Chapter 2 – Into the Fire

Tobey came back into being at his LZ in the command center. I has several such places that I could jump to that were cleared of anything around the base and resort. Jumping into rock or heaven forbid another person would be a bad thing as I had been reminded by Battlestar Galactica’s repeat had shown. You know the one where the raptors had jumped back to Caprica and one emerged inside a mountain. Of course there was also the one where Galactica jumped into free fall above New Caprica. That was just frakkin’ awesome. I mean - ummm anyway.

Since my jumps didn’t produce sound. I snuck up behind Calley and wrapped my arms around her.

Or at least I tried to.

All I heard was this battle cry and my rib cage blossomed with pain, my arm was wrench and as my world whirled about, it settled with me looking up at Calley, as the butt of her palm descended to break my nose with a crunch.

“Ow!”

“DAMMIT TOBEY!”

Gingerly I got to my feet with a hand up from my favorite assailant.

“You know you love it. What other boss would let you get away with beating the snot out of him? Come on, who’s your favorite boss?”

“He’s parking the beast.” Chuckling to herself, she turned back to bringing the team in.

“Oh Ouch! I don’t know which hurts worse: the comment or my nose!”

Thankfully the spinal pads we had built into our body armor took most of the impact when she judo flipped me.

What?! Did you just think we were a couple of weirdos running around in spandex? Bet enough about my last date!

These suits, while body hugging due to the spandex, also are reinforced body armor with pads to protect us strategically. Bullet resistant, most body blows are absorbed.

As I put my nose back in joint and applied a little healing power, Sabre came into the room pulling his mask back to the nape of his neck.

“Snuck up on Calley again, huh?” He said amused.

When we last left our intrepid heroes, plans were being made to protect the film festival!

Darren walked in as we were figuring out assignments. “Whoa! The pup? Sorry mates, he is grounded.”

Mike scratched his curly mane and sighed, “Let me guess… fighting with the townies again?”

The town’s kids took great joy in making fun of our kids. Unfortunately, it was a double whammy for our kids: to be orphans and live outside of town. Many were the times all of us have had to make the trip for conferences between our wards.

Tobey looked over at Darren and Mike, “This is not the night to enforce. We need everyone we can get.”

Mike pointed out stations on the grounds map, the best spots where lookouts could be stationed so as not to attract attention, but also to get in if things started to go south. He said, “Watch yourselves. We don't know who they’ve got in the crowd. We don’t want any mistakes, but we also don't want to accuse anybody who’s innocent.”

Seeing the look on Darren and Calley's face I thought of a way to kinda keep things in check.

“Sabre, what if Cana suited up, but we kept him at the Dorms and Hospice? That way we would have someone looking after the innocents.”

“Good idea. It’ll give him some responsibility, something he’s been itching for.”

“And it will also remind him of his restriction. Darren, I am sure you can use another hand on some of the maintenance this weekend too right?”

At this everyone in Command heard a moan from the intercom. Calley looked up, “You heard him brat. There be work detail for ya.” She snickered. Of all the kids on campus, he was her favorite.

Sabrewolf chuckled softly, then said, “We better get to work.”

The Raid’s grounds, while spacious, were quite contained between thick woods and a bluff side. It made infiltration by unwelcome outsiders difficult, but also confined those within to a particular area.

“Yeah, we have been avoiding JT long enough,” I said, with a smile, “Mike why don’t you go change and I will slip something on over my uniform and port up to the party?”

“Right,” I replied. I climbed in the lift and took it down to the bottom level where I changed into a blue button-down shirt and jeans over my suit. Slipping my mask into my pocket, I got into the turbo-tunnels and made for the spa.

Stepping from behind the wine rack LZ, I smoothed out my black silk shirt I got from Rome and walked out into the main party. Taking a glass of Coke from the passing waitress I snickered as Ookami gave me a glare. Becky was looking radiant in jeans and an emerald green blouse that accentuated her eyes and I knew from the harried assistant and the tight butt in black jeans, JT was talking some point of their Hollywood careers and Becky’s upcoming night being nominated for best supporting actress.

“Well if I don’t believe it, surely the Excelsior can't be in orbit? JT my friend how are you doing?” Turning around he gave me one of his now all too rare smiles and gave a hug. Not to forget the goddess or her wrath, I went over and hugged the brunette babe.

