Madam Marvelous: Chapter Seven -- "Will You Be My Valen-clone?" (Collaborative -- Open to All)

Since Doug recognized that Ian was a clone and not the missing student from the Sagan Academy, we had nothing but obstacles in our path. Arcane Ace told us that there were as many as five versions of Ian out somewhere in New Amsterdam, and Infinite Tempest actually found one. The trouble was, the clone was a couple decades older than Ian and had been placed under medical care due to exposure issues from the winter weather.

Astra and Doug decided to surveil the clone we knew about. The kept a close eye on him and his activities, but for the past few weeks, he'd done most everything the original Ian did. No weird behavior or anything.

The rest of the Star Force leagues searched for other clones, but never managed to find them. Until yesterday, and when they did, the reason for the difficulty made sense. The third clone wasn't identical. He was a she as well as a few years older than the young man we had been looking for. She worked at a small deli, claiming to have recently moved to town, and when approached, had no idea about any of the subtle questions she was asked about Ian.

And then there was school. The Sagan Academy was hosting an inter-school dance for Valentines Day. Being in one of the art classes, I somehow found myself working on custom decorations for the event. Like I had the time to spare to make Paper Mache hearts for an event I didn't plan on attending.

And then there was Brian. Brian Michael O'Connell, as he says with a strong Irish brogue. A newer student, he always seemed to be hanging around me somehow. My same lunch period. If I was in the library, eventually I'd spot him there as well. There were one or two times when I was trying to find some privacy to check my BADGE communicator, but he would pop around the corner with a broad smile and friendly wave.

How could something be creepy and cute at the same time?

All I knew for sure is we needed to find those clones and who was making them. I could tell that Astra was extra concerned by the events after we found Ion, the female clone of Ian. There was no reason to believe there were any ties to what happened to her and Doug years ago, but it haunted her more than ever.

    Keri looked at Doug, concern on her face, "Do you believe this is a coincidence?" she asked.

    "No," Doug agreed.  "Too much of this reminds you of what happened to us.  It's really convenient that it's happening at our new school."  He used his robotic sensors to scan the schools cameras for what was happening with Ian.  "The female clone is really what is making you wonder, isn't it?"

    "You know me well," Kerri confessed.  "So, how do we explain this?  Where is the real Ian?  What is really happening?"

    "That's weird," Doug stated.  "One of those freaky aliens that kidnapped us is signaling me with a truce flag.  It's near the north entrance behind one of the bushes to the left."

    "What?!" Keri was livid.  "Why are they here?"

    "I don't know, let's get Kitt'n and find out," Doug said.

    "Why Kitt'n?" Astra questioned.

    "So you and I don't do something stupid to the only lead we have," Doug confirmed.

Meet us near the bushes at the north entrance A.S.A.P.

"Hallo, there Blossom," Brian said from behind the open door of my locker.

I hurried and shut it so he wouldn't see my BADGE communication device. "Hey, Brian. How are you today?"

"Always good. You know how it is," he smiled broadly at me with near perfect teeth. He ran his fingers through his perfectly mussed hair as he put his elbow up against my neighbor's locker and leaned against it. "I'll always find a reason to smile until someone gives me a reason not to."

"So, umm, what's your next class?" I asked as I lifted my backpack to my shoulder. "I've got to get to the art studio."

"I've got biology," he replied. "Maybe I'll see you afterward?"

"Maybe." I scurried away into the stream of students walking through the hallway, sparing Brian a brief wave. I needed to be careful to make sure he didn't follow me. Civilians didn't need to be a part of Astra, Doug, and my investigations.

Brian gave me a quick two-finger salute as he remained near my locker for just long enough to let me know he wasn't in a hurry to be anywhere. I guess they're right when they say people from other countries move to their own clocks.

Quan(Wyldfyre) was the assistant instructor in class today, so if I were late, I knew he would cover for me. I headed to the spot Doug indicated, curious as to what I would find there.

Maybe Doug was getting ready to ask me to the dance...

Romana worked on some paperwork while in the Sagan Academy infirmary. No matter how minor any injury a student had, or reported, it was necessary to have full records just in case the parents had any reason to question what happened to their child. She slid some papers into a file folder after copying them into the electronic health record and paused when she reread the name on the folder. "Drat. This is the third time today."

Her frustration came from realizing she had put the wrong information into a student file once again. She hated to admit it, but she let her mind wander once again, which she knew better than to let that happen while at work.

