Author's note:
Thank you to Lillith Langtree and Enemyoffun for their generous help. I am one grateful little girl. Thank you also to Marvel Comics for the creation of some of the wonderful characters used in this story.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. I got up this morning, and had a feeling that I couldn’t explain. Sort of the same feeling that I got when I was about to compete in a full contact kumite. It was a nervous, light feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Hungry, Brian?” my mother asked. “I’m making eggs and sausage, your favorite!”

I grimaced, and my stomach did a little flip. “I’ll pass this morning, mom. Do you have some toast or something? My stomach is a little off today”

She looked concerned and walked over to me. “You’re not coming down with something, are you? You’ve got a big week coming up at school” She felt my forehead, and proclaimed me fever-free.

Rolling my eyes, I gently pulled her hand away. “I’m okay, mom. I just have a little queasy feeling in my stomach. Some milk and toast will take care of it”

Looking at me suspiciously, she turned back to the refrigerator to get me some milk. “If you say so, honey. I guess the finals coming up are making you a little nervous”

Laughing nervously, I replied “That’s got to be it, mom. I know my subjects cold, but I do get nervous”

“Well, let me put a little chocolate in your milk and some cream cheese on a bagel, and you’ll be right as rain in no time”

I wish I felt as confident as I sounded. “Thanks, mom”

The end of the school year was coming up, and finals were a part of the yearly rite of passage that all students go through. I was a good student, with a 3.75 GPA. I was very disciplined in my studies, a side benefit of the 10 years of karate I had taken. I was a third degree black belt, and competed regularly at the state level.

After finishing my breakfast, I went back to my room to gather my backpack and bag for my gi. I smiled, looking at my latest trophy. “Brian Braddock-First Place Michigan Karate Association Kumite” That tournament was just last week, and I had been on my game as never before. Not only did I win the tournament, but I thoroughly dominated the competition. I wasn’t even touched. I could almost see what they were going to do before they did it.

I was just about to walk out of the room, when the headache hit again. Like a knife splitting my skull in two, the pain hit suddenly and drove me to my knees. I was just about to scream, when I heard my mother singing some song from the 80’s. The pain subsided and left completely. The singing faded away.

What the hell was that? I thought. The headaches had come and gone soon after my 16th birthday. They would only last a few seconds, and then go away. When they started, my parents had taken me to the doctor, who could never find anything wrong. He referred me to a neurologist, and after every possible test in the book, couldn’t find anything either. No tumor, no nerve problems, nothing.

This time was the first time I heard anything during an attack. It was weird, almost like I was hearing mom singing through a set of headphones. I shook my head and went downstairs with my stuff.

“Mom? That song you were singing was lame. I’m mean really. ‘Don’t Stop Believin’?

She looked stunned. “I wasn’t singing anything, Brian. I was listening to the song on my ipod, and remembering the first time I heard it. How did you know that?”

It was my turn to think. “Are you sure? I thought for sure I heard you singing that song”

She looked to one side, puzzled. “I don’t know, maybe I did…I guess” She didn’t sound convinced.

Suddenly, she looked at me and then her watch. “Brian! Get going! You’ll be late for school!”

I ran out to my car, a sweet 2008 Prius that was a gift for my 16th birthday. My parents were fairly well off, and the price was right for the car. It was just what I wanted. Something that was good for the planet, and easy on the gas. They may have paid for the car, but I still had to put the fuel in.

I made it to school with plenty of time to spare. I parked my ride, and walked toward the building. Tracy, my girlfriend of three years was waiting for me at the door. She ran up to me and gave me a big hug.

“Hello, sleepyhead!” she chirped. “Have trouble getting out of bed this morning”

Smiling, I replied, “Yeah, Trace. I was dreaming about you all night and didn’t want to wake up!”

Tracy laughed and kissed me on the cheek. “That’s the best reason to be late you could have had, tiger”

“Who’s late? We still have 10 minutes until the bell?” I asked.

Tracy pouted. “You’re late for being early, dork! I need us time in the morning!”

I never understood why she needed us time. I liked being with her, but the female mind was a mystery to me sometimes. The littlest things could send her into rapturous joy or crying like she had lost her best friend. She was an enigma, yes. But she was my enigma.

Giving Tracy another hug, I smiled. This was the kind of girl you never got tired of. I felt so lucky to have her. Drop-dead hot, and eyes for only me. “Walk me to my locker?”

She sighed in mock exasperation “I guess, tiger, if you insist”

We got in a couple of quick kisses before any of the prude patrol noticed us. I made it to my first class, American History. Monday was current events day, and it was a great excuse to talk about all of the new meta-humans that had been popping up. They had cool powers, and I had enough comic book nerd in me to find it truly fascinating. None had shown up in our neck of the woods, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and more broadly the Greater Detroit area.

I was a sponge when it came to reading about them. Jade, the Green Lantern was seriously cool. There was another Green Lantern, I couldn’t remember her name. The YouTube videos of Giganta popping out of her clothes was cool, if 70 foot tall naked women were your thing. I had actually saw the Green Lantern flying over one night. She was way high, but I could see the telltale green glow as she flew over in orbit.

A lot of people thought that the metas were evil, and should be exterminated. I didn’t, but I was glad there were good guys and girls out there to protect us from the bad ones.

There was a news story about a chick in Japan that had caused some destruction using lighting. There weren’t too many details, but the video looked off the charts. We began our almost weekly discussion about the latest Meta events. Mr. Johnson, our teacher asked for opinions.

I raised my hand.

Mr. Johnson called on me. “Mr. Braddock?”

“Well, sir, I can’t help but believe that overall, this has to be a good thing, as long as the new metas obey the law”

Nodding, Mr. Johnson thought. “Class, Brian here has an opinion, which I happen to agree with. But there is the other side of the coin. These metas have, in some cases, tremendous power. What is the old saying, ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely’? What about the people who can’t handle that power”

The entire class was silent. Finally, Herb Kilton, a junior like me, said. “Then you have to put them down, just like a mad dog” There were murmurs of agreement in the class.

Mr. Johnson was nodding; them got up and walked around to the front of his desk. “Ok, it seems like a good idea, on the surface. Let’s dig deeper. Herb, you go home, and your brother has suddenly acquired massive power, say, he was able to disintegrate matter with some kind of beam. Follow me so far?”

The class nodded in agreement.

“Okay, Herb, your brother is good for a week or so, getting used to these powers. Say something traumatic happens. Your family needs money for an operation. A fire burns down your house. Somehow, you need money. Your brother knocks over a bank to get it. He did it for the right reasons, but he just robbed that bank what should be done with him”

Herb didn’t know what to say. But he was thinking. The whole class was.

“I’m not saying that any of this is going to happen. Chances are it won’t. But the people who are blessed, and at the same time cursed with fantastic abilities don’t have a choice what happens to them. They have got to operate with the set of values they have been brought up with. Some will be good, some bad, others will do what is convenient to them. What happens to them? Well, I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision.”

The bell rang, and as usual, Mr. Johnson had given us all something to think about.

I was walking down the hall to my next class when I was pushed from the side by a large figure. Bob Franklin had thought it would be funny to push me into Dee Smith, a wheelchair bound paraplegic who had been born with spina bifida. I tripped over her wheelchair, toppling her out of it. Both of us hit the floor, and our books went everywhere. I hit my head on a locker, and was momentarily dazed. Bob and his bunch of ass kissers started laughing like a pack of hyenas.

Dee was crying and embarrassed. I recovered and apologized.

“Why don’t you look where you’re going Karate Kid? You knocked the gimp out of her chair” said Bob with a sneer.

I ignored the idiots and turned my attention to Dee. “Are you all right, Dee? I’m so sorry, those jerk offs pushed me into you”

“It’s okay, Brian, I saw what happened. Can you help me into my chair?”

“Sure, Dee. What do I do?”

“Just hold the chair still, and I can get into it” she sniffled, and pulled herself into her wheelchair. I felt so bad for her. People were laughing, and it was no laughing matter. She could have been badly hurt. That made me angry.

After helping her, I turned to Bob and got right into his face. “What was that all about, dickweed? Dee could have been hurt”

“Then you should watch where you’re going, asshole”

Bob Franklin was a large athletic moron with more muscles than sense. He was a bully, and was heavier than me by sixty pounds, and had four inches on my five foot ten inch frame. He was going to college at Michigan State in the fall on a football scholarship. He intimidated everyone in the school but me, and he knew it, so he was itching to prove his superiority to me in a fight. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of getting his ass whipped by a little bookworm like me. I could take him, but the backlash from the community for hurting one of their golden boys wouldn’t be worth the satisfaction of breaking his smug face.

“Whatever, you steaming pile of crap. You know what they say, the bigger they are…”

Leaning into me he said, “The harder they hit”

I leaned back, wrinkling my nose in disgust. “Damn, Franklin. Do you gargle with toilet water? Your breath stinks like shit” This comment elicited laughter from the people in the hall. I turned and walked to Dee.

Sensing he was just humiliated the dimwitted jock reached for me. Big mistake, and one that I had been waiting on. As soon as his hand touched my shoulder, I grabbed it from the front, spun around, bent his hand back toward him, and took his feet out from underneath. He went down hard, face first, and I was on his back with his hand twisted behind his back.

Grunting in pain, he was helpless. I leaned down to his ear and whispered “No, jackass, the harder they fall” I gave his arm a little tweak and he groaned in pain. “Remember, loser. I've studied nonstop for ten years learning to take out morons like you, and it’s fun. Don’t ever touch me again, or I’ll finish the job”

The crowd parted as a teacher came up. “All right, break it up!” I got up from Bob and looked to the teacher.

“I know. Office, right?” The teacher nodded.

Dee’s high voice rose above the din. “Wait! Bob started it. He jumped Brian from behind!” Her friends in the hall all agreed with her. “We all saw it!”

Bob’s friends all swore I started it, but the reputation of the ones saying he started it outweighed the lowlifes who defended Bob. I still went to the office, but was confident that I would be on the light end of the punishment scale once the story came out.

“This ain’t over, punk!” bellowed Bob. “We’ll finish this after school”

I smiled at him and shrugged. “It’s your funeral”

We went to the office and by the time everything was sorted out, I got a verbal warning, and Bob would be spending the next two weeks in detention.

The rest of my day went without incident. Tracy had heard about my adventure and was very impressed, although she was worried about the consequences. I felt like one of the metas, taking out the bad guy, even if he was a slightly dense muscle brain.

“How’s Dee?” Tracy asked as we arrived at my locker.

Pulling my pack out of my locker, I replied “She’s okay. A couple of bruises, I guess. I was scared she was hurt worse. Franklin really shoved me into her”

“I hope he rots -- the little prick. Dee’s such a sweet girl. I’m glad I’m a Wolverine fan.” Tracy really didn’t like bullies, and Bob had been after her for a year, trying to get her to break up with me. He didn’t get it. She was more girl than he would ever have unless he changed his ways.

Then a wave of nausea hit me, followed by an explosion in my head. I screamed in pain and collapsed to the floor. My last memory was of Tracy yelling for help, then everything went black.

I slowly regained consciousness in a darkened room. I kept hearing beeps, and as my eyes began to focus, I saw I was in a hospital room. Mom and dad were in there, talking to a man in a white coat that looked like a doctor. I tried to speak, but somehow I couldn’t move my mouth. Wanting to sit up, but finding I couldn’t move. It was like I was completely paralyzed. Hell, I was completely paralyzed. I could blink, but that was it. This was bad.

The man in the white coat came over to me and looked into my face. “It looks like he’s regained consciousness, Mr. And Mrs. Braddock. He shined a light into my eyes, testing for pupil reaction, I guessed.

“Brian, I’m Doctor Bennett, your neurologist. Can you understand me? Move anything you can to communicate. Talk if you can” I blinked.

He continued on quietly “Brian. Blink once for yes and twice for no, okay.” One blink.

Brian, you appear to have had a stroke, or something like a stroke. You’ve been in a coma for two days. We took an MRI and an alphabet soup of other tests and found extensive damage to your cerebral cortex. Do you understand?” One blink. Oh crap!

“I know you are wondering what’s going on. We don’t really know either. But our best guess with all the tests we have done is that somehow, your brain is undergoing some sort of change -- rewiring itself. Your synapses are all messed up. That’s why you can’t move. The best I can tell you is that it’s as if your brain shut down and completely changed its operating system. Like one minute you are a PC, and the next, you’re a Mac.

That I could understand. So I was a Mac now. The corners of my mouth twitched up slightly into a shallow smile. I hated PC’s.

The doctor smiled “That’s good Brian! So you like being a Mac?” He looked at my parents. “This is very good. It appears that the paralysis may not be permanent. We must continue monitoring him for new signs of movement”

Mom and dad hugged each other and came to my side. Dad leaned down “We’re here for you, Brian. We aren’t leaving until you’re a hundred percent again”

I blinked once and tried to crack a little smile. “Would you like to see Tracy?” One blink.

Mom went outside and a couple of minutes later came in with Tracy. She came up to my bed and looked down at me. She didn’t have any makeup on, and her face was blotchy from crying, but she never looked more beautiful to me. “So Tiger, you didn’t think you were going to get rid of me that easy did you?” Two blinks.

She looked at mom. “Two blinks means no, Tracy. He’s still paralyzed. One blink means yes”

She looked down at me and held my hand. I could feel her squeezing my hand; I just couldn’t move my muscles. She was trying so hard not to start crying in front of me. It was difficult for me to. I knew I loved her at that moment. A tear started down my cheek.

Choking back her sobs, Tracy looked at me. “I won’t leave you, Brian. No matter what happens. I love you.” She turned, buried her head into my dad’s shoulder, and sobbed. My parents both had tears streaming down their faces. I did too.

My recovery went slowly at first. I didn’t gain the ability to even move my head for a week. I noticed a difference in how I looked at things. Nothing that I could put into words, but still noticeable. Tracy was watching a show in my room on the hated Lifetime network. It was slightly less irritating. Ok, it was engrossing, about how the cheerleader overcame the hate of her classmates.

Another two weeks went by, and I was able to sit up, and feed myself. I noticed my hair was getting longer, and I kind of liked it, so I wouldn’t let them cut it. I still couldn’t walk, or talk, and either mom or Tracy would wheel me around the hospital to the rec area or physical therapy. She was like a little Florence Nightingale, always around after school to read to me, or just talk about her day. I really enjoyed that. Hearing about what she did, and the people she met and what she had to say was just the coolest thing ever.

“Brian, school will be out Friday for the summer, so we will be able to be together all the time. Won’t that be great!”

I shook my head and smiled. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I was so frustrated. I wanted to tell her I loved her, but the words wouldn’t come. I began to cry silently.

“What’s the matter, Tiger?” I couldn’t respond. I held my arms out to her for a hug, which she returned enthusiastically.

As she hugged me, he hand slipped across my chest. As she crossed my nipple, it felt as if she had hit me with a rake. I winced in pain.

Tracy noticed my discomfort, and backed away. “I’m sorry, honey. Did that hurt? I shook my head yes.” I held my chest and cried silently. It really hurt. “Oh, baby. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you all right?”

I nodded and hugged her to show there were no hard feelings. I knew it was a mistake. It hurt, but hell, I had been through worse. Why was I crying over it?

After another week and a half, I was able to stand and physical therapy was going well. I still couldn’t speak. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever be able to communicate again. I couldn’t even write what I wanted to say, as my fine motor controls weren’t back yet.

My recovery was progressing slowly. I was achy everywhere in my body, especially my hips, ribs and face. I was miserable, and was not able to adequately communicate my suffering. My hair was also growing fast, too fast to be completely natural.

My mother came in one morning and looked at me. She squinted, and her hands flew up to her mouth. She called for the doctor.

A few minutes later, Doctor Bennett came in and looked at me. He looked at me and looked puzzled, rubbing his chin. “Brian, are you in any pain?” I nodded yes, enthusiastically. He asked for a mirror for me to look at. What I saw was shocking. My face had changed. It was no longer mine. In its place was a girl’s face. I looked like someone who could have been Brian’s sister.

Holding my hand to my face, I touched it to make sure it was mine. I had shoulder-length black hair, a heart-shaped face, and long eyelashes. My irises were a strange color of violet now, almost pink. I had a slightly almond shape to my eyes, as if I had some Asian descent.

“Brian, I’d like to examine you if I could. Would you like your mother to stay? I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to see me right now. I gave her an “I’m sorry” look as I shook my head”

She looked somewhat disappointed “That’s ok Brian, I understand. If you need me, I’ll be right outside”

“Ok, Brian, I’m going to turn down your bed. I’m going to do a physical exam first.” He proceeded to poke and prod me everywhere. He pulled up my hospital gown and said, “Hmmm. Brian, have you noticed anything different about your penis?”

I blushed and nodded yes. It had been getting smaller since the accident. It was originally about five inches soft, and now was no bigger than it had been when I was ten. I just attributed it to inactivity. I hadn’t had a reaction to anything since my stroke, or whatever it was, and it just wasn’t at the top of my mind. Doctor Bennett proceeded to feel my hip and waist area, and then looked at my chest. My nipples, and the area around them were quite swollen and tender. I mean they were very swollen about the size of half of an avocado. I wondered if I was getting some sort of infection.

“Does your chest hurt, Brian?”

I nodded yes and gave the more or less signal with my hand.

“Brian, I’m going to do more blood work on you, okay? Go ahead and get your gown arranged.”

My mom came back in, and asked the doctor if everything was okay. He scratched his head and looked at her. “I honestly don’t know, Mrs. Braddock. Brian’s body is undergoing some changes, as you can clearly see by his face. These changes appear to be affecting his skeletal structure. I’m ordering some blood work now.

The nurse came in to jab me for the thousandth time. She was having a hard time getting a vein. She jabbed once too often in the same place and grazed a nerve. I flinched in pain and a pinkish spark shot out of my hand and hit the nurse. She winced and cried “Ouch! That was some static shock, Brian!” I didn’t feel a thing, but did get a brief instant of hearing her say shit loudly, but I heard it the same time she said ouch. What was up with that?

I had progressed enough to receive more visitors. I had a few, beginning with the sensei from my karate dojo was among the first to visit. He happened to catch me when neither Mom, Dad nor Tracy was in the room.

He came into the room and looked at me, got an embarrassed look on his face, stopped and bowed politely. “I’m sorry, Miss. I was looking for someone and I must have gotten the wrong room. I’m looking for room 625”

I nodded my head and motioned for him to come closer. Sensei Ozawa seemed perplexed. “What do you need, miss? Do you need a nurse?”

I shook my head and reached for him. I was beginning to feel like Lassie trying to tell someone that little Timmy was in the well. He came close enough for me to grab hold of his hand. I held up one finger to get him to wait. I had a dry erase board by my bedside. I still wasn’t very good at writing, but I tried to get something he would understand.

With a shaky script, I managed to write I am Brian. Sensei Ozawa looked at me closely then shook his head. “This is not possible! What is going on here, a joke?”

I shook my head no and held my finger up again. I wrote, No joke. I am Brian I erased the board and restarted. I was getting a little better at writing. Had lots of problems. Doc doesn’t know what is wrong.

He read the board and shook his head. “So you can’t speak yet?” I shook my head no.

Studying me carefully, he suddenly brightened up. “I see a resemblance now, but you had changed quite a bit from the last time I saw you”

I smiled at him. I erased the board and wrote, I know, sensei. My face is different.

“I’ll say, Brian. I don’t know what to say. Get better”

I scribbled again. Thank you. I can’t wait to come back. Missed the dojo.

It was Sensei Ozawa’s turn to smile. “I have missed you too, Brian. The other students have too. You have overcome a lot to be where you are. I have talked to your family quite often during your illness”

I nodded. I scribbled again. I’ll come back as soon as they let me go!

Some of my friends wanted to come to see me also, but I didn’t want to see anyone until I knew how to handle my change. I didn’t want to explain myself on the dry erase board any more than I had to. The thought of my old guy friends ogling me was a little too much to handle right now.

About a week after my tests, Doctor Bennett came into the room with my mom and dad. He had a serious look on his face. Tracy was with me, as usual. Doctor Bennett looked at Tracy and said “Will you excuse us for a minute” Tracy looked at me and got up, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to me as hard as I could, which wasn’t very hard. I shook my head no, and held on to her.

“It’s okay, Doc,” said my dad. “Tracy is a part of the family. Anything you have to say, she can hear.”

Doctor Bennett sighed “All right, but what I have to say will be difficult to hear.”

My mom spoke up. “Out with it Doctor. We need to know”

“I’ve been running several tests over last few weeks. Medically speaking, Brian is recovering. The brain damage is healing itself nicely, although there is no medical precedent for this. I’ve also been running blood chemistry and DNA work. I’ve come to the conclusion that Brian here is a Meta. The unexplained brain repair and rewiring, the recovery, all are unmistakable signs. The DNA testing confirms the presence of an abnormal gene in Brian’s sequence. I have made some calls regarding Brian’s condition, and you will be contacted by someone.

Mom and Dad looked at each other and gasped. Mom reached over to dad and grasped his hand. They looked at the doctor to continue. Tracy just held me. Crap! I was getting smaller.

“There are other changes too, and these are possibly more significant. Blood chemistry testing indicates that Testosterone levels are nearly nonexistent at this point, and that blood chemistry is identical to a pubescent girl”

My jaw dropped. A pubescent girl? That’s not possible, right?

Tracy looked at me and held me close. “I’ll be with you forever, Brian. Remember that. We’ll work this out” I was so grateful for her hugs. I needed her to hold me. I leaned in to her. We were now about the same size.

“DNA testing indicates that Brian’s genetic structure is changing. He is mostly a genetic female now. Probably along the lines of eighty-five to ninety percent. I haven’t told you anything until now, because I wanted to be absolutely sure. We need to do another MRI to gauge any internal changes. I’m sorry to spring this on you, but I just made my findings official today”

Mom and Dad were stunned. I looked at Tracy with tears running down my face. What would I do now? What could I do? I fell into Tracy’s arms and cried silently. Would I lose the girl I loved to some stupid genetic mistake?

Tracy stroked my hair and held me. “It’s all right Brian, I still love you. This changes nothing”

I broke her hug, and looked her in the eyes. She had the most beautiful blue eyes. I opened my mouth. “i…..i…i….s…s…sorry” in a quiet whisper. “l..l..love……y…you”

Tracy dissolved into tears at this. I could sort of speak again, I knew she was hurting. I was too. Mom and Dad were with us. We would deal with this. Together.

The MRI indicated that I had female organs developing inside me. My male parts were slowly atrophying. Breasts had begun to develop, as was the female shape. My bone structure was changing. My face had changed. I had lost some height. All of these changes were strangely without anxiety. I found myself looking forward to them.

Over the next couple of months, I developed into quite the hot chick. Three weeks after my diagnosis, my penis disappeared and the next three days found me with the necessary internal plumbing. I looked at myself in the mirror every day to monitor the changes. When I regained my voice, it wasn’t the voice I had before my illness. It was a lower soprano, and very pleasant. I was five feet, six inches tall, and the tale of the tape was 34C-23-34. I was as hot as my girlfriend. Brian no longer fit me, and we all settled on calling me by the name I would have had been called had I been born a girl, Elizabeth Christine. I didn’t like Liz, Beth or the full name, so I chose to go by Betsy. I thought it was cute.

According to the doctors, my brain had been rewired. Okay, I could deal with that. I found that my reactions to certain things were just not the same as they had been as my old male self. Other things were identical. Like when I watched the Tigers on television, I found that I noticed the physical attributes of the players. For example, in one game, I noticed the opposing pitcher, Matt something. I thought he was cute. The pitcher was cute. I actually thought he was cute. I still liked sports, and karate, but from a different perspective. I was focused now more on relationships, and less on surface acquaintances. I loved to have long talks with Tracy. I really connected with her like I never had in the past. I wanted to know her, inside and out.

Mom and Tracy took measurements and did a little shopping for me. My wardrobe when they got back was a couple of pairs of jeans, four tops, panties and a couple of bras. I liked them all. For some reason, I was partial to girly stuff, so the couple of pink tees didn’t bother me at all. I was handling the transition well. The rewiring of the brain had also made me indistinguishable from a normal girl’s brain. Aside from the fact that I had highly erratic and off the charts synaptic activity, It seemed the process of destroying and rebuilding my brain took care of some of the shock of the transition so I didn’t suffer through the being a boy in a girl’s body thing.

Tracy and I had been avoiding the obvious change in the nature of our relationship. She had been so wonderful through it all, that I couldn’t bear the thought of her not being there. “Tracy, you’ve stuck with me through this whole ordeal. School is almost ready to start again, and yet here you are, hanging out with your lame girlfriend. You can’t be with me now, Tracy, for obvious reasons”

“Listen, Missy. I haven’t stood by you for all these months day after day to leave now. I told you I would stay by your side forever, and I meant it”

I sighed. “But I’m a girl now, Trace, in case you haven’t noticed!”

She got the strangest smile on her face “Oh, I’ve noticed, Betsy. I just don’t care. Let me show you” She then proceeded to give me the most achingly toe curling kiss I had ever experienced. I started having thoughts and feelings I had never experienced. My tummy did flip flops in a very good way. I felt warm between my legs. She pulled back and I just stood there, looking down at the floor, my face as red as the proverbial beet.

I collected my thoughts, twirling my hair in my fingers. I was suddenly very hot. “Oh, My, God. Tracy, you kissed me”

“What was it that Katy Perry said? I kissed a girl and I liked it?”

“That was so hot! I had forgotten what it was like to kiss you! So you mean you don’t mind that I’m, like” I gestured down at my body “This?”

“I’m in love with the person in that body, not the body. Although the body is cute! Look, Betsy, I need to tell you something. I guess I never have been locked in to one sex or the other. I dated you because you were so great to me. I could see that your spirit was completely like mine. The last couple of months have just confirmed that feeling.

“Well, Trace, the government still isn’t done with me. I don’t know what other changes are coming, or what that means”

She smiled. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it”

I had a visitor in early August that I hadn’t met before. He was a no nonsense looking man, with a buzz cut and a military bearing. He came to the door of my room and walked over to me. Since my change, I was a little skittish. I shrank back in my bed a little.

“Hello, Betsy. I’m Agent Harold Morgan from Homeland Security. Can we talk for a few minutes?”

He seemed friendly enough. Why do people always come when no one is here with me? “Okaay. What does Homeland Security want with me? Did I do something wrong?” I asked quietly.

