Chapter 4
"What do you mean he gave you powers?" Stephen asked.
"In his presence, we have been blessed with the powers of teleportation and telekinesis. Eddie said he once teleported twenty feet."
Cara glanced at John, who slightly shook his head.
"You're not a Tomorrow Person," said Cara.
"No, but by his power, Ethan let us become Tomorrow People."
"That's impossible," responded Russell.
John read Ethan's mind while Cara read the human's.
"I'm sifting through memories," Cara thought to Russell. "You can tell as well as I can that it happened."
"How?" Russell asked aloud.
"We don't understand it," a normal human responded. "We were not meant to explain miracles, just to embrace them and be grateful for them."
"They took it away," Ethan said. "They robbed the Divine Psyche of these gifts and we can no longer share them."
"This is about to get out of hand," John commented. He telekinetically grabbed the former TPs of the Divine Psyche and teleported himself and them away.
"You took away our powers," someone claimed.
"This isn't what it looks like," Stephen responded. "You aren't Tomorrow People. He was lying to you."
"I don't believe it," a different person said.
"So what do you believe?" Talia asked. "Do you think we're evil and here to destroy Ethan?"
An empty bottle thrown at Talia was one person's response. Talia caught it telekinetically before it hit her.
The humans suddenly turned violent and the Avengers teleported back away.
"I don't want to hurt them," Cara thought to her teammates.
"Well, they want to hurt us," Russell responded.
"They're misled," thought Stephen. "We need to diffuse this without anyone getting hurt, including us."
"I agree," Talia said. "We can't just leave them like this."
"I have an idea," Cara suggested.
Soon, the Avengers combined their efforts and lifted the humans up telekinetically and kept them suspended in the air.
In New York, John briefed Jed and Roger on what happened in Pittwood and what he learned in Ethan's mind while all three walked to the cell holding Ethan.
"They never had powers. Ethan read their minds and found out what they wanted. If someone wanted to move an object, Ethan would know and move the object himself and pretend that the follower moved it. If someone wanted to teleport, Ethan would teleport that person."
"He's demonstrated some impressive teleportation skills before," Jed explained. "It doesn't surprise me that he could teleport people like that."
"So what are you doing here?" Roger asked.
"What do you mean?" asked John.
"I thought you'd still be in Pittwood trying to clean up the mess, or at least tell the Avengers what you found out."
"They can manage on their own and we're busy here," John explained.
Jed raised an eyebrow at John.
"I'm delegating," said John. "You told me to."
"Nice choice of words, but I don't believe you. I don't think Roger does, either."
John sighed. "The people there really believe in Ethan and believe that they had TP powers. I didn't want to be the one to crush that."
The trio arrived outside Ethan's cell.
"Jedikiah Price," Ethan acknowledged. "And who are you?"
"I'm not the one you should be worried about," Roger answered.
"That was an incredibly stupid and irresponsible thing to do," Jed told Ethan.
"Ultra's gone," Ethan countered. "Know your place because you don't get to lecture me, unless you want to educate me regarding your protégé here."
"There are other reasons why we should be keeping TPs a secret," Jed responded.
"And that's something you're inconsistent about," Roger added. "You let your inner circle of human followers know, but not anyone else?"
"What were you trying to accomplish?" Jed asked. "I know it's not wealth you need."
"Only a select group of humans know about Tomorrow People," Ethan answered, ignoring Jed. "Otherwise, we follow strict rules against exposure."
"What are you after?" Jed asked.
"Test subjects," John reported. "Ethan's good at distractions, but I'm getting some things from his head."
"You want to test normal humans," Roger realized. "That's why you spend so much effort to get their loyalty."
John looked at Jed and let his mentor interpret the look on his face.
"It's impossible," Jed finally said, mostly towards Ethan. "I managed to give myself powers but it didn't last. Human DNA cannot handle it."
"Then it's just a matter of keeping it," said Ethan. "You already made that vital breakthrough that we need. The next step - "
"There's no next step," Jed interrupted. "You know my credentials. If there was a solution, then someone with my expertise and my resources would have found it."
"There's more," John learned. "What comes after that, Ethan?"
Ethan quickly stood up and ran headfirst into a wall, leaving his interrogators to grimace together. When he realized he was still conscious, Ethan tried again.
John reached out and grabbed Ethan telekinetically.
"That's not going to work again," Roger said. "You're not escaping our telepathy by knocking yourself out."
"No, but that intense pain is a huge distraction," John quietly said. "This is going to take some more time."
"What did you suspect was happening?" Jed asked.
"His plan was to turn humans into TPs. Even if he has their loyalty for doing so and even if he already has TPs working for him, he's got to have some plans for keeping everyone in line."
"He's going to want to expand," Roger realized.
"Yeah," said John. "He knows it'll be a struggle to keep control over everyone, so he's got something else planned, too."
"Keep working on it," Jed told John. "We need to know what's coming and what could be coming."
