Charcoal cast her eyes heavenward, not believing what she was hearing. In spite of her appearance, Charcoal was Sanctuary's Head of Security. She typically wore biker clothing with leather jackets. Her flaming red hair was cut short. Talk had it that she was secretly Hyperion's daughter, but neither one would confirm the rumor.
Metalla, the metallic secretary looked up from her note pad and exchanged worried looks with Dr. Angelique Marin.
"While I agree with the policy of no violence...", the Deacon started to say, until he was interrupted by the ever calm Gladiator.
"The decision whether or not to have this contest does not rest on your shoulders," the Gladiator cooly stated. "I doubt that those involved in the battle give a fig if you wish the fight to take place or not."
Enraged, Pooka glared at Gladiator. "How dare you talk to me like that!?"
The Deacon shifted in his chair. He had dealt with many troubled superhumans in his time and he could tell that Pooka needed his help badly. Gently, he reached out with his powers to help the leader of Sanctuary. "Cooler heads will always prevail, Pooka. Relax. Take a few deep breaths."
Without realizing it, Pooka did as the Deacon instructed. It seemed to be working.
"We need to face facts-- and reality here," Gladiator continued, now mainly speaking to everyone else present. "These two are going to fight. If not here, then somewhere. They've voluntarily chosen one of the out laying deserted islands. I have no problem with that. Unless of course, you'd rather have them take their battle elsewhere? Say, downtown Los Angeles?"
"Gladiator's right," Hyperion said in a boisterous tone. The founder of Sanctuary was incredibly handsome and fit, in spite of being in his sixties. He actually glowed. "A little roughhousin' is nothing out of the ordinary. If these two want to slug it out in a place where no one is going to get hurt, it's fine with me."
"Like we could really stop them," Charcoal added sarcastically. "Let'm see who's more macho and get it over with. What we should be doing is taking advantage of the situation. Make it a Pay-Per-View special or something." All eyes in the room looked toward Charcoal. She squirmed uncomfortably under the weight of their gaze. "Well, we're always trying to find ways to raise money around here..." Finally, they looked away.
Pooka slowly scanned the room. "So that's it then. I'm out-voted. Hyperion, what's the point of putting me in charge of Sanctuary if you won't let me act?"
The elder super rose and approached the troubled director. He put his arm around the man and lead him from the room. "You're a fine director, Pooka. But you have to realize that there are some things that are beyond your duties. The issue here is not whether they should fight, but rather can it be done in such a manner as to not threaten Sanctuary or anyone else. From what I've heard, that task has been accomplished. You cannot dictate the behavior of others." The two departed the meeting room, closing the door behind them.
Those still present in the room were silent for several moments. Finally, Dr. Marin broke the silence. "He's getting worse."
"He's a poster boy for 'I need a vacation'," Charcoal added.
"He'd better get one soon," Metalla chimed in. "I might forget myself and let him have it the next time he gets lippy with me.
"I'll have a talk with Pooka later," the Deacon responded, "in private."
"That's a good idea," Dr. Marin agreed. "His being under a great deal of stress is putting all of us under even more stress."
"Getting back to other matters," Gladiator stated, "has there been any new developments regarding the break-in at the Medical Center last night?"
"So far, no," Charcoal reported. "The perpetrators were not in Peacekeeper's database. Meaning, they were either in disguise or have never been guests at Sanctuary before. I have 'Keeper contacting hero teams around the world to see if anyone has information on our robbers."
After a pause, Dr. Marin added what she had learned to the report. "They took the results of the examinations for Jason, Jennifer, and Jessica. Fortunately, I still have my notes, so no real data was lost. I wish to double check my findings before I release the reports, anyway. The results are most-- interesting."
"Seems like everything involving those three has been interesting," Charcoal commented sarcastically.
A short time later, Terra Fire and Archangel were surveying the damage done to the girl's bungalow.
