by M. R. Anglin
Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “I see it. Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“Stephie! What are you doing?” Brody grabbed her arm.
“Going to get the gem,” Stephanie pulled her arm from his grasp.
“I don’t want you going out there with those maniacs. Teleport it!”
“I can’t.” Stephanie held up the device on her wrist. “The stabilizers gave out.”
“But, Stephie—”
“It’s fine. I’m Finch.” Stephanie winked at him. “No one can ever capture me.” She launched herself into the room.
Nicole watched Stephanie dart across the room, ducking under the punches and kicks, flipping over Captain Justice’s lunges, and twirling like a ballerina to avoid Starlight’s rush. She jumped up on the table to reach Bee where she floated.
That’s when Captain Justice noticed her. “What are you doing?” He blasted her with a laser from his eyes. Stephanie jumped up, flipped over the blast and Bee’s head, and snatched the gem right out of her hands. “Yoink,” she said as she snatched it.
“You!” Captain Justice launched for her . . . only for Starlight to kick him in his face. Stephanie darted back out the door.
“Simple!” Stephanie handed the gem to John.
Brody gaped at her. “How did you do that?”
“Didn’t I ever tell you?” Stephanie smiled at him. “One of my foster parents made me take gymnastics and ballet. It was so boring but useful.”
“Give me a second to get into Bee. I . . .” John halted, looking at the gem. “I forgot the receiver port at home.”
“It’s okay.” Nicole took the gem from him. “I feel it. JJ, you power. I can feel it. Let’s see . . .” She closed her eyes. The gem glowed a pink. The light rested on Junior Justice.
“Aw, yeah! I got it now!” Junior Justice jumped to his feet. “My power. It’s back. I’ll teach him to betray justice!” He launched himself back into the fight.
“You did it, Nikki!” Stephanie threw her arms around Nicole’s shoulders.
Brody shoved her aside. “Me next; me next!”
“Okay.” Nicole closed her eyes. It was a little harder to find his power because she wasn’t familiar with it. She had to sift through the other powers swirling around in there. How many Heroes had Beatrix robbed anyway?
At that moment, while she tried to concentrate, Junior Justice whacked Captain Justice across the face with his powered up staff.
Captain Justice caught the staff but narrowed his eyes at Junior Justice. “You got your power back? How?”
“Nothing like the original, baby!” Junior Justice reached out his hand and blasted Captain Justice in the face with his shield. It struck Captain Justice like a brick wall.
Captain Justice snarled, backing up a few pacing and covering his face. “Enough!” He spread his arms out. A sharp wind knocked everyone to the floor. “I’ll send you all to oblivion! Beatrix, I want the TelePorter’s power.”
There! Nicole had it. This power signature felt like a teleport. She snatched the power with her own. At the same time Bee grabbed it too. The gem in Nicole’s hands flickered.
Brody noted the change. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Bee; she’s trying to give your power to Captain Justice.” Nicole clenched her eyes shut. “Bee! Bee, I know you can hear me. You have to stop.”
“I c-can’t!” Bee’s voice came as a staticky, distorted version of her voice. Later, Stephanie told her Bee appeared next to Nicole as a glitchy, staticky hologram. “He h-h-has complete c-control of us.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Nicole concentrated harder to snatch Brody’s power. “What’s your prime directive, Bee?”
“To pro-pro-tttect y-y-you.”
“Then do your job. You can do it.” Nicole got a burst of inspiration. “Let Daddy help you. Open one of your wireless ports. He’ll free you.”
“I-I’ll t-t-try.” Bee disappeared.
Nicole felt Bee’s grasp on Brody’s power slip. The gem started to glow again.
“Got it!” John typed on his computer. “I’m in.”
Nicole concentrated. She gripped Brody’s power and slowly but surely held onto it. The gem glowed brighter.
“What is happening?” Captain Justice snarled at Beatrix and Bee.
“Got her!” John said.
All at once, Bee’s blank face distorted to a glare. She growled at Captain Justice and disappeared.
