Enid felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. She was leaning on balcony. Naked except an untied bathrobe. She decided she needed some time away from Eyre’s house. Violet was getting closer and closer to the truth of her actual plan when to deal with the Black Son and it was becoming more difficult to conceal it as the event came closer. Her spies near the council told her that they were giddy and planning to kill her for breaching the Covenants, but it would take them two weeks to get their forces together and to Edmonton. Her family was safe for now and she had time to brood. She sighed and pulled the phone out of her pocket. She felt a hand on her back. It was nighttime and she couldn’t feel the cold. Allison was bundled in a heavy coat and shivered.

“Why are you out here?”

“Thinking.”

Her phone stopped vibrating, then as soon as it did, it began again. She frowned as she saw the number. It was the emergency line she’d given out as Sarah the superhero to various authorities.

“I should take this.”

Enid picked up and put the phone to her ear.

“Hello.”

“Is this Sarah O’Connor?”

“This is she.”

“I am President Morris. I was wondering, would you meet with me to discuss a…situation?”

“I don’t take sides President. Even if I was in the US Navy.”

“This isn’t about… sides. This a personal matter.”

“Fine. Am I heading to the white house?”

“If you can.”

“I’ll be there in half an hour.”

“Thank you.”

Enid hung up. She glanced at Allison and hugged her, and the pair moved inside.

“You have to go see the President?”

“Yes.”

Enid kissed her and started pulling on her Atlantean Armor.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“You better be. I’m going to get cold in bed alone.”

Enid kissed her again then went to the Balcony and flew off.

*****

She slipped in past the Secret Service agents and slipped into the oval office, where she found President Morris and General Morris sitting at the desk. She let the shadows fall off of her. The pair jumped.

“I am here.”

“You…look very young.”

“That’s why my legal ID says I’m seventeen. Look, my time is limited I just started a war with the forces of darkness, so, if we could please hurry this along.”

President Morris stood up and offered a folder.

“My daughter, are you familiar with what happened to her?”

“I am. She set off a building implosion and contained a dirty bomb. Died a hero. I’ve lost a few children in my life, I’m sorry for your loss.”

“We suspect she’s not dead.”

“Why is that?”

“BMC had the contract to clean up the site and retrieve her body. They said it was too radioactive but, we have reason to believe they moved her body to a black site in northern Canada. Our intel…says it recently suffered a catastrophic nuclear failure. The Canadians said it was an earthquake.”

“Oh that, I thought it was a bit off, earthquake in the middle of the Canadian Shield. That could just mean her body was buried in tons of granite. Nothing there tells me she’s alive.”

“Look in the file.”

Enid leafed through and saw a hospital security camera picture of a black-haired girl lifting a much larger man up.

“Super terrorist.”

“No, that’s our daughter. Photo was taken three days after the ‘earthquake’.”

“I know what it is like to hope beyond hope your child is alive. But this image is grainy at best.”

Enid saw the look of desperation in the pair’s eyes.

“If I choose to look into this, why me? What about me screams detective?”

“You were a detective, you can…compel people. Our limited investigations have been stymied by local police, BMC, the Canadian government.”

“I have maybe fourteen days left with my family. It’s Christmas time and you want me to spend some of them tracking down your wayward kid? You have the entire resources of the US government and intelligence agencies at your disposal.”

“And I can’t use any of it. Please. What can I do to convince you?”

Enid sighed.

“I want an F-22. No weaponry of course.”

“Done.”

President Morris looked at her husband.

“What?”

“One can be lost in a training accident and provided to her as salvage. She ‘rebuilds’ it so it can take part in ‘airshows’”

“Do you know what that could do to the both of us if it gets out?”

Enid held up her hands.

“I’ll do it, no need for the fighter. It was a test. If I find her and she doesn’t want to come home, I’m not making her though. If she can throw people like that around and escape black sites, based on my experience she isn’t home because she doesn’t want to be home.”

“But she’s sixteen she belongs at home.”