"What hit this place?", Jason asked in amazement. Jennifer's room was a complete loss. The ceiling had collapsed, the outer walls blown out. Where the room had connected to the bungalow was now a large hole.
"Firewing," the Tigress commented off-handedly. "I heard fruit-loop scream and then the room exploded. Peacekeeper and Firewing were going at it not too far away at the time."
"I thought I heard some loud noises early this morning," Archangel offered.
"I told you before, Tigress, I am not a breakfast cereal," Nemesis rebuked. She didn't show any ill effects from the explosion. The young girl was dressed in her normal pink combat outfit. "I'm a highly respected psychologist and heroine."
"She's been acting weirder than normal lately," Tempest muttered.
"Maybe there's something to it?", Jason suggested. "After all, no one knows much about Jen."
"Are you suggesting that she really is a psychologist?", the Tigress wondered. She turned her gaze away from Jason, gave Jennifer a long hard look, and then turned back to Jason. "Nah. Probably something she saw on the TV."
"So what are we supposed to do today," Tempest wondered out loud. "I mean, with everyone else involved in this Sapphire/Firewing fight, I doubt we're going to have practice."
Archangel approached the aquamarine-clad heroine. "We could use the time to get better acquainted," he said in a silky tone.
"I think I'd rather go for a swim." Tempest turned, walked out the front door, and made her way towards the beach.
The Tigress smirked as the scene unfolded. "Real smooth, 'wings. You're such a charmer."
Angered, Archangel spun towards his black and orange clad teammate. "Stuff it, catgirl!" Archangel then stormed out of the bungalow and launched himself into the air.
Terra Fire, Nemesis, and the Tigress watched him depart. "Things always this uptight around here?", Jason asked.
"Just teenagers being teenagers," Jennifer answered. Jason and Erica turned to look at Nemesis with puzzled glances. "I'm a Pepper!", she said to them.
"You know, Mole Boy, you may have something there. Jen's been doin' this since last night. Making sense one moment, then talking like herself the next. Maybe there really is something wrong."
Jason smiled in appreciation. "I thought something was abnormal with her."
The Tigress shot him an annoyed glance. "Don't get cocky, kid. Let's take fruit-loop to see the doc. Maybe she can figure this out."
"Sounds like a plan. Come on, Jen, let's go visit Dr. Marin."
Nemesis clapped her hands and said in a giddy voice, "Goody!"
The sun was high in the sky overhead. On a small deserted island close to Sanctuary Island, Sapphire and Firewing waited for their battle to begin. Each stood before the mechanoid known as Peacekeeper.
"I shall officiate your contest," Peacekeeper stated. "The rules of the Great Arena have been entered into my database. Since you both have concurred on the rules of conduct given to me, I trust there shall be no problems."
"Enough talk, machine!", Firewing hissed, fire playing about his hands. "Let the battle begin!"
Peacekeeper turned towards Sapphire. "Are you ready to proceed?", he asked her.
"I am ready," the azure warrior answered.
"Very well. Move to your starting positions," Peacekeeper ordered. The combatants complied and took up positions thirty feet apart from each other. Peacekeeper raised his hand, then rapidly lowered it as he said, "Begin!"
A blast of fire erupted from Firewing's hands. It slammed into Sapphire, sending the large woman flying back into the foliage. "This duel shall be over but momentarily!", Firewing announced.
Peacekeeper looked on with as much concern as a machine could muster. According to his files, Sapphire was nowhere near as powerful as Firewing. It was a mismatch as Sapphire primarily battled hand-to-hand, while Firewing could easily keep her at bay with his arsenal of fire-based attacks.
Firewing took to the air, in search of his adversary. "Where are you, warrior!? You're supposed to be the successor champion to me? I find it hard to believe that the quality of warriors in the Great Arena has declined so far in my absence."
In answer to Firewing's challenge, a palm tree came flying out of the foliage. It was upon the fiery gladiator before he could even react. It rammed Firewing, sending him back across the sky, but he righted himself before crashing into any more trees.
