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"writing": "[center]Talk to the Animals\n\na story set in the universe of Champions Online\n[/center]\n\n \"Lucy, did you hear me?\"\n\tLucy Pinchard started as she realized her teacher was addressing her, and turned in her seat to face him. \"Sorry, Mr. Taylor,\" she said. \"I was listening to the birds.\"\n\tThe classroom erupted into laughter, which Mr. Taylor quashed immediately with a stern order to be quiet. \"Come here, Lucy,\" he ordered her.\n\t\tLucy sighed, rose from her chair, and walked toward him. She was in trouble again. As she passed by their desks, she could hear her classmates whispering. \"Airhead!\" \"Goofball!\" \"She thinks because her dad is a senator she doesn't have to pay attention in class.\" It wasn't her fault that listening to a pair of mockingbirds arguing about where to build their nest was more interesting than listening to Mr. Taylor drone on about math. \n\tShe stopped before Mr. Taylor, her head lowered. He was sitting at his desk writing a hall pass. \"As I was saying,\" said Mr. Taylor, \"the principal wants to see you in her office immediately. Apparently, there's an emergency involving your family.\"\n\tLucy's head jerked up, eyes wide. \"An emergency? What is it?\"\n\t\"She didn't say,\" Taylor replied, handing her the slip of paper. \"Here you go. I hope everything turns out all right.\"\n\tLucy swallowed, her heart pounding. \"Thank you, Mr. Taylor!\" She ran to the door, yanked it open, and dashed out into the hall. An emergency, she thought as she ran. Could it be something to do with her father? Senators were important people, and there were people who wanted to hurt them. She remembered hearing about a senator who was murdered by VIPER down in Mexico last year. It had made her mother upset. If VIPER could kill one senator, her mother had said, it could kill another. Her father had reassured her. They were protected by the FBI, he'd said. Two of their agents always escorted Lucy to and from school. There was nothing to worry about. They were perfectly safe.\n\tLucy arrived at the office of the principal, Mrs. Acevedo, and entered. Mrs. Acevedo was sitting behind her desk. Beside her stood two men in dark suits, wearing sunglasses. \"Hello, Lucy,\" said Mrs. Acevedo, smiling at her. \"These two men are here to escort you home.\"\n\tLucy frowned. Something was wrong. Mrs. Acevedo never smiled. The other kids called her Old Stoneface. She glanced at the two men in sunglasses. They were not the FBI agents who had brought her here this morning. \"Where are Agent Hayhurst and Agent Roberson?\" Lucy asked.\n\t\"They were called away,\" said one of the men. \"Come with us, Lucy.\"\n\tLucy shook her head. \"No. I don't know you.\"\n\t\"She's wise, Don,\" said the other man.\n\t\"Shut up, Mike!\" the first growled.\n\tLucy began backing away. She glanced at Mrs. Acevedo. She was still seated at her desk, still smiling. Lucy ran out into the hall, slamming the door behind her. \"Help!\" she yelled, running toward the nearest exit. \"Help me!\"\n\n\t\"You can take him, Stacey,\" said Rick. \"He's not so big.\"\n\tStacey Summers glanced down at her companion. He was a humanoid raccoon, three feet tall, wearing a green sleeveless tunic and trousers with white edging and a gold cloth belt. \"Easy for you to say, Mr. Trained-on-an-Island-for-Seven-Years-with-a-Master.\"\n\tRick shrugged his furry shoulders. \"Kenji was a master, too.\"\n\tStacey took a deep breath and entered the ring. Her opponent was Thomas Shook, a member of the team representing Jonny Li's Temple of Kung Fu. She smirked. At least that meant he'd have sub-standard training. They walked up and bowed to each other, Shook grinning smugly at the much smaller blonde woman before him. Then they both dropped into combat stances and waited for the referee's signal for the contest to begin.\n\t\"Fight!\" the ref shouted.\n\tShook attacked first, launching a kick at her, which she easily blocked, giving ground. He advanced and threw a punch, which she dodged, dancing around while she studied his movements. Apart from his shoddy footwork, Shook wasn't bad for one of Jonny Li's—not surprising, since Li would want to bring his best to this tournament. For one of his students to win first prize at the All-American Mixed Martial Arts Competition in Washington, D.C., would mean a huge boost to the prestige of the Temple of Kung Fu. That meant more students, which meant more money, which was always Jonny Li's first priority. Stacey, on the other hand, didn't expect to win. Kenji had taught her that. Don't expect to win. Don't expect to lose. Don't expect anything.\n\tShook threw another kick at her, and with expert timing, Stacey dropped and swept her leg beneath him, knocking his remaining leg out from under him. As Shook fell heavily on his ass, a chorus of oohs issued from the spectators, which made her grin. Audiences loved it when smaller opponents got the better of larger ones. Plus, she was now ahead on points.\n\tShook got to his feet, glaring at her for making him look bad, and the fight resumed. Stacey decided to go on the offensive, launching a dizzyingly fast punch-kick-punch combination, which caught Shook off guard, forcing him backward. She followed up with a kick to the midriff, which landed solidly and made him grunt. Another point. Shook growled as Stacey danced away, and then he charged like a maddened bull. Grinning, she seized his arm and the hem of his tunic while twisting her slender body, and Shook went flying past, landing on the mat with a resounding thud, scoring her third and final point. The crowd cheered, and the referee declared the fight over with Stacey Summers the winner, three to zero.\n\tStacey walked back to her seat, feeling good about herself and relishing the sour looks she was getting from Jonny Li's team. \"Not bad, huh?\" she asked Rick as she sat down. When the raccoon didn't reply, she glanced down at him. He was rubbing his temples, as though he had a headache. \"Rick, are you okay?\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Don't you hear it?\"\n\tStacey stared at him. \"Hear what?\"\n\t\"A little girl, calling for help.\"\n\tStacey shook her head. \"Can barely hear you over all this noise.\"\n\tRick slid out of his chair. \"I have to go.\"\n\t\"Rick?\" Stacey asked, looking puzzled, but the raccoon ignored her, heading for the nearest exit. Stacey rose and went after him.\n\tRick emerged from the Keesler Convention Center onto the street and paused, ears pricked up. The sound he'd been hearing, he realized, had not been a sound at all but something in his head, which made it hard to determine where it was coming from. However, he did feel a compulsion to move in a certain direction. It wasn't strong enough to force him, but it was definitely there. He began running along the sidewalk in the direction it wanted him to go.\n\t\"Rick, where are you going?\" Stacey cried, as she emerged from the building.\n\t\"I don't know!\" Rick yelled over his shoulder at her.\n\tStacey pursed her lips in annoyance and ran after him.\n\n\tLucy looked back as she ran along a tree-lined residential street near her school. Those two phony FBI agents were closing on her. An eleven-year-old girl couldn't outrun two grown men. She whimpered, wondering if they were VIPER agents and what they might do to her if they caught her. VIPER was very bad.\n\tShe heard one of them cry out in surprise, and stopped and turned to see what was happening. Her eyes widened. The two men were waving their arms around, fending off a flock of crows. Or a murder, that was what you called a group of crows, wasn't it? A murder of crows. One of the men drew a pistol from his jacket. A beam of blue-white light shot from the gun with a loud screech, and several crows fell to the ground, burned to a crisp. The rest continued singlemindedly attacking the two men, flapping and pecking. \n\tLucy turned and resumed running, hearing more screeches behind her. She ran up to the door of the nearest house and pounded on it, crying and pleading for help. There was no answer. She looked back fearfully. The two men were running down the street toward her, their faces streaked with blood. She pressed her back against the door, trembling. Then a German shepherd dog came bounding across the yard, heading straight for the two men, barking savagely at them. One of them aimed his gun, and its beam burned through the dog's body, killing it. The two men continued to advance toward her.\n\t\"Looks like Darke was right,\" one of them said. \"She [i]can[/i] control animals!\"\n\t\"Don't be afraid, little girl,\" the other said, trying to smile reassuringly through the blood dripping down his face. \"We're not going to hurt you. We just want to take you to see someone.\"\n\t\"Go away!\" Lucy shrieked, cowering against the door.\n\t\"I'd do as the lady said, if I were you,\" came a soft voice from behind the men.\n\tThe two men turned around and were rewarded with the remarkable sight of a three-foot-tall humanoid raccoon standing on the lawn, dressed in green trousers and a belted green tunic. The raccoon's lips were pulled back, exposing a mouth lined with sharp, white teeth.\n\t\"What the hell?\" one of the men asked, astonished.\n\t\"It's one of those manimal freaks!\" the other yelled. \"Kill it!\" He aimed his pistol at Rick.\n\tRick dove aside as the beam from the pistol scorched the grass he'd been standing on. He rolled when he hit the ground and came up behind a stout oak tree growing in the yard.\n\t\"Flank him!\" the shooter ordered his partner. The second man nodded and moved to get the raccoon in his sights, while the first man kept his gun aimed at the tree, pinning Rick down.\n\t\"Rick!\" shouted Stacey from the street, causing the second man to spin and fire. She dodged as the beam burned past her, flattening herself against another tree. Rick took advantage of the distraction, leaping at the second man and tackling him. They went down on the lawn together.\n\t\"Shit!\" the first man swore, unable to get a clear shot at Rick without hitting his partner. Still pressed against the door, Lucy glanced to her left and saw Stacey come around the side of the house, trying to get behind the first man. \n\tThe first man fired when he thought he saw an opening, but the beam only grazed Rick's shoulder while boring straight through the chest of his partner, killing him instantly. Rick clapped a hand over his burned shoulder, gritting his teeth against the pain. As the first man took aim at the wounded raccoon, Stacey attacked from behind, striking him in the kidney. The man groaned and fell to his knees, and Stacey finished him off with a kick to the head. Then she ran to Rick and knelt beside him, inspecting his wound.\n\t\"It doesn't look too bad,\" she said. \"That beam cauterized the flesh, so at least you're not bleeding. That's a nasty burn, though.\"\n\t\"Lucky for me I have a registered nurse on hand,\" said Rick, grinning weakly.\n\tStacey smiled back and ruffled his head and ears. Then she looked over at Lucy. \"Are you all right, little girl?\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"Thank you.\"\n\tStacey turned her attention to the two men lying on the lawn. \"What do you suppose this was all about?\" she asked.\n\t\"I imagine we'll find out soon enough,\" Rick replied.\n\n\t\"Silver Avenger David Park to see you, Director,\" said Terry Koestler, agent of PRIMUS—the Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States—into the intercom on her desk.\n\t\"Send him in,\" a deep female voice on the other end replied.\n\tKoestler glanced up at the man who stood before her wearing a skintight dark blue uniform with silver leggings, a presidential eagle over his heart. From the white belt around his waist hung a pistol in a white holster with a tiedown around his right thigh. He was under six feet and well-muscled, with a stocky build, black hair, a round face, and tawny skin and almond-shaped eyes that showed his Korean ancestry. He was rather handsome, Koestler thought as she buzzed him into the Director's office. Park gave her a smile and a nod and went inside.\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez looked up from her desk as Park entered. She was a dark-skinned woman with white hair, wearing the same uniform as Park. On the wall behind her was a painting of a masked, blond-haired, blue-eyed man in a blue and gold costume with the presidential eagle over his heart. Park recognized him as the Golden Avenger, the previous director of PRIMUS, who had been murdered by an agent of the international terrorist group VIPER two years ago. Beneath the painting was a plaque that read: \"The mission of PRIMUS is to protect the innocent and identify paranormal threats to the people of the United States.\" \n\t\"How do you do, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, speaking with a slight Spanish accent.\n\t\"Ready to go to work, Director,\" Park replied, smiling.\n\tSanchez gazed down at the file lying open before her on her desk. Park could see that it contained a picture of him. \"I see the doctors have given you a clean bill of health,\" she said. \"No unexpected side effects from the Cyberline treatments or the biofeedback training.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"I feel fine, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. As a newly minted Silver Avenger, you will be assigned to work with another superpowered operative in order to gain some field experience dealing with supervillains.\"\n\t\"I look forward to it, Director,\" Park said, grinning eagerly.\n\t\"Excellent,\" said Sanchez, closing the file. \"I am partnering you with Supersonic Squirrel.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"Supersonic Squirrel?\"\n\tSanchez tilted her head slightly. \"Is that a problem, Agent Park?\"\n\t\"N-no, Director!\" Park said quickly. \"I just thought . . .\"\n\t\"Thought what, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, leaning forward and interlacing her fingers.\n\tPark took a moment to regain his composure. \"I assumed I would be working with another Silver Avenger.\"\n\t\"Of the fifteen Silver Avengers in existence,\" Sanchez said patiently, \"two are recuperating from injuries sustained in battles with supervillains, eleven are scattered across the country on various assignments, and two are in this room. Supersonic is here in Washington. Therefore, he is the logical choice. Unless you have some objection?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"None at all, Director. May I ask a question, though?\"\n\tSanchez spread her palms. \"By all means.\"\n\t\"Why doesn't he wear clothes?\"\n\tSanchez smiled. \"Three reasons. First, in his previous life as a cartoon character, he did not have to, so he prefers not to. Second, his arm webs make clothing awkward and uncomfortable for him. And third, if someone who received the Medal of Freedom for thwarting an assassination attempt on the president doesn't want to wear clothes, I am inclined to let him. He has earned the right. Was there anything else?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"No, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. His office is six doors down the hall to the right. Welcome to PRIMUS, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\tPark left Sanchez's office and strode past Koestler's desk, a dark look on his normally cherubic face. He wondered what his friends and family would say when he told them about this. After over a year of training to become a PRIMUS agent, after a battery of psychological tests, after discovering that he was one of the very few whose genetic makeup enabled him to tolerate the high doses of Cyberline needed to create a Silver Avenger, after months of drug enhancement and biofeedback training that had boosted his strength, speed, and stamina to superhuman levels, he was playing second banana to a cartoon squirrel. He shook his head. God had a bizarre sense of humor.\n\tUpon reaching the sixth door on the right, Park entered a small office. There, sitting before a computer, was a gray-furred creature the size of a child, with huge, round, black eyes, a blunt muzzle with buck teeth, and a fluffy question mark of a tail whose end hung over the back of his chair. Flaps of fur-covered skin stretched from his wrists to his ankles. He wore only an old-fashioned leather flying helmet with goggles, which were currently on his forehead. A badge identifying him as an agent of PRIMUS was stuck to his furry chest, held in place by electrostatic attraction. He did not look at Park as he entered the office.\n\t\"Hello,\" said Park, after a moment's silence.\n\t\"Hi,\" the squirrel replied in a high, nasal voice, his eyes still fixed on his computer screen. \"Report just came in.\"\n\tPark moved around behind him to read the report. \"Bank robbery: Baltimore. Suspect: Bulldozer. We could be there in twenty minutes.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"The local police can handle it.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"But Bulldozer is a supervillain!\"\n\t\"How many people has he killed?\" asked Supersonic.\n\t\"I don't know off-hand,\" Park admitted.\n\t\"None. How many serious injuries?\"\n\tPark took a guess. \"None?\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"The biggest risk fighting Bulldozer is having a car accident on the way there. Besides, I've already got three cases on my desk.\"\n\t\"If you say so; you're senior. By the way, I'm David Park.\"\n\t\"I know. Sanchez told me you were coming.\" The squirrel rotated his chair to face him and held out a small, furry hand, which Park shook. \"Supersonic Squirrel. Glad to know you. Korean, huh?\"\n\t\"My parents are,\" said Park. \"I was born in Spokane.\"\n\t\"I remember the Korean War,\" said Supersonic. \"I was just a kid, though.\"\n\t\"That's right, you were born just after World War II.\"\n\t\"October 14, 1947, to be exact—the day Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.\"\n\tPark remembered what he had read about PRIMUS's most unusual agent. \"And you were brought to life by a magical wishing ring two years ago at the same age you were when your show was cancelled in 1964, with no knowledge of anything that had happened since then.\"\n\t\"Well, I've learned a lot in the last two years,\" said Supersonic. A chime from his computer alerted them that another report had come in. They both looked at it.\n\t\"It's right here in Washington!\" said Park.\n\tSupersonic read the screen. \"Attempted kidnapping of Senator Pinchard's daughter foiled by two civilians, one of them a manimal. Kidnappers armed with energy weapons, two FBI agents found dead, unexplained animal interference.\" The squirrel flicked the switch on his intercom and called Sanchez. \"Director, me and Agent Park are claiming Incident 7.\"\n\t\"The attempted kidnapping?\" asked Sanchez. \"The FBI will want that for themselves.\"\n\t\"There's a paranormal element,\" said Supersonic. \"That makes it our jurisdiction.\"\n\t\"What paranormal element?\"\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference.\"\n\t\"'Unexplained' does not automatically mean 'paranormal,' Supersonic. And two FBI agents were murdered.\"\n\t\"Fine, so we'll each conduct our own investigation.\"\n\t\"We try to avoid having two agencies investigate the same incident. It is redundant, and they get in each other's way.\"\n\t\"Okay, how about this? It says the two civilians who foiled the attempt are being questioned at the FBI field office on Nebraska Avenue. We'll drop by and have a chat with them. If we find out there's nothing paranormal going on, then we bow out and it's the FBI's show. Sound fair?\"\n\t\"Why are you so interested in this incident, Supersonic? And aren't you already working three cases?\"\n\t\"So what's one more? Besides, something about this feels familiar. I can't explain why. Call it a hunch.\"\t\n\t\"All right,\" Sanchez relented. \"Go to the field office. But I warn you, the FBI is not going to want to let this one go, not when two of their people have been killed.\"\n\t\"Thank you, Director,\" said Supersonic, and switched off the intercom. He looked at Park. \"I can get there faster on my own.\"\n\t\"Go ahead,\" said Park. \"I'll catch up.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded and rocketed out of the room and down the hall, leaving a swirl of papers behind him as he headed for the stairwell and the roof.\n\n\tRick sat in an uncomfortable hardwood chair facing the desk of one Agent Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His burned shoulder had been bandaged by the paramedics who had arrived on the scene a few minutes after the kidnapping attempt. Landauer was slim and immaculately groomed, with jet black hair, a hawk-like face, and intense blue eyes. He regarded Rick with a distasteful expression that the raccoon had seen many times before. He didn't let it bother him. People would think what they would think.\n\t\"You still haven't explained how you knew where to go,\" Landauer pressed.\n\t\"I told you, I heard the shots from their energy pistols,\" Rick replied patiently.\n\t\"Do you always run [i]toward[/i] gunfire?\" Landauer asked, sounding both skeptical and condescending.\n\tRick shrugged. \"I thought someone might need help.\"\n\tLandauer looked over at his computer screen. \"You have a colorful history, Mr. Rick. You've been involved in violent incidents in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as here in the U.S.\"\n\t\"Is that so surprising?\" Rick asked. \"Manimals tend to attract violence.\"\n\t\"I see you worked with one of our people in Millennium City last year.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Agent Kodiak. Good man.\"\n\t\"And that you were arrested for interfering with a police investigation.\"\n\t\"A charge that was subsequently dropped,\" Rick pointed out.\n\tLandauer continued reading his screen. \"You have a French passport.\"\n\t\"Yes. All manimals who leave Monster Island are issued one as part of a special arrangement with the French government, of which I am sure you are well aware.\"\n\t\"You also have a green card.\"\n\t\"I work at the Kenji Taniguchi School of Martial Arts in Los Angeles as an instructor. Is there somewhere you are going with this, Mr. Landauer?\"\n\tThe FBI man sat back in his chair and gazed at the raccoon with a somewhat predatory expression. \"I'm just trying to figure out what kind of connection you might have to Senator Pinchard and his daughter.\"\n\t\"There isn't one,\" said Rick. \"I have never met the senator, and I'd never met his daughter until today.\"\n\t\"When you just happened to show up to foil her kidnaping.\"\n\t\"For the third time, I heard the shots.\"\n\t\"Uh huh. Do the names Michael Conn and Donald Schepis ring any bells?\"\n\t\"No. Are they the two men who tried to kidnap Lucy Pinchard?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"After killing the agents assigned to protect her.\"\n\t\"I never saw either one of them before.\"\n\t\"And you have no idea who they work for.\"\n\tRick thought for a moment. \"One of them mentioned someone named Dark.\"\n\tLandauer shot bolt upright in his chair. \"Dark?\"\n\tRick nodded. \"I take it that means something to you.\"\n\tLandauer stood up and went over to speak with another FBI agent, named Boone, who was talking to Stacey. He was a lean, rangy man with a long face, a bulbous nose, and a drooping mustache. Boone and Landauer had both arrived at the scene of the attempted kidnapping and escorted Rick and Stacey to this field office. Boone was clearly the elder of the two and presumably the senior. They spoke for a moment and then came over to Rick.\n\t\"Are you sure he said 'Dark'?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Quite sure,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Did he say anything else?\"\n\t\"No.\" He had no desire to mention that this \"Dark\" apparently believed that Lucy could control animals, or that she had undoubtably been the voice he'd heard in his head and the source of the compulsion that had drawn him to her. The FBI men would probably put it together themselves, considering the crow and dog attacks, but it would not be him who exposed Lucy's secret.\n\tAt that moment, the front door of the field office opened and Supersonic Squirrel entered, causing every head in the office to turn toward him. \"Who's in charge of the Pinchard case?\" he asked.\n\t\"That would be me,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Supersonic Squirrel, of PRIMUS,\" the squirrel said, walking toward Boone and extending a hand.\n\t\"I know who you are,\" said Boone, shaking the squirrel's hand. \"Everyone does. I'm Jerry Boone. This is my partner, Tom Landauer.\"\n\t\"Tom and Jerry?\" Supersonic asked, grinning, his buck teeth gleaming.\n\tBoone rolled his eyes. \"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before.\"\n\t\"Glad to know you, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, offering him his hand. Landauer hesitated a moment, then took it gingerly, gave it a light shake, and quickly let go.\n\t\"To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?\" Boone asked Supersonic, not sounding especially pleased.\n\t\"The report of the attempted kidnapping indicated possible paranormal involvement,\" the squirrel replied.\n\t\"Paranormal?\" asked Boone, raising an eyebrow.\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference,\" Supersonic clarified.\n\tRick nodded. \"The two would-be kidnappers had blood and scratches on their faces, and there was a dead dog in the yard, which they had killed.\"\n\tStacey rose from her chair and came over to join them. \"They also killed a bunch of birds. I passed them on the sidewalk.\"\n\tSupersonic looked at Rick and Stacey, then at Boone. \"I take it these are the two civilians who foiled the attempt?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"These are Stacey Summers and Rick.\"\n\t\"Honored to meet you, Supersonic,\" said Rick, bowing his head.\n\t\"Likewise,\" said Stacey, smiling at the squirrel.\n\t\"Hi,\" said Supersonic, smiling back at them. \"Congratulations to you both. What you did was very brave.\"\n\t\"Look, Agent Squirrel,\" Landauer said, putting a derisive emphasis on the last word, \"there's no evidence of any paranormal involvement in this case. That dog could have just been defending its yard.\"\n\t\"The dog didn't scratch the kidnappers' faces,\" Rick said. \"They killed it before it reached them. And Lucy certainly didn't do it.\"\n\t\"For all we know, they got those scratches climbing over a rosebush!\" Landauer retorted.\n\t\"Then why did they kill the birds?\" Stacey asked. \"There's no reason they'd stop to do that when they were chasing someone, unless the birds were attacking them. And birds don't just attack people for no reason, outside of a Hitchcock movie.\"\n\tLandauer threw up his arms. \"Maybe the birds sat on a high tension line and got electrocuted!\"\n\tStacey smirked. \"That doesn't happen.\"\n\t\"Where is Miss Pinchard?\" Supersonic asked, looking around.\n\t\"Her mother took her home,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Did you have a chance to talk to her?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"She was too scared to talk to anyone. We figured it was best to let her go with her mother and try to talk to her later.\"\n\t\"Good idea,\" said Supersonic. \"I assume her father has been notified.\"\n\t\"Of course he has!\" snapped Landauer. \"What do you think we are, idiots?\"\n\tBoone threw his partner a warning look, then turned back to Supersonic. \"Paranormal involvement in this case has yet to be determined. What we [i]do[/i] know is that Agents Hayhurst and Roberson, who'd been assigned to protect Lucy Pinchard, were found with holes burned through their chests, killed with the same kind of energy weapons the kidnappers used. And Hayhurst was a friend of mine.\"\n\tSupersonic bit his lip. \"I'm truly sorry, Agent Boone.\"\n\tBoone shrugged. \"These things happen. But if you think for one minute I'm going to step aside and turn this over to PRIMUS because of a dead dog and some dead birds . . .\"\n\t\"I'm just trying to figure out if this case falls within our jurisdiction,\" said Supersonic.\n\tRick turned his head toward Boone. \"Who is Dark?\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Dark?\"\n\t\"Yes,\" Rick said, \"one of the kidnappers mentioned that name.\"\n\tSupersonic folded his arms across his chest and turned to Boone with a smug look on his rodent face. \"Still think there's no paranormal involvement?\"\n\tRick noticed Landauer glaring at him. He smiled back pleasantly.\n\t\"Who is this Dark person?\" Stacey asked, looking baffled.\n\t\"Nicholas Darke,\" Supersonic replied, \"one of the brains behind PSI—the Parapsychological Studies Institute, an organization of psionic criminals.\"\n\t\"I thought they'd all been rounded up,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Not all of them. Darke escaped, with all PSI's money.\"\n\t\"But what would he want with Lucy Pinchard?\" Stacey asked.\n\t\"PSI had a history of kidnapping people with psionic abilities and brainwashing them to serve it,\" said Supersonic. \"If Darke is rebuilding PSI, he's gonna be looking for new recruits.\"\n\t\"You think Lucy Pinchard is a psi?\" asked Landauer skeptically.\n\t\"It would explain why those animals attacked the kidnappers,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Where are they, anyway?\" Supersonic asked Boone.\n\t\"One was accidentally shot by his partner,\" Boone replied. \"He's in the morgue. The other is at Sibley Memorial Hospital, being treated for a concussion.\" He chuckled at Stacey. \"This little lady did quite a number on him.\" \n\tStacey blushed. \"Guess I don't know my own strength.\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"A friend of mine used to say that.\" Then he looked thoughtful. \"Talking to PSI agents is usually a waste of time; they're conditioned to be loyal to PSI and trained to resist interrogation. Still, it can't hurt to try.\"\n\t\"Hold on a minute!\" Boone protested. \"Paranormal or not, the Bureau has a vested interest in this case. Two of our men were murdered!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at him. \"So do I, Agent Boone. Nicholas Darke brainwashed Nightmunk, a friend of mine. He made him do things he never would have done on his own. But I understand the Bureau's desire to avenge its fallen agents. So, while this case clearly falls under PRIMUS jurisdiction, in the spirit of interdepartmental cooperation, I'm naming you chief investigating officer and placing myself under your command, because I want Darke as badly as you do.\"\n\tBoone looked surprised. \"Well, that's damn generous of you, Supersonic! I accept!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"Then what do you say we head on over to Sibley Memorial and have a chat with that PSI agent?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"Sounds good.\" He turned to Rick and Stacey. \"I think you've given us all the help you can. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll have someone drive you back to the convention center.\"\n\t\"Agent Boone,\" said Rick, \"I'm also friends with Nightmunk. We worked together in Millennium City last year. I'll be happy to offer whatever assistance I can in apprehending this Nicholas Darke. I am not without some small skill.\"\n\t\"Same here!\" Stacey chimed in.\n\tLandauer groaned. \"Oh great, that's just what we need—Rocket Raccoon and Cynthia Rothrock!\"\n\t\"Who?\" asked Supersonic, looking puzzled.\n\t\"While I appreciate your offers,\" Boone said, \"I can't take the responsibility of involving civilians in this investigation, no matter what skills they may have. These people are killers.\"\n\t\"I have dealt with killers many times,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Be that as it may,\" said Boone, \"the answer is still no.\" He turned to a nearby agent. \"Take these people where they need to go.\" Then he turned to Supersonic and Landauer. \"Let's head out.\"\n\tAs the three of them walked toward the door, it burst open and Silver Avenger Park came running in. \"Sorry I took so long, boss,\" he said to Supersonic. \"D.C. traffic is murder!\"\n\t\"Agent Boone, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, looking up at them, \"meet my partner, Silver Avenger David Park.\" He jerked a thumb at Boone. \"He's the boss. We're working for the FBI.\"\n\tSupersonic, Boone, and Landauer went out the door as Park stood there, dumbfounded. \"FBI?\"\n\n\tA sedan with government plates dropped Rick and Stacey off in front of Keesler Convention Center, and they headed for the lobby.\n\t\"When is your next match scheduled?\" the raccoon asked.\n\t\"I'm not sure,\" Stacey admitted. \"In all the confusion, I forgot to ask.\"\n\t\"I hope you didn't forfeit,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey groaned. \"Oh, Jonny Li would love that, after I mopped the floor with one of his top students!\"\n\tRick stopped, ears pricking up as they entered the lobby and he saw what was lying in wait for them. \"Heads up.\"\n\tImmediately, they were swarmed with reporters, cameras pointed at them from every direction, microphones being pushed in their faces.\n\t\"Is it true the two of you foiled an attempt to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter?\" one asked.\n\t\"Uh, yes, it's true,\" said Stacey, looking like a deer caught in someone's headlights.\n\t\"Is that how you got that shoulder wound?\" another asked Rick.\n\t\"Yes,\" said Rick, looking uncomfortable.\n\t\"Is it true you killed one of the kidnappers?\"\n\tRick shook his head. \"No, he was shot by his partner.\"\n\t\"There's a rumor they were armed with ray guns. Is that true?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"Yes, they fired some kind of energy beam.\"\n\t\"Were they VIPER agents?\"\n\t\"We don't know who they were,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Why did you attack two men armed with ray guns?\"\n\t\"We saw them chasing a little girl and decided to help,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Are either of you registered heroes?\"\n\t\"No, we're not.\"\t\n\t\"So you were just being concerned citizens.\"\n\tRick shrugged. \"If you like.\"\n\t\"Please,\" said Stacey, \"I have to find out when my next match is.\"\n\t\"Are the two of you romantically involved?\"\n\tRick growled as he and Stacey pushed through the crowd of reporters. \"Not that it's any of your business, but no, we are not!\"\n\t\"Aren't you sharing a hotel room?\"\n\t\"One room is cheaper than two,\" said Stacey. \"Now please get out of our way!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Summers, aren't you the widow of Kenji Taniguchi, a.k.a. Samurai?\"\n\tStacey froze, a stunned look on her face.\n\t\"Are you trying to follow in your late husband's footsteps?\" the reporter pressed.\n\t\"She's doing nothing of the sort!\" Rick shouted angrily. \"Now get lost!\"\n\tAs Rick and Stacey passed through the double doors into the arena, where the reporters couldn't follow unless they bought tickets for the event, they overheard two of them talking back in the lobby.\n\t\"Samurai. Wasn't he killed a couple of years ago?\"\n\t\"Yeah, it was big news for a while. 'Superhero murdered!'\"\n\t\"Did they ever find out who did it?\"\n\t\"Nope, the case is still unsolved.\"\n\tRick and Stacey made their way past the ring, where a fight was in progress, and resumed their seats. The raccoon looked up at her, concern in his dark eyes. \"Are you okay?\"\n\tStacey sighed. \"I'm fine. Just caught me off guard, is all.\"\n\tRick glared at the doorway they had escaped the reporters through, his ears flattened. \"Jackals!\"\n\t\"They're just doing their jobs, Rick,\" said Stacey. \"They're paid to report the news, and right now, we're news. And you gotta admit, 'Slain Superhero's Widow Saves Senator's Daughter' makes great copy.\"\n\tRick growled, unplacated.\n\tStacey looked down at him, her throat tight. \"I miss him so much, Rick.\"\n\tThe raccoon nodded. \"I know you do.\"\n\tShe put her arms around him, and he around her.\n\n\tIn a room in Sibley Memorial Hospital, Michael Conn lay in bed, his head throbbing. The doctor had told him that he had a mild concussion and had given him painkillers, which were helping somewhat. He had been instructed to rest and to move his head no more than absolutely necessary. And so he lay there, with an FBI agent just outside his door. He wondered who had clonked him. It hadn't been that damned manimal. He'd been busy with Don. Poor Don. Too bad he'd gotten in the way, but that was how it went, sometimes. No, it must have been that blonde chick in the karate gi. Careless of him to let her sneak up on him like that. He'd have to see about finding out who she was and paying her back, once Darke got him out of here.\n\tHe became aware of a shimmering point of light in one corner of the room, and slowly turned his head toward it. The point expanded into a shimmering circle in the air. From that circle emerged two figures, one human, the other decidely not.\n\tThe human figure was a girl of about thirteen, with black eyes, black hair tied back in a ponytail, and a ruddy complexion. She was wearing a skintight magenta uniform, a white Greek letter psi in the center of the chest, with black boots, gloves, upper torso, and mask. She was somewhat overweight, and the uniform did her no favors.\n\tBeside the girl floated a sphere about two feet in diameter. The top was transparent, the bottom metallic and bearing various high-tech doo-dads. Inside the sphere was what appeared to be a human brain suspended in pale green fluid. From the bottom dangled a dozen or so pale green tentacles, each about four feet long and as thick as a man's finger.\n\tConn smirked at the strange pair. \"About time you came,\" he said, slowly sitting up in bed and pushing the sheets aside. \"Come on, let's get out of here.\"\n\t\"You are not going anywhere, Michael Conn,\" the sphere said, in a grating, electronic voice. \"Counselor Darke is displeased with you.\"\n\t\"It wasn't my fault, Floater!\" Conn protested. \"Two civilians interfered! Nobody could have foreseen that!\"\n\t\"It should never have gotten that far,\" Floater said, drifting slowly toward him. \"Your instructions were to abduct Lucy Pinchard from her school, not to chase her into the street. You should have called for backup immediately. Due to your incompetence, the authorities have been alerted to PSI's interest in her. In addition, you killed your partner. PSI has no further use for you.\"\n\tConn stiffened. \"You didn't come here just to tell me that!\"\n\t\"I did not,\" said Floater. With blinding speed, one of its tentacles whipped out and wrapped around Conn's neck. The man choked and gurgled, grasping at the slimy appendage with his hands, to no effect. The girl gasped and screamed, pressing her fists to her face.\n\t\n\tBoone, Landauer, Supersonic, and Park were walking down the corridor toward Conn's room when they heard the girl's scream. The FBI agent seated outside the door jumped to his feet and seized the knob as the other four ran toward him.\n\t\"It's stuck!\" the agent said, struggling with it.\n\t\"Let me try!\" said Park, grasping the knob and twisting it with his biochemically enhanced muscles. It still refused to budge.\n\t\"Stand back,\" Supersonic ordered, rising into the air and spreading his arms and legs wide. A ball of supercompressed air formed before him, and he threw his arms and legs forward as he propelled it at the door. It hit with the force of a battering ram, reducing the door to splinters.\n\tPark was through the doorway almost instantly, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to react first. He blinked as he saw Floater strangling Conn, then launched himself at the sphere. A blast of psionic energy lanced from Floater to Park's forehead, overloading his nervous system and stunning him.\n\tBoone, Landauer, and the other agent entered next, weapons drawn. They all fired at Floater, hitting it, but their bullets simply bounced off.\n\tSupersonic flew into the room and sized up the situation. A wind blast on the sphere was out of the question—knocking it back would break Conn's neck. Instead, he flew up to Floater and grasped the tentacle strangling the PSI agent, trying to pull it off, but the appendage was exceedingly slimy and impossible to get a firm grip on. Then the squirrel felt himself seized by some tremendous force that tore him away from Conn, who was turning blue, and hurled him against the wall. He hit with a crunching thud and slid to the floor, unconscious.\n\tPark came out of his daze, saw Supersonic lying on the floor, snarled, and lunged at Floater, wrapping his arms around it and squeezing with a strength far greater than any normal human possessed. There was a cracking sound, and Floater let out an electronic screech. \"Twister, aid me!\" The girl raised her hands, moving them in circles. Park screamed in agony and released the sphere, staggering backward.\n\t\"Shoot the girl!\" shouted Boone, aiming his gun at Twister. All three of the FBI agents fired, and she recoiled and cried out in pain as their bullets hit, but they didn't do nearly as much damage as they should have. Even so, they clearly hurt.\n\t\"Enough,\" said Floater. It squeezed Conn's neck with its tentacle, popping his head clean off and releasing a spray of blood that painted the wall red. Then it flew over to Twister. \"Let us be gone.\" The girl nodded, and they both entered the shimmering circle, which promptly winked out of existence.\n\t\"What the hell was that?\" cried Landauer.\n\t\"Something out of a goddamned horror movie,\" Boone replied, running over to Supersonic and kneeling beside him. \"You okay?\"\n\tThe squirrel sat up groggily, rubbing his head and looking around the room. \"I think so. Where did that thing go?\"\n\t\"It disappeared,\" said Boone, \"along with the girl. They did what they came here to do.\"\n\tSupersonic noticed Conn's head and body lying separate from each other on the floor. \"Oh.\"\n\t\"Sorry, boss,\" said Park as he came over to them, looking embarrassed. \"I didn't do so good for my first superfight.\"\n\tBoone chuckled. \"You were the only one who managed to hurt that thing. The rest of us might as well have been shooting spitballs at it. It called the girl 'Twister.' Mean anything to you two?\"\n\t\"Never heard of her,\" Park replied, \"but the name fits. I felt like I was being twisted in half! My guess is she has some kind of dimension-warping power. That would explain how she was able to create a portal to another place.\"\n\t\"She looked like an Indian,\" said Supersonic, getting painfully to his feet.\n\tBoone nodded. \"Yeah, I thought so, too.\"\n\t\"Uh, the polite term these days is 'Native American,' Supersonic,\" Park reminded the squirrel.\n\tSupersonic swallowed. \"Sorry.\"\n\t\"Regardless,\" said Boone, \"it'll make her easier to track down.\"\n\t\"Well, one thing's for sure,\" said Supersonic grimly. \"If there was any doubt Darke's rebuilding PSI, it's gone now.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That was definitely a PSI emblem on Twister's costume.\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone. \"So, what's next, chief?\"\n\tBoone glanced over at Conn's body. \"We're not gonna learn anything from him. Let's pay a call on the Pinchards, see if Lucy's ready to talk to us yet.\" He turned to Landauer and Park. \"You two get on the line with the records departments of the FBI and PRIMUS, see if anyone's ever heard of this Twister girl or that brain creature. Check with UNTIL, too; they may have encountered them before. I'll talk to the hospital administrator. He's gonna want to know why one of his patients lost his head. Come on, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"Yes, sir!\" said Supersonic, and followed Boone out of the room while people in the hallway peered around the edges of the smashed door, gawking at the carnage inside.\n\t\n\tThe Pinchard residence was located in Somerset, Maryland, a suburb northwest of Washington, D.C. It was a single-story ranch-style house with a shingled roof and a large, beautifully landscaped yard, with a rose garden and an ivy-entwined gazebo on the east side and a swimming pool in the back. It looked like a nice place, Supersonic thought as Landauer drove the sedan carrying him, Boone, and Park into the driveway and parked it beside another sedan with government plates sitting behind a Mercedes and a Cadillac with Maryland plates. They all got out and walked toward the front door, where an FBI agent was stationed. The agent rang the bell for them, and a few moments later, the door was opened by a handsome man of about forty with brown hair, wearing a white, collared shirt with no tie and gray slacks.\n\t\"Senator Pinchard?\" asked Boone. \"I'm Agent Boone, FBI. This is my partner, Agent Landauer, and these are Agents Squirrel and Park, of PRIMUS.\"\n\tPinchard stared at Supersonic and Park. \"PRIMUS? What are they doing here?\"\n\t\"We suspect there may be some kind of paranormal involvement, Senator,\" Supersonic replied. He watched the man's face carefully.\n\t\"What . . . what kind of paranormal involvement?\" Pinchard stammered.\n\t\"We were hoping you might be able to tell us,\" said Boone. \"May we come in?\"\n\t\"Yes, yes, of course,\" said Pinchard, stepping aside to let them enter.\n\tThey entered a spacious living room exquisitely decorated with antique French colonial furniture, the walls papered with a peach-and-mauve floral pattern. The floor was recessed three steps, with several couches along the west and north walls facing a large, flat-screen TV and a home entertainment center. In the southeast corner sat a baby grand piano.\n\t\"What makes you think there's anything paranormal going on?\" asked Pinchard, closing the door behind them.\n\tBoone turned to face him, hands in pockets. \"Does the name Nicholas Darke mean anything to you, Senator?\"\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, should it?\"\n\t\"He was one of the leaders of the Parapsychological Studies Institute.\"\n\tPinchard looked shocked. \"PSI? But . . . it was my understanding that PSI was defunct! They were all captured!\" He looked at Supersonic. \"You were involved in that, weren't you?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"Yes, sir, I'm proud to say I was. Unfortunately, Darke got away.\"\n\t\"And we have reason to believe he may have been behind the kidnapping attempt on your daughter,\" said Boone.\n\t[i]\"What?\"[/i]\n\t\"Has Lucy ever demonstrated any unusual abilities, Senator?\" asked Supersonic.\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, never! She's a perfectly normal girl!\"\n\tBoone and Supersonic glanced at each other. \"Are you sure?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Of course I'm sure!\" Pinchard yelled. \"You think I don't know my own daughter?\"\n\t\"Mark,\" came a female voice from a hallway to the right. Everyone turned to see a woman in her late thirties with auburn hair, wearing a blue dress. \"Tell them.\"\n\t\"Lydia . . .\" Pinchard began and then trailed off, looking at her desperately.\n\t\"Tell them, or I will.\"\n\tPinchard sighed and looked down. \"She talks to animals.\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"We thought so.\"\n\tThe woman walked toward them. \"Hello. I'm Lydia Pinchard, Lucy's mother.\"\n\tBoone made introductions. She nodded to each of the agents and looked down at Supersonic, smiling. \"I've heard a lot about you. You're a national hero.\"\n\tSupersonic squirmed. \"I was just doing my job, ma'am.\"\n\t\"And doing it very well, it seems.\"\n\tThe squirrel blushed beneath his fur.\n\t\"When you say she talks to animals, Senator,\" said Boone, \"you mean she can actually communicate with them?\"\n\tPinchard shrugged. \"I suppose so. I don't know exactly how it works. I've seen her in the yard surrounded by dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and so forth.\"\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Sounds like something out of a Disney cartoon!\"\n\tPinchard glared at him. \"You find this amusing, Agent Landauer?\"\n\tLandauer shook his head quickly. \"No, Senator, not in the slightest.\"\n\t\"Mr. and Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, \"less than an hour ago, the surviving kidnapper was murdered in Silbey Memorial Hospital.\"\n\t\"Oh my God!\" said Pinchard.\n\t\"It gets better,\" Boone continued. \"The killer was some kind of floating brain creature, assisted by a Native American girl who seems to have entered the kidnapper's hospital room through a dimensional gateway she created. We checked the records of the FBI, PRIMUS, and UNTIL, and we've identified the girl as a runaway named Susan Wednesday, age 13. She's an orphan, born to a Jane Doe who died in childbirth, and was shuttled between various foster families, some of whom, unfortunately, abused her. She was arrested for petty theft several times, but she kept disappearing from her cells. We suspect Darke recruited her to be part of his new PSI and that he has similar plans for your daughter.\"\n\tLydia gave an anguished cry and threw her arms around her husband, trembling. He held her close. \"This . . . this is insane!\" he protested.\n\t\"Sane or not,\" said Boone, \"the fact remains that Susan Wednesday—or Twister, as the brain creature called her—can bypass almost any known security. Therefore, it's my recommendation that you take Lucy someplace where nobody can find her.\"\n\tLydia shook her head. \"Absolutely not! She's suffered enough without being carted away from her home!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, patiently, \"I don't know if the Bureau can protect your daughter from someone like Twister. Walls and fences can't stop her. She can literally appear out of nowhere!\"\n\t\"Maybe you can't,\" said Lydia, \"but he can!\" She looked down at Supersonic. \n\tThe squirrel swallowed. \"Not that I'm not flattered, Mrs. Pinchard, but I agree with Agent Boone. Your daughter will be safest if PSI doesn't know where she is.\"\n\t\"For how long?\" asked Lydia. \"What makes you think they'll stop? Do you expect her to spend the rest of her life in hiding?\"\n\t\"It might be best,\" said Supersonic, in a subdued voice.\n\t\"No,\" said Lydia. \"What would be best is if you caught these people, like you caught the last bunch!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone, who shrugged helplessly. \"If you won't leave your home, I can't force you to,\" Boone said. \"I can offer you FBI protection, but I can't guarantee that will be enough.\"\n\tLydia smirked. \"It certainly wasn't enough for that man in the hospital.\"\n\t\"Hey, wait a minute!\" protested Landauer.\n\t\"Nor did it keep Lucy from being kidnapped,\" she continued. \"A couple of civilians did that!\"\n\t\"In all fairness to the FBI, Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Supersonic, \"they didn't know what they were up against, then.\"\n\t\"I will not allow my daughter's life to be turned upside down!\" said Lydia firmly.\n\tBoone scowled. \"I think that ship has sailed, ma'am.\" He turned to the senator. \"Do you agree with Mrs. Pinchard?\"\n\tPinchard sighed. \"Yes, I do. I refuse to let these thugs force my daughter from her home.\"\n\t\"In that case,\" said Boone, sounding resigned, \"all the Bureau can do is provide security for her until PSI is caught.\"\n\t\"Mom?\" came Lucy's voice from the same hallway that Lydia had entered the living room from. Then a small gasp. \"Ooh, a squirrel!\" They all turned to see Lucy standing in the hallway, staring at Supersonic, eyes wide.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" said Supersonic, smiling at her.\n\tLucy came up to him, smiling as she gazed down from a vantage point about a foot higher than him. \"Are you really a squirrel?\" she asked wonderingly.\n\tHe nodded. \"Yes, I'm Supersonic Squirrel,\" he said, holding out a hand to her. \n\tShe took it, examining the fur-covered appendage intently. \"Are you friends with that raccoon man who saved me from those men?\"\n\t\"Not exactly,\" said Supersonic. \"I just met him today.\"\n\t\"Lucy,\" her mother said, coming over and gently forcing her to let go of Supersonic's hand, \"let's go back to your room. These men have things to discuss with your father.\"\n\tLucy nodded and reluctantly allowed herself to be led away. She smiled and waved to Supersonic. \"Bye!\"\n\t\"Bye,\" said Supersonic quietly, watching her go.\n\t\"We'll need two shifts of six agents each to cover the house completely,\" Boone told Pinchard. \n\tLandauer nodded. \"Three inside, three outside.\"\n\t\"And Supersonic and Silver Avenger Park should remain on the premises at all times,\" Boone added.\n\t\"Do you think that'll be enough?\" asked Pinchard, anxiously.\n\t\"It's hard to say, sir,\" said Boone. \"We don't know who else Darke may have recruited for his new PSI, or what powers they might possess.\"\n\t\"I know someone who may be able to help,\" said Supersonic.\n\t\"Who?\" asked Boone.\n\t\"He calls himself Omen. He's a precog.\"\n\t\"A what?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"Someone who can see the future. He could foresee an attack before it happens.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Does he use a crystal ball or tarot cards?\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"He doesn't need any of that stuff!\"\n\t\"Is he a PRIMUS agent?\" asked Boone.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"No, he's a civilian.\"\n\t\"I'm not comfortable putting a civilian in harm's way,\" said Boone.\n\t\"With all due respect, sir,\" said Supersonic, \"we're dealing with a lot of unknowns here. Omen could reduce them. And being able to see the future makes him pretty good at avoiding harm.\"\n\t\"I still don't like it,\" said Boone stubbornly.\n\tPinchard glared at Boone. \"I don't give a damn if you like it or not, Agent Boone. If this Omen can protect my daughter, then I want him here!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That's your perogative, Senator. It's your home.\"\n\t\"I'll see if I can get in touch with him,\" said Supersonic. He took his cell phone from the leather satchel slung over his shoulder and went into the kitchen. Park followed him.\n\t\"Boone and Landauer do [i]not[/i] look happy,\" Park commented.\n\t\"Now ask me if I care,\" said Supersonic.\t\n\t\"So who is this 'Omen'?\" Park asked as the squirrel dialed his phone. \n\t\"He used to be with PSI,\" Supersonic replied.\n\tPark stared at him. \"And you trust him?\"\n\t\"He infiltrated PSI to kill Psymon, one of their leaders, because Psymon killed his brother. Fortunately, he balked at the last second.\"\n\t\"How come I've never heard of him?\"\n\t\"Because I didn't mention him in my report.\"\n\t\"Why not?\"\n\t\"There was no reason anyone needed to know about him. And if it weren't for Omen, I'd either be dead or a brainwashed sleeper agent for PSI, so I owed him.\" Supersonic put the phone to his ear as someone on the other end picked up. \"Hello, David?\"\n\t\"Supersonic, how are you?\" came a surprised voice on the other end.\n\tThe squirrel grinned. \"You have to ask?\"\n\tOmen chuckled. \"I'm clairvoyant, not omniscient. What's up?\"\n\t\"There's a situation I could really use your help with. It involves Nicholas Darke.\"\n\t\"Darke? He's back?\"\n\t\"Yeah, he's rebuilding PSI, and he tried to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter.\"\n\t\"Son of a bitch!\"\n\t\"I thought that might catch your interest. How soon can you be in Washington, D.C.?\"\n\t\"Probably not until tomorrow.\"\n\t\"Fine. PRIMUS will pay for your airline ticket. Call me when you land.\"\n\t\"Will do.\"\n\tSupersonic hung up and looked at Park. \"Now all we have to do is protect Lucy until he gets here.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"Against a girl who can open dimensional portals and twist your guts around inside you, a floating brain creature, and whoever or whatever else Darke has managed to recruit.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"Welcome to PRIMUS.\"\n\n\tAs night fell over the Pinchard household, three FBI agents patrolled the grounds outside while three others roamed the hallways inside, checking the various rooms. Silver Avenger Park was sleeping in one of the guest rooms so he could relieve Supersonic at midnight. Supersonic stuck mainly to the living room, where he could respond to an intrusion in any part of the house as swiftly as possible. At eight o'clock, he went to Lucy's room to check on her. She was watching a movie on television, her mother sitting beside her. Supersonic noted that there was a cot set up to one side of the girl's bed.\n\t\"Hello,\" the squirrel said, smiling at them, buck teeth gleaming.\n\t\"Hello,\" Lucy and her mother replied, smiling back.\n\t\"I just wanted to see if everything was all right.\"\n\t\"Everything's fine,\" said Lydia.\n\t\"Mom said those men wanted me because I can talk to animals,\" said Lucy. \"What's so important about that?\"\n\t\"It makes you special,\" said Supersonic. \"They're interested in special people.\"\n\t\"What will they do if they get me?\" Lucy asked anxiously.\n\t\"They're not going to get you, darling,\" said Lydia. \"Supersonic will see to that, won't you, Supersonic?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"They're not getting past me.\"\n\t\"Are you going to live with us?\" Lucy asked him, looking as though she liked the idea.\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"For a little while, anyway, at least until those people are caught.\"\n\t\"And then things will go back to normal,\" said Lydia, smiling.\n\tLucy gazed at the squirrel. \"I like you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"I like you too, Lucy,\" Supersonic replied. \"Have a safe evening.\" He turned and headed back to the living room.\n\tWhile Supersonic was talking to Lucy and her mother, Landauer sat on a couch in the living room, a look of displeasure on his face. Boone glanced over at him from where he was standing beside the baby grand, holding a cup of coffee. \"Something bothering you, Tom?\" he asked.\n\tLandauer looked back at him. \"Working with a goddamned cartoon character bothers me!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That 'goddamned cartoon character' saved the president. Have a little respect.\"\n\t\"And that rookie, Park. You'd think PRIMUS would only let agents with some experience under their belts become Silver Avengers!\"\n\tBoone sipped his coffee. It was expensive coffee from the senator's kitchen. It was very good. \"You need to have a rare combination of genes to become a Silver Avenger. As soon as PRIMUS finds out one of their applicants has it, they make him one.\"\n\t\"You don't think him being Asian had anything to do with it?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"It's hard enough to find [i]anyone[/i] who can become a Silver Avenger without being fussy about race and sex.\"\n\t\"Well, I don't like working with paranormals,\" Landauer sulked.\n\t\"You use paranormals to fight paranormals,\" said Boone. \"You and me sure didn't do squat against that brain creature.\" Supersonic returned to the living room just then, and Boone glanced over at him. \"How's Lucy?\"\n\t\"Scared,\" said Supersonic, \"but trying to act brave. Her mother's gonna sleep in her room tonight.\" He sighed. \"It's awful for a kid to be stuck in the middle of something like this.\"\n\t\"It's not the first time,\" said Boone, sipping his coffee.\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Yeah, once the kid of a witness against the mob was kidnapped, and—\"\n\t\"Tom,\" said Boone quietly. \"Give it a rest.\"\n\n\tWith the martial arts convention shut down for the evening, Rick and Stacey had changed into street clothes and were having dinner in a Chinese restaurant across the street from their hotel. Rick had wanted to have dinner delivered to their room for fear of being mobbed by reporters again, but Stacey had refused to be intimidated by the press. So far, nobody had bothered them. However, Stacey noticed that the raccoon seemed unusually quiet and pensive as he picked at his lo mein with his chopsticks. \"Something bothering you, Rick?\" she asked.\n\t\"I should be helping catch Nicholas Darke,\" he replied.\n\t\"Why? It's not your problem.\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Nightmunk is a friend of mine. We fought side by side against Lung Hung, an ancient Chinese vampire.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"You fought a vampire?\"\n\t\"Actually, he was some kind of mutant. But regardless, he was extremely powerful. If Nightmunk hadn't called in Nighthawk and the Champions as backup, we would not be having this conversation.\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"So you figure you owe Darke for what he did to him.\"\n\t\"I also detest people who victimize children. Why do you think I teach all the children's kung fu classes?\"\n\t\"I thought it was because the kids all love you. Not to put too fine a point on it, Rick, but the world is full of victimized children. You can't save them all.\"\n\t\"I'm aware of that. But I can help save Lucy from whatever it is Darke has planned for her.\"\n\t\"You already offered to help, and Boone said no.\"\n\tRick scowled. \"To hell with Boone.\"\n\t\"All right, do you have any idea where Lucy lives? I doubt her address is public knowledge. Senators don't want every kook in the country showing up on their doorsteps.\"\n\t\"I bet Nightmunk can find out.\"\n\t\"Assuming he does, how are you going to get there? We don't have a car.\"\n\t\"I hear they can be rented.\"\n\tShe sighed. \"You're really serious about this, aren't you?\"\n\tRick nodded, took out his cell phone, and dialed a number.\n\t\"Hello, Rick!\" came a high, squeaky voice on the other end, sounding both surprised and pleased. \"I hear you've been busy down in Washington.\"\n\t\"Yes, Alvin, that's the reason I'm calling. I want to help protect Lucy Pinchard, but the FBI won't let me.\"\n\t\"That figures. They don't like civilians playing in their sandbox.\"\n\t\"I was wondering, could you find out where Senator Pinchard lives?\"\n\tNightmunk giggled. \"Didn't being arrested for interfering with police business teach you anything?\"\n\t\"I'm a slow learner.\"\n\tAnother giggle. \"Just a minute.\" Rick waited while Nightmunk did things. \"Ah, here we are.\" He listened as the chipmunk relayed Senator Pinchard's home address.\n\t\"Thank you, Alvin,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Don't mention it. To anyone.\"\n\tRick hung up and glanced across the table at Stacey. She sighed and pushed her chair back. \"Well, let's get going.\" She signaled the waiter. \"Could we have the check, please? And some boxes?\"\n\t\"You're coming?\" Rick asked, surprised.\n\t\"Of course I'm coming! You can't drive a car. You don't have a license. Besides, your feet won't reach the pedals.\"\n\tRick blushed beneath his fur. He hadn't thought of that.\n\n\tAt midnight, Supersonic went to the guest room where Park was lying stretched out on the bed and switched on the light. Park blinked and sat up. \"You're up, Silver Avenger,\" the squirrel said.\n\t\"Please, call me Dave,\" said Park, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs around and stood up.\n\t\"Okay, Dave,\" said Supersonic. \"By the way, this arrived from PRIMUS by special courier.\" He held out a pair of mirrored goggles to him. \"It has microcircuitry built into it to shield your mind against psionic attacks, same as I've got in my helmet. It also intensifies light so you can see in the dark. Be careful to turn down the sensitivity when you go from dark to light, though, or you'll be temporarily blinded.\"\n\tPark accepted the goggles and put them on. \"Anything to report?\"\n\t\"Nothing so far. Lucy's mother is sleeping in her daughter's room, and the senator is asleep in the master bedroom.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"There's something I've been wanting to tell you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"What's that?\" the squirrel asked.\n\t\"When Sanchez first told me we were going to be partners, I had some . . . reservations.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"I'm not surprised. Lots of people look at me and just see a silly little squirrel.\"\n\t\"I know what that's like,\" said Park. \"I had to deal with prejudice growing up in Spokane, people throwing around words like 'gook,' 'chink,' and 'slant-eyes.'\"\n\tSupersonic sighed and shook his head. \"That's rough.\"\n\t\"Anyway, I just wanted to say that I think you've handled this case very professionally. I'm glad Sanchez assigned me to work with you.\"\n\tThe squirrel chuckled. \"Save the compliments for when Darke is under lock and key.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"All right. Bed's yours. I'll relieve you at eight o'clock.\"\n\t\"Roger,\" said Supersonic, climbing onto the bed and curling up with his tail wrapped around him. Park gazed at him for a moment, thinking how cute and harmless he looked. It was hard to believe that this small creature could reduce this entire house to rubble in seconds. And unlike him, the squirrel wasn't dependent on daily injections of Cyberline for his powers. Speaking of which . . .\n\tPark went into the bathroom and opened his belt buckle, removing a syringe and an ampule full of milky fluid. There were four more such ampules in his buckle. He held it up to the light, rolling it between his fingers, watching the white liquid slosh around inside. Only one in ten people could use Cyberline without suffering negative side effects, and less than one percent could tolerate the high doses needed to produce a Silver Avenger. It was also ungodly expensive to make, another reason why Silver Avengers were so rare. He inserted the ampule into the syringe and injected the fluid into his left wrist. There was a burning sensation that faded quickly as his bloodstream carried the drug throughout his body. He put the syringe back into his buckle, closed it, and headed back into the bedroom. Supersonic was asleep, breathing softly. Park went to the door to the hall and turned the knob.\n\tA tremendous crash shook the entire house, causing Supersonic to sit bolt upright, eyes wide. \"What the heck was that?\" the squirrel shouted.\n\t\"We're under attack!\" Park yelled, drawing his gun and dashing out into the hall. Supersonic flew after him.\n\tPark and Supersonic entered the living room, the squirrel pulling down his goggles. There was a hole in the roof, and the floor was littered with debris. Floating in the middle of the room was the brain creature they had encountered at the hospital, along with a blond teenage boy wearing the same type of costume Twister had been wearing. Boone, Landauer, and another FBI agent, Saxon, were shooting at them, but their bullets were bouncing off the brain creature's sphere as before, while the boy was apparently protected by some kind of force field. The boy raised his hands and shot a bolt of pure force from them, striking Saxon and knocking him into the wall, while a blast of psionic energy from the brain creature stunned Landauer.\n\t\"Protect Lucy!\" Supersonic shouted to Park. \"I'll handle these two!\" Park nodded and dashed across the living room faster than any Olympic sprinter, heading for Lucy's bedroom, while the squirrel focused his attention on the brain creature. \"I've got a score to settle with you!\" He hurled a globe of supercompressed air at the thing, striking it and knocking it spinning across the room, its tentacles flailing wildly.\n\tThe boy raised his hands, took aim at Supersonic, and fired a force bolt that struck the squirrel and knocked him back into the wall. Dazed by the impact, Supersonic could do nothing as the boy took careful aim, building up another attack. Then Boone tossed a grenade, which exploded with a blinding flash and a loud bang. The boy cried out, his hands flying to cover his ears, his eyes squeezing shut. Supersonic's polarized goggles protected his eyes from the flash, but he was still momentarily deafened. With his ears feeling as though they were full of honey, the squirrel flew straight at the boy, slamming into him, and they both crashed through the sliding glass doors that opened onto the patio.\n\n\tRick and Stacey, having parked their rented car a few blocks away, were crouching together behind the wooden fence separating the Pinchards' yard from their neighbor's and peering at the Pinchards' house through gaps in the fence. The abundant trees in the backyard prevented them from seeing two figures drop down from the sky to the roof of the house but not from hearing the blast that tore a hole in the roof. They both jumped the fence and ran toward the house. As they neared it, the rear patio doors exploded outward in a spray of broken glass as Supersonic Squirrel and a blond boy in a black-and-magenta costume crashed through them.\n\tRick leaped and threw a flying kick at the boy's head, his furry foot connecting with the boy's cheek. The boy grunted, staggering backward, and Stacey grabbed him and threw him down onto the cement patio, stunning him.\n\tSupersonic stared at the new arrivals. \"Rick? Mrs. Summers? What are [i]you[/i] doing here?\" Even as he said it, he realized he wouldn't be able to hear their replies, as he was still deafened from Boone's stun grenade. Then he realized they were staring in horror at something behind him. He whirled around to see the brain creature hovering in the doorway.\n\t\"Your interference is unacceptable,\" it said, in a harsh, electronic drone. \"You will be eliminated.\" One of its tentacles shot out and wrapped around Supersonic's throat.\n\n\tPark burst into Lucy's bedroom to find the girl writhing in her bed, moaning and clutching her head. Her mother lay asleep on her cot, completely unresponsive. \n\tThe room also contained three other people. One was Twister. The other two were a boy and a girl about the same age as Twister, both with light, sandy hair, wearing costumes identical to hers. They looked similar enough to be brother and sister. \n\tTwister raised her hands and made that rotating gesture, and once again, Park felt an agonizing pain inside him, as though his intestines were being tied in knots. Fighting through the pain, Park lunged at Twister, throwing a punch at her. It connected, but as when she had been shot in the hospital, the force was mostly blunted, though the grimace on her face showed that she clearly felt some pain. \"Blackout! Displacer!\" she cried. \"Take him down!\"\n\tThe other two concentrated on Park, and their mouths fell open in surprise when nothing happened. \"My power doesn't affect him!\" the girl shouted.\n\t\"Mine neither!\" said the boy.\n\t\"Great!\" snarled Twister. \"I gotta do everything myself!\" She rotated her hands again, and Park cried out in pain, his innards feeling as though they were being torn out. He struck at Twister once more, and once more, while it hurt, it didn't drop her. Then she moved her hands, and Park collapsed at her feet.\n\t\"Asshole!\" Twister spat, kicking him viciously. She turned to the other two. \"Get the girl!\" They both nodded, pulling a sobbing Lucy from her bed.\n\t\"What about him?\" the boy asked, indicating Park.\n\t\"Take him, too, Blackout,\" Twister said. \"Counselor Darke might want him.\"\n\tThe boy let go of Lucy and grabbed Park as Twister opened a portal. Displacer dragged Lucy through it as Blackout pulled Park. Once they were through, Twister stepped in, and the portal winked out of existence.\n\n\tSupersonic gurgled as the brain creature's tentacle tightened around his neck, his vision quickly fading.\n\t\"Rick, it's killing him!\" Stacey screamed, her fingers sliding along the slimy appendage as she tried uselessly to pull it off. Rick took a deep breath, opened wide, and clamped down on the tentacle with his sharp teeth, severing it. Stacey and Supersonic fell backward as thick greenish-gray fluid sprayed over the raccoon's face. The creature screeched and drifted back from him, its remaining tentacles wriggling wildly. It was without a doubt the worst thing he had ever smelled or tasted.\n\t\"Miserable Earth-creature!\" the brain yelled, and Rick felt himself lifted into the air and hurled across the yard. He landed sixty feet away in front of three FBI agents who had been running toward the house, startling them.\n\t\"So, you're an ET, are you?\" said Boone, coming up behind it. \"Well, welcome to Earth, [i]amigo[/i]!\" He jammed an electroshock weapon against one of its tentacles, and it screeched again, tentacles flailing. Then a force bolt struck the FBI agent, sending him flying across the living room.\n\t\"You okay, Floater?\" the blond boy asked, getting to his feet.\n\t\"The injury is minor, Force,\" Floater replied. \"Our mission has been accomplished. It is time to leave.\"\n\t\"You're not going anywhere, creep!\" shouted Stacey as she jumped to her feet and threw a kick at Force. It caught him on the chin, and he spun and crumpled to the ground. Then she cried out as a mental blast from Floater sent her to join him. Floater paused, regarding Stacey and Supersonic for a moment, the squirrel lying on his back groaning and clutching his throat. Then it noticed Rick and three FBI agents rapidly closing on them. It wrapped its tentacles around Force's unconscious body and carried him off into the night sky.\n\n\tOn the floor of an abandoned meat-packing plant on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., nine people stood waiting in front of two large trucks bearing the logos of a moving company that did not exist. Five of them were PSI agents, wearing suits, ties, and sunglasses. The sixth was a Black girl of about ten years, her face peppered with acne pimples. She wore the same black-and-magenta uniform that Twister, Force, Blackout, and Displacer wore. The seventh was a man in his early thirties with thinning black hair and a pockmarked face, wearing a black robe with a crimson yoke over his shoulders, chest, and back. His collar had thin white piping stitched around it, and he held a staff whose golden head was emblazoned with the Greek letter psi. The eighth was a muscular man wearing a shiny copper costume with black boots, gloves, and cowl, all with jagged edges. The ninth was a tall man in his forties with graying black hair and a thick mustache and goatee, wearing an expensive dark suit and a designer Italian tie. A pin with the letter psi was stuck in his lapel.\n\tA point of light appeared in the air above the floor, expanding into a shimmering circle. Out of it stepped Twister, Blackout, and Displacer. Displacer led a sobbing, stumbling Lucy along, while Blackout dragged the unconscious body of David Park. The circle vanished once they were all through.\n\t\"A Silver Avenger?\" the bearded man asked, in a silky baritone voice, pointing at Park. \"Why the hell did you bring [i]him[/i] here?\"\n\t\"I thought you might want him, Counselor Darke,\" said Twister, grinning. Her grin faded when she saw the scowl on Darke's face.\n\t\"You idiot!\" he snapped. \"Do you have any idea how much it costs to create a Silver Avenger? Millions! That's why they all have tracking devices implanted in them so Uncle Sam can keep tabs on his property! Take his goggles off!\" He whirled toward the Black girl. \"Flashback, find out where his tracker is!\"\n\tFlashback nodded and concentrated on Park as Twister removed his anti-psi goggles. \"Under his left armpit, sir,\" she said.\n\t\"Get his shirt off,\" Darke ordered. As Blackout and Twister pulled off the tunic of Park's uniform, Darke turned to one of the agents. \"Heine, manifest your psi blade.\" Heine nodded and held his hand up before him with the palm and fingers straight, and a transparent magenta blade appeared around it. He walked toward the now bare-chested Park, got down on one knee, and cut into Park's left armpit while Twister, Blackout, Displacer, and Flashback all grimaced and looked away. Within a minute, he had removed a silver disk the size of a quarter, covered in blood and with bits of flesh hanging from it.\n\t\"Twister, get rid of it,\" said Darke. Twister created a portal, Heine tossed the tracking device through it, and the portal closed again. Darke went over to Park, removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, and pressed it under his arm to stanch the bleeding. With his free hand, he opened Park's belt buckle and removed the four ampules of Cyberline there. He held one up, gazing at the milky fluid inside.\n\t\"Is that the drug that gives him his powers?\" asked Displacer wonderingly.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Cyberline. This should fetch a pretty penny!\"\n\t\"Do you think they got a fix on our position?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"Almost certainly,\" Darke replied. \"Commence evacuation. We'll transfer everything to the secondary location.\" The PSI agents hastened to comply.\n\t\"What about Floater and Force?\" asked Blackout.\n\t\"They know the plan. Once they arrive and find the base abandoned, they'll head for the secondary location.\"\n\tAt that moment, Park regained consciousness, groaning at the intense pain under his left arm. He opened his eyes and then gasped when he saw Darke. \"You!\" the Silver Avenger snarled and jumped to his feet, lunging at Darke. Unfortunately, he was still weak and groggy, and Darke managed to jump back out of reach.\n\t\"Torment!\" Darke yelled to the man in the copper-and-black costume.\n\tTorment concentrated on Park, and the Silver Avenger's body was flooded with excruciating pain, worse than anything he'd ever felt before. He cried out, collapsed to the concrete floor, and lay still.\n\t\"A pity,\" said the man in the black robe, striding forward, his staff tapping on the floor. \"He would have made a useful convert to our holy cause.\"\n\t\"He may yet, Revelation,\" said Darke, gazing down at the unconscious Silver Avenger.\n\t\"How?\" Revelation asked. \"PRIMUS knows we took him. If we let him return to them, they're going to suspect he's been brainwashed. And if we keep him, his powers will start to fade once his supply of Cyberline runs out.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Darke, \"but there may yet be a service he can perform for us.\"\n\t\"Please!\" cried Lucy, tugging at Displacer's hold on her wrist. \"Let me go! I want to go home!\"\n\tDarke smiled and crouched down to be eye to eye with her. \"But you are home, my child. PSI is your family now.\"\n\tLucy turned away, sobbing.\n\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez arrived at the Pinchard house in a navy blue armored personnel carrier bearing the word PRIMUS along each side in white letters and the presidential eagle on the front and back. Local police, firefighters, and paramedics were already on the scene, their vehicles' lights flashing. She and five PRIMUS agents wearing blue skintight uniforms with white boots, belts, helmets, and white diagonal stripes across their chests with the presidential eagle over their hearts, emerged from the carrier and ran into the house.\n\tIn the ruins of the living room, Agent Landauer was speaking to some uniformed police officers, while paramedics tended to Agents Boone and Saxon. Rick and Stacey were standing off to one side, trying to stay out of everyone's way.\n\tLandauer noticed Sanchez and turned toward her, eyes narrowed. \"Why hello, Director Sanchez!\" he said, with naked sarcasm. \"Nice of you to join us!\"\n\t\"To whom am I speaking?\" she asked stiffly.\n\t\"Tom Landauer, FBI.\"\n\t\"What happened here, Agent Landauer?\"\n\t\"What happened is your people blew it!\" Landauer replied, smirking. \"PSI blasted through the roof of the senator's house and kidnapped his daughter, along with your rookie Silver Avenger.\"\n\tSanchez gaped. \"Park was kidnapped?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"Yes, being superhuman didn't seem to help much. In the meantime, two of our agents were seriously injured, and your little cartoon squirrel had to be saved by a pair of civilians!\" He indicated Rick and Stacey.\n\tSanchez glanced at Rick and Stacey, then turned her attention back to Landauer. \"Where is Supersonic?\"\n\t\"He's out on the patio.\"\n\tSanchez strode past Landauer and through the shattered sliding glass doors that led to the patio. Supersonic was lying on his back, conscious, with a paramedic examining his neck. Sanchez knelt down beside them, and the squirrel looked up at her and tried to speak, but all that came out was a croak. She looked at the paramedic. \"How is he?\"\n\t\"He's suffered serious contusions to his throat,\" the paramedic replied. \"He's lucky his trachea wasn't crushed.\"\n\tSupersonic tried to speak again, and his voice was a hoarse rasp. \"Where's Park?\" he asked.\n\t\"PSI got him,\" said Sanchez sadly, \"along with Lucy.\"\n\tThe squirrel trembled and bit his lip, tears welling up in his huge black eyes.\n\tSanchez caressed the side of his furry face gently. \"Rest, Supersonic.\" She stood up and went back into the living room.\n\t\"How is he?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"He will live. What about your men?\"\n\t\"They both have cracked ribs. Boone has a broken leg, and Saxon's got a punctured lung.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"At least nobody was killed.\"\n\t\"No thanks to that damn squirrel!\" snarled Landauer. \"He screwed up big time!\"\n\t\"Horseshit!\" said Boone, his voice tight with pain. Sanchez and Landauer both turned toward him. \"I was chief investigating officer. The responsibility was mine.\"\n\t\"What were the hostiles like?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We only saw two,\" Boone replied. \"One was—ah!\" He cried out, gritting his teeth as the paramedics moved him onto a stretcher. \"One was that brain creature we fought at the hospital. Apparently, it's some kind of alien. The other was a blond kid, about sixteen, with telekinetic powers.\"\n\t\"Their names were Floater and Force,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Floater tried to kill Supersonic, but Rick stopped him. I knocked out Force, and Floater flew away with him.\"\n\t\"And what exactly were the two of you doing here?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We thought we might be able to help,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Well, you were correct. Thank you for saving Supersonic.\"\n\t\"You're quite welcome.\"\n\t\"Wait a minute,\" said Landauer. \"How did you know where Lucy lived?\"\n\tRick hesitated, and Stacey jumped in. \"She told us.\"\n\t\"She told you?\" Landauer asked skeptically.\n\tStacey nodded. \"This morning, when we rescued her. We asked her where she lived, and she gave us this address.\"\n\t\"I see,\" said Landauer.\n\tSanchez took out her cell phone and dialed PRIMUS. \"What is the present location of Silver Avenger Park?\" she asked the person on the other end. She looked surprised when she heard the reply. \"The Lincoln Memorial?\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking equally astonished.\n\t\"Where was he before that?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"He have some kind of tracking device on him?\" Landauer asked as she waited for a reply.\n\tSanchez nodded. \"All Silver Avengers have one implanted. According to our monitor, he has popped instantly from one place to another twice in the past half hour. I suspect they removed Park's tracker and Twister sent it to the Lincoln Memorial.\" She paused, listening to the person on the other end of her phone. \"Got it. Send some agents to the Lincoln Memorial to make sure he's not there.\" She turned to the other PRIMUS agents. \"Let's move!\"\n\t\"Hold on a second!\" said Landauer, grabbing her shoulder. \"You're not cutting me out of this!\"\n\t\"This is no longer an FBI matter, Agent Landauer,\" said Sanchez, fixing him with an icy gaze. \"I am assuming control of this investigation.\"\n\t\"Like hell you are!\" Landauer shouted. He pointed at Boone, who was being carried out by the paramedics. \"That's [i]my[/i] partner over there!\"\n\t\"And one of [i]my[/i] men has been kidnapped, and another one injured!\"\n\t\"Director,\" came a hoarse, weak voice from doorway to the patio. They both turned to see Supersonic limping slowly toward them, rubbing his throat, a paramedic escorting him.\n\t\"Yes, Supersonic?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I think Agent Landauer should come. PSI hurt his partner. He deserves a chance for some payback. And there's those two FBI agents who were murdered.\"\n\tLandauer blinked, not having expected help from the squirrel.\n\t\"This is not about payback, Supersonic,\" said Sanchez. \"It is about who is best qualified. These people are paranormals.\"\n\t\"So are me and Park,\" Supersonic replied bitterly, \"for all the difference [i]that[/i] made!\"\n\tSanchez glanced at Landauer. \"Very well.\"\n\t\"With your permission,\" said Supersonic, \"I'd like to come, too.\"\n\t\"Are you sure you're up to it?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" the squirrel replied. \"Besides, I promised Lucy I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I'd like to make good on that.\"\n\t\"Director Sanchez,\" said Rick, \"may I also be of assistance?\"\n\t\"Yeah, me too,\" said Stacey.\n\tBefore Sanchez could reply, Supersonic said, \"They've been in this thing since the beginning, Director, and they've accomplished more than any of us.\"\n\tSanchez sighed. \"Fine. But do exactly as I say.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Understood, Director.\"\n\tSanchez, Landauer, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, and the five PRIMUS agents went outside, got into the armored personnel carrier, and drove off.\n\n\tThe woman behind the reception desk at PRIMUS headquarters stared at the man striding across the floor of the lobby toward her. He was tall, wearing a black bodysuit and a turquoise cloak and hood that concealed most of his face. He paused before the desk, gazing down at her, and spoke in a low, slow voice that sounded exotic and mysterious. \"I am Omen. I believe I am expected.\"\n\tThe receptionist swallowed and nodded. \"Yes, you are.\" There was something about this man—a combination of his speech, appearance, and bearing—that made her feel intimidated. She opened a drawer of her desk, removed a small yellow badge from it, rose from her seat, and hesitantly placed the badge on Omen's cloak. \"Through that door.\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. It was flanked by two PRIMUS Iron Guard agents in heavy, clunky armored suits with the presidential eagle over their hearts. They remained standing at attention as Omen passed between them.\n\tOmen took the elevator to the tenth floor and strode down the hallway, his cloak flowing around him, eliciting stares from the PRIMUS agents he passed. Upon reaching an office labeled S. SQUIRREL, he opened the door and went in.\n\tInside the office were Supersonic Squirrel, a hawk-faced man in a dark suit and tie with black hair and blue eyes, and a short humanoid raccoon and a blonde human woman, both wearing ordinary street clothes. Supersonic turned from his computer and broke into a wide, bucktoothed grin. \"Omen!\" he said, in a slightly hoarse voice. \"Nice to see you!\" \n\t\"It is good to see you, too, Supersonic,\" said Omen.\n\tThe squirrel hopped down from his chair, went to Omen, shook his hand, then turned to the others. \"These are—\"\n\t\"Agent Thomas Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rick, and Stacey Summers,\" said Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking surprised. \"How did he—\"\n\t\"I knew what Supersonic was going to say,\" said Omen. \"I am aware you have doubts regarding my abilities. I thought that a demonstration might make some progress toward dispelling them.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Supersonic could have told you we'd be here.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"I haven't spoken to him since last night, before Rick and Stacey joined us, and I never mentioned your name.\"\n\tStacey shrugged. \"I'm convinced!\" Rick simply nodded.\n\t\"Well, if you can see the future,\" said Landauer, \"tell us where we're going to rescue Lucy so we can go get her.\"\n\t\"It is not certain that you [i]will[/i] rescue her,\" Omen replied, causing a pained expression on Supersonic's face.\n\t\"Oh, so now you [i]can't [/i]see the future?\" asked Landauer mockingly.\n\t\"I can see many futures,\" said Omen, unperturbed. \"Which ones come to pass depends upon a multitude of factors, including individual choices and random chance. The more factors are involved, the more uncertain the outcome.\"\n\tLandauer walked up to Omen and leaned forward until their faces were just inches apart. \"Then what good are you? Hell, anyone can imagine different possible futures!\"\n\t\"Not everyone can see the paths that lead to them,\" said Omen. \"That is my gift.\"\n\t\"Okay, then,\" said Landauer, \"what path leads to us defeating PSI and rescuing Lucy and Park?\"\n\tOmen was silent for a moment. \"I am not sure,\" he said at last.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer and Supersonic simultaneously.\n\t\"Ever since I arrived in this city, my vision of the future has been muddled. Almost as if . . . something is blocking it.\"\n\tLandauer smirked again. \"Reply hazy, ask again later.\"\n\t\"What could do that?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"Maybe Porgrave broadcasters?\" Supersonic suggested.\n\t\"What are those?\" asked Stacey.\n\t\"Anti-psi devices. They blanket an area with psychic static, blocking telepaths from reading people's minds. Washington's full of 'em.\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"I think not. Those machines have never interfered with my vision before. It must be something else.\"\n\t\"Well, that's just great!\" fumed Landauer, fixing his eyes on Supersonic. \"Your fortune teller appears to have laid a big goose egg, Agent Squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"I'm doing the best I can, Agent Landauer, and your constant sniping at me doesn't help!