JUNE 23RD

1032 EST

CJ was running on adrenaline. Even though he wasn't actually running—according to Tristan, that would be a 'really unfair advantage'—he was still hopped up on excitement. Screw the groceries, he had a world to save.

Together, he and Tristan had made it a couple blocks, following a reasonable distance away from Psyche. Their past enemy resembled a sneaky conman, with one of those glints in his eyes that made you think he was sincere, but was actually pickpocketing you at the same time. Not only that, but he radiated nauseating resonations when the boys got too close. It made CJ feel like Psyche knew he was being followed, but at the same time he wasn't too sure.

The last time they saw him was at another street corner. By that time, CJ was sure that they were running into a trap. He skidded to a stop, holding an arm out to stop Tristan.

"What are you doing? We need to follow him!" Tristan said in exasperation.

CJ didn't respond. Instead, he just pointed to the street corner, where the telepath was waiting. He didn't show it, but CJ could tell that Psyche knew they were following him. Every time that the villain had gotten too far out of their sight, he would wait for them to catch up. It was like he wanted to be followed.

"He's waiting for us." CJ said, keeping a suspicious eye on the man at the edge of the block.

"So, what, do we just stop? We need to stop him." Tristan stated.

CJ thought for a moment. When faced with situations like this, he often would try to strategize a way out of it. However, he wasn't too sure he had enough time to ponder a solution, given that a very dangerous man was at the end of the block waiting for him to catch up.

"We'll follow him," CJ concluded. "There's something he's trying to lead us to."

"And if that's a trap?" Tristan grumbled, running a hand through his dark hair.

CJ sucked in a breath. "Then we find out if we get ambushed. Come on, looks like he's on the move again."

The pair set off again, weaving in between people as Psyche gave them a devious smile and continued on across the street. CJ and Tristan tried not to make their pursuit that obvious, but then again the guy was a telepath; who was to say he wasn't reading their minds at this second?

They followed him to a dead end, where the man in the trench coat stood. Psyche faced the wall, his back to the two heroes who had been on his tail.

CJ took the initiative. "State your business, Psyche." He said, surprised at how confident his voice sounded. He didn't know why, but there was something...vexing about Psyche. Anytime he got too close, it felt like his mind was being turned into mush by the resonations. But those nauseating feelings didn't seem to affect Tristan so what gives?

Their opponent turned around slowly, obviously thinking that he had all the time in the world. He looked at the two heroes with deep violet eyes, a gruesome grin on his face. Then, just like how it had last time, his gaze rested on CJ. "You'll find out soon enough."

Instantly, CJ felt a wave of vertigo rush over him and Tristan. He cried out in agony but forced himself to keep his eyes on Psyche, despite his blurry vision. The villain was disappearing into thin air, shining a dark purple color as he did.

"He's getting away!" Tristan exclaimed, staggering to stand. He wobbled as he stood, trying to fight the vertigo, as he threw his hands in front of him and blasted ice at him.

Tristan's attack was off by a lot, hitting a nearby fire escape ladder and coating it in ice. Psyche, however, was practically all shadows and eerie eyes. He was practically gone, but the form he still had left was enough for CJ.

The speedster grit his teeth, charging the telepath at full speed. CJ yelled in defiance as he bolted, but realized he was a second from running into a brick wall. He turned himself around and sped back to Tristan's side in less than a second.

Both boys were breathing heavily, still dazed from Psyche's mind attack. Tristan looked around, trying desperately to find their enemy who had evaded them yet again. "He's gone, isn't he?" He said in defeat, huffing a breath.

CJ nodded. He cast a bitter look at the place where Psyche had once stood, and was about to answer Tristan when he saw something glittering on the ground. "Dude, look." He whacked the dark haired boy's arm and pointed into the alley.

There, where the telepath had once stood, lied a glittering amulet. CJ and Tristan walked towards it cautiously, but eventually Tristan picked it up, crouching down beside it and holding up to the light.

"It's made of amethyst," he declared, squinting at the gem in his hand. Tristan looked down at the ground beneath them, finding scorch marks flaring out like there had been an explosion. He looked at CJ and they both nodded at the realization.

"Volcanic ash," CJ said. "Why is there so much of this stuff lately?"

Tristan shook his head. "I'm not sure, but do think they're connected? Obviously this has some sort of teleportation ability and volcanic residue, and this is the third place we've found that has volcanic ash." He passed the amulet to CJ.