"Well struck!", Firewing complimented. "You lured me into your trap, but I am too powerful to be defeated so simplistically."
Sapphire leaped from the foliage, her powerful legs propelling her high into the air. "I am pleased to learn that the stories of your greatness are true. I had feared that they were tales from an age gone by-- fond remembrances of an old warrior rather than the truth."
"Your honey-filled words will not sway me from my quest, worthy adversary," Firewing warned. "You shall be defeated in mere moments." Firewing easily avoided Sapphire's lunge. He dove off to one side and circled around, pursuing his target across the sky.
Another blast of fire erupted around Sapphire. Still in mid-air, she had no place to escape the incoming attack. She had gambled and lost. The fiery blast sent Sapphire deeper into the interior of the deserted island.
Firewing immediately flew after his opponent, determined to make sure she did not have any time to gather her strength. It was an unnecessary maneuver as Sapphire laid unmoving upon the jungle floor.
Following close behind was the Peacekeeper. "She is unconscious," the machine advised Firewing. "I declare you victorious."
Firewing raised his hands towards the sky, blasts of fire erupting from them. "Once more do I claim victory! Let the minstrels sing of my combat prowess! Let the world know who is the true Champion of the Great Arena!"
After his self-gratification, Firewing turned his attention back to his fallen opponent. Even now, she was beginning to stir. He stood over her, offering his hand as she came to her senses. "Rise, former Champion. I salute your courage, woman. Many a foe has cowered before me, caught in the grip of fear. But not you."
Sapphire accepted the hand and rose to her feet. "One does not become a Champion of the Great Arena by showing fear. It is a weakness that an opponent will easily exploit."
"Well said, worthy adversary! Come, let us celebrate this clash. Is the drinkery open for business, machine?"
"The Starstruck Lounge opened a short time ago," the Peacekeeper answered.
"Excellent!" Firewing put his arm around Sapphire, leading her on. "Come, Champion, let us drink to our glory and valor!" Firewing rose into the air, Sapphire still in his grasp. He turned and flew towards the hotel on Sanctuary Island.
"I think that would be a most interesting experience," Sapphire said in agreement.
Peacekeeper watched for a few moments before activating his Anti-Grav Units. The android surveyed the island, putting out a few spot fires that Firewing had caused. Once all was secure, Peacekeeper returned to Sanctuary Island.
Jason led the way into the Medical Center, holding the door open for Erica and Jennifer. Up ahead, Nurse Susan Chang was working at the reception desk. She looked up as the trio approached. "Something we can do for you young people?"
"Uhm, yeah," Jason stammered out. "I -- I mean we--"
"What he's trying to say: 'Is Dr. Marin available'? It's about Jennifer here..." Erica turned to gesture towards Jennifer, but the young woman was no longer behind her. "Hey! Where'd she run off to?"
Jason looked left and then right. He caught a glimpse of something in pink entering into a room down the hallway. "I think she went in there. Wonder what got into her?"
Nurse Chang rose and walked briskly towards the door Jennifer had passed through. "She's not permitted to go in there!"
Curious, Jason and Erica followed. As Nurse Chang went to open the door, a momentary bright flash burst outwards from behind the door, illuminating the hallway. "What the heck was that?"
The door swung open and Nurse Chang led the way in. Jennifer was standing next to a bed, holding the hand of its occupant. The woman on the bed slowly sat up, and shook her head causing her black hair to sway back and forth.
"I don't believe it...," Nurse Chang said upon seeing this. She approached the bed slowly. "How do you feel, doctor?"
The woman turned to face the nurse. "I think I'm all right." She turned to regard Jennifer. "What a most unusual experience..."
Erica stepped forward into the room. "Uhm, this is all well and fine, but does someone want to tell me what's going on?!"
A short time later, Jason, Jennifer, and Erica were sitting in Dr. Marin's office. Angelique was seated behind her desk, the mysterious woman reclining on a nearby couch.
