men. “I haven’t had any contact with him in over thirty years.”

Both the NYC Detective and the FBI Agent are suspicious of his story. “So you have no idea why Woodlawn would write both these names on this note?”

“I’m sorry but I don’t know what it means,” the former Colonel responds.

“What exactly did you do in the Army for thirty five years?” Lei questions.

“Most of the projects I worked on are still classified so I still can not discuss them, even with the FBI,” Roberts tells them, making it clear that he will be of no help. “Perhaps Captain Woodlawn is still doing the same and has sent you on a wild goose chase?”

Carter Industries
The Simpson Building
Fifth floor
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY

Returning to her office after a difficult lunch, Diana stops at the door to speak with her assistant, “Jan could you get me the address of the company Lawyers.”

“That’s an easy one, Hewitt & Shapiro, they are across the street 208 7th Avenue, tenth floor,” Jan replies.

Before Diana can thank her assistant a man storms into the reception area shoving Diana into her private office, “I need to speak with you Ms. Carter.

“Jan call security!” Diana shouts as the door closes. Behind the closed door Diana grabs the man’s bare hand to try to give her uninvited guest a jolt of bio-energy. Oddly she finds that it has no effect on him, so she reverts to strength to free herself from his grip, tripping him to the carpet. Backing away from him she shouts, “Who are you?”

The man sits on the floor silent for a moment, not sure what just happened before speaking, “My name is Wes Berkley, I need to tell you that the man you know as Trevor Main is not who he says he is!”

Diana looks at the desperate man as he stands back up, he is not at all what she would expect as a mugger. He is probably in his early thirties, rather handsome with cropped brown hair, blue eyes, and a square jaw. Well built too from what she can access through his tailored suit. “Who?” Diana says. “Are you talking about the guy from the bus stop and Chippie’s?”

“Those were not chance meetings,” Wes explains. “He has been stalking you and your Aunt for months!”

“How exactly would you know that?” Diana quizzes knowing the only answer is he has been stalking Trevor.

“That doesn’t matter, all that matters is I believe your family is in danger!” Wes pleads. “His real name is James Manelli and he is very dangerous!” “He is a gun for hire.”

“Great, you’re telling me my Aunt has an assassin following her around,” Diana exclaims. “That is all I need right now!” Just then two security officers arrive. “I don’t know who sent you, but I am not impressed.” “Escort this gentleman out and make sure he doesn’t get back in.” Diana tells the two guards as they take hold of the man’s arms.

“If you don’t believe me check out the name Jimbo Manelli and the address on that card he gave you!” Wes shouts as the men drag him out.

Diana sits down behind her desk watching the guards remove the man from her office, what a day this has been! she thinks. She has to admit, that guy does have a nice ass. Wow, has Tracey really had that big of an influence on her?” Trying to take her mind off of what has just happened, she takes Trevor Main’s business card from her pocket to look at it. With everything going on with her Uncle Zac and O.W.L. she really doesn’t need this too. Then again what if the two are connected. But which one is working for O.W.L.

The New York Bulletin
4501 Rockefeller Center
New York City, NY

Martin Harper would have loved to take the film from his camera to a one hour development place, but that would not have gone well with his editor. The staff film lab is the only one he trusts to develop print worthy photos. Now he has what he needs for an exclusive. New York’s first SuperHero! Heroine as the case may be. His only fear is that even after three developments Miracle Maiden’s face is not clear. He can only hope that his boss will be convinced of the similarities with Master Warrior and the published photos taken of him.

“I have the story of the decade!” Martin exclaims entering Mr. Hamilton’s office. “Take a look at these!” Martin Harper spreads out the photos of Miracle Maiden. The reporter displays twenty photos of the woman in red and yellow fighting the mercenaries at the Open World Logistics at 700 West End Avenue.

“These are very good photos but who is this woman in red?” the editor asks. “You can’t make out her face in any of them,” he comments, flipping through the stack of photos.

“She’s being called Miracle Maiden,” Harper explains. “She threw a cab driver and me to the next building to escape the gunmen!”

“I talked to Benson on the police beat and he said the call to West End Avenue this morning was a false alarm,” Mr. Hamilton explains. “I don’t know where you got these photos from but it was definitely not at 700 West End Avenue.”

“That is impossible,” Martin exclaims. “I was there, I saw it all happen!”

“Again there was no police report of gunmen filed so there is no story of Miracle Maiden,” Mr. Hamilton repeats.

“It’s this woman, she did it,” Harper mutters. “I don’t know how she did it, but it was her!”

“What were you doing there anywhere?” the editor asks. “I assigned you the Christmas bandit story.”

Martin Harper runs his morning through his mind. He was headed to the library to do some research when he spotted Diana Carter and her cab driver friend going into 700 West End Avenue. He couldn’t resist following her to see what she was up to. But inside he saw the cab driver but there was no sight of Carter until he got back to the Cab. Where was Diana Carter after he followed her into the building?

The offices of Hewitt and Shapiro
Tenth floor
208 7th Avenue
New York City, NY

Diana isn’t sure she has made the right choice here tonight, as she stands in the corridor, outside the locked doors of the Law office. Unlawful entry will be the charge. She looks to her left to see the security camera and then to her right to spot another. Going in through the front door is not going to work. Then she spots the Ladies room about twenty-five feet down the corridor. That should work she thinks as she begins her walk.

