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"If de lamp is similar to dis bottle, den it could be a tool to create such disasters, but dat is more on de person dat makes de will dan on de being dat granted it." She replies to Wes, giving a glance at Kalilah and Wendy as the couple once more start to hug and comfort each other in the middle of a team meeting or mission.
"Can you two do dis after de meeting is done? We still have fings to plan, don't we?" If her eyes could speak, they'd be telling the others "Do you see my concerns?"
"So... eider Torn knows what de lamp does or she doesn't. If she does, we need to offer her somefing she could not get while simply making a wish, oderwise why would she make a deal? Now, if she doesn't, we can't offer too much, because oderwise she'd become suspicious about why we are going to such length to recover de lamp."
Arcanum takes a few steps away from Wendy and Kalilah, letting them have their moment. "There's some leeway in how wishes get granted. For example, if someone says, 'I double-you I can fly,' I could just give them some airline tickets. It'd be simpler than giving them wings or turning them into a bird."
Arcana moves away from Wendy, cheeks returning to their normal color. "That's where rubbing the lamp comes in. I become devoted to whoever rubs the lamp, so the wishes won't be dickish."
Wendy is annoyed at Ziss’ self-righteousness, but complies for the sake of not being baited.
Or was I already baited? She scares Kalilah into talking about burying herself, I say comforting words, she hugs me… and of course Ziss pounces.
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86 has been silent for much of the conversation much like Crimson Tide with an odd predatory gaze constantly falling on those around the room.
She snorts a bit 'This is why you should truly punish those who stride against society. Or actually solve the issues of pollution, eh they are a young race.'. "If the group is unaware of the nature of the vessel then it would be best not to inform them it is any more than an ornament. If you go in actively seeking to barter it away from them than they will learn quickly that something is amiss yes? Tumbler-Carmen, you have previous ties to this Thorn? You are also exceptional at dishonorable subterfuge correct? You could potentially just infiltrate the area under guise of aiding them. Warn us of their activities and then steal the vessel when they are least expecting it, or at least provide us with more intel from the inside."
She folds all four of her arms and bows her head, "This would allow us to hamper and reduce the threat they possess to your star's workforce as well as complete our battle objective."
Ziss nods to 86's assessment, mostly because she had said something similar to that just a moment ago. "I agree wif you, 86, and I like your plan, but dat would depend on how good Tumbler is into bluffing her way into deir group... like, dose pictures we take after our missions do show her, so it is unlikely dat dis Torn doesn't know Tumbler has shifted sides."
She then turns to Tumbler. "Since I always fight wif my face hidden, I could join you in dis infiltration."
Wesley stands up straight after studying the book. "It depends on how big the 'terror' part of eco-terrorist is with them. If they really knew what they have, would they hold the world for ransom or try to 'fix' things?"
"Well, the Friends of the Circle are more of a fan of sabotaging refineries and other 'victimless' crimes where no one is actually harmed. But Thorn's always had a chip on their shoulder about this stuff. Since they took the group over, their activism has gone pretty much dark. I have a feeling Thorn's plotting something really big. The lamp might be their opportunity to make a big strike against a good target." Tumbler explains.
She turns to White Fox. "Yeah, I'm not planning to bluff my way into their group. Thorn would easily see right through me. We dated, they know my priorities aren't about activism and all about my next score. At least they were. And pretty much everyone from my old life knows I'm part of the new hotness of the Bay Watchmen. Hard to avoid being exposed when you team leader loves group selfies. Which, by the way, probably have your face there too, Foxy."
”Hey, to be fair, infiltration isn’t the norm on the capes-and-tights side of the Fence of Justice.”
Ziss tries to remember if she ever took any photo without her mask. "Hum... I fink de only photo I'm in wifout my mask was after dat fight against dat lobster-mummy-monster, but since I had no equipment wif me as well and I have no flashy powers, I could have passed as just someone who helped de team."
She then realizes something else and smiles. "Oh, and when dat happened, I did not look like dis." She says, pointing to her new self. "Dis new me is so far completely secret." She shrugs. "I'm willing to do it, if we find it is worf de risk."
For a second Megan thinks about bringing up her Amazonia alias, but decides to skip past it unless she really has to get involved in infiltration.
"Okay, so getting in close to Thorn seems tough. What's better: guessing where they'll hit next and intercepting them? Or parlay?"
