The next day went by painfully slow. Jada Pipino had sent spies to sweep and monitor the house, but they had nothing to report so far. She wasn't too surprised; she knew Lawrence Tyrell well. While Frank and the other guild leaders were skeptical, she wasn't. She could spot one of his lies a mile away.

While they waited patiently at Coterel over the weekend, Jada decided it was time to address some practical matters surrounding her new protégé. She had planned on outfitting Valeria with gear later on in her training. But when life throws you a curve-ball, you just have to adjust your swing.

Jada knew her protégé had a difficult task ahead. She had enrolled Valeria in school to force her to interact and blend in with ordinary teenagers. Celestials sent most of their protégés to private schools, and Jada doubted Valeria would meet or befriend one in a public school.

But Lawrence's decision to enroll their adopted daughter in public school was not completely shocking to Jada; he had picked one of the best in the city. While Elmyra Tyrell came from a wealthy family, Lawrence did not. Jada assumed that sending their protégé to public school was a compromise. Elmyra wanted the best education, but Lawrence wanted a public school to toughen Erin up and keep her somewhat modest.

Jada was used to playing moves and countermoves against her old friend and their rival faction, but the recent course of events was unprecedented. She knew most relationships between Rogues and Celestials ended with disaster, and recent events had the two factions edging toward war. And yet, here Jada was, encouraging her new protégé to befriend a protégé from a rival faction, hoping to keep their house and current alter-egos.

It's about more than that.

Jada knew Valeria was special, and she wondered if the young Celestial had sensed it. If so, she hoped Lawrence's daughter realized just how important Valeria is. If not, that part of the plan was completely out of Jada's hands. All she could do was focus on the here and now.

After spending the first night at a two bedroom in Coterel, they took Valeria to the market. They started at Legendary Leatherworks, where Valeria received her first Aegis. It had taken them a while, but the girl eventually found one she liked.

The one I knew she'd like.

An Aegis was a set of leather armor that offered its wearer numerous protective effects. There were many styles, and while Jada had suggested a more modest look with plain black colors, her protégé had opted for a more colorful one. The body-fitting black leather jacket and pants reflected a more punk rock look, with hints of green accents trimmed in various locations.

As she dressed, Jada looked over to the tailor and whispered, "Same Aether concentration? Even with the modifications?"

The tailor winked as he leaned close. "I barely made any modifications," he whispered.

Nodding, Jada inspected her leather clad protege as she stood in front of a set of mirrors. So far, everything was going according to plan. Valeria had picked the most powerful Aegis their faction could offer. Jada would know - it used to be hers.

"Okay," Valeria said, studying herself in the mirror, "This is pretty cool. Umm...wait a minute." She stumbled and dropped to her knees. Her eyelids flickered and it looked like she was having a seizure as her body trembled.

Jada winced as the scene unfolded. She wanted to offer aid, she wanted to stop what was happening, what would happen. But she knew better than that. Valeria wasn't just special - she was strong. Stronger than she anticipated. She hadn't been so sure at first, but Valeria had proven herself day after day. When her eyes opened, Jada crouched beside her. "Are you okay?"

Valeria shuddered, trying to regain control of her body. "Yeah. I just felt really weird for a second there. Is that normal?"

For that suit...yes. Jada hated lying to Valeria, but she refused to let her emotions get in the way. The only thing that mattered was the plan, and so far it was being executed perfectly. "Maybe you picked one that's too tight," she lied. "You also don't drink enough water."

Groaning, Valeria stood and regained her balance. "Yeah yeah, whatever." She walked up to the mirror and started flexing and posing in front of the mirrors.

Jada sighed as the girl danced around in her new black leather armor. "Make sure the hood and face-guard are comfortable too." When it was clear Valeria didn't understand, Jada grabbed her hood and flipped it over her head. She reached for a tab on the front end of the jacket, pulled the panel up and let go. The elastic leather material conformed to the bottom half of her face.

"Whoa," Valeria said, examining her mostly concealed face in the mirror. "This makes me look like a ninja."

"Your headgear serves two purposes," Jada said. "It makes you harder to identify, but also offers reasonable amounts of protection. The leather is enchanted and fortified, which means it offers magical and real world protection."

"I'm sorry," she asked, eyes narrowing, "that means what?"

"It means it's resistant to some spells, heat, cold, acid, chemicals, blunt and piercing weapons. Your face shield also serves as a purifier, and will allow you to breathe in toxic environments for a while."

Valeria inspected her arms with newfound admiration. "Wow. What else can I do with this superhero suit?"

Jada crossed her arms against her chest. Superheroes. The term irked her; most of today's comic book 'heroes' weren't worthy of such a title. Putting on a suit and becoming invulnerable didn't make a person heroic. Real heroes were relatable, vulnerable, and willing to make sacrifices. "It's called an Aegis. It should feel snug, but not so tight that you can't breathe."

Jada watched her protégé test out the new gear with jogging, crouching, and crawling. "How's it feel?"

Valeria jumped to attention and removed her face shield. "Good. Ya know, it's hard to believe a kid like me can wear this. I feel like a superhero in this thing."