Inside the Ladies room she has more second thoughts about what she is about to do. Looking at herself in the mirror she fluffs her hair. What if I get caught? What if there are cleaning staff in there? Why am I doing this? She primped for a few more minutes until the idea came to her. What if I don’t do this, what if Miracle Maiden does? Diana watches in the mirror as her hand reaches for the invisible necklace around her throat. A touch of the gem at its center and her face blurs from recognition in the mirror. The red and yellow costume she was surprised to see this morning appears again. She hates that Shanna may have had a good idea by giving her this trick.

Turning toward the stalls she begins to walk. Passing through the metal partitions and then the wall, through plumbing pipes and electrical wiring until she is inside the Offices of Hewitt and Shapiro.

Diana’s thought is if she can dispose of the contracts before her Uncle signs them perhaps it will stall the sale for a while. Now she just has to find them. If she still knows her Uncle Zac at all, the contracts will be in Joseph Hewitt’s office. Her Uncle often talks of going to lunch with Hewitt or playing golf on the weekend. If he brought these contracts here it would be to Joseph. Going from office to office she soon finds the one labeled Joseph Hewitt Est., partner.

She can only hope that the files are out in the open. She doesn’t want to be forced to break into a safe, that would be a step too far. The Lawyer’s desk is immaculate, but there is no sign of the contracts. She finds the desk drawers are locked when she tries to open them. It is not so simple of a trick to phase her hand through the front of the drawers then solidifying her fingers to slide the locks open. It takes several tries but when she gets the desk unlocked she does find what she is looking for inside a bottom drawer. Taking the files she is on her way back through the lobby to the wall adjacent to the ladies room.

In the lobby she hears a knocking of the glass wall of the offices. She can see the silhouette of a man standing in the hall. Before she can make out his face there is another sound. A sound that she instinctively reacts to instantly. The breaking of glass. She turns to see one of the pains in the wall of windows that overlooks the city shattered as bullets race through it. Completely intangible the bullets harmlessly pass through her body. Then she hears the sound of a second window breaking.

Turning back she sees the man standing in the hall stumble back away from the breaking glass collapsing to the floor. “Holy Shit!” she exclaims as she runs to the man shot in the corridor on the floor. It is Wes Berkley! “What are you doing here?” she asks the man who is quickly slipping into shock. Miracle Maiden acts fast to pull off the man’s suit jacket and tear open his shirt to expose the chest wound. Only one bullet has hit him, but it must have punctured his lung. She looks up to the wall to see two bullet holes. “What kind of bullets were those?” she asks not expecting an answer.

“Armor piercing, military issue,” Wes gasps blood running from his lips as he looks up at her brown eyes that are the only thing he can see clearly. Miracle Maiden quickly goes to work on his bloody wound pressing her hand to it to heal it. She can feel the blood continue to pulse from the wound as she tries to speed the healing of his wound closed.

“Something is wrong, why isn’t this working?” Miracle Maiden says in a panic remembering that night long ago with Gina as Wes begins to fade. She turns to look to the security cameras she spotted earlier. She doesn’t know if they have sound feed as she shouts, “Call 911!” She hasn’t felt this powerless in years as the man lay bleeding on the floor.

“Hold it, don’t move!” one of the arriving armed security guards shouts at her.

“This man has been shot, I need to keep pressure on his wound!” Miracle Maiden replies.

“We know we saw it on the camera, show us your weapon!” the guard shouts.

“Weapon?” Miracle Maiden quires. They think she shot him because the bullets came from inside the office. Looking back through the broken glass she can see the bullets came across the street from The Simpson building, her building! “Look I didn’t shoot him!” she shouts back at them. “One of you needs to get down here and hold this wound while I go find out who did!”
The men stood over her, their guns focused on the red costumed woman. “You are not going anywhere!” the leader tells her.

“Guess again!” Miracle Maiden replies as she vanishes leaving the men to care for the injured man.

The Simpson Building
Eleventh floor
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY

Miracle Maiden arrives in a shimmer of light. The room is dark as a cold breeze comes in the broken window. This is the spot she thinks. Making sure not to touch anything, she walks to the window to look down to the shattered window of the tenth floor offices of Hewitt and Shapiro across the street. Then turning back to the room she spots the open door instantly moving to give chase.

Running out into the hall Miracle Maiden finds no trace of anyone, not even a footprint in the freshly vacuumed carpet. This is a residential floor. Surely someone heard something, but the thought of knocking on a door dressed as Miracle Maiden is not something she would classify as wise. Perhaps there is some clue inside the condo.

Returning to the sparsely furnished condo Miracle Maiden looks around for any clue that might reveal something she can use to find out who was shooting at her. This is clearly a vacant rental, there is no sign that anyone lives here. Then she hears the sirens on the street below through the open window. She hopes the ambulance has arrived in time. This has been twice now that she has tried to use her powers on Wes Berkley and they have failed her. More importantly they have failed him. What is his game? What was he doing outside that office at this time of night? Does any of this have to do with O.W.L? So many questions, too few answers.

Stepping back to the window Miracle Maiden spies the ambulance crew rolling Berkley out of the building on a stretcher. At least he will have some of the answers she needs, but that is something for tomorrow. Glancing back to the Law office she spots the police that stand in the broken window pointing in her direction. Time to go she thinks.

“I thought I might find you here, A familiar voice says from behind her. Miracle Maiden turns to see the reporter Martin Harper standing in the doorway of the condo.

