"Well if Bird Wonder here didn't take off!" Caterwaul screamed.
 "What? Me? Look! I was gone for a few seconds!" Talonhawk retorted.
 "And that's all it took, fly boy!" Caterwaul snapped back.
 "I've just about had enough of your punk little mouth, Adam!" Talonhawk shouted, getting in Caterwaul's face.
 Caterwaul's hands moved like lightning around Talonhawk's body.
"Go ahead, fly boy. Hit me or fly away. Either way I clip your feathers, and you never fly again."
 Talonhawk's eyes widened. "You dirty son of a -"
 "That'll be enough!" Mindscan finally screamed.
 A moment of silence descended upon them. "I can finally hear myself think. Look, we're obviously dealing with someone who knows what they're doing. What's important is the fact we were able to recover most of the jewelry that's been stolen over the last few weeks." He paused.
"Our thief is going to make a mistake eventually. And when he does, we'll get him then."
 "But we had him!" Caterwaul screamed suddenly. "He was ours!"
 "I said enough!" It had been Mindscan screaming again, also emphasized with a mental whiplash saying as much.
 "Wanna explain to me how a common thief could eludes your heightened senses, Caterwaul?" Thermal asked, as they filed out of the room.
 Her smile was coy. It was not a serious question; but a rhetorical one; to show that Caterwaul wasn't all that he was cracked up to be.
 "Wanna explain how you've escaped my talons ripping you open so far, Thermal?" Caterwaul retorted. Thermal only shot back a snug smirk.
"I swear I am gonna rip that girl's heart out of her chest… if she has one."

 "I've had it with that psycho!" Talonhawk was screaming.
 "Calm down," Mindscan tried to say, keeping a soothing voice.
"Don't let him get under your skin like that."
 "Try - Calm -" Talonhawk wanted to say so much, but all his sentences were colliding with one another. "Look, I don't mind telling you, fearless leader, I have seriously thought of quitting this hero business."
 "I know," Mindscan said softly. "You've dropped a lot of hints.
Any reasons why?"
 "I can't think of any reasons to stay," Talonhawk sighed. "That's the problem."
 "Think of all the good you will be doing," Mindscan said, smiling. "You'll help keep Canada a better place."
 "I'm almost twenty," Talonhawk replied. "I'm too young to be flying around trying to save Canada from a horde of nasty villains. I want to live my life. Maybe I'd come back, maybe I wouldn't. I don't know. It just feels like I am missing so much."
 "You must do what you feel is right," Mindscan said, quoting one of his favorite movies, and trying to lighten the mood. "Look. I can't keep you here. I mean, I suppose I could use my telepathic powers and tell you to stay, but that's not what I'm about. If you feel like you can't stay, then you have to go. For the love of God; our lives are short enough as civilians; let alone heroes. I wouldn't wish an unhappy ending to anyone's life." He turned and looked at Talonhawk. "You're much like the birds. You can't be caged for long, without yearning to spread your wings. I've seen that look of sheer thrill and enjoyment when you're flying. When you're free." Mindscan closed his eyes. "So why do you stay then?"
 Talonhawk opened his mouth to say something; then his brows came together angrily. He sighed deeply. "I suppose I just like you guys too much to leave… and you'd never make it without me…"
 His tone was completely unnatural. Every word that just spilled out of Talonhawk's mouth was a complete lie. I could probe his mind and find out what's really wrong with him, Mindscan thought. Then he quickly shook his head and turned away. What am I thinking? That's like peeking into someone's diary without his or her knowledge. Mindscan smiled.
"Well, I'd miss you if you ever left…"
 Talonhawk offered a smile feigned from the depths of his heart.
"Yeah, well," he said as he walked away. "Looks like you're stuck with me for awhile…"
 Mindscan watched as Talonhawk left… now only empty shadows waited for him here in the room, with the single thought that now dominated Mindscan's own mind…
 What is your dark secret, Talonhawk?
 
