Thursday, June 30, 1988
Camp Tandy – Boy’s Campsite #5
Glassboro Township
New Jersey
Steve lays on his cot listening to the man breath on the other cot in his tent. He can’t help but to wonder what he is doing here. More importantly what part will he play in the coming investigation of this place that was one of his best childhood memories. With everything that has happened none of this can come to any good. Last night was one time he could have used a premonition. But the last dream he had to come true was a few nights ago, the one about Denise sneaking into his tent. It seemed strange, but it did prevent him from getting caught up in a sticky situation. He can only assume that State Police Inspector Shaw poses no danger to him.
Then the new arrival stirs on his cot. “I know you are awake,” Inspector Shaw says. “I’ve had a day to look around and I have a few questions for you.” Inspector Shaw sits up shirtless on the edge of his cot. “I know you have been working a case here for Commissioner Aspen.” “I have no interest in that.” “What I need to know is about the molestation going on here.” “How prevalent is it?”
Steve takes a deep breath before sitting up on the edge of his cot. He has no idea what to share with this outsider. A tale of a Satyr controlling campers for decades is not going to sound good. “I came here as a kid, I never saw the underside of what was going on,” Steve starts. “But it was going on, Coach Denmark was cultivating boys.” “I don’t know the extent of Tennyson’s involvement, but I do know he was overlooking it.” “But I have no proof that will stand up in court.”
“When you say cultivate,” Inspector Shaw says standing up to give his balls a scratch through his underwear. “What do you mean?”
“Every five years Denmark would choose one boy to bring in others to their group,” Steve explains. “Barry Ramirez has been that recruiter for the past three years.” “He would choose the boys easiest to seduce.” “Usually the ones that were loners with weak family structure.” “I don’t believe that all of the boys were gay, most of them were victims.”
“Even if the boys molested by Denmark were gay, they were still children,” Inspector Shaw states. “Still victims.” “Who were these other boys?”
“I can not be sure who they were,” Steve says watching the man get dressed from his duffle bag. “I do know that this was Barry’s last year and it was time to find a replacement.” Steve is fairly sure that replacement was meant to be Jeremy but isn’t sure it would be wise to tell Shaw. “You might consider showering.”
“Why?” Shaw questions pulling a T-shirt over his head.
Steve stands up pulling on a pair of sweatpants over his underwear. “I’ve noticed that some of the boy’s have tells when, shall we say, when exposed to adult nudity.” “A reason to shower while they are still asleep.” “But it might help you to identify the boys you want to testify.” “That is what you are after isn’t it?
“What would that tell be?” Shaw questions.
“They have been conditioned in such a way that causes them to have SEs,” Steve replies. “Something that could be considered normal for teen boys, unless they are enjoying it.”
“So you expect me to flirt with these boys to out them?” Shaw says in disgust.
“It was just a suggestion,” Steve replies. “You did say you wanted to remain hidden here, questioning all of the campers would defeat that purpose.” “Also as I said most of the kids here at camp have no idea what was going on.” “I would hope you agree it should remain that way.”
Philadelphia Municipal Court-Criminal Division
1301 Filbert St
Philadelphia, PA
Detective Berger and Officer Maguire arrive at the courthouse escorting Thaddeus Hobart Edwin Jester a.k.a. The Jester to his arraignment hearing. The Elite Squad has kept him in custody by fitting him with headgear with tinted lenses to prevent him from making any eye contact with anyone. While in custody the man appeared to revert to a normal college student with no memory of what he had done.
When Berger and Maguire enter the room the Detective spots a young girl seated at the back of the room in the spectator’s box that should be empty. “Sit with him at the desk, I have to take care of something,” Detective Berger tells his partner. Maguire watches as his partner walks to the back of the room to take a seat in the empty spectator’s box.
“What are you doing here?” Detective Berger asks the girl that apparently no one else in the courtroom can see.
Christine Roberts smiles, “That power of yours is stronger than I thought.”
“What are you talking about?” he quizzes.
“No one else in this room can see me, but it appears you can,” she replies.
“I told you I could handle this, Steve wanted me to keep an eye on you, not involve you in a case,” Berger says in a low tone, gazing straight ahead, not wanting to look crazy.
“It is too late for that,” Christine whispers. “I know you both have powers but those powers are not enough to deal with this guy.”
“That is the problem since he regained consciousness in custody, he claims to have no memory of what happened at the Outlet store,” Paddy explains. “That is the only way we found out his real name.”
“You already told me that, but I am not buying it, I had to see for myself,” Christine explains.
“So you’ve seen, now go,” the Detective instructs the visibly hidden girl.
“I haven’t seen anything,” she says. “His mind is still shielded from me.” “If he lost his power or was possessed or something at the Outlet, I should have access now.” “Since I don’t I have to believe he is faking.”
Detective Berger looks to his partner sitting at the desk with the prisoner and his attorney. Officer Maguire is giving him a confused look. Berger sighs, “If things go bad here don’t hold back.” “I will take the heat from Steve.” “We can’t risk this guy getting away.”
Detective Berger returns to the front of the courtroom before the Judge arrives for this sealed hearing. He takes a seat behind the defense table. It seems odd that he and Maguire are seated here and not with the prosecution, but in cases like this it is necessary.
“What was that about?” Maguire questions his superior. “I could feel emotions from back there that were not yours,” he whispers over the dividing rail.
“Don’t worry about it now,” Berger replies, sitting back in his seat.
“All rise for the Honorable Judge Arthur Taft,” the bailiff announces as the judge enters the courtroom. Officer Maguire pulls Jester up by his arm.
“Be seated,” Judge Taft tells the few people gathered in the courtroom. Taking his seat behind the raised podium desk the Judge reads over the briefs concerning the hearing. Both the policemen and the prosecutor can see the look of disbelief on the Judge’s face. Judge Taft is not the Judge usually overseeing the Zeni-human cases, that is Judge Reilly who is on vacation. Judge Taft was a last minute replacement and it quickly became clear to Assistant D.A. Carol Lopez that the man does not fully understand what is at stake here when he demands. “I would like the blinders removed.” “This man can not receive a fair hearing without all of his senses to face his accusers.
“Your Honor,” A.D.A. Lopez interjects, “With all due respect blind defenders receive fair trials all the time.”
“Is this man Blind?” Judge Taft questions the A.D.A. “Then the law states he has the right to face his accusers!”
“Your Honor please, this device does not inhibit the defendant’s vision at all,” the Prosecutor states. “I simply prevent him from making eye contact with anyone.”
