Tales of the First

"There's something else," Sienna said. "When I touch Ryan it blocks the telepathic noise he's been having issues with. I'm not sure what to make of that."

"And I can still hear people if I listen for them," Ryan said. "But we only hear each other if we try. It's almost like our mental abilities are mirror images." He rubbed his head. "And now she's not holding my hand the noise is back though it's not as bad here."

"More likely she's extending her own mental shield around you subconsciously," Martin said. "She must have put it up instinctively so doesn't know how to get past it. I bet you can teach each other. Shall we try?"

"First we need some ice for Sienna's shoulder," he father said. "And then I want to take a look at Ryan. At least I assume he's having neurological issues like the other targets seem to have been? I've got a couple of cases at the hospital - those people have avoided attacking there for now - and I've been looking in to how to help them."

"Have you found anything?" Martin asked.

"Well it was a fair bet that the mist was involved so I reached out to colleagues at hospitals near some of the other affected areas and found out they've had similar cases. They are nervous about talking about the poltergeist activity around said patients but they have found that adapting post-stroke rehabilitation therapy works to a degree."

"You researched this?" Martin looked alarmed. "They'll be able to track that."

Her father snorted. "I'm sure they know the men I'm treating are at the hospital and a neurologist looking for similar cases won't provoke comment."

"Are you sure that you're okay?" Wendy asked when Sienna led her father, Charlotte and Ryan into the den area.

"My shoulder is a bit sore," Sienna said as she pulled off her mask. "But we're fine." She looked over at Ryan who was still clinging to her hand. "Well maybe not exactly fine but we're alive."

"Let's have a look at your shoulder," Robert said.

Sienna gently extricated her hand from Ryan's and pulled off her top, wincing as the movement made her shoulder twinge. Her father frowned and gently probed the bruised skin making her hiss.

"Well nothing is broken," he said. "Is that where the bullet hit you?"

"Yeah," Sienna said. "It felt like being hit with a bat."

"Interesting," Robert said. "It seems that your invulnerability is about as good as a good quality bullet proof vest with rifle plates. These powers? I take it that it was the mist?"

"Yes," she said. "I appear to have developed psychokinetic and broadcasting telepathic powers." She looked over at Martin when she remembered what had happened when she had given Charlotte a boost. "Oh, the psycokinesis seems to be enhancing my strength as well."

"You can say that again," Charlotte said. "She all but threw me through the loft hatch."

"Hmm... so you can lift heavier weights when you touch them and deflect more powerful attacks closer to your skin? I wonder if it's two different but similar powers or if your psychokinesis declines with distance."

"Ah," Sienna said. "What should we do?"

"Have your dad bring you to the base for now," he said. "We'll figure out what to do from there."

"Okay," Sienna said. "Let me get my bearings." She looked out of the car window and tried to figure out where they were."

"Where are we going?" her father asked.

"It's an old abandoned factory near the railway tracks," Sienna said. "It's not too far from home."

"Hmm... There's a couple it could be. But I assume you'll know the way once we get nearby."

"Yeah," Sienna said. "I will. Can I take the mask off yet?"

"No!" Robert and Martin said simultaneously.

"Okay," Sienna said.

"Ring off now," Martin said. "We don't want to be traced. See you soon."

Sienna rang off and looked out of the car window. Someting had been bothering her since they had left James' carlot. "Dad, am I supposed to think it was a coincidence you happened to stop at a carlot where the owner is a Martial Arts trainer?"

Robert gave a chuckle. "It wasn't exactly a coincidence but it wasn't planned either. James is an aquaintance. I met him in Afganistan when I was there with Médecins Sans Frontières and he was in the Royal Marines. When your mother called me I realised I was near his place and thought he might help. I wasn't expecting him to offer to train you but it is a good idea if you're determined to do this."

"I see," Sienna said. "You're taking this well, dad."

"Somehow I have a superpowered daughter," he said clinically. "I think I'm in shock and as soon as the adrenalin wears off I'll pitch a fit."

"Hmm... MMA is a good sport but not the best for real world self-defence," James said. "Krav Maga might serve you better."

"And where would she learn those?" Robert said. "The authorities will be analysing her style and looking at places those are taught to try and find her."

"I could teach her." James gave a wry smile. "I am a licensed instructor. I'd like to help."

"We'll consider it," Robert said. "For now we need to get going. The police will still be looking for us."

James nodded and pushed a flyer into Sienna's hand. "You know where to find me. Good luck."

"Thank you," Sienna said as her father ushered her into the car. As they drove away she grabbed her phone again and called Martin.

