Saturday, November 5th 12:00 a.m.

Compared to Christopher and Diana, Jordan thought she was handling being held at gunpoint well.

Three of them were crammed onto Jordan's two seat couch in the living room with Uncle Tony sitting in the loveseat watching them. His goons had been searching the house for the better part of five hours, but it looked like they were slowing down. While they waited, Tony flashed them a dazzling smile and whistled tunes that Jordan didn't recognize. From the sinister look in his eyes, she didn't think she would enjoy them all that much. Tony's smooth smile had started to wear thin around ten, and now he gave up any pretense of acting calm and in control.

When they arrived at Jordan's house, he'd asked her all sorts of questions about where Delilah had kept the rest of the money. Jordan hadn't even known there was any more, but Uncle Tony didn't believe her. He seemed like he wanted to hit her, but he held himself back.

She hoped it was because he remembered all the times they used to watch cartoons together, and he would make dirty jokes about what the characters were doing. Jordan didn't understand most of them, but she loved Uncle Tony. He'd always worn an unflagging smile like the world was his playground and nothing could bring him down.

By the look on his face, the old memories were only going to get them so far. He said the cheesy movie line, "We can either do this the easy way or the hard way."

The easy way had just about run its course, and Jordan imagined the hard way involved the gun in his hand.

Jordan thought about using The Surge to get free and make a break for it, but she was responsible for Christopher and Diana too. Christopher was capable of taking care of himself with that weird purple light that could slow things down, but he didn't look like he was in any shape to pull that off at the moment. He mumbled a string of numbers to himself over and over again. Jordan recognized them as prime numbers. When asked direct questions, Christopher didn't seem to register them at all.

Diana on the other hand, had cried since they'd been shoved into the SUV. She asked the men what happened to her sister, and if her mommy and daddy were dead. They ignored her questions as if it wasn't to going matter for too much longer. One of Tony's henchmen asked if he could shoot her if she didn't shut up, and Tony nodded assent. Jordan convinced Diana to keep her mouth shut, and told her that she would get to see them soon. Jordan was thankful the girl was too zoned out to notice how bad Jordan was at lying. Diana's sobs had shifted to soundless mewls. She sniffed her nose and wiped snot and tears that flowed down her face at a steady pace, but at least she did it with minimal noise.

False hope is better than getting herself killed. 

"Aren't you curious about how I found you all the way in Butt Fuck, Idaho?" Tony asked.

Jordan felt her hackles raise. She'd hated Idaho since she got there, but the way she made fun of her new town upset her.

"Not really," Jordan replied, "But if it matters to you, you can tell me."

A red flush appeared on Tony's cheeks. A vein that kind of looked like a starfish appeared on the right side of his forehead. It pulsed angrily at Jordan, even as Tony continued to smile.

"Sheesh, you don't have to beg Squirt. Of course I'll tell you. Ya see. Your mom isn't the brightest bulb in the box. Idaho has a fancy little gizmo called the State Repository where they report even the littlest breaking of the law. That's where your mom comes in, because see, she decided to get a little speeding ticket on her way to work one morning. Not smart at all Squirt, because when you steal one million dollars from someone, you best believe they're going to be pulling out all the stops to find you. After that, it wasn't too hard to track her down, specially since a nigger in a white bread state tends to stick.

I wanted to leave you alone out of respect for your old man, may he Rest In Peace. But we can't really question a coma patient now can we? So now you're the lucky duck that's going to tell me where she hid the money, or I'm going to blow Numbers here into the next dimension. And I don't know isn't going to fly with me. You're a smart kid, better figure it out."

"Rest In Peace?"

"Your mom didn't tell you? Shame, I didn't want to be the one to break the bad news, oh well. Your daddy used to do some accounting work for me, but he didn't do a very good job. Over the years, about one million dollars went missing. Weird huh? Well, I can't have someone that sloppy working for me, so I had to -" Tony said drawing a finger across his throat, "You understand? Good work is so hard to find these days."

"You killed him?" Jordan asked. The air got excited, The Surge wanted to run free. It made the hairs on Jordan's arms stand straight up with anticipation.

"Kill is such an ugly word. I prefer downsize, makes me feel like a bonafide businessman," he winked at her, "But that's not what you meant is it? No I didn't have the heart to do it, Elijah was one of my best friends. How could I possibly kill a best friend? I had Marcus do it."

Jordan closed her eyes and took a series of deep breaths. She wanted nothing more to let a wave of electricity to course through Uncle Tony's body at that moment, but she couldn't guarantee the safety of Christopher and Diana. Jordan had more control than she used to, but she didn't trust herself enough with that amount of control.

"Don't make Marcus downsize you too Squirt, it'd break my heart, but I don't see as how I have any choice. My employers need to know that people pay for crossing Tony Garofolo."