He gave me an easy smile and shook his head. “No, Betsy, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that you’ve had some very unusual things happen to you in the last few months that have made you rather…special. As you know, some people with remarkable abilities have popped up in the last few months, and some of them aren’t too nice. They want to hurt people and just be general pains in the butt. Part of what I do is look for these individuals as early as I can find them and just talk to them, to see how the change has affected them”

“And I’m one of those people?”

He nodded. “Yes you are. Although I don’t think you are one of the bad ones.” He pulled out a note pad. “Have you noticed any changes?”

I looked at him like he was insane and gestured to my body. “Uhhh, yes!”

Agent Morgan laughed. “I mean other than the obvious. Have you noticed any unusual abilities? Please, Betsy be truthful, I do want to help, believe it or not.”

I decided to be truthful. What did I have to lose? “Well, I think I can sort of read people’s minds. It comes and goes. Like right now I have no idea what is going on in your head. I don’t think I can do anything else right now, but what I can do seems to be getting better with time”

Agent Morgan was nodding and writing in his pad. “Very good, Betsy, thank you. I need to report my findings to my superiors at the agency.”

I was sitting on the hospital bed with my knees to my chest. “I’m not going to be sent away, am I?” I was wondering at that point if honesty had been the best policy.

Agent Morgan shook his head. “This is America, Betsy. We don’t do things like that to people who follow the law. You’ve got nothing to worry about from us.”

“I’m glad she’s one of the good ones” I heard his thoughts. I tried not to give myself away, and he didn’t appear to notice. I guess he was telling the truth.

Later that day, Mom and Dad came in and asked if the agent had come to see me.

My jaw dropped. “You knew he was coming to see me?”

“Of course, honey,” said Mom. “He told us he wanted to see you and what he wanted”

Rolling my eyes, I exclaimed, “Thanks for telling me! I thought he was going to take me away or something!” I flopped down in a chair and crossed my arms in a pout. When did I start doing that?

“Oh, don’t be a drama queen, Betsy. He was a very nice, and he said he needed to find out a little about you. He didn’t do anything did he?”

“No. But still…”

“But nothing, young lady. He was harmless” chided my mother.

Shortly before my release date, Agent Morgan asked if he could talk to Mom, Dad and me. We sat down in my room.

Betsy, Mr. and Mrs. Braddock, I wanted to thank you for being so open with us. You’d be surprised at the people who aren’t so forthcoming.” He paused, looking at his watch. “I’d like to propose something to you. It’s purely voluntary, and you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”

My dad looked at Agent Morgan suspiciously. “What do you want?”

“Well sir, we’d like Betsy to stay at a facility in Detroit where she can be monitored for further changes. Her contribution to our understanding of this phenomenon will be invaluable. Her time at the facility will be for approximately two weeks, unless major changes happen. This will enable her to adjust and perhaps learn to use what she has been given”

I sighed visibly. The last thing I wanted was to spend more time away from home. I was still a wreck emotionally, from what the doctors said, it was due to the hormones, which were still way high. I just wanted to go home”

Perhaps sensing my reluctance, Agent Morgan added “There is a ten thousand dollar bonus at the end of the time as our way of thanking you. Tax free of course”

That was a horse of another color! I could do some serious damage at a store with that kind of money. I looked at Mom and Dad, jaw agape. “Ten thousand? Dollars?”

“What do you think, honey? Are you up for it?”

“Oh yeah, Mom. I so am!”

So, I had been living in a monitored living arrangement since my discharge from the hospital in mid August. The Homeland Security agent, Harold, said that if I didn’t manifest any symptoms of powers in the next week, I would be released to go home. I had undergone one of the more unusual and gradual changes of any Meta so far according to him. I had no idea if it was the truth or not.

Tracy got to visit whenever she wanted to, as did mom and dad. Tracy and I couldn’t really do to each other what we wanted to do, although I'd bet the men watching would have liked to videotape that.

On August 31st I began to notice a change. I could pick up people talking when no one was around. It was strange, it seemed like they were talking to themselves, making rude comments about this girl they were looking at. Then I realized. I was reading the thoughts of the people watching ME. Ewwwww. Some dirty old man was wondering if I shaved my….GROSS!

I had enough of this. “Uhhhhhhh, hello to whoever is watching me. I think my powers, or whatever are starting to come in, because I can read every dirty thought you are having about me! And all I can say is…I’m sixteen years old, you pervs!

Five minutes later, Harold had come to the room. I heard him thinking before he got to the door. He knocked.

“Come in Harold. I said. I had on a pair of yoga pants and a sports bra. I guess that was good enough for him. He looked at me and thought. This is wrong for a girl this young to look that good. I have daughters older than her. Don’t look Harold, Don’t look!

I thought his avoidance was cute. He wasn’t creepy, just old. I decided to let him off the hook. “Let me put something more on, I’m kind of chilly” Harold acted all cool, but his thoughts betrayed him. Thank God he sighed mentally.

While I put on a tee shirt, Harold briefed me “Betsy, we have a man coming from Homeland Security who specializes in new metas. His name is Special Agent King Faraday, and he handles contacts with most new metas.

That peaked my curiosity “Good. I’d love to meet him. I’m looking forward to doing what I can do to help. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be a good girl”

“That’s what I was hoping to hear” came a voice from behind me. I jumped and squeaked. I hadn’t heard him come in. “Special Agent King Faraday, Miss Braddock. Pleased to meet you”

“You too, sir” I replied. “Please call me Betsy”

Agent Faraday sat down “Okay, Betsy. Please, sit. Let’s talk for a bit. I know you’ve been briefed on me, and I know a little bit about you. So, you can read minds?”

I looked down, a little embarrassed. “Yes sir, but I believe there is more. I don’t know what it is yet, but my powers seem to be coming on gradually, and I seem to know how to control them as they come on”

Agent Faraday leaned forward in his chair “Interesting. Very interesting. So, are you afraid of me?”

I looked back down, embarrassed “Yes sir, a little”

“Why?”

“Because I’m afraid you will take me away from my mom and dad, and I’ll never see Tracy again” A tear trickled down my cheek.

Agent Faraday smiled “Can you read my thoughts, Betsy?”

I concentrated and his mind came into view. I sensed a man of honor, who loved his country. He wouldn’t hurt me unless I went rogue, whatever that meant.

I responded shyly “Yes sir, I can”

“Then you know as long as you follow the law, you have nothing to fear from me, Right?”

“Yes sir. I’m a little goofy with all the changes I’ve gone through the last few months, and I guess I feel a little vulnerable” I bit my lip, trying to keep from crying.

“Still dealing with the changes, aren’t you. The doctors said your hormone levels haven’t stabilized yet” he paused. “Betsy, you are one of the good ones. I can tell that right away.
I think you can go home now and adjust to your new self." he paused and leaned forward. "I understand you are quite the karate expert. Resume your training. Train your mind and body. Just keep us informed of any new abilities that manifest themselves. I know you want to help. Keep working, and we’ll be watching, Betsy”

“I will sir. Thank you”

Agent Faraday got up, excused himself and left. He would normally have gotten her paperwork expedited and given her a small stipend to get her new life going. That was already done by her parents. That was a good thing for his budget.

“Agent Morgan? Harold approached Agent Faraday. “Good job here. Betsy will be an asset in the future. She’s low risk. Minimal surveillance, monitor the email. Let the girl grow up a bit. She’s still a kid”

“Roger that sir, will do” replied Agent Morgan.

I went to bed right after Agent Faraday left. I was exhausted and felt like a ten ton weight had been taken off my shoulders. I could finally go home.

Mom and dad picked me up the next morning. I was never so happy to get out of a place in my life. I hadn’t been back to the house in months. Dad had me close my eyes before we walked in.

As I walked through the door, I could feel the thoughts of everyone there. I knew the house was packed for a surprise homecoming before I opened my eyes. I did my best to act surprised as the twenty or so people they invited yelled “Surprise!”

My parents had invited our closest friends, a few of my better friends from school and karate. My grandparents were all dead, so at least I wouldn’t have to explain myself to them. Everyone gathered around me to congratulate me on my homecoming. They had all been briefed on my change, and no one was unduly rude, with or without meaning to be.

Tommy Davis, probably the best friend I had since grade school stepped up to me and said. ‘Whoa, dude. Why didn’t you let me come see you in the hospital? I was worried sick!”

“I got all your letters and cards, Tommy. I just wasn’t ready for a lot of visitors there. The changes I went through were pretty radical”

He looked me up and down. “I guess so, dude” He shook his head and whistled. “How does it feel to be playing for the other team now, Brian?”

“It’s Betsy now, and I really don’t notice the difference. It just seems natural to me I guess. I can’t explain it, but I really don’t mind being who I am” I could see he was still checking me out. “I suppose I sound a little wacked, don’t I”
“Bri…I mean Betsy, there are worse things that could happen to you. Believe me”

“And stop looking at me like we used to look at the girls before all this happened. I am never going to be on your menu, Tommy”

That brought a laugh from Tommy. “C’mon, Betsy, I know that, but I gotta tell you. You are one smokin’ chick!”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, I guess”

Tracy held my arm and whispered in my ear. Get used to it, girlfriend. You are now officially eye candy” then she laughed out loud. “Welcome to my world!”

I greeted all the guests, including Sensei Ozawa. He invited me to come back to the dojo. Looking me up and down, he said, “You need to get back soon. I have to retrain you. Center of gravity is much different than it was! Strength is different too. You are going to have lots of fun relearning how to apply what you know”

“I hadn’t though about it, but you’re right, sensei. I won’t be able to do what I did before”

“Different, this is true. But I’ll bet you are twice as flexible as you were. This will be fun for you. I’ll see you next Monday, okay”

“I’ll be there!” I was glad he didn’t treat me any differently. I tried to read his mind, but I got nothing from him. Maybe I need more practice.

People were remarkably nice to me, and didn’t really make me feel too differently. They all accepted me for what I was. But these were our friends. What would school be like? Senior year was going to be fun. Hey, I might even try out for cheerleading.

That night, I was getting ready for bed. Mom and dad totally redid my room to be more appropriate for my new gender. I had a big closet, a cool new dresser and vanity, and all the makeup a girl could ever want. I had practiced nonstop since I was well enough to move my hands without shaking, and was getting really good at putting it on. I loved the way it made me look. I was pretty enough without it, I guess, but when I put it on right? Wow!

I discovered I liked sleeping in just panties and a t shirt. It was more comfortable than the nightgowns mom had wanted me to try. They always ended up around my boobs or higher, I was always cold and couldn't get comfortable. Baby dolls were no better, although I did have a nice silk chemise that I liked. How the times have changed. Four months ago, I didn’t know what a chemise was!

I turned the lights off and sat at my vanity. I looked in the mirror and concentrated on using my power. I focused on my hands since they had sparked in the hospital. At first, there was nothing. Then, a violet glow started to radiate from my hands. I focused harder, and the glow sharpened its focus, until the glow tapered out to a point about 6 inches from the end of my fingers. They almost reminded me of, I don’t know--knives or something. I looked in the mirror, and I saw something that made me gasp. A pair of what looked like butterfly wings radiated from around my eyes. I released my concentration, and the glow faded as did the wings. Now that was way weird, I thought.

I couldn’t just let this go. Concentrating again, I made the glow reappear. This was cool! What else could I do? I made the glow around my hands go away. Closing my eyes, I focused on Tracy. I became aware of her. A sense of her presence, if that’s the right word. I knew exactly where she was. She was watching television at home, thinking about me! Hee hee! She’s so cute! Thinking about me.

I projected my thoughts out further. I was picking up thoughts from further and further away. Some things I didn’t really want to know, other thoughts interesting. I could sense who the people were, but I didn’t know them. One at a time, thoughts from as far away as France. I sensed President Obama, working on a speech. He’s grateful to Booster Gold? Ohhhh, the girl who saved his life. I remember.

I picked up on the thoughts of several Metas. This was sooo cool! It was like listening to a scanner. How far could I reach? I concentrated as hard as I could. I was getting further and further away.

Then, I touched something I shouldn’t have. I found a mind, someone who knew I was there. I saw a grinning, hideous face looking at me. A name came to my mind–Amahl. A clawed hand reached toward me. The face, almost a skull began to speak in a deep, cold voice. “What are YOU doing here, child? This is MY REALM! I am the Shadow King and I do not suffer trespassers! LEAVE!"

As he reached for me, I screamed and suddenly I was back in my room, panting in fear. “Oh, god. What was that thing?" I said to no one. I was drenched in sweat and lying on the floor. How did I end up on the floor?

Looking at the clock, I found that three hours had passed. I needed to get some sleep. I changed my nightshirt and underwear and crawled to bed. I was exhausted from my mental exercises. In spite of the shock my confrontation with Shadow King had induced, sleep claimed me almost instantly.

To be continued

Chapter Two

Thank you to Lillith Langtree for creating this universe, and Marvel Comics for creating this character.

Bouncing around the globe mentally must have really taken it out of me. I slept until noon that day. I lay in bed, thinking about the events of last night. I must have been dreaming about that creepy Shadow King. There’s no one–I mean no one, who has a grill like that.

There was a light knock on my bedroom door. It was my mother “Betsy? Honey, are you up yet?”

“Yes, Mom. Come in.”

“She opened the door and walked in. “How are you feeling, dear? Okay? You slept in a long time this morning”

Yawning, I answered her “I’m just tired, Mom. I had a hard time getting to sleep last night. I must have been over tired or something.”

“Well, I guess I can understand that, considering what you’ve been through. You know, this Tuesday is your first day back at school. Are you sure you are ready to go back?”

I sighed. “Physically, yes, I guess. Mentally, I’m not so sure. I mean, my change isn’t exactly a big secret anymore. I haven’t been outed as a meta yet, and I don’t intend to be. I just wonder why the media hasn’t picked up on the story yet. I mean, it isn’t every day that your average boy next door comes back to school as the girl next door.”

Mom reached over to give me a hug. “I know, Betsy. I wish I could do this for you, but I have a feeling you’ll be just fine.” She got up from my bed and turned around. “Oh, your Sensei called and said he expects you at the dojo after school on Tuesday.”

“He did? He does?” I was excited to finally get back into my old routine, or as close as it could get to my old routine. My cell phone rang. It was Tracy.

“Hello, Trace! How are you doing this fine morning? Still thinking about your number one lover girl?”

She giggled. “Why, Betsy! How did you know that? Have you been sneaking around in my brain?”

“Sort of,” I said with a smile “Why don’t you come over and we can talk about it. I need to go potty and shower so I can be ready when you get here. Okay?”

“I guess so. Geez, you women can be so high maintenance!”

It was my turn to giggle. “Well, I did learn from the best!”

I heard Tracy sigh into the phone. “Ok, girl, I give up. But you had better be worth the trip.”

I giggled again “Okay, mistress! I’ll be all pretty for you when you arrive. Bye.”

I stood there a moment, looking at the phone. Tracy had been so patient with me through the recovery period I went through. She taught me the fine art of makeup and hair care and the finer points of being a girl that I had no clue about. Things like which clothes to wear for what season, what colors went together with my coloring. What makeup goes with purple eyes?

I took care of my potty business–why did I start calling it the potty?–and got into the shower. We were scheduled to go to the salon today for a day of pampering, she said. I really didn’t know what she was talking about She said not to worry about makeup or hair this morning. I didn’t know how I was going to be beautiful for her if I didn’t put on makeup, so I just used my special shower gel. It smelled like vanilla–I loved the smell of vanilla–Tracy said it made her hungry for me.

I finished my shower and put my hair up in a turban. I wore a simple white bra and panties. I wasn’t sure what I was going to wear over my undies. I ended up choosing a pair of jeans and a white tee with white sandals.

I was just putting the finishing touches on my outfit when Tracy came into the room. I spun around and ran over to her and gave her a big kiss on the lips. “Hello, babe! So glad you could make it.” I stepped back and did my best models pose. “So do I pass inspection?

“Well, I guess you’ll do” she giggled. “C’mon, let’s go!”

“Hey! I haven’t eaten yet, Speedy. I just got up forty five minutes ago!”

“What? How many times have I told you the days of sleeping in are over! You can’t just roll out of bed and stumble into a tee shirt and pair of pants anymore. There are steps you have to take to get ready.”

“She said to the girl in the tee shirt and pair of pants. Besides, I need my sleep.”

She looked at me in mock disgust. “Okay, sissy girl, if you have to have your beauty sleep.”

We walked downstairs. Mom had a light breakfast of yogurt and grapes waiting for me.

“Thanks, Mom. This is just what I needed”

Mom shook her head and looked at Tracy. “Before all of this happened, I couldn’t keep enough food in the house. Now, she barely eats at all.”

I looked at Mom incredulously “Hey, I eat plenty, Mom. I just don’t want to get fat”

Mom rolled her eyes and said “Not a girl for four months, and already has an eating disorder”

Tracy giggled. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t throw up on the way to the spa”

“Tracy! I have never done that! At least around you!” We all laughed at that one.

I finished eating and Tracy and I got into my Prius. We drove to Sarah’s, a spa and salon that catered to upscale clientele. I wouldn’t normally go here, but hey, I had to something with the ten thousand dollars Uncle Sam gave me.

The girl at the counter introduced herself. “Hi! I’m Cara, how can I help you today?”

“I’m Betsy Braddock and this is Tracy Moore, and we have hair, makeover and a massage scheduled.”

“And a waxing.” added Tracy.

She looked in her appointment book “Okay, Miss Braddock. She looked up the pricing, that will be four hundred forty five dollars.”

“For both of us?” I asked.

“No, for each of you. Will that be a problem?”

“No, it won’t. I just wanted to make sure I had it right.” I opened my purse and gave her my debit card.

She ran the card and looked a little surprised that it cleared. I wasn’t surprised. After all, there was over eleven thousand dollars in my account.

We went in, and were met by a striking redhead. “My name’s Ava and I’ll be your esthetician for today. Are you ready?” I looked at Tracy, as I expected her to say something, since she requested it.

“Yes. We’ll have the full Brazilian, and my Sasquatch girlfriend here will have the whole nine yards, including the Brazilian.”

I’m sure I looked a lot like Barney Fife on The old Andy Griffith show. My eyes bugged out and I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t think my body hair was that bad.

“Okay, girls. I’ll need you to take your clothes off and put on these robes.” I walked like a zombie to the dressing room a full waxing? What did that entail? A Brazilian? I didn’t like the sound of that.

We got undressed and went into the room. Tracy smiled evilly at me and said “You first, beautiful.”

Ava looked at me and said “Take your robe off, and hop up onto the table, sweetie, and we’ll get started.” Tracy gave me a couple of Tylenol and said, “Here, you’ll want to take these.”

I took the Tylenol and Ava got started on the longest hour of my life. She started on my legs and then worked her way to my underarms, then my eyebrows. She formed them into slight arches that I had to admit really set off my face. Then she asked me to lie down.

“What’s next? I asked innocently.”

“Your Brazilian wax.”

I suddenly realized what she was talking about. Tracy knew what was coming next and whispered in my ear. “No girl of mine is going to walk around like a hairy ape. Your little patch looks like a jungle that I refuse to get lost in”

I looked at her with panic in my eyes. “I’ll hold your hand the whole time you big baby”

Ava was remarkably gentle, until the first pull. I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was all I could do not to scream. Ava worked me over, and moved me into so many men’s magazine poses to get every follicle that I was sure my bottom was a disaster area. She finished me off with an oil rubdown which did help the sting. I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a little girl. I didn’t have one speck of hair on my body. Putting my robe back on, I turned to Tracy who was preparing to be tortured herself. She didn’t act one bit scared, and was talking to Ava like nothing was wrong.

I watched the process repeated on Tracy, who didn’t flinch once as her light hair was pulled out by the roots. She looked at me and smiled. The first time is the worst, Betsy. It gets easier with time, and you’ll love the way your bikini looks on you.

Bikini? I didn’t know if I was ready for that. It was one thing to be with the other girls, but to have all of those male eyes looking at me? That was another thing altogether. “But I don’t have a bikini, Trace.”

“Not yet, darling. Not yet” she replied with her best mischievous smile.

When Tracy was finished, we went to our massage. It was just the thing after the torment of the waxing. I never appreciated what women did to look pretty for the world. It wasn’t easy to be a woman, that much I knew for sure. The Masseuses really worked us over, and by the time they were done, I was putty in their hands.

When we were finished with the massage, we had a bottle of water and headed to the salon for our hair appointments. My black hair was long, straight and to the middle of my back. I normally wore it parted down the middle, but the stylist, Marie, worked some body into the top and parted it to the right side and swept it across my face. My new ‘do was totally hot. I looked two years older. My boobs had leveled off at a small D–thank God–and my hips and waist had pretty much stayed the same. I hated to call myself hot, but I was hot.

Tracy was finished, and her blonde hair was done in her usual full bodied straight style. Her hair was also about as long as mine and she was absolutely beautiful. I wanted to kiss her right there, but I held myself back, as I didn’t want to cause a scene. I concentrated on listening to Tracy. My hair looks great! Sarah’s is the best place to go for hair. I filtered out some of the mental humming, as she couldn’t carry a tune in her head, either. I then caught Tracy looking at me through the corner of my eye. Betsy looks sooo good. I have GOT to get her alone soon!

That thought surprised me, and got my motor running too. She was getting horny looking at me. I looked at her and smiled. She looked at me and blushed. She knew she had been read. She then got a strange look on her face and shook her head. I think I was in trouble.

We were getting ready to leave, and I noticed something was off. Two men walked in to the building wearing hoodies. This was unusual, as men were generally not guests on the spa. They brushed by me without as much as a hello. I reached out to one of them mentally.

This is going to be easy. A bunch of stupid women and a lot of money. Well, here goes nothin’

In a flash, both of them pulled pistols and yelled “Nobody move! Get down! Down on the damn floor, bitches.” He pointed his weapon at the girl at the counter. “Lock the doors!”

There were a lot of women screaming at this point, and I’m not too proud to admit I was one of them. I didn’t know what to do. I looked at Tracy who pointed at her head. I focused on her. Hey, girl. You’re the one with the mind powers. Can you do anything besides trespass on my mind? Get them!

Oh, yeah. Silly me. What could I do? I focused on the mouthy one. There is a lot of fine pussy in this place. We’ll be taking more than their money before this is done. He looked at Tracy and me and smiled, showing yellow teeth.

Oh, hell no. This creep is not going to be humping on me or my girlfriend. Maybe I could scare him for a change. Focusing my mind on his, I projected instead of reading. Get the hell out of here you dirtbags! Dirtbag number one stopped smiling and suddenly looked nervously around.

Dirtbag number two looked to his pal and said, “What’s the problem G-Mo?”

“You didn’t hear that? Who the hell said that?” He swung his pistol around wildly, causing more screams. I had to stop this now.

Focusing harder, I projected. LEAVE NOW! With all I had. Dirtbag number one collapsed to the floor holding his head, screaming, them fell over. Number two looked around, panicked, unlocked the door and bolted.

Tracy was already on her phone dialing 911 and I went over to the would-be thief. He was out like a light. I took his pistol gingerly and threw it away from him. One of the ladies picked it up and pointed it at him. This unnerved me as I was close to the person she was pointing the gun at. “Hey! Easy with that thing! I don’t want to get shot.”

She assured me she knew what she was doing, but I got the heck out of the way just the same. I heard the wail of sirens and a couple of minutes later the police came into the spa. The robber was still out and the customers were getting over their panic. There were about fifteen crying women that they had to deal with. Okay, one of them was me. Tracy was one of the few who were calm. She was holding me while I cried the tension out. Damn hormones. I hated being a crybaby.

Interviews with the police followed for about the next hour as the ambulance came and went, taking the still comatose idiot away. We told our story, and they let us go. I was still a little shaky and asked Tracy to drive me home.

“What did you do back there, Betsy?” she asked. I was slumped in the front passenger side, leaning my head against the window.

I replied sullenly, “I don’t know, Trace. I just kind of shouted into his mind, or at least that’s what it felt like, and he dropped”

“Well, that’s interesting, almost as interesting as you reading my mind when I didn’t ask you to. If you weren’t so upset, I’d really lay into you, Betsy”

“I know, I know, Trace. Sometimes I can’t control what I hear.”

“Well control it with me, okay? I was quite embarrassed when you found out what I wanted to do with you.”

“Forgive me?” I pouted.

“Yes, I forgive you” she replied. “Just please control yourself around me and your mom and dad. Sometimes you don’t want to hear what we are thinking, and it’s very impolite.”

I looked at her and gave her my best sad puppy face. “I’m really sorry, Tracy.”

Rolling her eyes, she punched me in the arm. "That doesn’t work on me, you boob. You should know that already”

Half a world away, in Cairo, Egypt, a man was looking out at the vista his money had bought him. His name was Amahl Farouk. A leader of the Egyptian underground crime syndicate, he was worth millions. He was a large man, with a rather unique face. He had a large mouth with large white teeth. This feature was intimidating to his rivals, who thought he looked as if he could eat them.

Taking a sip of the Irish single-malt he had poured himself, He considered the contact he had with the child. She wasn’t in contact long enough for him to find out her identity, but he sensed power in her. He drained the glass, and continued his reverie. She was invading his realm, and he couldn’t have that. She would have to be found, and eliminated. The Astral Plane was his. He and his minions controlled that universe, and he would tolerate no intrusions into his solitude. But how could he find this child…

He allowed the psionic disguise he created for himself to fade away. He grew in stature to approximately eight feet. His skin turned an iridescent black, like a blackbird’s feather. His eyes were glowing yellow orbs, and his mouth, if you could call it that was a lipless chasm of razor sharp teeth, forming a permanent grin. He laughed, a humorless cackle that sounded like he was gargling with razor blades.

With a gesture a portal appeared before him, leading to a dark realm. He walked through it and was gone, the portal fading away to nothingness.

By the time the girls had made it home, the news of the attempted robbery had hit the airwaves. Tracy and Betsy watched the report and saw themselves walk out of the spa. The reporter had wanted them to do an interview, but Betsy was in no shape to talk and Tracy didn’t want to.

Mom gave us both a big hug and asked us how we were. We were all right, but the thing that was weighing on my mind was what I had done to the robber. I said as much to Mom after I had explained what happened.

“What if I killed him, Mom? What does that make me?” I said, with my head in my hands.

“How do you know you did anything to him, honey? What if he had a brain aneurism or something like that? It’s possible. Let’s just see what happens over the next few days. And if you did do something to him, you were defending yourself, and let’s face it. If you hadn’t done anything, he would have violated you and Tracy, and possibly others in the spa”

Sighing, I replied, “I guess you’re right, Mom. This is just so crazy! I just want to live whatever life I’ve got. The more these powers manifest themselves, the more responsibility I have. I don’t want that to cost me my family or Tracy.”

