THE MAID OF STEEL # 31

Cutter Sharp stood with Linda and Sylvia Danvers in the green room.

“Are you sure about this Mom?” Linda Danvers asked, looking in the monitor as Selena Moonstone was sitting with her the guests for her first segment. “I mean… I don’t know. This seems kind of hokey to me.”

“Linda, honey, Selena Moonstone is the real thing.” Sylvia Danvers said, “She’s going to help us talk to your brother Jan.”

Linda looked at her mother, giving her hand a squeeze. “OK, Mom. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up and then have this woman be a charlatan.”

“Surely, you would believe in this sort of thing. After all that you have seen and done… after…” Sylvia hesitated, looking at Cutter who seemed to be paying extra close attention to their conversation. “Don’t you have somewhere to be Cutter?”

“Not right now Mrs. D.” Cutter grinned widely, “My boss Johnny Drew is on vacation today. He’s out on the lake sailing with some female friends. Is it wrong to hope he falls overboard and drowns?”

“It most certainly is.” Sylvia said sternly, “Johnny Drew is a perfectly nice person.”

“He looks like it on TV. But, trust me Mrs. D, behind the scenes when the cameras are off, he’s an A-1 @#$^%#.”

“Cutter.” Linda shook her head, “Could you keep the language PG in front of my mom?”

Sylvia shook her head, “Cutter Sharp you will watch the language in front of me.”

“Oh, Mrs. D.” Cutter laughed, “You know I don’t mean any harm.”

“Where is the restroom Cutter?” Sylvia asked.

“It’s that way Mrs. D.” Cutter pointed to the hallway where she would find it.

Sylvia rushed off in search of it.

“Cutter,” Linda sighed, “Could you take it easy on Mom. She’s extra tense right now. We’re about to go on TV and try to talk to my dead brother Jan. Plus she’s still on edge over that Phillip Decker thing. She hasn’t been sleeping and has been afraid to answer the door. She doesn’t believe that he’s going to honor his agreement with me.”*

*See Supergirl #27-30 for the full story.

“I don’t know that I believe he’s going to honor his agreement. I have to say that I’m looking over my shoulder, waiting to be ambushed at any minute.” Cutter said. “These past three weeks have been Hell.”

“I know what you mean.” Linda said, “I think it’s fine for right now. I don’t think he would strike back so soon. I think I bought us at least a couple months of peace from him. It gives me time to figure out what to do next.”

“Well, you need to figure out soon. ‘Cause none of us are safe until that happens.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Linda said, feeling sick to her stomach. She’d been consumed with guilt and anxiety over Phillip Decker. She found herself wishing about a dozen times she was heartless and cold enough to have just wiped out Phillip Decker and all of his men when she’d had the chance. She had spoken to Superman, Power Girl, and the Justice League about the issue, but none of them had any real ideas.

Sylvia returned. As soon as she reached Cutter and Linda, the executive-producer of The Other Side with Selena Moonstone came into the Green Room. His name was Alan Ward and when he had introduced himself to them earlier upon their arrival, he had made sure to let them know he was the chief executive of Original Non-News Programming at KRZ-Channel 8 as he’d ushered them to the Green Room to wait for hair and make-up.

“Sylvia and Linda? We’re ready for you in make-up and hair.” He smiled pleasantly.

Cutter trailed after them.

“Where do you think you’re going Sharp?” Alan Ward asked.

“With Mrs. Danvers and Linda.” Cutter grinned widely. “I’m Linda’s manager and PR agent.”

“Why does she have an agent?” Alan Ward asked.

“Because she’s an artist and an aspiring actress.” Cutter said, “But don’t worry about that Alan. We’re here today for Mrs. D. Linda is doing this as a favor for her mom.”

“Well, your client better remember that she signed a waiver saying that she is not getting any payment for her appearance on our show and that we can use her appearance on this show and her image in our advertising free of charge.” Alan grumbled.

“Duly noted.” Cutter said.

As they were led back to hair and make-up, Linda wondered what she had gotten herself into.