"Hello?"

A young flower delivery girl stood at the service window into the office. She had a bouquet of Peonies in a wide vase. Romana smiled as she stood up and walked to the counter. "Hi. They are beautiful."

"And unusual this time of year. Most everyone is sending out roses for Valentine's Day," the girl said. She read the outside of an envelop pinned to the ribbon around the vase's neck. "They're for Miss Delvalutra."

"That's me. I'm Romana Delvalutra. Back home in Italy, Peonia are known as the roses without thorns." Romana took the bouquet and brought the flowers up to her nose. They smelled as good as they looked. She closed her eyes and let the fragrance carry her back home for a moment.

The girl cleared her throat after a few seconds. "Do you mind signing for these. I've got a lot of deliveries to make still."

Romana opened her eyes and smiled. "Of course. I'm sorry. It's just that I didn't expect these, but I should have. Chaz is good at remembering little details like this. It's not fair sometimes."

"A guy that pays attention. No. Not fair at all," the girl said as she sarcastically half-smiled before walking away with her signed paperwork.

Romana carried the flowers back to her desk, her mind more distracted than before. She had a big decision to make. Perhaps one of the biggest of her life.

    Doug noticed Kitt'n and motioned her over by the bushes, she noticed Keri there as well, "Over here, Kitt'n.  We need your help and there is someone we want you to meet," Doug explained.  As she approached, she noticed a third figure.  It had a large head with large black eyes and grey skin.  It wore something over its mouth that connected to its ears.

    "Greetings, Kitt'n, though that is not your real name," the alien greeted.

    "What's this about?" Kitt'n asked.  "How do you know that's not my real name?"

    "It matters not," the alien replied.  "One of our number has gone rogue.  I believe he has kidnapped the real Ian and cloning him for experiments."

    "Why come to us?" Keri questioned.

    "Because we do not know where he is.  The three of you are resourceful enough to find him and bring him back here for justice," the alien explained.

     "I see," Doug was trying to keep his cool.  "Could we have a moment?"

Warning sign #1: The strange creature, most likely an alien, hinted it knew things about me I didn't want most people to.

Warning sign #2: Both Astra and Doug seemed on edge. I'd fought with them before, so I knew they were typically cool under pressure. Doug made jokes. Astra exuded confidence and strength. Here and now, Doug was clearly pissed and Astra was on the meek side. This warning sign meant something significant.

Warning sign #3: This being, maybe alien, knew about Ian being kidnapped, but instead of contacting BADGE for help, came to us. I knew we were good, but there had to be something more to the reasoning for choosing us. It talked about someone going rogue and wanting to bring it back here for justice. Not turning it in to BADGE, but here. Why here?

As an aside, I'd recently watched Enola Holmes 7, so if my interior fourth-wall dialog gets to be excessive, I'm sorry in advance.

As a shapeshifter, I'd kind of made it a habit to study up on known alien races on the planet. Infinite Tempest looked mostly human except for his blue skin, but he was an alien. Many other heroes were, even Ms. Fae if you were being technical. I didn't recognize this race, but Doug and Astra both seemed somewhat familiar with it, and untrusting of it. Untrusting like they had been burned or...

Could this be one of the aliens that abducted and experimented on them? Was this a new trap to recapture them?

"Can we have a moment?" Doug seethed beneath his carefully worded request. His face said what his mouth didn't. Get out of my sight before I rip your head off.

"Discuss at your leisure. I will return when you are ready to agree to our request," the creature said. A green light danced across his body and he faded from sight.

Arcane Ace and Mitch continued to study the results of their scrying. The traces of Ian's duplicates were confusing. There was one trace that seemed to grow in strength before returning to normal with a visible pattern. It flared every 4 hours.

"What do you think that this means?" Mitch asked.

Ace shook his head. "I don't know. We need to be here for the next occurrence. I think that something important is happening, and I don't like not knowing."

"Why don't you go ahead and get some rest then? I can keep an eye on this." Mitch sat down in one of two leather chairs in the center of what they were calling The World Room. He picked up a musty tome that had been sitting on the small table nearby.

"Don't you want to get some rest?" Ace asked. It had been day's since the time-lost man had left their project.

