Valeria wasn't sure how much time passed by - maybe a minute, maybe a year – before her mind returned from the void. She saw an assortment of intertwined memories, and it became difficult to separate past, present, and future. The first memory to manifest was one from her childhood.

Her father was outside their small villa in El Salvador, looking up at the night sky. He pointed at the moon while holding her with his free arm, tracing stars across the night sky. "Mira, Valeria, los planetos estan fuera esta noche magnifico." Look, Valeria, the planets are visible on this beautiful night. "Luna, Jupiter, Saturno, y Venus."

Her five year old self turned toward her father with a toothy grin. "Venus comienza con una V. Como mi nombre." Venus begins with a V, like my name.

Her father nudged her cheek with his nose. "Si, lleva el nombre de la diosa del amor." That's right, it's named after the goddess of love.

Her younger self laughed. "Diosa del amor, es tonto." Goddess of love? That's dumb.

Her father shook his head. "Nunca subestimes el poder del amor." Never underestimate the power of love. He tickled her, and as she giggled, he added, "Siempre te amo." I will always love you.

Valeria wished she could stay there with her father, but the memory changed and he reappeared on the ground, motionless. She tried to shake him awake, but he wouldn't move. Her eyes moistened with tears as the memory flashed forward again.

She was a teenager on the streets, starving and barely making it day by day. She was neglected, abandoned, and riddled with despair. There were so many times when Valeria felt like giving up, but she always heard her parent's voices in the back of her mind. When she ended up at the girl's detention center in Camden, New Jersey for the first time at age thirteen, she would lie awake in bed and look for Venus in the night sky. She ventured in and out of this detention center over the years, finding herself trapped there for non-violent offenses.

The memory shifted to one of her earlier visits. Valeria slouched back in her chair, surrounded by a circle of other delinquent girls attending a group therapy session. This was her first time attending therapy at age fourteen; she didn't know anyone around her as she rarely made an effort to socialize anymore.

"Valeria," the therapist said, "I asked you a question. Can you give us an answer?"

Staring at the floor, she offered her response. "No one cares about me. Okay? No one is waiting for me on the outside."

The therapist coughed. "That's not true. You've just been hurt and have shut yourself off from the world. But just when you think love is gone, it will find its way back to you."

"You sound like my dad," she said, rolling her eyes. "He always used to say never underestimate the power of love. But I'm an adult now, and I know love is a myth like Santa Claus. You're wasting your time, lady."

The therapist coughed, adjusted her glasses, and leaned forward. This time around, she seemed... familiar.

"You are not an adult," the therapist said, her tone authoritative. "You are just a girl. You will find people to care about soon enough. In fact, I'll bet people will compete with each other for the chance to adopt you. I know I would."

Valeria looked up and studied the woman's smooth dark complexion. While she didn't recognize this woman back then, she couldn't mistake her face now.

Jada?!

Was this her imagination, or was she really there two years ago? She didn't get a chance to process this as her memory fast-forwarded again. Now she sat across from Frank at the diner after they left the detention center. Jada must have sent him there!

Her anger grew as the memory flashed ahead to the accommodation ceremony. Frank had announced his desire to welcome her into their home. Jada had slapped him across the face as she screamed, "you signed us up without consulting me? Make your case to me, the girl, and everyone here. Why should she stay with us?"

Valeria watched the memory with a newfound realization; Jada knew they would be competing for her adoption two years ago. Her angry performance was just a lie. Her head throbbed as time caught up to recent events. She was in the Midas Vault with Erin when Jada revealed herself behind one of the columns.

Jada must have known she would lead Erin there. All the movies about thieves seducing and manipulating righteous characters suddenly made sense. She wanted Valeria to grow close to Erin. She gave Valeria all the clues she needed to enter the vault. But there was one question she couldn't understand.

Why?

Valeria covered her head with her hands as the weight of these revelations bore down on her soul. She felt angry, hurt, and most of all - betrayed. She trusted Jada to serve as her mentor, guardian, and replacement mother figure. Instead, Jada had deceived her, lied, and almost gotten Valeria and her friends killed. The pain of all these memories amplified exponentially like a television turned up to full volume.

She covered her ears and screamed for the noise to stop. She felt trapped within her anger and despair - until a familiar voice cut through the darkness.

"It's always all about you, isn't it?"

It felt like a switch had turned off; everything became silent and still. When Valeria opened her eyes and studied her surroundings, she felt a combination of nostalgia and fear.

She lay on her cot within the girl's detention center. The same disgusting asbestos covered ceiling was above, unchanged over the past two years. The bookshelf with her collection of worn paperback novels was there too.

"It was all a dream?" Valeria asked with surprise and remorse. While the sting of Jada's betrayal was fresh in her mind, the idea that she wasn't real - that maybe none of it was real - was far worse.

"Without Jada and me," the familiar voice said, it's soft and firm voice echoing around the small room, "this would still be your home."