“I understand the purpose of the device, I only question its veracity,” the Judge replies. “Now have the Officer remove it at once!”
Officer Maguire stands to remove the defendants head gear. Detective Berger reaches out to touch Maguire’s arm to stop him momentarily. “What do you feel coming from him right now?” he asks his young partner.
“Still only confusion,” Maguire replies. “He still seems to have no idea why any of this is happening.”
“Sir, please take your seat and allow the Officer to do his duty or you will be removed,” Judge Taft announces to Detective Berger who sits back in his seat, hoping for the best.
At the back of the courtroom Christine Roberts prepares for the worst. She has no proof but in her gut she feels like something is just wrong with this situation. She watches intently as Officer Maguire unlocks the device around Jester’s head that shields his eyes from view.
Officer Maguire removes the visor that has been secured to Jester’s head for the past several days. It leaves a mild impression on his skin once removed. Jester remains calm, shielding his eyes as they adjust to the lights of the courtroom. Once he can see clearly again, he takes full inventory of the people present in the courtroom.
“Mr. Jester, how do you plead?” Judge Taft asks.
Jester stands to glare up at the judge to reply, “Not guilty, not one bit!”
Camp Tandy – the lake
Glassboro Township
New Jersey
It is a bright sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. Steve sits shirtless in his bathing suit on a bench not far from the edge of the water. The camp has become rather short handed in the lifeguard department. So he has taken several shifts keeping watch at the lake. More of the older boys have gone home in the last couple of days. Steve can only assume it is because of the revelations of what happened with Coach Denmark and Barry. Because he was not allowed to talk to them about any of it he really can’t be sure if they were involved with it. With the Satyr finally gone many of the boys showed signs of confusion and fear. That is why Steve remains sure that not all of the boys involved have left the camp and those are the ones Inspector Shaw is looking to interview.
The boys that Steve suspects are older and those are the ones that he has directed Shaw to observe, but that doesn’t mean they will admit to anything or even remember. The Satyr was not lying when he said some of them will forget what has been happening. It appears to be more out of their own desire to deny it than anything the Satyr did to them. Not to mention that if any of them say anything about the Satyr creature it will blow any case Shaw hopes to build out of the water. In the past few years it has become easier to convict people of the fact that there are Zeni-human, but mention of a Mythological creature in today’s world will still be considered insanity.
Steve also keeps an eye on Jeremy and his “friend” Jesse. The two of them are both outgoing young men on their own, but when they are together they are clearly more focused on each other. It is sweet in a way. He watches them as they splash and wrestle with each other in the water. They are both clearly familiar with each other’s bodies. Which leads Steve to wonder what he is going to tell Commissioner Aspen. A week ago he could have sworn that what was going on with Jeremy and Jesse was completely manipulated by the Satyr, but now he is not so sure. If all of the sexual influence the Satyr welded is gone then that means these two teen boys are truly in a relationship.
“Is that the Commissioner’s boy?” Inspector Shaw asks, sitting down next to Steve on the bench. “Looks like he’s going to take that other kid down.”
“Run out of leads already?” Steve comments to Shaw as the man pulls off his shirt over his head. “I thought you wanted to stay incognito.”
“I might as well get some sun as long as I’m stuck here,” Shaw says leaning back on the bench. “Was Aspen’s kid involved with Denmark?” “Is that why he hired you?”
Steve glances over at the Inspector who looks like he spends a lot more time in the gym than in the sun. “No, not to my knowledge,” Steve lies to the Inspector to protect his own interests. Steve does suspect that Barry might have been grooming Jeremy to take his place with the Satyr next year, but he has found no proof to back that up. “Jeremy spends most of his time with Jesse Roman, the boy he is splashing.”
“And the Roman boy, what about him?” Shaw inquires. “Looks to me like he enjoys getting physical.”
Steve can see what Shaw is talking about. “Were you never a teenager?” Steve suggests. “It is just the warm water and the cool breeze, nothing sinister.” Knowing what he knows Steve suspects that is not true, but he does not need Shaw to complicate his own investigation.
“Speaking of teenagers, I understand you spent some time here as a kid,” Inspector Shaw broaches. “Do you have any deep dark secrets about Coach Denmark, “After all you have been sharing a tent with him for a couple of weeks.”
“Guess it is unfortunate for you, but no,” Steve replies. “I guess I was never Paul’s type.” “He went for more troubled boys.” Steve knows the real reason the Satyr had no interest in him is because his amazon blood made him immune. How could he have ever imagined that something he had no idea he had would keep him safe from such a horrific predator.
“Then how did the subject come up in the past week?” Inspector Shaw inquires. “After all it was you who was responsible for his arrest.”
“I found a diary that he had handwritten under his mattress,” Steve explains. “He described in detail what he had done with campers over the years.” “Before you ask, yes, I did know some of the boy’s names in the book.” “One of the boys was even my best friend for years and he never spoke a word about anything that happened with Coach Denmark.” “That is the problem, there is a code of silence with this group.” “That is why I had hoped that the Diary would be enough to convict Denmark.”
Shaw gets a grim look on his face, “Twenty years ago maybe, but now without someone, just one of the boys to come forward it will be hard to prove anything he wrote is more than just fantasy.” “This friend you mentioned, could I speak with him?” “Would he be willing to testify?”
“Probably not,” Steve says sadly. “Turns out there was a lot going on at that time that he kept secret from me.” Steve know there is no way Shaw can go after Gary now that he is Supreme Warrior. “When I asked him about it, he claimed Coach Denmark was the only one who was there for him back then.” “The only one who gave him respect.” Steve knows he has sugar coated the truth but he feels he has little other choice.
“Typical molester/victim M.O.,” Shaw comments.
“Have you dealt with a lot of these types of cases?” Steve asks as he watches Jeremy and Jesse move into the deeper water to stand side by side facing away from him. They better not be doing what he thinks they are doing. Steve stands up to shout, “Aspen! Roman! get into the shallows, you will get hit by a canoe out there!” The boys begrudgingly do as they are told.
Philadelphia Municipal Court-Criminal Division
1301 Filbert St
Philadelphia, PA
Thaddeus Hobart Edwin Jester takes the stand as the prosecution plays the security video from the Bloomingdale’s Outlet Store. The video clearly shows Jester atop a clothing rack shouting at shoppers. The recording shows no sign of the psionic mask he wore at the time. It also has recorded the moments when the shoppers began to act strangely. Some of them crawl around the floor and eat paper bags. Most notably is that T. H.E. Jester has their full attention, not one of them making any attempt to leave.