\"\n\t\"Yeah, give him a break, Landauer!\" said Stacey. \"He's the only reason you're still on this case!\"\n\tLandauer whirled on her. \"In case you hadn't noticed, honey, this case has hit a dead end. There was nothing at that abandoned meat-packing plant PSI was using as a base, and Park's tracking device was found on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, so we have absolutely no idea where they are! None!\"\n\t\"Be that as it may, Agent Landauer,\" said Rick, calmly, \"accusations and recriminations accomplish nothing.\"\n\t\"Ah, blow it out your fortune cookie, Rocket. Right now, we might as well be consulting those!\"\n\tRick narrowed his eyes but remained silent.\n\tSupersonic looked up at Omen sadly. \"I'm sorry, Omen.\"\n\t\"Do not be,\" said Omen. \"There may yet be something I can do to help.\"\n\t\"Like what?\" Landauer snapped.\n\t\"Your friend, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Supersonic sullenly, his guilt over the loss of his partner evident.\n\t\"He is here.\"\n\tEveryone stared at Omen.\n\t\"Park's here?\" asked Landauer.\n\tOmen nodded. \"In the lobby.\"\n\tSupersonic grabbed his cell phone and called Park. After a moment, he looked up at the others. \"He doesn't answer!\"\n\t\"Maybe he lost his phone,\" Stacey suggested.\n\tSupersonic thought for a moment. \"He's here, in PRIMUS headquarters, with no tracking device.\" His dark eyes went wide. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, but the squirrel was already shooting down the hall.\n\n\tSilver Avenger David Park entered the lobby of PRIMUS headquarters and walked up to the receptionist. \"How are you, Janice?\" he asked, smiling.\n\tShe blinked at him. \"David! I heard you'd been captured!\"\n\t\"I escaped,\" he replied. \"I need to report to Director Sanchez, immediately.\"\n\tShe nodded. \"Of course!\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. Park thanked her and went in, passing the two Iron Guard agents standing on either side of it.\n\tThe door slid down behind Park, and he crossed the short, featureless corridor to the second door. Both doors were never open at the same time. The scanners lining the corridor recognized him as Silver Avenger David Park, and the door at the far end slid upward. Park walked through it and immediately headed for PRIMUS's main computer room.\n\tPark entered a stairwell and swiftly ascended two flights of stairs, emerging in front of the elevators on the third floor. He strolled unhurriedly down the main corridor, the soles of his dark blue boots sinking into the deep orange pile carpet as security cameras silently observed his passage. Decorating the walls were pictures of famous people and scenes from American history. To his right was Washington crossing the Delaware. To his left, Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. Straight ahead, the American flag was being raised on Iwo Jima. Park paid no attention to them, his eyes blank and glassy. A right turn followed by a left brought him to the door to the computer room. It was closed and locked. He produced a magnetic keycard from his belt and inserted it into the slot beside the door. There was a click, and he turned the handle, pushed the door open, and went inside. The door swung shut behind him.\n\tInside the room were the shoulder-high, dull silver cabinets housing the PRIMUS mainframe, their black fronts covered with blinking red LED lights. They contained everything PRIMUS knew. Three PRIMUS agents—two men and a woman—were administering to the machine as Park walked toward it.\n\tAn alarm went off, and Supersonic Squirrel's voice burst over the intercom. \"Attention all agents! Find and apprehend Silver Avenger Park! He's under enemy control!\" The three agents all froze and stared at Park, then drew their .44 magnum revolvers from the holsters on their hips. Like all PRIMUS agents, they had been enhanced by daily doses of Cyberline. Being able to tolerate the drug without harmful side effects was one of the requirements for becoming a PRIMUS agent, save for those like Supersonic who possessed paranormal abilities of their own. It increased agents' physical dexterity by as much as fifty percent and gave them about half the reaction time of a normal human being. But none of these agents were Silver Avengers.\n\tPark lunged at the nearest agent, his hand knifing toward the man's chest as he raised his gun to fire. His fingertips struck the Kevlar cloth of the man's uniform, breaking a rib and knocking the man off his feet as he cried out in pain. Park whirled on the other two as they fired. One bullet missed and embedded itself in the wall. The other struck his torso, where it was stopped by his own Kevlar costume. He charged toward the female agent, throwing a punch at her, which connected, hurling her across the room and into the wall, where she slid to the floor, unconscious. The remaining agent fired again, hitting Park in his lower back, but again, it was stopped by his costume. Park slammed his fist into the man's chest, dropping him.\n\tElapsed time: five seconds.\n\tPark turned to the computer, removed a device from his belt, and moved to insert it into one of the access ports. Before he could do so, there was a tremendous impact and the door to the computer room flew off its hinges as a massive blast of wind hit it, sending it spinning across the room. Hovering in the doorway was Supersonic Squirrel, a scowl darkening his big-eyed, bucktoothed face. \"Omen said you'd be here,\" he growled.\n\tPark lunged at the computer, attempting to insert the device, but Supersonic rocketed forward and slammed into him, sending them both crashing into the far wall. Park threw a right cross, but the amazingly agile squirrel dodged and seized Park's arm. With a twist of his small body, he threw Park over his shoulder to the floor. Park rolled to his feet and sprang at Supersonic, but a vortex of wind formed around the squirrel, pushing Park back, his boots sliding along the carpet.\n\tAt that moment, Rick and Stacey ran into the room, striking combat poses. Behind them came Omen, his cape billowing around him. Park glanced back at them, now surrounded.\n\t\"Dave,\" said Supersonic evenly, \"it's me, Supersonic, your friend. You're following a hypnotic command implanted by Nicholas Darke. You have to snap out of it. I don't want to hurt you. Please, don't make me.\"\n\tPark stared at Supersonic's small, gray-furred form hovering in the air with wind whirling around him like a miniature cyclone. He blinked and shook his head, sweat dripping down his face, his brow furrowed. Then he cried out and tried again to insert the device into one of the computer's access ports. Omen jumped in the way, covering the port with his body, while Rick launched himself across the carpet and slid under Park, sweeping a leg out from under him and knocking him down. Stacey lunged, her fingertips striking a tendon in Park's wrist. That caused him to open the hand holding the device, and Supersonic immediately created a gust of wind that sent it wafting through the air toward him.\n\tPark yelled in anguish, hurling himself at the squirrel, arms outstretched, but Supersonic blew him back with a wind blast. Then Rick and Stacey both struck nerve centers on Park's body, causing him to cry out in pain and double over.\n\t\"Agent Park,\" said Omen, \"listen carefully. Norway, gondola, diatonic.\"\n\tPark's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.\n\t\"What just happened?\" asked Stacey, astonished.\n\t\"Darke always implants a shutdown command, in case one of his victims turns on him,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"How did you know what it was?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"My vision showed me the correct combination of words.\"\n\tThe raccoon's mouth fell open. \"Out of all those millions of possibilities?\"\n\t\"The command is always based on his initials, N.G.D., which narrows it down somewhat. I suppose it appeals to his ego, like an artist signing a painting.\"\n\t\"You might have done it sooner,\" said Supersonic grumpily.\n\t\"As Rick pointed out, there were many possible futures. It took time to find the right one.\"\n\tSanchez and Landauer appeared in the doorway, the latter holding his gun in both hands, aimed at Park.\n\t\"It's all right,\" said Supersonic, holding up his hand. \"Crisis averted.\" He walked over to Sanchez, handing her the device. \"Any idea what this is, Director?\"\n\tShe nodded. \"A remote uplink. If Park had inserted this, it would have transmitted every bit of data in PRIMUS's computer to a receiving unit somewhere: information on superpowered individuals and organizations, and on PRIMUS personnel, operations, resources, safehouses, contacts, informants, research projects, technology, and so on. We would have been completely compromised.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Rick, indicating Park. \"Is [i]he[/i] compromised, the way Nightmunk was?\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"Darke did not have time to do a complete brainwashing on him. He simply implanted a single command in his mind that he was compelled to obey. When he awakens, he will be himself again. Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Then he can't have gotten his hooks into Lucy yet!\" said Stacey eagerly.\n\t\"No, he has not had time.\"\n\tLandauer narrowed his eyes. \"And how do [i]you[/i] know so much about Darke's brainwashing techniques, Omen?\"\n\t\"Because I have encountered other unfortunate souls whose minds were warped by his wicked skills,\" Omen replied, a touch of coldness in his sonorous voice.\n\t\"Let us get him to the infirmary,\" said Sanchez. \"He can be treated, and we can find out if he learned anything useful while he was PSI's captive.\" Two PRIMUS agents carried Park out of the room, while others tended to the three Park had knocked unconscious.\n\n\tPark awoke in PRIMUS's infirmary and looked around frantically, eyes wide. He was lying on a hospital bed, with Sanchez, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer all standing over him—or, in Rick's and Supersonic's cases, looking up at him.\n\t\"It's all right, partner,\" said Supersonic, smiling. \"You're safe now. How do you feel?\"\n\tPark relaxed and reached down, rubbing his side where Rick and Stacey had hit him. \"Sore as hell. How did I get here?\" His eyes focused on Omen. \"And who is that?\"\n\t\"That's Omen,\" Supersonic replied. \"You don't remember anything?\"\n\tPark furrowed his brow. \"Darke. I remember Darke. He was standing right in front of me, as close as you are now. I tried to grab him, and then . . . there was pain! Incredible pain!\"\n\t\"Pain from what?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"Some guy in a black-and-copper costume. Darke called him Torment.\" \n\tSupersonic noticed Omen stiffen. \"That mean something to you?\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"I know this man. His real name is Jeff Baldwin. He was born with a brain mutation that caused him to be in constant pain, which nothing could relieve. His parents did not wish to deal with him, so they put him up for adoption. But nobody wanted to adopt such a child and deal with a lifetime of medical expenses and suffering, so for thirteen years he remained in the adoption center, unloved, unwanted, and in perpetual agony.\"\n\t\"Good god!\" said Landauer.\n\t\"How horrible!\" said Stacey, hugging herself.\n\t\"That poor kid!\" said Supersonic, wiping away a tear.\n\t\"Darke learned of Jeff's condition and was interested in its cause,\" Omen continued, \"so he offered to use his advanced neurochemical knowledge to try to cure him, which he eventually did. However, the drug he developed had an unexpected side effect. The mutation that had caused Jeff such pain now enabled him to project pain into others. Darke decided this ability could be useful to him, so he arranged to take custody of Jeff, giving him the codename Torment. Jeff requires daily injections of Darke's drug to keep his pain from returning, and he will do anything to prevent this from happening.\"\n\t\"So he's Darke's slave,\" said Rick, scowling.\n\tOmen nodded. \"Essentially.\"\n\tSanchez turned back to Park. \"Was there anyone else with Darke?\"\n\tPark thought for a moment. \"I was only conscious for a few seconds before Torment made me pass out, but I remember Twister was there, and a guy with a pockmarked face and thinning black hair who was dressed kind of like a priest, with a black robe and a white collar. He was holding a staff with a gold head. And there were a bunch of PSI agents, and three kids in those black-and-magenta costumes. Two of them were in Lucy's room with Twister when I broke in. She called them Blackout and Displacer, but I don't know which was which. They both had sandy hair and looked kind of similar, maybe brother and sister. The third one was a Black girl, about ten years old, with bad acne. I never heard her name.\"\n\t\"Any of these folks sound familiar?\" Supersonic asked Omen.\n\tOmen shook his head. \"No, I do not recognize them. They must be recent recruits.\"\n\t\"Well,\" said Sanchez, \"we can do a workup on the guy dressed like a priest. He sounds pretty distinctive. And we can search the national databases for any missing children matching those descriptions.\"\n\t\"A pair of possible siblings with sandy hair, and a Black girl with acne,\" said Landauer. \"I wouldn't hold out much hope there.\"\n\t\"And that's assuming they're even Americans,\" said Supersonic. \"PSI has recruited people from outside the country before.\"\n\t\"I heard Blackout and Displacer talk,\" said Park. \"They sounded like Americans.\"\n\t\"Force sounded like an American, too,\" said Stacey. \"As for Floater . . .\"\n\t\"I have already spoken to METE about Floater,\" said Sanchez. \"They have never heard of this creature.\"\n\t\"METE?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"The Metropolitan Extra-Terrestrial Enclave,\" said Supersonic. \"It's sort of a halfway house for homeless aliens.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"I wouldn't have thought there'd be enough of those to warrant such a place!\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You'd be surprised.\"\n\t\"Remember,\" said Sanchez, \"there have been aliens living on Earth since at least 1938, and more than a few are members of the superhero community.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Yeah, my old teammate in the Millennium Guard, Ironkid, is half alien. Great kid.\"\n\t\"METE is a private research facility supported by regular contributors and government contracts,\" said Landauer. \"Their focus is biological research. A number of recent advances in medicine are the result of their work.\"\n\t\"You approve of them, Agent Landauer?\" asked Rick, sounding surprised.\n\tLandauer looked at the raccoon. \"My daughter had leukemia. Drugs developed at METE saved her life.\"\n\t\"Oh,\" said Rick. \"I am very happy for you, then.\"\n\t\"Thank you,\" said Landauer.\n\t\"All right,\" said Sanchez, \"let's get busy, people. The sooner we track down PSI, the sooner we rescue Lucy.\"\n\tPark sat up on the bed. \"Permission to return to duty, Director?\"\n\tSanchez smirked. \"Each day you're out of action costs the taxpayers a fortune. Granted.\"\n\n\t\"Now, I want you to relax, Lucy,\" said Counselor Darke, in a low, soothing voice. \"Just relax and look at the light. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Concentrate only on the light.\"\n\tLucy gazed at the lit candle sitting on the table before her, the only illumination in the darkened room. It was so pretty, the flame so straight and unwavering. She felt as though nothing in the world existed except her and the candle flame. She felt completely relaxed and at peace. \n\tDarke smiled. Lucy was progressing nicely. The drugs he'd administered in her fruit juice were gently quelling her fears and sapping her will to resist. How amazing the mind was—and how malleable.\n\tThe door to the office flew open, blowing out the candle and making Lucy gasp. In the doorway stood Revelation, staff in hand. Behind him hovered Floater.\n\tDarke whirled, glaring at the pair. \"I've told you before never to disturb me during a session, Anthony!\" he shouted, causing Lucy to cover her ears.\n\t\"Something is blurring my vision!\" growled Revelation.\n\tDarke stared at him. \"What?\" He wondered if the brain mutation that granted Revelation his precognition was starting to affect his eyesight. Darke had known for some time that it was slowly killing him, though he had not told him this.\n\t\"Ever since this morning,\" said Revelation, \"my vision of the future has been murky, as if something were clouding it.\"\n\tDarke considered this. It was possible that the mutation was destroying Revelation's brain even faster than he'd estimated. That could explain the clouding of his vision. He would have to conduct some tests to make sure. \"Can you see the cause?\" he asked. \n\tRevelation nodded. \"It is a man, wearing a blue cloak and hood.\"\n\tDarke gasped. \"Omen!\"\n\t\"You know this person?\" asked Revelation, stiffening.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Yes. He's a precog, like you, a member of the original PSI.\"\n\t\"Another precog? I thought the power to see the future was mine alone!\"\n\tDarke lit himself a cigarette. \"Don't be naive, Anthony. If a mutation can happen once, it can happen again. It's just a matter of inheriting the right combination of genes.\"\n\t\"My power is a divine gift!\" shouted Revelation, pounding his staff on the floor and causing Lucy to cower in her chair.\n\t\"Lower your voice!\" Darke growled. \"You're scaring the child. Omen infiltrated PSI because he had some sort of vendetta against Psymon. I'm still not clear on what it was. He used our plan to break Psymon and two other members of PSI out of Stronghold Prison as a means of reaching him so he could kill him, a masterful bit of subterfuge, I must say. He failed, as Psymon still remains in Stronghold, but in the process Omega, PSI's chief of security, was killed by Nightmunk, who we thought was under our control. All the original members of PSI were subsequently captured by PRIMUS, save for Torment and myself. After that, Omen simply vanished. I never found out who he was or what became of him. He's still very much a mystery to me.\"\n\tRevelation glowered. \"I refuse to tolerate the existence of another precog! This Omen must be destroyed!\"\n\t\"And how, exactly, do you plan to do that, Anthony?\" asked Darke, smirking. \"Do you know where he is?\"\n\t\"No,\" Revelation admitted, \"but he must be someplace nearby, or he wouldn't be blocking my vision. And his being here can't be a coincidence.\" He grinned unpleasantly. \"Perhaps he's after you, Nicholas.\"\n\tDarke shrugged. \"Why would he be after me? I'm not Psymon.\"\n\t\"You said it yourself: He's a mystery. Who knows what his true goal is?\"\n\t\"If he wanted to kill me, he had ample opportunity to do that when he was with PSI.\"\n\t\"I must find him!\" snarled Revelation. \"None may see the future but me, the living revelation of the glory of power!\" He turned and stalked away, Floater following him.\n\tDarke watched them go. He had neglected to mention that it was he who had programmed Nightmunk to kill Omega, and that he had permitted the rest of PSI to be captured in order to create a new PSI with himself as its sole master. As he smoked, he considered the implications of what Revelation had told him. So, the mysterious Omen was back. That was troubling. Darke did not like mysteries. He was a man who liked to be in control of every situation, and that meant knowing everything. And as long as Omen was interfering with Revelation's vision, his usefulness to PSI was compromised. Something would have to be done about this.\n\tHe turned back to Lucy, smiled, and relit the candle. \"Now, let's begin again.\"\n\t\n\tSupersonic and Park burst into the conference room at PRIMUS headquarters that Sanchez had turned into their base of operations, causing her, Omen, Rick, Stacey, and Landauer to look up from stacks of files and newspapers they were examining. \"We got something!\" the squirrel announced, his bucktoothed face beaming.\n\t\"Well, don't keep it to yourself!\" said Stacey.\n\t\"I IDed the guy dressed like a priest as one Anthony Martelli, a member of the New York mob,\" said Park.\n\t\"And get this!\" said Supersonic, grinning excitedly. \"He found people for them!\"\n\t\"Interesting!\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"He used to work for a mobster named 'Sticks' Monroe,\" said Park.\n\t\"I've heard of him,\" said Landauer. \"The New York District Attorney indicted him for murder a few years ago. The case had to be dropped when all the witnesses were shot dead, despite having been moved to secret locations. We figured there was a leak in the DA's office, but we never found one.\"\n\t\"PRIMUS didn't have anything on Martelli,\" said Supersonic, \"so we checked with the FBI. No mention of any paranormal abilities, but apparently the guy is some kind of religious nut. Not of any conventional religion, though. He claimed all religions were bunk and kept talking about the importance of 'supreme power.'\"\n\t\"As you might imagine,\" said Park, \"that didn't make him too popular with the other wise guys, who were all good Catholic boys.\"\n\t\"Does he still work for Monroe?\" asked Sanchez.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"He dropped out of sight about six months ago. Nobody's seen or heard from him since then. The FBI figured one of his fellow mobsters probably got sick of him bashing religion and whacked him.\"\n\t\"This Martelli,\" said Omen, \"you say he was good at finding people?\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That's how he came to Monroe's attention. He'd find people for anyone who would pay him.\"\n\t\"He must have some kind of psychic location ability,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Why would he be with PSI otherwise?\"\n\t\"It is more than that,\" said Omen, standing up. \"He is a precog.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Another precog?\"\n\t\"It explains the interference with my vision. By seeing the future, one alters it, changing the probability of what will eventually come to pass. Thus, two precogs working toward opposing goals should essentially cancel each other out, leaving them both lost in a fog of confusion and uncertainty.\"\n\t\"I imagine that's not something you're used to,\" said Rick.\n\t\"The idea of dueling precogs is a fascinating one,\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"Wait a minute!\" said Supersonic. \"If he's blocking your power, then you must be blocking his, right?\"\n\t\"Unquestionably,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"And I'll bet Darke isn't happy about that,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Not if he's relying on Martelli's visions to avoid being caught,\" said Park.\n\t\"Or to locate new potential recruits,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Can you sense when Martelli is near,\" Landauer asked Omen, \"like a homing beacon?\"\n\t\"The analogy is imperfect, Agent Landauer,\" Omen replied. \"We do not generate signals that grow stronger as one moves closer to their source. It is more a matter of the degree to which our respective futures are intertwined. I am involved in this because Supersonic called me and I agreed to come. From that moment, Anthony Martelli's future and mine have been connected. What the result of this will be, I cannot say.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"Accept the word of one who [i]doesn't[/i] know?\"\n\tOmen nodded, smiling slightly. \"Aptly put, my furry friend.\"\n\t\"However,\" said Sanchez, \"it does suggest a way we may be able to bring PSI out into the open.\"\n\t\n\t\"Counselor Darke! Counselor Darke!\"\n\tNicholas Darke sat up on the cot on which he'd been sleeping and blinked his eyes until they focused on the darkened office of the warehouse that PSI was using as a temporary base of operations. Torment's generally gloomy voice was uncharacteristically excited. \"What is it, Jeff?\"\n\tTorment opened the door, letting light spill into the room. The cowl of his costume had been pulled back to reveal the face of a handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed youth in his late teens. \"You have to see this!\" he said.\n\tDarke swung his legs down and stood up. He was wearing a rumpled dress shirt and slacks, both with designer labels. \"See what?\" he asked calmly. \"Is there danger? Are we under attack?\" He had been counting on Revelation to be able to foresee such a contingency, but since Omen had entered the picture, Revelation's powers could no longer be relied upon.\n\t\"No, sir, nothing like that,\" Torment replied.\n\t\"Well, what, then?\" asked Darke, annoyed.\n\t\"Trust me, sir, it's easier if you just come outside and look.\"\n\tDarke sighed, slipped on a pair of loafers, and followed the young psionic down the hall. They walked quickly through the empty warehouse, out an open corrugated aluminum door that had been made to accomodate large trucks, and into the stockyard, which was surrounded by a wooden fence that prevented anyone outside seeing in and was topped with barbed wire. A number of PSI agents were standing on the yard's concrete surface, looking up at the sky. He tilted his head back to see what it was the agents were gazing at, and his mouth fell open.\n\tWritten in white letters in the clear blue sky was: \n\t[i]Martelli\n\tRFK Stadium\n\tOmen[/i]\n\tDarke looked around the stockyard. \"Where is Revelation?\"\n\t\"Gone, sir,\" Torment replied. \"He had Twister open a portal for him, and he, Twister, Floater, Force, Blackout, and Displacer went through.\"\n\t\"That idiot!\" Darke snarled. \"He's going to get them all captured!\"\n\t\"You think it's a trap, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"Of course it's a trap,\" Darke snapped. \"And Revelation is leading my new PSI right into it!\"\n\t\"But I thought he could see the future!\" Torment protested.\n\t\"Not with Omen around, he can't. Their powers are negating each other.\"\n\tTorment shrugged helplessly. \"Well, what can we do, sir? They're at the stadium by now, so the trap must have already been sprung!\"\n\tDarke frowned. \"Supervise the evacuation of this base to the tertiary location.\"\n\t\"What about you, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"I'm going to see if I can salvage this mess.\" He turned and began walking back into the warehouse.\n\t\"Sir!\" shouted Torment, running after him. \"Let me come with you!\"\n\tDarke waved him off. \"I need you here, Jeff.\"\n\tTorment's voice shook with fear. \"But if anything happens to you, there'll be nobody to make the drug that keeps my pain away! Please, sir, I couldn't bear going back to that. I'd rather die!\"\n\tDarke paused and looked at him. His eyes were frantic, the boy terrified by the thought of returning to the agony that had been his whole world for the first thirteen years of his life. \"Very well.\" He turned to Agent Heine. \"Heine, you take charge of the evacuation.\"\n\tHeine nodded. \"Yes, Counselor.\"\n\tDarke and Torment went back into the warehouse.\n\n\tSupersonic Squirrel sat cross-legged at the center of a vast field of brown dirt, the bleachers and walls of the mammoth stadium rising around him. He remembered when it had first opened, in 1961. Back then, it had been called District of Columbia Stadium. President Kennedy had refused to permit the Washington Redskins to play there, since it was on federal land, until their owner desegregated the team. In 1969, it had been renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in honor of President Kennedy's slain brother. In 2019, it had been closed, and now stood abandoned on the west bank of the Anacostia River, awaiting demolition. The squirrel sighed as he looked around at the decaying stadium, its remaining seats empty, the only sound the tinny rattling of the racks of lights above the bleachers by the wind ruffling his tail and fur. Like himself, it was a relic of another time.\n\tA bright point of light appeared a few dozen yards away from him, quickly expanding into a white circle floating in the air. Out of it stepped Revelation. Behind him came Force, Floater, Twister, and a boy and girl he hadn't seen before.\n\t\"I see you got my message, Martelli,\" said Supersonic, still sitting. \"I hoped you would.\"\n\tRevelation glared at the squirrel. \"Call me Revelation, for that is what I now am, the living revelation of the glory of power!\"\n\t\"Nifty,\" said Supersonic, standing up and dusting off his furry backside with his hands. \"I also see you brought some friends. For future reference, which one is Blackout and which one is Displacer?\"\n\t\"I'm Blackout,\" the boy said.\n\t\"And I'm Displacer,\" said the girl.\n\t\"Hi. Nice to finally meet you both.\" The squirrel turned his attention back to Revelation. \"Where's Darke?\"\n\t\"Where's Omen?\" asked Revelation.\n\tSupersonic grinned, buck teeth gleaming. \"Don't you know?\"\n\tRevelation growled. \"He is cloaking himself from my vision, somehow.\"\n\t\"I have it on good authority he's doing a lot more than that. As long as you two are working against each other, neither of you can see the future worth beans!\"\n\tTwister looked at Revelation in alarm. \"You said it would be safe!\"\n\t\"Calm yourself, Susan,\" said Revelation. \"You have nothing to fear as long as you're with me.\" He gestured at Supersonic with his staff. \"Blackout. Displacer. Deal with that rodent!\"\n\tBlackout concentrated on the squirrel, and his eyes widened. \"My power's not working on him!\"\n\t\"Neither is mine!\" cried Displacer.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"You must really think I'm dumb. I knew I was going up against PSI, so I took precautions. My mind is shielded against psionics.\" He reached up and lowered his goggles over his eyes. \"In the name of the people of the United States, you're all under arrest. You have the right to remain silent—\"\n\t\"You're not shielded against [i]my[/i] power, squirrel!\" said Twister, grinning and raising her hands. \"I'm gonna take you down like I did your Silver Avenger buddy!\"\n\tSupersonic shot straight at Twister, slamming into her and knocking her back thirty feet, their bodies gouging a furrow in the dirt as they skidded along. At that moment, from a tunnel that opened onto the field emerged Rick, Stacey, Landauer, and Silver Avengers Park and Sanchez, all wearing mirrored anti-psionic goggles.\n\t\"Give it up, Martelli!\" shouted Sanchez.\n\t\"I am Revelation!\" yelled Revelation. \"Force! Floater! Get them!\"\n\tForce and Floater flew toward the new arrivals, Force heading for Sanchez while Floater made for Park. The blond-haired youth raised his hands and fired a bolt of pure force at the director of PRIMUS, hitting her and knocking her back a hundred feet, over the concrete wall—still bearing plywood billboards for various products—that had separated the spectators from the playing field, and into the banks of seats beyond. Landauer fired at the boy with his pistol as Stacey closed with him, but his bullets bounced harmlessly off the force field surrounding Force's body.\n\t\"Oh, no!\" said Force, grinning down at Stacey as he flew twenty feet above her. \"I'm not letting you get your hands on me again!\" Stacey scowled, unable to reach the boy. Then she heard the sound of splintering wood behind her. Glancing back, she saw Sanchez, crouched atop the wall, tear a billboard for Miller Lite off it. The director swung the huge sign back horizontally behind her and then hurled it at Force like a discus thrower, sending it spinning through the air toward him. Force had no chance to dodge as the heavy plywood billboard caught him edgewise, stunning him and dropping him to the ground. He landed right in front of Stacey, who finished him off with a nerve strike to his shoulder, rendering the boy unconscious.\n\t\"Careful, you know what that thing can do!\" said Park as he and Rick ran toward Floater, the alien hovering silently six feet off the ground.\n\tRick nodded. \"All too well.\"\n\t\"As I am too well acquainted with your bite, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, in its grating, electronic voice. \"A most unpleasant experience, one that will not be repeated.\"\n\t\"Why are you doing this, Floater?\" Rick asked. \"What are you getting out of it?\"\n\t\"My motives are no concern of yours, Earth-creature,\" Floater replied. \"You should concentrate instead on surviving the next few minutes.\" It reached out with its mind and tried to seize the raccoon telekinetically, but Rick dodged nimbly, evading its grasp. Park took advantage of the opening to dart in, one hand knifing toward the green brain floating in its transparent sphere. His fingers struck the sphere with a sharp report, and green fluid began oozing through a crack in it. Floater screeched, seizing Park with its mind and flinging him away. Rick leaped on the alien, wrapping his arms and legs around its sphere and squeezing with all his might, but lacking Park's biochemically enhanced strength, he could not break it. Floater shot upward, carrying the raccoon into the sky with it.\n\tMeanwhile, Supersonic and Twister were rolling in the dirt together, one of the squirrel's furry arms locked around the girl's neck in a choke hold as she struggled to break free. Supersonic bore down on her as hard as he could, but most of the force he was exerting was being shunted away into another dimension, preventing him from cutting off her air supply. Still, he was making it difficult for her to focus her power. Twister glared up at Blackout and Displacer, spittle flicking from her lips. \"Help me, you idiots!\"\n\t\"But he's immune to our powers!\" Displacer protested.\n\t\"Punch him! Kick him! Do [i]something![/i] It's not like you don't have a horse in this race!\"\n\tBlackout and Displacer looked at each other, shrugged, and ran up, both of them kicking at the squirrel. Supersonic gritted his teeth in pain as their boots struck his body. Fighting children was not what he'd signed on for, but these were no ordinary kids. Twister had taken down a Silver Avenger single-handed. He created a vortex of wind around himself and Twister, pushing Blackout and Displacer away from them.\n\tStacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer closed in on Revelation, who stood glaring at them, black robe billowing in the breeze, staff clutched in his hand. \"Ready to surrender now, Martelli?\" Sanchez asked.\n\tRevelation grinned twistedly. \"This is very far from over, Director Sanchez!\" He raised his staff.\n\t\"Beware his staff!\" came a man's voice from the tunnel.\n\tSanchez dodged as a blast of electricity arced toward her from the head of Revelation's staff, narrowly evading it. Revelation turned toward the voice. Omen was emerging from the tunnel, his face grim beneath his turquoise hood.\n\t\"You!\" snarled Revelation, eyes burning with hatred. Then he sidestepped as Stacey threw a flying kick at his head, sailing past him to land in the dirt in a few feet away. Landauer fired his gun, but Revelation knew the path the bullet would take and avoided it.\n\t\"Yes, I,\" replied Omen, striding toward the black-robed figure. \"Your antithesis. You may be able to predict the others' actions, but not mine, nor any act of theirs I may influence.\"\n\tRevelation frowned, all the multiple potential futures in his mind fading into a gray fog. \"The same goes for you, Omen,\" he growled. \"We stalemate each other.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Omen, \"but my allies are trained fighters, while yours are a group of inexperienced, undisciplined children. I believe that gives us an edge.\" He smiled.\n\tRevelation looked around. Stacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer had him surrounded, and he could no longer anticipate what they would do. Force was down, Floater was somewhere up in the sky, and Blackout, Displacer, and Twister were all effectively neutralized. It began to dawn on him that coming here may not have been a wise move.\n\tAt that moment, there came a whine of jet turbines above them. They all looked up to see a figure in shiny gray armor with blue and black trim drop out of the sky and land on the dirt floor of the stadium. On its forehead was the Greek letter omega. In its arms it held Torment, whom it lowered to the ground.\n\tSupersonic and Sanchez both stared at the armored figure in disbelief. \"It's not possible!\" the squirrel gasped. \"Nightmunk killed you!\"\n\t\"He killed Omega,\" the armored figure replied casually, its voice distorted by an electronic filter. \"Fortunately, Omega kept a suit of backup armor. Greetings. I am Nicholas Darke.\" He turned his head toward Revelation. \"You imbecile! Your pride and vanity have put the entire organization at risk!\"\n\tRevelation simply glared at him, saying nothing.\n\tSanchez walked toward Darke, her face hard. \"Nicholas Darke, in the name of the people of the United States, I place you under arrest.\"\n\tDarke chuckled. \"Oh, I think not, Director Sanchez.\" He tapped a button on his gauntlet. Instantly, all their anti-psionic goggles shorted out, as did the anti-psionic circuitry in Supersonic's helmet and Omen's cowl.\n\t\"As you can see,\" said Darke, \"I came prepared, too.\"\n\tInstantly, Torment focused his power on Supersonic, and the squirrel screamed in agony as every nerve ending in his small body exploded with pain. He let go of Twister and curled into a ball, whimpering. Released from Supersonic's choke hold, Twister raised her hands and concentrated on Sanchez. The director of PRIMUS cried out and doubled over as Twister rotated Sanchez partially into another dimension, causing her intense anguish.\n\tRealizing that their adversaries were no longer shielded from their powers, Blackout and Displacer unleashed them on Park and Landauer, respectively. All the sensory input to Park's brain was suddenly blocked, leaving him seemingly floating in a black, silent void, unable to feel anything. He fell forward into the dirt and lay there, calling for help, arms and legs flailing uselessly. Landauer, on the other hand, found all his senses distorted, leaving him dizzy and uncoordinated. Sounds became muffled, his vision became blurry, and the ground seemed to rise and fall beneath his feet. Everyone around him had become a gray blob, making him unable to distinguish friend from foe. Landauer had once tried LSD in college, just to see what it was like. He hadn't enjoyed its effects and had never done it again. This was much like that, only worse.\n\tRevelation grinned savagely as Supersonic Squirrel, the two Silver Avengers, and the FBI agent were suddenly incapacitated. That left only Stacey Summers, an unpowered martial artist, and Omen, whose precognition was nullified. He turned to the latter. \"Your allies have fallen, Omen, as all who stand against pure power must! And now, you shall join them!\" He aimed his staff at Omen, and a bolt of electricity shot from its head. \n\tOmen dodged desperately, no longer able to foresee the path the bolt would follow. Fortunately, Revelation was equally unable to anticipate where Omen would be, and lacking that advantage, he was not an especially good shot. The bolt missed its target by several feet. A moment later, Stacey struck Revelation's staff, knocking it from his hand. He whirled to face her, eyes blazing with hatred. \"Didn't see that coming, did you?\" said Stacey, grinning.\n\t\"You'll pay for that, bitch!\" Revelation snarled. \"Oh, how you'll pay!\"\n\tThroughout all this, Nicholas Darke had stood silently in Omega's suit of backup powered armor, taking no part in the battle. He was a thinker, not a fighter, and had no interest in fisticuffs. He surveyed the stadium with satisfaction. The effects of Revelation's stupidity appeared to have been negated, the potential disaster averted. The only adversary here who really mattered was Omen, and Darke could deal with him at his leisure. He glanced at Stacey and smiled inside his helmet. This would be fun.\n\t\"Mrs. Summers,\" Darke said. \"The papers mentioned that you are the widow of the hero Samurai. It may interest you to know he was killed while investigating one of PSI's secret bases. Naturally, we would have preferred to bring him under our control, but his will was too strong, so we were forced to eliminate him. Regrettable, but necessary.\"\n\tStacey stared at Darke, then cried out in anger and charged toward him. Darke raised an arm and fired a spread of plasma bolts at her, but she dodged nimbly as a cat, and they all missed. She closed with Darke and threw a kick at his midriff, which connected, knocking him off his feet. Darke fell on his rump in the dirt, surprised.\n\t\"I am not a violent man, Mrs. Summers,\" said Darke, sounding mildly annoyed. \"I have never personally killed anyone.\" He aimed his arm at her. \"But there is a first time for everything.\"\n\t\n\tOver a thousand feet above the condemned stadium, Rick clung tightly to Floater, his arms and legs wrapped around its protective sphere. From this altitude, he could see all of Washington, D.C., as well as the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia. The familiar white shapes of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building rose up to the west. Beyond them lay the glittering ribbon of the Potomac River, and beyond that the flat, geometric mass of the Pentagon and the green expanse of Arlington National Cemetery. It was quite a view.\n\t\"How does it feel, Earth-creature,\" droned Floater, \"to know you are going to die?\"\n\t\"I've always known that,\" Rick replied calmly.\n\t\"But there is a difference between the abstract knowledge of death and the immediacy of it, is there not? Any time I wish to, I can simply cast you into space.\"\n\t\"If you're trying to frighten me, Floater, it's not going to work. Fear is just a feeling. Feelings can be controlled.\"\n\t\"So you feel no fear at all?\" Floater asked curiously.\n\t\"Sorry to disappoint you.\"\n\t\"We shall see,\" said Floater. Immediately, it launched into a series of dizzying aerobatics, swooping and banking and doing loop-the-loops, as the raccoon held on for dear life.\n\t\"Sadistic cuss, aren't you?\" said Rick through clenched teeth, the wind blowing through his fur. Fortunately, his goggles protected his eyes from it.\n\t\"You caused me pain, Earth-creature,\" replied Floater. \"More pain than anyone has for a very long time. I would repay you for that.\"\n\t\"Keep talking, then, Floater,\" Rick replied. \"Your monologue is pain enough.\"\n\t\"I will have you screaming in terror and begging for mercy before I kill you, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, diving earthward.\n\tRick shook his head. \"That's not going to happen.\" He closed his eyes, one clawed hand exploring the transparent dome covering Floater's brain as his mind sank into a trancelike state. His fingers touched the crack Park had made in its surface when he'd struck it earlier. He concentrated all his awareness on it, perceiving the structure of the dome in a way that went beyond the five ordinary senses, feeling how its molecules were intertwined and how Park's blow had disrupted those linkages. Finding the point of greatest weakness, he raised his fist and brought it down with a shattering impact, smashing through the dome and into the green fluid inside. Floater screeched and stopped dead in midair, tentacles flailing about wildly.\n\t\"Speaking of the immediacy of death,\" Rick growled, \"my fingers are touching your brain. Any time I wish to, I can simply close my hand and squeeze you into glop. Understand?\"\n\t\"Understood, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, the alien's flat, electronic voice somehow managing to convey its fear.\n\t\"Good. Now bring me back to the stadium.\"\n\tFloater began flying down toward the donut shape of the stadium far below.\n\t\n\t\"Just kill her, Nicholas!\" snarled Revelation, glaring at Stacey as Darke got to his feet with his arm aimed at her. Stacey stood motionless, her eyes fixed on Darke, ready to dodge if he fired. She no longer cared if she died. All she could think about was Kenji.\n\t\"Why?\" Darke asked. \"Because she dared to strike you? That's rather petty, Anthony, don't you think? She's no threat to PSI. Killing her would serve no purpose.\" He lowered his arm.\n\t\"Fine, I'll kill her myself!\" Revelation spat, and turned to pick up his staff, only to see Omen holding it, aimed at him. \"Darke!\" Revelation cried in fear.\n\tInstantly, Darke switched his target to Omen. Stacey, taking advantage of the distraction, charged at Darke, grabbed his arm, and executed a shoulder throw, hurling him on his back into the dirt.\n\t\"You have used your gift to murder innocents, Martelli,\" Omen said, sounding like a judge pronouncing sentence, \"as surely as if you had killed them yourself. Your evil ends here.\" A bolt of electricity shot from the staff, striking Revelation, who cried out and collapsed to the ground. Instantly, the fog that had been obscuring Omen's vision of the future cleared. He now knew exactly what must be done.\n\tFloater and Rick came swooping down out of the sky. The raccoon could see that the battle was not going well, with Supersonic, the two Silver Avengers, and Agent Laundauer all incapacitated. He saw Stacey squaring off with Darke and was about to tell Floater to aid her when he heard Omen shout, \"Rick, give Supersonic your goggles!\"\n\t\"You heard the man,\" Rick said. He removed his goggles, and Floater levitated them to Supersonic, placing them on his head. \n\tThe agony Torment had been inflicting on the squirrel vanished. Supersonic got up and glanced briefly at Torment, able to feel sympathy for him in spite of everything now that he understood how much pain he had suffered for so long. Then he flew between Blackout and Displacer, a vortex of wind forming around him, sending them both tumbling across the ground and stunning them.\n\tPark and Landauer got to their feet as the powers affecting their senses were terminated. \"Park, Landauer,\" shouted Omen, \"take down Twister! Supersonic, attack Torment!\" All three obeyed, Landauer shooting at the Native American girl, hitting her and taking her attention off Sanchez, while Park sped across the ground, kicking up clods of dirt, and struck with his fist, knocking her unconscious. \n\tSupersonic built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and hurled it at Torment, sending him flying across the field and into the bleachers. \"Home run!\" the squirrel said, grinning.\n\tDarke scowled inside his helmet. Omen was coordinating the counterattack. He had to be neutralized. Ignoring Stacey, he aimed his gauntlet at Omen and fired a spread of plasma bolts, but Omen simply sidestepped and they all missed.\n\t\"Were Omega here,\" said Omen, smiling thinly, \"his tactical acumen would have told him that attacking me was futile.\" He aimed Revelation's staff at Darke and fired, arcs of electricity washing over Darke's armored suit, causing him to cry out in pain. \"He also would have known that electricity is the worst thing in the world for a suit of powered armor laced with microcircuitry. Pity you had him killed.\" \n\tDarke looked around wildly as Supersonic, Stacey, Park, Sanchez, and Rick (still mounted on Floater) closed in around him. Loath as he was to admit it, Omen was right. Omega had been PSI's tactician, not him. He was out of his depth here. There was only one option left. He activated his turbines and shot skyward.\n\t\"He's not getting away that easily!\" growled Supersonic, and rocketed after him. An instant later, Rick and Floater followed.\n\t\"I don't suppose there's anything we can do to help them,\" said Park, watching wistfully as they disappeared.\n\t\"Not unless you have suddenly gained the ability to fly,\" said Sanchez, shaking her head. \"By the way, thank you for taking out Twister.\"\n\t\"My pleasure,\" said Park, grinning. \"She's one nasty little girl!\"\n\t\"She is a child, and she has had a hard life, without love or kindness. However, perhaps it is not too late to save her.\"\n\t\"I just hope Rick and Supersonic can save Lucy,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"They will,\" said Omen.\n\t\"I guess you would know,\" said Landauer, \"now that Martelli's out of the picture.\"\n\tOmen shook his hooded head. \"It is not my vision that tells me this.\"\n\t\"Then how can you be so sure?\" asked Park.\n\tOmen smiled. \"Because they are heroes.\"\n\n\tDarke cursed as he flew northeast from R.F.K. Stadium. Revelation had screwed everything up. While his precognitive powers had been useful, his delusions and megalomania had made working with him unbearable. He was frankly glad to be rid of him—and that he'd soon be dead.\n\tHis suit's radar told him something was closing on him, fast. Had Andrews Air Force Base scrambled a jet fighter? He twisted his body to look behind him and cursed again. It was that damned squirrel. He stopped and turned toward him. Supersonic flew up and stopped twenty feet away, and the two hovered in the air, facing each other.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Supersonic said. \"You can't outfly me. There's nowhere you can go that I can't follow!\"\n\t\"Then I suppose I'll just have to kill you, won't I?\" Darke sneered.\n\t\"Omega tried that, and he was better than you. Notice how well he succeeded?\"\n\tDarke growled. \"I am not going to surrender to some stupid little cartoon animal!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned and slammed his fist into his palm. \"Then I guess we do this the hard way!\"\n\tDarke fired a spray of plasma bolts at the squirrel, who blocked them with a shield of solidified air. Supersonic retaliated with a wind blast that sent Darke spinning head over heels through the air. He flew right up to Darke as he struggled to stabilize himself, smirking. \n\t\"Had enough?\" Supersonic asked.\n\tDarke howled with rage, firing another burst of plasma bolts. The squirrel weaved nimbly between them, getting behind him and hitting him with another wind blast. Darke cried out in pain, his turbines cut out, and he began to fall.\n\tSupersonic watched him plummet and bit his lip. It was possible Darke was playing possum. On the other hand, he could be unconscious, or his armor damaged. The squirrel dove down after him, closing in but keeping his distance. They were getting uncomfortably close to the ground. If Darke was going to kick in those turbines, he'd better do it soon. Supersonic swallowed as Darke continued to fall. No, he couldn't be faking. With only seconds left before impact, the squirrel shot downward, seizing the man's arm and halting his fall. \n\tDarke twisted around and slugged him across his face. \n\tSupersonic groaned, knocked unconscious. Darke caught him and held him in his arms. \"That was close,\" said Darke, his voice shaking. \"I've never played 'chicken' before. It's not much fun. But I knew you couldn't let me die.\" He stroked the squirrel's furry cheek with one metal hand. \"You're a very brave little squirrel, Supersonic, and you have a kind heart. I almost hate to do this, but you knew the risks when you joined PRIMUS. Goodbye, Supersonic Squirrel. You were a worthy opponent.\" \n\tHe released the squirrel, letting him fall, and flew off to the northeast.\n\tSupersonic's limp body plummeted toward the grassy field two hundred feet below at a rate that would lead to impact in just over three seconds. As he fell, the wind rushing past his face brought him back to the edge of consciousness, and the natural instincts of his species made him spread his arms and legs, the folds of skin between them catching the air while his body tilted, changing the angle of his descent from ninety degrees to one much shallower. Three seconds became four, then five, then six, then seven. At eight seconds, he hit the ground and reflexively curled into a ball, rolling for a good fifty feet before he came to a stop. He lay there for a moment, sprawled on his back, groaning, bruised, and battered, but alive.\n\tSlowly and painfully, Supersonic got to his feet as full awareness began to return. He tasted blood in his mouth, having bitten his lip during the landing. Every part of him felt sore, but he was grateful to be feeling anything at all. This wasn't the first time his flying squirrel instincts had saved his life, and he suspected it would not be the last. There were times when being a talking squirrel in a world full of humans was a lonely experience, even though most of them accepted him and he had even managed to find one who loved him, but at times like this he was glad to be what he was. \n\tHis musings were interrupted as he noticed something swooping down out of the sky toward him. It was Rick, riding on Floater. They stopped a short distance from him, hovering six feet off the ground.\n\t\"Looks like you ran into some trouble,\" Rick said.\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"Whatever gave you that idea?\"\n\t\"Well, at least we know which way Darke is heading.\"\n\t\"You don't really think he's dumb enough to fly directly toward his destination, do you?\"\n\t\"No, I don't suppose he is. Fortunately, we have someone here who can tell us.\" Rick looked down at Floater. \"Spill.\"\n\t\"I do not understand your meaning, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\t\"He means 'talk,'\" said Supersonic. \"Tell us where Darke's going.\"\n\t\"If I do, will you release me?\"\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"Not a chance. You're up for murder one.\"\n\t\"Then why should I tell you?\"\n\t\"I have five reasons right here,\" said Rick, pressing his fingers against Floater's brain.\n\t\"Ah! No, please! I will tell you. By now, PSI's personnel and equipment have been loaded onto two large wheeled vehicles, which are traveling north along the paved vehicular pathway called Interstate 95 toward a safehouse in the region you call Maryland.\"\n\t\"Address?\" asked Supersonic. Floater gave it to him.\n\t\"Describe these vehicles,\" Rick said.\n\t\"They are of the articulated variety,\" Floater replied, \"with a motorized forward unit and a long attached cargo-carrying unit. The writing on the sides of the latter identifies them as belonging to a company called Conquest Movers, which does not exist.\"\n\tRick glanced at Supersonic. \"You could call the state police and have them stopped.\"\n\t\"That would put a lot of state troopers in danger,\" said Supersonic. \"Not to mention Lucy. I don't want her used as a hostage.\"\n\t\"I don't see how we can avoid that,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Maybe, if I can get in there, grab her, and get out fast.\"\n\t\"There are two trucks, and we don't know which one she's in.\"\n\t\"I'll deal with that problem when I come to it. Right now, the important thing is to catch them before they reach that safehouse. They'll be in a much stronger defensive position there.\"\n\t\"Which leads to the next question,\" said Rick, looking down at Floater. \"What do we do with this thing?\"\n\tSupersonic growled. \"I know what I'd [i]like[/i] to do with it!\"\n\t\"You cannot!\" Floater protested. \"Your laws forbid summary execution!\"\n\t\"I'm well aware of the law, thank you very much.\" Supersonic looked at Rick. \"Take it back to PRIMUS and hand it over to them. I'll fly on ahead and call when I spot those trucks.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Good luck, Supersonic.\" He watched the squirrel rocket away into the sky, then looked down at Floater. \"All right, get moving before my hand shrivels up from being immersed in this disgusting soup you're floating in.\"\n\t\"As you wish, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\tThey rose and flew off toward PRIMUS headquarters.\n\n\tSupersonic raced north until he saw the strip of I-95 stretching off into the distance ahead of him. He flew along it, looking for two semi trailer trucks bearing the logo of Conquest Movers. After a few minutes, he saw them, mixed in with a lot of other northbound traffic. He took his cell phone out of his leather satchel and called PRIMUS's emergency channel. \"This is Supersonic Squirrel. I'm flying north along I-95 in pursuit of two trucks carrying PSI's personnel and equipment. Home in on my signal.\"\n\t\"Any sign of Darke?\" came Sanchez's voice.\n\t\"Negative. He must be inside one of the trucks.\"\n\t\"All right. We will be with you as fast as we can.\"\n\t\"With your permission, Director, I'd like to try to get Lucy out before the shooting starts. I don't want her becoming a hostage.\"\n\t\"Do you know which truck she is in?\"\n\t\"Negative.\"\n\t\"Then do not risk it. Hold your position.\"\n\t\"Understood, Director.\"\n\tThere was a brief moment of silence, and then Omen's voice came over the phone. \"Supersonic, how are the trucks situated?\"\n\t\"One behind the other.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the rearmost truck.\"\n\t\"You sure about that?\"\n\t\"Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Do you know what will happen if I try to rescue her?\"\n\t\"I fear not. There are too many variables.\"\n\t\"Request permission to try, Director.\"\n\t\"Use your own best judgment, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"All right, I'm going in.\"\n\t\"Good luck, and Godspeed.\"\n\t\"Thanks.\"\n\tSupersonic put away his cell phone and flew down toward the rear truck, coming up from behind. Keeping pace with it, he built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and took aim at the rear doors, reasoning that just inside them was the least likely place for PSI to be keeping Lucy. He released the sphere, blasting the doors inward, and flew inside.\n\tThe trailer was filled with boxes of equipment hastily stacked atop each other and secured with bungee cords. It was a rather precarious arrangement, but it was not intended to last long. A straight, narrow valley between the boxes ran the length of the trailer, and an open area in the front contained six PSI agents, Lucy, and Flashback. Supersonic barreled down the valley, a shield of solidified air before him.\n\t\"It's Supersonic Squirrel!\" shouted one of the agents. \"Kill him!\" Beams of hot blue plasma shot from their pistols at the oncoming squirrel. His shield absorbed most of their energy, but not all of it, the beams partially penetrating to inflict smoking burns in his furry hide. One cut through the shoulder strap of his leather satchel, causing it to fall to the floor.\n\tGritting his teeth against the pain, Supersonic flew into the midst of the agents and fired a wide-angle wind blast that hit the three agents to his left, knocking them back against the inside of the truck and stunning them. Then, before they could react, he did the same to the three to his right. With the agents momentarily neutralized, he looped one arm around Lucy and the other around Flashback and then flew back out the rear of the truck, carrying them with him.\n\tOne of the agents groggily fished out his cell phone. \"Counselor Darke! Supersonic Squirrel broke in and took Flashback and the Pinchard girl!\"\n\t\"What?\" came Darke's astonished voice over the phone. \"Why didn't you idiots stop him?\"\n\t\"We tried, sir! He was too fast and too tough! I think we hurt him, though!\"\n\tAgent Heine, driving the forward truck, glanced over at Darke, who was sitting in the cab next to him, still wearing his Omega armor but with the helmet on the seat beside him, as the man made a disgusted noise. \"Trouble, sir?\"\n\t\"I should have killed that miserable rodent when I had the chance,\" Darke muttered. \"He just grabbed Lucy and Flashback.\"\n\tHeine stared at him, aghast. \"What do we do, sir?\"\n\t\"If Supersonic found us, then he must know where we're going. Probably one of the captured students told him. Or maybe Omen saw it in a vision. In any case, the tertiary base must now be considered compromised. And Supersonic would have given PRIMUS our coordinates and descriptions of the trucks. We can assume they're already on their way here.\" Darke looked at Heine. \"Pull over to the side of the road. Change the logos on the trucks using the magnetic signs, and apply the alternate license plates. Then get off at the next exit and disperse. I'll contact you later.\" He donned his helmet and opened the passenger side door.\n\t\"Where are you going?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"To recover our assets and get rid of that pest once and for all.\" Darke activated his turbines and flew off.\n\n\tSupersonic flew across a stretch of farmland bordering I-95, carrying Lucy and Flashback in his arms. The pain of his plasma burns was excruciating, and he felt sick and weak. He also realized that his satchel was gone, his cell phone with it. A chill rippled through him, and he feared he might be going into shock from his injuries. Not wanting to pass out in midair while carrying his two charges, he landed in a field, setting down between two neatly cultivated rows of alfalfa. \n\tAs soon as his feet touched the ground, Supersonic fell to his knees, releasing the two girls. He looked down at himself, assessing the extent of the damage. There were three crusty black circles on the front of his torso, each about three inches across. They weren't bleeding, the flesh having been neatly cauterized, but they hurt like hell. He slammed his fists into the dirt, shivering and whimpering in pain, his furry chest heaving.\n\t\"Are you hurt, Mister Squirrel?\" asked Flashback.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" Supersonic replied through clenched teeth. He looked up at her. She was Black, about ten years old, with severe acne, and wore the same skintight black-and-magenta costume as all the other young members of PSI. He turned his head to look at Lucy. She was just standing there, staring at him. She didn't look scared, grateful, relieved, or happy. Her face was completely expressionless.\n\t\"You okay, Lucy?\" Supersonic asked, concerned.\n\tShe nodded, silently.\n\tHe looked back at the other girl. \"How about you?\"\n\tFlashback shrugged. \"I'm all right.\"\n\t\"Good. I've gotta find a phone and call PRIMUS.\" He noticed a farmhouse in the distance. \"Come on.\" He reached for the two girls, but they both drew back from him.\n\t\"What's the matter?\" he demanded angrily.\n\t\"We don't wanna go with you,\" Flashback replied, and glanced at Lucy. \"We wanna go back to PSI, don't we, Lucy?\"\n\tLucy nodded, her eyes fixed coldly on Supersonic. \"That's right, Violet.\"\n\tSupersonic frowned at Flashback. \"What are you doing to her?\"\n\t\"I'm not doing anything to her,\" Flashback said innocently. \"She's my sister.\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"And sisters stick together.\"\n\t\"She's not your sister!\" Supersonic shouted at Lucy. \"You just met two days ago!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Flashback yelled. \"You're a liar! Isn't he, sis?\"\n\tLucy nodded, glaring at the squirrel hatefully. \"A lying little rat!\"\n\tSupersonic sighed. The pain from his burns was sapping his strength, making him feel exhausted. \"I don't have time for this. You're both coming with me, whether you like it or not.\"\n\tFlashback folded her arms, smiling smugly. \"We're not going anywhere, are we, sis?\"\n\tLucy shook her head, her eyes narrowed. \"Not with him!\"\n\tSupersonic was about to reply when he noticed that they had fallen under a shadow, even though the sky had been clear a minute ago. He looked up, and his eyes went wide.\n\tThe sky was black with birds.\n\tSupersonic stared up at the cloud of birds swirling above them. It was made up of many species, which meant it was definitely not natural. Different species of birds never flocked together. He glanced at Lucy. \"Call them off.\" \n\t\"No!\" Lucy said. \"I hate you! You want to take me away from my family!\"\n\t\"PSI isn't your family, and she isn't your sister! They just want to use you! You have a real mother and father who love you and are worried about you!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Lucy shouted. The flock above them was growing thicker. Supersonic looked at Flashback. The thought of blasting a child repulsed him, but it might be the only way to break her hold on Lucy. Trembling, he raised a hand and aimed it at her. Flashback blinked, looking scared, and began backing away. He sighed and lowered his hand. No, he couldn't do it. There had to be another way.\n\tA cacophony hammered his ears as thousands of birds began screeching at him from above. As they plunged toward him en masse, like a great black dagger from the sky, he erected a wind barrier around himself and the two girls. It could stop bullets; it should be able to stop birds. He watched in horror as they hurled themselves against it like kamikaze pilots aiming for an aircraft carrier, their fragile feathered bodies breaking when they struck and falling to the ground. He whirled toward Lucy frantically. \"Stop them! They're killing themselves!\"\n\tLucy gasped as she saw the birds crashing into Supersonic's wind barrier, clearly not having anticipated this. Immediately, the birds ceased their suicidal attacks and began circling the barrier, a great multicolored cyclone of wings and beaks. Keeping the barrier up, Supersonic grabbed Lucy and Flashback by the arm and began pulling them in the direction he remembed the farmhouse being.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" Flashback yelled as she and Lucy struggled and resisted as best they could, kicking and punching and trying to dig their feet into the tilled earth. They were both taller than the squirrel, but not nearly as strong. Even so, they were slowing his progress, and between that, his burns, and the constant strain of maintaining the barrier, Supersonic was overwhelmed with fatigue. Then he cried out in pain as Flashback sank her teeth into his arm.\n\t\"Ahh! No biting, you brat!\" he shouted, and threw her on the ground in front of him, glaring at her.\n\tFlashback got to her feet, glaring back. \"Counselor Darke's gonna kill you, squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"He already tried that, while he was running away, like the coward he is.\"\n\t\"He's [i]not[/i] a coward!\" Flashback screamed. \"He took me out of the projects and gave me candy and pretty clothes!\"\n\tSupersonic paused for a moment, chest heaving, trying to recover his strength. \"Where are you from, Violet?\"\n\t\"Chicago.\"\n\t\"Don't you have a family there? I bet they miss you.\"\n\tFlashback snorted. \"They don't miss me. They hated me because I'm ugly. Counselor Darke is the only one who ever cared about me.\"\n\t\"I don't think you're ugly, Violet.\"\n\tShe smirked. \"You're a squirrel!\"\n\t\"Yeah, but I've lived around humans all my life. You think because he gives you nice things, that means he cares about you? Anyone can give out presents. He doesn't care about you, Violet. He only cares about what you can do.\"\n\tFlashback stamped her foot. \"That's not true! He loves me!\"\n\t\"Do you really think you'd be here if you couldn't mess with people's memories like you do? Do you think Lucy would be here if she couldn't control animals? That's what Darke loves. Your powers. Not you. Not Violet.\"\n\tFlashback's lower lip trembled. She was about to speak when a barrage of bright white energy bolts struck the wind barrier, dispersing it. Through the swarm of birds strode Darke in his Omega armor.\n\t\"Counselor Darke!\" Lucy and Flashback both cried happily.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" he said. \"Hello, Flashback. Ah, there you are, Supersonic. Looking a little worse for wear, I see.\"\n\t\"I guess I don't need to ask how you found us,\" the squirrel growled.\n\t\"The huge flock of birds was a bit of a giveaway. I must say, you're a very resilient squirrel.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You know us cartoons. Knock us down, we get right back up again.\"\n\t\"Except you're not a cartoon anymore. You're flesh and blood, subject to the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.\"\n\tSupersonic rolled his yes. \"You're really gonna quote [i]Hamlet[/i] at me? Gimme a break!\"\n\t\"Well, I'm afraid I don't have a bare bodkin with which your quietus to make, but a burst of energy bolts should do the job just as effectively.\" He raised a gauntleted fist. \"Goodbye, Supersonic.\"\n\tAs he fired, the squirrel sprang into the air, dodging the bolts easily. \"You never get tired of failing to kill me, do you?\" Supersonic asked, grinning. He flew at Lucy, grabbed her as he went by, and raced across the rows of alfalfa toward the farmhouse.\n\t\"God damn it!\" Darke swore. \"What does it take to get rid of him?\" He picked up Flashback and headed after the fleeing squirrel.\n\n\t\"The signal's right ahead, Director,\" said Park as he piloted the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter above I-95.\n\tIn the copilot's seat, Sanchez peered down the highway through a pair of binoculars. Behind her stood Rick, Stacey, Landauer, Omen, and a squad of PRIMUS agents. \"I see a semi truck. It doesn't have the logo of Conquest Movers on it, though.\"\n\tOmen spoke up. \"PSI uses a variety of magnetic signs bearing false logos that they can attach to the sides of their vehicles quickly in order to disguise them.\"\n\t\"Well, isn't that clever!\" Stacey remarked.\n\t\"However, neither Lucy nor Supersonic is aboard that truck.\"\n\tPark looked at him. \"But Supersonic's cellphone signal is coming from it!\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"His phone is aboard it, but he is not.\"\n\t\"Then how do we find him?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"We might try over there,\" said Rick, pointing to the left. They all looked in the direction the raccoon was indicating. A huge cloud of birds was hovering over some farmland.\n\t\"Alter course!\" Sanchez ordered.\n\tPark nodded, and the copter veered west toward the birds.\n\n\tSupersonic landed in the front yard before the farmhouse and immediately stumbled and fell to his knees, keeping his arms around Lucy. His plasma burns were still causing him intense pain, and the surge of energy that had come after his brief rest was spent. He felt exhausted, wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep for a week. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option. He hauled himself to his feet as Lucy struggled against him.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" she shrieked.\n\tSupersonic ignored her, ran to the front door of the farmhouse as Lucy wriggled and squirmed, and tried the knob. It was locked. He sighed. Much as he hated to break in, this was an emergency. Keeping his left arm around Lucy, he raised his right hand, fired a wind blast that blew the door off its hinges, and ran into the living room.\n\tIt was a simple, modest affair, much like a million other farmhouse living rooms across the country. \"Hello?\" he called, though the sound of the front door being blasted in should have been enough to attract the attention of the occupants. There didn't appear to be anybody home. There were photographs on the mantelpiece of a middle-aged man and woman, two teenage boys, and a young girl. Probably the farmer and his family. But where were they? He realized it was Sunday. Perhaps they were at church. Or out shopping. Or having a family picnic. Whatever the reason, at least they were out of harm's way.\n\tA canine snarl caught his attention, and he whirled just in time for a big black Newfoundland dog to pounce on him. The dog's jaws clamped down on his left arm, causing him to cry out in pain and forcing him to let go of Lucy. It shook him like a rag doll, the animal bigger than he was and probably half again his weight. He created a vacuum around the dog's head, and it collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Cradling his wounded arm with his other arm, he looked around for Lucy. She had disappeared.\n\t\"Lucy?\" he called out, running down the hall, gritting his teeth against the pain as he dripped blood on the polished wood floor. He cursed under his breath. She could be hiding anywhere, and Darke would be here any second. He had to find a phone. He hoped they had one. A lot of folks nowadays had dispensed with landlines and relied entirely on their cells. He ran into the kitchen and breathed a sigh of relief. There was a phone on the wall. He flew up to it, grabbed the reciever, and began dialing PRIMUS's emergency number.\n\n\tDarke landed in the front yard, carrying Flashback. Seeing that the front door had been smashed in, they walked through it and into the living room. Flashback oohed upon seeing the unconscious Newfoundland on the floor, and ran over and knelt beside it, stroking its big black head.\n\t\"Supersonic wasn't wearing his satchel,\" Darke mused, \"and he has nowhere else to keep a phone, so he must be trying to find one in order to contact PRIMUS.\" He noticed a line of crimson circles on the wood floor, and smiled. Then he frowned as he heard the thumping, buzzing sound of a helicopter approaching. \"Damn! That must be PRIMUS!\" He ran down the hall, following the trail of squirrel blood.\n\tIn the living room, Flashback gently caressed the dog's head with her gloved fingers as she implanted memories in its mind of them playing together on her sixth birthday, when her parents had presented her with a new puppy; the two of them running through a grassy field in golden sunlight, chasing butterflies; her giving him a bath in tomato juice that time he got sprayed by a skunk; him seeing her off on her first day of school, and waiting impatiently, whining, whimpering and pacing, until she returned. They were the best of friends—always had been, always would be.\n\n\tPark set the helicopter down in the front yard, and he, Sanchez, Rick, Stacey, Omen, Landauer, and the five PRIMUS agents all emerged from it.\n\t\"Supersonic, Darke, and Lucy are in there,\" said Omen, indicating the house.\n\t\"What about the owners?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"They are not home.\"\n\tSanchez turned to the agents. \"Surround the house. Nobody gets in or out. I'll take point. Park, you're with me.\"\n\t\"Wait!\" shouted Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Sanchez, turning toward him.\n\t\"We must get everyone inside, now!\"\n\t\"Why, what's wrong?\"\n\tRick swallowed, feeling vibrations in the ground through his bare feet. \"Lucy's called for reinforcements.\"\n\tSanchez was about to ask the raccoon what he meant, but then she saw it. All around them, low, dark shapes were approaching. Cows, bulls, sheep, horses, pigs, goats—livestock from dozens of farms—had combined to form an immense stampede that was converging on them from every direction.\n\t\"Everyone into the house!\" Sanchez shouted over the rising thunder of hundreds of pounding hooves. They all ran in through the shattered front door.\n\tThe living room was empty. Rick sniffed the air. \"I smell blood,\" he said.\n\t\"There!\" said Landauer, pointing at the blood spots on the floor.\n\t\"Park and I will follow the blood trail,\" said Sanchez. \"The rest of you, spread out through the house and try to find Lucy.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the fruit cellar,\" said Omen. \"Supersonic is in the kitchen, about to be attacked by Darke.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"In that case, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer, get Lucy. The rest of you, come with me!\" She and Park ran down the hall toward the kitchen, closely followed by the five agents.\n\t\"This way,\" said Omen, leading the rest to a door that opened onto a flight of wooden stairs. They descended into the dark, musty basement.\n\n\tSupersonic had just connected to PRIMUS when Darke burst into the kitchen. Too weak to fight, the squirrel threw himself across the floor, rolling as Darke sprayed the kitchen with energy bolts, blasting the refrigerator, the stove, the sink, and some of the cabinets, showering the room with a variety of foodstuffs.\n\t\"Die, damn you!\" Darke yelled, moving to get a clear shot as Supersonic scampered into the adjoining dining room and dove under the table. Darke followed, blasting furiously, destroying the table, the chairs, and a glass cabinet filled with commemorative plates. The squirrel blinked as a plate fell and shattered on the floor in front of him. It showed his old cartoon self, surrounded by all his friends from his show.\n\tAt that moment, Sanchez and Park charged into the dining room and slugged Darke. He staggered backward, crashing into another cabinet containing the family's good crystal and china, demolishing it utterly.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Sanchez ordered, as the five PRIMUS agents ran into the dining room through the other doorway, leveling their plasma rifles at him. \"You're finished!\"\n\tDarke's electronically distorted voice wheezed in pain as he looked around wildly. There was no chance his armor could protect him from two Silver Avengers and five PRIMUS plasma rifles. The only logical course of action was to surrender. In all the years he had been with PSI, he had never even come close to being captured. The thought of going to prison, separated from all the comforts and luxuries he loved, terrified him. Yet, it was preferable to death. Slowly, he began to raise his hands.\n\tA dozen horned heads erupted through the walls as cattle crashed their half-ton bodies into them, tearing through the aluminum siding and drywall as if it were tissue paper. The agents whirled as they suddenly found themselves in danger of being trampled. They fired their rifles, searing blue-white beams of superhot plasma piercing those massive bovine bodies, but the great beasts kept coming, unconcerned with their own safety. Sanchez and Park each caught one and threw it over their shoulder to slam on the floor with a thunderous impact, but there were too many for them to deal with. One plowed into Park, knocking him down, while Sanchez seized the horns of another, bracing herself and gritting her teeth as she tried to force it back. Three of the PRIMUS agents fell beneath the pounding hooves, while the other two retreated into the hallway, firing as they did. Supersonic, standing with his back against a wall to avoid being flattened, watched as Darke activated his turbines and shot upward, bursting through the ceiling and into open air.\n\t\"No,\" the squirrel growled, flying up through the hole after him.\n\n\t\"Wait!\" commanded Omen, as he, Rick, Stacey and Landauer descended the stairs to the basement.\n\t\"Now what?\" Landauer groaned in exasperation.\n\tOmen flipped a light switch, illuminating the basement with a single naked bulb hanging from the ceiling.\n\tThe floor was a writhing sea of rats.\n\t\"Back up,\" said Rick as the rats began advancing up the stairs toward them, the furry tide engulfing one step after another. In the cellar below, Lucy emerged from around a corner, glaring at them maliciously as rats swarmed around her feet.\n\t\"Lucy, what are you doing?\" asked Stacey. \"We're your friends. Don't you remember?\"\n\tOmen shook his cowled head. \"Flashback has altered her memories. She believes they are sisters.\"\n\t\"Who the hell is Flashback?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"I'm Flashback,\" came a little girl's voice from above. They all looked up. In the doorway at the top of the stairs stood Flashback, looking smug and confident, a huge black Newfoundland dog beside her making low, menacing growls.\n\t\"Her name is Violet Wilson,\" said Omen. \"She is ten years old. PSI kidnapped her from a housing project in Chicago six months ago. She is a telepath with the power to alter people's memories.\"\n\tLandauer took aim at the dog, but Omen pushed his gun down. \"What's the matter with you?\" the FBI man demanded. \n\t\"She has made the animal believe they are friends,\" Omen replied. \"It is not responsible for its actions.\"\n\t\"Well, that's unfortunate,\" said Landauer, \"but it doesn't change anything!\"\n\t\"I can handle the dog,\" said Rick.\n\t\"What about the rats?\" Stacey asked, grimacing as the squirming mass claimed another step. She had never liked rats.\n\t\"The rats are another matter.\"\n\tLandauer aimed his gun at the leading edge of the rodent horde, but again, Omen pushed it down. Landauer glared at him. \"Don't tell me you care about the rats!\"\n\t\"They are not responsible for their actions either,\" said Omen. \"In any case, your weapon will not deter them. Flashback is the key. We must reach her.\" He glanced down at the rising tide of rats. \"Quickly.\"\n\tStacey turned toward Flashback. \"Violet, why are you doing this?\"\n\t\"You want to take me away from my family!\" Flashback said accusingly.\n\t\"PSI isn't your family. They kidnapped you!\"\n\t\"PSI loves me!\" Flashback shouted. \"The Wilsons never loved me! They hated me because I'm ugly!\"\n\t\"Violet, look at me,\" said Rick. \"I'm a manimal. No matter what people may think when they look at you, they think worse when they look at me. But I'd never want you to use your power to make someone love me, because I'd know it wasn't really love. You can't force someone to love you, Violet. Love has to be a choice.\"\n\tFlashback swallowed, trembling. \"I just want some friends.\"\n\t\"Nobody will be your friend if you treat them like toys,\" said Stacey. \"You can't do that to people. It's selfish and it's cruel.\"\n\t\"What you're doing to Lucy is wrong,\" said Rick. \"You know she's not your sister.\"\n\tThe rats had reached the step below them. \"I don't mean to nag,\" said Landauer, looking down anxiously at the wriggling mass of rodent bodies, \"but do you think you could speed this up?\"\n\t\"Quiet,\" said Omen sternly.\n\tFlashback looked down at Lucy, biting her lip. \"If I change her back, she'll hate me!\"\n\t\"She may be angry with you,\" said Rick, \"and she'll have good reason to be. But you'll gain four new friends.\"\n\tFlashback stared at the raccoon. \"I will?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"And they'll be real friends, not fake ones.\"\n\tFlashback hesitated a moment, then closed her eyes, concentrating. Lucy gasped and looked up at her, eyes wide. Flashback turned away, unable to face her. \"I'm sorry, Lucy!\"\n\t\"Lucy, if you would?\" asked Omen, gesturing at the rats. Lucy nodded, and the rat horde broke apart as they began scurrying away, looking for places to hide. Rick and Stacey moved toward Flashback, who was hugging herself, shaking and sobbing. The dog growled protectively, then relaxed as Lucy calmed it. They put their arms around her and held her as she cried.\n\n\tSupersonic flew out through the hole Darke had made in the roof of the farmhouse, watching his armored form shrinking in the distance in the clear blue sky. Hurt and exhausted as the squirrel was, he doubted he could catch the fleeing leader of PSI on his own. Fortunately, there was another option open to him.\n\tHe flew over the sea of cattle around the farmhouse toward the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter parked in front of it, opened the cockpit door, and plopped down into the pilot seat. He had been a pilot back in his cartoon days and was qualified on all of PRIMUS's aircraft, having familiarized himself with 21st-century aviation technology. While his legs were too short to reach the anti-torque pedals, that was easily remedied with sustained streams of wind from his feet. He flipped the ignition switch, the rotors began to spin, and he pushed the control stick forward as the copter rose into the air and headed after Darke.\n\tSupersonic switched on the radar, which easily spotted Darke's armored suit. The copter was a modified Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk with a maximum speed of 183 miles per hour, which meant it was nearly three times as fast as Darke's armor. It was armed with two .50 caliber GAU-19 Gatling guns and six AIM-92 Stinger heat-seeking missiles because PRIMUS sometimes had to deal with some very tough customers. Supersonic closed with Darke quickly, bringing the copter in beneath him and angling the nose upward so as not to hit anything on the ground. He was bound by PRIMUS regulations to take Darke alive if possible, so he held off on the missiles and instead bracketed him with the Gatling guns, firing a stream of bullets to either side of him as a warning. Darke glanced back over his shoulder to see who was chasing him, and Supersonic grinned as he imagined the look on the man's face upon seeing it was a squirrel in a helicopter.\n\tDarke dove toward the ground, forcing Supersonic to cease firing. They were still over farmland, so there was a chance there might be people down there, and Supersonic couldn't risk accidentally hitting a civilian. Darke may not have been as fast as the copter, but he was far more maneuverable and could fly a lot closer to the ground. He fired a burst of energy bolts upward, hitting the copter's undercarriage, but it was well armored and they had minimal effect. Supersonic angled the nose downward and jabbed the firing button for one of the Stingers. Darke's turbines had to be considerably hotter than anything on the ground, so the missile would have a clear target to home in on. He bit his lip as he watched its smoke trail snake toward the armored figure below. Then there was a crack of thunder and Darke disappeared in a ball of flame. \n\tSupersonic watched anxiously as the fireball roiled, his heart pounding in his chest. He had shot a VIPER agent dead in Mexico last year. It had been unavoidable, but he had still felt terrible about it, and the guilt still haunted him. He had considered resigning from PRIMUS afterward but had ultimately decided not to, reasoning that he could save more lives as a PRIMUS agent then he could as a private citizen. He hoped against hope that he hadn't just killed again.\n\tDarke burst out of the fireball, flying directly at the copter and spraying energy bolts. Most of them struck the fuselage, doing no real damage, but one clipped a rotor blade and sheared it off. Supersonic wrestled with the stick as the copter veered crazily, its stability shot to hell. He had no control. There was was only one option. He opened the door and bailed out.\n\tSupersonic flew away from the wildly spinning helicopter, watching in horror as it dove earthward, directly toward Darke. The man realized his danger and tried to avoid the careening mass of steel, but it slammed into him and they went down together, impacting on a stretch of farmland. The copter exploded in a massive fireball, hurling bits of itself hundreds of feet in the air, and Supersonic had to erect his wind barrier to avoid being hit by chunks of fiery debris.\n\tSupersonic floated to the ground and plopped down on his rump in the dirt, sitting and staring at the flaming wreckage of the helicopter. He was too tired to feel anything. All he wanted to do was sleep. That was how Park and Sanchez found him, lying on the ground curled up in a ball, his tail wrapped around himself, his eyes closed.\n\n\tSupersonic slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a hospital bed in the PRIMUS infirmary, his body half covered by a sheet. His helmet and goggles were gone. There was an IV stuck in his arm, and a bandage where the dog had bitten him. His brain felt foggy, and his throat was parched. He tried to speak but could only manage a soft squeak.\n\t\"Hey, partner, you're awake!\" said Park, getting up from his chair beside the bed and leaning over him. \"How are you feeling?\"\n\t\"Water?\" Supersonic rasped. Park nodded and poured him a cup, holding it to the squirrel's mouth as he gulped it down.\n\t\"You've been out for about six hours,\" Park said. \"The doctors treated your bite and burns. They don't think they're too serious, but they still want to keep you overnight for observation.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Darke?\" he asked, his voice still hoarse but more normal.\n\t\"Oh, he's toast. Nothing left but ashes.\"\n\t\"Darn,\" said Supersonic, sighing.\n\tPark shrugged. \"Well, that's how it goes sometimes. Honestly, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"I guess you're right. I was just thinking about Torment. With Darke dead, how's he gonna get the drug that keeps his pain away?\"\n\t\"Oh, that's been taken care of. Our scientists analyzed a sample he had on him. They're confident they can reproduce it.\"\n\t\"Well, that's good, then,\" said Supersonic.\n\tPark grinned. \"We contacted your girlfriend, Katrina. She caught the first flight to Washington when she heard you were in the hospital. She should be here soon.\"\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"That's nice of her. So, Silver Avenger Park, how'd you like your first assignment?\"\n\t\"Well, I got to shoulder throw a bull. That was a new experience.\"\n\t\"I bet it was!\"\n\t\"Sanchez said now she knew how her grandfather must have felt. He was a bullfighter.\"\n\t\"I doubt he used judo on them.\"\n\t\"Eh, you work with what you got.\" Park started to say something, stopped, then started again. \"Look, I've been told praise makes you uncomfortable, so I'll keep this short. You're a damn good agent, and I'm proud to be your partner. There, I'm done.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"That hardly made me squirm at all.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a shitload of paperwork to do. See you tomorrow.\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"See you tomorrow.\"\n\tPark left the room, and Supersonic switched on the television and watched a movie while he waited for Katrina to arrive."
},
".description.json": {
"description": "Supersonic Squirrel, agent of PRIMUS (the Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States) teams up with Rick, a raccoon martial artist, to stop a newly resurrected PSI (the Parapsychological Studies Institute) from kidnapping a little girl who can talk to animals."
