She arrived on Earth in a mysterious Symbio-Ship with false
memories and awesome powers and abilities beyond that of mortal men and women....

Issue #8

Science Fiction Double Feature
Part 1: Villainous Plots

Written By Paul Daimler

In the late 1980's Century City had hosted a "Global Fair". It had been created by zealous patriots as an attempt at lessening the perceived impact of the United States not hosting the World Fair—renamed Expo since the mid-1980's. It had failed miserably. However, the over zealous patriot had built a massive sprawling fair ground built five miles south of Century City in the wooded area that surrounded the city.

The long paved parking lots ended near the sea shore, offering an expansive view of the Atlantic Ocean. In the center of the parking lot was what had been meant to be the spectacle of the "1988 Global Fair". Christened the Tower of Power, it had been a thirty store building, modeled after the Space Needle in Seattle. At the base was a three floor building that extended out on both sides, with a massive auditorium behind it. The elevator to the observation room at the top of the Tower of Power was accessible from the auditorium.

It had been largely forgotten through the 90's and into the new millennium. However, four years ago Galactic Entertainment had rented it out from it's owner and begun hosting Century City Science and Fantasy Convention. And odd blend of science-fiction and fantasy entertainment—from movies, to comics, to television, to role-playing games, to electronic games to real science presented by the leading physicists, research-scientists, bio-chemists, and NASA. It was a great opportunity to be selected to appear, since the promoters were highly selective and only selected the best, brightest, and most popular to ensure good attendance.

"Impressive." Karen Starr said, looking around the massive auditorium as hundreds of people toiled to set up booths and displays.

"Yeah. We're lucky we got in this." John Ostrander a.k.a. Johnny O said.

Karen had met Johnny O at Northshore University when they'd roomed together at the same boarding house with their other soon-to-be business partner Cheryl Delayre and Joan Raymond—who had gone on to be a well-known newscaster in Midway City. At first she had thought Johnny O was a dull-witted doofus. At the time he'd been trying to be an actor. But, during their sophomore year, he'd given up the acting dream and ended up going into business with Cheryl and Karen.

It had been Johnny's idea to move their business to San Francisco after they'd graduated.

Looking at the handsome man, Karen remembered their very brief romantic relationship. It had only been a few weeks over a summer shortly after Andrew and Karen had broken up. It hadn't lasted long. Chiefly because Karen had quickly realized that her feelings for Johnny O didn't go that deep and that dating a business partner could be disastrous in the long term.

"We're going to get some pretty high profile attention here." Johnny said. "Plus, I'm going to get to meet Tara Renee Keller from Wendy The Werewolf Stalker. And when we meet she is going to fall in love with me."

"Isn't she about ten years too young for you?" Karen asked with a raised eyebrow as the workers the PR department had hired toiled getting their booth together.

"Not at all. She only plays a sixteen year old. Tara Renee Keller is only two years young than I am." Johnny said dismissively. "She was in the drama department at Northshore when I was. She started the year I left."

"She looks too young. And that show sucks." Karen replied.

"I never said I liked the show." Johnny O laughed.

"You're terrible." Karen laughed with him.

"Ms. Starr?"

"Yes?" Karen turned toward Victor Church. Victor was Cheryl Delayre's new assistant. In the weeks since Karen had first met Victor Church, something about the guy had set Karen's senses flaring in warning. There was just something wrong with him. She wasn't sure if was how uncomfortable and out of place he looked in his business wear—as though he'd never worn slacks, dress shirts, ties, blazers, or dress shoes before. And, the weird flatness in his eyes. Plus there was his odd perchance for bringing up Power Girl whenever he was around.

"Do you think that Power Girl will show up here?"

"How would I know?" Karen asked, "She's not on the guest list. I suppose there is a chance now that she operates out of Century City."

"You should find out."

"Victor, I'm not Power Girl's personal assistant." Karen said, annoyed. Did this creep know that she was Power Girl? She'd been lucky that no one had figured that out after all these years, even though her disguise as Karen Starr was fairly flimsy. Just slicked back and loosely tied hair and wire-frame glasses.

"Oh, right. That would be Beverly." Victor nodded, then wandered off after Cheryl who had gone to meet with the event promoter.

"What an odd duck." Karen said.

"Oh yeah. He's weird. He gives me the creeps." Johnny said from beside Karen. "I think he's stalking Power Girl. He talks about nothing else."

"Really? I thought it was just around me." Karen said quietly.

"No. Everyone has remarked about it. I tried to get Cheryl to call the temp agency and get him canned last week, but apparently he's the best assistant she's ever had. Even better than Warren back in San Francisco." Johnny said.

"Well, if he doesn't stop being so weird, we're going to vote him off the island." Karen sighed, "I need to get going. Do you think you guys have it here?"

"I think so." Johnny shrugged. "What's up?"

"I'm meeting Carrie-Joyce and Liz for lunch."

"Carrie-Joyce? And Liz?" Johnny's attention perked. "You mean your hot former neighbors at your co-op back in San Francisco?"