“The video clearly shows Mr. Jester influencing others to act unnaturally,” A.D.A. Lopez insists.
“All I see is a man using his right to free speech,” Judge Taft replies. “At most the defendant was disturbing the peace, at least reckless endangerment of himself and others.” “I find that the defendant is to be released and pay a $5000 fine.” “And his Education visa is hereby up for review.”
The man sitting on the stand grins strangely as the Jester’s mask materializes over his face. Pulling himself up on the edge of the Judge’s podium he makes eye contact. “You truly are as big a fool as the rest of humanity!” he says, causing a sudden look of fear on the Judge’s face. “Perhaps the size of your body should match that of your mind.” Instantly with everyone in the room, Judge Taft is reduced to the size of a Ken doll that stands on the desk.
The few witnesses in the courtroom gasp in shock. That is except for one at the back who suddenly appears as a tall young woman with short cropped blue hair dressed in a form-fitting blue jumpsuit with yellow diamonds that run in a line down her chest, splitting off down each of her legs to the top of her yellow boots. “Hold it right there!” she shouts through the courtroom. “Everyone remains calm.” “What you are seeing is an illusion, it isn’t real.” Powersurge’s announcement seems to mean little to the witness as they turn their attention to her.
As does the Jester as he corrupts what they see upon gazing at her. “What are you supposed to be?” he quips. “Punk rock girlie?” “You look dangerous to me, someone should be arresting you!” His works bring Powersurge to the attention of the two bailiffs now under his control. Drawing their nightsticks they make their way toward Powersurge.
“I don’t think so, can’t arrest me if you can’t see or hear me!” Suddenly both large men are sent into a silent darkness that causes them to trip over tables and chairs to the floor. “As for you Jester I am going to take a more direct approach this time!” Instantly a bolt of mental energy streaks across the room from Powersurge’s forehead toward the Jester.
Before Powersurge can see the outcome of her handy work she is tackled by the defense lawyer, Officer Maguire and A.D.A. Lopez. Several more people pile on as she struggles to free herself without hurting these innocent pawns.
“Maguire!” “Get off of her!” Detective Berger shouts, pulling his young partner up by the arm. “Carol!” Carol!” “What do you think you are doing?” he yells trying to reign in the renegade A.D.A.
Then as quickly as it started everyone in the courtroom returned to normal. Even Christine Roberts at the bottom of the pile on the floor. “What happened, who is this girl?” A.D.A. Lopez asks, stepping back from the scene. “A second ago I thought she was a dangerous criminal.” “I can’t comprehend what I thought I was doing.”
“It was the Jester, thanks to Judge Taft insisting his visor be removed,” Berger explains.
“Are you okay, miss?” the defense lawyer asks, helping Christine up from the floor.
“I’m tougher than I look,” she replies, “No damage done.”
“Where is he?” Maguire calls out as the two bailiffs get up from the floor at the front of the courtroom. “He escaped in the confusion he caused.”
Judge Taft stands on top of his desk, returned to his normal size, even though his size never changed. “It seemed so real,” Taft mumbles. “How is any of this possible?”
“It is called Zeni-human abilities!” Detective Berger shouts. “That is what all of these precautions that you ignored have been about!” “Now that guy is loose again and it is on your disbelieving head!” “Maybe next time you are called to serve on one of these “Special” hearings you will take it more seriously!” “Come on Maguire, we need to find this Zeni before he causes more trouble!”
Berger and Maguire leave the courtroom leaving Christine behind. A.D.A. Lopez tries to make sense of what has just happened to them as she cleans up her files. “Excuse me miss, but you look familiar,” she comments to Christine who begins to leave as well. “Could I have seen you in a photograph at the apartment of an ex-boyfriend?”
“Ex-boyfriend?” Christine repeats giving the woman the once over. “Not likely.” “Who was this ex-boyfriend?”
“Detective Berger’s roommate, Steve Roberts,” Carol says, closing her briefcase.
Christine is shocked at first, her brother had a chick this hot? An A.D.A. at that! Then she giggles, “He is my blockhead brother.”
Camp Tandy – Boy’s campsite 3
Glassboro Township
New Jersey
Steve spots Jeremy going into the boy’s bathhouse alone. It has been several days that Steve has wanted to speak privately with Jeremy and this has been his first opportunity. Sprinting across the field Steve manages to get inside the bathhouse as Jeremy is washing his hands at the sink. “I’ve been meaning to speak with you for several days now, but you never seem to be alone.”
“Maybe that is why I am never alone,” Jeremy replies like the rebellious fifteen year old he is.
“Now that Coach Denmark and Barry Ramirez are gone, I need to know did Jesse really give you the bruises that your parents were worried about?” Steve asks, hoping that whatever influence the Satyr or Barry had over Jeremy is gone and will allow him to tell the truth. Jeremy sits down on the bench along the wall. He does not look at all willing to answer Steve’s question, yet he does not leave the bathhouse. “Your parents only wanted me to find out what was going on because they love you.” “Not to invade your privacy or control you.” “I’ve already promised I would not reveal your secret to don’t want to your father, but you have to tell me the truth.” “Coach Denmark has been arrested and there will be charges filed, if you are involved at all I have to warn your father.” “For your safety as much as his own.”
“Yes, Barry gave me those bruises,” Jeremy finally says in a low tone. “I asked Jesse to lie because I was ashamed.”
Steve sits down next to Jeremy on the bench saying, “It is going to be alright, you don’t have to be ashamed if he forced you against your will.” “What happened with Barry?”
Jeremy lets out a deep sigh as he stares at his feet on the floor. “We did some stuff.” “Stuff I had seen him do with other boys in the woods.” “I wanted to give it a try too.” “I asked him to do those things to me.” “I liked what we did in the beginning.” “But then he got rough with me.” “I feel ashamed because I kinda liked it.” “When I got home my parents made such a fuss that I knew I had to end it with Barry.”
Steve isn’t sure what to say to this boy. The questions running through his mind are things he never imagined he would ever ask anyone. “Are you sure that Barry never forced you to do any of… those things?” Steve asks timidly.
“If you are asking when I knew I liked boys and not girls then the answer is the first time I saw you naked in the shower at camp,” Jeremy replied sarcastically.
Steve was surprised by the reply, Jeremy would have been a little kid back then. “Is that true?”
“Does that answer scare you?” Jeremy answered the question. “Does it make you think because you are so hot that you turned me gay?”
“No, don’t be stupid, that is not at all what I am thinking,” Steve says half wondering if that is true. “What about Jesse?” “Where does he fit into this all?”