},
".writing.json": {
"writing": "[center]Talk to the Animals\n\na story set in the universe of Champions Online\n[/center]\n\n \"Lucy, did you hear me?\"\n\tLucy Pinchard started as she realized her teacher was addressing her, and turned in her seat to face him. \"Sorry, Mr. Taylor,\" she said. \"I was listening to the birds.\"\n\tThe classroom erupted into laughter, which Mr. Taylor quashed immediately with a stern order to be quiet. \"Come here, Lucy,\" he ordered her.\n\t\tLucy sighed, rose from her chair, and walked toward him. She was in trouble again. As she passed by their desks, she could hear her classmates whispering. \"Airhead!\" \"Goofball!\" \"She thinks because her dad is a senator she doesn't have to pay attention in class.\" It wasn't her fault that listening to a pair of mockingbirds arguing about where to build their nest was more interesting than listening to Mr. Taylor drone on about math. \n\tShe stopped before Mr. Taylor, her head lowered. He was sitting at his desk writing a hall pass. \"As I was saying,\" said Mr. Taylor, \"the principal wants to see you in her office immediately. Apparently, there's an emergency involving your family.\"\n\tLucy's head jerked up, eyes wide. \"An emergency? What is it?\"\n\t\"She didn't say,\" Taylor replied, handing her the slip of paper. \"Here you go. I hope everything turns out all right.\"\n\tLucy swallowed, her heart pounding. \"Thank you, Mr. Taylor!\" She ran to the door, yanked it open, and dashed out into the hall. An emergency, she thought as she ran. Could it be something to do with her father? Senators were important people, and there were people who wanted to hurt them. She remembered hearing about a senator who was murdered by VIPER down in Mexico last year. It had made her mother upset. If VIPER could kill one senator, her mother had said, it could kill another. Her father had reassured her. They were protected by the FBI, he'd said. Two of their agents always escorted Lucy to and from school. There was nothing to worry about. They were perfectly safe.\n\tLucy arrived at the office of the principal, Mrs. Acevedo, and entered. Mrs. Acevedo was sitting behind her desk. Beside her stood two men in dark suits, wearing sunglasses. \"Hello, Lucy,\" said Mrs. Acevedo, smiling at her. \"These two men are here to escort you home.\"\n\tLucy frowned. Something was wrong. Mrs. Acevedo never smiled. The other kids called her Old Stoneface. She glanced at the two men in sunglasses. They were not the FBI agents who had brought her here this morning. \"Where are Agent Hayhurst and Agent Roberson?\" Lucy asked.\n\t\"They were called away,\" said one of the men. \"Come with us, Lucy.\"\n\tLucy shook her head. \"No. I don't know you.\"\n\t\"She's wise, Don,\" said the other man.\n\t\"Shut up, Mike!\" the first growled.\n\tLucy began backing away. She glanced at Mrs. Acevedo. She was still seated at her desk, still smiling. Lucy ran out into the hall, slamming the door behind her. \"Help!\" she yelled, running toward the nearest exit. \"Help me!\"\n\n\t\"You can take him, Stacey,\" said Rick. \"He's not so big.\"\n\tStacey Summers glanced down at her companion. He was a humanoid raccoon, three feet tall, wearing a green sleeveless tunic and trousers with white edging and a gold cloth belt. \"Easy for you to say, Mr. Trained-on-an-Island-for-Seven-Years-with-a-Master.\"\n\tRick shrugged his furry shoulders. \"Kenji was a master, too.\"\n\tStacey took a deep breath and entered the ring. Her opponent was Thomas Shook, a member of the team representing Jonny Li's Temple of Kung Fu. She smirked. At least that meant he'd have sub-standard training. They walked up and bowed to each other, Shook grinning smugly at the much smaller blonde woman before him. Then they both dropped into combat stances and waited for the referee's signal for the contest to begin.\n\t\"Fight!\" the ref shouted.\n\tShook attacked first, launching a kick at her, which she easily blocked, giving ground. He advanced and threw a punch, which she dodged, dancing around while she studied his movements. Apart from his shoddy footwork, Shook wasn't bad for one of Jonny Li's—not surprising, since Li would want to bring his best to this tournament. For one of his students to win first prize at the All-American Mixed Martial Arts Competition in Washington, D.C., would mean a huge boost to the prestige of the Temple of Kung Fu. That meant more students, which meant more money, which was always Jonny Li's first priority. Stacey, on the other hand, didn't expect to win. Kenji had taught her that. Don't expect to win. Don't expect to lose. Don't expect anything.\n\tShook threw another kick at her, and with expert timing, Stacey dropped and swept her leg beneath him, knocking his remaining leg out from under him. As Shook fell heavily on his ass, a chorus of oohs issued from the spectators, which made her grin. Audiences loved it when smaller opponents got the better of larger ones. Plus, she was now ahead on points.\n\tShook got to his feet, glaring at her for making him look bad, and the fight resumed. Stacey decided to go on the offensive, launching a dizzyingly fast punch-kick-punch combination, which caught Shook off guard, forcing him backward. She followed up with a kick to the midriff, which landed solidly and made him grunt. Another point. Shook growled as Stacey danced away, and then he charged like a maddened bull. Grinning, she seized his arm and the hem of his tunic while twisting her slender body, and Shook went flying past, landing on the mat with a resounding thud, scoring her third and final point. The crowd cheered, and the referee declared the fight over with Stacey Summers the winner, three to zero.\n\tStacey walked back to her seat, feeling good about herself and relishing the sour looks she was getting from Jonny Li's team. \"Not bad, huh?\" she asked Rick as she sat down. When the raccoon didn't reply, she glanced down at him. He was rubbing his temples, as though he had a headache. \"Rick, are you okay?\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Don't you hear it?\"\n\tStacey stared at him. \"Hear what?\"\n\t\"A little girl, calling for help.\"\n\tStacey shook her head. \"Can barely hear you over all this noise.\"\n\tRick slid out of his chair. \"I have to go.\"\n\t\"Rick?\" Stacey asked, looking puzzled, but the raccoon ignored her, heading for the nearest exit. Stacey rose and went after him.\n\tRick emerged from the Keesler Convention Center onto the street and paused, ears pricked up. The sound he'd been hearing, he realized, had not been a sound at all but something in his head, which made it hard to determine where it was coming from. However, he did feel a compulsion to move in a certain direction. It wasn't strong enough to force him, but it was definitely there. He began running along the sidewalk in the direction it wanted him to go.\n\t\"Rick, where are you going?\" Stacey cried, as she emerged from the building.\n\t\"I don't know!\" Rick yelled over his shoulder at her.\n\tStacey pursed her lips in annoyance and ran after him.\n\n\tLucy looked back as she ran along a tree-lined residential street near her school. Those two phony FBI agents were closing on her. An eleven-year-old girl couldn't outrun two grown men. She whimpered, wondering if they were VIPER agents and what they might do to her if they caught her. VIPER was very bad.\n\tShe heard one of them cry out in surprise, and stopped and turned to see what was happening. Her eyes widened. The two men were waving their arms around, fending off a flock of crows. Or a murder, that was what you called a group of crows, wasn't it? A murder of crows. One of the men drew a pistol from his jacket. A beam of blue-white light shot from the gun with a loud screech, and several crows fell to the ground, burned to a crisp. The rest continued singlemindedly attacking the two men, flapping and pecking. \n\tLucy turned and resumed running, hearing more screeches behind her. She ran up to the door of the nearest house and pounded on it, crying and pleading for help. There was no answer. She looked back fearfully. The two men were running down the street toward her, their faces streaked with blood. She pressed her back against the door, trembling. Then a German shepherd dog came bounding across the yard, heading straight for the two men, barking savagely at them. One of them aimed his gun, and its beam burned through the dog's body, killing it. The two men continued to advance toward her.\n\t\"Looks like Darke was right,\" one of them said. \"She [i]can[/i] control animals!\"\n\t\"Don't be afraid, little girl,\" the other said, trying to smile reassuringly through the blood dripping down his face. \"We're not going to hurt you. We just want to take you to see someone.\"\n\t\"Go away!\" Lucy shrieked, cowering against the door.\n\t\"I'd do as the lady said, if I were you,\" came a soft voice from behind the men.\n\tThe two men turned around and were rewarded with the remarkable sight of a three-foot-tall humanoid raccoon standing on the lawn, dressed in green trousers and a belted green tunic. The raccoon's lips were pulled back, exposing a mouth lined with sharp, white teeth.\n\t\"What the hell?\" one of the men asked, astonished.\n\t\"It's one of those manimal freaks!\" the other yelled. \"Kill it!\" He aimed his pistol at Rick.\n\tRick dove aside as the beam from the pistol scorched the grass he'd been standing on. He rolled when he hit the ground and came up behind a stout oak tree growing in the yard.\n\t\"Flank him!\" the shooter ordered his partner. The second man nodded and moved to get the raccoon in his sights, while the first man kept his gun aimed at the tree, pinning Rick down.\n\t\"Rick!\" shouted Stacey from the street, causing the second man to spin and fire. She dodged as the beam burned past her, flattening herself against another tree. Rick took advantage of the distraction, leaping at the second man and tackling him. They went down on the lawn together.\n\t\"Shit!\" the first man swore, unable to get a clear shot at Rick without hitting his partner. Still pressed against the door, Lucy glanced to her left and saw Stacey come around the side of the house, trying to get behind the first man. \n\tThe first man fired when he thought he saw an opening, but the beam only grazed Rick's shoulder while boring straight through the chest of his partner, killing him instantly. Rick clapped a hand over his burned shoulder, gritting his teeth against the pain. As the first man took aim at the wounded raccoon, Stacey attacked from behind, striking him in the kidney. The man groaned and fell to his knees, and Stacey finished him off with a kick to the head. Then she ran to Rick and knelt beside him, inspecting his wound.\n\t\"It doesn't look too bad,\" she said. \"That beam cauterized the flesh, so at least you're not bleeding. That's a nasty burn, though.\"\n\t\"Lucky for me I have a registered nurse on hand,\" said Rick, grinning weakly.\n\tStacey smiled back and ruffled his head and ears. Then she looked over at Lucy. \"Are you all right, little girl?\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"Thank you.\"\n\tStacey turned her attention to the two men lying on the lawn. \"What do you suppose this was all about?\" she asked.\n\t\"I imagine we'll find out soon enough,\" Rick replied.\n\n\t\"Silver Avenger David Park to see you, Director,\" said Terry Koestler, agent of PRIMUS—the Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States—into the intercom on her desk.\n\t\"Send him in,\" a deep female voice on the other end replied.\n\tKoestler glanced up at the man who stood before her wearing a skintight dark blue uniform with silver leggings, a presidential eagle over his heart. From the white belt around his waist hung a pistol in a white holster with a tiedown around his right thigh. He was under six feet and well-muscled, with a stocky build, black hair, a round face, and tawny skin and almond-shaped eyes that showed his Korean ancestry. He was rather handsome, Koestler thought as she buzzed him into the Director's office. Park gave her a smile and a nod and went inside.\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez looked up from her desk as Park entered. She was a dark-skinned woman with white hair, wearing the same uniform as Park. On the wall behind her was a painting of a masked, blond-haired, blue-eyed man in a blue and gold costume with the presidential eagle over his heart. Park recognized him as the Golden Avenger, the previous director of PRIMUS, who had been murdered by an agent of the international terrorist group VIPER two years ago. Beneath the painting was a plaque that read: \"The mission of PRIMUS is to protect the innocent and identify paranormal threats to the people of the United States.\" \n\t\"How do you do, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, speaking with a slight Spanish accent.\n\t\"Ready to go to work, Director,\" Park replied, smiling.\n\tSanchez gazed down at the file lying open before her on her desk. Park could see that it contained a picture of him. \"I see the doctors have given you a clean bill of health,\" she said. \"No unexpected side effects from the Cyberline treatments or the biofeedback training.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"I feel fine, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. As a newly minted Silver Avenger, you will be assigned to work with another superpowered operative in order to gain some field experience dealing with supervillains.\"\n\t\"I look forward to it, Director,\" Park said, grinning eagerly.\n\t\"Excellent,\" said Sanchez, closing the file. \"I am partnering you with Supersonic Squirrel.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"Supersonic Squirrel?\"\n\tSanchez tilted her head slightly. \"Is that a problem, Agent Park?\"\n\t\"N-no, Director!\" Park said quickly. \"I just thought . . .\"\n\t\"Thought what, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, leaning forward and interlacing her fingers.\n\tPark took a moment to regain his composure. \"I assumed I would be working with another Silver Avenger.\"\n\t\"Of the fifteen Silver Avengers in existence,\" Sanchez said patiently, \"two are recuperating from injuries sustained in battles with supervillains, eleven are scattered across the country on various assignments, and two are in this room. Supersonic is here in Washington. Therefore, he is the logical choice. Unless you have some objection?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"None at all, Director. May I ask a question, though?\"\n\tSanchez spread her palms. \"By all means.\"\n\t\"Why doesn't he wear clothes?\"\n\tSanchez smiled. \"Three reasons. First, in his previous life as a cartoon character, he did not have to, so he prefers not to. Second, his arm webs make clothing awkward and uncomfortable for him. And third, if someone who received the Medal of Freedom for thwarting an assassination attempt on the president doesn't want to wear clothes, I am inclined to let him. He has earned the right. Was there anything else?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"No, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. His office is six doors down the hall to the right. Welcome to PRIMUS, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\tPark left Sanchez's office and strode past Koestler's desk, a dark look on his normally cherubic face. He wondered what his friends and family would say when he told them about this. After over a year of training to become a PRIMUS agent, after a battery of psychological tests, after discovering that he was one of the very few whose genetic makeup enabled him to tolerate the high doses of Cyberline needed to create a Silver Avenger, after months of drug enhancement and biofeedback training that had boosted his strength, speed, and stamina to superhuman levels, he was playing second banana to a cartoon squirrel. He shook his head. God had a bizarre sense of humor.\n\tUpon reaching the sixth door on the right, Park entered a small office. There, sitting before a computer, was a gray-furred creature the size of a child, with huge, round, black eyes, a blunt muzzle with buck teeth, and a fluffy question mark of a tail whose end hung over the back of his chair. Flaps of fur-covered skin stretched from his wrists to his ankles. He wore only an old-fashioned leather flying helmet with goggles, which were currently on his forehead. A badge identifying him as an agent of PRIMUS was stuck to his furry chest, held in place by electrostatic attraction. He did not look at Park as he entered the office.\n\t\"Hello,\" said Park, after a moment's silence.\n\t\"Hi,\" the squirrel replied in a high, nasal voice, his eyes still fixed on his computer screen. \"Report just came in.\"\n\tPark moved around behind him to read the report. \"Bank robbery: Baltimore. Suspect: Bulldozer. We could be there in twenty minutes.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"The local police can handle it.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"But Bulldozer is a supervillain!\"\n\t\"How many people has he killed?\" asked Supersonic.\n\t\"I don't know off-hand,\" Park admitted.\n\t\"None. How many serious injuries?\"\n\tPark took a guess. \"None?\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"The biggest risk fighting Bulldozer is having a car accident on the way there. Besides, I've already got three cases on my desk.\"\n\t\"If you say so; you're senior. By the way, I'm David Park.\"\n\t\"I know. Sanchez told me you were coming.\" The squirrel rotated his chair to face him and held out a small, furry hand, which Park shook. \"Supersonic Squirrel. Glad to know you. Korean, huh?\"\n\t\"My parents are,\" said Park. \"I was born in Spokane.\"\n\t\"I remember the Korean War,\" said Supersonic. \"I was just a kid, though.\"\n\t\"That's right, you were born just after World War II.\"\n\t\"October 14, 1947, to be exact—the day Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.\"\n\tPark remembered what he had read about PRIMUS's most unusual agent. \"And you were brought to life by a magical wishing ring two years ago at the same age you were when your show was cancelled in 1964, with no knowledge of anything that had happened since then.\"\n\t\"Well, I've learned a lot in the last two years,\" said Supersonic. A chime from his computer alerted them that another report had come in. They both looked at it.\n\t\"It's right here in Washington!\" said Park.\n\tSupersonic read the screen. \"Attempted kidnapping of Senator Pinchard's daughter foiled by two civilians, one of them a manimal. Kidnappers armed with energy weapons, two FBI agents found dead, unexplained animal interference.\" The squirrel flicked the switch on his intercom and called Sanchez. \"Director, me and Agent Park are claiming Incident 7.\"\n\t\"The attempted kidnapping?\" asked Sanchez. \"The FBI will want that for themselves.\"\n\t\"There's a paranormal element,\" said Supersonic. \"That makes it our jurisdiction.\"\n\t\"What paranormal element?\"\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference.\"\n\t\"'Unexplained' does not automatically mean 'paranormal,' Supersonic. And two FBI agents were murdered.\"\n\t\"Fine, so we'll each conduct our own investigation.\"\n\t\"We try to avoid having two agencies investigate the same incident. It is redundant, and they get in each other's way.\"\n\t\"Okay, how about this? It says the two civilians who foiled the attempt are being questioned at the FBI field office on Nebraska Avenue. We'll drop by and have a chat with them. If we find out there's nothing paranormal going on, then we bow out and it's the FBI's show. Sound fair?\"\n\t\"Why are you so interested in this incident, Supersonic? And aren't you already working three cases?\"\n\t\"So what's one more? Besides, something about this feels familiar. I can't explain why. Call it a hunch.\"\t\n\t\"All right,\" Sanchez relented. \"Go to the field office. But I warn you, the FBI is not going to want to let this one go, not when two of their people have been killed.\"\n\t\"Thank you, Director,\" said Supersonic, and switched off the intercom. He looked at Park. \"I can get there faster on my own.\"\n\t\"Go ahead,\" said Park. \"I'll catch up.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded and rocketed out of the room and down the hall, leaving a swirl of papers behind him as he headed for the stairwell and the roof.\n\n\tRick sat in an uncomfortable hardwood chair facing the desk of one Agent Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His burned shoulder had been bandaged by the paramedics who had arrived on the scene a few minutes after the kidnapping attempt. Landauer was slim and immaculately groomed, with jet black hair, a hawk-like face, and intense blue eyes. He regarded Rick with a distasteful expression that the raccoon had seen many times before. He didn't let it bother him. People would think what they would think.\n\t\"You still haven't explained how you knew where to go,\" Landauer pressed.\n\t\"I told you, I heard the shots from their energy pistols,\" Rick replied patiently.\n\t\"Do you always run [i]toward[/i] gunfire?\" Landauer asked, sounding both skeptical and condescending.\n\tRick shrugged. \"I thought someone might need help.\"\n\tLandauer looked over at his computer screen. \"You have a colorful history, Mr. Rick. You've been involved in violent incidents in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as here in the U.S.\"\n\t\"Is that so surprising?\" Rick asked. \"Manimals tend to attract violence.\"\n\t\"I see you worked with one of our people in Millennium City last year.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Agent Kodiak. Good man.\"\n\t\"And that you were arrested for interfering with a police investigation.\"\n\t\"A charge that was subsequently dropped,\" Rick pointed out.\n\tLandauer continued reading his screen. \"You have a French passport.\"\n\t\"Yes. All manimals who leave Monster Island are issued one as part of a special arrangement with the French government, of which I am sure you are well aware.\"\n\t\"You also have a green card.\"\n\t\"I work at the Kenji Taniguchi School of Martial Arts in Los Angeles as an instructor. Is there somewhere you are going with this, Mr. Landauer?\"\n\tThe FBI man sat back in his chair and gazed at the raccoon with a somewhat predatory expression. \"I'm just trying to figure out what kind of connection you might have to Senator Pinchard and his daughter.\"\n\t\"There isn't one,\" said Rick. \"I have never met the senator, and I'd never met his daughter until today.\"\n\t\"When you just happened to show up to foil her kidnaping.\"\n\t\"For the third time, I heard the shots.\"\n\t\"Uh huh. Do the names Michael Conn and Donald Schepis ring any bells?\"\n\t\"No. Are they the two men who tried to kidnap Lucy Pinchard?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"After killing the agents assigned to protect her.\"\n\t\"I never saw either one of them before.\"\n\t\"And you have no idea who they work for.\"\n\tRick thought for a moment. \"One of them mentioned someone named Dark.\"\n\tLandauer shot bolt upright in his chair. \"Dark?\"\n\tRick nodded. \"I take it that means something to you.\"\n\tLandauer stood up and went over to speak with another FBI agent, named Boone, who was talking to Stacey. He was a lean, rangy man with a long face, a bulbous nose, and a drooping mustache. Boone and Landauer had both arrived at the scene of the attempted kidnapping and escorted Rick and Stacey to this field office. Boone was clearly the elder of the two and presumably the senior. They spoke for a moment and then came over to Rick.\n\t\"Are you sure he said 'Dark'?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Quite sure,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Did he say anything else?\"\n\t\"No.\" He had no desire to mention that this \"Dark\" apparently believed that Lucy could control animals, or that she had undoubtably been the voice he'd heard in his head and the source of the compulsion that had drawn him to her. The FBI men would probably put it together themselves, considering the crow and dog attacks, but it would not be him who exposed Lucy's secret.\n\tAt that moment, the front door of the field office opened and Supersonic Squirrel entered, causing every head in the office to turn toward him. \"Who's in charge of the Pinchard case?\" he asked.\n\t\"That would be me,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Supersonic Squirrel, of PRIMUS,\" the squirrel said, walking toward Boone and extending a hand.\n\t\"I know who you are,\" said Boone, shaking the squirrel's hand. \"Everyone does. I'm Jerry Boone. This is my partner, Tom Landauer.\"\n\t\"Tom and Jerry?\" Supersonic asked, grinning, his buck teeth gleaming.\n\tBoone rolled his eyes. \"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before.\"\n\t\"Glad to know you, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, offering him his hand. Landauer hesitated a moment, then took it gingerly, gave it a light shake, and quickly let go.\n\t\"To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?\" Boone asked Supersonic, not sounding especially pleased.\n\t\"The report of the attempted kidnapping indicated possible paranormal involvement,\" the squirrel replied.\n\t\"Paranormal?\" asked Boone, raising an eyebrow.\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference,\" Supersonic clarified.\n\tRick nodded. \"The two would-be kidnappers had blood and scratches on their faces, and there was a dead dog in the yard, which they had killed.\"\n\tStacey rose from her chair and came over to join them. \"They also killed a bunch of birds. I passed them on the sidewalk.\"\n\tSupersonic looked at Rick and Stacey, then at Boone. \"I take it these are the two civilians who foiled the attempt?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"These are Stacey Summers and Rick.\"\n\t\"Honored to meet you, Supersonic,\" said Rick, bowing his head.\n\t\"Likewise,\" said Stacey, smiling at the squirrel.\n\t\"Hi,\" said Supersonic, smiling back at them. \"Congratulations to you both. What you did was very brave.\"\n\t\"Look, Agent Squirrel,\" Landauer said, putting a derisive emphasis on the last word, \"there's no evidence of any paranormal involvement in this case. That dog could have just been defending its yard.\"\n\t\"The dog didn't scratch the kidnappers' faces,\" Rick said. \"They killed it before it reached them. And Lucy certainly didn't do it.\"\n\t\"For all we know, they got those scratches climbing over a rosebush!\" Landauer retorted.\n\t\"Then why did they kill the birds?\" Stacey asked. \"There's no reason they'd stop to do that when they were chasing someone, unless the birds were attacking them. And birds don't just attack people for no reason, outside of a Hitchcock movie.\"\n\tLandauer threw up his arms. \"Maybe the birds sat on a high tension line and got electrocuted!\"\n\tStacey smirked. \"That doesn't happen.\"\n\t\"Where is Miss Pinchard?\" Supersonic asked, looking around.\n\t\"Her mother took her home,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Did you have a chance to talk to her?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"She was too scared to talk to anyone. We figured it was best to let her go with her mother and try to talk to her later.\"\n\t\"Good idea,\" said Supersonic. \"I assume her father has been notified.\"\n\t\"Of course he has!\" snapped Landauer. \"What do you think we are, idiots?\"\n\tBoone threw his partner a warning look, then turned back to Supersonic. \"Paranormal involvement in this case has yet to be determined. What we [i]do[/i] know is that Agents Hayhurst and Roberson, who'd been assigned to protect Lucy Pinchard, were found with holes burned through their chests, killed with the same kind of energy weapons the kidnappers used. And Hayhurst was a friend of mine.\"\n\tSupersonic bit his lip. \"I'm truly sorry, Agent Boone.\"\n\tBoone shrugged. \"These things happen. But if you think for one minute I'm going to step aside and turn this over to PRIMUS because of a dead dog and some dead birds . . .\"\n\t\"I'm just trying to figure out if this case falls within our jurisdiction,\" said Supersonic.\n\tRick turned his head toward Boone. \"Who is Dark?\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Dark?\"\n\t\"Yes,\" Rick said, \"one of the kidnappers mentioned that name.\"\n\tSupersonic folded his arms across his chest and turned to Boone with a smug look on his rodent face. \"Still think there's no paranormal involvement?\"\n\tRick noticed Landauer glaring at him. He smiled back pleasantly.\n\t\"Who is this Dark person?\" Stacey asked, looking baffled.\n\t\"Nicholas Darke,\" Supersonic replied, \"one of the brains behind PSI—the Parapsychological Studies Institute, an organization of psionic criminals.\"\n\t\"I thought they'd all been rounded up,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Not all of them. Darke escaped, with all PSI's money.\"\n\t\"But what would he want with Lucy Pinchard?\" Stacey asked.\n\t\"PSI had a history of kidnapping people with psionic abilities and brainwashing them to serve it,\" said Supersonic. \"If Darke is rebuilding PSI, he's gonna be looking for new recruits.\"\n\t\"You think Lucy Pinchard is a psi?\" asked Landauer skeptically.\n\t\"It would explain why those animals attacked the kidnappers,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Where are they, anyway?\" Supersonic asked Boone.\n\t\"One was accidentally shot by his partner,\" Boone replied. \"He's in the morgue. The other is at Sibley Memorial Hospital, being treated for a concussion.\" He chuckled at Stacey. \"This little lady did quite a number on him.\" \n\tStacey blushed. \"Guess I don't know my own strength.\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"A friend of mine used to say that.\" Then he looked thoughtful. \"Talking to PSI agents is usually a waste of time; they're conditioned to be loyal to PSI and trained to resist interrogation. Still, it can't hurt to try.\"\n\t\"Hold on a minute!\" Boone protested. \"Paranormal or not, the Bureau has a vested interest in this case. Two of our men were murdered!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at him. \"So do I, Agent Boone. Nicholas Darke brainwashed Nightmunk, a friend of mine. He made him do things he never would have done on his own. But I understand the Bureau's desire to avenge its fallen agents. So, while this case clearly falls under PRIMUS jurisdiction, in the spirit of interdepartmental cooperation, I'm naming you chief investigating officer and placing myself under your command, because I want Darke as badly as you do.\"\n\tBoone looked surprised. \"Well, that's damn generous of you, Supersonic! I accept!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"Then what do you say we head on over to Sibley Memorial and have a chat with that PSI agent?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"Sounds good.\" He turned to Rick and Stacey. \"I think you've given us all the help you can. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll have someone drive you back to the convention center.\"\n\t\"Agent Boone,\" said Rick, \"I'm also friends with Nightmunk. We worked together in Millennium City last year. I'll be happy to offer whatever assistance I can in apprehending this Nicholas Darke. I am not without some small skill.\"\n\t\"Same here!\" Stacey chimed in.\n\tLandauer groaned. \"Oh great, that's just what we need—Rocket Raccoon and Cynthia Rothrock!\"\n\t\"Who?\" asked Supersonic, looking puzzled.\n\t\"While I appreciate your offers,\" Boone said, \"I can't take the responsibility of involving civilians in this investigation, no matter what skills they may have. These people are killers.\"\n\t\"I have dealt with killers many times,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Be that as it may,\" said Boone, \"the answer is still no.\" He turned to a nearby agent. \"Take these people where they need to go.\" Then he turned to Supersonic and Landauer. \"Let's head out.\"\n\tAs the three of them walked toward the door, it burst open and Silver Avenger Park came running in. \"Sorry I took so long, boss,\" he said to Supersonic. \"D.C. traffic is murder!\"\n\t\"Agent Boone, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, looking up at them, \"meet my partner, Silver Avenger David Park.\" He jerked a thumb at Boone. \"He's the boss. We're working for the FBI.\"\n\tSupersonic, Boone, and Landauer went out the door as Park stood there, dumbfounded. \"FBI?\"\n\n\tA sedan with government plates dropped Rick and Stacey off in front of Keesler Convention Center, and they headed for the lobby.\n\t\"When is your next match scheduled?\" the raccoon asked.\n\t\"I'm not sure,\" Stacey admitted. \"In all the confusion, I forgot to ask.\"\n\t\"I hope you didn't forfeit,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey groaned. \"Oh, Jonny Li would love that, after I mopped the floor with one of his top students!\"\n\tRick stopped, ears pricking up as they entered the lobby and he saw what was lying in wait for them. \"Heads up.\"\n\tImmediately, they were swarmed with reporters, cameras pointed at them from every direction, microphones being pushed in their faces.\n\t\"Is it true the two of you foiled an attempt to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter?\" one asked.\n\t\"Uh, yes, it's true,\" said Stacey, looking like a deer caught in someone's headlights.\n\t\"Is that how you got that shoulder wound?\" another asked Rick.\n\t\"Yes,\" said Rick, looking uncomfortable.\n\t\"Is it true you killed one of the kidnappers?\"\n\tRick shook his head. \"No, he was shot by his partner.\"\n\t\"There's a rumor they were armed with ray guns. Is that true?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"Yes, they fired some kind of energy beam.\"\n\t\"Were they VIPER agents?\"\n\t\"We don't know who they were,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Why did you attack two men armed with ray guns?\"\n\t\"We saw them chasing a little girl and decided to help,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Are either of you registered heroes?\"\n\t\"No, we're not.\"\t\n\t\"So you were just being concerned citizens.\"\n\tRick shrugged. \"If you like.\"\n\t\"Please,\" said Stacey, \"I have to find out when my next match is.\"\n\t\"Are the two of you romantically involved?\"\n\tRick growled as he and Stacey pushed through the crowd of reporters. \"Not that it's any of your business, but no, we are not!\"\n\t\"Aren't you sharing a hotel room?\"\n\t\"One room is cheaper than two,\" said Stacey. \"Now please get out of our way!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Summers, aren't you the widow of Kenji Taniguchi, a.k.a. Samurai?\"\n\tStacey froze, a stunned look on her face.\n\t\"Are you trying to follow in your late husband's footsteps?\" the reporter pressed.\n\t\"She's doing nothing of the sort!\" Rick shouted angrily. \"Now get lost!\"\n\tAs Rick and Stacey passed through the double doors into the arena, where the reporters couldn't follow unless they bought tickets for the event, they overheard two of them talking back in the lobby.\n\t\"Samurai. Wasn't he killed a couple of years ago?\"\n\t\"Yeah, it was big news for a while. 'Superhero murdered!'\"\n\t\"Did they ever find out who did it?\"\n\t\"Nope, the case is still unsolved.\"\n\tRick and Stacey made their way past the ring, where a fight was in progress, and resumed their seats. The raccoon looked up at her, concern in his dark eyes. \"Are you okay?\"\n\tStacey sighed. \"I'm fine. Just caught me off guard, is all.\"\n\tRick glared at the doorway they had escaped the reporters through, his ears flattened. \"Jackals!\"\n\t\"They're just doing their jobs, Rick,\" said Stacey. \"They're paid to report the news, and right now, we're news. And you gotta admit, 'Slain Superhero's Widow Saves Senator's Daughter' makes great copy.\"\n\tRick growled, unplacated.\n\tStacey looked down at him, her throat tight. \"I miss him so much, Rick.\"\n\tThe raccoon nodded. \"I know you do.\"\n\tShe put her arms around him, and he around her.\n\n\tIn a room in Sibley Memorial Hospital, Michael Conn lay in bed, his head throbbing. The doctor had told him that he had a mild concussion and had given him painkillers, which were helping somewhat. He had been instructed to rest and to move his head no more than absolutely necessary. And so he lay there, with an FBI agent just outside his door. He wondered who had clonked him. It hadn't been that damned manimal. He'd been busy with Don. Poor Don. Too bad he'd gotten in the way, but that was how it went, sometimes. No, it must have been that blonde chick in the karate gi. Careless of him to let her sneak up on him like that. He'd have to see about finding out who she was and paying her back, once Darke got him out of here.\n\tHe became aware of a shimmering point of light in one corner of the room, and slowly turned his head toward it. The point expanded into a shimmering circle in the air. From that circle emerged two figures, one human, the other decidely not.\n\tThe human figure was a girl of about thirteen, with black eyes, black hair tied back in a ponytail, and a ruddy complexion. She was wearing a skintight magenta uniform, a white Greek letter psi in the center of the chest, with black boots, gloves, upper torso, and mask. She was somewhat overweight, and the uniform did her no favors.\n\tBeside the girl floated a sphere about two feet in diameter. The top was transparent, the bottom metallic and bearing various high-tech doo-dads. Inside the sphere was what appeared to be a human brain suspended in pale green fluid. From the bottom dangled a dozen or so pale green tentacles, each about four feet long and as thick as a man's finger.\n\tConn smirked at the strange pair. \"About time you came,\" he said, slowly sitting up in bed and pushing the sheets aside. \"Come on, let's get out of here.\"\n\t\"You are not going anywhere, Michael Conn,\" the sphere said, in a grating, electronic voice. \"Counselor Darke is displeased with you.\"\n\t\"It wasn't my fault, Floater!\" Conn protested. \"Two civilians interfered! Nobody could have foreseen that!\"\n\t\"It should never have gotten that far,\" Floater said, drifting slowly toward him. \"Your instructions were to abduct Lucy Pinchard from her school, not to chase her into the street. You should have called for backup immediately. Due to your incompetence, the authorities have been alerted to PSI's interest in her. In addition, you killed your partner. PSI has no further use for you.\"\n\tConn stiffened. \"You didn't come here just to tell me that!\"\n\t\"I did not,\" said Floater. With blinding speed, one of its tentacles whipped out and wrapped around Conn's neck. The man choked and gurgled, grasping at the slimy appendage with his hands, to no effect. The girl gasped and screamed, pressing her fists to her face.\n\t\n\tBoone, Landauer, Supersonic, and Park were walking down the corridor toward Conn's room when they heard the girl's scream. The FBI agent seated outside the door jumped to his feet and seized the knob as the other four ran toward him.\n\t\"It's stuck!\" the agent said, struggling with it.\n\t\"Let me try!\" said Park, grasping the knob and twisting it with his biochemically enhanced muscles. It still refused to budge.\n\t\"Stand back,\" Supersonic ordered, rising into the air and spreading his arms and legs wide. A ball of supercompressed air formed before him, and he threw his arms and legs forward as he propelled it at the door. It hit with the force of a battering ram, reducing the door to splinters.\n\tPark was through the doorway almost instantly, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to react first. He blinked as he saw Floater strangling Conn, then launched himself at the sphere. A blast of psionic energy lanced from Floater to Park's forehead, overloading his nervous system and stunning him.\n\tBoone, Landauer, and the other agent entered next, weapons drawn. They all fired at Floater, hitting it, but their bullets simply bounced off.\n\tSupersonic flew into the room and sized up the situation. A wind blast on the sphere was out of the question—knocking it back would break Conn's neck. Instead, he flew up to Floater and grasped the tentacle strangling the PSI agent, trying to pull it off, but the appendage was exceedingly slimy and impossible to get a firm grip on. Then the squirrel felt himself seized by some tremendous force that tore him away from Conn, who was turning blue, and hurled him against the wall. He hit with a crunching thud and slid to the floor, unconscious.\n\tPark came out of his daze, saw Supersonic lying on the floor, snarled, and lunged at Floater, wrapping his arms around it and squeezing with a strength far greater than any normal human possessed. There was a cracking sound, and Floater let out an electronic screech. \"Twister, aid me!\" The girl raised her hands, moving them in circles. Park screamed in agony and released the sphere, staggering backward.\n\t\"Shoot the girl!\" shouted Boone, aiming his gun at Twister. All three of the FBI agents fired, and she recoiled and cried out in pain as their bullets hit, but they didn't do nearly as much damage as they should have. Even so, they clearly hurt.\n\t\"Enough,\" said Floater. It squeezed Conn's neck with its tentacle, popping his head clean off and releasing a spray of blood that painted the wall red. Then it flew over to Twister. \"Let us be gone.\" The girl nodded, and they both entered the shimmering circle, which promptly winked out of existence.\n\t\"What the hell was that?\" cried Landauer.\n\t\"Something out of a goddamned horror movie,\" Boone replied, running over to Supersonic and kneeling beside him. \"You okay?\"\n\tThe squirrel sat up groggily, rubbing his head and looking around the room. \"I think so. Where did that thing go?\"\n\t\"It disappeared,\" said Boone, \"along with the girl. They did what they came here to do.\"\n\tSupersonic noticed Conn's head and body lying separate from each other on the floor. \"Oh.\"\n\t\"Sorry, boss,\" said Park as he came over to them, looking embarrassed. \"I didn't do so good for my first superfight.\"\n\tBoone chuckled. \"You were the only one who managed to hurt that thing. The rest of us might as well have been shooting spitballs at it. It called the girl 'Twister.' Mean anything to you two?\"\n\t\"Never heard of her,\" Park replied, \"but the name fits. I felt like I was being twisted in half! My guess is she has some kind of dimension-warping power. That would explain how she was able to create a portal to another place.\"\n\t\"She looked like an Indian,\" said Supersonic, getting painfully to his feet.\n\tBoone nodded. \"Yeah, I thought so, too.\"\n\t\"Uh, the polite term these days is 'Native American,' Supersonic,\" Park reminded the squirrel.\n\tSupersonic swallowed. \"Sorry.\"\n\t\"Regardless,\" said Boone, \"it'll make her easier to track down.\"\n\t\"Well, one thing's for sure,\" said Supersonic grimly. \"If there was any doubt Darke's rebuilding PSI, it's gone now.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That was definitely a PSI emblem on Twister's costume.\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone. \"So, what's next, chief?\"\n\tBoone glanced over at Conn's body. \"We're not gonna learn anything from him. Let's pay a call on the Pinchards, see if Lucy's ready to talk to us yet.\" He turned to Landauer and Park. \"You two get on the line with the records departments of the FBI and PRIMUS, see if anyone's ever heard of this Twister girl or that brain creature. Check with UNTIL, too; they may have encountered them before. I'll talk to the hospital administrator. He's gonna want to know why one of his patients lost his head. Come on, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"Yes, sir!\" said Supersonic, and followed Boone out of the room while people in the hallway peered around the edges of the smashed door, gawking at the carnage inside.\n\t\n\tThe Pinchard residence was located in Somerset, Maryland, a suburb northwest of Washington, D.C. It was a single-story ranch-style house with a shingled roof and a large, beautifully landscaped yard, with a rose garden and an ivy-entwined gazebo on the east side and a swimming pool in the back. It looked like a nice place, Supersonic thought as Landauer drove the sedan carrying him, Boone, and Park into the driveway and parked it beside another sedan with government plates sitting behind a Mercedes and a Cadillac with Maryland plates. They all got out and walked toward the front door, where an FBI agent was stationed. The agent rang the bell for them, and a few moments later, the door was opened by a handsome man of about forty with brown hair, wearing a white, collared shirt with no tie and gray slacks.\n\t\"Senator Pinchard?\" asked Boone. \"I'm Agent Boone, FBI. This is my partner, Agent Landauer, and these are Agents Squirrel and Park, of PRIMUS.\"\n\tPinchard stared at Supersonic and Park. \"PRIMUS? What are they doing here?\"\n\t\"We suspect there may be some kind of paranormal involvement, Senator,\" Supersonic replied. He watched the man's face carefully.\n\t\"What . . . what kind of paranormal involvement?\" Pinchard stammered.\n\t\"We were hoping you might be able to tell us,\" said Boone. \"May we come in?\"\n\t\"Yes, yes, of course,\" said Pinchard, stepping aside to let them enter.\n\tThey entered a spacious living room exquisitely decorated with antique French colonial furniture, the walls papered with a peach-and-mauve floral pattern. The floor was recessed three steps, with several couches along the west and north walls facing a large, flat-screen TV and a home entertainment center. In the southeast corner sat a baby grand piano.\n\t\"What makes you think there's anything paranormal going on?\" asked Pinchard, closing the door behind them.\n\tBoone turned to face him, hands in pockets. \"Does the name Nicholas Darke mean anything to you, Senator?\"\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, should it?\"\n\t\"He was one of the leaders of the Parapsychological Studies Institute.\"\n\tPinchard looked shocked. \"PSI? But . . . it was my understanding that PSI was defunct! They were all captured!\" He looked at Supersonic. \"You were involved in that, weren't you?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"Yes, sir, I'm proud to say I was. Unfortunately, Darke got away.\"\n\t\"And we have reason to believe he may have been behind the kidnapping attempt on your daughter,\" said Boone.\n\t[i]\"What?\"[/i]\n\t\"Has Lucy ever demonstrated any unusual abilities, Senator?\" asked Supersonic.\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, never! She's a perfectly normal girl!\"\n\tBoone and Supersonic glanced at each other. \"Are you sure?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Of course I'm sure!\" Pinchard yelled. \"You think I don't know my own daughter?\"\n\t\"Mark,\" came a female voice from a hallway to the right. Everyone turned to see a woman in her late thirties with auburn hair, wearing a blue dress. \"Tell them.\"\n\t\"Lydia . . .\" Pinchard began and then trailed off, looking at her desperately.\n\t\"Tell them, or I will.\"\n\tPinchard sighed and looked down. \"She talks to animals.\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"We thought so.\"\n\tThe woman walked toward them. \"Hello. I'm Lydia Pinchard, Lucy's mother.\"\n\tBoone made introductions. She nodded to each of the agents and looked down at Supersonic, smiling. \"I've heard a lot about you. You're a national hero.\"\n\tSupersonic squirmed. \"I was just doing my job, ma'am.\"\n\t\"And doing it very well, it seems.\"\n\tThe squirrel blushed beneath his fur.\n\t\"When you say she talks to animals, Senator,\" said Boone, \"you mean she can actually communicate with them?\"\n\tPinchard shrugged. \"I suppose so. I don't know exactly how it works. I've seen her in the yard surrounded by dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and so forth.\"\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Sounds like something out of a Disney cartoon!\"\n\tPinchard glared at him. \"You find this amusing, Agent Landauer?\"\n\tLandauer shook his head quickly. \"No, Senator, not in the slightest.\"\n\t\"Mr. and Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, \"less than an hour ago, the surviving kidnapper was murdered in Silbey Memorial Hospital.\"\n\t\"Oh my God!\" said Pinchard.\n\t\"It gets better,\" Boone continued. \"The killer was some kind of floating brain creature, assisted by a Native American girl who seems to have entered the kidnapper's hospital room through a dimensional gateway she created. We checked the records of the FBI, PRIMUS, and UNTIL, and we've identified the girl as a runaway named Susan Wednesday, age 13. She's an orphan, born to a Jane Doe who died in childbirth, and was shuttled between various foster families, some of whom, unfortunately, abused her. She was arrested for petty theft several times, but she kept disappearing from her cells. We suspect Darke recruited her to be part of his new PSI and that he has similar plans for your daughter.\"\n\tLydia gave an anguished cry and threw her arms around her husband, trembling. He held her close. \"This . . . this is insane!\" he protested.\n\t\"Sane or not,\" said Boone, \"the fact remains that Susan Wednesday—or Twister, as the brain creature called her—can bypass almost any known security. Therefore, it's my recommendation that you take Lucy someplace where nobody can find her.\"\n\tLydia shook her head. \"Absolutely not! She's suffered enough without being carted away from her home!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, patiently, \"I don't know if the Bureau can protect your daughter from someone like Twister. Walls and fences can't stop her. She can literally appear out of nowhere!\"\n\t\"Maybe you can't,\" said Lydia, \"but he can!\" She looked down at Supersonic. \n\tThe squirrel swallowed. \"Not that I'm not flattered, Mrs. Pinchard, but I agree with Agent Boone. Your daughter will be safest if PSI doesn't know where she is.\"\n\t\"For how long?\" asked Lydia. \"What makes you think they'll stop? Do you expect her to spend the rest of her life in hiding?\"\n\t\"It might be best,\" said Supersonic, in a subdued voice.\n\t\"No,\" said Lydia. \"What would be best is if you caught these people, like you caught the last bunch!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone, who shrugged helplessly. \"If you won't leave your home, I can't force you to,\" Boone said. \"I can offer you FBI protection, but I can't guarantee that will be enough.\"\n\tLydia smirked. \"It certainly wasn't enough for that man in the hospital.\"\n\t\"Hey, wait a minute!\" protested Landauer.\n\t\"Nor did it keep Lucy from being kidnapped,\" she continued. \"A couple of civilians did that!\"\n\t\"In all fairness to the FBI, Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Supersonic, \"they didn't know what they were up against, then.\"\n\t\"I will not allow my daughter's life to be turned upside down!\" said Lydia firmly.\n\tBoone scowled. \"I think that ship has sailed, ma'am.\" He turned to the senator. \"Do you agree with Mrs. Pinchard?\"\n\tPinchard sighed. \"Yes, I do. I refuse to let these thugs force my daughter from her home.\"\n\t\"In that case,\" said Boone, sounding resigned, \"all the Bureau can do is provide security for her until PSI is caught.\"\n\t\"Mom?\" came Lucy's voice from the same hallway that Lydia had entered the living room from. Then a small gasp. \"Ooh, a squirrel!\" They all turned to see Lucy standing in the hallway, staring at Supersonic, eyes wide.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" said Supersonic, smiling at her.\n\tLucy came up to him, smiling as she gazed down from a vantage point about a foot higher than him. \"Are you really a squirrel?\" she asked wonderingly.\n\tHe nodded. \"Yes, I'm Supersonic Squirrel,\" he said, holding out a hand to her. \n\tShe took it, examining the fur-covered appendage intently. \"Are you friends with that raccoon man who saved me from those men?\"\n\t\"Not exactly,\" said Supersonic. \"I just met him today.\"\n\t\"Lucy,\" her mother said, coming over and gently forcing her to let go of Supersonic's hand, \"let's go back to your room. These men have things to discuss with your father.\"\n\tLucy nodded and reluctantly allowed herself to be led away. She smiled and waved to Supersonic. \"Bye!\"\n\t\"Bye,\" said Supersonic quietly, watching her go.\n\t\"We'll need two shifts of six agents each to cover the house completely,\" Boone told Pinchard. \n\tLandauer nodded. \"Three inside, three outside.\"\n\t\"And Supersonic and Silver Avenger Park should remain on the premises at all times,\" Boone added.\n\t\"Do you think that'll be enough?\" asked Pinchard, anxiously.\n\t\"It's hard to say, sir,\" said Boone. \"We don't know who else Darke may have recruited for his new PSI, or what powers they might possess.\"\n\t\"I know someone who may be able to help,\" said Supersonic.\n\t\"Who?\" asked Boone.\n\t\"He calls himself Omen. He's a precog.\"\n\t\"A what?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"Someone who can see the future. He could foresee an attack before it happens.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Does he use a crystal ball or tarot cards?\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"He doesn't need any of that stuff!\"\n\t\"Is he a PRIMUS agent?\" asked Boone.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"No, he's a civilian.\"\n\t\"I'm not comfortable putting a civilian in harm's way,\" said Boone.\n\t\"With all due respect, sir,\" said Supersonic, \"we're dealing with a lot of unknowns here. Omen could reduce them. And being able to see the future makes him pretty good at avoiding harm.\"\n\t\"I still don't like it,\" said Boone stubbornly.\n\tPinchard glared at Boone. \"I don't give a damn if you like it or not, Agent Boone. If this Omen can protect my daughter, then I want him here!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That's your perogative, Senator. It's your home.\"\n\t\"I'll see if I can get in touch with him,\" said Supersonic. He took his cell phone from the leather satchel slung over his shoulder and went into the kitchen. Park followed him.\n\t\"Boone and Landauer do [i]not[/i] look happy,\" Park commented.\n\t\"Now ask me if I care,\" said Supersonic.\t\n\t\"So who is this 'Omen'?\" Park asked as the squirrel dialed his phone. \n\t\"He used to be with PSI,\" Supersonic replied.\n\tPark stared at him. \"And you trust him?\"\n\t\"He infiltrated PSI to kill Psymon, one of their leaders, because Psymon killed his brother. Fortunately, he balked at the last second.\"\n\t\"How come I've never heard of him?\"\n\t\"Because I didn't mention him in my report.\"\n\t\"Why not?\"\n\t\"There was no reason anyone needed to know about him. And if it weren't for Omen, I'd either be dead or a brainwashed sleeper agent for PSI, so I owed him.\" Supersonic put the phone to his ear as someone on the other end picked up. \"Hello, David?\"\n\t\"Supersonic, how are you?\" came a surprised voice on the other end.\n\tThe squirrel grinned. \"You have to ask?\"\n\tOmen chuckled. \"I'm clairvoyant, not omniscient. What's up?\"\n\t\"There's a situation I could really use your help with. It involves Nicholas Darke.\"\n\t\"Darke? He's back?\"\n\t\"Yeah, he's rebuilding PSI, and he tried to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter.\"\n\t\"Son of a bitch!\"\n\t\"I thought that might catch your interest. How soon can you be in Washington, D.C.?\"\n\t\"Probably not until tomorrow.\"\n\t\"Fine. PRIMUS will pay for your airline ticket. Call me when you land.\"\n\t\"Will do.\"\n\tSupersonic hung up and looked at Park. \"Now all we have to do is protect Lucy until he gets here.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"Against a girl who can open dimensional portals and twist your guts around inside you, a floating brain creature, and whoever or whatever else Darke has managed to recruit.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"Welcome to PRIMUS.\"\n\n\tAs night fell over the Pinchard household, three FBI agents patrolled the grounds outside while three others roamed the hallways inside, checking the various rooms. Silver Avenger Park was sleeping in one of the guest rooms so he could relieve Supersonic at midnight. Supersonic stuck mainly to the living room, where he could respond to an intrusion in any part of the house as swiftly as possible. At eight o'clock, he went to Lucy's room to check on her. She was watching a movie on television, her mother sitting beside her. Supersonic noted that there was a cot set up to one side of the girl's bed.\n\t\"Hello,\" the squirrel said, smiling at them, buck teeth gleaming.\n\t\"Hello,\" Lucy and her mother replied, smiling back.\n\t\"I just wanted to see if everything was all right.\"\n\t\"Everything's fine,\" said Lydia.\n\t\"Mom said those men wanted me because I can talk to animals,\" said Lucy. \"What's so important about that?\"\n\t\"It makes you special,\" said Supersonic. \"They're interested in special people.\"\n\t\"What will they do if they get me?\" Lucy asked anxiously.\n\t\"They're not going to get you, darling,\" said Lydia. \"Supersonic will see to that, won't you, Supersonic?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"They're not getting past me.\"\n\t\"Are you going to live with us?\" Lucy asked him, looking as though she liked the idea.\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"For a little while, anyway, at least until those people are caught.\"\n\t\"And then things will go back to normal,\" said Lydia, smiling.\n\tLucy gazed at the squirrel. \"I like you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"I like you too, Lucy,\" Supersonic replied. \"Have a safe evening.\" He turned and headed back to the living room.\n\tWhile Supersonic was talking to Lucy and her mother, Landauer sat on a couch in the living room, a look of displeasure on his face. Boone glanced over at him from where he was standing beside the baby grand, holding a cup of coffee. \"Something bothering you, Tom?\" he asked.\n\tLandauer looked back at him. \"Working with a goddamned cartoon character bothers me!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That 'goddamned cartoon character' saved the president. Have a little respect.\"\n\t\"And that rookie, Park. You'd think PRIMUS would only let agents with some experience under their belts become Silver Avengers!\"\n\tBoone sipped his coffee. It was expensive coffee from the senator's kitchen. It was very good. \"You need to have a rare combination of genes to become a Silver Avenger. As soon as PRIMUS finds out one of their applicants has it, they make him one.\"\n\t\"You don't think him being Asian had anything to do with it?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"It's hard enough to find [i]anyone[/i] who can become a Silver Avenger without being fussy about race and sex.\"\n\t\"Well, I don't like working with paranormals,\" Landauer sulked.\n\t\"You use paranormals to fight paranormals,\" said Boone. \"You and me sure didn't do squat against that brain creature.\" Supersonic returned to the living room just then, and Boone glanced over at him. \"How's Lucy?\"\n\t\"Scared,\" said Supersonic, \"but trying to act brave. Her mother's gonna sleep in her room tonight.\" He sighed. \"It's awful for a kid to be stuck in the middle of something like this.\"\n\t\"It's not the first time,\" said Boone, sipping his coffee.\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Yeah, once the kid of a witness against the mob was kidnapped, and—\"\n\t\"Tom,\" said Boone quietly. \"Give it a rest.\"\n\n\tWith the martial arts convention shut down for the evening, Rick and Stacey had changed into street clothes and were having dinner in a Chinese restaurant across the street from their hotel. Rick had wanted to have dinner delivered to their room for fear of being mobbed by reporters again, but Stacey had refused to be intimidated by the press. So far, nobody had bothered them. However, Stacey noticed that the raccoon seemed unusually quiet and pensive as he picked at his lo mein with his chopsticks. \"Something bothering you, Rick?\" she asked.\n\t\"I should be helping catch Nicholas Darke,\" he replied.\n\t\"Why? It's not your problem.\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Nightmunk is a friend of mine. We fought side by side against Lung Hung, an ancient Chinese vampire.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"You fought a vampire?\"\n\t\"Actually, he was some kind of mutant. But regardless, he was extremely powerful. If Nightmunk hadn't called in Nighthawk and the Champions as backup, we would not be having this conversation.\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"So you figure you owe Darke for what he did to him.\"\n\t\"I also detest people who victimize children. Why do you think I teach all the children's kung fu classes?\"\n\t\"I thought it was because the kids all love you. Not to put too fine a point on it, Rick, but the world is full of victimized children. You can't save them all.\"\n\t\"I'm aware of that. But I can help save Lucy from whatever it is Darke has planned for her.\"\n\t\"You already offered to help, and Boone said no.\"\n\tRick scowled. \"To hell with Boone.\"\n\t\"All right, do you have any idea where Lucy lives? I doubt her address is public knowledge. Senators don't want every kook in the country showing up on their doorsteps.\"\n\t\"I bet Nightmunk can find out.\"\n\t\"Assuming he does, how are you going to get there? We don't have a car.\"\n\t\"I hear they can be rented.\"\n\tShe sighed. \"You're really serious about this, aren't you?\"\n\tRick nodded, took out his cell phone, and dialed a number.\n\t\"Hello, Rick!\" came a high, squeaky voice on the other end, sounding both surprised and pleased. \"I hear you've been busy down in Washington.\"\n\t\"Yes, Alvin, that's the reason I'm calling. I want to help protect Lucy Pinchard, but the FBI won't let me.\"\n\t\"That figures. They don't like civilians playing in their sandbox.\"\n\t\"I was wondering, could you find out where Senator Pinchard lives?\"\n\tNightmunk giggled. \"Didn't being arrested for interfering with police business teach you anything?\"\n\t\"I'm a slow learner.\"\n\tAnother giggle. \"Just a minute.\" Rick waited while Nightmunk did things. \"Ah, here we are.\" He listened as the chipmunk relayed Senator Pinchard's home address.\n\t\"Thank you, Alvin,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Don't mention it. To anyone.\"\n\tRick hung up and glanced across the table at Stacey. She sighed and pushed her chair back. \"Well, let's get going.\" She signaled the waiter. \"Could we have the check, please? And some boxes?\"\n\t\"You're coming?\" Rick asked, surprised.\n\t\"Of course I'm coming! You can't drive a car. You don't have a license. Besides, your feet won't reach the pedals.\"\n\tRick blushed beneath his fur. He hadn't thought of that.\n\n\tAt midnight, Supersonic went to the guest room where Park was lying stretched out on the bed and switched on the light. Park blinked and sat up. \"You're up, Silver Avenger,\" the squirrel said.\n\t\"Please, call me Dave,\" said Park, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs around and stood up.\n\t\"Okay, Dave,\" said Supersonic. \"By the way, this arrived from PRIMUS by special courier.\" He held out a pair of mirrored goggles to him. \"It has microcircuitry built into it to shield your mind against psionic attacks, same as I've got in my helmet. It also intensifies light so you can see in the dark. Be careful to turn down the sensitivity when you go from dark to light, though, or you'll be temporarily blinded.\"\n\tPark accepted the goggles and put them on. \"Anything to report?\"\n\t\"Nothing so far. Lucy's mother is sleeping in her daughter's room, and the senator is asleep in the master bedroom.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"There's something I've been wanting to tell you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"What's that?\" the squirrel asked.\n\t\"When Sanchez first told me we were going to be partners, I had some . . . reservations.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"I'm not surprised. Lots of people look at me and just see a silly little squirrel.\"\n\t\"I know what that's like,\" said Park. \"I had to deal with prejudice growing up in Spokane, people throwing around words like 'gook,' 'chink,' and 'slant-eyes.'\"\n\tSupersonic sighed and shook his head. \"That's rough.\"\n\t\"Anyway, I just wanted to say that I think you've handled this case very professionally. I'm glad Sanchez assigned me to work with you.\"\n\tThe squirrel chuckled. \"Save the compliments for when Darke is under lock and key.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"All right. Bed's yours. I'll relieve you at eight o'clock.\"\n\t\"Roger,\" said Supersonic, climbing onto the bed and curling up with his tail wrapped around him. Park gazed at him for a moment, thinking how cute and harmless he looked. It was hard to believe that this small creature could reduce this entire house to rubble in seconds. And unlike him, the squirrel wasn't dependent on daily injections of Cyberline for his powers. Speaking of which . . .\n\tPark went into the bathroom and opened his belt buckle, removing a syringe and an ampule full of milky fluid. There were four more such ampules in his buckle. He held it up to the light, rolling it between his fingers, watching the white liquid slosh around inside. Only one in ten people could use Cyberline without suffering negative side effects, and less than one percent could tolerate the high doses needed to produce a Silver Avenger. It was also ungodly expensive to make, another reason why Silver Avengers were so rare. He inserted the ampule into the syringe and injected the fluid into his left wrist. There was a burning sensation that faded quickly as his bloodstream carried the drug throughout his body. He put the syringe back into his buckle, closed it, and headed back into the bedroom. Supersonic was asleep, breathing softly. Park went to the door to the hall and turned the knob.\n\tA tremendous crash shook the entire house, causing Supersonic to sit bolt upright, eyes wide. \"What the heck was that?\" the squirrel shouted.\n\t\"We're under attack!\" Park yelled, drawing his gun and dashing out into the hall. Supersonic flew after him.\n\tPark and Supersonic entered the living room, the squirrel pulling down his goggles. There was a hole in the roof, and the floor was littered with debris. Floating in the middle of the room was the brain creature they had encountered at the hospital, along with a blond teenage boy wearing the same type of costume Twister had been wearing. Boone, Landauer, and another FBI agent, Saxon, were shooting at them, but their bullets were bouncing off the brain creature's sphere as before, while the boy was apparently protected by some kind of force field. The boy raised his hands and shot a bolt of pure force from them, striking Saxon and knocking him into the wall, while a blast of psionic energy from the brain creature stunned Landauer.\n\t\"Protect Lucy!\" Supersonic shouted to Park. \"I'll handle these two!\" Park nodded and dashed across the living room faster than any Olympic sprinter, heading for Lucy's bedroom, while the squirrel focused his attention on the brain creature. \"I've got a score to settle with you!\" He hurled a globe of supercompressed air at the thing, striking it and knocking it spinning across the room, its tentacles flailing wildly.\n\tThe boy raised his hands, took aim at Supersonic, and fired a force bolt that struck the squirrel and knocked him back into the wall. Dazed by the impact, Supersonic could do nothing as the boy took careful aim, building up another attack. Then Boone tossed a grenade, which exploded with a blinding flash and a loud bang. The boy cried out, his hands flying to cover his ears, his eyes squeezing shut. Supersonic's polarized goggles protected his eyes from the flash, but he was still momentarily deafened. With his ears feeling as though they were full of honey, the squirrel flew straight at the boy, slamming into him, and they both crashed through the sliding glass doors that opened onto the patio.\n\n\tRick and Stacey, having parked their rented car a few blocks away, were crouching together behind the wooden fence separating the Pinchards' yard from their neighbor's and peering at the Pinchards' house through gaps in the fence. The abundant trees in the backyard prevented them from seeing two figures drop down from the sky to the roof of the house but not from hearing the blast that tore a hole in the roof. They both jumped the fence and ran toward the house. As they neared it, the rear patio doors exploded outward in a spray of broken glass as Supersonic Squirrel and a blond boy in a black-and-magenta costume crashed through them.\n\tRick leaped and threw a flying kick at the boy's head, his furry foot connecting with the boy's cheek. The boy grunted, staggering backward, and Stacey grabbed him and threw him down onto the cement patio, stunning him.\n\tSupersonic stared at the new arrivals. \"Rick? Mrs. Summers? What are [i]you[/i] doing here?\" Even as he said it, he realized he wouldn't be able to hear their replies, as he was still deafened from Boone's stun grenade. Then he realized they were staring in horror at something behind him. He whirled around to see the brain creature hovering in the doorway.\n\t\"Your interference is unacceptable,\" it said, in a harsh, electronic drone. \"You will be eliminated.\" One of its tentacles shot out and wrapped around Supersonic's throat.\n\n\tPark burst into Lucy's bedroom to find the girl writhing in her bed, moaning and clutching her head. Her mother lay asleep on her cot, completely unresponsive. \n\tThe room also contained three other people. One was Twister. The other two were a boy and a girl about the same age as Twister, both with light, sandy hair, wearing costumes identical to hers. They looked similar enough to be brother and sister. \n\tTwister raised her hands and made that rotating gesture, and once again, Park felt an agonizing pain inside him, as though his intestines were being tied in knots. Fighting through the pain, Park lunged at Twister, throwing a punch at her. It connected, but as when she had been shot in the hospital, the force was mostly blunted, though the grimace on her face showed that she clearly felt some pain. \"Blackout! Displacer!\" she cried. \"Take him down!\"\n\tThe other two concentrated on Park, and their mouths fell open in surprise when nothing happened. \"My power doesn't affect him!\" the girl shouted.\n\t\"Mine neither!\" said the boy.\n\t\"Great!\" snarled Twister. \"I gotta do everything myself!\" She rotated her hands again, and Park cried out in pain, his innards feeling as though they were being torn out. He struck at Twister once more, and once more, while it hurt, it didn't drop her. Then she moved her hands, and Park collapsed at her feet.\n\t\"Asshole!\" Twister spat, kicking him viciously. She turned to the other two. \"Get the girl!\" They both nodded, pulling a sobbing Lucy from her bed.\n\t\"What about him?\" the boy asked, indicating Park.\n\t\"Take him, too, Blackout,\" Twister said. \"Counselor Darke might want him.\"\n\tThe boy let go of Lucy and grabbed Park as Twister opened a portal. Displacer dragged Lucy through it as Blackout pulled Park. Once they were through, Twister stepped in, and the portal winked out of existence.\n\n\tSupersonic gurgled as the brain creature's tentacle tightened around his neck, his vision quickly fading.\n\t\"Rick, it's killing him!\" Stacey screamed, her fingers sliding along the slimy appendage as she tried uselessly to pull it off. Rick took a deep breath, opened wide, and clamped down on the tentacle with his sharp teeth, severing it. Stacey and Supersonic fell backward as thick greenish-gray fluid sprayed over the raccoon's face. The creature screeched and drifted back from him, its remaining tentacles wriggling wildly. It was without a doubt the worst thing he had ever smelled or tasted.\n\t\"Miserable Earth-creature!\" the brain yelled, and Rick felt himself lifted into the air and hurled across the yard. He landed sixty feet away in front of three FBI agents who had been running toward the house, startling them.\n\t\"So, you're an ET, are you?\" said Boone, coming up behind it. \"Well, welcome to Earth, [i]amigo[/i]!\" He jammed an electroshock weapon against one of its tentacles, and it screeched again, tentacles flailing. Then a force bolt struck the FBI agent, sending him flying across the living room.\n\t\"You okay, Floater?\" the blond boy asked, getting to his feet.\n\t\"The injury is minor, Force,\" Floater replied. \"Our mission has been accomplished. It is time to leave.\"\n\t\"You're not going anywhere, creep!\" shouted Stacey as she jumped to her feet and threw a kick at Force. It caught him on the chin, and he spun and crumpled to the ground. Then she cried out as a mental blast from Floater sent her to join him. Floater paused, regarding Stacey and Supersonic for a moment, the squirrel lying on his back groaning and clutching his throat. Then it noticed Rick and three FBI agents rapidly closing on them. It wrapped its tentacles around Force's unconscious body and carried him off into the night sky.\n\n\tOn the floor of an abandoned meat-packing plant on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., nine people stood waiting in front of two large trucks bearing the logos of a moving company that did not exist. Five of them were PSI agents, wearing suits, ties, and sunglasses. The sixth was a Black girl of about ten years, her face peppered with acne pimples. She wore the same black-and-magenta uniform that Twister, Force, Blackout, and Displacer wore. The seventh was a man in his early thirties with thinning black hair and a pockmarked face, wearing a black robe with a crimson yoke over his shoulders, chest, and back. His collar had thin white piping stitched around it, and he held a staff whose golden head was emblazoned with the Greek letter psi. The eighth was a muscular man wearing a shiny copper costume with black boots, gloves, and cowl, all with jagged edges. The ninth was a tall man in his forties with graying black hair and a thick mustache and goatee, wearing an expensive dark suit and a designer Italian tie. A pin with the letter psi was stuck in his lapel.\n\tA point of light appeared in the air above the floor, expanding into a shimmering circle. Out of it stepped Twister, Blackout, and Displacer. Displacer led a sobbing, stumbling Lucy along, while Blackout dragged the unconscious body of David Park. The circle vanished once they were all through.\n\t\"A Silver Avenger?\" the bearded man asked, in a silky baritone voice, pointing at Park. \"Why the hell did you bring [i]him[/i] here?\"\n\t\"I thought you might want him, Counselor Darke,\" said Twister, grinning. Her grin faded when she saw the scowl on Darke's face.\n\t\"You idiot!\" he snapped. \"Do you have any idea how much it costs to create a Silver Avenger? Millions! That's why they all have tracking devices implanted in them so Uncle Sam can keep tabs on his property! Take his goggles off!\" He whirled toward the Black girl. \"Flashback, find out where his tracker is!\"\n\tFlashback nodded and concentrated on Park as Twister removed his anti-psi goggles. \"Under his left armpit, sir,\" she said.\n\t\"Get his shirt off,\" Darke ordered. As Blackout and Twister pulled off the tunic of Park's uniform, Darke turned to one of the agents. \"Heine, manifest your psi blade.\" Heine nodded and held his hand up before him with the palm and fingers straight, and a transparent magenta blade appeared around it. He walked toward the now bare-chested Park, got down on one knee, and cut into Park's left armpit while Twister, Blackout, Displacer, and Flashback all grimaced and looked away. Within a minute, he had removed a silver disk the size of a quarter, covered in blood and with bits of flesh hanging from it.\n\t\"Twister, get rid of it,\" said Darke. Twister created a portal, Heine tossed the tracking device through it, and the portal closed again. Darke went over to Park, removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, and pressed it under his arm to stanch the bleeding. With his free hand, he opened Park's belt buckle and removed the four ampules of Cyberline there. He held one up, gazing at the milky fluid inside.\n\t\"Is that the drug that gives him his powers?\" asked Displacer wonderingly.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Cyberline. This should fetch a pretty penny!\"\n\t\"Do you think they got a fix on our position?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"Almost certainly,\" Darke replied. \"Commence evacuation. We'll transfer everything to the secondary location.\" The PSI agents hastened to comply.\n\t\"What about Floater and Force?\" asked Blackout.\n\t\"They know the plan. Once they arrive and find the base abandoned, they'll head for the secondary location.\"\n\tAt that moment, Park regained consciousness, groaning at the intense pain under his left arm. He opened his eyes and then gasped when he saw Darke. \"You!\" the Silver Avenger snarled and jumped to his feet, lunging at Darke. Unfortunately, he was still weak and groggy, and Darke managed to jump back out of reach.\n\t\"Torment!\" Darke yelled to the man in the copper-and-black costume.\n\tTorment concentrated on Park, and the Silver Avenger's body was flooded with excruciating pain, worse than anything he'd ever felt before. He cried out, collapsed to the concrete floor, and lay still.\n\t\"A pity,\" said the man in the black robe, striding forward, his staff tapping on the floor. \"He would have made a useful convert to our holy cause.\"\n\t\"He may yet, Revelation,\" said Darke, gazing down at the unconscious Silver Avenger.\n\t\"How?\" Revelation asked. \"PRIMUS knows we took him. If we let him return to them, they're going to suspect he's been brainwashed. And if we keep him, his powers will start to fade once his supply of Cyberline runs out.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Darke, \"but there may yet be a service he can perform for us.\"\n\t\"Please!\" cried Lucy, tugging at Displacer's hold on her wrist. \"Let me go! I want to go home!\"\n\tDarke smiled and crouched down to be eye to eye with her. \"But you are home, my child. PSI is your family now.\"\n\tLucy turned away, sobbing.\n\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez arrived at the Pinchard house in a navy blue armored personnel carrier bearing the word PRIMUS along each side in white letters and the presidential eagle on the front and back. Local police, firefighters, and paramedics were already on the scene, their vehicles' lights flashing. She and five PRIMUS agents wearing blue skintight uniforms with white boots, belts, helmets, and white diagonal stripes across their chests with the presidential eagle over their hearts, emerged from the carrier and ran into the house.\n\tIn the ruins of the living room, Agent Landauer was speaking to some uniformed police officers, while paramedics tended to Agents Boone and Saxon. Rick and Stacey were standing off to one side, trying to stay out of everyone's way.\n\tLandauer noticed Sanchez and turned toward her, eyes narrowed. \"Why hello, Director Sanchez!\" he said, with naked sarcasm. \"Nice of you to join us!\"\n\t\"To whom am I speaking?\" she asked stiffly.\n\t\"Tom Landauer, FBI.\"\n\t\"What happened here, Agent Landauer?\"\n\t\"What happened is your people blew it!\" Landauer replied, smirking. \"PSI blasted through the roof of the senator's house and kidnapped his daughter, along with your rookie Silver Avenger.\"\n\tSanchez gaped. \"Park was kidnapped?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"Yes, being superhuman didn't seem to help much. In the meantime, two of our agents were seriously injured, and your little cartoon squirrel had to be saved by a pair of civilians!\" He indicated Rick and Stacey.\n\tSanchez glanced at Rick and Stacey, then turned her attention back to Landauer. \"Where is Supersonic?\"\n\t\"He's out on the patio.\"\n\tSanchez strode past Landauer and through the shattered sliding glass doors that led to the patio. Supersonic was lying on his back, conscious, with a paramedic examining his neck. Sanchez knelt down beside them, and the squirrel looked up at her and tried to speak, but all that came out was a croak. She looked at the paramedic. \"How is he?\"\n\t\"He's suffered serious contusions to his throat,\" the paramedic replied. \"He's lucky his trachea wasn't crushed.\"\n\tSupersonic tried to speak again, and his voice was a hoarse rasp. \"Where's Park?\" he asked.\n\t\"PSI got him,\" said Sanchez sadly, \"along with Lucy.\"\n\tThe squirrel trembled and bit his lip, tears welling up in his huge black eyes.\n\tSanchez caressed the side of his furry face gently. \"Rest, Supersonic.\" She stood up and went back into the living room.\n\t\"How is he?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"He will live. What about your men?\"\n\t\"They both have cracked ribs. Boone has a broken leg, and Saxon's got a punctured lung.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"At least nobody was killed.\"\n\t\"No thanks to that damn squirrel!\" snarled Landauer. \"He screwed up big time!\"\n\t\"Horseshit!\" said Boone, his voice tight with pain. Sanchez and Landauer both turned toward him. \"I was chief investigating officer. The responsibility was mine.\"\n\t\"What were the hostiles like?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We only saw two,\" Boone replied. \"One was—ah!\" He cried out, gritting his teeth as the paramedics moved him onto a stretcher. \"One was that brain creature we fought at the hospital. Apparently, it's some kind of alien. The other was a blond kid, about sixteen, with telekinetic powers.\"\n\t\"Their names were Floater and Force,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Floater tried to kill Supersonic, but Rick stopped him. I knocked out Force, and Floater flew away with him.\"\n\t\"And what exactly were the two of you doing here?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We thought we might be able to help,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Well, you were correct. Thank you for saving Supersonic.\"\n\t\"You're quite welcome.\"\n\t\"Wait a minute,\" said Landauer. \"How did you know where Lucy lived?\"\n\tRick hesitated, and Stacey jumped in. \"She told us.\"\n\t\"She told you?\" Landauer asked skeptically.\n\tStacey nodded. \"This morning, when we rescued her. We asked her where she lived, and she gave us this address.\"\n\t\"I see,\" said Landauer.\n\tSanchez took out her cell phone and dialed PRIMUS. \"What is the present location of Silver Avenger Park?\" she asked the person on the other end. She looked surprised when she heard the reply. \"The Lincoln Memorial?\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking equally astonished.\n\t\"Where was he before that?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"He have some kind of tracking device on him?\" Landauer asked as she waited for a reply.\n\tSanchez nodded. \"All Silver Avengers have one implanted. According to our monitor, he has popped instantly from one place to another twice in the past half hour. I suspect they removed Park's tracker and Twister sent it to the Lincoln Memorial.\" She paused, listening to the person on the other end of her phone. \"Got it. Send some agents to the Lincoln Memorial to make sure he's not there.\" She turned to the other PRIMUS agents. \"Let's move!\"\n\t\"Hold on a second!\" said Landauer, grabbing her shoulder. \"You're not cutting me out of this!\"\n\t\"This is no longer an FBI matter, Agent Landauer,\" said Sanchez, fixing him with an icy gaze. \"I am assuming control of this investigation.\"\n\t\"Like hell you are!\" Landauer shouted. He pointed at Boone, who was being carried out by the paramedics. \"That's [i]my[/i] partner over there!\"\n\t\"And one of [i]my[/i] men has been kidnapped, and another one injured!\"\n\t\"Director,\" came a hoarse, weak voice from doorway to the patio. They both turned to see Supersonic limping slowly toward them, rubbing his throat, a paramedic escorting him.\n\t\"Yes, Supersonic?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I think Agent Landauer should come. PSI hurt his partner. He deserves a chance for some payback. And there's those two FBI agents who were murdered.\"\n\tLandauer blinked, not having expected help from the squirrel.\n\t\"This is not about payback, Supersonic,\" said Sanchez. \"It is about who is best qualified. These people are paranormals.\"\n\t\"So are me and Park,\" Supersonic replied bitterly, \"for all the difference [i]that[/i] made!\"\n\tSanchez glanced at Landauer. \"Very well.\"\n\t\"With your permission,\" said Supersonic, \"I'd like to come, too.\"\n\t\"Are you sure you're up to it?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" the squirrel replied. \"Besides, I promised Lucy I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I'd like to make good on that.\"\n\t\"Director Sanchez,\" said Rick, \"may I also be of assistance?\"\n\t\"Yeah, me too,\" said Stacey.\n\tBefore Sanchez could reply, Supersonic said, \"They've been in this thing since the beginning, Director, and they've accomplished more than any of us.\"\n\tSanchez sighed. \"Fine. But do exactly as I say.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Understood, Director.\"\n\tSanchez, Landauer, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, and the five PRIMUS agents went outside, got into the armored personnel carrier, and drove off.\n\n\tThe woman behind the reception desk at PRIMUS headquarters stared at the man striding across the floor of the lobby toward her. He was tall, wearing a black bodysuit and a turquoise cloak and hood that concealed most of his face. He paused before the desk, gazing down at her, and spoke in a low, slow voice that sounded exotic and mysterious. \"I am Omen. I believe I am expected.\"\n\tThe receptionist swallowed and nodded. \"Yes, you are.\" There was something about this man—a combination of his speech, appearance, and bearing—that made her feel intimidated. She opened a drawer of her desk, removed a small yellow badge from it, rose from her seat, and hesitantly placed the badge on Omen's cloak. \"Through that door.\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. It was flanked by two PRIMUS Iron Guard agents in heavy, clunky armored suits with the presidential eagle over their hearts. They remained standing at attention as Omen passed between them.\n\tOmen took the elevator to the tenth floor and strode down the hallway, his cloak flowing around him, eliciting stares from the PRIMUS agents he passed. Upon reaching an office labeled S. SQUIRREL, he opened the door and went in.\n\tInside the office were Supersonic Squirrel, a hawk-faced man in a dark suit and tie with black hair and blue eyes, and a short humanoid raccoon and a blonde human woman, both wearing ordinary street clothes. Supersonic turned from his computer and broke into a wide, bucktoothed grin. \"Omen!\" he said, in a slightly hoarse voice. \"Nice to see you!\" \n\t\"It is good to see you, too, Supersonic,\" said Omen.\n\tThe squirrel hopped down from his chair, went to Omen, shook his hand, then turned to the others. \"These are—\"\n\t\"Agent Thomas Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rick, and Stacey Summers,\" said Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking surprised. \"How did he—\"\n\t\"I knew what Supersonic was going to say,\" said Omen. \"I am aware you have doubts regarding my abilities. I thought that a demonstration might make some progress toward dispelling them.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Supersonic could have told you we'd be here.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"I haven't spoken to him since last night, before Rick and Stacey joined us, and I never mentioned your name.\"\n\tStacey shrugged. \"I'm convinced!\" Rick simply nodded.\n\t\"Well, if you can see the future,\" said Landauer, \"tell us where we're going to rescue Lucy so we can go get her.\"\n\t\"It is not certain that you [i]will[/i] rescue her,\" Omen replied, causing a pained expression on Supersonic's face.\n\t\"Oh, so now you [i]can't [/i]see the future?\" asked Landauer mockingly.\n\t\"I can see many futures,\" said Omen, unperturbed. \"Which ones come to pass depends upon a multitude of factors, including individual choices and random chance. The more factors are involved, the more uncertain the outcome.\"\n\tLandauer walked up to Omen and leaned forward until their faces were just inches apart. \"Then what good are you? Hell, anyone can imagine different possible futures!\"\n\t\"Not everyone can see the paths that lead to them,\" said Omen. \"That is my gift.\"\n\t\"Okay, then,\" said Landauer, \"what path leads to us defeating PSI and rescuing Lucy and Park?\"\n\tOmen was silent for a moment. \"I am not sure,\" he said at last.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer and Supersonic simultaneously.\n\t\"Ever since I arrived in this city, my vision of the future has been muddled. Almost as if . . . something is blocking it.\"\n\tLandauer smirked again. \"Reply hazy, ask again later.\"\n\t\"What could do that?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"Maybe Porgrave broadcasters?\" Supersonic suggested.\n\t\"What are those?\" asked Stacey.\n\t\"Anti-psi devices. They blanket an area with psychic static, blocking telepaths from reading people's minds. Washington's full of 'em.\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"I think not. Those machines have never interfered with my vision before. It must be something else.\"\n\t\"Well, that's just great!