Controlling Substance (Part 2)
Controlling Substance

Part 2



About 20 minutes after Rita made her call to the police, there was a knock on the door of the Magic Express.
"Angel, who is it?" asked a curious Ace.
"I believe it is Lieutenant Weinke."
"I'll answer the door myself." He then went to the front door, and as it opened there revealed a woman in her early 30s with brown eyes and red hair. "Lieutenant Daria Weinke?"
"Yes, and you must be the famous Magician, Ace Cooper, right?"
"Indeed. Please, come in and feel welcome."
"Thank you." As she walked into Ace's home, she started feeling the emotions within him. He is the greatest magician in the world, yet I can sense some torment in his soul. A troubled and regretful past, and he tries so hard to keep it hidden, except for his closest friends. I also know he has no problems with a female lieutenant like Mr. Rutherford. I think I'll like being around here.>
Ace started to develop some strange feeling within his mind. "I know I'm picking up Angie's thoughts, but now I can suddenly tell what Lieutenant Weinke is thinking. How come?"
As soon as they came into the living room, Ace had made the introductions with Cosmo, Zina, Angel, Angie, and Rita. Then, Daria noticed Angie and Rita. "Um, Mrs. Wisland?"
Rita looked up and knew immediately whom it was. "Lieutenant Weinke, hello."
"Hi. I'm sorry I had to be seen with Craig Rutherford, but he gave me no choice. Fortunately, the captain already knows what's going on and wants me on this case, period. It was nice to talk with you over the phone. Are you okay?"
"Not really, in all honesty."
Daria sat down to Rita's left and took hold of her hands. Closing her eyes, she softly said, "I can feel the pain, the anguish, the fear of what you've had to suffer at his hands for so long. You're too frightened to even go back to your own home right now, and I frankly don't blame you in any way."
Angie felt something within her heart. "Um, Lieutenant? I don't understand how, but I can feel something coming from you, and apparently, Ace has felt it as well."
Daria stood up and was straightforward with her response. "I guess you both can feel something within me because you have some psychic ability. You see, I have empathic powers."
"You can feel the emotions of others around you," said a surprised Ace. "That's why Angie and I were able to sense something about you."
"Yes. People with psychic and empathic ability can sometimes come across each other and be able to read minds and feel hearts." She then closed her eyes and began to glow in a sea-green aura of light. I sense a strong and powerful bond of friendship between both of you. Your magical powers have brought about this special link, and you both care for each other as though you were truly a brother and a sister. Your paths were different as you grew up, but now the paths have come together out of love and friendship.
Ace, I know you still struggle from time to time about your past as a criminal under a ruthless crime boss, but you have been able to count on your closest friends to help you when you're feeling troubled.>
"That is true," Ace thought to her. "When I'm not comfortable about something, I can confide in my best friends about my emotions."
As for you, Angela Jacobs, your past has been filled with personal tragedy. You're still dealing with the pain of losing your parents in a terrible accident. I remember vividly the pain you suffered that night. I felt the anguish when you learned your parents were gone forever from your life. Those two road rage drivers are behind bars for the rest of their lives, but for over five years you felt completely alone. Then, you found Ace and his friends and were able to open your heart with your hurt feelings and discover the magic within yourself.>
"I owe so much to him for what he's done for me," Angie thought with near tears in her eyes. "I don't feel alone anymore because of Ace and the others. He really is like a big brother to me."
I can see why you care for him so much, but at one point you feared you were getting in his way. Why?>
"I thought I had to do everything for everyone, and I felt I was interfering with the lives of my friends. It took the Magic Express heading on a collision course with a festival to help me realize I can't love others unless I can love myself."
Rita wondered why the room was so silent. "Um, am I missing something here?"
Ace, Angie, and Daria opened their eyes and realized she was in a room of people with some psychic powers.
"Oops," said Ace as he blushed a little, "sorry, Rita. When you have two telepaths and an empath in the same room, the situation can get a little strange."