Mom and Tracy both came close to me. Mom said, “We’re with you all the way, Betsy. All the way.” They both hugged me, which made me feel much better. Why didn’t hugs do that for me as a boy?

I told Tracy to take my car so she could get back home. I didn’t feel like driving yet, and if I couldn’t trust my girlfriend with my car, who could I trust? I went to bed early, too exhausted to think.

Sunday dawned, and my cell phone rang at eight o’clock. It was Tracy. “Get up sleepyhead, and get ready to go to the mall. We’ve got to get you a swimsuit to wear to the lake. It’s the last chance we’ll have to get wet before school starts.”

“Tracy! It’s Sunday! Can’t I sleep in just a little bit today?” I whined.

“NO! Mom and Dad are taking the boat to the lake for the last time, and we have to get you a suit. So get up and get going, girl, I’ll be there in one hour.”

“But…”

“But nothing! Go!”

I ran to the bathroom to get my shower. It felt a lot different with all the hair taken care of. My skin was a lot more sensitive, and I really felt the difference “down south.” I used my hand to clean myself, and got a little jolt for my trouble. Easy, girl. No time for that right now.

After finishing with my shower, I did my hair into a high ponytail and a little makeup. My underwear consisted of a lace demi-cup bra and a pair of low rise bikinis. I chose a tank top and a cute pair of short shorts. I wanted to get a little sun today. The one thing I loved about being a girl was the choices of clothes that were available. I had a great body, and I guess I didn’t really mind showing at least some of it. Looking at myself in the mirror, I thought I didn’t look half bad.

I went downstairs to grab a bite to eat. I really wasn’t that hungry, so I grabbed a couple of granola bars and a class of orange juice. Mom and Dad were eating breakfast together. Dad was eating his eggs when I came in, and when he saw me, he choked.

“Are you all right, Dad?” I asked, concerned.

After taking a drink of his coffee, he looked at me and said “Don’t you think you need some more clothes on?” Mom was looking into her section of the paper. I could see she was enjoying this. I could also sense she was going to be of absolutely no help. I guess I was going to have to deal with the over-protective father now.

Taking a deep breath, I said. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“It’s a bit revealing, isn’t it?”

I looked at myself back and front. “Why? Is there something showing that shouldn’t be”

“You know exactly what I’m saying, young lady. You look like a stripper.”

That hurt. Now I was starting to get angry. “I do not look like a stripper, Daddy. How could you even think such a thing?” My eyes began to brim with tears. “I’m not dressing any differently than Tracy dressed when she came to see me when I was Brian. You never said anything to her!”

“She’s not my daughter. You are. Get changed into something decent.”

I stamped my foot in a thoroughly feminine display of anger Ooooooohhh! Mother! SAY something. This isn’t fair! “It’s not fair! MOM!”

“Ok, Jim. That’s enough. Betsy looks fine.”

“Liz, look at her. Do you think that her clothing is fine? Look at her…her…”

“Boobs? Yes, Jim, she has them, just like every other girl. What’s your point?”

“It’s just that they are so…”

“So what, Jim? Choose your next words carefully. You aren’t giving Betsy a complex about her body, so If I were you, I’d let it go”

Dad’s eyes flashed “So you are taking her side, Liz?”

Mom remained calm. “Only as far as you are willing to be unreasonable. Soooo, yes, I guess I am. Betsy, go outside. Your father and I have to talk.”

“Tracy is bringing my car back and we were planning to go to the lake with her parents. Is that okay”

Mom looked at me. “Yes dear, it is. Now give your father and me a few minutes, okay?”

“Okay, Mom” I ran upstairs to get my bag. I almost felt sorry for Dad.

Exactly one hour after she called, Tracy was pulling in to our driveway. I was waiting on the porch swing, and hurriedly walked out to my car. Tracy scooted over so I could drive.

Just before I got to the car, the next door neighbor’s twenty two year old son Lance gave me a long wolf whistle. “Hey babe! Would you like some fries with that shake?” He was shining his vintage 1979 Trans Am, a gift from his parents for his high school graduation.

I turned around and glared at him. He was a loser who couldn’t get a job and was living out of his parent’s home until he got something going. “Lance Barrick, if you looked at job listings as hard as you looked at my ass, you’d have a job by now.”

That apparently shot the air out of his sails. I heard a burst of laughter from his front porch. His dad was sitting on the porch where I couldn’t see and had heard what I had said. “Score one for the girl!” He continued laughing and Lance muttered something under his breath.

Tracy was giggling in the car as I got in. “Pwned! Way shoot the loser down, Betsy!” She leaned over and gave me a kiss on the lips. She threw in some tongue. Lance was looking right at us. “That’ll give him something to think about tonight!”

I flushed. “That’ll give me something to think about tonight, Trace. And, ewww! I don’t want that creep thinking about me when he’s doing his…thing.”

She smiled at me and then announced. “Okay, babe, I found an absolutely darling bikini for you online last week and ordered it, I also got you a cute cover-up to wear with it. It came in Friday, and I’ve been dying to see you in it all weekend. It’s my turn to look hard at your ass”

“You’re going to embarrass me to death, aren’t you?”

“Who, moi?” then she laughed an evil laugh that got me going too.

When we got to her house, the boat was already hooked up to her dad’s pickup. He was in construction, and the truck was a big four door diesel. The boat was fairly good sized, enough for an indoor cabin. It was a real party cruiser, one that they used on a regular basis in the summer.

Tracy’s mom was a stunning woman, who had had Tracy when she was nineteen. At thirty five, she looked more like Tracy’s sister. Her dad was a workout freak, and was in great shape too. Her parents were the original Ken and Barbie couple.

Her dad saw us coming and waved. “Hello, girls! Are you ready to get going? We’ve got a thirty minute drive to the lake.”

“We’re ready Daddy!” chirped Tracy. “Where’s Mom?”

Mrs. Moore appeared at the top of the boat. “Right here, sweetie. Hello, Betsy! Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, Mrs. Moore. I can’t wait!” I said enthusiastically.

“I saw your new suit, girl. I think Sports Illustrated will be calling once you are seen in public. Very hot!”

I blushed again. Smiling shyly, I said “Stop! I’m not used to this yet.”

Mrs. Moore shook her head. “Whatever, Betsy. I see you already know how to dress to get noticed.”

“All right, ladies.” Mr. Moore interrupted. “Save the fashion talk for the trip. Mary, Let me help you down.”

“Why, thank you, Mr. Moore! I don’t mind if you do!” He reached up and pinched her rear end, eliciting a squeal from Mrs. Moore. After helping her down the ladder, she gave him a big kiss.

I really liked Tracy’s folks. They were open and obviously still very much in love after seventeen years of marriage. A lot of Tracy’s no nonsense attitude came from her dad, and her playfulness came from her mom.

We got in the truck and were off to the lake. There were some subtle differences from the last time I was with them. Mr. Moore was quiet most of the time, and we three girls were chattering the whole time. I realized that he wasn’t talking to me like he did when I was the prospective son in law. A part of me really missed that. But things change I guess. I wanted to listen to what he was thinking, but I had resolved not to intrude on my friend’s thoughts.

Mrs. Moore was giving me advice on my new role. “It’s going to be a little different for you at the lake than it used to be, obviously. Betsy. You are an amazingly attractive woman now, and you need to watch out for new things.”

Tracy interjected, “I don’t think anyone will be able to pull the wool over Betsy’s eyes, Mom. You know…”

“Ohh, yeah. That is right. Okay, maybe we can learn something from you. Keep your ears on, then. I’d like to know what some of these drunken idiots are thinking.

I gave Mrs. Moore a strange look. “Keep my ears on? Huh?”

“Never mind, Betsy. It just means keep listening” My dad always used to say that.

I looked at Tracy who was having a hard time keeping a straight face. We burst out laughing. Mrs. Moore had to start laughing too.

When we got to the lake, Mr. Moore had Tracy and me get in the boat. She knew how to steer the thing or whatever, and I was along for the ride. I sat towards the back of the boat while Mr. and Mrs. Moore got everything ready to go. They worked together like a well oiled machine. About ten minutes after we got to the dock, the boat was in the water. Mr. Moore pulled the trailer out and Mrs. Moore was in the boat. Tracy drove the boat out of the way, and Mr. Moore got in. Soon, we were off to the races. Tracy and I went below to put on our suits. She had a skimpy little light blue number with a halter top and a boy cut bottom that showed off her cute bottom. Mine was a light pink string bikini with a regular connected bra and a full cut bottom. I put it on, and gave Tracy a pinup pose.

“You like?” I asked.

“Oh, I like! Come here.” She gave me another one of those toe curlers, and swiped her hand between my legs. That caused me to buckle a bit.

I moaned a little and said, “Please, Tracy. Don’t do that! I don’t want to be excited all day, and your mom and dad are upstairs. That waxing you made me do has got me on edge anyway. Just wearing underwear feels like I have a hand on myself all day.”

She pouted a bit and gave me a little kiss. “Ok, Betsy. I’m sorry. Lets go up on deck and get some sun.”

Tracy’s dad put us on a shallow end of the lake. The water was only about two feet deep at the shallow point and got progressively deeper. The boats were packed in like sardines Tracy started putting sunscreen on my back as I put it on the rest of my body. I decided to kind of reach out to see if there were any pervs out there getting off on Tracy and myself. I needed to know who to avoid. A couple of jerks two boats down had spied us and were thinking thoughts that I won’t repeat suffice it to say they were disgusting.

It was different being on the radar of men. I felt somehow violated at some of the thoughts directed at us. I decided to ask Mrs. Moore how she dealt with it.

“Betsy, it’s just a part of life. Men are stimulated by what they see. We women are stimulated by touch and relationships. We can’t give our bodies to someone we don’t have a connection to. I guess some women can, but they end up having problems hating men, and I guess I don't blame them. You are a beautiful girl with a beautiful body. You could wear a burlap bag out here and men would still lust. So, you may as well be comfortable. How do you like your bikini?”

“I like it. It’s more comfortable than a one piece, and the bottoms are really more comfortable than my board shorts were.”

“See? You may as well be comfortable, and let the men do what they do. They are going to look no matter what you wear. If they cross the line, make them pay.”

I felt better after talking to Tracy’s mom. Tracy and I laid out for about an hour, listening to the radio on the boat. After that, I suggested we get into the water to cool down. We climbed down the ladder, and got into the water. It was about knee deep and we went for a walk in the water. We held hands in a very innocent way, talking about the events of the summer, and our plans for school. I was really enjoying talking to her, and we were just getting lost in the moment. That was interrupted by a cold shock to our systems as a couple of Hispanic men ran by and splashed us “accidentally”.

“Hey, chicas! How’s about you coming over to our barge for a little party? The beer is cold and free to lovely ladies such as you.”

Looking him in the eye, Tracy politely said, “No thank you, guys, we’re a little young to be drinking. We’re only sixteen.”

Jackpot! Raul will love these bitches. I squeezed Tracy’s hand. “We need to get back to Mom and Dad.” I waited for his next thought.

Damn! Sisters! I have got to get these two to Raul. The Beer is cold and the roofies are hot. These two bitches won’t know what hit them.

“We really need to get going, guys. Thanks but no thanks” Tracy said.

“Aww, come on, we won’t bite, much! C’mon, you’ll have fun”

I focused on Juan or whatever his name was. Go back to your boat call the police and sit there until they come. Then show them the stash you have and confess to every wrong thing you have ever done. I did the same thing to his friend and then found Raul and shut him down.

“We’re going back to the boat, now. You girls have a nice day. Sorry to have bothered you.” They went back to their boat and sat there drinking.

Tracy looked at me and shook her head. “What kind of Jedi mind trick was that?”

I shrugged. “Nothing. They just got tired of bothering us, I guess.” We looked at each other and got a case of the giggles. This might not be so bad.

We walked back to the area where the boat was anchored about 45 minutes later. We got whistled at a few more times, but we were mostly left alone, if not unnoticed from the thoughts I could pick up. Kinda restored my faith in humanity.

We got back to the boat, and climbed back on board. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were on the boat next to us; talking to some people they knew. A snack and a bottle of water later, we were back in the water for a swim. Swimming in a bikini is a fumy thing. It almost seems like you are naked. Quite a different feeling than I had with the old swim trunks. I felt like I was slipping through the water.

Tracy and I swam for about another half hour, and then retreated back to the boat to dry off and reapply out sunscreen. I was starting to get a little burned, as I hadn’t been out all summer. Tracy was nicely tanned, and hot as hell. She oiled me back up, and we sat on the stern of the boat, soaking in the sun and looking at the people all having a good time. I relaxed, and let the rocking of the boat lull me to sleep.

I dreamed about floating in a dark pool. I wasn’t cold or hot, just perfect. There were no stars in the sky, just me floating. Kind of like one of those sensory deprivation whatsits that people go nuts about must be. Then I sensed someone with me. I couldn’t move, just like I had been in the hospital. I was naked, and getting very scared. Then that grinning face appeared over my head. That horrid mouth didn’t move. Hello, child. Welcome to my domain. You don’t know it yet, but you’re dead already. I am The Shadow King.

I was helpless. I couldn’t move, and my heart was going crazy. I was panicking, trying to move something. Tears were streaming down my face. The nightmare wouldn’t stop.

There, there, child. It will all be over soon. Relax, let the water do its work. He started laughing, which pissed me off. I focused every bit of my energy on moving. The wings appeared at my eyes and began to flutter, growing larger. My arms began to move, followed by my legs. My entire body started to glow, and I floated up out of the water. I faced the beast, and his face never changed. I was floating in front of him. The Shadow King was immense. He had to be 40 feet tall, and could have squashed me like a bug.

“Leave me alone, you freak!” I raised my hands and directed them to him. He came closer.

What are you going to do, child. I rule here, and I do what I will.

“Not with me, you ass.” As I said those words, twin beams of energy erupted out of my hands, hitting him full in the chest. He roared in pain. Everything faded to black and was gone.

My eyes flew open and I was back on the boat. I shot up and looked around. Tracy was asleep under the shade, and nothing else seemed out of place. I was breathing hard, and was still in a state of panic. I realized it was just a dream and began to calm down. That was too weird. I stood up and put my tunic top on. Then I sat down and cried.

Shadow King reeled from the blast the girl had given him. His chest was badly burned from the energy. He roared again, causing his minions to flee in terror. This child injured me. This can not be possible. How can she continue to intrude on my realm. I must ponder this. She has a budding power that rivals my own. This cannot be allowed to continue. Perhaps I can find this girl through my connections in the United States government. Yes…this might be the course to take.

Tracy woke up and saw me crying. “What’s wrong, baby? Bad dream?”

“The worst, Trace. I think I may have gotten into something I shouldn’t have.”

“What do you mean, Betsy?” she asked.

“I was exploring my abilities the other night, and I contacted a mind. Something powerful and very evil. He called himself the Shadow King, and he was very bad. Tracy, I’m scared. This thing, whatever it is, knows how to get to me. I have to get to the government guy and tell him what is happening.”

“Are you sure? I mean, it could have been just a dream.” She offered.

“Maybe, but somehow, I don’t think so.”

Tracy brightened “Well, let’s not let it ruin the day. There’s still a lot of sun left, and I haven’t taken you below yet.”

I blushed, looking around for her mother or father. “Tracy, watch what you say! Someone may be listening.”

Tracy felt up one of my boobs. “Oh relax, you prude. Mom and Dad already know we’re raging lesbians”

I pushed her hand down. “Tracy!” I said in a hoarse whisper. Stop it! We’re only sixteen.”

“It didn’t stop you when you were Brian, baby girl” she smiled. “I’ve always wanted to put you on the spot. This is fun!”

I hoped the fun could continue….

Chapter 3

Tracy continued to do her best impersonation of an octopus. I was shocked at how grabby she was. We kissed a little but when she went to my nether region, I had to stop her.

“Tracy, please! Stop!” I begged. “I’m not ready for this.”

Tracy stopped and looked me in the eyes. “Why, Betsy, don’t you love me?”

I was starting to panic. “Yes, but I don’t think we should do this here. Your parents might come back.”

Her hand went back between my thighs. “Don’t worry about them, baby, they’ll knock first.”

I was torn. I was getting very turned on, but at the same time I didn’t want my first time with Tracy to be in her parent’s boat, sneaking around and in a hurry. I grabbed her hand and pulled it away. “Tracy! Stop! I can’t do this right now.” I pulled away from her and scooted back to the edge of the couch. Pulling my knees up to my chest in a sitting fetal position, I began to cry.

Tracy came to me and took my hand. “Hey, honey, I’m sorry. What’s the matter? We used to do this all the time!”

Wiping my eyes, I looked at her sadly. “You and Brian did this. I’m Elizabeth, remember? I can’t just do what I used to do, Tracy. It doesn’t feel right. I feel like you're, I don’t know, using me.” I continued looking down, and added quietly. “Did you ever feel that way about me, Trace? Did I ever force myself on you?”

She looked at me sympathetically and said. “Maybe once or twice, but you always stopped. I’m sorry, Betsy, I never thought about how you might have changed as a result of your transformation. You really are a girl, inside and out.” She smiled sadly. “Does this mean we’re through?”

I responded immediately. “No! I just want our first time together to be special, that’s all.”

“This isn’t exactly our first time, you know.”

I hugged her “It will be. For me, anyway. C’mon, let’s go back up on deck!” I grabbed her hands and pulled her up.

As we went back up, we saw the sheriff’s boat pull up to the boat with Raul and his buddies. I laughed as they put the cuffs on the three numbskulls and transferred them their boat to the Sheriff’s. The deputies were shaking their head as they tossed the boat, finding what I assumed were various illegal substances. They also pulled out a couple of weapons that looked like pistols. I couldn’t help but smile as they towed the offender’s boat off to the impound lot. Served them right, the jerks.

We stayed on the lake for another three hours. The sun was just about to go below the horizon as they pulled the boat out and we got underway. Tracy and I had changed back to our jeans and tops. I had a bit of a burn, even with all of the sunscreen, and my tan lines felt different from my old pattern, which I guess was to be expected.

I thought I had been very good. I had stayed out of the minds of Tracy and her parents, and felt much better about myself for doing it. I didn’t feel like a prowler. After running into the Shadow King, whoever he was, I wanted to stay as far away from minds as I could get for the time being.

My thoughts were interrupted by Tracy. “Do you want something to eat, Bets?”

I was very tired, but wasn’t quite ready for the day to end. “Sure, Trace. Wherever you want to go is fine with me.”

We ended up at a little seafood place outside of Ann Arbor, off of the interstate. It was pretty well known around the area, and surprisingly we got right in, with only a ten minute wait–well, I might have had something to do with that. Hey, I was hungry.

We all ordered the Surf and Turf, and got iced tea all around.

We talked about the day’s events, and Tracy reached over the table to hold my hand. I pulled away a little bit. Mrs. Moore looked at me and said with a smile “its okay, Betsy. We know you and Tracy are still an item. You don’t have to hide anything from us, honey.”

This caught me by surprise. I knew that Tracy had told me they knew, but I thought she was joking. “I guess I didn’t know how you would react. I didn’t want to push our relationship on you, since my change. I guess I can’t help it that I still have really strong feelings for Tracy.”

Mrs. Moore continued. “We know, Betsy, and Jeff and I have discussed it. You are still the same person on the inside, and we loved you before, and nothing changes that now.” Mr. Moore nodded his head in agreement.

“I’m not quite the same person inside” I added. “I look at things a little differently than I used to. I guess I don’t think quite the same way due to all of the mental changes I’ve undergone. I no longer think like a boy would, so I guess your daughter is safe from greasy teenage boy hands.”

Mr. and Mrs. Moore smiled. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I excused myself to go to the restroom, and Tracy came with me. “I need to call Agent Morgan, Tracy. I’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s happening to me.”

“I understand, baby. Call him.”

I dialed Agent Morgan’s number on my phone, and he picked up on the second ring.

“Morgan.”

“Agent Morgan, this is Betsy Braddock. Can you talk for a minute?”

“For you? Anytime, Betsy. What’s up?”

I talked in a horse whisper to avoid anyone hearing me.” I think some more abilities are manifesting themselves, and I really need to tell you about what’s been going on.”

“Is it bad?” he asked.

“I don’t know. That’s just it. Can you see me tomorrow? I know it’s Labor Day, but…”

“But nothing. I’ll be at your house tomorrow morning.” He paused. “How about nine o’ clock?”

“Okay. I really appreciate you coming out, Agent Morgan.”

“And I appreciate your calling me. So many people in your position tend to distrust us in the government, and shut us out, then get into trouble because they try to do too much on their own.”

“I don’t trust the government, Agent Morgan. I trust you.”

“Thanks, Betsy. Don’t worry about anything; we’ll get to the bottom of whatever is troubling you. Good bye”

I disconnected the phone, and felt better about the rest of the evening. I didn’t want to have to bear this alone. Whatever or whoever this new entity was, I was not gong to face him alone.

I ended up getting home at ten o’clock, and was quite ready for bed. Mom was waiting for me.

“How did your day go, Betsy?”

”Great, Mom. I had a really good time. How did you and Dad make out?”

She sighed. “Well, he agreed to let me be the judge of your wardrobe. He has had no experience with a girl, and he thought he had to be Mr. Protective. I told him that you weren’t an ordinary girl, and could take care of yourself, and as for fashion advice, I told him if he wanted to give it, he had to spend a week in dresses!”

Giggling, I replied, “It worked for me! Seriously, Mom, thanks for backing me up. It really hurt when he said I looked like a stripper. I’m not like that.”

Hugging me, Mom said “I know, sweetie. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

I hugged Mom back and asked her another question. “Mom, I have something else to tell you.”

“What’s that?”

“You know Tracy and I are still…involved.”

“I suspected as much, Betsy, and it’s okay with me. I know this transition was difficult, and the way you and Tracy stuck together, well it was kind of obvious.”

“What does Dad think?”

She got a grin on her face. “Oh, I suppose he’ll come around. He doesn’t like to think about it.”

“”Mom, I called Agent Morgan tonight. I had an incident the other night and today that I need to tell him.”

Mom looked concerned. “You’re manifesting more abilities?”

I bit my lip. “Yes. The other night, I was kind of practicing to see what I could do. I can read minds, Mom.”

“We knew that already, Betsy”

“No, Mom, I can read minds all over the world! I was in the President’s head, Mom. I don’t want to be there. I don’t want to know what is going on with people like that. I could read the thoughts of these creeps at the lake, who wanted to drug Tracy and me. I mean, that’s good, but I don’t want to be used to read some dictator’s mind. This will get me into trouble.” My eyes brimmed with tears.

Mom held me. She talked to me in a soothing tone, that only a mother can take.” That’s not everything, is it?”

“No. I touched minds with someone evil, Mom. Someone who scared me to death. I don’t think he’s human” I trembled at the thought of the sight of that terrible face.
“Who was it, honey?”

“He called himself Shadow King. He was just the worst looking thing I have ever seen. I saw him again today in a dream, or it may have been a dream, I don’t know. He knows something about me, Mom. He tried to do something to me today while I was asleep, but I was able to fight him off. Something is wrong, Mom. This thing is real!” I buried my head in her shoulder and cried. I didn’t want these abilities. I just wanted everything to go away.

Mom held me as Dad came in. He didn’t say anything as I cried. I think Mom motioned for him to sit down. About five minutes later, I had calmed down. Mom asked me to tell him what I told her. I did, and Dad thought for a couple of minutes, and then spoke.

“I don’t think you need to tell Agent Morgan about the extent of your telepathy, Betsy. He may mean well, but abilities like yours could easily be misused. Always have a hole card. The extent of your telepathy is your hole card. You need to tell him, however about this Shadow King. He must be a high order telepath to be able to communicate with you from such a distance. Do you know where he was?”

“Egypt, I think. I seem to be able to know where people are, and how they are doing. I also have the ability to do this…”

I concentrated, and produced the glowing around my hands. They came out to a point, like before. I thought they looked like knives. My dad reached out to touch one, and as he did, pulled his hand away in pain.

“Damn! That hurt! Do you feel that?”

I looked at Dad with disbelief. “No. I don’t feel anything. Did it hurt?”

“Yes it did. Very much. My hand is still numb. Interesting, though. Let’s not make the glow again for a while, okay?”

“Okay, Dad.”

Dad gave me a lot of advice on what to talk about and what not to talk about. It was decided that I would not tell Agent Morgan about anything but Shadow King, and let the rest remain secret for now. He wanted to see how they handled the information about another telepath. Having settled on a course of action, I went up to my room and went to bed.

I was spared any dreams that night. I don’t know if I was getting better at subconsciously controlling my powers or if black and creepy wasn’t looking for me. I was up at eight and got cleaned up for Agent Morgan’s visit. I don’t know what was up with me, but I couldn’t bear the thought of someone seeing me without having cleaned myself up first. What a girl I was turning out to be.

Agent Morgan was knocking on the door at nine o’clock sharp. I answered the door in my morning workout gear, a pair of yoga pants and a tank top/sports bra combo with trainers. It was very comfortable, and fit like a glove. I wasn’t going to exercise in a sack, after all.

“Hi, Betsy.” He greeted me, consciously avoiding looking any further south of my neck. I smiled. He was cute when he tried to be all chivalrous.

“Come on in, Agent Morgan.” I greeted cheerfully. “Have a seat.”

I called Mom and Dad down from their room, and they greeted Agent Morgan as well.

“Please, folks, call me Hal, okay? I figure we’ll get to know more about each other in the coming weeks, so we had just as well be on a first name basis.”

“Fair enough, Hal.” replied Dad. “I think you’ll want to listen to what Betsy has to say.”

I proceeded to give Hal the lowdown on what had happened with Shadow King. He listened with interest at the prospect of another telepath.

“I don’t know how he found me.” I lied, following the plan, but he was scary, and very evil.”

“I’ll run a database search on this name. And you also said you heard the name Amahl?”

“Yes. I’m sure of it. I think he was Egyptian.” I added.

He looked at me suspiciously. “How do you know that?”

I knew he was a beginning to suspect I had more power than I was letting on, so I gave him a little suggestion. “I don’t know, maybe he told me.”

He looked a little blank for a second. “Yeah, maybe he told you. Okay, let me get on this, and I’ll let you know what I find. I’ll show myself out.”

After he left, Dad looked at me and commented, “All right, what did you do to him? There was no way he was going to let that go so easily.”

I gave him an embarrassed smile. “I just gave him a little suggestion to get him to go along with me. It’s something else I can do.”

“You had better never use that on your Mother or me, young lady.” He cautioned.

“Don’t worry Dad; I don’t use my abilities on my family. Some things are better left not known or done. I’d rather have the punishment if I do something wrong.”

