Chapter 2

Russell and two TPs from The Refuge, Janie and Darnell, teleported across several rooftops in their black clothes, sensing for people in distress.

"I have something," Darnell suddenly said. "Kids in an apartment. Involuntarily."

"The bathroom is vacant," Janie realized. "We can teleport into there."

Russell, Darnell, and Janie teleported in. As they stepped out of the bathroom, they alarmed two people who grabbed guns. Each TP targeted a person and flung the people back against a wall while extending their batons out.

"Tie them up!" Russell yelled.

Russell ran into a bedroom and saw that it was vacant. He then went into another and saw four young children.

"Hey, you're all right now," Russell said. "We came to help you."

"You're saving us?" a child asked.

"Yeah. You're safe now."

Darnell entered the bedroom. "They're tied up. Where do we take these kids?"

Everyone heard a door open.

"That's someone else," Russell realized.

As they heard a gunshot, Russell and Darnell rushed into the living room and saw that Janie had telekinetically pushed Nicola against a wall while holding a baton. Janie charged towards Nicola and shut the main door, then struck Nicola across the face with the baton.

"You were a TP," Russell realized, reading Nicola's thoughts.

"No need to rub it in," Nicola responded.

"Tie her up," Russell told his teammates. "The gunshot will get the police here."

"And if it doesn't?" Janie asked.

"I got it handled," Russell replied as he picked up a landline telephone.

"911 Emergency."

"I've been kidnapped," Russell said in a high-pitched voice. "I don't know where I am. Can you track me?"

"Yes, hold on as long as you can, okay? I'm sending someone over as quickly as I can."

"Please hurry," Russell requested. "I don't know when they will be back."

Russell went to see the kids again, leaving the phone connected to emergency services. Darnell and Janie joined him.

"It's going to be all right now," Russell told the children. "The police are coming and they're going to fix everything."

Russell, Janie, and Darnell waited with the children until they heard sirens and a rush of footsteps.

"Let's go," said Russell.

The three stood behind the kids and teleported away.

Elsewhere, Cara approached her old home.

Dennis noticed her and ran out. He looked around anxiously.

"It's okay, dad."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's all taken care of, and I wanted to visit Sophie the old fashioned way."

A look of disappointment and hurt flashed across Dennis' face.

"You wanted me to leave, dad," said Cara after reading Dennis' mind.

"I know. I don't blame you for that. I blame myself. I'm sorry, Cara."

Cara suddenly found herself in a hug that was firmer than she thought was possible.

"Can you forgive me? Please?" asked Dennis.

After a moment, Cara finally decided to return the hug.

Cara and Dennis sat in the dining room over some snacks.

"Sophie mentioned that you'd been helping her," Dennis said.

"Yes. There was an organization named Ultra that had been hunting paranormal humans. They went after Sophie, but that group is finished, now. We're safe."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Cara answered. "The guy in charge is dead."

"Is there a cure?"

Cara hesitated. "There is a way to remove these powers, but that's not the solution."

"Why not?"

"These powers are a part of who we are. We shouldn't take away that part of our identity away without a good reason."

"That bracelet is interfering with her dancing," Dennis mentioned. "How is she supposed to play a swan with a glowing blue bracelet?"

"She should take it off. No one's coming after her, anymore. After that, she should train with us at the Refuge."

"I don't know if I want that kind of life for her and more importantly, I'm sure she doesn't want that life, either."

"Dad, I was running for years from people who were hunting me. I know the pitfalls of these powers. I lived them and suffered because of them, but I can't imagine being without them. I think Sophie would feel the same way after she learns control. Besides that, if she gives up her powers and then changes her mind, I'm afraid none of us can handle what that will take."

"It'll be Sophie's decision. Whatever she decides, you need to support it."

"I will, dad."

"I've made up my mind," Sophie finally said, surprising Dennis.

"How long have you been there?" Dennis asked.

"Just a few minutes," Cara replied, smiling.

"You knew?"

"Yeah."

"Very sneaky, you two. It's a good thing you weren't trying to pull this over me years ago . . ." Dennis' remark faded away when he suddenly remembered that Cara hadn't been around at an age when he would have expected both his daughters to be typical teenagers.

"It's okay, dad," Cara softly said, understanding Dennis' emotions.

Dennis hugged Cara. "It's so good to have you back."

Cara hugged back, but also looked at Sophie. "What did you choose?"

"I'll train to hone my powers if you teach me. I want you to do it."

"I'd love to," Cara answered.

In another part of New York, Russell, Darnell, and Janie continued patrolling the city when they heard sets of tires squealing. They turned and saw one car pursuing another.

"Road rage," Janie concluded. "The guy in the front cut off the guy in the back several blocks away. The guy in the back is overreacting."

The trio saw the man in the rear car fire a gun at the car in front.

"Overreacting? You don't say," Russell stated.

Russell and Janie worked together to safely stop and tip the rear car to the side, while Darnell focused on the driver to ensure safety during the process.

