2.28.2 – Knight takes bishop

2.0 - Edited by: Rellawing, AlliterativeArts - 11/30/2020

When Aurora called her mother’s cell phone to check in, she didn’t even have to wait for the first ring to finish.

“Hey, girl!” Goonie responded, sounding more lively now than she had earlier. “We’re just getting squared away here at the motel. The locksmith said it’d be a couple of days before they could swing by and fix the lock.”

Not that a lock really had kept the last set of invaders out, but why make it any easier for whoever came next?

“Alright, Mom! I’m on my way. Give me the name of the place and I’ll be there in a jiffy,” Aurora said.

After getting the name and hanging up, Leona was on her way soon enough to the motel. It was fairly close to their condo actually, so she had a good sense for where no inquiring eyes would turn on her when she landed. She transformed back to normal and jogged around the building, now feeling more tired than she had after fighting Blue Max. Guessing where to find the room number Goonie had given her she headed to the elevator and up to the third floor.

When she got to the room and knocked, Goonie opened up and Leona saw that a lot of their most valuable possessions were piled up in a corner. Including Quinn’s huge DJ deck. There were a few other boxes as well so they’d apparently handled moving everything over while she was handling her interrogations.

There was only the one king-sized bed to share between the three of them however so Leona couldn’t help but feel extra guilty for causing her family to have to deal with the situation. “I’m sorry, mom!” Leona threw her arms around Goonie who patted her gently.

“It’s fine, girl.” Goonie smiled. “I’m already doing better, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting some rest.”

Quinn shot her sister a glare before sighing and joining the hug. Leona shared some of the events she’d just been through and how supportive Detective Kirby was being. After they had a bit of a talk, they all settled into the bed together, hugging each other gently as they slept.

And this was pretty much how things were for the next few days. Leona received a few leads from Detective Kirby regarding the camp and she helped out wherever she could with the investigation and around town generally.

Eventually, he gave her some contacts up in Seaside and Aurora went to the indicated addresses, waiting for people matching their descriptions. The first few were dead-ends, but one day she came upon a particular man with a scraggly five o’clock shadow.

Before confronting him, she had waited until he went into his home, standing by in a disguise as a postal service uniform standing at the mailbox looking busy. The man didn’t look her way at all but after he got inside, she stepped to the front door and changed her appearance again to the same appearance she had when masquerading as a detective.

The man quickly answered when she knocked. “Excuse me, but if you don’t mind I have a few questions for you. I understand you have some information about the Padua Realignment Camp.”

This woman literally appearing on his doorstep asking such questions was clearly not appreciated, as evidenced by how he glared at her instantly and tried to slam the door on her. And although he got close, before he could close it Aurora put her hand up and wedged her aura into the door to halt its closure.

“What business is that of yours?” The scraggly man demanded, seeing he’d failed.

“Wait a moment, sir. I’ll show you why it’s my business.” She reached into her pocket for her Society ID Card. It wasn’t quite the same kind of badge she borrowed last time, but it would do.

She held it up and he peered at it. His face stiffened.

“What’s a cape interested in that camp for?” He looked away evasively. It was fairly clear that he had something on his mind.

“Again, my business.” Aurora smiled brightly. “The fact of the matter is that children are suffering. What do you know about it?”

“Nuthin’,” The man responded quickly while still glaring at her. “They’re fine folk,” he said as though it was a routine scripted response.

“Isn’t it true your kid was hurt by them?” Aurora shot back, glaring at him in return.

His gaze was the one that broke. “No… my kid’s fine. Get out of here.”

“Don’t give me that! It’s painted all over your face! Think about other people’s children! Something is seriously going on there. They’re suffering, and your silence isn’t going to help anyone. Spill it for the sake of those other kids.” Aurora firmly pushed the door open the rest of the way.

The man moved as though to shove her out but he let his arms fall to his sides. “T-t-they… They said… If I said anything they said wasn’t acceptable… it wouldn’t go well.”

“And as you’re thinking about your own skin, children are meanwhile disappearing mysteriously, or getting hurt. Do right by those poor kids for once in your life,” Aurora pleaded.

“It ain’t that simple!” The man begged, “Just find someone else!”

“Alright… but before I go, let’s find your child. I’m inviting myself in, whether that’s alright with you or not.” Aurora looked around inside.

“Don’t touch my kid!” The man cried.

“I’m not going to hurt your child.” Aurora sighed. She finally closed the door behind her and let her disguise slip. The glare on his face slipped away as his jaw dropped.

“A-a freaking ANGEL?” The man couldn’t believe his eyes. “Oh Father, I-I’m sorry… I swear… I didn’t mean to sin… please… you have to understand!” He cried and knelt on the floor.

Aurora looked down at him, not saying a word. She would not lie, but that didn’t mean she had to voice every little detail either.

The man remained silent for a long while clearly wrestling with himself on what to do until, finally, he broke down sobbing. “My kid was caned. He’s still got scars from it. I know the other kids are getting hurt too, but they said… And I thought as long as the gay problem was fixed everything else would be okay… but he’s… he’s not the same. I’ve gotten him therapy, but nothing seems to help.”