Daria had a light laugh herself. "This is kind of odd. As for you, Cosmo, I feel you're just as confused as Rita about dealing with three people with some psychic ability."
"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm feeling right now," Cosmo said while blushing.
"Seriously, though, Rita's safety must be our top priority right now."
Angie nodded in agreement. "Right, Lieutenant."
"Please, I'd rather be called Daria. Even the police chief calls me that."
Rita smiled as she knew Daria would also help in making sure of her safety. "I'm so grateful to all of you for helping me in this time of trouble."
"Glad we could do it, Rita. No one has the right to force his will on others, even if the intentions are noble. However, in this case, these are definitely not the noble intentions of a gentleman; they're the plans of a monster."
"What should I do in the meantime?"
"Stay here as often as possible. If you have to go out, make certain you take someone with you because Craig's determined to find you, and he'll wait for just the right moment to strike." Daria pondered something else. "Um, would he be at your house right now?"
"No. Normally, I'd be home cooking his lunch, but considering I'm not there this time, he's probably going to have take-out on his way to work at the health club. Why do you ask?"
"Because I would like to go to your house. Maybe I can get some evidence there to link him to your constant assaults."
"Um, Lieu—I mean, Daria," stated Angie, "may I go with you? I haven't seen her home in so long, and, well . . ."
"I understand, Angie. Of course you can come. I don't mind at all."
Ace, Cosmo, Zina, and Angel agreed to keep Rita company in the Express while Angie and Daria went up to her house.

Within the hour, Angie and Daria were at the door of Rita's own home.
However, the second Angie touched the doorknob, she suddenly had a flash in her mind. "What's going on?"
"Angie, what's the matter?" asked a concerned Daria.
"I don't know. I-I can see this image." She then closed her eyes to concentrate. As the image became clearer in her mind, she said, "The door's been booby-trapped . . . with a gun. My telemetric power must be working again."
"Again?" Daria questioned with curiosity.
"Yes. This power came to light for the first time when I was able to do something for a little girl's ghost a few days before Halloween. My friends and I were able to find that missing arm and help put her spirit at peace."
"How intriguing. Here, though, it's obvious Craig will do anything to keep himself from being caught. It's an old trick where he ties one end of a piece of string to the inside doorknob and the other to the trigger of a gun or rifle. We have to get in there."
"Leave that to me, Daria." Angie quickly went to a nearby window to see the full triggering mechanism. Putting her right hand forward, she focused on burning the string without pulling the trigger to the gun. In a matter of seconds, the wire disconnected safely. "It's okay to go in now."
The lieutenant shook her head in awe. "Wow, being a magician has its perks, doesn't it?"
"I guess so. Say, while we're here, could I get some of Aunt Rita's clothes to take to her?"
"Not a bad idea. After all, you probably don't have too many clothes to spare at the Magic Express, right?"
Angie had a good-hearted laugh with Daria's joke. "Yeah, exactly."
As the two women went through the house, Daria used her fingerprint kit to find some kind of physical evidence that could be used against Craig while Angie looked around the house in curiosity.
She went upstairs and into the room where years ago her aunt had her locked away in trying to keep her safe. "This room has so many haunting memories," the younger magician said to herself. "Aunt Rita made sure I couldn't get outside, but she had her reasons of doing so. I feel so . . . regretful about the way I had treated her when I was ten." She then sat on the bed and began to shed tears.
In the living room, Daria could sense Angie's hurting heart. Angie, listen to me. What happened in the past between you and your aunt is behind you now. You and she have made amends, and you must be able to move on away from those troubled times. Don't let those past memories haunt you for the rest of your life. Continue to go forward in your path. I promise, you'll be better off if you do.>
Angie knew her new friend was right. She dried her eyes and thought back to her, "Thanks, Daria. I have to come to terms with my past to live on through today and the future. Any luck finding clues?"