I entered the room from the hall janitor’s closet—one of the best places to hide a secret entrance—and quickly made my presence known in the crowd. I too congratulated Ms. Becky on her accomplishments and gave JT a firm handshake. One knew a winning combination when he saw one and I saw it that pair: set for bigger things to come.

In the back corner, I heard Lupe, playing a Spanish dance tune, to which a couple of the crowd were moving to.

Dance had never been my thing—God blessed me with two left-feet when it came to it— but the music had an uplifting beat which reassured me, as well as the patrons.

“JT, Mike and I are so glad you could come and debut your new film here. We also will be showing Becky’s.” JT looked over at the 6' 2" Nordic man standing beside him with a PDA.

“Chuck could you go get us something to drink please?” As the man walked over the bar our now private circle of friends relaxed a little more, “JT how are you doing? Really?”

A slight sadness came over his face.

“I’m alright. I have my bad days but thankfully between the joint project over at Arekat studios and the movie about to launch, life is keeping me pretty busy.” Mike looked over at our hurting friend and put an arm over his shoulder.

“It’s all right, my friend. With some time, things will come together. I know it. Walked this road, many a time myself.” This reassurance perked him right up. I’d had this ability as far back as I could remember; the ability to read emotions and find the right connection to turn a gray-sky mood to a blue one.

The look of concern softened on Rebecca’s face. At that point the band kicked it into overdrive with a Latin salsa tune. Ms. Woods squealed with delight, “I LOVE THIS MUSIC.”

Without further adieu, I grasped her hand and pulled her to the dance floor. Unexpectedly, I flung my arm holding her hand and then drew her back in with a quick spin and we were off burning up the dance floor as Mike and JT talked about things both professional and personal.

I heard a scuffling from near the bar. I turned to see what it was, but a clutch of people shifted position, blocking my view.

I excused myself from JT a moment, promising to be back in a minute so I could checkout what was going on. As I crossed the room, one of the waitresses collided with me, pouring a martini down the front of my shirt more effectively than I might’ve if I’d done it myself.

“I’m sorry,” she said, picking up the glass from the floor, then noticing it was me, she began to babble, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Slagenweit! So sorry!”

“It’s all right,” I replied, “Don’t worry about it.”

I remembered her now; I’d hired her the week before when I found us short-handed for the Festival. She’d been one of a dozen quick hires. I gave her a pat on the shoulder, a reassuring smile, and sent her on the way. Watching her as she walked away, I noticed she was quite attractive, but I couldn't think about that right now.

Failing to find the disturbance near the bar, I returned to JT and asked, "Where were we? Oh, that’s right, the new movie you’re working on. I’ve got no problem about you shooting on the grounds. Just as long as I can audition for a bit part.”

JT chuckled. For as long as he could remember his friends were always hitting him up for parts in his movies.

“Wouldn't it look good on the resume? ‘Oscar-nominated Director Hires Raid Manager in Latest Blockbuster’?” I asked, a grin spreading on my face as I embellished the runaway headline.

JT clapped me on the back and said, “I’ll see what I can do.”

Immediately after the song ended the band launched into another number. Quite frankly, I was astounded that Becky hadn’t hurled from the spinning I was having her do, but she was having the time of her life. During a slow number, a cooing sounded in my ear as she rested her head on my shoulder, “I sure hope Mike will be able to cheer our man up a little bit. Maybe get him to open up.”

I drew her face to look at me and reassured her, “If anyone can do it, Mike can.”

“Ah, enough talk about work,” I said, “How’ve you been doing lately? I heard that things were not quite kosher for you.”

JT stared into his drink.

I knew that look; it said more than words might’ve. I said, “It’s Adam, isn’t it? Man, I am so sorry it had to happen, right now especially.”

“A-um-ah…” The director that had all the words on the screen found them failing him.

“There wasn’t anything you could’ve done. I read the newspaper reports, heck I even called up Captain Solak at the police department here in town to see if there was anything that could be done at this end. Getting caught in that soundstage fire was not the way I’m sure he’d want to get out. Remember, my friend, you loved him, you still do. That’s a tie which can never be broken.”

“I, I got to get some air.”

The ice in his glass chinked as he walked passed the patrons and out onto the balcony that over looked the moonlight shining on the water. He missed his love so much. He felt a hand on his shoulder and the presence. Mike had followed him out. Swiping a few of the tears away, still looking at the water, JT confided something gnawed at him, “I couldn’t even give Adam a proper burial. The fire was so bad they couldn’t find his remain among the rubble.”

