Juniper and her brother stood above the rooftop of the apartments. The city gleamed under the waning moon, there was a faint and distinct, ambient noise, that originated from the inner-city traffic, and the occasional barking dog added a contrast to the peaceful ambience.
“So.” Juniper patted behind her shoulder's, gesturing for him to climb on. “Hold on tight to my back. And whatever you do–do not let go.”
Remy hesitated. His frail fingers brushed against her back before he could properly latch to her. Remy clung to her shirt, He felt shaky at his best–he was severely underweight for someone his age.
“Maybe we shouldn’t do this?” Remy said, voice full of doubt.
“You were the one who asked for this,” she complained, giving him an annoyed stare. “Don't chicken out now!”
“Yeah, but….” he swallowed, then glanced at the three-story drop below them. “ It just seems unsafe.”
“Remy.” she holds his weak arms. “Just stay calm. Quiet. Rational. OK”
"Okay." He nodded, but his legs were jittery and antsy.
She activated [Solar powered Sentinel], her body flickering slightly with light glowing golden.
“Wait,” he whispered. Arms around her neck. “Won’t a drone spot you or something.”
“They rarely patrol around here, most of our neighbors are asleep. It will be fine, mostly…”
She lifts him slowly in the air, about a meter above landing distance. He tensed up, arms tightening, she felt his fingers claw at her shirt. His legs start flailing.
“Don’t freak out dude.”
“I’m not–ah!”
His hands crawl and claw into her body, poking her and making her lose balance mid-air.
“Shhh!” she hissed. “Don’t scream or we will outed!”
He bit his lip, the panic on his face however didn’t leave. She studied herself, adjusting her body to move a few inches higher. A chilly breeze swept past, raising cold Goosebumps on her exposed skin.
“Okay–okay enough, I'm good sis. I’m good,” he said, voice wavering.
“Please put me down now.”
“See? It’s not so bad.”
She descended towards the rooftop, slow and carefully, however her legs wobbled and started flapping like a bird chick. Having extra weight on your back, while hovering was a novel experience.
It dawned on her that despite the weight pressing her, she could feel how light Remy was. She was sure he didn't weigh far more than Effy. Did he eat right, when was the last time she had made him breakfast? He fasted mornings, on most days.
Was that healthy?
As they touched the ground. Remy nearly fell over gripping her like he was falling off a bridge.
“Holy hell,” he gasped. “I thought you were gonna kill us both for a moment.”
She smirked.
“I would never let that happen,” she assured him. She sat down next to him. “You trust me, don’t you bro?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he regulated his hard breathing, staring at her with both pride and fear.
“So…you are a cape then.” she kicked her legs out. “I mean, I saw it on that internet clip, you went viral. How it is though that no one tried to dox you, most independent capes get outed in a day.”
Juniper scratched her head.
“I guess I’m not independent. Remember that lady you spoke to?”
“Yeah?”
“She’s a cape boss. She pulled a couple of strings. I’m probably going to work for the OBB.”
He had a pained expression on her face. “You wanna become a vigilante?”
“Want…no.” she stretches her arms. “But I’m afraid that path has been set for me. I owe them now in more ways than one.”
“In what way!” he frowned, staring at the ground. “Were you blackmailed?”
“No. It's not... You know I got shot right… well they patched me up. Gave me an offer on the spot when tried leaving.”
“I thought you regenerated!” he said aghast. “You mean you got seriously hurt?”
“Regeneration…” she stopped. “Mine doesn’t work fast, not yet at least.”
Remy flinched. “Not yet?”
“No.”
He tugged at the hem of his sleeve.
“And Annemarie?”
Juniper tensed. She tried to forget about the troublesome girl.
“What do you wanna know?”
He stirred where he sat, avoiding her eyes.
“She’s the cape that helped you in the bank thing.”
Figures he’d notice, Annemarie wasn’t very discreet when she followed her to her home.
“Yeah,” she admitted. “Though it’s the other way around really, and that didn’t work out.”
His sore frown deepened.
I thought she was a nice girl.”
“She’s really not,” Juniper said. “But please don't try and antagonize her. I might be forced to work with her in the near future.”
“I don’t get it,” he tapped his shoe on the ground. “So did you guys go out on that date or what happened?”
“Kind of, she’s nuts, possibly a few screws loose, real loose cannon.”
He stared at her with surprise.
“I saw the way you looked at her that morning, wink.” She nudged at him with her elbow. “You're not the innocent boy you pretend to be.”
His face darkened, he pouted.