"After centuries underground, I think I've gotten enough sleep to last me. I have much reading to catch up on." Mitch said. "This Civil War the United States underwent was a very inspiring time. My family never kept slaves such as these landholders did, but it was a practice held by some. It pleases me that the possibility for change on such a large scale exists. How were the parcels of land shared amongst the slaves one Lincoln made his proclamation. I assume some degree of balancing was enacted to bring those who were taken advantage of to equal footing with the rest of their countrymen."

"Keep reading. Change like what happened then didn't happen as quickly as you might think."

Ian was tired. He barely had enough energy to sit up on the floor of the small cell he found himself in. It was little more than a closet with only a single light embedded in the wall for illumination. Why was he here now, instead of the laboratory he was earlier? Were they finished with him? Was he going to be left here to die?

A soft green light flared beside him. Ian skirted away, putting his back to a cold wall. The green light dissipated as quickly as it appeared, leaving a tray of food in its place. Not just food. Ian's favorite foods. A bottle of Baha Blast Gatoraide. A club sub made with bread so fresh it was still steaming. Waffle fries with buffalo cheese sauce. Best of all, a triple-layer milkshake; strawberry, vanilla, and finally chocolate.

Just the sight of the food gave him energy. He scooted forward and reached for a fry, then stopped. What if this was meant to be his last meal?

Replentish yourself. You are no good to me dead.

The voice. Where did it come from? He didn't hear it, but he did. In his head.

"What do you want from me? I want to go home," Ian cried out. "Let me go, please."

You already are. Now eat. If you do as you are told, there will be more rewards for you. Be a good boy. 

Unable to resist any more, Ian took a fry and bit into it. A soft click echoed off the walls. He continued to eat. Each time he finished an item, a click resounded, as well as praise in his head. "Good boy."

Within minutes, the tray was empty. Ian sucked dry the last drop from his milkshake glass.

Return all items to the tray.

Ian put the plates, glasses, and basket back onto the black tray. The green light crept over the contents and everything disappeared, along with another click. Good boy. Since you completed your task adequately, here is another reward for you.

A mat appeared next to the opposite wall with a pillow and rolled up sleeping bag on top of it.

Rest now. You have been a very good boy.

    Keri, Doug, and Kitt'n stepped aside to discuss.  "How do they know that my real name isn't Kitt'n?" Kitt'n griped.  "Where do they get the idea they can spy on us?"

    "They've been doing so for many years," Keri stated.  "It's not like we didn't know you used a fake name around us.  We just respect your right to privacy.  You'll tell us the truth when you believe it's safe to.  No need to rush."

    "Why should we return their rogue scientist to them and not take it to BADGE?" Doug seethed.

    "They probably want access to the knowledge the rogue scientist gained," Kitt'n deducted.

    "You're right," Keri agreed.  "That's the only reason they would want their scientist back."

"Blossom is my real name," I said. "Blossom Talri. I don't use a fake name at the Sagan Academy, and that's why I don't use my powers here unless I knew it was safe. If these aliens are watching us, I wonder how much they know about me... and us? Is he still here, invisible or something?"

"No. I don't think so," Doug said. "He used something like a teleporter, but tech based, unlike Astra's."

"We don't know much about them at all. In fact, I was shocked when they contacted Doug," Astra said. "How long have they known we've been here? Were the watching us the whole time?"

"Can you read its mind?" I asked.

"Were you able to make the reservations for me for Valentine's Day at Truffles?" Chaz Hamilton asked the second new receptionist at the Sentinel since Romana left for her work study program. He missed hearing Romana's Italian accent and seeing her lovely face at the desk every evening, but he understood she came to America for a purpose. At least he would be able to see and surprise her for their date. She wouldn't be able to skip out on a romantic date for Valentine's Day. Would she?

"Umm... no, Mr. Hamilton," Sheila said. "I forgot, and when I did get to it. They were booked up. They've actually been booked up since before Christmas, so it really isn't my fault, sir."

"What? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Chaz stood, completely befuddled, at the receptionist desk. "Valentine's Day is the day after tomorrow. What am I going to do?"

"My girlfriend doesn't believe in Valentine's Day," Sheila said. "She says it is a corrupt attempt by commercial businesses to capitalize on archaic beliefs of the patriarchy's control of relationships and their ability to buy affection with gifts. It is a form of non-monetary prostitution."

Chaz's eyes went a bit wider as he realized he wouldn't be getting any useful advice from Sheila. He needed to plan out an amazing date for Romana over the weekend.

"It was shielding its thoughts," Astra said as she shuddered in revulsion.