Back in Illinois, Cara tried to explain TPs to the followers.
"There's nothing sacred about our powers," Cara explained.
"There's nothing special," Stephen added. "There are thousands and thousands of us. We're just the next step in human evolution."
"Normal human evolution," said Cara.
Samia and Wes suddenly unleashed their telekinetic powers against the Avengers. Russell and Jeannie fell to their knees, clutching their heads.
"What are you doing?" an Avenger cried.
"We can't help it!" Russell yelled. "They injected us with something."
"How did we forget?" Jeannie quietly asked.
Jeannie then started attacking the Avengers. The distraction caused the Avengers to break their hold on the Divine Psyche's followers and dropped them onto the ground.
The Avengers tried to continue restraining the followers while defending themselves against Wes, Jeannie, and Samia.
"Russell?" Cara asked.
"I'm trying to resist, but I don't know how much longer I can hold on," responded Russell.
Cara and Stephen rushed to Russell's side and peered into his mind.
"There's something in there, some sort of suggestion," Cara realized.
"It's not so strong anymore," reported Russell. "Are you two doing something?"
"Trying," Stephen responded.
"We need more TPs to push against the suggestion," said Cara.
"Get John," Russell suggested.
Stephen looked around, observing the growing conflict that the Avengers faced. "I have another idea."
Stephen stood up and closed his eyes. After concentrating for a few seconds, he let out the greatest telepathic blast he could manage.
"What did you do?" Talia asked.
"We'll find out soon enough," said Stephen. He knelt down again to help Russell.
A couple TPs teleported into the compound, followed by others. Most of them look confused.
"Did you summon them?" asked Talia.
"This isn't the first time I did something like this," replied Stephen.
"Okay, crash course!" Cara yelled towards the TPs. "You are Tomorrow People. There are lots of us. One of the things you can do is read minds. You might have done so before, so read this guy's mind. Reach out and think about what's in there."
More TPs teleported into the compound. Talia corralled them the same way Cara did to help Wes, Jeannie, and Samia while still trying to keep them and the followers at bay.
"Do you feel anything you haven't felt before?" Cara asked three TPs that were helping Russell.
"That's relative," someone replied.
"Do you feel resistance?" asked Stephen.
"Yeah."
"Push against it. Imagine holding out your arms and pushing."
"What about me? I've never done anything like this before. I didn't even know I could."
"Just think about Russell's mind," Cara explained. "Think about him and imagine his brain and opening a door."
Russell gradually felt himself gaining more control. He eventually overcame Ethan's suggestion. He then helped Samia, Jeannie, and Wes.
The followers of The Divine Psyche watched as more TPs teleported into the compound, mostly confused. The number of arrivals finally stopped at 19.
"What's going on?" a TP asked.
"Hi, I'm Cara. What's your name?"
"Havi Mendes."
"You're a Tomorrow Person, like most of us. We have the powers of telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation," Cara explained.
"I don't understand," said Havi.
"Has anything around you ever seemed to move by itself?" Russell asked. "Have you ever heard anyone else thinking?"
"No."
John arrived in the compound.
"Everything okay?" John asked. "Stephen, I felt your telepathic call."
"I was trying to call as many TPs as I could here," said Stephen. "A couple of them seem to have no idea what's going on."
"It's because you activated their powers," Cara realized.
"He gave them powers?" a Divine Psyche follower asked.
"No, they were always going to be Tomorrow People," explained Cara. "He just jump started it."
"It's not possible to give a normal human powers," said Stephen. "You seem really eager to have them and if I could, I'd try to help, but no one can do that. It's impossible."
"But - "
"It doesn't work that way," Cara added.
One of the followers looked around, mainly at the new arrivals. "Ethan deceived us."
"I'm sorry," said Stephen.
John took everyone to New York, where Jed and Roger briefed the human followers of the Divine Psyche and Cara and Stephen briefed the new Tomorrow People.
John then took the former followers home and returned.
"Do you think they'll keep quiet?" Stephen asked.
"Yeah," John answered. "No one wants to admit to being in a cult with the expectations of getting superpowers. Besides, they're grateful that you set everything straight."
Two days later, after long discussions between the Avengers, Jed visited the Refuge.
"We'll join you," Talia said. "We'll establish permanent bases for ourselves at your field offices."
Jed smiled. "Welcome aboard."
"You can count on us to help you in New York, but there's something else," said Stephen. "This applies to the entire country's operations."
"What is it?"
"We'll help you and the U.S. government, but on our terms," Talia said. "We want to do this work as Avengers. We think this network should monitor and train TPs, but also help others, too. We want to continue that line of work on a greater scale."
"Semi-autonomously," Stephen added.
"That's possible," said Jed. "I'll take it to my people."
After a lengthy telephone call, Jed briefed Roger, John, and a group of his employees.
