The Rise of Starnova

It had been an average night for Danica Astin when the meteorite crashed down to earth.  She had been lying on her friend’s sofa, snoozing after an attempt to finish an article for Suven Sun had somehow led to more drinking and playing computer games than actually writing.  The point of impact for the meteor was several miles away, in an empty field just outside of the limits of the city of Suven, but the force of the landing had shaken the whole awake.  Dani had fallen of the sofa with a start, vaguely aware that her world had briefly rocked, then curled up in a blanket and gone straight back to sleep on the floor.

Little did she know that her life was about to change.

* * *

Dani leaped from the taxi as it pulled up outside the offices of the Suven Sun, tossing the fare and tip to the driver as she raced into the building.  The Sunven Sun was the city’s oldest publication, and had successful moved into the modern day with a popular website and roster of veteran and younger reporters on its staff, and due to its online presence these staff members were able to work flexible hours.   But despite all of this, Dani still had managed to be late.  Again. 

At twenty-two, Dani was slim and pretty young woman with short ginger hair and inquisitive hazel eyes.  She was dressed tidily in casual clothing that consisted of faded denim jeans, an orange tank top and short leather jacket, which had become her unofficial uniform since she had gotten her job at the Sun, and over her shoulder she carried her bag containing her digital camera, tablet and an old fashioned notebook-and-pen combination.  Dani groaned to herself as she headed upstairs to the main offices, knowing that her editor was going to have a field day chewing her out.  Also, again.

When she arrived on the floor, all the other staff was gathered around Gloria Jackson, the long-time editor in chief of the Sun.  She was handing out assignments to the other reporters as Dani slipped in, with the young reporter hoping that her entrance would be unnoticed, but Gloria's eagle eyes spotted her immediately.  "Glad you could join us today, Miss Astin," she said with a smirk, causing all the others to turn and stare at her. 

"Yes, Ms Jackson," Dani replied, smiling sheepishly, and took her place with the others.  As Gloria continued, it became clear that Dani had missed the meat of the day's news, as only human interest stories where now being handed out to Dani’s fellow rookies.  Once she was finished with that, Gloria dismissed the reporters, and beckoned Dani into her office.

“What am I going to do with you?” Gloria sighed as she slumped down behind her desk.  “You are talented, Dani, but so is every other reporter out on the floor.  You know what the difference is between them and you?  They can meet a deadline.”

“I’m sorry,” Dani sighed.  “Look, I swear I’ll do better.  I’ve just been having a tough time of late.  I’m in between apartments, and am having to sleep on a friend’s sofa.  Please, give me a chance and I promise I come through.”

“Didn’t you tell me that last time?” Gloria said, shaking her.  “Dani, you are officially on probation.  I am going to assign you to a veteran reporter, and you are hopefully going to learn from her.  But if I don’t see an immediate improvement, I am going to have to let you go. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Ms Jackson,” Dani replied glumly. 

“Good,” Gloria said.  “Now, I want you to go with Willows and cover that meteorite that landed last night.  You follow her lead and listen to what she says, and hopefully we get you to realise that promise.”

“I will do my best,” Dani replied, then headed out of the office. 

Anne Willows was waiting for her, lounging with her feet up on her desk.  She was a thin woman of forty-five, with short, spiky hair she kept bleached white, a sharp nose and intelligent grey eyes that she kept behind a pair of wire-rim glasses.  She was dressed in a battered, olive green military jacket, a white T-shirt and blue jeans, and wore her distinctive cowboy boots.  Anne had been a war correspondent before joining the Suven Sun, a rather famous one in fact, but she had grown tired of the horrors she had witnessed in many foreign lands and had decided that joining a smaller city newspaper would be less taxing on the psyche.  Despite this, she was still the sharpest reporter on the scene, and many ways Dani was honoured to get to work with her.

“Hey thre,” Dani said, smiling sheepishly at the elder woman.  “Are you ready to go learn about some space rocks?”

“Sure, rookie,” she said with a smirk.  “Just so you know, I am not excited to be on babysitting duty.  But Gloria seems to think you are worth keeping around, so you better be on your game today.”

“I won’t let you … or her … down,” Dani said, hoping she would be able to keep that promise.

“Good,” Anne said, standing up.  “Let’s roll.”

