Molly Berkowicz was nearly overflowing with excitement. Long years of practice and dedication and sweat had finally paid off. She had fully mastered her solar powers and now was all set to put them to good use. The day she had long dreamed about was finally here. Today she would be announced to the world as the heroine Starshine.

She stood waiting impatiently inside the front door of the Avengers Mansion. Nervously, Molly waited for her introduction. In a nearby mirror, she studied her image, making sure everything was perfect for the thirtieth time in the last few minutes.

"Look out world, here comes Starshine!" Molly wore a golden body suit with white accessories. Her short curly brown hair barely reached her shoulders. Brown eyes looked out from behind gold-tinted goggles. There was an unmatched feeling of excitement in the seventeen year old.

Turning away from the mirror, Starshine continued to wait for her introduction. On the other side of the door, Guardian Angel, the leader of the Avengers was presenting the roster of the newest grouping of the fabled New York hero team to the press.

"Congratulations, Molly!", a voice called out from behind Starshine. "You've earned it."

Turning, Starshine could see a small group of people approaching her from deeper inside the mansion. Leading the way was Firestar, currently the leader of the LA-based Defenders. She wore her trademark black costume with fiery orange and red accents. Behind her was Tremor in his earthen-tone outfit. He and Firestar had been married for nearly seven years now.

"'Star!" Starshine was overjoyed to see her long time idol and friend. The two exchanged a long hug. It seemed like only yesterday that a much younger Firestar had saved Molly's life. While playing superhero with her brother's friends, young Molly had foolishly tried to climb up the side of a building using its fire escape. Dressed in a makeshift Spinnerette costume, Molly slipped and would have fallen to her death if she hadn't been caught by Firestar. A life-long friendship followed.

"You're going to make an outstanding Avenger," Firestar stated, herself beaming with pride. The fiery Defender still looked to be in her late teens, thanks to the retarded aging of her Blood heritage.

"Knock'm dead, Molly," Tremor added, giving her a reassuring pat on the arm.

"As my prized pupil, you'd better." Stepping around from behind Firestar and Tremor was Black Diamond. The legendary heroine wore black with white and light blue trim and was as young and as beautiful as always. As one of the handful of Advanced Generation Mutants, Linda Taylor was the eventual future of mankind. Her immunity to disease and super-regenerative abilities made her effectively immortal. To an onlooker, she might appear to be twenty-two years old, not the elder heroine now pushing forty.

Releasing Firestar, Starshine went to greet her former mentor. "Di! I'm glad that you and Eclypse could make it in from Sanctuary. It means so much to me!"

Black Diamond, of course, was one of the founders of the Avengers. Later she left the team to found the Defenders and eventually replaced Ultimaxx as the mentor of the Young Champions. Starshine was just the latest graduate of this stellar organization.

"She'll do just fine, dearest. You've always put too much pressure on your students." Eclypse was the long-time husband of Black Diamond. He wore a golden yellow and black bodysuit, complete with a black-trimmed cape. As always, the powerful Star Scepter rested in his hand. It was with this alien artifact that Eclypse could channel the energy of the stars themselves.

Eclypse got a hug after Black Diamond's. "I just wanted to thank you-- all of you-- for everything that you've done to help me out. Angel told me that both of you were instrumental in getting me on the Avengers."

As if on cue, Guardian Angel made the announcement that Molly had been waiting to hear: "Citizens of New York, I present to you the newest of the Avengers-- Starshine!"

A thunderous applause followed. Starshine turned towards the front door of the Avengers Mansion. Her public waited beyond that door.

"Go on, Molly," Black Diamond stated as she gave Starshine a gentle push. "This is what you've always wanted."

"I know," Starshine answered, tears of joy streaming down her face. "It's like a dream come true."

Firestar leaned over as Starshine passed on by and whispered. "It should be like one, Molly, because this is a dream. None of this is real."

"The headlines read these are

#1 - "The Worst of Times"

I do believe it's true
I feel so helpless like a boat against the tide
I wish the summer winds could bring back paradise"

-- Styx

Molly Berkowicz awoke with a start. She found herself covered with a fresh layer of recently discarded garbage. This was not completely surprising since she had taken refuge earlier in the night inside a trash bin. Molly figured that the offending odor would mask her scent and she was so exhausted that she would take a few hours of rest anywhere she could.