"Yep. Carrie-Joyce is single again. I could see if she is interested. Although it seems like after the last time I tried to set you two up she told me she'd kill me and then herself if I ever sent her on a date with you again." Karen teased.

"Hey, that was before I started AA. I was a bit of a jerk back then. Tell her a sober Johnny O is a delightful Johnny O." Johnny grinned mischievously. "Why are they in town?"

"Our other old co-op neighbor Garth McGarth has a gallery show here." Karen said.

"You mean that weird hippy guy?"

"One and the same." Karen replied, "Although he's now a recovering hippy. Success has suited him well. He's a bit more debonair and smells more like soap and nice cologne than those 'herbal' cigarettes and patchouli these days."

"Well, if he's going to be around, leave me out of it. I never did like that guy." Johnny replied.

"Jealous still? He and I actually lasted an entire two months."

"That's got to be some kind of record Karen." Johnny laughed, "You have the worst love life of anyone."

Karen made a rude gesture with her finger as she walked away, heading for her car in the parking lot on the east side of the fair grounds.

She was unaware of Victor Church watching her go from across the auditorium, his eyes dark and malignant.

The third floor of the office complex built around the base of the Tower of Power looked out over the auditorium from both sides.

From offices rented nearly six months ago, Calvin Julian looked down watching the people toiling about. He was a tall muscular man with a thick nose and heavy brow.

"So, where is the girl's presentation going to be?" Calvin asked.

"Minerva Bates. Her name is Minerva Bates. Remember it. Because that's the name that's going to make us richer than Midas." Hollie Parker replied, running a hand through her short cropped prematurely graying hair. She was a slender woman with pert lips and a slight hook to her nose.

"I don't understand how." Stanley Hoffman said. He was a short man, only a very few scant inches from being classified a little person. From a distance he looked pudgy and over-weight, but upon closer look it became evident that it was all muscle.

"She's explained that a dozen times." Lora Clarkson interrupted. "I think you've taken too many blows to your fat little head."

"Watch your tone." Hollie said, her expression growing dark. "You're new. And, you can't talk to him like that."

"You talk to him like that all the time." Lora replied, flipping her long wavy brown hair off her shoulders, sniffing petulantly. "Why are you so special? You may have the hypnotic powers, but I have the looks and the bod."

"Yes. You are very beautiful." Hollie replied, "But you forget, I'm immune to your charms. And you won't talk to Stanley or Calvin like that. I've known them since we were kids and I can get away with it, because it only comes from a lifetime love I have for them. You on the other hand are just ill-willed."

"You forget I am immune to your powers as well." Lora said quietly, "Maybe Kong and Bulldozer can't resist your mesmerism. But, my special contact lenses and natural allure prevent you from affecting me."

"Perhaps Siren." Hollie replied, stressing Lora's code name. "But, I am the leader here. If you disagree with me, which you are more than free to do, certainly remember that the door is over there. And, don't let it hit you where the good lord split you."

Lora narrowed her eyes, glaring at Hollie. She often wished that her powers worked on Hollie. Since joining the Gang, Lora and Hollie had often clashed. Lora suspected that there had been some animosity between Ms. Mesmer and the previous leader of the Gang, the woman called Brains. From what Kong had told her over drinks one night, they'd been best friends since childhood and then they'd gotten into a life of crime together. Eventually they'd gotten involved with the crime syndicate known as the Council. Then during a fight in Chicago against Power Girl, the Gang had been defeated and only Brains had escaped. According to Kong, Brains had abandoned her former friends, leaving them to rot in jail. They hadn't spoken to her since and upon being released from jail, Ms. Mesmer, Kong, and Bulldozer had reformed as the Gang—despite another group calling themselves the Gang and using similar names who's appeared in Leesburg shortly before it's destruction. The real Gang had sought them out and punished them. According to Kong, those bodies would never be found.*

*See Supergirl: The Maid of Steel #2 for the "other" Gang.

Less than a year ago, Lora had joined, taking the name Siren and taking on a purple jumpsuit that matched the uniform the other members of the Gang wore. They'd been mildly successful, avoiding arrest and super-heroes, pulling several very lucrative jobs. However, this heist that Ms. Mesmer had planned was guaranteed to make them lots and lots of money. If not for that, Lora would be out of here in a second.

"Of course, I agree." Lora said finally, "I sorry I'm snappy. I'm just nervous. This is going to be a big job and I just want it to go well."

"It will." Hollie replied, "We will kidnap Minerva Bates and force her to release her research and prototypes to us. Then we turn them over to Lady Star-Fyre—who will not only pay us *!@#-loads of money, but will be able to get us working high-profile high-pay jobs again. No more mere bank robberies and burglaries, we'll be working the jobs that will pay."

Lora stared at Hollie, hoping that she was right. She couldn't deal with her or these other two buffoons much longer. As soon as they got this Minerva Bates, Lora was going to double-cross them and take the girl to Lady Star-Fyre herself.... Leaving Ms. Mesmer, Kong, and Bulldozer for the authorities and to take the fall. Lora's lush lips twisted into a sly smile.