Only to reappear beside Nicole.
“Bee!” Nicole threw her arms around her.
“Thank you!” Bee said.
“We still have to free Beatrix.” John kept typing on the computer.
“I’ll help you.” Bee disappeared.
“I’ll help too.” Brody jumped up. “Cause I got my power back! Hey, Maximus!” He jumped into the room and raised his hands. “This is for my parents. Say hello to a one way ticket to Jampnell Prison or wherever this teleport will take you!” He snapped his fingers.
“What?” Captain Justice gaped at him. “Nooo!” He disappeared.
“Yeah!” Brody pumped his arm. “That’s how you do it!”
“All right, Brody!” Stephanie jumped up and threw her arms around his neck.
“Yes! Great job!” Nicole rushed into meet them.
Captain Justice reappeared in a blast of golden light. He snarled at Brody. “Did you think it would be that easy?” He held up his hand, showing a copy of Stephanie’s teleporting device strapped to his wrist. “I have this—thanks to you and your brilliant sister!” He punched Brody in the gut then face.
“Brody!” Stephanie dropped beside him where he had fallen on the floor.
“Now for you, you little insect.” Captain Justice turned his eyes to Nicole.
“Not a chance!” Starlight punched Captain Justice in the face.
At the same time, Junior Justice whacked him with the staff. “Don’t think so!”
The blows made Captain Justice skid backward, but he didn’t flinch. He stood up with narrowed eyes. “I’ve been taking it easy on you, but no more.” He walked forward, and Nikki saw an invisible shield erupt around him. “It’s time to take off the kid gloves.” One of Captain Justice’s hand glowed with Starlight’s power, the other with a red energy Nicole had never seen before. His eyes started to glow with laser energy.
“Oh, no!” Junior Justice slid in front of Nicole and deployed a shield right as Captain Justice shot all three energy blasts at them. “I can’t hold this back for long! It’s too powerful.”
“Now would be a great time to return my powers, Starling!” Starlight said.
Nicole peered into her gem. “I . . . I can’t. I don’t see your power in here! It must be because he has it.”
“Then get it back.” Junior Justice’s knees buckled. “We’re doomed unless something changes.”
Nicole bit her lip. If only Beatrix were free. She could take the power from Captain Justice. Her father was trying to free her, but who knew how long it would take . . . even with Bee helping? Nicole was on her own.
But wait. What if Nicole went about this another way? What if, she went after the power of the Sapphire itself? Once she had control of the Sapphire, she could take the power from Captain Justice. It could work.
Nicole closed her eyes. The gem in her hands glowed. Nicole felt the Sapphire’s power flow into her, and at once she understood. The Tifuld Sapphire had no power in and of itself. It was a power crystal created to house one Hero’s power. Geode’s power. Her mother’s ability to manipulate minerals and gems was her dominant power, but buried beneath it had been the ability to rob Heroes of theirs—a power she must have kept secret. As someone who wanted to help others, it must have bothered Geode to possess an ability like this. Nicole guessed she created the Sapphire and put all her Hero snatching abilities into it just to be rid of it. And then created Beatrix to control it.
Nicole opened her eyes. She knew what to do.
Standing to her feet, she walked toward Captain
Justice.
“Refraction, what are you doing?” Junior Justice said as she passed him.
“Fulfilling my mom’s legacy.” Nicole stepped out from behind Junior Justice’s shield.
Captain Justice paused when he saw her. “You’ve got guts. Get ready to see them spilled all over the floor!” He blasted her with all the power he had.
Nicole raised her hand and used her mother’s power to soak up all the energy. Then she reached in and sapped Starlight’s power right out of Captain Justice. It was easy to distinguish it; Nicole knew it well.
“What?” Captain Justice stumbled backward. “What are you doing to me?”
Nicole stretched her arm behind her and used her power to pump Starlight’s ability back into her.
“All right!” Starlight ignited her hand with energy. “I haven’t felt this good in months. Junior, ready!”
“Always!” Junior Justice said.