“Jesse has nothing to do with Barry!” Jeremy exclaims turning to face Steve. “What Jesse and I share is different!” “When Barry got rough with me, I put an end to it!” “I know you think it is wrong, just boys being with boys, but you don’t understand.”
“No, no, it’s not that at all,” Steve insists, standing up from the bench to back away. “I believe that Barry might have been grooming you for something else.” “Something….sinister.”
“Sinister?” Jeremy repeats. “Are you joking?” “You are just like my parents.” “All they want for me is to be a good Catholic boy and they don’t want to hear about how I really feel inside.”
“Perhaps that was the wrong word, I am fine with you being gay and experimenting with your sexuality, to a limit,” Steve tells the boy. “I am just concerned that Barry had more in mind than just rough sex.” “There has been some misconduct going on here at camp for a long time.” “I want to be sure that you were not involved in it.”
“Barry told me he has an older friend who wanted to meet me,” Jeremy starts out feeling embarrassed again. “I said I didn’t want to do that.” “My Dad is always warning me about adults taking advantage of children.” “That was when Barry started getting rough with me.”
“So you had no involvement with Coach Denmark, then?” Steve finally just comes out and asks the question he has been dancing around.
“Gross, no, never!” Jeremy exclaims. “Everyone knows he is a dirty old man!”
“Did Jesse?” Steve asks.
“No, Jesse has only messed around with me,” Jeremy explains. “He has done some hand and mouth stuff with a boy at his boarding school, nothing like I did with Barry.” Jesse falls silent again as his eyes tear up.
“TMI!” Steve replies.
“Are we finished here then?” Jeremy asks, wiping his eyes. “Do you know what to tell my Dad now?” “Are you going to say I was raped?”
“Not at all,” Steve signs. “Probably that the bruises were a one time thing, a fight with a boy who is no longer coming back to camp.”
“Sounds like the truth to me,” Jeremy grins, moving to leave the bathhouse. “Good luck with getting him to believe it!”
Philadelphia Elite Squad office
1st precinct
Philadelphia, Pa
“Detective Berger I need a full report of what happened at the courthouse, pronto!” Commander Olpere announced walking into the Elite Squad room.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Berger says following his Commander into her office. Christine Roberts stands at the side of Paddy’s desk to move over to sit in his chair across from Officer Maguire.
Maguire eyes the young woman strangely as he asks, “How is it the Commander didn’t question your presence here?”
“If I don’t want to be seen by someone then they can not see me,” Christine says smiling. “Like when I was sitting at the back of the courtroom.”
“I guess that explains why all the Commander’s emotions were focused on Detective Berger,” Maguire comments. “Who exactly are you again?”
“Let’s just say I’m the friend of a friend and I’m here to help you recapture the Jester,” Christine replies wondering if she should have kept her Powersurge guise up in front of this guy. She has to wonder if he even knows how powerful he is. He seems to be only using the smallest amount of his potential. What he is using makes him an even easier target for the Jester. Maguire absorbs the Jester’s emotions like a sponge without even realizing it. Probably best if she does not make too many waves. “Have you found anything in his profile that might suggest where he might go?
“Not really,” Maguire replies, flipping through the pages of reports collected on Thaddeus Hobart Edwin Jester. “It’s mostly his academic files.” “He is a Literary major at Temple, if that helps.”
Christine thinks for a minute. “It might.” “Are there any authors in town doing book signings?”
“Book signings?” Officer Maguire questions.
“Yes, Book signings,” Christine repeats. “You said he is a Literary major, right?” “Clearly he is critical of everything American.” “What better place for him to cause a scene than at an American author’s book signing?”
“Let see, local events,” Officer Maguire mutters as he flips through a pack of Event listings dated for the weekend. “Only one book signing today at a Barnes and Noble on Chestnut St.” “Lost Boy Found, the author’s name is Bruce Stacey.”
“Then my guess is the Jester will find his way there one way or another,” Christine concludes.
Camp Tandy – the Soccer Field
Glassboro Township
New Jersey
Steve and Coach Barnes stand at the space between the Soccer and Field Hockey boundary lines. “Trouble with the State Policeman?” Coach Barnes inquired.
“No, not at all I have it all under control,” Steve replies.
“Then what are you doing here?” she asks. Steve stares off across the field where the kids play soccer as coached by Diana. Ava catches sight of what Steve is watching. “You’re here to ogle Sylvia!” she charges. “She told me how the two of you met here years ago.” “Itβs a shame I was not here that year.” “Maybe things could have turned out differently.”
“How could things have turned out differently?” Steve replies glaring at Coach Barnes. “There is no way I could ever be more than a friend to her.” “We are from different worlds.”
Ava chuckles at him, “What did your mother tell you?” “Just because you are stronger doesn’t mean you can’t make love to someone normal.” “Hell, where do you think you came from?” “Or my descendants?”
“That is different, I am a man with the full strength of an amazon,” Steve whispers. “A normal man is stronger than a normal woman, men are more dominant than women.”
“For someone raised by an amazon you are sounding rather chauvinist,” Ava comments. “There are other options if that worries you so much, other Zeni-humans.” “But, I must admit watching your foolishness is rather amusing.”
“You sound like my mother, pushing me to go after Miracle Maiden,” Steve admits. “No matter how much I tell her that woman has no interest in me.”
Coach Barnes chuckles to herself again. “Maybe your mother knows something you don’t.”
“Just drop it.” “That is not why I am here anyway, I am here to talk to you about this problem with the Satyr,” Steve tells Coach Barnes.
“What problem?” she replies. “I took care of it.” “I took away his prosperity.” “He will remain human until he admits the error of his ways.” “And believe me when I say no Satyr in history has ever done that!”
“But there are still decades of abuse at this camp that must be investigated and explained,” Steve challenges.
“With the Satyr powerless all of that should fade away in time,” Coach Barnes tells him. “Have you ever heard of the term, ‘Unsolved Mystery’?” “Magic has a way of hiding itself from non-believers.” “Sure the boys involved might have troubled lives, but there is little anyone other than themselves can do to correct that.” “As for your Inspector Shaw, his mind will not be able to comprehend the existence of such a thing as a Satyr.” “Most likely in the long run the men corrupted by the Satyr will come to believe that their actions were their own.”
“How can you be so cold?” Steve asks.
“It is the way of the world,” Ava replies. “In a few hundred years or so you will learn that horrible things happen to innocent people and there is nothing you can do to change that.”