Dad gave me a hug. “That’s my girl. You keep that attitude, it won’t matter how powerful you become, and you’ll always be grounded in reality.”

That was something I never thought of. With my abilities, I could have anything I wanted, just by influencing someone to give it to me. I didn’t want that. What fun would life be if you didn’t have to work for what you got?

Agent Morgan called his data team contact, Gerardo Herrera.

“Jerry? I need you to run a check on a couple of names.”

“What do you have?” replied Jerry.

“One is anything you have on a Shadow King, and the other is an Egyptian by the name of Amahl, no last name. They could be connected.”

“I’ll get on it right away, Hal.”

Thanks, Jerry. I appreciate it”

Jerry started his search for the names that Hal had asked for. In the giant database, once the term “Shadow King” had been entered, a notice went to the computer of a systems analyst in Homeland Security. She then sent an encrypted email to a computer in Cairo, Egypt. Amahl Farouk was waiting for this. Someone in America was looking for him, and since he hadn’t made his presence known in the United States, that meant that the child had made contact with the government. He would soon know who this person was. He smiled an evil, sadistic smile. He now knew where to start.

I woke up Tuesday morning ready to get back to school. I wasn’t really worried about people’s reactions. Brain seemed a lifetime ago. I was just Elizabeth Braddock, high school junior. I was confident in my abilities to handle pretty much any situation that might come up. I chose a pair of jeans and a nice tunic top with some comfy sandals for my first day. I didn’t want to completely “girl out” just yet. Some light makeup and I was ready to go. I kissed my Mom and Dad goodbye and left.

I picked up Tracy, and we got to school early enough to be introduced to my new circle of friends. I hadn’t had much to do with anyone from school since my illness, and I was more like the new girl on the block, even though I knew everyone that I knew before.

Tracy and I got a lot of stares as we walked in to the building. My transformation wasn’t that much of a secret, so I didn’t know if the stares were for the weird “boy/girl”, or if people were checking out the two hot chicks walking in. The thoughts I was picking up were a little of both, and more than one person actually wondered if I still had my male “appendage”. I sighed, wondering if I was going to be thought of as a “she male’.

I leaned over to Tracy and told her what I had discovered. “A lot of people here think I’m a…she male”

She looked shocked. “No way! You leave school as Brian and come back as Betsy, and you wonder why they think that?”

Smiling, I playfully punched her in the arm. “You know what I mean! How am I supposed to explain that?”

Rolling her eyes, she looked at me like I was a complete lunatic. “Screw ‘em. Let ‘em think what they want! You know the truth, Betsy, and If that doesn’t work, Jedi their asses!”

She had a point. I didn’t want to go nuts with the mind tricks, but that would be a solution.

I went to the office to make sure everything was okay with my registration. It’s not every day that a complete transsexual–that’s what I was, I guess–walks in to school. I was in a small community by Ann Arbor, and the school was fairly sedate and open minded. A lot of kids had parents who taught at the University of Michigan.

The principal, Mrs. Kaufman greeted me warmly. “Hello, Betsy! It’s good to finally have you back for the first time.”

Smiling back, I replied “Thank you, Mrs. Kaufman. I guess I couldn’t have put it better myself. Is everything okay for me to start again?”

“Okay and ready to go, Betsy. Your parents took care of just about everything, and your test scores were sufficient to put you ahead so you won’t have to repeat your sophomore year, which I’m guessing was a relief.”

“Oh, it so was. I wasn’t looking forward to having to do that year again. I would have been bored to death.”

“You should be good to go, and good luck to you this year.”

Shaking her hand, I thanked her. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Kaufman.”

I found Tracy by my locker. I had the same one as last year, so that much was the same. We were just having a good time talking about the coming day when I was interrupted by a vicious pinch on my bottom. I screamed and spun around. “OWWWW! What the heck?”

I didn’t have to look far for the culprit. My old friend Bob Franklin was standing there with a stupid looking grin on his face. “So Braddock, was I so scary that you had to resort to changing sexes to avoid taking me on?”

Tracy stepped in immediately. “No, you jackass, she was so ashamed that you were a male that she renounced her sex to avoid being lumped in with a complete ass clown like you.”

The kids in the hall laughed at that one. Bob didn’t know what to say. He was, after all a moron.

“I should go to the principal right now and turn you in for harassment! Don’t ever touch me again, you miserable creep” I shrieked, making as much noise as possible to maximize his torture.

Tracy joined in the fray. “God! You are such a complete waste of humanity, pervert!”

He was beginning to realize he was overmatched. “You bitches are all alike…”

He backed into Mr. Donaldson, the football coach, who grabbed him by the shoulder. “Now that’s not nice, Mr. Franklin. Apologize to the young ladies.” Bob winced as Mr. Donaldson applied pressure to his shoulder pressure point.

“But Coach, Braddock isn’t…”

“Isn’t what, Mr. Franklin? Happy to be groped in the hall? I suspect not. Apologize, Mr. Franklin.”

“I’m sorry, I won’t bother you again” he said quietly.

“Good boy, Bob, now go away.”

Bob left and I went to Mr. Donaldson. “Thank you, sir. I don’t know what got into him.”

“You’re welcome, Betsy. I think it’s a shame what happened to you, and I’m glad you’re making the best of it.”

Looking up at him, I replied, “It’s really not bad, Mr. Donaldson. I enjoy my life now. It’s like my old life was just a dream.”

Looking somewhat surprised, he asked “What do you mean?”

“My brain is completely different as a result of my change. The doctors said my…my electrical thingies?”

“Synapses?”

“Yes! Synapses! They were completely rewired, and the hormones and chemicals did the rest. I think it was a blessing, truthfully. I would have hated to be a boy trapped in this body. That would have been terrible.”
He nodded his head. “I can imagine. Well, you have a great day, Betsy.”

I probed his thoughts. Poor kid, can’t admit the truth. Must be miserable.

Whatever, I thought. I was happy, and that was all that mattered.

This was going to be wonderful…NOT!

My first day was surprisingly without incident. Most of the kids just accepted me for who I was. That was a big relief. I only had to modify the thoughts of one particular individual, who shall remain nameless. He had a thing for girls with something “extra”, and he thought I was one. I gave him a little suggestion to avoid me at all costs.

I went to Ozawa’s Dojo after school. Sensei Ozawa was glad to see me, and bowed to me. I returned the bow and followed him to his office. It was decorated with several beautiful bonsai trees. It was evidently a hobby of his.

Sitting at his desk, he motioned for me to sit as well.

“Tea?” he offered.

“Yes, please”

He poured the fragrant liquid for me and himself. We sat there in silence for a few moments, savoring the tea. Finally, he spoke.

“I sense you have much power, Betsy. You channel power not from this world.”

I almost spit my tea on the floor. “W-what? How did you know?”

He gave me a slight bow. “I am not without talents myself, young one. I sensed great potential in you from the first day you walked into my dojo. I have been waiting for you to bloom for years, and now you have. It is time for you to learn to control and use your gift. And I am here to guide you. If you want to learn, I will teach you.”

“But, how do you know these things? I haven’t told anyone.”

He tented his hands in front of his chin. “As I have told you, I am not without my gifts. I have been called many things, many names. My gifts lie with magic and the mind. Your power is of the mind. Your source is of the shadow world.”

That was too weird. “The shadow world? As in Shadow King?”

This registered on his face “You know of this one? The ruler of that world?”

“I accidentally contacted him when I was practicing with my powers. He’s bad, right?”
“Yes, child, he is. But you have the means to defeat him. You must simply learn to channel what you have.” He paused, taking another sip of his tea. “Will you submit to my teaching?”

“Yes, sensei, I will”

He clapped his hands. “Good! Finish your tea. We begin today.”

What had I let myself in for? This couldn’t be good.

~o~O~o~

Amahl Farouk found who he was looking for. Elizabeth Braddock. Living in the Detroit, Michigan area, specifically Ann Arbor.
She was a recently emerged Metahuman. This would be great sport. But he couldn’t just kill her. No, that wouldn’t do at all. He must torture her first. Take away all she holds dear, then finish her himself. But how? What would be the best way? He wouldn’t get his hands dirty yet. He had associates for that. Men and women who hadn’t been unleashed on the world yet. He had paid them well to stay invisible. This would be a job for one of them. Yes. This would be a job for one in particular. And he knew how to help him.

He paged his secretary. “Malik, get me Cain Marko. I need him here as soon as possible.”

His laughter echoed through the halls.

Chapter 4

I was exhausted after three hours with Sensei Ozawa. I spent more time on my back than I had in 5 years of training. I was thrown every which way that a person could be thrown. I even played the “I’m just a girl” card, with no luck whatsoever.

As I rubbed by backside from the thirtieth throw, sensei told me, in his intimidating Japanese accent. “Center of gravity off! Energy is not flowing. Feel energy flowing through you, not around!” He growled in frustration. “YOU should be defeating ME, girl! Again!”

He barked. “Focus! This is very important. Someday, you will face opponent who is bigger, stronger than you. Your life will depend on your ability to focus!”

We faced each other in our combat stances. He charged at me, and something happened. I knew what he was going to do, and countered. As he flew at me, my leg shot out almost of its own accord and drove into his gut. He “whoofed” and hit the mat hard.

“Very…good…girl.” He wheezed. “This is…what…I meant. Very good”

“Are you ok? God, I’m so sorry, Sensei. I don’t know how I did that!”

“Don’t apologize, girl! This is what I was waiting for! You learned focus. Your powers will help you in combat, but only if you relax and focus your energy. Are you tired?”

I thought about it, and other than being a little bruised on my bum, I actually felt quite good. “No, sir, I guess not”

He smiled and leapt to his feet. “Good! We learn meditation now for one hour.”

This concerned me. “Uhhh, Sensei?”

“Yes?”

“Is that such a good idea? I mean the last time I tried that, I ran into that Shadow guy.”

He shook his head. “You do not focus out this time. Only focus in. Explore yourself, not others”

I couldn’t help thinking how much he sounded like a certain little green puppet. “Okay, Master Yoda! I’ll do my best”

He looked at me grimly. “There are similarities here, Betsy. Your joke is more apt than you may realize. Your life will truly depend on how well you learn these lessons. I just do not know when.” Looking out at the street through the window, he shook his head. “For now, we meditate”
We sat down on the floor, in the traditional lotus position. I found it was a lot easier to get into this position as a girl than it ever was as a boy. I felt twice as limber as before. I closed my eyes, and focused inward. Slowly, the outside noise faded away. I began to see different colors. I could sense where my abilities laid. I was gaining a better sense of what I could do and what I needed to do to perform those abilities.

I was rattled out of my trance by Sensei. “W-ww-what? I just got started!”

Smiling, he replied “Sorry, It’s been an hour. Very good, Betsy. You are learning fast!”

I gasped as I looked at the clock. “Crap! I’ve got to get home. It’s almost ten o’clock, and I haven’t done my homework!”

“Some things are more important than homework, girl. You will learn this.”

I laughed sarcastically. “Yeah, well you don’t have to face my teachers in the morning!”

I quickly changed out of my gi and put on a pair of yoga pants and a loose tee. I left my hair in its ponytail and grabbed my backpack and bag and ran out the front door. My car was a half a block down the street, and I walked quickly to get there. I then felt a sense of foreboding wash over me. A large man walked out between the buildings just before I reached my car.

“Well, well. What have we here? Hello, beautiful. How’s about we party?” he stepped toward me.

“Sorry, sir. I have to get home, my parents are waiting on me” I tried the innocent approach. Trying to calm myself, trying to buy time. I started to walk by him and he stepped in my way.

Then another three men approached from the rear. “I think mom and dad can wait on their princess a little bit, don’t you, Abdul?”

Abdul, who was evidently the goon in front of me, said with an evil grin. “Yes, this flower must be plucked now, while she is still in bloom.”

“Flower, allow me to introduce my friends. Sharif, who you just met. Osama, and Barouk. We will be your husbands tonight. Then, we send you to our leader, Amahl.”

I tried to back up to the street. “Please, I don’t have any money. Take my car.”

“It’s not your car we are after, Flower, but something much more…precious.”

Now, I was starting to get angry. This shadow guy was sending people after me? No one was raping me tonight, especially not these three morons. I dropped my things and growled as best I could. “You guys are making a big mistake.” My fists began to glow purple. I tried mind warping one of them, but suddenly they all jumped forward at once. I leapt into the air and did a complete back flip and ended up behind them. Hitting two of them in the kidneys with my now bright purple fists, they screamed in pain and dropped like two bags of crap.

Leaping into the air again, I caught Abdul full in the face with a roundhouse right foot that had him spitting teeth.

“Bitch!” He screamed. Kill her! The one remaining attacker I hadn’t struck spun on me with a knife. A bolt of energy shot out of my hand and caught him squarely in the face. He dropped, and didn’t move. The first two were starting to get back up, and I hit both of them in the head. They also dropped, remaining still.

Abdul rushed me with a curved dagger. This was too easy. I grabbed his arm and sent him flying through the air. Another back flip and I was right in front of him as he sprawled on the pavement. I focused on his mind and put his lights out with another psi bolt.

I looked around, and our little tussle had attracted some attention. I knew what I could do. I suggested to each of them that they had just seen a movie scene and that they should go home. They all went about their business.

I focused on the mind of the leader. He had been given marching orders from a person in Dearborn, a city famous for its heavy Muslim population. This Farouk was an Egyptian, so it made sense that he would have connections in the Islamic community in the U.S. I could replay his meeting. He had no idea who he was talking to, but his orders were to get me however they could, and to abuse me as much as they wanted to before I was shipped to Egypt.

I felt sick knowing what they could have done to me. I listened on. The nameless guy also had another team waiting to get me at home in case the first team failed. Oh, God. Mom and Dad!

I got into my car and drove towards the house. I was speeding, trying to get caught, trying to lure the police to my house. Where were they? Any other time, the doughnut eating bastards are on every street corner. My little Prius wasn’t exactly built for speed, but I was doing at least 30 over the speed limit.

I dialed 911 and got a recording that the lines were busy. How convenient. What were the odds that this was connected to me? Why? What was it about me, one little girl that warranted all this attention from someone I’d never even met? There was no way I was that important.

I got to the street a block from my house. Parking my car, I got out and quieted my mind. Where were the sons of bitches? I began to pick up thoughts. They were focused on my house. Mom and Dad were inside, ok. They were being held hostage. Three men inside, four men outside. What could I do?
I felt a hand clamp around my mouth, stifling my scream.

“Shhh, girl. It’s me!” It was Sensei Ozawa. I was never so glad to see anyone in my life.

“They’ve got Mom and Dad!” I whispered. “Seven men total. Three inside, four outside.”

“I know. This is a very dangerous situation. Also a bomb inside the house”

Tears filled my eyes. “What do we do? Please help me!”

He grasped my face in his hands, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “Calm down, child. Focus on the problem. No crying. Time for that later.” I calmed myself.

After I had regained control, I thought more clearly. “I can take them out mentally from here.”

He shook his head. “Shadow King has protected these men from all but the most powerful and direct of attacks. You will have to confront them directly and one at a time to defeat his protection.”

I sighed. “We are so screwed.”

Looking me in the eyes, he asked if I knew what I could do. “Yes, I think. What do you need me to do?”

“What you did to the men in the street, your psi bolts.”

I looked at him with my mouth open. “You mean you saw me fighting those men and did nothing to help me?”

He covered my mouth again. “Quiet! Yes, I saw, but you didn’t need my help. Baby bird never flies if mother doesn’t kick her out of the nest.”

“Yes, but…”

“But nothing. Focus on problem at hand. Mother and Father are depending on you.”

“Okay, I get it. I’ll take the four outside?”

“Yes. You know where they are. Use your mind to shield you. Get close, then strike, like a snake” Follow my mind. I will tell you when to strike.” He moved off toward the house. I knew where I had to go. Soon, the command was heard. Go!

I found number one in a tree, looking towards my anticipated direction of travel. I focused, and hit him with a bolt of energy that stilled his thoughts. He was out. I walked quietly towards the next one. I couldn’t use my telepathy to knock him out, but I could cause him to hear a dog barking to cover my footsteps. I went behind him and chaged my fist and hit him as hard as I could in the head. He quit moving.

The next one was closer to my house. He had an ear bud and radio. He was speaking in Arabic. I rolled up behind him and used my “psychic dagger” to short circuit his brain. I felt him go limp.

The last one was in the driveway, behind a bush. I circled around the house and made some noise. The man came toward the sound. I was five feet to the right of the sound I had created for him to hear. Two fists to the solar plexus and one to the jaw ended his night.

All clear outside, Sensei.

Very good, child. Your parents have been drugged. I’m bringing them out, fall back towards the street.

Are they okay?

They are fine, just sleeping. I’ve got them now. He paused in his thoughts. Oh, no. Betsy! Run! Ru…

Then our house, my home, exploded. I was knocked back 15 feet by the blast. My ears ringing, I tried to focus on what had happened. Where was I? What was that fire? Was I camping? Slowly, my mind began to focus. Mom? Dad? Suddenly the realization of what happened hit me. I screamed for mommy and daddy, and passed out.

I was awaked by the sounds of sirens as they pulled up to the ruins of our house. I tried to get up, but a fireman held me back, saying that they had it under control. I screamed “MY PARENTS ARE IN THERE!” Immediately, rescue teams tried to enter the structure, but they were driven back by the flames.

I tried to get up, but there was nothing I could do. I tried to find Mom and Dad, but there was nothing. I tried to find Sensei Ozawa, but there was nothing. Please, God, no. Not Mom and Dad. Not my parents.

I was numb. I watched as my world burned down. I felt a pair of arms encircle me. “I’m so, so sorry, Betsy.” It was Tracy. Somehow, she found out about the fire, and came to me. I dissolved into tears. I wanted to die too.

A medic tried to get me to go to the hospital. I wasn’t leaving without my family. I screamed at him to leave me alone. Tracy looked at him and waved him off. I was fine. I wanted my parents.

Tracy! They’re dead. Everything is gone. What will I do?

I’m still here, Betsy. I’m not leaving you. You need to get to the hospital, honey.

I can’t, Trace. I have to know. For sure.

They’re gone, honey. You know. You don’t want to see the bodies, do you?

No. Take me away, Tracy.

Tracy rode with me to the hospital. I was fairly shaken up, with some cuts and bruises. They said I was lucky. What a joke. I wanted to die right there. Even Tracy being there with me wasn’t much help. I knew one thing. If that asshole in Egypt wanted to get my attention, he did. And he was going to regret what he did to my family. I would kill everyone he sent after me, until he got tired of sending people, then, I would kill him.

Agent Morgan was at the hospital two hours after I got there. I was pretty well cleaned up by the time he arrived. I wanted some answers. Tracy and her parents were with me. I told them to give us a couple of minutes alone.

He reached to hug me. I let him, because I could sense he was extremely upset by my loss. “I’m so sorry about your parents, Betsy. Is there anything I can do?”

“I need some answers, Agent Morgan. This was done by Shadow King. He killed my parents, and tried to kill me. How did he know where to find me? I didn’t give anything to him. I know it! The only way he could have found out about me was through your agency! You are the only ones who knew everything about me, and how to reach me.”

My voice was shaking. I continued. “I trusted you, Agent Morgan. I trusted the Government and look what it got me! My parents are dead, Agent Morgan! What has your precious Agency done to protect me? Am I some sort of asset that you help when it is convenient?”

Agent Morgan, to his credit, didn’t interrupt. “I understand what you are feeling, Betsy. I really do.”

“How? How can you know?”

“I lost my parents on 9/11. They were on the first plane to hit the Towers. I know exactly how you feel, Betsy.”

I was out of anger at that point. All I could do was cry on his shoulder. He was hurting too, I sensed it. He felt the same sense of betrayal I felt. He suspected a leak. I cried out my anger and frustration and sorrow. I lost my friend, Sensei Ozawa. I hadn’t even thought about him until now. He understood. How could this have gone so wrong?

When I had finished crying, Agent Morgan looked me in the eyes. “I promise you, Betsy. I will get to the bottom of this. Anything you need, anything at all, you call me, and it will be done. This does not happen on my watch. We’ll fix it, and make sure whoever is responsible pays. Okay?”

“Okay.” Was all I could say. I was exhausted. The events of the day and lack of sleep caught up with me. I passed out.

I slept for the next twelve hours. I had a private room thanks to Agent Morgan, and a guard was posted outside my door. Tracy and her parents never left.

I woke late the next afternoon. I was hungry, and Tracy called for some food. I was still in a state of denial, and I couldn’t deal with everything that needed to be done. I was an only child, and I had no close relatives. Tracy’s parents told me they would make all of the arrangements. I couldn’t thank them enough. They and Tracy were all I had now. Money meant nothing to me. I’m sure Dad’s insurance policies were in the multi millions, but I would have traded everything to see them one more time. I couldn’t think.

I ate in silence. Tracy was sitting next to me, rubbing my back. I loved it when she did that. I let her. I needed someone to touch me, to make me feel like I was still here. As I finished eating, I asked Tracy to let me meditate. I wanted to reach that state of peace again. She sat on the chair next to the bed, and I focused deep inside. The colors reappeard. Then, I was on a hill looking at the night sky. It was a wonderful, warm night. There were no clouds, and no city lights to dim the view. I was enjoying the peace.

“Nice night for stars, isn’t it, child?” It was Sensei Ozawa.

I was calm completely drained of emotion. It was like he had never died. “Why are you here?”

He shrugged. “Good question, one that I’m not sure I have an answer to. I guess a part of me imprinted on you. Or I’m not really all dead, a ghost, I don’t know.”

Looking at him, I asked the obvious. “What happened in the house?”

“I made a mistake. There was a trip wire. Then, nothing”

“Why can’t I find Mom and Dad?” I asked, leaning back on my elbows.

“You’ll find them eventually. They are happy where they are, And that should be good enough for now.”

“What is this place?”

It’s the source of your powers, I guess you could say its home. That’s why you feel so at peace here. It’s where you can come to get away from the care of life. To center yourself and gain control.”

“Why can’t I stay here?”

He smiled. “If you want your body to turn into a brain dead zombie, then I guess you could. I wouldn’t. Look, you’ve already been here for over three hours. Go back. We can talk later.”

My eyes snapped open. It was dark, and Tracy was asleep. I felt strangely rested and calm. The pain was dimmed a little bit. I could still visit with my friend and advisor, even if he was quite probably a figment of my imagination. Mom and Dad were happy now. I knew that. I still missed them terribly, but I would be able to carry on. The people that did this had to pay.

~o~O~o~
“Cain Marko on line 3, sir.”

Amahl Farouk picked up the line. “I thought I asked you to come here to Egypt, Marko.”

“You did, and I’m tellin’ ya I ain’t your lap dog to come whenever you call. I have responsibilities with my real job. You know, Security Chief? Queen Industries? Whaddaya want?”

Farouk smiled. Humans, so full of themselves. “It’s not what I want, but what you want, Cain. Power? An unlimited supply? It’s your choice. Come, don’t come. I’ll find someone to do my bidding.”

“You see? That’s your problem. I ain’t around to do anyone’s bidding but my own. I read what you sent me, about some little girl. I’ve got my plate full with another little girl runnin’ things here. Besides, she’s nothin’ that a big mouth like you can’t handle. If your freaks can’t handle one girl, then I may consider your ‘offer’. But remember, Cain Marko is no man’s slave.”

“I’m a patient man, Cain. This little girl has power, and the potential to cause me no end of trouble. There are more like her, too. Remember, I have what you want, something that a job will never give you. Consider my offer.”

“Yeah, ok. I’ll be in touch”

Cain hung up the phone. “One of these days, I’m gonna squash that arrogant bastard.”

Farouk rolled the red gem in his meaty fist. Marko would come. Eventually.

Chapter 5
Enter The Juggernaut

I was discharged from the hospital the next day. As they wheeled me out to the Moore’s SUV, I couldn’t help feeling like every eye was on me, the freak who got her parents killed. On a conscious level, I knew no one noticed me, but the guilt I felt was still gnawing at me. Those people stole my innocence, and I could never get it back, no matter how many I killed or maimed on the path to revenge.

I kept my eyes straight ahead. Shutting my mind down, I didn’t want to know what anyone was thinking. I needed to get back to my center and work through the feelings I was having. I would never have my mother to show me the finer points of being a girl, or a woman. Never have those talks late at night when things were going wrong and I needed a boost to my self esteem. No one would love me like my mother.

What about Dad? Who would walk me down the aisle if I got married? Would I have kids? Could I have kids? They wouldn’t have a grandfather. I wasn’t the son he had raised, but a lot of the girl I became was because of his encouragement. Looking at my lap, I was glad I wore sunglasses. I didn’t think I could cry more tears, but they wouldn’t stop. I loved how the meditation made me feel. All of my emotions melted away, and I felt focused and calm. Everything made sense there. Here, nothing did. I was a scared little girl in a big world where everyone, it seemed, was out to get me.

“Okay, Betsy” Carla, my nurse prompted. “We’re here.”

Slowly, I raised my head, and stared numbly at the Moore’s SUV waiting for me. Agent Morgan had arranged for the Moore’s to be my guardians. They volunteered, and I wasn’t going to be shipped off to some foster home for a few months.

“Thank you, Carla.” I got out of the chair and stepped to the vehicle. Tracy was waiting for me and helped me into the vehicle.

I heard Carla before the door shut. “Take care, Betsy. I’ll be praying for you.”

I nodded slowly and gave her a weak smile. She was a good person, who was very sympathetic to me. She had lost her parents early too, and she took extra time with me. Prayers I could use, but they wouldn’t help the people I was going to destroy to redeem the lives of my parents.

That thought scared me. Would I become a cold blooded killer like the assassins? I didn’t want that either. I wanted justice, but my justice was an eye for an eye. Everyone who had a part in my parents’ death would die. The one thing that saved me was that somehow, Sensei Ozawa didn’t seem to be gone. I could visit with him. I could still learn. And I would.

“Honey? Betsy?” Tracy’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay? You’re so quiet.”

I don’t feel like talking, Tracy. It’s too much work. I projected.

Are you hungry?

No, just take me home, or your house, whatever.

I wish I could take all of this away, baby. I hurt for you like you wouldn’t believe.

I glanced in her direction. She had my hand and tears were flowing down her cheeks. Smiling, I leaned over and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I could taste her salty tears. I know you do, Trace. Just the fact that you are here for me now means everything to me. Remember, I can read you like a book.

Not unless I say you can, Einstein.