“With all due respect, she belongs where she feels safe. I ran away when I was young, and I never forgave my father for pulling me out of where I was the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ll confirm she is alive; I’ll tell her you want her to come home, I’ll make sure she’s safe and the rest is up to her. Does that work for you?”

The couple looked at each other.

“I suppose it’s what we are getting.”

Enid nodded and flew off.

*****

Enid landed in front of the hospital that the President’s file had indicated. The cat was out of the bag so to speak so she didn’t even bother changing her face to Sarah’s tonight. She walked through the automatic doors. It was elven at night the place was busier than she’d expected. She pulled the shadows around herself and walked into the hospital proper and found a nursing station. She appeared in front of the nurse who looked up at the apparent red-haired teenager and didn’t recognize her immediately.

“You shouldn’t be here, it is after visiting hours young lady!”

Enid met her gaze.

“Of course I should be here I’m a doctor. Could I borrow your computer?”

“Sure Doctor. Whatever you want.”

Enid walked around and the nurse was about to log out. Enid met her gaze again.

“No don’t bother logging out, its fine.”

“Okay doctor.”

Enid looked over the medical records application and started a search for records from the date that the security camera picture had on it. She found a record for Myra Townsend. She opened it. Frostbite, hypothermia. Died then was resuscitated. Patient’s age and gender were correct. She checked a linked security report which she did not have immediate access too. She went back to the patient file and identified the name of a lawyer who provided consent for treatment and release. Enid noted it and closed the patient window and stood up. She looked in the nurses eyes.

“Hey, thanks, for letting me use your computer. Just forget I asked, would you? I seem to have forgotten where the security office is, could you tell me?”

“Oh, it’s in the basement, just take that elevator there and ride it down. It’s to the left and just past the morgue.”

“Thank you, nurse. You’re going to have an amazing evening shift.”

“Thank you doctor.”

Enid released her compulsion and pulled the shadows around herself again and rode the elevator down. She followed the doctors directions and glanced at the morgue on the way by. Then noticed the sign ahead that said security. She tried to open the door but found it to be locked and looked at the card reader to the side of it. She let the shadows fall away and knocked loudly. A man opened the door and looked down at her.

“How did you get down…oh you’re that girl…the one…”

“Yes I am, I need your help to track down a super terrorist.”

“Oh, I would need authorization for that.”

Enid looked at his name tag then met his gaze.

“You already have authorization, Edward. You were told to expect me. All you need to do is do as I ask.”

“Oh ya, I did get that didn’t I, come in.”

“I need you to pull an incident report, 022526-003.”

“Sure thing.”

He sat down at a desk and started typing. He pulled up the report.

“May I?”

“Whatever you need ma’am.”

Enid sat down and read over the report. She opened the linked video file. Her eyes quirked as she saw a blip as the power went out for a few minutes then a man in a suit opened one of the rooms. He pulled out a large gun. She couldn’t see inside the room but was surprised to see a girl’s hand reach out and grab the wrist and twisted it like it was a string. The gun dropped and then the girl came into view kicking the man in the stomach. Then her palm stuck his chin. Then she grabbed him by his neck and slammed him against the wall. There was no audio, but she was talking to him. Enid was no lip reader. The file ended when security guards arrived. Enid closed the file and the security report.

“Thanks Edward, you’ve been very helpful.”

She stood up and met his gaze again.

“Go through all the footage you’ve recorded tonight and delete all that has me in it. Then just forget I was here. You have a good night.”

“Yes ma’am. Glad to be of assistance.”

Enid glanced down at her watch. Twelve am. She pulled the shadows around herself and left the hospital. She landed by several police officers that were conducting spot checks for drunk drivers. She let the shadows fall off of herself and the one she landed closest too jumped.

“Jesus. Where did you come from?”

“Sorry, I just had a question, where is your headquarters?”

The police officer looked her up and down. Enid was only wearing her armor and it currently looked like a mat black wet suit with no plating.

“You must be freezing, do you need help?”

“No officer, you don’t recognize me?”

One of his colleagues noticed the pair talking and nudged the officer she was next too.

“Holy shit, that’s the angel.”