No, not yet. I'm still looking.>
"I'll come down and join you as soon as I get some spare clothes for Aunt Rita from her room." She finished her task and went downstairs to help Daria in her search.
Upon coming across a vanity in the hallway leading to the living room, she touched the table and something else, which led to another flash in her mind. "Ohhh," she stated in shock.
Daria ran up to her. "Angie, what's going on?"
"I just . . . put my hand on this belt and saw something."
"Okay, here's what I want you to do. Pick up the belt and tell me what you see in your impressions."
"But, if this is a piece of crucial evidence, my fingerprints will be all over it."
The lieutenant then gave her a pair of vinyl gloves. "Would this help?"
"Sure could." Angie then put the gloves on and started focusing.
"All right now. Just concentrate on the belt and tell me what you can see."
Breathing deeply to focus on the leather belt in her hands, she started noticing frightening images in her mind. "I can see . . . Aunt Rita, being hit over and over again with this belt. I can also hear her screaming in pain and agony as she hears Craig's angry voice."
She saw Craig standing over her back and slashing the belt on her over and over again. After some cursing, he yelled, "You'll learn that I am the person in charge here, and if you go against me in any way, I'll keep doing this until you bleed! Do I make myself clear on that!?"
"Okay! Okay! I'll do what you say, now, please, I beg you, let me stand up."
Craig grabbed Rita's arm and forced her to stand up. "Thank you for saying the word 'please.' At least I'll go easy when you say that properly to me."
Rita stood up and calmly asked, "Can I drop my flowers off at Eric's grave? I'm way behind and—"
He responded by backhanding a slap to her face. "Why don't you forget about your stupid son!? He's long gone, and you don't need to worry about him anymore."
Her eyes filled with tears. "How could you say that? He was my only son, and I will never forget the memories I had with him."
Craig grabbed her by the throat. "You don't ever talk to me in that tone! You do what I say, and that's the end of it!" He then let her go. "You'd better be ready for bed in five minutes! If you're not ready in that time, you get another whippin'."
Angie opened her eyes with fear. "I've seen enough. I can't watch any more of this."
"It's okay," said Daria trying to comfort her. "What affects one in the family can affect the others, too, when violence is involved. I'm going to call the police chief and tell him about this evidence. Is there anything else we can use?"
"Yeah, Angel's complete scans, but they're back at the Magic."
"No problem, I'll just ask him to meet us there." Daria then went to the phone to contact her superior.
At police headquarters, a gentleman in his mid 50s and with blue eyes and graying hair answered the telephone in his office. "Police headquarters, Captain Raymond Starker speaking."
"It's Lieutenant Weinke, sir. I may have some crucial evidence to link Craig Rutherford to the history of assault on Rita Wisland, and there's even more evidence at the Magic Express."
"Ace Cooper's home? Oh, I forgot he has a sophisticated computer system. I assume you want me to meet you there, right?"
"Yes, sir. Rita's taken shelter there."
"Okay, I'll meet you in 30 minutes at the Magic Express."
After hanging up the phone, Daria looked at Angie. "Let's head back to the Express. Captain Starker's on his way there to meet us."
"Um, is the captain anything like—"
"Oh, no. Both of us know about ol' Friedrichs and his bad attitude towards you and your friends for being able to handle cases quicker than he could."
"Am I glad for that. It seems every police chief we meet is far more friendly than Friedrichs. Let's go."
Angie and Daria left Rita's home and quickly made their way back to the Magic Express.

When they returned, Ace came up to Angie immediately. "Your telemetry kicked in again, twice?"
"Yeah, it did. It looks like this power will be here to stay for me."
"Who knows? It may actually be a help in this case. Don't be afraid of this new power you have. It'll take time to learn your true potential in that aspect."
"I know, but we can't use that as evidence to put Craig away."
Within 30 minutes, Captain Starker made it to the door of the Magic Express and knocked on its door.
Daria answered the door. "Glad you could make it here, Chief."