"Who are you?" Valeria asked, sitting upright in her cot and looking around the room with a frown. "What do you want?"

Laughter.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" the voice asked.

Sighing, she said, "I'm nothing but a useless pawn." The thought enraged her, and she stood and shook her fist at the ceiling. "That's all I am to you! To everyone!"

More laughter. "If you say so. But then again..."

Valeria almost fell backward as the setting transformed, different memories materializing all around her.

Laughing with her nerdy friends as they played D&D.

Sai trying to kiss her at the bowling alley.

Holding Erin's hand as they traveled into the Midas Vault

Hugging Frank back at their house.

Looking over at the Statue of Liberty with Jada.

That particular memory slowed down, and Valeria remembered the words Jada uttered to her that day. "That's what I see in her, and what I see in you."

"Then why did you lie to me?!" Valeria screamed, but she knew her attempt was in vain. She didn't expect the memory of Jada to respond - but was completely shocked when she did.

"Maybe I didn't want to lie to you," Jada said. "Maybe I had a reason. Did you ever stop to wonder what I was going through?"

Valeria couldn't think of a sarcastic retort for this one. Now, more than ever, she wanted to know why Jada would orchestrate such an elaborate ruse. "What were you dealing with?"

Jada didn't reply, and the memory faded to a void filled with a soft white light. Warmth enveloped her as the voice spoke again.

"Maybe you should ask her when you wake up. You two are more similar than you realize, but you have so much more potential."

"I will ask her," Valeria replied cautiously, "If you tell me who you are."

"The Shadow remains nameless, and so shall I. Continue to put your compassion before your ego, Valeria Torres, and we'll be destined to meet again. "

She wanted to ask a series of follow up questions, but never got the chance as everything faded to black once again.

#

Unlike her previous period of unconsciousness, this one didn't last long. Her head throbbed and she wheezed every time she breathed, but she was alive. Unfamiliar voices were speaking nearby and she slowly opened her eyes.

They were in the backroom of the Midas Vault, the collapsed stone altar in front of them. Erin lay unconscious to her right, their hands clasped together. Near the rubble, Dontrell, Jada, and Mrs. Tyrell huddled next to a group of men and women dressed like paramedics. They were all busy securing Mr. Tyrell to a stretcher.

"He's lost a lot of blood, but he's stable for now," a male paramedic said.

"Is he going to make it?" Jada asked, her voice quivering as she placed an arm around Mrs. Tyrell.

"I don't know," Mrs. Tyrell whimpered, leaning against Jada for support. "That monster's weapon blocks any healing, so he'll need surgery. You're sure we can't remove it?"

"We left the weapon in," one of the paramedics said, "it punctured his lung. Taking it out could make him bleed out or go into shock. Let's move!"

The three paramedics lifted the stretcher and allowed its wheels to hit the floor. They started to wheel him away, but Mrs. Tyrell ordered them to stop.

"I can't leave him!"

"You can't leave Erin either," Jada added, trying to console her. "They should both be up soon, right?" she asked, looking their way.

"Yes, Sovereign," a paramedic replied. "I checked them. They're unconscious, but alive. We'll come back for them after we evacuate Mr. Tyrell."

Valeria tried to announce she was awake, but her throat was raw and an inaudible murmur escaped her lips. Her limbs were weak, and she was still unable to move. She would have complained more about her current state, but her eyes settled on Mr. Tyrell, his body strapped to a stretcher. She felt an overwhelming sense of survivor's guilt. They all could have ended up on stretchers today. The three paramedics struggled to move the stretcher until Dontrell grabbed a hold and helped them.

"I already lowered the bridge," he said, nodding at his sister. "I'll help them carry him through the maze. It's the least I can do."

"Can I really trust him with you?" Mrs. Tyrell asked, her voice uneven.

Dontrell shook his head. "As much as I'd love to put Lawrence out of his misery, I won't. Luckily for you, my sister saved my life as kids, and I always promised to pay her back. She cashed in her chips today, so no, I won't kill either of you this time. But don't count on it if we ever meet again." He nodded again, breathing heavily as he helped the paramedics carry the stretcher across the bridge.

"Keep me updated on his condition," Jada called after him. She turned to Mrs. Tyrell and said, "So, Elmyra, do you have an answer? My faction will search the rubble, but do you think that monster is gone?"

"It's possible our protégé killed him. She is the Chosen Savior."

"Can you talk to your faction?" Jada asked, massaging her temples. "Can you make sure all of this wasn't in vain?"

"I can try, but it won't be easy."

"Anything worth having shouldn't come easy," Jada snapped. "There's too much at stake. If that monster got away, it'll be up to us to stop it. All of us." Her voice shifted to a somber tone as she continued with, "We - no - I have sacrificed too much to let this all be for nothing!"

"Don't talk to me about sacrifice," Mrs. Tyrell said, her lips forming a thin line. "You have no idea -"

"Enough!" Jada exclaimed. "The children are waking up."