The ruins of Brainiac 2.5’s ship floated in the void around the Dawn of Time, abandoned and forgotten. It had slipped into entropy once it’s main thrusters and repulsors had died, and now it was slowly but surely drifting into an unstable revolution around the First Light, slowly but surely drifting toward the eventual crash and burn into the First Light.

The computer consoles were dark, save for one single tower of electronic equipment with a solitary blinking red light. Debris littered the ruined floors, documenting the battle between Blackstarr and Brainiac 2.5. Now both of them were gone. Blackstarr had been ripped into a thousand pieces and scattered across the void by Brainiac 2.5 when she’d opened two black holes with Blackstarr’s body—which was made of the very fabric of the cosmos and the Universe. And, Brainiac 2.5 had been tricked by Alexander Luthor into taking a one-way trip through a portal to somewhere he’d described as unpleasant.

The only sound was the odd humming and vibrating coming from the First Light as it’s shimmering rainbow sheen rippled and waned. It’s colors reflected off the remaining chrome plated exterior of the ship.

Within the ship, the light on the tower began blinking in rapid succession, flashing a sequence.

The ship’s engines coughed into an uneasy life as a thousand drones came spilling from a compartment in the hold. They began scouring the ship’s exterior, making necessary repairs. Several of the drones had wings and those drones flew off after scraps and fragments of the ship that were slowly drifting around the First Light.

The patching was just that, a patchwork. Designed merely to get the ship in enough of a shape for it to leave the Dawn of Time and find a planet where real repairs could be done.

The electronic tower was flashing more quickly and with each flash and the accompanying electronic beep, the drones pushed themselves harder and faster.

From the make-up chair, Linda watched Selena Moonstone on the monitor, watching as she seemingly spoke to her guest’s dead relatives, bringing them messages from the beyond.

“There is a presence with us in this room…” Selena said, her voice going low and husky, “I sense a… woman… she’s about forty-five. Her initials are CK. Does that mean anything to you?”

“Oh my God.” The man said, his face both lighting up and going pale all at once. It was an odd expression that Linda couldn’t actually remember having ever seen before. “Corey?”

“Who is Cory?” Selena Moonstone asked, her voice no longer low and husky, suddenly there was a sharpness to it and her dark almond eyes were focused on the man in the chair.

He opened his mouth, but Selena suddenly silenced him, “Wait. Corey. He is your cousin on your mother’s side. Your uncle’s third child. He died… he died during the Alien Invasion a few years ago.”

“Yes.” The man said his voice low.

“He is here. He is with us. And he is ready to speak.” Selena said, turning her face directly to the camera. “He wants to know if you remember…” She hesitated, her eyes closing. “A summer fishing at that old pond at your grandfather’s cabin. He says… He says that he fell into the pond and nearly drowned and that you saved him… and the two of you never told anyone because you weren’t supposed to be at the pond unsupervised.”

“YES!” The man exclaimed, “We never told anyone.”

Selena smiled, and while the expression was meant to be warm, Linda thought it looked rather cruel and cold. “He just told me.”

“She is amazing.” The man doing her make-up Kyle said, “I never believed in psychics before. But, Selena Moonstone is the real deal.”

“I don’t know. She hasn’t told him anything so far that couldn’t have been found out by a real good private investigator.” Linda replied. She still wasn’t sold on this.

“That whole pond story…” Kyle said, “There is no way a private investigator could have found that out. They never told anyone.”

“That man on stage never told anyone. It’s possible his cousin told someone.”

“Ah, a cynic.” Kyle laughed good-naturedly, “You’re only here for your mom right?”

“Right.” Linda said.

“You’ll be a believer by the end of the show. Trust me.” Kyle nodded, doing one final brush of powder across Linda’s forehead. “You have amazing features honey. You should be a model.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Linda replied, “I’m not quite thin enough I think to be a model. You have to be like a size 0 and never eat. I personally would die without the occasional cheeseburger and fries.”

“I hear that girlfriend.” Kyle laughed. “What do you do? Since you’re not a model.”