“Uh, not like that! You know I'm not used to seeing girls that aren't well... She caught me by surprise, ok.” His scowl disappeared. “But look at you on the other hand. You were a complete shut-in not too long ago.”
“What a hit-and-run does to a Neet.”
He snorted.
“Juniper…”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ve heard horrible things about the OBB.”
She folded her arms, and sat cross-legged, staring at the night sky.
“So have I,” she said. “They're not as bad as they seem–at least on the surface..”
“But what about Paragons of Pacifica? Sovereign initiatives of capes? The American Cape Accord? What happened to wanting to be an independent hero?”
She clenched her fists. “Those aren’t options for me anymore.”
“You know you’re totally liable to sue the SCRA and the CPE for indiscriminately shooting you after rescuing a civilian.”
“I’d rather not do that. Too much trouble, I don’t want to make governmental enemies,” she said flatly.
There was a familiar, part somber yet calming quiet that followed. The kind of stillness that worked your stress away, made you sleepy but commanded her attention enough to stay awake.
“So…” He broke it. “Is that all you can do? You can glow like a Helio-girl.”
“Nope,” she grinned. “ I can hear super well, and…well.”
She sprang to her feet.
She activated [Gravity distortion], lifting her body weightless into the air, practically floating like a submerged fish. Her legs wiggled like she was under zero gravity. Giggling as she went higher.
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She then lost focus. Crashing downwards.
Her face planted into the ground, the pain landing in her abdomen.
“Ooof–!”
Remy let out an uncontrolled laugh–a real laugh– for the first time he sounded pretty healthy.
Juniper rolled over unto her back.
“Are you entertained Mr. Pinewell?”
“Yeah,” he said, mid-laugh. “Sorry though, I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Rem's body convulsed. His coughing hit like the plague–out of nowhere, deep, hacking at his body, making him seize up. She scrambled towards his side, panicking, she knelt to hold him.
“Remy—breathe. Hey—look at me.”
He did, but his face was pale, and his breath came in shallow gasps. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight.
“You’re okay,” she said. “I’ve got you.”
The coughing slowed. He leaned against her, still trembling.
“I hate this,” he muttered.
“I know.”
Neither of them moved. The city hummed around them, distant and untouchable. But for now, it didn’t matter.
“Remy, my real power, isn’t imitating others, it’s copying powers in their whole capacity, albeit from a weaker starting point.”
He grunted.
“And I’ve already decided.” she paused, her chest stiff. “What am I going to do to help you?”
“What.”
“I’ll copy a healer's cape's powers, Steal them all If I have to.”
“You can’t, It’s not like several capes haven’t tried it before.” his voice became brittle. “You know PNNS is Incurable.”
[PNNS?]
‘Psionic neural and nerve syndrome’
“Don't you remember, back when the Purple pulse thing happened? Lady Saint tried to do it She didn't get far.”
[Purple pulse? Lady Saint. I’m lost here Juniper, your subconscious hasn’t opened itself to me this much, nor do you actively interact much with local politics.]
Purple Pulse.
The words were like a slap in the face. Her mind flashed back, her heart skipping as memories flooded her brain raw and unrestrained.
It was before the Revolution took her parents, they’d been a happy family, at least she thinks so.
She’d been a teen. Just fourteen. Out shopping with her mom, and her two siblings Everything went wrong when the sky turned purple. Many called it a meteor strike, others say it was a preemptive strike by the United States, and conspiracy theorists said it was an inside job.
It hit all the same.
First came the blinding light, violet and unnatural. Then the pulse itself. It screamed like a tortured soul, it wouldn’t stop.
She tried holding her ears, but the shockwave that followed the scream knocked her back, and threw her away from her mother who had been holding Euphemia in her arms. Remy lay unconscious, she’d try to crawl towards him.
Windows shattered, and lights exploded. Bits of shrapnel had stuck into her leg, through her skin. She didn’t feel it until they started running. Her father was on his way, determined to take them to safety.
She remembered the large amounts of blood–the blood of other people, People that were dead.
Some people started loosing their minds shortly after.
Really lost them.
Those closest to the phenomena had gone mad. Strangers, family, and Neighbors alike attacked anyone indiscriminately like mad dogs.
Screaming and laughing, ripping into each other with their bare hands and teeth. The capes came, but like always they were so damn late.
Too goddamn late.
One did come towards them.
She remembered her face–kind, motherly, almost holy. Lady Saint, a known healer in Pacifica City. She’d kneel beside her, touch her with her special hands, so her leg wouldn't hurt anymore. But her power wasn’t enough.
Not for Remy.
His skin had turned purplish, veins all over his face, lips turned blue. His eyes were completely black and hollow.