“I don’t have time for you now,” Miracle Maiden tells him. “The police are on their way here now!”

“Will it be just another false alarm?” Harper asks, “Like the one on West End Avenue this morning?”

“What are you talking about?” Miracle Maiden replies knowing that it is him who will be arrested if he is here when the police arrive. It would get him off of her case for a while but that doesn’t make it right. “You need to go now!” she says taking hold of his arm and pulling him into the hallway.

“So you don’t know,” Harper says trying to pull free of her tight grip. “What happened over there this morning was labeled a false alarm in the official police reports.” “Someone covered it all up.”

“And you think it was me,” Miracle Maiden suggests as they reach the elevator. She pushes the down button hoping the elevator is close to this floor. “Get in here, get off on a lower floor than walk down the rest of the way!” The doors open and she shoves him inside. “Here is your exclusive, the police don’t even know I exist and if they did they would be no fans of mine!” The door closes and Miracle Maiden vanishes.

November 12, 1987
Diana Carter’s Condo
The Simpson Building
Ninth floor
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY

Dressed and ready to head over to the hospital before work to check up on Wes Berkley, she hopes to get some answers about last night. Then Diana is distracted by the ring of her doorbell followed by a knock. It really isn’t the right morning for her Aunt Jean or Tracey to show up unannounced she thinks as she heads for the door.

Diana opens the door saying, “I am in a real hurry this morning so can we make this quick.” To her surprise it is neither of the people she believed would be showing up at this time in the morning. It is a five foot, eight inch tall black man in a Yankees hat holding two cups of coffee and a Dunkin Donuts bag.

“That is good, so we can get straight to the honest answers,” Martin Harper says pushing his way into the condo past Diana.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Diana exclaims as she stands holding the door open. “I asked you to leave me alone or I would call the police!”

“Who would you call?” he asks, “Detective Prussia?” “Because I know for a fact he is no fan of yours.” Martin Harper makes himself at home sitting the coffees down on an end table to take a seat in her living room.

“Still stuck on your ridiculous story about how I beat up my prom date and then had him erased years later,” Diana laughs as she closes the door. “When there is plenty of evidence that I was living in California when he disappeared.” Diana crosses the room toward the phone that sits on a small table by the dinning room. “Building security will be enough to remove you,” she says, picking up the receiver.

“Why not call your new friend Miracle Maiden?” Harper dares to suggest.

Diana hangs up the phone at the mention of her new alter-ego’s name. “What are you talking about?” she replies trying to sound sincere.

“As a reporter I know a story when I see one and you are a story I can’t pass up,” Harper says sipping his coffee. “I’ll admit I almost gave it up until yesterday with the appearance of that woman in red.” “Couldn’t make out her face, but she was very familiar to me,” he grins. “After all it was you who I followed into that building.”

“So you are stalking me!” Diana confirms thinking that her first outing as a “superhero” was a bomb if she has already been exposed.

“I saw you and your cabbie friend going into that building by chance,” Harper defends. “But once I got in there you were nowhere to be found.” “The cabbie was with that woman in red, where were you?”

“I went out the back to go back to the cab while Archie used the restroom,” Diana replies off the top of her head. “My appointment was canceled, Archie told me what happened inside later.” The reporter sits in the chair glaring at her over the top of his coffee cup. “I’ve never even met this woman in red everyone keeps talking about.” “There is your story now hit the road!”

“You have quite a temper, I’ve noticed,” Martin Harper says getting up from the chair leaving the second cup of coffee on the table. “With strength like Miracle Maiden you could easily beat up a man twice your size.” Diana does not reply as she moves to the door to open it for the nosey reporter.

“There is one thing you are missing Mr. Harper, proof!” Diana says as she shuts the door behind him.

Bellevue Hospital
462 1st Avenue
New York, NY

After several hidden teleports Diana arrives at Bellevue Hospital sure that there is no way Martin Harper could have followed her. She is a little worried that these teleports might be her downfall to truly revealing herself to the reporter, but for now she just wants to be rid of him. Now that she has destroyed the contracts to buy Carter Industries from her Uncle, her only goal for the day is to find out what Wes Berkley knows about the shooting last night.

Having called ahead Diana knows the room he is in making it possible for her to slip into the hospital without talking to anyone. In the elevator she can’t help but wonder how many people her powers could help in this place. She may only be able to speed healing, not truly cure anyone of disease, but it would help so many people in pain. Unfortunately it would also weaken her, especially in this cold weather. Shanna also warned her that exposing too much about the extent of her powers could cause chaos in her personal life. If she is going to keep this Miracle Maiden thing going she will have to keep her healing talents on the down low as much as possible.

The door opens and Diana steps out onto the hospital floor that is disarray. Nurses and orderly lay bleeding on the floor. Others rush to help the injured but it is clear to Diana that this is not the time for Miracle Maiden to make her appearance. With the staff distracted she makes her way to Wes Berkley’s room unnoticed. A nurse lays on the floor unconscious blood running from her nose and ears, the bed empty. Diana closes the door moving swiftly to the nurse to heal her back to consciousness.

Alone in the room there is no one to see the glow on Diana’s hands as the nurse regains consciousness. “What happened here?” she quickly asks before the nurse fully has her bearings.

“I…I was checking the patient’s IV when a man with a strange weapon entered the room,” the nurse answered barely conscious. “He ordered me to step back from the patient, I asked why?” Diana helps the woman up from the floor to a chair. “That is all I remember.”