"So what's the verdict, Doc?", Erica asked. "What did Jennifer do anyway?"
"We have a theory," Dr. Marin stated. "But first, let me introduce you to Dr. Christina Blackledge."
Chris waved to the Young Champions. "Hello."
"As for what our Jennifer did, that's a bit more complicated. Perhaps Dr. Blackledge would care to explain?"
Christina stood up and approached the desk. "Yesterday, Angelique asked me to do a probe on Jennifer. I agreed. In spite of what she seems to be, Jennifer is one tough cookie. She resisted my probing. I finally broke through, but doing so appeared to activate her Nemesis powers."
"Uhm, Doc," Jason interrupted, shifting uncomfortably. "Exactly what kind of probing are we talking about here?"
"Mental. I'm a telepath," Dr. Blackledge explained. "Jennifer drew some of my psyche into herself. My body went comatose in the meantime."
"So, what you're saying," Erica concluded, "is that Jen absorbed part of you into her? Was that why she kept saying that she was a 'respected heroine and psychologist'?"
"That certainly lets the cat out of the bag," Dr. Marin remarked.
Christina sighed. "Quite. I'm better known as Nightingale."
"Ah," Jason remarked. "I thought there was something vaguely familiar about you. You're one of the Avengers. Nice to met you."
"Sorry," Erica said apologetically. "I didn't mean..."
'Gale held up her hand. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, when Jennifer took a hold my hand, my psyche transferred back, no worse for wear."
"So has your little field trip given you any insight into Jennifer's amnesia?", Dr. Marin asked.
"Plenty. Unfortunately, what I found makes little sense." Christina went up to Jennifer and took her hand.
Jen just smiled at her. "I like you. You're smart."
"Thank you, Jennifer. I think you're a very special young lady."
"Exactly how special is she?", Jason wondered.
"Jennifer does not have amnesia. She has no past memories, because she has nothing to remember. She has no past at all."
"That sounds impossible!", Erica remarked.
"Not as impossible as you might think...", Dr. Marin offered. "I thought my test results were wrong. I double-- triple-- checked the results, but if Dr. Blackledge is correct, then Jennifer is only four months old."
Jason did a double take. "Four months?! Excuse me, but when exactly did we enter the Twilight Zone here?"
"Are you saying that Jen is really like a big baby?" Erica couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"It does make sense, in a perverse way," Dr. Blackledge replied. "Jennifer is either a clone or an artificial human being. Her body is four months old, but obviously mentally she is older."
"About the mentality of a seven or eight year old, I would estimate," Dr. Marin added.
"I would speculate that she was being taught subliminally," Dr. Blackledge continued. "After all, she has basic language skills. Perhaps her teaching was interrupted before it was completed?"
"The complex we were in exploded shortly after we got out," Jason explained. "Maybe we weren't meant to wake up when we did?"
"That's very possible, Jason. Perhaps all of you were being tutored or conditioned. The process could have failed if Jennifer's powers considered it to be a threat."
"This is really wild," Erica remarked. "And I thought I was screwed up when I got my powers."
"I'll have to draw up a special cirriculum for Jennifer." Christina looked towards Angelique. "Looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
"You're a school teacher, too?" Jason wondered.
"Yes. I've done a great deal of private instruction in the past. Even holding some classes here on Sanctuary."
"That's good, as I'd like to get my high school diploma."
"You were a senior, Jason?", Chris asked.
"Yes. About three or four months along."
"I'll check your transcripts and plan accordingly. I've been tutoring one other student, but we've been on a break. Since you're both high school seniors, I might as well just instruct you at the same time. Would next Monday be a good start for you?"
"Sure," Jason answered with a shrug. "Works for me."
"You might as well pull Jessica's records also," Dr. Marin advised.
"Makes sense," Chris answered. "Take care of all of them at the same time. Okay, I'll see you Monday after lunch." Turning towards Dr. Marin, she added, "If you don't mind, I'd like to take Jennifer and give her some standardized tests. Find out her skill levels."
