Power Struggle

Chapter 1
The job

Chapter Description: Frank, a private eye, is hired to investigate a disappearance.

It was a cold autumn afternoon. The busy hum of traffic could be heard from every building. Frank furrowed his brow as loud traffic sounds distracted him from his client.

“So your brother is missing and you haven’t seen him since yesterday?” he repeated, “Have you gone to the police?”

“ It’s too soon to file a missing persons case and they all but called me crazy-”

“I’m sure it wasn’t personal, there’s just lots of missing persons cases, some of them are even heroes. The heroes do what they can with the police, but crime’s still pretty rampant-”

The client cut Frank off, “I know who it was though, it’s this girl he’s been hanging out with, it has to be. I knew she was bad news from the time I met her, I just can’t prove anything.”

Frank’s headache was worsening. As much as he wanted to send this client on his way, he needed the money. The job sounded really bothersome, but at least the client had a lead. “So you want me to tail his girlfriend and see if she’s hiding him?”

“That’s a good place to start, I reckon. I know it’s her, I just know it.”

“What if she’s got nothing to do with his disappearance?”

“I know it was her, there’s no way it wasn’t.”

“Do you have a name for me, then?” Frank’s hangover was starting to become unbearable.

“Cassandra Simmons” the client replied, also confiding her address.

“I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for stopping by.” Frank gestured to the door. As the client left, he took a long sip of water, popped some pain killers, and started researching the missing brother.

***

Several hours later Frank found himself picking the lock on the door of an old apartment complex. Having dealt with missing people many times before, he preferred to investigate before interrogating. What he did not expect, however, was to see Cassandra sitting on her couch with a baby on her lap, watching television. She looked up.

“Can I help you?” she asked politely while playing with the baby.

Frank was taken aback, nothing was mentioned about a kid and she seemed overly calm given the situation, however Frank still had a job to do. She looked harmless, so he lowered his guard.

“I’m actually looking for Billy. His brother seems to think you know where he might be.”

“No, I can’t say that I do...” Cassandra avoided eye contact, waving the baby’s arms back and forth, “He left yesterday and I haven’t seen him since.”

“Really?” Frank pushed.

Cassandra looked up from her baby. “Fine, we went to go see a shrink yesterday. Billy’s had anger issues and I thought counselling would help.”

“You parted ways after seeing the shrink?” Frank questioned.

“I just assumed he went to the bar afterwards. He has a really bad drinking problem.”

Frank could tell she was leaving something out, but didn’t know what to ask. The brother hadn’t mentioned anything about the kid either, but clients usually omitted details they either weren’t happy about or didn’t want to accept. As he contemplated which question he should ask next, he started to feel a little groggy.

Cassandra broke the silence. “Here’s her address.” She handed him a business card.

“Sorry, spaced out,” Frank paused, “Whose address?”

“The shrink...” Cassandra glared. After giving the card to Frank, she left the couch and put her child on a changing table, Frank looked away as she cooed at the kid, outfitting him in a fresh diaper.

“Oh, right...” Frank wasn’t sure what was going on, he still had more questions, but couldn’t remember what they were and he felt like he needed to leave, but he knew he came there for a reason...

“I’ve told you everything I know. Please leave?”

“Ah, yes, sorry.” Frank stared dumbly at Cassandra as she returned to the couch, bottle in hand. Her suggestion seemed reasonable and he couldn’t place why he wasn’t coming up with coherent questions and wasn’t squeezing for more information. He bowed his head, “Sorry to interrupt your evening.”

Frank exited the door and heard the deadbolt activate behind him. Throwing his weight on the rail, he heaved deep breathes. Had she used a superpower on him? What was waiting for him at the address? He looked at the address on the card. It wasn’t far away, but he was not mentally prepared for another ambush.

Frank walked several blocks to get to where he had parked his car in an abandoned lot. He was getting too old for this, also with superpowers becoming more mainstream as well as the dangers they possessed, this job had very high risk, especially considering use of powers had to be sanctioned or the government would fast become involved. He opened the back door, sprawled out on the back seat, and closed his eyes.

***

Early the next morning, Frank visited the address on the card. He was greeted by a slender young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties.