“How long ago?” Diana asks, looking to the clock.

“He was my first patient at the top of the hour,” the nurse answers holding her head. The clock reads 8:03 am.

I just missed him, Diana thinks. He could still be here! Diana hurries back into the hospital hallway. She knows she didn’t pass them in the elevator so that leaves only the stairs. Spotting the fire stairs sign, she steps around the people on the floor to give chase. In the stairwell she can hear the faint sounds of feet on the stairs as she reaches for her necklace to become Miracle Maiden again, for the third time in two days.

Reducing her body’s density she begins to fall through the landings of the stairwell floor after floor until she comes face to face with the man carrying Wes Berkley over his shoulder. At first glance he appears much stronger than a man of his height and weight. It is clear to Miracle Maiden that the kidnapper did not expect to meet up with her here.

He holds out his fist at the woman in red nearly dropping his captive. A large topaz ring on his middle finger glows brightly in Miracle Maiden’s face and she suddenly feels sick. Very sick as she stumbles back against the wall. That ring she thinks in her spinning head, I’ve seen it before! This illness is familiar too! Her back to the wall she feels her knees buckling. “What is happening?” she manages to mumble.

The man begins to flee down the stairs again with his captive as Miracle Maiden tries to regain her composure. She struggles to heal herself from whatever it is that has overtaken her body. Miracle Maiden’s eyes glow a bright pink as a surge to Bio-energy flows through her body from her very core. The illness that has disabled her is gone but not without a cost as she attempts to continue her descent through the stairwell. There is nothing, her bio-energy spent she has only one choice, continue the pursuit on foot.

Her target has a sufficient head start leading her to take the stairs several at a time. Reaching the bottom of the stairwell it exits into a parking garage. Out of breath she charges out into the garage Miracle Maiden catches sight of a dark van fleeing the garage. She realizes she has not felt this human in her entire life as she struggles to catch her breath.

Hudson Veterans Clinic
28 Hudson St
New York, NY

“Dad, you have a new patient that insists on seeing you first thing,” Fox Woodlawn tells his father from the door of his office. “I put him in Exam room 4.”

“I thought my first patient was at 9 am, Constance isn’t even here yet is she?” the Doctor asks.

“Like I said he came in very insistent, not like any other patient I’ve seen,” Fox answers.

“Thanks kid, I’ll head in there now,” Dr. Woodlawn says, getting up from his desk. For a second he looks to the spot in the corner of the room where he knows the camera is hidden and he hopes that this early walk-in does not raise suspicion with the General. Picking up his notepad he heads to Exam room 4.

At the door Dr. Woodlawn retrieves the new files with the paperwork that his son had the man fill out. Perhaps the receptionists, Constance isn’t necessary he jokes to himself. He knows full well that letting Constance go is not within his power, she is a UNIT 55 plant. Entering the Exam room looking over the file for his new patient, Robert Stevens he does not make the connection at first. When he glances up to see the middle aged man sitting on the table it takes him a few seconds to make the connection. Perhaps those cops were of use to him after all. “Mr. Stevens is it?” Dr. Woodlawn begins as he sits down on the chart on the counter space. “What brings you here so early in the morning?”

A smile on his face Mr. Stevens replies, “I’m in town to visit an old friend, it seems he got himself in some trouble.” “Been having some problems with my shoulder though.” “It’s an old injury from basic training.”

Dr. Woodlawn moves closer to examine the patient’s left shoulder without the man even telling him which shoulder he has injured. It is that knowledge that is a clear understanding between the two men to what is happening. “It has been a long time since basic training,” Dr. Woodlawn comments. “A lot has changed in the years since and gotten more complicated.”

“Don’t I know that,” Mr. Stevens replies as Dr. Woodlawn lifts his arm to rotate it forward then back. “The friend I came to visit fell in with a bad crowd, I came to help him get out all he needed to do was ask.”

“I’m sure he would appreciate that,” Dr. Woodlawn says, releasing the patient’s arm and returning to his chart. “Looks to me like you just pulled the muscle, why don’t you give this gym a try while you are in town.” The doctor hands the patient a handwritten note with the address of a local gym on it. “I’d say all you need to do is some light stretching or maybe some cardio.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Mr. Stevens says, hopping down off the exam table to shake the doctor’s hand. “I have some free time tonight after dinner, I’ll give it a try!”

“Glad I could help,” Dr. Woodlawn says. “Hope you can find a way to help your friend out of that mess too.” “Thanks for coming by Steven.”

The office of Detective Sgt. Prussia and Special Agent Lei
New York City Hall
City Hall Park
New York, NY

Returning from Florida on the red-eye, Detective Prussia and Agent Lei get an early start on the case of the resurrection Abraham Woodlawn. Agent Lei sits searching files on his computer as Prussia ponders the events of the previous day. “It was clear to me that Roberts was not telling us everything he knew about Woodlawn,” Detective Prussia suggests. “But I can’t help but to think about the book that the trainee was reading, “GODS OR ZENI-HUMANS?” she mentioned that Zeni-humans have always hidden out of fear.” “Fear of what?” Prussia wonders aloud. “We have been clearly dealing with a military cover up here.” “What if it is more than one cover up?” “What if it is a wide scale organization?”