Dr. Marin nodded in agree. "Go ahead, I'm done with her."
"Come on, Jennifer. I've got some neat stuff to show you."
"Cool!" Jennifer happily popped to her feet and followed Dr. Blackledge out of the office.
Jason turned back to Dr. Marin once Chris and Jennifer were gone. "So, does that mean you have my test results back as well?"
"That is correct. Jason, you are a picture of health. But, there is one very strange thing that I did find."
Jason swallowed hard. "Unless you're going to tell me that I'm only four months old, I think I can handle it."
Dr. Marin Smiled. "No, I'm not going to tell you that. Jason, you've been forcibly mutated on a genetic level. A normal human has forty-six chromosomes. You have forty-eight."
"Is that bad?"
"For a mutant, that's pretty normal. I've often found extra-chromosomes in those born with their powers. I don't think it puts you in any risk, if that is what you mean."
"Don't sweat it, Moleboy," Erica advised. "I have extra chromosomes myself."
Jason sighed in relief. "I guess that wasn't so bad."
"Unfortunately, that wasn't the strange part I was referring to. You were artificially mutated through the use of radiation. Traces of this radiation still remain in your cells."
"I'm radioactive?!"
"Guess I'll have to call you the 'Glowing Moleboy'", Erica inserted with a laugh.
"No, you wouldn't register on a Geiger Counter and you're not a threat to those around you. What I'm talking about is residual traces of radiation, not actual radiation. Evidence that it was once there."
"Again, not a big deal," Erica added. "Had the same thing myself."
That seemed to calm Jason down once more. "Then this radiation is the strange thing you are talking about?"
Dr. Marin closed the folder she had been reading from and looked directly at Jason. "The type of radiation in your cells is shared in only one other being on this planet. Actually two, as I would speculate that your sister was changed in the same manner that you were. Unfortunately, she declined to do any DNA testing."
"Okay, so who is this other person?"
"Benjamin Grimm," Dr. Marin answered.
"The Thing?", Jason said incredulously. "You think I'm gonna change into a monster!?"
"Quit jumping to conclusions, Jason. You both were altered by the same agent. The odd part is that Ben Grimm was mutated in space and the type of radiation that changed him does not exist on Earth."
It took several moments for that to sink into Jason and Erica.
"You got me on that one," Erica concluded.
"How utterly bizarre...", Jason muttered. "I was changed into Terra Fire by a type of radiation that does not exist on Earth. All of a sudden, I think I've been further from home than El Paso..."
Unaware of all that had transpired back on land, Jessica was content to explore the world beneath the waves. It was quiet and peaceful down here. Once Tempest got past the idea of breathing water as opposed to air, she was overwhelmed by the incredible beauty of it all.
She circled Sanctuary Island at first, but slowly wandered off into deeper waters. The pressure and darker waters were not a hindrance to Tempest.
Spotting something reflecting the filtered sunlight, Tempest swam to a halt. She dove down towards the reflection to discover an aircraft. It was covered with sediment and appeared to have been down here a long time. Curious, Tempest swam about the craft. It had UNTIL markings on its side and looked to be a fighter plane. The pilot had apparently escaped before it sank.
"Say... This gives me an idea..." Filled with renewed purpose, Tempest swam back to Sanctuary Island.
Dr. Blackledge was rapidly discovering what a trying experience it could be to deal with Jennifer. "Jennifer? Can we please concentrate on the problem at hand?" Christina was trying to test the young girl's math skills, but getting Jennifer to focus on anything for any length of time was difficult.
"Who's Stacy?", Jennifer asked innocently.
"I'm not sure what you mean?"
"I had a dream that me and Stacy were being chased by some dogs," Jennifer stated, in one of her rare moments of clarity. "Was she a kitty-cat?"