"So, this is Ace Cooper's home?"
"Yes, it is. Come in; the others are in the living room."
Capt. Starker made his way to the room where everyone had gathered, and Ace made the proper introductions.
"Okay, Lieutenant Weinke said you have some more evidence to link Craig Rutherford to the assault on Rita here."
"Yes, we do," said Ace. "Come into the computer room and we'll show you."
There, Angel analyzed the leather belt and the scan of the belt marks on Rita's back. "This is the right belt, Ace. It has been used on numerous occasions as a weapon of control on Rita."
"These are crucial pieces of evidence all right," said Starker. "Unfortunately, we still can't do anything yet."
Cosmo was dismayed by the captain's statement. "What do you mean we can't do anything!? We have the evidence."
"Yes, we do," said Rita. "Problem is, here in Iowa, the person must be caught in the act before we can do anything to him."
"She's right, Cosmo," added Angie. "My telemetric impressions would certainly never count as evidence, physical or circumstantial."
"Oh, okay. Sorry, Captain. I didn't know law here's just a little different than in Electro City."
"That's quite all right, young man. I completely understand. In the meantime, Rita, do you have anywhere you must go?"
"Yes. I must pick up my bouquet of red and white roses to place at Eric's grave, and I wouldn't be surprised if my florist has been worried about me for the last three months."
"In that case, you need to do two things: Put on a disguise and take someone with you. The last thing we need is Craig to recognize you and get his chance to strike."
Angie faced Starker and said, "I'll volunteer to go with Aunt Rita. After all, I've never seen Eric's grave."
"Good idea, Miss Jacobs. Lieutenant, I want you to stay with Ace Cooper and his friends for now. I'm giving you sole responsibility of this case because you're the best qualified for this type of crime."
"Yes, sir. I'll do the best I can on this one."
Angie took her aunt into her room and figured out a way to disguise her and keep her safe from Craig while they would pick up the bouquet.
Starker then contacted the florist Rita normally used to get her flowers and noted a password would be used for the florist to recognize Rita.
When Rita came out, she wore a red-haired wig and sunglasses to keep her identity a secret.
"Wow," said Daria. "I almost couldn't recognize you in that disguise."
Starker then came up to Rita. "Okay, I've contacted your florist, and he'll identify you by secret password. Good enough?"
"Yes, it is. Thanks for your help, Captain. Let's go, Angie."
"Sure thing, Aunt Rita."
"As for me, I'll head back to headquarters and see what other info I can find on Mr. Craig Rutherford."
Ace nodded. "If you want our help, we'll be glad to assist."
"Thanks, Mr. Cooper. I think your help will most definitely be appreciated." Starker then left the Express to return to the police station.
A few minutes later, Rita and Angie left on the Magic Bike to head for the florist.

At the health club, the fellow employees were trying to console Craig in his "troubled" times, since he fooled almost everyone into thinking he was an innocent victim of a horrible crime.
However, across the street, he noticed the Magic Bike parking in front of the florist shop and seeing two women come off the vehicle. One had light brown hair while the other had red, but something made Craig very suspicious. "Hmm, I wonder why two women are going to get flowers, unless . . ."
He notified his supervisor he would be going on a quick break to go across the street.
Inside the shop, the redhead came up to the florist and said, "If the rain in Spain fell mainly on the plain—"
"The plain would end up being washed out," the florist completed. "Am I glad to see you, ma'am. I was very worried about you."
"I'm sorry, Renaldo, it's just that I've been having a bit of a struggle for the last few months. Until three months ago, I hadn't missed that day of the month of leaving flowers at my son's grave. Do you have the usual?"
"Of course, my dear. I'll get them ready for you in a few minutes."
Angie said, "Listen, I'm going to take a look around here. Will you be all right over here?"
"Don't worry, Angie. There are security cameras everywhere, so if Craig dares to show his face, I'll lure him to the camera, where he'll be caught."