“My thoughts exactly,” Agent Lei replies over the top of his monitor. “I’ve spent the last hour going over every government funded military operation I can find.” “There is just too much money in play to keep track of every dime!” “In my years with the FBI I have learned full well that there are operations that remain off the books while still being funded.” “What if hiding the Zeni-human threat has been one all along?”

“Do you think the FBI knows anything about this operation?” Detective Prussia questions with disdain.

“No, because if they did, I wouldn’t be here right now, I would be in a basement file room somewhere in Oklahoma,” Agent Lei answers. The Asian man sits back in his chair to think. “I think we are being set up.”

“How do you mean?” Prussia queries.

“With the appearance of Zeni-humans like Master Warrior working openly, it would appear that local Law Enforcement can no longer ignore their existence,” Agent Lei hypothesizes. “The Military has always been outside the purview of Law Enforcement, be it Locate, State or Federal agencies.”

“You think the NYPD and FBI want us to uncover this military operation, make it look like an accident caused by two loose cannons,” Detective Prussia suggests. “Think back on it we did find the case of Dr. Woodlawn rather easily, like it was fed to us with this new computer system.” “It wouldn’t be the first time minorities were used as scapegoats.”

“Chances are that once we get anything concrete the higher ups at the FBI or CIA will swoop in and take it from us,” Agent Lei counters. “I’ve had it happen before.”

“As have I,” Prussia agrees. The two men sit quiet in the office for the better part of a half hour, each thinking a way around this final outcome they suspect. “What if we turn the tables?”

“How so?” Agent Lei questions.

“The cases I have been working on for the last year I have suspected all involved people with superhuman abilities,” Prussia reveals. “It has been clear to me for sometime that one individual has been bringing these, I’ll just say it, Zeni-humans to justice.” “I’ve been spending my time trying to find the person who is on the attack.” “But looking at it from the standpoint that all of the cases have a common origin, perhaps I should have been chasing down the man behind the curtain.”

“You think all of this might be something organized by a military agency?” Lei quizzes.

Detective Prussia retrieves the box of files he brought with him to the new office. It contains all of the research he had done on Diana Carter. He spreads out the files on the desks, laying out photos and maps. “It is like I am seeing it for the first time.” “It all began with the death of William Carter.”

“Who is William Carter?” Agent Lei asks picking up the file with the man’s name on it.

“I think he is the lynch pin that connects all of these cases,” Prussia answers. “All this time I have been trailing his daughter when it was him who began all of this!”

“Who was this William Carter?” Agent Lei asks again as he flips through the paperwork laid out on the desk.

“He was a local businessman, ran a company with his brother, more importantly he was a military man,” Detective Prussia explains. “I have interviewed the brother and he always seemed evasive when I brought up William’s participation in the company.” “Like he was trying to hide something he was ashamed of telling me.”

“Says here that Carter had a daughter with his first wife and a son with a mistress who was his assistant,” Agent Lei reads. “Have you interviewed Iris Nelson?” “Pillow talk is usually a man’s biggest downfall.” “She and her son inherited everything, no reason for her to be tight lipped now.”

Financial Resources Esquire
3601 Surf Ave # 3
Brooklyn, NY

It has been hours since Miracle Maiden confronted the kidnapper at the Hospital. By the time her Bio-energy recharged she remembered the first time she met Trevor Main at the bus stop and the ring he wore. It is a stretch but what Wes Berkley told her in her office is her only lead. This is the address on the business card Trevor Main gave her at Chippie’s. Wanting to conserve her newly returned Bio-energy she called Archie for a cab ride, she can only hope she hasn’t put his life at risk again.

In an alley behind the building the cab owned by Archie Lincoln comes to a stop. It is Diana Carter that leans over the seat to insist, “Archie, promise me you will stay here!” “If things get too crazy just head home, I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” the driver replies. “I learned the last time that you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.”

“I’ll give you a call later if you should have to leave,” Diana says as she looks around outside to make sure there is no one watching the cab. Then touching her invisible necklace instantly it is Miracle Maiden who now sits in the back seat. In the blink of an eye she is gone.

Appearing inside the building it is nothing like it appears from the outside. Miracle Maiden chose to enter the building without using any of the public doors to find herself in a very non-public area. Scanning her surroundings she appears to be backstage at a theater. Unfinished stud walls appear to divide what seems to be an enclosed space in an open warehouse type floor. Stepping forward to one of the unfinished walls supported with 2 x 4’s she phases to lean through it. On the other side the decor appears to be that of an office building.

Leaning back into the backstage area it is clear to her now that this Financial Resources Esquire is a complete fraud! It is a public facade built in an empty warehouse. It is clear to Miracle Maiden that she would never have found what she is looking for if she had come in the front door. It all seems like an elaborate hoax to get a date. The strangest thing is that there appears to be no one around anywhere. Miracle Maiden begins to explore the backstage area not sure what she is looking for, some sign of life would be nice.

There are some parts of the interior structure that connect to the outside walls, no doubt to keep up the illusion that this is a real office building. Then she finds something else, what can only be described as a basement access door. Problem is there are no visible stairs or means of descent into the darkness below. Because of the depth of the hole she has no idea how far it goes down only that there is a light at the bottom.

Miracle Maiden stands at the edge of the dark pit for a moment to think. She has never tried anything like this before but it stands to reason that hitting the bottom at full density would leave her uninjured. Even if she gets injured she has enough power to heal whatever injury she might acquire. Furthermore, even if Wes Berkley doesn’t have the answers to this most recent predicament, he is still clearly innocent in all of this that needs saving. Taking a deep breath she steps forward into the stairless shaft.