The theory dawned in CJ's mind like a sudden sunrise, casting a foreboding shadow on the land it warmed. "Dude, do you realize what you just said?" He said, clutching the amulet carefully.

Tristan knit his eyebrows, but CJ saw the thought occur to him. "Teleportation," he muttered. "Do you think?"

CJ took a deep breath. "Who else do we know that has asterokinetic abilities?" He held the gem up to the light again, and surely enough, it radiated a certain shimmer that only came from portals.

Tristan chewed on his bottom lip, trying to piece together a rational solution. He glanced behind them, and thankfully, none of the civilians were paying the two masked boys in the alley any attention.

CJ stood. "Come on, we have to tell Bristol and Avi. Maybe we can run a scan on it, try to find out if Priscilla's abilities were tied to this thing." He pocketed the amulet, and it suddenly felt a lot heavier, like all the mysteries it radiated had suddenly taken up a mass.

Tristan exhaled, standing up slowly. "You're right. We just need to have faith—"

CJ inhaled sharply, cutting him off. "If the next words that come out of your mouth include 'trust' and 'pixie dust', I might actually slap you." He gave Tristan an impish look.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Tristan's lips. "Come on, Speedy, off we go." He said.

CJ smirked. "Thought you'd never ask." He said, dashing away from the alley at lightning speed, leaving Tristan and his sudden cries of complaints in the dust.

~~~

Headquarters had an unusual jovial feel to it as CJ and Tristan arrived. There was music playing, echoing off the metallic walls and pillars of the massive cortex. Bristol and Avi were on the platform, sparring, but also chatting at the same time. Even Priscilla wore a small smile on her face, observing Bristol and Avi carefully, making notes on their training.

Basically, the entire scene confused CJ to the point of no return.

Bristol looked over her shoulder upon hearing the portal, sending her mass of dark hair cascading down her back. She smiled, seeing the boys, but her eyes had a certain suspicion in them. "Why are you guys wearing your masks?" She called.

CJ knit his eyebrows in confusion, but reached up and found his black mask still on his face. "Oh, um, you see—" he stammered, but Priscilla had paced over to them quickly, her smile nowhere to be seen.

"Why don't you both have groceries? I gave you a list." Their caretaker snapped, folding her arms over her chest.

CJ glanced at Tristan, trying to think of something. "The store was closed." He blurted, instantly wincing at how irrational it sounded.

Priscilla arched a shaped eyebrow. "It's not even noon." She said suspiciously.

CJ laughed nervously. "Don't worry, they deliver." He managed again. At this point, he was about ready to slap himself for how logical his excuses were. He couldn't even say that they were out of everything, or closed for some obscure holiday. No, apparently the store delivered.

Priscilla opened her mouth to interject, but to CJ's relief, Bristol piped up. "Priscilla, how about you tell the boys about the new security system?" The brunette girl gave the boys a sympathetic smile, before shooting a courteous one Priscilla's way.

"Yeah, Priscilla tell us." Tristan added, sending their caretaker a cold look.

The redhead inhaled sharply. "I have created a new security system that will start tonight. It's a mystic fog that will spread through the forest to keep everyone and anyone from coming across headquarters."

CJ made a face. "But anyone can walk through fog." He said.

Priscilla smiled slyly. "Not anyone can walk through this one. It's venomous." She stated proudly. The proud look faded from her face. "Now why do you both have your masks on?"

CJ and Tristan glanced at one another nervously, but CJ thanked his lucky stars to hear a ping resonate throughout the cortex. The tone that signaled a Contingency status report rang out and that meant Priscilla had to go answer them in the control room.

"You should probably get that," Tristan said cockily. "The Contingency doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Priscilla shot the boys another suspicious look before marching off, the sound of her heels reverberating through the cortex. Once she was out of earshot, the Union quickly grouped up on the training platform. They scrambled to raise the walls, to discuss what had happened.

"Full translucency and soundproofing," CJ told Avi.

"Got it," The girl said, darting over to the control panel and tapping away. The walls around the platform lowered and turned a pearly matte color. No one on the outside could see what they were doing, and hopefully, they wouldn't be able to hear as well.

"I swear, the Contingency might not see us a lot, but those superheroes are looking out for us." Tristan let out a relieved breath as the four joined together.

Bristol shot him a look. "What happened?" She asked.

So CJ and Tristan filled the girls in. They reported about spotting Psyche, how he was leading them to a dead end, and disappearing while leaving the amulet behind.

"It's made of amethyst, volcanic ash, and asterokinetic dust." CJ stated, pulling the amulet out of his pocket.

Bristol looked at CJ in disbelief, and he forced himself not to stare too long into her chocolate eyes. 'Focus Stone,' he thought to himself, snapping out of his momentary trance.

"Asterokinetic?" Bristol asked. "Do you think Priscilla might have—"

"Helped create the amulet? We don't know." Tristan interjected, looking at the ground. He took a deep breath. "Priscilla is the only known asterokinetic, at least to have been recognized by the Contingency."

"Besides Rune," Avi muttered. Her emerald eyes were far away, trying to decipher something that no one but she could see.

A silence cast over the Union. It was true that part of Rune's powers were derived from asterokinesis, but it seemed like no one wanted to fully believe that this amulet was designed by their most formidable enemy. Even the amulet itself seemed colder.

CJ shook his head. "Guys, we saw back at Shadowedge. Rune is locked up."

Avi plucked the amulet out of his hands, but CJ could still feel the resonation of her scans. He turned his attention to Tristan and Bristol.

"Yeah, but all of their energies are linked. If Psyche is out, then Rune has to be out too." Bristol countered.

The trio began to toss ideas and rebuttals at one another, the volume of their debate growing by the second. Finally, Avi piped up. "Guys!" she snapped.

The three heroes glanced at their teammate, who was looking at them proudly. Avi handed the amulet back to CJ, putting her hands on her hips and a proud smirk on her face. "I scanned the contents of the amulet. It contains pure amethyst, asterokinetic dust that did not seem to have a specific source, and volcanic ash. The ash, however, is the same ash from Priscilla's hallway, and the maintenance door of Shadowedge."

"Can't you track the source of the ash?" Tristan asked. "If it's a residual substance from someone's powers, like the dust, it should be traced."

Avi shook her head. "I cannot trace whose volcanic ash it is—mainly because there is not a geothermal metahuman out there that we know of—but I can and have pinpointed a location."

Bristol nodded. "Alright, so where's the ash from?"

"Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii." Avi stated. "Also known as the location of our next covert op."

CJ grinned. "Aw, yeah. Paradise here we come."

Bristol gave him a look. "You do realize we're going there on business, right? We aren't going to the beach."

CJ shrugged. "Who cares? It's Hawaii!"

Bristol rolled her eyes, but CJ could detect a small smile on her face. "When do we leave?" she asked Avi.

"Zero dark thirty." Avi reported. "Tonight."