Enid soon had many eyes on her. The officer she was talking to heard everyone and looked her up and down.

“I didn’t recognize you.”

“Its alright, I’m trying to track down a super terrorist I was asked to find and apprehend, never been to Thunder Bay before so just need some directions.”

“We’re on Balmoral Street. Find the University and follow Balmoral south. You’ll find it.”

“Thank you, officer, appreciate your assistance.”

She looked to everyone who was gawking at her did her best noblewoman smile and waved.

“Have a Merry Christmas everyone.”

Enid flew up rolling her eyes once she was out of sight. She followed the directions she had been given starting at the University campus and heading south it didn’t take her long to reach the station. She landed in front of it and walked inside. Rather then skulking she decided to take the direct approach she walked to the front where an officer was sitting, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but there. He didn’t look up from whatever he was reading.

“What do you want to report?”

“I need information.”

“Come back during the day.”

“I’m afraid its urgent.”

He finally looked up at the source of his interruption and blinked.

“Sorry, ma’am.”

“Its alright, I know how it is. I just need some information on an incident at the medical center from February 2026. A super terrorist matching her description has caused some issues, I am trying to track her down to bring her in to custody. A man with some serious looking hardware tried to attack her and she incapacitated him?”

“Oh, I remember that one. Here go inside I’ll get a detective to help you.”

He pressed something on his desk and a door lock popped. Enid walked inside and she saw him lean back and point.

“Just down that hall there, one of the detectives will help you out.”

Enid walked down the hall and was met by a female officer. She looked middle aged and exhausted. Enid noticed a crucifix around her neck. The woman offered her hand. Enid took it and shook it.

“I’m Captain Harris, but you can call me Carol. And you’re Enid Aurelius, the living Saint.”

“Among other things.”

She motioned for Enid to follow her.

“I thought you’d be preparing for…whatever you were talking about the other night.”

“I am, but I had a request I could not refuse.”

Carol led Enid to an office and motioned for her to sit down.

“How can Thunder Bay PD help you tonight?”

“There was a super-terrorist incident in February, shortly after the earthquake, a teenage girl, black hair, was held at gun point in the hospital and she disabled her attacker. She had super strength?”

“Oh, I remember that one. Only one of those we’ve had in town. Let me pull the file up.”

She started typing on her keyboard and a few minutes later she smiled at her flat screen.

“There it is. Myra Townsend. She was found on the roadside walking barefoot. A couple of OPP brought her in to the hospital. She was assaulted and held at gun point. She disabled her attacker. We couldn’t arrest her. Being strong isn’t a crime. Unfortunately. Lawyer convinced crown to not press charges because it was self-defense. Gun was serious hardware through. Explosive rounds. Very high tech, very illegal even in the US. Had a genetic lock on it and everything. Crazy. Girl managed to hack the lock in seconds and almost shot her attacker.”

“Do you know where she went afterwards?”

“No, she was released into her lawyer’s custody, parents are dead.”

“Her file wasn’t expunged? She’s a minor. So it should have been correct?”

“The nature of the event and the weapon involved the crown was able to keep the file open on the girl at least.”

“What happened to her assailant?”

“Squirely bastard. Had some high-powered Toronto Law Firm get him off. He had some sort of license for the gun. Case of mistaken identity. It’s all very…smelly. File isn’t even in the system anymore.”

“Bribes?”

“No idea, all I know is he should have been in jail for five years. No charges, no nothing just poof, walked out and vanished.”

“He likely worked, or works for BMC, they have a lot of pull with Governments. Easy to say, oh you do like our supply of cancer drugs don’t you? If you do, make this go away.”

The captain narrowed her eyes.

“They would do that?”

“Seen it done before. They cloned a human. A lot of people died in a lab explosion. No investigation, it just went away.”

“Holy shit. Oh I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about, I’m no saint when it comes to language. Much to my sisters annoyance.”

The captain laughed.

“Captain, do you have an address for the lawyer the girl used?”

“I do. No home address though.”

“That’s fine. I guess I’ll have to visit her office in the morning.”