Jada sighed, and said, "You will wear this Aegis for survival only. It's not some toy for you to play with."

"Speaking of toys," she said with a mischievous grin, "Can we go look at knives?"

Jada noticed the eagerness in her eyes and felt a pang of unease. Despite the perfect nature of the plan, there were still areas of uncertainty. Should she let Valeria have a knife in case she needs to defend herself? What if she decided to use it for the wrong reasons? Exhaling, Jada said, "you're not ready for one yet."

"Don't worry, kiddo," Frank added, "we've got other cool things for you to play with. Follow me."

Jada sighed as they ran off. She offered a thumbs up to the merchant and he repeated the gesture. She had already paid last week and no further payment was needed today. The rest of the suits were a diversion; Jada knew which one Valeria would pick.

As she left the store and entered the marketplace, Jada could see the two of them laughing up ahead. Seeing Frank like that made her pause; she hadn't seen him this happy in a long time. When their daughter died last year, it felt like she had lost him too. The part that mattered at least. But the girl had brought him back to life.

She caught up with them as they approached the next shop with its colorful sign shaped like a bomb clearly displayed overhead.

Snaps, Claps, and Traps.

Once inside, Jada introduced Valeria to different tools. She started with bolas - ropes with a weight on each end. Next were smoke caltrops - small traps that released teargas after five seconds.

As Jada finished her explanation, she noticed Valeria staring at a gray cylinder on a nearby shelf. The girl reached for it and started toying with it in her hands.

"What about this one -"

"Don't play with that!" Jada snapped, snatching the cylinder away. "Are you crazy?"

"Why? I thought it was a spray can -"

"This is a flashbang," Jada interrupted. "This thing is like a mini-bomb. At close range - it could blow your hand off!"

"Whoa," Valeria said with sudden interest. "Now you've got my attention."

"It's not really a bomb," Frank added. "It releases a small explosion followed by a flash and shockwave. It's supposed to blind anyone who looks at it and disorient anyone caught in the aftershock."

Grinning, Valeria asked, "can I buy one?"

"Hell no," Jada said, snatching the flashbang from her and returning it to the shelf. "But don't worry, you can have some of these." She walked over to another shelf with small black orbs on its surface, grabbed one, and turned to Valeria. "This is a smoke bomb. They're like flashbangs, but smaller. They create smoke and noise for distraction, and are one of the primary tools used by all Rogues."

"How do you use it?"

Jada winked. "We'll show you later. Now come on, let's finish up here." She allowed her to purchase a few devices, but when Valeria inquired about some of the more dangerous traps near the back of the store, Jada had forbade it. "You are getting tools for escape and survival today. I would have waited until next year to do this, but with the Celestials on to you - I want to make sure you're prepared to escape any situation."

When they finished at the trap store, Jada announced she needed to leave. She had Sovereign matters to attend to, and Frank agreed to teach Valeria some more stealth techniques at the training hall. Leaning close to him, she whispered, "teach her Vanish, Wall Climbing, and Safety Rolls."

"Three new skills in one day?" Frank asked with disbelief. "You think she can handle all that?"

"She can and she will. The bigger question – can you?"

Frank chuckled under his breath. "I'll try. What's your plan?"

Jada bit her lip, knowing that Frank didn't know all the details of the plan. She couldn't tell him everything, and settled for what he needed to know. "I'll tell the guild representatives we're hiding here as a safety precaution."

Frank shrugged his shoulders. "If by some miracle everything checks out, you really think we can just go home, and everything will go back to normal?"

"Hopefully," Jada said, trying to sound as sincere as possible. But she knew this was a lie. Nothing would ever be the same; dominoes had started falling and a flow of events had been set in motion. She leaned close for a quick kiss and whispered, "Good luck controlling the kid."

"Good luck controlling your brother. See you later this evening."

                                                        #

Jada stopped to catch her breath as she approached the Sovereign's chambers. While she was in remarkably good shape for her age, the pit stop along the way had drained her more than usual. While other guild leaders had advised her over the years, there was one adviser Jada trusted most - and she had decided to visit it.

Entering the Sovereign Quarters, Jada found her brother, Xun, Hami, and Penny standing in a circle, talking in hushed tones. They bowed their heads as she approached. "Any updates?"

"No, Sovereign," Xun said. "Our scouts have been watching your house. I broke in last night and didn't find any bugs or secret cameras."

"So are you going to tell us what happened now or what?" Dontrell asked.

"I will," Jada said, choosing her words carefully. "Valeria brought some of her school friends to our house yesterday."

"So?" he asked, his tone impatient.

"So," Jada continued, "One of her new friends is Lawrence Tyrell's protégé. He personally escorted her to our house." Silence. Even Dontrell didn't have a pithy comeback for this one. "Luckily," Jada continued, "I wasn't the one who answered the door. It looks like Frank was able to keep calm and maintain his alter-ego."

"Well well, looks like your husband came through in the clutch," Dontrell said with a smirk. "He always was a smooth talker."

