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 #9

Science Fiction Double Feature
Part 2: Mad Science

Written By Paul Daimler

CEO Karen Starr sat reading email on her laptop while drinking her morning coffee. She had slept well the night before and had woken up feeling refreshed. She’d spent about thirty minutes looking in her closet wondering where the Hell all of her clothes were. It was like someone had taken half of her outfits. And, what was there was woefully out of style and kind of frumpy. She wondered if all women CEOs dressed this horridly. She hadn’t even found a pair of blue jeans or a t-shirt anywhere in the house. Where were all of her casual clothes? It looked like she hadn’t bought anything other than business wear since college. Karen had called Beverly this morning on her way to the fairgrounds and Tower of Power and asked her to set up some appointments to meet with a personal shopper so she could hire someone to help her make better fashion choices and get some casual wear.

“You look well-rested this morning.” Cheryl Delayre said, walking up with her creepy assistant Victor Church.

“I’m feeling well-rested.” Karen replied, looking up from her laptop. “I slept really well. I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.”

“How is it going this morning?” Cheryl asked, looking over the brochures on the Starrware table as well as the products they had for purchase. In several stations there were consoles set up displaying Starrware’s current selection of video games. On the other side of those stations were laptops set up with Starrware’s wide selection of business applications.

“Still slow.” Karen smiled, finishing up an email. “The lines so far are clustered over at the Space Trek people and waiting in line for Tara Renee Keller. Johnny O is in line over there.”

“Oh lord. Is he really going to try to meet her? Doesn’t he realize he’s going to come across as a creepy old man?” Cheryl laughed lightly.

“No. He’s convinced that just because in real life Tara Renee is only a few years younger than him and because that they almost had an acting class together at Northshore U, that she’s going to want to go out to dinner with him.” Karen replied, closing her laptop.

Cheryl laughed harder, “You know, no matter how much he changes and matures, part of him is always going to be a goofy and immature.”

“Whiz Kid Minerva Bates is going to start her demonstration soon.” Karen said, putting her laptop in her it’s sleeve and then tucking it in her briefcase. “I want to see that. She may not be the star of TV’s top sci-fi fantasy werewolf drama, but her article in the Modern Science Technology Fall issue was really interesting.”

“Are you still wanting to hire her?” Cheryl asked.

“You know I’ve thought for a while that we should start expanding beyond software and game applications and moving into technology and electronics. She would be an asset to us.” Karen said, standing up.

“And most of our R&D budget for the next three years.” Cheryl said.

Karen looked at her, smiling, “You know I just want to feel her out. We would start small and expand slowly. It’s been the Starrware way since our first glorified accounting spreadsheet back in college. That’s why our stock continues to grow and our investors are so happy. We don’t take risks. We make solid business decisions.”

“If you say so. Although the decision to expand into computer games was one we all original resisted, until you went behind our backs and hired someone to design our first one.” Cheryl said.

“And you see how that worked out.” Karen smiled mischievously. “Besides, I doubt we could afford to hire Minerva Bates. She’s seventeen years old, just graduated from college with a double degree in biochemistry and physics a minor in electrical engineering, and is now going on to a graduate program. She has a bright future. I doubt we’re going to sway her from that.”

“Although the graduate biochemistry and physics programs at Allured University here in Century City is one of the most prestigious and respected in the country and she’s more than likely going to end up there.” Cheryl said, walking beside Karen. “She’s a genius, but her family isn’t rich. And, her grants and scholarships are only going to cover so much. Ms. Bates is going to need a job to make it through graduate school.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Karen replied.

Victor Church trailed behind them, his dark eyes focused intently on Karen Starr’s back.

Tara Renee Keller tried to stifle a yawn.

She had only been signing photographs and visiting with fans for a little over an hour, but already it had grown tedious. She resisted rolling her eyes. It was just one loser fan after the other. There were chubby smelly guys with bad acne who couldn’t get a word out with stumbling over it, their eyes riddled with acne and their eyes gleaming with lust. Then there were the unattractive girls with glasses and mustaches who wanted to be just like her. Tara Renee wanted to tell them to look into some plastic surgery and learn to wax.

She hated fans. But, she understood the need for them. No fans, no show. No show, no money. No money—no cocaine, no alcohol, no all night parties at the Constrictor Room in L.A, no handsome personal trainer boyfriend. It was a difficult life, sometimes Tara Renee thought about chucking it all and moving back to Chicago to marry some rich guy who would be away on business all the time and leaving her to her own devices and her credit cards.

“Hi.”

Tara Renee looked up at the guy standing in front of her.

“Hi.” She smiled brightly. He was the first good looking guy she’d seen. He also looked like he was straight. Which was a plus. The only good looking guys so far in line this morning had been gay. “Who do I sign this to?” She asked as she took a photo from her stack.