*****

The morning found Enid standing outside of the lawyer’s office door. She was dressed more conventionally. She saw two women approach the office door. The older of the two unlocked the door. Enid walked in after them much to their surprise. The older of the two looked at Enid.

“We’re not open yet.”

Enid was thankful for the lack of windows in the front office. She looked the woman in the eyes.

“I’m looking for Amanda Hamilton.”

“You found her, what do you want?”

“You’re going to provide information to me on one of your clients. Myra Townsend.”

“Of course. What do you want to know?”

“Where is she?”

“Oh, I bought her a house under her name near Kitchener. I have the address.”

“Thank you. Could you go get it for me and come back?”

“Of course.”

The administrative assistant was looking between the two and freaking out. Enid met her gaze.

“Hey there, why don’t you get yourself ready for work, have a seat at your desk, pretend I’m not here, in fact once I leave you’ll forget you even saw me.”

The woman nodded and hung her coat up and walked into another room of the office. Amanda returned with a piece of paper and offered it to Enid.

“She lives there.”

“Thank you Amanda, You’ve been very helpful. Why don’t you just go about your normal morning business and forget you even saw me or gave me any information.”

“Okay. Have a good day.”

The woman turned around and walked back into her office. Enid left the office and looked down at the paper. As she walked down the windowless hall she let her shape change to the black haired teenage girl she’d used to cross the border with her father. She called a cab and got a ride to the airport. After paying the ridiculous premium and having to fly business class she was on a plane within two hours and two hours after that was renting a car from Toronto Airport. She arrived in Kitchener two hours after that, mostly due to a stop for lunch and a talkative waitress. She waited until nightfall and switched into her armor and flew to the farmhouse, which she had already driven past during the day.

Enid arrived at the farmhouse. What she found there was a teenage girl hanging Christmas lights and plugging in the block heater on her sixty-year-old muscle car. She looked completely normal but something about her bothered Enid in a strange way. Something…not human about her. The way she moved. But she smelled mortal. Enid watched her finish the lights and then watched her move a tree into her front door and close it. She moved closer the shadows still clinging to her and watched as the girl lifted the tree easily and placed into the stand and started to string lights on it. Enid looked at her phone. It was definitely the President’s daughter. Enid shrugged she had made an agreement she’d keep it. She approached the door letting the shadows fall off of her and she knocked.

The girl answered. Enid was amazed she hadn’t seen it at the distance, but her eyes were purple, and she could see machines in them. If it wasn’t for her hyper acute senses, she would have easily missed them they moved so fast.

“Can I help you?”

“Amee?”

“No one here by that name.”

“Amee. Your parents asked me to find you. I told them I would but…I also told them I’d only confirm you were alive and safe.”

“Wait…you’re…you’re that girl from the TV…the Vatican.”

“I am her, yes.”

“Why are you working for… my… the President of the United States?”

“I’m not really, BMC has pissed me off in the past so mostly I was working for myself and hoping if I found you, I could deliver their message and find out…some dirt since it seems they have crossed you too.”

“I need you to answer one question before I invite you in.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why do you have no vital signs? You’re dead.”

“Because I’m a vampire and I’m not trying to look alive because I assumed no one outside a hospital could tell.”

“Oh. Come in.”

“How do you know I’m not alive?”

Amee tapped her temples.

“Can monitor life signs with my sensors. I’m a cyborg.”

“Oh. So that’s why BMC was interested in you.”

“Yep. Do you…umm eat?”

“Typically no, only blood but I have a feeling yours would be…bad for me.”

“Probably would be. Has floaties in it, well I’m going to have some hot chocolate.”

“I can drink it…if you could make two.”

Amee nodded and motioned to her breakfast bar.

“So, my parents sent you to track me down. I’m surprised if I hadn’t ‘died’ my mom would have lost the election.”

“Trust me, Amee, most parents could care less about anything other than their children when it comes down to it. They’d give up a lot to save them, protect them.”

“You sound like you are a parent.”

“I am, had four kids, adopted one, my eldest is still a pain in my ass and I wouldn’t change her for the world. I would do anything for either of them.”