Xun frowned at him. "The Sovereign isn't taking any chances, and I mostly agree. If it were me, I'd drop everything and relocate."

"I've thought about it Xun," Jada said, massaging her chin. "While it's tempting to play it safe and run, we have an extraordinary opportunity here."

Dontrell nodded, his lips pulling back into a smirk. "I like your thinking, Sis. You want Valeria to lure Lawrence or his protege to us."

Jada shrugged. "That's more of a last resort. If anything, I was thinking Valeria can observe and report for now. Lawrence may have chosen his protégé for a reason."

"One could say you and Frank did the same by having Valeria stay with you," Hami countered.

Frowning, Jada pointed a finger at him. "I had nothing to do with it. That was all my husband's doing."

"If you say so," Hami said, his sarcasm laid thick.

"Listen to me," Jada said, eyeing them one by one. "I know Lawrence Tyrell, and I know he never wanted children. Up until now, I figured he'd never adopt a child or a protégé. This protégé of his must be special, and we need to figure out why."

Penny looked over at her curiously. "What about finding answers another way? We could always use...you know -"

"Absolutely not!" Jada roared. "You shouldn't even mention that!"

"The woman has a point," Dontrell said. "That thing is supposed to give answers...right? Why do we keep it so heavily protected when we never use it?"

"You know the rules," Jada said, eyes narrowing. "The artifact has been kept under lock and key since the Rogue Faction moved its headquarters from Europe centuries ago. It's not meant to be used...ever."

Turning away from them, Jada bit her lip. She had lied to Frank, Valeria, and her advisors today. It was exhausting - but a necessary part of the plan. While they had no idea what the artifact was - she did. She understood its power, and knew what could happen if it ended up in the wrong hands.

"That's it for today," Jada commanded, refusing to turn around. "Xun, keep me updated on my residence. I do not want to be disturbed for the rest of the day, unless it's an emergency. Understood?"

Everyone acknowledged and left the Sovereign Quarters. Jada looked around the room that belonged to her and a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She had befriended the previous Sovereign before assuming command herself. This man had taught her everything, and he had rescued her and Dontrell from poverty as children. While everyone in the faction assumed she stole Carwennan to become the leader, she knew this wasn't entirely true.

He told me I would become Sovereign the first day we met. He said I was destined to lead this Faction.

Despite the fact it was supposed to be a secret, Jada knew rumors about the artifact and its power permeated the entire faction. The rumors varied; some whispered about a crystal ball, others imagined a magical flame, and some would boast about seeing tarot cards or other nonsense. While myths about the artifact spread over the years, one of its powers had always remained the same: the power to predict the future.

Jada felt a lump in the back of her throat, and closed her eyes for a moment. She was eleven years old again, sitting on the marble steps outside her mother's row-house back in West Baltimore. Dontrell was six years old, playing with a worn down soccer ball on the other side of the road. Her stomach growled, but Jada knew going inside their house was futile; their mother hadn't bought groceries in days. The summer sun beat down relentlessly overhead, but Jada felt cooler out here, with the building's shadow offering some shade. She wiped the sweat from her face with her palms and exhaled.

They turned off the electricity again, so it's a furnace inside anyway.

"Hello, Jada Jackson."

Jada looked up at the figure looking down at her with surprise. The man was tall, pale, and dressed in a casual suit and tie. He brushed away a strand of his wavy brown hair as he took a seat on the marble steps next to her. "How do you know my name?"

"I know more about you then I should. I know you're meant to accomplish great things."

"You've got the wrong girl, mister. In fact, you've got the wrong city."

The man laughed. "Believe it or not, we're not so different. Long ago, I sat in the same spot, except it wasn't here in Baltimore – further north in Queens, New York."

"Yeah...right," Jada groaned. "You and I couldn't possibly be more different. So tell me, what's your story?"

"My story isn't important," he said, pointing at her. "Your story, however, is important. I know you haven't had an easy life. But I'm here to tell you - the past does not always dictate the future. You can not change your past, but if you join me, you can change your future. I lead a special group of people, and someday, you will take my place. When that happens, you will have a chance to change our world."

Jada had simply stared at the man dumbstruck as he offered his hand. Of course she had shaken his hand that day, and her life changed forever. The Sovereign arranged for her and Dontrell to live with their grandmother in New York.

Before they left, Jada considered asking their mother to come, but knew any attempts were futile. Their mother had been so consumed with grief after their father's murder and had fallen prey to vices that so many in the city were victim to. She had kissed her mother's pale damp forehead, and the woman barely noticed she was there.

"I've got to go momma," she whispered.

The frail white woman looked up at her in a daze. "Okay, don't stay out too late. Make sure you tell your father, and take your brother with you."

Wincing, Jada whispered, "I will." She kissed her forehead one more time before turning and leaving. As she walked out of their home for the last time at eleven years old, she couldn't help but repeat the Sovereign's words in her mind.

Someday, you will take my place. You will have a chance to change our world.

Jada opened her eyes and returned to the present. The man who had served as her mentor, replacement father figure, and friend had been right all along. She was in his position, and it was finally time to change the world.