“Now you really do sound like my mother,” Steve comments. “I’ll tell you what I told her, that may be true but I intend on doing whatever I can to help in the meantime.”
“Not surprising, when you have been around for as long as I have you will understand things clearer.” “Perhaps I could do something to throw Inspector Shaw off his game.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Steve says. “Just how much ‘godly power’ do you have?”
“Please humans are much more easily manipulated than that,” Ava tells him. “Even though you may not be a part of it.β “There is plenty of sex going on at this camp.” “Shaw is an attractive man, I would be more than willing to distract him, shall I say.”
“What kind of an example would that set for Avery?” Steve asks disapprovingly.
“One that shows that just because the love of your life is dead you need to live on,” Ava tells him. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that your mother did not tell you about amazon soulmates.” “If she had you would be more active in finding yours.”
“Of course she has told me how she and my father have reconnected over many of his lifetimes, but I am not a true original amazon,” Steve explains.
“You really don’t have any idea how the universe works do you?” Coach Barnes says giving him a shove that almost knocks him over. “For a guy who can see the future you don’t put much faith in the past.” “Look, I’ve got a lesson with Avery now so you should get lost.”
Steve turns to walk back across the field toward the Lodge. Thinking over what Ava has said. Does he have a soulmate out there somewhere? Is his resistance to finding her causing her as much pain as it causes him?” Then he thinks about the statement, Magic has a way of hiding itself. What was it that old man at the Enchanted Suites, Bed and Breakfast said? “I wish I had a go at that Diana when I had the chance.” At the time Steve brushed it off as the ramblings a senile old man. In the end he was some kind of wizard claiming to be from the future. The fact that looking back now some of the other things he said to Steve make sense. Will the old wizard really know Diana in the future? It makes no sense to Steve that one day his Diana would know such a person. If magic has a way of hiding itself perhaps Diana has no idea she even knows the old man. Steve’s little talk with Ava has left him more confused than ever.
Barnes and Noble
1708 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA
Bruce Stacey sits at a table set up at the front of the book store. Behind him his constant companion Phil Kinkaid stands like a watchful guard. Not many customers show any interest in getting a signed book from Bruce as he sits doodling on a notepad. “I feel like this was a mistake,” Bruce comments to Phil. “No one in Philadelphia even knows who I am or anything about my book.” “Nor do they seem to care.”
“Mr. Alameda is well aware of that, but he insisted that this is the best way to get your book known,” Phil repeated for the third time today. “You have signed two books already, that is a good start.”
“Both of them were young women,” Bruce commented. “Do you remember what happened last time?” “It was almost like Mr. Alameda knew all of that was going to happen.” “Makes me wonder what is going to happen here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, how could Mr. Alameda have known about any of that weird stuff?” Phil suggests.
“You have a lot of faith in Mr. Alameda,” Bruce comments. “I’d say almost blind faith.”
“Is everything a conspiracy with you?” Phil questions.
“I’m still getting used to being around people other than my father,” Bruce reminds. “He had a lot of fears about conspiracies.” “I don’t completely share his fear but I can see where it comes from now that I am living in the city.” “Take Ms. Armstrong for example.” “She clearly hates me!” “Do you think she will quit her job after what happened to Derek?” Bruce asks. “She did refuse to come on this trip, Alameda might fire her.”
“Why would you even suggest such a thing?” Phil asks. “Ms. Armstrong is a dedicated professional, she simply had other commitments when Mr. Alameda scheduled this signing at the last minute.”
“You were not there when I first arrived in her office, she wanted no part of my book,” Bruce explains. “Mr. Alameda forced the assignment on her.” “No one appears to refuse him, she is the only one that makes it clear she does not like what he is making her do.”
“Mr. Alameda is a wealthy and powerful man in the publishing business, crossing him is not good for anyone’s career,” Phil tells the naive young man as someone else approaches the table. “Now keep your mind on signing books.
The tall thin young man with light brown hair and green eyes stands over Bruce where he sits behind the table. “You question the statistique?” the Jester asks as a strange mask appears over his face to hide all but his green eyes.
“No, not at all,” Bruce replies, slightly mesmerized by the man’s gaze. “Why do people act the way they do?”
The Jester picks up a copy of Bruce’s book; Lost Boy Found. He reads the back cover, his face hidden behind the emotionless mask, that no one finds out of place. “You live in a fantasy world, not unlike everyone else in this city.” “But a different one.” “One where a villainous alien race destroys a planet because they can.” “Imagine that you were the only person alive who could save that world!” “Not just using this one book to do it, but every book in this store!”
Before the Jester can pass his judgment of Bruce something happens to distract him. It begins slowly at first as a soft breeze washes over the store outward from where Bruce sits. Then there is a low rumbling sound as every book on every shelf begins to bounce slightly. Customers in the bookstore look for a source of the disturbance as Bruce stands up from his chair behind the table. His eyes glazed over as if he was unaware of what’s happening. The copies of his book stacked on the table lift up into the air. Falling in line the books begin to float, forming a barrier around Bruce soon obscuring him from sight.
“Bruce!” Phil shouts, “What are you doing?”
Some of the customers begin to flee the shop as others watch in amazement. The Jester is one that remains, eager to see what happens next. He knows he has awakened something unexpected inside this author. “You are very powerful, aren’t you?” the Jester purrs as the books begin to fall to the floor. When the last book hits the floor next to his gray boot it is revealed that Olympian now stands among the chaos.
“I will save my world if it is the last thing I do!” Olympian announces.
“Will you save your world from its alien destroyers?” the Jester chortles.
“I will use my power to decimate the destroyers!” Olympian replies lost in the illusion of his home world reborn here in the bookstore. He raises his arms taking control of the books on the shelves again, this time completely. Each volume leaves its resting place to sail outward into the room toward unsuspecting customers who are still trying to comprehend what is happening. There are screams and shouts as the helpless patrons of the shop try to flee for the doors.
Olympian sees a much different scene through the illusions cast by the Jester. In his eyes he sees a spaceport overrun with parasitic creatures known as Gujarat that have attached themselves to the victim. Victims that can only be saved by being rendered unconscious before the parasites can completely consume their minds. Olympian has taken down several customers of the bookstore, some of them bleeding from injuries.
People push past each other out the double doors. When the last customer escapes the store a colorful figure enters. “That will be enough, Jester!” Powersurge announces.
“Who the hell are you anyway?” The Jester shouts recognizing her from the courtroom. “It matters little, I’ve found my hero and it is not you!” “There she is my hero, the Spartan Commander!” Jester shouts using the name of the invaders from Bruce Stacey’s book.
