Sara reached out and touched the toy pistol.

She saw Irons. He towered over her, enthroned in a large chair. She looked down. She was holding the pistol and dressed in a kid's cowboy outfit. She felt a hat on her head.

Irons said "Listen closely, young Nottingham. It is written that no man has ever successfully worn the Witchblade. That only the chosen woman can wear it."

"And though I tried, for all my force of will, I could not keep it on my hand. The gauntlet burned me and seared my flesh until I had to rip it from my wrist. But even my brief exposure was enough to bind me to it forever. To make me a part of it. To allow me to see some of what it sees, but not all. That is my blessing and my curse. I understand the way it thinks. I know what it wants."

In a young male voice Sara asked "And what does it want?"

Irons answered "It wants something that cannot be explained in words. To know what it wants, one must directly experience the Witchblade."

Sara asked "When will I learn to fight?"

"Soon enough. Soon enough. In order to control the Witchblade, I must control the woman who wields it. And this woman must be tested, must be made to run a grueling gauntlet, and in so doing learn to use the Witchblade."

...

"Congratulations, Mr. Irons. She is a fine healthy baby girl and an exact clone of Ms. Bronte."

Sara saw a newborn baby wearing pink hat and booties. Sara was about eye level with the incubator. Along with her and Irons, off to the side stood two men, Dr. Immo, and a handsome man with one blue, one black eye - Dr. DeAngelo.

"Is she the one?" Sara asked in the child's voice.

"Yes, she is the destined Wielder."

"Is she my sister?"

"You both share Elizabeth's genetic material but she is not your sister in the strictest sense of the word."

"She is the one I protect?"

"Yes, when you complete your training. And now the time has finally come for you to go abroad to learn your vocation. To explore your special gifts."

.....

Sara saw a coldly angry Irons. "She was stolen from the home I placed her in! It's Lasar, I know it! He thinks he can interfere with her upbringing. Find her!"

.....

Next she saw a calmer Irons. "We know where she is, in the home of a police sergeant. How ironic. No need to retrieve her. I can arrange -events- to shape her there as easily as anywhere."

.....

She saw a wax statue of Elizabeth Bronte, but the statue's skin was too real for wax.

She said in Ian's voice "You controlled Elizabeth Bronte".

She heard Irons' answer "I -killed- Elizabeth Bronte!"

.....

Sara experienced death in a war games accident. Then returned to consciousness in Irons' white clinic. The awakening was followed by questions - ritual questions and answers to prove he was returned.

"Who are you?"

"Ian Nottingham"

"What is your mission?"

"To protect the Wielder of the Witchblade."