* * *

The meteorite had been moved to Suven Discovery Centre, a large, futuristic building where the best and the brightest plied their sciences to better the world around them.  There, it was being studied by Doctor Rosalind Kingston, a brilliant young woman who was becoming the SDC’s superstar.  She arranged to meet Dani and Anne in the centre’s foyer, and then took them up to her laboratory.

“It is fascinating stuff,” Rosalind said enthusiastically as she led the pair of reporters to where she was keeping the remains of the meteorite.  She was a short, perky woman with frizzy auburn hair, thick glasses and dressed in a rumpled lab coat, and from the speed of both her walking and speech, Dani believed she subsisted on a diet entirely made up of caffeine.  “Normally, such astrological objects rarely survive our atmosphere, burning up before they can impact, and this one is surprisingly intact.  But that is not the exciting part!”

Rosalind brought them into the lab, giving them their first look at the meteorite itself.  It was laid out on a mental examination table, surrounded by complex computers and scanners.  Dani found it to be surprisingly small after such a build-up, with it measuring to be about twelve feet long and five feet wide.  It was made up of a mixture of jagged dark rock and a glassy crystal substance which seemed to emit a soft glow. 

“As you can clearly see, it is not comprised of the usual materials we would expect from such an object,” Rosalind said gleefully.  “But that is not the exciting part.  Our early tests indicate that the meteorite may actually be synthetic. We could have actual evidence of extra-terrestrial existence!”

“You mean alien?” Anne asked, making notes. 

“Very possible,” Rosalind replied, nodding vigorously.  “Of course, this is speculation at the moment, but I will be happy to show you our preliminary research on the matter.  Follow me.”

“Dani, why don’t you stay here and take some photos,” Anne said, as Rosalind lead her off to an office adjoining the lab.  “And try not to touch anything.”

“Yes, mom,” Dani answered, taking out her digital camera.  She circled the meteorite, trying to find the best angle.  She wasn’t convinced that Rosalind was right, as the idea of this rock being made by aliens was pretty far-fetched.  But if it was, this was a great story to be part of, and even if it wasn’t she needed to do a good job to ensure her continued employment. 

As she snapped a couple of pictures, she noticed a glint at the base of the table.  She moved over to it and knelt down, and found herself looking at a small shard of crystal lying on the floor.  It was about two inches long, and was vaguely diamond shaped, looking like it had been crafted rather than naturally occurring.  Without really thinking, Dani picked it up and studied it, and was surprised when it began to radiate a soft golden glow upon her touch.  She stared at it, enraptured by the light, almost hypnotized by it.  But her fugue was interrupted as the door to the lab opened.

Dani stood up, absently slipping the crystal shard into her pocket as she saw a blonde haired woman dressed in dark sunglasses and a black leather coat march in, followed by six other women dressed in grey overalls bearing the logo of the SDC.  The blonde woman looked about and spotted Dani, heading over to her with a stern expression on her face.

“Are you Doctor Kingston?” the woman asked.

“No, I’m a reporter,” Dani said, raising an eyebrow.  Something was off about this woman, though she could figure out what.  “She’s over there, in her office.  Who are you?”

“My name is Pamela Payne, and I am here to move the meteorite to a more secure facility,” the woman said, flashing an ID at Dani too quick for her to read it.  “My people here will be taking it and Doctor Kingston’s research with us, so please take us to her immediately.”

“Really?” Dani smirked.  “I’d have thought you’d have called ahead to ensure she’d have everything ready for you.  Come to think of it, who do you work for?  You were pretty quick with your card.  Mind if I have a closer look?”

“Certainly,” Pamela said dryly, reaching back into her leather coat.  But instead of pulling out her idea, she instead produced a strange-looking pistol and aiming it at Dani’s face.  “I advise you keep your smart mouth shut, young lady,” Pamela growled.

“Sure thing!” Dani said, raising her hands.  What was going on? She had no idea, but she was too worried about being shot to do anything stupid.

“Bind and gag her,” Pamela ordered her minions.  They took hold of Dani, pulling her hands down and behind her back, binding her wrists together with thick cable ties, and then secured her ankles together with more ties.  A small ball made of sponge was then stuffed into Dani’s mouth, and then sealed in place with a strip of silver duct tape.  “That should keep you quiet,” Pamela smirked evil.  “You four, stash her away with the others, then prepare the rock for transport.  The rest of you, let us go and secure the good doctor.”