Olympian turns to face Powersurge who stands in the doorway. The illusion he sees is much different than the one Christine Roberts projects. He spies a thin pale green scaly skinned alien. Its face has a flat nose, deep sunken eyes with a thin lipped mouth stretched over sharp jagged teeth. Olympian’s anger flares and with it his power surges. This time it is not only the books that lift from the shelves but the shelves themselves that come loose from the bookcases. Two large oak shelving units send thick planks of oak towards Powersurge.
Powersurge reacts with speed and skill to release a telekinetic blast that repels the attacking shelves. The attack does not end as the confused Olympian continues to send the oak boards at her in multiple numbers. When the shelving is exhausted, tables, chairs and even the antique cash register comes at Powersurge.
Powersurge can feel her power wane as her head begins to hurt. She has stretched her mental powers far beyond anything she has done. This man’s power is like nothing she has ever faced. It is almost impossible for her to identify how it works. A search for answers has distracted Powersurge as a large walnut table punches through her defenses. Raising her arm to block it. To her surprise she finds that she does have enough amazon DNA in her body to split the table in two. It is the cash register that follows close behind the table that strikes her in the face. The collision sends her back, crashing through the front windows of the store window to the street outside.
Spotting Powersurge hitting the street sidewalk at the front of the book store, Detective Berger charges toward her. There are only seconds before Powersurge loses consciousness when something buried deep down in her mind lashes out. It is the last glimmer of the Wrath’s power that Powersurge didn’t even know she still had inside of her. It reaches out across the miles much further than Powersurge could do on her own to summon another for help to the scene.
Camp Tandy – the lodge
Glassboro Township
New Jersey
It has been a rather mundane day at Camp Tandy that now draws to a close. Steve, Diana and Ava are helping with cleaning up after dinner in the kitchen. They chat like old friends even though they have met only weeks prior. Then suddenly Steve is struck down by an invisible force. Falling backwards to the floor all of the kitchen staff hurries to surround him. It takes Steve a moment to comprehend what has just happened as he looks to the many concerned faces all around him.
“Oh my God, Steve, what happened?” Diana asks in a panic.
“I have to go!” Steve exclaims as he jumps up from the floor pushing past everyone. Without another word, he runs for the exit at the back of the kitchen.
“Wait Steve, you should see the nurse?” Diana shouts following after him.
“I would guess that the Pepto he took just kicked in,” Ava calls after them. “He’ll be fine!”
Diana follows Steve out the Lodge door that faces the parking lot. He is gone, there is no sign of him anywhere. She runs to the side of the building where the path leading to the Campsites begins. Still no sign of him. She turns back to Ava who has followed her out.
“I told you when you have to go, you have to go,” she grins, hoping to put Diana off of Steve’s trail. She too felt the arrival of the telepathic summons that struck him. Her powers allow her to feel such things if not hear the message they bring. No doubt it is something for Master Warrior to deal with.
“I’m just concerned, it all was very strange,” Diana says walking back to the door with Ava. “In the past few years so much strange stuff has happened around me I just hope I have not involved Steve somehow.”
“I don’t think you have a thing to worry about,” Ava smiles, trying to calm her worry.
Nearly ten miles away already, Master Warrior soars high over the trees back toward Philadelphia. The power of Wrath brought him more than just a summons. It also brought him the extra strength to navigate the trip home in minutes. Master Warrior arrives over Chestnut Street to feel the surge of danger at the base of his skull. Flying northward he spots ground zero. The front facade of the Barnes and Noble store is on the sidewalk. Most of the contents of the store are scattered on the street. There is an Ambulance closing in from the south and several police squad cars already on the scene. Like most dangerous events in the city, people are standing too close trying to rubberneck the scene. Scanning the crowd with his sharp eyes he spots Paddy Berger carrying a young girl away from the chaos. He is taking her to his unmarked car. He wants to head for his friend to find out what is going on but before he can change course he is hit with a flying car.
The force of the impact sends Master Warrior back across the city skyline. Without leverage he has no chance of stopping the projectile mid-air, but that is not a problem for long as he hits the side of the PSFS building. Crashing into the wall between floors most of the people working inside avoid serious injury. The wrecked car lodged between the tenth and eleventh floors Master Warrior pulls himself free up to the upper floor. “Is anyone badly hurt,” he shouts looking around the office’s trenched out floor that has displaced desks, table and chairs on both sides of it. He only sees a few bumps and bruises. Most of the people are more in shock than injured. Luckily the breakaway glass on the windows has all crumbled down to the street below like a hail storm not cutting anyone seriously. Getting a thumbs up from several of the men on the floor, Master Warrior drops down to the floor below.
The moment Master Warrior’s feet touch the floor, a woman lets out a blood curdling scream.
He turns to see an elderly woman shouting and pointing at him, “Your Back, Your Back!” she shouts.
Master Warrior looks over his shoulder to see a large steel shard sticking out from his exposed left shoulder. In all of the excitement he hadn’t even noticed the pain. Now that he has seen the blood draining down his back the pain surges.
“Stay calm,” a woman dressed in a white uniform says. “This is a doctor’s office, we need to get you to a hospital.”
“No, no, I’ll be fine if someone can just pull it out,” Master Warrior replies. “It is only a flesh wound, it will close up quickly.”
“No, it isn’t, you are in shock now, come with me to the doctor so he can stem the bleeding,” the nurse tells him, taking him out of the waiting room to an exam room.
The doctor arrives almost immediately. “Oh my, how did this happen?” the doctor questions, standing behind Master Warrior, eyeing the chunk of the building’s structure sticking from his shoulder.
“I appreciate your concern but I really don’t have time for this,” Master Warrior says. “It is just a flesh wound, if you just pull it out, it will close up quickly.” The doctor gives him the same look as the nurse did. “Look I was just hit with a car and pile driven through a building, when I tell you I will be fine, I will be fine.\
“You’re that Master Warrior guy aren’t you?” the doctor asks.
“Yes and something more dangerous than you pulling out this metal is happening on Chestnut street,” Master Warrior tells the doctor. “Now pull this thing out!”
The doctor takes hold of the shard examining the depth of the wound. Master Warrior is not bleeding nearly as much as he would expect someone to be with this injury. “Are you sure?” the doctor asks.
Leaning forward to take hold of the exam table, Master Warrior replies, “Yes, now just do it!” “All at once!” Master Warrior grips the table and grits his teeth as the doctor gives the metal shard a yank. “Fuck!” he mutters under his breath as the metal slides from his flesh. The doctor watches in amazement as the wound stops bleeding almost instantly and scabs over in minutes.