“What can I do for you... mister-”

“Just Frank.” He answered. “I was told Billy came here a couple days ago?”

“Billy...Billy...”

“And Cassandra” He added.

“Oh, right, those two.” She twirled her long, platinum blonde hair. “Yes, they seemed to be having some relationship issues.”

“What did you discuss with them?”

“Can’t really say, what with client confidentiality and all. You’ll have to get a court order.”

Frank slammed his hand on her desk, earning him a stern look. “Look, lady, Billy’s missing.”

“It’s Sam.” she sighed, “I didn’t say anything, but it was just a typical couples’ fight. She wants kids, he doesn’t.”

“Well, it’s a little late for that.”

Sam looked taken aback, as if she had said too much. “Well, I’m afraid I don’t have anything else.”

“Do you have a superpower?” Frank asked.

“Nothing fancy,” Sam answered, “If I’m with someone else and have a computer, I can look up random information about them.”

“You looking up anything about me?” Frank laughed, slowly dawning on him that maybe he should be concerned.

“Oh, goodness, no.” Sam laughed, “I’d lose my license in a heartbeat. It’s just a party trick. Do you have one?” she offered an innocent smile while she twirled her blonde locks.

“No,” Frank lied. He did indeed have one, but his power was certainly not one that would merit a hero job, though it did prove useful in this job whenever he absolutely needed it.

“Well, I hope you find him.” Sam waved as he turned to leave.

Frank hid away in a bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror. He needed to dig deeper, investigate the office to find notes on the therapy session. As Frank focused on his whole being, slowly he saw his reflection fade from the mirror. He then focused on his clothes, which followed suit. There was no trace of Frank.

He left the bathroom. Sam had meetings with various clients which went on for a few hours. Frank patiently waited. Finally, when Sam went on lunch break; he slipped through the door as she locked up for lunch.

“Dammit,” Frank swore under his breathe. He stared at the locked computer screen. Sometimes people were careless and didn’t lock their computers, but Frank wasn’t so lucky today.

He started looking through notes and was surprised to hear the office door open. Sam entered with a shifty looking man.

“You can’t contact me here like this, Firefly-” Sam began.

“Come on, Hacker, I got a hero on my heels. Can’t you make him disappear?”

Frank’s ears perked.

“Don’t use that name here.” Sam growled.

“Come on, I’m in trouble. I know I’m being tailed and it’s only a matter of time before I’m caught. Who knew robbing banks was so risky...” Firefly laughed nervously.

“Double.” Sam said flatly.

“Aw, really?”

“Double and don’t contact me again, or I swear you won’t even have the chance to regret it.”

“You just have to do your thing and make him disappear-”

“I can just as easily make you disappear, if you want to test my patience, Firefly.”

“Ah, no, no. Double it is.”

Sam smiled, “Bring him to the abandoned warehouse tonight at nine. You may leave once he’s detained.”

Firefly nodded before leaving. Frank could feel his heart racing as he silently remained by Sam’s side.

If Frank’s suspicions were true, it meant the end of his job was in sight. He didn’t know whether he could maintain his power for that long though.

It dawned on Frank that maybe Cassandra sent him there in the hopes that he would disappear...

***

The rest of Sam’s day had been relatively normal. Two couples sessions and one drunk later she was done for the day. Frank expertly tailed Sam back to her apartment, where she put on the facade of unwinding for the day. At eight thirty she donned a hoodie, jeans, sneakers, put her laptop in a backpack which apparently contained other items, and headed for the warehouse.

Frank followed behind silently. His power to make himself unobservable was by far his greatest asset. He could neither be heard nor seen and would have to heavily interact with his environment in order to be noticed. The only downside in this case was that he could not hold up in a fight since he had to concentrate on remaining undetectable, but since there would be a hero present, he shouldn’t have to do any fighting. If Sam just had a support type power, she shouldn’t be much of a threat, but still, Frank could not help but wonder what else was in the backpack. Sam entered the warehouse as Frank followed.