"Dere is also de option of creating a fake target for dem and luring dem." She points out.
Wendy does not want to openly disagree with Ziss. But then she truly would be letting an interpersonal relationship get in the way of the mission.
Respectfully disagreeing doesn’t make anyone look bad. Hostile tones do.
”Only catch to that,—“ She said to call her ”Fox, is that Thorn’s likely done her homework. And if they’re sitting on the lamp, knowing it’s a golden gun but thinking they’ve one bullet or three, that says Thorn bides their time, thinks. Plans. Assesses risk. Waits. Strikes. Doesn’t miss.
“If we can determine the likeliest target, parlay or interception is possible. Fox’s idea on fake targets can work with the interception, if Kalilah transmutes one or some of us to look like oil CEOs. Is that the next target though..?”
"Thorn's probably not thinking of a specific target right now. If they had one, it would be some big ticket news story that's trending. Thorn wants to be heard, to let the people know their intent and cause." Tumbler says, glancing at the old photo with some lingering regrets.
"I can probably talk to them. Return some stuff that they might be missing. You know how breakups go, we leave all sorts of pieces behind," She admits. "And at least I can get a sense of where her head is at when we meet. Not at her base though. Actually," She says with some inspiration, "That's a good opportunity ity for the rest of the team to raid the place. I'm the distraction, and you won't break a sweat dealing with the other Friends."
"Do we know where they are right now? Because maybe, if you don't think they'd be willing to give the lamp up, we just drop out of the blue and take it. Don't give them a chance to think, or react. We smash in blasting 'Ride of the Valkyries' or something, so the Friends won't know what hit 'em."
Wendy has to admit, I even like the tune.
”Tumbler, if we go with that plan, do you want a head start? We can hook you up with inconspicuous Ear Buddies so you can keep in touch. I think I’m gonna change clothes myself.” Gesturing over her own ensemble. ”This look screams, Obviously, You’re Not a Golfer.”
She heads toward the door.
The Barbed Beret moves over to Ziss. She looks up. ”Miss Fox. You should follow her to the Teal Room. The fembots will not enter there. There are no cameras there.” She gives Ziss a small nod. ”You two keeping secrets from each other is dangerous. The only thing that could be worse is using each other’s secrets to hurt each other.
“Avoid this scenario by being honest and non-judgmental. Wendy has been given this advice.”
Ziss turns to Barbs and considers her advice and offer. "De last time I've met Derby in private I still considered her a friend, but I was treated so badly dat I've decided dat I do not want dis in my life anymore."
"We are teammates, but not friends. Whatever she wants to tell me, dat she judges to be relevant and important for de team, can be said in de presence of everyone."
The doll says, ”I respect your choice, Miss Fox. But to throw away a friendship over a single interaction? To deny the chance that another single interaction could repair damage, clear a misunderstanding, tell her how you feel? She did not ask me to approach you. I am observing. You. Her. I suspect you have both wronged each other in a way, and both misunderstood each other, and both think you are right.
“But it is not my place to tell you to go to her. I merely suggest this. Your current course of action is not making you happy.”
The doll steps back. Unless Ziss responds, the Barbed Beret will leave her be.
"...Yeah, what the hell," Tumbler says, sighing and then looking at Megan with some guilt in her body language. "Just know that I'll be reaching out to them as a friend. That I'm going to meet them for a meal for asking a favor. And, just in case I manage to actually get through to them, can you please not do the raid until it's unlikely they'll listen to reason?"
Tumbler swallows and puts her burner in her pocket. "...I just hope that they aren't carrying a grudge."
"We'll give you whatever time you need," Arcana says. "I trust you. We'll wait for your signal to strike."
"Good luck," Wesley calls out when Tumbler looks like she's about to leave.
Arcana watches Wendy leave the room but doesn't make a move to follow her. She finds a leather-bound chair and sits down, crossing her legs and keeping her back straight.
Wesley starts pacing back and forth.
"...Yeah, what the hell," Tumbler says, sighing and then looking at Megan with some guilt in her body language. "Just know that I'll be reaching out to them as a friend. That I'm going to meet them for a meal for asking a favor. And, just in case I manage to actually get through to them, can you please not do the raid until it's unlikely they'll listen to reason?"
Tumbler swallows and puts her burner in her pocket. "...I just hope that they aren't carrying a grudge."
Before Wendy heads to the teal room, she assures Carmen, ”Yes, I agree to giving peace a chance.