Then suddenly the plate glass windows of the tenth floor exam room exploded inward. Master Warrior shields the doctor with his body, telling him to “Get out!” The doctor does as he is told fleeing out the door of the exam room. Master Warrior’s attention remains on the broken windows as a familiar masked, gray and maroon costume man floats into the room. “Olympian, what is going on here?” he asks, confused by the sudden appearance of the hero from St. Louis.
“What is going on is the end of your annihilation of my people!” Olympian replies, raising his hand toward Master Warrior. Olympian’s eyes glow as bright as stars, showing only hatred.
Master Warrior raises his gauntlets to shield himself from the Null-force that Olympian fires at him. He is not sure what is going on but he has seen the outcome of this man’s power blasts before and he has no intent on taking it unprotected. Master Warrior’s gauntlets begin to absorb the force of the Null-force blast, but something is not right. His arms begin to feel heavy and suddenly he is finding it hard to breathe. He needs to end what appears to be the bottomless well of Olympian’s power.
Removing his right arm from the flow of Null-force, Master Warrior strains to hold it back with his remaining gauntlet. Reaching for his Arsenal on his thigh he raises the weapon in the form of a smooth ball and chain mace that he quickly begins to swing at his side. Then releasing the golden mace to let it fly. Master Warrior’s aim is true as the mace strikes Olympian in the throat. The force of the impact sends Olympian backwards out of the broken window, ending his attack.
Master Warrior takes only a few seconds to catch his breath. He retrieves his arsenal before diving out of the tenth floor window after the man he thought was a friend. As Master Warrior takes control of his descent he catches sight of Olympian hitting the ground and the plume of dust that rises from the spot.
“Master Warrior!” Detective Berger shouts charging toward him from his car. “He is not the core problem, it is a guy in the book shop!” Paddy points back to the Barnes and Noble store a few blocks away now. “His name is Jester!” Master Warrior changes his course to return to Chestnut Street.
The two block trip takes only seconds. “Jester?” Master Warrior calls out as he glides in through the demolished front of the store. “A pretty ridiculous name for a guy causing so much trouble.”
“Look at you, you are the prototype of American ridiculousness!” the Jester shouts in his British accent at Master Warrior. “You look like a reject from the Village People!” Jester exclaims reaching his hypnotic power out toward Master Warrior. “Why not sing us a few verses of YMCA?”.
“YMCA….” “I guess that was supposed to offend me somehow?” Master Warrior questions, completely unaffected by the Jester’s power.
Other than these two men the book store is completely empty. His power having no effect on Master Warrior, the Jester suddenly feels cornered. Turning toward the back of the store to flee the hypnotic masked man makes a run for it. Before Master Warrior can give chase the villain is struck by a blast of blue and yellow energy that sends him back into a bookcase and then to the floor unconscious.
Drawing out his arsenal in the form of a quarter-staff, Master Warrior prepares for another fight as a figure enters the store from the back. “Without his muscle, he wasn’t that hard to short circuit,” Powersurge says stepping into the light.
“What are you doing?” Master Warrior shouts. “You promised none of this stuff until you told Mom and Dad!”
“It is kind of hard to avoid when this crazy escapes his court hearing and then attacks a Barnes and Noble,” Powersurge confesses.
“It is all my fault,” Detective Berger says entering the shop with a squad of armed officers. “You weren’t around and she was, so I asked for her help.” The cops led by Officer Maguire swarm in on the Jester. Maguire places the headgear the man wore in the courtroom back over the Jester’s eyes.
Master Warrior turns to his friend, giving him a grimace under his facial disguise. “You are a horrible liar, Paddy.” “The fact that you know who she is tells me she told you, when I said not to do that.”
“I would have had this all in hand if it wasn’t for that big lug author having super-powers,” Powersurge explains. “He caught me off guard is all.”
“My point exactly!” Master Warrior says reaching for the wound on his left shoulder.
“Looks like you got caught off guard too,” Paddy commented as the sight of the dried blood on his back. “What happened to that danger sense of yours?”
“My head was still spinning from the urgent telepathic messages I got to come here,” Master Warrior explains, turning to his sister. “It must have blocked my danger sense.” “I assume that was you.”
“I guess so, it was the last of the power of the Wrath,” Powersurge explains. “I didn’t even know I had it inside of me still.” “I guess when my power was pushed to the limit it called out to you.”
“So what happens the next time you’re overwhelmed?” Master Warrior asks, glaring at his baby sister. “You really need to be more careful, know your limits before you jump into a fight with an unknown foe.”
“What happened here?” Olympian asks, walking into the book store. “My head feels like it has been run over by a truck.”
“Who are you anyway?” Powersurge asks the masked man.
“This is Olympian and you would know that if you weren’t running around using your powers so carelessly,” Master Warrior replies.
“I really think you need to take this family disagreement elsewhere,” Paddy suggests as the S.W.A.T. arrives. “You too,” he tells Olympian. “I should be able to handle the paperwork as usual.”
The road into Camp Tandy
Glassboro Township
New Jersey
Flying at near top speed to return to Camp before getting caught missing again, Master Warrior still simmers with annoyance over his sister’s actions as Powersurge. About a mile from Camp Tandy he spots something happening on the road ahead. It is Avery, he is being attacked by a huge Earthen monster.
Increasing his speed Master Warrior swoops to hit the Golem in the head with both of his fists. The creature’s head is shattered into many chunks that spray everywhere. Master Warrior grabs Avery by the arm to free him from the monster’s headless body. “Avery!” “Are you alright?” he exclaims, carrying the boy several yards down the road away from the fallen Golem. “What magical madness has happened since I left?”
“You Idiot!” Asuma shouts as she appears in full armor. “This was Avery’s final test and now you have interrupted it!” “The boy must defeat the Golem on his own.” “Your intervention has just increased the difficulty level of the test by double!” “He will be lucky if he even survives it now!”
In the forest all around them, they can hear movement. Master Warrior does feel like an idiot, he has just done what he was chastising Christine for doing. Then from the forest on either side of the road a new Golem emerges. “Now there are two!” Master Warrior exclaims. “How is this kid supposed to stop two of them?”
“That is what he must figure out!” Asuma replies. “If you interfere again, three will rise up.” “Only Avery Lewis can defeat them with his power, skill and wisdom.”
This is ridiculous, Master Warrior thinks. It is even worse than the tests his mother used to give him.