“I’m trying to get back into college. I work at Supergirl Enterprises. Mostly answering fan mail and phones.”

“Really? What is Supergirl like?”

“She’s pretty cool.” Linda said. It was always weird talking about herself in the third person. “I’ve known her a couple years now. I used to live in Leesburg.”

“Oh.” Kyle’s eyes got really wide. “It’s horrible what those space aliens did to Leesburg. I had a fourth cousin who lived there. She moved about a month before that all happened. If she hadn’t have gotten out when she did—“ Kyle didn’t finish his thought. He leaped away from it. “So, why don’t you try to model? Your friend Cutter says you’re an aspiring actress.”

“I’m not sure where he got that idea.” Linda gave Cutter a cutting glare. “I’m an artist. I sculpt. And paint… sometimes. But, I prefer sculpting. When I go back to school I want to get a degree in Art and education… then teach art in high school.”

“Oh. Wow. Teaching is such a thankless career. No money. No funding. No thanks!” Kyle giggled.

Linda glanced over at her mother in the next chair. Sylvia Danvers was not paying attention to the chatter going on between the girl doing her hair and Cutter, even though they both kept trying to bring her into the conversation. Sylvia was focused intently on the monitor and Selena Moonstone. Linda frowned, wondering if her mother was going to be OK after this.

“Mom?”

“Yes?” Sylvia said, blinking rapidly as her focus returned to the room.

“Are you OK?” Linda asked. “You seem very distracted.”

“Just nervous honey. I’ve never been on television.” Sylvia muttered dismissively.

“Are you sure that’s all?” Linda bit her bottom lip. She had only been five years old when her brother had been kidnapped and murdered. She barely remembered it now. All she could remember was her mother sobbing for days and her father never being home as he led the Leesburg Police in efforts to find his son.

Linda, however, remembered vividly her older brother Jan.

Jan had been full of life and even though he had been eight years older than Linda, he had taken his little sister everywhere as soon as she had been able to walk. He had adored his baby sister and never let her out of his sight. On her first day of school he had protected her from school yard bullies, ditching his first day of Junior High to watch over her on her first day.

Jan had been coming back from football practice on an unnaturally warm Fall afternoon when he’d been snatched. He had been thirteen at the time. A witness had described a nondescript white van pulling to a stop and pulling Jan into it before driving off into the afternoon. No one had seen Jan alive after that.

In those nightmarish days that Linda remembered as though they were a fever dream, Linda vividly remembered seeing her mother drink for the first time. It was also the beginning of Fred Danvers spending long stretches of time away from home.

Jan had been missing for sixteen days before his lifeless body had been found, stabbed repeated and sexually violated, in the woods outside of Leesburg. Even all of these years later, Jan’s murder remained unsolved, with not even a suspect. The white van had never pulled up any leads, and no one had come forward with any information.

Linda frowned. It was her brother’s murder that had led to the fracture in her family. The one that had led her mother back into alcoholism, a disease she had struggled with since her teen years due to an unhappy and dysfunctional home life. And the alcoholism and pain over Jan’s death had led Fred Danvers to spend more and more hours away from home. Eventually he’d taken a mistress.

It was only shortly before the destruction of Leesburg that her mother had finally sobered up and she and Fred had begun to repair their marriage. Now, all these months later, their marriage was strong and Sylvia Danvers was celebrating one year sober.

Linda just hoped that this Selena Moonstone didn’t dredge anything up that her mother couldn’t cope with. If Selena Moonstone sent her mother spiraling back into alcoholism just for ratings… Linda took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. I have to have faith. Not everyone is a bad person. She reminded herself. Maybe this would be good for her mom. Maybe she’d find some closure over Jan’s death.

Alan Ward popped into the hair and make-up room, “Sylvia and Linda… you two are up right after this next commercial break.”

Sylvia’s eyes shined with a brightness that Linda had only seen in her mother’s eyes while in deep worship.

Senator Gayle Marsh stood in front of her office window, staring out at downtown Midway City. The hustle and bustle of afternoon traffic and people rushing to and from gave the streets their own rhythm and beat.