~~~

That night, at midnight as directed, the Union reconvened in the cortex. There was something about the covert missions that made CJ feel like an actual hero. Sure, the saving the world thing that they had all done a few weeks prior was awesome, and the secret identities and awesome abilities, was great, but doing things secretly for the greater good just made it go full circle for him. Heroes followed rules, but even the purest heroes had to bend them sometimes to save the world in the end.

He joined Bristol, Avi, and Tristan at the portal dashboard. They sighed in relief when he joined them.

"Can we go now?" Bristol asked urgently. She seemed fidgety, and she kept picking at the hems of her shimmering blue top. There was something about Bristol in her supersuit that made CJ really see her as an empress, some type of mystical member of royalty. She didn't only wear a gold and azure uniform, she seemed to wear a sort of glow from the inside out with power and energy.

"Certainly," Avi said brightly. She walked over to the dashboard, pressed her palm against it, and watched as a portal began to form. "Portal is rebooting now."

The golden portal uncurled from nonexistence. It reminded CJ of how the universe came to be. First there was a whole lot of nothing, and suddenly an expanse of light and power burst out from it.

"Alright, let's go. Time is a-wasting." Tristan said, casting a look Bristol's direction before rubbing his hands together in anticipation and diving through.

CJ grinned and followed him through the portal. Portal-diving always felt interesting to the speedster. It felt misty and sort of inexplicable. It was kind of how you expected walking through a cloud of magic would feel, all tingly and wispy.

Before he knew it, he was standing atop the volcanic soil of the caldera. Tristan stood next to him, looking ahead of them, trying to determine a game plan.

Bristol appeared on his other side, and after her, Avi. The sun was still up in Hawaii and CJ hoped that some random tourists didn't think they were really hardcore hikers or anything. The four heroes stood side by side, gazing at the summit of the gradually sloping volcano before them with anticipation. Together, they slowly walked forward.