"Well, I'm in for whatever the two of you want to do," I said, but then whispered a thought to Astra. But I think we should fill BADGE in on what is going on. "We can't leave Ian out there with whatever creep has him, alien or not."

Maybe we can figure out a way to trap the alien. Give it a taste of what they did to us. Doug thought.

I'm down for that! Astra said. "Finding Ian, the real Ian, does take precedent. We should see about teaming up with Arcane Ace. The aliens are using advanced technologies. They might not be as familiar with magic. I wish I had Mom's gift of precognition."

"Your gifts are pretty cool," Doug said. "I loved that roundhouse kick you did during Frostuary. You did it just like that character you loved to play in Mortal Combat 20. Well, except for the fatality part."

Arcane Ace left the chamber he did his scrying within. As he crossed the threshold of the mystical portal, from the demi-plane he used for his observations, he realized that what he might be looking for was a similar circumstance. The difficulty tracking Ian's position might be because they could only scry for him when the doorway was open to another dimension. Otherwise it was if Ian didn't exist on this plane.

"We need to cast a net that will pinpoint where the doorway is." Ace lifted his hat onto his head as he readied to go and visit his friend in the Star Force. Catalyst might be able to help trace where the doorway might be hidden.

We waited for the alien to reappear, but it never did. Keri and Doug said they would let me know if they heard back from it, so I nodded and moved on with my day.

After classes, and avoiding crossing paths with a certain stalker, I made a report to Ms. Fae to let her know I planned on going on to search for Ian with Eggie. I hadn't needed to meet with her in person for some time. She had been quite busy with things of her own, so even though I would like to have conversed with her, my training put me into an advanced level of my probationary status. A BADGE agent needed to be able to act on their own accord.

As I left the main building to meet Eggie in her waiting Volkswagen Bug, I passed Chaz Hamilton as he hurried in. I waved as he closed at me, a gesture he returned as he walked by. I assumed he was off to meet Romana at the end of her shift. Or maybe visit Ms. Fae if she were in her office.

Eggie and I drove to a section of New Amsterdam that Arcane Ace suggested we search through. He warned us to watch for extra-dimensional surges and due to this, Eggie had a new bit of technology mounted on her dashboard.

    As Keri and Doug began their search, She connected with Madame Marvelous and reached out to Arcane Ace.  Telepathically with MM and over the BADGE com with Ace.  "Where is the surge coming from, Ace?" Keri asked.  "I think we can all find this place and tackle this alien"

    "Sending coordinates now," Ace replied.  "Want us there too?"

    "The more the merrier," Doug retorted.  "We have to find Ian."

    Thanks for the info, Keri, I'm sending to Starmaster and the rest of Star Force now. Madame Marvelous sent.

     No problem.  Let's end this Keri returned.  Soon a number of heroes converged on the coordinates.  They were stunned to find they were standing in a parking lot.

    "Are you sure this is the right place?" Starmaster asked.

    "Yeah, I'm sure," Doug replied.  "Hold on, Catalyst, do you hear that?"...

Chaz and Romana walked through the snow-covered forest adjacent to the Sagan Academy campus. There were several statues scattered along the path acknowledging pivotal people throughout history, all featuring one unique feature. The faces were all made of a highly polished mirror-like material that when looked into, reflected back the observers face occupying the space as well.

"Wonder why they did that?" Chaz asked as he gazed into the statue of Isaac Asimov's faceplate. "I'd rather see what they looked like without my ugly mug in the way."

"You don't have an ugly mug," Romana said, her Italian accent highlighting her words. "You know that."

Chaz smiled. "If you say so, I guess. I'm sure that anyone who sees me walking alongside of you realizes that I'm batting way out of my league."

"Quit fishing for a compliment. You know I find you handsome," Romana said. She stepped up to a statue of Maya Angelou. "They used a material with the ability to refract the image so you can see both the person depicted, but also see yourself in them at the same time. They hope the children benefit from seeing their own self present in their heroes and mentors. To inspire them."

"In heroes, hey," Chaz glanced around. "Don't let me stare too long into the statue of Midgardsormr. He'd probably notice and crawl through the reflection to get me."

"I'm sure he's forgotten about you by now. That article was a few years ago." Romana stepped closer to Chaz and took his hand in her own. "Thank you for the flowers, by the way."

"Oh," Chaz said. "I hope you liked them. Speaking of Valentine's Day."

BEEP. Romana looked to her smartphone. She read the message and her face hardened. "I'm really sorry, but I've got to go."