“Johnny O.” The man smiled at her, “Don’t you remember me?”

“Should I?” Tara Renee asked, writing “All my Love to Johnny O, T.R. Keller” in black Sharpie across the glossy headshot.

“We were almost in the same class back at Northshore U.” Johnny O smiled down at her, “John Ostrander? The famous Johnny O? I left the drama department your freshman year.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell.” Tara Renee replied, losing interest quick. She never dated actors. Never. No matter how good looking they were. They always wanted her to get them jobs.

“We were barely there together.” Johnny O shrugged, “I left to get into computers.”

“Computers?” Tara Renee perked up. She had a cousin who’s husband made lots and lots of money in the computer industry. “That seems pretty far removed from acting.”

“Well, you know. Acting can be hit or miss. And I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t that great of an actor. Now I’m one of the owners of Starrware.”

“The software company?” Tara Renee asked, remembering the name. When she had first been asked to come to this stupid convention, she’d scoped out the other people who had been invited, checking them out. She remember Starrware from the list, and had discovered that it was fairly well-respected software company worth millions.

“Yeah. Me and some friends from college started it.” Johnny O smiled, her removed a business card from his wallet and handed it to Tara Renee. “I’m holding up the line here.” He handed her his card in exchange for a signed photo, “If you want to get some lunch later, or maybe dinner tonight, give me a call. My cell is on that card.”

“I will keep that in mind.” Tara Renee smiled, doing quick calculations in her head. What she had found out about Starrware had indicated that there main offices were here in Century City. If Johnny O was one of the rich owners of that and based in Century City, he might be the perfect long distance rich boyfriend from her life in L.A.

Johnny O left, and Tara Renee continued to offer fake smiles as she signed photos.

Behind her Beth Gemini stood, wearing dark slacks and a Galactic Entertainment T-Shirt along with a headset. She hugged a clipboard to her chest. Her long flowing blonde hair was tied back neatly and she stood next to one of Tara Renee Keller’s personal bodyguards.

The Galactic Entertainment rep who was Tara Renee’s handler for the weekend leaned in and whispered to Beth, “Ms. Keller is going to want lunch from Chez Luis for lunch. She wants a tofu burrito with low-fat cheese, black beans, fat-free sour cream, and sliced avocado on the side. She wants a mineral water and a Diet Kola. Also she wants a low-fat soy mocha latte with the fat free mocha, no whipped cream and extra steam from Sundollar Coffee.”

“Got it.” Beth smiled, jotting it all down. “I’ll leave now.”

“Good.” The handler, Jeff something or other, said.

Beth held the smile until she was out of his sight, after she’d moved from behind the table where Tara Renee Keller was comfortably seated.

“I’m going to rip her little bleached blond head off.” Beth said into the other earpiece, the concealed one.

“Calm down Beth.”

“Calm down? How can I calm down? I’m running errands for that little twit! You are just crowd control. You get to patrol the fairgrounds and the various wings of the complex making sure nothing goes awry. I have to run the errands the personal assistant feels is beneath him. Come on Eliza!”

“Now, you know that you need to be close to Tara Renee Keller. How are we supposed to grab her otherwise?”

“Let’s switch.” Beth said, “You take TRK, as the fan boys call her. I’ll wander around making sure no fan boys get into fights with each other over which is the better Space Trek Captain—Lucard or Burke.”

“It disturbs me you know that.” Eliza replied.

“I’m the pop culture one. I get to know the superficial stupid stuff. You get to understand nuclear science and chemistry and the secret of cold fusion.” Beth said, stalking out of the Tower of Power and across the parking lot. As she walked away, she looked up at the tall tower the building complex was built around.

“It’s just how it works. It’s not like I picked that stuff. You know that. We get what we get. You are stronger and more powerful; I’m faster and more agile. That’s just how it gets divided.”

“I say I got the short end of the deal.” Beth replied reaching her car. “Anyway, what have you found out about those people that rented that room up on the third floor.”

“The Calculator sent me a dossier on them. They’re called the Gang. They fought Power Girl in Chicago a couple years back. They were connected to the Council. After getting their butts handed to them by Power Girl, they went up the river—ditched by their leader Brains, who is still with the Council in Midway City. Now they’re out of prison and back together with a new member. The Calculator couldn’t get me much info on the new girl, but there was plenty of info on the other three. It appears they’ve taken on a job for Lady Star-Fyre.”

“You mean that crazy woman from Bialya who wants to take over the world like some bad James Bond villain from the 1960’s?” Beth asked starting her car. “The one who tried to hire us last year to raid that island in the Caribbean where that crazy old Nazi guy was doing all those weird experiences.”

