Dear Marc,

I am writing this in case you get home before we get to talk. Today I am rescuing you. I’m anxious about this. Mostly because I am actually apprehending the arsonist. Someone else will be retrieving you. They think you’re in on it. I’ll be honest I’ve had doubts over these weeks apart. Things started to click that maybe you were involved with the arson. But I couldn’t believe it. It tore me up inside. I’ve been dealing with a lot of overwhelming emotions since that night at the bonfire.

I am sorry that I kissed you, but I am not sorry for why I kissed you. I like you, Marc. I like you as in I’ve a crush on you. You’re my best friend and for the past few months I’ve felt more. You’re more to me, Marc. I want to be more to you. I kissed you because I was drunk but I had wanted only to talk. I wanted to open up to you. But I didn’t. I kissed you and scared you and now you’re with him. I don’t even know him, but I hurt so bad when the officer showed me pictures of you with him. Please, Marc, please talk to me when everything settles. I’m sorry I scared you. But I meant it, the kiss felt right, it felt like broken pieces coming together to be whole.

I should go. I’m meeting with the people who are helping me rescue you. I’m scared, but today you will be home and safe. That’s all that matters to me.

-JD

JD left the letter on Marc’s pillow. He stood and left the room, left the house, and slid into the driver’s seat of his car. He clutched the steering wheel and took some deep breaths before turning on the car and driving away. He repeated the plans in his head as he drove to the secluded parking lot they were meeting in.

He didn’t know all their gifts, but Aaron was able to pick up what he called “flashes of memories” from others, which is how he figured out who JD’s father was, and he could also track people through them. When Officer Briggs had been questioning JD about whether he was willing to sacrifice to save Marc, Aaron had used the flashes to track Marc, he explained it was like following an emotional connection that the memories bring up. Bryce would be on duty today, as Central City was having their MLK street fair, so he wouldn’t be helping much, but he had the ability to manipulate emotions, which was handy when dealing with crowds of people. Chris’s gift was creating portals, but it was heavily limited by distance and knowledge about an area. For this JD had a mini camera in his mask now so that Chris had a better chance of creating a portal to grab Marc. Dianna and Ellen were not to be very involved, mostly communication and surveillance, but JD had learned that Dianna was a truth seer. She knew when something was a lie, but not why. Ellen hadn’t revealed anything about herself to JD or her gifts. Officer Briggs revealed his gifts openly to JD. He had electromagnetic capabilities including simple things like turning things on and off, as well as more devastating things like creating an electromagnetic pulse disabling multiple systems at once.

So the plan was for Briggs to interrupt the security of the hotel the suspect and Marc were residing in. JD would take the opportunity to sneak in from the roof and make his way undetected to their room, again with Briggs controlling the security systems. Breaking into the room will be no problem with JD’s strength. From there a fight with the suspect will likely ensue, and without any knowledge about his gifts. First goal for JD is to locate both Marc and the suspect. If JD can see Marc, then Chris will be able to see him, and create a portal to remove him. Second goal is to take control of the suspect. Depending on his abilities JD was prepared with various tools to bind the subject from handcuffs to zip ties and ropes. He also had on him a deep black hood to blind the suspect in case his ability was something he needed sight for, and also a gag, again in case his voice was used with his gift.

In the parking lot, and hiding in an inconspicuous van, JD sat with Briggs and Bryce going over everything for what felt like the hundredth time. Over the headset he had contact with Aaron, Chris, Ellen, and Dianna. Bryce was in his Central City Police Department uniform, but had access to the same channel being used by the group in case the fight got out of hand and he needed to do something about the civilians who would be gathering in the street. Bryce gave the young man a reassuring hug before leaving to go on duty. Briggs was in street clothes, with his headset, and his phone, he only needed to be near the building to do what was required of him, so he would be hanging out in the hotel lobby.