“I can do this Steve!” Avery shouts as he begins to run at super-speed around both of the Golems. Each time he passes one of the earthen creatures he skims it with his armored shoulder. Avery’s speed and velocity increase the force of each tap, causing the two creatures to draw closer together. Within seconds Avery has forced the Golem to collide with each other. The force of the collision causes the two seven foot tall creatures to combine becoming one 11 foot behemoth. It is then that Avery’s super-speed abandons him causing him to stumble and trip.
The armor on his back, chest and arm shield him as he slides down the blacktopped road. Seeing Avery fall, Master Warrior fears for the young man’s life. He can not help himself as he intervenes again, leading Asuma no choice but to stop him. Master Warrior leaps at the huge Golem swinging a large sledge hammer shaped out of this arsenal.
Asuma brings the fight to him by sending a large boulder airborne to strike Master Warrior in his side, knocking him from the sky. Charging forward Asuma shouts, “I told you not to interfere!” “He must conquer this foe on his own!” As Master Warrior pushes aside the boulder that pins him down Asuma leaps at him wielding a golden staff.
Master Warrior blocks strike after strike of Asuma’s staff with his gauntlets absorbing the force of the contacts. Although his shoulder is healed shut by now it is still a source of pain. Asuma picks up on the recent injury to focus on it. She forces him to guard his injury making it even clearer to her where to strike him.
As Asuma and Master Warrior fight he is caught off guard by how much stronger she is than him this time. Then he realizes that he is not fighting an ordinary amazon. Asuma is an amazon-demi-goddess. She is using the power of her father to give herself prosperity in this fight.
“How old are you anyway?” Asuma grins as her staff is locked between Master Warrior’s gauntlets.
Through clenched teeth as he fights back against her sheer strength he says, “My birthday is January 1, 1966, I am 22.”
Asuma draws back her staff to swing it around to hit him in the side. “My birthday is also January first!” she shouts. “I was one thousand years old this year, yield to me!” She moves swiftly now to spin her staff around to land the tip into the fresh scar on his shoulder.
Master Warrior cries out in pain as his knees buckle. “Please we don’t need to do this!” “I was only trying to give the boy a chance to recover.”
“And I told you, NO!” Asuma shouts, swinging her staff to hit him across the face. It is another blow that he blocks this time by grabbing her weapon.
“You are not my Mother,” Master Warrior growls. “You have no right to tell me anything.”
Not far away from where Asuma and Master Warrior squabble, Avery Lewis continues his fight against the Golem. His speed gone, Avery remembers something Steve told him. “His powers are based on his emotions.” Excitement is where his speed comes from, when he calms down his speed vanishes. Avery soon discovers that stopping to think this over was a mistake as the huge Golem swings its arm at him. It is fear that triggers a different power in Avery. Like the arrow whose course he changed weeks ago it is another wooden object that comes to his defense. A large limb snaps loose off a tree high overhead to crash down severing the Golem’s arm. At first it seems like a stroke of luck to Avery and then he realizes that the momentum of the arm is causing it to continue toward him. His super-speed gone he is barely able to spring backward allowing the hundreds of pounds of earth and rock to hit his legs. Knocked to the ground Avery is pinned under the huge arm. He tries to kick his feet loose as the Golem. moves to loom over him.
The massive Golem arm across Avery’s legs crumbles into the chunks of earth and rocks from which it was created. The weight reduced, Avery manages to scramble away across the street as the creature brings down its remaining fist at him. Backing away down the road Avery can tell the creature is weakened, moving slower without its right arm. Although it still does follow after him dragging its large feet over the blacktop.
Then Avery spots the loose gravel on the road being gathered up by the Golem’s feet. The gravel travels up the creature’s side to begin the creation of a new arm. This time out of solid stone. It seems impossible and it begins to piss Avery off that it is happening. Just when he begins to think he is making progress this thing gets stronger. As his anger grows so do the storm clouds overhead in the sky.
Further back the road where Master Warrior and Asuma are locked in combat. They fight to a draw, two battle lances locked in place a struggle or pure strength. Each gritting their teeth to force the other to submit. As thunder rumbles Asuma’s stance changes as she steps back away from Master Warrior as if to surrender. “There is no need for this now,” she tells him. “He has found his strength, he is about to end it.”
“What are you talking about?” Master Warrior asks in confusion as he lowers his arsenal. He then takes notice of the storm clouds forming overhead. At the rapid speed the clouds gather and grow it becomes clear there is nothing natural about this weather system.
“Don’t you see,” Asuma asks him. “It is the will of my father.” “Each of my descendants must be tested by the one aberration that only they can defeat with their own unique power.” “It would appear that Avery has at last found his power deep inside himself.” “Control of the weather has brought just as much fortune as destruction.” Asuma begins to jog down the road away from Camp Tandy to where her descendent fights for his life against the apparently unstoppable Golem.
Master Warrior follows after the Demi-goddess as the own pour of rain begins. He arrives just in time to see a large lightning bolt strike down from the sky at the Golem. The earth and stone creature is instantly shattered into thousands of tiny pieces that explode outward. Master Warrior stands in awl watching as Avery turns to use the armor shielding on his back to protect himself from the muddy chunks. Then the oddly focused downpour pelts the remains of the Golem, turning it to mud and washing it off the road into the gutter. Asuma, Master Warrior and Avery watch from only yards away from where the Golem once stood.
Then the rain stops and the night sky clears as quickly as it changed the first time. “That was amazing!” Avery exclaims, “Did I do that?”
Asuma approaches the teen putting her arm around his shoulders. “Like all of my descendants your power draws on one type of prosperity.” “Controlling the Weather is a remarkable gift!” “It can bring both property and take it away if used inappropriately.” “In time you will be able to actively control the weather, but until you learn to do that it will come in your time of greatest need.”
“So I can control the weather, my Dad never did anything like that,” Avery replies. “His power is more like helping people find their way.”
“Your father’s power is different from yours like so many fathers and sons before you,” Asuma explains. “And it will come and go, only working when you need it the most.” “In other words it will never work to your own advantage.”
“What does that mean?” Avery asks.
“She means you will not be able to use it to make a living or become famous,” Master Warrior suggests to a nod of the Demi-goddess’s head.
“Then I will never be able to use this power to be a hero, like you?” Avery quizzes.
“It would seem that way,” Master Warrior says.
“You must find your own path, if you truly want to help others there are other ways of doing that than being a superhero,” Asuma tells her progeny.
“That is fine, I have no wish to do what Master Warrior does,” Avery smirks. “I’d look silly in spandex.”