“Right, boss,” said one of the henchwomen, who dragged off Dani.  They took the bound and gagged reporter to a nearby bathroom and tossed her inside.  Lying on the bathroom floor were two unconscious women dressed in the uniforms of the SDC security guards.  They were both tightly bound and gagged with duct tape, and Dani noticed the both had small tranquilizer darts embedded in their shoulders.  “Try and keep them company,” the henchwoman laughed at Dani, then locked the doors behind her.

This was bad, Dani thought as she struggled with her bonds.  She wondered who Pamela Payne really was, and why she was stealing the meteorite.  She also hoped that Anne was okay, but considering the older woman was a veteran of warzones, she was probably going to hold up better than Dani ever could. 

But the real thing that was getting to Dani was that she was currently missing out on a hell of story.

* * *

Pamela Payne burst into Doctor Kingston’s office with her henchwomen, startling Anne and Rosalind with her arrival.  “Sorry to bother you, doctor,” Pamela said as she brandished her custom dart gun.  “But I’m afraid you are coming with me.”

“Who are you?” Rosalind demanded angrily, but was quickly cowered as the gun aimed at her.

“She’s Pamela Payne,” Anne said, narrowing her eyes at her.  She was carefully watching the intruder and her thugs, but was experienced enough not to provoke them.  “She’s the right hand women of the mobster Belladonna Delitto, the so called queen of crime.”

“Ah, the famous reporter Anne Willows,” Pamela sneered.  “I see my reputation precedes me.  Since you know all about me and my employer, you will know better than to resist.  Need I have to resort to clichéd threats to get you to co-operate?”

“We’ll do as you say,” Anne said, getting Rosalind to settle down.  The hyperactive scientist was furious, but she knew she was out of depth and decided to cede to the reporter’s greater wisdom.

“Good,” Pamela said.  She turned to her minions.  “Grab all her research and then tape them up.  Well bring them with us, just in case we run into trouble.  And besides, I am sure Ms Delitto would be thrilled to have Doctor Kingston’s extensive knowledge on hand as we make use of the meteorite.”

“Why is a criminal interested in a meteor?” Anne asked as Pamela’s thugs moved in and bound her and Rosalind’s hands behind her back.  Another went to Rosalind’s laptop and began transferring her research onto a flash drive.

“None of your business,” Pamela said, though from her expression was all Anne needed.

“She hasn’t told you, has she?” she said, grinning.  “Must be fun being the one taking all the risks without knowing what it is all about.”

“Gag her!” Pamela snapped, and a strip of duct tape was stretched across Anne’s mouth, silencing her.  Rosalind’s mouth was taped next, and the captive pair were forced to their feet.  “Let’s move.  The boss is waiting for us.”

It was time to move out.

* * *

Dani lay on the bathroom floor, struggling with her bonds.  Pamela’s thugs had bound her tight, and the sponge-ball taped in her mouth effectively prevented her from calling for help, making her situation rather dire.  So far, neither of the two drugged security guards that shared the floor with her had shown any signs of recovery, and unless an SDC intern had a sudden need to use the toilet, it looked like Dani was going to be stuck there a very long time.

It was then she remembered the crystal shard in her pocket.  It was a long shot, but if she could get to it, perhaps the edges would be sharp enough to cut through the cable ties that restrained her.  Struggling up onto her knees and then up onto her feet, Dani twisted her bound arms as much as she could, trying to reach her jacket pocket.  It took several attempts, and her balance nearly faltered several times, but she finally managed to slip her left hand into the pocket and grab hold of the shard.  Dani squealed with delight as her fingers wrapped around the crystal, but at the same time she over balanced, sending her crashing to the floor.

She landed awkwardly, bring her body down upon her hand and she grimaced as she felt the crystal shard dig into her palm.  It sent a jolt through her body, and she was dazzled by a blinding flash of light.  In pure reflex, she tore her arms free, effortless snapping the cables that bound her at the wrists, and leapt up into the air.

“Ouch!” she cried after tearing the tape from her mouth and spitting out the sponge-ball, rubbing her aching hand.  Much to her surprise, her hand seemed larger than she remembered, and was clad in a long orange glove.  It was then she also noticed she was standing.  She was floating!

“What the hell?” she gasped. She turned her attention to the bathroom mirror, and got the shock of her life.

