The explosion made Hal throw his hands out suddenly in a desperate and fruitless effort to ward off the flames. However, to his great surprise, the explosion in the guard's hands stayed in a small orb, like a globe. Everyone stopped dead and stared.

Unsurprisingly, it was Art who recovered first. "Security box," he gasped out. "Now!"

The guard unfroze and ran for a small metal box. He flipped open the lid and tossed the still-frozen explosion into it. The instant he slammed the box closed, Hal felt a pull in his gut and the explosion was released. Inside the box, the explosion was controlled, and nothing happened.

However, Hal dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. It hadn't taken any effort until the flames had broken free from his control. That hurt. Diana put her hand on his shoulder, kneeling down beside him, and he wished she wouldn't. His skin burned and felt like it was on fire. Just the pressure of Diana's hand against his skin felt like she was rubbing salt water into an open wound.

Art crouched beside him, looking down at him with a small amount of concern. "You good, kid?" he asked.

Of course, Storm responded with some asperity. "Of course he's not 'good', Arthur, he opened his wound again!" She pointed at Hal's stomach. Sure enough, blood was leaking out of the injury, and it was as gross as it sounded.

Hal felt himself turning green. "This is disgusting," he gasped out.

Art managed a small laugh. "Very," he agreed. Then he glared at the guards. "Well? Are we clear to take him to the hospital, or do you want the kid to bleed out in front of you?"

The guard scowled. "You know the rules, Eagle. I had to delay you. You're clear, you lunatic. Now get the heck out of here so I can put some salve on my hands."

Storm sighed. "I'll help you," she told the guard. "Get going, Art, I'll meet you three later."

Hal remembered very little of their drive to the hospital. Blinding pain made him oblivious to everything but the agony. Diana sat beside him, not touching him after his original pain. Art drove silently and still rather crazily, which Hal thought was kind of sickening. At some point, he simply lost consciousness.

. . . . . . . . . .

It was about an hour later. Both Diana and Art had seen Hal safely to the hospital, and now they sat outside of the hospital. Diana was completely taken in by the beauty of Haven. All the buildings were made out of metal, the streets as well. It was the size of a city, lights dotting all around. The sky was a stunning collection of a galaxy image, not the ocean Diana had thought it would be. People walked around, talking and laughing. "This place is amazing," she said.

Art smiled at her awe. "It is, isn't it?" he commented. "It's been my home for quite a few years now. The globe keeping the water out is engineered to look like the galaxy. It's gorgeous. There's enough oxygen in here to last for several hundred years, and it keeps getting circulated. This is the only place we can really call home."

She turned a smile back to him, but he looked unhappy, thoughtful. Whatever he was thinking of, she decided it would be better not to pry. She had to work on self-control with reading people's minds, otherwise it would just make them uncomfortable.

After a few minutes of silence, Art turned to her again. "I guess it's time to get you inducted," he said. He stood and helped her to her feet. "Let's go see Guardian."

Once again, Diana was in the van with Art, but this time, she sat up front, and that was even more frightening than being in the back. He broke just about every speed limit sign, ran through every red light, and mainly just drove like a maniac. For a girl who got carsick, it was a bad situation. She managed to hold in what little she had left in her stomach until they reached the massive tower in the middle of the city.

Glowing lights illuminated the tower like a beacon. Like the rest of Haven, it was made entirely out of metal, but it had a certain sense of decorum and grace that the rest of the city lacked. The metal looked white in the light from the sky above, giving it an opal appearance. "Wow," Diana breathed, her nausea forgotten. "It's beautiful."

Art chuckled. "It is, isn't it. Guardian's a stickler for having things be attractive, and since he built the entirety of Haven, he made sure he had the best tower." Still laughing, he exited the vehicle and Diana followed him. They walked on the sidewalk to the sliding metal doors of the tower.

A static-filled voice came through the com next to the doors. "State your name and business."

Art heaved a sigh. "Eagle reporting. I've brought Diana Crocious to be inducted."

The crackly voice came back a moment later. "Come in. Guardian will see you shortly."

The doors slid open, and Art rested his arm on Diana's shoulders. Gently, he guided the girl inside, the lobby had the same opal coloring as the outside. Comfortable white couches sat inside, and a mahogany desk was situated next to the numerous elevators. An unbelievingly skinny man sat behind it, his blue suit looking like it was hanging off his shoulders like a hanger. He looked up from his computer when Art and Diana stepped up to the desk. "Welcome to Guardian's tower," he said in a thin, nasally voice. "Eagle. Miss ... Crocus?"

"Crocious," she corrected him. "Diana Crocious."

The little, rat-like man sniffed. "Crocious. Spell it for me." He brought up a new screen on his computer that looked like a document. She spelled it, having to go slowly, since the man typed in slow motion. Once he had finished, he looked up again. "Date of birth?" She gave that and several more pieces of personal information before the man was satisfied. Then he produced a scale and had her stand on it. After getting her weight, he measured how tall she was before finally nodding. "All set. Feel free to wait for Guardian in the lobby," he said, indicating the couches.