Flying away from the Tower of Power and the surrounding fair grounds, Power Girl relished the way the wind caressed her cheeks. The sensation of flying was probably her favorite perk of having her powers. In the weeks since her powers had been completely restored, Power Girl had been more grateful than ever. She had left her car in the parking lot of the fair grounds, after the radio had reported heavy traffic and a three car pile up blocking the highway back to the city. After checking to make sure no there were no serious injuries and moving the damaged cars from the highway, Power Girl had headed toward the city.

Flying toward the Laurel River and Stratford-on-Laurel Park, Power Girl used her microscopic vision to examine the neighborhood lining the side of the Laurel River opposite the park. Filled with trendy buildings filled with equally trendy apartments and condos, the Laurel Park neighborhood was where the trendy and rich who wanted urban living lived. The really rich who wanted mansions and sprawling private estates lived in the suburb west of town referred to as Mill's End, which was the original name of Century City back when it had started its life as a humble trading post.

In one of the tallest buildings, on the fifteenth floor, Power Girl saw Andrew Vinson and his wife actress Gabrielle Cabrini sat on their balcony drinking coffee and having muffins. Looked like blueberry. The only problem about spending time out at the Tower of Power during the past few weeks while getting ready for the sci-fi convention was having to pass Andrew and Gabrielle's neighborhood so often.

"You could try not scanning in the direction of their apartment with super-vision." Power Girl mumbled beneath her breath. "I'm like a super-stalker."

Power Girl didn't know how she was going to deal with this long term. Gabrielle would be in town full-time through the end of her play at the Oasis Theater* in March. And, even after that Gabrielle and Andrew would be residing permanently in Century City. Andrew had taken a job at the most prestigious television station in Century City, and Gabrielle planned on commuting back and forth between Century City and Los Angeles when she started doing film again.

*see Power Girl Halloween Special #1:The Phantom of the Oasis.

"Or, you could try a different flight path. Or go faster." Power Girl whispered, "I fly faster than the speed of light. I'm almost as fast as the Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman." She had tested the limits of her powers last week, going up against the greatest heroes. Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman had beat her, not by much, but by enough. "But you were faster than Supergirl!" Power Girl reminded herself with a wide grin.

The thought gave her the added incentive to rocket past the Laurel Park area so quickly, she appeared not even as a blur to Andrew and Gabrielle as they finished their breakfast.

Standing, Andrew went to the railing, leaning against it and taking a deep breath.

"The air is so clean here, Ella." Andrew said, using his pet name for his wife. "Much better than L.A. And there is less light and noise pollution than in San Francisco."

Gabrielle smiled, sipping water with lemon juice enjoying the cool crispness of the morning. It was unusually warm today, for late November, but she was going to just count her blessings.

"It is. It's good to be home." She replied, "I didn't realize how much I missed it here, the weather, the city... until we came back. Well... at least after the whole Phantom episode was behind us."

"You're parents seem glad to have you close to home." Andrew said.

"They just want me to give up acting and settle down with you." Gabrielle said, standing. She walked over to her husband, throwing her arms around him.

"We're married. How much more settled can we get?" Andrew asked, pulling his wife tight, even as his gaze went toward downtown Century City. He thought he saw a small dark speck in the sky—flying around over there. His thoughts turned briefly to Karen—Power Girl. He knew that despite not saying anything to him, Gabrielle was still uncomfortable that they were in such close proximity to Power Girl. Part of Gabrielle would never completely trust Andrew not to leave her for Power Girl. No matter how often Andrew explained that things between him and Power Girl would have never worked. Sometimes he thought it was because Gabrielle knew that in his heart Andrew still wished it could have worked out.

"Grandchildren." Gabrielle said quietly. "Until we start having children they don't think we're actually settled. As long as I'm acting... My parents are curiously old fashioned that way."

"Are you ready for children?" Andrew asked.

"I don't know. Are you?" Gabrielle asked uncertainly.

"I've been ready. But, it's up to you. You are the one who makes the biggest sacrifice for children. So, until you're ready, I'm content to wait." Andrew had told Gabrielle this many times, but he realized that his wife was insecure. He had found this a common trait in many of the actors and actresses he'd met over the years. However, he loved her enough to overlook it.

Gabrielle gave him a kiss on the lips, "I should start getting ready. I have an interview this morning before I go to the theater."

"OK." Andrew replied.

After his wife had gone back into their apartment, his attention returned to the city where he was still quite certain he saw Power Girl.

As the limo pulled to a stop in front of the Tower of Power, it was being watched through binoculars.

"She's here." The woman watching through binoculars from the woods surrounding the Tower of Power said into her comlink.

"I hear you loud and clear Eliza." The other woman said from where inside the Tower of Power. She was dressed in a Galactic Entertainment t-shirt with black slacks. "I've got the surveillance equipment in place. We'll be able to see her booth from twelve different angles at all times."