We held hands for the remainder of the trip home. Thankfully, the trip was relatively short. I went to get my bag and backpack, but Mr. Moore wouldn’t hear of it. “I’ve got this stuff, Betsy. You go on in.

“Thank you, Mr. Moore” I replied.

Tracy and I walked into the house, where Tracy’s mom was waiting for us. She came up to me and gave me a gentle hug that made me think of Mom. I started crying all over again.

“There, there, Betsy. Let it all out. We’re all so sorry for your loss. Your Mom and Dad were the best. We loved them too.”

I couldn’t reply. Sometimes I hated being emotional. I never was before, but the change affected me in that way. Now wasn’t one of those times. I felt so much better after a good cry, and if I didn’t have that outlet, I would have been suicidal.

I felt better after about three or four minutes. Mr. Moore and Tracy were standing by us, both with tears in their eyes.

I laughed a bit while I dabbed my eyes with a tissue. “I’m sorry for being such a crybaby. I can’t seem to help it.”

Mrs. Moore held my hand. “Don’t you think a thing about it, Betsy. You’re dealing with a terrible tragedy. We’re here to help you through it. Please don’t ever feel like you are a burden to us. You were like a son to us before, and now, you’re another daughter.”

“What about all of the arrangements for the…funeral?”

Mr. Moore spoke up. “It’s all taken care of, Betsy. You said handle it, and Mary and I did.”

“Thank you so much. I couldn’t have done it.”

“It was an honor to be asked. I can’t help but feel we are burying part of our family.” He paused, turning away, then, as if remembering something, he turned back to me. “There will be some issues to take care of, Betsy. You’ll have to sign off on the estate, but I’ve got our attorney working on it, and when he found out who you were, he wanted to do it pro bono.”

“That’s free, right?” I asked.

“Yes it is. I told him he didn’t have to, but he lost some loved ones in a terrorist attack, and wouldn’t hear of being paid.”

Sighing, I responded. “I’ll thank him when I see him. I just don’t know what else to say.”

“It’s okay, girl” said Tracy. “No one expects anything from you right now. Just heal.”

Mrs. Gestured like she remembered something “Oh! There was a package delivered for you. It’s a long package. It was addressed in something like Japanese or Chinese lettering, with your name and our address on the label. I put it in your room.”

Shrugging, I replied. “Thanks, Mrs. Moore. I’ll take a look at it. Where’s my room?”

“It’s the old guest room. We haven’t had time to change the décor yet. We’ll leave that to you.”

I went up to my room, and saw the package on the bed. I went over to the bed and sat, examining the package. It was then I realized something. I could read the writing on the label. It wasn’t like it appeared to me in English; I just knew what the symbols meant. The writing said ‘From your brothers of the Hand. This is the Fang of the Dragon Matsuo Ozawa. It is now yours. Strike our vengeance.’ The shipping label was just for the delivery man. The message was the writing.

I started to open the package carefully. As I tore the wrapping, I felt a sudden cramp in my lower tummy. Rubbing it, I realized I must be hungry. After unwrapping the package, I found an ornate box about three feet long. It was made of a dark wood, and was very ornate. It was hinged in the back. Opening it, I saw something that made me gasp. It was a sword. Specifically, it was a katana. It shone in the light. It was in its own indentation in the box, along with the scabbard. I picked it up, and the blade felt like nothing in my hand. The balance was perfect. I had some training with weapons, and I gave the blade a spin in my hand. The kind you see in the movies. I whirled it around in front of me in a figure eight pattern like I had been doing it my entire life. I had control of this thing, and I knew I could use it.

“What in the hell is going on? I shouldn’t be able to do this.” I said to no one. I then put on a display of sword handling that would put an Olympic athlete to shame, all in my little room. This was way cool. I sheathed the blade and took the mount out of the box. I put the mount on my dresser and placed the katana in its place. I bowed and left my room.

I went back downstairs, and went to the kitchen, rubbing my lower tummy.

Tracy saw me and asked me what was wrong.

“I don’t know, Trace. I have been getting some pains in my tummy.”

She came over to me. “What kind of pain?”

“I don’t know. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s down here, and it feels like a cramp, but I don’t have to go to the bathroom. I feel kind of…heavy, here” I pointed to my lower abdominal area.

Tracy began to smile. Come with me, my dear. She called her mom. “Mommmm? I think Betsy’s Aunt Flo is coming for a visit.”

From the other side of the house, I heard. “Oh goodie! Be right there, dear”

Baffled, I looked at Tracy like she was stupid. “What are you talking about? I don’t have an Aunt Flo. Where are we going?”

Mrs. Moore met us at Tracy and my shared bathroom. “Soo, you’ve finally arrived, huh. Welcome to the club!”

I was clueless “Okay, will someone let me in on the secret?”

Tracy crossed her arms. “You are so dense sometimes. Pull down your pants, Betsy.”

I pulled down my jeans to my knees. “Well?”

“Look in your panties.”

Pulling the waistband of my panties out, I looked down my panties. I didn’t see anything. “What!”

Rolling her eyes, she said. “Between your legs, dopey”

I looked at the crotch and gasped. There was blood. Then I understood. “Oh, shit!”

Tracy and her mother had a good laugh at my expense. I had to smile too. Life goes on.

“What do I do” I shrieked. “This is sooo gross!”

Mrs. Moore stepped in. “Take it easy, Betsy. It’s nothing to get excited about. Let’s get you cleaned up and give you some options.

I got out of my clothes and took a shower. I bled some more in the shower and told Mrs. Moore, but she said it was nothing to worry about. I couldn’t help but think how strange this would have seemed to Brian. Standing in the shower bleeding and it was no big deal to anyone. It really wasn’t a big deal to me, it was just gross.

After stepping out of the shower, Tracy’s mom showed me what I could do. She had a pad and a tampon. She explained the differences and what I could do. I really didn’t want anything up inside me, but Mrs. Moore thought I should learn how to use one. She showed me how, and I put it in. It wasn’t so hard, and I didn’t really feel it. She told me to wear it until bedtime, and then to take it out and dispose of it. Then I could wear a pad to sleep in. She told me how to properly dispose of them.

Mrs. Moore told me to go into my room. She said they had bought me some basics to replace some of what I lost in the fire. I hadn’t even thought of that. I found some new panties–my size, yay–and a pair of short shorts and a cute pink tee. I loved that look. I loved it on Tracy when I was Brian, and I loved to wear it as Betsy. I went over to Tracy’s room. She was on her bed, painting her nails a really cute shade of pink.

“Hey, sweetie! Are you all situated now?” She asked.

“Yes, thanks to your mom. She’s a good teacher.”

She blew on her right hand. “So you weren’t freaked out standing around naked in front of my mother?”

Wrinkling my nose, I responded “No, should I have been?”

“Brian would have been!” She giggled.

I started giggling too. “Brian’s gone bye bye, girlfriend. Elizabeth’s in the house!”

I looked at her painting her nails. “Could you do that for me? I’ve never done that before.”

“I thought you’d never ask! Let me get dry, and we’ll start on you. What color would you like?”

Thinking a moment, I had an idea. “I like purple, to match my eyes. Do you have a color like that?”

She laughed. “I’ve got every color know to man, and some they haven’t thought of yet. I am the original nail polish nut. To me, it’s the best part of being a girl. I love having pretty nails.”

She found a shade in her collection that worked. It wasn’t exact, but very close. I kept my nails short, and fortunately, my toes were in good shape as well. I had learned nail care in my girl training in the hospital with Mom. I had just never thought about painting my nails. It wasn’t job number one with everything else I was dealing with at the time.

Tracy worked on my fingers with care, putting on two coats and a gloss topcoat. My nails shone. I couldn’t quit looking at them. “They’re perfect, Tracy! Thank you!”

She hugged me. “You’re welcome, baby. So, do you want to try it yourself on your toes?”

“Yes! Just don’t let me screw it up.”

“It’s not a big deal, Betsy. Toes are easier. Your piggies are cute, so you’ll look fantastic.”

Tracy showed me how to do the painting without messing up. I caught on right away, and soon was the proud owner of some rad purple toenails. They really set my feet off. I would look so cute in my sandals.

Tracy and I had fun doing the dinner dishes. She washed and I watched her wash. That’s fun for me! I was able to forget the reason I was on this extended “sleepover”. I was now a member of this family for the remainder of my minor years. I think I can live with that.

The next couple of days were a blur for me. Mom and Dad’s visitation, followed the next day by the funeral. I was like a zombie for the most part. I didn’t want to face anyone, but my parents didn’t raise a coward, and I went through the motions. The visitation was crowded, with over 500 people filing in to pay their respects. One face blended into the next, and while I knew they meant well, I just wasn’t in the mood for company.

A few of my friends from school came, and I did appreciate that, as I know I wouldn’t have wanted to spend and evening at a funeral home. Mostly girls that I had met since coming back, but a few guy friends as well from my boy days. I cried a few tears with them.

The funeral was really tough. I had a little panic attack when I had to leave the cemetery. I knew Mom and Dad were really gone then. They weren’t coming back. I wondered about Sensei Ozawa. His body was not found. The police suspected that he was close to the bomb and had been literally blown to bits. After what I had gone through, I wondered if that was really the case.

Riding back home with Tracy and her family, I looked at Tracy and said loudly, “I shouldn’t have to go through this! What did I ever do to deserve losing my family!” I was angry that someone decided to screw up my life for no good reason.

“I know, Betsy. But don’t let it make you bitter. Take this and let it make you stronger. If you let it eat at you, you’ll destroy yourself, and that is exactly what that jerk wants.”

She made sense. I could either feel sorry for myself, or focus on making myself better for the future. I would get back at Shadow King in my own way, at my own time. I felt better right away. Hugging Tracy, I thanked her for the good advice.

Cain Marko sat in the first class section of the 747 that was winging its way to Cairo. He had taken an extended leave of absence from Queen Industries. They seemed to have things well in hand since the boss’s death. In fact, his role had decreased since Mr. Queen died, and he was consulted less and less. Fine by him. He was getting bored with the job anyway.

At seven feet three inches tall and a rock solid three hundred ninety pounds, he barely fit in the bigger first class seats. “I hate flying commercial” he thought to himself. “No room to stretch”. Being large was an advantage most of the time, especially in his line of work, but in this case, it was like trying to fit ten pounds of crap in a five pound bag.

He had thought Farouk’s offer over and had called him back the next day. He’d take a look at it. He hated the arrogant bastard, but previous arrangements with Farouk had always been profitable, so what he hell. It’s only 16 hours in a sardine can.

He was greeted at the airport by a shady looking man with a sign with Marko’s name scrawled on it. He grabbed his luggage and got into the Mercedes limousine. At least it had leg room and a wet bar. A couple of glasses of Scotch, and he was feeling a little more sociable, which for Marko, was just a little better than a hungry crocodile.

The limo pulled up the palatial estate of Amahl Farouk on the west bank of the Nile. Cain shook his head at the ostentatious display. If it was meant to impress him, it failed miserably. It just pissed him off.

“Greetings, my friend!” smiled Farouk. “Welcome to my humble home.”

“Save it, Farouk.” Growled Marko. “I’m tired, and this deal you have for me had better be good, or they’ll be scraping what’s left of you off the walls. Got it?”

If the threat bothered Farouk, he didn’t let on. “Temper, my friend. I never make idle offers. I need a job done, and I would like you to do it. But first, you must by hungry after your long journey. Please, come and dine with me.”

“All right, something to eat sounds okay. We’ll talk business over the meal. I want to find out what’s on your mind.”

The meal was a sumptuous display of fruits, roasted lamb, and other Middle Eastern delights. Farouk was amazed at the amount of food that Cain put away. “Okay, Farouk. What’s the deal and what’s in it for me?”

“You know about the girl.”

“Yeah, so? You couldn’t take care of her?”

She killed at least ten of my men. She’s dangerous, and she is a threat to my interests. I don’t want to get personally involved, as I’m on several terrorist watch lists, for some reason.” He smiled thinly. “I can’t imagine why.”

Marko suspected that Farouk was one of the financiers for the Al Qaeda network, but he could never draw a line from a to b. He didn’t really care. As long as the cash kept coming, that was a call he didn’t feel compelled to make.

“One girl? She’s what, sixteen, seventeen?”

“She had abilities, Marko. I don’t know exactly what those are, but she has eluded my efforts to kill her thus far.”

“What about a sniper? Car bomb? You people seem to be good at that sort of thing.”

Farouk shook his head. “You know how hard that is to do in the States. For all of your faults, we haven’t been very good at doing that sort of thing there. Law enforcement is pretty good at weeding that sort of thing out, or you’d see it happening every day.”

“So what am I going to do? I kind of stand out in a crowd, and I ain’t no assassin, especially not of some little girl. Time’s runnin’ out for you, ‘friend’. What’s the deal?”

Farouk shifted uneasily. “I have a friend, a Mr. Cyrus Torak. He needs a representative here. I told him you would be a perfect candidate. Someone strong, mentally tough, and willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Interested?”

“Maybe. When do I meet him?”

Farouk got up. “Now, if you’d like. I’ll get him.” He pulled a red gem out of his pocket and set it in front of Marko. “I shall return in a few minutes.”

Farouk left and Marko looked at the gem. It looked to be a garnet or a ruby, large, and clearly valuable. He reached to pick it up. As he held it in his hand, a burst of crimson light emanated from the gem and surrounded Cain Marko. He saw in the light a being, clad in red armor and seated on a throne. Marko didn’t scare easily, but he was scared now.

“CAIN MARKO!” The being said. “I am Cyttorak, and I have chosen you to be my avatar on earth. I offer you power beyond your wildest imaginings. The power to move mountains, the power to destroy cities. You will be invulnerable to their puny weapons. All this and more for swearing loyalty to me.”

This was what Cain Marko had been looking for. He craved power like this. This was a no brainer. “I will, Cyttorak! Make it so!”

The light intensified. Marko felt pain like he had never felt before. His clothing disintegrated, and was replaced by armor that covered his torso. His arms were exposed. His head was covered by a skullcap, them a domed helmet. He them began to grow. Larger than any human, nearly ten feet tall. His arms and legs expanded with huge musculature. Bands of metal encircled his biceps and forearms, his fists were also encircled with metal bands. Tight red pants appeared, ending in huge boots.

“The change is complete, my Juggernaut. Go, and wreak my havoc on the earth!”

The crimson light vanished, and Cain Marko was no more. In his place, stood the Juggernaut, the avatar of destruction.

Cain looked at his new form. “This is more like it, baby!” He looked at himself in a mirror. He was truly fearsome in appearance. “FAROUK! Get in here!”

Farouk came into the room, and stopped short at what he saw. Cyttorak hadn’t told him about this. He was supposed to get Marko here for a reason. But this? He remained calm and spoke. “So, are you happy with the change?”

“Definitely. I have power that I never knew existed!”

“Will you accept this job?”

Juggernaut laughed. “One little girl is the best you got? Sure. I’ll do it. But it had better be worth it, or I’ll be back. For you. No one plays the Juggernaut.”

Farouk abandoned his disguise and appeared in front of Juggernaut as Shadow King. I am not without my abilities as well. He focused his telepathic might at Marko. Nothing happened.

“Nice try, ugly. Brain games don’t work with me. I figured something was up with you, I just didn’t know what. But I’ll tell you something…”

Juggernaut’s right fist lashed out and connected with Shadow King. His body went crashing through walls in four rooms, and he ended up in the courtyard. Stunned, he shook his head as Marko crashed out of the mansion behind him.

“Don’t ever try that shit with me again, or you’ll find out what I can really do. Got it?”

Rubbing his jaw, Shadow King assented. “I understand. The information you need is in this package.” A manila envelope appeared in Shadow King’s hand. Juggernaut took the package and rumbled off, out into the desert.

“Damn Cyttorak! I’ll never listen to him again!” Shadow king paused, then laughed. He wasn’t really hurt. It would take more than one punch, even from the Juggernaut, to finish him. He had just unleashed a monster on the world. Chaos would ensue, and that was what he wanted. And if Betsy Braddock paid the price, so much the better.

Chapter 6

I was back in school for the first time since the death of my parents. Most people were very nice or just left me alone, which was fine by me. I didn’t read anyone’s thoughts, simply because I didn’t really care what anyone was thinking. Being used to people’s terrible thoughts, reading them wasn’t a top priority for me. Getting through the day without going insane was. My parents were dead, my life was uprooted, and I had to learn to live life as a girl. I wasn’t embarrassed about my situation, what happened was outside of my control, and I was happy with what I had become.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to ride the bus. That would have been torture, and I wasn’t sure if I could maintain control is pushed. Tracy drove us to school, but sensed I wasn’t in a talking mood, and left me to my thoughts.

Everything was manageable until our physical education class. Some of the other girls were not shy about telling me they didn’t want a “she male” in their locker room. One of them, Deidre Poston, made the mistake of getting physical with me. She was a large girl, known for bullying other girls.

“Hey, freak!” she called. “What the hell are you doing in the girl’s room? I don’t remember he she freaks being allowed out of the zoo!” There were a few laughs from the peanut gallery, the miserable leeches in her crew that didn’t have the guts to stand on their own.

Sighing, I replied, “Deidre, I’m just as much girl as anyone here. I have the medical opinions to back that up, so please leave me alone, okay?” There were a few girls that agreed, and spoke out in support.

Laughing as she looked around, she retorted, “My boyfriend always thought you were a little faggot, Braddock. Did you like wearing panties growing up?” More laughter from the peanuts.

I had a lot of training in dealing with situations like this in my martial arts studies. I could also sense that she had serious self esteem issues herself that were coming out in anger. I didn’t want to fight, but I wasn’t going to back down, either. She had me by 20 pounds and 3 inches in height. There were some boys that wouldn’t mess with this girl. I was only half dressed for class, in a tee and my underwear. I hadn’t had time to put on my shorts. “Whatever, Deidre. I don’t have time for this.” I turned to put on my shorts, and she took this opportunity to decide to grab for my hair. Her first and last mistake. I read her thoughts before she moved.

I ducked, spun and swept her legs out from under her, and was on her before she hit the floor. My fist was poised above her surprised face. I looked at her and quietly said “Leave…Me…Alone…Got it?”

She nodded her head vigorously. There was terror in her eyes.

I got up and continued dressing. The locker room was deathly quiet as everyone returned to what they were doing. Deidre got up and returned to her locker, her face beet red.

The class continued, we played some volleyball, and a few girls came up to thank me for cutting Deidre down to size. I didn’t really care one way or another about the incident. I just wanted to be left alone. I was numb, and I had no use for anyone outside of my little circle. I ate lunch with Tracy, and we talked about our day.

“I heard you took out the fat bitch of the west. Is that true” she asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, but it isn’t something I’m proud of. She’s really just an unhappy little girl who never grew up. I hope she has the good sense to just let it go, but I doubt it. I can see her troll of a boyfriend getting involved sometime, but I hope not”

Tracy giggled. “Oh, sweetie, you sound just like the guy on ‘Kung Fu’! All ‘strong and silent’. I think you’re cute like that!”

I started smiling at that. Tracy could always make me laugh when I didn’t really want to. I had to give her a hug. “Thanks for being here for me. Trace” I laughed then started crying. “I miss my old life, Tracy” I said through the tears. “I miss Mom and Daddy and being normal.”

She returned my hug and said quietly. “Its okay, Betsy. You didn’t ask for any of this, and you’ve handled yourself like a lady. I’m so proud of you, and I know your mom and dad are too.”

I had to chuckle at that. “Handle myself like a lady?”

Tracy smiled and replied, “Well, you are one, Betsy”

I smiled, even through my tears. “Yes, I guess I am”

As the day wore on, more people knew what had happened to Deidre. I could hear them thinking. Some good, some bad, but at least no one bothered me. I heard someone thinking that “they were going to get that bitch (me)”. I didn’t know who it was, but if they tried anything, they would regret it.

After school was out, Tracy and I went to our car in the parking lot. I looked across and saw Deidre and her boyfriend, a hulking piece of work named Jess Stapleton looking at me from across the lot. He glared at me as she talked to him. I knew he was getting half the story, and that innocent little Deidre was cruelly attacked by the mean freak.” Great. That’s all I needed right now, some lame brain and his buddies gunning for me. Oh, well, I thought. I can’t worry about that now. It wasn’t like I thought they had a chance against me anyway.

“Let’s go to the park and sit and do some homework, Betsy” chirped Tracy. “The sun will do us some good, and we can relax”

“That’s a great idea, babe!” I replied. “That will be just what the doctor ordered. Let’s stop and get a couple of frappucinos from Starbucks on the way”

“Okay, girlfriend, let’s go!”

We got our frappucinos; both of us liked vanilla, and headed to the closest park. The temperature was 75 degrees and sunny, and it was tailor made for a couple of hours soaking up some sun. Tracy laid out the blanket, and we settled in to study, sipping our drinks. We giggled like a couple of normal high school girls, about everything and nothing.

In spite of being distracted by every little thing that walked by, we both managed to get at least a couple of assignments out of the way. Then, I began to get a bad feeling. I looked around, but couldn’t see anyone threatening.

“What’s wrong, honey?” asked Tracy.

“I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling, like someone is watching us. We need to go. Now”

Tracy gathered the blanket, and I tossed out trash in the nearest can. I looked, but all I saw were a couple of cyclists and a very large man sitting on one of the park benches, feeding the geese. None of them were paying any attention to us. Then I heard Tracy scream.

Turning around, I saw she was surrounded by five guys from school, all of them I recognized as being friends of Jess Stapleton. And there in the middle, holding Tracy by the throat was Jess, who had a knife in his hand.

Jess Stapleton was a gang member, belonging to a group associated with the Latin Kings, or so I was told. He was exceptionally ugly, with an acne scarred face and terrible dental hygiene. Perfect for his ugly girlfriend.

I sprinted over to Tracy, forgetting how unthreatening I must have looked, dressed as I was in a pastel blue tunic top and skinny jeans. All the running accomplished was to make my boobs bounce uncomfortably. Cute girls don’t really inspire fear.

“Hello, bitch,” he sneered.

“Please, just leave us alone Jess”. I tried the innocent girl approach, hoping there was some humanity left in him.

“Too late for that, bitch, you should have thought about that before you messed with my woman”

“She came after me, Jess. And I didn’t touch her. I just took her down. You don’t have to do this”

All of Jess’ buddies started laughing. Jess was looking at me very strangely. I knew what he had on his mind without reading it. Tracy and I were in trouble. “Jess” I warned. “You are about to make a terrible mistake”

“I think I’ll find out how much of a girl you’ve become, freak. After all, you are kind of hot. Your little girl friend here will make a nice fuck too” Tracy wilted at that and started crying. Jess just laughed at her, and hit her in the head with the butt of his knife. She wilted, unconscious.

That did it. Something snapped in me. I could have just mind pushed them to leave, but they had picked the wrong day, the wrong girl and the wrong metahuman. I went into supergirl mode.

“You son of a bitch!” I screamed. “I’ll kill you for that!”

They all laughed. They wouldn’t laugh again.

I leapt forward to the nearest goon. He evidently didn’t think I could kick as high or as hard as I did, because he didn’t protect his face. After my roundhouse kick crushed his jaw, he collapsed. Four to go.

Another jumped forward at me, just as the daggers of light erupted from my fists one shot to the solar plexus and another to his temple, and he was gone. Three to go.

Two of them tried to high-low me. My senses were heightened and I read their intent long before their dim brains could make their bodies move. I leapt into the air like a cat, spreading my legs like a cheerleader does. The two idiots ran into each other and I finished them off with two hard shots to the back of the head. One more.

Jess was shocked that I had handled his idiots so easily. He was a big kid, easily 8 inches taller than me and a good 100 pounds heavier. It didn’t matter. He screamed as he rushed me. I easily dodged his attack and hit the pressure point in his wrist, causing him to drop his knife. I followed this with a kick to his back that was meant to throw him off balance and send him sprawling to the ground.

I picked up his knife and looked at him as he rolled to get back on his feet. “You boys and your toys” I mocked him, shaking my head. “You’re nothing without them, are you?”

“You bitch! I’ll kill you!” he screamed.

I smiled at him. “I’ll tell you what, little boy” I paused, and threw the knife into a tree twenty five feet away, where it stuck into the trunk. “If you can get by me, I’ll let you have your little toy back”

I saw the first signs of fear in Jess. He knew he was beaten, but couldn’t accept it. He got up and spit in my direction. “You are dead, bitch”

“Yeah, I know, dickless. You’re talking me to death right now. COME ON!”

With a scream of rage, he charged me, expecting me to dodge. I didn’t, and struck him full in the solar plexus with all I had, energy daggers and all. He wilted and collapsed onto the ground. Out cold. They were all out. It took me all of about 30 seconds.

I ran over to Tracy, who had a cut in her scalp that was bleeding pretty heavily. I ran over to one of the gang bangers and ripped his bandanna off. Running back to Tracy, I held her head in my lap and applied pressure to the wound.

“Tracy? Tracy? Please wake up for me, ok?” I began to cry. I looked around and screamed for help, but no one was within sight. Great. Where are those donut munching bastards when you need one?

I heard a voice behind me “She’ll be okay, Betsy. Just a bump on the head”

I looked behind me, and there stood the largest man I had seen in all my life. He had to be eight feet tall, and had muscles on top of muscles. Men didn’t get that big, did they?

“Help us, please” I cried. “Tracy is hurt”

The man knelt down and looked at Tracy, touching her head and looking at her eyes. For such a large man, he was really gentle with her.

He looked at me and smiled a bit. “She’ll be fine, Betsy. Help is on the way.”

“How do you know my name? Do I know you?” I asked. Dabbing my eyes with my sleeve, I asked, “Who are you?”

“My name is Cain Marko. And actually, someone we both know sent me to kill you” he said calmly.

I bowed my head in defeat. Tears ran down my face. “Shadow King?”

“Yes”

I sighed heavily and began sobbing. “Okay, I give up. I can’t fight anymore. Just please, don’t hurt Tracy”

I couldn’t even look up. I knew I was dead and I just keeled there, with Tracy’s head in my lap. I looked through my tears into her face, and I stroked her cheek. “Goodbye, baby. I love you”

Looking up at the giant, I whispered “I’m ready”

He smiled at me and grasped my chin in his huge hand. “Don’t worry, little girl. You are the last person who has to fear the Juggernaut. You are very brave. Not at all like the person described to me by that weasel. Shadow King indeed. No, he’ll have to do his own dirty work with you.”

“Y-you aren’t going to kill me?”

“Hardly, Betsy. Killing you would be like squashing a butterfly. It wouldn’t make sense” He stood up to his full height. Let me show you who I really am.”