 

 The thunder seemed to crack in the distance…
 Or perhaps it was one child's last hope shattering in the heavens.
 None the less, as soon as he heard the words, "I'm sorry son, there was nothing we could do…" He knew it was over.
 Nothing could be done from here on out.
 And it was entirely all his fault.
 The doctor laid his hand on his shoulder. "Is there family?"
 "I'm all she had, doc. I'm all she had…"

 "So what does one get a telepath?" Caterwaul shrugged as they walked through the toy store.
 "What do you mean?" Coldfront asked.
 "I mean, he's a telepath…" Caterwaul smiled. "He could read our minds and already know what we're getting him for his birthday."
 "How about these?" Coldfront smiled, holding up a package.
 Caterwaul looked. He laughed.
 It had been the Snowbird and Puck Side Kick Figures recently released. Caterwaul looked. "Is there two packages of them?"
 Coldfront looked down. "Yes, why?"
 "Could you grab them for me?" Caterwaul chuckled. "I know exactly what I am gonna do with them. As a joke of course."
 "Oh no," Coldfront laughed. "Who are you buying them for?"
 "S&S," Caterwaul smiled. "Who else?"

 "Twenty one," Mindscan told himself. "And what have I done?"
 He was reflecting back on his life… the things he's done… the things he wish he had done. He found there were many more things he had wished he'd done; but now it was too late. He paced back and forth in his room, pondering what Talonhawk had said. About living his life before it was too late. He was so passionate about wanting to leave Next Flight and live his life… yet he remained.
 Mindscan was not having any second thoughts about leaving… but his mind kept drifting back to why Talonhawk just didn't leave…
 "Penny for your thoughts, birthday boy?" came a soft voice.
 Mindscan turned around. "What? Oh, Stephanie. I didn't hear you walk up."
 "You were too deep in those precious little thoughts," Thermal smiled, as she posed in the doorframe. "So, what are your big plans for the night? Go out with Caterwaul, get hopelessly drunk, hit the nudie bars?"
 "Uh," Mindscan smirked. "No."
 Thermal smiled. "Oh, so you want to stay home and play with a real woman, do you?" She started walking slowly towards him.
 "No," Mindscan whispered.
 If she heard him she didn't stop. Their lips met in a passionate kiss that was nearly as hot as her own powers. Slowly, softly she broke away. "You know where to find me, lover boy," she winked.
 She turned and screamed a startled cry. "What the?"
 Caterwaul was smirking. "Man. Nice kiss."
 Thermal rubbed against Caterwaul. "Were you wanting one, psycho boy?"
 Caterwaul chuckled, gently shoved her away and smirked. "No thanks, I have morals and standards." He paused. "Maybe you'll find out what that is, eh?"
 She didn't say a word. She only stared him in the eyes, in which he winked at her. Furious she stormed off. Turning back to Mindscan, who was blushing, Caterwaul smiled. "Well, I never knew you had it in you, boss man."
 "She came onto me," Mindscan protested.
 "Well, I was gonna ask if you wanted to get hopelessly drunk then hit the nudie bars," Caterwaul chuckled.
 Mindscan looked at Caterwaul shocked.
 "I'm kidding. I heard big mouth say that," Caterwaul laughed.
"Look, if you don't have any plans, Sam invited you, myself and Alex - if anyone can find him - over to her mother's restaurant. Heard they cook a mean steak, and serve some nice brews."
 Mindscan threw his arm around Caterwaul. "Of all the ideas, that sounds just about the best one I've heard so far. Come on…"
 Behind them the news was on… "… and this is Elise Chung with DBS afternoon news. There was another robbery this afternoon. We have exclusive footage of the robbery that took place only fifteen minutes ago… The robber was surprised when he stepped out of the store and encountered Talonhawk from Canada's newest team, Next Flight, who happen to be in the area. The criminal apparently escaped, but here we have an exclusive interview with Talonhawk of Next Flight… Can we see that footage now, Hal? Thanks…"