To her surprise she does not fall, at least not at a normal rate. She begins a descent as if she is being lowered by the air itself. Wiggling her ankles she can feel nothing under her feet as she moves downward below the first floor of the building. Miracle Maiden’s body still at full density, she feels as if she is weightless as she realizes she is descending deeper than any normal basement.

When she reaches the lit area of the vertical tunnel she discovers it is not the bottom at all. It is a region of heat that burns hotter than she thought possible. Her body and tight clothing remain immune to the scorching heat although she does smell the burning of the end of her hair. As she continues downward past the blazing heat, Miracle Maiden tries to extinguish what is left of her hair finding that it goes out on its own once it reaches a length of about six inches from her scalp.

When her feet touch down on the floor at the bottom of the shaft Miracle Maiden runs her fingers through her new short hair. I haven’t had hair this short since I was twelve, she thinks. She could easily regrown it now but she decides to wait as to conserve her Bio-energy. Looking back up from where she came it is hard to determine exactly how far below the surface she is now.

Stepping out of the dark shaft into the next room, she found it to be not at all what she expected. This room is far smaller than the building overhead’s foundation. It is more like a central hub of electronics. The walls are smooth and curved at the top almost like she is in some kind of squashed bubble. The electronics appear to be built into the walls and floor. There are many flashing lights, buttons and switches all around the room. Upon closer inspection Miracle Maiden notices that there is a keyboard that seems narrow to her, like it is set up for three fingered hands. Then like a bolt of lightning it strikes her. She recognizes this technology, it is the same as the stuff she saw on that alien ship Prince Benue took her on years ago.

Miracle Maiden’s mind races trying to remember everything she can about that time. Benue told her that her bio-energy had the power to send the invading aliens back to their home dimension. The Spartans as he called them were using Earth people as slaves while they remained in regeneration pods. This control panel looks very similar to the one in that ship, the only difference is that it appears to have been built out of Earth based tech. The letters on the keyboard are English but the arrangement is different from a standard keyboard.

Somehow Miracle Maiden remembers the keystrokes Benue made on the ship’s controls and she replicates them on this panel. She isn’t sure what she has started but she has definitely activated something as a cylindrical encasement on the wall turns to reveal a clear tube behind it. From where she stands Miracle Maiden can see that it is a man floating in fluid inside the cylinder. Stepping away from the control panel she walks across the small room to get a better look at the contents.

Miracle Maiden feels a rush of warmth to her face as she looks at the nude man’s body who is held in some kind of stasis inside the tube. Clearly human every muscle on his body is toned to perfection, like a male model who spends all of his free time in the gym. On his impressive right bicep the large print letters U S M C are tattooed. His four fingered hand tells Miracle Maiden that this is no Spartan. She knows she is blushing now as she looks to his manhood with a gasp. Miracle Maiden tries not to stare as it floats buoyant in the fluid. But it is nothing to the shock of his face. There is no hiding the fact it is Wes Berkley in the cylinder. The movement of his chest shows that he is somehow breathing the liquid as if it was air.

Oddly she takes notice that the gunshot in his chest is completely healed. This alien equipment seems to have done what she could not. Nevertheless, she has to get him out of here. Looking back to the console it becomes clear to her that she has no idea how it works. Trying to use it to release him could very easily kill him. Reaching out to touch the clear polymer that is the cylinder it is a few inches thick but Miracle Maiden is sure she can break it at full density.

Miracle Maiden increases her body’s density to a point harder than iron she reels back to swing her fist at the cylinder with the strength of three times that of a woman her size and weight. Her fist makes contact with the polymer barely chipping it. Miracle Maiden feels no pain from the punch, only frustration. That should have worked, she thinks. A second punch sends cracks spidering up the face of the cylinder. It is a left and right combination that finally cracks the alien status chamber wide open.

The fluid contained inside pours out over Miracle Maiden’s legs and feet as she moves to catch the man released from his prison. She holds him bent over slightly to pat his back hoping to clear the fluid from his lungs. He begins to cough, expelling some of the fluid but something is still not right as she gives him a jolt of her power to return him to consciousness, but she already knows that will not work. Holding him up under his arms his feet dangle to the floor as she supports all of his weight. Miracle Maiden uses her left hand to smack the man on the cheek like she has seen so many times on television. At first there is no response until he begins to cough out the rest of the fluid. This expulsion is streaked with blood giving her more concern.

“Can you stand?” she asks, trying to let the nude man down to the floor. She looks down his wet body as his feet move to try to support his own weight. It is clear to her that he is very weak from his ordeal. “Can you hear me?”

Wes Berkley struggles to open his eyes that are coated with the greenish slime from the cylinder that covers his body. “Iiiitttt waaaassss Jiimmbmboo,” he mutters in a raspy voice trying to focus on her blurred face. Suddenly he pulls away from Miracle Maiden as if startled by her appearance. He stumbles back to almost fall on the slippery floor before she catches him by the waist. The slime on his body makes him hard to hold onto as she props him against the smooth wall holding him by one shoulder.

“I am here to help you,” Miracle Maiden tells him as his body trembles from the chill in the air. “Just take it slow.” “It has been hours since he took you from the hospital, there is no telling how long you were in that thing.”