“Then there might be some hope after all,” I said, trying to be as sincere as I could, “Maybe he got out after all.”

“There’s...” I trailed off, as my sixth sense pricked again.

Stronger than earlier, I thought. Something had clicked, talking, and trying to reassure JT, something made me wonder.

“What is it Mike?”

“I’m not sure. Let’s go back inside,” I led JT back in, trying to pinpoint at which direction the feeling had come from.

Becky and I were enjoying the night breeze and laughing about one of the many stories from her travels. When we glanced up and saw Mike escorting JT back inside, the tenseness in his body had me tapping the gauntlet on my wrist without thought activating the comm-link.

Putting some distance between JT and myself, I raised my wristwatch closer to my face, so as to use the comm-link, “I felt something again, Tobey, I think it’s him.”

Nodding, I excused myself from Becky and began sweeping the room, “Calley be on alert. Teams check in by the numbers please.”

A collection of light acknowledgements came from the speaker in my watch. I moved closer to JT and said, as a way of excuse, “I’ll be right back. I think there might be a problem with the champagne I ordered for later.”

In the center of the bar’s ceiling was an ornate stained-glass window, surrounded by the colored lights which flashed about for the parties held here. With the sound of a cannon going off, the window exploded, showering the crowd with glass fragments. I grabbed JT by the shoulders and pulled him to the floor, covering him and taking a few of the fragments in the back. Thank God for body armor, I thought. All eyes fell upon the newly made hole in the roof.

When the bomb went off (at least I think it was a bomb), I clothes-lined Chuck and threw myself on top of Becky, I could feel a trip to Rome coming on as the hotness of the glass warmed my back. Rolling past her into the bushes behind us, I jumped out of my street clothes and popped back in full uniform taking in the scene.

Though the smoke drifting from the hole, a voice, familiar to our ears, said, “You didn’t invite me, so I decided to crash this party!”

JT stood up shaking his head, “No no, it ca-ca-cant b-…”

A muffled sob emanated from Becky's direction. Mike was heard to exclaim “no” in a harsh whisper. Calley thought I had summed it up best though, “ADAM!!? Oh shit!”

I couldn’t express the hurt I felt at this moment, seeing the pained look on my friends’ faces, and I couldn't blame JT for being a bit angry at me for not telling him the truth, but that same truth, I knew, would’ve devastated him. If this wasn’t devastating enough.

I rolled away from JT, so I could talk into my comm-link, “Create a distraction. I gotta change.”

Hearing the command I did a front flip to land in the center of the dance floor and awaited the incoming party crashers. JT went into overload and fled. Ookami went after him and heard her over the comm-link taking him to Elm Cottage.

From the broken skylight, Descended a pack of well dressed mongrels in the middle, the sight stabbing into my heart, was our blond headed wonder, Adam.

Becky shouted into the deafening silence, “ADAM!”

Throwing my hand back I motioned for her to stay where she was. I turned around just as the black clad business suited gentleman circled the crowd the golden dress shirt highlighting his hair, “Adam... there is no Adam here... I am the Fashionista!”

For emphasis he struck a pose and then flicked his ashes into a PA’s face.

I slipped out of the room, returning to the closet I’d used earlier to come up from the Den. I stripped off my shirt and jeans, pulling my mask over my head and replacing my gloves. Rotating a hidden panel in the wall, I selected a short katana and attached it to my belt. I slipped back into the room.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” I shouted. A few heads turned on the sound of my voice, but most remained fixed on the Fashonista.

“It’s nothing but an old-fashioned stickup!”

“And what if I tell you that we have you surrounded?” I asked, making my way though the crowd, keeping my hand near the hilt of my weapon.

“Oh please! After the planning that has gone into tonight, you think I wouldn't have multiple plans?”

“Certainly you would. That’s the way you think now, but it’s not going to work you know. Why not give up now and let us help you?” I knew I might be skating on thin ice, but I needed to buy time.

Even though he sheds all over me, what I wouldn't give for Fuzzy to come strolling in... The fact that we only had myself and Sabre in the room worried me a little but I knew backup was en route. Circling counterclockwise to him, Sabre and I ended up on either side of the Fashionista.