In another part of New York City, Jed's agents monitored the activity.

"I'm sure it's the heroes from The Refuge," Derek said.

"I thought they're supposed to be carrying trackers," noted Alexis.

"Yeah, but the tracking program was updated earlier today and needs some files from Dr. Price's computer. He's still on his conference call. Give me a second." Derek grabbed a USB drive and headed to John's office.

"Hey," John said.

"Do you have the GPS synchronizing algorithm files on your computer, by any chance?"

"No, they're on Jed's computer. You think the Refuge TPs are active?"

"Yeah, but we're not 100% sure. Could you telepathically verify?"

"I'll log into Jed's computer for you," John replied. "You're going to need the files anyway, especially if they teleport."

John walked Derek to Jed's computer and logged into it.

"Do you know where to get it?" John asked.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Derek copied the files he needed into the USB drive and in the process of ejecting the drive and closing a window, he accidentally opened two different windows. He resisted the urge to invade Jed's privacy, but gave in when he saw that Jed was analyzing data on John. He also saw a search for someone named Ethan Vaughn. Derek then returned to a monitoring station and copied the files onto a different computer.

"Here we go," said Alexis.

"Yup, they're from the Refuge," Derek concluded.

"Thanks."

Derek returned to John's office.

"Don't be mad at me," Derek said.

John smiled. "What did you do?"

"There was something I saw on Dr. Price's computer. I took a closer look."

"I'll keep this between us," John said.

"Do you want to know what I saw?"

"If this is how you're reacting, then sure, fine. What did you see?"

"Your biological records. Dr. Price has been keeping tabs on you."

"I know that," John responded.

"This is very specific. Come on," Derek said.

John and Derek returned to Jed's computer.

Derek clicked on 'File' near the top of the screen. "He's been looking at analyses of your DNA. He also recently looked at his brother's DNA and running simulations on different interactions. I would understand if he's concerned about your overall health after you died, but this has to be about your powers. You got them back months ago. Why would he still be looking at this?"

John sighed. "Whatever his reasons are, I'm sure they're perfectly normal and fine."

"Yeah, probably, but this is weird and you're my best friend, so I'm keeping you in the loop."

"This is probably nothing, but thanks. Maybe I'll keep my ears to the ground for anything that could be related."

"I know it's been a long day for you. Did you eat yet? I was going to order some delivery."

"I could do that," John answered. "Where are you ordering from?"

"Haven't decided yet. I'll go grab some menus."

Russell, Janie, and Darnell continued teleporting across New York City. Someone suddenly teleported in front of them.

"Natalie?" Russell realized.

"I suppose you'd be a good start," Natalie said with a notable accent. She telekinetically flung Russell to the side and then hit him with another burst.

Darnell and Janie advanced towards Natalie, but she unleashed a large telekinetic wave that knocked them both down.

"Did you feel that?" John asked Derek as they perused through a menu.

"Feel what?" Derek asked.

John grabbed Derek and teleported to a location close to the power he felt. As he realized that they were teleporting into a crowded restaurant, John stopped the materialization process and zipped to the rooftop, where he and Derek finally materialized. John turned around and saw Natalie crushing Russell, Darnell, and Janie in a telekinetic hold.

Derek teleported to Natalie's side and knocked her down with a telekinetic punch. John followed suit.

Natalie tried to retaliate and unleashed another telekinetic burst, this time towards Derek and John. The burst knocked Derek down but fell apart and disbursed around John, leaving him unaffected.

"I see he's made you into even more of a freak."

Russell, Janie, Darnell, and Derek recovered and surrounded Natalie.

Natalie looked around. "I'll handle this later. By the way, thank you, John," Natalie said before she teleported away.

"Oh, man," Russell said. "When did she become so powerful?"

"I don't think that's what happened," John suggested. "That's not more power, just a better use of powers."

"Are you three okay?" Derek asked the Refuge TPs.

Russell looked at his teammates. "We're fine."

"John!" someone suddenly broadcast.

"Morgan?" John thought. "What's wrong?"

"I've been trying to call Jed."

"He's in a conference call with the Department of Defense."

"My water broke."

"Hang on, I'll be right there."

"No, it's okay. I'm packing some things now, but I needed you and Jed to know. I'll meet you guys at the hospital."

"That's not necessary, Morgan. I can take care of this."

"I can manage. Don't worry about me. Just let Jed know and meet me at the hospital, okay?"

"Sure. See you soon."

"Everything okay?" Derek asked John.

"Yeah, we're going," John abruptly said. He teleported himself and Derek back to work, outside of where Jed was taking his call.

"Morgan's in labor," John explained to Derek, as he looked through the window. "Jed sounds like he's wrapping up. I'll wait for him."

"Are you all right?" Derek asked.

"Yeah, of course."

"You seemed a little off."

"I was just thinking about Natalie. There's something different about her."

"She's been training, apparently," Derek commented.

"No, I don't think so," said John. "This is something else. This is something . . . well, not entirely new."