Angie took off for another part of the store, leaving Rita at the counter.
Just then, Craig walked in. "Um, excuse me, Miss."
"Yes," she said, looking behind her. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's no problem," Craig said as he grabbed the wig and sunglasses, "Rita, my darling!"
Rita tried to run for a nearby security camera, but Craig was able to stop her in a hurry.
"You're not going anywhere, wench!" he screamed angrily. "You won't get me near any security cameras because I know where they all are, and I've made sure the main one wasn't working at all. Now, you're coming with me!"
"Angie, help me!"
The younger magician heard her aunt's cry for help and ran to the scene. "Okay, creep, let her go!"
"No woman tells me what to do! Is that understood?"
"Ha, we'll see about that! Cover your eyes, quick!"
As soon as Rita did what her niece asked, Angie sent a blinding flash of light at Craig, making him unable to see anything.
She then controlled his left arm holding her aunt and released the grip. "Come on, Aunt Rita, let's go! That blinding effect won't last for too long."
They ran immediately back to the Magic Bike and took off to find a hiding place. Angie knew right away she could not lead him back to the Magic Express. "We can't go home right now, it's too dangerous."
"Where can we go?"
"You know the city better than I do."
"Okay, let's go to the cemetery where Eric's grave is. That should give us some shelter for the moment."
"Tell me where to go, and I'll take us there."
In the space of less than 10 minutes, the two ladies came across the Wildfield Memorial Cemetery, where Eric Wisland had been laid to rest more than 13 years earlier.
They got off of the bike and went up to the gravesite for Eric.
"Here it is," Rita noted sadly. "This is Eric's burial place."
Angie kneeled down and looked at it. She was saddened to see the grave of her little cousin, the one she never got to meet. "So, this is where Eric lies in peace now, huh?"
"Yes, it is. It's still painful to see it sometimes."
Angie talked to the grave like she was really speaking with Eric. "Hello, Eric. I'm sorry I never got the chance to meet you, but your mother was a truly kind and caring mother. She always kept the safety of the other children in mind, and you should be proud of her for keeping the rest of us in line, even when she overdid it sometimes."
Rita did not resent the remark, for Angie was telling the truth. "I think Eric would understand. He knows I'm getting a lot better, and I have friends and family who do care about me."
However, they could not stay for long, as Craig's car was approaching.
"We've got to hide," said Angie.
"Our only chance is to split up. Can you do something in the meantime?"
"I can try, but try to keep him away from you as long as you can."
As the two went in different directions, Craig came out of his car and yelled, "You can run, Rita, but you can't hide from me! As for you, you good-for-nothing accomplice, you're going to pay for interfering with my life!"
"What do you mean your life!?" Angie screamed. "You make yourself happy by controlling another woman? You're no man, you're a monster!"
Craig did not take that comment very well. "No woman has the right to ever call me a monster! I am a real man, and a woman's place will never be anywhere else but the home to do exactly as I say!"
Meanwhile, back at the Magic Express, Ace, Cosmo, and Daria were each enjoying a cup of hot cocoa.
Suddenly, Daria said, "Ace, I felt something awful just now."
"So did I, Daria." Ace closed his eyes and thought to his younger counterpart, "Angie, Daria and I can both sense you in some kind of trouble. What's wrong?"
Angie heard the psychic call from her friend. "Craig saw under Aunt Rita's disguise and almost took her, but I was able to stop him and get her away. Right now, though, we're stuck at the cemetery."
Do what you can to keep him busy, Angie. Ace and I will find you and see if we can help.>
"Okay, Daria, but hurry. We can't keep hiding for long here."
Ace turned to Cosmo. "You stay here with Zina for now. We've got to rescue Angie and Rita before it's too late."
"You got it, dude. Keep me posted."
In the meantime, Rita and her niece ran everywhere around the cemetery to keep Craig from finding them.
However, Angie hid behind a mausoleum, and Craig was able to grab her from behind and put a small towel over her mouth.