The Fashionista watched us with an appraising eye and laughed, “HAHAHAH! So caring, so merciful!” His face grew ugly accentuating the burns, “Stuff it do-gooders!”

A scream resounded through the crowd. Chuck had Becky, an arm around the throat. Adam positively glowed with happiness, “Take one more step and that will be all she wrote for Miss Superstar-thing! One down three to go.”

Startled I looked at Sabre and we both thought the same thing.

“You’ll never get away with this,” I said, my voice an angry grate.

“Oh, but I will!” he cackled one arm on his hip the other taking a puff on the cigarette holder in his left hand, “But before I go, I simply must know…”

I felt a bead of sweat roll past my ear, under my mask, the situation too intense; my senses ringing like the bells of Notre Dame.

While I know it was my friend standing there in front of me, I also saw no spark of recognition. It was Adam’s shell but he wasn't home. It allowed me to get in touch with my anger, “What, you two-tone blonde himbo? What do you want to know?”

Even my tirade didn’t faze him, “Why where do you get those hot body hugging outfits?”

And with that he threw his head back and bangs erupted everywhere and smoke filled the air along with a woman’s shriek. While we both rushed for him, Sabre and I met in the middle of the floor and as the smoke cleared, we saw he and his henchmen were gone.

And so was Becky!

I growled, incensed at my hesitation. I raised my comm-link, shouting, “Track him! Don’t let him get away!”

The sound of garbled static replied to my shouts.

“FRAK!”

“Can you teleport us to the Den?” I asked, “I need wheels.”

“Yeah. Now don’t get no naughty thoughts,” I said with a smirk and stepped in and bear hugged my boss. “Den: Two incoming!” With several startled gasps we disappeared and wisped into being beside the Beast. Mike’s own beast was sitting in the cab waiting for him panting.

“Get after them,” I said, “We can’t let him get away with her. I’ll follow as quick as I can, so activate a homing beacon so I can track you.”

“’K boss. I am gonna jump up to the bluff. Once we get a hit, I'll jump from there. Hopefully being up that I high I will be able to see something.”

Tapping my gauntlet a beacon appeared on the dash readouts and the Beast roared to life. I jumped.

Putting the pedal to the metal, I took the Beast out through the tunnel into the foliage, skidding onto the road, and taking off like a bullet shot from a gun.

Reports started coming in.

“I don’t know what he’s got under the hood, but Holy Cow is it good!” “Just turned onto the main highway.” “I think he’s headed for town.” “Yeah, heading for Gold Mine.”

“Wait a minute - GOLD MINE?!”

I closed my eyes for a moment, fearing what that meant.

I was crying no joy, “ALL TEAMS CONVERGE ON THE 800 BLOCK OF GOLD MINE!!!! SABRE MOVE YOUR ASS!!” Seeing red, I popped to the bushes outside 812 Gold Mine Drive. And waiting for backup and scouted as best I could.

I flipped the turbo boost. This was one of those moments I wished I had Nightwolf’s teleportation skills, but the whole experience still left me feeling sick to my stomach. Within a few moments, I pulled up to the building. Dashing out of the Beast, I remembered to hit the “anti-theft” button.

“Found any way in?” I asked.

There are guards walking the perimeter, I have seen a little bit of activity. At this point I can’t see a way in. Maybe when the pack arrives. JT is secured of all things, locked in the master suite at the Elm Cottage. Ookami and Darren are now watching over him. He and JT are swapping stories. Gods, I hope JT is gonna be ok.”

“Me too, but whatever Adam is planning, we gotta stop him. He doesn’t know what he’s doing, and if he gets someone killed...”

I didn’t want to think about it, the thought of it all too painful.

“But Sabre. That’s just the thing. I got no sign of recognition from him back at the spa. It may be our friend, but I don’t think mentally it is him.”

“You’re right. But there’s got to be a way to bring him around.”

Off in the distance, I could hear the beat of chopper blades, growing louder as they approached. Glancing behind me, I saw it. I said, a small smile forming on my face, “Good timing.”

Behind the controls was Ty-Ohni, with Lupe beside him.

Already harnessed I could see Cana ready to drop in. Not one for the easy way, it looked like he was hooked for Aussie style.

I turned to Nightwolf, “The gang’s all here.”

“Hey, the more the merrier... now how do we get in there with out Becky meeting St. Peter?”

