Page 60 of Fanning the Flames

“This is her archnemesis,” Darlene said. “Wouldn’t she finally want justice?”

“She’s out of this life,” Perry said.

Mark leaned forward. “How do you know so much about Amazing Woman?”

Everyone in the room—including Aura—stared at him. Perry scowled. “History.”

Oh.Oh.“She was the Super who betrayed you,” Joan realized.

“She was forced to by the others.”

“Aw man, you must hate her guts,” Mark said.

Perry said nothing, but in that moment, Joan got everything she needed. The woman who had betrayed him, who’d turned him into Breeze, was a Superhero.

Only he wasn’t ranting and raving about her. He’d cared for her.

Darlene broke the silence. “A Superhero pledges to protect the people. She’ll want justice and to defend Vector City.”

“I’d leave her alone,” Aura said. “She put in her time. She’s been through enough.”

“Flight also battled Big Quake?—”

“No, I mean she wentthrough it. You sent her in first, every time, to take the brunt of an assault. She was indestructible, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. She was treated like crap. Being a woman Super in the old days was hard. Not that it’s all that better today.”

“I’m not suggesting she join the fight,” Darlene said. “It would be to help us with a plan of attack.”

Per had the weirdest look on his face. Like he wanted to shout about something, but also troubled in a way Joan had never seen.

Zee held up a hand. “Can we go back to age? Is Quake able to do what he used to? Powers diminish with age.”

“That’s why he’s teamed up with the others,” Joan said.

“Then shouldn’t we want to separate them?”

Huh. Another good point.

Aura tilted her head to see above her screen. “I’ve got to go. Crime never sleeps in Destine. Let me know if you need something. Or, y’know, if you just want to talk.”

She sent Otis a pointed glare before the call ended.

Darlene began to walk around the table. “I’ll reach out to her.”

“She’ll say no,” Perry said. “After what happened with Big Quake, she vowed to never get involved again.”

“She told you that?” Otis said.

“She toldyouthat. In no uncertain terms, as you said.”

“Can we take five?” Mark shook his index finger at Perry. “I have a few questions for my associate that he won’t answer in a room full of people.”

“You can go in the hallway,” Otis said. “While I review notes with Ward.”

“Keep the door open,” Darlene said. “I’ll be watching. We have cameras everywhere.”

Joan ignored her because damn it, she was finally about to get Perry’s origin story. He looked resigned enough to open up.

The trio went to the opposite side of the wood-paneled hall. “So Amazing Woman, huh?” she said.

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