He wasn’t physically hurt, just changed.
That’s what the syndrome did. The effects of ‘Psionic exposure’ No marks, just permanent illness.
An unsolvable issue.
“Juniper..” Remy pulled her back to reality. “Juno..”
His voice broke, and he forced himself to look at her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. "I know you don’t like to talk about those days, but… you know... There’s nothing anyone can do. ”
There were faint tears in her eyes. Shouldn’t she at least try? Lady Saint had disappeared after the incident–no known trace of her. But there were other capes out there. Those with healing powers were usually kept secret, they were kept under wraps, and their identity was protected to hide them from malicious individuals.
Evelyn had political power, perhaps…
She had to try at least.
“I’m gonna try anyway, so…” she pointed at him with smiling confidence. “Please hold out a little longer, okay?”
“You don’t get it… I know a guy who–“ He shook his head. “Never mind…”
She was determined to get his hopes up, but before she could persuade him. He gave in.
“Fine. If you want to try, I won’t stop. you”
She smiled at him.
Inside she felt broken.
“Thanks, I promise, We’ll fix this.”
He opened his mouth again to speak but refrained. Simply staring at her frowning.
“Tell me, why do you talk to yourself sometimes?”
She looked away, suddenly aware of some tears in her face. She wiped it off with the sleeve of her shirt.
Of course, he noticed.
“I’ll keep it brief.” her wavering voice, lacking composure. “Because not even I know the full story.”
She looked him dead in the face.
“My powers don’t come from the same sources most capes trace it from.” she hesitated, thinking it over twice. The pause lasted a good 10 seconds. “It comes from aliens, so to speak”
He stared at her like she sprouted a mushroom on her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m very serious.”
“Pfft, Did Kanako hook you up with some weed or something.”
Her face flushed. “No! You know I would never…” she looked cross. “I mean it!”
[Juniper, I hate to interrupt, but… Maybe show him? Carefully?]
Carefully in what way?
[Touch him, and I’ll do the rest. I’m gonna establish a psychic link]
She did so. Her hand settled on his shoulder, she rested it.
“Don’t freakout bro.”
His face turned sour before he could reply–
[Hello, Remy! It’s nice to meet you.]
He reels backward, clutching his head, eyes wide. He starts fidgeting and kicking. Like someone jacked an electric wire in his head.
“Calm down,” Juniper holds him in an embrace. “ You're okay, it’s just my annoying head mate, you're fine, you're fine.”
He shook his head. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s the representation of my ‘system’, I call her Sys-chan…”
“Sys–chan? System?” Now he stared at her like she was the devil.
She looked half away ashamed, “It's convoluted okay. It’s tailored to my personality, either in contrast or –”
[To irritate her.]
“To bounce off my feelings. She glared around like people were listening. “You know I’m a weeb right? ‘Chan’ is pretty self-explanatory. Except She acts cute but is actually driving me to death battles.
[How dare you?!] sys-chan protested. [Remy, Your sister is a Lazy, button-punching, couch-potato, potato-chip-eating lesbian!]
He was surprised but calm. “Man, that is weird. So you're telling me there are four of us in the house?”
“Pretend she’s a rudimentary AI system, and it's much easier that way.”
[Basic?! Excuse me?! I’m a sophisticated cyber diva. I simply lack a body.]
Remy rubbed his temples.
“Yep, that is weird.”
Before Juniper could respond.
Her phone buzzed suddenly, snapping her away.
The psychic link shattered, and an unknown number appeared on her normal phone.
Her nerves were on the edge again.
“Is that ‘work’ related?” Remy asked, trying to pretend everything was normal.
She thinks. No, she thought. Evelyn would have called through the encrypted phone. This was someone else, it certainly wasn’t Annemarie’s number again, that’s for sure.
It’s just a phone call Juniper.
She backs away, picking it up hesitantly. Phone held tight
“H-hello…”
“Hi…”
The voice was feminine, very familiar.
“It’s me, Heliogirl. We met in the hospital.”
Heliogirl? Her brain brought her back to the hospital lights, the beeping of the machines that monitored her, Her legs immobilized.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you so late,” She continued, tone measured, way too calm. She was known to have a nasty temper during a cape fight. But there was something else eating at her, she could sense it.
“Look, can we speak? It’s kind of urgent. Involves a lot of things. The lawsuit, the gang that caused the whole debacle. Her voice trailed off. “And I wanted to check on your well-being.”
Juniper raised her shoulders.
“How did you get my number? I–”
“Hospital keeps records. I realize it’s invasive, but I’m in a minor predicament, and–”
A pause. She was choosing her words carefully.