“Emerald or jade?”
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Seeing most of the group in agreeance as to the plan 86 approaches Tumbler. Makes to reach out to her and then stops short and retracts.
"Tumbler-Carmen. You will do well here, I have put trust in your abilities so far and you have not disappointed. You have a sly tongue and would make an excellent negotiator. Do not die, and keep us informed of what is happening." The last bit was almost turned up like a question or a hidden please, but the annunciation from the alien does leave quite a bit to be desired. But the overall statement seems to be an attempt to reassure Carmen of her abilities rather than simply praise them.
"It wasn't a single interaction, even if it started wif it, and for sure what was damaged can't be repaired in a single interaction." She explains, trying to keep her emotions in check.
"Kotoba wa kuchi kara, kōdō wa kokorokara." She quotes in Razzaran, before translating. "Words are from de lips, actions are from de heart. When I see a reason, through Derby's actions, to give her anoder chance, den I'll speak to her."
"I might not be happy, Barbs, but I'll be fine. I'll heal, and de first step to do so is always to stop taking what makes you sick."
”I see.”
The doll understands Ziss has made her choice.
”But while you are looking for an action from the heart, ask yourself, how many people on this team reached out to you in your absence?”
She steps back with a bow and walks away.
To Kalilah, she suggests, ”Wendy is taking too long. She is in the Teal Room. Ask any fembot to lead you there.”
"De same dat always did." She replies as the doll leaves. "Nofing changed."
Wendy changed.
—into a golf ensemble: a teal babydoll polo, teal and magenta plaid skirt, sensible shoes and a derby—also teal, with a magenta band.
She has turquoise earrings, and she offers Carmen a choice of jade or emerald. ”Ear-Buddies guised as jewelry. Keep both. Emerald today, and Barbs can hook up Jade as a private pair for your contacts. No Hatrix can access the Jade ones.”
Barbs corrects Wendy. ”Can. But won’t.”
As it appears the meeting is over, Wendy informs everyone, ”You won’t be able to leave the cave on your own. Diego could easily.
“Feel free to take the same card back, or pair or group as you see fit. We can head to our own base first to take 86’s transport. And we got a few hours until lunchtime, so base by 11:30 or find your own way to the Fun Putt Hut and we can meet there. Keep Ear-Buddies on to coordinate and if course hear Tumbler’s call.”
As they begin to leave, Ziss enters the same car as Tumbler. "Do you mind if I join you?" She asks. "I'd like to ask you for some advice."
During their ride, Ziss engages in just small talk, but do tell Tumbler about her last date with Nicole. As they arrive in Tumbler's destination, Ziss leaves with her.
The team gets a message from the Barbed Beret:
Dear Bay Watchmen,
As you are well aware, the team meeting was held at the home of Bruce Hatrix, a.k.a. The Capped Crusader. Wendy was looking forward to his attendance at your morning meeting. She has reported that he, too, was excited to meet all of you and had planned on inviting you to his 125th Birthday Bash, scheduled on the premises two weeks from today.
However, I regret to inform you that one of our Fembots was forced to report an incident. Upon entering his chamber, she discovered that Bruce Hatrix did not attend your meeting because he had passed away in his sleep.
Wendy’s message to you is that the mission is to continue. Personal matters are to be postponed. Due to the urgency of this mission, no further action should be taken to compromise the mission objective.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
~Barbs
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86 simply leaves the capped cave and returns to the base as instructed only when she is near does the communication about the passing of one Bruce Hattrix. She is unaware exactly the nature of who that is, but recalls wendy saying something about her great-Patriarch coming to the meeting and puts two and two together. It is a shame that she could not meet one who was part of her line, and surely a great person. But such losses in Treznak society could be mourned later, for the time they would omly strengthen the resolve of the pack.
Arriving at the base she immediately marched into the workshop, quing up the final prints as she walked by. There would be very little time for a pre-test and so a field test would be the only thing avaliable at the time.
"Making final adjustments Wendy-red. It shall be ready for a field test when we need it."
Megan leans her head back and groans in the car, sending a quick text to the Ziss/Carmen groupchat.
Enjoy this mission while you can
The only things stuffier and more insufferable than a funeral for a golden age hero, are Hattist funerals.
