The Next Generation

[Lady Jenn]

"Stay here," Katya said, standing up and pulling a cloak around herself. "We're all safer staying together."

"You two need to talk," Lucas said to Geri. "This isn't helping anyone, and certainly isn't helping Clint."

[Lawshenk]

" my contact is not here how can I talk to him"

[Lady Jenn]

"Here," Spyke said, handing her a phone. "In my line of business you have ways of getting messages to people without being found out by...anyone you don't want to know about it."

[Lawshenk]

She swore under her breath and took the phone she dialed the number and walked out the room

[Lady Jenn]

Tyler suddenly appeared next to her, sneaking out while Nicole was dozing. He appeared momentarily confused, then he began writing words in the air.

"I know how to speak to Clint," he wrote. "I can show you if you allow me."

[Lawshenk]

" hey little one " she smiled a ruffled his hair " I can't stop you from doing anything "the

[Lady Jenn]

He frowned at the hair ruffling, trying to figure something out, suddenly smiling and drawing a picture of a raven next to an image which just barely looked like Clint's face, before offering her his hand.

[Lawshenk]

" what's with the bird kiddo?"

[Lady Jenn]

He took her hand, and suddenly the world around them seemed to become darker. He pointed to a small bird perched on a nearby branch, before suddenly Clint appeared in front of them, but he appeared as ghostly as Nicole had appeared on the plane.

"Erm..." Clint said, feeling embarrassed. "So...apparently when Carreyra attacked me he unlocked a power I didn't know I have, unfortunately I'm trapped like this. For some reason this little boy is the one person who can see me normally."

[Lawshenk]

Gerri looked at him and then at lucus " why me ' she turned to clint " what power ?"

[Lady Jenn]

"Because I don't think Carreyra realises how his powers work," Clint replied. "When he was in my mind not only did he see my thoughts...I saw his, I know what his plan is. I also know there's a giant flaw in it, but as long as I'm trapped like this you and Tyler are the only two who can see me."

[Lawshenk]

"I don't get this" she sighed "is there an easy way to get you back?"

[Lady Jenn]

"No, but..." he scratched his head, thinking carefully. "Tyler, go get us a piece of paper. Don't worry, the link won't break while you're away." The little boy nodded happily, running back to the house. "I feel like I owe you an apology," he said sadly.

[Lawshenk]

She looked at him " I am sorry but it was not me, my body yes my mind well erm parts of it but I had no control "

[Lady Jenn]

"It was Carreyra who did this," Clint said. "The one thing seeing his mind told me...he knows exactly what he's doing, he's enjoying the pain he's inflicting on everyone."

[Lawshenk]

" I can see that"

[Lady Jenn]

"Tyler doesn't realise what Carreyra was going to do to him and Anna," he said, just as he saw the little boy emerge from the house again. "Whatever happens, they can't find out...they are too young to cope with what I saw."

[Lawshenk]

" I would happiest run off with the brats but without you I'm needed"

[Lady Jenn]

"They need you anyway," Clint said as Tyler approached. "You're all safer here, his worst nightmare is we work together." He knelt down in front of Tyler. "If I tell you what to write, can you show Geri?" The little boy nodded enthusiastically. "Are you ready to see this?" he asked her.

[Lawshenk]

Gerri smiled " go ahead can't be worse than dying "

[Lady Jenn]

"There were heroes before the Corps," Clint said as Tyler began writing. "WAY before the Corps. Most people who knew about them assume they're long dead. Which...technically is true. But Carreyra found something under the Arctic, a base full of genetic samples from those heroes. The clones...they're created from samples from some of the most powerful heroes this world has ever known, but they aren't the true objective." Tyler suddenly drew a tall, lanky man surrounded by rubble and flames. "One of them is still alive, Carreyra believes he can use the clones to locate him. The problem for us is that this hero...isn't entirely stable, Carreyra seems to think he may have been the first ever supervillain. What Tyler just drew...that's the nice version of his powers."

[Lawshenk]

L" inferno ?" She said slightly spitefully " my powers and he go way back"

[Lady Jenn]

"If Carreyra finds him.." Clint said, looking alarmed. "What I saw in Carreyra's mind...the G20 is the start, it will only get worse from there. Those two together, no army would stand a chance against them. The only reason we've avoided it so far is Inferno has done an amazing job of hiding himself away."

[Lawshenk]

" I went to his funeral."

[Lady Jenn]

"The problem is he's not dead," he said, turning to Tyler. "Tyler, remember the man who used to visit you in the lab? The one with the red hair and fire tattoo? Can you show him to Geri?" Suddenly a second figure appeared, stood stock still. Although he was older and more heavily scarred it was unmistakably the same man Tyler had drawn. "However Tyler sees me...I can see his memories. I recongised him from what Carreyra saw...I don't know how this man is alive, but Carreyra is looking for him. If they join forces this...nothing good can come from them finding each other."