Aurora sighed. At long last, testimony that would help. “Will you speak with a Detective I recommend and give your testimony to him?” she asked. “Is your boy still injured?”

The man shook his head. “I swear it, I will. A-and no… my kid’s alright physically now. It was a year ago. But he’s permanently scarred… my kid broke the rules… and tried to get out. He told me… he said the other kids were starved sometimes… it was a way to teach the kids that they were in the wrong. Can you heal him, angel? Can you help heal his mind? Even if he’s gay, that’s alright. I regret that I even thought it was a good idea. Please do what you can for him!” he begged and took her hand, crying.

Aurora swallowed hard. “I could heal his body, but I can’t do anything for his mind… and I can’t affect scars. My healing leaves them behind.” She thought about Goonie. She was healed, but the bullet wound would probably be there for the rest of her life. Her mistakes could scar others for their lives, those were the stakes she was now dealing in.

“I’m very sorry. But still, please do what you can to end them. I’ll give you the contact information for Detective Benjamin Kirby. He has a good and kind soul. He will do all he can to tear them down for everything they’re doing to these children. If you do that, we’ll all feel better about the situation.” She squeezed his hand.

The man looked down, nodding despite his continued sobbing.

Over the next few days, Quinn still sometimes shot glares in Leona’s direction, but she gradually began to return to her normal self after sinking herself into making music with her headphones on.

Finally, Quinn made an overture to returning their relationship to normalcy. “You don’t do much exercising aside from this superheroing. I mean, when was the last time you really worked up a sweat? You shouldn’t ignore your normal body too much. Why don’t you try jogging once a while?”

Aurora blinked, “I’m kind of busy at the moment. I mean, it’s a good idea and all but I already do parkour… I just haven’t practiced in a while.”

“Well, that’s what I’m sayin’,” Quinn responded, “I have a few friends into it too. When I go, they’ll be there. You haven’t been in touch with your school friends lately, right? And while you’re keeping up your normal life social skills, it wouldn’t hurt if you learned some self-defense too. If you hadn’t transformed like that… if you were able to handle a situation like that in your normal form… I’m trying to say that if we both could have handled it differently, Goonie wouldn’t have got hurt… and with my moving out soon, I’m leaving her in your care, y’know?”

Leona nodded. “I know… I made mistakes. I’ll do my best to improve. And, I don’t know… I’m pretty sure the Society of Sentinels has a program or lessons... something to help develop new heroes. I haven’t asked yet, but you’re right.”

Quinn nodded and smiled. “Even though I’m going in the near future, I’ll be learning things too.”

The condo was fully repaired a week later, complete with a set of newly reinforced doors and stronger glass for the windows. Around then, Leona received an email from Detective Kirby that asked her to meet him on the rooftop of the 24th precinct. Heading over as Aurora, she found him waiting.

“Aurora,” Detective Kirby spoke when she set down, “you’ll be happy to know that this morning we got a warrant straight from the DA to search the camp. We do still have to deliver a copy to their local DA, but we’re going to hold off on that until we arrive.” Clearing his throat to wind up to something, he got to why he had called her in, “With all that being said, I need a favor. Since you’re faster than a police car, when the warrant hits the local DA’s desk will you be able to get me there and help me watch the compound while we wait for state officials and other officers from San Isidro?”

“It’d be my pleasure, Detective.” Aurora smiled. It was certainly the least she could do for him. She slipped around behind him and extended her field to cover him. “You ready?” She asked him with a wink.

He’d barely finished nodding when Aurora took off, pumping her wings to gain elevation. He shrieked like a little girl when she ‘opened up’ her throttle. She formed a harness around him to anchor him to her firmly enough that she could use her ID to plot a course back to Padua.

When she poured in all the power she had and went as fast as possible, they got there even faster than even she thought. Kirby was still eeping. “Holy MOLEY!” he said, “Give my internal organs a moment to catch up with us, geez… Ugh, you can set us down right at the gate when I get a grip.”

Signaling her when he had sufficiently gathered himself,  Aurora set down at the gate and rang the bell.

Kirby spoke loudly, “This is Detective Kirby from the San Isidro Police Department. I have a warrant signed by a San Isidro judge to search this compound, and we will soon be receiving backup from local and state authorities to carry out this search.”

Kirby turned to Aurora and signaled for her to fly up and watch the compound. “If you see anything involving endangering a child, I authorize you to stop it. Consider yourself deputized.”

“Roger, Detective.” Aurora smiled shyly. “Sorry to have scared you. I didn’t intend to do that.” Though it was a bit funny. “I owe you a far more pleasant and leisurely flight at any appropriate time to make up for it, just say the word.” she grinned as she jumped up into the air and flitted over the courtyard.

She kept watch from above and saw a few councillors heading towards some buildings that looked like outhouses. Rapidly unlocking one of the padlocked doors a pair of kids no older than ten or twelve years old came tumbling out. Aurora gaped in horror before catching herself and pulling out her communicator to take some high-resolution pictures of the sheds as more were opened.