"Again. It can't be work. You just got out of there," Chaz said as he gently held on to her hand as she began to pull away.

"A study session I am going to be late for. I'll call you later." She slid her hand out of his and headed back to the school parking lot.

"I can drive you," Chaz said, taking what he knew would be a futile step after her. "My front seat is mostly clean."

"OH. I'm good. Thanks," Romana said as she jogged away.

This not being the first time she mysteriously disappeared, Chaz stood silently in the forest for a moment. Maybe their relationship wasn't meant to be? If he couldn't even keep her interest when talking about Valentine's Day, what hope was there?

His own phone summoned him out of his worry. There was something going on. Several heroes he knew were moving toward a single location, according to his watchful sources. You couldn't be a good reporter without some contacts in useful positions. The woman who ran the bakery across from the Star Force Observatory, for instance, who just reported that most of the league was departing their HQ in a hurry.

Maybe something useful would come out of today still.

Romana raced to the Sagan Academy parking lot. Leaving Chaz like that made her chest ache, but the Star Force urgently needed her to join them as Prysmatica. If Chaz knew her secret identity, she knew he would understand and agree she needed to go. He understood what good the heroes did for the world. But, he was also a reporter and loved his job. Him knowing her secret identity could put her and her family in jeopardy. She wasn't ready to reveal the truth about it yet.

She reached the parking lot and did something she typically wouldn't do; used her powers outside of being in costume. Chaz would realize something was up if he saw her car still there. She used her photonic powers to alter the color of her car's paint, turning it bright red instead of the metallic blue. "That should do nicely."

After making sure her camouflage worked, she ducked behind a delivery vehicle and made sure she was out of sight of viewing by any students or faculty. She emitted a pulse of lights that would block any of the schools security cameras from capturing her image and then went full photonic, turning her body into pure light. At a speed faster than thought, she headed straight up and toward the directions given to her in the alert.

 

Catalyst turned up the gain on his prosthetic hearing device. It allowed him to also filter out known sources of sound, such as the heartbeats and breathing of his companion heroes. "Small rodent activity in the area. The hum of electrical current running through the power lines. Whistling from wind passing over the lips of those beer bottles at the south end of the building.--"

Doug smirked at the scientist's position. "I mean I heard something moving nearby. It came from over there-," Doug pointed emphatically at a small shed not far from where Catalyst was observing, "-by that building."

"Wind blowing at the door, making it move. Don't worry about it," Catalyst said.

It didn't sound like wind to me, Doug thought to Astra. Is someone hiding in there?

Astra used her psionic ability to search for any thoughts from a hidden watcher. She found nothing. "No. Seems clear to me."

At Starmaster's signal, the first of the heroes stepped into the abandoned lot. Starmaster, Infinite Tempest, and Chained Angel all glided in, protected by Starmaster's telekinetic shield. Prysmatica landed, behind them, finally arriving on scene. "What's going on?"

"We think the kidnapped child, Ian, is being held here," Catalyst said. "Keep an eye out for anything unusual."

Prysmatica nodded and then studied her surroundings, her eyes flashing white as she observed the environment with the entire spectrum. She suddenly pointed at the small shed. "That's not a shed. It's a--"

    Both Doug and Astra finished with Prymatica, "... a hologram disguising some sort of ship."  Starmaster did a double take.

    "Hold on, Astra, I thought you didn't sense anything," Starmaster stated.

    "I didn't," Astra agreed.  "Doug mentally shared what he sensed with me.  The hum of Holographic Projectors."

    "And I can see through the holograms," Prysmatica concluded.

    "I'm surprised you didn't pick up on that, Catalyst," Doug stated.  Catalyst adjusted his prosthetic and picked up what Doug had sensed.

   

Catalyst made a note to refine the algorithms for his prosthetic. The humming of the vessel must have been very similar to the sound of the power lines, which worried him. "Watch out for a protective energy field. My sound discriminator edited out the noise because it resembled something else, but there is some type of active power working in the area."

"Do you think that they are holding Ian in there?" Chained Angel asked.

Astra shook her head. "There is only one renegade if our source is correct and I'm not detecting any thoughts from where the ship is. I think it is just where he parked his ship."

"An alien ship! Wow," Doug said. "After we catch him, do you think we can keep it?"

"That's enough chatter, people," Starmaster said over their communicators. "Spread out and look for the portal or entrance to the lair. It has to be close."