“So even though Phillip Decker publicly stated that Supergirl was only attacked him because Baron Blitzkrieg was controlling him, a pretty vocal segment of the population are not buying that. Even if they are, it is helping anti-meta sentiment because a meta controlled Baron Blitzkrieg and Supergirl just started beating the crap out of him without figuring out what was really going on.” Lt. Damian Jacobs said, smiling slyly.

“It’s still only a minority. Over-all Supergirl is well-regarded in this city. She’s helped lower crime rates in the Red Zone. She’s cleaned up the streets.” Gayle Marsh ran her fingers nervously through her short dark hair. “She’s been good for Midway City and Mayor Weisinger isn’t letting anyone forget it.”

“But, it’s a start.” Lt. Jacobs said. “You know as well as I do that if we can get one or two more public relations fiascos for the Girl of Steel, then things will start going our way.”

“I hope so.” Gayle Marsh whispered, “If it doesn’t, then Decay will escape and begin to plunge the world into complete chaos.”

Lt. Jacobs didn’t say anything in response to this. He never quite knew what to say when Senator Marsh started going on about Decay. She hadn’t really ever explained what it was, and he somehow doubted it was related to the monster that Wonder Woman had fought in Boston. Whatever Decay was, it wasn’t something he wanted to meet. Not based on the way it got a normally controlled and poised woman like Gayle Marsh shaking. He knew that she was convinced that meta-humans rampaging through the world unchecked would create enough chaos that Decay would escape.

Finally, Lt. Jacobs said, “I have one of my people looking into renting some super-villains from the Council. With them, we can create several bad days for Supergirl and make sure that she takes the blame for the destruction and their rampages. Until then, I am making arrangements for a very public show-down between Supergirl and one of her former enemies. It should be very good for our cause.”

“I hope so.” Gayle Marsh said, her back still to Lt. Jacobs as she continued to watch the afternoon unfurl outside.

“It is important that you both relax.” Selena said warmly to Linda and Sylvia Danvers as they sat down in comfortable chairs in soothing gray. “It makes it easier for loved ones from the Other Side to come through and speak to you.”

“Yes Ms. Moonstone.” Sylvia said, her voice filled with the reverence normally reserved for her minister.

“Oh, please, call me Selena.” She said warmly, patting Sylvia’s hand. The hundreds of silver bangles on her wrists made jangly noises.

Linda studied the woman, whose dark crimson hair framed her sharply angular voice in a mass of curls and waves. She was wearing a formfitting black velvet dress that covered her from neck to foot. Only the tip of black shoes poked out from beneath the dress’s hem which has swept the ground and trailed behind as she had risen to meet them as they’d come up the stage. The fitted long sleeves stopped right at her wrists revealing pale boney hands which were covered in sparkly rings with huge clunky gems. There were the bangles on her wrists, all silver and all shimmering brightly. Around her neck, suspended from a slender silver chain was a giant blue stone that could have been a sapphire or an imitation, Linda could not be sure.

“So, the way we work. Is we tape all five shows for the week in one day. I’m not sure if the producers explained that.” Selena said, her voice warm and light. She smelled of incense and melted wax. “So, you two are going to air next Wednesday and will be the main segment. I have a good feeling that we’re going to get some quality time with your loved ones.”

“We’ll be on air in two minutes, Selena.” One of the stage managers called.

“Excellent, Bernie.” Selena smiled to him, she then turned to Linda and Sylvia. “It is important that you both relax and open your minds. Only with an open mind with the spirits be drawn toward you.”

“Yes, Ms. M—I mean Selena.” Sylvia said.

The screen behind them crackled to life and was filled with Selena’s image.

“Selena Moonstone was born in Metropolis to poor parents in the Suicide Slum.” The voice-over said, as images of a younger Selena Moonstone and Metropolis from thirty years ago flickered by. “Even at an early age she showed signs of a great gift—the ability to speak to those who had passed over to THE OTHER SIDE.”