The kids were naked and handcuffed and when one of the councillors scooped up the kids she was able to zoom in and see far more on their backs and ankles.

Down to her core Leona felt sick. It took every fiber of self-control she had to not vomit on the spot. It was exactly the same thing her father had done to her. Her eyes began to lose focus and she quivered with unbridled rage. He at least hadn’t had the nerve to lock the padlock, or so Goonie said, but these Councillors actually did it.

It was the exact same evil.

Aurora charged down full blast, hitting the ground with enough force to leave a sizable indent. She seethed. “That’s it. You’re finished. I’ve photographed evidence. Proof of what you do here. As a duly appointed Deputy of the law, I inform you that you are all under arrest for Child Endangerment and Child Abuse. Anyone who wants to try to resist arrest please, please, please feel free, but keep in mind I’m far stronger than a Police Officer... Nobody? Then you are all going to cooperate with me. I want all the kids rounded up at the gate, NOW. No one is to leave this compound. Is this understood?” Aurora practically snarled, turning on her aura.

The Councillors nodded together in perfect sync. One of them got on his walkie and informed the others inside of what was going on as the other Councillors continued to unlock the outhouses. Looking inside one, Aurora saw there were no toilets. They were filthy and seemingly designed to retain heat.

In terms of space, there was barely enough room for a four-foot tall child to stand up and most of the cubes had at least two kids inside.

The last one was opened to reveal Sarah together with some boy Aurora didn’t know. Sarah croaked as she saw her. “Aurora…” Her voice was dry and strained. “Thank God you came back… you… were right…” she started to sob. “I’m sorry… I… Uwaaaahhh.” she had barely made it ten steps out of her cell before she began to weep inconsolably.

Aurora rushed over to her. She was sweaty and filthy and somewhat emaciated. She wrapped her arms around Sarah tightly. It was clear that none of the children hadn’t been fed for a while. If it was anything like the others, she had probably been marinating in virtual isolation the whole time in her sweat and filth.

Aurora cried as she held Sarah. “It’s okay, sweetie… it’ll be okay.” She held her tightly. This situation was pure horror. She looked up at the outhouses and the cringing Councillors.

This was the face of human evil. She felt more aged by this experience than her years allowed for. Far older after witnessing this. “I’ll see you and the other students get water and clothes. I’ll personally escort you home too, though I’m not sure that your parents are fit to care for you after sending you to this place.” Aurora scowled. She continued to embrace Sarah and turned her glare on these agents of malice. “Have every staff member on site bring them water, proper clothes, and food! Fucking feed them!”

They looked at each other briefly before a few went scurrying to do as told.

By the time the water was distributed among the victims, the front gates were opened and Detective Kirby, State Troopers as well as the local cops entered. Aurora recognized at least two of the local cops.

Kirby rushed over to get an explanation from Aurora. “What the hell is going on here?”

Aurora told them everything, explaining that she had high resolution pictures for evidence aside from what they could see. As she spoke, Kirby started to scowl deeply too. “These kids truly have a Guardian Angel. All right, everyone fan out. I want a head count and I want to verify every kid here against their records and the papers we’ve collected. Every staff member needs to be accounted for.” He barked orders. The local cops waited at the gate while the troopers dispersed around the compound. Down the road, a San Isidro police car was blocking the end of the road.

Sarah, still in her arms, clung to Aurora. Kirby looked to Aurora again. “Looks like you made a friend.” He smiled thinly. “This place is getting shut down today, if I’m right. We’re going to get some school buses to take these kids home. We can take it from here if you need to be elsewhere,” he said, as he patted her shoulder.

“I’m taking Sarah here home. She’s my contact. I know her.” Aurora softly stroked the abused girl’s hair. “I’ll see to it she gets to her parents after we get her some food and into some clothes. Although her parents sent her here, they’re not directly to blame for what they do here.” She scowled but not at the Detective. “If that’s alright with you, I will be heading out, it’s important. Also, those local officers hanging at the gate… some of them seemed to be involved with this too. This is the girl they were unnecessarily rough with. You might want to see how deeply they were in this business. They were true believers, if you know what I mean.”

Kirby nodded. “There’s a reason those two are here. There’s plenty of blame to go around here. At least stay until we make sure we record that Sarah was here. Then, I’ll authorize you to take her home. Make sure you send me those photos so I can add them to the case file.”

Heading inside the main building, Aurora found Sarah some decent clothes. She didn’t talk much, content to cling to her and quietly sob away softly. When Sarah was given water and something to eat, Aurora sent the pictures to Kirby by email. Although he was busy with being in charge Kirby came into the room they were sitting in, one of the rooms the kids stayed in when they weren’t being punished, and gave Aurora a quick status update. “Okay, everything is accounted for. She’s recorded and confirmed. Thanks for helping out on this, Aurora.” He nodded to her.

“Can you take me someplace else before we go home?” Sarah asked in a tremulous voice. “I want… to see my friend. I want to see Leona.” She sniffled.