Later, after “meeting” her former teammates and experiencing a profound sense of déjà vu Jesseca had Severe scan her memory for answers.
As the memories came rushing back,
Jesseca was thrown into a rage that led her to kidnap and kill Ernesto Hess.
Evading the police,
Jesseca left her teammates to uncover the truth behind Ernesto Hess and his operation.
Now, the once fledgling hero has become a pariah and fugitive with no power to help herself.
“Are you sure we should be meeting in public like this?” Jesseca asked Hannah as she looked around cautiously.
Hannah smiled after taking a sip of her iced coffee,
“Relax dear,
Severe is making us look like two seventy-something gentlemen to anyone in a three-block radius that sees us.” she explained.
Jessica relaxed noticeably in her chair upon hearing that news and took a sip of her own drink.
“Have you guys found anything useful yet about Hess?” she asked.
Hannah nodded,
“We found a few files on his computer that link him to the Malta Group,
Knight and Ataris are checking out the lead right now,” she said.
“What’s the Malta Group?” Jessica asked.
“They’re a paramilitary group that sells their services to the highest bidder.
They have an unlimited budget and a limitless army of spies and assassins.
They operate under the governments’ radar,
and whenever they’re involved in something it’s very serious.” Hannah explained.
“What would Ernesto Hess have to do with a group like that?” Jesseca asked.
Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know, but whatever he was involved with,
it won’t be easy to bring it into the light,
Malta will see to that,” she said.
Jessica slumped in her chair with a pout on her face.
“So basically there’s no telling how long I have to go without using my powers?” she asked.
“Aww, don’t look so down,” Hannah said with a smile.
“Until we sort this out,
why don’t you hang out at the base and get to know the team a bit better,
that way when all of this blows over,
everything will be smooth sailing,” she said as she got up from her seat.
Jessica smiled and nodded
. “I think I will,” she said and waved to Hannah as she walked away.
“Remind me again why we’re risking our necks to clear the homicidal white girl’s name,”
Ataris said as he and Dementia’s Knight crept along the rooftop of the building the file on Ernesto Hess’ computer had led them to.
Knight turned to face Ataris.
“When we became heroes we vowed to help anyone in need of assistance.
Jessica says that Hess was involved in something other than what he was paid to be doing,
and the file on his computer corroborates that,
hence we risk our necks for the homicidal white girl.”
Knight said before turning back to their slink across the rooftop.
The pair crept to the edge of the roof and looked across the street to the adjoining rooftop where a black helicopter was landing.
Several well-armed soldiers in full black-ops gear were waiting for the passenger of the helicopter to emerge.
“Looks like our guys,” Knight said.
“For a secret group that operates in the shadows,
a daylight helipad meeting seems a little out of character,” Ataris said.
“You’re right,” Knight said,
and turned just in time to see a bandoleer of grenades land at their feet,
tossed by a fleeing Malta soldier.