“That’s the one. She wanted all of his experiment notes and samples and all that crazy stuff. And based on what I found when I was scoping out their offices, it looks like they’re going to try and grab Minerva Bates and some of her inventions.”

“Some of what Minerva Bates has come up with is pretty exciting. She is one of the greatest scientific minds out there right now. If Lady Star-Fyre were to get ahold of her and her inventions, she’d be dangerous. Far more dangerous than she is right now with that escaped mental patient in charge of her science division Dr. Kangle.” Eliza replied.

“So, are we still going to use the Gang as a diversion? So we can grab our mark?” Beth asked.

“It’s tempting.” Eliza replied, “But I have a slightly better idea. And, it changes everything.”

“Oh, do tell.” Beth replied, leaving the fairgrounds parking lot and heading to the nearest mini-mall for a Del Loco Taco and SandDollar Coffee.

“The military applications for that scare me.” Cheryl Delayre said, leaning in to Karen Starr.

“I know.” Karen replied.

They both watched and listened as Minerva Bates explained the invention on display from the small raised stage Galactic Entertainment had set up for her.

“On paper this particular invention has a numeric designation of 127891, which is based on the chronology of when I invented it,” Minerva smiled. The seventeen year old was a fresh-faced girl with a pale complexion and generous smatter of freckles under her hazel eyes. Her long chestnut colored hair was held back by two silver barrettes. She had a tall thin frame and an infectious smile. “But I call it the Supersuit 3000, or SS3. As you can see, it gives the wearer the ability to hover above the ground. It has a maximum height of three hundred feet, which we can’t adequately display with the lower ceilings in here.”

Everyone laughed as Minerva gestured to the high glass ceilings of the area room.

“It also gives the user enhanced strength, the ability to reach nearly mach 1, and force field shielding that protects against bullets and most small projectiles. I started developing this for use by Meta Human Crime units to help even the playing field when they come up against super-villains.” Minerva smiled, “But there are still a few kinks to work out before it’s safe enough for mass production and general use.”

“How long do you think the government steps in and takes that suit?” Cheryl asked quietly.

“I’m not sure. I’m sure the U.S. military has several designs of their own for similar suits. It’s governments of other countries that worry me more. The small war-torn countries. Can you imagine if Bialya got one of those?” Karen replied.

“I don’t want to think about it.” Cheryl replied quietly, “That country has been on the brink of full blown civil war for at least twenty years.”

“One dictator after the other…” Karen replied softly. She frowned, wondering why she knew so much about Bialya. She remembered a few years ago that it had been ruled by some woman calling herself the Queen Bee—no relation to the old Justice League villain from outer space. How do I know that? Karen wondered.

The young man in the suit, hovering ten feet above the ground lowered himself slowly so that he could display the shielding on the suit.

“I was pretty impressed with her previous invention.” Cheryl said, “The hand held solar converter.”

“If it really converts solar energy like she says, it could seriously decrease our reliance on non-solar electricity and be a great asset to saving our environment.” Karen said quietly. “There are a dozen real-world applications for that I can see. At least two I’d like Starrware to be responsible for.”

Karen’s eyes were suddenly drawn to four people—two men and two women standing off to the side of the stage. There was something about them. She wasn’t sure what. One of the men was tall and wore a green blazer with matching tie, the man next to him was significantly shorter in a blue suit. The gray-haired woman in a yellow skirt and white blouse leaned in and whispered something to the woman in pink.

Karen blinked. What was it about them? There was something so familiar about them. The same odd feeling that had come over her earlier when thinking about the Queen Bee recurred.

“Cheryl? Do you know who those people are?” Karen asked gesturing to them.

Cheryl looked at them. “They’re the people who rented office space on the third floor here. Gagner Inc. or something. I’ve never heard of them. The Galactic Enterprises liaison introduced me to them last week when I was touring the facility.”

“There is something familiar about them.” Karen frowned, biting the corner of her lip.

Karen was lost in her own thoughts as Cheryl turned her attention back to Minerva Bates’s presentation.

As closing time neared for the day, Karen Starr stood, stretching and yawning. The crowds were heavier around the Space Trek cast and Tara Renee Keller, and there were a few shoppers hitting the booths offering collectibles and memorabilia. But, the booths offering information and demonstrations of actual science were mostly empty.

Karen looked over at Taylor, the girl they’d hired to man the booth full time, and smiled.

“I think I’m going to head out. Do you think you’ll be OK closing up?”

“Yes, it’ll be fine Ms. Starr. Johnny O said he would stay and hang out a bit. He’s got a dinner date with Tara Renee Keller after she finishes up here. So, he’s going to hang out.” Taylor said, offering a toothy smile.

