A New Day (StrikeForce #1) (28 page)

We went from cell to cell, freeing everyone except Maddoc, Crystal, Alpha, and Nightbane. Jenson had already prepared the guards for this, and they either didn’t care or were wholly relieved to see a change in leadership. We directed everyone to the lobby in Central Command. The prisoners looked stunned, unsure. The guards, maybe a little less so.

While they worked on freeing the male powered prisoners, I went to the women’s containment area. I unlocked the cell next to my old one and freed a stunned Dani, who hugged me hard. Then I went to the other cell adjacent to mine, unlocked it. I stepped in, and laid eyes on Amy for the first time. She was about as she described at first: full-figured, short. She had black hair that flowed down her back in a straight curtain, and dark brown eyes with the most lovely lashes I’ve ever seen.

“Amy,” I said, holding her hands as I steadied her when she stood up for the first time.

“You are crazy,” she said with a laugh.

“I totally am. And it strikes me that we need a good defender, someone who’s on the side of those we bring in. Someone who won’t let whoever is in charge skate by acting like an asshole. Ever thought of being a super hero?” I asked with a smile, and she grinned, hugged me. “You need a code name, though,” I said.

“Steel,” she said, and I smiled. “What else would I pick? It’s what I am, both inside and out.”

“Steel. I love it.”

She and Dani followed me as I unlocked the other cells. When we finally got to Monica’s she greeted me with a good-natured “it’s about time, bitch.”

She also chose the name “Swoon.” It fit. The second she was free, she and Dani became pretty much inseparable, and I wondered how much I had missed in detention during the time I’d been away.

Dani chose the name “Screamer,” despite everyone telling her that it sucked. But after all the time spent locked up, no one was in a hurry to try to tell anyone else what to do. They all stayed with me while we freed everyone in the women’s wing. Then, we made our way to the central command tower.

When we got to the lobby, we were met by Beta, Forge, Caine, and Chance, who looked terrified. Forge stood next to her, holding her hand. I noticed Maria, and she held her fist up as I walked past. We bumped fists, and I went to the front desk, scrambled on top of it as gracefully as my uncooperative limbs could manage.

“We have new leadership here at StrikeForce, starting now. You heard the conversation I had with Alpha a while ago,” I said, and the crowd nodded. StrikeForce, its current members, were arrayed around me. “That can’t be allowed to happen. This force is supposed to be protecting and serving the community. Both the powered and regular community. So far, we’ve had this dumbass policy of arresting and holding powered people. Those who could be used, were. I was one of them, though I spent most of my time in detention.”

“From here on out, we will ask for your help. If you’re standing here now, you have a choice to make. You can stay, and become part of StrikeForce. We’ll teach you how to deal with your powers. How to harness them, how to use them to protect yourself and others, or, at the very least, how to use them in ways that aren’t a danger to you or anyone else. We could be like a big, really weird family. If you want a place here, you have it.”

I paused. “If you were a criminal… well. I’m a big believer in second chances. Maybe you did horrible things before coming here. You have a clean slate now, as far as we’re concerned. You’re free to go, or stay and be part of the team. If you go, and you do something stupid, I will come find you, and you won’t like it. But you’ve earned a second chance, and we’re going to do better from now on. Justice. Fairness. I promise you that much.” I took a breath, held my hands out. “It’s up to you. Either way. Thank you.”

We stood and watched as seven people, including my electro lady, walked out the doors to freedom. The rest stayed, turned, and looked expectantly at me.

We had a mess ahead of us. A leader locked up in what was essentially our basement. A bunch of people who had no idea what they were supposed to do with the powers they’d ended up with. Damian and his Mayhem assholes still running around out there. Whatever Alpha was planning, business-wise, in all the time he’d been running StrikeForce into the ground. My true identity, still out there, waiting for someone to expose it.

But we had good things, too. We had people who wanted to make the world better. Actual heroes. We had plenty of Alpha’s money. And money is a really, really good thing to have.

I smiled. “Well. Let’s get started.”