"Welcome back to the real world," Molly mumbled to herself, as she brushed the slimy refuse from her limbs. "It was a wonderful dream... While it lasted. Being respected and idolized would be a definite improvement over sleeping in a dumpster." But that was not to be.

It was the cold hard reality that possessing superpowers of any kind was a crime. One punishable by death. Now she found herself relentlessly pursued by the Hunters or just HK's as people called them. HK stood for 'Hunter-Killer' and they fulfilled their task with a cold-blooded inhuman efficiency and enthusiasm.

Molly looked around at her surroundings. She hardly noticed the smell any longer. "Doesn't look like there's anything here worth trying to eat." Her stomach made a grumbling noise at that thought. It had been three days since her last real meal. The idea of picking food from garbage cans and trash bins disgusted Molly at first. But when it came down to simply surviving, even she was surprised at what she would do.

It was still dark out, although even some days now were barely brighter than what she remembered as twilight. She should get moving again. Slowly, Molly commanded her aching muscles to pull herself from the bin and she started down the alley. She tried hard to avoid the various noxious puddles that dotted her path.

Molly had been running from the HK's for as long as she could remember. It had actually only been three weeks, but it seemed like a lot longer, almost a lifetime. Through the back alleys of New York's Harlem area, she ran and hid and when located by her pursuers, she ran again. Now she felt as if she could continue to run no longer. She hadn't really slept much in over a week for fear of being found and caught and most likely killed. The shadowy form that pursued her was relentless. It was all she could do to stay ahead of it this long. Her mutant power of flight was an asset in helping her escape her pursuers, but Molly could only use it in the direst of emergencies as the effort now left her weak and exhausted. Fleeing on foot was her only reliable mode of transportation.

"This looks promising." Up ahead Molly saw the alleyway reach what used to be Lexington Avenue. She remembered that there was a subway entrance near here. At least there was one back before the devastation that had engulfed most of Manhattan Island. Slinking up to the last building's edge, she peered around the corner. A few figures moved about in the dawning haze. She waited until they moved further along and quickly shuffled toward the stairwell.

The tiled floor was gritty and damp underfoot and everywhere she looked there was numerous anti-superhero graffiti sprayed onto the walls. 'Destroy the Avengers!', 'Burn Black Diamond at the stake!', and 'Death to Muties!' were among the least offensive of the writings.

The tracks that the subway car once ran on were completely missing here. A large hole in one wall led off into inky blackness. The dingy lightbulbs that struggled to cut through the haze barely illuminated the meager surroundings.

"And to think people used to complain how bad these subways were when I was a kid," Molly commented sarcastically. A lot had changed since she was a kid. She looked around and listened for the faintest sound of other inhabitants. The only noise that reached her ears was a steady repeated dripping and the sound of numerous rats scurrying around in the darkness. Molly shuddered involuntarily.

Forcing her exhausted legs to push her further along, she headed down the tunnel. Up ahead she saw a partially smashed sign that indicated that restrooms were here. "Maybe I'll get lucky."

She opened the first door and saw that the room beyond was completely ransacked and destroyed. It was barely recognizable as anything other than random piles of rubble and debris. The ceiling had collapsed at one time, covering everything with a layer of concrete and reinforcing metal bars. "So much for that idea."

Moving on to the next of the pair of doors, she saw that this room was relatively intact although quite filthy. She stepped inside and looked around. The mirror on the wall was shattered into shards and cast hundreds of images back at the haggard young woman. Shuffling up to the row of sinks, she turned the handle on one and was greeted by nothing more than a deep groaning sound. Moving to the next one, she turned the handle and after a brief sputter, Molly was delighted to see a small trickle of water.

"Oh thank goodness..." She thrust her hands and arms under the fluid. It was frigidly cold, but still felt like heaven. She pooled some of the stream into her hands and splashed the water onto her face. Then unable to contain herself, stuck her whole head under the water. Despite the cold, it was somehow soothing to rinse some of the muck and grime from her body. Then she heard a noise behind her.