Finally regaining his footing Wes realizes he is nude and instantly reaches to cup his exposed slimy genitals. “What is this that happened to me?” he asks, remembering only pieces of the events of the past day. “My chest?” he says, looking to the now fully healed injury. “Where are my clothes?” he asks, looking to Miracle Maiden as he slicks back his sticky hair with his free hand. “Did you do this?”

Before Miracle Maiden can answer the man’s question she is overcome with a massive feeling of sickness. It takes only a few seconds for her knees to buckle causing her to fall forward into Wesley’s wet slimy chest. Her face slides down his body before he can grab hold of her with both hands. “He’s here,” she whispers with her last bit of strength. “It’s the ring.” Miracle Maiden’s final warning spoken she passes out in Wes Berkley’s gooey arms.

Wes looks up to see his old friend Jimbo Manelli enter the room, his arm outstretched, a glowing topaz ring on his middle finger. “Jimbo, what are you doing?” he asks as he holds the mystery woman to his chest, her short hair becoming matted with the slime from the cylinder. “What happened to you in South America?” His old friend gives no reply. Wes lowers Miracle Maiden gently to the floor by the wall. Shaking the slime from his arms he puffs out his chest and steps toward this man is no longer the one he knew. “Where did you get that ring?” “What is it doing to her?”

“Killing her!” Jimbo Manelli at last replies.

Wes looks back to the woman on the floor, what Jimbo says appears to be true. “I can’t let you do that!” “Is that what you have planned for Diana Carter as well?” Wes questions as he raises his fists to his former friend. Jimbo only laughs at Wesley’s attempt at heroics.

Most men learn to fight leading with their right, Wes Berkley has never been most men, He proves that fact as he swings out his left fist, catching his target off guard. The hit is enough to stagger Jimbo while he goes for the ring on his right hand. The two men struggle for control as each battles to their own discipline. Jimbo finds it hard grappling with Wes due to the slick coating on his body. Wes realizes he can use that to his advantage. Wes manages to force his opponent down onto the floor that is covered in the slime from the chamber. The two men wrestle all the while as Wes works to loosen the ring from Jimbo’s finger.

Freeing himself from Jimbo’s choke hold, Wes gives the man a kick in the back, while still holding his hand sending him sliding across the slippery floor. Wesley’s ploy has worked; he has freed the ring from Jimbo’s finger. He throws the strangely powerful piece of jewelry into the broken chamber in the wall. The nude man returns to the unconscious woman on the floor. He lifted her head hoping he was not too late. The strange effect on her face makes it hard to tell what state she is in. “Miss, Miss can you hear me?” He can clearly tell by the rise and fall of her breasts that she is alive and still breathing very shallowly.

The effects of the ring dissipate quicker now that it is not worn on any hand as Miracle Maiden wakes to the sight of the naked man kneeling over her. With all that has happened Wes seems to have forgotten his lack of wardrobe. “Yes, yes, I’m feeling better,” she says, averting her eyes from the view she has awakened to see close up.

“That man is not Trevor Main, nor is he the man you knew was Jimbo Manelli, he is something much more alien, a Spartan!” Miracle Maiden announces as she tries to stand back up. They look to the man who approaches them as the illusion of human form fades and the alien she remembers from that adventure years ago returns. He now looks like a cross between the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Night of the Living Dead just as she feared. “Time you when home!” Miracle Maiden announces as she lets loose a full strength bio-energy blast from her eyes to strike the alien in the chest.

The reaction is not the one she expected. Years ago Prince Benue told her that her power could send these aliens back to their home dimension. He took control of her power and used it to banish them. She watched as each of them vanished. But now that is not what happens as the Spartan stands up, a broad grin on its grotesque face.

“He’s done it,” Wes mutters. “He’s stolen my immunity to your power.” Wes looks Miracle Maiden in the face as if he is seeing past her disguise for the first time. “I’ve known I could do this for a while now.” “Overseas in the Marines was the first time I learned about it.” “There was this guy who could move things with his mind, he couldn’t move me.”

“To think a friend of the man whose identity I stole had what I need to end you!” the alien speaks to Miracle Maiden for the first time. Miracle Maiden is silent as the creature reveals his story. “Don’t you remember me, girl?” “Of course not, your were too busy killing my men to think about me.” “Let me introduce myself, I am Robe Rtea, Captain of the ship you and the Srannian captured.”

“I did not kill your men, I sent them home,” Miracle Maiden defends.

The alien’s strange face contorts in what they can only guess is a smile as he laughs at Miracle Maiden. “You were a foolish young girl to believe what the Srannian scum told you.” “We are at War!” “Your power is the one thing in this universe that can kill my people swiftly and cleanly.”

“No, I don’t believe that!” Miracle Maiden insists. “I am not a murderer!”

“You humanoids, he took advantage of your naivety with his pretty eyes and face,” Robe Rtea chuckles. “Did he give you the line about his people preferring nudity?”

Miracle Maiden blushes again, feeling like the foolish school girl she was when she met Prince Benue. “So this is vengeance for something of which I was ignorant?”

“Ignorant or not you are a threat to my people but no longer, I have the immunity to all Earth born Zeni-humans that I will in turn give to my people!” Robe Rtea charges. Miracle Maiden steps forward ready to take the alien down by force.

