FIRESTORM:

The portal opened, hurtling us inside the timeline. I found myself inside Zayne’s body on Bennu Island; young, strong, and optimistic for the future.

“I’m home…”

Tears came to my eyes as I looked around the village where I grew up. Kids played Bird Tag, the elderly practiced Ni Cree, a pile of Bennu eggs were harvested for their vital nutrients.

I squealed with delight.

“It’s nice to be home again. It feels great to be human again!”

I wiggled Zayne’s fingers, jumped on his nimble legs, touched his soft skin.

Oh, to live on Bennu again, healthy and full of life.

“Where should I go first? Swimming in the stream or hunting with Jappa at the summit?”

Vague ideas came to me about Sumi, a young woman I was courting in this lifetime, but only Grace could have my whole heart.

Nannu walked past, hunched over her cane. “Don’t just stand there, Zayne. Come set the table for dinner.”

“Nannu!” I scooped my grandmother up into a big hug. Her Merkaba necklace made from Bennu teeth hit my face. “I’ve missed you, Nannu.”

She swatted me. “Miss me? We chatted five minutes ago. What’s gotten into you? Let me down before you break my back.”

“Let me help you to the table,” I offered.

She shooed me away. “No need. There’s plenty of life in these old bones. Shall we dance our way to dinner?”

We laughed and walked to the shaded outdoor kitchen, the heart of the village. I joined the other men preparing the evening feast.

Sumi walked over wearing a leather dress made from Bennu skin. It hugged her curves in all the right places. Perhaps there was time for one romantic evening with her…

She whispered in my ear, “Night walk after dinner?”

I nodded and smiled at her beauty. Could I be happy in this lifetime, without Grace? The intriguing thought marinated in my mind, but guilt quickly replaced it.

Nannu nudged me. “What’s wrong, my boy? You seem not yourself.”

Could she tell that I, Firestorm, took over Zayne’s body? Did Nannu know I didn’t belong there? My heart pounded at the idea of getting caught. My people were intuitive and wise.

“All is well, Nannu. Forgot my machete.”

She examined me as she caressed her Merkaba necklace.

“I go to get it.” My lame excuse lured me into the forest, where my thoughts could wander unseen.

Could I explore this new path as Zayne? Didn’t I deserve a second chance at life and love? The fresh Bennu air made me lightheaded as the possibilities swirled in my mind.

The river summoned me.

“Grace and I played here… Sumi and I have also…”

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I splashed cool water on Zayne’s youthful face. It was invigorating, sobering, and grounded me in the truth.

Beatrice warned me not to get stuck in this unknown life, but I couldn’t live in this reality. No way.

“I’m too far gone now. I am Firestorm, protector of the slipstream. Being Zayne was only a silly daydream. Get me out of this tight skin suit.”

Zayne’s skin bulged and stretched.

“Ahhhhhh!” Zayne screamed as I wriggled my way out of his body. His back split open at the spine. My massive form ripped away from Zayne, and I emerged as Firestorm; a rebirthing phoenix, who I really am. Zayne fell to his knees, reeling from the split.

Sumi stepped out from her hiding place behind a nearby tree and went to his side. “Zayne?”

“Sumi, finem maluma,” he whispered.

She froze at the sight of my powerful wings expanding to their full potential. I let out a guttural groan. She bowed down to pay her respects to the almighty Bennu, but I’m not one to be worshipped.

“Jackie, are you in the timeline? Jackie, are you there?”

I mentally called to her, but received no answer. I feared for Jackie’s safety. She was a slipstream natural, but this was advanced. Would she take her role too literally and end up inside Grace’s body? I wondered if the split would hurt Zayne or Grace. Or could Jackie take the leap of faith to move freely through this probability on her own two feet? Either way, I had to get close to guide her.

I let out a battle cry, ready to tackle this probability.

Sumi watched as I flew away, leaving Zayne to be nursed back to health. He was strong and better off without me in Sumi’s caring hands. Without me, they might find happiness together.

“I’m coming, Beatrice.” Feeling drawn to the volcano, I flew toward the complex. The Grid kissed the sky. The air was free from hungry scavengers, a sign that Mark’s mutating experiments stopped when Beatrice refused the immortality serum, just as she said.

I called out for her as I soared above the volcano.

“Beatrice, are you here? I came through Zayne, but I am Firestorm once more. Ready for battle against my enemies.”

“Welcome back, Firestorm. Well done separating yourself from Zayne.” Beatrice’s soft voice played in my mind. “Go back to the city. Your intuition will guide you. Find Jackie and uncover the truths of this timeline.”

“Are you okay here?”

The volcano gurgled. “I’m right where I’m needed. We will meet again before this is all over.”

“See you on the other side.” I flew away blindly from the sacred lands of my people, before I could get drawn into its beauty and bounty, never to leave this heaven on earth. Jackie was my home now, and she needed help to overcome the probabilities.

Weakness overtook me the farther away from Bennu I got, but there’s no rest for the weary. The Grid’s red laser like patchwork over the sky served as a guide when my eyes drooped from exhaustion. My wings ached, but I carried on until I reached that damned city.

As its noise and light pollution hit me, I wondered where to go next.

“Jackie, can you hear me?”

Silence.

I perched onto a mountaintop outside the city limits to watch and listen for clues. A much needed break after a long flight. The air was quiet except for the faint hum of the ever-present Grid.

“Next steps, present yourself to me.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled.

Rock music wafted on the wind, along with hooping and hollering.

“What’s going on over there? Did I stumble upon a clue?”

Upon opening my eyes, a flicker of light caught my attention from a distance. I intuitively moved toward it, flapping my tired wings once more.

A highway cut through the mountain. A fancy convertible sped down the road. Its headlights flickered as it took violent turns down the winding path.

The male driver hit the gas and revved the engine. Wind blew through his thick black hair. Who was he and why did I feel drawn to him? I flew closer to get a better look.

The tires skid across the pavement as he took a tight turn at top speed.

“I am infallible! Indestructible!” the reckless driver shouted.

The front bumper hit the railing, and the convertible overturned. The car fell down the mountainside, flipping over multiple times. Metal crunched and glass cracked. Watching the gruesome crash made me sick. The car landed on its top, and the engine caught fire.

I flew down to check on the driver. The young man with thick black hair hung upside down from his seat belt, covered in blood.

“Are you okay?” I asked, not caring to be seen if I could save a life.

He didn’t answer. It was too late. This man clearly had a death wish.

“Why would he be so careless with his life?”

But then… he burst into flames. His body quickly turned to ash, but a phoenix always rises. He came back from the dead, rebirthing right in front of me.

A swirl of energy rose from the flames. Glowing specs smashed together. The explosion created a baby Bennu that morphed into a man of fire. I studied him as he transformed into a hairless, leathery creature. Once fully reformed, the man stumbled out of the wreckage without a scratch on him.

I flew away to avoid detection. Who was this guy? How could this happen? Mark didn’t sell the Life Rite serum in this timeline. Life Rite must have gone… underground?