“He actually got one? Impressive.” Karen replied. “OK. I will see you tomorrow then. Have a good night Taylor and thank you for all of your hard work today.”

“G’nite Ms. Starr.” Taylor called as Karen walked toward the front doors.

As she made her way through the thinning crowds, she again saw the four people from earlier. Her attention was drawn specifically toward the woman with the gray hair wearing a yellow skirt. Karen couldn’t help shaking the feeling that she knew the woman. Adjusting the glasses on her face, Karen decided that she should go over and introduce herself.

“Hello.” Karen said, reaching the woman and her three friends.

“Hello.” The woman replied.

“I’m Karen Starr, CEO of Starrware. My business partner Cheryl Delayre said she met you last week when she was touring the facility.” Karen said, extending her hand.

The woman extended her own hand, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I’m Hollie Parker, president of Gagner Inc.”

The women shook hands.

An electric charge went through Karen’s entire body when the woman’s hand closed on hers.

“Nice to meet you.” Hollie Parker said. Several moments of silence passed between them before Hollie Parker nervously pulled her hand free. “If you’ll excuse us, we must be going. We have some work to finish up.”

“Sure. Nice to meet you too.” Karen said. She watched Hollie Parker and her three co-workers walk away. She noted that Hollie Parker turned and looked back at her, looking as confused as Karen felt.

She didn’t hear the short man in the blue suit say, “What was that Hollie?”

“I’m not sure.” Hollie Parker replied, looking at the blonde woman. There was something about her she couldn’t quite place.

“Ms. Starr?”

Karen turned around to find a tall good-looking man with coppery red hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a Space Trek shirt and holding several bags full of merchandise and collectibles from the various Space Trek booths around the convention.

“Hello?” Karen looked at him, frowning. Another case of recognizing someone who didn’t look familiar.

“It’s me. Detective Ian McLean. We met a few weeks ago when your hotel room blew up? Your cat liked me.”

“OH!” Karen felt relief wash through her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you right away Detective McLean. The jeans and the Space Trek t-shirt put you out of context.”

“Oh, yeah. This is what I look like in my secret identity.” Detective McLean winked. “Those stuffy suits are great for work… but off hours give me a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers any old time. And, call me Ian.”

Karen smiled, “Only if you call me Karen.”

“Deal, Karen.” Ian replied, “I saw your company’s booth earlier when I was wandering around. But, you weren’t there. I didn’t realize your company was behind the Starforce Planet video game. I loved that.”

“It was one of our biggest sellers.” Karen replied, “You really like Space Trek.” Karen had noticed that his various bags of purchases were filled with Space Trek merchandise. Wait… how did I see that? It was like she’d seen through the bags.

“Oh, yeah. When I was a kid I wanted to be Captain Burke.” Ian smiled, “Then in college I really got into the New Generation stuff. Now, I pick up various nerd-gear at conventions and on-line. It’s my guilty pleasure and how I keep in touch with my long-lost childhood.”

Karen smiled, “So, you’re outing yourself as a nerd?”

“Yeah.” Ian grinned. “Big time nerd. I just hide it well behind the non-nerd job.”

Karen realized she was on the verge of flirting. When was the last time that had happened? She couldn’t remember.

“What does your wife think about your deep dark nerd secret?” Karen asked.

“Oh, I have no wife. Single. Never married.” Ian replied. “No girlfriend either. My last serious relationship ended over a year ago.”

“Gay?” Karen asked. She didn’t think handsome Ian McLean was gay—he didn’t give off any vibes that suggested it. But, she had dated Garth McGarth without realizing he was gay until he broke up with her.

“Look at how I’m dressed.” Ian said, “Does it say gay? Or should I dance and prove it. “

“No. I trust you.” Karen said. He was really good-looking and had a job where he made a difference in the world. He also seemed like a nice guy, although not boring nice. “Do you ever go out for dinner? Or is it just take-out and delivery?”

“From time to time, I’ve been known to go out to eat.” Ian shrugged.

Karen reached into her purse, removing a card.

“My number is on there.” Karen said, handing it over. “Call me sometime and maybe we could go out to have dinner. And maybe have a conversation.”

“I think I can arrange that.” Ian smiled. He looked down at Karen Starr’s card. He tried not to look too excited, but it was hard. Hot attractive women who were also smart never hit on him. Lots of hot attractive women who were dumb… or hookers hit on him. But, never smart powerful CEOs.

“Good. I’d like that.” Karen replied, “Now, if you’d excuse me, I need to head back into the city.”

“Bye.” Ian McLean said, waving as Karen Starr strutted out of the building.

“Did you hear about the explosion downtown last night?”

Bits of conversation drifted over to Karen Starr as she sat at the Starrware booth working on her laptop.