No longer was she the slender, pretty rookie reporter from the Suven Sun.  Instead, she saw in the mirror a tall, muscular amazon clad in a skin-tight orange and white costume, metal shoulder guards, a high, open collar and a diamond-shape in the centre of her chest.  A flowing cape bellowed out behind her, fluttering on an invisible wind, and her eyes burnt with a bright golden light.  She looked like a … a superhero!

“What is going on?” she whispered to herself, stunned by the astonishing transformation she had gone through.  But then she remembered, Anne!  The veteran reporter and Rosalind Kingston were still in danger from that Payne woman.  Purely on instinct, Dani flew out of the bathroom, rocketing down the hallway to the lab.  She did not question how she knew how to fly, only that it was the quickest way for her to get to her destination, but despite this when came into the lab she was disappointed to find it empty; Payne, Anne, Rosalind and even the meteorite were gone. 

“Where are they…?” Dani wondered aloud and then, almost as if she had commanded, she felt a tingling sensation.  It took her a moment to process it, but it soon became clear.  She could sense the meteorite, could feel how far away it was from her and in what direction it was moving.  Grinning, she turned in the air and zoomed out of the lab and down the corridor, towards the large window that looked out over the city.  Before she could smash into the glass, she jabbed her left fist out and a beam of light shot forward window, melting a hole in it large enough to fly through.

“Woohoo!” she cried as she raced through across the sky, loving the feeling being airborne.  But the thrill did not distract her from her mission.  Concentrating on the tingling sensation she felt, Dani noted a moving truck heading away from the SDC building. It was nondescript and moving quickly without speeding, perfectly unassuming to anyone who laid eyes upon it.  But Dani knew better, and with a grin rocketed towards the vehicle.

Swooping down, she came down alongside the truck on the driver’s side, bringing herself level with window.  Behind the wheel of the truck was one of Pamela Payne’s thugs, who first glanced at Dani before almost running off the road when she realised what she was seeing.

“I’d pull over if I was you,” Dani said, winking at the driver.  The woman slammed on the brakes, bringing the truck to a halt as Dani flew in front of the truck.  Raising her hands, she once again unleashed light beams, this time destroying the front tires of the truck.  The woman leaped from the cab, drawing a pistol from her overalls.  But before she could fire, Dani let loose another beam, this time melting the gun. 

“That wasn’t very nice,” Dani grinned, taking the woman by the throat.  She looked down at the woman’s belt and noticed a roll of duct tape hanging from it.  “Just what I needed,” she said, and forced the woman to the ground so she could bind her hand and foot. 

As she was finishing taping up the thug, the back of the truck opened and the five other henchwomen of Payne’s came rushing out, charging towards Dani.  Before they could reach her, she jetted up into the air, shocking them greatly.  She then let loose with her hand beams once again, carefully aiming at the ground at their feet.  The impact of the blasts sent them all flying, leaving them stunned but unhurt. 

“This is almost fun,” Dani laughed, gently floating to the ground.  She moved around to the back of the truck, where she was relieved to find Anne and Rosalind.  They were sitting against the wall of the truck, bound and gagged but otherwise unharmed, and the meteorite was strapped in on the opposite side.  “Don’t worry, Ladies.  I’ll have you free in a moment…”

Anne grunted at Dani, her cheeks puffing out as she tried desperately to speak passed the tape that sealed her mouth, but it was too late.  Realising her error, Dani spun in time to see Pamela Payne come around from the side of the truck and fired her dart gun, hitting Dani square in the chest.

“You really think that little dart will stop me?” Dani laughed, striding towards Pamela.  “I’m a superhero…” Dani’s world began to swim as the drug took effect, and then collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

* * *

Pamela was furious when she arrived at the wharf-based warehouse, still disbelieving what had happened.  Most of her henchwomen were unloading the meteorite from the back of the truck, while the others were moving Anne Willows and Rosalind Kingston into a storeroom that would keep them out of the way.  That left one last loose end; the tall, muscular woman in the superhero costume who had literally flown in to ruin Pamela’s day. 

The mystery woman was still aboard the truck, currently securely bound arms and legs in thick chains, with several turns of duct tape wrapped around her mouth.  She was still dozing from the effects of Pamela’s sleeping dart, but who knew what would happen when she awoke.  Flying around, shooting laser beams from her hands … Pamela could not believe what she had seen.  Worse still, she had to somehow break this news to Belladonna Delitto, who was not someone who suffered fools lightly.

“What do you want us to do with her?” one of her henchwomen asked.  “Want us to put her with the other prisoners?”