\" fumed Landauer, fixing his eyes on Supersonic. \"Your fortune teller appears to have laid a big goose egg, Agent Squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"I'm doing the best I can, Agent Landauer, and your constant sniping at me doesn't help!\"\n\t\"Yeah, give him a break, Landauer!\" said Stacey. \"He's the only reason you're still on this case!\"\n\tLandauer whirled on her. \"In case you hadn't noticed, honey, this case has hit a dead end. There was nothing at that abandoned meat-packing plant PSI was using as a base, and Park's tracking device was found on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, so we have absolutely no idea where they are! None!\"\n\t\"Be that as it may, Agent Landauer,\" said Rick, calmly, \"accusations and recriminations accomplish nothing.\"\n\t\"Ah, blow it out your fortune cookie, Rocket. Right now, we might as well be consulting those!\"\n\tRick narrowed his eyes but remained silent.\n\tSupersonic looked up at Omen sadly. \"I'm sorry, Omen.\"\n\t\"Do not be,\" said Omen. \"There may yet be something I can do to help.\"\n\t\"Like what?\" Landauer snapped.\n\t\"Your friend, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Supersonic sullenly, his guilt over the loss of his partner evident.\n\t\"He is here.\"\n\tEveryone stared at Omen.\n\t\"Park's here?\" asked Landauer.\n\tOmen nodded. \"In the lobby.\"\n\tSupersonic grabbed his cell phone and called Park. After a moment, he looked up at the others. \"He doesn't answer!\"\n\t\"Maybe he lost his phone,\" Stacey suggested.\n\tSupersonic thought for a moment. \"He's here, in PRIMUS headquarters, with no tracking device.\" His dark eyes went wide. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, but the squirrel was already shooting down the hall.\n\n\tSilver Avenger David Park entered the lobby of PRIMUS headquarters and walked up to the receptionist. \"How are you, Janice?\" he asked, smiling.\n\tShe blinked at him. \"David! I heard you'd been captured!\"\n\t\"I escaped,\" he replied. \"I need to report to Director Sanchez, immediately.\"\n\tShe nodded. \"Of course!\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. Park thanked her and went in, passing the two Iron Guard agents standing on either side of it.\n\tThe door slid down behind Park, and he crossed the short, featureless corridor to the second door. Both doors were never open at the same time. The scanners lining the corridor recognized him as Silver Avenger David Park, and the door at the far end slid upward. Park walked through it and immediately headed for PRIMUS's main computer room.\n\tPark entered a stairwell and swiftly ascended two flights of stairs, emerging in front of the elevators on the third floor. He strolled unhurriedly down the main corridor, the soles of his dark blue boots sinking into the deep orange pile carpet as security cameras silently observed his passage. Decorating the walls were pictures of famous people and scenes from American history. To his right was Washington crossing the Delaware. To his left, Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. Straight ahead, the American flag was being raised on Iwo Jima. Park paid no attention to them, his eyes blank and glassy. A right turn followed by a left brought him to the door to the computer room. It was closed and locked. He produced a magnetic keycard from his belt and inserted it into the slot beside the door. There was a click, and he turned the handle, pushed the door open, and went inside. The door swung shut behind him.\n\tInside the room were the shoulder-high, dull silver cabinets housing the PRIMUS mainframe, their black fronts covered with blinking red LED lights. They contained everything PRIMUS knew. Three PRIMUS agents—two men and a woman—were administering to the machine as Park walked toward it.\n\tAn alarm went off, and Supersonic Squirrel's voice burst over the intercom. \"Attention all agents! Find and apprehend Silver Avenger Park! He's under enemy control!\" The three agents all froze and stared at Park, then drew their .44 magnum revolvers from the holsters on their hips. Like all PRIMUS agents, they had been enhanced by daily doses of Cyberline. Being able to tolerate the drug without harmful side effects was one of the requirements for becoming a PRIMUS agent, save for those like Supersonic who possessed paranormal abilities of their own. It increased agents' physical dexterity by as much as fifty percent and gave them about half the reaction time of a normal human being. But none of these agents were Silver Avengers.\n\tPark lunged at the nearest agent, his hand knifing toward the man's chest as he raised his gun to fire. His fingertips struck the Kevlar cloth of the man's uniform, breaking a rib and knocking the man off his feet as he cried out in pain. Park whirled on the other two as they fired. One bullet missed and embedded itself in the wall. The other struck his torso, where it was stopped by his own Kevlar costume. He charged toward the female agent, throwing a punch at her, which connected, hurling her across the room and into the wall, where she slid to the floor, unconscious. The remaining agent fired again, hitting Park in his lower back, but again, it was stopped by his costume. Park slammed his fist into the man's chest, dropping him.\n\tElapsed time: five seconds.\n\tPark turned to the computer, removed a device from his belt, and moved to insert it into one of the access ports. Before he could do so, there was a tremendous impact and the door to the computer room flew off its hinges as a massive blast of wind hit it, sending it spinning across the room. Hovering in the doorway was Supersonic Squirrel, a scowl darkening his big-eyed, bucktoothed face. \"Omen said you'd be here,\" he growled.\n\tPark lunged at the computer, attempting to insert the device, but Supersonic rocketed forward and slammed into him, sending them both crashing into the far wall. Park threw a right cross, but the amazingly agile squirrel dodged and seized Park's arm. With a twist of his small body, he threw Park over his shoulder to the floor. Park rolled to his feet and sprang at Supersonic, but a vortex of wind formed around the squirrel, pushing Park back, his boots sliding along the carpet.\n\tAt that moment, Rick and Stacey ran into the room, striking combat poses. Behind them came Omen, his cape billowing around him. Park glanced back at them, now surrounded.\n\t\"Dave,\" said Supersonic evenly, \"it's me, Supersonic, your friend. You're following a hypnotic command implanted by Nicholas Darke. You have to snap out of it. I don't want to hurt you. Please, don't make me.\"\n\tPark stared at Supersonic's small, gray-furred form hovering in the air with wind whirling around him like a miniature cyclone. He blinked and shook his head, sweat dripping down his face, his brow furrowed. Then he cried out and tried again to insert the device into one of the computer's access ports. Omen jumped in the way, covering the port with his body, while Rick launched himself across the carpet and slid under Park, sweeping a leg out from under him and knocking him down. Stacey lunged, her fingertips striking a tendon in Park's wrist. That caused him to open the hand holding the device, and Supersonic immediately created a gust of wind that sent it wafting through the air toward him.\n\tPark yelled in anguish, hurling himself at the squirrel, arms outstretched, but Supersonic blew him back with a wind blast. Then Rick and Stacey both struck nerve centers on Park's body, causing him to cry out in pain and double over.\n\t\"Agent Park,\" said Omen, \"listen carefully. Norway, gondola, diatonic.\"\n\tPark's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.\n\t\"What just happened?\" asked Stacey, astonished.\n\t\"Darke always implants a shutdown command, in case one of his victims turns on him,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"How did you know what it was?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"My vision showed me the correct combination of words.\"\n\tThe raccoon's mouth fell open. \"Out of all those millions of possibilities?\"\n\t\"The command is always based on his initials, N.G.D., which narrows it down somewhat. I suppose it appeals to his ego, like an artist signing a painting.\"\n\t\"You might have done it sooner,\" said Supersonic grumpily.\n\t\"As Rick pointed out, there were many possible futures. It took time to find the right one.\"\n\tSanchez and Landauer appeared in the doorway, the latter holding his gun in both hands, aimed at Park.\n\t\"It's all right,\" said Supersonic, holding up his hand. \"Crisis averted.\" He walked over to Sanchez, handing her the device. \"Any idea what this is, Director?\"\n\tShe nodded. \"A remote uplink. If Park had inserted this, it would have transmitted every bit of data in PRIMUS's computer to a receiving unit somewhere: information on superpowered individuals and organizations, and on PRIMUS personnel, operations, resources, safehouses, contacts, informants, research projects, technology, and so on. We would have been completely compromised.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Rick, indicating Park. \"Is [i]he[/i] compromised, the way Nightmunk was?\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"Darke did not have time to do a complete brainwashing on him. He simply implanted a single command in his mind that he was compelled to obey. When he awakens, he will be himself again. Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Then he can't have gotten his hooks into Lucy yet!\" said Stacey eagerly.\n\t\"No, he has not had time.\"\n\tLandauer narrowed his eyes. \"And how do [i]you[/i] know so much about Darke's brainwashing techniques, Omen?\"\n\t\"Because I have encountered other unfortunate souls whose minds were warped by his wicked skills,\" Omen replied, a touch of coldness in his sonorous voice.\n\t\"Let us get him to the infirmary,\" said Sanchez. \"He can be treated, and we can find out if he learned anything useful while he was PSI's captive.\" Two PRIMUS agents carried Park out of the room, while others tended to the three Park had knocked unconscious.\n\n\tPark awoke in PRIMUS's infirmary and looked around frantically, eyes wide. He was lying on a hospital bed, with Sanchez, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer all standing over him—or, in Rick's and Supersonic's cases, looking up at him.\n\t\"It's all right, partner,\" said Supersonic, smiling. \"You're safe now. How do you feel?\"\n\tPark relaxed and reached down, rubbing his side where Rick and Stacey had hit him. \"Sore as hell. How did I get here?\" His eyes focused on Omen. \"And who is that?\"\n\t\"That's Omen,\" Supersonic replied. \"You don't remember anything?\"\n\tPark furrowed his brow. \"Darke. I remember Darke. He was standing right in front of me, as close as you are now. I tried to grab him, and then . . . there was pain! Incredible pain!\"\n\t\"Pain from what?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"Some guy in a black-and-copper costume. Darke called him Torment.\" \n\tSupersonic noticed Omen stiffen. \"That mean something to you?\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"I know this man. His real name is Jeff Baldwin. He was born with a brain mutation that caused him to be in constant pain, which nothing could relieve. His parents did not wish to deal with him, so they put him up for adoption. But nobody wanted to adopt such a child and deal with a lifetime of medical expenses and suffering, so for thirteen years he remained in the adoption center, unloved, unwanted, and in perpetual agony.\"\n\t\"Good god!\" said Landauer.\n\t\"How horrible!\" said Stacey, hugging herself.\n\t\"That poor kid!\" said Supersonic, wiping away a tear.\n\t\"Darke learned of Jeff's condition and was interested in its cause,\" Omen continued, \"so he offered to use his advanced neurochemical knowledge to try to cure him, which he eventually did. However, the drug he developed had an unexpected side effect. The mutation that had caused Jeff such pain now enabled him to project pain into others. Darke decided this ability could be useful to him, so he arranged to take custody of Jeff, giving him the codename Torment. Jeff requires daily injections of Darke's drug to keep his pain from returning, and he will do anything to prevent this from happening.\"\n\t\"So he's Darke's slave,\" said Rick, scowling.\n\tOmen nodded. \"Essentially.\"\n\tSanchez turned back to Park. \"Was there anyone else with Darke?\"\n\tPark thought for a moment. \"I was only conscious for a few seconds before Torment made me pass out, but I remember Twister was there, and a guy with a pockmarked face and thinning black hair who was dressed kind of like a priest, with a black robe and a white collar. He was holding a staff with a gold head. And there were a bunch of PSI agents, and three kids in those black-and-magenta costumes. Two of them were in Lucy's room with Twister when I broke in. She called them Blackout and Displacer, but I don't know which was which. They both had sandy hair and looked kind of similar, maybe brother and sister. The third one was a Black girl, about ten years old, with bad acne. I never heard her name.\"\n\t\"Any of these folks sound familiar?\" Supersonic asked Omen.\n\tOmen shook his head. \"No, I do not recognize them. They must be recent recruits.\"\n\t\"Well,\" said Sanchez, \"we can do a workup on the guy dressed like a priest. He sounds pretty distinctive. And we can search the national databases for any missing children matching those descriptions.\"\n\t\"A pair of possible siblings with sandy hair, and a Black girl with acne,\" said Landauer. \"I wouldn't hold out much hope there.\"\n\t\"And that's assuming they're even Americans,\" said Supersonic. \"PSI has recruited people from outside the country before.\"\n\t\"I heard Blackout and Displacer talk,\" said Park. \"They sounded like Americans.\"\n\t\"Force sounded like an American, too,\" said Stacey. \"As for Floater . . .\"\n\t\"I have already spoken to METE about Floater,\" said Sanchez. \"They have never heard of this creature.\"\n\t\"METE?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"The Metropolitan Extra-Terrestrial Enclave,\" said Supersonic. \"It's sort of a halfway house for homeless aliens.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"I wouldn't have thought there'd be enough of those to warrant such a place!\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You'd be surprised.\"\n\t\"Remember,\" said Sanchez, \"there have been aliens living on Earth since at least 1938, and more than a few are members of the superhero community.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Yeah, my old teammate in the Millennium Guard, Ironkid, is half alien. Great kid.\"\n\t\"METE is a private research facility supported by regular contributors and government contracts,\" said Landauer. \"Their focus is biological research. A number of recent advances in medicine are the result of their work.\"\n\t\"You approve of them, Agent Landauer?\" asked Rick, sounding surprised.\n\tLandauer looked at the raccoon. \"My daughter had leukemia. Drugs developed at METE saved her life.\"\n\t\"Oh,\" said Rick. \"I am very happy for you, then.\"\n\t\"Thank you,\" said Landauer.\n\t\"All right,\" said Sanchez, \"let's get busy, people. The sooner we track down PSI, the sooner we rescue Lucy.\"\n\tPark sat up on the bed. \"Permission to return to duty, Director?\"\n\tSanchez smirked. \"Each day you're out of action costs the taxpayers a fortune. Granted.\"\n\n\t\"Now, I want you to relax, Lucy,\" said Counselor Darke, in a low, soothing voice. \"Just relax and look at the light. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Concentrate only on the light.\"\n\tLucy gazed at the lit candle sitting on the table before her, the only illumination in the darkened room. It was so pretty, the flame so straight and unwavering. She felt as though nothing in the world existed except her and the candle flame. She felt completely relaxed and at peace. \n\tDarke smiled. Lucy was progressing nicely. The drugs he'd administered in her fruit juice were gently quelling her fears and sapping her will to resist. How amazing the mind was—and how malleable.\n\tThe door to the office flew open, blowing out the candle and making Lucy gasp. In the doorway stood Revelation, staff in hand. Behind him hovered Floater.\n\tDarke whirled, glaring at the pair. \"I've told you before never to disturb me during a session, Anthony!\" he shouted, causing Lucy to cover her ears.\n\t\"Something is blurring my vision!\" growled Revelation.\n\tDarke stared at him. \"What?\" He wondered if the brain mutation that granted Revelation his precognition was starting to affect his eyesight. Darke had known for some time that it was slowly killing him, though he had not told him this.\n\t\"Ever since this morning,\" said Revelation, \"my vision of the future has been murky, as if something were clouding it.\"\n\tDarke considered this. It was possible that the mutation was destroying Revelation's brain even faster than he'd estimated. That could explain the clouding of his vision. He would have to conduct some tests to make sure. \"Can you see the cause?\" he asked. \n\tRevelation nodded. \"It is a man, wearing a blue cloak and hood.\"\n\tDarke gasped. \"Omen!\"\n\t\"You know this person?\" asked Revelation, stiffening.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Yes. He's a precog, like you, a member of the original PSI.\"\n\t\"Another precog? I thought the power to see the future was mine alone!\"\n\tDarke lit himself a cigarette. \"Don't be naive, Anthony. If a mutation can happen once, it can happen again. It's just a matter of inheriting the right combination of genes.\"\n\t\"My power is a divine gift!\" shouted Revelation, pounding his staff on the floor and causing Lucy to cower in her chair.\n\t\"Lower your voice!\" Darke growled. \"You're scaring the child. Omen infiltrated PSI because he had some sort of vendetta against Psymon. I'm still not clear on what it was. He used our plan to break Psymon and two other members of PSI out of Stronghold Prison as a means of reaching him so he could kill him, a masterful bit of subterfuge, I must say. He failed, as Psymon still remains in Stronghold, but in the process Omega, PSI's chief of security, was killed by Nightmunk, who we thought was under our control. All the original members of PSI were subsequently captured by PRIMUS, save for Torment and myself. After that, Omen simply vanished. I never found out who he was or what became of him. He's still very much a mystery to me.\"\n\tRevelation glowered. \"I refuse to tolerate the existence of another precog! This Omen must be destroyed!\"\n\t\"And how, exactly, do you plan to do that, Anthony?\" asked Darke, smirking. \"Do you know where he is?\"\n\t\"No,\" Revelation admitted, \"but he must be someplace nearby, or he wouldn't be blocking my vision. And his being here can't be a coincidence.\" He grinned unpleasantly. \"Perhaps he's after you, Nicholas.\"\n\tDarke shrugged. \"Why would he be after me? I'm not Psymon.\"\n\t\"You said it yourself: He's a mystery. Who knows what his true goal is?\"\n\t\"If he wanted to kill me, he had ample opportunity to do that when he was with PSI.\"\n\t\"I must find him!\" snarled Revelation. \"None may see the future but me, the living revelation of the glory of power!\" He turned and stalked away, Floater following him.\n\tDarke watched them go. He had neglected to mention that it was he who had programmed Nightmunk to kill Omega, and that he had permitted the rest of PSI to be captured in order to create a new PSI with himself as its sole master. As he smoked, he considered the implications of what Revelation had told him. So, the mysterious Omen was back. That was troubling. Darke did not like mysteries. He was a man who liked to be in control of every situation, and that meant knowing everything. And as long as Omen was interfering with Revelation's vision, his usefulness to PSI was compromised. Something would have to be done about this.\n\tHe turned back to Lucy, smiled, and relit the candle. \"Now, let's begin again.\"\n\t\n\tSupersonic and Park burst into the conference room at PRIMUS headquarters that Sanchez had turned into their base of operations, causing her, Omen, Rick, Stacey, and Landauer to look up from stacks of files and newspapers they were examining. \"We got something!\" the squirrel announced, his bucktoothed face beaming.\n\t\"Well, don't keep it to yourself!\" said Stacey.\n\t\"I IDed the guy dressed like a priest as one Anthony Martelli, a member of the New York mob,\" said Park.\n\t\"And get this!\" said Supersonic, grinning excitedly. \"He found people for them!\"\n\t\"Interesting!\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"He used to work for a mobster named 'Sticks' Monroe,\" said Park.\n\t\"I've heard of him,\" said Landauer. \"The New York District Attorney indicted him for murder a few years ago. The case had to be dropped when all the witnesses were shot dead, despite having been moved to secret locations. We figured there was a leak in the DA's office, but we never found one.\"\n\t\"PRIMUS didn't have anything on Martelli,\" said Supersonic, \"so we checked with the FBI. No mention of any paranormal abilities, but apparently the guy is some kind of religious nut. Not of any conventional religion, though. He claimed all religions were bunk and kept talking about the importance of 'supreme power.'\"\n\t\"As you might imagine,\" said Park, \"that didn't make him too popular with the other wise guys, who were all good Catholic boys.\"\n\t\"Does he still work for Monroe?\" asked Sanchez.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"He dropped out of sight about six months ago. Nobody's seen or heard from him since then. The FBI figured one of his fellow mobsters probably got sick of him bashing religion and whacked him.\"\n\t\"This Martelli,\" said Omen, \"you say he was good at finding people?\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That's how he came to Monroe's attention. He'd find people for anyone who would pay him.\"\n\t\"He must have some kind of psychic location ability,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Why would he be with PSI otherwise?\"\n\t\"It is more than that,\" said Omen, standing up. \"He is a precog.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Another precog?\"\n\t\"It explains the interference with my vision. By seeing the future, one alters it, changing the probability of what will eventually come to pass. Thus, two precogs working toward opposing goals should essentially cancel each other out, leaving them both lost in a fog of confusion and uncertainty.\"\n\t\"I imagine that's not something you're used to,\" said Rick.\n\t\"The idea of dueling precogs is a fascinating one,\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"Wait a minute!\" said Supersonic. \"If he's blocking your power, then you must be blocking his, right?\"\n\t\"Unquestionably,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"And I'll bet Darke isn't happy about that,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Not if he's relying on Martelli's visions to avoid being caught,\" said Park.\n\t\"Or to locate new potential recruits,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Can you sense when Martelli is near,\" Landauer asked Omen, \"like a homing beacon?\"\n\t\"The analogy is imperfect, Agent Landauer,\" Omen replied. \"We do not generate signals that grow stronger as one moves closer to their source. It is more a matter of the degree to which our respective futures are intertwined. I am involved in this because Supersonic called me and I agreed to come. From that moment, Anthony Martelli's future and mine have been connected. What the result of this will be, I cannot say.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"Accept the word of one who [i]doesn't[/i] know?\"\n\tOmen nodded, smiling slightly. \"Aptly put, my furry friend.\"\n\t\"However,\" said Sanchez, \"it does suggest a way we may be able to bring PSI out into the open.\"\n\t\n\t\"Counselor Darke! Counselor Darke!\"\n\tNicholas Darke sat up on the cot on which he'd been sleeping and blinked his eyes until they focused on the darkened office of the warehouse that PSI was using as a temporary base of operations. Torment's generally gloomy voice was uncharacteristically excited. \"What is it, Jeff?\"\n\tTorment opened the door, letting light spill into the room. The cowl of his costume had been pulled back to reveal the face of a handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed youth in his late teens. \"You have to see this!\" he said.\n\tDarke swung his legs down and stood up. He was wearing a rumpled dress shirt and slacks, both with designer labels. \"See what?\" he asked calmly. \"Is there danger? Are we under attack?\" He had been counting on Revelation to be able to foresee such a contingency, but since Omen had entered the picture, Revelation's powers could no longer be relied upon.\n\t\"No, sir, nothing like that,\" Torment replied.\n\t\"Well, what, then?\" asked Darke, annoyed.\n\t\"Trust me, sir, it's easier if you just come outside and look.\"\n\tDarke sighed, slipped on a pair of loafers, and followed the young psionic down the hall. They walked quickly through the empty warehouse, out an open corrugated aluminum door that had been made to accomodate large trucks, and into the stockyard, which was surrounded by a wooden fence that prevented anyone outside seeing in and was topped with barbed wire. A number of PSI agents were standing on the yard's concrete surface, looking up at the sky. He tilted his head back to see what it was the agents were gazing at, and his mouth fell open.\n\tWritten in white letters in the clear blue sky was: \n\t[i]Martelli\n\tRFK Stadium\n\tOmen[/i]\n\tDarke looked around the stockyard. \"Where is Revelation?\"\n\t\"Gone, sir,\" Torment replied. \"He had Twister open a portal for him, and he, Twister, Floater, Force, Blackout, and Displacer went through.\"\n\t\"That idiot!\" Darke snarled. \"He's going to get them all captured!\"\n\t\"You think it's a trap, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"Of course it's a trap,\" Darke snapped. \"And Revelation is leading my new PSI right into it!\"\n\t\"But I thought he could see the future!\" Torment protested.\n\t\"Not with Omen around, he can't. Their powers are negating each other.\"\n\tTorment shrugged helplessly. \"Well, what can we do, sir? They're at the stadium by now, so the trap must have already been sprung!\"\n\tDarke frowned. \"Supervise the evacuation of this base to the tertiary location.\"\n\t\"What about you, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"I'm going to see if I can salvage this mess.\" He turned and began walking back into the warehouse.\n\t\"Sir!\" shouted Torment, running after him. \"Let me come with you!\"\n\tDarke waved him off. \"I need you here, Jeff.\"\n\tTorment's voice shook with fear. \"But if anything happens to you, there'll be nobody to make the drug that keeps my pain away! Please, sir, I couldn't bear going back to that. I'd rather die!\"\n\tDarke paused and looked at him. His eyes were frantic, the boy terrified by the thought of returning to the agony that had been his whole world for the first thirteen years of his life. \"Very well.\" He turned to Agent Heine. \"Heine, you take charge of the evacuation.\"\n\tHeine nodded. \"Yes, Counselor.\"\n\tDarke and Torment went back into the warehouse.\n\n\tSupersonic Squirrel sat cross-legged at the center of a vast field of brown dirt, the bleachers and walls of the mammoth stadium rising around him. He remembered when it had first opened, in 1961. Back then, it had been called District of Columbia Stadium. President Kennedy had refused to permit the Washington Redskins to play there, since it was on federal land, until their owner desegregated the team. In 1969, it had been renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in honor of President Kennedy's slain brother. In 2019, it had been closed, and now stood abandoned on the west bank of the Anacostia River, awaiting demolition. The squirrel sighed as he looked around at the decaying stadium, its remaining seats empty, the only sound the tinny rattling of the racks of lights above the bleachers by the wind ruffling his tail and fur. Like himself, it was a relic of another time.\n\tA bright point of light appeared a few dozen yards away from him, quickly expanding into a white circle floating in the air. Out of it stepped Revelation. Behind him came Force, Floater, Twister, and a boy and girl he hadn't seen before.\n\t\"I see you got my message, Martelli,\" said Supersonic, still sitting. \"I hoped you would.\"\n\tRevelation glared at the squirrel. \"Call me Revelation, for that is what I now am, the living revelation of the glory of power!\"\n\t\"Nifty,\" said Supersonic, standing up and dusting off his furry backside with his hands. \"I also see you brought some friends. For future reference, which one is Blackout and which one is Displacer?\"\n\t\"I'm Blackout,\" the boy said.\n\t\"And I'm Displacer,\" said the girl.\n\t\"Hi. Nice to finally meet you both.\" The squirrel turned his attention back to Revelation. \"Where's Darke?\"\n\t\"Where's Omen?\" asked Revelation.\n\tSupersonic grinned, buck teeth gleaming. \"Don't you know?\"\n\tRevelation growled. \"He is cloaking himself from my vision, somehow.\"\n\t\"I have it on good authority he's doing a lot more than that. As long as you two are working against each other, neither of you can see the future worth beans!\"\n\tTwister looked at Revelation in alarm. \"You said it would be safe!\"\n\t\"Calm yourself, Susan,\" said Revelation. \"You have nothing to fear as long as you're with me.\" He gestured at Supersonic with his staff. \"Blackout. Displacer. Deal with that rodent!\"\n\tBlackout concentrated on the squirrel, and his eyes widened. \"My power's not working on him!\"\n\t\"Neither is mine!\" cried Displacer.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"You must really think I'm dumb. I knew I was going up against PSI, so I took precautions. My mind is shielded against psionics.\" He reached up and lowered his goggles over his eyes. \"In the name of the people of the United States, you're all under arrest. You have the right to remain silent—\"\n\t\"You're not shielded against [i]my[/i] power, squirrel!\" said Twister, grinning and raising her hands. \"I'm gonna take you down like I did your Silver Avenger buddy!\"\n\tSupersonic shot straight at Twister, slamming into her and knocking her back thirty feet, their bodies gouging a furrow in the dirt as they skidded along. At that moment, from a tunnel that opened onto the field emerged Rick, Stacey, Landauer, and Silver Avengers Park and Sanchez, all wearing mirrored anti-psionic goggles.\n\t\"Give it up, Martelli!\" shouted Sanchez.\n\t\"I am Revelation!\" yelled Revelation. \"Force! Floater! Get them!\"\n\tForce and Floater flew toward the new arrivals, Force heading for Sanchez while Floater made for Park. The blond-haired youth raised his hands and fired a bolt of pure force at the director of PRIMUS, hitting her and knocking her back a hundred feet, over the concrete wall—still bearing plywood billboards for various products—that had separated the spectators from the playing field, and into the banks of seats beyond. Landauer fired at the boy with his pistol as Stacey closed with him, but his bullets bounced harmlessly off the force field surrounding Force's body.\n\t\"Oh, no!\" said Force, grinning down at Stacey as he flew twenty feet above her. \"I'm not letting you get your hands on me again!\" Stacey scowled, unable to reach the boy. Then she heard the sound of splintering wood behind her. Glancing back, she saw Sanchez, crouched atop the wall, tear a billboard for Miller Lite off it. The director swung the huge sign back horizontally behind her and then hurled it at Force like a discus thrower, sending it spinning through the air toward him. Force had no chance to dodge as the heavy plywood billboard caught him edgewise, stunning him and dropping him to the ground. He landed right in front of Stacey, who finished him off with a nerve strike to his shoulder, rendering the boy unconscious.\n\t\"Careful, you know what that thing can do!\" said Park as he and Rick ran toward Floater, the alien hovering silently six feet off the ground.\n\tRick nodded. \"All too well.\"\n\t\"As I am too well acquainted with your bite, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, in its grating, electronic voice. \"A most unpleasant experience, one that will not be repeated.\"\n\t\"Why are you doing this, Floater?\" Rick asked. \"What are you getting out of it?\"\n\t\"My motives are no concern of yours, Earth-creature,\" Floater replied. \"You should concentrate instead on surviving the next few minutes.\" It reached out with its mind and tried to seize the raccoon telekinetically, but Rick dodged nimbly, evading its grasp. Park took advantage of the opening to dart in, one hand knifing toward the green brain floating in its transparent sphere. His fingers struck the sphere with a sharp report, and green fluid began oozing through a crack in it. Floater screeched, seizing Park with its mind and flinging him away. Rick leaped on the alien, wrapping his arms and legs around its sphere and squeezing with all his might, but lacking Park's biochemically enhanced strength, he could not break it. Floater shot upward, carrying the raccoon into the sky with it.\n\tMeanwhile, Supersonic and Twister were rolling in the dirt together, one of the squirrel's furry arms locked around the girl's neck in a choke hold as she struggled to break free. Supersonic bore down on her as hard as he could, but most of the force he was exerting was being shunted away into another dimension, preventing him from cutting off her air supply. Still, he was making it difficult for her to focus her power. Twister glared up at Blackout and Displacer, spittle flicking from her lips. \"Help me, you idiots!\"\n\t\"But he's immune to our powers!\" Displacer protested.\n\t\"Punch him! Kick him! Do [i]something![/i] It's not like you don't have a horse in this race!\"\n\tBlackout and Displacer looked at each other, shrugged, and ran up, both of them kicking at the squirrel. Supersonic gritted his teeth in pain as their boots struck his body. Fighting children was not what he'd signed on for, but these were no ordinary kids. Twister had taken down a Silver Avenger single-handed. He created a vortex of wind around himself and Twister, pushing Blackout and Displacer away from them.\n\tStacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer closed in on Revelation, who stood glaring at them, black robe billowing in the breeze, staff clutched in his hand. \"Ready to surrender now, Martelli?\" Sanchez asked.\n\tRevelation grinned twistedly. \"This is very far from over, Director Sanchez!\" He raised his staff.\n\t\"Beware his staff!\" came a man's voice from the tunnel.\n\tSanchez dodged as a blast of electricity arced toward her from the head of Revelation's staff, narrowly evading it. Revelation turned toward the voice. Omen was emerging from the tunnel, his face grim beneath his turquoise hood.\n\t\"You!\" snarled Revelation, eyes burning with hatred. Then he sidestepped as Stacey threw a flying kick at his head, sailing past him to land in the dirt in a few feet away. Landauer fired his gun, but Revelation knew the path the bullet would take and avoided it.\n\t\"Yes, I,\" replied Omen, striding toward the black-robed figure. \"Your antithesis. You may be able to predict the others' actions, but not mine, nor any act of theirs I may influence.\"\n\tRevelation frowned, all the multiple potential futures in his mind fading into a gray fog. \"The same goes for you, Omen,\" he growled. \"We stalemate each other.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Omen, \"but my allies are trained fighters, while yours are a group of inexperienced, undisciplined children. I believe that gives us an edge.\" He smiled.\n\tRevelation looked around. Stacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer had him surrounded, and he could no longer anticipate what they would do. Force was down, Floater was somewhere up in the sky, and Blackout, Displacer, and Twister were all effectively neutralized. It began to dawn on him that coming here may not have been a wise move.\n\tAt that moment, there came a whine of jet turbines above them. They all looked up to see a figure in shiny gray armor with blue and black trim drop out of the sky and land on the dirt floor of the stadium. On its forehead was the Greek letter omega. In its arms it held Torment, whom it lowered to the ground.\n\tSupersonic and Sanchez both stared at the armored figure in disbelief. \"It's not possible!\" the squirrel gasped. \"Nightmunk killed you!\"\n\t\"He killed Omega,\" the armored figure replied casually, its voice distorted by an electronic filter. \"Fortunately, Omega kept a suit of backup armor. Greetings. I am Nicholas Darke.\" He turned his head toward Revelation. \"You imbecile! Your pride and vanity have put the entire organization at risk!\"\n\tRevelation simply glared at him, saying nothing.\n\tSanchez walked toward Darke, her face hard. \"Nicholas Darke, in the name of the people of the United States, I place you under arrest.\"\n\tDarke chuckled. \"Oh, I think not, Director Sanchez.\" He tapped a button on his gauntlet. Instantly, all their anti-psionic goggles shorted out, as did the anti-psionic circuitry in Supersonic's helmet and Omen's cowl.\n\t\"As you can see,\" said Darke, \"I came prepared, too.\"\n\tInstantly, Torment focused his power on Supersonic, and the squirrel screamed in agony as every nerve ending in his small body exploded with pain. He let go of Twister and curled into a ball, whimpering. Released from Supersonic's choke hold, Twister raised her hands and concentrated on Sanchez. The director of PRIMUS cried out and doubled over as Twister rotated Sanchez partially into another dimension, causing her intense anguish.\n\tRealizing that their adversaries were no longer shielded from their powers, Blackout and Displacer unleashed them on Park and Landauer, respectively. All the sensory input to Park's brain was suddenly blocked, leaving him seemingly floating in a black, silent void, unable to feel anything. He fell forward into the dirt and lay there, calling for help, arms and legs flailing uselessly. Landauer, on the other hand, found all his senses distorted, leaving him dizzy and uncoordinated. Sounds became muffled, his vision became blurry, and the ground seemed to rise and fall beneath his feet. Everyone around him had become a gray blob, making him unable to distinguish friend from foe. Landauer had once tried LSD in college, just to see what it was like. He hadn't enjoyed its effects and had never done it again. This was much like that, only worse.\n\tRevelation grinned savagely as Supersonic Squirrel, the two Silver Avengers, and the FBI agent were suddenly incapacitated. That left only Stacey Summers, an unpowered martial artist, and Omen, whose precognition was nullified. He turned to the latter. \"Your allies have fallen, Omen, as all who stand against pure power must! And now, you shall join them!\" He aimed his staff at Omen, and a bolt of electricity shot from its head. \n\tOmen dodged desperately, no longer able to foresee the path the bolt would follow. Fortunately, Revelation was equally unable to anticipate where Omen would be, and lacking that advantage, he was not an especially good shot. The bolt missed its target by several feet. A moment later, Stacey struck Revelation's staff, knocking it from his hand. He whirled to face her, eyes blazing with hatred. \"Didn't see that coming, did you?\" said Stacey, grinning.\n\t\"You'll pay for that, bitch!\" Revelation snarled. \"Oh, how you'll pay!\"\n\tThroughout all this, Nicholas Darke had stood silently in Omega's suit of backup powered armor, taking no part in the battle. He was a thinker, not a fighter, and had no interest in fisticuffs. He surveyed the stadium with satisfaction. The effects of Revelation's stupidity appeared to have been negated, the potential disaster averted. The only adversary here who really mattered was Omen, and Darke could deal with him at his leisure. He glanced at Stacey and smiled inside his helmet. This would be fun.\n\t\"Mrs. Summers,\" Darke said. \"The papers mentioned that you are the widow of the hero Samurai. It may interest you to know he was killed while investigating one of PSI's secret bases. Naturally, we would have preferred to bring him under our control, but his will was too strong, so we were forced to eliminate him. Regrettable, but necessary.\"\n\tStacey stared at Darke, then cried out in anger and charged toward him. Darke raised an arm and fired a spread of plasma bolts at her, but she dodged nimbly as a cat, and they all missed. She closed with Darke and threw a kick at his midriff, which connected, knocking him off his feet. Darke fell on his rump in the dirt, surprised.\n\t\"I am not a violent man, Mrs. Summers,\" said Darke, sounding mildly annoyed. \"I have never personally killed anyone.\" He aimed his arm at her. \"But there is a first time for everything.\"\n\t\n\tOver a thousand feet above the condemned stadium, Rick clung tightly to Floater, his arms and legs wrapped around its protective sphere. From this altitude, he could see all of Washington, D.C., as well as the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia. The familiar white shapes of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building rose up to the west. Beyond them lay the glittering ribbon of the Potomac River, and beyond that the flat, geometric mass of the Pentagon and the green expanse of Arlington National Cemetery. It was quite a view.\n\t\"How does it feel, Earth-creature,\" droned Floater, \"to know you are going to die?\"\n\t\"I've always known that,\" Rick replied calmly.\n\t\"But there is a difference between the abstract knowledge of death and the immediacy of it, is there not? Any time I wish to, I can simply cast you into space.\"\n\t\"If you're trying to frighten me, Floater, it's not going to work. Fear is just a feeling. Feelings can be controlled.\"\n\t\"So you feel no fear at all?\" Floater asked curiously.\n\t\"Sorry to disappoint you.\"\n\t\"We shall see,\" said Floater. Immediately, it launched into a series of dizzying aerobatics, swooping and banking and doing loop-the-loops, as the raccoon held on for dear life.\n\t\"Sadistic cuss, aren't you?\" said Rick through clenched teeth, the wind blowing through his fur. Fortunately, his goggles protected his eyes from it.\n\t\"You caused me pain, Earth-creature,\" replied Floater. \"More pain than anyone has for a very long time. I would repay you for that.\"\n\t\"Keep talking, then, Floater,\" Rick replied. \"Your monologue is pain enough.\"\n\t\"I will have you screaming in terror and begging for mercy before I kill you, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, diving earthward.\n\tRick shook his head. \"That's not going to happen.\" He closed his eyes, one clawed hand exploring the transparent dome covering Floater's brain as his mind sank into a trancelike state. His fingers touched the crack Park had made in its surface when he'd struck it earlier. He concentrated all his awareness on it, perceiving the structure of the dome in a way that went beyond the five ordinary senses, feeling how its molecules were intertwined and how Park's blow had disrupted those linkages. Finding the point of greatest weakness, he raised his fist and brought it down with a shattering impact, smashing through the dome and into the green fluid inside. Floater screeched and stopped dead in midair, tentacles flailing about wildly.\n\t\"Speaking of the immediacy of death,\" Rick growled, \"my fingers are touching your brain. Any time I wish to, I can simply close my hand and squeeze you into glop. Understand?\"\n\t\"Understood, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, the alien's flat, electronic voice somehow managing to convey its fear.\n\t\"Good. Now bring me back to the stadium.\"\n\tFloater began flying down toward the donut shape of the stadium far below.\n\t\n\t\"Just kill her, Nicholas!\" snarled Revelation, glaring at Stacey as Darke got to his feet with his arm aimed at her. Stacey stood motionless, her eyes fixed on Darke, ready to dodge if he fired. She no longer cared if she died. All she could think about was Kenji.\n\t\"Why?\" Darke asked. \"Because she dared to strike you? That's rather petty, Anthony, don't you think? She's no threat to PSI. Killing her would serve no purpose.\" He lowered his arm.\n\t\"Fine, I'll kill her myself!\" Revelation spat, and turned to pick up his staff, only to see Omen holding it, aimed at him. \"Darke!\" Revelation cried in fear.\n\tInstantly, Darke switched his target to Omen. Stacey, taking advantage of the distraction, charged at Darke, grabbed his arm, and executed a shoulder throw, hurling him on his back into the dirt.\n\t\"You have used your gift to murder innocents, Martelli,\" Omen said, sounding like a judge pronouncing sentence, \"as surely as if you had killed them yourself. Your evil ends here.\" A bolt of electricity shot from the staff, striking Revelation, who cried out and collapsed to the ground. Instantly, the fog that had been obscuring Omen's vision of the future cleared. He now knew exactly what must be done.\n\tFloater and Rick came swooping down out of the sky. The raccoon could see that the battle was not going well, with Supersonic, the two Silver Avengers, and Agent Laundauer all incapacitated. He saw Stacey squaring off with Darke and was about to tell Floater to aid her when he heard Omen shout, \"Rick, give Supersonic your goggles!\"\n\t\"You heard the man,\" Rick said. He removed his goggles, and Floater levitated them to Supersonic, placing them on his head. \n\tThe agony Torment had been inflicting on the squirrel vanished. Supersonic got up and glanced briefly at Torment, able to feel sympathy for him in spite of everything now that he understood how much pain he had suffered for so long. Then he flew between Blackout and Displacer, a vortex of wind forming around him, sending them both tumbling across the ground and stunning them.\n\tPark and Landauer got to their feet as the powers affecting their senses were terminated. \"Park, Landauer,\" shouted Omen, \"take down Twister! Supersonic, attack Torment!\" All three obeyed, Landauer shooting at the Native American girl, hitting her and taking her attention off Sanchez, while Park sped across the ground, kicking up clods of dirt, and struck with his fist, knocking her unconscious. \n\tSupersonic built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and hurled it at Torment, sending him flying across the field and into the bleachers. \"Home run!\" the squirrel said, grinning.\n\tDarke scowled inside his helmet. Omen was coordinating the counterattack. He had to be neutralized. Ignoring Stacey, he aimed his gauntlet at Omen and fired a spread of plasma bolts, but Omen simply sidestepped and they all missed.\n\t\"Were Omega here,\" said Omen, smiling thinly, \"his tactical acumen would have told him that attacking me was futile.\" He aimed Revelation's staff at Darke and fired, arcs of electricity washing over Darke's armored suit, causing him to cry out in pain. \"He also would have known that electricity is the worst thing in the world for a suit of powered armor laced with microcircuitry. Pity you had him killed.\" \n\tDarke looked around wildly as Supersonic, Stacey, Park, Sanchez, and Rick (still mounted on Floater) closed in around him. Loath as he was to admit it, Omen was right. Omega had been PSI's tactician, not him. He was out of his depth here. There was only one option left. He activated his turbines and shot skyward.\n\t\"He's not getting away that easily!\" growled Supersonic, and rocketed after him. An instant later, Rick and Floater followed.\n\t\"I don't suppose there's anything we can do to help them,\" said Park, watching wistfully as they disappeared.\n\t\"Not unless you have suddenly gained the ability to fly,\" said Sanchez, shaking her head. \"By the way, thank you for taking out Twister.\"\n\t\"My pleasure,\" said Park, grinning. \"She's one nasty little girl!\"\n\t\"She is a child, and she has had a hard life, without love or kindness. However, perhaps it is not too late to save her.\"\n\t\"I just hope Rick and Supersonic can save Lucy,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"They will,\" said Omen.\n\t\"I guess you would know,\" said Landauer, \"now that Martelli's out of the picture.\"\n\tOmen shook his hooded head. \"It is not my vision that tells me this.\"\n\t\"Then how can you be so sure?\" asked Park.\n\tOmen smiled. \"Because they are heroes.\"\n\n\tDarke cursed as he flew northeast from R.F.K. Stadium. Revelation had screwed everything up. While his precognitive powers had been useful, his delusions and megalomania had made working with him unbearable. He was frankly glad to be rid of him—and that he'd soon be dead.\n\tHis suit's radar told him something was closing on him, fast. Had Andrews Air Force Base scrambled a jet fighter? He twisted his body to look behind him and cursed again. It was that damned squirrel. He stopped and turned toward him. Supersonic flew up and stopped twenty feet away, and the two hovered in the air, facing each other.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Supersonic said. \"You can't outfly me. There's nowhere you can go that I can't follow!\"\n\t\"Then I suppose I'll just have to kill you, won't I?\" Darke sneered.\n\t\"Omega tried that, and he was better than you. Notice how well he succeeded?\"\n\tDarke growled. \"I am not going to surrender to some stupid little cartoon animal!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned and slammed his fist into his palm. \"Then I guess we do this the hard way!\"\n\tDarke fired a spray of plasma bolts at the squirrel, who blocked them with a shield of solidified air. Supersonic retaliated with a wind blast that sent Darke spinning head over heels through the air. He flew right up to Darke as he struggled to stabilize himself, smirking. \n\t\"Had enough?\" Supersonic asked.\n\tDarke howled with rage, firing another burst of plasma bolts. The squirrel weaved nimbly between them, getting behind him and hitting him with another wind blast. Darke cried out in pain, his turbines cut out, and he began to fall.\n\tSupersonic watched him plummet and bit his lip. It was possible Darke was playing possum. On the other hand, he could be unconscious, or his armor damaged. The squirrel dove down after him, closing in but keeping his distance. They were getting uncomfortably close to the ground. If Darke was going to kick in those turbines, he'd better do it soon. Supersonic swallowed as Darke continued to fall. No, he couldn't be faking. With only seconds left before impact, the squirrel shot downward, seizing the man's arm and halting his fall. \n\tDarke twisted around and slugged him across his face. \n\tSupersonic groaned, knocked unconscious. Darke caught him and held him in his arms. \"That was close,\" said Darke, his voice shaking. \"I've never played 'chicken' before. It's not much fun. But I knew you couldn't let me die.\" He stroked the squirrel's furry cheek with one metal hand. \"You're a very brave little squirrel, Supersonic, and you have a kind heart. I almost hate to do this, but you knew the risks when you joined PRIMUS. Goodbye, Supersonic Squirrel. You were a worthy opponent.\" \n\tHe released the squirrel, letting him fall, and flew off to the northeast.\n\tSupersonic's limp body plummeted toward the grassy field two hundred feet below at a rate that would lead to impact in just over three seconds. As he fell, the wind rushing past his face brought him back to the edge of consciousness, and the natural instincts of his species made him spread his arms and legs, the folds of skin between them catching the air while his body tilted, changing the angle of his descent from ninety degrees to one much shallower. Three seconds became four, then five, then six, then seven. At eight seconds, he hit the ground and reflexively curled into a ball, rolling for a good fifty feet before he came to a stop. He lay there for a moment, sprawled on his back, groaning, bruised, and battered, but alive.\n\tSlowly and painfully, Supersonic got to his feet as full awareness began to return. He tasted blood in his mouth, having bitten his lip during the landing. Every part of him felt sore, but he was grateful to be feeling anything at all. This wasn't the first time his flying squirrel instincts had saved his life, and he suspected it would not be the last. There were times when being a talking squirrel in a world full of humans was a lonely experience, even though most of them accepted him and he had even managed to find one who loved him, but at times like this he was glad to be what he was. \n\tHis musings were interrupted as he noticed something swooping down out of the sky toward him. It was Rick, riding on Floater. They stopped a short distance from him, hovering six feet off the ground.\n\t\"Looks like you ran into some trouble,\" Rick said.\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"Whatever gave you that idea?\"\n\t\"Well, at least we know which way Darke is heading.\"\n\t\"You don't really think he's dumb enough to fly directly toward his destination, do you?\"\n\t\"No, I don't suppose he is. Fortunately, we have someone here who can tell us.\" Rick looked down at Floater. \"Spill.\"\n\t\"I do not understand your meaning, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\t\"He means 'talk,'\" said Supersonic. \"Tell us where Darke's going.\"\n\t\"If I do, will you release me?\"\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"Not a chance. You're up for murder one.\"\n\t\"Then why should I tell you?\"\n\t\"I have five reasons right here,\" said Rick, pressing his fingers against Floater's brain.\n\t\"Ah! No, please! I will tell you. By now, PSI's personnel and equipment have been loaded onto two large wheeled vehicles, which are traveling north along the paved vehicular pathway called Interstate 95 toward a safehouse in the region you call Maryland.\"\n\t\"Address?\" asked Supersonic. Floater gave it to him.\n\t\"Describe these vehicles,\" Rick said.\n\t\"They are of the articulated variety,\" Floater replied, \"with a motorized forward unit and a long attached cargo-carrying unit. The writing on the sides of the latter identifies them as belonging to a company called Conquest Movers, which does not exist.\"\n\tRick glanced at Supersonic. \"You could call the state police and have them stopped.\"\n\t\"That would put a lot of state troopers in danger,\" said Supersonic. \"Not to mention Lucy. I don't want her used as a hostage.\"\n\t\"I don't see how we can avoid that,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Maybe, if I can get in there, grab her, and get out fast.\"\n\t\"There are two trucks, and we don't know which one she's in.\"\n\t\"I'll deal with that problem when I come to it. Right now, the important thing is to catch them before they reach that safehouse. They'll be in a much stronger defensive position there.\"\n\t\"Which leads to the next question,\" said Rick, looking down at Floater. \"What do we do with this thing?\"\n\tSupersonic growled. \"I know what I'd [i]like[/i] to do with it!\"\n\t\"You cannot!\" Floater protested. \"Your laws forbid summary execution!\"\n\t\"I'm well aware of the law, thank you very much.\" Supersonic looked at Rick. \"Take it back to PRIMUS and hand it over to them. I'll fly on ahead and call when I spot those trucks.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Good luck, Supersonic.\" He watched the squirrel rocket away into the sky, then looked down at Floater. \"All right, get moving before my hand shrivels up from being immersed in this disgusting soup you're floating in.\"\n\t\"As you wish, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\tThey rose and flew off toward PRIMUS headquarters.\n\n\tSupersonic raced north until he saw the strip of I-95 stretching off into the distance ahead of him. He flew along it, looking for two semi trailer trucks bearing the logo of Conquest Movers. After a few minutes, he saw them, mixed in with a lot of other northbound traffic. He took his cell phone out of his leather satchel and called PRIMUS's emergency channel. \"This is Supersonic Squirrel. I'm flying north along I-95 in pursuit of two trucks carrying PSI's personnel and equipment. Home in on my signal.\"\n\t\"Any sign of Darke?\" came Sanchez's voice.\n\t\"Negative. He must be inside one of the trucks.\"\n\t\"All right. We will be with you as fast as we can.\"\n\t\"With your permission, Director, I'd like to try to get Lucy out before the shooting starts. I don't want her becoming a hostage.\"\n\t\"Do you know which truck she is in?\"\n\t\"Negative.\"\n\t\"Then do not risk it. Hold your position.\"\n\t\"Understood, Director.\"\n\tThere was a brief moment of silence, and then Omen's voice came over the phone. \"Supersonic, how are the trucks situated?\"\n\t\"One behind the other.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the rearmost truck.\"\n\t\"You sure about that?\"\n\t\"Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Do you know what will happen if I try to rescue her?\"\n\t\"I fear not. There are too many variables.\"\n\t\"Request permission to try, Director.\"\n\t\"Use your own best judgment, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"All right, I'm going in.\"\n\t\"Good luck, and Godspeed.\"\n\t\"Thanks.\"\n\tSupersonic put away his cell phone and flew down toward the rear truck, coming up from behind. Keeping pace with it, he built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and took aim at the rear doors, reasoning that just inside them was the least likely place for PSI to be keeping Lucy. He released the sphere, blasting the doors inward, and flew inside.\n\tThe trailer was filled with boxes of equipment hastily stacked atop each other and secured with bungee cords. It was a rather precarious arrangement, but it was not intended to last long. A straight, narrow valley between the boxes ran the length of the trailer, and an open area in the front contained six PSI agents, Lucy, and Flashback. Supersonic barreled down the valley, a shield of solidified air before him.\n\t\"It's Supersonic Squirrel!\" shouted one of the agents. \"Kill him!\" Beams of hot blue plasma shot from their pistols at the oncoming squirrel. His shield absorbed most of their energy, but not all of it, the beams partially penetrating to inflict smoking burns in his furry hide. One cut through the shoulder strap of his leather satchel, causing it to fall to the floor.\n\tGritting his teeth against the pain, Supersonic flew into the midst of the agents and fired a wide-angle wind blast that hit the three agents to his left, knocking them back against the inside of the truck and stunning them. Then, before they could react, he did the same to the three to his right. With the agents momentarily neutralized, he looped one arm around Lucy and the other around Flashback and then flew back out the rear of the truck, carrying them with him.\n\tOne of the agents groggily fished out his cell phone. \"Counselor Darke! Supersonic Squirrel broke in and took Flashback and the Pinchard girl!\"\n\t\"What?\" came Darke's astonished voice over the phone. \"Why didn't you idiots stop him?\"\n\t\"We tried, sir! He was too fast and too tough! I think we hurt him, though!\"\n\tAgent Heine, driving the forward truck, glanced over at Darke, who was sitting in the cab next to him, still wearing his Omega armor but with the helmet on the seat beside him, as the man made a disgusted noise. \"Trouble, sir?\"\n\t\"I should have killed that miserable rodent when I had the chance,\" Darke muttered. \"He just grabbed Lucy and Flashback.\"\n\tHeine stared at him, aghast. \"What do we do, sir?\"\n\t\"If Supersonic found us, then he must know where we're going. Probably one of the captured students told him. Or maybe Omen saw it in a vision. In any case, the tertiary base must now be considered compromised. And Supersonic would have given PRIMUS our coordinates and descriptions of the trucks. We can assume they're already on their way here.\" Darke looked at Heine. \"Pull over to the side of the road. Change the logos on the trucks using the magnetic signs, and apply the alternate license plates. Then get off at the next exit and disperse. I'll contact you later.\" He donned his helmet and opened the passenger side door.\n\t\"Where are you going?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"To recover our assets and get rid of that pest once and for all.\" Darke activated his turbines and flew off.\n\n\tSupersonic flew across a stretch of farmland bordering I-95, carrying Lucy and Flashback in his arms. The pain of his plasma burns was excruciating, and he felt sick and weak. He also realized that his satchel was gone, his cell phone with it. A chill rippled through him, and he feared he might be going into shock from his injuries. Not wanting to pass out in midair while carrying his two charges, he landed in a field, setting down between two neatly cultivated rows of alfalfa. \n\tAs soon as his feet touched the ground, Supersonic fell to his knees, releasing the two girls. He looked down at himself, assessing the extent of the damage. There were three crusty black circles on the front of his torso, each about three inches across. They weren't bleeding, the flesh having been neatly cauterized, but they hurt like hell. He slammed his fists into the dirt, shivering and whimpering in pain, his furry chest heaving.\n\t\"Are you hurt, Mister Squirrel?\" asked Flashback.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" Supersonic replied through clenched teeth. He looked up at her. She was Black, about ten years old, with severe acne, and wore the same skintight black-and-magenta costume as all the other young members of PSI. He turned his head to look at Lucy. She was just standing there, staring at him. She didn't look scared, grateful, relieved, or happy. Her face was completely expressionless.\n\t\"You okay, Lucy?\" Supersonic asked, concerned.\n\tShe nodded, silently.\n\tHe looked back at the other girl. \"How about you?\"\n\tFlashback shrugged. \"I'm all right.\"\n\t\"Good. I've gotta find a phone and call PRIMUS.\" He noticed a farmhouse in the distance. \"Come on.\" He reached for the two girls, but they both drew back from him.\n\t\"What's the matter?\" he demanded angrily.\n\t\"We don't wanna go with you,\" Flashback replied, and glanced at Lucy. \"We wanna go back to PSI, don't we, Lucy?\"\n\tLucy nodded, her eyes fixed coldly on Supersonic. \"That's right, Violet.\"\n\tSupersonic frowned at Flashback. \"What are you doing to her?\"\n\t\"I'm not doing anything to her,\" Flashback said innocently. \"She's my sister.\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"And sisters stick together.\"\n\t\"She's not your sister!\" Supersonic shouted at Lucy. \"You just met two days ago!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Flashback yelled. \"You're a liar! Isn't he, sis?\"\n\tLucy nodded, glaring at the squirrel hatefully. \"A lying little rat!\"\n\tSupersonic sighed. The pain from his burns was sapping his strength, making him feel exhausted. \"I don't have time for this. You're both coming with me, whether you like it or not.\"\n\tFlashback folded her arms, smiling smugly. \"We're not going anywhere, are we, sis?\"\n\tLucy shook her head, her eyes narrowed. \"Not with him!\"\n\tSupersonic was about to reply when he noticed that they had fallen under a shadow, even though the sky had been clear a minute ago. He looked up, and his eyes went wide.\n\tThe sky was black with birds.\n\tSupersonic stared up at the cloud of birds swirling above them. It was made up of many species, which meant it was definitely not natural. Different species of birds never flocked together. He glanced at Lucy. \"Call them off.\" \n\t\"No!\" Lucy said. \"I hate you! You want to take me away from my family!\"\n\t\"PSI isn't your family, and she isn't your sister! They just want to use you! You have a real mother and father who love you and are worried about you!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Lucy shouted. The flock above them was growing thicker. Supersonic looked at Flashback. The thought of blasting a child repulsed him, but it might be the only way to break her hold on Lucy. Trembling, he raised a hand and aimed it at her. Flashback blinked, looking scared, and began backing away. He sighed and lowered his hand. No, he couldn't do it. There had to be another way.\n\tA cacophony hammered his ears as thousands of birds began screeching at him from above. As they plunged toward him en masse, like a great black dagger from the sky, he erected a wind barrier around himself and the two girls. It could stop bullets; it should be able to stop birds. He watched in horror as they hurled themselves against it like kamikaze pilots aiming for an aircraft carrier, their fragile feathered bodies breaking when they struck and falling to the ground. He whirled toward Lucy frantically. \"Stop them! They're killing themselves!\"\n\tLucy gasped as she saw the birds crashing into Supersonic's wind barrier, clearly not having anticipated this. Immediately, the birds ceased their suicidal attacks and began circling the barrier, a great multicolored cyclone of wings and beaks. Keeping the barrier up, Supersonic grabbed Lucy and Flashback by the arm and began pulling them in the direction he remembed the farmhouse being.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" Flashback yelled as she and Lucy struggled and resisted as best they could, kicking and punching and trying to dig their feet into the tilled earth. They were both taller than the squirrel, but not nearly as strong. Even so, they were slowing his progress, and between that, his burns, and the constant strain of maintaining the barrier, Supersonic was overwhelmed with fatigue. Then he cried out in pain as Flashback sank her teeth into his arm.\n\t\"Ahh! No biting, you brat!\" he shouted, and threw her on the ground in front of him, glaring at her.\n\tFlashback got to her feet, glaring back. \"Counselor Darke's gonna kill you, squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"He already tried that, while he was running away, like the coward he is.\"\n\t\"He's [i]not[/i] a coward!\" Flashback screamed. \"He took me out of the projects and gave me candy and pretty clothes!\"\n\tSupersonic paused for a moment, chest heaving, trying to recover his strength. \"Where are you from, Violet?\"\n\t\"Chicago.\"\n\t\"Don't you have a family there? I bet they miss you.\"\n\tFlashback snorted. \"They don't miss me. They hated me because I'm ugly. Counselor Darke is the only one who ever cared about me.\"\n\t\"I don't think you're ugly, Violet.\"\n\tShe smirked. \"You're a squirrel!\"\n\t\"Yeah, but I've lived around humans all my life. You think because he gives you nice things, that means he cares about you? Anyone can give out presents. He doesn't care about you, Violet. He only cares about what you can do.\"\n\tFlashback stamped her foot. \"That's not true! He loves me!\"\n\t\"Do you really think you'd be here if you couldn't mess with people's memories like you do? Do you think Lucy would be here if she couldn't control animals? That's what Darke loves. Your powers. Not you. Not Violet.\"\n\tFlashback's lower lip trembled. She was about to speak when a barrage of bright white energy bolts struck the wind barrier, dispersing it. Through the swarm of birds strode Darke in his Omega armor.\n\t\"Counselor Darke!\" Lucy and Flashback both cried happily.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" he said. \"Hello, Flashback. Ah, there you are, Supersonic. Looking a little worse for wear, I see.\"\n\t\"I guess I don't need to ask how you found us,\" the squirrel growled.\n\t\"The huge flock of birds was a bit of a giveaway. I must say, you're a very resilient squirrel.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You know us cartoons. Knock us down, we get right back up again.\"\n\t\"Except you're not a cartoon anymore. You're flesh and blood, subject to the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.\"\n\tSupersonic rolled his yes. \"You're really gonna quote [i]Hamlet[/i] at me? Gimme a break!\"\n\t\"Well, I'm afraid I don't have a bare bodkin with which your quietus to make, but a burst of energy bolts should do the job just as effectively.\" He raised a gauntleted fist. \"Goodbye, Supersonic.\"\n\tAs he fired, the squirrel sprang into the air, dodging the bolts easily. \"You never get tired of failing to kill me, do you?\" Supersonic asked, grinning. He flew at Lucy, grabbed her as he went by, and raced across the rows of alfalfa toward the farmhouse.\n\t\"God damn it!\" Darke swore. \"What does it take to get rid of him?\" He picked up Flashback and headed after the fleeing squirrel.\n\n\t\"The signal's right ahead, Director,\" said Park as he piloted the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter above I-95.\n\tIn the copilot's seat, Sanchez peered down the highway through a pair of binoculars. Behind her stood Rick, Stacey, Landauer, Omen, and a squad of PRIMUS agents. \"I see a semi truck. It doesn't have the logo of Conquest Movers on it, though.\"\n\tOmen spoke up. \"PSI uses a variety of magnetic signs bearing false logos that they can attach to the sides of their vehicles quickly in order to disguise them.\"\n\t\"Well, isn't that clever!\" Stacey remarked.\n\t\"However, neither Lucy nor Supersonic is aboard that truck.\"\n\tPark looked at him. \"But Supersonic's cellphone signal is coming from it!\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"His phone is aboard it, but he is not.\"\n\t\"Then how do we find him?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"We might try over there,\" said Rick, pointing to the left. They all looked in the direction the raccoon was indicating. A huge cloud of birds was hovering over some farmland.\n\t\"Alter course!\" Sanchez ordered.\n\tPark nodded, and the copter veered west toward the birds.\n\n\tSupersonic landed in the front yard before the farmhouse and immediately stumbled and fell to his knees, keeping his arms around Lucy. His plasma burns were still causing him intense pain, and the surge of energy that had come after his brief rest was spent. He felt exhausted, wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep for a week. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option. He hauled himself to his feet as Lucy struggled against him.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" she shrieked.\n\tSupersonic ignored her, ran to the front door of the farmhouse as Lucy wriggled and squirmed, and tried the knob. It was locked. He sighed. Much as he hated to break in, this was an emergency. Keeping his left arm around Lucy, he raised his right hand, fired a wind blast that blew the door off its hinges, and ran into the living room.\n\tIt was a simple, modest affair, much like a million other farmhouse living rooms across the country. \"Hello?\" he called, though the sound of the front door being blasted in should have been enough to attract the attention of the occupants. There didn't appear to be anybody home. There were photographs on the mantelpiece of a middle-aged man and woman, two teenage boys, and a young girl. Probably the farmer and his family. But where were they? He realized it was Sunday. Perhaps they were at church. Or out shopping. Or having a family picnic. Whatever the reason, at least they were out of harm's way.\n\tA canine snarl caught his attention, and he whirled just in time for a big black Newfoundland dog to pounce on him. The dog's jaws clamped down on his left arm, causing him to cry out in pain and forcing him to let go of Lucy. It shook him like a rag doll, the animal bigger than he was and probably half again his weight. He created a vacuum around the dog's head, and it collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Cradling his wounded arm with his other arm, he looked around for Lucy. She had disappeared.\n\t\"Lucy?\" he called out, running down the hall, gritting his teeth against the pain as he dripped blood on the polished wood floor. He cursed under his breath. She could be hiding anywhere, and Darke would be here any second. He had to find a phone. He hoped they had one. A lot of folks nowadays had dispensed with landlines and relied entirely on their cells. He ran into the kitchen and breathed a sigh of relief. There was a phone on the wall. He flew up to it, grabbed the reciever, and began dialing PRIMUS's emergency number.\n\n\tDarke landed in the front yard, carrying Flashback. Seeing that the front door had been smashed in, they walked through it and into the living room. Flashback oohed upon seeing the unconscious Newfoundland on the floor, and ran over and knelt beside it, stroking its big black head.\n\t\"Supersonic wasn't wearing his satchel,\" Darke mused, \"and he has nowhere else to keep a phone, so he must be trying to find one in order to contact PRIMUS.\" He noticed a line of crimson circles on the wood floor, and smiled. Then he frowned as he heard the thumping, buzzing sound of a helicopter approaching. \"Damn! That must be PRIMUS!\" He ran down the hall, following the trail of squirrel blood.\n\tIn the living room, Flashback gently caressed the dog's head with her gloved fingers as she implanted memories in its mind of them playing together on her sixth birthday, when her parents had presented her with a new puppy; the two of them running through a grassy field in golden sunlight, chasing butterflies; her giving him a bath in tomato juice that time he got sprayed by a skunk; him seeing her off on her first day of school, and waiting impatiently, whining, whimpering and pacing, until she returned. They were the best of friends—always had been, always would be.\n\n\tPark set the helicopter down in the front yard, and he, Sanchez, Rick, Stacey, Omen, Landauer, and the five PRIMUS agents all emerged from it.\n\t\"Supersonic, Darke, and Lucy are in there,\" said Omen, indicating the house.\n\t\"What about the owners?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"They are not home.\"\n\tSanchez turned to the agents. \"Surround the house. Nobody gets in or out. I'll take point. Park, you're with me.\"\n\t\"Wait!\" shouted Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Sanchez, turning toward him.\n\t\"We must get everyone inside, now!\"\n\t\"Why, what's wrong?\"\n\tRick swallowed, feeling vibrations in the ground through his bare feet. \"Lucy's called for reinforcements.\"\n\tSanchez was about to ask the raccoon what he meant, but then she saw it. All around them, low, dark shapes were approaching. Cows, bulls, sheep, horses, pigs, goats—livestock from dozens of farms—had combined to form an immense stampede that was converging on them from every direction.\n\t\"Everyone into the house!\" Sanchez shouted over the rising thunder of hundreds of pounding hooves. They all ran in through the shattered front door.\n\tThe living room was empty. Rick sniffed the air. \"I smell blood,\" he said.\n\t\"There!\" said Landauer, pointing at the blood spots on the floor.\n\t\"Park and I will follow the blood trail,\" said Sanchez. \"The rest of you, spread out through the house and try to find Lucy.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the fruit cellar,\" said Omen. \"Supersonic is in the kitchen, about to be attacked by Darke.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"In that case, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer, get Lucy. The rest of you, come with me!\" She and Park ran down the hall toward the kitchen, closely followed by the five agents.\n\t\"This way,\" said Omen, leading the rest to a door that opened onto a flight of wooden stairs. They descended into the dark, musty basement.\n\n\tSupersonic had just connected to PRIMUS when Darke burst into the kitchen. Too weak to fight, the squirrel threw himself across the floor, rolling as Darke sprayed the kitchen with energy bolts, blasting the refrigerator, the stove, the sink, and some of the cabinets, showering the room with a variety of foodstuffs.\n\t\"Die, damn you!\" Darke yelled, moving to get a clear shot as Supersonic scampered into the adjoining dining room and dove under the table. Darke followed, blasting furiously, destroying the table, the chairs, and a glass cabinet filled with commemorative plates. The squirrel blinked as a plate fell and shattered on the floor in front of him. It showed his old cartoon self, surrounded by all his friends from his show.\n\tAt that moment, Sanchez and Park charged into the dining room and slugged Darke. He staggered backward, crashing into another cabinet containing the family's good crystal and china, demolishing it utterly.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Sanchez ordered, as the five PRIMUS agents ran into the dining room through the other doorway, leveling their plasma rifles at him. \"You're finished!\"\n\tDarke's electronically distorted voice wheezed in pain as he looked around wildly. There was no chance his armor could protect him from two Silver Avengers and five PRIMUS plasma rifles. The only logical course of action was to surrender. In all the years he had been with PSI, he had never even come close to being captured. The thought of going to prison, separated from all the comforts and luxuries he loved, terrified him. Yet, it was preferable to death. Slowly, he began to raise his hands.\n\tA dozen horned heads erupted through the walls as cattle crashed their half-ton bodies into them, tearing through the aluminum siding and drywall as if it were tissue paper. The agents whirled as they suddenly found themselves in danger of being trampled. They fired their rifles, searing blue-white beams of superhot plasma piercing those massive bovine bodies, but the great beasts kept coming, unconcerned with their own safety. Sanchez and Park each caught one and threw it over their shoulder to slam on the floor with a thunderous impact, but there were too many for them to deal with. One plowed into Park, knocking him down, while Sanchez seized the horns of another, bracing herself and gritting her teeth as she tried to force it back. Three of the PRIMUS agents fell beneath the pounding hooves, while the other two retreated into the hallway, firing as they did. Supersonic, standing with his back against a wall to avoid being flattened, watched as Darke activated his turbines and shot upward, bursting through the ceiling and into open air.\n\t\"No,\" the squirrel growled, flying up through the hole after him.\n\n\t\"Wait!\" commanded Omen, as he, Rick, Stacey and Landauer descended the stairs to the basement.\n\t\"Now what?\" Landauer groaned in exasperation.\n\tOmen flipped a light switch, illuminating the basement with a single naked bulb hanging from the ceiling.\n\tThe floor was a writhing sea of rats.\n\t\"Back up,\" said Rick as the rats began advancing up the stairs toward them, the furry tide engulfing one step after another. In the cellar below, Lucy emerged from around a corner, glaring at them maliciously as rats swarmed around her feet.\n\t\"Lucy, what are you doing?\" asked Stacey. \"We're your friends. Don't you remember?\"\n\tOmen shook his cowled head. \"Flashback has altered her memories. She believes they are sisters.\"\n\t\"Who the hell is Flashback?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"I'm Flashback,\" came a little girl's voice from above. They all looked up. In the doorway at the top of the stairs stood Flashback, looking smug and confident, a huge black Newfoundland dog beside her making low, menacing growls.\n\t\"Her name is Violet Wilson,\" said Omen. \"She is ten years old. PSI kidnapped her from a housing project in Chicago six months ago. She is a telepath with the power to alter people's memories.\"\n\tLandauer took aim at the dog, but Omen pushed his gun down. \"What's the matter with you?\" the FBI man demanded. \n\t\"She has made the animal believe they are friends,\" Omen replied. \"It is not responsible for its actions.\"\n\t\"Well, that's unfortunate,\" said Landauer, \"but it doesn't change anything!\"\n\t\"I can handle the dog,\" said Rick.\n\t\"What about the rats?\" Stacey asked, grimacing as the squirming mass claimed another step. She had never liked rats.\n\t\"The rats are another matter.\"\n\tLandauer aimed his gun at the leading edge of the rodent horde, but again, Omen pushed it down. Landauer glared at him. \"Don't tell me you care about the rats!\"\n\t\"They are not responsible for their actions either,\" said Omen. \"In any case, your weapon will not deter them. Flashback is the key. We must reach her.\" He glanced down at the rising tide of rats. \"Quickly.\"\n\tStacey turned toward Flashback. \"Violet, why are you doing this?\"\n\t\"You want to take me away from my family!\" Flashback said accusingly.\n\t\"PSI isn't your family. They kidnapped you!\"\n\t\"PSI loves me!\" Flashback shouted. \"The Wilsons never loved me! They hated me because I'm ugly!\"\n\t\"Violet, look at me,\" said Rick. \"I'm a manimal. No matter what people may think when they look at you, they think worse when they look at me. But I'd never want you to use your power to make someone love me, because I'd know it wasn't really love. You can't force someone to love you, Violet. Love has to be a choice.\"\n\tFlashback swallowed, trembling. \"I just want some friends.\"\n\t\"Nobody will be your friend if you treat them like toys,\" said Stacey. \"You can't do that to people. It's selfish and it's cruel.\"\n\t\"What you're doing to Lucy is wrong,\" said Rick. \"You know she's not your sister.\"\n\tThe rats had reached the step below them. \"I don't mean to nag,\" said Landauer, looking down anxiously at the wriggling mass of rodent bodies, \"but do you think you could speed this up?\"\n\t\"Quiet,\" said Omen sternly.\n\tFlashback looked down at Lucy, biting her lip. \"If I change her back, she'll hate me!\"\n\t\"She may be angry with you,\" said Rick, \"and she'll have good reason to be. But you'll gain four new friends.\"\n\tFlashback stared at the raccoon. \"I will?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"And they'll be real friends, not fake ones.\"\n\tFlashback hesitated a moment, then closed her eyes, concentrating. Lucy gasped and looked up at her, eyes wide. Flashback turned away, unable to face her. \"I'm sorry, Lucy!\"\n\t\"Lucy, if you would?\" asked Omen, gesturing at the rats. Lucy nodded, and the rat horde broke apart as they began scurrying away, looking for places to hide. Rick and Stacey moved toward Flashback, who was hugging herself, shaking and sobbing. The dog growled protectively, then relaxed as Lucy calmed it. They put their arms around her and held her as she cried.\n\n\tSupersonic flew out through the hole Darke had made in the roof of the farmhouse, watching his armored form shrinking in the distance in the clear blue sky. Hurt and exhausted as the squirrel was, he doubted he could catch the fleeing leader of PSI on his own. Fortunately, there was another option open to him.\n\tHe flew over the sea of cattle around the farmhouse toward the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter parked in front of it, opened the cockpit door, and plopped down into the pilot seat. He had been a pilot back in his cartoon days and was qualified on all of PRIMUS's aircraft, having familiarized himself with 21st-century aviation technology. While his legs were too short to reach the anti-torque pedals, that was easily remedied with sustained streams of wind from his feet. He flipped the ignition switch, the rotors began to spin, and he pushed the control stick forward as the copter rose into the air and headed after Darke.\n\tSupersonic switched on the radar, which easily spotted Darke's armored suit. The copter was a modified Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk with a maximum speed of 183 miles per hour, which meant it was nearly three times as fast as Darke's armor. It was armed with two .50 caliber GAU-19 Gatling guns and six AIM-92 Stinger heat-seeking missiles because PRIMUS sometimes had to deal with some very tough customers. Supersonic closed with Darke quickly, bringing the copter in beneath him and angling the nose upward so as not to hit anything on the ground. He was bound by PRIMUS regulations to take Darke alive if possible, so he held off on the missiles and instead bracketed him with the Gatling guns, firing a stream of bullets to either side of him as a warning. Darke glanced back over his shoulder to see who was chasing him, and Supersonic grinned as he imagined the look on the man's face upon seeing it was a squirrel in a helicopter.\n\tDarke dove toward the ground, forcing Supersonic to cease firing. They were still over farmland, so there was a chance there might be people down there, and Supersonic couldn't risk accidentally hitting a civilian. Darke may not have been as fast as the copter, but he was far more maneuverable and could fly a lot closer to the ground. He fired a burst of energy bolts upward, hitting the copter's undercarriage, but it was well armored and they had minimal effect. Supersonic angled the nose downward and jabbed the firing button for one of the Stingers. Darke's turbines had to be considerably hotter than anything on the ground, so the missile would have a clear target to home in on. He bit his lip as he watched its smoke trail snake toward the armored figure below. Then there was a crack of thunder and Darke disappeared in a ball of flame. \n\tSupersonic watched anxiously as the fireball roiled, his heart pounding in his chest. He had shot a VIPER agent dead in Mexico last year. It had been unavoidable, but he had still felt terrible about it, and the guilt still haunted him. He had considered resigning from PRIMUS afterward but had ultimately decided not to, reasoning that he could save more lives as a PRIMUS agent then he could as a private citizen. He hoped against hope that he hadn't just killed again.\n\tDarke burst out of the fireball, flying directly at the copter and spraying energy bolts. Most of them struck the fuselage, doing no real damage, but one clipped a rotor blade and sheared it off. Supersonic wrestled with the stick as the copter veered crazily, its stability shot to hell. He had no control. There was was only one option. He opened the door and bailed out.\n\tSupersonic flew away from the wildly spinning helicopter, watching in horror as it dove earthward, directly toward Darke. The man realized his danger and tried to avoid the careening mass of steel, but it slammed into him and they went down together, impacting on a stretch of farmland. The copter exploded in a massive fireball, hurling bits of itself hundreds of feet in the air, and Supersonic had to erect his wind barrier to avoid being hit by chunks of fiery debris.\n\tSupersonic floated to the ground and plopped down on his rump in the dirt, sitting and staring at the flaming wreckage of the helicopter. He was too tired to feel anything. All he wanted to do was sleep. That was how Park and Sanchez found him, lying on the ground curled up in a ball, his tail wrapped around himself, his eyes closed.\n\n\tSupersonic slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a hospital bed in the PRIMUS infirmary, his body half covered by a sheet. His helmet and goggles were gone. There was an IV stuck in his arm, and a bandage where the dog had bitten him. His brain felt foggy, and his throat was parched. He tried to speak but could only manage a soft squeak.\n\t\"Hey, partner, you're awake!\" said Park, getting up from his chair beside the bed and leaning over him. \"How are you feeling?\"\n\t\"Water?\" Supersonic rasped. Park nodded and poured him a cup, holding it to the squirrel's mouth as he gulped it down.\n\t\"You've been out for about six hours,\" Park said. \"The doctors treated your bite and burns. They don't think they're too serious, but they still want to keep you overnight for observation.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Darke?\" he asked, his voice still hoarse but more normal.\n\t\"Oh, he's toast. Nothing left but ashes.\"\n\t\"Darn,\" said Supersonic, sighing.\n\tPark shrugged. \"Well, that's how it goes sometimes. Honestly, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"I guess you're right. I was just thinking about Torment. With Darke dead, how's he gonna get the drug that keeps his pain away?\"\n\t\"Oh, that's been taken care of. Our scientists analyzed a sample he had on him. They're confident they can reproduce it.\"\n\t\"Well, that's good, then,\" said Supersonic.\n\tPark grinned. \"We contacted your girlfriend, Katrina. She caught the first flight to Washington when she heard you were in the hospital. She should be here soon.\"\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"That's nice of her. So, Silver Avenger Park, how'd you like your first assignment?\"\n\t\"Well, I got to shoulder throw a bull. That was a new experience.\"\n\t\"I bet it was!\"\n\t\"Sanchez said now she knew how her grandfather must have felt. He was a bullfighter.\"\n\t\"I doubt he used judo on them.\"\n\t\"Eh, you work with what you got.\" Park started to say something, stopped, then started again. \"Look, I've been told praise makes you uncomfortable, so I'll keep this short. You're a damn good agent, and I'm proud to be your partner. There, I'm done.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"That hardly made me squirm at all.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a shitload of paperwork to do. See you tomorrow.\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"See you tomorrow.\"\n\tPark left the room, and Supersonic switched on the television and watched a movie while he waited for Katrina to arrive."