Starlight jumped up and punched Captain Justice with her starlit fist. Junior Justice followed it up with another blast to the face. Captain Justice fell backward onto the table.
“Mom, I know what you wanted,” Nicole muttered as she crouched for a pounce, “but everyone’s in trouble. I can’t let him hurt them. I promise I’ll give it back when it’s safe.” She launched herself into the air and stretched her hand out over Captain Justice.
“No! No! What are you doing?” Captain Justice tried to swat at Nicole with a super powered fist.
Junior Justice jumped up to deflect his blow and Starlight blasted him. Protected by her mentor and friend, Nicole sapped Maximus’s power right out of him. Captain Justice collapsed on the floor.
Nicole landed in between Starlight and Junior Justice, pumping his power into the Sapphire for Beatrix to codify.
“No . . . no. Not again.” Captain Justice groaned as he pulled himself to his knees. “I will not be without my powers again!” He launched himself at Nicole.
Starlight ignited her fist and slugged him as hard as she could. Captain Justice spun on his feet and collapsed on the ground.
“Don’t ever touch my Starling,” Starlight said.
“Got it!” John shouted from in the hall.
Beatrix, who had been floating motionless through the entire battle, gasped and panted. She scanned all the people in the room before relaxing. “I’m free . . . thank you.”
“Look alive, people.” Starlight took a fighting position. “We’ve still got a threat on our hands.”
Beatrix stared her in the eye. “I am no threat.”
“I have to assume you’re going to go rogue again.” Starlight ignited her fist with energy.
“I didn’t do this to take Heroes’ power, Starlight.” Beatrix lowered her head. “I wanted to return them. All Geode wanted was for me to use her power as a deterrent. I should have never taken it upon myself to be judge and jury by taking their powers before. I was trying to correct my error.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” Starlight pointed at her. “You stole my power.”
“I had to take the rest of your power in order to return all of it.” Beatrix motioned in John’s direction. “John has access to my database. He can show you.”
“Why didn’t you tell us any of this before?” Junior Justice approached her.
“ASH’s protocols would not have permitted my return.” Beatrix smiled at them. “And no one would have believed me. Shadowman was already on the cusp of achieving his plan of robbing people of his power. I had to work quickly to stop him and couldn’t waste time trying to convince you. I had to prove myself.”
“I believe you, Beatrix,” Nicole said, stepping forward.
“Thank you,” Beatrix said.
Starlight narrowed her eyes at Beatrix but then relaxed her stance. “Well . . . if Refraction vouches for you . . .”
“There’s only one thing left for me to do.” Nicole took Beatrix’s hands and returned her mother’s power. “Thank you, Mom, for all you tried to do.”
“You mother was a true Hero.” Starlight put her arm around Nicole’s shoulder.
Nicole smiled up at her.
“Oh, Refraction!” Starlight yanked her into a hug. “I was so worried about you.”
Nicole felt warm liquid drip on her shoulder. Looking up she saw tears streaming down Starlight’s face. “Starlight, are you crying?”
“I can’t help it!” Starlight squeezed Nicole closer. “I had to be strong, but watching you face danger without being able to do anything . . . I’ve never felt so powerless in my life. If something happened to you, I would never forgive myself.”
“I was fine.” Nicole pulled away from Starlight. “After all, I’ve got the best teacher in the world teaching me how to become a Hero.”
“Do you think so?” Starlight studied Nicole’s face.
Nicole nodded. “I love you so much.” She buried her face in Starlight’s shoulder.
“Pumpkin!” John rushed in and threw his arms around her. “You were amazing! Quick thinking—getting Geode’s power. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” Nicole wrapped her arms around him. “I hope now you see you don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’ll still worry . . . but maybe not so much,” John said, and Nicole had to smile.
“All’s well that ends well, they say.” Bee drifted down from above. “According to the security array, ASH is on the island now, rounding up Shadowman’s men. I’m sending them a report and will support their efforts in reaching up here.”