"So what exactly are we looking for?" CJ asked.

Bristol shrugged. "Most likely a source of the volcanic ash." She reasoned.

"Like what, a magical treasure chest or something?" CJ questioned.

Tristan gave him a look. "I think Bristol means a person with geothermal abilities."

Avi climbed over a rock, looking down at the group as they climbed over as well to join her. "But my scans did not report any identity of a geothermal metahuman." She countered.

"Then you clearly haven't updated your records," A feminine voice said from before them. "Because you haven't met me."

The Union tensed. They turned their attention from Avi, behind her about halfway to the summit. There, stood a woman in a black jumpsuit that seemed to come to life with the open vent of magma at her feet. The flares beneath her feet seemed to become embers in her suit, glowing and radiating heat. Her brown hair was wavy, like Bristol's, and even from the distance away that they were, CJ could tell that her eyes were like citrines.

"I'm sorry, are you Katniss Everdeen? Because I'm pretty sure you stole her outfit." CJ said with a laughing tone.

The woman in the jumpsuit gave him a pointed look as the vent at her feet seemed to glow brighter. "Beware, Rapid. You don't want to make me mad."

Bristol scoffed from beside CJ. "Please, lady, cut the threats. Who are you?"

The woman's gaze moved to Bristol as she smiled thinly. "You know me, my dear Elemental Empress." She addressed the Union as a whole. "You all know me. I simply...have evolved."

Tristan laughed. "What are you, a pokemon?" He folded his arms over his chest.

The woman's ember eyes seemed to glow even more as she slowly looked at Tristan. "Poke fun all you want, Deep Freeze. You won't be able to do that after you trigger one of my abilities."

Suddenly, CJ felt a sharp wave of warmth. He felt like he was being roasted alive and it was getting a bit unbearable until Tristan jerked his hand forward, a spiral of snowflakes rushing from his open palm.

The frozen flurry hit Katniss Wannabe in the face, sending her stumbling backwards a bit. When she returned her gaze to them, it was wild. "Fine. You leave me no choice!" She spread her hands before her as the ground beneath them began to shake.

CJ collapsed to the ground, kneeling as he tried to gain a grip. "Who are you?!" He roared over the shifting tectonic plates.

The woman strolled casually and safely atop the moving mountain. "Tell me, heroes. Do you know the story of Pompeii? Mount Vesuvius erupted, after years of being dormant, and demolished an entire town. The citizens were reduced to ash molds." She looked at them with a vacant smile. "Much like you will be in a few moments."

She flexed her hands and the crater in the distance flared to life. Lava burst from the crater, spilling down the sides of the mountain. CJ felt a sickening wave of heat rush over him as he finally maintained a steady position on the slope. However, the woman was now out of reach, strolling up to the edge of the crater to watch the lava.

Avi cried out over the noise of the eruption. "I did a scan!" She said, scrambling over the moving rocks to join the Union. "This is close to being a full-scale eruption. Under her control, this eruption can grow from a normal one to a destructive one. If it gets that way, say goodbye to the fiftieth state."

"How do we stop her?" Bristol asked over the roar of the lava. Another flare burst from the caldera, and the heroes held a hand over their faces to shield them.

"We need to ambush her!" Tristan called out. "From there, we devise a plan but for now we need to stop the eruption that's coming from her control! Distract her, and the eruption dies down."

CJ took a deep breath, coughing a bit from the toxic gas bursting from the various vents around them. Smoke was pouring into the sky as lava rolled down the slopes of the opposite side of the mountain. He looked to his teammates, and found them wearing their most determined faces he had ever seen.

CJ nodded to them. "On my count." He said. He took a readying stance, feeling the crackle of electricity run through his veins as he prepared to use the speed force to the fullest.

"Three."

Beside him, Bristol took a deep breath. The toxicity in the air began to disappear, and in the distance, at the shores of the Pacific, the waves began to churn.

"Two."

On his other side, Tristan took a readying stance. The heat around them began to fade as Tristan kicked his powers into gear, flurries and glows emanating from his fists as his sapphire eyes turned icy.

"One."

Avi's emerald eyes glimmered a neon green besides their usual emerald. As she unlocked her full powers, the green 1's and 0's shimmered beneath her skin.

Together, they set their sight on the silhouette of their newest enemy at the top of the volcano as they awaited the final order.

CJ took a deep breath. "Go!" he ordered.

And the Union charged, barreling at full speed and force up the side of the volcano.