JD and Briggs stepped out of the van and locked it up. With a simple nod, JD started his hopping flight from rooftop to rooftop until he was in position. He waited patiently for Briggs to be in position, concentrating on his breathing. He felt his heart beating erratically as he waited for the signal. JD stretched and warmed up for what was coming. He steeled himself for facing Marc. Whatever was going on, JD would stay strong.

“Ace!” Briggs voice came over the headset, “we are go.”

JD launched himself through the door and down the stairs counting the floors until he was on 12. He slowed down and walked quietly on the plush carpet down the hall. He faced the door. The one behind which he would find his best friend and his enemy. Everyone acknowledged that they were ready over the headset. JD placed his hand on the door knob and forced it through the lock and pushed it open. In a single sweep he saw the bathroom door immediately to his left, it was closed; in front his gaze took in the single large bed and at the head was a small form wrapped in a dirty hoodie. Peeking from the hood, JD saw Marc. He stepped forward looking for the other occupant, calm and even breathing, each step was silent.

Marc tried to stand but fell, a large clanking sound accompanied the thump of his body on the floor. He stood quickly, waving on his legs, a large chain hanging from his neck. He pulled the hood down and revealed a padlock keeping the chain in place.

Chris confirmed quietly in JD’s ear that she could not grab Marc while he was chained. The portal wouldn’t close and that would leave them both vulnerable. JD looked again for the arson suspect, but it was too late. He came out of the bathroom and grabbed JD by the neck.

JD employed his super strength to retain the upper-hand as his opponent struggled to take control. JD turned and used his momentum to pull the other off his feet. JD grabbed the man with one hand fisted in his shirt collar and the other grabbed the waist of his jeans. He picked his opponent up and threw him into TV that hung over the dresser. JD stepped towards him again, choosing a relentless attack.

The dark haired man slid off the dresser and straightened himself with what little time he was allowed, but it was enough. He grabbed JD by the throat again and stared him in the eyes. A split second before he was overcome with a dizzy spell, he heard Marc call out a warning. With the dizziness came an onslaught of nausea. JD pried the man’s hands off his neck as tunnel vision set in, the visible world getting smaller. His body moved based on what he saw last, his leg kicked out in a sweeping motion in an attempt to bring the man down. He felt his leg make contact and he released the other’s hand.

JD’s vision cleared and the dizziness lessened. He dodged as the man launched himself from the floor trying to make contact with JD again. JD grabbed him and threw him again, this time into the closed room door. He dashed to Marc and grabbed the chain pulling it apart like it was made of plastic. Marc grabbed onto JD’s arm, but he brushed him off and jumped over the bed to face his opponent again.

“Got him!” was all JD heard over his headset as the arson suspect grinned suspiciously. JD took a breath and looked at the man. His dark bedraggled hair hung down the back of his neck in unkempt clumps. Tattoos ran up his left arm and the left side of his neck, all in black ink. His dark eyes were set deep into his skull enhancing the sickly look his bony frame already gave him. He cackled and launched a new attack on JD, fire seemed to launch from his fingertips aimed for JD’s face.

JD dove for the fire starter’s legs, dragging him down to the floor. He rolled and twisted his body until he was on top, straddling the man. He felt as the man tried to buck him off, and the muffled cursing, but JD made quick work with zip ties on the man’s ankles. He tried to keep his movements in one quick flow, grabbing the black bag for the man’s head in one hand and handcuffs in the other. He didn’t care which he caught next. He raised himself off his opponent and watched him thrash on the floor.

Unfortunately the softly padded carpeting had caught fire. JD grabbed the man by the shirt collar again and slid the bag over the angry man’s head. It was only for a second as the man set it on fire as well. JD ripped it back off and then was hit again with the disorientation. He tried to pull away as the man grabbed him with his flaming fists. JD’s flame retardant suit stood through the test but the nausea came in quick successive waves as his vision turned completely black. He stumbled backwards against the windows taking his opponent with him. He felt the glass give and break as both bodies pressed on it and soon they were falling from the 12th floor.