Flaming Fedora's had good food though
Ziss sees the message in her phone about the Capped Crusader dying and the orders from Derby: "Shut up and do what I tell you". She stares at the screen for a couple minutes, until it turns off and she sees her reflection. There is only angry in her eyes and upon this realization, she cries softly.
Upon receiving Megan's message, she answers her with a message of her own. "I really enjoyed de time we've spent togeder. I'll miss you deeply Megan... you are a wonderful person." With that, Ziss places her phone and ear buddies on the ground and proceeds to blast them with her gloves.
The remaining of the afternoon is spent making the arrangements for her father to travel with her. The Armorer was sick and there was no cure for him on Earth. Before leaving, Ziss visits Nicole and explains to her who she really is, offering her to take her with them to a journey of a lifetime...
Ziss takes a look around the plaza where they once fought cyborgs from Razzara. She would miss Earth and its waves. She would miss Megan and her warming smile, and she'd miss Wes... the true one. This wasn't her story anymore. She had found her father and there were countless worlds for her to visit still, while staying on Earth was only making her hate herself.
There is a flash of light and Ziss is gone, never to return to Earth again.
"Making final adjustments Wendy-red. It shall be ready for a field test when we need it."
Wendy’s voice replies over the Ear-Buddies, ”Are we taking the new wheels on our mission? Either way, see you at the base!”
She says to the full team: ”Hey, team! I’m in transit with the Wesses.
“Full disclosure: we talked after you left. I believe Wes and Kalilah both accept that they’re parts of a whole, and our mission is to save the whole.
“We’re out of the woods once either Wes has the lamp, now that I’m relatively certain they aren’t plotting against each other.”
She smiles at the pair, looking side to side as she has taken the middle seat between them.
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There isn't much of a reply from 86 over the course of time it takes for the group to reconvene. At the base 86 is occassionally seen moving in and out of the now cycling airlock between the medium printer and the workshop. It seems she's duely keeping herself busy mentally. With various bits and bobs.
"Wendy-red I will require the insourcing of more raw material for future projects. Since Tumbler-Carmen is busy with her part of the mission, any source of iron or steel alloy will work as well as titanuim bases to continue manufacturing them into requiset materials. I do not need anything raw the printer can deconstruct as well as reconstruct into the proper carbon structures."
Megan chimes in to Wendy over comms. "If you don't mind taking care of a couple calls, Trust Fund, then there's some demolition jobs I can speed up in exchange for Fuzzbutt's raw material."
Megan leans her head back and groans in the car, sending a quick text to the Ziss/Carmen groupchat.
Enjoy this mission while you can
The only things stuffier and more insufferable than a funeral for a golden age hero, are Hattist funerals.
Flaming Fedora's had good food though
Tumbler texts back in the same chat, ignorant that anything could be wrong with Ziss - at least until she gets an e-mail from the Armorer explaining to his loyal client base his departure from the city.
We usually have wakes, never funerals
Better to drink and remember them as they lived, since they don't live long
WTF
Armorer's closing shop
Huge problem for me
Talk later, gonna hit up Thorn
She calls up her ex on the one number she knows is still good for them. It goes to a dead drop voicemail that will alert Thorn when a message has been dropped into it. "Hey. It's me. This is kind of a dumb thing, but can we talk? I'll be at Parvati's, that vegan Pakistani place you love so much. Okay, well...hope you're listening. Bye."
”That’s fine.” Wendy replies to C.T. ”Preferably in a couple days, but we’ll get 86 what she needs.”
Daphne Hatrix patiently descends the Phasevator into what was once her great-grandfather’s home. Once well below ground, she hastily walks past the Treznak tech, enters the grand hall, and ascends the stairs toward the Teal Room.
”You could have claimed the master bedroom, you realize.”
Wendy takes a moment to answer the door. After all, she can’t train her cousin to be Bay City’s mightiest hero without triggering her powers.
Phasing through her own door, levitating, she says to her cousin, ”Let’s fly!”
”You’re going to fly in that outfit? You look like Mrs. Maisel, both a decade younger and a decade behind in fashion.”
”The fifties are making a comeback… this is the year, Daphne!”
Wendy takes Daphne into her rainbowy mind cloud where the two train hard: one to master her own true powers; the other to trigger her borrowed powers without self-abuse…
• • • • •
It was hard for Wendy to accept that her wild days with Kalilah had to come to an end. Tears were shed, and since the woman she made a promise to was just a power manifested, she rationalized the promise was nothing. An old habit resurfaced.