“That seems to be the million dollar question,” I replied as Ty brought the chopper low enough for Lupe and Cana to drop in. I continued, “Slipping in is one way, but he’s probably got the place wired and attempt we make to break in will alert him. What about you teleporting inside and opening a way for us out here?”

“Hola.”

“Evening, Sirs.”

I turned back to answer Sabre’s question, “I could but I ain’t sure what is waiting there. If I knew the placement of stuff in there, no problem, but I don’t like the idea of a blind jump right now. Can one of you tell me where I can jump in?” Looking at our new arrivals.

Ty, holding his hands before him, so as to make a pyramid of space with his fingers, looked through the hole. All we could see was a solid wall, but I knew his abilities allowed him to see things which other people missed, as well as into places other people couldn’t. He said, pointing, “There, an open office, a hole in the net, I think.”

“Anything more specific. I don’t want to become a desktop model.”

“It is small, but I believe there is easy access to taking out a section of his security network.”

Nodding, I looked over at Lupe. “Kiss for luck?” An un-ladylike snort answered my question. “Sabre, you want me to take the pup with me?”

“Sure. Extra pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt.”

That extra pair of eyes were bugging out of the boy’s skull. “Relax, I just did this with Sabre not 20 mins ago.” I ruffled the boy’s hair to calm him a bit. “It will be just like in training. Hold tight, keep your eyes closed and it will be over before you know it.” With that, I nodded to my compadres. “Join us when you can, and we will try to open a door for you.”

“Don’t take any chances.”

Standing up, the red-headed teenager locked his arms behind my back and smashed himself flat against me. I could feel his heart beating a nice salsa tattoo. “It will be fine. Don’t worry, we won’t. We never do. Except in Panama, Cardiff, New York, Brisbane,” at that point I jumped. “…And then of course there was that bachelor party. We’re here.” Cana stifled a giggle and began scouting the room.

A patina of dust covered the desk, chairs, and shelves. It hadn’t been used in years. Cana said, “Nice place.” He put his hands to the wall, feeling for a vibration beneath the plaster. When he found it, he put a fist into the wall, revealing a junction box underneath.

“Here we go,” he said.

He pulled away a couple of chunks of sheetrock, and opened the box. He might have thought there was a bomb inside, but a couple of switches rested inside. He flipped the right one, and there was a dull whine.

His eyebrows crawling up through his hairline, Tobey reached over and gruffly grabbed Cana by the shoulder. “What the hell are you doing?!?!?” Typical teenager... he was flipping switches!

“Okay, okay!” He found the right one.

Outside, Ty saw the security system weaken in the vicinity of Nightwolf and Cana’s position. A gap opened through a window. He said, “They’ve done it. Let’s go.”

I lead the way, unsheathing my katana. If we were heading into an ambush, I planned to give myself the extra couple of seconds. We climbed through the window, joining our compatriots. I asked, “Now where?”

“Through there, I think,” Cana said, pointing at the door leading out of the office.

I turned the knob and opened the door into a darkened hallway.

Looking around the doorjamb carefully, I stepped out into the hallway.

No sound came. Both a good thing, I hoped, but it sent my blood cold. I followed Nightwolf, deadening the sound of my steps.

The rest of the party followed us. Moving from nook to cranny as if we were in a jungle, expecting the slightest sound to give away our position.

As we came up doors, we frog hopped to check the rooms. Most of them were empty. As we cleared the first floor, we made our way down to the basement. “Sir, something is not right?”

“You’re right," I breathed, “This has ‘setup’ written all over it. Still, knowing there is a trap, gives us a chance to avoid it.”

CLANG! THUD! BAM! The sound of metal falling into place sent all of us into back to back positions. Light exploded all around us. The doors and windows had metal plates in position over them sealing us in the room. Someone had to be watching over a hidden camera because laughter rang out. We all reacted with rebuke as the pup dropped the F-Bomb. But Lupe was the first to echo his sentiment as her eyes adjusted and she saw sitting in the middle of the room a nice big pile of explosives and a running timer.

“Cana, can you diffuse it?” Ty asked.

Without waiting to hear an answer, I grabbed Lupe and began to fling her by the arm as I jumped. Emerging outside, I let go and she sailed through the air. Immediately, I jumped back and grabbed Cana and repeated. The counter read 2:15 but still I raced like a mad man to tackle Ty and sent him rolling in the grass out side.