"I really don't know," Jordan said clenching her teeth, "But if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

"What's with all this nastiness? You seem to forget that you're in the wrong here. Your parents stole from ME, is it not my right to protect my property from my transgressors? But out of the goodness of my heart, I've tried to be civil to you. I really do like you, so how's about I give you one more chance to do things the right way?" He said, his tone sounding like he was conducting business with a CEO, and not threatening to kill the friends of a twelve year old.

Jordan imagined The Surge arcing through the air and hitting the man's gun. Watching him convulse and beg for forgiveness would've put a smile on her face, but that option wasn't available. Ever. The scent of sickly, sweet charred aliens dissuaded Jordan from the thought. Killing aliens and humans was different, and Jordan a feeling she would pass a threshold that she would never be able to uncross if she used her ability for evil instead of good. She wouldn't be able to live with Derek's crestfallen look of disappointment when he realized Jordan wasn't one of the good guys.

"I'll help you look until we find all the money, I don't know how much she spent, but you can have everything we find," Jordan said looking down at her feet, she couldn't stand to meet his ice, blue eyes.

"Now we're talking, I told the boys you were a smart kid. They wanted to eliminate you from the equation entirely, it's simpler that way, but I told them 'no way boys, you oughta see this kid. Brighter than the lot of you ten Watt bulbs I employ.' Thanks for not making a liar out of me."

"I have one condition," Jordan replied.

"What's that?" He laughed, "let you stay up late and eat all the ice cream you want?"

"Promise me you'll let them go, and leave my mom alone too. I'll do everything you want, but leave them out of it."

If I can get him to let them go, I can use The Surge to escape. I'll figure the rest out later. I just need to get them to safety, Christopher can protect Diana.

"Hmmm, no deal," he said, "You'd make one piss poor Poker player, I don't care how smart you are. I've got all the cards Squirt. Besides, you said yourself you don't know where the money is, so why give away all my bargaining chips for something that isn't even a sure thing. Not on your life kiddo."

"I lied," Jordan said, biting her lip, "I know where the money is."

"Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Now that's how you bargain. My new counter-offer: I let you all go, and leave town like none of this ugliness ever happened. Don't try pulling a fast one, that's the best deal you're gonna get. I want you to know how generous I'm being, my employers have a strict no witnesses policy."

Jordan grimaced at how callous someone could be about throwing away human lives, she'd thought people like that only existed in stories. Pure evil just a far away concept, so the heroes could overcome them.

"Okay, please put the gun away. We'll do what you say."

"That sounds reasonable, I don't imagine you lot being able to put up much of a fight anyways. 

Let's cut to the chase shall we? The sooner I get the smell of manure and unwashed farmers out of my nostrils the better."

"Did you see that big screen out there, with that little building in the vacant lot?"

"Yeah, you couldn't miss that thing if you tried."

"It's been abandoned since we got here, my mom hid the money in there. In the ceiling."

As Jordan surrendered, a light momentarily gleamed in the window behind Uncle Tony's head. The light of the porch glinted off Derek's braces, his perpetual grin plastered on his face. He held a finger to his lips as if to Shhh Jordan.

"It looks like we're taking a field trip boys!" Tony called throughout the house.

While Tony was distracted, Jordan motioned to Derek to leave. She shook her head and mouthed 'Get out of here.'

Derek gave Jordan two thumbs up and disappeared into the night. Jordan breathed a sigh of relief, and Tony noticed.

"The truth will set you free. Your Pops actually told me that one. Weird huh? I miss that man. He had a good head on his shoulders, reminded me about the human side of things every once and awhile. Call him the angel on my shoulder if you will. You're going to be like him some day I can feel it, you both know when you're outmatched and outclassed. That's wisdom right there. Look at me go, I'm rambling again. It's rare I get to talk to someone with actual substance. If you're ever in New York, give me a call, all this'll be water under the bridge."

"Maybe for you, but I'll never forget what you did."

And I don't know how, but I'll make sure you pay. 

"Suit yourself, I probably woulda felt that way too, if my Pops hadn't been an abusive drunk that beat the shit out of me every chance he got," Tony said. He was still smiling, but the skin around his eyes had hardened a bit.

Two of the suited henchmen flanked either side of the couch. A red-headed one with freckles, red face, and a bulbous nose yanked Christopher to his feet. The other had wore a short sleeved suit to expose with the tapestry of tattoos that encased both of his arms. The man with the tattoos was a little gentler with Diana, but not by much.

Neither of the thugs grabbed Jordan because of Uncle Tony's twisted respect for Jordan. The fourth goon tromped his way down the stairs, he had so much muscle that it crowded out all his features, giving him squinty eyes and ears that looked tiny in proportion to his massive face.

"Autobots, let's roll out!" Tony shouted with a feral gleam in his eye before shooting Jordan a wink. Transformers had been one of the cartoons they used to watch.