“They think it was some sort of super-villain attack. They destroyed a building and then robbed a jewelry store. Three people were killed.”

“It’s tragic.”

“Why didn’t Power Girl stop them?”

“Power Girl must have been on another mission. No one has seen her in Century City for days.”

Karen frowned. Power Girl had failed to stop super-villains? It didn’t make any sense. She’d never known Power Girl to not come through. Karen’s frown deepened. Did she know Power Girl? It seemed like she did. And, she knew that she had claimed Power Girl as a friend in the past. Obviously they met at some point. Hadn’t Andrew dumped her for Power Girl? However, it seemed like that wasn’t quite right. Although she had said that a dozen times.

“Things are getting weirder and weirder.” Karen said to herself.

“Attention, in five minutes in the amphitheater we will start the sneak preview of the new Space Trek movie! Please arrive early! The screening will be followed by a question and answer with the cast of Space Trek 2033: The New Generation.” The voice of the loudspeaker was barely audible over the sound of the crowds.

There were more people at the convention today. Karen supposed that was to be expected on a Saturday. The previous days had been weekdays with only the very devoted and zealous in attendance. Today, everyone else was out in full force.

“I’m going to go get a hotdog.” Karen said to Cheryl Delarye who was sitting behind the table.

“I think I’ll go with you.” Cheryl asked pleasantly.

“Nice. I’m glad I won’t have to brave the sea of nerds by my lonesome.” Karen replied with a grin, folding her laptop closed and tucking it behind the table with the rest of her things.

Walking away from the booth, Karen and Cheryl made their way toward the vending area.

Karen watched the crowds begin dwindling as everyone headed toward the amphitheater. On the way, she paused at the booth where Minerva Bates was finishing up a demonstration to a much smaller crowd.

“Let’s watch the end of this.” Karen said to Cheryl, “Unless you’re in a hurry.”

“I’m good.” Cheryl responded. “I have been wanting to come over here and check it out again.”

They watched as Minerva finished up her presentation.

The remaining people rushed off, heading toward the amphitheater.

As Minerva began securing her various inventions, Karen Starr walked up to the small stage. Cheryl held back, watching Karen stride confidently toward Minerva.

She’s carrying herself more confidently than she normally does as Karen. Cheryl thought, watching the purpose with which Karen moved. Normally she conducted herself a bit more awkwardly, hunching forward, and dressing almost frumpy. Like bad clothes and a slight hunch is any sort of disguise….don’t even get me started on those silly glasses and slicking her hair back.Cheryl surpressed a private grin as Karen reached Minerva Bates. Cheryl marveled that it was like Karen had forgotten she was trying to preserve a secret identity.

“Ms. Bates?”

Minerva turned around, pushing several strands of chestnut brown from her eyes and tucking them safely behind her ears.

“Hi.” Her smile was brilliant, radiant. “You’ll probably miss the Space Trek preview if you don’t hurry.”

“Oh, I don’t care about Space Trek.” Karen chuckled, wrinkling her nose. “I wanted to talk to you. I saw one of your presentations yesterday. I was incredibly impressed.”

“Thanks! These conventions are always so weird. I never know how many people are just killing time with my presentations while waiting to meet their favorite sci-fi/fantasy actor.” Minerva grinned.

“I’m Karen Starr.” Karen extended her hand, “CEO of Starrware.”

“Oh!” Minerva’s face brightened up. “You guys contacted me for an interview last week!”

“Yeah. We did.” Karen replied. “We really want you on staff. I know the offer we included with the interview request wasn’t especially lucrative, but the royalties and incentives are very generous. And, we included a clause for raises if your work makes us money.”

“I saw that. I have to say Ms. Starr, your offer has me incredibly interested. I’m gonna need a job to cover the short-falls of my grants and scholarships. And, my parents couldn’t help me with them, even if they were so inclined.” Minerva’s nose wrinkled up again.

“Call me Karen.” She said, “And enough of this shoptalk. I just wanted to get it out of the way. I wanted to talk to you. Do you want to go with me to get some coffee? My partner Cheryl Delayre and I were going to get some food and drink.” Karen gestured back toward Cheryl standing several feet away.

“I don’t drink coffee. It stunts your growth.” Minerva smiled, “But, the vendors have fitness water and juices. And, I need to get some fruit or something. Low blood sugar.”

“I was going to get a hotdog.” Karen said.

Minerva’s nose wrinkled, “Do they have tofu hotdogs? I don’t eat meat.”

“I think they do.” Karen smiled.

“Uh… Karen… I think we have a problem.” Cheryl’s voice wavered from behind them.

“Don’t move. Any of you.”

Karen and Minerva turned toward the sound of the voice—only to find two men and two women standing there in full body costumes in blue, green, yellow, and pink.