Running for the crew compartment, Cana jumped inside the helicopter. “Why is Nightwolf jumping us? There was 2:30 left on the timer.” He saw Ty pop into existence. Lupe was watching the house. “Because young one, the tim-” The house exploded into a million shards. The bad guys had pulled the oldest trick in the book, set the timer to a false reading. The house was gone and the adjoining crack houses were on fire. In the glow and with the scanners, they searched for their comrades. There was no sign.

I inhaled deeply, finding myself on the ground, unbelieving that I’d allowed myself to fall into such an easy trap. And nearly taking my friends down with me. This could not stand. I would not allow this to happen again.

I shifted, then noticed something wrong, “Wait a minute, where’s Nightwolf?”

Getting to my feet, I couldn't see anything, but refused to believe the worst.

The thought of rushing into the inferno came to mind.

Yet, as I looked on the conflagration before us, it occurred to me; Nightwolf had managed to get us out before the bomb went off and figured out something I hadn’t yet. I said to Lupe, “Is there a homing signal coming from Nightwolf?”

“Sir, he is 35 yards on your 4 o’clock.”

“Let’s go.”

Lupe brought the chopper out over the yard and the men descended to look for Nightwolf.

I trusted that my instincts would lead us in the right direction, and sure enough, I was proven correct. Unfortunately, what we found was not at all what I figured I’d find.

Following Lupe’s direction, the men converged on Nightwolf's position which happened to be under the apple tree that was partially on fire. Horror reflected the fire in Cana’s eyes as he came into view of Nightwolf first. Ty began chanting silently as he rounded the tree. Sabrewolf came around the trunk and dropped to his knees. It took him a moment to recover and then they were in motion.

Moving as gently as they could, Ty and Sabre checked Night’s wounds. There were several broken limbs scattered on the ground to match the broken bones. Tobey hung there unconscious. Hung there because he was impaled by an arm sized limb 4 feet off the ground sticking from underneath his ribs.

Anguish and pain tearing at me, I shouted, “Help me get him down from there! We’ve got to get him back to the Den, NOW!”

“Sabre, what about—” Cana began.

I interrupted, “That can wait! Now give me a hand!”

Seeing the anger flashing in my eyes, Cana and Ty helped pull the unconscious Nightwolf from the branch. I put my fingers to his neck, praying to find a pulse. It was there, barely. A thousand questions burned through my mind, “Could he work his healing power?” “Was the damage too extensive?” “What if this?” “What if that?”

“Sabre!” Ty’s voice brought me back to the present for a moment.

“What?” I said, voice gone dark.

Bringing the chopper low, the team hustled the wounded back into the air.

Once aboard, Ty continued, “You must allow me to help him. There might be a way, but I cannot do this with you in this state.”

“There must be something I—”

“There is nothing until we return. Until then... you are spiritual, pray for your companion.”

I stared at Ty, wondering what the hell he was talking about. Then it hit me; like being struck in the face with a board. I had no means here to help my friend, but I always could call on a higher power. With the chopper speeding back towards the Den, I dropped to my knees again, but this time for a much different reason. When I opened my eyes, Lupe was bringing us down from the sky.

Calley had been listening in to Lupe’s report and had sent Darren running for the Teen Dormitories. The secret of the Wolf Pack was held by only a few people that swore on their lives to protect it. That number was about to expand by one tonight.

Normally if any of the team were injured, Tobey was the main healer and Ty serving as backup. Tonight, Tobs was critically wounded and there was only a small percentage of a chance that he would make it. It lay in the hands of a 15 year-old girl, named Shawna.

Unbeknownst to most of the kids and the town in general, the kids at the Timberwolf Teen Home were gifted. Most of them had latent powers and Mike and Tobey worked with Poseidon Prep in Pacifica City to channel the kids there once their powers manifested. Shawna was due to start there next fall. But they would need her tonight. She had the power of Healing, like Tobey.

Darren briefed her on the way, quickly wiping the cobwebs of sleep from her mind. Everything she was about to see was top secret. Never to tell another living soul. What he was explaining blew her mind and scared her. They descended into the tunnels of the Den as the lights of a helicopter descended. Rushing into the infirmary, Calley met them and gave them the situation and not far behind the team came running in.