"This chloroform should keep you quiet for quite some time, little girl," he said in a truly evil tone of voice. "You won't get in my way ever again."
Angie soon fainted and fell to the ground almost completely unconscious. "Ace . . . Daria . . . need . . . help . . . losing . . ."
In the Magic Racer, both Ace and Daria heard Angie's telepathic cry for help, but then lost contact.
"I can no longer hear her thoughts," the Magician said in concern. "I should still be able to find her by her heartbeat, though. You take the controls, Daria."
"Right." She then took over driving the Racer.
Ace closed his eyes and felt from his heart as he tried desperately to find his younger counterpart. "Angie, help me find you. Open your heart of love and kindness." His body was surrounded in violet light as he tried to lead Daria to the cemetery.
There, Rita hid behind her son's tombstone but was grabbed by the hair by Craig!
"Now, you worthless excuse of a woman," he angrily said, "you will pay for defying me, disobeying me, and leaving me the way you did! I'll take you somewhere that absolutely no one will ever find you at all!"
In the process of being dragged toward his car, Rita tried to scream out desperately. "Help! Help me!"
"Shut up, wench!" he yelled as he used the chloroform on Rita. After passing out he said, "You don't ever yell like that again! I am the man in control, and you will do what I say!"
He then placed her into the back seat of his car and drove away.
Minutes later, Ace and Daria arrived at the cemetery, which suddenly became eerily quiet.
"She's got to be here somewhere," Ace said in worry. "I feel her heart to be nearby."
Daria then came up with an idea. "Why don't we both try to get through to her? It may lead us to Angie and Rita."
"Sounds like a plan. Now, close your eyes and concentrate on Angie's heart."
The pair concentrated their hearts on finding the younger magician and hopefully her aunt.
Ace, I can pick up only Angie in the immediate area. I don't sense Rita anywhere.>
"If that's true, then . . . Craig has Rita. Right now, let's focus our powers on finding Angie."
On the ground Angie was still barely conscious. "Ace . . . Daria . . . help . . . me."
The two searchers opened their eyes.
"Ace, did you—"
"Yes, I heard. Angie's got to be very close by." He then yelled out, "Angie, where are you?"
Daria then noticed light brown hair near a mausoleum. "Oh, my God! There she is!"
They immediately ran to where she had laid on the ground.
Ace could smell a foul substance. "That fiend used chloroform on both of them. We need to get Angie back to the Express fast."
"Okay. You take her in your car, and I'll take the Magic Bike back."
Ace carried Angie in his arms back to the Racer, and soon both took off in the vehicles back to the Magic Express.

An hour later, Angie was revitalized with Angel's energy scanners.
She slowly awakened to see her friends around her. "Ace . . . Cosmo . . . Daria? Where am I?"
The Magician said, "You're back home. Are you all right?"
"I think so. What about . . . Aunt Rita?" She suddenly jumped up and said, "Where's Aunt Rita? Why isn't she here?"
Daria had to tell the truth. "I'm afraid . . . Craig kidnapped your aunt. I'm sorry."
"No," Angie said in trying to shake her head in denial. "No, it can't be. How could I have lost her!? Here I am with these magical powers, and I couldn't even protect her at all!" She then jumped out of the bed and ran in tears to her room to lock herself away.
Both Ace and Daria could sense the deep pain within her heart.
Daria put her head down in shame. "I'm sorry, Ace. I feel a little responsible for this."
"It's not your fault, Daria. You did the best you could, but Craig has proven to be a very cunning character."
In her room, Angie was crying very hard. "I'm a total failure," she said tearfully. "I was supposed to protect Aunt Rita, and I let her down. I let Ace down, I let Daria down, and I let everyone down!"
Ace and Daria stood outside her room and tried to think their way to her.
"Leave me alone, guys," Angie thought in anger as she tried to put up a mental shield against them.