“The Gang?” Karen whispered. She remembered that Power Girl had fought them in Chicago, back when Karen had lived there. Something in the back of her mind tugged, trying desperately to make Karen recognize something. If only she could realize what that was.

“Those suits are lame.” Minerva said. “Where did you get those from? Generic Supervillain Costumes dot com?”

“Shut yer yap!” Bulldozer said, quietly.

“That wasn’t very polite.” Karen said quietly.

“Newsflash blondie—we ain’t nice!” Bulldozer replied.

“If you want Karen, I could distract them if you want to run and get help.” Cheryl said quietly, trying to whisper.

“I’m no coward.” Karen replied, “I’m not going to let these losers bully us.”

“You know Karen,” Cheryl said, looking at Karen oddly, “This looks like a job for Power Girl.”

“Then call her.” Karen replied testily.

“I wouldn’t expect Power Girl to help.” Ms. Mesmer laughed, the strong overhead lights giving her yellow body-suit a bright shiny gloss.

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Cheryl said defiantly. “Power Girl lives in these parts now. She’ll show up any minute now to pound you morons into the floor.” Cheryl turned toward Karen, “Isn’t this when you usually slip away to uh… er, change into something more comfortable?” Cheryl’s voice dropped to a husky whisper, “Like a white jumpsuit and red cape? Maybe ditch those stupid glasses?”

“What are you talking about?” Karen asked, blinking. What the hell was wrong with Cheryl?

“Power Girl is on a bit of a sabbatical.” Ms. Mesmer said pleasantly, oblivious to Cheryl and Karen’s conversation. “I made the suggestion that Power Girl should just… go away for a few days.”

“What?!” Cheryl asked, “You did what?”

“I ran into Power Girl a few nights ago…. I suggested that she go away for a few days.” Ms. Mesmer’s eyes glittered.

Cheryl looked back at Karen, “Oh my God. You don’t know who you are.”

“I’m Karen Starr. What is wrong with you Cheryl? These goons are not the most intimidating super-villains in the world… They shouldn’t leave you that rattled.” Karen turned toward the Gang, “I remember them from Chicago. Power Girl kicked their butts easily and sent them to jail.”

Cheryl looked from Karen to the Gang. She remembered that Ms. Mesmer had some sort of hypnotic power, as her name suggested. She had somehow hypnotized Power Girl into forgetting she was Power Girl.

“We’re in it now.” Cheryl whispered.

“Stand back foul villains!”

Everyone spun to find Minerva Bates suited up in her power-suit. The gauntlets on it glowed with energy.

“What is that?” Bulldozer asked.

“It’s her power-suit you idiot!” Siren snapped, “Don’t you remember it from the demonstration this morning?”

A bolt of energy slammed into Bulldozer, sending him spinning off into another booth, trashing it as he landed.

“He’ll remember it now.” Minerva replied, her long chestnut colored hair dancing wildly as the cooling motors of the power-suit sent streams of air billowing all around her.

“Who needs Power Girl now?” Karen asked, “It looks like Minerva is going to take care of it.”

Cheryl groaned.

Johnny O stood only a few feet away from Tara Renee Keller as she signed the last photograph before closing up for a few hours for the Space Trek screening and Q&A. Their date last night had gone exceptionally well. Johnny smiled at the memory, hoping tonight’s date went as well—if not better.

As the security turned the rest of the people in line away, advising them to come back when Ms. Keller was back from break, Tara Renee stood slowly, turning toward Johnny O and her people. At that point, the blonde girl who had been one of Tara Renee’s assistants for the past few days cocked her head to the side as a warm soothing voice came alive in her ear-mic.

“Those morons from the third floor office are attempting to steal Minerva Bates’ inventions right now. Out in the open. They’re in brightly colored jumpsuits and calling themselves the Gang. They’re morons. However, this significantly changes our plans.”

Beth did not respond to Eliza, knowing that if she answered the group of people standing around would hear her.

“I’m going to go ahead and go forward with the heist.” Eliza replied coolly, “The box office is relatively unguarded right now. And, they are doing a money drop right now and are getting ready to take it up to the safe in Galactic Entertainment’s main offices. I’ve already hit an alarm to send security to assist Ms. Bates. That should spread the security forces thin. However, I don’t know if that’s going to be enough to create enough of a distraction… these Gang morons are not smart. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ms. Bates and the two women at her booth are able to take them down.”

Very quietly, Beth said, “Continue.”

“I don’t think we need to kidnap Tara Renee Keller anymore.” Eliza cooed. “However, it might be handy if you were to create a scene.”