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.api.json · embedded sidecar fallback Download
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"writing": "[center]Talk to the Animals\n\na story set in the universe of Champions Online\n[/center]\n\n \"Lucy, did you hear me?\"\n\tLucy Pinchard started as she realized her teacher was addressing her, and turned in her seat to face him. \"Sorry, Mr. Taylor,\" she said. \"I was listening to the birds.\"\n\tThe classroom erupted into laughter, which Mr. Taylor quashed immediately with a stern order to be quiet. \"Come here, Lucy,\" he ordered her.\n\t\tLucy sighed, rose from her chair, and walked toward him. She was in trouble again. As she passed by their desks, she could hear her classmates whispering. \"Airhead!\" \"Goofball!\" \"She thinks because her dad is a senator she doesn't have to pay attention in class.\" It wasn't her fault that listening to a pair of mockingbirds arguing about where to build their nest was more interesting than listening to Mr. Taylor drone on about math. \n\tShe stopped before Mr. Taylor, her head lowered. He was sitting at his desk writing a hall pass. \"As I was saying,\" said Mr. Taylor, \"the principal wants to see you in her office immediately. Apparently, there's an emergency involving your family.\"\n\tLucy's head jerked up, eyes wide. \"An emergency? What is it?\"\n\t\"She didn't say,\" Taylor replied, handing her the slip of paper. \"Here you go. I hope everything turns out all right.\"\n\tLucy swallowed, her heart pounding. \"Thank you, Mr. Taylor!\" She ran to the door, yanked it open, and dashed out into the hall. An emergency, she thought as she ran. Could it be something to do with her father? Senators were important people, and there were people who wanted to hurt them. She remembered hearing about a senator who was murdered by VIPER down in Mexico last year. It had made her mother upset. If VIPER could kill one senator, her mother had said, it could kill another. Her father had reassured her. They were protected by the FBI, he'd said. Two of their agents always escorted Lucy to and from school. There was nothing to worry about. They were perfectly safe.\n\tLucy arrived at the office of the principal, Mrs. Acevedo, and entered. Mrs. Acevedo was sitting behind her desk. Beside her stood two men in dark suits, wearing sunglasses. \"Hello, Lucy,\" said Mrs. Acevedo, smiling at her. \"These two men are here to escort you home.\"\n\tLucy frowned. Something was wrong. Mrs. Acevedo never smiled. The other kids called her Old Stoneface. She glanced at the two men in sunglasses. They were not the FBI agents who had brought her here this morning. \"Where are Agent Hayhurst and Agent Roberson?\" Lucy asked.\n\t\"They were called away,\" said one of the men. \"Come with us, Lucy.\"\n\tLucy shook her head. \"No. I don't know you.\"\n\t\"She's wise, Don,\" said the other man.\n\t\"Shut up, Mike!\" the first growled.\n\tLucy began backing away. She glanced at Mrs. Acevedo. She was still seated at her desk, still smiling. Lucy ran out into the hall, slamming the door behind her. \"Help!\" she yelled, running toward the nearest exit. \"Help me!\"\n\n\t\"You can take him, Stacey,\" said Rick. \"He's not so big.\"\n\tStacey Summers glanced down at her companion. He was a humanoid raccoon, three feet tall, wearing a green sleeveless tunic and trousers with white edging and a gold cloth belt. \"Easy for you to say, Mr. Trained-on-an-Island-for-Seven-Years-with-a-Master.\"\n\tRick shrugged his furry shoulders. \"Kenji was a master, too.\"\n\tStacey took a deep breath and entered the ring. Her opponent was Thomas Shook, a member of the team representing Jonny Li's Temple of Kung Fu. She smirked. At least that meant he'd have sub-standard training. They walked up and bowed to each other, Shook grinning smugly at the much smaller blonde woman before him. Then they both dropped into combat stances and waited for the referee's signal for the contest to begin.\n\t\"Fight!\" the ref shouted.\n\tShook attacked first, launching a kick at her, which she easily blocked, giving ground. He advanced and threw a punch, which she dodged, dancing around while she studied his movements. Apart from his shoddy footwork, Shook wasn't bad for one of Jonny Li's—not surprising, since Li would want to bring his best to this tournament. For one of his students to win first prize at the All-American Mixed Martial Arts Competition in Washington, D.C., would mean a huge boost to the prestige of the Temple of Kung Fu. That meant more students, which meant more money, which was always Jonny Li's first priority. Stacey, on the other hand, didn't expect to win. Kenji had taught her that. Don't expect to win. Don't expect to lose. Don't expect anything.\n\tShook threw another kick at her, and with expert timing, Stacey dropped and swept her leg beneath him, knocking his remaining leg out from under him. As Shook fell heavily on his ass, a chorus of oohs issued from the spectators, which made her grin. Audiences loved it when smaller opponents got the better of larger ones. Plus, she was now ahead on points.\n\tShook got to his feet, glaring at her for making him look bad, and the fight resumed. Stacey decided to go on the offensive, launching a dizzyingly fast punch-kick-punch combination, which caught Shook off guard, forcing him backward. She followed up with a kick to the midriff, which landed solidly and made him grunt. Another point. Shook growled as Stacey danced away, and then he charged like a maddened bull. Grinning, she seized his arm and the hem of his tunic while twisting her slender body, and Shook went flying past, landing on the mat with a resounding thud, scoring her third and final point. The crowd cheered, and the referee declared the fight over with Stacey Summers the winner, three to zero.\n\tStacey walked back to her seat, feeling good about herself and relishing the sour looks she was getting from Jonny Li's team. \"Not bad, huh?\" she asked Rick as she sat down. When the raccoon didn't reply, she glanced down at him. He was rubbing his temples, as though he had a headache. \"Rick, are you okay?\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Don't you hear it?\"\n\tStacey stared at him. \"Hear what?\"\n\t\"A little girl, calling for help.\"\n\tStacey shook her head. \"Can barely hear you over all this noise.\"\n\tRick slid out of his chair. \"I have to go.\"\n\t\"Rick?\" Stacey asked, looking puzzled, but the raccoon ignored her, heading for the nearest exit. Stacey rose and went after him.\n\tRick emerged from the Keesler Convention Center onto the street and paused, ears pricked up. The sound he'd been hearing, he realized, had not been a sound at all but something in his head, which made it hard to determine where it was coming from. However, he did feel a compulsion to move in a certain direction. It wasn't strong enough to force him, but it was definitely there. He began running along the sidewalk in the direction it wanted him to go.\n\t\"Rick, where are you going?\" Stacey cried, as she emerged from the building.\n\t\"I don't know!\" Rick yelled over his shoulder at her.\n\tStacey pursed her lips in annoyance and ran after him.\n\n\tLucy looked back as she ran along a tree-lined residential street near her school. Those two phony FBI agents were closing on her. An eleven-year-old girl couldn't outrun two grown men. She whimpered, wondering if they were VIPER agents and what they might do to her if they caught her. VIPER was very bad.\n\tShe heard one of them cry out in surprise, and stopped and turned to see what was happening. Her eyes widened. The two men were waving their arms around, fending off a flock of crows. Or a murder, that was what you called a group of crows, wasn't it? A murder of crows. One of the men drew a pistol from his jacket. A beam of blue-white light shot from the gun with a loud screech, and several crows fell to the ground, burned to a crisp. The rest continued singlemindedly attacking the two men, flapping and pecking. \n\tLucy turned and resumed running, hearing more screeches behind her. She ran up to the door of the nearest house and pounded on it, crying and pleading for help. There was no answer. She looked back fearfully. The two men were running down the street toward her, their faces streaked with blood. She pressed her back against the door, trembling. Then a German shepherd dog came bounding across the yard, heading straight for the two men, barking savagely at them. One of them aimed his gun, and its beam burned through the dog's body, killing it. The two men continued to advance toward her.\n\t\"Looks like Darke was right,\" one of them said. \"She [i]can[/i] control animals!\"\n\t\"Don't be afraid, little girl,\" the other said, trying to smile reassuringly through the blood dripping down his face. \"We're not going to hurt you. We just want to take you to see someone.\"\n\t\"Go away!\" Lucy shrieked, cowering against the door.\n\t\"I'd do as the lady said, if I were you,\" came a soft voice from behind the men.\n\tThe two men turned around and were rewarded with the remarkable sight of a three-foot-tall humanoid raccoon standing on the lawn, dressed in green trousers and a belted green tunic. The raccoon's lips were pulled back, exposing a mouth lined with sharp, white teeth.\n\t\"What the hell?\" one of the men asked, astonished.\n\t\"It's one of those manimal freaks!\" the other yelled. \"Kill it!\" He aimed his pistol at Rick.\n\tRick dove aside as the beam from the pistol scorched the grass he'd been standing on. He rolled when he hit the ground and came up behind a stout oak tree growing in the yard.\n\t\"Flank him!\" the shooter ordered his partner. The second man nodded and moved to get the raccoon in his sights, while the first man kept his gun aimed at the tree, pinning Rick down.\n\t\"Rick!\" shouted Stacey from the street, causing the second man to spin and fire. She dodged as the beam burned past her, flattening herself against another tree. Rick took advantage of the distraction, leaping at the second man and tackling him. They went down on the lawn together.\n\t\"Shit!\" the first man swore, unable to get a clear shot at Rick without hitting his partner. Still pressed against the door, Lucy glanced to her left and saw Stacey come around the side of the house, trying to get behind the first man. \n\tThe first man fired when he thought he saw an opening, but the beam only grazed Rick's shoulder while boring straight through the chest of his partner, killing him instantly. Rick clapped a hand over his burned shoulder, gritting his teeth against the pain. As the first man took aim at the wounded raccoon, Stacey attacked from behind, striking him in the kidney. The man groaned and fell to his knees, and Stacey finished him off with a kick to the head. Then she ran to Rick and knelt beside him, inspecting his wound.\n\t\"It doesn't look too bad,\" she said. \"That beam cauterized the flesh, so at least you're not bleeding. That's a nasty burn, though.\"\n\t\"Lucky for me I have a registered nurse on hand,\" said Rick, grinning weakly.\n\tStacey smiled back and ruffled his head and ears. Then she looked over at Lucy. \"Are you all right, little girl?\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"Thank you.\"\n\tStacey turned her attention to the two men lying on the lawn. \"What do you suppose this was all about?\" she asked.\n\t\"I imagine we'll find out soon enough,\" Rick replied.\n\n\t\"Silver Avenger David Park to see you, Director,\" said Terry Koestler, agent of PRIMUS—the Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States—into the intercom on her desk.\n\t\"Send him in,\" a deep female voice on the other end replied.\n\tKoestler glanced up at the man who stood before her wearing a skintight dark blue uniform with silver leggings, a presidential eagle over his heart. From the white belt around his waist hung a pistol in a white holster with a tiedown around his right thigh. He was under six feet and well-muscled, with a stocky build, black hair, a round face, and tawny skin and almond-shaped eyes that showed his Korean ancestry. He was rather handsome, Koestler thought as she buzzed him into the Director's office. Park gave her a smile and a nod and went inside.\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez looked up from her desk as Park entered. She was a dark-skinned woman with white hair, wearing the same uniform as Park. On the wall behind her was a painting of a masked, blond-haired, blue-eyed man in a blue and gold costume with the presidential eagle over his heart. Park recognized him as the Golden Avenger, the previous director of PRIMUS, who had been murdered by an agent of the international terrorist group VIPER two years ago. Beneath the painting was a plaque that read: \"The mission of PRIMUS is to protect the innocent and identify paranormal threats to the people of the United States.\" \n\t\"How do you do, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, speaking with a slight Spanish accent.\n\t\"Ready to go to work, Director,\" Park replied, smiling.\n\tSanchez gazed down at the file lying open before her on her desk. Park could see that it contained a picture of him. \"I see the doctors have given you a clean bill of health,\" she said. \"No unexpected side effects from the Cyberline treatments or the biofeedback training.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"I feel fine, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. As a newly minted Silver Avenger, you will be assigned to work with another superpowered operative in order to gain some field experience dealing with supervillains.\"\n\t\"I look forward to it, Director,\" Park said, grinning eagerly.\n\t\"Excellent,\" said Sanchez, closing the file. \"I am partnering you with Supersonic Squirrel.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"Supersonic Squirrel?\"\n\tSanchez tilted her head slightly. \"Is that a problem, Agent Park?\"\n\t\"N-no, Director!\" Park said quickly. \"I just thought . . .\"\n\t\"Thought what, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, leaning forward and interlacing her fingers.\n\tPark took a moment to regain his composure. \"I assumed I would be working with another Silver Avenger.\"\n\t\"Of the fifteen Silver Avengers in existence,\" Sanchez said patiently, \"two are recuperating from injuries sustained in battles with supervillains, eleven are scattered across the country on various assignments, and two are in this room. Supersonic is here in Washington. Therefore, he is the logical choice. Unless you have some objection?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"None at all, Director. May I ask a question, though?\"\n\tSanchez spread her palms. \"By all means.\"\n\t\"Why doesn't he wear clothes?\"\n\tSanchez smiled. \"Three reasons. First, in his previous life as a cartoon character, he did not have to, so he prefers not to. Second, his arm webs make clothing awkward and uncomfortable for him. And third, if someone who received the Medal of Freedom for thwarting an assassination attempt on the president doesn't want to wear clothes, I am inclined to let him. He has earned the right. Was there anything else?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"No, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. His office is six doors down the hall to the right. Welcome to PRIMUS, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\tPark left Sanchez's office and strode past Koestler's desk, a dark look on his normally cherubic face. He wondered what his friends and family would say when he told them about this. After over a year of training to become a PRIMUS agent, after a battery of psychological tests, after discovering that he was one of the very few whose genetic makeup enabled him to tolerate the high doses of Cyberline needed to create a Silver Avenger, after months of drug enhancement and biofeedback training that had boosted his strength, speed, and stamina to superhuman levels, he was playing second banana to a cartoon squirrel. He shook his head. God had a bizarre sense of humor.\n\tUpon reaching the sixth door on the right, Park entered a small office. There, sitting before a computer, was a gray-furred creature the size of a child, with huge, round, black eyes, a blunt muzzle with buck teeth, and a fluffy question mark of a tail whose end hung over the back of his chair. Flaps of fur-covered skin stretched from his wrists to his ankles. He wore only an old-fashioned leather flying helmet with goggles, which were currently on his forehead. A badge identifying him as an agent of PRIMUS was stuck to his furry chest, held in place by electrostatic attraction. He did not look at Park as he entered the office.\n\t\"Hello,\" said Park, after a moment's silence.\n\t\"Hi,\" the squirrel replied in a high, nasal voice, his eyes still fixed on his computer screen. \"Report just came in.\"\n\tPark moved around behind him to read the report. \"Bank robbery: Baltimore. Suspect: Bulldozer. We could be there in twenty minutes.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"The local police can handle it.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"But Bulldozer is a supervillain!\"\n\t\"How many people has he killed?\" asked Supersonic.\n\t\"I don't know off-hand,\" Park admitted.\n\t\"None. How many serious injuries?\"\n\tPark took a guess. \"None?\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"The biggest risk fighting Bulldozer is having a car accident on the way there. Besides, I've already got three cases on my desk.\"\n\t\"If you say so; you're senior. By the way, I'm David Park.\"\n\t\"I know. Sanchez told me you were coming.\" The squirrel rotated his chair to face him and held out a small, furry hand, which Park shook. \"Supersonic Squirrel. Glad to know you. Korean, huh?\"\n\t\"My parents are,\" said Park. \"I was born in Spokane.\"\n\t\"I remember the Korean War,\" said Supersonic. \"I was just a kid, though.\"\n\t\"That's right, you were born just after World War II.\"\n\t\"October 14, 1947, to be exact—the day Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.\"\n\tPark remembered what he had read about PRIMUS's most unusual agent. \"And you were brought to life by a magical wishing ring two years ago at the same age you were when your show was cancelled in 1964, with no knowledge of anything that had happened since then.\"\n\t\"Well, I've learned a lot in the last two years,\" said Supersonic. A chime from his computer alerted them that another report had come in. They both looked at it.\n\t\"It's right here in Washington!\" said Park.\n\tSupersonic read the screen. \"Attempted kidnapping of Senator Pinchard's daughter foiled by two civilians, one of them a manimal. Kidnappers armed with energy weapons, two FBI agents found dead, unexplained animal interference.\" The squirrel flicked the switch on his intercom and called Sanchez. \"Director, me and Agent Park are claiming Incident 7.\"\n\t\"The attempted kidnapping?\" asked Sanchez. \"The FBI will want that for themselves.\"\n\t\"There's a paranormal element,\" said Supersonic. \"That makes it our jurisdiction.\"\n\t\"What paranormal element?\"\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference.\"\n\t\"'Unexplained' does not automatically mean 'paranormal,' Supersonic. And two FBI agents were murdered.\"\n\t\"Fine, so we'll each conduct our own investigation.\"\n\t\"We try to avoid having two agencies investigate the same incident. It is redundant, and they get in each other's way.\"\n\t\"Okay, how about this? It says the two civilians who foiled the attempt are being questioned at the FBI field office on Nebraska Avenue. We'll drop by and have a chat with them. If we find out there's nothing paranormal going on, then we bow out and it's the FBI's show. Sound fair?\"\n\t\"Why are you so interested in this incident, Supersonic? And aren't you already working three cases?\"\n\t\"So what's one more? Besides, something about this feels familiar. I can't explain why. Call it a hunch.\"\t\n\t\"All right,\" Sanchez relented. \"Go to the field office. But I warn you, the FBI is not going to want to let this one go, not when two of their people have been killed.\"\n\t\"Thank you, Director,\" said Supersonic, and switched off the intercom. He looked at Park. \"I can get there faster on my own.\"\n\t\"Go ahead,\" said Park. \"I'll catch up.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded and rocketed out of the room and down the hall, leaving a swirl of papers behind him as he headed for the stairwell and the roof.\n\n\tRick sat in an uncomfortable hardwood chair facing the desk of one Agent Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His burned shoulder had been bandaged by the paramedics who had arrived on the scene a few minutes after the kidnapping attempt. Landauer was slim and immaculately groomed, with jet black hair, a hawk-like face, and intense blue eyes. He regarded Rick with a distasteful expression that the raccoon had seen many times before. He didn't let it bother him. People would think what they would think.\n\t\"You still haven't explained how you knew where to go,\" Landauer pressed.\n\t\"I told you, I heard the shots from their energy pistols,\" Rick replied patiently.\n\t\"Do you always run [i]toward[/i] gunfire?\" Landauer asked, sounding both skeptical and condescending.\n\tRick shrugged. \"I thought someone might need help.\"\n\tLandauer looked over at his computer screen. \"You have a colorful history, Mr. Rick. You've been involved in violent incidents in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as here in the U.S.\"\n\t\"Is that so surprising?\" Rick asked. \"Manimals tend to attract violence.\"\n\t\"I see you worked with one of our people in Millennium City last year.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Agent Kodiak. Good man.\"\n\t\"And that you were arrested for interfering with a police investigation.\"\n\t\"A charge that was subsequently dropped,\" Rick pointed out.\n\tLandauer continued reading his screen. \"You have a French passport.\"\n\t\"Yes. All manimals who leave Monster Island are issued one as part of a special arrangement with the French government, of which I am sure you are well aware.\"\n\t\"You also have a green card.\"\n\t\"I work at the Kenji Taniguchi School of Martial Arts in Los Angeles as an instructor. Is there somewhere you are going with this, Mr. Landauer?\"\n\tThe FBI man sat back in his chair and gazed at the raccoon with a somewhat predatory expression. \"I'm just trying to figure out what kind of connection you might have to Senator Pinchard and his daughter.\"\n\t\"There isn't one,\" said Rick. \"I have never met the senator, and I'd never met his daughter until today.\"\n\t\"When you just happened to show up to foil her kidnaping.\"\n\t\"For the third time, I heard the shots.\"\n\t\"Uh huh. Do the names Michael Conn and Donald Schepis ring any bells?\"\n\t\"No. Are they the two men who tried to kidnap Lucy Pinchard?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"After killing the agents assigned to protect her.\"\n\t\"I never saw either one of them before.\"\n\t\"And you have no idea who they work for.\"\n\tRick thought for a moment. \"One of them mentioned someone named Dark.\"\n\tLandauer shot bolt upright in his chair. \"Dark?\"\n\tRick nodded. \"I take it that means something to you.\"\n\tLandauer stood up and went over to speak with another FBI agent, named Boone, who was talking to Stacey. He was a lean, rangy man with a long face, a bulbous nose, and a drooping mustache. Boone and Landauer had both arrived at the scene of the attempted kidnapping and escorted Rick and Stacey to this field office. Boone was clearly the elder of the two and presumably the senior. They spoke for a moment and then came over to Rick.\n\t\"Are you sure he said 'Dark'?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Quite sure,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Did he say anything else?\"\n\t\"No.\" He had no desire to mention that this \"Dark\" apparently believed that Lucy could control animals, or that she had undoubtably been the voice he'd heard in his head and the source of the compulsion that had drawn him to her. The FBI men would probably put it together themselves, considering the crow and dog attacks, but it would not be him who exposed Lucy's secret.\n\tAt that moment, the front door of the field office opened and Supersonic Squirrel entered, causing every head in the office to turn toward him. \"Who's in charge of the Pinchard case?\" he asked.\n\t\"That would be me,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Supersonic Squirrel, of PRIMUS,\" the squirrel said, walking toward Boone and extending a hand.\n\t\"I know who you are,\" said Boone, shaking the squirrel's hand. \"Everyone does. I'm Jerry Boone. This is my partner, Tom Landauer.\"\n\t\"Tom and Jerry?\" Supersonic asked, grinning, his buck teeth gleaming.\n\tBoone rolled his eyes. \"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before.\"\n\t\"Glad to know you, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, offering him his hand. Landauer hesitated a moment, then took it gingerly, gave it a light shake, and quickly let go.\n\t\"To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?\" Boone asked Supersonic, not sounding especially pleased.\n\t\"The report of the attempted kidnapping indicated possible paranormal involvement,\" the squirrel replied.\n\t\"Paranormal?\" asked Boone, raising an eyebrow.\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference,\" Supersonic clarified.\n\tRick nodded. \"The two would-be kidnappers had blood and scratches on their faces, and there was a dead dog in the yard, which they had killed.\"\n\tStacey rose from her chair and came over to join them. \"They also killed a bunch of birds. I passed them on the sidewalk.\"\n\tSupersonic looked at Rick and Stacey, then at Boone. \"I take it these are the two civilians who foiled the attempt?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"These are Stacey Summers and Rick.\"\n\t\"Honored to meet you, Supersonic,\" said Rick, bowing his head.\n\t\"Likewise,\" said Stacey, smiling at the squirrel.\n\t\"Hi,\" said Supersonic, smiling back at them. \"Congratulations to you both. What you did was very brave.\"\n\t\"Look, Agent Squirrel,\" Landauer said, putting a derisive emphasis on the last word, \"there's no evidence of any paranormal involvement in this case. That dog could have just been defending its yard.\"\n\t\"The dog didn't scratch the kidnappers' faces,\" Rick said. \"They killed it before it reached them. And Lucy certainly didn't do it.\"\n\t\"For all we know, they got those scratches climbing over a rosebush!\" Landauer retorted.\n\t\"Then why did they kill the birds?\" Stacey asked. \"There's no reason they'd stop to do that when they were chasing someone, unless the birds were attacking them. And birds don't just attack people for no reason, outside of a Hitchcock movie.\"\n\tLandauer threw up his arms. \"Maybe the birds sat on a high tension line and got electrocuted!\"\n\tStacey smirked. \"That doesn't happen.\"\n\t\"Where is Miss Pinchard?\" Supersonic asked, looking around.\n\t\"Her mother took her home,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Did you have a chance to talk to her?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"She was too scared to talk to anyone. We figured it was best to let her go with her mother and try to talk to her later.\"\n\t\"Good idea,\" said Supersonic. \"I assume her father has been notified.\"\n\t\"Of course he has!\" snapped Landauer. \"What do you think we are, idiots?\"\n\tBoone threw his partner a warning look, then turned back to Supersonic. \"Paranormal involvement in this case has yet to be determined. What we [i]do[/i] know is that Agents Hayhurst and Roberson, who'd been assigned to protect Lucy Pinchard, were found with holes burned through their chests, killed with the same kind of energy weapons the kidnappers used. And Hayhurst was a friend of mine.\"\n\tSupersonic bit his lip. \"I'm truly sorry, Agent Boone.\"\n\tBoone shrugged. \"These things happen. But if you think for one minute I'm going to step aside and turn this over to PRIMUS because of a dead dog and some dead birds . . .\"\n\t\"I'm just trying to figure out if this case falls within our jurisdiction,\" said Supersonic.\n\tRick turned his head toward Boone. \"Who is Dark?\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Dark?\"\n\t\"Yes,\" Rick said, \"one of the kidnappers mentioned that name.\"\n\tSupersonic folded his arms across his chest and turned to Boone with a smug look on his rodent face. \"Still think there's no paranormal involvement?\"\n\tRick noticed Landauer glaring at him. He smiled back pleasantly.\n\t\"Who is this Dark person?\" Stacey asked, looking baffled.\n\t\"Nicholas Darke,\" Supersonic replied, \"one of the brains behind PSI—the Parapsychological Studies Institute, an organization of psionic criminals.\"\n\t\"I thought they'd all been rounded up,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Not all of them. Darke escaped, with all PSI's money.\"\n\t\"But what would he want with Lucy Pinchard?\" Stacey asked.\n\t\"PSI had a history of kidnapping people with psionic abilities and brainwashing them to serve it,\" said Supersonic. \"If Darke is rebuilding PSI, he's gonna be looking for new recruits.\"\n\t\"You think Lucy Pinchard is a psi?\" asked Landauer skeptically.\n\t\"It would explain why those animals attacked the kidnappers,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Where are they, anyway?\" Supersonic asked Boone.\n\t\"One was accidentally shot by his partner,\" Boone replied. \"He's in the morgue. The other is at Sibley Memorial Hospital, being treated for a concussion.\" He chuckled at Stacey. \"This little lady did quite a number on him.\" \n\tStacey blushed. \"Guess I don't know my own strength.\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"A friend of mine used to say that.\" Then he looked thoughtful. \"Talking to PSI agents is usually a waste of time; they're conditioned to be loyal to PSI and trained to resist interrogation. Still, it can't hurt to try.\"\n\t\"Hold on a minute!\" Boone protested. \"Paranormal or not, the Bureau has a vested interest in this case. Two of our men were murdered!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at him. \"So do I, Agent Boone. Nicholas Darke brainwashed Nightmunk, a friend of mine. He made him do things he never would have done on his own. But I understand the Bureau's desire to avenge its fallen agents. So, while this case clearly falls under PRIMUS jurisdiction, in the spirit of interdepartmental cooperation, I'm naming you chief investigating officer and placing myself under your command, because I want Darke as badly as you do.\"\n\tBoone looked surprised. \"Well, that's damn generous of you, Supersonic! I accept!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"Then what do you say we head on over to Sibley Memorial and have a chat with that PSI agent?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"Sounds good.\" He turned to Rick and Stacey. \"I think you've given us all the help you can. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll have someone drive you back to the convention center.\"\n\t\"Agent Boone,\" said Rick, \"I'm also friends with Nightmunk. We worked together in Millennium City last year. I'll be happy to offer whatever assistance I can in apprehending this Nicholas Darke. I am not without some small skill.\"\n\t\"Same here!\" Stacey chimed in.\n\tLandauer groaned. \"Oh great, that's just what we need—Rocket Raccoon and Cynthia Rothrock!\"\n\t\"Who?\" asked Supersonic, looking puzzled.\n\t\"While I appreciate your offers,\" Boone said, \"I can't take the responsibility of involving civilians in this investigation, no matter what skills they may have. These people are killers.\"\n\t\"I have dealt with killers many times,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Be that as it may,\" said Boone, \"the answer is still no.\" He turned to a nearby agent. \"Take these people where they need to go.\" Then he turned to Supersonic and Landauer. \"Let's head out.\"\n\tAs the three of them walked toward the door, it burst open and Silver Avenger Park came running in. \"Sorry I took so long, boss,\" he said to Supersonic. \"D.C. traffic is murder!\"\n\t\"Agent Boone, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, looking up at them, \"meet my partner, Silver Avenger David Park.\" He jerked a thumb at Boone. \"He's the boss. We're working for the FBI.\"\n\tSupersonic, Boone, and Landauer went out the door as Park stood there, dumbfounded. \"FBI?\"\n\n\tA sedan with government plates dropped Rick and Stacey off in front of Keesler Convention Center, and they headed for the lobby.\n\t\"When is your next match scheduled?\" the raccoon asked.\n\t\"I'm not sure,\" Stacey admitted. \"In all the confusion, I forgot to ask.\"\n\t\"I hope you didn't forfeit,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey groaned. \"Oh, Jonny Li would love that, after I mopped the floor with one of his top students!\"\n\tRick stopped, ears pricking up as they entered the lobby and he saw what was lying in wait for them. \"Heads up.\"\n\tImmediately, they were swarmed with reporters, cameras pointed at them from every direction, microphones being pushed in their faces.\n\t\"Is it true the two of you foiled an attempt to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter?\" one asked.\n\t\"Uh, yes, it's true,\" said Stacey, looking like a deer caught in someone's headlights.\n\t\"Is that how you got that shoulder wound?\" another asked Rick.\n\t\"Yes,\" said Rick, looking uncomfortable.\n\t\"Is it true you killed one of the kidnappers?\"\n\tRick shook his head. \"No, he was shot by his partner.\"\n\t\"There's a rumor they were armed with ray guns. Is that true?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"Yes, they fired some kind of energy beam.\"\n\t\"Were they VIPER agents?\"\n\t\"We don't know who they were,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Why did you attack two men armed with ray guns?\"\n\t\"We saw them chasing a little girl and decided to help,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Are either of you registered heroes?\"\n\t\"No, we're not.\"\t\n\t\"So you were just being concerned citizens.\"\n\tRick shrugged. \"If you like.\"\n\t\"Please,\" said Stacey, \"I have to find out when my next match is.\"\n\t\"Are the two of you romantically involved?\"\n\tRick growled as he and Stacey pushed through the crowd of reporters. \"Not that it's any of your business, but no, we are not!\"\n\t\"Aren't you sharing a hotel room?\"\n\t\"One room is cheaper than two,\" said Stacey. \"Now please get out of our way!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Summers, aren't you the widow of Kenji Taniguchi, a.k.a. Samurai?\"\n\tStacey froze, a stunned look on her face.\n\t\"Are you trying to follow in your late husband's footsteps?\" the reporter pressed.\n\t\"She's doing nothing of the sort!\" Rick shouted angrily. \"Now get lost!\"\n\tAs Rick and Stacey passed through the double doors into the arena, where the reporters couldn't follow unless they bought tickets for the event, they overheard two of them talking back in the lobby.\n\t\"Samurai. Wasn't he killed a couple of years ago?\"\n\t\"Yeah, it was big news for a while. 'Superhero murdered!'\"\n\t\"Did they ever find out who did it?\"\n\t\"Nope, the case is still unsolved.\"\n\tRick and Stacey made their way past the ring, where a fight was in progress, and resumed their seats. The raccoon looked up at her, concern in his dark eyes. \"Are you okay?\"\n\tStacey sighed. \"I'm fine. Just caught me off guard, is all.\"\n\tRick glared at the doorway they had escaped the reporters through, his ears flattened. \"Jackals!\"\n\t\"They're just doing their jobs, Rick,\" said Stacey. \"They're paid to report the news, and right now, we're news. And you gotta admit, 'Slain Superhero's Widow Saves Senator's Daughter' makes great copy.\"\n\tRick growled, unplacated.\n\tStacey looked down at him, her throat tight. \"I miss him so much, Rick.\"\n\tThe raccoon nodded. \"I know you do.\"\n\tShe put her arms around him, and he around her.\n\n\tIn a room in Sibley Memorial Hospital, Michael Conn lay in bed, his head throbbing. The doctor had told him that he had a mild concussion and had given him painkillers, which were helping somewhat. He had been instructed to rest and to move his head no more than absolutely necessary. And so he lay there, with an FBI agent just outside his door. He wondered who had clonked him. It hadn't been that damned manimal. He'd been busy with Don. Poor Don. Too bad he'd gotten in the way, but that was how it went, sometimes. No, it must have been that blonde chick in the karate gi. Careless of him to let her sneak up on him like that. He'd have to see about finding out who she was and paying her back, once Darke got him out of here.\n\tHe became aware of a shimmering point of light in one corner of the room, and slowly turned his head toward it. The point expanded into a shimmering circle in the air. From that circle emerged two figures, one human, the other decidely not.\n\tThe human figure was a girl of about thirteen, with black eyes, black hair tied back in a ponytail, and a ruddy complexion. She was wearing a skintight magenta uniform, a white Greek letter psi in the center of the chest, with black boots, gloves, upper torso, and mask. She was somewhat overweight, and the uniform did her no favors.\n\tBeside the girl floated a sphere about two feet in diameter. The top was transparent, the bottom metallic and bearing various high-tech doo-dads. Inside the sphere was what appeared to be a human brain suspended in pale green fluid. From the bottom dangled a dozen or so pale green tentacles, each about four feet long and as thick as a man's finger.\n\tConn smirked at the strange pair. \"About time you came,\" he said, slowly sitting up in bed and pushing the sheets aside. \"Come on, let's get out of here.\"\n\t\"You are not going anywhere, Michael Conn,\" the sphere said, in a grating, electronic voice. \"Counselor Darke is displeased with you.\"\n\t\"It wasn't my fault, Floater!\" Conn protested. \"Two civilians interfered! Nobody could have foreseen that!\"\n\t\"It should never have gotten that far,\" Floater said, drifting slowly toward him. \"Your instructions were to abduct Lucy Pinchard from her school, not to chase her into the street. You should have called for backup immediately. Due to your incompetence, the authorities have been alerted to PSI's interest in her. In addition, you killed your partner. PSI has no further use for you.\"\n\tConn stiffened. \"You didn't come here just to tell me that!\"\n\t\"I did not,\" said Floater. With blinding speed, one of its tentacles whipped out and wrapped around Conn's neck. The man choked and gurgled, grasping at the slimy appendage with his hands, to no effect. The girl gasped and screamed, pressing her fists to her face.\n\t\n\tBoone, Landauer, Supersonic, and Park were walking down the corridor toward Conn's room when they heard the girl's scream. The FBI agent seated outside the door jumped to his feet and seized the knob as the other four ran toward him.\n\t\"It's stuck!\" the agent said, struggling with it.\n\t\"Let me try!\" said Park, grasping the knob and twisting it with his biochemically enhanced muscles. It still refused to budge.\n\t\"Stand back,\" Supersonic ordered, rising into the air and spreading his arms and legs wide. A ball of supercompressed air formed before him, and he threw his arms and legs forward as he propelled it at the door. It hit with the force of a battering ram, reducing the door to splinters.\n\tPark was through the doorway almost instantly, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to react first. He blinked as he saw Floater strangling Conn, then launched himself at the sphere. A blast of psionic energy lanced from Floater to Park's forehead, overloading his nervous system and stunning him.\n\tBoone, Landauer, and the other agent entered next, weapons drawn. They all fired at Floater, hitting it, but their bullets simply bounced off.\n\tSupersonic flew into the room and sized up the situation. A wind blast on the sphere was out of the question—knocking it back would break Conn's neck. Instead, he flew up to Floater and grasped the tentacle strangling the PSI agent, trying to pull it off, but the appendage was exceedingly slimy and impossible to get a firm grip on. Then the squirrel felt himself seized by some tremendous force that tore him away from Conn, who was turning blue, and hurled him against the wall. He hit with a crunching thud and slid to the floor, unconscious.\n\tPark came out of his daze, saw Supersonic lying on the floor, snarled, and lunged at Floater, wrapping his arms around it and squeezing with a strength far greater than any normal human possessed. There was a cracking sound, and Floater let out an electronic screech. \"Twister, aid me!\" The girl raised her hands, moving them in circles. Park screamed in agony and released the sphere, staggering backward.\n\t\"Shoot the girl!\" shouted Boone, aiming his gun at Twister. All three of the FBI agents fired, and she recoiled and cried out in pain as their bullets hit, but they didn't do nearly as much damage as they should have. Even so, they clearly hurt.\n\t\"Enough,\" said Floater. It squeezed Conn's neck with its tentacle, popping his head clean off and releasing a spray of blood that painted the wall red. Then it flew over to Twister. \"Let us be gone.\" The girl nodded, and they both entered the shimmering circle, which promptly winked out of existence.\n\t\"What the hell was that?\" cried Landauer.\n\t\"Something out of a goddamned horror movie,\" Boone replied, running over to Supersonic and kneeling beside him. \"You okay?\"\n\tThe squirrel sat up groggily, rubbing his head and looking around the room. \"I think so. Where did that thing go?\"\n\t\"It disappeared,\" said Boone, \"along with the girl. They did what they came here to do.\"\n\tSupersonic noticed Conn's head and body lying separate from each other on the floor. \"Oh.\"\n\t\"Sorry, boss,\" said Park as he came over to them, looking embarrassed. \"I didn't do so good for my first superfight.\"\n\tBoone chuckled. \"You were the only one who managed to hurt that thing. The rest of us might as well have been shooting spitballs at it. It called the girl 'Twister.' Mean anything to you two?\"\n\t\"Never heard of her,\" Park replied, \"but the name fits. I felt like I was being twisted in half! My guess is she has some kind of dimension-warping power. That would explain how she was able to create a portal to another place.\"\n\t\"She looked like an Indian,\" said Supersonic, getting painfully to his feet.\n\tBoone nodded. \"Yeah, I thought so, too.\"\n\t\"Uh, the polite term these days is 'Native American,' Supersonic,\" Park reminded the squirrel.\n\tSupersonic swallowed. \"Sorry.\"\n\t\"Regardless,\" said Boone, \"it'll make her easier to track down.\"\n\t\"Well, one thing's for sure,\" said Supersonic grimly. \"If there was any doubt Darke's rebuilding PSI, it's gone now.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That was definitely a PSI emblem on Twister's costume.\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone. \"So, what's next, chief?\"\n\tBoone glanced over at Conn's body. \"We're not gonna learn anything from him. Let's pay a call on the Pinchards, see if Lucy's ready to talk to us yet.\" He turned to Landauer and Park. \"You two get on the line with the records departments of the FBI and PRIMUS, see if anyone's ever heard of this Twister girl or that brain creature. Check with UNTIL, too; they may have encountered them before. I'll talk to the hospital administrator. He's gonna want to know why one of his patients lost his head. Come on, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"Yes, sir!\" said Supersonic, and followed Boone out of the room while people in the hallway peered around the edges of the smashed door, gawking at the carnage inside.\n\t\n\tThe Pinchard residence was located in Somerset, Maryland, a suburb northwest of Washington, D.C. It was a single-story ranch-style house with a shingled roof and a large, beautifully landscaped yard, with a rose garden and an ivy-entwined gazebo on the east side and a swimming pool in the back. It looked like a nice place, Supersonic thought as Landauer drove the sedan carrying him, Boone, and Park into the driveway and parked it beside another sedan with government plates sitting behind a Mercedes and a Cadillac with Maryland plates. They all got out and walked toward the front door, where an FBI agent was stationed. The agent rang the bell for them, and a few moments later, the door was opened by a handsome man of about forty with brown hair, wearing a white, collared shirt with no tie and gray slacks.\n\t\"Senator Pinchard?\" asked Boone. \"I'm Agent Boone, FBI. This is my partner, Agent Landauer, and these are Agents Squirrel and Park, of PRIMUS.\"\n\tPinchard stared at Supersonic and Park. \"PRIMUS? What are they doing here?\"\n\t\"We suspect there may be some kind of paranormal involvement, Senator,\" Supersonic replied. He watched the man's face carefully.\n\t\"What . . . what kind of paranormal involvement?\" Pinchard stammered.\n\t\"We were hoping you might be able to tell us,\" said Boone. \"May we come in?\"\n\t\"Yes, yes, of course,\" said Pinchard, stepping aside to let them enter.\n\tThey entered a spacious living room exquisitely decorated with antique French colonial furniture, the walls papered with a peach-and-mauve floral pattern. The floor was recessed three steps, with several couches along the west and north walls facing a large, flat-screen TV and a home entertainment center. In the southeast corner sat a baby grand piano.\n\t\"What makes you think there's anything paranormal going on?\" asked Pinchard, closing the door behind them.\n\tBoone turned to face him, hands in pockets. \"Does the name Nicholas Darke mean anything to you, Senator?\"\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, should it?\"\n\t\"He was one of the leaders of the Parapsychological Studies Institute.\"\n\tPinchard looked shocked. \"PSI? But . . . it was my understanding that PSI was defunct! They were all captured!\" He looked at Supersonic. \"You were involved in that, weren't you?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"Yes, sir, I'm proud to say I was. Unfortunately, Darke got away.\"\n\t\"And we have reason to believe he may have been behind the kidnapping attempt on your daughter,\" said Boone.\n\t[i]\"What?\"[/i]\n\t\"Has Lucy ever demonstrated any unusual abilities, Senator?\" asked Supersonic.\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, never! She's a perfectly normal girl!\"\n\tBoone and Supersonic glanced at each other. \"Are you sure?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Of course I'm sure!\" Pinchard yelled. \"You think I don't know my own daughter?\"\n\t\"Mark,\" came a female voice from a hallway to the right. Everyone turned to see a woman in her late thirties with auburn hair, wearing a blue dress. \"Tell them.\"\n\t\"Lydia . . .\" Pinchard began and then trailed off, looking at her desperately.\n\t\"Tell them, or I will.\"\n\tPinchard sighed and looked down. \"She talks to animals.\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"We thought so.\"\n\tThe woman walked toward them. \"Hello. I'm Lydia Pinchard, Lucy's mother.\"\n\tBoone made introductions. She nodded to each of the agents and looked down at Supersonic, smiling. \"I've heard a lot about you. You're a national hero.\"\n\tSupersonic squirmed. \"I was just doing my job, ma'am.\"\n\t\"And doing it very well, it seems.\"\n\tThe squirrel blushed beneath his fur.\n\t\"When you say she talks to animals, Senator,\" said Boone, \"you mean she can actually communicate with them?\"\n\tPinchard shrugged. \"I suppose so. I don't know exactly how it works. I've seen her in the yard surrounded by dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and so forth.\"\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Sounds like something out of a Disney cartoon!\"\n\tPinchard glared at him. \"You find this amusing, Agent Landauer?\"\n\tLandauer shook his head quickly. \"No, Senator, not in the slightest.\"\n\t\"Mr. and Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, \"less than an hour ago, the surviving kidnapper was murdered in Silbey Memorial Hospital.\"\n\t\"Oh my God!\" said Pinchard.\n\t\"It gets better,\" Boone continued. \"The killer was some kind of floating brain creature, assisted by a Native American girl who seems to have entered the kidnapper's hospital room through a dimensional gateway she created. We checked the records of the FBI, PRIMUS, and UNTIL, and we've identified the girl as a runaway named Susan Wednesday, age 13. She's an orphan, born to a Jane Doe who died in childbirth, and was shuttled between various foster families, some of whom, unfortunately, abused her. She was arrested for petty theft several times, but she kept disappearing from her cells. We suspect Darke recruited her to be part of his new PSI and that he has similar plans for your daughter.\"\n\tLydia gave an anguished cry and threw her arms around her husband, trembling. He held her close. \"This . . . this is insane!\" he protested.\n\t\"Sane or not,\" said Boone, \"the fact remains that Susan Wednesday—or Twister, as the brain creature called her—can bypass almost any known security. Therefore, it's my recommendation that you take Lucy someplace where nobody can find her.\"\n\tLydia shook her head. \"Absolutely not! She's suffered enough without being carted away from her home!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, patiently, \"I don't know if the Bureau can protect your daughter from someone like Twister. Walls and fences can't stop her. She can literally appear out of nowhere!\"\n\t\"Maybe you can't,\" said Lydia, \"but he can!\" She looked down at Supersonic. \n\tThe squirrel swallowed. \"Not that I'm not flattered, Mrs. Pinchard, but I agree with Agent Boone. Your daughter will be safest if PSI doesn't know where she is.\"\n\t\"For how long?\" asked Lydia. \"What makes you think they'll stop? Do you expect her to spend the rest of her life in hiding?\"\n\t\"It might be best,\" said Supersonic, in a subdued voice.\n\t\"No,\" said Lydia. \"What would be best is if you caught these people, like you caught the last bunch!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone, who shrugged helplessly. \"If you won't leave your home, I can't force you to,\" Boone said. \"I can offer you FBI protection, but I can't guarantee that will be enough.\"\n\tLydia smirked. \"It certainly wasn't enough for that man in the hospital.\"\n\t\"Hey, wait a minute!\" protested Landauer.\n\t\"Nor did it keep Lucy from being kidnapped,\" she continued. \"A couple of civilians did that!\"\n\t\"In all fairness to the FBI, Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Supersonic, \"they didn't know what they were up against, then.\"\n\t\"I will not allow my daughter's life to be turned upside down!\" said Lydia firmly.\n\tBoone scowled. \"I think that ship has sailed, ma'am.\" He turned to the senator. \"Do you agree with Mrs. Pinchard?\"\n\tPinchard sighed. \"Yes, I do. I refuse to let these thugs force my daughter from her home.\"\n\t\"In that case,\" said Boone, sounding resigned, \"all the Bureau can do is provide security for her until PSI is caught.\"\n\t\"Mom?\" came Lucy's voice from the same hallway that Lydia had entered the living room from. Then a small gasp. \"Ooh, a squirrel!\" They all turned to see Lucy standing in the hallway, staring at Supersonic, eyes wide.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" said Supersonic, smiling at her.\n\tLucy came up to him, smiling as she gazed down from a vantage point about a foot higher than him. \"Are you really a squirrel?\" she asked wonderingly.\n\tHe nodded. \"Yes, I'm Supersonic Squirrel,\" he said, holding out a hand to her. \n\tShe took it, examining the fur-covered appendage intently. \"Are you friends with that raccoon man who saved me from those men?\"\n\t\"Not exactly,\" said Supersonic. \"I just met him today.\"\n\t\"Lucy,\" her mother said, coming over and gently forcing her to let go of Supersonic's hand, \"let's go back to your room. These men have things to discuss with your father.\"\n\tLucy nodded and reluctantly allowed herself to be led away. She smiled and waved to Supersonic. \"Bye!\"\n\t\"Bye,\" said Supersonic quietly, watching her go.\n\t\"We'll need two shifts of six agents each to cover the house completely,\" Boone told Pinchard. \n\tLandauer nodded. \"Three inside, three outside.\"\n\t\"And Supersonic and Silver Avenger Park should remain on the premises at all times,\" Boone added.\n\t\"Do you think that'll be enough?\" asked Pinchard, anxiously.\n\t\"It's hard to say, sir,\" said Boone. \"We don't know who else Darke may have recruited for his new PSI, or what powers they might possess.\"\n\t\"I know someone who may be able to help,\" said Supersonic.\n\t\"Who?\" asked Boone.\n\t\"He calls himself Omen. He's a precog.\"\n\t\"A what?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"Someone who can see the future. He could foresee an attack before it happens.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Does he use a crystal ball or tarot cards?\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"He doesn't need any of that stuff!\"\n\t\"Is he a PRIMUS agent?\" asked Boone.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"No, he's a civilian.\"\n\t\"I'm not comfortable putting a civilian in harm's way,\" said Boone.\n\t\"With all due respect, sir,\" said Supersonic, \"we're dealing with a lot of unknowns here. Omen could reduce them. And being able to see the future makes him pretty good at avoiding harm.\"\n\t\"I still don't like it,\" said Boone stubbornly.\n\tPinchard glared at Boone. \"I don't give a damn if you like it or not, Agent Boone. If this Omen can protect my daughter, then I want him here!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That's your perogative, Senator. It's your home.\"\n\t\"I'll see if I can get in touch with him,\" said Supersonic. He took his cell phone from the leather satchel slung over his shoulder and went into the kitchen. Park followed him.\n\t\"Boone and Landauer do [i]not[/i] look happy,\" Park commented.\n\t\"Now ask me if I care,\" said Supersonic.\t\n\t\"So who is this 'Omen'?\" Park asked as the squirrel dialed his phone. \n\t\"He used to be with PSI,\" Supersonic replied.\n\tPark stared at him. \"And you trust him?\"\n\t\"He infiltrated PSI to kill Psymon, one of their leaders, because Psymon killed his brother. Fortunately, he balked at the last second.\"\n\t\"How come I've never heard of him?\"\n\t\"Because I didn't mention him in my report.\"\n\t\"Why not?\"\n\t\"There was no reason anyone needed to know about him. And if it weren't for Omen, I'd either be dead or a brainwashed sleeper agent for PSI, so I owed him.\" Supersonic put the phone to his ear as someone on the other end picked up. \"Hello, David?\"\n\t\"Supersonic, how are you?\" came a surprised voice on the other end.\n\tThe squirrel grinned. \"You have to ask?\"\n\tOmen chuckled. \"I'm clairvoyant, not omniscient. What's up?\"\n\t\"There's a situation I could really use your help with. It involves Nicholas Darke.\"\n\t\"Darke? He's back?\"\n\t\"Yeah, he's rebuilding PSI, and he tried to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter.\"\n\t\"Son of a bitch!\"\n\t\"I thought that might catch your interest. How soon can you be in Washington, D.C.?\"\n\t\"Probably not until tomorrow.\"\n\t\"Fine. PRIMUS will pay for your airline ticket. Call me when you land.\"\n\t\"Will do.\"\n\tSupersonic hung up and looked at Park. \"Now all we have to do is protect Lucy until he gets here.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"Against a girl who can open dimensional portals and twist your guts around inside you, a floating brain creature, and whoever or whatever else Darke has managed to recruit.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"Welcome to PRIMUS.\"\n\n\tAs night fell over the Pinchard household, three FBI agents patrolled the grounds outside while three others roamed the hallways inside, checking the various rooms. Silver Avenger Park was sleeping in one of the guest rooms so he could relieve Supersonic at midnight. Supersonic stuck mainly to the living room, where he could respond to an intrusion in any part of the house as swiftly as possible. At eight o'clock, he went to Lucy's room to check on her. She was watching a movie on television, her mother sitting beside her. Supersonic noted that there was a cot set up to one side of the girl's bed.\n\t\"Hello,\" the squirrel said, smiling at them, buck teeth gleaming.\n\t\"Hello,\" Lucy and her mother replied, smiling back.\n\t\"I just wanted to see if everything was all right.\"\n\t\"Everything's fine,\" said Lydia.\n\t\"Mom said those men wanted me because I can talk to animals,\" said Lucy. \"What's so important about that?\"\n\t\"It makes you special,\" said Supersonic. \"They're interested in special people.\"\n\t\"What will they do if they get me?\" Lucy asked anxiously.\n\t\"They're not going to get you, darling,\" said Lydia. \"Supersonic will see to that, won't you, Supersonic?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"They're not getting past me.\"\n\t\"Are you going to live with us?\" Lucy asked him, looking as though she liked the idea.\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"For a little while, anyway, at least until those people are caught.\"\n\t\"And then things will go back to normal,\" said Lydia, smiling.\n\tLucy gazed at the squirrel. \"I like you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"I like you too, Lucy,\" Supersonic replied. \"Have a safe evening.\" He turned and headed back to the living room.\n\tWhile Supersonic was talking to Lucy and her mother, Landauer sat on a couch in the living room, a look of displeasure on his face. Boone glanced over at him from where he was standing beside the baby grand, holding a cup of coffee. \"Something bothering you, Tom?\" he asked.\n\tLandauer looked back at him. \"Working with a goddamned cartoon character bothers me!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That 'goddamned cartoon character' saved the president. Have a little respect.\"\n\t\"And that rookie, Park. You'd think PRIMUS would only let agents with some experience under their belts become Silver Avengers!\"\n\tBoone sipped his coffee. It was expensive coffee from the senator's kitchen. It was very good. \"You need to have a rare combination of genes to become a Silver Avenger. As soon as PRIMUS finds out one of their applicants has it, they make him one.\"\n\t\"You don't think him being Asian had anything to do with it?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"It's hard enough to find [i]anyone[/i] who can become a Silver Avenger without being fussy about race and sex.\"\n\t\"Well, I don't like working with paranormals,\" Landauer sulked.\n\t\"You use paranormals to fight paranormals,\" said Boone. \"You and me sure didn't do squat against that brain creature.\" Supersonic returned to the living room just then, and Boone glanced over at him. \"How's Lucy?\"\n\t\"Scared,\" said Supersonic, \"but trying to act brave. Her mother's gonna sleep in her room tonight.\" He sighed. \"It's awful for a kid to be stuck in the middle of something like this.\"\n\t\"It's not the first time,\" said Boone, sipping his coffee.\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Yeah, once the kid of a witness against the mob was kidnapped, and—\"\n\t\"Tom,\" said Boone quietly. \"Give it a rest.\"\n\n\tWith the martial arts convention shut down for the evening, Rick and Stacey had changed into street clothes and were having dinner in a Chinese restaurant across the street from their hotel. Rick had wanted to have dinner delivered to their room for fear of being mobbed by reporters again, but Stacey had refused to be intimidated by the press. So far, nobody had bothered them. However, Stacey noticed that the raccoon seemed unusually quiet and pensive as he picked at his lo mein with his chopsticks. \"Something bothering you, Rick?\" she asked.\n\t\"I should be helping catch Nicholas Darke,\" he replied.\n\t\"Why? It's not your problem.\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Nightmunk is a friend of mine. We fought side by side against Lung Hung, an ancient Chinese vampire.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"You fought a vampire?\"\n\t\"Actually, he was some kind of mutant. But regardless, he was extremely powerful. If Nightmunk hadn't called in Nighthawk and the Champions as backup, we would not be having this conversation.\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"So you figure you owe Darke for what he did to him.\"\n\t\"I also detest people who victimize children. Why do you think I teach all the children's kung fu classes?\"\n\t\"I thought it was because the kids all love you. Not to put too fine a point on it, Rick, but the world is full of victimized children. You can't save them all.\"\n\t\"I'm aware of that. But I can help save Lucy from whatever it is Darke has planned for her.\"\n\t\"You already offered to help, and Boone said no.\"\n\tRick scowled. \"To hell with Boone.\"\n\t\"All right, do you have any idea where Lucy lives? I doubt her address is public knowledge. Senators don't want every kook in the country showing up on their doorsteps.\"\n\t\"I bet Nightmunk can find out.\"\n\t\"Assuming he does, how are you going to get there? We don't have a car.\"\n\t\"I hear they can be rented.\"\n\tShe sighed. \"You're really serious about this, aren't you?\"\n\tRick nodded, took out his cell phone, and dialed a number.\n\t\"Hello, Rick!\" came a high, squeaky voice on the other end, sounding both surprised and pleased. \"I hear you've been busy down in Washington.\"\n\t\"Yes, Alvin, that's the reason I'm calling. I want to help protect Lucy Pinchard, but the FBI won't let me.\"\n\t\"That figures. They don't like civilians playing in their sandbox.\"\n\t\"I was wondering, could you find out where Senator Pinchard lives?\"\n\tNightmunk giggled. \"Didn't being arrested for interfering with police business teach you anything?\"\n\t\"I'm a slow learner.\"\n\tAnother giggle. \"Just a minute.\" Rick waited while Nightmunk did things. \"Ah, here we are.\" He listened as the chipmunk relayed Senator Pinchard's home address.\n\t\"Thank you, Alvin,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Don't mention it. To anyone.\"\n\tRick hung up and glanced across the table at Stacey. She sighed and pushed her chair back. \"Well, let's get going.\" She signaled the waiter. \"Could we have the check, please? And some boxes?\"\n\t\"You're coming?\" Rick asked, surprised.\n\t\"Of course I'm coming! You can't drive a car. You don't have a license. Besides, your feet won't reach the pedals.\"\n\tRick blushed beneath his fur. He hadn't thought of that.\n\n\tAt midnight, Supersonic went to the guest room where Park was lying stretched out on the bed and switched on the light. Park blinked and sat up. \"You're up, Silver Avenger,\" the squirrel said.\n\t\"Please, call me Dave,\" said Park, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs around and stood up.\n\t\"Okay, Dave,\" said Supersonic. \"By the way, this arrived from PRIMUS by special courier.\" He held out a pair of mirrored goggles to him. \"It has microcircuitry built into it to shield your mind against psionic attacks, same as I've got in my helmet. It also intensifies light so you can see in the dark. Be careful to turn down the sensitivity when you go from dark to light, though, or you'll be temporarily blinded.\"\n\tPark accepted the goggles and put them on. \"Anything to report?\"\n\t\"Nothing so far. Lucy's mother is sleeping in her daughter's room, and the senator is asleep in the master bedroom.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"There's something I've been wanting to tell you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"What's that?\" the squirrel asked.\n\t\"When Sanchez first told me we were going to be partners, I had some . . . reservations.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"I'm not surprised. Lots of people look at me and just see a silly little squirrel.\"\n\t\"I know what that's like,\" said Park. \"I had to deal with prejudice growing up in Spokane, people throwing around words like 'gook,' 'chink,' and 'slant-eyes.'\"\n\tSupersonic sighed and shook his head. \"That's rough.\"\n\t\"Anyway, I just wanted to say that I think you've handled this case very professionally. I'm glad Sanchez assigned me to work with you.\"\n\tThe squirrel chuckled. \"Save the compliments for when Darke is under lock and key.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"All right. Bed's yours. I'll relieve you at eight o'clock.\"\n\t\"Roger,\" said Supersonic, climbing onto the bed and curling up with his tail wrapped around him. Park gazed at him for a moment, thinking how cute and harmless he looked. It was hard to believe that this small creature could reduce this entire house to rubble in seconds. And unlike him, the squirrel wasn't dependent on daily injections of Cyberline for his powers. Speaking of which . . .\n\tPark went into the bathroom and opened his belt buckle, removing a syringe and an ampule full of milky fluid. There were four more such ampules in his buckle. He held it up to the light, rolling it between his fingers, watching the white liquid slosh around inside. Only one in ten people could use Cyberline without suffering negative side effects, and less than one percent could tolerate the high doses needed to produce a Silver Avenger. It was also ungodly expensive to make, another reason why Silver Avengers were so rare. He inserted the ampule into the syringe and injected the fluid into his left wrist. There was a burning sensation that faded quickly as his bloodstream carried the drug throughout his body. He put the syringe back into his buckle, closed it, and headed back into the bedroom. Supersonic was asleep, breathing softly. Park went to the door to the hall and turned the knob.\n\tA tremendous crash shook the entire house, causing Supersonic to sit bolt upright, eyes wide. \"What the heck was that?\" the squirrel shouted.\n\t\"We're under attack!\" Park yelled, drawing his gun and dashing out into the hall. Supersonic flew after him.\n\tPark and Supersonic entered the living room, the squirrel pulling down his goggles. There was a hole in the roof, and the floor was littered with debris. Floating in the middle of the room was the brain creature they had encountered at the hospital, along with a blond teenage boy wearing the same type of costume Twister had been wearing. Boone, Landauer, and another FBI agent, Saxon, were shooting at them, but their bullets were bouncing off the brain creature's sphere as before, while the boy was apparently protected by some kind of force field. The boy raised his hands and shot a bolt of pure force from them, striking Saxon and knocking him into the wall, while a blast of psionic energy from the brain creature stunned Landauer.\n\t\"Protect Lucy!\" Supersonic shouted to Park. \"I'll handle these two!\" Park nodded and dashed across the living room faster than any Olympic sprinter, heading for Lucy's bedroom, while the squirrel focused his attention on the brain creature. \"I've got a score to settle with you!\" He hurled a globe of supercompressed air at the thing, striking it and knocking it spinning across the room, its tentacles flailing wildly.\n\tThe boy raised his hands, took aim at Supersonic, and fired a force bolt that struck the squirrel and knocked him back into the wall. Dazed by the impact, Supersonic could do nothing as the boy took careful aim, building up another attack. Then Boone tossed a grenade, which exploded with a blinding flash and a loud bang. The boy cried out, his hands flying to cover his ears, his eyes squeezing shut. Supersonic's polarized goggles protected his eyes from the flash, but he was still momentarily deafened. With his ears feeling as though they were full of honey, the squirrel flew straight at the boy, slamming into him, and they both crashed through the sliding glass doors that opened onto the patio.\n\n\tRick and Stacey, having parked their rented car a few blocks away, were crouching together behind the wooden fence separating the Pinchards' yard from their neighbor's and peering at the Pinchards' house through gaps in the fence. The abundant trees in the backyard prevented them from seeing two figures drop down from the sky to the roof of the house but not from hearing the blast that tore a hole in the roof. They both jumped the fence and ran toward the house. As they neared it, the rear patio doors exploded outward in a spray of broken glass as Supersonic Squirrel and a blond boy in a black-and-magenta costume crashed through them.\n\tRick leaped and threw a flying kick at the boy's head, his furry foot connecting with the boy's cheek. The boy grunted, staggering backward, and Stacey grabbed him and threw him down onto the cement patio, stunning him.\n\tSupersonic stared at the new arrivals. \"Rick? Mrs. Summers? What are [i]you[/i] doing here?\" Even as he said it, he realized he wouldn't be able to hear their replies, as he was still deafened from Boone's stun grenade. Then he realized they were staring in horror at something behind him. He whirled around to see the brain creature hovering in the doorway.\n\t\"Your interference is unacceptable,\" it said, in a harsh, electronic drone. \"You will be eliminated.\" One of its tentacles shot out and wrapped around Supersonic's throat.\n\n\tPark burst into Lucy's bedroom to find the girl writhing in her bed, moaning and clutching her head. Her mother lay asleep on her cot, completely unresponsive. \n\tThe room also contained three other people. One was Twister. The other two were a boy and a girl about the same age as Twister, both with light, sandy hair, wearing costumes identical to hers. They looked similar enough to be brother and sister. \n\tTwister raised her hands and made that rotating gesture, and once again, Park felt an agonizing pain inside him, as though his intestines were being tied in knots. Fighting through the pain, Park lunged at Twister, throwing a punch at her. It connected, but as when she had been shot in the hospital, the force was mostly blunted, though the grimace on her face showed that she clearly felt some pain. \"Blackout! Displacer!\" she cried. \"Take him down!\"\n\tThe other two concentrated on Park, and their mouths fell open in surprise when nothing happened. \"My power doesn't affect him!\" the girl shouted.\n\t\"Mine neither!\" said the boy.\n\t\"Great!\" snarled Twister. \"I gotta do everything myself!\" She rotated her hands again, and Park cried out in pain, his innards feeling as though they were being torn out. He struck at Twister once more, and once more, while it hurt, it didn't drop her. Then she moved her hands, and Park collapsed at her feet.\n\t\"Asshole!\" Twister spat, kicking him viciously. She turned to the other two. \"Get the girl!\" They both nodded, pulling a sobbing Lucy from her bed.\n\t\"What about him?\" the boy asked, indicating Park.\n\t\"Take him, too, Blackout,\" Twister said. \"Counselor Darke might want him.\"\n\tThe boy let go of Lucy and grabbed Park as Twister opened a portal. Displacer dragged Lucy through it as Blackout pulled Park. Once they were through, Twister stepped in, and the portal winked out of existence.\n\n\tSupersonic gurgled as the brain creature's tentacle tightened around his neck, his vision quickly fading.\n\t\"Rick, it's killing him!\" Stacey screamed, her fingers sliding along the slimy appendage as she tried uselessly to pull it off. Rick took a deep breath, opened wide, and clamped down on the tentacle with his sharp teeth, severing it. Stacey and Supersonic fell backward as thick greenish-gray fluid sprayed over the raccoon's face. The creature screeched and drifted back from him, its remaining tentacles wriggling wildly. It was without a doubt the worst thing he had ever smelled or tasted.\n\t\"Miserable Earth-creature!\" the brain yelled, and Rick felt himself lifted into the air and hurled across the yard. He landed sixty feet away in front of three FBI agents who had been running toward the house, startling them.\n\t\"So, you're an ET, are you?\" said Boone, coming up behind it. \"Well, welcome to Earth, [i]amigo[/i]!\" He jammed an electroshock weapon against one of its tentacles, and it screeched again, tentacles flailing. Then a force bolt struck the FBI agent, sending him flying across the living room.\n\t\"You okay, Floater?\" the blond boy asked, getting to his feet.\n\t\"The injury is minor, Force,\" Floater replied. \"Our mission has been accomplished. It is time to leave.\"\n\t\"You're not going anywhere, creep!\" shouted Stacey as she jumped to her feet and threw a kick at Force. It caught him on the chin, and he spun and crumpled to the ground. Then she cried out as a mental blast from Floater sent her to join him. Floater paused, regarding Stacey and Supersonic for a moment, the squirrel lying on his back groaning and clutching his throat. Then it noticed Rick and three FBI agents rapidly closing on them. It wrapped its tentacles around Force's unconscious body and carried him off into the night sky.\n\n\tOn the floor of an abandoned meat-packing plant on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., nine people stood waiting in front of two large trucks bearing the logos of a moving company that did not exist. Five of them were PSI agents, wearing suits, ties, and sunglasses. The sixth was a Black girl of about ten years, her face peppered with acne pimples. She wore the same black-and-magenta uniform that Twister, Force, Blackout, and Displacer wore. The seventh was a man in his early thirties with thinning black hair and a pockmarked face, wearing a black robe with a crimson yoke over his shoulders, chest, and back. His collar had thin white piping stitched around it, and he held a staff whose golden head was emblazoned with the Greek letter psi. The eighth was a muscular man wearing a shiny copper costume with black boots, gloves, and cowl, all with jagged edges. The ninth was a tall man in his forties with graying black hair and a thick mustache and goatee, wearing an expensive dark suit and a designer Italian tie. A pin with the letter psi was stuck in his lapel.\n\tA point of light appeared in the air above the floor, expanding into a shimmering circle. Out of it stepped Twister, Blackout, and Displacer. Displacer led a sobbing, stumbling Lucy along, while Blackout dragged the unconscious body of David Park. The circle vanished once they were all through.\n\t\"A Silver Avenger?\" the bearded man asked, in a silky baritone voice, pointing at Park. \"Why the hell did you bring [i]him[/i] here?\"\n\t\"I thought you might want him, Counselor Darke,\" said Twister, grinning. Her grin faded when she saw the scowl on Darke's face.\n\t\"You idiot!\" he snapped. \"Do you have any idea how much it costs to create a Silver Avenger? Millions! That's why they all have tracking devices implanted in them so Uncle Sam can keep tabs on his property! Take his goggles off!\" He whirled toward the Black girl. \"Flashback, find out where his tracker is!\"\n\tFlashback nodded and concentrated on Park as Twister removed his anti-psi goggles. \"Under his left armpit, sir,\" she said.\n\t\"Get his shirt off,\" Darke ordered. As Blackout and Twister pulled off the tunic of Park's uniform, Darke turned to one of the agents. \"Heine, manifest your psi blade.\" Heine nodded and held his hand up before him with the palm and fingers straight, and a transparent magenta blade appeared around it. He walked toward the now bare-chested Park, got down on one knee, and cut into Park's left armpit while Twister, Blackout, Displacer, and Flashback all grimaced and looked away. Within a minute, he had removed a silver disk the size of a quarter, covered in blood and with bits of flesh hanging from it.\n\t\"Twister, get rid of it,\" said Darke. Twister created a portal, Heine tossed the tracking device through it, and the portal closed again. Darke went over to Park, removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, and pressed it under his arm to stanch the bleeding. With his free hand, he opened Park's belt buckle and removed the four ampules of Cyberline there. He held one up, gazing at the milky fluid inside.\n\t\"Is that the drug that gives him his powers?\" asked Displacer wonderingly.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Cyberline. This should fetch a pretty penny!\"\n\t\"Do you think they got a fix on our position?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"Almost certainly,\" Darke replied. \"Commence evacuation. We'll transfer everything to the secondary location.\" The PSI agents hastened to comply.\n\t\"What about Floater and Force?\" asked Blackout.\n\t\"They know the plan. Once they arrive and find the base abandoned, they'll head for the secondary location.\"\n\tAt that moment, Park regained consciousness, groaning at the intense pain under his left arm. He opened his eyes and then gasped when he saw Darke. \"You!\" the Silver Avenger snarled and jumped to his feet, lunging at Darke. Unfortunately, he was still weak and groggy, and Darke managed to jump back out of reach.\n\t\"Torment!\" Darke yelled to the man in the copper-and-black costume.\n\tTorment concentrated on Park, and the Silver Avenger's body was flooded with excruciating pain, worse than anything he'd ever felt before. He cried out, collapsed to the concrete floor, and lay still.\n\t\"A pity,\" said the man in the black robe, striding forward, his staff tapping on the floor. \"He would have made a useful convert to our holy cause.\"\n\t\"He may yet, Revelation,\" said Darke, gazing down at the unconscious Silver Avenger.\n\t\"How?\" Revelation asked. \"PRIMUS knows we took him. If we let him return to them, they're going to suspect he's been brainwashed. And if we keep him, his powers will start to fade once his supply of Cyberline runs out.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Darke, \"but there may yet be a service he can perform for us.\"\n\t\"Please!\" cried Lucy, tugging at Displacer's hold on her wrist. \"Let me go! I want to go home!\"\n\tDarke smiled and crouched down to be eye to eye with her. \"But you are home, my child. PSI is your family now.\"\n\tLucy turned away, sobbing.\n\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez arrived at the Pinchard house in a navy blue armored personnel carrier bearing the word PRIMUS along each side in white letters and the presidential eagle on the front and back. Local police, firefighters, and paramedics were already on the scene, their vehicles' lights flashing. She and five PRIMUS agents wearing blue skintight uniforms with white boots, belts, helmets, and white diagonal stripes across their chests with the presidential eagle over their hearts, emerged from the carrier and ran into the house.\n\tIn the ruins of the living room, Agent Landauer was speaking to some uniformed police officers, while paramedics tended to Agents Boone and Saxon. Rick and Stacey were standing off to one side, trying to stay out of everyone's way.\n\tLandauer noticed Sanchez and turned toward her, eyes narrowed. \"Why hello, Director Sanchez!\" he said, with naked sarcasm. \"Nice of you to join us!\"\n\t\"To whom am I speaking?\" she asked stiffly.\n\t\"Tom Landauer, FBI.\"\n\t\"What happened here, Agent Landauer?\"\n\t\"What happened is your people blew it!\" Landauer replied, smirking. \"PSI blasted through the roof of the senator's house and kidnapped his daughter, along with your rookie Silver Avenger.\"\n\tSanchez gaped. \"Park was kidnapped?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"Yes, being superhuman didn't seem to help much. In the meantime, two of our agents were seriously injured, and your little cartoon squirrel had to be saved by a pair of civilians!\" He indicated Rick and Stacey.\n\tSanchez glanced at Rick and Stacey, then turned her attention back to Landauer. \"Where is Supersonic?\"\n\t\"He's out on the patio.\"\n\tSanchez strode past Landauer and through the shattered sliding glass doors that led to the patio. Supersonic was lying on his back, conscious, with a paramedic examining his neck. Sanchez knelt down beside them, and the squirrel looked up at her and tried to speak, but all that came out was a croak. She looked at the paramedic. \"How is he?\"\n\t\"He's suffered serious contusions to his throat,\" the paramedic replied. \"He's lucky his trachea wasn't crushed.\"\n\tSupersonic tried to speak again, and his voice was a hoarse rasp. \"Where's Park?\" he asked.\n\t\"PSI got him,\" said Sanchez sadly, \"along with Lucy.\"\n\tThe squirrel trembled and bit his lip, tears welling up in his huge black eyes.\n\tSanchez caressed the side of his furry face gently. \"Rest, Supersonic.\" She stood up and went back into the living room.\n\t\"How is he?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"He will live. What about your men?\"\n\t\"They both have cracked ribs. Boone has a broken leg, and Saxon's got a punctured lung.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"At least nobody was killed.\"\n\t\"No thanks to that damn squirrel!\" snarled Landauer. \"He screwed up big time!\"\n\t\"Horseshit!\" said Boone, his voice tight with pain. Sanchez and Landauer both turned toward him. \"I was chief investigating officer. The responsibility was mine.\"\n\t\"What were the hostiles like?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We only saw two,\" Boone replied. \"One was—ah!\" He cried out, gritting his teeth as the paramedics moved him onto a stretcher. \"One was that brain creature we fought at the hospital. Apparently, it's some kind of alien. The other was a blond kid, about sixteen, with telekinetic powers.\"\n\t\"Their names were Floater and Force,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Floater tried to kill Supersonic, but Rick stopped him. I knocked out Force, and Floater flew away with him.\"\n\t\"And what exactly were the two of you doing here?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We thought we might be able to help,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Well, you were correct. Thank you for saving Supersonic.\"\n\t\"You're quite welcome.\"\n\t\"Wait a minute,\" said Landauer. \"How did you know where Lucy lived?\"\n\tRick hesitated, and Stacey jumped in. \"She told us.\"\n\t\"She told you?\" Landauer asked skeptically.\n\tStacey nodded. \"This morning, when we rescued her. We asked her where she lived, and she gave us this address.\"\n\t\"I see,\" said Landauer.\n\tSanchez took out her cell phone and dialed PRIMUS. \"What is the present location of Silver Avenger Park?\" she asked the person on the other end. She looked surprised when she heard the reply. \"The Lincoln Memorial?\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking equally astonished.\n\t\"Where was he before that?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"He have some kind of tracking device on him?\" Landauer asked as she waited for a reply.\n\tSanchez nodded. \"All Silver Avengers have one implanted. According to our monitor, he has popped instantly from one place to another twice in the past half hour. I suspect they removed Park's tracker and Twister sent it to the Lincoln Memorial.\" She paused, listening to the person on the other end of her phone. \"Got it. Send some agents to the Lincoln Memorial to make sure he's not there.\" She turned to the other PRIMUS agents. \"Let's move!\"\n\t\"Hold on a second!\" said Landauer, grabbing her shoulder. \"You're not cutting me out of this!\"\n\t\"This is no longer an FBI matter, Agent Landauer,\" said Sanchez, fixing him with an icy gaze. \"I am assuming control of this investigation.\"\n\t\"Like hell you are!\" Landauer shouted. He pointed at Boone, who was being carried out by the paramedics. \"That's [i]my[/i] partner over there!\"\n\t\"And one of [i]my[/i] men has been kidnapped, and another one injured!\"\n\t\"Director,\" came a hoarse, weak voice from doorway to the patio. They both turned to see Supersonic limping slowly toward them, rubbing his throat, a paramedic escorting him.\n\t\"Yes, Supersonic?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I think Agent Landauer should come. PSI hurt his partner. He deserves a chance for some payback. And there's those two FBI agents who were murdered.\"\n\tLandauer blinked, not having expected help from the squirrel.\n\t\"This is not about payback, Supersonic,\" said Sanchez. \"It is about who is best qualified. These people are paranormals.\"\n\t\"So are me and Park,\" Supersonic replied bitterly, \"for all the difference [i]that[/i] made!\"\n\tSanchez glanced at Landauer. \"Very well.\"\n\t\"With your permission,\" said Supersonic, \"I'd like to come, too.\"\n\t\"Are you sure you're up to it?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" the squirrel replied. \"Besides, I promised Lucy I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I'd like to make good on that.\"\n\t\"Director Sanchez,\" said Rick, \"may I also be of assistance?\"\n\t\"Yeah, me too,\" said Stacey.\n\tBefore Sanchez could reply, Supersonic said, \"They've been in this thing since the beginning, Director, and they've accomplished more than any of us.\"\n\tSanchez sighed. \"Fine. But do exactly as I say.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Understood, Director.\"\n\tSanchez, Landauer, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, and the five PRIMUS agents went outside, got into the armored personnel carrier, and drove off.\n\n\tThe woman behind the reception desk at PRIMUS headquarters stared at the man striding across the floor of the lobby toward her. He was tall, wearing a black bodysuit and a turquoise cloak and hood that concealed most of his face. He paused before the desk, gazing down at her, and spoke in a low, slow voice that sounded exotic and mysterious. \"I am Omen. I believe I am expected.\"\n\tThe receptionist swallowed and nodded. \"Yes, you are.\" There was something about this man—a combination of his speech, appearance, and bearing—that made her feel intimidated. She opened a drawer of her desk, removed a small yellow badge from it, rose from her seat, and hesitantly placed the badge on Omen's cloak. \"Through that door.\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. It was flanked by two PRIMUS Iron Guard agents in heavy, clunky armored suits with the presidential eagle over their hearts. They remained standing at attention as Omen passed between them.\n\tOmen took the elevator to the tenth floor and strode down the hallway, his cloak flowing around him, eliciting stares from the PRIMUS agents he passed. Upon reaching an office labeled S. SQUIRREL, he opened the door and went in.\n\tInside the office were Supersonic Squirrel, a hawk-faced man in a dark suit and tie with black hair and blue eyes, and a short humanoid raccoon and a blonde human woman, both wearing ordinary street clothes. Supersonic turned from his computer and broke into a wide, bucktoothed grin. \"Omen!\" he said, in a slightly hoarse voice. \"Nice to see you!\" \n\t\"It is good to see you, too, Supersonic,\" said Omen.\n\tThe squirrel hopped down from his chair, went to Omen, shook his hand, then turned to the others. \"These are—\"\n\t\"Agent Thomas Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rick, and Stacey Summers,\" said Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking surprised. \"How did he—\"\n\t\"I knew what Supersonic was going to say,\" said Omen. \"I am aware you have doubts regarding my abilities. I thought that a demonstration might make some progress toward dispelling them.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Supersonic could have told you we'd be here.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"I haven't spoken to him since last night, before Rick and Stacey joined us, and I never mentioned your name.\"\n\tStacey shrugged. \"I'm convinced!\" Rick simply nodded.\n\t\"Well, if you can see the future,\" said Landauer, \"tell us where we're going to rescue Lucy so we can go get her.\"\n\t\"It is not certain that you [i]will[/i] rescue her,\" Omen replied, causing a pained expression on Supersonic's face.\n\t\"Oh, so now you [i]can't [/i]see the future?\" asked Landauer mockingly.\n\t\"I can see many futures,\" said Omen, unperturbed. \"Which ones come to pass depends upon a multitude of factors, including individual choices and random chance. The more factors are involved, the more uncertain the outcome.\"\n\tLandauer walked up to Omen and leaned forward until their faces were just inches apart. \"Then what good are you? Hell, anyone can imagine different possible futures!\"\n\t\"Not everyone can see the paths that lead to them,\" said Omen. \"That is my gift.\"\n\t\"Okay, then,\" said Landauer, \"what path leads to us defeating PSI and rescuing Lucy and Park?\"\n\tOmen was silent for a moment. \"I am not sure,\" he said at last.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer and Supersonic simultaneously.\n\t\"Ever since I arrived in this city, my vision of the future has been muddled. Almost as if . . . something is blocking it.\"\n\tLandauer smirked again. \"Reply hazy, ask again later.\"\n\t\"What could do that?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"Maybe Porgrave broadcasters?\" Supersonic suggested.\n\t\"What are those?\" asked Stacey.\n\t\"Anti-psi devices. They blanket an area with psychic static, blocking telepaths from reading people's minds. Washington's full of 'em.\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"I think not. Those machines have never interfered with my vision before. It must be something else.\"\n\t\"Well, that's just great!\" fumed Landauer, fixing his eyes on Supersonic. \"Your fortune teller appears to have laid a big goose egg, Agent Squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"I'm doing the best I can, Agent Landauer, and your constant sniping at me doesn't help!