“Before they get here . . .” Beatrix took a deep breath. “There’s one thing left to do.”
“Right.” Bee turned to Nicole. “All I need is another infusion of your power, and I can restore the Heroes’ stolen powers.”
Beatrix held her hands over her heart. “Geode’s final wishes will be accomplished.”
“What will happen to you when it does, Beatrix?” Nicole gripped her hands together. “Will you delete yourself? Or fade away, or . . .”
“It depends on you, Nicole,” Bee said. “You’re our primary user now.”
“My fate is in your hands, and I will submit to it no matter what.” Beatrix bowed her head. “Justice flows both ways. I can’t say I want it if I’m not willing to accept it.”
“I like the idea of you two holding Heroes accountable.” Nicole rubbed her arm. “Checks and balances, you know. But there has to be a way to try accused Heroes in court instead of you two making the decision by yourselves.”
“I agree,” Beatrix said. “That was my mistake. I thought I knew it all, but I knew nothing.”
“We’d have to set up a system to do this—maybe a tribunal or something. Perhaps make it an extension of the criminal justice system.” Starlight rested a hand on Nicole’s shoulder. “I’ll bring it up with the people in the government I know.”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Junior Justice approached, waving his hands. “Beatrix and Bee are both programmed to require an influx of power from Nicole in order to run these programs. Doesn’t it mean she’ll have to be there to take the powers of any Heroes or Villains who are sentenced? I can’t imagine how heart wrenching it would be to be responsible for doing that.”
“Oh, yeah.” Nicole’s stomach churned as she thought about it.
“You’re mistaken, Junior Justice. I don’t need any user input. I need Geode’s power specifically, but she’s no longer with us.” Beatrix lowered her eyes. “I have her power stored in the Sapphire. I can use it to execute the program. No need for any further human input.”
“Nicole has to be there to execute my programming.” Bee smiled. “Which means she’s the one responsible for returning powers. That’s a good thing, right?”
“Still . . . what happens if I can’t be there?” Nicole gazed at the gem her mother gave her. “Or what happens if I die? Or some whacko kidnaps me or something?”
“Wow!” Junior Justice nudged her with his elbow. “Morbid.”
“It’s stuff we have
to think about.” Nicole paused to consider her next words. “Maybe you should take my power too, Beatrix.”
“Refraction, you can’t!” Starlight said.
“What about being a Hero?” Stephanie said.
“I can be a Hero without powers, right?” Nicole smiled up at them. “Mom trained as a firefighter when she lost her powers . . . maybe I can do something similar.”
“Think about what you’re doing, Pumpkin.” John rested his hand on her shoulder. “You’ll never be Refraction again.”
Nicole imagined herself without her powers. No more running around with Starlight; no more chances to ride with Junior Justice; no more thrills when she took down a bad guy. Could she give up this part of herself?
In order keep everyone safe . . .
“It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make,” Nicole said.
“You do realize if you do this, they won’t need any human intervention at all.” Junior Justice looked at Nicole askance. “They’d be able to do what they want.”
“I know, but . . . I trust Bee.”
“I will never betray your trust, Nicole,” Bee smiled at her. “Your protection is my prime directive, and it always will be.”
“Okay. Here we go. I’m ready, Beatrix.” Nicole held out her arms.
“Nicole, you don’t have to worry.” Beatrix placed her hand on Nicole’s neck. “I only need the power you have over waveforms.”
“Which is the only power I have,” Nicole thought, but said nothing out loud.
Beatrix started to glow orange. Warmth tricked out of Nicole and into Beatrix. A wave of dizziness washed over her.
“There.” Beatrix released Nicole. “Bee, I’m passing it to you.”
Beatrix’s glow subsided.
“This felt weird.” Nicole opened and closed her hands.
“Are you okay?” Starlight placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I think so.” Nicole gazed at her hands. “I thought I’d feel empty without my powers like I did before, but it feels sort of slippery—whoa!” She felt a shift, as if the earth had slid an inch to the right.
“Pumpkin?” John turned in a circle.