"Martin, we're okay!" she said.

"Thank God!" he said. "We were watching. I had to stop Wendy suiting up and rushing over. It's not tested yet. How did you escape?"

"You aren't going to believe this," she said. "My dad came to get us. I have no idea how he recognised us."

"I knew you'd gone to Charlotte's," Robert said. "I was already on my way when your mother called and told me. She recognised your build and way of moving, and remembered the mask from last Halloween. I doubt anyone else would have."

"Ah!" Sienna said. "Did you hear that?"

"I did," Martin said. "I guess it was inevitable your parents would figure it out." He paused. "We're going to have to hide Ryan and Charlotte until things calm down. The police are looking for them because they think they'll know who you are."

"Don't worry," James said. "I'll never willingly tell anyone that you were here."

"But you're worried you could be forced to?" Robert asked.

"I'm tough. I have reason to know just how tough I am, but anyone can break." He shuddered suddenly. "I have reason to know that as well." He looked over at Sienna. "You stopped those men from shooting you, didn't you?" he asked.

"I did," she conceded.

"Do you think you could make me not able to talk about this?" he asked.

"I don't know," Sienna admitted. "I don't know how long an ongoing command would last and I don't like doing it anyway."

"Good!" he said. "You shouldn't like it, but it shouldn't present an ethical dillema if I volunteer should it."

He's telling the truth, Ryan said. He's afraid of being tortured into betraying you and wants you to make it impossible.

Sienna just humed non-commitedly and turned her attention to James question.

"I'm not sure it does remove the ethical dilemma completely," she said. "But right now I'm not seeing an altenative. Are you sure about this?"

"I am," he said.

"Okay." Sienna bit her lip in concentration. Don't tell anyone about us being here.

"Woah!" James rocked back on his heels and stared at her. "But it's good that you're thinking about ethics. But more importantly can you fight?"

"No," she admitted.

"So that's why you were avoiding conflict," he said. "It's a good plan but you won't always be able to."

"I know," she said. "I have a friend who does Mixed Martian Arts, He says that he'll help."

"Huh." Sienna stared at the man. She should probably thank him but words wouldn't come out and she was pretty sure that she was bright red under the mask. "I... Thank you!" she managed finally.

"You can't tell anyone about this," Robert said as he pulled out his wallet.

"No need," the man said. "We'll just check it over and if it's okay, put the plates back on and put it back on sale."

Sienna blinked at that and looked over at the white car. It was indeed lacking number plates.

"That was Mr Hanson's idea," her father said. "When I pulled in and asked if I could borrow a car to go and help incognito he said yes and took the plates off. I hadn't even thought of that."

"Call me James, please," he said. "And I just didn't want the car traced back to me if possible."

"You could have said no," Robert said.

"No," he said. "I couldn't. Not when everyone else is doing everything they can."

"Thank you..." Sienna paused as heard her phone ringing from the bag Charlotte was holding. "I'd better get that." Charlotte tossed her the phone and she answered it. "Hello?"

"Sienna!" Martin said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine but I can't talk right now. Give me five minutes and I'll call you back." She rang off and looked back at James. "Please don't tell anyone we were here." She knew that she could order him not to, but she still wasn't sure how persistant her orders were, and anyway it would be wrong.

"Please, stop!" Sienna said. "We have to stop them opening fire on the crowd!"

"That's not a good idea, sweetpea," her father said. "You being there would just make it more likely that they'll open fire."

"But..." Sienna twisted and looked out the rear window. She chewed her lip and as she strained to hear what was going on behind them. Those men had so little patience she was certain that she would hear the sound of gunfire soon. Instead she heard sirens.

"It's okay." Ryan was still clinging to her arm. "The police have arrived and those guys scarpered when faced by trained marksmen." He hesitated as Sienna sighed in relief. "But the police are after you as well." He sounded offended. "They're saying it's because you're a vigilante but you didn't do anything... and I think someone has told them too."

"Another reason not to go back," her father said. "If you're going to this you're probably going to have to persuade the government to leave you alone." He swang the car through a few more turns. "There that should throw anyone off. Thank goodness there's no cameras in the suburbs yet." He pulled into a cheap looking used car dealership. A man came out of one of the portacabins and pointed into the garage.

"I borrowed the car from here," Robert said. "We'll swap over now."

Sure enough their family car was inside the garage. As they piled out the man who had waved them in rushed over and began pumping Sienna's hand.

"I saw you!" He nodded to a TV in the corner. "You were amazing!"