\"\n\t\"Yeah, give him a break, Landauer!\" said Stacey. \"He's the only reason you're still on this case!\"\n\tLandauer whirled on her. \"In case you hadn't noticed, honey, this case has hit a dead end. There was nothing at that abandoned meat-packing plant PSI was using as a base, and Park's tracking device was found on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, so we have absolutely no idea where they are! None!\"\n\t\"Be that as it may, Agent Landauer,\" said Rick, calmly, \"accusations and recriminations accomplish nothing.\"\n\t\"Ah, blow it out your fortune cookie, Rocket. Right now, we might as well be consulting those!\"\n\tRick narrowed his eyes but remained silent.\n\tSupersonic looked up at Omen sadly. \"I'm sorry, Omen.\"\n\t\"Do not be,\" said Omen. \"There may yet be something I can do to help.\"\n\t\"Like what?\" Landauer snapped.\n\t\"Your friend, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Supersonic sullenly, his guilt over the loss of his partner evident.\n\t\"He is here.\"\n\tEveryone stared at Omen.\n\t\"Park's here?\" asked Landauer.\n\tOmen nodded. \"In the lobby.\"\n\tSupersonic grabbed his cell phone and called Park. After a moment, he looked up at the others. \"He doesn't answer!\"\n\t\"Maybe he lost his phone,\" Stacey suggested.\n\tSupersonic thought for a moment. \"He's here, in PRIMUS headquarters, with no tracking device.\" His dark eyes went wide. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, but the squirrel was already shooting down the hall.\n\n\tSilver Avenger David Park entered the lobby of PRIMUS headquarters and walked up to the receptionist. \"How are you, Janice?\" he asked, smiling.\n\tShe blinked at him. \"David! I heard you'd been captured!\"\n\t\"I escaped,\" he replied. \"I need to report to Director Sanchez, immediately.\"\n\tShe nodded. \"Of course!\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. Park thanked her and went in, passing the two Iron Guard agents standing on either side of it.\n\tThe door slid down behind Park, and he crossed the short, featureless corridor to the second door. Both doors were never open at the same time. The scanners lining the corridor recognized him as Silver Avenger David Park, and the door at the far end slid upward. Park walked through it and immediately headed for PRIMUS's main computer room.\n\tPark entered a stairwell and swiftly ascended two flights of stairs, emerging in front of the elevators on the third floor. He strolled unhurriedly down the main corridor, the soles of his dark blue boots sinking into the deep orange pile carpet as security cameras silently observed his passage. Decorating the walls were pictures of famous people and scenes from American history. To his right was Washington crossing the Delaware. To his left, Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. Straight ahead, the American flag was being raised on Iwo Jima. Park paid no attention to them, his eyes blank and glassy. A right turn followed by a left brought him to the door to the computer room. It was closed and locked. He produced a magnetic keycard from his belt and inserted it into the slot beside the door. There was a click, and he turned the handle, pushed the door open, and went inside. The door swung shut behind him.\n\tInside the room were the shoulder-high, dull silver cabinets housing the PRIMUS mainframe, their black fronts covered with blinking red LED lights. They contained everything PRIMUS knew. Three PRIMUS agents—two men and a woman—were administering to the machine as Park walked toward it.\n\tAn alarm went off, and Supersonic Squirrel's voice burst over the intercom. \"Attention all agents! Find and apprehend Silver Avenger Park! He's under enemy control!\" The three agents all froze and stared at Park, then drew their .44 magnum revolvers from the holsters on their hips. Like all PRIMUS agents, they had been enhanced by daily doses of Cyberline. Being able to tolerate the drug without harmful side effects was one of the requirements for becoming a PRIMUS agent, save for those like Supersonic who possessed paranormal abilities of their own. It increased agents' physical dexterity by as much as fifty percent and gave them about half the reaction time of a normal human being. But none of these agents were Silver Avengers.\n\tPark lunged at the nearest agent, his hand knifing toward the man's chest as he raised his gun to fire. His fingertips struck the Kevlar cloth of the man's uniform, breaking a rib and knocking the man off his feet as he cried out in pain. Park whirled on the other two as they fired. One bullet missed and embedded itself in the wall. The other struck his torso, where it was stopped by his own Kevlar costume. He charged toward the female agent, throwing a punch at her, which connected, hurling her across the room and into the wall, where she slid to the floor, unconscious. The remaining agent fired again, hitting Park in his lower back, but again, it was stopped by his costume. Park slammed his fist into the man's chest, dropping him.\n\tElapsed time: five seconds.\n\tPark turned to the computer, removed a device from his belt, and moved to insert it into one of the access ports. Before he could do so, there was a tremendous impact and the door to the computer room flew off its hinges as a massive blast of wind hit it, sending it spinning across the room. Hovering in the doorway was Supersonic Squirrel, a scowl darkening his big-eyed, bucktoothed face. \"Omen said you'd be here,\" he growled.\n\tPark lunged at the computer, attempting to insert the device, but Supersonic rocketed forward and slammed into him, sending them both crashing into the far wall. Park threw a right cross, but the amazingly agile squirrel dodged and seized Park's arm. With a twist of his small body, he threw Park over his shoulder to the floor. Park rolled to his feet and sprang at Supersonic, but a vortex of wind formed around the squirrel, pushing Park back, his boots sliding along the carpet.\n\tAt that moment, Rick and Stacey ran into the room, striking combat poses. Behind them came Omen, his cape billowing around him. Park glanced back at them, now surrounded.\n\t\"Dave,\" said Supersonic evenly, \"it's me, Supersonic, your friend. You're following a hypnotic command implanted by Nicholas Darke. You have to snap out of it. I don't want to hurt you. Please, don't make me.\"\n\tPark stared at Supersonic's small, gray-furred form hovering in the air with wind whirling around him like a miniature cyclone. He blinked and shook his head, sweat dripping down his face, his brow furrowed. Then he cried out and tried again to insert the device into one of the computer's access ports. Omen jumped in the way, covering the port with his body, while Rick launched himself across the carpet and slid under Park, sweeping a leg out from under him and knocking him down. Stacey lunged, her fingertips striking a tendon in Park's wrist. That caused him to open the hand holding the device, and Supersonic immediately created a gust of wind that sent it wafting through the air toward him.\n\tPark yelled in anguish, hurling himself at the squirrel, arms outstretched, but Supersonic blew him back with a wind blast. Then Rick and Stacey both struck nerve centers on Park's body, causing him to cry out in pain and double over.\n\t\"Agent Park,\" said Omen, \"listen carefully. Norway, gondola, diatonic.\"\n\tPark's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.\n\t\"What just happened?\" asked Stacey, astonished.\n\t\"Darke always implants a shutdown command, in case one of his victims turns on him,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"How did you know what it was?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"My vision showed me the correct combination of words.\"\n\tThe raccoon's mouth fell open. \"Out of all those millions of possibilities?\"\n\t\"The command is always based on his initials, N.G.D., which narrows it down somewhat. I suppose it appeals to his ego, like an artist signing a painting.\"\n\t\"You might have done it sooner,\" said Supersonic grumpily.\n\t\"As Rick pointed out, there were many possible futures. It took time to find the right one.\"\n\tSanchez and Landauer appeared in the doorway, the latter holding his gun in both hands, aimed at Park.\n\t\"It's all right,\" said Supersonic, holding up his hand. \"Crisis averted.\" He walked over to Sanchez, handing her the device. \"Any idea what this is, Director?\"\n\tShe nodded. \"A remote uplink. If Park had inserted this, it would have transmitted every bit of data in PRIMUS's computer to a receiving unit somewhere: information on superpowered individuals and organizations, and on PRIMUS personnel, operations, resources, safehouses, contacts, informants, research projects, technology, and so on. We would have been completely compromised.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Rick, indicating Park. \"Is [i]he[/i] compromised, the way Nightmunk was?\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"Darke did not have time to do a complete brainwashing on him. He simply implanted a single command in his mind that he was compelled to obey. When he awakens, he will be himself again. Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Then he can't have gotten his hooks into Lucy yet!\" said Stacey eagerly.\n\t\"No, he has not had time.\"\n\tLandauer narrowed his eyes. \"And how do [i]you[/i] know so much about Darke's brainwashing techniques, Omen?\"\n\t\"Because I have encountered other unfortunate souls whose minds were warped by his wicked skills,\" Omen replied, a touch of coldness in his sonorous voice.\n\t\"Let us get him to the infirmary,\" said Sanchez. \"He can be treated, and we can find out if he learned anything useful while he was PSI's captive.\" Two PRIMUS agents carried Park out of the room, while others tended to the three Park had knocked unconscious.\n\n\tPark awoke in PRIMUS's infirmary and looked around frantically, eyes wide. He was lying on a hospital bed, with Sanchez, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer all standing over him—or, in Rick's and Supersonic's cases, looking up at him.\n\t\"It's all right, partner,\" said Supersonic, smiling. \"You're safe now. How do you feel?\"\n\tPark relaxed and reached down, rubbing his side where Rick and Stacey had hit him. \"Sore as hell. How did I get here?\" His eyes focused on Omen. \"And who is that?\"\n\t\"That's Omen,\" Supersonic replied. \"You don't remember anything?\"\n\tPark furrowed his brow. \"Darke. I remember Darke. He was standing right in front of me, as close as you are now. I tried to grab him, and then . . . there was pain! Incredible pain!\"\n\t\"Pain from what?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"Some guy in a black-and-copper costume. Darke called him Torment.\" \n\tSupersonic noticed Omen stiffen. \"That mean something to you?\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"I know this man. His real name is Jeff Baldwin. He was born with a brain mutation that caused him to be in constant pain, which nothing could relieve. His parents did not wish to deal with him, so they put him up for adoption. But nobody wanted to adopt such a child and deal with a lifetime of medical expenses and suffering, so for thirteen years he remained in the adoption center, unloved, unwanted, and in perpetual agony.\"\n\t\"Good god!\" said Landauer.\n\t\"How horrible!\" said Stacey, hugging herself.\n\t\"That poor kid!\" said Supersonic, wiping away a tear.\n\t\"Darke learned of Jeff's condition and was interested in its cause,\" Omen continued, \"so he offered to use his advanced neurochemical knowledge to try to cure him, which he eventually did. However, the drug he developed had an unexpected side effect. The mutation that had caused Jeff such pain now enabled him to project pain into others. Darke decided this ability could be useful to him, so he arranged to take custody of Jeff, giving him the codename Torment. Jeff requires daily injections of Darke's drug to keep his pain from returning, and he will do anything to prevent this from happening.\"\n\t\"So he's Darke's slave,\" said Rick, scowling.\n\tOmen nodded. \"Essentially.\"\n\tSanchez turned back to Park. \"Was there anyone else with Darke?\"\n\tPark thought for a moment. \"I was only conscious for a few seconds before Torment made me pass out, but I remember Twister was there, and a guy with a pockmarked face and thinning black hair who was dressed kind of like a priest, with a black robe and a white collar. He was holding a staff with a gold head. And there were a bunch of PSI agents, and three kids in those black-and-magenta costumes. Two of them were in Lucy's room with Twister when I broke in. She called them Blackout and Displacer, but I don't know which was which. They both had sandy hair and looked kind of similar, maybe brother and sister. The third one was a Black girl, about ten years old, with bad acne. I never heard her name.\"\n\t\"Any of these folks sound familiar?\" Supersonic asked Omen.\n\tOmen shook his head. \"No, I do not recognize them. They must be recent recruits.\"\n\t\"Well,\" said Sanchez, \"we can do a workup on the guy dressed like a priest. He sounds pretty distinctive. And we can search the national databases for any missing children matching those descriptions.\"\n\t\"A pair of possible siblings with sandy hair, and a Black girl with acne,\" said Landauer. \"I wouldn't hold out much hope there.\"\n\t\"And that's assuming they're even Americans,\" said Supersonic. \"PSI has recruited people from outside the country before.\"\n\t\"I heard Blackout and Displacer talk,\" said Park. \"They sounded like Americans.\"\n\t\"Force sounded like an American, too,\" said Stacey. \"As for Floater . . .\"\n\t\"I have already spoken to METE about Floater,\" said Sanchez. \"They have never heard of this creature.\"\n\t\"METE?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"The Metropolitan Extra-Terrestrial Enclave,\" said Supersonic. \"It's sort of a halfway house for homeless aliens.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"I wouldn't have thought there'd be enough of those to warrant such a place!\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You'd be surprised.\"\n\t\"Remember,\" said Sanchez, \"there have been aliens living on Earth since at least 1938, and more than a few are members of the superhero community.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Yeah, my old teammate in the Millennium Guard, Ironkid, is half alien. Great kid.\"\n\t\"METE is a private research facility supported by regular contributors and government contracts,\" said Landauer. \"Their focus is biological research. A number of recent advances in medicine are the result of their work.\"\n\t\"You approve of them, Agent Landauer?\" asked Rick, sounding surprised.\n\tLandauer looked at the raccoon. \"My daughter had leukemia. Drugs developed at METE saved her life.\"\n\t\"Oh,\" said Rick. \"I am very happy for you, then.\"\n\t\"Thank you,\" said Landauer.\n\t\"All right,\" said Sanchez, \"let's get busy, people. The sooner we track down PSI, the sooner we rescue Lucy.\"\n\tPark sat up on the bed. \"Permission to return to duty, Director?\"\n\tSanchez smirked. \"Each day you're out of action costs the taxpayers a fortune. Granted.\"\n\n\t\"Now, I want you to relax, Lucy,\" said Counselor Darke, in a low, soothing voice. \"Just relax and look at the light. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Concentrate only on the light.\"\n\tLucy gazed at the lit candle sitting on the table before her, the only illumination in the darkened room. It was so pretty, the flame so straight and unwavering. She felt as though nothing in the world existed except her and the candle flame. She felt completely relaxed and at peace. \n\tDarke smiled. Lucy was progressing nicely. The drugs he'd administered in her fruit juice were gently quelling her fears and sapping her will to resist. How amazing the mind was—and how malleable.\n\tThe door to the office flew open, blowing out the candle and making Lucy gasp. In the doorway stood Revelation, staff in hand. Behind him hovered Floater.\n\tDarke whirled, glaring at the pair. \"I've told you before never to disturb me during a session, Anthony!\" he shouted, causing Lucy to cover her ears.\n\t\"Something is blurring my vision!\" growled Revelation.\n\tDarke stared at him. \"What?\" He wondered if the brain mutation that granted Revelation his precognition was starting to affect his eyesight. Darke had known for some time that it was slowly killing him, though he had not told him this.\n\t\"Ever since this morning,\" said Revelation, \"my vision of the future has been murky, as if something were clouding it.\"\n\tDarke considered this. It was possible that the mutation was destroying Revelation's brain even faster than he'd estimated. That could explain the clouding of his vision. He would have to conduct some tests to make sure. \"Can you see the cause?\" he asked. \n\tRevelation nodded. \"It is a man, wearing a blue cloak and hood.\"\n\tDarke gasped. \"Omen!\"\n\t\"You know this person?\" asked Revelation, stiffening.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Yes. He's a precog, like you, a member of the original PSI.\"\n\t\"Another precog? I thought the power to see the future was mine alone!\"\n\tDarke lit himself a cigarette. \"Don't be naive, Anthony. If a mutation can happen once, it can happen again. It's just a matter of inheriting the right combination of genes.\"\n\t\"My power is a divine gift!\" shouted Revelation, pounding his staff on the floor and causing Lucy to cower in her chair.\n\t\"Lower your voice!\" Darke growled. \"You're scaring the child. Omen infiltrated PSI because he had some sort of vendetta against Psymon. I'm still not clear on what it was. He used our plan to break Psymon and two other members of PSI out of Stronghold Prison as a means of reaching him so he could kill him, a masterful bit of subterfuge, I must say. He failed, as Psymon still remains in Stronghold, but in the process Omega, PSI's chief of security, was killed by Nightmunk, who we thought was under our control. All the original members of PSI were subsequently captured by PRIMUS, save for Torment and myself. After that, Omen simply vanished. I never found out who he was or what became of him. He's still very much a mystery to me.\"\n\tRevelation glowered. \"I refuse to tolerate the existence of another precog! This Omen must be destroyed!\"\n\t\"And how, exactly, do you plan to do that, Anthony?\" asked Darke, smirking. \"Do you know where he is?\"\n\t\"No,\" Revelation admitted, \"but he must be someplace nearby, or he wouldn't be blocking my vision. And his being here can't be a coincidence.\" He grinned unpleasantly. \"Perhaps he's after you, Nicholas.\"\n\tDarke shrugged. \"Why would he be after me? I'm not Psymon.\"\n\t\"You said it yourself: He's a mystery. Who knows what his true goal is?\"\n\t\"If he wanted to kill me, he had ample opportunity to do that when he was with PSI.\"\n\t\"I must find him!\" snarled Revelation. \"None may see the future but me, the living revelation of the glory of power!\" He turned and stalked away, Floater following him.\n\tDarke watched them go. He had neglected to mention that it was he who had programmed Nightmunk to kill Omega, and that he had permitted the rest of PSI to be captured in order to create a new PSI with himself as its sole master. As he smoked, he considered the implications of what Revelation had told him. So, the mysterious Omen was back. That was troubling. Darke did not like mysteries. He was a man who liked to be in control of every situation, and that meant knowing everything. And as long as Omen was interfering with Revelation's vision, his usefulness to PSI was compromised. Something would have to be done about this.\n\tHe turned back to Lucy, smiled, and relit the candle. \"Now, let's begin again.\"\n\t\n\tSupersonic and Park burst into the conference room at PRIMUS headquarters that Sanchez had turned into their base of operations, causing her, Omen, Rick, Stacey, and Landauer to look up from stacks of files and newspapers they were examining. \"We got something!\" the squirrel announced, his bucktoothed face beaming.\n\t\"Well, don't keep it to yourself!\" said Stacey.\n\t\"I IDed the guy dressed like a priest as one Anthony Martelli, a member of the New York mob,\" said Park.\n\t\"And get this!\" said Supersonic, grinning excitedly. \"He found people for them!\"\n\t\"Interesting!\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"He used to work for a mobster named 'Sticks' Monroe,\" said Park.\n\t\"I've heard of him,\" said Landauer. \"The New York District Attorney indicted him for murder a few years ago. The case had to be dropped when all the witnesses were shot dead, despite having been moved to secret locations. We figured there was a leak in the DA's office, but we never found one.\"\n\t\"PRIMUS didn't have anything on Martelli,\" said Supersonic, \"so we checked with the FBI. No mention of any paranormal abilities, but apparently the guy is some kind of religious nut. Not of any conventional religion, though. He claimed all religions were bunk and kept talking about the importance of 'supreme power.'\"\n\t\"As you might imagine,\" said Park, \"that didn't make him too popular with the other wise guys, who were all good Catholic boys.\"\n\t\"Does he still work for Monroe?\" asked Sanchez.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"He dropped out of sight about six months ago. Nobody's seen or heard from him since then. The FBI figured one of his fellow mobsters probably got sick of him bashing religion and whacked him.\"\n\t\"This Martelli,\" said Omen, \"you say he was good at finding people?\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That's how he came to Monroe's attention. He'd find people for anyone who would pay him.\"\n\t\"He must have some kind of psychic location ability,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Why would he be with PSI otherwise?\"\n\t\"It is more than that,\" said Omen, standing up. \"He is a precog.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Another precog?\"\n\t\"It explains the interference with my vision. By seeing the future, one alters it, changing the probability of what will eventually come to pass. Thus, two precogs working toward opposing goals should essentially cancel each other out, leaving them both lost in a fog of confusion and uncertainty.\"\n\t\"I imagine that's not something you're used to,\" said Rick.\n\t\"The idea of dueling precogs is a fascinating one,\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"Wait a minute!\" said Supersonic. \"If he's blocking your power, then you must be blocking his, right?\"\n\t\"Unquestionably,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"And I'll bet Darke isn't happy about that,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Not if he's relying on Martelli's visions to avoid being caught,\" said Park.\n\t\"Or to locate new potential recruits,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Can you sense when Martelli is near,\" Landauer asked Omen, \"like a homing beacon?\"\n\t\"The analogy is imperfect, Agent Landauer,\" Omen replied. \"We do not generate signals that grow stronger as one moves closer to their source. It is more a matter of the degree to which our respective futures are intertwined. I am involved in this because Supersonic called me and I agreed to come. From that moment, Anthony Martelli's future and mine have been connected. What the result of this will be, I cannot say.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"Accept the word of one who [i]doesn't[/i] know?\"\n\tOmen nodded, smiling slightly. \"Aptly put, my furry friend.\"\n\t\"However,\" said Sanchez, \"it does suggest a way we may be able to bring PSI out into the open.\"\n\t\n\t\"Counselor Darke! Counselor Darke!\"\n\tNicholas Darke sat up on the cot on which he'd been sleeping and blinked his eyes until they focused on the darkened office of the warehouse that PSI was using as a temporary base of operations. Torment's generally gloomy voice was uncharacteristically excited. \"What is it, Jeff?\"\n\tTorment opened the door, letting light spill into the room. The cowl of his costume had been pulled back to reveal the face of a handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed youth in his late teens. \"You have to see this!\" he said.\n\tDarke swung his legs down and stood up. He was wearing a rumpled dress shirt and slacks, both with designer labels. \"See what?\" he asked calmly. \"Is there danger? Are we under attack?\" He had been counting on Revelation to be able to foresee such a contingency, but since Omen had entered the picture, Revelation's powers could no longer be relied upon.\n\t\"No, sir, nothing like that,\" Torment replied.\n\t\"Well, what, then?\" asked Darke, annoyed.\n\t\"Trust me, sir, it's easier if you just come outside and look.\"\n\tDarke sighed, slipped on a pair of loafers, and followed the young psionic down the hall. They walked quickly through the empty warehouse, out an open corrugated aluminum door that had been made to accomodate large trucks, and into the stockyard, which was surrounded by a wooden fence that prevented anyone outside seeing in and was topped with barbed wire. A number of PSI agents were standing on the yard's concrete surface, looking up at the sky. He tilted his head back to see what it was the agents were gazing at, and his mouth fell open.\n\tWritten in white letters in the clear blue sky was: \n\t[i]Martelli\n\tRFK Stadium\n\tOmen[/i]\n\tDarke looked around the stockyard. \"Where is Revelation?\"\n\t\"Gone, sir,\" Torment replied. \"He had Twister open a portal for him, and he, Twister, Floater, Force, Blackout, and Displacer went through.\"\n\t\"That idiot!\" Darke snarled. \"He's going to get them all captured!\"\n\t\"You think it's a trap, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"Of course it's a trap,\" Darke snapped. \"And Revelation is leading my new PSI right into it!\"\n\t\"But I thought he could see the future!\" Torment protested.\n\t\"Not with Omen around, he can't. Their powers are negating each other.\"\n\tTorment shrugged helplessly. \"Well, what can we do, sir? They're at the stadium by now, so the trap must have already been sprung!\"\n\tDarke frowned. \"Supervise the evacuation of this base to the tertiary location.\"\n\t\"What about you, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"I'm going to see if I can salvage this mess.\" He turned and began walking back into the warehouse.\n\t\"Sir!\" shouted Torment, running after him. \"Let me come with you!\"\n\tDarke waved him off. \"I need you here, Jeff.\"\n\tTorment's voice shook with fear. \"But if anything happens to you, there'll be nobody to make the drug that keeps my pain away! Please, sir, I couldn't bear going back to that. I'd rather die!\"\n\tDarke paused and looked at him. His eyes were frantic, the boy terrified by the thought of returning to the agony that had been his whole world for the first thirteen years of his life. \"Very well.\" He turned to Agent Heine. \"Heine, you take charge of the evacuation.\"\n\tHeine nodded. \"Yes, Counselor.\"\n\tDarke and Torment went back into the warehouse.\n\n\tSupersonic Squirrel sat cross-legged at the center of a vast field of brown dirt, the bleachers and walls of the mammoth stadium rising around him. He remembered when it had first opened, in 1961. Back then, it had been called District of Columbia Stadium. President Kennedy had refused to permit the Washington Redskins to play there, since it was on federal land, until their owner desegregated the team. In 1969, it had been renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in honor of President Kennedy's slain brother. In 2019, it had been closed, and now stood abandoned on the west bank of the Anacostia River, awaiting demolition. The squirrel sighed as he looked around at the decaying stadium, its remaining seats empty, the only sound the tinny rattling of the racks of lights above the bleachers by the wind ruffling his tail and fur. Like himself, it was a relic of another time.\n\tA bright point of light appeared a few dozen yards away from him, quickly expanding into a white circle floating in the air. Out of it stepped Revelation. Behind him came Force, Floater, Twister, and a boy and girl he hadn't seen before.\n\t\"I see you got my message, Martelli,\" said Supersonic, still sitting. \"I hoped you would.\"\n\tRevelation glared at the squirrel. \"Call me Revelation, for that is what I now am, the living revelation of the glory of power!\"\n\t\"Nifty,\" said Supersonic, standing up and dusting off his furry backside with his hands. \"I also see you brought some friends. For future reference, which one is Blackout and which one is Displacer?\"\n\t\"I'm Blackout,\" the boy said.\n\t\"And I'm Displacer,\" said the girl.\n\t\"Hi. Nice to finally meet you both.\" The squirrel turned his attention back to Revelation. \"Where's Darke?\"\n\t\"Where's Omen?\" asked Revelation.\n\tSupersonic grinned, buck teeth gleaming. \"Don't you know?\"\n\tRevelation growled. \"He is cloaking himself from my vision, somehow.\"\n\t\"I have it on good authority he's doing a lot more than that. As long as you two are working against each other, neither of you can see the future worth beans!\"\n\tTwister looked at Revelation in alarm. \"You said it would be safe!\"\n\t\"Calm yourself, Susan,\" said Revelation. \"You have nothing to fear as long as you're with me.\" He gestured at Supersonic with his staff. \"Blackout. Displacer. Deal with that rodent!\"\n\tBlackout concentrated on the squirrel, and his eyes widened. \"My power's not working on him!\"\n\t\"Neither is mine!\" cried Displacer.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"You must really think I'm dumb. I knew I was going up against PSI, so I took precautions. My mind is shielded against psionics.\" He reached up and lowered his goggles over his eyes. \"In the name of the people of the United States, you're all under arrest. You have the right to remain silent—\"\n\t\"You're not shielded against [i]my[/i] power, squirrel!\" said Twister, grinning and raising her hands. \"I'm gonna take you down like I did your Silver Avenger buddy!\"\n\tSupersonic shot straight at Twister, slamming into her and knocking her back thirty feet, their bodies gouging a furrow in the dirt as they skidded along. At that moment, from a tunnel that opened onto the field emerged Rick, Stacey, Landauer, and Silver Avengers Park and Sanchez, all wearing mirrored anti-psionic goggles.\n\t\"Give it up, Martelli!\" shouted Sanchez.\n\t\"I am Revelation!\" yelled Revelation. \"Force! Floater! Get them!\"\n\tForce and Floater flew toward the new arrivals, Force heading for Sanchez while Floater made for Park. The blond-haired youth raised his hands and fired a bolt of pure force at the director of PRIMUS, hitting her and knocking her back a hundred feet, over the concrete wall—still bearing plywood billboards for various products—that had separated the spectators from the playing field, and into the banks of seats beyond. Landauer fired at the boy with his pistol as Stacey closed with him, but his bullets bounced harmlessly off the force field surrounding Force's body.\n\t\"Oh, no!\" said Force, grinning down at Stacey as he flew twenty feet above her. \"I'm not letting you get your hands on me again!\" Stacey scowled, unable to reach the boy. Then she heard the sound of splintering wood behind her. Glancing back, she saw Sanchez, crouched atop the wall, tear a billboard for Miller Lite off it. The director swung the huge sign back horizontally behind her and then hurled it at Force like a discus thrower, sending it spinning through the air toward him. Force had no chance to dodge as the heavy plywood billboard caught him edgewise, stunning him and dropping him to the ground. He landed right in front of Stacey, who finished him off with a nerve strike to his shoulder, rendering the boy unconscious.\n\t\"Careful, you know what that thing can do!\" said Park as he and Rick ran toward Floater, the alien hovering silently six feet off the ground.\n\tRick nodded. \"All too well.\"\n\t\"As I am too well acquainted with your bite, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, in its grating, electronic voice. \"A most unpleasant experience, one that will not be repeated.\"\n\t\"Why are you doing this, Floater?\" Rick asked. \"What are you getting out of it?\"\n\t\"My motives are no concern of yours, Earth-creature,\" Floater replied. \"You should concentrate instead on surviving the next few minutes.\" It reached out with its mind and tried to seize the raccoon telekinetically, but Rick dodged nimbly, evading its grasp. Park took advantage of the opening to dart in, one hand knifing toward the green brain floating in its transparent sphere. His fingers struck the sphere with a sharp report, and green fluid began oozing through a crack in it. Floater screeched, seizing Park with its mind and flinging him away. Rick leaped on the alien, wrapping his arms and legs around its sphere and squeezing with all his might, but lacking Park's biochemically enhanced strength, he could not break it. Floater shot upward, carrying the raccoon into the sky with it.\n\tMeanwhile, Supersonic and Twister were rolling in the dirt together, one of the squirrel's furry arms locked around the girl's neck in a choke hold as she struggled to break free. Supersonic bore down on her as hard as he could, but most of the force he was exerting was being shunted away into another dimension, preventing him from cutting off her air supply. Still, he was making it difficult for her to focus her power. Twister glared up at Blackout and Displacer, spittle flicking from her lips. \"Help me, you idiots!\"\n\t\"But he's immune to our powers!\" Displacer protested.\n\t\"Punch him! Kick him! Do [i]something![/i] It's not like you don't have a horse in this race!\"\n\tBlackout and Displacer looked at each other, shrugged, and ran up, both of them kicking at the squirrel. Supersonic gritted his teeth in pain as their boots struck his body. Fighting children was not what he'd signed on for, but these were no ordinary kids. Twister had taken down a Silver Avenger single-handed. He created a vortex of wind around himself and Twister, pushing Blackout and Displacer away from them.\n\tStacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer closed in on Revelation, who stood glaring at them, black robe billowing in the breeze, staff clutched in his hand. \"Ready to surrender now, Martelli?\" Sanchez asked.\n\tRevelation grinned twistedly. \"This is very far from over, Director Sanchez!\" He raised his staff.\n\t\"Beware his staff!\" came a man's voice from the tunnel.\n\tSanchez dodged as a blast of electricity arced toward her from the head of Revelation's staff, narrowly evading it. Revelation turned toward the voice. Omen was emerging from the tunnel, his face grim beneath his turquoise hood.\n\t\"You!\" snarled Revelation, eyes burning with hatred. Then he sidestepped as Stacey threw a flying kick at his head, sailing past him to land in the dirt in a few feet away. Landauer fired his gun, but Revelation knew the path the bullet would take and avoided it.\n\t\"Yes, I,\" replied Omen, striding toward the black-robed figure. \"Your antithesis. You may be able to predict the others' actions, but not mine, nor any act of theirs I may influence.\"\n\tRevelation frowned, all the multiple potential futures in his mind fading into a gray fog. \"The same goes for you, Omen,\" he growled. \"We stalemate each other.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Omen, \"but my allies are trained fighters, while yours are a group of inexperienced, undisciplined children. I believe that gives us an edge.\" He smiled.\n\tRevelation looked around. Stacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer had him surrounded, and he could no longer anticipate what they would do. Force was down, Floater was somewhere up in the sky, and Blackout, Displacer, and Twister were all effectively neutralized. It began to dawn on him that coming here may not have been a wise move.\n\tAt that moment, there came a whine of jet turbines above them. They all looked up to see a figure in shiny gray armor with blue and black trim drop out of the sky and land on the dirt floor of the stadium. On its forehead was the Greek letter omega. In its arms it held Torment, whom it lowered to the ground.\n\tSupersonic and Sanchez both stared at the armored figure in disbelief. \"It's not possible!\" the squirrel gasped. \"Nightmunk killed you!\"\n\t\"He killed Omega,\" the armored figure replied casually, its voice distorted by an electronic filter. \"Fortunately, Omega kept a suit of backup armor. Greetings. I am Nicholas Darke.\" He turned his head toward Revelation. \"You imbecile! Your pride and vanity have put the entire organization at risk!\"\n\tRevelation simply glared at him, saying nothing.\n\tSanchez walked toward Darke, her face hard. \"Nicholas Darke, in the name of the people of the United States, I place you under arrest.\"\n\tDarke chuckled. \"Oh, I think not, Director Sanchez.\" He tapped a button on his gauntlet. Instantly, all their anti-psionic goggles shorted out, as did the anti-psionic circuitry in Supersonic's helmet and Omen's cowl.\n\t\"As you can see,\" said Darke, \"I came prepared, too.\"\n\tInstantly, Torment focused his power on Supersonic, and the squirrel screamed in agony as every nerve ending in his small body exploded with pain. He let go of Twister and curled into a ball, whimpering. Released from Supersonic's choke hold, Twister raised her hands and concentrated on Sanchez. The director of PRIMUS cried out and doubled over as Twister rotated Sanchez partially into another dimension, causing her intense anguish.\n\tRealizing that their adversaries were no longer shielded from their powers, Blackout and Displacer unleashed them on Park and Landauer, respectively. All the sensory input to Park's brain was suddenly blocked, leaving him seemingly floating in a black, silent void, unable to feel anything. He fell forward into the dirt and lay there, calling for help, arms and legs flailing uselessly. Landauer, on the other hand, found all his senses distorted, leaving him dizzy and uncoordinated. Sounds became muffled, his vision became blurry, and the ground seemed to rise and fall beneath his feet. Everyone around him had become a gray blob, making him unable to distinguish friend from foe. Landauer had once tried LSD in college, just to see what it was like. He hadn't enjoyed its effects and had never done it again. This was much like that, only worse.\n\tRevelation grinned savagely as Supersonic Squirrel, the two Silver Avengers, and the FBI agent were suddenly incapacitated. That left only Stacey Summers, an unpowered martial artist, and Omen, whose precognition was nullified. He turned to the latter. \"Your allies have fallen, Omen, as all who stand against pure power must! And now, you shall join them!\" He aimed his staff at Omen, and a bolt of electricity shot from its head. \n\tOmen dodged desperately, no longer able to foresee the path the bolt would follow. Fortunately, Revelation was equally unable to anticipate where Omen would be, and lacking that advantage, he was not an especially good shot. The bolt missed its target by several feet. A moment later, Stacey struck Revelation's staff, knocking it from his hand. He whirled to face her, eyes blazing with hatred. \"Didn't see that coming, did you?\" said Stacey, grinning.\n\t\"You'll pay for that, bitch!\" Revelation snarled. \"Oh, how you'll pay!\"\n\tThroughout all this, Nicholas Darke had stood silently in Omega's suit of backup powered armor, taking no part in the battle. He was a thinker, not a fighter, and had no interest in fisticuffs. He surveyed the stadium with satisfaction. The effects of Revelation's stupidity appeared to have been negated, the potential disaster averted. The only adversary here who really mattered was Omen, and Darke could deal with him at his leisure. He glanced at Stacey and smiled inside his helmet. This would be fun.\n\t\"Mrs. Summers,\" Darke said. \"The papers mentioned that you are the widow of the hero Samurai. It may interest you to know he was killed while investigating one of PSI's secret bases. Naturally, we would have preferred to bring him under our control, but his will was too strong, so we were forced to eliminate him. Regrettable, but necessary.\"\n\tStacey stared at Darke, then cried out in anger and charged toward him. Darke raised an arm and fired a spread of plasma bolts at her, but she dodged nimbly as a cat, and they all missed. She closed with Darke and threw a kick at his midriff, which connected, knocking him off his feet. Darke fell on his rump in the dirt, surprised.\n\t\"I am not a violent man, Mrs. Summers,\" said Darke, sounding mildly annoyed. \"I have never personally killed anyone.\" He aimed his arm at her. \"But there is a first time for everything.\"\n\t\n\tOver a thousand feet above the condemned stadium, Rick clung tightly to Floater, his arms and legs wrapped around its protective sphere. From this altitude, he could see all of Washington, D.C., as well as the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia. The familiar white shapes of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building rose up to the west. Beyond them lay the glittering ribbon of the Potomac River, and beyond that the flat, geometric mass of the Pentagon and the green expanse of Arlington National Cemetery. It was quite a view.\n\t\"How does it feel, Earth-creature,\" droned Floater, \"to know you are going to die?\"\n\t\"I've always known that,\" Rick replied calmly.\n\t\"But there is a difference between the abstract knowledge of death and the immediacy of it, is there not? Any time I wish to, I can simply cast you into space.\"\n\t\"If you're trying to frighten me, Floater, it's not going to work. Fear is just a feeling. Feelings can be controlled.\"\n\t\"So you feel no fear at all?\" Floater asked curiously.\n\t\"Sorry to disappoint you.\"\n\t\"We shall see,\" said Floater. Immediately, it launched into a series of dizzying aerobatics, swooping and banking and doing loop-the-loops, as the raccoon held on for dear life.\n\t\"Sadistic cuss, aren't you?\" said Rick through clenched teeth, the wind blowing through his fur. Fortunately, his goggles protected his eyes from it.\n\t\"You caused me pain, Earth-creature,\" replied Floater. \"More pain than anyone has for a very long time. I would repay you for that.\"\n\t\"Keep talking, then, Floater,\" Rick replied. \"Your monologue is pain enough.\"\n\t\"I will have you screaming in terror and begging for mercy before I kill you, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, diving earthward.\n\tRick shook his head. \"That's not going to happen.\" He closed his eyes, one clawed hand exploring the transparent dome covering Floater's brain as his mind sank into a trancelike state. His fingers touched the crack Park had made in its surface when he'd struck it earlier. He concentrated all his awareness on it, perceiving the structure of the dome in a way that went beyond the five ordinary senses, feeling how its molecules were intertwined and how Park's blow had disrupted those linkages. Finding the point of greatest weakness, he raised his fist and brought it down with a shattering impact, smashing through the dome and into the green fluid inside. Floater screeched and stopped dead in midair, tentacles flailing about wildly.\n\t\"Speaking of the immediacy of death,\" Rick growled, \"my fingers are touching your brain. Any time I wish to, I can simply close my hand and squeeze you into glop. Understand?\"\n\t\"Understood, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, the alien's flat, electronic voice somehow managing to convey its fear.\n\t\"Good. Now bring me back to the stadium.\"\n\tFloater began flying down toward the donut shape of the stadium far below.\n\t\n\t\"Just kill her, Nicholas!\" snarled Revelation, glaring at Stacey as Darke got to his feet with his arm aimed at her. Stacey stood motionless, her eyes fixed on Darke, ready to dodge if he fired. She no longer cared if she died. All she could think about was Kenji.\n\t\"Why?\" Darke asked. \"Because she dared to strike you? That's rather petty, Anthony, don't you think? She's no threat to PSI. Killing her would serve no purpose.\" He lowered his arm.\n\t\"Fine, I'll kill her myself!\" Revelation spat, and turned to pick up his staff, only to see Omen holding it, aimed at him. \"Darke!\" Revelation cried in fear.\n\tInstantly, Darke switched his target to Omen. Stacey, taking advantage of the distraction, charged at Darke, grabbed his arm, and executed a shoulder throw, hurling him on his back into the dirt.\n\t\"You have used your gift to murder innocents, Martelli,\" Omen said, sounding like a judge pronouncing sentence, \"as surely as if you had killed them yourself. Your evil ends here.\" A bolt of electricity shot from the staff, striking Revelation, who cried out and collapsed to the ground. Instantly, the fog that had been obscuring Omen's vision of the future cleared. He now knew exactly what must be done.\n\tFloater and Rick came swooping down out of the sky. The raccoon could see that the battle was not going well, with Supersonic, the two Silver Avengers, and Agent Laundauer all incapacitated. He saw Stacey squaring off with Darke and was about to tell Floater to aid her when he heard Omen shout, \"Rick, give Supersonic your goggles!\"\n\t\"You heard the man,\" Rick said. He removed his goggles, and Floater levitated them to Supersonic, placing them on his head. \n\tThe agony Torment had been inflicting on the squirrel vanished. Supersonic got up and glanced briefly at Torment, able to feel sympathy for him in spite of everything now that he understood how much pain he had suffered for so long. Then he flew between Blackout and Displacer, a vortex of wind forming around him, sending them both tumbling across the ground and stunning them.\n\tPark and Landauer got to their feet as the powers affecting their senses were terminated. \"Park, Landauer,\" shouted Omen, \"take down Twister! Supersonic, attack Torment!\" All three obeyed, Landauer shooting at the Native American girl, hitting her and taking her attention off Sanchez, while Park sped across the ground, kicking up clods of dirt, and struck with his fist, knocking her unconscious. \n\tSupersonic built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and hurled it at Torment, sending him flying across the field and into the bleachers. \"Home run!\" the squirrel said, grinning.\n\tDarke scowled inside his helmet. Omen was coordinating the counterattack. He had to be neutralized. Ignoring Stacey, he aimed his gauntlet at Omen and fired a spread of plasma bolts, but Omen simply sidestepped and they all missed.\n\t\"Were Omega here,\" said Omen, smiling thinly, \"his tactical acumen would have told him that attacking me was futile.\" He aimed Revelation's staff at Darke and fired, arcs of electricity washing over Darke's armored suit, causing him to cry out in pain. \"He also would have known that electricity is the worst thing in the world for a suit of powered armor laced with microcircuitry. Pity you had him killed.\" \n\tDarke looked around wildly as Supersonic, Stacey, Park, Sanchez, and Rick (still mounted on Floater) closed in around him. Loath as he was to admit it, Omen was right. Omega had been PSI's tactician, not him. He was out of his depth here. There was only one option left. He activated his turbines and shot skyward.\n\t\"He's not getting away that easily!\" growled Supersonic, and rocketed after him. An instant later, Rick and Floater followed.\n\t\"I don't suppose there's anything we can do to help them,\" said Park, watching wistfully as they disappeared.\n\t\"Not unless you have suddenly gained the ability to fly,\" said Sanchez, shaking her head. \"By the way, thank you for taking out Twister.\"\n\t\"My pleasure,\" said Park, grinning. \"She's one nasty little girl!\"\n\t\"She is a child, and she has had a hard life, without love or kindness. However, perhaps it is not too late to save her.\"\n\t\"I just hope Rick and Supersonic can save Lucy,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"They will,\" said Omen.\n\t\"I guess you would know,\" said Landauer, \"now that Martelli's out of the picture.\"\n\tOmen shook his hooded head. \"It is not my vision that tells me this.\"\n\t\"Then how can you be so sure?\" asked Park.\n\tOmen smiled. \"Because they are heroes.\"\n\n\tDarke cursed as he flew northeast from R.F.K. Stadium. Revelation had screwed everything up. While his precognitive powers had been useful, his delusions and megalomania had made working with him unbearable. He was frankly glad to be rid of him—and that he'd soon be dead.\n\tHis suit's radar told him something was closing on him, fast. Had Andrews Air Force Base scrambled a jet fighter? He twisted his body to look behind him and cursed again. It was that damned squirrel. He stopped and turned toward him. Supersonic flew up and stopped twenty feet away, and the two hovered in the air, facing each other.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Supersonic said. \"You can't outfly me. There's nowhere you can go that I can't follow!\"\n\t\"Then I suppose I'll just have to kill you, won't I?\" Darke sneered.\n\t\"Omega tried that, and he was better than you. Notice how well he succeeded?\"\n\tDarke growled. \"I am not going to surrender to some stupid little cartoon animal!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned and slammed his fist into his palm. \"Then I guess we do this the hard way!\"\n\tDarke fired a spray of plasma bolts at the squirrel, who blocked them with a shield of solidified air. Supersonic retaliated with a wind blast that sent Darke spinning head over heels through the air. He flew right up to Darke as he struggled to stabilize himself, smirking. \n\t\"Had enough?\" Supersonic asked.\n\tDarke howled with rage, firing another burst of plasma bolts. The squirrel weaved nimbly between them, getting behind him and hitting him with another wind blast. Darke cried out in pain, his turbines cut out, and he began to fall.\n\tSupersonic watched him plummet and bit his lip. It was possible Darke was playing possum. On the other hand, he could be unconscious, or his armor damaged. The squirrel dove down after him, closing in but keeping his distance. They were getting uncomfortably close to the ground. If Darke was going to kick in those turbines, he'd better do it soon. Supersonic swallowed as Darke continued to fall. No, he couldn't be faking. With only seconds left before impact, the squirrel shot downward, seizing the man's arm and halting his fall. \n\tDarke twisted around and slugged him across his face. \n\tSupersonic groaned, knocked unconscious. Darke caught him and held him in his arms. \"That was close,\" said Darke, his voice shaking. \"I've never played 'chicken' before. It's not much fun. But I knew you couldn't let me die.\" He stroked the squirrel's furry cheek with one metal hand. \"You're a very brave little squirrel, Supersonic, and you have a kind heart. I almost hate to do this, but you knew the risks when you joined PRIMUS. Goodbye, Supersonic Squirrel. You were a worthy opponent.\" \n\tHe released the squirrel, letting him fall, and flew off to the northeast.\n\tSupersonic's limp body plummeted toward the grassy field two hundred feet below at a rate that would lead to impact in just over three seconds. As he fell, the wind rushing past his face brought him back to the edge of consciousness, and the natural instincts of his species made him spread his arms and legs, the folds of skin between them catching the air while his body tilted, changing the angle of his descent from ninety degrees to one much shallower. Three seconds became four, then five, then six, then seven. At eight seconds, he hit the ground and reflexively curled into a ball, rolling for a good fifty feet before he came to a stop. He lay there for a moment, sprawled on his back, groaning, bruised, and battered, but alive.\n\tSlowly and painfully, Supersonic got to his feet as full awareness began to return. He tasted blood in his mouth, having bitten his lip during the landing. Every part of him felt sore, but he was grateful to be feeling anything at all. This wasn't the first time his flying squirrel instincts had saved his life, and he suspected it would not be the last. There were times when being a talking squirrel in a world full of humans was a lonely experience, even though most of them accepted him and he had even managed to find one who loved him, but at times like this he was glad to be what he was. \n\tHis musings were interrupted as he noticed something swooping down out of the sky toward him. It was Rick, riding on Floater. They stopped a short distance from him, hovering six feet off the ground.\n\t\"Looks like you ran into some trouble,\" Rick said.\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"Whatever gave you that idea?\"\n\t\"Well, at least we know which way Darke is heading.\"\n\t\"You don't really think he's dumb enough to fly directly toward his destination, do you?\"\n\t\"No, I don't suppose he is. Fortunately, we have someone here who can tell us.\" Rick looked down at Floater. \"Spill.\"\n\t\"I do not understand your meaning, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\t\"He means 'talk,'\" said Supersonic. \"Tell us where Darke's going.\"\n\t\"If I do, will you release me?\"\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"Not a chance. You're up for murder one.\"\n\t\"Then why should I tell you?\"\n\t\"I have five reasons right here,\" said Rick, pressing his fingers against Floater's brain.\n\t\"Ah! No, please! I will tell you. By now, PSI's personnel and equipment have been loaded onto two large wheeled vehicles, which are traveling north along the paved vehicular pathway called Interstate 95 toward a safehouse in the region you call Maryland.\"\n\t\"Address?\" asked Supersonic. Floater gave it to him.\n\t\"Describe these vehicles,\" Rick said.\n\t\"They are of the articulated variety,\" Floater replied, \"with a motorized forward unit and a long attached cargo-carrying unit. The writing on the sides of the latter identifies them as belonging to a company called Conquest Movers, which does not exist.\"\n\tRick glanced at Supersonic. \"You could call the state police and have them stopped.\"\n\t\"That would put a lot of state troopers in danger,\" said Supersonic. \"Not to mention Lucy. I don't want her used as a hostage.\"\n\t\"I don't see how we can avoid that,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Maybe, if I can get in there, grab her, and get out fast.\"\n\t\"There are two trucks, and we don't know which one she's in.\"\n\t\"I'll deal with that problem when I come to it. Right now, the important thing is to catch them before they reach that safehouse. They'll be in a much stronger defensive position there.\"\n\t\"Which leads to the next question,\" said Rick, looking down at Floater. \"What do we do with this thing?\"\n\tSupersonic growled. \"I know what I'd [i]like[/i] to do with it!\"\n\t\"You cannot!\" Floater protested. \"Your laws forbid summary execution!\"\n\t\"I'm well aware of the law, thank you very much.\" Supersonic looked at Rick. \"Take it back to PRIMUS and hand it over to them. I'll fly on ahead and call when I spot those trucks.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Good luck, Supersonic.\" He watched the squirrel rocket away into the sky, then looked down at Floater. \"All right, get moving before my hand shrivels up from being immersed in this disgusting soup you're floating in.\"\n\t\"As you wish, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\tThey rose and flew off toward PRIMUS headquarters.\n\n\tSupersonic raced north until he saw the strip of I-95 stretching off into the distance ahead of him. He flew along it, looking for two semi trailer trucks bearing the logo of Conquest Movers. After a few minutes, he saw them, mixed in with a lot of other northbound traffic. He took his cell phone out of his leather satchel and called PRIMUS's emergency channel. \"This is Supersonic Squirrel. I'm flying north along I-95 in pursuit of two trucks carrying PSI's personnel and equipment. Home in on my signal.\"\n\t\"Any sign of Darke?\" came Sanchez's voice.\n\t\"Negative. He must be inside one of the trucks.\"\n\t\"All right. We will be with you as fast as we can.\"\n\t\"With your permission, Director, I'd like to try to get Lucy out before the shooting starts. I don't want her becoming a hostage.\"\n\t\"Do you know which truck she is in?\"\n\t\"Negative.\"\n\t\"Then do not risk it. Hold your position.\"\n\t\"Understood, Director.\"\n\tThere was a brief moment of silence, and then Omen's voice came over the phone. \"Supersonic, how are the trucks situated?\"\n\t\"One behind the other.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the rearmost truck.\"\n\t\"You sure about that?\"\n\t\"Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Do you know what will happen if I try to rescue her?\"\n\t\"I fear not. There are too many variables.\"\n\t\"Request permission to try, Director.\"\n\t\"Use your own best judgment, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"All right, I'm going in.\"\n\t\"Good luck, and Godspeed.\"\n\t\"Thanks.\"\n\tSupersonic put away his cell phone and flew down toward the rear truck, coming up from behind. Keeping pace with it, he built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and took aim at the rear doors, reasoning that just inside them was the least likely place for PSI to be keeping Lucy. He released the sphere, blasting the doors inward, and flew inside.\n\tThe trailer was filled with boxes of equipment hastily stacked atop each other and secured with bungee cords. It was a rather precarious arrangement, but it was not intended to last long. A straight, narrow valley between the boxes ran the length of the trailer, and an open area in the front contained six PSI agents, Lucy, and Flashback. Supersonic barreled down the valley, a shield of solidified air before him.\n\t\"It's Supersonic Squirrel!\" shouted one of the agents. \"Kill him!\" Beams of hot blue plasma shot from their pistols at the oncoming squirrel. His shield absorbed most of their energy, but not all of it, the beams partially penetrating to inflict smoking burns in his furry hide. One cut through the shoulder strap of his leather satchel, causing it to fall to the floor.\n\tGritting his teeth against the pain, Supersonic flew into the midst of the agents and fired a wide-angle wind blast that hit the three agents to his left, knocking them back against the inside of the truck and stunning them. Then, before they could react, he did the same to the three to his right. With the agents momentarily neutralized, he looped one arm around Lucy and the other around Flashback and then flew back out the rear of the truck, carrying them with him.\n\tOne of the agents groggily fished out his cell phone. \"Counselor Darke! Supersonic Squirrel broke in and took Flashback and the Pinchard girl!\"\n\t\"What?\" came Darke's astonished voice over the phone. \"Why didn't you idiots stop him?\"\n\t\"We tried, sir! He was too fast and too tough! I think we hurt him, though!\"\n\tAgent Heine, driving the forward truck, glanced over at Darke, who was sitting in the cab next to him, still wearing his Omega armor but with the helmet on the seat beside him, as the man made a disgusted noise. \"Trouble, sir?\"\n\t\"I should have killed that miserable rodent when I had the chance,\" Darke muttered. \"He just grabbed Lucy and Flashback.\"\n\tHeine stared at him, aghast. \"What do we do, sir?\"\n\t\"If Supersonic found us, then he must know where we're going. Probably one of the captured students told him. Or maybe Omen saw it in a vision. In any case, the tertiary base must now be considered compromised. And Supersonic would have given PRIMUS our coordinates and descriptions of the trucks. We can assume they're already on their way here.\" Darke looked at Heine. \"Pull over to the side of the road. Change the logos on the trucks using the magnetic signs, and apply the alternate license plates. Then get off at the next exit and disperse. I'll contact you later.\" He donned his helmet and opened the passenger side door.\n\t\"Where are you going?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"To recover our assets and get rid of that pest once and for all.\" Darke activated his turbines and flew off.\n\n\tSupersonic flew across a stretch of farmland bordering I-95, carrying Lucy and Flashback in his arms. The pain of his plasma burns was excruciating, and he felt sick and weak. He also realized that his satchel was gone, his cell phone with it. A chill rippled through him, and he feared he might be going into shock from his injuries. Not wanting to pass out in midair while carrying his two charges, he landed in a field, setting down between two neatly cultivated rows of alfalfa. \n\tAs soon as his feet touched the ground, Supersonic fell to his knees, releasing the two girls. He looked down at himself, assessing the extent of the damage. There were three crusty black circles on the front of his torso, each about three inches across. They weren't bleeding, the flesh having been neatly cauterized, but they hurt like hell. He slammed his fists into the dirt, shivering and whimpering in pain, his furry chest heaving.\n\t\"Are you hurt, Mister Squirrel?\" asked Flashback.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" Supersonic replied through clenched teeth. He looked up at her. She was Black, about ten years old, with severe acne, and wore the same skintight black-and-magenta costume as all the other young members of PSI. He turned his head to look at Lucy. She was just standing there, staring at him. She didn't look scared, grateful, relieved, or happy. Her face was completely expressionless.\n\t\"You okay, Lucy?\" Supersonic asked, concerned.\n\tShe nodded, silently.\n\tHe looked back at the other girl. \"How about you?\"\n\tFlashback shrugged. \"I'm all right.\"\n\t\"Good. I've gotta find a phone and call PRIMUS.\" He noticed a farmhouse in the distance. \"Come on.\" He reached for the two girls, but they both drew back from him.\n\t\"What's the matter?\" he demanded angrily.\n\t\"We don't wanna go with you,\" Flashback replied, and glanced at Lucy. \"We wanna go back to PSI, don't we, Lucy?\"\n\tLucy nodded, her eyes fixed coldly on Supersonic. \"That's right, Violet.\"\n\tSupersonic frowned at Flashback. \"What are you doing to her?\"\n\t\"I'm not doing anything to her,\" Flashback said innocently. \"She's my sister.\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"And sisters stick together.\"\n\t\"She's not your sister!\" Supersonic shouted at Lucy. \"You just met two days ago!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Flashback yelled. \"You're a liar! Isn't he, sis?\"\n\tLucy nodded, glaring at the squirrel hatefully. \"A lying little rat!\"\n\tSupersonic sighed. The pain from his burns was sapping his strength, making him feel exhausted. \"I don't have time for this. You're both coming with me, whether you like it or not.\"\n\tFlashback folded her arms, smiling smugly. \"We're not going anywhere, are we, sis?\"\n\tLucy shook her head, her eyes narrowed. \"Not with him!\"\n\tSupersonic was about to reply when he noticed that they had fallen under a shadow, even though the sky had been clear a minute ago. He looked up, and his eyes went wide.\n\tThe sky was black with birds.\n\tSupersonic stared up at the cloud of birds swirling above them. It was made up of many species, which meant it was definitely not natural. Different species of birds never flocked together. He glanced at Lucy. \"Call them off.\" \n\t\"No!\" Lucy said. \"I hate you! You want to take me away from my family!\"\n\t\"PSI isn't your family, and she isn't your sister! They just want to use you! You have a real mother and father who love you and are worried about you!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Lucy shouted. The flock above them was growing thicker. Supersonic looked at Flashback. The thought of blasting a child repulsed him, but it might be the only way to break her hold on Lucy. Trembling, he raised a hand and aimed it at her. Flashback blinked, looking scared, and began backing away. He sighed and lowered his hand. No, he couldn't do it. There had to be another way.\n\tA cacophony hammered his ears as thousands of birds began screeching at him from above. As they plunged toward him en masse, like a great black dagger from the sky, he erected a wind barrier around himself and the two girls. It could stop bullets; it should be able to stop birds. He watched in horror as they hurled themselves against it like kamikaze pilots aiming for an aircraft carrier, their fragile feathered bodies breaking when they struck and falling to the ground. He whirled toward Lucy frantically. \"Stop them! They're killing themselves!\"\n\tLucy gasped as she saw the birds crashing into Supersonic's wind barrier, clearly not having anticipated this. Immediately, the birds ceased their suicidal attacks and began circling the barrier, a great multicolored cyclone of wings and beaks. Keeping the barrier up, Supersonic grabbed Lucy and Flashback by the arm and began pulling them in the direction he remembed the farmhouse being.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" Flashback yelled as she and Lucy struggled and resisted as best they could, kicking and punching and trying to dig their feet into the tilled earth. They were both taller than the squirrel, but not nearly as strong. Even so, they were slowing his progress, and between that, his burns, and the constant strain of maintaining the barrier, Supersonic was overwhelmed with fatigue. Then he cried out in pain as Flashback sank her teeth into his arm.\n\t\"Ahh! No biting, you brat!\" he shouted, and threw her on the ground in front of him, glaring at her.\n\tFlashback got to her feet, glaring back. \"Counselor Darke's gonna kill you, squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"He already tried that, while he was running away, like the coward he is.\"\n\t\"He's [i]not[/i] a coward!\" Flashback screamed. \"He took me out of the projects and gave me candy and pretty clothes!\"\n\tSupersonic paused for a moment, chest heaving, trying to recover his strength. \"Where are you from, Violet?\"\n\t\"Chicago.\"\n\t\"Don't you have a family there? I bet they miss you.\"\n\tFlashback snorted. \"They don't miss me. They hated me because I'm ugly. Counselor Darke is the only one who ever cared about me.\"\n\t\"I don't think you're ugly, Violet.\"\n\tShe smirked. \"You're a squirrel!\"\n\t\"Yeah, but I've lived around humans all my life. You think because he gives you nice things, that means he cares about you? Anyone can give out presents. He doesn't care about you, Violet. He only cares about what you can do.\"\n\tFlashback stamped her foot. \"That's not true! He loves me!\"\n\t\"Do you really think you'd be here if you couldn't mess with people's memories like you do? Do you think Lucy would be here if she couldn't control animals? That's what Darke loves. Your powers. Not you. Not Violet.\"\n\tFlashback's lower lip trembled. She was about to speak when a barrage of bright white energy bolts struck the wind barrier, dispersing it. Through the swarm of birds strode Darke in his Omega armor.\n\t\"Counselor Darke!\" Lucy and Flashback both cried happily.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" he said. \"Hello, Flashback. Ah, there you are, Supersonic. Looking a little worse for wear, I see.\"\n\t\"I guess I don't need to ask how you found us,\" the squirrel growled.\n\t\"The huge flock of birds was a bit of a giveaway. I must say, you're a very resilient squirrel.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You know us cartoons. Knock us down, we get right back up again.\"\n\t\"Except you're not a cartoon anymore. You're flesh and blood, subject to the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.\"\n\tSupersonic rolled his yes. \"You're really gonna quote [i]Hamlet[/i] at me? Gimme a break!\"\n\t\"Well, I'm afraid I don't have a bare bodkin with which your quietus to make, but a burst of energy bolts should do the job just as effectively.\" He raised a gauntleted fist. \"Goodbye, Supersonic.\"\n\tAs he fired, the squirrel sprang into the air, dodging the bolts easily. \"You never get tired of failing to kill me, do you?\" Supersonic asked, grinning. He flew at Lucy, grabbed her as he went by, and raced across the rows of alfalfa toward the farmhouse.\n\t\"God damn it!\" Darke swore. \"What does it take to get rid of him?\" He picked up Flashback and headed after the fleeing squirrel.\n\n\t\"The signal's right ahead, Director,\" said Park as he piloted the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter above I-95.\n\tIn the copilot's seat, Sanchez peered down the highway through a pair of binoculars. Behind her stood Rick, Stacey, Landauer, Omen, and a squad of PRIMUS agents. \"I see a semi truck. It doesn't have the logo of Conquest Movers on it, though.\"\n\tOmen spoke up. \"PSI uses a variety of magnetic signs bearing false logos that they can attach to the sides of their vehicles quickly in order to disguise them.\"\n\t\"Well, isn't that clever!\" Stacey remarked.\n\t\"However, neither Lucy nor Supersonic is aboard that truck.\"\n\tPark looked at him. \"But Supersonic's cellphone signal is coming from it!\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"His phone is aboard it, but he is not.\"\n\t\"Then how do we find him?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"We might try over there,\" said Rick, pointing to the left. They all looked in the direction the raccoon was indicating. A huge cloud of birds was hovering over some farmland.\n\t\"Alter course!\" Sanchez ordered.\n\tPark nodded, and the copter veered west toward the birds.\n\n\tSupersonic landed in the front yard before the farmhouse and immediately stumbled and fell to his knees, keeping his arms around Lucy. His plasma burns were still causing him intense pain, and the surge of energy that had come after his brief rest was spent. He felt exhausted, wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep for a week. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option. He hauled himself to his feet as Lucy struggled against him.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" she shrieked.\n\tSupersonic ignored her, ran to the front door of the farmhouse as Lucy wriggled and squirmed, and tried the knob. It was locked. He sighed. Much as he hated to break in, this was an emergency. Keeping his left arm around Lucy, he raised his right hand, fired a wind blast that blew the door off its hinges, and ran into the living room.\n\tIt was a simple, modest affair, much like a million other farmhouse living rooms across the country. \"Hello?\" he called, though the sound of the front door being blasted in should have been enough to attract the attention of the occupants. There didn't appear to be anybody home. There were photographs on the mantelpiece of a middle-aged man and woman, two teenage boys, and a young girl. Probably the farmer and his family. But where were they? He realized it was Sunday. Perhaps they were at church. Or out shopping. Or having a family picnic. Whatever the reason, at least they were out of harm's way.\n\tA canine snarl caught his attention, and he whirled just in time for a big black Newfoundland dog to pounce on him. The dog's jaws clamped down on his left arm, causing him to cry out in pain and forcing him to let go of Lucy. It shook him like a rag doll, the animal bigger than he was and probably half again his weight. He created a vacuum around the dog's head, and it collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Cradling his wounded arm with his other arm, he looked around for Lucy. She had disappeared.\n\t\"Lucy?\" he called out, running down the hall, gritting his teeth against the pain as he dripped blood on the polished wood floor. He cursed under his breath. She could be hiding anywhere, and Darke would be here any second. He had to find a phone. He hoped they had one. A lot of folks nowadays had dispensed with landlines and relied entirely on their cells. He ran into the kitchen and breathed a sigh of relief. There was a phone on the wall. He flew up to it, grabbed the reciever, and began dialing PRIMUS's emergency number.\n\n\tDarke landed in the front yard, carrying Flashback. Seeing that the front door had been smashed in, they walked through it and into the living room. Flashback oohed upon seeing the unconscious Newfoundland on the floor, and ran over and knelt beside it, stroking its big black head.\n\t\"Supersonic wasn't wearing his satchel,\" Darke mused, \"and he has nowhere else to keep a phone, so he must be trying to find one in order to contact PRIMUS.\" He noticed a line of crimson circles on the wood floor, and smiled. Then he frowned as he heard the thumping, buzzing sound of a helicopter approaching. \"Damn! That must be PRIMUS!\" He ran down the hall, following the trail of squirrel blood.\n\tIn the living room, Flashback gently caressed the dog's head with her gloved fingers as she implanted memories in its mind of them playing together on her sixth birthday, when her parents had presented her with a new puppy; the two of them running through a grassy field in golden sunlight, chasing butterflies; her giving him a bath in tomato juice that time he got sprayed by a skunk; him seeing her off on her first day of school, and waiting impatiently, whining, whimpering and pacing, until she returned. They were the best of friends—always had been, always would be.\n\n\tPark set the helicopter down in the front yard, and he, Sanchez, Rick, Stacey, Omen, Landauer, and the five PRIMUS agents all emerged from it.\n\t\"Supersonic, Darke, and Lucy are in there,\" said Omen, indicating the house.\n\t\"What about the owners?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"They are not home.\"\n\tSanchez turned to the agents. \"Surround the house. Nobody gets in or out. I'll take point. Park, you're with me.\"\n\t\"Wait!\" shouted Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Sanchez, turning toward him.\n\t\"We must get everyone inside, now!\"\n\t\"Why, what's wrong?\"\n\tRick swallowed, feeling vibrations in the ground through his bare feet. \"Lucy's called for reinforcements.\"\n\tSanchez was about to ask the raccoon what he meant, but then she saw it. All around them, low, dark shapes were approaching. Cows, bulls, sheep, horses, pigs, goats—livestock from dozens of farms—had combined to form an immense stampede that was converging on them from every direction.\n\t\"Everyone into the house!\" Sanchez shouted over the rising thunder of hundreds of pounding hooves. They all ran in through the shattered front door.\n\tThe living room was empty. Rick sniffed the air. \"I smell blood,\" he said.\n\t\"There!\" said Landauer, pointing at the blood spots on the floor.\n\t\"Park and I will follow the blood trail,\" said Sanchez. \"The rest of you, spread out through the house and try to find Lucy.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the fruit cellar,\" said Omen. \"Supersonic is in the kitchen, about to be attacked by Darke.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"In that case, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer, get Lucy. The rest of you, come with me!\" She and Park ran down the hall toward the kitchen, closely followed by the five agents.\n\t\"This way,\" said Omen, leading the rest to a door that opened onto a flight of wooden stairs. They descended into the dark, musty basement.\n\n\tSupersonic had just connected to PRIMUS when Darke burst into the kitchen. Too weak to fight, the squirrel threw himself across the floor, rolling as Darke sprayed the kitchen with energy bolts, blasting the refrigerator, the stove, the sink, and some of the cabinets, showering the room with a variety of foodstuffs.\n\t\"Die, damn you!\" Darke yelled, moving to get a clear shot as Supersonic scampered into the adjoining dining room and dove under the table. Darke followed, blasting furiously, destroying the table, the chairs, and a glass cabinet filled with commemorative plates. The squirrel blinked as a plate fell and shattered on the floor in front of him. It showed his old cartoon self, surrounded by all his friends from his show.\n\tAt that moment, Sanchez and Park charged into the dining room and slugged Darke. He staggered backward, crashing into another cabinet containing the family's good crystal and china, demolishing it utterly.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Sanchez ordered, as the five PRIMUS agents ran into the dining room through the other doorway, leveling their plasma rifles at him. \"You're finished!\"\n\tDarke's electronically distorted voice wheezed in pain as he looked around wildly. There was no chance his armor could protect him from two Silver Avengers and five PRIMUS plasma rifles. The only logical course of action was to surrender. In all the years he had been with PSI, he had never even come close to being captured. The thought of going to prison, separated from all the comforts and luxuries he loved, terrified him. Yet, it was preferable to death. Slowly, he began to raise his hands.\n\tA dozen horned heads erupted through the walls as cattle crashed their half-ton bodies into them, tearing through the aluminum siding and drywall as if it were tissue paper. The agents whirled as they suddenly found themselves in danger of being trampled. They fired their rifles, searing blue-white beams of superhot plasma piercing those massive bovine bodies, but the great beasts kept coming, unconcerned with their own safety. Sanchez and Park each caught one and threw it over their shoulder to slam on the floor with a thunderous impact, but there were too many for them to deal with. One plowed into Park, knocking him down, while Sanchez seized the horns of another, bracing herself and gritting her teeth as she tried to force it back. Three of the PRIMUS agents fell beneath the pounding hooves, while the other two retreated into the hallway, firing as they did. Supersonic, standing with his back against a wall to avoid being flattened, watched as Darke activated his turbines and shot upward, bursting through the ceiling and into open air.\n\t\"No,\" the squirrel growled, flying up through the hole after him.\n\n\t\"Wait!\" commanded Omen, as he, Rick, Stacey and Landauer descended the stairs to the basement.\n\t\"Now what?\" Landauer groaned in exasperation.\n\tOmen flipped a light switch, illuminating the basement with a single naked bulb hanging from the ceiling.\n\tThe floor was a writhing sea of rats.\n\t\"Back up,\" said Rick as the rats began advancing up the stairs toward them, the furry tide engulfing one step after another. In the cellar below, Lucy emerged from around a corner, glaring at them maliciously as rats swarmed around her feet.\n\t\"Lucy, what are you doing?\" asked Stacey. \"We're your friends. Don't you remember?\"\n\tOmen shook his cowled head. \"Flashback has altered her memories. She believes they are sisters.\"\n\t\"Who the hell is Flashback?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"I'm Flashback,\" came a little girl's voice from above. They all looked up. In the doorway at the top of the stairs stood Flashback, looking smug and confident, a huge black Newfoundland dog beside her making low, menacing growls.\n\t\"Her name is Violet Wilson,\" said Omen. \"She is ten years old. PSI kidnapped her from a housing project in Chicago six months ago. She is a telepath with the power to alter people's memories.\"\n\tLandauer took aim at the dog, but Omen pushed his gun down. \"What's the matter with you?\" the FBI man demanded. \n\t\"She has made the animal believe they are friends,\" Omen replied. \"It is not responsible for its actions.\"\n\t\"Well, that's unfortunate,\" said Landauer, \"but it doesn't change anything!\"\n\t\"I can handle the dog,\" said Rick.\n\t\"What about the rats?\" Stacey asked, grimacing as the squirming mass claimed another step. She had never liked rats.\n\t\"The rats are another matter.\"\n\tLandauer aimed his gun at the leading edge of the rodent horde, but again, Omen pushed it down. Landauer glared at him. \"Don't tell me you care about the rats!\"\n\t\"They are not responsible for their actions either,\" said Omen. \"In any case, your weapon will not deter them. Flashback is the key. We must reach her.\" He glanced down at the rising tide of rats. \"Quickly.\"\n\tStacey turned toward Flashback. \"Violet, why are you doing this?\"\n\t\"You want to take me away from my family!\" Flashback said accusingly.\n\t\"PSI isn't your family. They kidnapped you!\"\n\t\"PSI loves me!\" Flashback shouted. \"The Wilsons never loved me! They hated me because I'm ugly!\"\n\t\"Violet, look at me,\" said Rick. \"I'm a manimal. No matter what people may think when they look at you, they think worse when they look at me. But I'd never want you to use your power to make someone love me, because I'd know it wasn't really love. You can't force someone to love you, Violet. Love has to be a choice.\"\n\tFlashback swallowed, trembling. \"I just want some friends.\"\n\t\"Nobody will be your friend if you treat them like toys,\" said Stacey. \"You can't do that to people. It's selfish and it's cruel.\"\n\t\"What you're doing to Lucy is wrong,\" said Rick. \"You know she's not your sister.\"\n\tThe rats had reached the step below them. \"I don't mean to nag,\" said Landauer, looking down anxiously at the wriggling mass of rodent bodies, \"but do you think you could speed this up?\"\n\t\"Quiet,\" said Omen sternly.\n\tFlashback looked down at Lucy, biting her lip. \"If I change her back, she'll hate me!\"\n\t\"She may be angry with you,\" said Rick, \"and she'll have good reason to be. But you'll gain four new friends.\"\n\tFlashback stared at the raccoon. \"I will?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"And they'll be real friends, not fake ones.\"\n\tFlashback hesitated a moment, then closed her eyes, concentrating. Lucy gasped and looked up at her, eyes wide. Flashback turned away, unable to face her. \"I'm sorry, Lucy!\"\n\t\"Lucy, if you would?\" asked Omen, gesturing at the rats. Lucy nodded, and the rat horde broke apart as they began scurrying away, looking for places to hide. Rick and Stacey moved toward Flashback, who was hugging herself, shaking and sobbing. The dog growled protectively, then relaxed as Lucy calmed it. They put their arms around her and held her as she cried.\n\n\tSupersonic flew out through the hole Darke had made in the roof of the farmhouse, watching his armored form shrinking in the distance in the clear blue sky. Hurt and exhausted as the squirrel was, he doubted he could catch the fleeing leader of PSI on his own. Fortunately, there was another option open to him.\n\tHe flew over the sea of cattle around the farmhouse toward the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter parked in front of it, opened the cockpit door, and plopped down into the pilot seat. He had been a pilot back in his cartoon days and was qualified on all of PRIMUS's aircraft, having familiarized himself with 21st-century aviation technology. While his legs were too short to reach the anti-torque pedals, that was easily remedied with sustained streams of wind from his feet. He flipped the ignition switch, the rotors began to spin, and he pushed the control stick forward as the copter rose into the air and headed after Darke.\n\tSupersonic switched on the radar, which easily spotted Darke's armored suit. The copter was a modified Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk with a maximum speed of 183 miles per hour, which meant it was nearly three times as fast as Darke's armor. It was armed with two .50 caliber GAU-19 Gatling guns and six AIM-92 Stinger heat-seeking missiles because PRIMUS sometimes had to deal with some very tough customers. Supersonic closed with Darke quickly, bringing the copter in beneath him and angling the nose upward so as not to hit anything on the ground. He was bound by PRIMUS regulations to take Darke alive if possible, so he held off on the missiles and instead bracketed him with the Gatling guns, firing a stream of bullets to either side of him as a warning. Darke glanced back over his shoulder to see who was chasing him, and Supersonic grinned as he imagined the look on the man's face upon seeing it was a squirrel in a helicopter.\n\tDarke dove toward the ground, forcing Supersonic to cease firing. They were still over farmland, so there was a chance there might be people down there, and Supersonic couldn't risk accidentally hitting a civilian. Darke may not have been as fast as the copter, but he was far more maneuverable and could fly a lot closer to the ground. He fired a burst of energy bolts upward, hitting the copter's undercarriage, but it was well armored and they had minimal effect. Supersonic angled the nose downward and jabbed the firing button for one of the Stingers. Darke's turbines had to be considerably hotter than anything on the ground, so the missile would have a clear target to home in on. He bit his lip as he watched its smoke trail snake toward the armored figure below. Then there was a crack of thunder and Darke disappeared in a ball of flame. \n\tSupersonic watched anxiously as the fireball roiled, his heart pounding in his chest. He had shot a VIPER agent dead in Mexico last year. It had been unavoidable, but he had still felt terrible about it, and the guilt still haunted him. He had considered resigning from PRIMUS afterward but had ultimately decided not to, reasoning that he could save more lives as a PRIMUS agent then he could as a private citizen. He hoped against hope that he hadn't just killed again.\n\tDarke burst out of the fireball, flying directly at the copter and spraying energy bolts. Most of them struck the fuselage, doing no real damage, but one clipped a rotor blade and sheared it off. Supersonic wrestled with the stick as the copter veered crazily, its stability shot to hell. He had no control. There was was only one option. He opened the door and bailed out.\n\tSupersonic flew away from the wildly spinning helicopter, watching in horror as it dove earthward, directly toward Darke. The man realized his danger and tried to avoid the careening mass of steel, but it slammed into him and they went down together, impacting on a stretch of farmland. The copter exploded in a massive fireball, hurling bits of itself hundreds of feet in the air, and Supersonic had to erect his wind barrier to avoid being hit by chunks of fiery debris.\n\tSupersonic floated to the ground and plopped down on his rump in the dirt, sitting and staring at the flaming wreckage of the helicopter. He was too tired to feel anything. All he wanted to do was sleep. That was how Park and Sanchez found him, lying on the ground curled up in a ball, his tail wrapped around himself, his eyes closed.\n\n\tSupersonic slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a hospital bed in the PRIMUS infirmary, his body half covered by a sheet. His helmet and goggles were gone. There was an IV stuck in his arm, and a bandage where the dog had bitten him. His brain felt foggy, and his throat was parched. He tried to speak but could only manage a soft squeak.\n\t\"Hey, partner, you're awake!\" said Park, getting up from his chair beside the bed and leaning over him. \"How are you feeling?\"\n\t\"Water?\" Supersonic rasped. Park nodded and poured him a cup, holding it to the squirrel's mouth as he gulped it down.\n\t\"You've been out for about six hours,\" Park said. \"The doctors treated your bite and burns. They don't think they're too serious, but they still want to keep you overnight for observation.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Darke?\" he asked, his voice still hoarse but more normal.\n\t\"Oh, he's toast. Nothing left but ashes.\"\n\t\"Darn,\" said Supersonic, sighing.\n\tPark shrugged. \"Well, that's how it goes sometimes. Honestly, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"I guess you're right. I was just thinking about Torment. With Darke dead, how's he gonna get the drug that keeps his pain away?\"\n\t\"Oh, that's been taken care of. Our scientists analyzed a sample he had on him. They're confident they can reproduce it.\"\n\t\"Well, that's good, then,\" said Supersonic.\n\tPark grinned. \"We contacted your girlfriend, Katrina. She caught the first flight to Washington when she heard you were in the hospital. She should be here soon.\"\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"That's nice of her. So, Silver Avenger Park, how'd you like your first assignment?\"\n\t\"Well, I got to shoulder throw a bull. That was a new experience.\"\n\t\"I bet it was!\"\n\t\"Sanchez said now she knew how her grandfather must have felt. He was a bullfighter.\"\n\t\"I doubt he used judo on them.\"\n\t\"Eh, you work with what you got.\" Park started to say something, stopped, then started again. \"Look, I've been told praise makes you uncomfortable, so I'll keep this short. You're a damn good agent, and I'm proud to be your partner. There, I'm done.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"That hardly made me squirm at all.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a shitload of paperwork to do. See you tomorrow.\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"See you tomorrow.\"\n\tPark left the room, and Supersonic switched on the television and watched a movie while he waited for Katrina to arrive."
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.description.json · embedded sidecar fallback Download
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"description": "Supersonic Squirrel, agent of PRIMUS (the Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States) teams up with Rick, a raccoon martial artist, to stop a newly resurrected PSI (the Parapsychological Studies Institute) from kidnapping a little girl who can talk to animals."