Beth gritted her teeth. She knew how Eliza thought. All too well. Beth often felt lucky she didn’t think like Eliza did. She got the devious evil hateful thoughts. Beth thought. She just hated that more often than not, she ended up being the one to execute Eliza’s evil thoughts. Not that Beth didn’t mind a little mischief, and stealing was always fun. But, why did she have to be the one so often to do the evil deeds? Why did she have to be the evil twin? Especially so often when these evil deeds were all designed by Eliza. Beth frowned, rethinking her idea of stealing Minerva Bates inventions from under the nose of the Gang and selling them to Lady Star-Fyre.

And then I could be my own woman…Beth thought quietly. She would no longer be the other half of Team Gemini. The Muscle as Eliza referred to her so often. She could just be herself and live somewhere richly and happily. Beth shook her head, chasing the thoughts away. Foolish thoughts. Eliza and she were connected. Eliza would find her. And kill her for betrayal. A stunted life under someone else’s thumb was better than no life, Beth reasoned.

“Perhaps a hostage situation?” Eliza cooed. “Now, before you protest that your face is not obscured, I would remind you that there are a dozen masks in this building right now. You could easily go to that comic book merchandise booth three feet away from you and grab a Batgirl costume. It would fit you and no one would think it was you. No one will even notice you disappear in the ruckus. And so what if you do? You were hired under a false identity we set up specifically for this job.”

Beth weighed it all in her mind, running through scenarios. She wished she’d gotten the analytical brain instead of that going to Eliza. She was terrible at running through scenarios, which was why she left that side of it to Eliza so often.

Just as Beth was trying to figure out how to handle slipping off to grab the Batgirl costume, a loud crashing sound from the wing Minerva Bates’s display was in caused everyone to turn.

“What was that?” Tara Renee asked, just as she took Johnny O’s hand in her own.

“I don’t know babe.” Johnny O replied.

Using the distraction, Beth slipped over to the memorabilia booth. She grabbed the Batgirl costume, the booth’s tender busy looking in the direction of the ruckus. As Beth pulled the Batgirl costume on, she remember how a few years ago she had idolized Batgirl and Power Girl. They had been her favorite super-heroes. She’d had posters on her wall. Even though she’d been fourteen at the time, and probably too old for such things… She hadn’t realized for a long time that Batgirl and Power Girl were real people, not just comic book characters or people like movie stars putting on a show. It was only a few years ago that she had realized that super-heroes were real, when she’d sort of become one herself. Or a super-villain.

Beth reminded herself quietly, Wait…. That wasn’t me. Not really. That’s the problem with shared memories. Sometimes you remembered stuff that didn’t actually happen to you. Her desire to flee and go off on her own recurred to her. She could make her own memories for a change.

Beth pushed them away, instead trying to focus on getting the Batgirl costume on and what she needed to do. It took three minutes and she nearly forgot her gun in the haste to tuck her slacks and T-shirt under the booth, but finally “Batgirl” did a basic acrobatic flip from where she’d changed to land in front of Tara Renee Keller. At times like this Beth thanked super-human reflexes and genetic engineering more than she did at other times when contemplating shared memories and being the subservient one. She may have been a product of mad science, created and manufactured in a lab, but at times like this she felt real enough to not let it get her down.

“Batgirl?! I heard she was dead.” Someone from the crowd said.

“Naw. She just calls herself the Huntress now.” Someone else replied. “She was tired of being a knock-off of Batman.”

“Tara Renee Keller…” Batgirl said, “Don’t move!” She removed a gun from the Batgirl pouch on her side.

“I’m being held up? By Batgirl?” Tara Renee Keller scoffed. “I realize it’s probably hard for you out in the hero world sweetie, what with Wonder Woman, Starfire, Supergirl, and Power Girl are all much cooler and much more popular. But, hold-ups? Who do you think you are? You’re nobody!”

“And you’re a spoiled mouthy b*tch.” Batgirl replied. “You need to shut up and put your hands up. We’re going to go for a walk.”

“Oh. My. God.” Tara Renee rolled her eyes. “I’m being taken hostage by Batgirl! Was Superman busy?!”

Under the Batgirl cowl, Beth felt the rage boil over—rage after several days of being sent off on pointless errands, toiling with stupid chores, and fulfilling ridiculous requests for this pampered talentless hack from a stupid show about werewolves. Beth hated werewolf stories.

She hauled off, smacking the girl solidly.

“You hit me.” Tara Renee gasped, her eyes wide and shocked.

“I’ll hit you again if you don’t shut up.” Batgirl scowled.

In her ear, Eliza said, “Good work. I’m half-way to the office safe. They almost have the money there. I’ll let you know when I have the money and am on my way out of the building.”

“Good.” Beth replied, looking at Tara Renee as the tears began welling up in her eyes.

Maybe, I am the evil twin. Beth thought feeling a precise bit of joy as blood began to ooze from Tara Renee’s nose.