"Dogs chasing Stacy?" Dr. Blackledge considered for a few moments. A possibility came to mind, but how could Jennifer had known? "Do you mean hounds?"
"Yeah... Oh, I get it! I re-lived one of your memories as a dream," Jennifer deduced. "Just replaced you with me."
"That's a very astute deduction, Jennifer," Christina answered, in an impressed tone. "How did you figure it out?"
"I don't know." Jennifer turned her attention back to the problem she had been working on. "I'm coo-coo for cocoa puffs!"
"Somehow, you must have copied some of myself into you...", Chris deduced. "Guess it makes sense. So much of your mind is a blank slate, that you must have borrowed some of my skills, my memories and added them to your own. This just gets weirder and weirder..."
It was dusk when Tempest emerged from the waters on Sanctuary Island. She quickly made her way to her bungalow. Seated on the steps before it was her brother, Jason.
"Hey, Jace. You been waiting for me?"
"Sort of. I finished up early in the motor pool. They've been looking for you all day."
"Oh well, I guess I lost track of the time." Jessica went into her room and came out with a notepad. "Seeya later." She started to make her way towards the hotel.
"Oh, Jess, they're going to be starting classes for us on Monday," Jason said as he caught up to his sister.
"Now what kind of classes?" Jessica stopped and turned to face her brother. She seemed annoyed at the whole idea.
"High school. So that we can get our diplomas?"
Jess put her hands on her hips and looked directly at her brother. "Well, you can count me out right now. I quit school a long time ago and I'm not going back." That said, Jessica continued on her way.
Startled Jason, paused a few seconds allowing Jessica to get ahead of him. He ran after her, catching up after a few steps. "But, what about--?"
She stopped once more and faced Jason again. "Look, you may be my brother, but this is my business. Just butt out, okay?"
It took a few seconds for the whole thing to sink into Jason. "Okay. If that's what you want. I'll drop the subject."
"Thanks. G'night."
Elsewhere, Peacekeeper was reporting in to Charcoal...
"Find anything, tin britches?", Charcoal asked, her biker booted feet resting upon her desk.
"As you requested, I have contacted all the hero teams that we are on good relations with. I have crosschecked the identity of the two intruders against those in each of their individual data bases. It was a--"
"Cut to the chase, Peacekeeper," Charcoal said in an irritated tone.
"As you wish. The female goes by the name of Dominance. The Sentinels report that she is a member of a terrorist organization known as ATLAS."
"ATLAS? Why would a group like that be interested in our triple-J's?"
"I do not have an answer to that query," Peacekeeper responded.
"Then there was the time where Artouret slipped and accidentally severed one of his tentacles!", Sapphire said in a giddy voice. She, like her companion, had been celebrating most of the day.
"Hah!" Firewing nearly choked on his ale. "He always was a clumsy oaf!" Taking a large swallow from his glass, Firewing emptied it of its contents. He sat it down, among the dozens of other empties. "Another dead warrior... Barkeeper! Bring us more ale!"
The man behind the bar complied. He had tried earlier to cut the two celebrants off, but they would have nothing to do with that! The two accepted the newly filled glasses.
"A toast!", Sapphire announced, rising to her feet. "To Artouret!"
Firewing stood as well and the two bumped glasses. The fiery villain took a long, deep drink. He kept leaning backwards until he finally fell over!
Sapphire finished her glass and sat it down on the table with a crash. She eyed her fallen companion critically. "You may be the superior warrior, but I can hold my ale better." With a half-hearted salute, Sapphire staggered off towards the exit. Three steps later, she fell over. By the time she hit the floor, she was fast asleep.
Epilogue:
Elsewhere, deep in the ATLAS base, Peacemonger studied the data retrieved by Dominance and Virtuoso. He seemed pleased to read Jason's file. "No cellular degeneration detected so far. Excellent."
The villain paused when he came to Jennifer's file. He stared at the attached photograph, not being able to take his eyes off of it. "Oh, my Jennifer... Someday we shall be together again..."