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.writing.json · embedded sidecar fallback Download
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"writing": "[center]Talk to the Animals\n\na story set in the universe of Champions Online\n[/center]\n\n \"Lucy, did you hear me?\"\n\tLucy Pinchard started as she realized her teacher was addressing her, and turned in her seat to face him. \"Sorry, Mr. Taylor,\" she said. \"I was listening to the birds.\"\n\tThe classroom erupted into laughter, which Mr. Taylor quashed immediately with a stern order to be quiet. \"Come here, Lucy,\" he ordered her.\n\t\tLucy sighed, rose from her chair, and walked toward him. She was in trouble again. As she passed by their desks, she could hear her classmates whispering. \"Airhead!\" \"Goofball!\" \"She thinks because her dad is a senator she doesn't have to pay attention in class.\" It wasn't her fault that listening to a pair of mockingbirds arguing about where to build their nest was more interesting than listening to Mr. Taylor drone on about math. \n\tShe stopped before Mr. Taylor, her head lowered. He was sitting at his desk writing a hall pass. \"As I was saying,\" said Mr. Taylor, \"the principal wants to see you in her office immediately. Apparently, there's an emergency involving your family.\"\n\tLucy's head jerked up, eyes wide. \"An emergency? What is it?\"\n\t\"She didn't say,\" Taylor replied, handing her the slip of paper. \"Here you go. I hope everything turns out all right.\"\n\tLucy swallowed, her heart pounding. \"Thank you, Mr. Taylor!\" She ran to the door, yanked it open, and dashed out into the hall. An emergency, she thought as she ran. Could it be something to do with her father? Senators were important people, and there were people who wanted to hurt them. She remembered hearing about a senator who was murdered by VIPER down in Mexico last year. It had made her mother upset. If VIPER could kill one senator, her mother had said, it could kill another. Her father had reassured her. They were protected by the FBI, he'd said. Two of their agents always escorted Lucy to and from school. There was nothing to worry about. They were perfectly safe.\n\tLucy arrived at the office of the principal, Mrs. Acevedo, and entered. Mrs. Acevedo was sitting behind her desk. Beside her stood two men in dark suits, wearing sunglasses. \"Hello, Lucy,\" said Mrs. Acevedo, smiling at her. \"These two men are here to escort you home.\"\n\tLucy frowned. Something was wrong. Mrs. Acevedo never smiled. The other kids called her Old Stoneface. She glanced at the two men in sunglasses. They were not the FBI agents who had brought her here this morning. \"Where are Agent Hayhurst and Agent Roberson?\" Lucy asked.\n\t\"They were called away,\" said one of the men. \"Come with us, Lucy.\"\n\tLucy shook her head. \"No. I don't know you.\"\n\t\"She's wise, Don,\" said the other man.\n\t\"Shut up, Mike!\" the first growled.\n\tLucy began backing away. She glanced at Mrs. Acevedo. She was still seated at her desk, still smiling. Lucy ran out into the hall, slamming the door behind her. \"Help!\" she yelled, running toward the nearest exit. \"Help me!\"\n\n\t\"You can take him, Stacey,\" said Rick. \"He's not so big.\"\n\tStacey Summers glanced down at her companion. He was a humanoid raccoon, three feet tall, wearing a green sleeveless tunic and trousers with white edging and a gold cloth belt. \"Easy for you to say, Mr. Trained-on-an-Island-for-Seven-Years-with-a-Master.\"\n\tRick shrugged his furry shoulders. \"Kenji was a master, too.\"\n\tStacey took a deep breath and entered the ring. Her opponent was Thomas Shook, a member of the team representing Jonny Li's Temple of Kung Fu. She smirked. At least that meant he'd have sub-standard training. They walked up and bowed to each other, Shook grinning smugly at the much smaller blonde woman before him. Then they both dropped into combat stances and waited for the referee's signal for the contest to begin.\n\t\"Fight!\" the ref shouted.\n\tShook attacked first, launching a kick at her, which she easily blocked, giving ground. He advanced and threw a punch, which she dodged, dancing around while she studied his movements. Apart from his shoddy footwork, Shook wasn't bad for one of Jonny Li's—not surprising, since Li would want to bring his best to this tournament. For one of his students to win first prize at the All-American Mixed Martial Arts Competition in Washington, D.C., would mean a huge boost to the prestige of the Temple of Kung Fu. That meant more students, which meant more money, which was always Jonny Li's first priority. Stacey, on the other hand, didn't expect to win. Kenji had taught her that. Don't expect to win. Don't expect to lose. Don't expect anything.\n\tShook threw another kick at her, and with expert timing, Stacey dropped and swept her leg beneath him, knocking his remaining leg out from under him. As Shook fell heavily on his ass, a chorus of oohs issued from the spectators, which made her grin. Audiences loved it when smaller opponents got the better of larger ones. Plus, she was now ahead on points.\n\tShook got to his feet, glaring at her for making him look bad, and the fight resumed. Stacey decided to go on the offensive, launching a dizzyingly fast punch-kick-punch combination, which caught Shook off guard, forcing him backward. She followed up with a kick to the midriff, which landed solidly and made him grunt. Another point. Shook growled as Stacey danced away, and then he charged like a maddened bull. Grinning, she seized his arm and the hem of his tunic while twisting her slender body, and Shook went flying past, landing on the mat with a resounding thud, scoring her third and final point. The crowd cheered, and the referee declared the fight over with Stacey Summers the winner, three to zero.\n\tStacey walked back to her seat, feeling good about herself and relishing the sour looks she was getting from Jonny Li's team. \"Not bad, huh?\" she asked Rick as she sat down. When the raccoon didn't reply, she glanced down at him. He was rubbing his temples, as though he had a headache. \"Rick, are you okay?\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Don't you hear it?\"\n\tStacey stared at him. \"Hear what?\"\n\t\"A little girl, calling for help.\"\n\tStacey shook her head. \"Can barely hear you over all this noise.\"\n\tRick slid out of his chair. \"I have to go.\"\n\t\"Rick?\" Stacey asked, looking puzzled, but the raccoon ignored her, heading for the nearest exit. Stacey rose and went after him.\n\tRick emerged from the Keesler Convention Center onto the street and paused, ears pricked up. The sound he'd been hearing, he realized, had not been a sound at all but something in his head, which made it hard to determine where it was coming from. However, he did feel a compulsion to move in a certain direction. It wasn't strong enough to force him, but it was definitely there. He began running along the sidewalk in the direction it wanted him to go.\n\t\"Rick, where are you going?\" Stacey cried, as she emerged from the building.\n\t\"I don't know!\" Rick yelled over his shoulder at her.\n\tStacey pursed her lips in annoyance and ran after him.\n\n\tLucy looked back as she ran along a tree-lined residential street near her school. Those two phony FBI agents were closing on her. An eleven-year-old girl couldn't outrun two grown men. She whimpered, wondering if they were VIPER agents and what they might do to her if they caught her. VIPER was very bad.\n\tShe heard one of them cry out in surprise, and stopped and turned to see what was happening. Her eyes widened. The two men were waving their arms around, fending off a flock of crows. Or a murder, that was what you called a group of crows, wasn't it? A murder of crows. One of the men drew a pistol from his jacket. A beam of blue-white light shot from the gun with a loud screech, and several crows fell to the ground, burned to a crisp. The rest continued singlemindedly attacking the two men, flapping and pecking. \n\tLucy turned and resumed running, hearing more screeches behind her. She ran up to the door of the nearest house and pounded on it, crying and pleading for help. There was no answer. She looked back fearfully. The two men were running down the street toward her, their faces streaked with blood. She pressed her back against the door, trembling. Then a German shepherd dog came bounding across the yard, heading straight for the two men, barking savagely at them. One of them aimed his gun, and its beam burned through the dog's body, killing it. The two men continued to advance toward her.\n\t\"Looks like Darke was right,\" one of them said. \"She [i]can[/i] control animals!\"\n\t\"Don't be afraid, little girl,\" the other said, trying to smile reassuringly through the blood dripping down his face. \"We're not going to hurt you. We just want to take you to see someone.\"\n\t\"Go away!\" Lucy shrieked, cowering against the door.\n\t\"I'd do as the lady said, if I were you,\" came a soft voice from behind the men.\n\tThe two men turned around and were rewarded with the remarkable sight of a three-foot-tall humanoid raccoon standing on the lawn, dressed in green trousers and a belted green tunic. The raccoon's lips were pulled back, exposing a mouth lined with sharp, white teeth.\n\t\"What the hell?\" one of the men asked, astonished.\n\t\"It's one of those manimal freaks!\" the other yelled. \"Kill it!\" He aimed his pistol at Rick.\n\tRick dove aside as the beam from the pistol scorched the grass he'd been standing on. He rolled when he hit the ground and came up behind a stout oak tree growing in the yard.\n\t\"Flank him!\" the shooter ordered his partner. The second man nodded and moved to get the raccoon in his sights, while the first man kept his gun aimed at the tree, pinning Rick down.\n\t\"Rick!\" shouted Stacey from the street, causing the second man to spin and fire. She dodged as the beam burned past her, flattening herself against another tree. Rick took advantage of the distraction, leaping at the second man and tackling him. They went down on the lawn together.\n\t\"Shit!\" the first man swore, unable to get a clear shot at Rick without hitting his partner. Still pressed against the door, Lucy glanced to her left and saw Stacey come around the side of the house, trying to get behind the first man. \n\tThe first man fired when he thought he saw an opening, but the beam only grazed Rick's shoulder while boring straight through the chest of his partner, killing him instantly. Rick clapped a hand over his burned shoulder, gritting his teeth against the pain. As the first man took aim at the wounded raccoon, Stacey attacked from behind, striking him in the kidney. The man groaned and fell to his knees, and Stacey finished him off with a kick to the head. Then she ran to Rick and knelt beside him, inspecting his wound.\n\t\"It doesn't look too bad,\" she said. \"That beam cauterized the flesh, so at least you're not bleeding. That's a nasty burn, though.\"\n\t\"Lucky for me I have a registered nurse on hand,\" said Rick, grinning weakly.\n\tStacey smiled back and ruffled his head and ears. Then she looked over at Lucy. \"Are you all right, little girl?\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"Thank you.\"\n\tStacey turned her attention to the two men lying on the lawn. \"What do you suppose this was all about?\" she asked.\n\t\"I imagine we'll find out soon enough,\" Rick replied.\n\n\t\"Silver Avenger David Park to see you, Director,\" said Terry Koestler, agent of PRIMUS—the Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States—into the intercom on her desk.\n\t\"Send him in,\" a deep female voice on the other end replied.\n\tKoestler glanced up at the man who stood before her wearing a skintight dark blue uniform with silver leggings, a presidential eagle over his heart. From the white belt around his waist hung a pistol in a white holster with a tiedown around his right thigh. He was under six feet and well-muscled, with a stocky build, black hair, a round face, and tawny skin and almond-shaped eyes that showed his Korean ancestry. He was rather handsome, Koestler thought as she buzzed him into the Director's office. Park gave her a smile and a nod and went inside.\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez looked up from her desk as Park entered. She was a dark-skinned woman with white hair, wearing the same uniform as Park. On the wall behind her was a painting of a masked, blond-haired, blue-eyed man in a blue and gold costume with the presidential eagle over his heart. Park recognized him as the Golden Avenger, the previous director of PRIMUS, who had been murdered by an agent of the international terrorist group VIPER two years ago. Beneath the painting was a plaque that read: \"The mission of PRIMUS is to protect the innocent and identify paranormal threats to the people of the United States.\" \n\t\"How do you do, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, speaking with a slight Spanish accent.\n\t\"Ready to go to work, Director,\" Park replied, smiling.\n\tSanchez gazed down at the file lying open before her on her desk. Park could see that it contained a picture of him. \"I see the doctors have given you a clean bill of health,\" she said. \"No unexpected side effects from the Cyberline treatments or the biofeedback training.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"I feel fine, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. As a newly minted Silver Avenger, you will be assigned to work with another superpowered operative in order to gain some field experience dealing with supervillains.\"\n\t\"I look forward to it, Director,\" Park said, grinning eagerly.\n\t\"Excellent,\" said Sanchez, closing the file. \"I am partnering you with Supersonic Squirrel.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"Supersonic Squirrel?\"\n\tSanchez tilted her head slightly. \"Is that a problem, Agent Park?\"\n\t\"N-no, Director!\" Park said quickly. \"I just thought . . .\"\n\t\"Thought what, Agent Park?\" Sanchez asked, leaning forward and interlacing her fingers.\n\tPark took a moment to regain his composure. \"I assumed I would be working with another Silver Avenger.\"\n\t\"Of the fifteen Silver Avengers in existence,\" Sanchez said patiently, \"two are recuperating from injuries sustained in battles with supervillains, eleven are scattered across the country on various assignments, and two are in this room. Supersonic is here in Washington. Therefore, he is the logical choice. Unless you have some objection?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"None at all, Director. May I ask a question, though?\"\n\tSanchez spread her palms. \"By all means.\"\n\t\"Why doesn't he wear clothes?\"\n\tSanchez smiled. \"Three reasons. First, in his previous life as a cartoon character, he did not have to, so he prefers not to. Second, his arm webs make clothing awkward and uncomfortable for him. And third, if someone who received the Medal of Freedom for thwarting an assassination attempt on the president doesn't want to wear clothes, I am inclined to let him. He has earned the right. Was there anything else?\"\n\tPark shook his head. \"No, Director.\"\n\t\"Good. His office is six doors down the hall to the right. Welcome to PRIMUS, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\tPark left Sanchez's office and strode past Koestler's desk, a dark look on his normally cherubic face. He wondered what his friends and family would say when he told them about this. After over a year of training to become a PRIMUS agent, after a battery of psychological tests, after discovering that he was one of the very few whose genetic makeup enabled him to tolerate the high doses of Cyberline needed to create a Silver Avenger, after months of drug enhancement and biofeedback training that had boosted his strength, speed, and stamina to superhuman levels, he was playing second banana to a cartoon squirrel. He shook his head. God had a bizarre sense of humor.\n\tUpon reaching the sixth door on the right, Park entered a small office. There, sitting before a computer, was a gray-furred creature the size of a child, with huge, round, black eyes, a blunt muzzle with buck teeth, and a fluffy question mark of a tail whose end hung over the back of his chair. Flaps of fur-covered skin stretched from his wrists to his ankles. He wore only an old-fashioned leather flying helmet with goggles, which were currently on his forehead. A badge identifying him as an agent of PRIMUS was stuck to his furry chest, held in place by electrostatic attraction. He did not look at Park as he entered the office.\n\t\"Hello,\" said Park, after a moment's silence.\n\t\"Hi,\" the squirrel replied in a high, nasal voice, his eyes still fixed on his computer screen. \"Report just came in.\"\n\tPark moved around behind him to read the report. \"Bank robbery: Baltimore. Suspect: Bulldozer. We could be there in twenty minutes.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"The local police can handle it.\"\n\tPark blinked. \"But Bulldozer is a supervillain!\"\n\t\"How many people has he killed?\" asked Supersonic.\n\t\"I don't know off-hand,\" Park admitted.\n\t\"None. How many serious injuries?\"\n\tPark took a guess. \"None?\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"The biggest risk fighting Bulldozer is having a car accident on the way there. Besides, I've already got three cases on my desk.\"\n\t\"If you say so; you're senior. By the way, I'm David Park.\"\n\t\"I know. Sanchez told me you were coming.\" The squirrel rotated his chair to face him and held out a small, furry hand, which Park shook. \"Supersonic Squirrel. Glad to know you. Korean, huh?\"\n\t\"My parents are,\" said Park. \"I was born in Spokane.\"\n\t\"I remember the Korean War,\" said Supersonic. \"I was just a kid, though.\"\n\t\"That's right, you were born just after World War II.\"\n\t\"October 14, 1947, to be exact—the day Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.\"\n\tPark remembered what he had read about PRIMUS's most unusual agent. \"And you were brought to life by a magical wishing ring two years ago at the same age you were when your show was cancelled in 1964, with no knowledge of anything that had happened since then.\"\n\t\"Well, I've learned a lot in the last two years,\" said Supersonic. A chime from his computer alerted them that another report had come in. They both looked at it.\n\t\"It's right here in Washington!\" said Park.\n\tSupersonic read the screen. \"Attempted kidnapping of Senator Pinchard's daughter foiled by two civilians, one of them a manimal. Kidnappers armed with energy weapons, two FBI agents found dead, unexplained animal interference.\" The squirrel flicked the switch on his intercom and called Sanchez. \"Director, me and Agent Park are claiming Incident 7.\"\n\t\"The attempted kidnapping?\" asked Sanchez. \"The FBI will want that for themselves.\"\n\t\"There's a paranormal element,\" said Supersonic. \"That makes it our jurisdiction.\"\n\t\"What paranormal element?\"\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference.\"\n\t\"'Unexplained' does not automatically mean 'paranormal,' Supersonic. And two FBI agents were murdered.\"\n\t\"Fine, so we'll each conduct our own investigation.\"\n\t\"We try to avoid having two agencies investigate the same incident. It is redundant, and they get in each other's way.\"\n\t\"Okay, how about this? It says the two civilians who foiled the attempt are being questioned at the FBI field office on Nebraska Avenue. We'll drop by and have a chat with them. If we find out there's nothing paranormal going on, then we bow out and it's the FBI's show. Sound fair?\"\n\t\"Why are you so interested in this incident, Supersonic? And aren't you already working three cases?\"\n\t\"So what's one more? Besides, something about this feels familiar. I can't explain why. Call it a hunch.\"\t\n\t\"All right,\" Sanchez relented. \"Go to the field office. But I warn you, the FBI is not going to want to let this one go, not when two of their people have been killed.\"\n\t\"Thank you, Director,\" said Supersonic, and switched off the intercom. He looked at Park. \"I can get there faster on my own.\"\n\t\"Go ahead,\" said Park. \"I'll catch up.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded and rocketed out of the room and down the hall, leaving a swirl of papers behind him as he headed for the stairwell and the roof.\n\n\tRick sat in an uncomfortable hardwood chair facing the desk of one Agent Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His burned shoulder had been bandaged by the paramedics who had arrived on the scene a few minutes after the kidnapping attempt. Landauer was slim and immaculately groomed, with jet black hair, a hawk-like face, and intense blue eyes. He regarded Rick with a distasteful expression that the raccoon had seen many times before. He didn't let it bother him. People would think what they would think.\n\t\"You still haven't explained how you knew where to go,\" Landauer pressed.\n\t\"I told you, I heard the shots from their energy pistols,\" Rick replied patiently.\n\t\"Do you always run [i]toward[/i] gunfire?\" Landauer asked, sounding both skeptical and condescending.\n\tRick shrugged. \"I thought someone might need help.\"\n\tLandauer looked over at his computer screen. \"You have a colorful history, Mr. Rick. You've been involved in violent incidents in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as here in the U.S.\"\n\t\"Is that so surprising?\" Rick asked. \"Manimals tend to attract violence.\"\n\t\"I see you worked with one of our people in Millennium City last year.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Agent Kodiak. Good man.\"\n\t\"And that you were arrested for interfering with a police investigation.\"\n\t\"A charge that was subsequently dropped,\" Rick pointed out.\n\tLandauer continued reading his screen. \"You have a French passport.\"\n\t\"Yes. All manimals who leave Monster Island are issued one as part of a special arrangement with the French government, of which I am sure you are well aware.\"\n\t\"You also have a green card.\"\n\t\"I work at the Kenji Taniguchi School of Martial Arts in Los Angeles as an instructor. Is there somewhere you are going with this, Mr. Landauer?\"\n\tThe FBI man sat back in his chair and gazed at the raccoon with a somewhat predatory expression. \"I'm just trying to figure out what kind of connection you might have to Senator Pinchard and his daughter.\"\n\t\"There isn't one,\" said Rick. \"I have never met the senator, and I'd never met his daughter until today.\"\n\t\"When you just happened to show up to foil her kidnaping.\"\n\t\"For the third time, I heard the shots.\"\n\t\"Uh huh. Do the names Michael Conn and Donald Schepis ring any bells?\"\n\t\"No. Are they the two men who tried to kidnap Lucy Pinchard?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"After killing the agents assigned to protect her.\"\n\t\"I never saw either one of them before.\"\n\t\"And you have no idea who they work for.\"\n\tRick thought for a moment. \"One of them mentioned someone named Dark.\"\n\tLandauer shot bolt upright in his chair. \"Dark?\"\n\tRick nodded. \"I take it that means something to you.\"\n\tLandauer stood up and went over to speak with another FBI agent, named Boone, who was talking to Stacey. He was a lean, rangy man with a long face, a bulbous nose, and a drooping mustache. Boone and Landauer had both arrived at the scene of the attempted kidnapping and escorted Rick and Stacey to this field office. Boone was clearly the elder of the two and presumably the senior. They spoke for a moment and then came over to Rick.\n\t\"Are you sure he said 'Dark'?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Quite sure,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Did he say anything else?\"\n\t\"No.\" He had no desire to mention that this \"Dark\" apparently believed that Lucy could control animals, or that she had undoubtably been the voice he'd heard in his head and the source of the compulsion that had drawn him to her. The FBI men would probably put it together themselves, considering the crow and dog attacks, but it would not be him who exposed Lucy's secret.\n\tAt that moment, the front door of the field office opened and Supersonic Squirrel entered, causing every head in the office to turn toward him. \"Who's in charge of the Pinchard case?\" he asked.\n\t\"That would be me,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Supersonic Squirrel, of PRIMUS,\" the squirrel said, walking toward Boone and extending a hand.\n\t\"I know who you are,\" said Boone, shaking the squirrel's hand. \"Everyone does. I'm Jerry Boone. This is my partner, Tom Landauer.\"\n\t\"Tom and Jerry?\" Supersonic asked, grinning, his buck teeth gleaming.\n\tBoone rolled his eyes. \"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before.\"\n\t\"Glad to know you, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, offering him his hand. Landauer hesitated a moment, then took it gingerly, gave it a light shake, and quickly let go.\n\t\"To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?\" Boone asked Supersonic, not sounding especially pleased.\n\t\"The report of the attempted kidnapping indicated possible paranormal involvement,\" the squirrel replied.\n\t\"Paranormal?\" asked Boone, raising an eyebrow.\n\t\"Unexplained animal interference,\" Supersonic clarified.\n\tRick nodded. \"The two would-be kidnappers had blood and scratches on their faces, and there was a dead dog in the yard, which they had killed.\"\n\tStacey rose from her chair and came over to join them. \"They also killed a bunch of birds. I passed them on the sidewalk.\"\n\tSupersonic looked at Rick and Stacey, then at Boone. \"I take it these are the two civilians who foiled the attempt?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"These are Stacey Summers and Rick.\"\n\t\"Honored to meet you, Supersonic,\" said Rick, bowing his head.\n\t\"Likewise,\" said Stacey, smiling at the squirrel.\n\t\"Hi,\" said Supersonic, smiling back at them. \"Congratulations to you both. What you did was very brave.\"\n\t\"Look, Agent Squirrel,\" Landauer said, putting a derisive emphasis on the last word, \"there's no evidence of any paranormal involvement in this case. That dog could have just been defending its yard.\"\n\t\"The dog didn't scratch the kidnappers' faces,\" Rick said. \"They killed it before it reached them. And Lucy certainly didn't do it.\"\n\t\"For all we know, they got those scratches climbing over a rosebush!\" Landauer retorted.\n\t\"Then why did they kill the birds?\" Stacey asked. \"There's no reason they'd stop to do that when they were chasing someone, unless the birds were attacking them. And birds don't just attack people for no reason, outside of a Hitchcock movie.\"\n\tLandauer threw up his arms. \"Maybe the birds sat on a high tension line and got electrocuted!\"\n\tStacey smirked. \"That doesn't happen.\"\n\t\"Where is Miss Pinchard?\" Supersonic asked, looking around.\n\t\"Her mother took her home,\" Boone replied.\n\t\"Did you have a chance to talk to her?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"She was too scared to talk to anyone. We figured it was best to let her go with her mother and try to talk to her later.\"\n\t\"Good idea,\" said Supersonic. \"I assume her father has been notified.\"\n\t\"Of course he has!\" snapped Landauer. \"What do you think we are, idiots?\"\n\tBoone threw his partner a warning look, then turned back to Supersonic. \"Paranormal involvement in this case has yet to be determined. What we [i]do[/i] know is that Agents Hayhurst and Roberson, who'd been assigned to protect Lucy Pinchard, were found with holes burned through their chests, killed with the same kind of energy weapons the kidnappers used. And Hayhurst was a friend of mine.\"\n\tSupersonic bit his lip. \"I'm truly sorry, Agent Boone.\"\n\tBoone shrugged. \"These things happen. But if you think for one minute I'm going to step aside and turn this over to PRIMUS because of a dead dog and some dead birds . . .\"\n\t\"I'm just trying to figure out if this case falls within our jurisdiction,\" said Supersonic.\n\tRick turned his head toward Boone. \"Who is Dark?\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Dark?\"\n\t\"Yes,\" Rick said, \"one of the kidnappers mentioned that name.\"\n\tSupersonic folded his arms across his chest and turned to Boone with a smug look on his rodent face. \"Still think there's no paranormal involvement?\"\n\tRick noticed Landauer glaring at him. He smiled back pleasantly.\n\t\"Who is this Dark person?\" Stacey asked, looking baffled.\n\t\"Nicholas Darke,\" Supersonic replied, \"one of the brains behind PSI—the Parapsychological Studies Institute, an organization of psionic criminals.\"\n\t\"I thought they'd all been rounded up,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Not all of them. Darke escaped, with all PSI's money.\"\n\t\"But what would he want with Lucy Pinchard?\" Stacey asked.\n\t\"PSI had a history of kidnapping people with psionic abilities and brainwashing them to serve it,\" said Supersonic. \"If Darke is rebuilding PSI, he's gonna be looking for new recruits.\"\n\t\"You think Lucy Pinchard is a psi?\" asked Landauer skeptically.\n\t\"It would explain why those animals attacked the kidnappers,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Where are they, anyway?\" Supersonic asked Boone.\n\t\"One was accidentally shot by his partner,\" Boone replied. \"He's in the morgue. The other is at Sibley Memorial Hospital, being treated for a concussion.\" He chuckled at Stacey. \"This little lady did quite a number on him.\" \n\tStacey blushed. \"Guess I don't know my own strength.\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"A friend of mine used to say that.\" Then he looked thoughtful. \"Talking to PSI agents is usually a waste of time; they're conditioned to be loyal to PSI and trained to resist interrogation. Still, it can't hurt to try.\"\n\t\"Hold on a minute!\" Boone protested. \"Paranormal or not, the Bureau has a vested interest in this case. Two of our men were murdered!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at him. \"So do I, Agent Boone. Nicholas Darke brainwashed Nightmunk, a friend of mine. He made him do things he never would have done on his own. But I understand the Bureau's desire to avenge its fallen agents. So, while this case clearly falls under PRIMUS jurisdiction, in the spirit of interdepartmental cooperation, I'm naming you chief investigating officer and placing myself under your command, because I want Darke as badly as you do.\"\n\tBoone looked surprised. \"Well, that's damn generous of you, Supersonic! I accept!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned. \"Then what do you say we head on over to Sibley Memorial and have a chat with that PSI agent?\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"Sounds good.\" He turned to Rick and Stacey. \"I think you've given us all the help you can. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll have someone drive you back to the convention center.\"\n\t\"Agent Boone,\" said Rick, \"I'm also friends with Nightmunk. We worked together in Millennium City last year. I'll be happy to offer whatever assistance I can in apprehending this Nicholas Darke. I am not without some small skill.\"\n\t\"Same here!\" Stacey chimed in.\n\tLandauer groaned. \"Oh great, that's just what we need—Rocket Raccoon and Cynthia Rothrock!\"\n\t\"Who?\" asked Supersonic, looking puzzled.\n\t\"While I appreciate your offers,\" Boone said, \"I can't take the responsibility of involving civilians in this investigation, no matter what skills they may have. These people are killers.\"\n\t\"I have dealt with killers many times,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Be that as it may,\" said Boone, \"the answer is still no.\" He turned to a nearby agent. \"Take these people where they need to go.\" Then he turned to Supersonic and Landauer. \"Let's head out.\"\n\tAs the three of them walked toward the door, it burst open and Silver Avenger Park came running in. \"Sorry I took so long, boss,\" he said to Supersonic. \"D.C. traffic is murder!\"\n\t\"Agent Boone, Agent Landauer,\" said Supersonic, looking up at them, \"meet my partner, Silver Avenger David Park.\" He jerked a thumb at Boone. \"He's the boss. We're working for the FBI.\"\n\tSupersonic, Boone, and Landauer went out the door as Park stood there, dumbfounded. \"FBI?\"\n\n\tA sedan with government plates dropped Rick and Stacey off in front of Keesler Convention Center, and they headed for the lobby.\n\t\"When is your next match scheduled?\" the raccoon asked.\n\t\"I'm not sure,\" Stacey admitted. \"In all the confusion, I forgot to ask.\"\n\t\"I hope you didn't forfeit,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey groaned. \"Oh, Jonny Li would love that, after I mopped the floor with one of his top students!\"\n\tRick stopped, ears pricking up as they entered the lobby and he saw what was lying in wait for them. \"Heads up.\"\n\tImmediately, they were swarmed with reporters, cameras pointed at them from every direction, microphones being pushed in their faces.\n\t\"Is it true the two of you foiled an attempt to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter?\" one asked.\n\t\"Uh, yes, it's true,\" said Stacey, looking like a deer caught in someone's headlights.\n\t\"Is that how you got that shoulder wound?\" another asked Rick.\n\t\"Yes,\" said Rick, looking uncomfortable.\n\t\"Is it true you killed one of the kidnappers?\"\n\tRick shook his head. \"No, he was shot by his partner.\"\n\t\"There's a rumor they were armed with ray guns. Is that true?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"Yes, they fired some kind of energy beam.\"\n\t\"Were they VIPER agents?\"\n\t\"We don't know who they were,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Why did you attack two men armed with ray guns?\"\n\t\"We saw them chasing a little girl and decided to help,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Are either of you registered heroes?\"\n\t\"No, we're not.\"\t\n\t\"So you were just being concerned citizens.\"\n\tRick shrugged. \"If you like.\"\n\t\"Please,\" said Stacey, \"I have to find out when my next match is.\"\n\t\"Are the two of you romantically involved?\"\n\tRick growled as he and Stacey pushed through the crowd of reporters. \"Not that it's any of your business, but no, we are not!\"\n\t\"Aren't you sharing a hotel room?\"\n\t\"One room is cheaper than two,\" said Stacey. \"Now please get out of our way!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Summers, aren't you the widow of Kenji Taniguchi, a.k.a. Samurai?\"\n\tStacey froze, a stunned look on her face.\n\t\"Are you trying to follow in your late husband's footsteps?\" the reporter pressed.\n\t\"She's doing nothing of the sort!\" Rick shouted angrily. \"Now get lost!\"\n\tAs Rick and Stacey passed through the double doors into the arena, where the reporters couldn't follow unless they bought tickets for the event, they overheard two of them talking back in the lobby.\n\t\"Samurai. Wasn't he killed a couple of years ago?\"\n\t\"Yeah, it was big news for a while. 'Superhero murdered!'\"\n\t\"Did they ever find out who did it?\"\n\t\"Nope, the case is still unsolved.\"\n\tRick and Stacey made their way past the ring, where a fight was in progress, and resumed their seats. The raccoon looked up at her, concern in his dark eyes. \"Are you okay?\"\n\tStacey sighed. \"I'm fine. Just caught me off guard, is all.\"\n\tRick glared at the doorway they had escaped the reporters through, his ears flattened. \"Jackals!\"\n\t\"They're just doing their jobs, Rick,\" said Stacey. \"They're paid to report the news, and right now, we're news. And you gotta admit, 'Slain Superhero's Widow Saves Senator's Daughter' makes great copy.\"\n\tRick growled, unplacated.\n\tStacey looked down at him, her throat tight. \"I miss him so much, Rick.\"\n\tThe raccoon nodded. \"I know you do.\"\n\tShe put her arms around him, and he around her.\n\n\tIn a room in Sibley Memorial Hospital, Michael Conn lay in bed, his head throbbing. The doctor had told him that he had a mild concussion and had given him painkillers, which were helping somewhat. He had been instructed to rest and to move his head no more than absolutely necessary. And so he lay there, with an FBI agent just outside his door. He wondered who had clonked him. It hadn't been that damned manimal. He'd been busy with Don. Poor Don. Too bad he'd gotten in the way, but that was how it went, sometimes. No, it must have been that blonde chick in the karate gi. Careless of him to let her sneak up on him like that. He'd have to see about finding out who she was and paying her back, once Darke got him out of here.\n\tHe became aware of a shimmering point of light in one corner of the room, and slowly turned his head toward it. The point expanded into a shimmering circle in the air. From that circle emerged two figures, one human, the other decidely not.\n\tThe human figure was a girl of about thirteen, with black eyes, black hair tied back in a ponytail, and a ruddy complexion. She was wearing a skintight magenta uniform, a white Greek letter psi in the center of the chest, with black boots, gloves, upper torso, and mask. She was somewhat overweight, and the uniform did her no favors.\n\tBeside the girl floated a sphere about two feet in diameter. The top was transparent, the bottom metallic and bearing various high-tech doo-dads. Inside the sphere was what appeared to be a human brain suspended in pale green fluid. From the bottom dangled a dozen or so pale green tentacles, each about four feet long and as thick as a man's finger.\n\tConn smirked at the strange pair. \"About time you came,\" he said, slowly sitting up in bed and pushing the sheets aside. \"Come on, let's get out of here.\"\n\t\"You are not going anywhere, Michael Conn,\" the sphere said, in a grating, electronic voice. \"Counselor Darke is displeased with you.\"\n\t\"It wasn't my fault, Floater!\" Conn protested. \"Two civilians interfered! Nobody could have foreseen that!\"\n\t\"It should never have gotten that far,\" Floater said, drifting slowly toward him. \"Your instructions were to abduct Lucy Pinchard from her school, not to chase her into the street. You should have called for backup immediately. Due to your incompetence, the authorities have been alerted to PSI's interest in her. In addition, you killed your partner. PSI has no further use for you.\"\n\tConn stiffened. \"You didn't come here just to tell me that!\"\n\t\"I did not,\" said Floater. With blinding speed, one of its tentacles whipped out and wrapped around Conn's neck. The man choked and gurgled, grasping at the slimy appendage with his hands, to no effect. The girl gasped and screamed, pressing her fists to her face.\n\t\n\tBoone, Landauer, Supersonic, and Park were walking down the corridor toward Conn's room when they heard the girl's scream. The FBI agent seated outside the door jumped to his feet and seized the knob as the other four ran toward him.\n\t\"It's stuck!\" the agent said, struggling with it.\n\t\"Let me try!\" said Park, grasping the knob and twisting it with his biochemically enhanced muscles. It still refused to budge.\n\t\"Stand back,\" Supersonic ordered, rising into the air and spreading his arms and legs wide. A ball of supercompressed air formed before him, and he threw his arms and legs forward as he propelled it at the door. It hit with the force of a battering ram, reducing the door to splinters.\n\tPark was through the doorway almost instantly, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to react first. He blinked as he saw Floater strangling Conn, then launched himself at the sphere. A blast of psionic energy lanced from Floater to Park's forehead, overloading his nervous system and stunning him.\n\tBoone, Landauer, and the other agent entered next, weapons drawn. They all fired at Floater, hitting it, but their bullets simply bounced off.\n\tSupersonic flew into the room and sized up the situation. A wind blast on the sphere was out of the question—knocking it back would break Conn's neck. Instead, he flew up to Floater and grasped the tentacle strangling the PSI agent, trying to pull it off, but the appendage was exceedingly slimy and impossible to get a firm grip on. Then the squirrel felt himself seized by some tremendous force that tore him away from Conn, who was turning blue, and hurled him against the wall. He hit with a crunching thud and slid to the floor, unconscious.\n\tPark came out of his daze, saw Supersonic lying on the floor, snarled, and lunged at Floater, wrapping his arms around it and squeezing with a strength far greater than any normal human possessed. There was a cracking sound, and Floater let out an electronic screech. \"Twister, aid me!\" The girl raised her hands, moving them in circles. Park screamed in agony and released the sphere, staggering backward.\n\t\"Shoot the girl!\" shouted Boone, aiming his gun at Twister. All three of the FBI agents fired, and she recoiled and cried out in pain as their bullets hit, but they didn't do nearly as much damage as they should have. Even so, they clearly hurt.\n\t\"Enough,\" said Floater. It squeezed Conn's neck with its tentacle, popping his head clean off and releasing a spray of blood that painted the wall red. Then it flew over to Twister. \"Let us be gone.\" The girl nodded, and they both entered the shimmering circle, which promptly winked out of existence.\n\t\"What the hell was that?\" cried Landauer.\n\t\"Something out of a goddamned horror movie,\" Boone replied, running over to Supersonic and kneeling beside him. \"You okay?\"\n\tThe squirrel sat up groggily, rubbing his head and looking around the room. \"I think so. Where did that thing go?\"\n\t\"It disappeared,\" said Boone, \"along with the girl. They did what they came here to do.\"\n\tSupersonic noticed Conn's head and body lying separate from each other on the floor. \"Oh.\"\n\t\"Sorry, boss,\" said Park as he came over to them, looking embarrassed. \"I didn't do so good for my first superfight.\"\n\tBoone chuckled. \"You were the only one who managed to hurt that thing. The rest of us might as well have been shooting spitballs at it. It called the girl 'Twister.' Mean anything to you two?\"\n\t\"Never heard of her,\" Park replied, \"but the name fits. I felt like I was being twisted in half! My guess is she has some kind of dimension-warping power. That would explain how she was able to create a portal to another place.\"\n\t\"She looked like an Indian,\" said Supersonic, getting painfully to his feet.\n\tBoone nodded. \"Yeah, I thought so, too.\"\n\t\"Uh, the polite term these days is 'Native American,' Supersonic,\" Park reminded the squirrel.\n\tSupersonic swallowed. \"Sorry.\"\n\t\"Regardless,\" said Boone, \"it'll make her easier to track down.\"\n\t\"Well, one thing's for sure,\" said Supersonic grimly. \"If there was any doubt Darke's rebuilding PSI, it's gone now.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That was definitely a PSI emblem on Twister's costume.\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone. \"So, what's next, chief?\"\n\tBoone glanced over at Conn's body. \"We're not gonna learn anything from him. Let's pay a call on the Pinchards, see if Lucy's ready to talk to us yet.\" He turned to Landauer and Park. \"You two get on the line with the records departments of the FBI and PRIMUS, see if anyone's ever heard of this Twister girl or that brain creature. Check with UNTIL, too; they may have encountered them before. I'll talk to the hospital administrator. He's gonna want to know why one of his patients lost his head. Come on, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"Yes, sir!\" said Supersonic, and followed Boone out of the room while people in the hallway peered around the edges of the smashed door, gawking at the carnage inside.\n\t\n\tThe Pinchard residence was located in Somerset, Maryland, a suburb northwest of Washington, D.C. It was a single-story ranch-style house with a shingled roof and a large, beautifully landscaped yard, with a rose garden and an ivy-entwined gazebo on the east side and a swimming pool in the back. It looked like a nice place, Supersonic thought as Landauer drove the sedan carrying him, Boone, and Park into the driveway and parked it beside another sedan with government plates sitting behind a Mercedes and a Cadillac with Maryland plates. They all got out and walked toward the front door, where an FBI agent was stationed. The agent rang the bell for them, and a few moments later, the door was opened by a handsome man of about forty with brown hair, wearing a white, collared shirt with no tie and gray slacks.\n\t\"Senator Pinchard?\" asked Boone. \"I'm Agent Boone, FBI. This is my partner, Agent Landauer, and these are Agents Squirrel and Park, of PRIMUS.\"\n\tPinchard stared at Supersonic and Park. \"PRIMUS? What are they doing here?\"\n\t\"We suspect there may be some kind of paranormal involvement, Senator,\" Supersonic replied. He watched the man's face carefully.\n\t\"What . . . what kind of paranormal involvement?\" Pinchard stammered.\n\t\"We were hoping you might be able to tell us,\" said Boone. \"May we come in?\"\n\t\"Yes, yes, of course,\" said Pinchard, stepping aside to let them enter.\n\tThey entered a spacious living room exquisitely decorated with antique French colonial furniture, the walls papered with a peach-and-mauve floral pattern. The floor was recessed three steps, with several couches along the west and north walls facing a large, flat-screen TV and a home entertainment center. In the southeast corner sat a baby grand piano.\n\t\"What makes you think there's anything paranormal going on?\" asked Pinchard, closing the door behind them.\n\tBoone turned to face him, hands in pockets. \"Does the name Nicholas Darke mean anything to you, Senator?\"\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, should it?\"\n\t\"He was one of the leaders of the Parapsychological Studies Institute.\"\n\tPinchard looked shocked. \"PSI? But . . . it was my understanding that PSI was defunct! They were all captured!\" He looked at Supersonic. \"You were involved in that, weren't you?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"Yes, sir, I'm proud to say I was. Unfortunately, Darke got away.\"\n\t\"And we have reason to believe he may have been behind the kidnapping attempt on your daughter,\" said Boone.\n\t[i]\"What?\"[/i]\n\t\"Has Lucy ever demonstrated any unusual abilities, Senator?\" asked Supersonic.\n\tPinchard shook his head. \"No, never! She's a perfectly normal girl!\"\n\tBoone and Supersonic glanced at each other. \"Are you sure?\" Boone asked.\n\t\"Of course I'm sure!\" Pinchard yelled. \"You think I don't know my own daughter?\"\n\t\"Mark,\" came a female voice from a hallway to the right. Everyone turned to see a woman in her late thirties with auburn hair, wearing a blue dress. \"Tell them.\"\n\t\"Lydia . . .\" Pinchard began and then trailed off, looking at her desperately.\n\t\"Tell them, or I will.\"\n\tPinchard sighed and looked down. \"She talks to animals.\"\n\tBoone nodded. \"We thought so.\"\n\tThe woman walked toward them. \"Hello. I'm Lydia Pinchard, Lucy's mother.\"\n\tBoone made introductions. She nodded to each of the agents and looked down at Supersonic, smiling. \"I've heard a lot about you. You're a national hero.\"\n\tSupersonic squirmed. \"I was just doing my job, ma'am.\"\n\t\"And doing it very well, it seems.\"\n\tThe squirrel blushed beneath his fur.\n\t\"When you say she talks to animals, Senator,\" said Boone, \"you mean she can actually communicate with them?\"\n\tPinchard shrugged. \"I suppose so. I don't know exactly how it works. I've seen her in the yard surrounded by dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and so forth.\"\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Sounds like something out of a Disney cartoon!\"\n\tPinchard glared at him. \"You find this amusing, Agent Landauer?\"\n\tLandauer shook his head quickly. \"No, Senator, not in the slightest.\"\n\t\"Mr. and Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, \"less than an hour ago, the surviving kidnapper was murdered in Silbey Memorial Hospital.\"\n\t\"Oh my God!\" said Pinchard.\n\t\"It gets better,\" Boone continued. \"The killer was some kind of floating brain creature, assisted by a Native American girl who seems to have entered the kidnapper's hospital room through a dimensional gateway she created. We checked the records of the FBI, PRIMUS, and UNTIL, and we've identified the girl as a runaway named Susan Wednesday, age 13. She's an orphan, born to a Jane Doe who died in childbirth, and was shuttled between various foster families, some of whom, unfortunately, abused her. She was arrested for petty theft several times, but she kept disappearing from her cells. We suspect Darke recruited her to be part of his new PSI and that he has similar plans for your daughter.\"\n\tLydia gave an anguished cry and threw her arms around her husband, trembling. He held her close. \"This . . . this is insane!\" he protested.\n\t\"Sane or not,\" said Boone, \"the fact remains that Susan Wednesday—or Twister, as the brain creature called her—can bypass almost any known security. Therefore, it's my recommendation that you take Lucy someplace where nobody can find her.\"\n\tLydia shook her head. \"Absolutely not! She's suffered enough without being carted away from her home!\"\n\t\"Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Boone, patiently, \"I don't know if the Bureau can protect your daughter from someone like Twister. Walls and fences can't stop her. She can literally appear out of nowhere!\"\n\t\"Maybe you can't,\" said Lydia, \"but he can!\" She looked down at Supersonic. \n\tThe squirrel swallowed. \"Not that I'm not flattered, Mrs. Pinchard, but I agree with Agent Boone. Your daughter will be safest if PSI doesn't know where she is.\"\n\t\"For how long?\" asked Lydia. \"What makes you think they'll stop? Do you expect her to spend the rest of her life in hiding?\"\n\t\"It might be best,\" said Supersonic, in a subdued voice.\n\t\"No,\" said Lydia. \"What would be best is if you caught these people, like you caught the last bunch!\"\n\tSupersonic looked up at Boone, who shrugged helplessly. \"If you won't leave your home, I can't force you to,\" Boone said. \"I can offer you FBI protection, but I can't guarantee that will be enough.\"\n\tLydia smirked. \"It certainly wasn't enough for that man in the hospital.\"\n\t\"Hey, wait a minute!\" protested Landauer.\n\t\"Nor did it keep Lucy from being kidnapped,\" she continued. \"A couple of civilians did that!\"\n\t\"In all fairness to the FBI, Mrs. Pinchard,\" said Supersonic, \"they didn't know what they were up against, then.\"\n\t\"I will not allow my daughter's life to be turned upside down!\" said Lydia firmly.\n\tBoone scowled. \"I think that ship has sailed, ma'am.\" He turned to the senator. \"Do you agree with Mrs. Pinchard?\"\n\tPinchard sighed. \"Yes, I do. I refuse to let these thugs force my daughter from her home.\"\n\t\"In that case,\" said Boone, sounding resigned, \"all the Bureau can do is provide security for her until PSI is caught.\"\n\t\"Mom?\" came Lucy's voice from the same hallway that Lydia had entered the living room from. Then a small gasp. \"Ooh, a squirrel!\" They all turned to see Lucy standing in the hallway, staring at Supersonic, eyes wide.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" said Supersonic, smiling at her.\n\tLucy came up to him, smiling as she gazed down from a vantage point about a foot higher than him. \"Are you really a squirrel?\" she asked wonderingly.\n\tHe nodded. \"Yes, I'm Supersonic Squirrel,\" he said, holding out a hand to her. \n\tShe took it, examining the fur-covered appendage intently. \"Are you friends with that raccoon man who saved me from those men?\"\n\t\"Not exactly,\" said Supersonic. \"I just met him today.\"\n\t\"Lucy,\" her mother said, coming over and gently forcing her to let go of Supersonic's hand, \"let's go back to your room. These men have things to discuss with your father.\"\n\tLucy nodded and reluctantly allowed herself to be led away. She smiled and waved to Supersonic. \"Bye!\"\n\t\"Bye,\" said Supersonic quietly, watching her go.\n\t\"We'll need two shifts of six agents each to cover the house completely,\" Boone told Pinchard. \n\tLandauer nodded. \"Three inside, three outside.\"\n\t\"And Supersonic and Silver Avenger Park should remain on the premises at all times,\" Boone added.\n\t\"Do you think that'll be enough?\" asked Pinchard, anxiously.\n\t\"It's hard to say, sir,\" said Boone. \"We don't know who else Darke may have recruited for his new PSI, or what powers they might possess.\"\n\t\"I know someone who may be able to help,\" said Supersonic.\n\t\"Who?\" asked Boone.\n\t\"He calls himself Omen. He's a precog.\"\n\t\"A what?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"Someone who can see the future. He could foresee an attack before it happens.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Does he use a crystal ball or tarot cards?\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"He doesn't need any of that stuff!\"\n\t\"Is he a PRIMUS agent?\" asked Boone.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"No, he's a civilian.\"\n\t\"I'm not comfortable putting a civilian in harm's way,\" said Boone.\n\t\"With all due respect, sir,\" said Supersonic, \"we're dealing with a lot of unknowns here. Omen could reduce them. And being able to see the future makes him pretty good at avoiding harm.\"\n\t\"I still don't like it,\" said Boone stubbornly.\n\tPinchard glared at Boone. \"I don't give a damn if you like it or not, Agent Boone. If this Omen can protect my daughter, then I want him here!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That's your perogative, Senator. It's your home.\"\n\t\"I'll see if I can get in touch with him,\" said Supersonic. He took his cell phone from the leather satchel slung over his shoulder and went into the kitchen. Park followed him.\n\t\"Boone and Landauer do [i]not[/i] look happy,\" Park commented.\n\t\"Now ask me if I care,\" said Supersonic.\t\n\t\"So who is this 'Omen'?\" Park asked as the squirrel dialed his phone. \n\t\"He used to be with PSI,\" Supersonic replied.\n\tPark stared at him. \"And you trust him?\"\n\t\"He infiltrated PSI to kill Psymon, one of their leaders, because Psymon killed his brother. Fortunately, he balked at the last second.\"\n\t\"How come I've never heard of him?\"\n\t\"Because I didn't mention him in my report.\"\n\t\"Why not?\"\n\t\"There was no reason anyone needed to know about him. And if it weren't for Omen, I'd either be dead or a brainwashed sleeper agent for PSI, so I owed him.\" Supersonic put the phone to his ear as someone on the other end picked up. \"Hello, David?\"\n\t\"Supersonic, how are you?\" came a surprised voice on the other end.\n\tThe squirrel grinned. \"You have to ask?\"\n\tOmen chuckled. \"I'm clairvoyant, not omniscient. What's up?\"\n\t\"There's a situation I could really use your help with. It involves Nicholas Darke.\"\n\t\"Darke? He's back?\"\n\t\"Yeah, he's rebuilding PSI, and he tried to kidnap Senator Pinchard's daughter.\"\n\t\"Son of a bitch!\"\n\t\"I thought that might catch your interest. How soon can you be in Washington, D.C.?\"\n\t\"Probably not until tomorrow.\"\n\t\"Fine. PRIMUS will pay for your airline ticket. Call me when you land.\"\n\t\"Will do.\"\n\tSupersonic hung up and looked at Park. \"Now all we have to do is protect Lucy until he gets here.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"Against a girl who can open dimensional portals and twist your guts around inside you, a floating brain creature, and whoever or whatever else Darke has managed to recruit.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"Welcome to PRIMUS.\"\n\n\tAs night fell over the Pinchard household, three FBI agents patrolled the grounds outside while three others roamed the hallways inside, checking the various rooms. Silver Avenger Park was sleeping in one of the guest rooms so he could relieve Supersonic at midnight. Supersonic stuck mainly to the living room, where he could respond to an intrusion in any part of the house as swiftly as possible. At eight o'clock, he went to Lucy's room to check on her. She was watching a movie on television, her mother sitting beside her. Supersonic noted that there was a cot set up to one side of the girl's bed.\n\t\"Hello,\" the squirrel said, smiling at them, buck teeth gleaming.\n\t\"Hello,\" Lucy and her mother replied, smiling back.\n\t\"I just wanted to see if everything was all right.\"\n\t\"Everything's fine,\" said Lydia.\n\t\"Mom said those men wanted me because I can talk to animals,\" said Lucy. \"What's so important about that?\"\n\t\"It makes you special,\" said Supersonic. \"They're interested in special people.\"\n\t\"What will they do if they get me?\" Lucy asked anxiously.\n\t\"They're not going to get you, darling,\" said Lydia. \"Supersonic will see to that, won't you, Supersonic?\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"They're not getting past me.\"\n\t\"Are you going to live with us?\" Lucy asked him, looking as though she liked the idea.\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"For a little while, anyway, at least until those people are caught.\"\n\t\"And then things will go back to normal,\" said Lydia, smiling.\n\tLucy gazed at the squirrel. \"I like you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"I like you too, Lucy,\" Supersonic replied. \"Have a safe evening.\" He turned and headed back to the living room.\n\tWhile Supersonic was talking to Lucy and her mother, Landauer sat on a couch in the living room, a look of displeasure on his face. Boone glanced over at him from where he was standing beside the baby grand, holding a cup of coffee. \"Something bothering you, Tom?\" he asked.\n\tLandauer looked back at him. \"Working with a goddamned cartoon character bothers me!\"\n\tBoone frowned. \"That 'goddamned cartoon character' saved the president. Have a little respect.\"\n\t\"And that rookie, Park. You'd think PRIMUS would only let agents with some experience under their belts become Silver Avengers!\"\n\tBoone sipped his coffee. It was expensive coffee from the senator's kitchen. It was very good. \"You need to have a rare combination of genes to become a Silver Avenger. As soon as PRIMUS finds out one of their applicants has it, they make him one.\"\n\t\"You don't think him being Asian had anything to do with it?\"\n\tBoone shook his head. \"It's hard enough to find [i]anyone[/i] who can become a Silver Avenger without being fussy about race and sex.\"\n\t\"Well, I don't like working with paranormals,\" Landauer sulked.\n\t\"You use paranormals to fight paranormals,\" said Boone. \"You and me sure didn't do squat against that brain creature.\" Supersonic returned to the living room just then, and Boone glanced over at him. \"How's Lucy?\"\n\t\"Scared,\" said Supersonic, \"but trying to act brave. Her mother's gonna sleep in her room tonight.\" He sighed. \"It's awful for a kid to be stuck in the middle of something like this.\"\n\t\"It's not the first time,\" said Boone, sipping his coffee.\n\tLandauer chuckled. \"Yeah, once the kid of a witness against the mob was kidnapped, and—\"\n\t\"Tom,\" said Boone quietly. \"Give it a rest.\"\n\n\tWith the martial arts convention shut down for the evening, Rick and Stacey had changed into street clothes and were having dinner in a Chinese restaurant across the street from their hotel. Rick had wanted to have dinner delivered to their room for fear of being mobbed by reporters again, but Stacey had refused to be intimidated by the press. So far, nobody had bothered them. However, Stacey noticed that the raccoon seemed unusually quiet and pensive as he picked at his lo mein with his chopsticks. \"Something bothering you, Rick?\" she asked.\n\t\"I should be helping catch Nicholas Darke,\" he replied.\n\t\"Why? It's not your problem.\"\n\tRick looked up at her. \"Nightmunk is a friend of mine. We fought side by side against Lung Hung, an ancient Chinese vampire.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"You fought a vampire?\"\n\t\"Actually, he was some kind of mutant. But regardless, he was extremely powerful. If Nightmunk hadn't called in Nighthawk and the Champions as backup, we would not be having this conversation.\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"So you figure you owe Darke for what he did to him.\"\n\t\"I also detest people who victimize children. Why do you think I teach all the children's kung fu classes?\"\n\t\"I thought it was because the kids all love you. Not to put too fine a point on it, Rick, but the world is full of victimized children. You can't save them all.\"\n\t\"I'm aware of that. But I can help save Lucy from whatever it is Darke has planned for her.\"\n\t\"You already offered to help, and Boone said no.\"\n\tRick scowled. \"To hell with Boone.\"\n\t\"All right, do you have any idea where Lucy lives? I doubt her address is public knowledge. Senators don't want every kook in the country showing up on their doorsteps.\"\n\t\"I bet Nightmunk can find out.\"\n\t\"Assuming he does, how are you going to get there? We don't have a car.\"\n\t\"I hear they can be rented.\"\n\tShe sighed. \"You're really serious about this, aren't you?\"\n\tRick nodded, took out his cell phone, and dialed a number.\n\t\"Hello, Rick!\" came a high, squeaky voice on the other end, sounding both surprised and pleased. \"I hear you've been busy down in Washington.\"\n\t\"Yes, Alvin, that's the reason I'm calling. I want to help protect Lucy Pinchard, but the FBI won't let me.\"\n\t\"That figures. They don't like civilians playing in their sandbox.\"\n\t\"I was wondering, could you find out where Senator Pinchard lives?\"\n\tNightmunk giggled. \"Didn't being arrested for interfering with police business teach you anything?\"\n\t\"I'm a slow learner.\"\n\tAnother giggle. \"Just a minute.\" Rick waited while Nightmunk did things. \"Ah, here we are.\" He listened as the chipmunk relayed Senator Pinchard's home address.\n\t\"Thank you, Alvin,\" Rick said.\n\t\"Don't mention it. To anyone.\"\n\tRick hung up and glanced across the table at Stacey. She sighed and pushed her chair back. \"Well, let's get going.\" She signaled the waiter. \"Could we have the check, please? And some boxes?\"\n\t\"You're coming?\" Rick asked, surprised.\n\t\"Of course I'm coming! You can't drive a car. You don't have a license. Besides, your feet won't reach the pedals.\"\n\tRick blushed beneath his fur. He hadn't thought of that.\n\n\tAt midnight, Supersonic went to the guest room where Park was lying stretched out on the bed and switched on the light. Park blinked and sat up. \"You're up, Silver Avenger,\" the squirrel said.\n\t\"Please, call me Dave,\" said Park, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs around and stood up.\n\t\"Okay, Dave,\" said Supersonic. \"By the way, this arrived from PRIMUS by special courier.\" He held out a pair of mirrored goggles to him. \"It has microcircuitry built into it to shield your mind against psionic attacks, same as I've got in my helmet. It also intensifies light so you can see in the dark. Be careful to turn down the sensitivity when you go from dark to light, though, or you'll be temporarily blinded.\"\n\tPark accepted the goggles and put them on. \"Anything to report?\"\n\t\"Nothing so far. Lucy's mother is sleeping in her daughter's room, and the senator is asleep in the master bedroom.\"\n\tPark nodded. \"There's something I've been wanting to tell you, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"What's that?\" the squirrel asked.\n\t\"When Sanchez first told me we were going to be partners, I had some . . . reservations.\"\n\tSupersonic shrugged. \"I'm not surprised. Lots of people look at me and just see a silly little squirrel.\"\n\t\"I know what that's like,\" said Park. \"I had to deal with prejudice growing up in Spokane, people throwing around words like 'gook,' 'chink,' and 'slant-eyes.'\"\n\tSupersonic sighed and shook his head. \"That's rough.\"\n\t\"Anyway, I just wanted to say that I think you've handled this case very professionally. I'm glad Sanchez assigned me to work with you.\"\n\tThe squirrel chuckled. \"Save the compliments for when Darke is under lock and key.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"All right. Bed's yours. I'll relieve you at eight o'clock.\"\n\t\"Roger,\" said Supersonic, climbing onto the bed and curling up with his tail wrapped around him. Park gazed at him for a moment, thinking how cute and harmless he looked. It was hard to believe that this small creature could reduce this entire house to rubble in seconds. And unlike him, the squirrel wasn't dependent on daily injections of Cyberline for his powers. Speaking of which . . .\n\tPark went into the bathroom and opened his belt buckle, removing a syringe and an ampule full of milky fluid. There were four more such ampules in his buckle. He held it up to the light, rolling it between his fingers, watching the white liquid slosh around inside. Only one in ten people could use Cyberline without suffering negative side effects, and less than one percent could tolerate the high doses needed to produce a Silver Avenger. It was also ungodly expensive to make, another reason why Silver Avengers were so rare. He inserted the ampule into the syringe and injected the fluid into his left wrist. There was a burning sensation that faded quickly as his bloodstream carried the drug throughout his body. He put the syringe back into his buckle, closed it, and headed back into the bedroom. Supersonic was asleep, breathing softly. Park went to the door to the hall and turned the knob.\n\tA tremendous crash shook the entire house, causing Supersonic to sit bolt upright, eyes wide. \"What the heck was that?\" the squirrel shouted.\n\t\"We're under attack!\" Park yelled, drawing his gun and dashing out into the hall. Supersonic flew after him.\n\tPark and Supersonic entered the living room, the squirrel pulling down his goggles. There was a hole in the roof, and the floor was littered with debris. Floating in the middle of the room was the brain creature they had encountered at the hospital, along with a blond teenage boy wearing the same type of costume Twister had been wearing. Boone, Landauer, and another FBI agent, Saxon, were shooting at them, but their bullets were bouncing off the brain creature's sphere as before, while the boy was apparently protected by some kind of force field. The boy raised his hands and shot a bolt of pure force from them, striking Saxon and knocking him into the wall, while a blast of psionic energy from the brain creature stunned Landauer.\n\t\"Protect Lucy!\" Supersonic shouted to Park. \"I'll handle these two!\" Park nodded and dashed across the living room faster than any Olympic sprinter, heading for Lucy's bedroom, while the squirrel focused his attention on the brain creature. \"I've got a score to settle with you!\" He hurled a globe of supercompressed air at the thing, striking it and knocking it spinning across the room, its tentacles flailing wildly.\n\tThe boy raised his hands, took aim at Supersonic, and fired a force bolt that struck the squirrel and knocked him back into the wall. Dazed by the impact, Supersonic could do nothing as the boy took careful aim, building up another attack. Then Boone tossed a grenade, which exploded with a blinding flash and a loud bang. The boy cried out, his hands flying to cover his ears, his eyes squeezing shut. Supersonic's polarized goggles protected his eyes from the flash, but he was still momentarily deafened. With his ears feeling as though they were full of honey, the squirrel flew straight at the boy, slamming into him, and they both crashed through the sliding glass doors that opened onto the patio.\n\n\tRick and Stacey, having parked their rented car a few blocks away, were crouching together behind the wooden fence separating the Pinchards' yard from their neighbor's and peering at the Pinchards' house through gaps in the fence. The abundant trees in the backyard prevented them from seeing two figures drop down from the sky to the roof of the house but not from hearing the blast that tore a hole in the roof. They both jumped the fence and ran toward the house. As they neared it, the rear patio doors exploded outward in a spray of broken glass as Supersonic Squirrel and a blond boy in a black-and-magenta costume crashed through them.\n\tRick leaped and threw a flying kick at the boy's head, his furry foot connecting with the boy's cheek. The boy grunted, staggering backward, and Stacey grabbed him and threw him down onto the cement patio, stunning him.\n\tSupersonic stared at the new arrivals. \"Rick? Mrs. Summers? What are [i]you[/i] doing here?\" Even as he said it, he realized he wouldn't be able to hear their replies, as he was still deafened from Boone's stun grenade. Then he realized they were staring in horror at something behind him. He whirled around to see the brain creature hovering in the doorway.\n\t\"Your interference is unacceptable,\" it said, in a harsh, electronic drone. \"You will be eliminated.\" One of its tentacles shot out and wrapped around Supersonic's throat.\n\n\tPark burst into Lucy's bedroom to find the girl writhing in her bed, moaning and clutching her head. Her mother lay asleep on her cot, completely unresponsive. \n\tThe room also contained three other people. One was Twister. The other two were a boy and a girl about the same age as Twister, both with light, sandy hair, wearing costumes identical to hers. They looked similar enough to be brother and sister. \n\tTwister raised her hands and made that rotating gesture, and once again, Park felt an agonizing pain inside him, as though his intestines were being tied in knots. Fighting through the pain, Park lunged at Twister, throwing a punch at her. It connected, but as when she had been shot in the hospital, the force was mostly blunted, though the grimace on her face showed that she clearly felt some pain. \"Blackout! Displacer!\" she cried. \"Take him down!\"\n\tThe other two concentrated on Park, and their mouths fell open in surprise when nothing happened. \"My power doesn't affect him!\" the girl shouted.\n\t\"Mine neither!\" said the boy.\n\t\"Great!\" snarled Twister. \"I gotta do everything myself!\" She rotated her hands again, and Park cried out in pain, his innards feeling as though they were being torn out. He struck at Twister once more, and once more, while it hurt, it didn't drop her. Then she moved her hands, and Park collapsed at her feet.\n\t\"Asshole!\" Twister spat, kicking him viciously. She turned to the other two. \"Get the girl!\" They both nodded, pulling a sobbing Lucy from her bed.\n\t\"What about him?\" the boy asked, indicating Park.\n\t\"Take him, too, Blackout,\" Twister said. \"Counselor Darke might want him.\"\n\tThe boy let go of Lucy and grabbed Park as Twister opened a portal. Displacer dragged Lucy through it as Blackout pulled Park. Once they were through, Twister stepped in, and the portal winked out of existence.\n\n\tSupersonic gurgled as the brain creature's tentacle tightened around his neck, his vision quickly fading.\n\t\"Rick, it's killing him!\" Stacey screamed, her fingers sliding along the slimy appendage as she tried uselessly to pull it off. Rick took a deep breath, opened wide, and clamped down on the tentacle with his sharp teeth, severing it. Stacey and Supersonic fell backward as thick greenish-gray fluid sprayed over the raccoon's face. The creature screeched and drifted back from him, its remaining tentacles wriggling wildly. It was without a doubt the worst thing he had ever smelled or tasted.\n\t\"Miserable Earth-creature!\" the brain yelled, and Rick felt himself lifted into the air and hurled across the yard. He landed sixty feet away in front of three FBI agents who had been running toward the house, startling them.\n\t\"So, you're an ET, are you?\" said Boone, coming up behind it. \"Well, welcome to Earth, [i]amigo[/i]!\" He jammed an electroshock weapon against one of its tentacles, and it screeched again, tentacles flailing. Then a force bolt struck the FBI agent, sending him flying across the living room.\n\t\"You okay, Floater?\" the blond boy asked, getting to his feet.\n\t\"The injury is minor, Force,\" Floater replied. \"Our mission has been accomplished. It is time to leave.\"\n\t\"You're not going anywhere, creep!\" shouted Stacey as she jumped to her feet and threw a kick at Force. It caught him on the chin, and he spun and crumpled to the ground. Then she cried out as a mental blast from Floater sent her to join him. Floater paused, regarding Stacey and Supersonic for a moment, the squirrel lying on his back groaning and clutching his throat. Then it noticed Rick and three FBI agents rapidly closing on them. It wrapped its tentacles around Force's unconscious body and carried him off into the night sky.\n\n\tOn the floor of an abandoned meat-packing plant on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., nine people stood waiting in front of two large trucks bearing the logos of a moving company that did not exist. Five of them were PSI agents, wearing suits, ties, and sunglasses. The sixth was a Black girl of about ten years, her face peppered with acne pimples. She wore the same black-and-magenta uniform that Twister, Force, Blackout, and Displacer wore. The seventh was a man in his early thirties with thinning black hair and a pockmarked face, wearing a black robe with a crimson yoke over his shoulders, chest, and back. His collar had thin white piping stitched around it, and he held a staff whose golden head was emblazoned with the Greek letter psi. The eighth was a muscular man wearing a shiny copper costume with black boots, gloves, and cowl, all with jagged edges. The ninth was a tall man in his forties with graying black hair and a thick mustache and goatee, wearing an expensive dark suit and a designer Italian tie. A pin with the letter psi was stuck in his lapel.\n\tA point of light appeared in the air above the floor, expanding into a shimmering circle. Out of it stepped Twister, Blackout, and Displacer. Displacer led a sobbing, stumbling Lucy along, while Blackout dragged the unconscious body of David Park. The circle vanished once they were all through.\n\t\"A Silver Avenger?\" the bearded man asked, in a silky baritone voice, pointing at Park. \"Why the hell did you bring [i]him[/i] here?\"\n\t\"I thought you might want him, Counselor Darke,\" said Twister, grinning. Her grin faded when she saw the scowl on Darke's face.\n\t\"You idiot!\" he snapped. \"Do you have any idea how much it costs to create a Silver Avenger? Millions! That's why they all have tracking devices implanted in them so Uncle Sam can keep tabs on his property! Take his goggles off!\" He whirled toward the Black girl. \"Flashback, find out where his tracker is!\"\n\tFlashback nodded and concentrated on Park as Twister removed his anti-psi goggles. \"Under his left armpit, sir,\" she said.\n\t\"Get his shirt off,\" Darke ordered. As Blackout and Twister pulled off the tunic of Park's uniform, Darke turned to one of the agents. \"Heine, manifest your psi blade.\" Heine nodded and held his hand up before him with the palm and fingers straight, and a transparent magenta blade appeared around it. He walked toward the now bare-chested Park, got down on one knee, and cut into Park's left armpit while Twister, Blackout, Displacer, and Flashback all grimaced and looked away. Within a minute, he had removed a silver disk the size of a quarter, covered in blood and with bits of flesh hanging from it.\n\t\"Twister, get rid of it,\" said Darke. Twister created a portal, Heine tossed the tracking device through it, and the portal closed again. Darke went over to Park, removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, and pressed it under his arm to stanch the bleeding. With his free hand, he opened Park's belt buckle and removed the four ampules of Cyberline there. He held one up, gazing at the milky fluid inside.\n\t\"Is that the drug that gives him his powers?\" asked Displacer wonderingly.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Cyberline. This should fetch a pretty penny!\"\n\t\"Do you think they got a fix on our position?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"Almost certainly,\" Darke replied. \"Commence evacuation. We'll transfer everything to the secondary location.\" The PSI agents hastened to comply.\n\t\"What about Floater and Force?\" asked Blackout.\n\t\"They know the plan. Once they arrive and find the base abandoned, they'll head for the secondary location.\"\n\tAt that moment, Park regained consciousness, groaning at the intense pain under his left arm. He opened his eyes and then gasped when he saw Darke. \"You!\" the Silver Avenger snarled and jumped to his feet, lunging at Darke. Unfortunately, he was still weak and groggy, and Darke managed to jump back out of reach.\n\t\"Torment!\" Darke yelled to the man in the copper-and-black costume.\n\tTorment concentrated on Park, and the Silver Avenger's body was flooded with excruciating pain, worse than anything he'd ever felt before. He cried out, collapsed to the concrete floor, and lay still.\n\t\"A pity,\" said the man in the black robe, striding forward, his staff tapping on the floor. \"He would have made a useful convert to our holy cause.\"\n\t\"He may yet, Revelation,\" said Darke, gazing down at the unconscious Silver Avenger.\n\t\"How?\" Revelation asked. \"PRIMUS knows we took him. If we let him return to them, they're going to suspect he's been brainwashed. And if we keep him, his powers will start to fade once his supply of Cyberline runs out.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Darke, \"but there may yet be a service he can perform for us.\"\n\t\"Please!\" cried Lucy, tugging at Displacer's hold on her wrist. \"Let me go! I want to go home!\"\n\tDarke smiled and crouched down to be eye to eye with her. \"But you are home, my child. PSI is your family now.\"\n\tLucy turned away, sobbing.\n\n\tSilver Avenger Mayte Sanchez arrived at the Pinchard house in a navy blue armored personnel carrier bearing the word PRIMUS along each side in white letters and the presidential eagle on the front and back. Local police, firefighters, and paramedics were already on the scene, their vehicles' lights flashing. She and five PRIMUS agents wearing blue skintight uniforms with white boots, belts, helmets, and white diagonal stripes across their chests with the presidential eagle over their hearts, emerged from the carrier and ran into the house.\n\tIn the ruins of the living room, Agent Landauer was speaking to some uniformed police officers, while paramedics tended to Agents Boone and Saxon. Rick and Stacey were standing off to one side, trying to stay out of everyone's way.\n\tLandauer noticed Sanchez and turned toward her, eyes narrowed. \"Why hello, Director Sanchez!\" he said, with naked sarcasm. \"Nice of you to join us!\"\n\t\"To whom am I speaking?\" she asked stiffly.\n\t\"Tom Landauer, FBI.\"\n\t\"What happened here, Agent Landauer?\"\n\t\"What happened is your people blew it!\" Landauer replied, smirking. \"PSI blasted through the roof of the senator's house and kidnapped his daughter, along with your rookie Silver Avenger.\"\n\tSanchez gaped. \"Park was kidnapped?\"\n\tLandauer nodded. \"Yes, being superhuman didn't seem to help much. In the meantime, two of our agents were seriously injured, and your little cartoon squirrel had to be saved by a pair of civilians!\" He indicated Rick and Stacey.\n\tSanchez glanced at Rick and Stacey, then turned her attention back to Landauer. \"Where is Supersonic?\"\n\t\"He's out on the patio.\"\n\tSanchez strode past Landauer and through the shattered sliding glass doors that led to the patio. Supersonic was lying on his back, conscious, with a paramedic examining his neck. Sanchez knelt down beside them, and the squirrel looked up at her and tried to speak, but all that came out was a croak. She looked at the paramedic. \"How is he?\"\n\t\"He's suffered serious contusions to his throat,\" the paramedic replied. \"He's lucky his trachea wasn't crushed.\"\n\tSupersonic tried to speak again, and his voice was a hoarse rasp. \"Where's Park?\" he asked.\n\t\"PSI got him,\" said Sanchez sadly, \"along with Lucy.\"\n\tThe squirrel trembled and bit his lip, tears welling up in his huge black eyes.\n\tSanchez caressed the side of his furry face gently. \"Rest, Supersonic.\" She stood up and went back into the living room.\n\t\"How is he?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"He will live. What about your men?\"\n\t\"They both have cracked ribs. Boone has a broken leg, and Saxon's got a punctured lung.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"At least nobody was killed.\"\n\t\"No thanks to that damn squirrel!\" snarled Landauer. \"He screwed up big time!\"\n\t\"Horseshit!\" said Boone, his voice tight with pain. Sanchez and Landauer both turned toward him. \"I was chief investigating officer. The responsibility was mine.\"\n\t\"What were the hostiles like?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We only saw two,\" Boone replied. \"One was—ah!\" He cried out, gritting his teeth as the paramedics moved him onto a stretcher. \"One was that brain creature we fought at the hospital. Apparently, it's some kind of alien. The other was a blond kid, about sixteen, with telekinetic powers.\"\n\t\"Their names were Floater and Force,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Floater tried to kill Supersonic, but Rick stopped him. I knocked out Force, and Floater flew away with him.\"\n\t\"And what exactly were the two of you doing here?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"We thought we might be able to help,\" Rick replied.\n\t\"Well, you were correct. Thank you for saving Supersonic.\"\n\t\"You're quite welcome.\"\n\t\"Wait a minute,\" said Landauer. \"How did you know where Lucy lived?\"\n\tRick hesitated, and Stacey jumped in. \"She told us.\"\n\t\"She told you?\" Landauer asked skeptically.\n\tStacey nodded. \"This morning, when we rescued her. We asked her where she lived, and she gave us this address.\"\n\t\"I see,\" said Landauer.\n\tSanchez took out her cell phone and dialed PRIMUS. \"What is the present location of Silver Avenger Park?\" she asked the person on the other end. She looked surprised when she heard the reply. \"The Lincoln Memorial?\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking equally astonished.\n\t\"Where was he before that?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"He have some kind of tracking device on him?\" Landauer asked as she waited for a reply.\n\tSanchez nodded. \"All Silver Avengers have one implanted. According to our monitor, he has popped instantly from one place to another twice in the past half hour. I suspect they removed Park's tracker and Twister sent it to the Lincoln Memorial.\" She paused, listening to the person on the other end of her phone. \"Got it. Send some agents to the Lincoln Memorial to make sure he's not there.\" She turned to the other PRIMUS agents. \"Let's move!\"\n\t\"Hold on a second!\" said Landauer, grabbing her shoulder. \"You're not cutting me out of this!\"\n\t\"This is no longer an FBI matter, Agent Landauer,\" said Sanchez, fixing him with an icy gaze. \"I am assuming control of this investigation.\"\n\t\"Like hell you are!\" Landauer shouted. He pointed at Boone, who was being carried out by the paramedics. \"That's [i]my[/i] partner over there!\"\n\t\"And one of [i]my[/i] men has been kidnapped, and another one injured!\"\n\t\"Director,\" came a hoarse, weak voice from doorway to the patio. They both turned to see Supersonic limping slowly toward them, rubbing his throat, a paramedic escorting him.\n\t\"Yes, Supersonic?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I think Agent Landauer should come. PSI hurt his partner. He deserves a chance for some payback. And there's those two FBI agents who were murdered.\"\n\tLandauer blinked, not having expected help from the squirrel.\n\t\"This is not about payback, Supersonic,\" said Sanchez. \"It is about who is best qualified. These people are paranormals.\"\n\t\"So are me and Park,\" Supersonic replied bitterly, \"for all the difference [i]that[/i] made!\"\n\tSanchez glanced at Landauer. \"Very well.\"\n\t\"With your permission,\" said Supersonic, \"I'd like to come, too.\"\n\t\"Are you sure you're up to it?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" the squirrel replied. \"Besides, I promised Lucy I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I'd like to make good on that.\"\n\t\"Director Sanchez,\" said Rick, \"may I also be of assistance?\"\n\t\"Yeah, me too,\" said Stacey.\n\tBefore Sanchez could reply, Supersonic said, \"They've been in this thing since the beginning, Director, and they've accomplished more than any of us.\"\n\tSanchez sighed. \"Fine. But do exactly as I say.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Understood, Director.\"\n\tSanchez, Landauer, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, and the five PRIMUS agents went outside, got into the armored personnel carrier, and drove off.\n\n\tThe woman behind the reception desk at PRIMUS headquarters stared at the man striding across the floor of the lobby toward her. He was tall, wearing a black bodysuit and a turquoise cloak and hood that concealed most of his face. He paused before the desk, gazing down at her, and spoke in a low, slow voice that sounded exotic and mysterious. \"I am Omen. I believe I am expected.\"\n\tThe receptionist swallowed and nodded. \"Yes, you are.\" There was something about this man—a combination of his speech, appearance, and bearing—that made her feel intimidated. She opened a drawer of her desk, removed a small yellow badge from it, rose from her seat, and hesitantly placed the badge on Omen's cloak. \"Through that door.\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. It was flanked by two PRIMUS Iron Guard agents in heavy, clunky armored suits with the presidential eagle over their hearts. They remained standing at attention as Omen passed between them.\n\tOmen took the elevator to the tenth floor and strode down the hallway, his cloak flowing around him, eliciting stares from the PRIMUS agents he passed. Upon reaching an office labeled S. SQUIRREL, he opened the door and went in.\n\tInside the office were Supersonic Squirrel, a hawk-faced man in a dark suit and tie with black hair and blue eyes, and a short humanoid raccoon and a blonde human woman, both wearing ordinary street clothes. Supersonic turned from his computer and broke into a wide, bucktoothed grin. \"Omen!\" he said, in a slightly hoarse voice. \"Nice to see you!\" \n\t\"It is good to see you, too, Supersonic,\" said Omen.\n\tThe squirrel hopped down from his chair, went to Omen, shook his hand, then turned to the others. \"These are—\"\n\t\"Agent Thomas Landauer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rick, and Stacey Summers,\" said Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, looking surprised. \"How did he—\"\n\t\"I knew what Supersonic was going to say,\" said Omen. \"I am aware you have doubts regarding my abilities. I thought that a demonstration might make some progress toward dispelling them.\"\n\tLandauer smirked. \"Supersonic could have told you we'd be here.\"\n\tThe squirrel shook his head. \"I haven't spoken to him since last night, before Rick and Stacey joined us, and I never mentioned your name.\"\n\tStacey shrugged. \"I'm convinced!\" Rick simply nodded.\n\t\"Well, if you can see the future,\" said Landauer, \"tell us where we're going to rescue Lucy so we can go get her.\"\n\t\"It is not certain that you [i]will[/i] rescue her,\" Omen replied, causing a pained expression on Supersonic's face.\n\t\"Oh, so now you [i]can't [/i]see the future?\" asked Landauer mockingly.\n\t\"I can see many futures,\" said Omen, unperturbed. \"Which ones come to pass depends upon a multitude of factors, including individual choices and random chance. The more factors are involved, the more uncertain the outcome.\"\n\tLandauer walked up to Omen and leaned forward until their faces were just inches apart. \"Then what good are you? Hell, anyone can imagine different possible futures!\"\n\t\"Not everyone can see the paths that lead to them,\" said Omen. \"That is my gift.\"\n\t\"Okay, then,\" said Landauer, \"what path leads to us defeating PSI and rescuing Lucy and Park?\"\n\tOmen was silent for a moment. \"I am not sure,\" he said at last.\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer and Supersonic simultaneously.\n\t\"Ever since I arrived in this city, my vision of the future has been muddled. Almost as if . . . something is blocking it.\"\n\tLandauer smirked again. \"Reply hazy, ask again later.\"\n\t\"What could do that?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"Maybe Porgrave broadcasters?\" Supersonic suggested.\n\t\"What are those?\" asked Stacey.\n\t\"Anti-psi devices. They blanket an area with psychic static, blocking telepaths from reading people's minds. Washington's full of 'em.