JACKIE:

Existence without any shape or form. No physical limitations. A deep love for all that is. Knowledge of past, present, and future probabilities. This is the best way to describe what came next for me after I leapt into the lava.

A spark of light separated from the oneness. Flames burst forth. I emerged from the fire, stronger than ever.

I woke up in crushing blackness and called out, “Firestorm? Beatrice? Anyone there?”

My voiced echoed through the damp void. Blue flames kissed my skin, then my veins absorbed their energy. I became one with the fire.

“Where am I? What’s next?” Panic set in from the expanse.

Would I be stuck in nothingness forever? Would it swallow me whole?

“Relax, Jackie, relax…” I told myself, releasing my fear with a long exhale. “Get a grip.”

Sparks of light rained down and grew into probabilities. The pulse of the fire portals scratched my eternal itch for life. Perhaps I’d have another chance to get back in the game.

“Welcome back, Jackie,” Beatrice said from the shadows.

I was relieved to hear her voice. “That was pretty gutsy what you did there, jumping into the volcano to destroy Alpha. How’d you know you’d rebirth?”

“I didn’t,” I admitted.

Beatrice smiled.

“Totally worth it to stop world annihilation. No big deal… I will rebirth again, right?”

Beatrice said, “I need to warn you that Alpha will rebirth.”

“What? No!”

“The good news is, he only has one more regeneration in him.”

“I need to get back in to take him out. Let me back in, B.”

“Please know, it’s not up to me how many lives you get, Jackie. You need to protect your vital energy. Harness it.”

“How?”

Beatrice closed her eyes and opened her hands. Her brow furrowed with concentration.

Atomic particles manifested and swirled between her palms, creating a fire portal. Her manipulation of the slipstream was amazing. I never saw anything like it.

“Now you try. Bring your energy forth with so much power, it cannot be denied.”

“Oh, is that all? Here goes nothing.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Rubbed my hands together and released all thought. I connected to the energy vibrating inside me. It was formidable, hopeful, expectant. The power of a thousand suns burned within me.

From that vitality sprang the life force of the slipstream. Lava mixed with fire mixed with the fabric of reality itself. I breathed in all the light with a single inhale and rebirthed anew. But I was changed, new, different.

“I am a phoenix gene carrier and will rise from the ashes no matter what adversity the powers-that-be throw at me. I’m ready for battle.”

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The energy inside me was ready to explode. I felt lighter than air. I flew up the volcano shaft on my own volition, now imbued with the power of flight!

The volcano shook, bursting from my excess fortitude.

Grace and Zayne held each other on the balcony, reunited only to lose their daughter.

I burst out of volcano and flew around them. The musky air of Bennu Island hit my face as I soared above the complex. The bounty of the island presented itself, bursting with potential, just like me.

I flew down to the balcony and landed next to my parents. My landing was a little clumsy, but I’d get the hang of it. They looked at me in awe.

“Jackie? You’re alive!” My mother cried tears of joy. “But how?”

My body glowed with the power of the phoenix gene. “Did you see the new power I have? I can fly! How cool! A girl could get used to this.”

Zayne hugged me. “I always knew you had it in you. Hopefully now you know how special you’ve always been.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re the future, Jackie,” Firestorm called from the skies.

“Firestorm, is that you?” I looked up at the phoenix flying toward me, then back at Zayne. How could they both be here together? The slipstream wasn’t for the faint of heart.

Firestorm landed on the balcony and said, “Come on, Jackie, we’ve got to stop Alpha.”

“I already did that,” I declared proudly. “I drop kicked him into the lava!”

“It’s not over,” Firestorm declared.

Just then, the volcano spit out of a hunk of metal. It crashed onto the balcony and that damn drone respawned.

“I’m not afraid of a box of screws and bolts like you!” I yelled.

Alpha burst forth, refreshed and ready for round two of the fight. I held my hand out to stop it. A fireball shot out of my palm.

“Woah, did that come from me? Nice!”

Alpha zipped away.

I ran with open arms, jumped, and flew over the complex. With the power of flight, I felt unstoppable.

Firestorm and I chased Alpha through the clouds above Camp Claudi.

“Can’t you see the future with that gangly eye of yours? Don’t you know you’re going down, Alpha?”

As I closed in on the drone, I threw flames from my hands.

“I will take my chances.” Alpha zipped back and forth at random, evading my attacks.

“Time to unleash the phoenix gene.” I swooped forward with flames blazing to gain the inside edge.

Alpha dodged, but Firestorm blew his fiery breath to take the drone down. Direct hit!

Alpha wobbled, but instead of falling, it cloned itself; over and over and over. We faced a squad of replicas that moved with a hive mind to protect the original.

“Its replicating at an astonishing rate!”

“What should we do, Firestorm?”

“Don’t give up, we’ve almost got him. Shoot Alpha, and they all fall.”

We raced into battle; flying and swooping, shooting and dodging.

Alpha didn’t give up. His replica drones spawned shields.

“Surrender and I might spare you,” it offered.

“He’s relentless!” I cried

“We can’t give up. The stakes are too high.”

World annihilation is an excellent motivator to keep going. Firestorm and I unleashed a barrage of firepower, cracking the drone’s shields after two hits.

Firestorm blew some drones to bits with the flamethrower in his throat.

“You cannot stop progress.” Alpha’s drones attacked, smacking us around.

Offense turned to defense. I moved to protect Firestorm from an onslaught of drone bullets. Miraculously, I absorbed the drones’ firepower on impact. The increased energy coursing through my body was shocking.

“Eat flames, Alpha!”

A great glow emanated from me. I threw everything I had at the drone army. Miraculously, the phoenix gene inside me exploded like a bomb.

My power took out all drones, even Alpha. The fight was over.

Firestorm laughed with relief. “Well done, Jackie!”

I looked at my hands in shock. “Epic! Where did that power come from?”

“That’s my girl,” Firestorm said proudly. “It’s been inside you the whole time.”

I caught my breath. “Will Alpha rebirth again?”

Firestorm shook his head. “Not in this probability, but there’s another stream at risk. We have to wipe Alpha out across all space and time.”

“How many probabilities are there?” I asked.

“Many are in peril… Don’t worry, Jackie. We’ll visit them all.”

It was an exciting prospect that carried a lot of weight. My shoulders slumped.

“You think I have what it takes to prevent world annihilation by, like, a hundred percent?”

Firestorm smiled. “My money’s on you, kid. One hundred percent of the time. Let’s go explore the probabilities. I have a lot more to teach you.”

A slipstream portal appeared, beckoning us to explore its secrets.

“Come on, Jackie. Let’s go back in time to save another future.”

Zayne and Grace held each other and waved as we flew past the balcony overlooking the volcano.

“Goodbye for now, Mom and Dad,” I whispered. “See you around, I hope.”

“Come on, Jackie. I have a surprise for you.”

There was no time to consider the paths not taken. Firestorm and I dove headfirst into the next most probable future…

TO BE CONTINUED…