Amee slid a mug over to Enid who took a sip.

“Good hot chocolate.”

Amee nodded and took a drink of her own.

“So, what was the message my parents wanted delivered?”

“They want you home.”

“Nope.”

“I told them with your skills chances are if you wanted to be home you would be. My question is why are you hiding on a farm?”

Amee shrugged.

“BMC isn’t going to give up and I’m tired of fighting them. I tried a town in Nevada didn’t work out. They found me. Now I’m guessing they will again.”

“They won’t find you through me, but if I can find you, they probably can. I’d love to offer you protection but… I just started a war and my resources are limited. Also I might not survive it so…”

“You now I can fight.”

“I can see that. You detonated a nuclear weapon, I can’t even claim that I’m slightly jealous.”

Amee shrugged.

“They shouldn’t have had it, and that place… they were torturing people they had caused to develop powers. Those people you captured…BMC had them down there. When I escaped they killed them all.”

Enid looked down and nodded.

“I had no choice. The ones I dealt with were hurting people.”

“I know. They knew that too, Jonathon said you warned him what they’d do. And you were right, they threatened his family if he resisted. It’s what they’ll do with mine if I go back to them. I’ve made them believe I hate my family and don’t care about their safety. It has worked so far to keep them safe.”

Enid nodded and took another drink of her hot chocolate.

“So, he’s dead?”

“Yes. Fifty of them died. BMC’s CEO is looking for a cure for his daughter. Some power to heal her.”

Enid blinked and laughed.

“So, all of this…the mutations, the…clone he made of me… you has been for his daughter?”

“Yes, I don’t think it’s funny, people are dead.”

“No… it’s just, if he’d asked, I probably could have healed her.”

Amee looked at her and quirked her head to the side. Suddenly seeing where Enid’s amusement came from.

“What about now?”

“Fuck him. Let her die.”

“That seems pretty heartless from the daughter of God.”

“God didn’t pick me because I was one of the good guys.”

“You seem like one of them to me. You protect people. You are protecting me from my parents. I suspect since you poked the hornets’ nest you are probably risking your family’s safety by being here.”

Enid shrugged.

“Do you have anything my family can use on BMC?”

“Lots, I downloaded their entire data store. I have a lot of capacity. Let me just…”

Amee wandered off and came back a few minutes later and put a portal hard drive on the counter.

“These are the highlights. Vaccination programs that introduced a retrovirus designed to cause mutations. Their research on descendants of a bloodline from Rome and Narford that had observable abilities beyond normal humans. Their funding of a terrorist cell to cause a dirty bomb attack in Washington and how they planned to use it to capture me. All of which are another reason they do not want to come visit me again. I’m sure whatever they have on you they’ll be happy to stop or keep to themselves knowing this is waiting to be released.”

“Why haven’t you just released it?”

“Because, as much as I hate them and what they’ve done their organ cloning business saves lives and they are making minimal profit on it. As much as their CEO is a vile evil man, he actually genuinely cares about healing people. His methods are disgusting. But those organs save thousands of lives a year. Other corporations would have started giving loans out, financing, ripping off the hospitals. Their cancer cures and gene therapies have revolutionized rare disease treatments. They are a necessary evil. Probably the same reason my mother and other governments have left them be.”

Enid sighed and nodded.

“Well thanks for the hot chocolate.”

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Have we met before?”

“No, I doubt it.”

“I feel like I know you. So weird.”

“Sorry, never met you before in my life. See you around Amee.”

Amee bit her lower lip.

“I hope so.”

*****

Enid peeled off her armor and snuggled in beside Allison who made a soft mmm sound as her arm wrapped around her.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“How’d it go?”

“I found the answers she wanted. Found the answers I wanted. Still wasn’t worth being away from you and Mitena for two days.”

Allison turned around in her half-asleep state and kissed Enid.

“You’re cold.”

“I’m dead. And it’s minus forty out with the windchill.”

“Let me warm you up.”

Allison snuggled in closer to Enid who used some of her blood to warm herself to human temperatures. Allison kissed her again and the pair held each other.