Bastion Headquarters ... A secret location ...

"The trial and conviction of the former superhero, Psycona, also known as Zjahn Zjmit, Sean Smith and the villain, Phaross, has sent shockwaves through both the superhero community and the world at large, with many governments considering registration of supers, or outright bans of cape activity. Commentators, on both sides, are divided on the consequences of such legislation, with advocates calling it a move long-past due and critics stating that it could embolden super-villains to create even more chaos. Psycona, who made his home in Faraday City and, in his Phaross identity, destroyed a large swathe of that same city, killing hundreds, is now held in a secure facility by the super-team, Bastion, awaiting enactment of his sentencing. Meanwhile, in other news ..."

Betty waved a hand, switching off the news channel, and swivelled in the chair, trying not to look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. When Principle had invited her to Bastion Headquarters, she had jumped at the chance, even signing the non-disclosure agreement with little protest. She needed to be here. Seeing the view for the first time, however, had left her awestruck, but that soon wore off. Now, every time her eyes drifted to those windows, she only felt a yawning sensation of falling. She hadn't eaten since she arrived.

A number of heroes came and went throughout the day. Most she recognised, but others were less well-known to her. It seemed almost as though the whole superhero community had come to watch the events. Some came to pay their respects, others to ensure Zjahn received justice. Still others had come to gawp and gloat at the man that many had considered the Earth's second-greatest hero.

Every so often, Betty allowed her new psychic senses to spread out around the space station that orbited the Earth and listened to people's thoughts. Few could keep her out. Few, meaning only two. Principle, which was as expected. If he wanted to, he could let her in, but she respected his privacy. The other surprised her. A human, with powers that had nothing to do with psychic strength. Fear, the dark avenging hero of Bohemia City. She sensed him, in the shadows, always watching, but his mind felt like a brick, concrete, steel and diamond wall, all at the same time.

One of Drone's drones floated toward her and she mused on something she had learned but could never reveal. The main drone of the robotic army, Drone himself, was not actually a robot, but a human in a technological marvel of powered armour. She knew who he was, too, and it made sense. Though if she ever wanted to write a story about him, she would have to find evidence elsewhere. She could reveal nothing of what she learned or experienced today. Which, as a reporter with a voracious appetite for the truth, practically killed her.

"Ms Burns. They are ready for you." The drone hovered, a screen upon its chest showing a smiling emoji. "Would you like to visit a restroom first? Perhaps a beverage?"

"No." She lifted herself from the chair, avoiding looking at the revolving Earth through the windows. "Let's get this over with."

The drone led her through several corridors, down elevators and through more corridors. The satellite, the space station was enormous and no-one on Earth even knew it existed. She, for one, had never had an inkling it sat high above their heads, an imposing watchman casting its gaze across the world. After some time, the drone led her to a set of large, sliding doors, that whooshed aside revealing the room within. A vast hangar bay, filled with heroes of all types, colourful costumes clashing to the eyes.

And there he was. Shackled, eyes downcast, Zjahn awaited the enactment of the court's judgement and he accepted it with no protest. He must have sensed her approach, his head rising and a small smile curled upon his reptilian, or lizard-like, she had never learned which, features. The eyes lowered again as Principle called the meeting to order, hovering beside Zjahn.

"It's never easy." Principle's deep, dark, eyes, filled with warmth and compassion, passed around the crowded supers. "One of our own, one of our very best, falling from grace. Even though Zjahn could have defended himself with the fact of his diminished mental state, he, instead, pleaded guilty, accepting his fate. I'd like to think I could be as brave, but I'm not so certain. Still, the court left it to us to enact the sentence they believe meets the principles of justice and rehabilitation. Zjahn, are you ready?"

"I am." Zjahn raised his eyes, looking around the crowd, before coming to rest upon Betty. "I would just like to say it is my greatest regret that I failed you all. I failed the people of Earth. I will bear that guilt for the rest of my life and will do everything in my power to make amends, wherever that takes me. You all, the Earth, deserved so much better from me. I apologise."

Principle had spoken true. Zjahn displayed such bravery, such commitment to what would come next. Betty wasn't certain he deserved this punishment. A man that had lost everything, now losing that which he had only recently come to realise he had. A lonely man that would now only become more lonely. She wished there was another way.  A better way.

"Very well. By the power invested in me by the Faraday City Justice department, I hereby banish you from the Earth. You may never return. You may never contact anyone here, living now or that may come in the future. This sentence remains in place for the rest of your natural life, and may whatever gods you believe in watch over you and forgive you." Principle paused before resting a hand upon Zjahn's shoulder. "Good luck, old friend."