Angie, please, don't deal with this pain alone. It's not your fault. We're here to help you, not hurt you.>
"I've let all of you down! It is my fault!"
Ace then communicated with Angie. "Angie, you can't blame yourself for this. Craig was just more clever and knew what to do."
"But my stupid curiosity about the flowers got the better of me, and he was able to take advantage of my mistake!"
We all make mistakes, Angie. We're not perfect. Placing the blame on yourself will never make the problem go away. It will keep eating away at your heart and soul until it's too late.>
Angie still had anger in her heart when she suddenly heard two other voices from her deepest self.
"Angie," said the voice of her mother. "Please, listen to what Ace and Daria are telling you."
"How can I? I let you down, too."
Her father then stated, "I agree with Nancy. You can't be angry at yourself for what happened to Rita. You did the best you possibly could to protect her. The only person you're letting down is you. Your magical powers are a great gift to have, but sometimes even that can't do everything you want it to do, which includes being able to look after the people you care about. Remember what happened to us?"
"Yes, I do, and I wonder if I should have been in the car with you that night."
"No, sweetie. The hand of fate and a load of homework kept you from joining us. I think maybe a higher power wanted you to stay home that night and do that homework so you could live on and experience life. There are times in life when it can be time to go, and you can't control everything. The important thing is this: You are not alone anymore. You have friends who care about you so much while you give that love back to them.
"Now, please, we beg you, don't deal with this problem by yourself. Let Ace and Daria help you out. You'll feel better if you tell your feelings to them instead of holding them all inside your heart."
Angie felt calmer about the situation. "You're right, Dad. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and let them come into my heart to help me. Thanks. You, too, Mom."
Nancy smiled. "We'll always be in your heart if you ever need us, but don't forget your friends in reality, for they can help, too."
Angie dried her eyes and looked up at the door. "Come in, guys."
The second the door opened, she ran up to them and gave a loving hug. "I'm sorry, Ace. You, too, Daria. I didn't mean to—"
"It's all right, Angie," Ace said calmly. "You care about your aunt so much and are willing to do anything to protect her, but you can't accuse yourself of failing because you did the best you possibly could."
Daria agreed. "You're a very special person with a truly compassionate heart of love and kindness. If there were more people like you, the world would be a much better place for all of us."
"Thanks. Now, what can we do to find Aunt Rita? We have no idea where she and Craig are at this point, and I can't track her telepathically."
"Maybe you can't track her, but I can track her another way."
"How?"
"I need to call Captain Starker. Can I borrow Angel?"
"Sure," Ace answered in slight confusion.
Daria then called her boss. "Captain Starker, I need to make a request."
"What is it, Lieutenant?"
"I must request permission to use my other special power."
Starker immediately grew worried. "It's very risky, Daria. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"It's our only hope in finding Rita alive. I have to do this."
"I understand, Daria. Just . . . be careful."
"I will. Thanks, Captain."
After the line disconnected, all the others in the room were very curious.
"What did you mean," started Ace, "when you said you had to use your other special power?"
"Let me put it to you this way: I also have the capability of astral travel."
Cosmo became perplexed by that sentence. "Um, this may sound stupid, but what is astral travel?"
In assurance Angie answered, "I've heard of it. Daria, are you able to create some light around yourself and separate—"
"From my physical body and travel in flight consciously even though I'm here physically, yes. However, I've only used this ability on very few occasions, and when I come back, I'm severely weakened."
"How come Captain Starker believes strongly in your powers?" Ace questioned.
"Because . . . I used my empathic and astral powers to save his granddaughter a few years ago."
"Wait a minute. I remember hearing a story about a little girl who was kidnapped here in Des Moines. You were one of the heroes of her dramatic rescue."
"Yes, but there was more than that. Ace, Angie, close your eyes while I tell the story with mental pictures."
The two magicians did so and began to see Daria's thoughts.

In his office, Capt. Starker was working on his papers when he heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?"
"It's Corporal Weinke, sir. May I come in?"