"Can I at least grab Diana a sweater before we go? She's going to freeze," Jordan pleaded.

"Look at you Squirt, being all noble and stuff. Ulrich, go grab the young ones a sweater."

The man with tattoos, Ulrich left grumbling his way up the stairs. Jordan had a feeling he was low man on the totem pole. She catalogued that in her brain, hoping that may be useful later.

Ulrich returned with Jordan's baggy New York Yankees sweater, and a thin hoodie that Jordan liked to slip on when the house got too cold. It wasn't much use for Idaho winters, but it would have to do. She gave Diana the Yankees one. Jordan slid it over the girl's head and whispered in her ear that everything was going to be okay. This time with more feeling. Being outside offered a lot more opportunities for Jordan to turn the tables.

She didn't believe for one second that Uncle Tony was going to let any of them out of this. He kept the others alive to make Jordan cooperate, but Jordan played along.

I'd rather die than let anything bad happen to others on my account. I want to be able to live with myself when all this is over. If I live that is.

The procession marched outside, and the wind slapped Jordan in the face. She thought she'd seen the worst Idaho had to offer, but Idaho surprised her once again. The wind thrashed in the air throwing leaves into the air like a petulant child. The others had to brace themselves against the force of the elements.

There was no sign of Derek. 

It's like even the air knows that tonight is going to be an eventful night.

They crammed themselves into the car once more, but this time the wind slammed the door shut on the fingers of the red head. He shook his hands out and buried them in his coat. He looked at the occupants in the car to see if anyone noticed, and Jordan hid her smile.

The drive to the drive-in was too short. Jordan looked out the window and saw waves of dirt and gravel swirl around the drive-in like a natural barrier against their approach. Tony made Ulrich get out and remove the chain to block random cars from entering. The wall of dust swallowed the man, and he returned with cuts and bruises marring his arms.

Tony whistled, "This place really is a hellhole isn't it?" 

Ulrich grunted.

As the SUV lurched into motion, Jordan tried to piece a plan together. It involved being a sacrificial distraction while Christopher and Diana escaped into the night.

Sure, there's a few flaws in the plan, but it's the best I've got. I wonder if dying hurts if they do it fast enough?

The car pulled to a stop next to the building where a lifetime ago, Derek and Jordan had found that fedora. She remembered the layout of the structure, and maybe she could scoot Christopher and Diana out of the hole in the wall during Jordan's diversion.

The group stepped out of the vehicle, but Jordan grabbed Diana's hand and pulled her out Christopher's side of the car. She planned to hold her friend's hands until the thugs separated them. It was probably the last time she would get to spend with any of them. She wished that Derek would've got to see her now. He would be so proud that she was finally a hero, even if it was only for a moment.

Jordan saw a massive yellow blur fly over her head. A horrible screeching sound split the night as she heard metal collide with metal. Jordan turned her head to see her neighbor's yellow Geo perfectly T-bone the side of Tony's SUV. The black car's two sides had bent at a ninety degree angle from the point of impact.

"FlyBoy to the rescue!" Jordan heard a delighted yell shout from somewhere in the maelstrom of the dirt.

The wind gave Derek's gave a powerful quality like he was one with the elements. Tony's entourage pulled out their guns. Jordan suspected firepower was how they dealt with every threat.

At that moment, Derek swooped out of the chaos and knocked the gun from the muscled thug's hands and into the maelstrom, before disappearing once more.

Jordan needed to act fast. She shouted for Christopher to grab Diana and go. The words penetrated his fugue state and he sprang into motion. With Derek in the air and the others gone, Jordan would be able to use The Surge. If she could shunt it into her feet, it would be fine. She still didn't have full control, but she had to try.

Derek didn't realize how serious the threat was. He thought this was his first opportunity to be one of the good guys in his comic books. It didn't register that he and Jordan's lives were on the line. Special abilities didn't make them bulletproof.

I think.

The Surge responded to Jordan's call with an eagerness like it had been waiting for Jordan's command. It was almost as if the force was just as outraged at the man that had pretended to be family.

The familiar purple glow crackled in Jordan's feet. Jordan remembered learning about the fourth state of matter in science class. Plasma. They used it in neon lights, and that's what her feet reminded of her in that moment.

Jordan took a step forward and found herself face to groin with the redhead. She used the momentum from The Surge to punch him in said groin. He doubled over in pain. Jordan took that opportunity to take the gun from his hand, and sprint back into the dust. She threw the firearm as far as she could manage.

We don't need anymore guns in the mix.

Jordan turned on her heels to launch another strike, but something gave her pause. She didn't hear anything other than the howling of the wind. Of Tony and Ulrich, there was no sign. Derek touched to the ground next to Jordan. He was holding the gun he'd taken from the muscled thug.