“No!” Pamela snarled.  “We cannot chance them freeing her.  Keep her locked in the truck for now.  I am going to call the boss, see what she wants us to do.”

The henchwoman nodded, then headed off to help stash away the meteorite.

With her gone, Pamela took out her encrypted mobile and dialled Belladonna’s private number.  “Hello,” came the soft, icy voice of the most feared woman in Suven’s underworld.  “I hope you are calling with good news, Miss Payne.”

“There has been a … complication,” Pamela said, choosing her words carefully.  “I have the rock, Doctor Kingston and, as an added bonus, the report Anne Willows.  But we’ve also had some trouble.  We were attacked by … by…”

“Spit it out,” Belladonna sighed.

“By a superhero,” Pamela said, not believe her own words.  She then went over what had happened, acutely aware that she was sounding crazier and crazier which each word she said.  Belladonna was silent throughout, never interrupting, never asking for clarification.  At the end of it, Pamela was sure her tenure as Belladonna’s right hand woman was well and truly over.  “So, that is what happened,” Pamela finished.  “What would you like me to do?”

“Kill her,” came the cold reply.  “Drive the truck into the Suven River and drown this heroine before her career can even begin.  You have done well, Miss Payne.  You will be rewarded.”

“Thank you,” Pamela said, surprised and relieved.  “I’ll do it right away.”

“Good,” Belladonna said.  “Once it is done, lay low for a couple of days and then arrange to have the meteorite shipped to me.  Trust me, Miss Payne, the future is very bright for us right now.”

“Thank you,” Pamela went to say, but Belladonna had already ended the call.  Wasting no time, she called over one of her henchwomen.  “We are dumping the truck in the drink.  Start the engine!”

“Yes, ma’am!” the woman said, saluting, the headed for the truck.  Pamela smiled to herself; it looked like things were going to turn out well after all.

* * *

Dani groaned as she came too, her head still swimming from the effects of the dart.  She had been stupid to allow herself to be ambushed like that, but to be fair it was her first time as a superhero.  Still, things were grim.  She was currently securely bound hand, foot, knees and arms with thick chains, and her mouth was tightly wrapped with thick duct tape.  And, despite her new body and strength, she was unable to break free of her restraints, no matter how hard she tried.

As she moved herself into a sitting position, she heard the engine of the truck start up and soon the vehicle was on the move.  Dani wondered where they were taking her, and soon got her answer as the truck speed up and then crashed into something solid.  The impact jarred Dani, and water began to seep through the closed doors of the back of the truck.  They were going to drown her!

Dani struggled fiercely, but she could not get free.  Calming herself, she began to think as the water began to rise around her, and then the answer came to her.  Trusting the same instincts that had allowed her to fly and use her light beams, Dani closed her eyes and willed herself back to her normal size.  To her relief, she began to glow, and in a flash she returned to her original, slender form.  Smaller, she simply shrugged her way out of the chains that had bound her and pulled the tape from her mouth. 

“Okay that worked,” she said with a smile.  “Now to get out of here.”

As she stood up, something fell to the floor, nearly disappearing beneath the water flooding the truck.  It was the crystal she had taken from the lab, the one she had been gripping when she first transformed.  Picking the shard up, studying it as it glowed at her touch.  It was almost whispering to her, telling all she needed to use the powers it held.  Grinning, Dani closed her fist around the crystal and squeezed, and there was once again a flash of light.

“Yes!” Dani cried, flexing her now huge muscles as her super-powered form restored itself.    She raised her hands and blasted the doors to the truck open, allowing the river water to rush inside.  Holding her breath, she waited for the truck to fill, allowing the pressure of the incoming water to lessen, then rocketed out of the water at blinding speed.  Free of the van and water, she could see she was at the wharf, near a large warehouse.  She could sense the meteorite within, and knew that Anne and Rosalind would be nearby as well. 

“Time to play the hero,” Dani laughed, then zoomed down towards the front door of the warehouse. 

The henchwomen inside were caught totally off guard as the entranceway exploded in a bright light, and scattered in panic as the caped woman flew inside.  They tried to bring out their weapons, but Dani quickly blasted their guns into slag with her light beams, following up with blasts at their feet to send them into the air.  Without the powers of flight she possessed, they came crashing down hard, knocking the wind and fight from them. 