Shawna gasped as she saw the man covered in blood and a gaping wound in his chest. Doing as she had been instructed, she placed her hands above the wound and let her powers flow to stem the tide of his life’s blood. Only once was she distracted: when all the masks had come off and she saw her favorite mentor laying on the gurney.

In hushed conference, Calley and Mike, Darren and Ty, debated the wisdom of bringing her into play, but it was tabled until if and when Tobey could be stabilized.

“Can you do it?” I asked the child, seeing the shock in her eyes.

“I don’t know, Sir... I can try.”

“Try,” I replied, placing my hand on her shoulder.

Tears streaming down her face, the petite brunette concentrated and her eyes turned a shining blue as her powers activated.

I closed my eyes, willing a little bit of my strength to flow through her.

Tobey woke up in a beautiful warm place. He had never felt such peace. He thought he would stay for a little bit.

The monitoring equipment began to ring out as all levels approached zero. Without thought, Mike reached in and plunged a needle and tube into his vein and inserted the opposite end in Tobey’s right arm.

Not knowing what he was doing, not sure if this would he even work, he watched as the scarlet blood flowed through the tube into his friend. All the while, his mind drifted somewhere between chaos and peace. Determination was his sword and shield. Will power, the power of sacrifice would win this battle.

The flow continued and Mike could begin to feel the blood loss, dizziness, but no, he would not be stopped now, if it took everything he had.

A hand fell on his shoulder. A voice behind him told him that his friends needed him and that it was time. Tobey turned around and looked into the most wondrously loving visage he had ever seen. He turned back around and felt a shove. He could hear equipment beeping and people crying.

As Mike’s knees gave way, strength failing him at last, he heard a gasp come from the table, and it had not come from his own mouth.

As he feel a hand shot out and gripped his biceps to keep him from hitting the floor. Tobey had caught Mike. Quickly he was forced to release him and he felt an air mask pressed over his face. Noticing a glow from his stomach, he thought it was pretty as he sank back into dark and dreamed.

Mike rose to his feet, knowing that things would be all right. He turned to Shawna and said, gently, “You are a godsend. Thank you.”

“I’m glad I could help,” she replied.

The work continued for at least an hour, but the passage of time felt like days going by. Eventually, I found a chair and tried to rest, to no avail. When she finished she came up to me and said, “Let him sleep for a while, it will help.”

“Good. Would you walk with me?”

“Yes, Sir”

We trudged out into the woods, onto the grounds. The moon shone bright in the starry sky. I said, “Shawna, you know who we are now and you know what we do. You are one of us now.”

She stared at me, wonder in her eyes.

“Sir, I can’t! I’m just a kid!”

I tried to keep my voice gentle, “Look at Cana, he's not much older than you are and he’s a part of our pack. The pack is our family; you’re part of it now.”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Mike. I will keep your secret. I promise. But, what can I do?”

“What you have done tonight, bring healing to the injured. You can help us work for a better world, based on principle, where people work for others and ask nothing in return. This is what it means to be a member of the Wolf Pack.”

“Whoa.” The sheer immensity of it all took her aback. Suddenly the drain of power she used tonight, staggered her and she fell into Mike’s arms and yawned.

“Come, Larentia, let's get you back to bed.”

“Larentia?”

“When you become a member of the Pack, you're given a new name. This is how you will be known by the other members. It’s the mark of trust we place in you.”

Though she was excited beyond belief her body said “uh-huh” and she drifted off into dreamland.

I pulled my mask over my face, in case anyone might be wandering about the dorms and carried the sleeping child back to her room. Laying her in bed and pulling the covers over her, I whispered, “Sleep well.” Then slipped out into the hallway.

As he walked across the grounds of the Raid toward the entrance to the Den, he looked up at the night sky. Becky Woods was still in the hands of the Fashonista and in mortal danger, but the thought of losing his closest friend, had taken precedent over everything. Strange the bond between families, he thought, but that was also the Code of the Pack: you looked out for the others.

A full moon shone bright over the grounds of the Raid. As I gazed into that sky, I felt the peace that the night brought, the peace of forgiveness. Leaning back, I gave forth a long, soulful howl. Three more times, I bared myself to the peace the moon brought me, feeling the restoration in my heart.

Darren and Calley waited for him when he reentered the Den. Both had relief on their faces and consolation ready, but a smile from Mike who’d taken off his mask again, assured them both words weren’t necessary. Taking the lift, he returned to the infirmary to keep his vigil.