"Good job, Beth." Eliza said from outside. "How long is she supposed to be here today?"

"Only an hour to sign off on her booth. Then she's going back to her hotel." Beth replied, unobserved by any of the people toiling to get things ready for the opening day of the convention tomorrow. She had been able to operate without any interference. Her Galactic Enterprises uniform and the various electronic and sound equipment everyone was putting up had made her blend in easily. "I've already scooped out the Galactic Enterprises rep who's acting as her assistant for the weekend. She's a push-over. The extra security guards are local and aren't very good. Our job should be easy."

"Excellent." Eliza replied.

"I also have all the information for the screenings on Saturday. That will be our best opportunity, as you thought." Beth said, "One complication though."

"What's that?"

"There is some weird group who has rented office space on the third floor. They are supposed to be some film production company. But, I tossed their room last night and there is nothing there to support that. Just blueprints of the building and a lot of information on Minerva Bates."

"The girl genius who's going to be at this nerd prom?"

"One and the same." Beth replied. "I have a feeling that they are going to try and kidnap her."

"Any idea who they are?"

"I got some info when I was in there. We should call the Calculator and see what it turns up."

"Good thinking. He does owe us a favor." Eliza replied. "Sounds like they could be trouble."

"Perhaps. But, if they're planning on grabbing Minerva Bates, then perhaps we could use their plans to enhance our plan. It might certainly make it a lot easier on us. We could eliminate the entire McGuffin aspect of our plan. And, then at the end of the day, insure that they fail and let the full blame fall at their feet."

"That's not a bad idea. We'll discuss that tonight when you get back." Eliza said, "OK. She's out of the limo and heading in to the building. I'll meet you back at the hotel."

"Excellent." Beth replied, "Gemini II out."

"Gemini I out." Eliza said, the comlink in Beth's earring going dead.

The doors opened and in came television star Tara Renee Keller, along with her entourage and the three personal security guards she'd hired. Beth reasoned that they would be the biggest threat for the grab.

Victor Church sat uncomfortably in the chair.

Tabitha Kane looked across her desk at the man, shifting uncomfortably. She wasn't afraid of much. She'd seen much in her short time in this incarnation. She was the personal assistant and liaison to Adramelek the Terrible for God's sake. One of the most evil and destructive creatures on the planet. Yet, Victor Church, former Marine, made her uneasy.

Perhaps it was because she knew what was within him. Tabitha frowned. Adramelek was controlled evil, working toward a goal. A purpose. He was her lord and master and if he ever murdered her, she would accept it as part of the greater good. But, Victor Church.... Chaotic, uncontrolled fury with no purpose. Tabitha kept her fear in check, reminding herself of her position.

"How is your assignment at Starrware working out?" Tabitha asked, brushing blonde bangs from her eyes.

"Very well." Victor said, his voice robotic and devoid of emotion. "I have gathered much information about Karen Starr and her friends and co-workers. Cheryl Delayre, John Ostrander, and Beverly Chaucer are her closest friends there. She also appears to be quite close with Andrew Draper, Starrware's legal counsel and Micki and Mikey, the chief programmers. While friendly with the entire staff, these are her closest friends."

"Any proof that she is in fact Power Girl? We have much circumstantial evidence, but nothing concrete." Tabitha said quietly. Adramelek's continued survival depended on them eliminating Power Girl before the prophesied battle between Adramelek and Power Girl. "We need proof. Undeniable proof before we make any move against Karen Starr."

"Nothing concrete yet." Victor said. "But, during any report of Power Girl in action, Karen Starr is mysteriously absent from the office."

"What do you know of her personal life?" Tabitha flipped through the manila folder full of paperwork and photographs Victor had brought. Tabitha would have preferred electronic files, but they had learned electronic files were difficult to keep secure and keep from digital copies being produced. Paper seemed to be safest. It was easier to ensure there were no copies floating around. Sometimes Tabitha hated technology's flaws. It made her long for the days when Adramelek finally came to rule.

"She has a cat. And she doesn't date much. It's a joke around the office how weak her romantic life is. No real boyfriend since being dumped by Andrew Vinson."

"The same man who dated Power Girl for a time." Tabitha remarked quietly. She looked at a picture of Karen Starr, her hair slicked back and the wire frame glasses. It was a very poor disguise if you were paying attention. Most people wouldn't have looked at computer software CEO Karen Starr and considered Power Girl. Some one like Power Girl didn't need a secret identity. She lived in a grand ice palace in the Antarctic with her cousin Superman and Supergirl. Why would she have an office job and an apartment in Century City? It didn't make sense. Which was probably half the reason for it.

"Precisely. Karen Starr always gets this weird look on her face when I mention Power Girl as well." Victor said, scratching at a patch of skin on the side of his head, just below where his crew cut hair ended. His weird empty blue eyes, deep grayish blue, bore into Tabitha across the desk.

"I want you to find a way to trail Karen Starr." Tabitha said, "We need proof. Solid proof. Our Great and Terrible Master wants Power Girl eliminated as soon as possible so we might begin our true work on this plain."