The image on screen was replaced with Selena of ten years, “Using her great gift she has assisted kings, queens, presidents, celebrities, and the rich… Now Selena Moonstone is here to help you!”

On the screen, Selena Moonstone said, her voice warm and a touch insincere in Linda’s opinion, “I want to help people reach their loved ones, who have gone over to the OTHER SIDE and help them reconnect with those people, to get closure, and most importantly to understand that Death is not the end. There is a world of beauty that exists on the OTHER SIDE.”

The screen image faded to the show’s logo.

“Today,” Selena began breathlessly, “I am speaking with Sylvia Danvers and her daughter Linda. They have come to meet with me and to reach a loved one, or loved ones that have passed over to THE OTHER SIDE.”

Selena smiled at them, “As usual, I know nothing of whom they are trying to reach or the circumstances that have brought the Danverses to me. But, I will help them as best as I can reach whoever it is that they so desperately want to speak with.”

Selena took both of their right hands, holding them tightly. She closed her eyes, all around them the studio audience held their breath. She opened her eyes making solid eyes contact with Sylvia Danvers for several seconds, just as Sylvia released a heavy breath, Selena began to speak.

“I see the name Jan… Fred Janning Danvers Jr.” Selena’s eyes never left Sylvia’s face. “Your son. Your first born.” She smiled. “He’s here. And he wants to talk to you… he has a message… He wants you to know that when died… he was at peace. He was at peace. And there is no pain on the OTHER SIDE. No matter what that man.. that awful man… he did not die angry. Jan is not angry.”

Linda frowned, there was nothing being said about her brother couldn’t have been found out by a good private investigator or through searching the Internet. Selena looked over to Linda.

As soon as Selena’s dark almond eyes locked with Linda’s, an alarm went off in Linda’s head. There was a slight tickling in her head, it felt as though someone was poking her brain, and she got an image of someone going through files. Automatically, without even thinking about it, Linda released a TK bolt, which struck Selena squarely in the face and knocked her over and out of her chair.

“Oh my God.” Sylvia Danvers said, getting up to go over to Selena.

Linda grabbed her by the wrist, holding her back, “Let her people handle it mom.” Then dropped her voice she whispered to her mother, “She just tried to mind probe me. She’s not a psychic, she’s a telepath.”

“What?” Sylvia asked.

“I felt her trying to look through my head to find whatever she was looking for.” Linda said quietly, “We need to get out of here. If she digs around in your head or mine too much she might discover my secret.”

Suddenly there was a horrible high-pitch whine that filled Linda’s mind. It was like electronic feedback, so loud and so painful that it sent her down onto her knees.

“Linda?” Sylvia stooped down next to her daughter, “Are you OK?”

Linda had both of her hands clamped over her ears, “I’m getting some sort of electronic feedback. It hurts.”

Selena Moonstone pulled herself up, a trickle of blood leaking from her nose. Her dark eyes locked on Linda’s blue ones.

A voice filled Linda’s mind, “I don’t know who you are girl. But, I’m more than just a telepath. I can reach into your brain and erase everything, leaving you a blubbering fool. I’m not sure what mental defenses you have in place, but if you ever do that again to me—“

Selena Moonstone was staring at Linda intently, but her lips weren’t moving.

Linda answered in her head, “You aren’t a psychic. You aren’t talking to these people’s dead friends and loved ones. You’re just digging through their heads to find what you need. You’re a fake and a phony. And I don’t like threats.”

Linda released another TK blast, this one far more intense than the one she’d inadvertently released.

Selena was sent spinning, this time flying off of the stage and landing in a jumbled pile.

The whine in Linda’s head ended the second Selena landed on the floor, “Let’s get out of here Momma.”

Sylvia looked confused.

“YOU AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE!” the voice in Linda’s head was deafening. It pulled her from her feet, sending her to her knees. Suddenly Linda wished she had worn slacks instead of a nice khaki skirt with sensible stockings. She felt her knees skid against the tile floor of the studio, shredding her stockings. “I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO ME, BUT YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IT. WITH JUST A SINGLE SWIPE OF MY MIND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I WILL MAKE YOU A MINDLESS VEGETABLE!