Epilogue

Two weeks later

I flew through the skies, trying to decide the best place to land. Flying. I hadn’t been sure I’d ever manage it again, but, as it happened since my face-off against Maddoc, I felt much more steady when I flew than I did when I was walking. I almost felt like myself.

It was overcast, which worked just fine for me. A large bank of gray clouds was beneath me, and every once in a while, I’d get a glimpse of the streets below, helping me get my bearings.

I landed in a clump of trees in a neighborhood park, straightened my wool coat, and pulled my cute little burgundy hat, making sure it covered my hair. I shoved my hands deep in my pockets, trying to keep them warm from the late winter chill, and headed up the street. My steps were still unsteady, and I knew I swerved a little when I walked, but I was getting better.

All was quiet. The occasional car roared past, and no one paid me any mind. Why would they?

The tall colonial loomed up on my left, and I climbed the wooden front stairs, rang the bell, glancing around at the neighborhood.

The door opened, and I was met with a surprised look.

“Hey, Luther. Need a ride to church?” I asked.

A slow, wide smile spread across her wrinkled lips, and she gave me a wink. “Just let me grab my knitting, sweetie,” she said, and I nodded.

We had a whole lot to talk about.

Some things just never change. Luther is one of them.

And, I guess, so am I.

THE END

Jolene will return in Just Another Day, StrikeForce #2, coming in early 2016.

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Letter from the Author

Thank you so much for reading A New Day! I can’t wait to hear what you think. Please feel free to drop me a line on
Facebook
,
Twitter
, or via email.

The
StrikeForce
series is, essentially, my love letter to superhero comics. This series very likely would not exist had my husband not bought Marjorie Liu’s complete run of
X-23
for me because I liked Liu’s novels and he thought I might like her comics, too. The love affair that began with
X-23
just expanded, and my life is happier because of it. Because superheroes
matter
, and I think the best superheroes, my favorites, are those who aren’t perfect but try anyway.

So my first “thank you” is to the many writers of superhero comics who have entertained and inspired me over the years.

Thank you to Gail Simone for your encouragement and kind words and for being an inspiration. Thank you for writing heroes and heroines who are multi-faceted and complex, and sometimes vulgar and occasionally stinky. You’re the best.

Thank you to Kelly Thompson for writing a book called
The Girl Who Would be King
. Another life-changing moment for me, because as soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to write superheroes. And thank you as well for the support and encouragement and for writing comics I love.

Thank you to author Corrina Lawson for reading
A New Day
and for your kind words and encouragement. Corrina also writes awesome superhero fiction, and you should definitely read her
Phoenix Institute
series.

As with all of my books, I worked with a fantastic team of beta readers, and their feedback was invaluable. Thanks and hugs to Erika Ashman, Danielle Calleja, Susan Cambra, Amy Cissell, Jo Dawson, Amber Dunn, Brenda Hopkins, Krys Hopkins, Sarah Leenart, Heather Lyn, Jayna Longstreet, Sam McMullen, Kari Powers, Rachel Scott, and Samantha Wheeler. Additional thanks to Jayna for medical information and Kari for advice about law enforcement procedures. Let’s do it again sometime, ladies!

Thank you to my kids for giving me yet another excuse to read comics. I love you guys.

Thanks and love to my amazing husband Roger for his layout and design talent, proofreading help, and for patiently listening to me when I’m in freakout mode (which kind of happens a lot.) Thanks for being my everything. I love you.

Finally, thank you to my readers. I’m always sure I’m going to be the only one interested in my weird little stories, and you guys, you lovely people, consistently prove me wrong. Thank you so much.

Colleen Vanderlinden
Detroit, Michigan
October 31, 2015

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Colleen’s Newsletter
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http://bit.ly/colleensnewsletter

For backstory material, news, and upcoming events be sure to check out
http://www.colleenvanderlinden.com

About the Author

A New Day

Shadow Witch Rising
Shadow Sworn

Guardian
Betrayer

Book One: Lost Girl
Book Two: Broken
Book Three: Home
Book Four: Strife
Book Five: Nether

Hidden Series Novellas

Forever Night
Earth Bound

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Colleen’s Newsletter
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http://bit.ly/colleensnewsletter