Absolute Power. Michael Carroll

       TEN YEARS EARLIER…

      HER EYES STREAMING from the smoke that billowed from the burning battle-tank, Energy limped across the shrapnel-strewn battlefield to where Titan was sitting propped up against an overturned jeep. The hero was tearing his blue cape into strips – he’d already used several to bind a stick to his broken right leg.

      He looked up as Energy approached. “Hey…You OK?”

      “I’ll live.” Holding on to the jeep to steady herself, Energy carefully lowered herself down next to him. “Just so you know, the medics are bringing their own bandages.”

      Titan forced a smile. “Had to keep busy. Didn’t want to pass out.”

      “So, did we win or lose today?”

      Titan dropped the shredded cape and took hold of her hand. “I don’t think that’s something we’re going to know for a long time.”

      Energy nodded, then paused. “Diamond didn’t make it. She was in her crystalline form when it happened. Without her powers, she wasn’t able to change back.”

      “God…What was her name? Her real name?”

      “She never told me. Max said he didn’t know either.”

      “How are we going to find her family, tell them what happened?”

      Energy didn’t answer.

      Titan leaned his head back against the jeep. “She was just a kid.”

      “I know.”

      A voice called, “So how are you guys doing?”

      They looked up to see Paragon striding towards them.

      “We’re alive,” Energy said. “Thanks to you.”

      “That’s all part of the job description.” Paragon unclipped his jetpack and checked a tiny read-out on the back. “Damn. Left thruster’s just about blown. Not that it’s worth repairing now. If it’s true that you superhumans have all lost your powers, then I’m going to quit the business too.”

      Titan began, “No, you should—”

      Paragon raised his hand to his helmet. “Hold it…Go ahead, Max…Got it. I’m on the way.” Slinging his jetpack back into place, he said to Energy and Titan, “He thinks they’ve just found Ragnarök’s base.”

      He soared into the sky.

      Energy activated her communicator. “Paragon, you’re crazy! You can’t go after him without your armour!”

      His voice came back. “Dioxin destroyed