As he stood if front of me, crimson light exploded from his body. He grew even larger, and metal bands appeared around his fists, biceps and forearms. A huge helmet appeared over his head. Then the light faded away. In front of me was what could only be described as a human battering ram. If he was even human.

“I am the Juggernaut, Betsy. I am the living embodiment of power. Killing you would be easy, and totally wrong. Even for me. If Shadow King ever bothers you, I’ll be there to help. Just for you. Take care, Betsy Braddock”

He ran off, incredibly fast for someone so huge. Sirens were blaring in the distance, getting closer. Tracy began to moan, snapping me out of my stupor.

“W-what happened, Betsy?” She moaned.

“Tracy! You’re awake! Shh-for now. We’ll talk about it later”

The ambulance arrived, along with the police. They wanted to know what happened, but I was going to the hospital with Tracy. I played hurt and got into the ambulance with Tracy. I had a lot to think about.

This one is a little explicit. It does have a sex scene.
Beware, boys and girls.

Chapter 7

The police caught up with me at the hospital. I was going to have to answer their questions whether I wanted to or not. I was sitting with Tracy as her head was being stitched up. She was going to need a couple after what that creep Jess did to her. Just thinking about his grimy hands touching my baby made me angry all over again.

A man in a cheap suit came in to the room. He smelled of coffee and cigarettes and made me want to barf. “Miss Braddock? I’m Detective Boston. I need to ask you a few questions about what happened at the park today. Can we speak in private?”

“Okay, I guess” I answered in my best scared little girl voice. Maybe his paternal instinct would allow him to take it easy on me.

“Now, don’t play that innocent card with me, miss. There are five boys in intensive care because of you, and I want to know why and how.”

Okay, if he wanted to play it that way. I was game. “Oh, I don’t know. How does attempted rape sound? Tracy and I were minding our own business in the park when those morons decided to try to rain on our parade. I didn’t do anything but defend myself and my girlfriend.”

I could sense his disgust at the girlfriend remark. “I seem to remember a story about a boy who suddenly changed sexes this last summer. One Brian Braddock. Parents took a
dirt nap in an explosion a few weeks later. Is that you?”

That comment hurt. This pig was starting to make me angry. My eyes welled up. “You bastard! You know good and well those were my parents. How dare you be so disrespectful to them!” He was trying to make me angry, I knew.

“Watch your mouth, you little delinquent” he warned. “I’ll run you in for assault on those boys right now”

“You do that, you donut munching pig, and I’ll start a shit storm that you won’t believe.”

That got to him. He was the one losing control now. He held his temper, but just barely. His next words were slow and measured, intended to intimidate me into silence. “I know what you are, freak. I’ve done my research. All over the globe, there are boys turning into girls and the other way around. Freaks that shouldn’t even exist, with powers and abilities that God never intended man to have. All of you making my job a lot harder and more dangerous. And to top it off, you don’t even have the decency to have a natural affection. So, you shut your smart little mouth or I’ll make you wish you were never born”

That might have worked on someone who didn’t have the mental ability that I had. I could push a suggestion into his head that would have him wearing his wife’s panties, but I wasn’t going to do that yet. Maybe.

I snapped back “You just try it, bub” Bub? Where did THAT come from?

“All right, little girl, you just punched your ticket” He then reached back for his handcuffs, and was ready to try to put them on when he was interrupted by a cold, businesslike voice.

“That will be enough, Detective Boston. I’ll take it from here” The voice came from a man who, for all intents and purposes, could have been one of the agents from the movie “The Matrix”. Complete with the shades and the crisp black suit.

The detective turned around and sputtered “Who in the hell are you”

“Smith. Agent Smith, Homeland Security. I’ll be handling this case from now on”

Cool. He even sounds like the Agent Smith from the movie!

“This is outside your jurisdiction, Agent Smith.”

“Really. You should be receiving a call from your supervisor about now”

Detective Pig’s phone began to vibrate. He looked down at it with some trepidation, and then answered. “Boston. Yes sir, he’s here……But….But….It’s not his case!......Yes sir, very well.”

“Nice talking to you, Detective Boston. Good day” He spoke in his Agent Smith monotone

Ohhh, this guy is good. I looked down to avoid having the detective see me smile.

Detective Pig looked at me and spat “This isn’t over, freak”

“Yes it is, Detective. Let me be clear, Detective. You are to have no further contact with Miss Braddock under any circumstances. She is Homeland Security’s responsibility from this point forward. You can go now.”

Detective Boston was nearly apoplectic. “We’ll see about that, Mr. Agent Smith. I’m just getting started.” His mind was REALLY easy to read. He then stormed out of the hospital.

I looked at Agent Smith. “You know he’s not going away quietly, don’t you?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, I know. He’ll be met at his car by a few more of our Agents. He’ll play ball, eventually.” Taking off his sunglasses, he held out his hand. “Special Agent Tom Finn, Betsy. Nice to meet you.”

My mouth dropped open as I shook his hand. “Agent Finn? What about Agent Smith?”

He smiled, which, by the way, was a really cute smile. He looked a lot like Agent DiNozzo on NCIS. “Everyone in the Agency thinks I look like one of the agents from the Matrix series when I gear up. The Smith thing really intimidates people that don’t know any better, and sometimes, even those who do. Besides, that clown was a jackass”

I found myself looking at him, wondering what it would be like to kiss him. I felt my face flush. I looked down, embarrassed, hoping he didn’t notice. He was really cute. “Ack! Easy, girl, don’t get carried away. You’re spoken for”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Uh, y-yes. Just a little stressed, I guess. It was a pretty big day”

“Yeah. I’ll bet. About that. Hal assigned me your case. I’ll be looking after you for the next few weeks.” He paused, checking for any eavesdroppers. “Most of the time, you won’t even know that I’m there. But I’ll have your back.”

“Why?” I queried. “What’s so special about me?”

He smiled that pretty smile again. “Easy. You have a gift that is very useful, and you have been determined to be an extremely cooperative asset. You are one of the good guys, so to speak, and we are going to take very good care of you.”

I blushed even harder. Smiling, I asked “So you’re my other guardian Angel?”

“You got it!” He then said, “Now get back to your friend, and we’ll talk again later tonight”

I got back in to Tracy, who was done getting stitched. “Thanks for waiting with me” she pouted.

I gave her a big hug and kiss. “Oh, you big baby. I had to talk to that pig of a detective and I met the cutest Agent from Homeland Security. He’s been assigned to me for a few weeks.

Tracy frowned. “Cutest Agent? I’m jealous already. Do I have anything to worry about?”

“Heavens, no, Trace. He’s like 30 or something, and I suspect he might be married. But it is nice to know that a male can light my fire a little bit, isn’t it? I mean, I AM a girl!”

Tracy squeezed my rear end, which made me a little weak in the knees and made my tummy do a little flip. “I suppose, just as long as you come to me for relief!”

Laughing, I replied “I’ll remember that, mistress”

“See that you do, my little love slave” She then proceeded to curl my toes with a kiss. My heart jumped three beats. Any more of that, and I would have to change panties when I got home.

Tracy’s parents met us as we got to the lobby. They had taken her car back home and came to the hospital to pick us up after I assured them everything was all right. They knew she was safe with me.

After we got back to the house, Tracy excused us to go to bed, saying we were tired. I tried to say something stupid, like I wasn’t tired, but a quick elbow from Tracy set me straight, and quiet. We went to our room, and I knew something was up.

“What’s the big deal, Tracy? I’m not tired! Agent Finn is coming later tonight to question me about today.”

“He’ll have to wait, little girl.” She looked at me with a look in her eyes I hadn’t seen in some time. “You’re mine for now” She kissed me on the lips, her tongue exploring my mouth. I returned the kiss. A fire was starting to build between my legs. I pulled away.

“Stop!” I gasped. “We can’t do this! Not here, and not now!”

“Yes we can, and we will.” She locked the door, and turned down the lights. “I’ve been waiting to do this since you changed, and tonight’s the night. I love you, and I’m done waiting”

I plopped down onto the bed. I didn’t want her to stop, not really. I wanted to be close to her again.

“Do you trust me, Elizabeth?” she whispered.

She called me Elizabeth. For some reason, that started me up. “Yes” was all I could say.

“Close your eyes, Elizabeth” I closed them. I was getting very excited now. It was completely different than anything I had experienced as a male. I let out a low moan as she began to undress me. She removed my top, my bra, followed by my jeans and my panties. I was completely naked before her. I obediently kept my eyes closed. The fire in my tummy was increasing, and I didn’t want it to stop.

She kissed my mouth, working down to my breasts, taking each nipple in her mouth very gently. I gasped as she did this, asking her not to stop.

Pulling back, she told me to open my eyes and to get on to the bed with my back on the pillow at the head. “Put your hands up to the posts, Elizabeth.”

I did what she asked me to do, and out of nowhere, she produced two soft nylon ropes, and gently but firmly tied my hands to each side. I was leaning back comfortably on the pillow, more in a reclining position than lying down. She then very slowly and gently pulled my legs apart and tied them to each side of the bed, being careful to put pillows under each of my knees.

My passion was building with each passing second, more than I had ever experienced in my life. “Please, Tracy” I whispered desperately. “I can’t stand it! Take me!”

She smiled an evil little smile. “All in good time, Elizabeth. I want you to learn a little lesson first” She then turned away to pull something out of her dresser. When she turned back, she said, “Open wide, honey. She produced a piece of cloth with a ball knot tied in the middle, and, placing the cloth ball between my teeth, she proceeded to tie the cloth tightly around my head, carefully avoiding pulling my hair into the knot. I was silenced, and getting really wet. I tried struggling a little bit, but the positioning of the ropes prevented me from moving much at all. I was completely helpless, and loving every bit of it. I tried to ask her something, but I couldn’t form any words.

“You look divine, Elizabeth. Good enough to eat. But we’ll get to that later. Comfy?”

I shook my head and mewed. Yes, I was physically comfortable, but my sex was on fire. I was desperate and wanted to convey that to Tracy.

She pulled the dressing mirror to the foot of the bed and positioned it so that I could see myself. I looked amazing. Completely helpless, I was spread and ready for whatever she had in store for me. My poor sex was on display, and at that moment I was glad we both had the Brazilian wax done. I looked like some desperate princess, ready to be taken. I moaned and squirmed helplessly.

“I think Elizabeth likes what she sees” Tracy teased. “So do I”

I don’t know why, but every time she talked about me in the third person, I got a little more aroused. I guess it was the objectification of my body, and the feminine sound of my name that did it.

All I could do was moan quietly and softly struggle. I wasn’t going anywhere, and in my excited state, I found I couldn’t focus my abilities. I had never had an orgasm as a female, and if the climax was as good as the buildup, my head would explode.

Now, Tracy started to gently touch me, around my nipples, and close, so close to my desperate vagina and clitoris. “I am doing this, Elizabeth, to let you know that to be a female is to sometimes relinquish control to your partner. You don’t always have to be tied up, but it really helps to train you. Before we met, I went through this with another girl, and I’ve never forgotten it. It was my first orgasm, and in some ways it was the best.”

Her touch was driving me crazy, and I really tried to move my hips to get more of her touch. I started mewing like crazy, moving my hips, trying to get her to touch the spot that really needed to be touched. I looked in the mirror, and looked at her. I was getting hornier by the second.

“Do you love me, Elizabeth?”

I nodded my head for all I was worth. I was trying to project “please” into her head, but I couldn’t focus. She was too good.

“I won’t enter you, sweetie. You are a virgin, and I want you to stay that way until we are married. The great thing about our plumbing is if you do it right, you won’t need to be penetrated to feel good. Are you ready?”

I nodded again, praying she would finish me off. I was starting to sweat, and I couldn’t pull my legs together to provide any friction. God, I was in heaven.

She began to lick and suck my nipples again, and quietly said “Keep your voice down, Elizabeth. You wouldn’t want the folks to find you like this!” She giggled evilly.

Somehow, that thought made me even more excited. What was going on? God, I loved this. I knew I had been given a great gift. I was suddenly so thankful to be a girl. There were drawbacks, I guess, but oh, the benefits!

Tracy took her clothes off and got on top of my sweaty body, and the slickness of our two bodies drove me crazy with desire. I tried to be quiet, but I was losing control quickly and began to squeal through my gag. Please, baby. Let me finish. God, let me finish.

Just when I thought I could take no more, Tracy kicked it up a notch. She softly touched my clitoris and an electric shock went through me. I screamed and thrashed against the ropes holding me.

Tracy smiled and said “Ready, honey?”

I nodded and she began to manipulate me I a way I didn’t think possible. Her fingers were all over my sex, sending me over the top. I screamed into the gag, not caring who heard or what anyone thought. My mind shut down. All I could think of was the wonderful waves of electricity coursing through my entire body, centered in my tummy and radiating outwards. Then, the waves lessened and faded. I was dripping wet from exertion, and completely happy. I could get used to this.

“Is Elizabeth happy?”

I nodded and sighed. I wanted to kiss her so badly. I wanted to give her the pleasure she gave me. I expected her to release me, but she wasn’t having any of it.

“You will now watch me, Elizabeth.”

I mewed in protest, but Tracy’s response was “Do you want to spend the night like this, Elizabeth?”
I meekly shook my head no.

Tracy pulled out a vibrator from her dresser and sat on the end of the bed, with a pixyish look on her face. “You can learn from me so you can do this for yourself, but a good student must learn quietly, so the gag stays in.”

I nodded my head. I would have said anything to get her to use that thing on me.

She bit her lip as she began rhythmically touching herself with the vibrator. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she manipulated herself closer and closer to orgasm. Three minutes later, she moaned as she came, collapsing back on the footboard.

By this time, I was completely wound up again, and begging the best I could to get her to turn her attentions back to me. I had no better luck summoning up the concentration to ask her mentally. This would be something I would have to work on.

“Ok, Elizabeth. Are you ready for round two?”

I nodded yes again, smiling as well as I could. This was heaven.

Leaning up to me on her knees, she held my chin. “Elizabeth, can you be a good girl and be quiet so I can take your gag out?”

I realized by this time she was giving me an out, but she really liked me helpless. Deciding to give her a little present, I squinted at her and defiantly shook my head no, and flipped her off with both hands.

She smiled wickedly, and whispered in my ear. “Now you get the tongue, my pretty!” She then kissed her way to the center of my being.

Thirty seconds later, I was twitching in the throes of another magnificent orgasm. I had never, ever experienced anything like this as a male. I had found that, with the right person, giving myself totally to someone I loved was more rewarding that simply taking pleasure selfishly. I wouldn’t do this with anyone else but my Tracy, but I knew I would do this anytime she asked me to. This realization made me very happy, and tears again came welling up. I was happier than I had ever been. I might be a super meta whatever, but I could just be my lover’s plaything too. I had never felt so feminine and desirable.

Tracy undid the gag. “Well, Betsy, how do you feel? Are you okay, baby? Why are you crying?”

“Shut up and kiss me!” I blubbered. She responded, and began undoing the ropes that held me. “That was the most intense thing I have ever experienced, Trace. I absolutely loved it!”

She replied with a smile. “I hoped you would, Betsy, I really did. I had been planning this for some time now, and I really hoped you would go along.” She bit her lip, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I had a similar experience when I was fourteen, with another girl. It was very intense, and I wet the bed when I came. I was mortified, but my friend thought it was cute. She left me tied up the entire night. I was so sore by the next morning I could hardly move.”

“Oh, my gosh Trace! That was terrible of her!”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t fun, but it was probably wrong of her to do that to a fourteen year old”

“Who was it?” I asked.

She twirled her finger around my left areola, “Someone better left to the past. You are my present and my future, Betsy” She rolled on to her stomach to face me. “So, you’re quite the little sub, aren’t you?”

I wrinkled my nose “Sub? What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “Submissive, you dunce! Someone who likes being tied up.”

I playfully smacked her bottom “You know wayyy to much about this stuff, Tracy. And yes, for you, I guess I am a ‘sub’, but only for you. Is that weird?”

She sat up. “Not at all! I think it’s cute! And you have no idea how much it means to me to know you trust me that much.”

I leaned over to hug her. “I trust you with my life, Tracy. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. And if letting you tie me up makes you happy, then I want to be tied up! But God help the odd bad guy that wants to do it. The only thing I'm worried about is what do we tell your Mom and Dad? You know, about the noise we were making”

Tracy smiled. "Oh, Don't worry about it Betsy, they left right after we got home"

We both laughed and hugged each other. We were both as naked as the day we were born, and we couldn’t have felt more natural. I loved Tracy with all my heart and soul. She had helped me to feel feminine and desired. It wasn’t all about the sex, but being unable to take charge as I used to do and being forced to let someone else take charge and take care of me that did it. I wouldn’t say it was for everybody, but (sigh) it sure worked for me!

We fell asleep in each others arms and woke up early for school. I had no qualms about going back. Things were starting to look up. Juggernaut was no longer out to get me (Thank God), I had the feeling that no one else would be stupid enough to mess with me at school, and I had a cute little Government Guardian angel watching my back for the next few weeks. I was starting to feel normal again.

Just to be playful, I asked my “mistress” what she wanted me to wear to school that day. She giggled and put me in a flouncy white cotton eyelet dress with spaghetti straps that went to about mid thigh, over a strapless white bra and the skimpiest white cotton panties I had ever seen. No hose and a pair of white high heeled wedge cork sandals. I felt completely naked and knew I would freeze all day. The outfit was cute, modest enough and absolutely scandalous underneath. I loved it! I put my long black hair in a high ponytail that went down to my lower back. I applied just a light bit of makeup and Tracy pronounced me beautiful. And I was!

As I thought, school was a breeze. I wasn’t bothered by any of the undesirables, and I actually made some new friends. My old friends had all deserted me. I didn’t blame them, I can’t say I wouldn’t have don’t her same to someone else in my position. It’s a lot to take in. For that reason, the friends I have now are closer and a lot fewer. And they are mostly girls. I just can’t warm up to the guys in school. They are so screwy, and all they do is look at my boobs and butt. I mean, really. I know they are cute, but show a little restraint. One of the teachers, a fat old woman named Mrs. Teague gave me a lot of crap about my outfit. After a little suggestion, she bothered me no more. I didn’t like doing it, but there was nothing wrong with what I was wearing. Besides, Tracy liked it.

After school, I was met by Agent Finn. I told Tracy I would meet her at home later. He took me to the nearest Starbucks and bought me a venti chai tea. It was yummy.

I turned around and caught Agent Finn checking me out. His thoughts were relatively clean, though. As I thought, he had a significant other, a lovely woman named Pam, who he was due to marry in eleven months. He was ok; I made sure of that, by giving his brain the Betsy “once over”.

“So,” I said brightly, “I suppose you need to know about what happened yesterday”

“Yes. I need to know for my report to Washington”

I was taken aback. “Washington? Who there is interested in me?”

“You would be surprised, Betsy. Now, about those details…”

I filled him in quite animatedly on what happened. I was sure that in listening to me talk, he could not have believed that I had ever been a shy boy. I had started to blossom, and in a good way. I left nothing out, and when I brought up the Juggernaut, he really perked up.

“So, this guy just shows up?”

“I think I saw him feeding ducks or something in the park when I was getting ready to leave, just before everything started. After everything was over, I was trying to help Tracy, and he came over. I mean, like, this guy was huge. If I had to guess, I'd say he was at least seven, maybe eight feet tall, and had to weigh at least five hundred pounds. Then, he went all red lights, and grew another foot or two. He was just totally huge! I knew I was dead, but he was actually very gentle with me. He said that Shadow king sent him to kill me, but he wasn’t going to do that, and that I could count on him to protect me from him.”

He thoughtfully stirred his coffee. “What did he say his name was?”

“Cain Marko”

Agent Finn sat bolt upright “What? Cain Marko? Are you sure?”

I was surprised at his reaction “Yes, Cain Marko. It was an unusual name, so it was easy to remember.” I paused, looking down. Suddenly remembering, I said, “I couldn’t read him. It was like nothing was there. I couldn’t read his thoughts.”

“So he got really big?”

“Oh, yes! He had this armored helmet that looked like a dome. It looked to be I guess about an inch or so thick. He wore a sleeveless red shirt, I guess and his pants looked to be armored also. He had armored bands on his hands forearms and upper arms. I don’t mind telling you, I almost wet my panties looking at him. Don’t get on this guys bad side, Agent Finn. He said that he was, let’s see…the living embodiment of power. If you want my opinion, I’d say that no metahuman has the power to go one on one with him. I also don’t think he is a meta. His power comes from somewhere else.”

“Thanks for this report, Betsy. You are doing a fine job of adjusting to your new situation, and your candor in reporting what you see is very encouraging. You have helped us more than you know. I’ll be in touch. Now, let me take you home.”

After taking Betsy home, Tom Finn got on the phone.

“Boss? It’s Finn. Yeah, I have some new intel. Cain Marko is a player on the scene now. It seems he has somehow gotten hooked up with some new abilities, and could be a threat…..Yes, I know he could be an asset, but he marches to the tune of his own drummer…….He will be impossible to control. Marko always was out for number one, but, he seemed to mellow after his last job…..very well…I’ll keep in touch.”

Agent Morgan looked to the Potomac from his office. Things just got interesting.

Chapter 8

Tracy and I were in her family room with her parents. We were watching an old Esther Williams movie on Turner Classic Movies. Tracy and I were in the love seat, doing our best to occupy the same space, and her mom and dad were on the couch to our right. We were one big happy family.

Since our intimate encounter, Tracy and I were inseparable. I felt so safe in her arms. Me, the big bad super chick who took out five big gangbangers was feeling like a little girl in Tracy’s embrace. We had turned a corner, and I was in heaven. With her, I didn’t need to be in control or tough. I could be soft, feminine and totally in love. I had tried to hide the true nature of our relationship from people, afraid of what people might think. I no longer cared. If the losers at school called us filthy names or made fun of our relationship, I didn’t care. As long as they minded their own business, I could handle it. If someone made the mistake of interfering, well, I felt sorry for them.

The movie was so cute, one of those sappy musical romances. I never got them as a male, but I sure got them now. Tracy and I laughed in the same places, and I even teared up at one point. I cried a lot more as a girl, and didn’t care one bit. I was finally happy.

After the movie was over, Tracy and I volunteered to clean up the popcorn and cups.

“So, Betsy, how did you like the movie?” Tracy asked.

I smiled “It was wonderful! You know, Esther Williams was such a natural beauty. And the way she moved in the water was like, pure grace”

Tracy started laughing. “Betsy, you saw that movie with me as Brian 8 months ago!”

My mouth dropped open. “No way! I would have remembered it! Are you sure?”

“You hated every minute, when you even paid attention. You have arrived, my dear”

I had to start laughing. “Wow! I guess so. I never even thought about it the whole time. I kept putting myself in the character’s place. Like, what would I do if someone did that to me? Really getting into the story. You know, stuff like that”

She smiled at me and kissed my cheek. “I know exactly what you mean, sweetie”

We went to bed in our own rooms. Tracy’s folks were progressive, but not that progressive. Besides, any more nights like the night before, and I’d never want to get out of bed!

After a quick shower, I put on my nightie. It was a purple chemise Tracy picked out, and it was nothing a sixteen year old should wear (giggle). She liked it because it went with my eyes. Tracy wore nothing to bed, but I just couldn’t do that. Turning out the lights, I got the impression that someone was watching me. I looked out the window, through a crack in the blinds, but could see nothing. This was something I couldn’t dismiss. My ‘feelings’, if you could call them that, were usually spot on. If someone was watching me, I’d know soon enough.

I sat on the bed, in the lotus position. Clearing my mind, I began to focus my mind. Soon, I was outside the house. Things looked different when I got outside my body, as it were. Although it was dark, I could see everything as if it were a bright day. I moved around the house in a circle, not really walking, not really flying. Then I saw the reason for my uneasiness. A man was in the tree across the street, looking toward my bedroom window. He looked like some kind of ninja or something. His face was covered.

“Why that little bastard!” I thought. “What is he doing up here, and peeking into MY window. I kind of floated up to where he was, and touched his head with my hand. A flood of his thoughts hit me, and it took some time to sort them out. The thoughts were in Japanese, but his intentions were clear. He was sent to observe me. Why? Then I saw Sensei Ozawa’s face talking to him.

The shock from seeing that caused me to lose concentration, and I was back in my room. What had just happened? Ozawa was alive? Or was he. How old was that memory? I could sense he was from Tokyo, and was associated with something called the Hand, which I guessed was some kind of, I don’t know, some quasi ninja group or something. This was goofy.

I was too keyed up to go to sleep, so I put on my robe, and went downstairs for a glass of milk (hey, I’m a growing girl), and a couple of Pop Tarts out of the cupboard. I liked them untoasted.

Munching on my midnight snack, a flood of memories of the night mom and daddy were killed came rushing back. I would die if anything happened to Tracy and her parents. I couldn't let that happen again. I reached for my phone in the charger and dialed Agent Finn. I got his voice mail and entered the emergency code he gave me incase I needed him.

About a minute later, my phone vibrated. It was Agent Finn.

“What’s up, Betsy? I know this isn’t a social call” He sounded concerned.

“Agent Finn, something is up, and I’m scared. Can you come over?”

“I’m already on the way. Stay put, and I’ll be there in five.”

“Okay, but don’t come with sirens blazing, okay? Everyone’s asleep and I’d like to keep it quiet.” I cautioned.

A voice from behind me startled me, causing me to jump and squeak. “Everyone but me, that is” It was Tracy. “What’s up?”

“Don’t DO that,” I said in a hoarse whisper “you nearly scared me to death!”

“Who is that?” said Finn, with a note of alarm.

“Just my silly girlfriend, who is going right back to her room” I answered.

“I’m a couple of minutes away; do you want me to stay on the line?”

“No, thank you. I’ll see you when you get here”

I disconnected, and looked at Tracy. “You need to go back to bed, okay? Everything’s all right”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure. Things are peachy. That’s why Agent McDreamy is coming over. What’s going on?”

“Someone is across the street looking at me, and I’m scared. I don’t want a repeat of the bomb that killed my parents, and I’m not taking any chances” I said quickly.

Tracy’s eyes got big “Oh my god! Where?”

“Across the street, in the big oak tree. Some kind of ninja looking guy.” I sensed someone and then went ghost to the shadow plane to have a look around. Then I saw him.”

She stood up. “I’m getting mom and daddy! We can’t keep this from them!”

“Do we have to?” I don’t want them to worry, or worse, kick me out.

“Oh, stop it. They love you like one of their own. They need to know, dopey”

There was a light knock at the back door, and Finn came in to the kitchen. “Okay, girls. Is everything cool here?”