"Will do. I can take a few sick days next week. I'll devote those days to following her." Victor replied.

"See the Spellcaster before you leave about an invisibility spell." Tabitha said, scrawling out a memo for Victor to give to the Spellcaster. "I don't want her to see you."

"Wouldn't it be easier to send someone else to trail her?" Victor asked quietly. "It could potentially compromise my cover."

"It could. However, our Great and Terrible Master does not want to put anyone else on this for the time. He wants it to remain just you for the time being." Tabitha said.

"Very well." Victor nodded.

"I'll see you for our weekly meeting next week." Tabitha said, rising from her seat to escort him out. Once the door was closed, she leaned against it, locking the door against the awful Victor Church.

She hadn't told Victor that his fate was no longer in his control. He was to follow Karen Starr because as soon as they had proof that she was really Power Girl, they would activate Victor Church, removing the mystic firewall and bonding in his mind that kept him in check. He would no longer be just Victor Church, he would become their bloodletting massacre machine. The Spellcaster had told Tabitha, this morning, that the mystic firewall and bonding were growing weaker and weaker by the day, and could collapse any day.

Tabitha did not want to be around when that happened. Once those barriers were gone, there would be no stopping him until he burned out.

Once she'd finished her work at the office, Karen Starr made her way out of the office and down the block to toward the subway station. Going into the alley, Karen looked around to make sure no one was looking. The sun was slowly sinking, sending gold shadows across the city as the sky turned purple.

Once in the alley, she leapt into the air, not stopping until she'd landed on a rooftop and made her way to the hidden spot where she had a spare Power Girl costume. It was a fake fan vent, disguised to look like the air vents up here. She had them installed through out town, all in convenient places that made it easier to change from Karen to Power Girl. With super-speed Karen traded clothes, neatly folding clothes into the small container and tucking them back into the vent. About once a week, she flew around town, trading out the hidden cache of clothes for fresh uniforms and fresh clothing.

Once she was in her white jumpsuit, she instantly felt more relaxed. Sometimes she wondered if she'd ever be comfortable as Karen Starr. Sometimes she wasn't sure. The itchy wool suits, smart business wear, and wire classes, plus ton of hair gel never felt at home on her. Something about being in the white legless jumpsuit with the flowing cape and her hair free and flowing was liberating.

Plunging into the sky, Power Girl flew up high above the city, going higher than the airplane lanes and so that she was able to look at all of Century City glittering like gold and diamonds on the globe beneath her. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, she listened with her super-hearing. She had missed this power. Hell, she'd missed all of her powers. Lately she marveled at how miserable she'd been at reduced power levels, how ineffective and impotent she'd felt making do with constantly changing and weakening powers. In the weeks since having them back where they started, she had begun feeling more confident and more efficient. Like she was really making a difference again, rather than just treading water and holding back the rampaging armies of evil.

The city looked quiet as night settled in. She was just going to go home and snuggle with her cat. She could patrol some other night. Century City had been pretty quite these past few weeks, minor muggings and robberies. Nothing that really needed a Power Girl. There had been several adventures and missions with the Justice League Europe, but that was all so far away. Life in Century City was quiet.

Her lunch with Liz and Carrie-Joyce had gone well, and it had been nice to see her old friends. They were both going to be in town for a little while longer, and they had made plans to see each other several more times between now and their departure—outside of Garth McGarth's gallery opening.

Her life in San Francisco had always felt a little off, but Liz, Carrie-Joyce, and Garth had made it tolerable, alongside her friends at Starrware. She had hated leaving them behind when it had come time to move to Century City, but she'd retained her co-op apartment and sublet it to someone—just in case Century City didn't work out. However, so far it was going better than it ever had in San Francisco, Chicago, Brooklyn, or Metropolis.

Looking toward the direction of the Tower of Power and the fairgrounds, Power Girl noticed an odd light. The fairgrounds should be locked and closed at this point—Galactic Entertainment had been very clear that at eight p.m. the week before and the days of the convention the fairgrounds and Tower of Power would be locked and off-limits. It was some security procedure due to some of the inventions that would be at the convention. Minerva Bates, who was being touted as a genius, had some pretty revolutionary ideas and inventions. Power Girl was looking forward to getting to meet the girl during the course of the convention and getting to talk to her.

"That doesn't look like a flashlight." Power Girl remarked, knowing Galactic Entertainment had hired security guards patrolling the grounds and the Tower. She frowned, wondering if she should take a look. It took only a moment to decide to go and check it out. The city was quiet and it would take a few minutes tops and then she could head home and snuggle with the cat and maybe get in an episode or two of Passionate Suburban Housewives Season 2 before bed.

Reaching the sky above the fairgrounds, Power Girl used x-ray vision to scan the building.

"Weird." Power Girl said. The building and Tower of Power were lined with lead. "Of course, there would be lead in there. I get my x-ray vision back and I'm living in a city where lead is used everywhere." Half of Century City seemed to have lead in it. There were lead pipes in the complicated and labrynth sewer systems beneath the oldest parts of the city and most of the older buildings had lead sheets between layers of the plaster and wood. What would they have wanted shielding against?