“You’re killing me.” Linda thought, “Get out of my head, or you’ll regret it.” You cannot threaten me girl. You might be able to release those mental blasts, but I can reach into your mind and take what I want, when I want. Once I get a good grip in your puny little mind, then I can find you, anywhere anytime. You can run. You can hide. But nothing will protect you from me. Selena’s venomous thoughts filled her mind.

Linda turned around; Selena had pulled herself to her feet and was looking at Linda, blood was freely flowing from her nose.

Linda directed her thoughts at Selena Moonstone, releasing the strongest TK Blast she could muster, putting everything she had into.

Selena remained on her feet, fighting against the TK Blast—the force of Selena’s telepathy battling back against the TK blast. Linda gritted her teeth, pushing every bit of strength and energy into the TK blast.

“YOU WILL NOT WIN.” Selena’s voice thundered in her voice.

You don’t know who you’re dealing with Selena. Linda thought at her, putting more and more energy into the TK blast.

Selena gritted her teeth pushing and pushing more with her mind. Blood was beginning to leak from her mouth and her ears.

Linda could taste blood in her own mouth and realized that her own nose had begun to bleed.

Suddenly there was a horrible popping sound, and the feedback sound filling Linda’s head died out.

Linda watched as Selena’s face relaxed, and she crumpled, her legs going out from beneath her and landing in a pile on the floor.

“Linda? Honey, are you OK?” Sylvia Danvers helped her daughter up to her feet. Cutter Sharp had come running out and was helping Linda to her feet.

“I don’t know.” Linda said, her entire head was throbbing with the worst headache she could remember. She passed out.

Linda woke up later in the ER.

“Hey there.” Cutter said, smiling. “You’re awake.”

“Yeah. I guess I am. My head still feels like I got run over by a steamroller.” Linda groaned. “What happened?”

“No one seems to really know. I thought I’d ask you. You and Selena were staring intently at each other, both of you bleeding, both of you collapsing.” Cutter said, “of course, you seem to be better off than Selena Moonstone.”

“What do you mean?”

“Selena had a brain aneurysm. They’re still not sure if she’s going to make it.” Cutter said.

Linda felt a wave of guilt go through her, “She isn’t a psychic. She’s a telepath of some sort. She was reading my mind, trying to get information on Jan. That’s probably the secret to her success; she gets people to give her the information she needs to seem like she’s talking to the dead.”

“Did you fight back with a TK blast?”

“Yeah. A couple of them. She held out against them a lot longer than most people would.” Linda asked.

“She tried to do a number on you.” Cutter said. “The look on her face was intense. I was watching from the green room. And, when Selena flipped over, Alan Ward freaked out. I don’t think this is the first time something like this has happened. He was muttering something about her ‘doing it again’ when you two were staring each other down having your little mental power war.

“I have a horrible headache.” Linda muttered, “Is my Mom OK?”

“I’ll send her in.” Cutter said, walking away.

The door opened and Linda was expecting to see her mother, instead it was the producer of “The Other Side with Selena Moonstone” Alan Ward. He had two men with briefcases flanking him on either side.

“Linda? I was wondering if we might speak with you for a moment.” Alan said.

“I’d rather speak to my mother.” Linda said levelly, “I’m not sure what you want.”

“Well, you suffered an injury on our show. And, one that you could probably prove in court that Selena Moonstone was responsible for.”

“Excuse me?”

“Selena Moonstone isn’t really a psychic, she’s a telepath. Under her real name Lena Thorul-Larson, she’s documented as such by the North American Wild Talents Association. She’s also not from the Suicide Slums of Metropolis. She’s the sister of billionaire CEO Leda Thorul and former wife of tycoon Andrei Larson. She has a history of mental illness and lost custody of her daughter due to this.”

“This is a nice story, but what is your point here?” Linda asked.