Wendy had done more than simply knock out a tooth. But all anyone noticed was the young Hatrix nerdette with more powers than the time the bullet struck her heart.
She survived her recklessness, but it came at a heavy cost. Her self-destructiveness perhaps validated Ziss’ concerns, or maybe a powerless leader was what made the team so intriguing. Either way, the Bay Watchmen were heading in the direction of all-victory-no-selfie.
Their dwindling fanbase prompted Cape Watch’s Jerry Woodrow to ask, ”Who’s watching the Bay Watchmen?”
• • • • •
After the training, Wendy takes her scooter to Wes’ place. Her outfit is adorable, classy, and as usual, sure to meet the approval of Wes’ parents. That Respectable Hatrix Girl, with her teal derby tilted to show her chestnut curls, patiently awaits her fiancé. (Not yet, but in her vision from the Temporal Tiara’s power, she expects a proposal on her 18th birthday.)
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The coming months were perilous for the crew as well as 86. With the aid of Crimson Tide the two managed to put a mild dent in the rusting scrap fields of ship wreckage clogging up the ocean floor near Bay City. In turn providing the Treznak with valuable raw materials to further her creations to aid the team. The under-coffee Base became a site of structure for both her and the other temporarily stranded Treznak on Earth. The team was able to bring their might to bear against a colony that if left to it's devices for weeks or even days longer would have proven a challenge for even the mighty heros of Earth. But thanks to the expertise honed from eons of fighting such a foe as well as tech made specifically to fight against it they were able to nullify any notable presence on the planet.
Wendy-Red as well as the rest of the team found it fitting to bestow 086-732 with a spoken Earth name. Erwina, one that she accepted and made known to her own people and strives to live up to. Erwina 086-732 found it in herself to also grant her Terran compatriots with names of their own to the best of her ability.
Wendy 007-928 named after a limited edition red-haired Barbie that she seemed to be a fan of. Wesley 102-443 after one of the brightest minds of the Treznak people. Megan 099-626 named after Big-Nines line and she made sure to make Crimson before Nines also she'd heard something about an alien with a similar style that she thought of when looking at Megan. Carmen 033-552 many of the brainy and sneaky espionage members of the Treznak military came from the 033 batch, but 552 stood out in particular from the records.
Soon the Zaka'zil makes to enter the gravity well of Sol and the Treznak will make themselves widely known to humanity's governments. Perhaps they will congratulate the fledgling species and the surviving crew of Murkal's Judgement on their success against the eternal enemy. Only then does Erwina have to make her choice on weather to continue the fight or stay to ensure that the villainous forces of Earth didn't get their hands on the volatile spores of the Nos'Valgras plague to use for their own nefarious schemes.
The Barbed Beret and Ken (Lunar New Year Barbie) proudly present the newest addition to the FemBot Family.
“RoboBarbie, this is Jane Bond, named for her Double Oh Seven model number. Ken and I are her adoptive parents. All FemBots are mandated to love her.”
RoboBarbie kneels down to get a closer look. “I am a grandmother. Of course I love her. May I hold the new baby?”
“M HAI!” Ken replies, wrapping her arms around her daughter overprotectively.
The Crimson Tide didn't stay with the team long. She still liked them fine, and any time the craziness of the world meant a big all-team team-up was in the offing, she was the first to run over and give them a big shark hug. The ones that were still in the life anyways.
But the balance had been off. She liked the friendship, and she wanted the fame, but... Off.
So she struck out on her own, changed her costume again, changed her codename for a hot minute.
She worked alone, then on a team, then as a duo more equal than her partnership with the Sea King, then again on a team - not the Heralds, but not far beneath them.
It was good, but it wasn't great.
Years had passed, more heroes had left the life for some reason or another, but both the years and their hardships fell lightly on Megan's mighty shoulders. She was aging, after all; even when her vitals refused to show any sign of it, she could still feel those grains of sand slowly slipping through her fingers.
She was oddly okay with it. She didn't relish having the strength seep from her arms or the speed from her movements, but the idea of being in some kind of immobile stasis was even worse.
So she kept moving, she kept learning, she kept growing. It was good, but it wasn't great.