"Did you see me throw that car?!"

Jordan hugged her friend tight, his hair smelled like cigarette smoke, she'd never noticed that before.

"I told you to leave! They could've killed you!" Jordan replied.

"But we got 'em!" Derek said, fist pumping his hand in the air.

"Not quite," Jordan said, motioning to red head that was picking himself up off the ground, "And there were three others."

Tony, Ulrich and the muscled guy had all disappeared into the storm, but Jordan had a feeling she knew where they had went.

"We'll catch those ones too. No one can outrun us, and then the cops will come and take them away!"

"Derek, don't you understand? They have guns. We're not bulletproof, if we make one wrong move, superpowers won't matter with these guys. We'll die just like anyone else if we get hit."

"Then let's not get hit," he said, "Now let's go get 'em."

He scratched his head for a moment and gave Jordan an Aww Shucks grin, "Do you know which way they went?"

"I think they're in that building. Tony is trying to take away our advantage, but that's okay. We can just leave now and call for help. Our work here is done."

"But what about that little girl they were holding hostage?"

"I told them to run away. She should be long gone by now."

"I don't think so, the guy with the tattoos was holding a gun to a little girl's head. Who's them? The only other person I saw was that little girl?"

Did Christopher really leave Diana behind? Or is he waiting out there biding his time to help us? It doesn't matter now. He's gone, and Diana is in trouble because of him.

"There is no them anymore, but the little girl is Diana Kinghorn."

"Mr. Kinghorn's daughter?" Derek asked.

Jordan nodded, "She's in this mess because of me, and I'm not leaving until she's safe and sound."

I can't add anyone else to the list of people that are gone because of me: Dad, Mom, Albert, Tracey, Mr. and Mrs. Kinghorn, and Jessica. Diana is not going to be one of them.

Jordan motioned for Derek to give her the gun.

The boy looked between Jordan and the guy struggling to get back to his feet. His eyes were wide, but he slowly relinquished the gun. Derek turned his head as if to shield himself from what he thought Jordan had to do next. The gunshot never came.

Jordan held the barrel of the gun in her hands with the stock pointed towards the thug. She whipped the gun forward, so hard she thought she would leave a dent. Jordan didn't hear so much as feel the sickening thud of the stock fracturing bits of skull like an eggshell.

As the redhead fell to the ground, Jordan handed the gun back to Derek. He looked at the gun like it was going to jump up and bite him

"We can't have him sneaking up behind us, or we're dead."

Derek whistled, the sound quivered on his lips, like what Jordan had just done made him a little a nervous.

He needs to be a little nervous. This is life and death.

"Okay Captain! What's the plan? Do you want me to throw another car at them?"

"Not this time, the risk of hurting Diana is too great. I need you to be a distraction. Can you loop back around to the other side of the building and start firing this gun into the air on my signal?"

"Sure thing!" He said starting to run away, but he turned his head a few seconds later, "Wait, what's the signal?"

"I'll just shout 'Now!'" Jordan shrugged.

"Deal!" Derek replied, before losing himself in the dust. 

I really hope I get to see him again.

Jordan approached the door in slow, methodical strides. She tried to take deep breaths to calm her nerves, but her attempts only caused her to inhale large quantities of dirt. Something about the absurdity of the situation made her laugh, it wasn't particularly funny in a HA HA sort of way, but she imagined watching herself walk into a saloon and challenging Tony to a showdown and couldn't help but laugh hysterically. Jordan was still laughing when she entered the building.

The room was about how she remembered it. No one had bothered to clean up the trash or clothes strewn about the room, but now a thick layer of dirt and grime covered everything. Ulrich and Muscles stood in front of a counter that Tony and Diana now cowered behind. Tony's gun was held to Diana's temple, and fresh tears tracked down the girl's dirt smeared face.

"Hey Squirt, fancy seeing you here," Tony said with a smile, his voice cheery and upbeat, "I say you've got about sixty seconds to show me where the money is before I paint the wall with this girl's brains, and no more funny stuff. I'm not in the funny stuff kind of mood. I'm sure you understand."

"Okay okay, the money is in the freezer," Jordan said. She remembered noticing a walk-in freezer the last time she and Derek were there, if she could get at least one of the thugs to go check it out, it would be a perfect time for Derek's distraction.

Leaping over the counter was something she didn't know if she could do with The Surge, but at this point it was the only option left to her.

It's too late to think about that now.

"Now!" Jordan shouted.

A disjointed series of gunshots rang through the night, and Jordan called The Surge. The particles didn't respond as fast they usually did, but Jordan was still able to move fast enough that she was at the counter before Tony had time to blink. However, as Jordan vaulted the counter, Tony swung his pistol from Diana's head to the middle of Jordan's forehead.

"Game over," he said with a smirk.

The same smirk he wore when he talked about killing her father.