 "That was a great dinner," Mindscan smiled, patting his stomach.
"Remind me to thank your mother. She cooked it exactly to my liking… you'd think that she was a telepath also! It's a shame Alex never made it…"
 Samantha, also known as Sam, or more commonly known as Coldfront smiled. "She's a great cook. And a great mother."
 "Whoa!" came a started scream from Caterwaul. "Hey! Come check this out!"
 Mindscan and Coldfront quickly gathered around the television.
"This is Elise Chung with DBS 11 o'clock news…"
 "Does the woman ever rest?" Caterwaul complained.
 "… and we're following up with that special story from this afternoon, where the robber, who has somehow fooled employees into believing that he … she … is the owner of the store, was surprised to see Talonhawk. Talonhawk, who is a member of Canada's Next Flight, a sub division of Alpha Flight, engaged into combat with this common thief, chasing him down a dark alley… Talonhawk emerged later, stunned a bit - apparently the thief managed to get the drop on Talonhawk, and dealt him a blow to the back of the head… Talonhawk was taken to the hospital, where he was shortly released with no serious head wounds - only stitches in the back of the head."
 "Well, looks like fly boy was out pondering, and got stuck playing hero on his own and got clocked in the head," Caterwaul smirked.
"But it's the same guy… same Motive. How does a normal thief keep giving us the slip?"
 "I'm not sure," Mindscan shrugged. Quickly, they gathered their things and headed back for Department H…
 
 
 

 "Saw the news," Mindscan said softly. "You all right?"
 Talonhawk looked around. He seemed to be straining for the right words. "Yeah," he finally said, nodding. "Just took me by surprise."
 "What happened?" asked Caterwaul, leaning against the wall, no apparent concern for Talonhawk upon his stone, cold features. "How'd the thief get away?"
 Talonhawk seemed to pause. Thinking. "Well, I was chasing him in an alleyway, when he leapt down at me… striking me in the back of the head with some kind of club. I tried to get back up and go after him… but I was, uh, too disoriented."
 "Too disoriented," Caterwaul sighed, and left the room.
 "He doesn't like me, does he," Talonhawk asked.
 Mindscan caught himself. It seemed that Talonhawk was asking that question, as if it were new knowledge to him, rather than stating the obvious. The head wound was probably slightly more severe than he cared to show.
 "Maybe you should take a break," Mindscan said, sitting at Talonhawk's bedside. "Look, I know you've been thinking about leaving… your mind's been preoccupied with some thoughts apparently… and tonight it almost cost you your life. If that robber had meant to kill you, you wouldn't be here with twelve stitches in the back of your head."
 Talonhawk grabbed Mindscan's arm. "No! No! I don't want any kind of vacation!" His voice almost seemed panicked. His brows came together, his tone changing to a darker sound. "And I know all about death, all right? I know I'm not invincible. I know my limits. I know about seeing people buried. I know I could be one of them." He took a deep breath, and looked at Mindscan. "Look, I'm sorry. It's been a long day…"
 Mindscan looked at Talonhawk and nodded. "Yeah, all right. Hey, I will leave you to get some rest."
 "Hey Thom," Talonhawk called out. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blow up there…"
 Mindscan smiled. "Don't worry about it. It's quite a shake up. I think you're just realizing the danger you were in…"
 "And Mindscan," Talonhawk called out, just before the door shut. "Happy Birthday, Thom."
 Mindscan smiled into the room, and smiled. "Thanks…" He turned off the lights, and left Talonhawk to his own thoughts in the darkness…
 "Is it safe," a voice slowly drifted through the shadows.
 "Yes," Talonhawk whispered.
 "I was worried about you, my little winged angel," the female voice said.
 "I'm… all right… just a little shaken."
 "Want a kiss to make you feel better?"
 "Even if I was feeling better, I'd want that kiss, ice queen," he laughed back.
 He held Coldfront close…

 Outside the door, a low growl could barely be heard, as eyes peered with anger into the dark room… seeing all as clear as day…