Firefly was battling with a hero. Gusto. Gusto was a pretty renowned hero who could battle with wind. “Good god, I didn’t expect his mess to be this big.” Sam breathed. Frank stared at Sam as her expression turned from exasperation to excitement. “Well, I’ve never landed one of the big fries before,” she muttered, steeling away in the shadows as the fight between Firefly and Gusto continued.

Firefly fired a few shots at Gusto, missing as strong currents of air interfered with his trajectory. “Damn, I have to have the most useless power ever.”

Gusts of wind slammed Firefly into the wall, making him fall unconscious. Carefully inching closer, Sam remained in the shadows as she closed the gap between herself and Gusto. Frank silently stalked Sam.

He wanted to alert Gusto of Sam’s presence, but he could get in serious trouble if the government found out he was using his powers without a license. Hacker couldn’t be all that dangerous anyway if all she could do was find trivial information on her targets, Frank continued to follow, but maintained a safe distance.

As Gusto made his way toward Firefly to check for signs of life, he pulled out a radio, which was when Sam struck. Sam tased the unsuspecting hero as Firefly stirred.

“Where’s my money?” she hissed.

Stacks of hundreds hit Sam’s feet. Firefly laughed, “Had to rob a few banks on the way.”

Sam glared at him, “Now get out.” She pointed to the door.

Not needing to be told twice, Firefly darted for the exit and left the warehouse.

Frank observed as Sam tied up Gusto. If only he could get to the radio, but Sam was too close for his comfort and he had zero combat training, so would just end up another casualty.

After her work with Gusto was finished, Sam retrieved her laptop, her hands moving feverishly across the keyboard.

Frank sneaked to Gusto’s location and picked up the radio, which had been broken during Gusto’s fall. “Dammit,” Frank breathed. If Frank had not just witnessed Sam dispatch one of the best heroes his city had to offer, he would have tried to overpower her, instead all he could do was watch the scene unfold.

Gusto stirred. “What happened? Where’s Firefly?”

“Oh, Firefly got away,” Sam laughed, “and you...well, you’ve been captured.”

“The other heroes will come for me.” Gusto panted. “You won’t get away with this.”

“Let’s see...Henry’s your real name...”Sam ignored his threats.

“Wha...how did you?” Gusto stammered.

“My power, database, allows me to access a person or object’s data, among other things...” she sneered.

“So you’re going to blow my secret identity?” Gusto’s eyes widened.

“Not quite,” Sam smirked. “Database isn’t limited to looking up data. I can make adjustments, nothing huge...I couldn’t turn you into a rampaging dragon or anything like that, but I can change subtle features, like turn your hair blonde or your eyes blue.”

“That’s useless,” Gusto laughed, “The other heroes will- ugh what’s happening?”

“While I can’t outright mutate your body, I do have access to your timestamps...which I’m deleting.” Sam shot him a sinister smile. “I could kill you, but I’m just a rogue villainess looking to make some cash. I’m not evil.”

“What are you doing to me?” Gusto gasped, having apparently lost quite a bit of mass.

“You’re the first high tier hero I’ve caught. Normally I just send you guys to an orphanage after I’m done with you, but you...well, let’s just say I got a little baby fever.”

Gusto groaned as he exited the wrong side of puberty. “You won’t get away with this!” he squeaked as Sam continued typing.

“Ha! In a couple decades you’ll be helping me get away with this. Welcome to the family, kiddo.”

Frank watched dumbfounded as Gusto’s high-pitched grunts turned into higher-pitched wailing. Sam logged out and fished her prize out of the pile of clothing.

“There, there...Mommy’s got you.” the villainess cooed as she jiggled her tiny captive against her shoulder and retrieved a diaper, onesie, baby bottle, and formula from her backpack.

Setting Gusto on the floor, she diapered and dressed him in the onesie, then prepared some formula for her prisoner.

Frank was speechless. The big name villains which he saw on the news were nothing compared to this. He backed out slowly as Gusto suckled on the baby bottle, seeming to have already accepted his new role.

Awe, fear, and disgust all washed over Frank as he backed out of the warehouse, not looking away from the new mother, who laughed maniacally as she rocked her bundle of joy. The former hero cooed softly then drank hungrily from the bottle.