I replied for the both of us. “Yes. Tracy’s going upstairs to wake her parents. She thought they needed to know”

He nodded “I agree. Tracy is right. Now what happened?”

I explained what happened and the reading I got off of the ninja guy.

Finn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I see. I have been briefed on the Hand. It is a secret organization of thieves in Japan. They are some real tough hombres. Even the Yakuza gives them a wide berth. They generally keep to Japan, though. I’ll do some checking.” He paused. “I suspect that Ozawa had some connections to this organization somehow. What those connections are, well, I have no idea”

“There is no way Sensei was a thief. And what if he is alive? That doesn’t make any sense”

“I agree, Betsy. But we won’t know without some investigation.”

Tracy came back into the kitchen with her parents, who were understandably perplexed. Finn explained the situation to them, and assured them that the house would be checked out at first light. He had already called a team in and they were on their way.

I felt much better, and asked Finn if I could go upstairs to get some rest.

Tracy announced “I’m going up with you so you won’t be alone”

As we got to the top of the stairs I whispered, “We are going to SLEEP, Tracy. No funny business from you and you wear pajamas! No nudies in my bed tonight.”

“Ohhhh, I know. You big prude. You are more of a girl than I ever was” she swatted my bottom, eliciting a girly squeal.

“Owwww! You little creep, I’m tired! Stop it”

“Okay, Miss Iron panties. I’ll keep my hands off, for now”

“Thank you” I retorted.

I fell asleep as Tracy’s cuddled me. I felt a lot better with her holding me.

Six o’clock AM rolled around, and I was not ready to get up. If I didn’t get eight hours of sleep in a night, I felt terrible. I was working on four hours. Tracy was already in her room getting ready and I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I took care of potty business and took a shower. Getting ready as a female was a lot more complicated than as a male, but the more I did it, the better I got, and the results were, simply put, so worth it.

Tracy set my outfit out for the day, and I was beginning to regret letting her pick things out for me to wear. This number was another casual dress, a tiered print circle dress; she set out a matching lavender bra and panty set. The bra was a demi cup, and the panties were string bikinis that weren’t quite a thong, but I would know they were back there all day. I did my hair down, parted down the middle, and did the makeup a little bit more dramatic than normal trying the smoky eyes that I had been practicing. My new almond shaped eyes were my favorite feature, and I wanted to play them up.

I put the dress on, and it was barely to mid thigh, but still tasteful. Looking in the mirror, I actually stopped to look at myself. I was hot, but I didn’t want to look too hot for school. I attracted enough attention as it was.

“Tracy!” I called. “Could you come here, please?”

“Sure. Give me a second, Okay?”

She came in a minute later and I posed for her. “What do you think? Too much for school?”

Her mouth fell open “Oh my god, Betsy! You look like you just walked off a runway”

I smiled turned my head to the side and pursed my lips in my best supermodel pout. “You think so?”

“God, yes. I look positively drab next to you”

Then I noticed what she was wearing. A University of Michigan sweatshirt and a pair of jeans with trainers.

I folded my arms and shook my head. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Tracy shrugged her shoulders and said “What?”

“You dress me up like your own personal Barbie doll. I don’t mind, because I love you. I go to the trouble of putting on a little extra makeup on to look special for you and only you. I know that looking this way will make me the subject of whistles and unwelcome propositions all day. And you come in here looking like the cover model for ‘Dykes Monthly’. Why? Don’t you care how you look anymore?”

She was taken aback by my display. “What? Don’t you like my look?”

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. “Now who’s dopey?”

She got a little guilty smile. “I suppose I should level with you, Hon.”

My pout could have set new records for poutiest pout. “Yes, I suppose you should”

“I am dressing you like this because I want you to learn to be a girl. To enjoy the ruffles and bows. I want you to learn what it’s like to have to walk like a lady, to be careful how you sit, or how you bend down to pick things up. I put you in the frilly lingerie to feel feminine. To wear shoes that scream ‘I am a girl, deal with it’”

She continued. “Tell me. How do you feel right now?”

“Angry with you”

She smiled and laughed “No! About yourself!”

I paused, knowing the answer but not wanting to give her the satisfaction of being right. “Pretty, I suppose” I mumbled.

She held her hand up to her ear “Eh, Dearie?”

I continued to pout. “Pretty!” came the curt reply.

She came over to me. “I have had my whole life to learn these things. It’s second nature to me. You’ve had this whole sex change thrown at you, and are having to learn what it’s like from an age when you shouldn’t have to learn these things. If you weren’t careful, you would be someone that didn’t fit in anywhere. A beautiful girl who shambled around like a linebacker. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

I had to agree. “No, I guess not. But that’s still no excuse for you looking like I used to!”

“Oh, really. Let me show you something”

Tracy proceeded to pull up her top and exposed a pretty pink bra, and pulled her jeans down to show a matching low rise thong with a front that barely covered her pubic mound. I felt a twitch in my tummy, and my mouth started to water.

She gave me a seductive smile. “Did you wear these under your clothes, Brian?”

“No, and you made your point. Now cover yourself back up, you slut!”

She laughed even harder at that one. “Sorry, honey, but you are in hard core girl boot camp for the foreseeable future”

“I get it now. I won’t complain anymore.”

We grabbed some yogurt and granola bars on the way out the door. The special team Finn talked about was hard at work installing security systems and sniffing for explosives. Finn was supervising and nodded at us as we were on the way out. He said he would call me later in the day. One of the workmen saw me and walked into a doorframe. I liked that.

Tracy drove my car to school and I rode as usual. She put me in four inch stilettos, and I really didn’t want to drive in them. Besides, girls let their “boyfriends” drive them, and as long as Tracy wanted to dress like a boy, lingerie be damned, I’d treat her like one.

I was starting to love school again. I wasn’t Miss Popularity, and that suited me fine. The few girl friends I had were enough, and I couldn’t believe how we hit it off. I guess the “girl training” was paying off. At lunch, we all sat down together to eat what little was edible of our state mandated lunch (blecch). Our group was Katelynn Edwards, Nicole Samuels, Taylor Dean, Tracy, and me.

The five of us were all unattached to boys, and this resulted in a lot of lesbian rumors, which weren’t true (ok, true in my case). The truth was, we didn’t like the boys that were available to us. Of all the ones we knew, only Josh Green, a really nice sophomore boy who was either gay or transgendered (I say maybe transgendered because he would be really pretty with makeup!) was really nice to be around. He was a really good friend.

We were enjoying ourselves and Josh came and sat down with us.

“Hi ladies!” he said brightly. “How is your day going?”

“Hi, Josh!” I said. “We’re doing great! I hope you are too!”

“I’d be a lot better if that idiot Gary Ponski would leave me alone. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he wanted a date!”

We all giggled at that one. Gary was a well known homophobe and bully who had made life for Josh a living hell for the last two years. He and his group of cronies had nearly cornered Josh a couple of times for a beating, but were foiled by the timely appearance of teachers each time. I knew his luck wouldn’t hold out forever.

Just as we were talking, Gary came strutting over. He wasn’t a bad looking guy, but his personality made him as horrid to me as Frankenstein.

“Sooo, the little fag is looking for protection from the lesbians. I thought as much.”

Josh rolled his eyes, but I could see he was scared. Enough of this. A little concentration, and…

Gary turned around and spoke in a loud voice “I’d like to have your attention. I would like to make an announcement!” The cafeteria got silent. “I would like to apologize to Josh Green for bullying him. I was wrong for doing it, and can only explain my actions by saying that I was compensating for my small penis and my lack of control over my bowels! Thank you!!

The place erupted in laughter. Gary realized what he had said and proceeded to run out of the cafeteria and into the waiting arms of the monitor, who took him to the principal’s office, presumably for improper communication or something like that.

Tracy knew what had happened, and was crying with laughter. The rest of the girls were shocked, and then started laughing along with Tracy. I just sat there.

As I thought, my outfit was the cause of a lot of unwanted attention from some of the more forward boys. I wanted to make them all pull their pants down and walk around quacking like ducks, but I decided to be a lady, and smile prettily and deflect. No thank you was said more than once. I wanted to punch a few lecherous idiots. But I didn’t want to break my new French tips. I thought to myself, I’d still rather put up with this with what I’ve gained that go back to what I was.

Cain Marko was sitting along the shore of Lake Erie, in a secluded area. He didn’t want any companionship. The transformation had made him immune to hunger or thirst and his new endurance allowed him to run at a sprinters pace for hours at a time. He moved at night to avoid conflict or detection. He wasn’t ready to come out to the world yet. The Braddock girl had him thinking. Her situation was not unlike his own. They both had been given power, and she was still just a scared little girl who had the guts to defend someone she loved from little pukes who she should have killed outright. The kid was okay.

He looked out across the lake. It was getting toward October, and the temperature was getting down towards 40 at night. He didn’t feel it though. His new found powers had made him immune to heat, cold and pain. He wasn’t numb, but things that should hurt him didn’t.

Cain wasn’t in his Juggernaut form, but this was only an illusion. His massive power was still there. Seeing a large rock, he decided to try skipping it across the water. The rock was eight feet across and two feet thick. Cain estimated its weight at 12 tons. He switched to his true armored form and picked the rock up as easily as one would a plate. His hands actually made indentions n the rock. Drawing back, he flung the rock towards the lake. He had misjudged the angle a bit, and the rock flew off into the distance, over the horizon, and out of sight. The papers in Ohio would later report a rock coming out of the sky.

As he was considering his situation. Amahl Farouk appeared out of a dimensional hole.

“Did you deal with the Braddock girl?”

“Nope, I’m not gonna, either”

Farouk’s temper flared. “That wasn’t our deal! You were to eliminate the girl in exchange for your power!”

Cain didn’t even look at Farouk. “Yeah, that’s the thing about negotiating with me. Don’t give me the power first, moron”

Farouk smiled “So you refuse to do my bidding?”

“Juggernaut does no ones ‘bidding’. And who the hell says bidding anymore anyway. Get lost”

“Oh. I’ll do more than that, Marko” he shouted. “DIE!!”

At that, another dimensional hole opened up, and a large, what can only be described as a dragon appeared out of thin air. It was black, 40 feet long, and had a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Roaring, it charged Marko.

Marko charged back. The beast and Juggernaut met in a huge thud that sounded like someone dropped a semi load of steaks off a cliff. The beast struck Juggernaut with its massive tail. Juggernaut simply caught it, spun around, and with it, dragged the beast in a circle.

“Farouk, now you will learn why I call myself The Juggernaut. I CANNOT BE MOVED!”

With that, the dragon beast went to strike with its snake-like head at Juggernaut, only to be met with a massive armored fist. The beast’s head exploded in a shower of black colored brains and gore. Marko easily lifted the beast and hurled it into the distance, to land somewhere in the center of the lake.

“This cannot be!” marveled Farouk.

“Not only can be, but is. Your little lizard was nothing. Come at me again, and I won’t stop with whatever you throw at me. The Braddock girl is under my protection, not that she needs it. You pissed the wrong guy off, Farouk.”

Farouk quickly retreated into his dimensional hole and was gone. Shadow King was not pleased. His plans had gone awry, but something may yet be salvaged. Juggernaut was far too powerful to be dealt with lightly. Cyttorak had screwed him over but good.

Shadow King would ponder this. Another ally? But who?

Chapter 9

Agent Finn met me after school again to go to our (my) favorite place. The Starbucks a few blocks from the school. He wanted to discuss what he had uncovered in his preliminary investigation. I ordered a Chai tea; he had his usual black coffee. I never could understand how anyone could drink that stuff. The “good” coffee tasted like a cigarette smells.

We sat down to some weird stares from some of the patrons.

“What’s up with the all strange looks?” I asked.

Finn looked around. He looked at me and smiled. Have you noticed what you look like? How you are dressed?”

I didn’t get it. “Yeah, so? I always look like this.”

You are an incredibly attractive young woman in the company of an older man. You’d get stares anyway, but since you’re with me, they obviously think something’s up. Use your gift. You’ll see.”

“Ick. I’d rather not. I’ll take your word for it. I don’t like to do that unless I absolutely have to. Sometimes I get pictures.”

“I suppose you’re right. I have to admire you’re restraint, though. I have to admit I’d be poking around everywhere if I were in your shoes.”

I winced and looked down at my feet. “If you were in my shoes, your feet would be killing you. Try 4 inch stilettos for a full day. Besides, the last time I poked around, I got the attention of that psycho Shadow King and it got my parents killed”

Finn looked down. “I’d rather not, Betsy. I get your point.”

“Well, Betsy, I did some checking on your buddies from the Hand, and I’m sorry to say I know nothing more than I did last night. These guys are tighter than Al Qaeda and harder to infiltrate.”

Taking a sip of my tea, I sighed. “Great. What do I do? I’m getting a little bit tired of sleeping with one eye open. These bags under my eyes are not my best feature”

“We are watching the place for now. The person you saw was gone by the time I got there. He must have suspected something was up. I swept for bugs in the house and found nothing, so I can’t say for sure what’s up.”

I was starting to get a little frustrated. “Finn, I’ve got a katana in my room and I know how to use it. If one of those little creeps gets past your guards, I’ll cut him in half. I swear!”

I know, Betsy, and I would advise you to keep practicing on your abilities for the time being.” He pulled a folder out of his brief case. “Here, I want you to look at this.”

Taking the folder, I undid the string holding it together. Reading the forms, I realized what it was. They wanted me to become a metahuman agent for Homeland Security. I looked back up at Finn. “Are you crazy? I’m only 16!”

I said that a little too loud, and a few people did a spit take and a couple of older men looked sternly at us. Oops. I just realized what that sounded like. Red faced, I concentrated on all the minds in the room and wiped that last little bit of information out.

Whispering this time, I said again “I’m 16! I can’t be a government agent. Are you trying to get me killed?”

“I know what it sounds like. We are not putting you out in the field right away. You will be on the payroll effective immediately. It’s not a fortune, but it’ll do for a girl in your position. You will be required to do about a month of training in the summer, but you’ll be pretty much free to live your life with a minimum of interruption. There may be a couple of times we’ll need your particular skill set, but those times will be few and far between. You will get a full scholarship to the college of your choice, in exchange for 5 years of service after you graduate with whatever degree you choose.”

“That sounds too good to be true, Finn, but since I can tell you aren’t lying as far as you know, I’ll think about it” I looked at the cover again. Printed at the bottom was the name “Psylocke”.

Curious, I asked, “What is a Psylocke?”

“It will be your code name. We put your skill set into a computer program and it spits out a code name. This was the one selected”

“Why do I need a code name?”

“Well, we don’t want to use your real name in any operational documents, and this gives you a measure of anonymity.”

“Cool. I like it. Psylocke. Ok, let me talk to Tracy. What she thinks is important to me, and I won’t do it without her permission”

“I anticipated that. Only your immediate family can know, and they must keep the secret. Your life could very well depend on it.” He was deadly serious.

Biting my lip, I suddenly got very uneasy. “Ok, Finn. I’ll call you when I’ve decided. I know there are a lot of nut jobs out there who make my skills look puny, and I don’t want to get squashed. You know I won’t do anything to violate your trust. What happens if I say no?”

“I’d be lying if I told you that we wouldn’t be disappointed. You would be put on a watch list, and your opportunities beyond becoming a housewife would be limited.”

“That doesn’t sound like much of a choice, Finn. I told you I was no threat”

“I know that, but what I think doesn’t matter much. You have a gift, and Homeland wants to make sure you aren’t up for bids, or worse.”

I looked at what was left in my tea cup. I suddenly felt very small. Without thinking about it, tears began to course down my cheek. I didn’t care about a big career, if I were a housewife, so what? It would be okay with me. But what effect would this have on Tracy? Would she still want to share a life with me if I were some sort of outcast?

Finn noticed my distress, and reached out to my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Betsy. I’ll support you no matter what decision you make. But these are the rules. I may not like them, but I have to play the hand I’m given.”

I dabbed at my eyes with a tissue. Damn, I hated how emotional I had become. “I know, Finn. Please take me home”

As we left the building, I felt my skirt lifting up. Grasping at the hem and pulling it back down. I spun around to see a grinning biker standing behind me. He was straight out of central casting, and smelled like beer.

“Nice ass, cutie. How about a free moustache ride.”

“How about you go straight to hell, y-you pig!” I was furious and getting madder by the second.

The smirk disappeared off his face, replaced by a menacing look of violence. He was clearly not used to being talked to like that by a woman.

“Listen, you stuck up little bitch! I’ll….”

His threat was swallowed by the cocking of a .45 Colt pressed against his head. He spoke to the man in a voice that suddenly sounded like and Australian accent “Ah,ah,ah! Be nice to the lady, my friend. Don’t make me nervous. My trigger finger gets all shaky and twitchy when I’m nervous”

“You can’t do anything to me, cop. I know how the game is played. Maybe I take that gun and shove it up your ass!”

“I’m not a cop, Bluto.” He dangled his Homeland Security badge in front of the biker. Suddenly, the bravado was going away.

“Y-y-you still can’t do anything. I’ve got rights.”

“Yeah, you do. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney, if you can’t afford one, an attorney will be provided for you. I know you understand these rights. You would be charged with a sexual assault on a minor, a guaranteed conviction with my testimony. Five years in the pen, and a ‘short eyes’ label. If you make it out, it’s a lifetime of being on the sex offenders list.”

“You can’t make that stick!”

“Maybe not.” He then whispered in biker’s ear. “Or, I trump up a terror charge on you, and you go to Gitmo for an all expenses paid vacation for an indefinite period of time. Either way, you’re fucked, mate.

Finn then added, "Or, since you’re not really worth the paperwork, I let you go, you ride out of here, and leave town, never to return”

The biker was clearly shaken. “Deal. I’m not even from around here anyway.”

“Then move.”

The biker tore out of the parking lot for all he was worth. I had to start laughing.

What would you have done if he actually lived around here and what was the deal with the accent?”

“I hoped he did live around here. Also, I like screwing with people. No more, no less. Let’s go”

Finn dropped me off at the house. My little Prius wasn’t in the driveway, which meant that Tracy hadn’t made it back yet. It wasn’t yet five o’clock, so Mr. and Mrs. Moore weren’t back from work, either.

Entering the alarm code, I entered the house to find Tracy’s books on the counter where she usually put them. Thinking she may have put the car in the garage, I went through the mud room to the garage. The car was there.

“Tracy?” I called. No answer. I heard the shower running upstairs, and, thinking I might get lucky, went up to her bathroom and sneaked in. The bathroom was filled with steam, and looking through the glass door, found that the shower was empty.

Turning off the water, I called again for Tracy. No answer. Something was definitely goofy.

My cell phone buzzed. It was a text from Tracy. I breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the text, all it had was and internet IP address and the message “look me up”. I went into my room and pulled my laptop out of my backpack. Turning the computer on, I waited for it to boot up, wondering all the while what she had in store for me.

Typing the address into the bar, a red screen popped up with a password box. “What is she doing?” I said aloud. “How am I supposed to know what the password is?”

I typed in my name. Incorrect. Then my phone buzzed again. Another text from Tracy. “Password imintrouble”.

Suddenly, I felt my heart go into my throat. I typed the password into the box, and a webcam shot appeared. A handwritten sign was taped to the chair. It said “wait”.

I knew something was up. I immediately texted Finn. “Tracy may be in trouble-stand by”

As I texted, a man in a black balaclava and sunglasses sat down in front of the camera. This wasn’t good.

“Good afternoon, Miss Braddock. It is wonderful to see you looking so well” His voice was electronically altered, making him sound almost demonic. I almost got sick right there.

I spoke, my voice trembling. “What is going on? What do you want?”

“So many questions, Miss Braddock.” Came the smug reply “Don’t be so demanding. You’ll know everything in time.” He paused. “What we want is simple. Our employer wants you. You are to turn yourself in to us at a location in Detroit that we will text you. You are to get into your car and drive east on Interstate 94 until we tell you what to do. Is that clear?”

“I’m not going anywhere, you son of a bitch” I spat back.

“Oh, I think you will. There’s a pretty little blonde here that really wants to see you. Here, I’ll show you.” He panned the camera to his right, and I nearly died. There, hanging from the ceiling, was Tracy, completely naked, with wires attached to pads on her eyes, nipples and pubic area.

“TRACY!” I screamed.

“Yes, Tracy. A lovely girl, and she loves you very much. She put up quite a fight.” I wanted to kill that bastard right there. “She can’t hear you right now and well, you can see that her eyes aren’t much use to her, either. And, you see, every time you lose control there, she pays for it here.”

He pressed a button on a remote, and Tracy convulsed in agony. She screamed. It was a hoarse scream, and it was obvious they had been working on her for some time.

Collapsing on my knees in front of the screen, I cried out “NO! Please stop it!”

“Am I still a ‘son of a bitch’?”

I was sobbing now. “no” I said quietly.

“I can’t hear you.” He hit her again with the electricity. I could tell he hit her in her sex. This cocksucker was dead.

I screamed again “NO! STOP HURTING HER! I’ll do what you want!”

“Good girl. You learn fast. Tracy here took some convincing before she quit fighting” He continued. “You are being observed. No cops, no friends. Understand?”

“Yes. I understand. I’ll do what you want.”

“Good. You keep this up, and maybe, just maybe, Tracy lives. Otherwise….”

He hit her again, and this time she screamed even harder. Her poor body was unable to take much more. I could see she was sweating profusely. I needed to think. But what could I do?

“PLEASE! STOP IT! I DO WHAT YOU SAY!”

“Start driving” The screen went black.

To be continued......

Chapter 10

I had to think. Just for a moment. I closed my eyes and forced myself to relax. Using breathing techniques I had learned from Ozawa. I was soon in my center place. The place I had seen my sensei.

As I got there, I felt my mind calm down. I knew what was going down, but now the panic was gone. If I did what they asked, we were both dead. They wouldn’t let her go. I was being watched. If I didn’t leave soon, she was dead. I couldn’t survive losing her. I would become something I didn’t want to be.

“It is good that you are taking a moment to think, young one.”

“Sensei Ozawa! Oh, I am so glad to see you. They have Tracy!”

He smiled softly. “This I already know, young one. I have seen it all”

I held my hands to my face. “What have I done, Sensei? Tracy will die if I don’t do what they say, and she’ll die if I do what they do say”

“You comprehend the problem quite well. It is a situation fraught with danger. It could go either way. There is much danger, but you have an advantage.”

I looked to his face. “Advantage? What do you mean?”

“You have abilities far beyond what they know. Used properly, they will aid you greatly. But your greatest strength isn’t you powers. It is your ability to adapt to the situation. You are far stronger than you know, and your sense of self will carry the day.”

“I don’t understand”

“You will. I can give you access to most of your abilities, and you will know what you need to do when the time is right. But I also need to explain something to you.”

“What?”

This place, this reality, is the source of your power. It is called the Astral Plane.”

“You mean that this isn’t some place in my mind?”

“No, it is an actual place. A separate universe, if you will. The rules of the normal universe don’t apply here. Time, the rules of physics, all are different here. You are able to exist in either plane of existence. Not everyone can”

“I think I understand, at least a little. It’s like the movie you know, The Matrix?”

“He thought for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, Yes, you could say that. You can travel from place to place on Earth, almost like teleporting. But in reality, you just take a shortcut.”

“I understand”

“Shadow King thinks this plane is his exclusively. He is a dangerous opponent here. But you are a formidable foe for him as well. That is why he wants you dead. He is quite insane, and quite immortal. I have battled him for centuries, both here, and on earth.”

“Centuries? You mean you’re not dead?”

He smiled at me as a father smiles at a child who has solved a difficult homework problem.

“No, I’m not dead. I was able to escape the explosion before I was incinerated. I was not able to bring your parents with me, though. I will mourn that inability for all time. I am truly sorry”

I could feel the tears start “I know you would have helped them if you could”.

He held me as a father. “Now you must learn. Look me in the eyes”

I looked into his eyes, and time seemed to stop. I received instruction for years in my abilities. For months and months I suffered and bled to learn what I must. Then, I was back where I started. Then I realized how much time had elapsed

“Oh God, Sensei. Tracy’s dead. I was gone too long.”

“Not in the least. You will see. Time has no real meaning here. You have excelled in your training, done what you must.” My servant, Kyoko, will meet you at your house. You have made me proud, young one. Rescue your mate”

In a blink, I was back in my room, looking at the computer screen. I checked the date and time. 3 minutes had elapsed since the screen blanked. I felt like I had been through years of training, but only three minutes had elapsed.

Looking up, I saw I wasn’t alone. The Ninja looking guy I saw was in my room, only it wasn’t a guy. It was a girl, who looked like she could be my sister.

Jumping back, I assumed my fighting stance. “Who are you?”

“I am Kyoko, Betsy. I am here to assist you, if you will allow it.” She spoke her English in a heavy Japanese accent. “I am with the Hand, and Master Ozawa has committed us to your protection”

Relaxing somewhat, I let out a deep sigh. “I could use all the help I can get. I tend to make a lot of the wrong enemies these days”

She smiled a pretty smile that made me smile back. “I took care of the man following you. He won’t be shadowing anyone ever again.” She threw a pack on to the bed. “You can’t fight anyone in that dress. Change in to these, you’ll find them more to your liking for combat.

Opening the case, I found a pair of leather and spandex pants and a leather bustier. Tactical boots finished the ensemble, and a harness that had some loops on it for weapons fit around my shoulders and waist. I put everything on, and it was a perfect fit.

Looking at myself, I commented “I like it, but where did you come up with this outfit?”

“Your friend did. She picked it out as a Halloween costume. I just added a few things. It was better than anything you had.”

I picked up my katana and slid it into the loops in the back Kyoko gave me some throwing stars and a k bar. My phone buzzed. It was Finn.

“All right, Betsy. What’s this about Tracy?”

“Someone working for Shadow King has kidnapped her. I’m on my way to get her now. They’re torturing her, Finn. I don’t know how much time she has!”

Finn replied quickly. “Wait! I’ll put together a Tactical team and we’ll get her out!”

“There’s no time, didn’t you hear me? I don’t know where they are, and I’m not waiting on you. You have my GPS coordinates on the phone. Follow me. I’m heading in to Detroit, somewhere in the Highland Park area if I’m right. I have some help, but you will need to be there to clean things up. Make sure someone is here to let Tracy’s mom and dad know what’s up, okay”

Finn paused, and then replied. “Okay, Betsy. Are you sure you’ve got this?”

“No, but I’m as prepared as I can be. Just follow me as close as you can, and don’t be late. This will get messy. I’m killing everyone there.”

“Wait! Betsy! We need them alive!”