 Coldfront moved with silence. She flinched when the floorboard below her foot creaked. Slowly, she opened her door and slid into her room. She heaved a heavy sigh of relief, and began to undress.
 "Long night, Sam?" came a gruff voice from the darkness.
 Coldfront muffled a startled cry. "Who's in here?" Quickly, she hit the light, holding her half off shirt to her chest. Perched on her bed, like a gargoyle over looking the dark city was none other than Caterwaul.
 "You got Alex's scent all over ya," Caterwaul mused. "Pay him a visit did ya?"
 "Do you mind?" she hissed, indicating her half-removed shirt.
 "Sorry," Caterwaul smirked, and turned away. She placed her shirt on fully, and he turned to face her again.
 "What are you doing here?" she wanted to scream through clenched teeth.
 In a mocking tone, as he leapt from the bed with the grace of a cat, he turned to her and snarled with a curled lip, "I was worried about you, my little ice queen…"
 Immediately she knew what he was referring to, and her hands froze with frost ready to be expelled from her hands. "I can't believe you!"
 Caterwaul turned towards her. "Funny, I was going to say the same…"

 "Check out the new song I am working on for my band," Caterwaul said, as he leaned back coolly against the kitchen counter. "It's called 'Fallen Angel.'" He took this time to look at Talonhawk who was sipping at some coffee. "Wings spread across the skies… The world below to see… Those cursed down below look up and despise… The one thing they can never be… Rip your wings… Strip away the halo… And everything… You ever held will finally let go… Fallen Angel… Come see how far you fell… Fallen Angel… Welcome to He -"
 "That's enough of that," Mindscan said, walking into the room.
 Caterwaul grinned, and folded the paper. "How's it going, boss man? Look, my band's having practice tomorrow night. We're going to play a show at Club Collavo. You're more than welcome to come. I'd invite our little fly boy here," Caterwaul smiled at Talonhawk. "But, he's not yet old enough. Shame, really. Would have like for him to come see the song live. Guess I'll go get some practice in. See you guys later."
 Mindscan sat at the table. "Don't mind him."
 "He talks about me, like I'm not here," Talonhawk sighed. Just then Coldfront entered, her hair still a mess. "And I'm not even sure what I did to make him hate me so much."
 "Who?" Coldfront asked, yawning.
 "Caterwaul," Talonhawk answered, dismayed.
 Coldfront froze. She frowned. "Did he say something to you? To any of you?"
 "No," Mindscan said, turning. "Why? What's the matter?"
 Coldfront stopped, cleared her throat. "Nothing. I've just noted his unusual behavior lately." She cleared her throat again. "He seems to be getting worse."
 That's funny, Mindscan thought inwardly. I was thinking he was getting better. Until today, that is. I wonder what could have happened to bring about such a change in him…? His thoughts continued down that road…
 Lord, he thought to himself. Am I the only sane one here?
 
 
 