“I believe you may be the only person in a position to help me.”
Juniper’s fingers dug into her phone case.
“Please.” An unexpected plea. “I’ll make it up to you. Whatever you want, or need.”
Her heart tangled with the idea. Anything?
No. She shouldn’t be too permissible with her thoughts.
“Can we meet?”
“When?”
“Right now. Near the pier at the Western Bay. I’ll cover any taxi costs you have. Please, I'm in quite the pickle.”
Juniper doubted that the Stargirl of the city needed her help when there was an armada of capes and government folks who could serve her whims. Who’d solve her problems in a flash?
“Why not just fly…somewhere close? I’m sure you have your ways, seeing as you got my number?”
“Before you ask,” she added, “I’m not going near your home, As It’s pretty risky for you. There are people in this city who’d kill me without a second thought, I don’t want to paint a target on your back.”
“You can't just put me on the spot, it’s like 10 PM?”
“Please,” her words hung.
She sighed aloud.
“Okay, give me a few minutes.”
“Thank you, I’ll make this up to you. I promise. See you soon”
The phone was cut off. The silence stretched away.
Remy expressed unease. “Who was that?”
“It’s Helio-girl,”
He kept staring at her, afraid to say anything.
“She's asking for assistance of some kind, it’s possibly related to my hospital entry, the whole incident.”
“Are you going?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, but I’m not dumb, I'm not going alone. I don’t know what she wants. I don’t entirely trust her either.”
"So she knows your a cape?"
"Well, I don't believe so."
He looked somber
“Just be safe, for Effy at least.”
She reached over him and pinched his cheeks. “You need to stop talking like that, we’re gonna fix you one way or another.”
“Yeah…” he looked away, flinching, eyes low.
“I know I'm not the perfect big sister but…”
“No,” he stopped her. “Thanks for being who you are…I wouldn’t be here without you.”
She lowered her gaze and turned away, gesturing to the black phone. He watched in stoic silence, unquestioning.
She tapped on the eve contact.
The line clicked within 5 seconds.
That was fast.
“Juniper Pinewell?” Evelyn picked up the phone, voice sharpened. “You asked for a few days, so I’m giving you that. Something changed. Are you in trouble?”
“Kind of Evelyn–”
“Stop.” the woman cleared her voice. “If you’re going to work for me. It’s Miss Evelyn, Arkangeal, or Big Sis. Or boss. Choose your pick.”
“uhhh…I…what?”
“Choose…”
“Um… Boss”
The woman grunted like she was disappointed.
“How about big sis, I don’t have many young-lings like you or Anne. around.”
Man, this is awkward.
“O-okay…Miss big sis…big sis, I mean.”
She cringed on the inside.
“Yes, I’m listening, did you mess up…”
“No, Heliogirl wants to speak to me.”
“When?”
“Right now.
“What do you want to do.”
“I want to hear her out but I'm skeptical,”
“You think she might have some ulterior motive? There’s always a chance POP sent her to investigate you. They don’t play nice with us ”
“I don’t know.” she exhaled a heavy breath. “I was hoping for some advice.”
“Go but I’ll send you a plus one, where is the meeting?”
“The pier, Western Bay”
“Go, I'll send you some backup in time. Keep this phone on you, will double as a tracker.”
“Okay. Thank you. Eve–uh, Big sis.”
“You’re welcome,” the woman let out a blow as if she was in the process of smoking. “One more thing, Juniper.”
“Avoid tangling with rich women too much.”
She blinked, eyes wide.
Was she referring to her outing with Kanako, was she being observed that much?
“They’re always affiliated with either a political group, a religious organization, or a cult. Your Kanako Kamizuki is an interesting character, Practically a mystery, but I’ll refrain from butting in too much, just a ‘sisterly’ warning. Wouldn’t want you to come crying with a nasty hickey on the neck.”
“You–”
“Not now, if you wish to know what you already don’t. We can speak when you join up. Right now focus on Miss sunshine.”
Looks like she was going to be kept under tight wraps.
“If anything feels off, get out. Don’t try to play the hero. You’re not ready—not yet.”
“You’re worried about me?”
“Maybe. You're still growing on me. I’m worried what will happen if you fuck up. If it’s bait don’t get baited.”
The phone shut off.
She tucked. It.
“Big Sis?” Remy inquired
Her knees turned inward, and she giggled awkwardly.
“My new boss. Wants me to call her big sis.”
He gave her a faint smile.
“That sounds ridiculous. Still be careful out there. And please come home if something goes wrong.”
“I will.”