The light appeared to be coming from behind the Tower of Power, in the thick trees behind it.

Power Girl flew over the Tower of Power, swooping by the giant circular domed compartment on top of the tower. Luckily there was no lead in the trees.

"Something I can help you with." Power Girl asked amiably, coming to a landing several feet in front of a person running with an staff with a pale blue light emanating from the top of it.

"Oh." The person gasped, "You."

"Yes. Me." Power Girl said, putting her hands on her hips. "And you are?"

As Power Girl got a good look at the person, she saw that it was a boy, no more than seventeen with dark hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a skin tight black body suit, with a cut-out in his chest area. A streak of blonde hair weaved it's way through his longish bangs. He was wearing boots and gloves and a bright red short cape, attached to a heavy gold button and gold twine.

"That's an awfully familiar costume." Power Girl said, realizing it was a black version of her own.

"I can't tell you who I am. You shouldn't even be seeing me." The boy said, his face pale and afraid.

"Why is that?" Power Girl said. She didn't sense any deception or evil in the boy, just a lot of fear and uncertainty.

"I can't explain." The boy said, rushing past Power Girl.

"You should." Power Girl said, reaching out and grabbing him by the shoulder.

"Let me go!" The boy said, shrugging her hand off.

"That's impossible." Power Girl said to herself. "How did you shrug me off?"

"Super-strength." The boy replied, "It goes with the super-speed."

Suddenly he disappeared, moving quick.

"You're fast kid," Power Girl said, pulling up alongside him. "But, I'm faster."

"Doubtful." The kid replied, hauling off and punching her.

Power Girl gasped. The boy packed a wallop. It was like getting belted by Supergirl—not as strong as Superman, but still pretty strong. It knocked her back, where she slammed into a tree, which helped bring her to a stop.

Landing in a tangle on the ground, Power Girl looked up to see a bright gold explosion. It appeared to be a gateway, and it looked like the star of Arion.

"Hurry up!" A female voice called from the other side of the gateway. "The gateway is going to close! Did you get the—"

"Quiet! Karen is near!" The boy shouted urgently, flying into the gateway. It slammed to a shut after him.

"Karen?" Power Girl said, pulling herself to her feet. The kid knew her name. Her real name. And had disappeared into a magical gateway that looked like the star symbol of Arion—her grandfather. "What the hell was that?"

Power Girl flew around the perimeter several times, doing a full sweep with her various vision powers to see if there was any trace of the kid or anything else. But, there was nothing. She wished at times like this she understood the magic side of her heritage better. Surely there was a way to track the magic signature that star-gate would have left behind.

Landing, she walked around the fence surrounding the Tower of Power and fairgrounds. She had stopped, and was looking at the Tower of Power when the voice came from behind her.

"Power Girl."

She spun around. Standing there were four people dressed in single-colored bodysuits, wearing white discs on their chests.

"The Gang? I thought you guys were still in jail." Power Girl asked with a lifted eye-brow.

"Parole." Bulldozer said, his blue uniform shining and slick. It appeared to have a coating of some plastic material over it. "We didn't do nothing too bad. We never killed anyone. Just a little destruction of public property, reckless endangerment."

"You forgot criminal mischief. Attempted manslaughter. Racketeering. Some organized crime charges. I was at the trial you know. And, at the sentencing. I also went to your parole hearings. The ones that were denied."

"You missed the last ones." Kong piped up, "There was some prison overcrowding issues at the Meta-Human Correctional Facility in Illinois. We got parole. We were the least of the public's concerns."

"The fact that you're out here after eight o'clock on a Thursday night wearing your super-villain costumes would suggest to me that you're probably part of the public's concerns." Power Girl replied. "I don't see Brains. Is your leader hiding somewhere, plugged into some giant robot?"

"Brains is no longer a member of our organization." Ms. Mesmer said, her bodysuit was yellow and made of a promethium-Kevlar polyester blend. "We've gone on without her."

"Really? I heard she was still with the Council. Guess that means you guys are no longer in the Council. Free agents?" Power Girl replied. "Are you Brains's replacement?" Power Girl asked the woman wearing a pink bodysuit. Her long wavy brown hair falling around her beautiful face and bright blue-green eyes.

"I'm Siren." The woman said pleasantly.

"Like in mythology?" Power Girl said, "You're not from the South Side of Chicago like the rest of these morons. I doubt any of them even know what mythology is."

"Ms. Mesmer told me you talk too much." Siren said.

"Did she? Did she mention to you that this little group you've joined always ends up in jail at the end of their capers?" Power Girl asked pleasantly.

"She did actually." Siren smiled pleasantly. "That's why I'm here. I'm the ringer. You see, Ms. Mesmer can hypnotize anyone who looks too long at her little disc. And with it situated there on her chest... well, I'm sure you can relate PeeGee."