"Come in, Weinke."
She did so and closed the door behind her. "Listen, sir, I know you're trying to work hard and all, but I can feel the pain within your heart and soul because of your granddaughter's kidnapping."
"Is this some joke?" he asked angrily.
"No, sir, it's not. Please, give me your hand."
He reluctantly did so and immediately felt something powerful within Daria. "You can tell how I'm feeling deep inside?"
Daria's body began to glow in sea green. "Yes, I sense you want to blame yourself for what happened to her, but rest assured this is not your fault in any way. I want to help you to get her back, but to do so, you must first trust me and second not tell anyone else about this or my other power."
"This isn't all you can do?"
"No, sir. Let me show you." She then closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep state of sleep. Astral body,> she thought, come forth now.>
Starker became appalled when he saw a second Daria appear and float above his corporal. This Daria was more translucent but still very visible.
The astral Daria then looked at him. "I have the power of projecting my astral self and can fly through the area very quickly. I'll be able to find your granddaughter with my empathic powers. Will you let me?"
Starker could not believe his eyes but decided to agree. "If you can do it this way, Corporal, I won't doubt your powers. Go for it."
The astral Daria took off out the window and searched the city for the chief's young relative. Deanna,> she thought with her eyes closed, open your heart to me and let me find you.>
Concentrating on the fear and loneliness of the little girl, her sense grew stronger as she was nearing a building in a bad section of the city. On the second floor of a building on West Herring Street, she had found Deanna locked away in a room.
"Deanna," she whispered, "Deanna, look out here."
The little girl became frightened.
"Don't be afraid of me, Deanna. Your grandfather's doing everything he can to rescue you, and I'm helping, too. We'll get you out of there as fast as we can, but you have to trust me, okay?"
Deanna smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I have to go, but I will let your grandfather know you're safe." She then flew away and quickly returned to headquarters and back into her physical body.
She then slumped forward, making Starker very nervous. "Corporal, are you all right?"
Taking a few breaths, she answered, "Yes, I'm . . . okay. Your granddaughter is safe. She's being held in the old Riker Apartment building on West Herring Street."
Starker was impressed. "Weinke, if you're right, I'll make sure you get a medal for this."
"No, Captain, please. This must be kept a secret. Can you make this more of an anonymous tip?"
"I understand, Corporal—I mean, Daria."
"Why are you addressing me by my first name, sir?"
"Because I believe in you and your abilities. I promise never to tell anyone about your gifts."

Opening her eyes once more, Daria added, "The next day, Starker led the raid on the apartment building, arrested the group of kidnappers and found his granddaughter unharmed. He reported to the press that someone had given an anonymous tip. He never once said anything about my gifts. As for me being a lieutenant at such a young age, I had proven that by courage and hard work, never by my powers."
"You're just like me," Angie noted. "You don't want to use your powers for everything. I'm worried, though. If this is something risky for you, then, don't do this."
"Rita's life is in serious danger. If I don't use my astral powers, we may never see her alive again."
"If you have to." Angie's face turned sad.
Daria comforted her. "Don't worry, Angie. I've got all of you here, which helps me, being empathic and all."
"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's get to it."
A few minutes later, Daria lay on top of Angie's bed and went into a deep state of sleep. Rita's life depends on me using my astral body to find her.> She slowly counted backwards from 10 down to one. Astral body, come forth now. You are desperately needed.>
In mere moments, her body shone in a sea green light as her astral projection came out and floated upward.
Cosmo could not believe his eyes at what he saw. "Man, this is so unreal!"
Her astral self looked at Cosmo and said, "No, this is real, my friend. I can use my astral body to locate Rita. Maybe then we can make our move. In the meantime, all of you wait here. Ace, Angie, if I find Rita, I'll contact both of you telepathically. Now, I must be off to find her." She then floated through the open window and up into the night sky in the hopes of finding Rita Wisland . . . alive.