 "So," Mindscan winced at the sight of the cigarette that Caterwaul pulled out. "Is there a reason you drink in the states and not in our own Canadian borders?"
 Caterwaul puffed at the cigarette. "Just because I know fly boy can't be with me."
 Mindscan waved away the puff of smoke. "I seriously doubt that would be a problem with the two of you… And aren't you afraid of lung cancer?" Mindscan added as an afterthought, staring at the cigarette.
 "Two things," Caterwaul replied. "First of all, I've got a healing factor. Don't think I can even get lung cancer, even if I spent the rest of my days sucking on a tail pipe of a diesel truck." Throwing the cigarette down, and crushing it under his heel, he smiled.
 "What's the second thing?" Mindscan asked.
 "I ain't your model hero," Caterwaul smirked.
 "I noticed," Mindscan grumbled under his breath, but he might as well have shouted it in Caterwaul's ear, because he heard every word with perfect clarification. "But you didn't even finish the cigarette. You took one puff. Why'd you do that?"
 Caterwaul smiled. "Because I can."
 Mindscan shook his head. "So you take advantage of the fact that we work with Department H and let them foot the bill to your trips to the United States to drink?"
 "Sure," Caterwaul replied. "Besides, see those two behind us?" Not waiting for an answer, he continued. "They're Department H people.
Been following us since we left Department H. It's nice. Not only do they foot the bill, they're kind enough to give me an escort that I pretend not to notice."
 "But why do all this?"
 "I put my life on the line everyday for Department H… the least they can do is foot some excitement, and besides," Caterwaul smirked, turning back towards Mindscan. "It's a simple saying…"
 "What's that?"
 "Because I can."
 Mindscan rolled his eyes. Had he expected anything less? Anything more? "So," he said clearing his throat. "It seems a few people are concerned about you."
 "I'm touched," Caterwaul snapped back sarcastically, as they walked.
 "That's not what I mean," Mindscan said. "I mean they're worried that you're losing control of yourself. As team leader, I have looked over everyone's file. The only one that worries me is yours."
 Caterwaul smirked. "As well as it should."
 "Come on, work with me," Mindscan snapped. "Give me a reason to trust you. Tell me something so I can go back to the others and tell them that everything's all right. Tell me something. Anything! I mean, there's no previous record of you at all. Department H found you in the states.
No background. No family records. Fingerprints don't match any.
Apparently they brought you to Professor Xavier, who runs with the X-Men, and not even he could see inside your mind. * You're a mystery through and through. We don't even know if we have your real name or some pseudo-name that you gave us. Just tell me something to ease my fears…"
 "Wish I could," Caterwaul replied.
 "Why can't you? You some kind of super top agent?" Mindscan screamed.
 "No," Caterwaul replied.
 "Then what? Tell me!"
 "Truth is, I don't even know the answers myself…"
 "What?" Mindscan whispered, taken aback by Caterwaul's sudden calmness.
 Caterwaul shook his head, and started walking again. "Like I said, truth is, I don't even know… That's why I went to Professor Xavier… There's pieces inside my head, like a puzzle… but I can't put them together, because I don't have a picture to look at, to know what it should look like… and that's why I keep coming to the United States… not only to drink - but this is where Department H found me… I keep hoping someone will recognize me… tell me who or what I am… or that I will recognize something, so I can at least start assembling the puzzle pieces in my mind…" He paused. "Satisfied?"
 Mindscan was silent.
 
 
 

 Another place… possibly another time…
 Her tone was dark. "In our own history, she was rescued while the others remained trapped here. This time the reverse may occur. For all we know the entire process may repeat itself yet again. In this dark place, where the rules of time… and space itself… do not apply… anything can happen… anything…"
 A little girl frightened beyond all measure laid in a bed, perfectly still. She listened with all her heart, though she was not the one being spoken to… however, she was the one they were speaking of. They knew she was there. She was under their care. But that did very little to ease her fears. She had seen too many things. She saw her brother slain, and faced the devil himself, she believed…