"Lookie what we got here, boys. Our morning's entertainment!"

Molly spun to find a trio of teenage boys standing in the doorway. She silently cursed to herself. This must be their turf that she had wandered into. Almost anything still intact was owned by someone nowadays, provided you could keep others from taking it from you.

"You said it, boss." The speaker towered over the other two boys. Like the others, he wore a tattered leather jacket with chains and blue jeans. He carried a spiked two-by-four in his hand. Numerous red stains were plainly visible on the weapon.

"Please...," Molly begged, involuntarily taking a step backwards. "I didn't mean to invade your turf... I just wanted some water."

"That's your tough luck, sister." The punk had flaming red hair and lots of freckles. He popped a switchblade to further punctuate his point.

"That's right, girlie," the gang leader spoke. He had what once had been considered a cool look about him. His black hair was slicked back and he wore sun shades, in spite of the dark environment. He advanced, a menacing sneer on his face. "You entertain me and my boys real good, I may let you live."

Molly keep retreating, but hit the back wall of the restroom. There was no where left for her to run. The gang had spread out behind their leader. Given her physical state, there was no way she could slip past the boys, let alone outrun them.

"Stay away! Please-- I don't..." Molly shivered as the gang leader touched her face, rubbing the back of his hand against her cheek.

"Hmph! Nothing but skin and bones, boys! Don't know if she's got enough energy to please us." The others laughed menacingly at their boss' comments.

"Don't make me-- I don't want to hurt you..." Molly's pleas were ignored.

"Hurt us?" That made the boys laugh even harder.

With her back, literally, against the wall, Molly had nowhere to run. She would have to make a stand as she had nothing to lose should it fail.

The gang leader grabbed Molly's ragged shirt and started to remove it. Molly raised her hands to protect herself. To the surprise of the boys, there was a light yellow glow about them. The gang leader stopped what he was doing and took a step backwards. "What'n hell are you?!"

"I'm Starshine!", Molly yelled through gritted teeth. A pulse of yellow solar energy shot out of her hands, catching the gang leader right in the chest. Its force sent him sprawling backwards on the floor. He slid to a stop ten feet away from Molly, unconscious.

The other two gang members exchanged awestruck looks. "She's one of those freaks! I'm gettin' outta here!" Almost simultaneously, they turned and ran.

Behind them, Molly slid down the wall and sat on the floor. The solar pulse had drained what little energy she had. Had the other boys attacked her, she would have been unable to defend herself. After resting a few moments, Molly forced herself to her feet. She had to keep moving, before the boys returned with reinforcements... or worse.

With great effort, Molly made her way to the exit. She paused when she reached the gang leader. "That's a nice jacket you've got there. Think I'll take it."

Upon relieving the unconscious boy of his leather jacket, Molly slipped it on and vacated the area. The jacket would help keep her warm. She always felt cold on overcast days like these.

None of the other boys were around when Molly emerged on Lexington Avenue. Turning, Molly headed south away from the area. As she walked, she searched the pockets of her new jacket. A greasy comb was in one pocket. Molly decided to hang on to it. Perhaps it could clear out the rat's nest of tangles her hair had become.

In another pocket was a half-eaten chocolate bar. Not believing her good fortune, Molly wolfed the candy down. It wasn't much, but even that felt good to her stomach.

Molly crossed a few more blocks, trying hard to stay in the shadows. On an early morning like this that usually wasn't very difficult. She felt as if unseen eyes were watching her. She glanced around nervously as she walked. Up ahead she could see a man wandering around the center of the intersection and carrying on about something.

A few individuals had gathered to listen to the man's rantings. "Superpowers are unnatural! These powers are proof of evil in a man's heart and soul!! All of them will burn for all eternity!!" He was dressed in a gray, tattered robe and carried a large sign denouncing mutants. The man waved the sign about menacingly as he ranted.

Molly swallowed nervously. "If I can just slip around this crazy lunatic without drawing too much attention, I can get back to the alleys up ahead." Molly had passed this way a few weeks ago. It made sense to double-back on her trail. Someone had once told her that it made it a little more difficult for the Trackers to find her.

