THIRTEEN
"You were certainly gone a long time," Piper said as Leo orbed back into the manor the next morning.
"There was a lot of discussion about what happened," Leo said.
"So, what's the verdict?" Prue asked. "Does Jessup have to worry about loosing his powers any time soon?"
"Apparently not," said Leo. "The transfusion seems to have permanently given him the physical powers of a White Lighter?"
"Physical powers?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes," said Leo. "Orbing, self healing, the ability to heal others, telekinesis, flying, all the powers associated with his physical body. But he doesn't have any of our other abilities. He can't communicate telepathically with one of us and he doesn't speak any additional languages."
"You speak other languages?" Piper asked.
"Just the ones' for countries where I have charges," said Leo. "I couldn't help them very much if we couldn't communicate."
"So physically he's a White Lighter," said Leo. "What about your immortality?"
"The Elders couldn't determine that," said Leo. "They don't think so but they can't be sure."
"Well, we've been talking about it," said Piper. "We can't seem to decide the best course of action for Jessup. What does he do with his powers now?"
"The Elders have taken care of that," said Leo. "First, he's going to go through the same training all White Lighters go through. So that he'll be up to speed on the do's and don'ts of what his powers are to be used for. When he's done with that they're going to use him as a sort of liaison. Running errands and things they need done. That will free up a real White Lighter to take on more charges."
"What does he think about that?" Prue asked.
"He thinks it's great," said Leo. "One of his responsibilities will be to apply some very judicially approved healing in certain circumstances. You've all heard stories about people who seemed to be miraculously cured over night."
"Yeah, we have," said Piper. "Those are White Lighters?"
"A lot of them are," said Leo. "There are times when it's necessary to provide the medical community with a little extra help. The Elders decide when and where those times are so we don't have to worry about Jessup healing someone he's not supposed to. But he likes the idea. He says he can help people and still stay true to the oath he took with that Legion code Timothy told us about."
"Speaking of Timothy," said Prue, "I figured he'd be coming back with you."
"He and Jessup are spending some time together," said Leo. "The Elders figure it's a good idea if he and Timothy talk some so that Timothy can prepare him for his new duties."
"Timothy is kind of new at this himself," said Cole. "Is that a good idea? Wouldn't a more seasoned White Lighter be a better choice?"
"Well, they've formed kind of a bond," said Leo. "They do have a lot in common despite the age difference. The Elders seem to think that bond will help Jessup acclimate as a pseudo White Lighter."
"Wonder what they're talking about?" Phoebe asked.
"What else?" Leo said. "When I left them they were having a discussion over whether someone named Black Star or Equinox was the most powerful. Those two are really into their comic books."
"They aren't the only ones," said Phoebe. "I did some checking. Everything Timothy told us is true. They even have these huge conventions where comic book aficionados gather to talk, trade books, and all sorts of other things. And some of the prices of the more rare ones are unbelievable. They can sell for tens of thousands of dollars."
"Supply and demand," said Cole. "Everything is worth something to someone. The more people who want it and the more rare it is the higher the price."
"Yeah, but they're comic books," said Prue.
"Not really much different between that and, say, a first edition Shakespeare," said Cole. "It just all depends on what people want."
"Well, Jessup and Timothy are becoming good friends," said Leo. "Jessup didn't have any family after his mother died. So Timothy has really been a big help to him. I think we've seen the last of the Blue Avenger."
"Thank goodness," said Prue. "At least it was a White Lighter Jessup got his powers from. Who knows what he would have become if say someone like Cole had given him that transfusion. Imagine the power he would have gotten from the blood of an upper level demon. And God only knows what personae he would have chosen then."
"The Retaliator," said Cole. "Kind of has a ring to it doesn't it?"
The End
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