 Earth. Today.
 "So it doesn't bother anyone that these robberies just suddenly ceased?" Caterwaul growled, pacing back and forth.
 "Maybe when we almost caught him the first time, it scared him...
Then the time that Talonhawk happened to be in the area and pursued him was finally enough to tell him that a life of crime just isn't worth it when you got super powered people chasing you down alleyways," Thermal laughed.
 "Personally, that's what I think happened," Talonhawk agreed.
 "There's got to be more to this," Caterwaul continued to argue.
 "Why?" Thermal chuckled. "Because you refuse to believe that an ordinary man can escape your little heightened senses?"
 "Keep pushing me, darlin'," Caterwaul growled. "Keep pushing me, and see where it gets you."
 Mindscan cleared his throat, indicating that things were going too far. He calmly asked, "So what are you saying? That our robber is a mutant of some kind?"
 "Possibly," Caterwaul muttered. "A shape shifter. After all, our man - or woman - made a break for it when we almost had them. Talonhawk didn't see anyone with his eye sight, except for a bum who looked nothing like our man."
 "So are you saying the robber changed forms? Assumed the form of a homeless man to escape us?" Mindscan asked, leaning forward.
 "Give me a break!" Thermal protested. "Why would a mutant go running around robbing stores? Wouldn't they rather take over governments? Or even the world? I mean, if I had that kind of power, I'd take form of some world power leader, kill him, take his place and claim the world as mine. I most certainly wouldn't spend my time on trivial things like robbing stores…"
 "I have to agree with Thermal," Talonhawk nodded.
 "Too much makes sense, and not enough sense," Mindscan sighed.
"Somehow our robber was imitating different store owners, and convincing employees that he or she needs to take the money or jewels to the bank - then the real boss shows up, furious. But as Thermal said, robbery of small stores and banks doesn't seem to be the typical motive for your classic villain. Besides, wouldn't you be able to still track the person, even if they change their forms?"
 "That's the only part I haven't been able to figure out," Caterwaul admitted. "Even if someone shape changes, their scents shouldn't change. But somehow our robber just vanished."
 "A teleporter?" Coldfront spoke for the first time during the discussion. Now Mindscan noticed how silent she had been and how tense Talonhawk had been. An incredible tension was lingering in the air, and he was extremely tempted to poke into their minds and find out just what was going on…
 Mindscan shook his head and cleared his own troubling thoughts, and opened the discussion up to the possibility that it had been a teleporter of some kind.
 "Not likely," Caterwaul cut in, staring at Coldfront, as if she dared speak in his presence. "If it was a teleporter, he wouldn't have worried about attacking Talonhawk in the alleyway this last time. He would have just ducked into the alleyway and teleported away to safety." Mindscan noticed how Caterwaul seemed to enjoy the idea of shredding Coldfront's suggestion.
 Mindscan sighed. Things were not going well… no one had to say a word… the tension said it all…

 Mindscan didn't feel comfortable with Caterwaul. Didn't always agree with him. Hardly agreed with him, for that matter. But if there was one thing that Mindscan was quickly learning was trusting Caterwaul's instincts. If Caterwaul felt this robber was a mutant of some sort, perhaps Department H might have some kind of file on him or her. It was definitely worth a shot.
 He began scanning from as far back as he had access to. And it started with the man who started it all; the man who called himself, Vindicator. The file went on to explain how Vindicator had tried recapture the X-Men now known as Wolverine, and bring him back to the Canadian government.  The mission had failed terribly, according to the notes given by Department H. Then it spoke of those of the original Alpha Flight team, Mac Hudson, also known as Vindicator, had acquired. Michael Twoyoungmen - Shaman. Nayra - Snowbird. Walter Langkowski - Sasquatch.
Jeanne-Marie - Aurora. Jean-Paul - Northstar. Once again, sent forth to recapture Wolverine. In an epic battle with the X-Men, Wolverine finally surrendered to Alpha Flight. Somehow he had escaped yet again. 
 The notes went on to say Alpha Flight was disbanded at that time, to later be reformed by Mac's wife, Heather, to fight The Great Beast.
The new Alpha Flight included all it's original members, plus two new additions of: Eugene Milton Judd - also known as Puck, and one only known as Marina. The Great Beast was defeated. Later, Marina had undergone some sort of transformation, mutating her body. With the help of Sub-Mariner and the Invisible Woman (who was apparently from the Fantastic Four), she was saved.
 Mindscan took a deep breath. He wasn't even sure what he was looking for at this point. There was so much information here.
 He spent many nights looking through the files to learn about many things, he had not previously known… and some of the mysteries that remained open. He had never known that Beta Flight reformed after Vindicator's original Beta Flight; and consisted of several members his own age.
 He wondered briefly where these people were now…*
 One thing that struck his interest was the one called Witchfire.
Someone had apparently possessed her… but the truth had never been revealed. According to the notes, she had made several references about "The Dark Ones."
 He briefly consider the idea that the robber possessed magical abilities… he laid his head down, for it was pounding with information that his mind could no longer absorb… and he lapsed into a deep sleep…