Molly pulled the tattered leather jacket tightly about her and hunched over, trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible and started across the street. Molly kept her eyes down, hoping no one would notice her. A few steps from the opposite sidewalk the man turned toward her and shouted. "You! You are cursed with the evil!!"

Molly turned and saw the man rushing towards her waving his finger menacingly at her as he shouted. "You are evil!!"

For a moment, Molly's mouth dropped open wide. How could he know she had superpowers just by looking at her? It never dawned on her that this crazed individual spouting the evils of mutants and superhumans was likely one himself and had the gift of mutant recognition. Or maybe he just guessed. Either way, it would have done her little good.

"Get her!", a man in the crowd shouted. A few more picked up the shouts and Molly saw some of the individuals start towards her. Some picked up discarded bricks that lay in the street to use as weapons.

As they approached closer, Molly's mind was only able to form one thought. "Run!" It was the prevailing thought on her mind these days, even stronger than the need for food and sleep. A sense of survival once more overcame the exhausted complaints of her muscles. She turned and ran as best as she could.

The alleyway she had been trying to reach was just up ahead. Molly splashed through the cold puddles lining the sidewalk and turned the corner. Slipping behind a crumbling wall she slumped against the debris, breathing heavily. Somehow the group from the street failed to come any closer. She could hear their voices growing more distant.

Molly used this brief respite to reflect again on her situation. Molly's life had not been a good one. She was born seventeen years and three weeks ago. Her life hadn't started out this bad however. In fact, it seemed pretty normal for a little while. For many years now though, it was an unfortunate and meager existence, one without the regular creature comforts that one would expect. The Mutant War affected everyone, whether they were directly involved in the fighting or not. It had been a long time since she had slept in a real bed, a long time since she owned clothes more than rags, a lifetime since she had experienced many of the things we now take for granted.

But at least she was alive. There was still a flicker of hope. Her pursuers now sought to take even those last few meager items from her.

Molly looked around at the area. She had been here before and was unable to locate the tunnels that may lead her to safety. "If I can make it to the next tunnel system, I might be able to get away from the HK again," the young woman thought desperately to herself. "At least, it may buy me one more day." She collected herself and stepped gingerly among the rubble searching for her sanctuary.

A sound from the rooftop above sent a chill down her spine and caused goose bumps to form on her arms. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. "Molly." It was little more than a stage whisper, but the sound pierced through the night air like a siren. Molly froze.

Her mind raced to send commands to her body to run again, to find the tunnels that would bring her to temporary safety. But her exhausted limbs refused to move. She could only watch wide-eyed as the shadowy form leapt from one rooftop, across the alleyway and landed on the next roof. It was within striking distance from there.

"The hunt is over, mutie," her pursuer hissed at her. She could see its eyes had a hellish red glow. She stared back like a deer caught in a semi's headlights. It had found her again. No small wonder she was able to ditch the fanatics so easily. No one interfered with a Hunter on the prowl. Not without becoming a casualty themselves.

"There is no tunnel," she suddenly thought, her mind now frantic and barely forming rational thoughts. "It was just a trap." Or maybe in her rush to escape, she had turned down the wrong alley. The creature let out a vicious growl. "Maybe I should just let it have me," Molly thought wearily. "I can't keep on running..."

The form leapt from the roof and landed soundlessly in the alley before her. It scraped its long claws along the ground in a taunting manner. "You can't run forever," the thing said, reiterating her own thoughts.

More from habit than conscious thought, Molly turned and began to run once more. If she could just double back again, her mind raced, maybe she still had a slim chance. The thought was as futile as it was fleeting.

The dark form suddenly slammed into her and knocked her to the ground, forcing the air from her. Molly lay on the ground trying to get oxygen into her lungs again. She looked up and saw the thing. The first real look she had of it since the chase had begun.

The creature was dark in color, almost scaly. She looked into its deep red reptilian eyes and wondered if it was ever human. She had heard that the Hunters, as they were called, were human once. An army created to eradicate her kind and all like her. It smiled an evil toothy grin, filled with long fangs. It closed in for the kill.