“I’ve already proven that you are not immune to a good beating!” Wes announces. “Stay back Miss,” the nude man tells her holding his hand back to her. Miracle Maiden watches as the former Marine charges forward at the alien concerned only for the woman’s safety. She must admit she is impressed by Wes Berkley’s skills. He uses several different techniques as he attacks the strange looking alien. It is clear to Miracle Maiden that Robe Rtea has no idea how to defend himself against the pummeling that Wes Berkley brings to him.

But Miracle Maiden knows that beating this Spartan unconscious is not enough. Earth prisons are not equipped to handle such a prisoner nor is the public ready to accept such a reality. Then it strikes her, the technology in this pod is like that of the Spartan ship. Benue told her that the ship was a synthetic life form, that is why it conducted her Bio-energy. “Wes, get him in the pod I freed you from!” Miracle Maiden shouts hoping that her idea will work.

Robe Rtea is on the ropes as Wes Berkley pushes him back toward the cylinder built into the wall. The alien continues to try to fight back, landing a few good punches to Wes. It is then that Miracle Maiden intervenes, landing the final few blows to force the alien ship Captain back into the device he built to steal Wesley’s power. Once inside Miracle Maiden returns to the control console to retrace her steps on the keyboard. The capsule cover closes to hold Robe Rtea tight inside. They can hear the liquid flooding into the broken chamber as sparks begin the erupt from it. In a panic Miracle Maiden releases an eye blast into the console hoping to stop the bio-machinery. The blast sparks an unexpected reaction in the alien system.

“What is happening?” Wes asks as the electrical current begins to crawl across the wall. “What did you do?”

“I was hoping to do the same thing to him that he did to you, put him in stasis,” Miracle Maiden explains. “The damage I did to the chamber must have shorted out the system.”

“The ring he was using on you was there too, that can’t be good!” Wes comments. “We should get out of here!” “But I need some clothes first!” Wes adds moving to hide his genitals again.

“Follow me, there should be something up top for you to put on,” Miracle Maiden calls to him as she runs to the elevation shaft. Looking up to the area that glowed with heat on her trip down, it is now gone shorted out by the malfunction of the alien controls.

Financial Resources Esquire
3601 Surf Ave # 3
Brooklyn, NY

Outside Archie waits in his cab as the rumbling from under the lot begins. He starts the car as he thinks it is time to go. Just as he puts the car into drive a voice calls from outside, “Wait a minute!” Diana Carter opens the door to slide into the back seat. “We need to wait a few more minutes,” she tells her trusted friend. They sit in the car watching as the building begins to shift, caving inward to the center.

“Is there anyone still in there?” Archie asks Diana.

“Only two that I know of,” Diana replies from the back seat as two figures emerge from the crumbling building.

Then a second taxi speeds across the parking lot to stop between the survivors of the apparent earthquake and Archie’s Cab. The reporter Martin Harper jumps out of the second cab, a video camera in his hand to confront Miracle Maiden and the man wrapped a window drape. “What can you tell me about what happened in there Ms. Carter?” he asks, pointing the camera in her face.

“You told me your name was Miracle Maiden,” Wes says looking to the dark haired woman to see a very slight resemblance now.

“She is!” Diana Carter calls out as she steps out of Archies’ cab. Martin Harper pans his camera over to see the second woman who completely destroys his theory that Miracle Maiden and Diana are one in the same person. “I’ve been waiting in the cab all along!” At first Miracle Maiden is as surprised as Harper at the woman’s arrival then she decides it is best to play along.

His story ruined, Martin Harper lowers his camera. “How is this possible?” the reporter exclaims. “What do you know about all of this?” he shouts at the cab driver as he walks around the car.

“Very little, I only met Miracle Maiden yesterday when she saved my life,” Archie replies with a serious look on his face that does not betray his own confusion.

“Well at least I might be able to salvage this story,” Martin says looking to the man wrapped in the drape. “You there, what happened inside?” Wes Berkley takes the reporter aside beginning to spin the incredible yarn of the story that lead to the events at the Financial Resources Esquire building. Leaving out the alien aspect of the story.

Miracle Maiden takes “Diana” by the arm leading her away behind Archie’s cab. “What do you think you are doing, Robin?” she demands. “Have I not made myself clear, stay out of my life!”

“Shanna has solved the problem I had at college,” Robin tells her twin. “I will never lose control like that again.”

“How can I trust that?” Miracle Maiden charges. “That is why we agreed that you needed to be turned off permanently!”

“Because I am your sister,” Robin tells Miracle Maiden. “I have always been your sister but now the old programming problem of this body was corrected.”

“What are you talking about?” “You are just an overrated computer!” Miracle Maiden replies in disgust.

“No I am not, it is an Ordain soul that powers my body, the soul of your stillborn twin sister,” Robin says a strangely human tear in her eye. “Since Shanna told me this truth I have been overcome with emotions I never thought I had.” “I understand so much I did not when I was just an android.”

“Ordain soul, what are you saying?” Miracle Maiden asked in utter confusion.

“The closeness we shared when you were training was something we had long before then,” “Our mother carried us together in her womb.” “But I was born with a soul like that of our father’s people that could not bring life to a human body, like yours did.” “Mist saved me, preserved my soul until they found a body my soul could bring to life.” Robin steps back looking into her sister’s eyes hoping to see the love she knows they have shared. But she does not see it. Robin’s new found heart sinks as she speaks again. “I understand this is a lot to get all at once.” “I will go, I will leave you alone.” “I hope when you are ready you will let me know.” Robin turns to get back into Archie’s cab telling the driver, “Take me home.”