Part One: Jay's Story- Chapter Eight: Enter the Big Plan

As soon as I open my eyes, I know that something has changed. It’s probably the fairly obvious fact that I’m in a regeneration tube, which is typically used for when someone is in critical condition or is recovering from being GMed. There’s also a scientist typing away at a computer that’s linked to half a dozen machines lining the wall. Most of those machines also have wires or tubes linking to my regen-tube. Most likely, three of the four machines are monitoring my heart rate, brain activity, et cetera. Except the scientist-guy isn’t paying much attention. None of the wires are actually attached to me, so I’m assuming that the syrupy, bubble-filled liquid I’m floating in has some sort of sensors in it.

Reaching out a hand, I tap the glass. An electronic display pops up. For reasons I’ve never understood, the regen-tubes have a screen that the person inside them can read. Now, I’m grateful for whoever thought to put that in. I scan through the information.

JULES EMMALINE SMITH

female; age 15

height-- ~average; weight-- ~average

MUTATION(s): cryokinesis, aquakinesis

(possible*/dormant** mutations): super-strength, polypathy, pyrokinesis

GENETIC MODIFICATION(s): telekinesis

*occurred earlier in family line

**may manifest later

Most of the information isn’t surprising. I briefly wonder where they got the information, but almost immediately realize that Darknight probably has technopaths that could hack my S.O.S. file or other records. The possible/dormant mutations are news to me. I wonder who in my family had super-strength, polypathy, or pyrokinesis. But most shocking... I’ve been GMed with telekinesis. Darknight GMed me with telekinesis. I’m confused. I broke into his base, and he gives me another power? Then it hits me. Yes, he may have given me a power, but I have no idea how to use it. Kinetic powers are volatile, they react to emotions. The first thing I had to learn when I discovered my cryokinesis was how to control it. Telekinesis is something entirely different. Adding to that... I’ve been GMed without my consent. Part of me whispers that I might’ve deserved that, given that I waltzed into the I.I.E.M. base like I owned the place, but the rest of me is steaming with anger like I’ve never felt before.

The glass of the regen-tube cracks.

Finally, the scientist looks up at the machines. He leaps out of his chair, frantically pressing buttons. Something is being injected into the regen-tube liquid. They’re trying to sedate me! The glass cracks more, and I realize that it’s me, I’m breaking the tube. I have telekinesis. I throw my anger at the glass, and it shatters, spilling me onto the floor. Somehow I’m in my uniform. I don’t take the time to ponder it. Throwing my hands out, I let a wave of anger take control of my telekinesis again. The scientist and all the loose papers on the desk are flung against the wall, sticking. The machines are going haywire, beeping and buzzing. No doubt someone is coming to investigate by now.

The door slams open and three scientists race in, followed by Darknight himself. Anger flashes through me again, and with a sweep of my arm, I fling them to the wall too. Something snaps and one of the scientists cries out in pain. His arm is bent wrong, pressed against the wall by my power. Darknight twists in mid-air, pushing back with his own telekinetic power so that he lands on his feet on the floor instead of slamming into the wall like I’d intended. Then it hits me. Darknight has telekinesis too. GMed powers have to be spliced from an existing person’s power. That was the “something” Darknight wanted to test. If someone could hold his telekinetic power.

“Jay! Stop!” A familiar voice. Too familiar... Shock slams through me as I whirl to see Darkling standing in the doorway. I drop my arms, staggering back a step as the scientists, papers, and computer fall to the ground. Darkling darts over to his brother. “You okay?”

Darknight smirks. “I’m fine.”

“What is this all about?” Darkling demands, turning to face me.

I point at Darknight. “He GMed me without my consent!”

“WHAT?!” Darkling spins around again to face Darknight, who only nods. Darkling stands there a moment, silent, fists clenched. Then, without warning, he lashes out with his left fist and punches his brother in the face. Darknight jerks back, smacking into the wall.

“Ow,” he complains, rubbing his jaw. Darkling ignores him, turning back to me as he shakes out his hand.

“So that’s why you’ve been out of commision for six months,” he murmurs.

“Six months!?!” I exclaim. “I thought GMs took a month at most!”

“Usually they do,” Darknight interjects. “No one’s sure why this one took longer.” A glare from Darkling shuts him up, probably because Darkling doesn’t get this angry very often.

“You’re okay, right?” Darkling asks, concerned.

“Yes,” I say, “just angry.” I sigh. There’s no way I’m staying here now. But I can’t go back to the S.O.S. So where... an idea hits me. Something Morgan had offered, eight months ago. “There-- there’s something I have to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have to go to S.W.O.R.D.”

The room erupts. The scientists have fled, but even with just Darkling and Darknight, their combined opposition to my idea makes it feel like the room is full to capacity. “Absolutely NOT,” Darkling practically shouts. “No, you have to come back to the S.O.S. You’re one of us, not some petty hero!”

“She has to stay here,” Darknight argues. “I have to see this through. We can’t let her run around with a GM that powerful and no idea how to control it!” That got Darkling arguing with Darknight, and all the noise made it hard to think. I back up until I hit the wall. As the brothers argue, shadows stir along the walls and the lights flicker. If this keeps up, their powers are going to go crazy. They could destroy the whole building! I have to put a stop to this.

“WOULD YOU PLEASE BE QUIET!!!” I holler. Both of them stop shouting, surprised and probably confused. “Thank you. Just hear me out, okay? I have an idea.” Neither of them look very happy about it, but they stay quiet. “I go to S.W.O.R.D and join up. I befriend Morgan -- Swift -- again, and some other heroes too. I play the good girl. But in reality, I’m sending information back to you. Stuff you wouldn’t get otherwise. Files, reports, whatever you need. I’ll be the sleeper, the person on the inside, the double-agent.” Before one of them can argue, I add, “You know you need someone inside. And this wouldn’t technically count as an attack on their base. Think of it as... an extended mission. It wouldn’t be any more dangerous than a typical mission, and I’ve been on hundreds of those.”

“That... does make sense,” Darkling admits. “And we could use someone on the inside.”

After a long silence, Darknight nods in agreement. “Make sure I get the same intel he does,” he says as if I need to be reminded.

“Yeah, I know,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “I’ll head out... well, now. I’ll let you know when everything’s settled.”

“Good luck,” Darkling offers. “You’re going to need it.”