As the Gang converged on Minerva Bates in her powersuit, the seventeen year old girl did her best to hold them off.

Breaking from the other members of the Gang, Siren headed toward the locked cases and containers that housed the various devices Minerva Bates had on display. Looking at all of them spread out in front of her, Siren groaned, realizing that they hadn’t stopped to think about how they were going to carry all of these things off. They could only carry so many things, and if they were running…

Siren turned toward where Kong easily deflected the energy bolts coming from Minerva Bates’s suit.

“Ms. Mesmer.” Siren called.

The woman turned toward her, moving toward Siren quickly in a blur of yellow.

“How are we going to get these things out of here?”

“You’re going to use your siren’s song to get us some help.” Ms. Mesmer said, “If you bring all of those security guards under your thrall to us, then they can carry them to the van out front.”

“Oh.” Siren nodded, unsure of how she hadn’t thought of that on her own. “OK.” She parted her lips and began to sing sweetly, her cry carrying out and ringing through the hallways and corridors of the business complex surrounding the Tower of Power.

Various security guards stopped what they were doing—including the few that had surrounded the faux-Batgirl holding Tara Renee Keller hostage and began making their way to where the seductive song emanated from.

“Karen… I don’t know what’s going on. But, you can’t let that girl take on the Gang by herself. Granted they aren’t all that smart… but, she’s just a kid.” Cheryl Delayre said, taking Karen Starr by the arms and looking into her eyes.

“How am I supposed to help?” Karen asked, looking deeply into Cheryl’s dark brown eyes.

“You’re Power Girl.” Cheryl replied quietly.

“What?” Karen laughed, “Are you OK?”

“I am. And, you are Power Girl. I don’t know what Ms. Mesmer over there did to you… but you’re Power Girl.”

“Oh, that’s rich.” Karen was still laughing, “If I was Power Girl I could fly and have super-strength. I have neither of those.”

“You do.” Cheryl said.

“Prove it.” Karen replied.

“I don’t believe this.” Cheryl said, her eyes darted around the massive room they were in, trying to find something. Minerva Bates was barely keeping Kong back. Bulldozer poked his head up from the wreckage of the booth he’d crashed into. And from various entrances to the room, security guards with very vacant looks in their eyes came marching in.

Cheryl’s eyes settled on a long metal bar that had broken loose from the booth that Bulldozer had crashed into. With as much speed as possible, she sprang forward—scooping it up as quickly as she possibly could. With a solid swing she slammed the metal bar into Karen’s head.

“What are you doing?” Karen said, looking at Cheryl with anger in her eyes.

Cheryl showed Karen Starr the metal bar. It had a huge dent in it where it had hit her head.

“Your head just dented a solid steel bar.” Cheryl said in a quiet voice. “And you are OK. Sort of like Power Girl?”

“I’m Power Girl?” Karen blinked. She thought about the odd sensations all day—of the big chunks of memory missing and periods of time she had been unable to account for when going through her schedules and personal planner. “I’m Power Girl.”

She turned to see Kong and Bulldozer tackle Minerva. The girl had gotten lucky with her first few shots of energy blasts. But, now the Gang had her surrounded.

“Uh-oh.” Cheryl Delayre said, lifted the dented metal bar defensively as she realized that zombie-eyed security guards had them surrounded.

“I think this is probably where I would find some place to change into Power Girl.” Karen muttered to herself. If only she could remember how to do that. She tried to make herself believe she was Power Girl, but she couldn’t. In her head words echoed: You’re not going to be Power Girl for the next few days. The idea of being Power Girl made Karen felt nauseated. It couldn’t be true. Could it? Power Girl had stolen Andrew Vinson away from her. Hadn’t she? Karen felt dizzy and as though she were beating her head against a mental wall.

“I’m Power Girl.” Karen said, remembering waking up last night feeling disoriented in a Power Girl costume. Some almost recalled memory bobbed to the surface—bringing with it an intense stabbing pain in the center of her brain. She screamed out in pain. It was a bright hot flashing red kind of pain, and it sent any almost memories scuttled away to a corner of her mind she didn’t quite recall. Or want to recall.

As the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth and a metallic burning smell flooded he nostrils, Karen heard Cheryl scream as the zombie-like security guards wrenched the metal bar from her hand and began to throttle her, choking her.

“HELP!” Cheryl cried out, even as she struggled to breath through the hands clutching at her throat.

“I have to do something…” Karen whispered. Even if she wasn’t Power Girl.

Clenching her hands into tight fists Karen swung at the first guard that came to close to her. Sending him flying, where he slammed into a wall.

“Super-strength.” Karen whispered. “I am Power Girl…” And immediately horrible pain tore through her mind again.

TO BE CONTINUED