"Don't call me that!" Power Girl said through clenched teeth.

"Bulldozer can plow through anything. Kong has super-strength and can lift almost a ton." Siren said, "Brains had nothing. Sure, she was smart. But, when you're going to be a super-villain, well, you need more than some scientific know-how and strategies. Sure she plugged into a giant super-robot with the ability to make little robots... but, you know that's just not enough."

"You talk too much." Power Girl said. "Super-villains always make that mistake. They want to talk. Most of you guys have bad self-esteem and need to stroke your own egos. Lesson #1 Siren, less talk." Power Girl lunged toward the Gang, taking Bulldozer out with one single punch. Kong grabbed Power Girl's cape, jerking her back.

Ms. Mesmer and Siren scattered.

"Cape pulling?" Power Girl asked. "Really? Didn't you ever learn. You don't spit into the wind. You don't mess around with Jim. And you don't TUG ON POWER GIRL'S CAPE!!"

Power Girl spun around punching Kong in the gut, sending the man to his knees on the ground.

"You forget. We name ourselves after our powers. You're Kong. You have the strength of an ape. I'm Power Girl. I have power. Lots of power. More than some damn dirty ape." Power Girl gave Kong one more solid punch to the face, knocking the man out.

She turned around and looked at Ms. Mesmer and Siren.

"Ok, so I've taken out the muscle of your group." Power Girl said pleasantly. "That leaves the master hypnotist and the lady named after a bunch of ancient Grecian hookers who hung out on the rocks."

"Ms. Mesmer mentioned you thought you were funny." Siren replied, "But, those women you so crassly call hookers had the ability to sing so beautifully that any man who fell beneath their spell was compelled to do their bidding."

"Well, the men folk are passed out." Power Girl said pleasantly.

"Bulldozer and Kong yes." Siren said, "But, don't you find it odd that none of the security guards have come to investigate a strange noise? We've been here chatting and fighting almost ten minutes. Yet, no one has come to look and see what all the ruckus is about."

"I find it odd." Ms. Mesmer said, the disc on her chest beginning to spin. A wicked smile twisting her lips.

"I don't." Siren replied.

The woman parted her lips and began to sing. It was a cool airy soung, light and beautiful dancing as though in harmony with the elements. Power Girl detected as slight hint of something in it that she could only define as magic. Something other worldly.

From the dark trees around them, the security guards began to materialize, their eyes wide and vacant and they marched toward Power Girl. They had billy clubs and guns raised.

"We know that you're bullet proof." Ms. Mesmer said as Siren continued to sing, "But, we also know you have an intense dislike of harming innocent civilians. Especially those under Siren's spell."

"Oh, this stinks." Power Girl said, looking all around as the security guards began rushing toward her. "Although, since Siren is still singing, that would indicate that she has to keep singing to keep control of them. I can take care of that. Hope your up on your health insurance Siren."

Two rays of heat shot from Power Girl's eyes, directed at Siren's shoulder. The intense heat slammed into the woman's shoulder, tearing through the pink material of her uniform. Siren screamed, the song dying in an ear-splitting electronic feedback.

She screamed, the song on her lips ending just as the first of the security guards reached Power Girl. The men all stopped where they stood. They still gazed vacant eyed at Power Girl, but they didn't make another move toward her.

Siren collapsed to the ground on her butt, crying in pain as she gripped her left shoulder with her right hand. Tears flowed down her cheeks, leaking over the white domino mask she wore over her eyes.

Power Girl turned to Ms. Mesmer.

"So, the men's current state looks like your handy work. So, do you put them under and then Siren controls them?"

"Something like that. Perhaps. No" Ms. Mesmer shook her head no, and then laughed, "Like I'd tell you Power Girl."

"Oh, you'll tell me." Power Girl rushed toward Ms. Mesmer.

Power Girl stopped mid-air several feet from Ms. Mesmer.

"No. I won't. And you won't come any further." Ms. Mesmer said, "Since we last clashed Power Girl, I've improved upon my natural mastery of hypnotism. I've also learned how to do so much more with this little disc. And, personally, I abhor blood-shed and fighting. I'm not as lofty and goal-oriented as Brains was. I'm not after controlling the world like Lex Luthor. I don't want to kill as many people as I can like the Joker. I'm not Circe, who wants to subjugate humanity and have them worship at her feet. I just want to be rich. And, I don't want a boring nine-to-five or to toil and toil and toil to get the money. And, I wasn't fortunate enough to be born to rich successful parents. So, I had to improvise. I'm here, for the money. I want to score big. And, I want to have enough to buy a private estate somewhere and live in the lap of luxury for the rest of my life."

"There you go yapping again." Power Girl said, struggling against Ms. Mesmer's hypnotic control of her. There was an invisible force holding her in place. She could tangibly feel what felt like some sort of force field around her. Power Girl realized that somehow it was a force her mind was creating at Ms. Mesmer's command. The trick was to figure out how to break it and get her mind around it.