All the best pieces of the recently recovered Treasure Ship were missing from the museum, She still found herself involved in an improbable number of aquatic hijinks. They weren't dangerous or anything, nothing to get the Team involved in, probably nothing that Crimson Tide herself needed to be called in for, but she'd been free, and whoever the thief was, they'd ripped a solid steel security door apart before carrying away a king's ransom in weighty treasure.
So at least they'd be a good scrap once Crimson Tide caught up with them.
But before she could run off to the fun stuff, first she had to check in with the curator, and the insurance adjustor, and the security consultant-
"Oh my god! 'S that really you? Man, it's been ages. So this is what you're doing now? That's- wow -that's so good to hear; it's, 't's really great to see you again."
"Would you wanna grab a cup of coffee with me?"
Wesley turned the faded, tarnished lamp in his hands. It still caused a shiver of dread when he looked at it, but it was clearly different now -- how it looked when he first was tricked into deciphering the inscription. It was again inert, no longer thrumming with power.
I'm free.
He handed the lamp back to Jaira. He opened his mouth to say something, but the emotions caught in his throat. He just smiled weakly.
Jaira took the lamp with a nod. "Hey, you don't have to make a big deal about it. We're good."
"Maybe, but... I should. Thanks just aren't enough. If you need anything--"
"Don't. I gave that up when I wished you free." Jaira looked at the lamp one more time and stowed it in her carry-on bag which she then slung over her shoulder. "Besides, it's been a crazy adventure, hasn't it? All thanks to you!"
Wesley nodded, glad to be off the topic of how much he owed her. "Yeah! It was closer than what I'd prefer, but it's worked out. I'm free, the Curator is facing an international tribunal, you get to take a priceless relic back to its native country... happy resolutions all around."
Jaira turned to look at the terminal and checked her watch to see how much time before customs and boarding. "That's true. And really, you don't owe me anything. If it weren't for you, I'd never had known I'm the descendant of the Aladdin."
Wesley smiled. "And if it weren't for that fact, you'd never have been able to take control of me from the Professor. Though, it would have been nice if you'd have gotten a selfish w-- heh. A wish for yourself."
"I told you, 'Don't.'" She pointed behind Wes to where Wendy was waiting. "I don't need magical wishes. The only ones I needed to make were the ones I made."
"You're amazing."
Jaira smirked and adjusted her hijab against the wind. "I know. Not bad for a former street rat, huh?"
"Not bad at all." The pair exchanged a hug and separated. Wesley drifted backwards until he was standing next to Wendy. He clasped her hand
They watched the plane take off and fade into the distance. Then Wes turned to look at Wendy, a smile in his eye as he spied the coin on a chain around her neck. Their last gift from the lamp and the entire ordeal, it sported an image of Wesley on one side and Kalilah on the other. "So, for tonight, have you decided what side you want, or do you want to flip the coin?"
Nine months later…
Carmen Locke had never known normality or stability. Not when she was a child moving from base to base with her mother too afraid to leave her husband who got angry when he drank. Not when she was rescued from a life in the system by a kind and charismatic thief who saw potential in her gifts. Not even when she managed to strike it out with her own teams as an equal, first on one side and then the next.
Pursuing vengeance had given her purpose. Once the team had their final confrontation with Spinneret and she finally faced down the woman responsible for her pain, Tumbler made a choice - and Carmen walked out of that cavern alone. She liked the team, some more than others, but she understood the longer she stayed the more likely she was to get as twisted around and end up like dozens of other washed-up has-beens.
So she finished her GED. She got into college, and even trained for the Paralympics to try and make an honest living without using her powers and instead her natural gymnastics. She managed a bronze medal for the uneven bars so she felt that she had done good. It got her the scholarships she needed to finish her degree and then start off as a security consultant. First as an intern for a big company, then branching off into her own business once she'd used her old contacts.
She still kept in touch with the team, but she kept her former life in the juvenile record that it was sealed in. She had no desire to end back up in the system. Though occasionally she felt the old urge when she saw an inattentive debutante with a necklace on a loose clasp, or a safe that hadn't been updated in decades she could crack in a heartbeat. No, she was making money, dating around but not really finding anyone, living a perfectly acceptable life.
So she kept all sorts of places safer from people like her. It was a challenge even harder than cracking a security system and she relished it. And hated it when someone just brute forced their way in with no finesse. The interviews after a break-in were almost always unpleasant-
"Oh, wow. Uh...you look good. Yeah, I'm working on the right side this time. For good. It's great to see you too."
"...Sure. I'm paying for you."