“Then they shouldn’t have taken my girl. And Betsy isn’t on this mission. It’s Psylocke.”

“Copy that. Take ‘em out.”

Kyoto and I drove as quickly as we could into Detroit. As I thought, we got directions to a neighborhood in Highland Park, to a desolate part of a desolate part of the city. Night had fallen, and that was all right by me. I had plenty of surprises for them, and I wouldn’t be using the front door. I briefed Kyoko on the way.

“Kyoko, I know a lot of things now that I didn’t before I got home today. I will be able to get into the building without them knowing. I guess you have a way to get in there too.”

“Hai! I will get inside. You will shadow walk, no”

“Yes. Do you know these things?”

“Hai. I do. I will get your friend. She is of greatest importance, yes?”

“She is. Nothing else matters. I’ll keep them occupied. It’s me they want, so you should be able to get to her without any trouble. Okay?”

“Okay. I will do as you wish.”

A radio on Kyoko’s belt chirped. She held it to a small electronic device.

“Unit three. Is the girl being followed?”

Kyoko spoke into the device. “Unit Three. The girl is clear” Out of the device came a man’s voice.

The radio chirped again. “Very well, return to the airport and prep the plane for departure”

Kyoko replied again through the device. “Copy. Three out”

“Interesting device. Where can I get one?”

She smiled and said “Join the Hand, and you get a free one!”

I laughed. “No thanks, Kyoko, I’ll pass for now. Thanks anyway.”

We pulled within a half a block of the house where they were located. I made sure all my gear was set, and made a final text to Finn. “Going in now. u had betr be close”

Ten seconds later. I get the reply. “Go! Luck.”

Due to my training, I had picked up a new talent. I could shadow teleport. Basically, I could enter a shadow, and come out of a shadow elsewhere. Entering a shadow near my location. I exited next to the house. I heard a faint scream and some laughter. They were still torturing her. Using another shadow, I came out in the basement of the abandoned house. I drew my sword and used another shadow to enter the first floor. The heat was off, and the temperature inside was cold, maybe 50 degrees. What I saw made my blood run cold.

Tracy was hanging in the middle of what once had been the kitchen. Her feet were about three inches off the floor. She didn’t show much life. Tracy had been in this rat hole for over three hours and was quite probably in hypothermia already. I counted ten men and two women in the house. Go time.

Taking a deep breath, I leaped out and decapitated the closest one to me. I had caught them by surprise. Two men came charging me. I ducked, removed one of the men’s legs, and spun and disemboweled the other.

One of the women screamed “Kill the bitch! Then she aimed her Tec 9 at Tracy. Her head left her body a millisecond later. Kyoko had arrived. Two more men pulled weapons only to have two of my throwing stars in their hands. The weapons clattered to the floor.

One I recognized as the cocky little prick on the webcam was barking orders. “Kill that rotten whore, Forget the one hanging, I’ll get her!” Two stars hit him in both knees, and he crumple to the floor in agony.

Kyoko flashed through the room and was at Tracy’s side in a moment. A flash of her blade, and Tracy was down.

“Kyoko! Get her out of here! Now! The rest of these fuckers are MINE!”

Ducking into another shadow, I reappeared behind everyone.

“Where did she go? Where is the other one! Find them!”

The remaining woman turned around, saw me had lost her head before she had a chance to say “Oh shit!”

I bounced through the room faster than they could shoot. Three more lost their trigger fingers, hands, and arms. Ducking into a shadow and reappearing next to the two who were digging the throwing stars out of their hands. They lost their guts a half second later.

A big bastard came out from another room and charged me. Stupid. I split his head in half.
That left Mr. Computer. The cocky little son of a bitch who thought it would be funny to piss me off. This was going to be fun.

“Soooo, what do we have here? The slimy little fuck who decided to piss his life away by torturing my friend.”

The insect’s eyes were wide with fear and anger. “How did you do that? This was supposed to be easy. The Arab dude who hired us said you were easy. We were all experience mercs. How did you do that?”

“You first. Why did you push me in the web cam?”

“To get you to hurry. To keep you off balance.”

“So you thought kidnapping and torturing a 16 year old girl was a good way to do that?

He smiled. “Got you here, didn’t it?”

That tore it. I sheathed my sword and kicked the bastard in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. I then picked up a 9 millimeter from the floor. “Now you see what it’s like on the other end.”

I put a bullet in each knee. He screamed in pain. “I can’t hear you!” Two more shots, one in each shoulder.

He screamed in pain. “Please stop! You can’t do this. I have rights!”

I leaned down to him. “So did Tracy, you son of a bitch.”

I lit up my fist and punched straight into his head. I left it there, boring into his brain. He screamed in agony. His eyes lit up with the same violet energy I was using. Then, he stopped screaming. He was dead.

Good riddance to bad rubbish. I guess Finn wasn’t going to get his living suspect. I ran out of the house to find Kyoko with Tracy.

“She is hurt bad. In shock, with hypothermia. We need to get her to a hospital, now.”

We got her into the car. Kyoko had come up with a blanket somehow. As we were about to go, Finn and three other cars pulled up. I ran over to Finn. “Tracy’s badly hurt. She needs to get to a hospital now!”

Finn motioned over to one of his men. “Adams! Kazansky! Take this vehicle and get the girl to Ford Hospital now!”

The two agents jumped into my car and sped off. Finn wasn’t done giving orders “Blue team! Cleanup procedure Delta. Move it!” Four agents proceeded into the house. I didn’t want to know what delta was, but I imagine it involved matches and a can of gas.

I looked for Kyoko, but she was gone.

Finn turned his attention to me. “Psylocke? You okay?”

“No, I’m not. I just killed 11 people.” I turned around and threw up. I threw up until there was nothing left to throw up. Then I turned around and began crying hysterically on Finn’s shoulder.

“Hey, Betsy. It’s okay. You did what you had to do.”

“I can’t d-do this, F-finn. I’m a m-murderer. Oh, God. What have I done?”

Finn let me cry. He didn’t say anything. He just held me.

I cried till there was nothing left to cry. I felt drained. Knowing what I had done was tearing me up inside. The house where all of the action had taken place was starting to go up in flames. There were no other houses in the area, as they had been either torn down or burned out years ago. It was an even bet that the fire department would even bother to show up.

When I had quieted, Finn said “Betsy, doing this is never easy. Killing someone always takes a little bit of your humanity. But sometimes, people make choices that, unless someone is there to stop them, end up hurting and killing even more people. Then, they become no more than rabid dogs, which need to be put down”

“I can’t just dismiss it like this, not right now. I should be worrying about homecoming or some other kid stuff.

As if on cue, I felt a pain in my head that caused me to drop to my knees. A hissing voice I knew as Shadow King entered my head. “Foolish CHILD! I am through toying with you. You die tonight.”

I held my hands to my head. “NO! You PSYCHO BASTARD! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

“You will be alone after tonight, child. Behold, your doom arrives!”

Finn looked at me. “Betsy, what’s wrong! Look at me!”

Tilting my head up to Finn, I whispered, “run…”

A bluish light appeared in mid air. It quickly expanded to form a portal. Through this portal stepped the most hideous being I have ever seen. It appeared to be a demon. Twelve feet tall, it had a horrid blood red face that sprouted horns like a water buffalo and huge teeth. It had a long, muscular tail, and sick looking yellow skin. Massive legs like pile drivers and huge, muscular arms tipped in huge claws.

I screamed. No way was my little katana going to put a dent in this thing. Why was Shadow King going out of his way to kill a flea like me with an elephant like that?

What did I do? I ran. I ran my ass off. Finn wars right behind me. Then I heard gunfire. Finn had stopped and was using his pea shooter on that thing. “What are you doing, Finn! You can’t stop that thing with bullets!”

He yelled at me, “We have to try, Psylocke! Do something!”

The creature spoke in a voice that was more like an earthquake than a voice. “The female must die.” He raised a clawed fist and brought it down on Finn. Finn jumped out of the way just before impact. The street under his fist crumbled like three day old bread. Finn was thrown out of the way and knocked unconscious. The beast turned toward me, his eyes glowing and tail whipping around. I focused my psychic energy and fired several psi bolts at the creature. They did absolutely nothing. He came toward me faster than I thought something that big could move. He swung as before, but I was a lot faster than Finn. He missed by a mile. I caught some fragments of concrete, but nothing serious.

Shadow King was watching. “Give up, child. You are only delaying the inevitable”

His telepathy was causing me to lose concentration. I narrowly missed getting hit by the creature’s tail. Rolling out of the way, I got up, only to have to dodge its tail again. I couldn’t keep this up forever.

Then, the creature had me cornered. I was exhausted. I fired more psi bolts, with the same result as before. He seemed to be absorbing them. He towered over me and raised both fists to strike. I closed my eyes, and then the creature roared as it was picked up from behind and slammed into the street. I looked up, and there was my savior. Juggernaut.

“Finally, something big enough to really fight! Get outta here kid. Leave this critter to me! Now I get to pick on someone my own size.”

In truth, the creature was bigger than Marko, but He relished the fight.

The creature crawled out of the crater Juggernaut planted him in. Charging, the Juggernaut slammed several armored fists into the body of the creature, which seemed to take the punishment without damage. Then the demon cursed and struck back, slamming into Juggernaut with a roundhouse right that crashed into his body with a huge explosive sound. Juggernaut flew back and skidded to a stop some forty feet away, leaving a divot in his wake.

“Oh, really, ugly? Is that the best you have? I hope not! ”

Juggernaut charged back at the creature, who met him mid charge. The sound of the collision was deafening. The creature had temporarily slowed Marko down, but was unable to halt his progress. Juggernaut then returned the favor to the creature, with a double fist punch to the creature’s head, then a right with a left uppercut. The creature flew backwards about the same forty feet.

“That’s payback, ugly!”

Shaking its head, the creature was stunned. Juggernaut pressed the advantage and picked the creature up and slamming it into the earth, creating a huge crater. He rained more incredible blows on the creature.

The beast’s tail whipped around and took Juggernaut’s feet out from under him. With more agility than I would have thought possible, it was on its feet and delivered a kick that sent the mighty Juggernaut flying. I heard the wind leave Marko’s lungs on that one.

The two exchanged blows that would have leveled Fort Knox and neither one was giving an inch.

I then heard Ozawa’s voice. “Come to the Astral plane. It is time to end Shadow King’s persecution of you.” I phased into the Astral plane, sure that Juggernaut didn’t need my help.

Ozawa met me and spoke. “Shadow King is feeding the beast with psychic energy. Juggernaut won’t be able to best it in combat, but neither can the creature stop Juggernaut. The two will battle until the city is laid waste. We can defeat Shadow king here, and stop the flow of psychic energy into the creature.”

I looked around. “Where is he?”

Ozawa motioned me to follow him “I’ll take you to him. Come with me.”

We were soon in the presence of the Shadow King. He was focused on the battle. Visible psychic energy was flowing into the beast from the Shadow King. The two behemoths had destroyed a block of houses, and were moving toward a more populated area.

I fired several psi bolts toward the Shadow King. He howled in pain as they struck This interrupted the flow temporarily.

“CHILD! OZAWA! You fool. Will you never learn? It is because of me that you are trapped in this dimension now! I have defeated you before, this time I end it!”

“Not this time, King. The child is with me! The one you fear!”

“Bah!” He gestured, and a blast of psychic energy struck Ozawa. He took the brunt of the blast, and was blown back.”

“Sensei! I screamed.” Rushing over to him, I found him barely conscious. “What do I do? He’s too powerful?”

“child….you ..have…more ….power. Use…it. He then faded out of consciousness.

I was then hit with another blast from Shadow King, driven into the ground by it. The pain was excruciating. Rolling back, I noticed that he was growing in size. He was now over one hundred feet tall. He voice was almost unbearable. “SO, THE MASTER DIES, AND THE STUDENT SURVIVES. NO MATTER, THIS NEXT BLAST WILL SEND YOU TO THE PIT!

Another psychic blast leapt from his clawed hand, out of reflex, I held out my hand and let loose with a blast of my own. The two canceled each other out.

Shadow king roared with rage. “NO! WHAT MUST I DO TO DESTROY YOU!”

I looked up at him and said calmly “You’ll never destroy me, Shadow King. I’ve taken your best and I’m still here.” I raised my hands, and let loose a double blast of psychic power. The twin beams struck Shadow King full in the chest.

Shadow king clutched his chest. “AAAAAAGHHHH. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE! NOT FROM THIS WHELP!” He began to shrink. I hit him again with everything I could summon. This time, I didn’t stop. I gave him a continuous blast. I could feel the power flowing through me. He continued to shrink until he disappeared. Only then did I stop, and realized I was screaming. I collapsed from the effort.

Juggernaut struck the beast for what seemed like the fiftieth time. He was hurting him now. Rights and lefts rained down on the beast, until it vanished.

“And stay gone!” Juggernaut struck his hands together with a clap that sounded like thunder. “Jugs is two and oh. Bring on the next one.”

I was slowly coming back from my haze “Hey kid. You ok? Wake up, kid”

“Huh? Is it time for school already? Five more minutes, ‘kay?”

“Hey kid, it’s Marko. Wake up!”

“Oh, hi Marko, what’s up?” Suddenly I remembered where I was. I shot up bolt upright.

“Easy, kid. The fireworks are over. I sent big ugly back to wherever he came from.”

I reached forward to hug the big man to the best of my ability. I couldn’t get too far around him. It was like trying to hug a house. “Thank you for helping me! I can’t thank you enough. You saved my life.”

“Ahh, It was nothin’ kid. Glad to do it. You’re ok in my book. Takin’ on that big ape was kind of dumb though. Next time, just run.”

I punched him playfully, which was like hitting a brick wall. Hey, I tried to run, but…Finn!”

“Right here, Psylocke. You didn’t think some apocalyptic monster was going to take me out, did you?”

I smiled. “I guess not.” Looking around, I asked “Where are the police?”

“Running crowd control or something. We have a cordon around this area. Homeland Security is running the show now.” He looked at Marko. “Great job. You handled that big sumbitch like the pro you are. Congratulations on the new ‘assets’.”

Marko replied gruffly. “Thanks, Finn. You always were one of the good ones. Which ain’t sayin’ much.”

Finn winced a bit. “Can I give you a lift out of here? I’d like to talk to you about a few things, if that’s ok.”

Cain Marko rolled his eyes. “Save the pitch, g-man”

“Hey, just hear me out!” Finn protested.

I touched his hand “Do it for me, Cain? We need you. I need you. If a little girl like me can do it, so can a big earthmover like you”

He transformed into his Marko guise “Ok, kiddo. I’ll listen to him for you. But no promises!”

“Fair enough” added Finn. “Chopper’s on the way”

“Can you take me to Tracy?” I asked.

“Of course, Betsy. Let’s get you changed into something less, well blood stained.”

The chopper dropped me at the hospital. It landed at the helipad, and I was escorted to Tracy. She was in ICU, in pretty bad shape. She was sedated, and doctors were working to bring her body temp up. I could communicate with her, but I wanted her to rest. Her mom and dad were in the waiting room.

“How is she?” I asked.

“She’s in serious condition, Bets” replied her dad. “They’ve got her doped up pretty well. She’s resting”

Looking up at her father, then over at her mother, the guilt I felt spilled out. I couldn’t stand it any longer. “I’m so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Moore. It’s my entire fault this happened. I should have left when all this happened to me. Tracy is in there because of me.”

Her mother pulled me into her arms. “You’re darn right she’s in there because of you. If it hadn’t been for you, she would have been in the morgue!”

Through my tears, I stammered, “B-but because of my powers, those people were after me!”

“So?” Her father interjected “we knew the risks when we took you in. You never lied to us, and Tracy was, and still is in love with you. You did nothing wrong, understand? Nothing.”

“Thank you for being there, Mr. and Mrs. Moore”

“Please, Tracy. It’s Mom and Dad.”

I asked if I could see her. Mom and Dad said it was okay. She looked pretty bad. Her eyes were black, and she had bruises all over her body. Her wrists were bandaged up, and the doctor said they were pretty well cut up when she got to the hospital.

I leaned over her still form. Tears fell from my eyes as I looked at her. She took this beating to protect me. How could I ever thank her for her sacrifice? “I love you, dopey. Thank you for doing what you did. You didn’t have to, you know. Don’t you leave me, Tracy. Do you hear me? I can’t live without you. You know, I took care of the people who hurt you. They won’t hurt anyone again.”

An ICU nurse came up from behind “Let her rest, Hon. We’ll take good care of her. I think she’ll be out of this tomorrow.”

I left the ward and went back to Mom and Dad. I liked that. They would never replace my real parents, but I know they would have approved.

What would the morning bring? I was exhausted and fell asleep with my head on my new Mom’s lap.

To be continued….

The monster in this story was pulled from the comics. The description is pretty accurate from the artwork I saw. See if you can guess who it is! I'll bet there's a lot of people who will guess right away!:)

Cindilee

Chapter 11

I spent the entire night asleep. Mom’s lap was just what I needed. Fighting and killing all those people was way too much for my little mind and body to get around. Imagine my surprise when I woke up in my own bed. Looking at my clock, I found I had been out for sixteen hours. Someone had taken me home and I never stirred.

“Good morning, Elizabeth Braddock!” It was Kyoko.

I screamed and pulled my covers up to my neck. “Kyoko! You scared me to death! How long have you been here?”

“I have been watching over you for ten hours now. I was concerned about you after the events of the past hours.”

“Why?”

“You have endured a change far more reaching than you know. You have reached balance with being a woman, but killing is never good for balance.”

“This I know. Thanks for reminding me.” I took a deep breath. “I’m having a lot of trouble with that, and with what happened to Tracy. I wonder if it will change her, you know, make her resent me?”

“I cannot answer these questions. But you can return to your quiet place and work these things out. Tracy is a strong person. She held out under torture for longer than her torturers would have been able to.”

“But that’s just it! It was useless! They already had all of the information they needed.”

“She didn’t know that. She thought they needed her to get information on you. They were playing a cruel game with her. A game you ended. She will be traumatized, but I’m sure she will be glad to see you.”

“So, Kyoko, Have you been ‘assigned’ to me?” I asked.

“In a manner of speaking. The Hand is a…complex organization. I have been assigned to assist you when you may need it. I am not your, how do you say, babysitter. The one known as Finn is more adept at that.”

I laughed. “Yes, it seems that is his role in my life, like it or not.”

Kyoko got up from the chair. “I will leave now. We are connected. I will know when you need assistance, and will be there. It is my duty and honor.”

She then “shadow walked" out of the room. That’s kind of spooky when someone else does it.

I got up, stretched and went to the bathroom. I really needed to pee after all that time asleep, but I really felt good. I guess I needed to rest. No dreams, just sleep.
Calling downstairs, I was glad to find that Mom was home. She came up.

She smiled and gave me a hug. “So, you finally woke up! I mean, it’s only 7:00 PM.”

“I guess I was pretty tired.”

“I guess so. We couldn’t get you to wake up, so we took you home at about eight this morning.”

“Is Tracy up yet?”

“Yes, she woke up at about two o’clock, asking about you”

This made my day. I bounced up and down in a totally girly display of excitement. “She did! Did you tell her I was okay? What did she say? Can I go see her?” Whatever was left of Brian was surely dead or completely embarrassed by now.

Mom held me by the shoulders “Easy, girl. She is going to be fine. She needs her rest right now, and you can see her in the morning.”

“What am I supposed to do until the morning? I just got up, for crying out loud!”

Rolling her eyes, Mom gave an exasperated sigh. “Okay. You win. Get dressed as quickly as you can and we’ll go to the hospital.”

I turned around and ran upstairs. “Let me take a quick shower, ‘kay? I promise to be fast. I don’t want her to see me all gross from just waking up!”

I took the fastest shower on record and still managed to get clean. My hair was a mess, so I brushed it out, put it in a ponytail and put on my pink ball cap. I put on some jeans, a tee and some trainers and I was ready to go. Grabbing my makeup case on the way out of my room, I sprinted for the car, where Mom was waiting for me.

Breathless, I told Mom excitedly “Let’s go!”

Mom laughed “My, my, Elizabeth. You must be eager to see her!”

Busily applying foundation, I replied, “I have to. She suffered so much for me. I have to talk to her. I won’t be able to rest until I know she doesn’t hate me.”

“I don’t think she hates you, Elizabeth, but I can see that you won’t be satisfied until she tells you herself, will you?”

Concentrating on the mirror as I was applying eyeliner I answered. “No, I won’t. And I can’t for the life of me understand why. I am so confused sometimes. I mean, here I am, trying to paint my face to look beautiful for Tracy, nervous I won’t be good enough for her. A few months ago, if my jeans and shirt didn’t smell, I was ready for a party. Why is that?”

“You are growing up, girl. Differently than anyone I know, perhaps, but growing up. I know exactly how you feel. All girls do. It’s how we are wired, and you’ll just have to get used to it. Don’t question it, just let it happen. Women are complicated beings.”

“What do you mean, Mom?”

“Let me explain it this way. As a boy, your brain was wired so you were like a waffle, everything in its little compartment. You could be mad one minute, and the next, moved on to something else. You were in another compartment. Girls, on the other hand are like a plate of spaghetti, with everything interconnected. Everything relates to something else. A bit chaotic, yes, but it makes us who we are. Not better, not worse, just different.”

“I see what you are saying. You know I do kind of feel like that. Thanks! That helps a lot.”

We pulled into the hospital parking lot as I was finishing my makeup. Tracy liked me very feminine, and I did my best in a moving car at night. I was sooo nervous. If she held anything against me, I would be crushed. I needed her

We stepped out of the elevator on her floor. Mom motioned me to her room. Butterflies were doing dive bombing runs in my tummy. Why was I so nervous?

“Do I look okay, Mom? I should brush my hair again.”

Mom looked at me with a smile. “You look beautiful, Elizabeth. Go in there and talk to her”

Walking to the door, I took a big breath and opened the door quietly. Dad was in the room reading something in the paper to her.

“Tracy?” I said quietly. “Can I come in?”

Sitting up in her bed, she held her arms out. “Betsy! Get over here and give me a hug!”

I burst into tears and ran over to her. I was careful to avoid the IV tubes, but I hugged her with all I had. I think Dad took the opportunity to leave.

“I’m soooo sorry, Tracy. I had no idea this would happen.” I cried, so relieved she wasn’t angry with me.

“It’s okay Betsy, I know. I know”

Not pulling back, I continued “You were so strong. Way stronger than I would be. I’m so proud of you. Can you tell me what happened?”

“I did give them a bit of a fight. They jumped me in the house. I didn’t reset the alarm when I came in. I was ready to take a shower and they burst in. I was in my bathrobe, and I nailed two of them in the junk. They tasered me, and the lights went out. The next thing I know, I’m hanging naked in front of those people and they are questioning me about you. Well I wasn’t about to put you in danger, so I told them to f off. I guess they didn’t like that, because they started wiring me up. They put electrodes over my eyes, boobs, and stuck one up inside me, and in front.”

I started crying again. “Those, those....oooohhh!”

She patted my back. “It’s ok, hon. Well, they started lighting me up, but I still wouldn’t give them what they wanted. It hurt like crazy, I don’t mind telling you. So you owe me and big time”

“Anything, anything you want. I owe you so much” She was being sarcastic, but I couldn’t see it.

She laughed. “I’m joking, girl.”

I pulled back and gaped at her, not expecting that. It was then that I got a good look at her face. Her eyes were swollen, black, and blood red. “Ohhh, baby. Do you still hurt? Your eyes look so sore.”

“Painkillers, Betsy. They are wonderful. And thanks, I know I look terrible.”

“You look beautiful to me.” I leaned over to kiss her. “I'm the one who looks terrible. I put on my makeup for you, and I cried it all off.”

“I wish I could see it.”

“What? Can’t you see? Why didn’t you SAY something?”

“Slow down. It’s a side effect of the shocks. They said my optic nerves were swollen, and My vision should come back in a couple of days.”

“Oh, my, God. Anything else you’d like to tell me?”

“My coochie is out of service for a couple of weeks, too. Completely numb. The bastards did a number on it. They really liked to see me dance when they hit that part of my anatomy. Perverts”

I started crying again. “Oh you poor thing. What can I do for you?”

“You are such a cry baby, Betsy. You can do one thing for me, though.”

“Anything, honey, anything at all.”

She got very serious. “Tell me you got them. Every last one of the perverted assholes”

I held her hand. “I killed them all, Tracy. In the worst ways imaginable. And I can’t help feeling terrible about it.”

For the first time since I got there, Tears started streaming down Tracy’s face. She whispered “Good”

She turned to me. “Don’t you dare feel bad about that. They crossed the wrong two girls, and they paid the price.”

That scared me. She was hurting inside. So was I. She was traumatized because of what was done to her; I was hurting because I did something that was repulsive to me. We needed some help.

“Tracy?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Will you do something for me, and with me?”

“Sure. What?”

“I am going to counseling. Will you come with me? We both need to deal with what happened. I so scared of what I might become, and with what happened to you, I’m frightened of what you might become. Please, don’t say no.”

She looked at her hands, wrists bandaged. Quietly, she said “Okay.”

We talked for another hour, until I was kicked out by the nurse. I felt so much better when I left. Tracy and I would be okay, and hopefully, life would return to what would pass for normal.

Mom, Dad and I were in the lobby of the hospital. Dad was taking care of a couple of things. As mom and I were sitting and talking, a woman walked in through the front door. Tall, she was a striking beauty. She looked in my direction and walked over. “Elizabeth Braddock?”

“Yes?”

“Can I speak with you in private for a moment? It won’t take long.”

I looked at mom nervously. She took my cue. “What is this regarding? I am her legal guardian”

Its ok, Mrs. Moore. I’m with the government, Homeland Security. Jackie Gavin. I just need her for two minutes, and I’ll leave. Fair enough?”

Mom looked at me. “Are you okay with this?”

I looked at her and squinted, studying her. She was legitimate. “It’s ok, Mom. Thanks.”

Agent Finn was recalled to Washington. They have assigned me to you among others in this area. “I have some paperwork for you to sign. I am assuming you are still in the program. Right?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.” I could sense she didn’t like that term.

“You don’t have to call me that, Psylocke. I like our code names.”

“You’re meta too?”

“Yeah, low level. Shape shifter. My real name is Jacob Gavin. You can call me Courier”

I smiled. “You’re very pretty, Jacob”

“Ha, ha. Courier will do.” Sign these forms, please. I’ll handle the rest.

After I finished, Courier said “I’ll be in touch, Psylocke. For better or worse, we are now a team.”

To be continued in Psylocke’s next book, Mind over Matter.