Molly shrieked as the Hunter's claws raked along her right thigh. Blood welled up on the deep claw marks. She screamed in pain and terror. Molly had lost the race. Now her life would be forfeit. Her mind could barely form conscious thoughts. Her muscles felt like wet noodles stuck in cement. She tried to stand, to run, but the creature smashed her in the face with a powerful fist. The force of the blow knocked her down again. She could feel blood flowing from her nose now. It mixed with the tears that continued to stream down her cheeks.

"Please!", Molly begged of the Hunter between sobs. "I've never done anything to you!"

Her only crime was that she had been born differently. She had remarkable powers of flight and the ability to project force beams from her fingertips. They hadn't developed fully until her 17th birthday. Since then, the past three weeks of her life had been even more of a living hell.

"All muties must die," was the only answer she got. The creature stood still, raising up to its full height. It was just over five feet tall, but powerfully muscled. It wiggled its clawed fingers threateningly just inches from Molly's face. Then it stepped back a few steps admiring its prey. The creature was clearly toying with Molly and greatly enjoying her desperate struggles.

Molly could see that reasoning with it was useless. That somehow gave her the strength to keep going. If she was going to die, she would at least continue struggling until her final breath. Now she didn't have the strength to use her powers. They had kept her ahead of it for this long. Only it took too much out of her now. It was all she could do to just run the last two days. She tried to stand, but her wounded leg didn't want to support her. She staggered, half-limping down the alley towards a hole in a wall. Her only hope was that the Hunter would be over-confident now. In any case, she couldn't just let it kill her. Not like all the others.

The creature came up behind her again and smashed her roughly to the ground. She landed in a pile of garbage and refuse. The Hunter slashed her shoulder this time. Once more the attack drew blood. The pain from the wound was excruciating. She screamed again, long and loud, but there was no one to hear her, no one to help her. No one stood up to the HK's. It was a death sentence.

Molly tried to crawl away. The Hunter smiled its toothy grin. It reached down and grabbed the young woman by her ankle and began to drag her back to the middle of the alley. She was unable to even resist. The Hunter let her go and she scrambled backwards. As the Hunter approached menacingly, she suddenly found herself with her back up against the alley wall.

"Nowhere left to run, mutant scum." Molly instinctively knew this was now the end. She couldn't run anymore, could barely even move. The Hunter bent down and held its claws in front of her face again. "You were a good chase, mutie. I'll make it quick on you." She could feel the creature's hot, vile breath on her face. She closed her eyes and turned her head, waiting for the final blow to fall.

Molly felt a warm liquid splash land on her cheek. She instinctively flinched, knowing that it must be blood. Her blood. A moment passed. Then another. Incredibly, she was still alive and in no more pain than a moment ago. She opened her eyes, tentatively, and saw the Hunter still in front of her. It had lied. It was toying with her and she was in shock. That must be it, her desperate haggard mind reasoned.

She opened her eyes further, noticing that another blow had failed to come and she saw that the Hunter had slumped somewhat. A long thick blade jutted from its neck and stopped just short of her face. Blood covered the sword and poured down the front of the Hunter's chest. Drops of the Hunter's blood fell upon Molly.

Eyes wide in shock and surprise, Molly looked past the dead Hunter and saw a man dressed in black leather. He shoved the impaled creature sideways using the sword as a lever. Putting his dark boot on the Hunter's back and with a powerful shove, he freed his weapon from the creature's neck. The Hunter collapsed to the ground. Molly watched all this in utter disbelief. She looked up at the man who had somehow managed to save her. "I know who you are," she said finally.

"That's real funny, kid. I don't even know who I am," he answered gruffly. "What makes you such an expert?"

"You're the Muskateer. You're an Avenger!", Molly said excitedly. She had actually been rescued.

"Kiddo, I'm the last Avenger," the man said, as he knelt beside her. He took a quick look at her injuries and decided she would survive for the time being. "We gotta get you outta here. It ain't safe. There's more of 'em coming."

...To Be Continued!

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