"I'm try explaining my motivation PeeGee." Ms. Mesmer said pleasantly.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Power Girl yelled, struggling to break free.

"I just want you to understand." Ms. Mesmer shrugged. "I don't want to kill you. That's not really what I'm all about. I just want you to understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. Why I'm hypnotizing you and doing it how I'm doing it."

"Oh, are you the Riddler now?" Power Girl could feel the invisible force more strongly and she bucked against it. She could feel it straining under the pressure.

"Nope. I'm Ms. Mesmer, leader of the Gang. And one day I'll be a billionaire. Living quietly on an island or in a small country with no extradition laws. That's why I'm going to command you to forget what you've seen here tonight. You're going to forget that you fought the Gang. That we were here. You're also going to be strangely compelled to not put on that costume over the next seven days. You're not going to fight crime as Power Girl. Power Girl is not going to visit this convention or the fairgrounds. She's not going to stop the Gang." Ms. Mesmer's voice was soothing and etched it's self down into Power Girl's mind. "In fact, once I count to ten, you're going to go to sleep for ten minutes. Then you're going to wake up and go home. And for the next few days, you just aren't going to be Power Girl. The idea will be abhorrent to you."

"Oh... You're going to pay for this." Power Girl groaned, struggling against the invisible force and the words that slipped down into her brain, grooving down into her head. She was still aware of Ms. Mesmer's commands and she fought against them. Knowing that the world couldn't be without Power Girl for a week.

"No. We're going to get away with this." Ms. Mesmer said, "You're going to take a week off from being Power Girl. And, you'll go off and do whatever it is you do when you're not being Power Girl. I guess hang out in the Arctic with Superman and Supergirl watching movies on a big screen plasma TV. No Justice League missions. No nothing. You're going to just enjoy regular life."

Power Girl could feel the energy field around her—created by her own mind under Ms. Mesmer's power begin to crack. If she could break free, then she'd pound Ms. Mesmer. And then she'd be free from any hypnotic commands.

"One...two...three...four...five..." Ms. Mesmer began to count as Bulldozer awoke, his head felt like it was filled with hammers slamming down on fingers. "Six... seven..."

"I'm almost free." Power Girl said. She could hear the crackling sound as the energy began to break around her.

"Eight."

Bulldozer pulled himself to his feet, staggering over to when Siren sat crying and clutching herself.

"Nine."

Power Girl heard the sound of shattering glass as the energy around her broke.

"TEN!" Ms. Mesmer said just as Power Girl pulled her arm back, hand balled into a fist, to knock her out.

Power Girl's eyelids fluttered and she fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

The security guards stood around, vacant eyed.

"That's that." Ms. Mesmer said quietly. "Power Girl is out of the way for the next week."

"Good." Bulldozer said.

"Sing these guards back to their posts." Ms. Mesmer told Siren, "Keep them on alert though. They are going to help us greatly when it's time to make our move."

Siren nodded, she opened her mouth and began to sing again beautifully despite the intense pain in her shoulder.

"Siren's wounded." Bulldozer said.

"We'll call the Calculator and see if there is anyone in Century City who we can take her to that will look at it and help us without alerting the police." Ms. Mesmer replied. "Go see if you can wake Kong up. We only ten minutes until she wakes up. And, we need to be gone by then. She might be compelled to resist being Power Girl for seven days, but if we're hear when she wakes up, it might make her remember this fight, and that could break my spell. Power Girl is not easily hypnotized."

Karen Starr awoke with a start, feeling a chill on her skin.

She stood shakily, trembling in the bitter cold in the air.

"How long have I been here?" She asked aloud. The last thing she remembered was leaving the office.

The sky was dark and the moon was bright and full.

"Where am I anyway?" She mused aloud. "And why I am dressed like Power Girl?"

She wandered around, realizing she was at the Fair Grounds when she looked up and saw the Tower of Power. She saw her car in the parking lot, remembering leaving it there earlier in the day.

"How did I get back to the city?" She wondered aloud, making her way over to her car. She found her keys in the pocket of the cape. "Did I go to some sort of costume party?"

Of course, that made no sense. Using her keys to open the door, Karen Starr found a change of clothes sitting neatly on the passenger's seat. Quickly and with much modesty she changed in the parking lot. She felt warmer almost immediately once she had slacks and a blouse on. She started the car and headed home.

"Was I drugged?" She wondered aloud. She had had a couple drinks at lunch with Liz and Carrie-Joyce. Had someone slipped something into it? Of course that didn't make sense. Of course, it made less sense than her waking up here alone and freezing in a Power Girl outfit.

"I'm sure it will all make sense tomorrow." Karen said quietly.

TO BE CONTINUED

NEXT ISSUE: While the super-hero is away, the villains will play. As the Gang plans their heist/kidnapping, Team Gemini plans their heist/kidnapping at the Sci-Fi Convention. All the while the people of Century City wonder, where is Power Girl? Meanwhile CEO Karen Starr feels like there is something missing from her life. It's all in "Science Fiction Double Feature Part 2: Mad Science".