“Well, you could sue us. Selena has a few documented incidents in her past… she’s not the most stable person out there and has used her telepathy and mind powers to attack people before. We also helped her create the Selena Moonstone persona and her fake background. It would be very very bad for my station’s reputation.”

“And your bank account.” Linda quipped. “I suppose these goons are your lawyers?”

“Yes. They are.” Alan Ward said, “Your mother has already signed off on her settlement. It’s pretty generous. Your settlement on the other hand, well, it’s far more generous.”

One of the lawyer’s opened a briefcase and gave Linda a folder. In it she found a settlement.

“A hundred thousand dollars?” Linda could not believe it. That would more than cover four semesters at Midway City University, and then some. Then under that, she found a contract. “What’s this?”

“Well, Ms. Danvers, you are incredibly photogenic. And you had real presence on screen. That’s a contract for a new show we’re putting on the air. We would employ you as a correspondent, reporting a couple times a week on stuff like restaurants and shows. Basically entertainment pieces. Nothing too extravagant or high-profile. But, Cutter Sharp told us you were an actress. So, it might not be such a bad break for you. Johnny Drew has used his status at our station to get more work. He’s actually probably going to leave in the next year when his contract is up. The networks are interested in him. And Wanda Five has the third top rated syndicated talk show in the mid-west; and we’re going national with her show at the beginning of next year. Channel 8 is not a bad place to get your start. It could lead to big things for you.”

Linda looked at Alan Ward, her mind reeling.

“Granted I’m willing to co-conspire with you to cover up Selena Moonstone… I mean Lena Thorul’s criminal past and crimes.” Linda frowned, “That would make me an accomplice in the eyes of the law. That’s got to color any deals you can offer me.”

“Technically, it only becomes a crime at this stage if you report it.” One of the lawyers said. “You’ll find wording in that contract stating that you are excepting a settlement in lieu of pressing charges and in agreement for us making restitution to any victims who come forward in the future. It also includes a gag order preventing you from going to the media with this. However, if you are questioned by the authorities, you are fully able to disclose any information as part of any criminal investigation.”

Linda looked at the man, then back to Alan Ward, then back to the contract. She didn’t know that she trusted any of this.

“Can I have a few days to review all of these documents with my lawyer?”

“No problem, Ms. Danvers. Take a week and get back to us.” Alan smiled, although Linda didn’t trust the expression. “If you’ll excuse us now.”

After they were gone, Linda looked down a the paperwork, looking at the weekly salary they were offering under the initial six-week contract. “Two thousand a week?!”

Epilogue:

In her hospital bed, Selena Moonstone finally stirred. Waking up with a start, she gasped for air. Her head hurt, but it was silent.

She looked suspiciously at the nurse checking her pulse, reaching out trying to touch the man’s mind. But, there was nothing there. Her mind did not fill with memories and thoughts from this man. Selena released with horror that her powers were gone. The telepathy and ESP powers she had counted on since her earliest memories were gone.

Selena tried to say something, but found that her lips would not cooperate.

“Mrs. Thorul-Larson?” The nurse asked, “I’m Nurse Vaccarro. Just relax and don’t panic. Dr. Dunaway will be here shortly. She’ll explain what’s going on.”

At the mention of her old name… the discarded name, Selena felt hate and fury fill her mind. How dare this man address her by that name? That wasn’t who she was anymore. She had lost that life and built this new one. As Selena Moonstone she was a celebrity.

Later, as the doctor explained, the only thing that Selena’s mind could focus on was when Dr. Dunaway said, “You’ve had a massive brain aneurysm and major stroke.”

Selena’s horror multiplied and then turned to pure hate. The doctor’s talk of physical rehabilitation and therapies went unheard. His discussion of how lucky she was to have survived, when most people would have died fell upon deaf ears.

All Selena Moonstone could think of was Linda Danvers, the girl responsible for this. Selena had promised the girl that she would pay for before, but now that whatever mental defenses the girl had had burned out her powers, Selena’s resolve was that much stronger.

Not only would Linda Danvers suffer, but her entire family, all of her friends and loved ones—all of them would suffer.

THE END