"The Avengers Network," Jed announced. "It'll be a combination of our work and the Red Avengers'. Throughout the country, we'll police TPs, train those that need training, and fight crime. This will be the headquarters, with the Refuge being a second base of New York operations that will focus more on crime fighting. We'll share training responsibilities."
"Are the current Avengers going to keep their colors?" asked Rich.
"Yeah," replied Jed. "I don't see a reason to change that."
"You should choose a color for us, too," Wes suggested.
Jed thought for a moment. "Blue, after my daughter's eyes."
"You mean your eyes," said Rich. "It's okay if you want to name them after your own eyes, just be honest about it."
Jed rolled his eyes. "John, please obliterate his mind."
"So," Roger began. "Black Avengers in New York, Red Avengers in the Midwest and some select states, and Blue Avengers elsewhere."
"One big happy family of Tomorrow People," John summarized.
The briefing eventually ended and Jed, Roger, and John were left in the conference room.
"Jed, thanks for reaching out to Stephen. I know you didn't just do it as a practical matter. John told me that you supported the Refuge when they first suggested the Avengers idea. You told them it was a good idea."
"I thought it was time for me to really be his uncle."
John later stood on the roof, observing the city. Wes joined him.
"So, North Carolina," John said.
"Yeah, I'm going home. I'm going with one of the TPs that Stephen activated in Pittwood. She happened to be visiting Chicago at that time."
"How is she?"
"She'll need some hands-on training, but I think she's got a lot of potential. Ordinarily, I'd be reluctant to leave, but I know you can just teleport to North Carolina in no time."
"Yeah," replied John.
"Bring Astrid with you when you visit. I like her. I'm sure she'd enjoy taking advantage of your teleportation skills, too."
"Yeah," John responded with a small smile. "We talked about this in length and she has a list. I will take her to North Carolina, and lots of other places. I'm picking up something from Jed. He wants me to teleport him here to talk."
Wes nodded and teleported away before John teleported Jed to his side.
"So, fifty states and the capital," John pointed out.
Jed put an arm around John's shoulders. Yes, and I have my family by my side as I take full control of paranormal operations in the country. There's talk about Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa, too."
"What you said to Roger . . ." John began.
"Yeah?"
"None of that would have happened if they didn't stop pursuing me. When they did stop, it was like a barrier broke down. Does Roger know that?"
"Yes, and he's glad that got resolved and that you managed to still become friends again."
"My renewed friendships don't change anything between you and me," stated John.
"I don't doubt that," responded Jed.
"Did it surprise you to learn there were some doubts about you among the Avengers and fears about the next Ultra?"
"No, not at all, and it doesn't matter. I'll prove them wrong. I'll make Roger proud of me."
John looked at Jed and raised an eyebrow.
Jed smiled and hugged John.
Within two months, the first field offices were set up and ready to be staffed. Cara visited Russell's room at the Refuge, where Talia was.
"There's going to be a conference call in a few hours with Mallory," Talia was telling Russell. "She's giving an update on Ohio. Let's leave after that."
"Watch out, New Jersey," stated Cara. "Do you need help with the rest of your stuff?"
"Nope," Russell answered. "We got it covered, but thanks."
"We'll miss you," Cara said.
"I'm just a few jumps away. That's why I chose Atlantic City over Las Vegas. I promise I will visit often."
"To replenish your money after you go bankrupt?"
"Don't worry," said Talia. "I will keep an eye on him and the two of us will actually do work there."
Stephen, meanwhile, visited Jed. They watched as some of Jed's employees cleaned out their desks or offices and readied for transfers.
"You're the national authority on Tomorrow People now," Stephen pointed out to Jed. "If we ever go public and someone creates a federal position to manage us, you'd be first in line."
"That would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"Was that your plan all along?"
"Honestly?" Jed asked.
Stephen nodded.
"I just wanted to do right by your dad. That's all I ever wanted. That's why I picked right back up after Ultra fell. I wanted to promote Tomorrow People in his memory. The size of all this is a very big surprise. A very pleasant one, but still a surprise."
Roger teleported in.
"John and Cara are bringing two new breakouts to the Refuge," reported Roger. "John has to come back here to help with the transitions. Can you help the new TP? Her name is Jenna Bassel and she is nineteen years old."
"Of course. Are you going to be home in time for dinner?" Stephen asked.
"Yeah. Our real estate agent in North Dakota is faxing over a ratified contract soon and we'll proceed with operations there, but that won't take long."
Roger gave Stephen a soft pat on a shoulder before the latter teleported to the Refuge.
Jed walked over to a map of the United States and colored in North Dakota. He stepped back and Roger stepped forward to his side and put an arm around Jed's shoulders.
Jed looked at Roger and smiled, before returning to the map.
The brothers watched in silence as their work continued to come together.
And that's the end. Thank you all very much again for reading my story and providing helpful and encouraging feedback. I might be back with another story or two in the distant future. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the great stories that are being posted here.