Behind them, a craft of some kind manoeuvred from the side and came to rest, a door opening. Betty had listened as Drone had told her about the ship, capable of moving at unimaginable speeds, that would sustain Zjahn as he travelled the galaxy, but she had expected something bigger. This ship looked little bigger than an SUV. Zjahn stepped toward the doors, the shackles unlocking and Principle took them from the clawed hands. Zjahn glanced once again toward Betty.

"Good bye, Betty Burns." The voice drifted into her mind and Betty's hand rose to her mouth. "I wish I'd allowed myself to know you better."

"Good bye, Zjahn." She transmitted her own thoughts into his mind and felt that mind embrace them. "Take care."

The door of the ship closed behind him and the gathered heroes stepped back as the ship soon lifted upon wavering energy and turned toward the enormous hangar bay doors. Those doors split open, a coruscating energy field keeping out the vacuum of space, and the ship eased out toward the endless black of space. Betty watched the ship depart, even as the heroes began to leave the hangar bay until only she and Principle remained.

He, too, after a while, turned, giving her a sad smile before floating through the doors, leaving Betty alone. She traced Zjahn's flight for as long as she could, maintaining a psychic tether to him until he passed beyond range. Even after that, she still remained, staring at the closed hangar bay doors. She wished she had known him better, too, but felt glad she had known him at all.

-+-

Later, in the Crooked Place ...

It looked marginally less insane than the last time, with daffodil vampires drenching themselves in the blood of virgin petunias. That sort of thing. Still, Betty didn't want to linger too long if she could at all help it. She waited for Madame Misstery to recapture the errant cherry blossom pirates and took a deep breath before launching into her prepared speech.

"That suppression thing you did? When I was a kid? I want that again. Suppress it. All of it. It's too tempting to use it in my career and I want to win a Pulitzer because of my reporter abilities, not because I can read minds. And that's it, really. Suppress away!" She had thought she had prepared a longer speech. "And it's over, right? I saved the world. Kind of. So, I want rid of these powers. Please?"

"No. Can't. What's done is done." Madame Misstery, the old crone once again, stared at her, her jaw moving as though she chewed upon something too large for her mouth. Betty didn't even want to imagine. "Besides, I didn't say that was the only time your powers would be needed. Things are coming that could threaten the whole of the Earth. Some that threaten the very threads of reality. We'll need the world's most powerful psychic more often in the future. Have you thought of a name?"

"What's wrong with 'Betty'?" Betty gaped at the head-tilt and the grimace from Madame Misstery. Then Betty did a double-take. "Wait. I'm the most powerful psychic? That can't be right."

"It is. But even the world's most powerful psychic needs training. So, here you go." Madame Misstery pointed to the corner of the room. "Capture that slathering begonia before it mutates. Watch for the mouth."

"A begonia? What kind of threat is a begonia? They're ..." The begonia launched itself from the shadows and Betty couldn't run fast enough. "How did it get so many teeth in such a small mouth?"

-+-

Somewhere, out in the galaxy ...

The Emperor stalked with determination into battle control and glared at the view-screen. His hand fell to the blaster at his side as he tried to make sense of the readings. They had searched for years without success, but now, after all this time, they had caught a glimmer of success. He could not waste this opportunity.

"Can it be? The last of the Zjahul? Alive?" He glared at the subordinate until the numbers clarified into a star map. "After so long. Soon I shall prove the prophecy wrong. The Zjahul will not be the end of my rule, but I shall be the end of their existence! Only one remains. Show me where!"

The star map rotated, defined and zoomed inward. Recalculations caused the star map to turn again, to define again before zooming in to one, particular planetary system. More adjustments from the calculations and the star map focussed upon one planet. Details tracked down the side of the screen.

"It's a primitive planet. Carbon based lifeforms. Several billion stretching over almost every landmass. An established world, but only local spacefaring." The subordinate turned to the Emperor, keeping his head bowed. "Shall we create a navigation schedule?"

"Yes. Yes! We shall visit this primitive planet. We will ravage it and take it. None shall stand before us as none have ever stood before us. My empire will grow forever." The Emperor leaned forward, tapping the screen with the muzzle of his blaster. "Set course, best speed. We shall finally have Zjahn Zjmit in our hands and this planet, this Earth, will become dust beneath our boots!"

The Emperor waved a finger at another subordinate and the shutters above the battle centre opened, revealing the vast expanse of space and his fully operational battle fleet. A thousand, heavily armed ships, each bearing ten thousand of his greatest warriors. Conquering this 'Earth' will be as nothing but child's play.