\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"I think not. Those machines have never interfered with my vision before. It must be something else.\"\n\t\"Well, that's just great!\" fumed Landauer, fixing his eyes on Supersonic. \"Your fortune teller appears to have laid a big goose egg, Agent Squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic glared at him. \"I'm doing the best I can, Agent Landauer, and your constant sniping at me doesn't help!\"\n\t\"Yeah, give him a break, Landauer!\" said Stacey. \"He's the only reason you're still on this case!\"\n\tLandauer whirled on her. \"In case you hadn't noticed, honey, this case has hit a dead end. There was nothing at that abandoned meat-packing plant PSI was using as a base, and Park's tracking device was found on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, so we have absolutely no idea where they are! None!\"\n\t\"Be that as it may, Agent Landauer,\" said Rick, calmly, \"accusations and recriminations accomplish nothing.\"\n\t\"Ah, blow it out your fortune cookie, Rocket. Right now, we might as well be consulting those!\"\n\tRick narrowed his eyes but remained silent.\n\tSupersonic looked up at Omen sadly. \"I'm sorry, Omen.\"\n\t\"Do not be,\" said Omen. \"There may yet be something I can do to help.\"\n\t\"Like what?\" Landauer snapped.\n\t\"Your friend, Silver Avenger Park.\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Supersonic sullenly, his guilt over the loss of his partner evident.\n\t\"He is here.\"\n\tEveryone stared at Omen.\n\t\"Park's here?\" asked Landauer.\n\tOmen nodded. \"In the lobby.\"\n\tSupersonic grabbed his cell phone and called Park. After a moment, he looked up at the others. \"He doesn't answer!\"\n\t\"Maybe he lost his phone,\" Stacey suggested.\n\tSupersonic thought for a moment. \"He's here, in PRIMUS headquarters, with no tracking device.\" His dark eyes went wide. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What?\" asked Landauer, but the squirrel was already shooting down the hall.\n\n\tSilver Avenger David Park entered the lobby of PRIMUS headquarters and walked up to the receptionist. \"How are you, Janice?\" he asked, smiling.\n\tShe blinked at him. \"David! I heard you'd been captured!\"\n\t\"I escaped,\" he replied. \"I need to report to Director Sanchez, immediately.\"\n\tShe nodded. \"Of course!\" She pressed a button under her desk, and the steel door to her right slid upward. Park thanked her and went in, passing the two Iron Guard agents standing on either side of it.\n\tThe door slid down behind Park, and he crossed the short, featureless corridor to the second door. Both doors were never open at the same time. The scanners lining the corridor recognized him as Silver Avenger David Park, and the door at the far end slid upward. Park walked through it and immediately headed for PRIMUS's main computer room.\n\tPark entered a stairwell and swiftly ascended two flights of stairs, emerging in front of the elevators on the third floor. He strolled unhurriedly down the main corridor, the soles of his dark blue boots sinking into the deep orange pile carpet as security cameras silently observed his passage. Decorating the walls were pictures of famous people and scenes from American history. To his right was Washington crossing the Delaware. To his left, Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. Straight ahead, the American flag was being raised on Iwo Jima. Park paid no attention to them, his eyes blank and glassy. A right turn followed by a left brought him to the door to the computer room. It was closed and locked. He produced a magnetic keycard from his belt and inserted it into the slot beside the door. There was a click, and he turned the handle, pushed the door open, and went inside. The door swung shut behind him.\n\tInside the room were the shoulder-high, dull silver cabinets housing the PRIMUS mainframe, their black fronts covered with blinking red LED lights. They contained everything PRIMUS knew. Three PRIMUS agents—two men and a woman—were administering to the machine as Park walked toward it.\n\tAn alarm went off, and Supersonic Squirrel's voice burst over the intercom. \"Attention all agents! Find and apprehend Silver Avenger Park! He's under enemy control!\" The three agents all froze and stared at Park, then drew their .44 magnum revolvers from the holsters on their hips. Like all PRIMUS agents, they had been enhanced by daily doses of Cyberline. Being able to tolerate the drug without harmful side effects was one of the requirements for becoming a PRIMUS agent, save for those like Supersonic who possessed paranormal abilities of their own. It increased agents' physical dexterity by as much as fifty percent and gave them about half the reaction time of a normal human being. But none of these agents were Silver Avengers.\n\tPark lunged at the nearest agent, his hand knifing toward the man's chest as he raised his gun to fire. His fingertips struck the Kevlar cloth of the man's uniform, breaking a rib and knocking the man off his feet as he cried out in pain. Park whirled on the other two as they fired. One bullet missed and embedded itself in the wall. The other struck his torso, where it was stopped by his own Kevlar costume. He charged toward the female agent, throwing a punch at her, which connected, hurling her across the room and into the wall, where she slid to the floor, unconscious. The remaining agent fired again, hitting Park in his lower back, but again, it was stopped by his costume. Park slammed his fist into the man's chest, dropping him.\n\tElapsed time: five seconds.\n\tPark turned to the computer, removed a device from his belt, and moved to insert it into one of the access ports. Before he could do so, there was a tremendous impact and the door to the computer room flew off its hinges as a massive blast of wind hit it, sending it spinning across the room. Hovering in the doorway was Supersonic Squirrel, a scowl darkening his big-eyed, bucktoothed face. \"Omen said you'd be here,\" he growled.\n\tPark lunged at the computer, attempting to insert the device, but Supersonic rocketed forward and slammed into him, sending them both crashing into the far wall. Park threw a right cross, but the amazingly agile squirrel dodged and seized Park's arm. With a twist of his small body, he threw Park over his shoulder to the floor. Park rolled to his feet and sprang at Supersonic, but a vortex of wind formed around the squirrel, pushing Park back, his boots sliding along the carpet.\n\tAt that moment, Rick and Stacey ran into the room, striking combat poses. Behind them came Omen, his cape billowing around him. Park glanced back at them, now surrounded.\n\t\"Dave,\" said Supersonic evenly, \"it's me, Supersonic, your friend. You're following a hypnotic command implanted by Nicholas Darke. You have to snap out of it. I don't want to hurt you. Please, don't make me.\"\n\tPark stared at Supersonic's small, gray-furred form hovering in the air with wind whirling around him like a miniature cyclone. He blinked and shook his head, sweat dripping down his face, his brow furrowed. Then he cried out and tried again to insert the device into one of the computer's access ports. Omen jumped in the way, covering the port with his body, while Rick launched himself across the carpet and slid under Park, sweeping a leg out from under him and knocking him down. Stacey lunged, her fingertips striking a tendon in Park's wrist. That caused him to open the hand holding the device, and Supersonic immediately created a gust of wind that sent it wafting through the air toward him.\n\tPark yelled in anguish, hurling himself at the squirrel, arms outstretched, but Supersonic blew him back with a wind blast. Then Rick and Stacey both struck nerve centers on Park's body, causing him to cry out in pain and double over.\n\t\"Agent Park,\" said Omen, \"listen carefully. Norway, gondola, diatonic.\"\n\tPark's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.\n\t\"What just happened?\" asked Stacey, astonished.\n\t\"Darke always implants a shutdown command, in case one of his victims turns on him,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"How did you know what it was?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"My vision showed me the correct combination of words.\"\n\tThe raccoon's mouth fell open. \"Out of all those millions of possibilities?\"\n\t\"The command is always based on his initials, N.G.D., which narrows it down somewhat. I suppose it appeals to his ego, like an artist signing a painting.\"\n\t\"You might have done it sooner,\" said Supersonic grumpily.\n\t\"As Rick pointed out, there were many possible futures. It took time to find the right one.\"\n\tSanchez and Landauer appeared in the doorway, the latter holding his gun in both hands, aimed at Park.\n\t\"It's all right,\" said Supersonic, holding up his hand. \"Crisis averted.\" He walked over to Sanchez, handing her the device. \"Any idea what this is, Director?\"\n\tShe nodded. \"A remote uplink. If Park had inserted this, it would have transmitted every bit of data in PRIMUS's computer to a receiving unit somewhere: information on superpowered individuals and organizations, and on PRIMUS personnel, operations, resources, safehouses, contacts, informants, research projects, technology, and so on. We would have been completely compromised.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Holy cow!\"\n\t\"What about him?\" asked Rick, indicating Park. \"Is [i]he[/i] compromised, the way Nightmunk was?\"\n\tOmen shook his head. \"Darke did not have time to do a complete brainwashing on him. He simply implanted a single command in his mind that he was compelled to obey. When he awakens, he will be himself again. Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Then he can't have gotten his hooks into Lucy yet!\" said Stacey eagerly.\n\t\"No, he has not had time.\"\n\tLandauer narrowed his eyes. \"And how do [i]you[/i] know so much about Darke's brainwashing techniques, Omen?\"\n\t\"Because I have encountered other unfortunate souls whose minds were warped by his wicked skills,\" Omen replied, a touch of coldness in his sonorous voice.\n\t\"Let us get him to the infirmary,\" said Sanchez. \"He can be treated, and we can find out if he learned anything useful while he was PSI's captive.\" Two PRIMUS agents carried Park out of the room, while others tended to the three Park had knocked unconscious.\n\n\tPark awoke in PRIMUS's infirmary and looked around frantically, eyes wide. He was lying on a hospital bed, with Sanchez, Supersonic, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer all standing over him—or, in Rick's and Supersonic's cases, looking up at him.\n\t\"It's all right, partner,\" said Supersonic, smiling. \"You're safe now. How do you feel?\"\n\tPark relaxed and reached down, rubbing his side where Rick and Stacey had hit him. \"Sore as hell. How did I get here?\" His eyes focused on Omen. \"And who is that?\"\n\t\"That's Omen,\" Supersonic replied. \"You don't remember anything?\"\n\tPark furrowed his brow. \"Darke. I remember Darke. He was standing right in front of me, as close as you are now. I tried to grab him, and then . . . there was pain! Incredible pain!\"\n\t\"Pain from what?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"Some guy in a black-and-copper costume. Darke called him Torment.\" \n\tSupersonic noticed Omen stiffen. \"That mean something to you?\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"I know this man. His real name is Jeff Baldwin. He was born with a brain mutation that caused him to be in constant pain, which nothing could relieve. His parents did not wish to deal with him, so they put him up for adoption. But nobody wanted to adopt such a child and deal with a lifetime of medical expenses and suffering, so for thirteen years he remained in the adoption center, unloved, unwanted, and in perpetual agony.\"\n\t\"Good god!\" said Landauer.\n\t\"How horrible!\" said Stacey, hugging herself.\n\t\"That poor kid!\" said Supersonic, wiping away a tear.\n\t\"Darke learned of Jeff's condition and was interested in its cause,\" Omen continued, \"so he offered to use his advanced neurochemical knowledge to try to cure him, which he eventually did. However, the drug he developed had an unexpected side effect. The mutation that had caused Jeff such pain now enabled him to project pain into others. Darke decided this ability could be useful to him, so he arranged to take custody of Jeff, giving him the codename Torment. Jeff requires daily injections of Darke's drug to keep his pain from returning, and he will do anything to prevent this from happening.\"\n\t\"So he's Darke's slave,\" said Rick, scowling.\n\tOmen nodded. \"Essentially.\"\n\tSanchez turned back to Park. \"Was there anyone else with Darke?\"\n\tPark thought for a moment. \"I was only conscious for a few seconds before Torment made me pass out, but I remember Twister was there, and a guy with a pockmarked face and thinning black hair who was dressed kind of like a priest, with a black robe and a white collar. He was holding a staff with a gold head. And there were a bunch of PSI agents, and three kids in those black-and-magenta costumes. Two of them were in Lucy's room with Twister when I broke in. She called them Blackout and Displacer, but I don't know which was which. They both had sandy hair and looked kind of similar, maybe brother and sister. The third one was a Black girl, about ten years old, with bad acne. I never heard her name.\"\n\t\"Any of these folks sound familiar?\" Supersonic asked Omen.\n\tOmen shook his head. \"No, I do not recognize them. They must be recent recruits.\"\n\t\"Well,\" said Sanchez, \"we can do a workup on the guy dressed like a priest. He sounds pretty distinctive. And we can search the national databases for any missing children matching those descriptions.\"\n\t\"A pair of possible siblings with sandy hair, and a Black girl with acne,\" said Landauer. \"I wouldn't hold out much hope there.\"\n\t\"And that's assuming they're even Americans,\" said Supersonic. \"PSI has recruited people from outside the country before.\"\n\t\"I heard Blackout and Displacer talk,\" said Park. \"They sounded like Americans.\"\n\t\"Force sounded like an American, too,\" said Stacey. \"As for Floater . . .\"\n\t\"I have already spoken to METE about Floater,\" said Sanchez. \"They have never heard of this creature.\"\n\t\"METE?\" asked Rick.\n\t\"The Metropolitan Extra-Terrestrial Enclave,\" said Supersonic. \"It's sort of a halfway house for homeless aliens.\"\n\tStacey blinked. \"I wouldn't have thought there'd be enough of those to warrant such a place!\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You'd be surprised.\"\n\t\"Remember,\" said Sanchez, \"there have been aliens living on Earth since at least 1938, and more than a few are members of the superhero community.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Yeah, my old teammate in the Millennium Guard, Ironkid, is half alien. Great kid.\"\n\t\"METE is a private research facility supported by regular contributors and government contracts,\" said Landauer. \"Their focus is biological research. A number of recent advances in medicine are the result of their work.\"\n\t\"You approve of them, Agent Landauer?\" asked Rick, sounding surprised.\n\tLandauer looked at the raccoon. \"My daughter had leukemia. Drugs developed at METE saved her life.\"\n\t\"Oh,\" said Rick. \"I am very happy for you, then.\"\n\t\"Thank you,\" said Landauer.\n\t\"All right,\" said Sanchez, \"let's get busy, people. The sooner we track down PSI, the sooner we rescue Lucy.\"\n\tPark sat up on the bed. \"Permission to return to duty, Director?\"\n\tSanchez smirked. \"Each day you're out of action costs the taxpayers a fortune. Granted.\"\n\n\t\"Now, I want you to relax, Lucy,\" said Counselor Darke, in a low, soothing voice. \"Just relax and look at the light. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Concentrate only on the light.\"\n\tLucy gazed at the lit candle sitting on the table before her, the only illumination in the darkened room. It was so pretty, the flame so straight and unwavering. She felt as though nothing in the world existed except her and the candle flame. She felt completely relaxed and at peace. \n\tDarke smiled. Lucy was progressing nicely. The drugs he'd administered in her fruit juice were gently quelling her fears and sapping her will to resist. How amazing the mind was—and how malleable.\n\tThe door to the office flew open, blowing out the candle and making Lucy gasp. In the doorway stood Revelation, staff in hand. Behind him hovered Floater.\n\tDarke whirled, glaring at the pair. \"I've told you before never to disturb me during a session, Anthony!\" he shouted, causing Lucy to cover her ears.\n\t\"Something is blurring my vision!\" growled Revelation.\n\tDarke stared at him. \"What?\" He wondered if the brain mutation that granted Revelation his precognition was starting to affect his eyesight. Darke had known for some time that it was slowly killing him, though he had not told him this.\n\t\"Ever since this morning,\" said Revelation, \"my vision of the future has been murky, as if something were clouding it.\"\n\tDarke considered this. It was possible that the mutation was destroying Revelation's brain even faster than he'd estimated. That could explain the clouding of his vision. He would have to conduct some tests to make sure. \"Can you see the cause?\" he asked. \n\tRevelation nodded. \"It is a man, wearing a blue cloak and hood.\"\n\tDarke gasped. \"Omen!\"\n\t\"You know this person?\" asked Revelation, stiffening.\n\tDarke nodded. \"Yes. He's a precog, like you, a member of the original PSI.\"\n\t\"Another precog? I thought the power to see the future was mine alone!\"\n\tDarke lit himself a cigarette. \"Don't be naive, Anthony. If a mutation can happen once, it can happen again. It's just a matter of inheriting the right combination of genes.\"\n\t\"My power is a divine gift!\" shouted Revelation, pounding his staff on the floor and causing Lucy to cower in her chair.\n\t\"Lower your voice!\" Darke growled. \"You're scaring the child. Omen infiltrated PSI because he had some sort of vendetta against Psymon. I'm still not clear on what it was. He used our plan to break Psymon and two other members of PSI out of Stronghold Prison as a means of reaching him so he could kill him, a masterful bit of subterfuge, I must say. He failed, as Psymon still remains in Stronghold, but in the process Omega, PSI's chief of security, was killed by Nightmunk, who we thought was under our control. All the original members of PSI were subsequently captured by PRIMUS, save for Torment and myself. After that, Omen simply vanished. I never found out who he was or what became of him. He's still very much a mystery to me.\"\n\tRevelation glowered. \"I refuse to tolerate the existence of another precog! This Omen must be destroyed!\"\n\t\"And how, exactly, do you plan to do that, Anthony?\" asked Darke, smirking. \"Do you know where he is?\"\n\t\"No,\" Revelation admitted, \"but he must be someplace nearby, or he wouldn't be blocking my vision. And his being here can't be a coincidence.\" He grinned unpleasantly. \"Perhaps he's after you, Nicholas.\"\n\tDarke shrugged. \"Why would he be after me? I'm not Psymon.\"\n\t\"You said it yourself: He's a mystery. Who knows what his true goal is?\"\n\t\"If he wanted to kill me, he had ample opportunity to do that when he was with PSI.\"\n\t\"I must find him!\" snarled Revelation. \"None may see the future but me, the living revelation of the glory of power!\" He turned and stalked away, Floater following him.\n\tDarke watched them go. He had neglected to mention that it was he who had programmed Nightmunk to kill Omega, and that he had permitted the rest of PSI to be captured in order to create a new PSI with himself as its sole master. As he smoked, he considered the implications of what Revelation had told him. So, the mysterious Omen was back. That was troubling. Darke did not like mysteries. He was a man who liked to be in control of every situation, and that meant knowing everything. And as long as Omen was interfering with Revelation's vision, his usefulness to PSI was compromised. Something would have to be done about this.\n\tHe turned back to Lucy, smiled, and relit the candle. \"Now, let's begin again.\"\n\t\n\tSupersonic and Park burst into the conference room at PRIMUS headquarters that Sanchez had turned into their base of operations, causing her, Omen, Rick, Stacey, and Landauer to look up from stacks of files and newspapers they were examining. \"We got something!\" the squirrel announced, his bucktoothed face beaming.\n\t\"Well, don't keep it to yourself!\" said Stacey.\n\t\"I IDed the guy dressed like a priest as one Anthony Martelli, a member of the New York mob,\" said Park.\n\t\"And get this!\" said Supersonic, grinning excitedly. \"He found people for them!\"\n\t\"Interesting!\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"He used to work for a mobster named 'Sticks' Monroe,\" said Park.\n\t\"I've heard of him,\" said Landauer. \"The New York District Attorney indicted him for murder a few years ago. The case had to be dropped when all the witnesses were shot dead, despite having been moved to secret locations. We figured there was a leak in the DA's office, but we never found one.\"\n\t\"PRIMUS didn't have anything on Martelli,\" said Supersonic, \"so we checked with the FBI. No mention of any paranormal abilities, but apparently the guy is some kind of religious nut. Not of any conventional religion, though. He claimed all religions were bunk and kept talking about the importance of 'supreme power.'\"\n\t\"As you might imagine,\" said Park, \"that didn't make him too popular with the other wise guys, who were all good Catholic boys.\"\n\t\"Does he still work for Monroe?\" asked Sanchez.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"He dropped out of sight about six months ago. Nobody's seen or heard from him since then. The FBI figured one of his fellow mobsters probably got sick of him bashing religion and whacked him.\"\n\t\"This Martelli,\" said Omen, \"you say he was good at finding people?\"\n\tPark nodded. \"That's how he came to Monroe's attention. He'd find people for anyone who would pay him.\"\n\t\"He must have some kind of psychic location ability,\" said Rick.\n\tStacey nodded. \"Why would he be with PSI otherwise?\"\n\t\"It is more than that,\" said Omen, standing up. \"He is a precog.\"\n\tSupersonic gasped. \"Another precog?\"\n\t\"It explains the interference with my vision. By seeing the future, one alters it, changing the probability of what will eventually come to pass. Thus, two precogs working toward opposing goals should essentially cancel each other out, leaving them both lost in a fog of confusion and uncertainty.\"\n\t\"I imagine that's not something you're used to,\" said Rick.\n\t\"The idea of dueling precogs is a fascinating one,\" said Sanchez.\n\t\"Wait a minute!\" said Supersonic. \"If he's blocking your power, then you must be blocking his, right?\"\n\t\"Unquestionably,\" Omen replied.\n\t\"And I'll bet Darke isn't happy about that,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"Not if he's relying on Martelli's visions to avoid being caught,\" said Park.\n\t\"Or to locate new potential recruits,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Can you sense when Martelli is near,\" Landauer asked Omen, \"like a homing beacon?\"\n\t\"The analogy is imperfect, Agent Landauer,\" Omen replied. \"We do not generate signals that grow stronger as one moves closer to their source. It is more a matter of the degree to which our respective futures are intertwined. I am involved in this because Supersonic called me and I agreed to come. From that moment, Anthony Martelli's future and mine have been connected. What the result of this will be, I cannot say.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"Accept the word of one who [i]doesn't[/i] know?\"\n\tOmen nodded, smiling slightly. \"Aptly put, my furry friend.\"\n\t\"However,\" said Sanchez, \"it does suggest a way we may be able to bring PSI out into the open.\"\n\t\n\t\"Counselor Darke! Counselor Darke!\"\n\tNicholas Darke sat up on the cot on which he'd been sleeping and blinked his eyes until they focused on the darkened office of the warehouse that PSI was using as a temporary base of operations. Torment's generally gloomy voice was uncharacteristically excited. \"What is it, Jeff?\"\n\tTorment opened the door, letting light spill into the room. The cowl of his costume had been pulled back to reveal the face of a handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed youth in his late teens. \"You have to see this!\" he said.\n\tDarke swung his legs down and stood up. He was wearing a rumpled dress shirt and slacks, both with designer labels. \"See what?\" he asked calmly. \"Is there danger? Are we under attack?\" He had been counting on Revelation to be able to foresee such a contingency, but since Omen had entered the picture, Revelation's powers could no longer be relied upon.\n\t\"No, sir, nothing like that,\" Torment replied.\n\t\"Well, what, then?\" asked Darke, annoyed.\n\t\"Trust me, sir, it's easier if you just come outside and look.\"\n\tDarke sighed, slipped on a pair of loafers, and followed the young psionic down the hall. They walked quickly through the empty warehouse, out an open corrugated aluminum door that had been made to accomodate large trucks, and into the stockyard, which was surrounded by a wooden fence that prevented anyone outside seeing in and was topped with barbed wire. A number of PSI agents were standing on the yard's concrete surface, looking up at the sky. He tilted his head back to see what it was the agents were gazing at, and his mouth fell open.\n\tWritten in white letters in the clear blue sky was: \n\t[i]Martelli\n\tRFK Stadium\n\tOmen[/i]\n\tDarke looked around the stockyard. \"Where is Revelation?\"\n\t\"Gone, sir,\" Torment replied. \"He had Twister open a portal for him, and he, Twister, Floater, Force, Blackout, and Displacer went through.\"\n\t\"That idiot!\" Darke snarled. \"He's going to get them all captured!\"\n\t\"You think it's a trap, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"Of course it's a trap,\" Darke snapped. \"And Revelation is leading my new PSI right into it!\"\n\t\"But I thought he could see the future!\" Torment protested.\n\t\"Not with Omen around, he can't. Their powers are negating each other.\"\n\tTorment shrugged helplessly. \"Well, what can we do, sir? They're at the stadium by now, so the trap must have already been sprung!\"\n\tDarke frowned. \"Supervise the evacuation of this base to the tertiary location.\"\n\t\"What about you, sir?\" Torment asked.\n\t\"I'm going to see if I can salvage this mess.\" He turned and began walking back into the warehouse.\n\t\"Sir!\" shouted Torment, running after him. \"Let me come with you!\"\n\tDarke waved him off. \"I need you here, Jeff.\"\n\tTorment's voice shook with fear. \"But if anything happens to you, there'll be nobody to make the drug that keeps my pain away! Please, sir, I couldn't bear going back to that. I'd rather die!\"\n\tDarke paused and looked at him. His eyes were frantic, the boy terrified by the thought of returning to the agony that had been his whole world for the first thirteen years of his life. \"Very well.\" He turned to Agent Heine. \"Heine, you take charge of the evacuation.\"\n\tHeine nodded. \"Yes, Counselor.\"\n\tDarke and Torment went back into the warehouse.\n\n\tSupersonic Squirrel sat cross-legged at the center of a vast field of brown dirt, the bleachers and walls of the mammoth stadium rising around him. He remembered when it had first opened, in 1961. Back then, it had been called District of Columbia Stadium. President Kennedy had refused to permit the Washington Redskins to play there, since it was on federal land, until their owner desegregated the team. In 1969, it had been renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in honor of President Kennedy's slain brother. In 2019, it had been closed, and now stood abandoned on the west bank of the Anacostia River, awaiting demolition. The squirrel sighed as he looked around at the decaying stadium, its remaining seats empty, the only sound the tinny rattling of the racks of lights above the bleachers by the wind ruffling his tail and fur. Like himself, it was a relic of another time.\n\tA bright point of light appeared a few dozen yards away from him, quickly expanding into a white circle floating in the air. Out of it stepped Revelation. Behind him came Force, Floater, Twister, and a boy and girl he hadn't seen before.\n\t\"I see you got my message, Martelli,\" said Supersonic, still sitting. \"I hoped you would.\"\n\tRevelation glared at the squirrel. \"Call me Revelation, for that is what I now am, the living revelation of the glory of power!\"\n\t\"Nifty,\" said Supersonic, standing up and dusting off his furry backside with his hands. \"I also see you brought some friends. For future reference, which one is Blackout and which one is Displacer?\"\n\t\"I'm Blackout,\" the boy said.\n\t\"And I'm Displacer,\" said the girl.\n\t\"Hi. Nice to finally meet you both.\" The squirrel turned his attention back to Revelation. \"Where's Darke?\"\n\t\"Where's Omen?\" asked Revelation.\n\tSupersonic grinned, buck teeth gleaming. \"Don't you know?\"\n\tRevelation growled. \"He is cloaking himself from my vision, somehow.\"\n\t\"I have it on good authority he's doing a lot more than that. As long as you two are working against each other, neither of you can see the future worth beans!\"\n\tTwister looked at Revelation in alarm. \"You said it would be safe!\"\n\t\"Calm yourself, Susan,\" said Revelation. \"You have nothing to fear as long as you're with me.\" He gestured at Supersonic with his staff. \"Blackout. Displacer. Deal with that rodent!\"\n\tBlackout concentrated on the squirrel, and his eyes widened. \"My power's not working on him!\"\n\t\"Neither is mine!\" cried Displacer.\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"You must really think I'm dumb. I knew I was going up against PSI, so I took precautions. My mind is shielded against psionics.\" He reached up and lowered his goggles over his eyes. \"In the name of the people of the United States, you're all under arrest. You have the right to remain silent—\"\n\t\"You're not shielded against [i]my[/i] power, squirrel!\" said Twister, grinning and raising her hands. \"I'm gonna take you down like I did your Silver Avenger buddy!\"\n\tSupersonic shot straight at Twister, slamming into her and knocking her back thirty feet, their bodies gouging a furrow in the dirt as they skidded along. At that moment, from a tunnel that opened onto the field emerged Rick, Stacey, Landauer, and Silver Avengers Park and Sanchez, all wearing mirrored anti-psionic goggles.\n\t\"Give it up, Martelli!\" shouted Sanchez.\n\t\"I am Revelation!\" yelled Revelation. \"Force! Floater! Get them!\"\n\tForce and Floater flew toward the new arrivals, Force heading for Sanchez while Floater made for Park. The blond-haired youth raised his hands and fired a bolt of pure force at the director of PRIMUS, hitting her and knocking her back a hundred feet, over the concrete wall—still bearing plywood billboards for various products—that had separated the spectators from the playing field, and into the banks of seats beyond. Landauer fired at the boy with his pistol as Stacey closed with him, but his bullets bounced harmlessly off the force field surrounding Force's body.\n\t\"Oh, no!\" said Force, grinning down at Stacey as he flew twenty feet above her. \"I'm not letting you get your hands on me again!\" Stacey scowled, unable to reach the boy. Then she heard the sound of splintering wood behind her. Glancing back, she saw Sanchez, crouched atop the wall, tear a billboard for Miller Lite off it. The director swung the huge sign back horizontally behind her and then hurled it at Force like a discus thrower, sending it spinning through the air toward him. Force had no chance to dodge as the heavy plywood billboard caught him edgewise, stunning him and dropping him to the ground. He landed right in front of Stacey, who finished him off with a nerve strike to his shoulder, rendering the boy unconscious.\n\t\"Careful, you know what that thing can do!\" said Park as he and Rick ran toward Floater, the alien hovering silently six feet off the ground.\n\tRick nodded. \"All too well.\"\n\t\"As I am too well acquainted with your bite, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, in its grating, electronic voice. \"A most unpleasant experience, one that will not be repeated.\"\n\t\"Why are you doing this, Floater?\" Rick asked. \"What are you getting out of it?\"\n\t\"My motives are no concern of yours, Earth-creature,\" Floater replied. \"You should concentrate instead on surviving the next few minutes.\" It reached out with its mind and tried to seize the raccoon telekinetically, but Rick dodged nimbly, evading its grasp. Park took advantage of the opening to dart in, one hand knifing toward the green brain floating in its transparent sphere. His fingers struck the sphere with a sharp report, and green fluid began oozing through a crack in it. Floater screeched, seizing Park with its mind and flinging him away. Rick leaped on the alien, wrapping his arms and legs around its sphere and squeezing with all his might, but lacking Park's biochemically enhanced strength, he could not break it. Floater shot upward, carrying the raccoon into the sky with it.\n\tMeanwhile, Supersonic and Twister were rolling in the dirt together, one of the squirrel's furry arms locked around the girl's neck in a choke hold as she struggled to break free. Supersonic bore down on her as hard as he could, but most of the force he was exerting was being shunted away into another dimension, preventing him from cutting off her air supply. Still, he was making it difficult for her to focus her power. Twister glared up at Blackout and Displacer, spittle flicking from her lips. \"Help me, you idiots!\"\n\t\"But he's immune to our powers!\" Displacer protested.\n\t\"Punch him! Kick him! Do [i]something![/i] It's not like you don't have a horse in this race!\"\n\tBlackout and Displacer looked at each other, shrugged, and ran up, both of them kicking at the squirrel. Supersonic gritted his teeth in pain as their boots struck his body. Fighting children was not what he'd signed on for, but these were no ordinary kids. Twister had taken down a Silver Avenger single-handed. He created a vortex of wind around himself and Twister, pushing Blackout and Displacer away from them.\n\tStacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer closed in on Revelation, who stood glaring at them, black robe billowing in the breeze, staff clutched in his hand. \"Ready to surrender now, Martelli?\" Sanchez asked.\n\tRevelation grinned twistedly. \"This is very far from over, Director Sanchez!\" He raised his staff.\n\t\"Beware his staff!\" came a man's voice from the tunnel.\n\tSanchez dodged as a blast of electricity arced toward her from the head of Revelation's staff, narrowly evading it. Revelation turned toward the voice. Omen was emerging from the tunnel, his face grim beneath his turquoise hood.\n\t\"You!\" snarled Revelation, eyes burning with hatred. Then he sidestepped as Stacey threw a flying kick at his head, sailing past him to land in the dirt in a few feet away. Landauer fired his gun, but Revelation knew the path the bullet would take and avoided it.\n\t\"Yes, I,\" replied Omen, striding toward the black-robed figure. \"Your antithesis. You may be able to predict the others' actions, but not mine, nor any act of theirs I may influence.\"\n\tRevelation frowned, all the multiple potential futures in his mind fading into a gray fog. \"The same goes for you, Omen,\" he growled. \"We stalemate each other.\"\n\t\"True,\" said Omen, \"but my allies are trained fighters, while yours are a group of inexperienced, undisciplined children. I believe that gives us an edge.\" He smiled.\n\tRevelation looked around. Stacey, Sanchez, Park, and Landauer had him surrounded, and he could no longer anticipate what they would do. Force was down, Floater was somewhere up in the sky, and Blackout, Displacer, and Twister were all effectively neutralized. It began to dawn on him that coming here may not have been a wise move.\n\tAt that moment, there came a whine of jet turbines above them. They all looked up to see a figure in shiny gray armor with blue and black trim drop out of the sky and land on the dirt floor of the stadium. On its forehead was the Greek letter omega. In its arms it held Torment, whom it lowered to the ground.\n\tSupersonic and Sanchez both stared at the armored figure in disbelief. \"It's not possible!\" the squirrel gasped. \"Nightmunk killed you!\"\n\t\"He killed Omega,\" the armored figure replied casually, its voice distorted by an electronic filter. \"Fortunately, Omega kept a suit of backup armor. Greetings. I am Nicholas Darke.\" He turned his head toward Revelation. \"You imbecile! Your pride and vanity have put the entire organization at risk!\"\n\tRevelation simply glared at him, saying nothing.\n\tSanchez walked toward Darke, her face hard. \"Nicholas Darke, in the name of the people of the United States, I place you under arrest.\"\n\tDarke chuckled. \"Oh, I think not, Director Sanchez.\" He tapped a button on his gauntlet. Instantly, all their anti-psionic goggles shorted out, as did the anti-psionic circuitry in Supersonic's helmet and Omen's cowl.\n\t\"As you can see,\" said Darke, \"I came prepared, too.\"\n\tInstantly, Torment focused his power on Supersonic, and the squirrel screamed in agony as every nerve ending in his small body exploded with pain. He let go of Twister and curled into a ball, whimpering. Released from Supersonic's choke hold, Twister raised her hands and concentrated on Sanchez. The director of PRIMUS cried out and doubled over as Twister rotated Sanchez partially into another dimension, causing her intense anguish.\n\tRealizing that their adversaries were no longer shielded from their powers, Blackout and Displacer unleashed them on Park and Landauer, respectively. All the sensory input to Park's brain was suddenly blocked, leaving him seemingly floating in a black, silent void, unable to feel anything. He fell forward into the dirt and lay there, calling for help, arms and legs flailing uselessly. Landauer, on the other hand, found all his senses distorted, leaving him dizzy and uncoordinated. Sounds became muffled, his vision became blurry, and the ground seemed to rise and fall beneath his feet. Everyone around him had become a gray blob, making him unable to distinguish friend from foe. Landauer had once tried LSD in college, just to see what it was like. He hadn't enjoyed its effects and had never done it again. This was much like that, only worse.\n\tRevelation grinned savagely as Supersonic Squirrel, the two Silver Avengers, and the FBI agent were suddenly incapacitated. That left only Stacey Summers, an unpowered martial artist, and Omen, whose precognition was nullified. He turned to the latter. \"Your allies have fallen, Omen, as all who stand against pure power must! And now, you shall join them!\" He aimed his staff at Omen, and a bolt of electricity shot from its head. \n\tOmen dodged desperately, no longer able to foresee the path the bolt would follow. Fortunately, Revelation was equally unable to anticipate where Omen would be, and lacking that advantage, he was not an especially good shot. The bolt missed its target by several feet. A moment later, Stacey struck Revelation's staff, knocking it from his hand. He whirled to face her, eyes blazing with hatred. \"Didn't see that coming, did you?\" said Stacey, grinning.\n\t\"You'll pay for that, bitch!\" Revelation snarled. \"Oh, how you'll pay!\"\n\tThroughout all this, Nicholas Darke had stood silently in Omega's suit of backup powered armor, taking no part in the battle. He was a thinker, not a fighter, and had no interest in fisticuffs. He surveyed the stadium with satisfaction. The effects of Revelation's stupidity appeared to have been negated, the potential disaster averted. The only adversary here who really mattered was Omen, and Darke could deal with him at his leisure. He glanced at Stacey and smiled inside his helmet. This would be fun.\n\t\"Mrs. Summers,\" Darke said. \"The papers mentioned that you are the widow of the hero Samurai. It may interest you to know he was killed while investigating one of PSI's secret bases. Naturally, we would have preferred to bring him under our control, but his will was too strong, so we were forced to eliminate him. Regrettable, but necessary.\"\n\tStacey stared at Darke, then cried out in anger and charged toward him. Darke raised an arm and fired a spread of plasma bolts at her, but she dodged nimbly as a cat, and they all missed. She closed with Darke and threw a kick at his midriff, which connected, knocking him off his feet. Darke fell on his rump in the dirt, surprised.\n\t\"I am not a violent man, Mrs. Summers,\" said Darke, sounding mildly annoyed. \"I have never personally killed anyone.\" He aimed his arm at her. \"But there is a first time for everything.\"\n\t\n\tOver a thousand feet above the condemned stadium, Rick clung tightly to Floater, his arms and legs wrapped around its protective sphere. From this altitude, he could see all of Washington, D.C., as well as the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia. The familiar white shapes of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building rose up to the west. Beyond them lay the glittering ribbon of the Potomac River, and beyond that the flat, geometric mass of the Pentagon and the green expanse of Arlington National Cemetery. It was quite a view.\n\t\"How does it feel, Earth-creature,\" droned Floater, \"to know you are going to die?\"\n\t\"I've always known that,\" Rick replied calmly.\n\t\"But there is a difference between the abstract knowledge of death and the immediacy of it, is there not? Any time I wish to, I can simply cast you into space.\"\n\t\"If you're trying to frighten me, Floater, it's not going to work. Fear is just a feeling. Feelings can be controlled.\"\n\t\"So you feel no fear at all?\" Floater asked curiously.\n\t\"Sorry to disappoint you.\"\n\t\"We shall see,\" said Floater. Immediately, it launched into a series of dizzying aerobatics, swooping and banking and doing loop-the-loops, as the raccoon held on for dear life.\n\t\"Sadistic cuss, aren't you?\" said Rick through clenched teeth, the wind blowing through his fur. Fortunately, his goggles protected his eyes from it.\n\t\"You caused me pain, Earth-creature,\" replied Floater. \"More pain than anyone has for a very long time. I would repay you for that.\"\n\t\"Keep talking, then, Floater,\" Rick replied. \"Your monologue is pain enough.\"\n\t\"I will have you screaming in terror and begging for mercy before I kill you, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, diving earthward.\n\tRick shook his head. \"That's not going to happen.\" He closed his eyes, one clawed hand exploring the transparent dome covering Floater's brain as his mind sank into a trancelike state. His fingers touched the crack Park had made in its surface when he'd struck it earlier. He concentrated all his awareness on it, perceiving the structure of the dome in a way that went beyond the five ordinary senses, feeling how its molecules were intertwined and how Park's blow had disrupted those linkages. Finding the point of greatest weakness, he raised his fist and brought it down with a shattering impact, smashing through the dome and into the green fluid inside. Floater screeched and stopped dead in midair, tentacles flailing about wildly.\n\t\"Speaking of the immediacy of death,\" Rick growled, \"my fingers are touching your brain. Any time I wish to, I can simply close my hand and squeeze you into glop. Understand?\"\n\t\"Understood, Earth-creature,\" said Floater, the alien's flat, electronic voice somehow managing to convey its fear.\n\t\"Good. Now bring me back to the stadium.\"\n\tFloater began flying down toward the donut shape of the stadium far below.\n\t\n\t\"Just kill her, Nicholas!\" snarled Revelation, glaring at Stacey as Darke got to his feet with his arm aimed at her. Stacey stood motionless, her eyes fixed on Darke, ready to dodge if he fired. She no longer cared if she died. All she could think about was Kenji.\n\t\"Why?\" Darke asked. \"Because she dared to strike you? That's rather petty, Anthony, don't you think? She's no threat to PSI. Killing her would serve no purpose.\" He lowered his arm.\n\t\"Fine, I'll kill her myself!\" Revelation spat, and turned to pick up his staff, only to see Omen holding it, aimed at him. \"Darke!\" Revelation cried in fear.\n\tInstantly, Darke switched his target to Omen. Stacey, taking advantage of the distraction, charged at Darke, grabbed his arm, and executed a shoulder throw, hurling him on his back into the dirt.\n\t\"You have used your gift to murder innocents, Martelli,\" Omen said, sounding like a judge pronouncing sentence, \"as surely as if you had killed them yourself. Your evil ends here.\" A bolt of electricity shot from the staff, striking Revelation, who cried out and collapsed to the ground. Instantly, the fog that had been obscuring Omen's vision of the future cleared. He now knew exactly what must be done.\n\tFloater and Rick came swooping down out of the sky. The raccoon could see that the battle was not going well, with Supersonic, the two Silver Avengers, and Agent Laundauer all incapacitated. He saw Stacey squaring off with Darke and was about to tell Floater to aid her when he heard Omen shout, \"Rick, give Supersonic your goggles!\"\n\t\"You heard the man,\" Rick said. He removed his goggles, and Floater levitated them to Supersonic, placing them on his head. \n\tThe agony Torment had been inflicting on the squirrel vanished. Supersonic got up and glanced briefly at Torment, able to feel sympathy for him in spite of everything now that he understood how much pain he had suffered for so long. Then he flew between Blackout and Displacer, a vortex of wind forming around him, sending them both tumbling across the ground and stunning them.\n\tPark and Landauer got to their feet as the powers affecting their senses were terminated. \"Park, Landauer,\" shouted Omen, \"take down Twister! Supersonic, attack Torment!\" All three obeyed, Landauer shooting at the Native American girl, hitting her and taking her attention off Sanchez, while Park sped across the ground, kicking up clods of dirt, and struck with his fist, knocking her unconscious. \n\tSupersonic built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and hurled it at Torment, sending him flying across the field and into the bleachers. \"Home run!\" the squirrel said, grinning.\n\tDarke scowled inside his helmet. Omen was coordinating the counterattack. He had to be neutralized. Ignoring Stacey, he aimed his gauntlet at Omen and fired a spread of plasma bolts, but Omen simply sidestepped and they all missed.\n\t\"Were Omega here,\" said Omen, smiling thinly, \"his tactical acumen would have told him that attacking me was futile.\" He aimed Revelation's staff at Darke and fired, arcs of electricity washing over Darke's armored suit, causing him to cry out in pain. \"He also would have known that electricity is the worst thing in the world for a suit of powered armor laced with microcircuitry. Pity you had him killed.\" \n\tDarke looked around wildly as Supersonic, Stacey, Park, Sanchez, and Rick (still mounted on Floater) closed in around him. Loath as he was to admit it, Omen was right. Omega had been PSI's tactician, not him. He was out of his depth here. There was only one option left. He activated his turbines and shot skyward.\n\t\"He's not getting away that easily!\" growled Supersonic, and rocketed after him. An instant later, Rick and Floater followed.\n\t\"I don't suppose there's anything we can do to help them,\" said Park, watching wistfully as they disappeared.\n\t\"Not unless you have suddenly gained the ability to fly,\" said Sanchez, shaking her head. \"By the way, thank you for taking out Twister.\"\n\t\"My pleasure,\" said Park, grinning. \"She's one nasty little girl!\"\n\t\"She is a child, and she has had a hard life, without love or kindness. However, perhaps it is not too late to save her.\"\n\t\"I just hope Rick and Supersonic can save Lucy,\" said Stacey.\n\t\"They will,\" said Omen.\n\t\"I guess you would know,\" said Landauer, \"now that Martelli's out of the picture.\"\n\tOmen shook his hooded head. \"It is not my vision that tells me this.\"\n\t\"Then how can you be so sure?\" asked Park.\n\tOmen smiled. \"Because they are heroes.\"\n\n\tDarke cursed as he flew northeast from R.F.K. Stadium. Revelation had screwed everything up. While his precognitive powers had been useful, his delusions and megalomania had made working with him unbearable. He was frankly glad to be rid of him—and that he'd soon be dead.\n\tHis suit's radar told him something was closing on him, fast. Had Andrews Air Force Base scrambled a jet fighter? He twisted his body to look behind him and cursed again. It was that damned squirrel. He stopped and turned toward him. Supersonic flew up and stopped twenty feet away, and the two hovered in the air, facing each other.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Supersonic said. \"You can't outfly me. There's nowhere you can go that I can't follow!\"\n\t\"Then I suppose I'll just have to kill you, won't I?\" Darke sneered.\n\t\"Omega tried that, and he was better than you. Notice how well he succeeded?\"\n\tDarke growled. \"I am not going to surrender to some stupid little cartoon animal!\"\n\tSupersonic grinned and slammed his fist into his palm. \"Then I guess we do this the hard way!\"\n\tDarke fired a spray of plasma bolts at the squirrel, who blocked them with a shield of solidified air. Supersonic retaliated with a wind blast that sent Darke spinning head over heels through the air. He flew right up to Darke as he struggled to stabilize himself, smirking. \n\t\"Had enough?\" Supersonic asked.\n\tDarke howled with rage, firing another burst of plasma bolts. The squirrel weaved nimbly between them, getting behind him and hitting him with another wind blast. Darke cried out in pain, his turbines cut out, and he began to fall.\n\tSupersonic watched him plummet and bit his lip. It was possible Darke was playing possum. On the other hand, he could be unconscious, or his armor damaged. The squirrel dove down after him, closing in but keeping his distance. They were getting uncomfortably close to the ground. If Darke was going to kick in those turbines, he'd better do it soon. Supersonic swallowed as Darke continued to fall. No, he couldn't be faking. With only seconds left before impact, the squirrel shot downward, seizing the man's arm and halting his fall. \n\tDarke twisted around and slugged him across his face. \n\tSupersonic groaned, knocked unconscious. Darke caught him and held him in his arms. \"That was close,\" said Darke, his voice shaking. \"I've never played 'chicken' before. It's not much fun. But I knew you couldn't let me die.\" He stroked the squirrel's furry cheek with one metal hand. \"You're a very brave little squirrel, Supersonic, and you have a kind heart. I almost hate to do this, but you knew the risks when you joined PRIMUS. Goodbye, Supersonic Squirrel. You were a worthy opponent.\" \n\tHe released the squirrel, letting him fall, and flew off to the northeast.\n\tSupersonic's limp body plummeted toward the grassy field two hundred feet below at a rate that would lead to impact in just over three seconds. As he fell, the wind rushing past his face brought him back to the edge of consciousness, and the natural instincts of his species made him spread his arms and legs, the folds of skin between them catching the air while his body tilted, changing the angle of his descent from ninety degrees to one much shallower. Three seconds became four, then five, then six, then seven. At eight seconds, he hit the ground and reflexively curled into a ball, rolling for a good fifty feet before he came to a stop. He lay there for a moment, sprawled on his back, groaning, bruised, and battered, but alive.\n\tSlowly and painfully, Supersonic got to his feet as full awareness began to return. He tasted blood in his mouth, having bitten his lip during the landing. Every part of him felt sore, but he was grateful to be feeling anything at all. This wasn't the first time his flying squirrel instincts had saved his life, and he suspected it would not be the last. There were times when being a talking squirrel in a world full of humans was a lonely experience, even though most of them accepted him and he had even managed to find one who loved him, but at times like this he was glad to be what he was. \n\tHis musings were interrupted as he noticed something swooping down out of the sky toward him. It was Rick, riding on Floater. They stopped a short distance from him, hovering six feet off the ground.\n\t\"Looks like you ran into some trouble,\" Rick said.\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"Whatever gave you that idea?\"\n\t\"Well, at least we know which way Darke is heading.\"\n\t\"You don't really think he's dumb enough to fly directly toward his destination, do you?\"\n\t\"No, I don't suppose he is. Fortunately, we have someone here who can tell us.\" Rick looked down at Floater. \"Spill.\"\n\t\"I do not understand your meaning, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\t\"He means 'talk,'\" said Supersonic. \"Tell us where Darke's going.\"\n\t\"If I do, will you release me?\"\n\tSupersonic shook his head. \"Not a chance. You're up for murder one.\"\n\t\"Then why should I tell you?\"\n\t\"I have five reasons right here,\" said Rick, pressing his fingers against Floater's brain.\n\t\"Ah! No, please! I will tell you. By now, PSI's personnel and equipment have been loaded onto two large wheeled vehicles, which are traveling north along the paved vehicular pathway called Interstate 95 toward a safehouse in the region you call Maryland.\"\n\t\"Address?\" asked Supersonic. Floater gave it to him.\n\t\"Describe these vehicles,\" Rick said.\n\t\"They are of the articulated variety,\" Floater replied, \"with a motorized forward unit and a long attached cargo-carrying unit. The writing on the sides of the latter identifies them as belonging to a company called Conquest Movers, which does not exist.\"\n\tRick glanced at Supersonic. \"You could call the state police and have them stopped.\"\n\t\"That would put a lot of state troopers in danger,\" said Supersonic. \"Not to mention Lucy. I don't want her used as a hostage.\"\n\t\"I don't see how we can avoid that,\" said Rick.\n\t\"Maybe, if I can get in there, grab her, and get out fast.\"\n\t\"There are two trucks, and we don't know which one she's in.\"\n\t\"I'll deal with that problem when I come to it. Right now, the important thing is to catch them before they reach that safehouse. They'll be in a much stronger defensive position there.\"\n\t\"Which leads to the next question,\" said Rick, looking down at Floater. \"What do we do with this thing?\"\n\tSupersonic growled. \"I know what I'd [i]like[/i] to do with it!\"\n\t\"You cannot!\" Floater protested. \"Your laws forbid summary execution!\"\n\t\"I'm well aware of the law, thank you very much.\" Supersonic looked at Rick. \"Take it back to PRIMUS and hand it over to them. I'll fly on ahead and call when I spot those trucks.\"\n\tRick nodded. \"Good luck, Supersonic.\" He watched the squirrel rocket away into the sky, then looked down at Floater. \"All right, get moving before my hand shrivels up from being immersed in this disgusting soup you're floating in.\"\n\t\"As you wish, Earth-creature,\" said Floater.\n\tThey rose and flew off toward PRIMUS headquarters.\n\n\tSupersonic raced north until he saw the strip of I-95 stretching off into the distance ahead of him. He flew along it, looking for two semi trailer trucks bearing the logo of Conquest Movers. After a few minutes, he saw them, mixed in with a lot of other northbound traffic. He took his cell phone out of his leather satchel and called PRIMUS's emergency channel. \"This is Supersonic Squirrel. I'm flying north along I-95 in pursuit of two trucks carrying PSI's personnel and equipment. Home in on my signal.\"\n\t\"Any sign of Darke?\" came Sanchez's voice.\n\t\"Negative. He must be inside one of the trucks.\"\n\t\"All right. We will be with you as fast as we can.\"\n\t\"With your permission, Director, I'd like to try to get Lucy out before the shooting starts. I don't want her becoming a hostage.\"\n\t\"Do you know which truck she is in?\"\n\t\"Negative.\"\n\t\"Then do not risk it. Hold your position.\"\n\t\"Understood, Director.\"\n\tThere was a brief moment of silence, and then Omen's voice came over the phone. \"Supersonic, how are the trucks situated?\"\n\t\"One behind the other.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the rearmost truck.\"\n\t\"You sure about that?\"\n\t\"Accept the word of one who knows.\"\n\t\"Do you know what will happen if I try to rescue her?\"\n\t\"I fear not. There are too many variables.\"\n\t\"Request permission to try, Director.\"\n\t\"Use your own best judgment, Supersonic.\"\n\t\"All right, I'm going in.\"\n\t\"Good luck, and Godspeed.\"\n\t\"Thanks.\"\n\tSupersonic put away his cell phone and flew down toward the rear truck, coming up from behind. Keeping pace with it, he built up a sphere of supercompressed air between his hands and took aim at the rear doors, reasoning that just inside them was the least likely place for PSI to be keeping Lucy. He released the sphere, blasting the doors inward, and flew inside.\n\tThe trailer was filled with boxes of equipment hastily stacked atop each other and secured with bungee cords. It was a rather precarious arrangement, but it was not intended to last long. A straight, narrow valley between the boxes ran the length of the trailer, and an open area in the front contained six PSI agents, Lucy, and Flashback. Supersonic barreled down the valley, a shield of solidified air before him.\n\t\"It's Supersonic Squirrel!\" shouted one of the agents. \"Kill him!\" Beams of hot blue plasma shot from their pistols at the oncoming squirrel. His shield absorbed most of their energy, but not all of it, the beams partially penetrating to inflict smoking burns in his furry hide. One cut through the shoulder strap of his leather satchel, causing it to fall to the floor.\n\tGritting his teeth against the pain, Supersonic flew into the midst of the agents and fired a wide-angle wind blast that hit the three agents to his left, knocking them back against the inside of the truck and stunning them. Then, before they could react, he did the same to the three to his right. With the agents momentarily neutralized, he looped one arm around Lucy and the other around Flashback and then flew back out the rear of the truck, carrying them with him.\n\tOne of the agents groggily fished out his cell phone. \"Counselor Darke! Supersonic Squirrel broke in and took Flashback and the Pinchard girl!\"\n\t\"What?\" came Darke's astonished voice over the phone. \"Why didn't you idiots stop him?\"\n\t\"We tried, sir! He was too fast and too tough! I think we hurt him, though!\"\n\tAgent Heine, driving the forward truck, glanced over at Darke, who was sitting in the cab next to him, still wearing his Omega armor but with the helmet on the seat beside him, as the man made a disgusted noise. \"Trouble, sir?\"\n\t\"I should have killed that miserable rodent when I had the chance,\" Darke muttered. \"He just grabbed Lucy and Flashback.\"\n\tHeine stared at him, aghast. \"What do we do, sir?\"\n\t\"If Supersonic found us, then he must know where we're going. Probably one of the captured students told him. Or maybe Omen saw it in a vision. In any case, the tertiary base must now be considered compromised. And Supersonic would have given PRIMUS our coordinates and descriptions of the trucks. We can assume they're already on their way here.\" Darke looked at Heine. \"Pull over to the side of the road. Change the logos on the trucks using the magnetic signs, and apply the alternate license plates. Then get off at the next exit and disperse. I'll contact you later.\" He donned his helmet and opened the passenger side door.\n\t\"Where are you going?\" Heine asked.\n\t\"To recover our assets and get rid of that pest once and for all.\" Darke activated his turbines and flew off.\n\n\tSupersonic flew across a stretch of farmland bordering I-95, carrying Lucy and Flashback in his arms. The pain of his plasma burns was excruciating, and he felt sick and weak. He also realized that his satchel was gone, his cell phone with it. A chill rippled through him, and he feared he might be going into shock from his injuries. Not wanting to pass out in midair while carrying his two charges, he landed in a field, setting down between two neatly cultivated rows of alfalfa. \n\tAs soon as his feet touched the ground, Supersonic fell to his knees, releasing the two girls. He looked down at himself, assessing the extent of the damage. There were three crusty black circles on the front of his torso, each about three inches across. They weren't bleeding, the flesh having been neatly cauterized, but they hurt like hell. He slammed his fists into the dirt, shivering and whimpering in pain, his furry chest heaving.\n\t\"Are you hurt, Mister Squirrel?\" asked Flashback.\n\t\"I'll be okay,\" Supersonic replied through clenched teeth. He looked up at her. She was Black, about ten years old, with severe acne, and wore the same skintight black-and-magenta costume as all the other young members of PSI. He turned his head to look at Lucy. She was just standing there, staring at him. She didn't look scared, grateful, relieved, or happy. Her face was completely expressionless.\n\t\"You okay, Lucy?\" Supersonic asked, concerned.\n\tShe nodded, silently.\n\tHe looked back at the other girl. \"How about you?\"\n\tFlashback shrugged. \"I'm all right.\"\n\t\"Good. I've gotta find a phone and call PRIMUS.\" He noticed a farmhouse in the distance. \"Come on.\" He reached for the two girls, but they both drew back from him.\n\t\"What's the matter?\" he demanded angrily.\n\t\"We don't wanna go with you,\" Flashback replied, and glanced at Lucy. \"We wanna go back to PSI, don't we, Lucy?\"\n\tLucy nodded, her eyes fixed coldly on Supersonic. \"That's right, Violet.\"\n\tSupersonic frowned at Flashback. \"What are you doing to her?\"\n\t\"I'm not doing anything to her,\" Flashback said innocently. \"She's my sister.\"\n\tLucy nodded. \"And sisters stick together.\"\n\t\"She's not your sister!\" Supersonic shouted at Lucy. \"You just met two days ago!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Flashback yelled. \"You're a liar! Isn't he, sis?\"\n\tLucy nodded, glaring at the squirrel hatefully. \"A lying little rat!\"\n\tSupersonic sighed. The pain from his burns was sapping his strength, making him feel exhausted. \"I don't have time for this. You're both coming with me, whether you like it or not.\"\n\tFlashback folded her arms, smiling smugly. \"We're not going anywhere, are we, sis?\"\n\tLucy shook her head, her eyes narrowed. \"Not with him!\"\n\tSupersonic was about to reply when he noticed that they had fallen under a shadow, even though the sky had been clear a minute ago. He looked up, and his eyes went wide.\n\tThe sky was black with birds.\n\tSupersonic stared up at the cloud of birds swirling above them. It was made up of many species, which meant it was definitely not natural. Different species of birds never flocked together. He glanced at Lucy. \"Call them off.\" \n\t\"No!\" Lucy said. \"I hate you! You want to take me away from my family!\"\n\t\"PSI isn't your family, and she isn't your sister! They just want to use you! You have a real mother and father who love you and are worried about you!\"\n\t\"Liar!\" Lucy shouted. The flock above them was growing thicker. Supersonic looked at Flashback. The thought of blasting a child repulsed him, but it might be the only way to break her hold on Lucy. Trembling, he raised a hand and aimed it at her. Flashback blinked, looking scared, and began backing away. He sighed and lowered his hand. No, he couldn't do it. There had to be another way.\n\tA cacophony hammered his ears as thousands of birds began screeching at him from above. As they plunged toward him en masse, like a great black dagger from the sky, he erected a wind barrier around himself and the two girls. It could stop bullets; it should be able to stop birds. He watched in horror as they hurled themselves against it like kamikaze pilots aiming for an aircraft carrier, their fragile feathered bodies breaking when they struck and falling to the ground. He whirled toward Lucy frantically. \"Stop them! They're killing themselves!\"\n\tLucy gasped as she saw the birds crashing into Supersonic's wind barrier, clearly not having anticipated this. Immediately, the birds ceased their suicidal attacks and began circling the barrier, a great multicolored cyclone of wings and beaks. Keeping the barrier up, Supersonic grabbed Lucy and Flashback by the arm and began pulling them in the direction he remembed the farmhouse being.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" Flashback yelled as she and Lucy struggled and resisted as best they could, kicking and punching and trying to dig their feet into the tilled earth. They were both taller than the squirrel, but not nearly as strong. Even so, they were slowing his progress, and between that, his burns, and the constant strain of maintaining the barrier, Supersonic was overwhelmed with fatigue. Then he cried out in pain as Flashback sank her teeth into his arm.\n\t\"Ahh! No biting, you brat!\" he shouted, and threw her on the ground in front of him, glaring at her.\n\tFlashback got to her feet, glaring back. \"Counselor Darke's gonna kill you, squirrel!\"\n\tSupersonic smirked. \"He already tried that, while he was running away, like the coward he is.\"\n\t\"He's [i]not[/i] a coward!\" Flashback screamed. \"He took me out of the projects and gave me candy and pretty clothes!\"\n\tSupersonic paused for a moment, chest heaving, trying to recover his strength. \"Where are you from, Violet?\"\n\t\"Chicago.\"\n\t\"Don't you have a family there? I bet they miss you.\"\n\tFlashback snorted. \"They don't miss me. They hated me because I'm ugly. Counselor Darke is the only one who ever cared about me.\"\n\t\"I don't think you're ugly, Violet.\"\n\tShe smirked. \"You're a squirrel!\"\n\t\"Yeah, but I've lived around humans all my life. You think because he gives you nice things, that means he cares about you? Anyone can give out presents. He doesn't care about you, Violet. He only cares about what you can do.\"\n\tFlashback stamped her foot. \"That's not true! He loves me!\"\n\t\"Do you really think you'd be here if you couldn't mess with people's memories like you do? Do you think Lucy would be here if she couldn't control animals? That's what Darke loves. Your powers. Not you. Not Violet.\"\n\tFlashback's lower lip trembled. She was about to speak when a barrage of bright white energy bolts struck the wind barrier, dispersing it. Through the swarm of birds strode Darke in his Omega armor.\n\t\"Counselor Darke!\" Lucy and Flashback both cried happily.\n\t\"Hello, Lucy,\" he said. \"Hello, Flashback. Ah, there you are, Supersonic. Looking a little worse for wear, I see.\"\n\t\"I guess I don't need to ask how you found us,\" the squirrel growled.\n\t\"The huge flock of birds was a bit of a giveaway. I must say, you're a very resilient squirrel.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"You know us cartoons. Knock us down, we get right back up again.\"\n\t\"Except you're not a cartoon anymore. You're flesh and blood, subject to the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.\"\n\tSupersonic rolled his yes. \"You're really gonna quote [i]Hamlet[/i] at me? Gimme a break!\"\n\t\"Well, I'm afraid I don't have a bare bodkin with which your quietus to make, but a burst of energy bolts should do the job just as effectively.\" He raised a gauntleted fist. \"Goodbye, Supersonic.\"\n\tAs he fired, the squirrel sprang into the air, dodging the bolts easily. \"You never get tired of failing to kill me, do you?\" Supersonic asked, grinning. He flew at Lucy, grabbed her as he went by, and raced across the rows of alfalfa toward the farmhouse.\n\t\"God damn it!\" Darke swore. \"What does it take to get rid of him?\" He picked up Flashback and headed after the fleeing squirrel.\n\n\t\"The signal's right ahead, Director,\" said Park as he piloted the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter above I-95.\n\tIn the copilot's seat, Sanchez peered down the highway through a pair of binoculars. Behind her stood Rick, Stacey, Landauer, Omen, and a squad of PRIMUS agents. \"I see a semi truck. It doesn't have the logo of Conquest Movers on it, though.\"\n\tOmen spoke up. \"PSI uses a variety of magnetic signs bearing false logos that they can attach to the sides of their vehicles quickly in order to disguise them.\"\n\t\"Well, isn't that clever!\" Stacey remarked.\n\t\"However, neither Lucy nor Supersonic is aboard that truck.\"\n\tPark looked at him. \"But Supersonic's cellphone signal is coming from it!\"\n\tOmen nodded. \"His phone is aboard it, but he is not.\"\n\t\"Then how do we find him?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"We might try over there,\" said Rick, pointing to the left. They all looked in the direction the raccoon was indicating. A huge cloud of birds was hovering over some farmland.\n\t\"Alter course!\" Sanchez ordered.\n\tPark nodded, and the copter veered west toward the birds.\n\n\tSupersonic landed in the front yard before the farmhouse and immediately stumbled and fell to his knees, keeping his arms around Lucy. His plasma burns were still causing him intense pain, and the surge of energy that had come after his brief rest was spent. He felt exhausted, wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep for a week. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option. He hauled himself to his feet as Lucy struggled against him.\n\t\"Let go of me!\" she shrieked.\n\tSupersonic ignored her, ran to the front door of the farmhouse as Lucy wriggled and squirmed, and tried the knob. It was locked. He sighed. Much as he hated to break in, this was an emergency. Keeping his left arm around Lucy, he raised his right hand, fired a wind blast that blew the door off its hinges, and ran into the living room.\n\tIt was a simple, modest affair, much like a million other farmhouse living rooms across the country. \"Hello?\" he called, though the sound of the front door being blasted in should have been enough to attract the attention of the occupants. There didn't appear to be anybody home. There were photographs on the mantelpiece of a middle-aged man and woman, two teenage boys, and a young girl. Probably the farmer and his family. But where were they? He realized it was Sunday. Perhaps they were at church. Or out shopping. Or having a family picnic. Whatever the reason, at least they were out of harm's way.\n\tA canine snarl caught his attention, and he whirled just in time for a big black Newfoundland dog to pounce on him. The dog's jaws clamped down on his left arm, causing him to cry out in pain and forcing him to let go of Lucy. It shook him like a rag doll, the animal bigger than he was and probably half again his weight. He created a vacuum around the dog's head, and it collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Cradling his wounded arm with his other arm, he looked around for Lucy. She had disappeared.\n\t\"Lucy?\" he called out, running down the hall, gritting his teeth against the pain as he dripped blood on the polished wood floor. He cursed under his breath. She could be hiding anywhere, and Darke would be here any second. He had to find a phone. He hoped they had one. A lot of folks nowadays had dispensed with landlines and relied entirely on their cells. He ran into the kitchen and breathed a sigh of relief. There was a phone on the wall. He flew up to it, grabbed the reciever, and began dialing PRIMUS's emergency number.\n\n\tDarke landed in the front yard, carrying Flashback. Seeing that the front door had been smashed in, they walked through it and into the living room. Flashback oohed upon seeing the unconscious Newfoundland on the floor, and ran over and knelt beside it, stroking its big black head.\n\t\"Supersonic wasn't wearing his satchel,\" Darke mused, \"and he has nowhere else to keep a phone, so he must be trying to find one in order to contact PRIMUS.\" He noticed a line of crimson circles on the wood floor, and smiled. Then he frowned as he heard the thumping, buzzing sound of a helicopter approaching. \"Damn! That must be PRIMUS!\" He ran down the hall, following the trail of squirrel blood.\n\tIn the living room, Flashback gently caressed the dog's head with her gloved fingers as she implanted memories in its mind of them playing together on her sixth birthday, when her parents had presented her with a new puppy; the two of them running through a grassy field in golden sunlight, chasing butterflies; her giving him a bath in tomato juice that time he got sprayed by a skunk; him seeing her off on her first day of school, and waiting impatiently, whining, whimpering and pacing, until she returned. They were the best of friends—always had been, always would be.\n\n\tPark set the helicopter down in the front yard, and he, Sanchez, Rick, Stacey, Omen, Landauer, and the five PRIMUS agents all emerged from it.\n\t\"Supersonic, Darke, and Lucy are in there,\" said Omen, indicating the house.\n\t\"What about the owners?\" asked Sanchez.\n\t\"They are not home.\"\n\tSanchez turned to the agents. \"Surround the house. Nobody gets in or out. I'll take point. Park, you're with me.\"\n\t\"Wait!\" shouted Omen.\n\t\"What?\" asked Sanchez, turning toward him.\n\t\"We must get everyone inside, now!\"\n\t\"Why, what's wrong?\"\n\tRick swallowed, feeling vibrations in the ground through his bare feet. \"Lucy's called for reinforcements.\"\n\tSanchez was about to ask the raccoon what he meant, but then she saw it. All around them, low, dark shapes were approaching. Cows, bulls, sheep, horses, pigs, goats—livestock from dozens of farms—had combined to form an immense stampede that was converging on them from every direction.\n\t\"Everyone into the house!\" Sanchez shouted over the rising thunder of hundreds of pounding hooves. They all ran in through the shattered front door.\n\tThe living room was empty. Rick sniffed the air. \"I smell blood,\" he said.\n\t\"There!\" said Landauer, pointing at the blood spots on the floor.\n\t\"Park and I will follow the blood trail,\" said Sanchez. \"The rest of you, spread out through the house and try to find Lucy.\"\n\t\"Lucy is in the fruit cellar,\" said Omen. \"Supersonic is in the kitchen, about to be attacked by Darke.\"\n\tSanchez nodded. \"In that case, Rick, Stacey, Omen, and Landauer, get Lucy. The rest of you, come with me!\" She and Park ran down the hall toward the kitchen, closely followed by the five agents.\n\t\"This way,\" said Omen, leading the rest to a door that opened onto a flight of wooden stairs. They descended into the dark, musty basement.\n\n\tSupersonic had just connected to PRIMUS when Darke burst into the kitchen. Too weak to fight, the squirrel threw himself across the floor, rolling as Darke sprayed the kitchen with energy bolts, blasting the refrigerator, the stove, the sink, and some of the cabinets, showering the room with a variety of foodstuffs.\n\t\"Die, damn you!\" Darke yelled, moving to get a clear shot as Supersonic scampered into the adjoining dining room and dove under the table. Darke followed, blasting furiously, destroying the table, the chairs, and a glass cabinet filled with commemorative plates. The squirrel blinked as a plate fell and shattered on the floor in front of him. It showed his old cartoon self, surrounded by all his friends from his show.\n\tAt that moment, Sanchez and Park charged into the dining room and slugged Darke. He staggered backward, crashing into another cabinet containing the family's good crystal and china, demolishing it utterly.\n\t\"Give up, Darke!\" Sanchez ordered, as the five PRIMUS agents ran into the dining room through the other doorway, leveling their plasma rifles at him. \"You're finished!\"\n\tDarke's electronically distorted voice wheezed in pain as he looked around wildly. There was no chance his armor could protect him from two Silver Avengers and five PRIMUS plasma rifles. The only logical course of action was to surrender. In all the years he had been with PSI, he had never even come close to being captured. The thought of going to prison, separated from all the comforts and luxuries he loved, terrified him. Yet, it was preferable to death. Slowly, he began to raise his hands.\n\tA dozen horned heads erupted through the walls as cattle crashed their half-ton bodies into them, tearing through the aluminum siding and drywall as if it were tissue paper. The agents whirled as they suddenly found themselves in danger of being trampled. They fired their rifles, searing blue-white beams of superhot plasma piercing those massive bovine bodies, but the great beasts kept coming, unconcerned with their own safety. Sanchez and Park each caught one and threw it over their shoulder to slam on the floor with a thunderous impact, but there were too many for them to deal with. One plowed into Park, knocking him down, while Sanchez seized the horns of another, bracing herself and gritting her teeth as she tried to force it back. Three of the PRIMUS agents fell beneath the pounding hooves, while the other two retreated into the hallway, firing as they did. Supersonic, standing with his back against a wall to avoid being flattened, watched as Darke activated his turbines and shot upward, bursting through the ceiling and into open air.\n\t\"No,\" the squirrel growled, flying up through the hole after him.\n\n\t\"Wait!\" commanded Omen, as he, Rick, Stacey and Landauer descended the stairs to the basement.\n\t\"Now what?\" Landauer groaned in exasperation.\n\tOmen flipped a light switch, illuminating the basement with a single naked bulb hanging from the ceiling.\n\tThe floor was a writhing sea of rats.\n\t\"Back up,\" said Rick as the rats began advancing up the stairs toward them, the furry tide engulfing one step after another. In the cellar below, Lucy emerged from around a corner, glaring at them maliciously as rats swarmed around her feet.\n\t\"Lucy, what are you doing?\" asked Stacey. \"We're your friends. Don't you remember?\"\n\tOmen shook his cowled head. \"Flashback has altered her memories. She believes they are sisters.\"\n\t\"Who the hell is Flashback?\" asked Landauer.\n\t\"I'm Flashback,\" came a little girl's voice from above. They all looked up. In the doorway at the top of the stairs stood Flashback, looking smug and confident, a huge black Newfoundland dog beside her making low, menacing growls.\n\t\"Her name is Violet Wilson,\" said Omen. \"She is ten years old. PSI kidnapped her from a housing project in Chicago six months ago. She is a telepath with the power to alter people's memories.\"\n\tLandauer took aim at the dog, but Omen pushed his gun down. \"What's the matter with you?\" the FBI man demanded. \n\t\"She has made the animal believe they are friends,\" Omen replied. \"It is not responsible for its actions.\"\n\t\"Well, that's unfortunate,\" said Landauer, \"but it doesn't change anything!\"\n\t\"I can handle the dog,\" said Rick.\n\t\"What about the rats?\" Stacey asked, grimacing as the squirming mass claimed another step. She had never liked rats.\n\t\"The rats are another matter.\"\n\tLandauer aimed his gun at the leading edge of the rodent horde, but again, Omen pushed it down. Landauer glared at him. \"Don't tell me you care about the rats!\"\n\t\"They are not responsible for their actions either,\" said Omen. \"In any case, your weapon will not deter them. Flashback is the key. We must reach her.\" He glanced down at the rising tide of rats. \"Quickly.\"\n\tStacey turned toward Flashback. \"Violet, why are you doing this?\"\n\t\"You want to take me away from my family!\" Flashback said accusingly.\n\t\"PSI isn't your family. They kidnapped you!\"\n\t\"PSI loves me!\" Flashback shouted. \"The Wilsons never loved me! They hated me because I'm ugly!\"\n\t\"Violet, look at me,\" said Rick. \"I'm a manimal. No matter what people may think when they look at you, they think worse when they look at me. But I'd never want you to use your power to make someone love me, because I'd know it wasn't really love. You can't force someone to love you, Violet. Love has to be a choice.\"\n\tFlashback swallowed, trembling. \"I just want some friends.\"\n\t\"Nobody will be your friend if you treat them like toys,\" said Stacey. \"You can't do that to people. It's selfish and it's cruel.\"\n\t\"What you're doing to Lucy is wrong,\" said Rick. \"You know she's not your sister.\"\n\tThe rats had reached the step below them. \"I don't mean to nag,\" said Landauer, looking down anxiously at the wriggling mass of rodent bodies, \"but do you think you could speed this up?\"\n\t\"Quiet,\" said Omen sternly.\n\tFlashback looked down at Lucy, biting her lip. \"If I change her back, she'll hate me!\"\n\t\"She may be angry with you,\" said Rick, \"and she'll have good reason to be. But you'll gain four new friends.\"\n\tFlashback stared at the raccoon. \"I will?\"\n\tStacey nodded. \"And they'll be real friends, not fake ones.\"\n\tFlashback hesitated a moment, then closed her eyes, concentrating. Lucy gasped and looked up at her, eyes wide. Flashback turned away, unable to face her. \"I'm sorry, Lucy!\"\n\t\"Lucy, if you would?\" asked Omen, gesturing at the rats. Lucy nodded, and the rat horde broke apart as they began scurrying away, looking for places to hide. Rick and Stacey moved toward Flashback, who was hugging herself, shaking and sobbing. The dog growled protectively, then relaxed as Lucy calmed it. They put their arms around her and held her as she cried.\n\n\tSupersonic flew out through the hole Darke had made in the roof of the farmhouse, watching his armored form shrinking in the distance in the clear blue sky. Hurt and exhausted as the squirrel was, he doubted he could catch the fleeing leader of PSI on his own. Fortunately, there was another option open to him.\n\tHe flew over the sea of cattle around the farmhouse toward the navy blue PRIMUS helicopter parked in front of it, opened the cockpit door, and plopped down into the pilot seat. He had been a pilot back in his cartoon days and was qualified on all of PRIMUS's aircraft, having familiarized himself with 21st-century aviation technology. While his legs were too short to reach the anti-torque pedals, that was easily remedied with sustained streams of wind from his feet. He flipped the ignition switch, the rotors began to spin, and he pushed the control stick forward as the copter rose into the air and headed after Darke.\n\tSupersonic switched on the radar, which easily spotted Darke's armored suit. The copter was a modified Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk with a maximum speed of 183 miles per hour, which meant it was nearly three times as fast as Darke's armor. It was armed with two .50 caliber GAU-19 Gatling guns and six AIM-92 Stinger heat-seeking missiles because PRIMUS sometimes had to deal with some very tough customers. Supersonic closed with Darke quickly, bringing the copter in beneath him and angling the nose upward so as not to hit anything on the ground. He was bound by PRIMUS regulations to take Darke alive if possible, so he held off on the missiles and instead bracketed him with the Gatling guns, firing a stream of bullets to either side of him as a warning. Darke glanced back over his shoulder to see who was chasing him, and Supersonic grinned as he imagined the look on the man's face upon seeing it was a squirrel in a helicopter.\n\tDarke dove toward the ground, forcing Supersonic to cease firing. They were still over farmland, so there was a chance there might be people down there, and Supersonic couldn't risk accidentally hitting a civilian. Darke may not have been as fast as the copter, but he was far more maneuverable and could fly a lot closer to the ground. He fired a burst of energy bolts upward, hitting the copter's undercarriage, but it was well armored and they had minimal effect. Supersonic angled the nose downward and jabbed the firing button for one of the Stingers. Darke's turbines had to be considerably hotter than anything on the ground, so the missile would have a clear target to home in on. He bit his lip as he watched its smoke trail snake toward the armored figure below. Then there was a crack of thunder and Darke disappeared in a ball of flame. \n\tSupersonic watched anxiously as the fireball roiled, his heart pounding in his chest. He had shot a VIPER agent dead in Mexico last year. It had been unavoidable, but he had still felt terrible about it, and the guilt still haunted him. He had considered resigning from PRIMUS afterward but had ultimately decided not to, reasoning that he could save more lives as a PRIMUS agent then he could as a private citizen. He hoped against hope that he hadn't just killed again.\n\tDarke burst out of the fireball, flying directly at the copter and spraying energy bolts. Most of them struck the fuselage, doing no real damage, but one clipped a rotor blade and sheared it off. Supersonic wrestled with the stick as the copter veered crazily, its stability shot to hell. He had no control. There was was only one option. He opened the door and bailed out.\n\tSupersonic flew away from the wildly spinning helicopter, watching in horror as it dove earthward, directly toward Darke. The man realized his danger and tried to avoid the careening mass of steel, but it slammed into him and they went down together, impacting on a stretch of farmland. The copter exploded in a massive fireball, hurling bits of itself hundreds of feet in the air, and Supersonic had to erect his wind barrier to avoid being hit by chunks of fiery debris.\n\tSupersonic floated to the ground and plopped down on his rump in the dirt, sitting and staring at the flaming wreckage of the helicopter. He was too tired to feel anything. All he wanted to do was sleep. That was how Park and Sanchez found him, lying on the ground curled up in a ball, his tail wrapped around himself, his eyes closed.\n\n\tSupersonic slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a hospital bed in the PRIMUS infirmary, his body half covered by a sheet. His helmet and goggles were gone. There was an IV stuck in his arm, and a bandage where the dog had bitten him. His brain felt foggy, and his throat was parched. He tried to speak but could only manage a soft squeak.\n\t\"Hey, partner, you're awake!\" said Park, getting up from his chair beside the bed and leaning over him. \"How are you feeling?\"\n\t\"Water?\" Supersonic rasped. Park nodded and poured him a cup, holding it to the squirrel's mouth as he gulped it down.\n\t\"You've been out for about six hours,\" Park said. \"The doctors treated your bite and burns. They don't think they're too serious, but they still want to keep you overnight for observation.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"Darke?\" he asked, his voice still hoarse but more normal.\n\t\"Oh, he's toast. Nothing left but ashes.\"\n\t\"Darn,\" said Supersonic, sighing.\n\tPark shrugged. \"Well, that's how it goes sometimes. Honestly, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.\"\n\tSupersonic nodded. \"I guess you're right. I was just thinking about Torment. With Darke dead, how's he gonna get the drug that keeps his pain away?\"\n\t\"Oh, that's been taken care of. Our scientists analyzed a sample he had on him. They're confident they can reproduce it.\"\n\t\"Well, that's good, then,\" said Supersonic.\n\tPark grinned. \"We contacted your girlfriend, Katrina. She caught the first flight to Washington when she heard you were in the hospital. She should be here soon.\"\n\tSupersonic smiled. \"That's nice of her. So, Silver Avenger Park, how'd you like your first assignment?\"\n\t\"Well, I got to shoulder throw a bull. That was a new experience.\"\n\t\"I bet it was!\"\n\t\"Sanchez said now she knew how her grandfather must have felt. He was a bullfighter.\"\n\t\"I doubt he used judo on them.\"\n\t\"Eh, you work with what you got.\" Park started to say something, stopped, then started again. \"Look, I've been told praise makes you uncomfortable, so I'll keep this short. You're a damn good agent, and I'm proud to be your partner. There, I'm done.\"\n\tSupersonic chuckled. \"That hardly made me squirm at all.\"\n\tPark smiled. \"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a shitload of paperwork to do. See you tomorrow.\"\n\tThe squirrel nodded. \"See you tomorrow.\"\n\tPark left the room, and Supersonic switched on the television and watched a movie while he waited for Katrina to arrive."
}