Dani landed down next to the meteorite, and looked around for Pamela Payne.  She didn’t need to look too hard, as the leather clad woman emerged from her hiding place, brandishing her dart gun.  She fired at Dani, but this time she was ready, flying up into the air before the dart could reach her.  She then zapped the weapon from Pamela’s hand, then flew down and grabbed her.

“Sorry, but I’m afraid that trick only works once,” Dani said, grinning as she lifted the criminal off of her feet. 

“Who are you?” Pamela asked, knowing she was beaten.

“Starnova,” Dani said instantly, somehow knowing the name was right.

Starnova then set aboard tying up Pamela and her minions with rope she found lying around the warehouse.  In a small act of revenge, she also gagged each of them with duct tape, repaying them for the two times she had been tied up that day.  With them taken care of, she went to the storeroom where Anne and Rosalind were behind held and yanked open the door.  The two women stared at her in surprise, murmuring questions from behind the duct tape that silenced them.

“Don’t worry, I am here to save the day,” Starnova said, using focused light beams to cut away the cable ties that bound their hands and feet.

“Thank you,” Anne said, peeling the tape from her lips.  “We would have been in real trouble if you hadn’t come along.”

“It is what I am here for,” Starnova said with a salute.  “Now, I must go.  Payne and her thugs are nice and secure, and the police will no doubt be arriving soon.  Doctor Kingston, please look after that meteorite.  Belladonna Delitto wanted it for a reason, so I trust you will make sure it is well guarded.”

“I will,” the doctor replied, nodding vigorously.

“Wait, before you go,” Anne said.  “How about a quick interview?”

“Maybe next time,” Starnova laughed, then flew off into the sky.

* * *

As expected, the police had soon arrived at the warehouse, drawn in by reports of explosions and flying women.  They listened to Anne and Rosalind’s stories with disbelief, but security footage from the SDC soon confirmed that a real-life superhero had come to the city.  Pamela Payne was dragged off to jail with her henchwomen, and the meteorite was moved to a secure facility.

As Anne finished up giving her statement to the police, she noticed a familiar face in the crowd of bystanders who had gathered to watch the spectacle.  Dani waved at her, and so the veteran reporter walked up to her.

“Glad to see you are okay,” Dani said sheepishly.  “Good thing that superheroine came along to save us.  Pretty exciting stuff.”

“What happened to you?” Anne asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Oh, Payne had me tied up in the bathroom with a couple of security guards,” Dani said.  “Starnova showed up and freed me, then went after you.  Freaky, huh?”

“Starnova?” Anne said.  “I have to say, I am grateful.  She was quite striking, really.  Especially with her short, ginger hair.”

“Wow, just like mine,” Dani replied sheepishly.  “Still, she was much, much bigger.  And otherwise looked nothing like me.  At all.”

“Of course,” Anne said, smiling slyly.  “By the way, have I told you how much I like your eyes?”

“Ah, that’s a bit forward,” Dani said, shifting uncomfortably.  “I’m flattered, but I’m not into older women.  Especially the women part.”

“Fair enough,” Anne replied.  “But it’s not often I meet a woman with golden irises.”

“Well, I can understand that,” Dani said.  Then she stopped.  “Wait, what?”

Anne took out a makeup compact and opened it up and allowed Dani to have a look in the small mirror within.  Sure enough, her irises were now gold in colour, a far cry from her old hazel ones.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me,” Anne said.  “But I want an interview with this Supernova.”

“Starnova,” Dani corrected her, shaking her head in disbelief.  “I am so screwed.”

“Look on the bright side,” Anne said with a smile, patting the younger woman on the shoulder reassuringly.  “At least we have a story that should save your job.

“Hooray for me,” Dani said.  “Let’s go and get that interview then.  Preferably in a bar.  After all this action today, I need a drink.”

“Deal,” Anne said, and the pair headed off.

* * *

Belladonna Delitto watched the news report detailing the capture of Pamela Payne and the arrival of Suven’s own superheroine, the mysterious Starnova.  The whole affair had become an object failure, but Belladonna’s schemes were far from over.  So this new hero had kept her away from meteorite and the powerful alien crystals it held.  No matter, she had other options.

Gently stroking thing the dark crystal shard that hung about her neck, Belladonna smiled.  So Starnova had arrived on Earth.  That was fine.  Let her enjoy her victory, as it would be short lived.  With an evil grin, Belladonna squeezed the crystal.

Darknova would soon have her revenge.