Erin stirred next to Valeria. Groaning, her hazel eyes opened and focused on her own. "Are we dead?" she whispered.

"No. You saved us."

Erin shook her head. "Are you sure? It was all a blur," she said, her eyes widening, "but I could have sworn I saw –"

"Erin!" Mrs. Tyrell cried, dropping down beside her. "Are you hurt? Is there anything I can –"

"I'm fine Mom," Erin said, sitting up with her mother's support.

Valeria sat up and noticed Jada studying her. As their eyes met, her mind drifted back to the odd dream she endured while unconscious. Feelings of anger and betrayal crept up the back of her throat, but she swallowed them back down. Forcing a smile, she asked, "aren't you going to help me up?"

"Don't count on it, girl," Jada quipped. "Pick yourself up."

Valeria stood and waited next to Jada as Erin and Mrs. Tyrell approached them.

"Very well, Peaches," Mrs. Tyrell said, her arm around Erin's shoulder. "Is it safe to assume you will let us leave your Headquarters as easily as we entered?"

"Of course, ET," Jada said, her tone light. "Is it safe to assume you will keep your word and work with us to stop this new threat? Maybe even get your faction to work with us on other important matters?"

Mrs. Tyrell started to choke up. "I will promise to do what I can. It may not matter if Lawrence doesn't..."

"He will pull through, Elmyra. He has to," Jada said, her voice softer than usual. "Let's get out of here." She led the way out of the Midas Vault, with Mrs. Tyrell, Erin, and Valeria following behind.

No one said a word as they marched, the silence interrupted with intermittent sobs from Mrs. Tyrell. The atmosphere reminded Valeria of a funeral procession. Mrs. Tyrell was a wreck, Erin wasn't much better. Her shoulders slouched forward and she crossed her arms against her chest. She looked as pale as a ghost, and her eyes focused on her feet as she walked.

Valeria wanted to say something. She wanted to offer comfort, but no words came to mind. By the time they reached the exit of the Midas Vault, it was too late.

"Erin, say goodbye to your friend." Mrs. Tyrell said.

Erin turned toward her and avoided eye contact. "Goodbye, Valeria. I guess I'll see you in school on Monday."

"Umm," Valeria said, the notion of returning to school implausible after what just transpired. "See you Monday, I guess."

"This is Hami," Jada said, introducing the Bounty Hunter Master. "He will escort you and Erin out." She turned toward Mrs. Tyrell and her voice cracked. "Please keep me updated on his condition, Elmyra. If he takes a turn for the worse..."

"I will let you know," Mrs. Tyrell interrupted. "I know how important your negotiations were. I want peace as much as he does –"

"It's not just about that!" Jada snapped. "He's my friend, Elmyra. I've known him longer than you, and he means more to me than you'll ever know. So, if it looks like he won't make it, please give me the chance to say goodbye. Is that too much to ask?"

Mrs. Tyrell studied her for a moment. "No, it's not. Goodbye, Jada."

"Goodbye," Jada said, her tone emotional. After Hami led them away, she wiped tears from her eyes, exhaled, and muttered something under her breath.

To Valeria, it sounded like she was scolding herself. She had never seen Jada in such a raw and emotional state like this before. She had always been emotionless and invulnerable, but something had changed.

Jada turned and took a step toward her - but Valeria instinctively took a step back. They stared at each other without saying a word for a long uncomfortable moment. The sting of betrayal still lingered, and Valeria was tempted to scream at her, but didn't. Continue to put your compassion above your ego, the voice had said. Exhaling, she locked eyes with her and said, "I'm assuming you want to talk."

"Yes, I do," she said with clenched fists. "But let's take care of your friends first. Then we'll talk in my chambers."

"Umm, okay." This wasn't new. Jada always delivered ultimatums. She was tempted to refuse and ask for an explanation here and now. But she was distracted as they heard voices from the Training Hall nearby.

"I know you guys all have a bunch of questions," Frank said, his voice carrying through the air. "I will try to answer what I can –"

"If you guys are real," James cut in excitedly, "Are dragons real too? Have you ever fought one?!"

"Uhh," Frank muttered, "That's gonna be a no. I'm pretty sure if there were giant fire breathing reptiles flying around, people would know about it."

"Aww come on man! What about Werewolves or Vampires..."

Valeria chuckled, her anger dissipating for a brief moment. She needed some time with her friends. She needed to spend time with people who made her feel good, and right now, Jada wasn't one of them.

"Come on, girl," she whispered, pointing at the training hall. "Stay silent and follow me."

Valeria followed her toward the training hall's entrance. They moved through the shadows without making a sound, trying to avoid the commotion as Rogues dressed in Aegis and civilian attire bustled about. Her anger was still roiling, but that would have to wait. For now, she needed to follow Jada and make sure she didn't murder her friends.