With his arm still around her, Art guided Diana to the couches and they sat down together. "Who is that?" she asked, indicating the clerk.

Art snorted. "He's too big for his britches is what he is. As for who, he's Brain. Not the most clever of names, but he's not the most clever of people. He's Guardian's secretary. Likes to think that just because he's got a photographic memory, he's the bee's-knees."

Diana found herself quietly giggling at Art's description of Brain. She knew he was just trying to make her feel less anxious, and it seemed to be working. They talked in low tones for about a half an hour, mostly discussing the events of the day. Art gently tried to pry as to how she had known there was someone with powers like Hal's at her high school, but she refused to answer that. She would have trusted Art with her life, but the secret she held was more than just her own life.

At that point, Art started to look at her suspiciously. Before he could ask any more awkward questions, Brain interrupted them. "Miss Crocious, Eagle. Guardian is ready to see you now."

The two of them went into one of the elevators, and it shot upwards. Diana tried not to turn green; the swift movement reminded her too much of Art's driving. However, as was usual with quick-moving elevators, the ride was over in a matter of seconds. Art guided her out of the elevator and into the most comfortable-looking office she'd ever seen. A plush white rug was under her feet, plush leather chairs sat on the opposite side of a desk, and a massive window looked out over the city. The breathtaking view was dancing with lights. "It's gorgeous," Diana breathed.

"My thanks, Miss Crocious. I like the view myself." Diana turned, her eyes widening at the sight of the man behind the desk. From what Art had been saying about Guardian, she had pictured him as an elderly man, wise but stooped over. What he actually looked like surprised her.

He was tall, even sitting behind his desk, and muscular. He wore a seat that made him look like some kind of a mafioso, but his close-cut hair and gentle brown eyes belayed that description. His dark skin had an almost silky-smooth texture to it, without blemish or beard. Thin eyebrows gave him an amused expression, and he couldn't have been more than forty. He gave her a small smile. "Finished staring, Miss Crocious?" he asked. It wasn't an unfriendly question.

Diana flinched at her rudeness. "Yes, sir. Sorry."

He stood somewhat, motioning to the two chairs in front of his desk. "Have a seat, Miss Crocious, Art."

They sat down in the seats, and they were as comfortable as they appeared. However, there was something about the entire situation that made Diana feel like she was being evaluated. Also, she was unable to reach into Art's mind like she normally could. Guardian seemed to sense her discomfort, and his smile widened. "Powers don't work here, Miss Crocious. We had one too many accidents in this office with new and inexperienced supers, and we installed power dampeners in here to prevent them. Only those with these bracelets are immune." He held up a metal bracelet around his wrist.

Art held up an identical one. "Takes years to keep your powers in here," he said. "Don't worry, Di. You'll get them back when you leave the office."

She gave a nervous smile. "Thanks."

Guardian leaned back. "I understand that United has already shown a keen interest in you, Diana."

"Yes, sir," Diana said, shuddering. She could clearly remember waking up in the back of a car, bound and gagged, surrounded by unfamiliar and hostile men.

Guardian leaned forward in his seat. "Do you have any idea why?"

Diana shifted uncomfortably. They were veering into dangerous territory. "I—I might have some idea, sir."

Both Art and Guardian were looking at her with curiosity in their eyes. She wasn't sure how much she should say, but if she couldn't be safe in Haven, where could she be safe? "Telekinesis and telepathy aren't my only powers, sir."

"They aren't?" Art looked astonished.

Diana shook her head. "Ten years ago, on the night Solar died, I was sleeping and had the worst nightmare you'd ever know. I saw two men outside of an apartment building, and they seemed to be arguing. Then one of them exploded, and the entire scene was filled with flames. People were screaming, and it was ... it was all just awful."

"That night was a nightmare for everyone," Art said, his face darkening. Guardian said nothing.

"You don't understand," Diana said. "I saw it ... before it happened."

Silence. She could have heard a pin drop in the office. Then Guardian spoke. "Diana," he said. "Are you trying to tell us that you saw the future?"

Diana nodded. "Yes, sir." It was something she hadn't told anyone since her parents' deaths, and it felt uncomfortable.

Art tapped his finger against his lips. "Was that the only vision you ever saw?"

"N-no," Diana admitted. "Every night, I see them. Sometimes I don't remember them, but other times they're clear as day. And they're always horrible. I don't like them, I don't want to see them." Her voice broke. She had even seen the car accident that had claimed the lives of her parents.

Guardian leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. "Did you tell anyone? How did United find out?"

Diana shrugged helplessly. "I never told anyone, not even Art. I have no clue how they found out. I wish they hadn't." She looked down at her wrists, still red from the ropes that had bound her.

Art patted her arm comfortingly. "Don't worry about it, Di. We'll keep you safe and do what we can about the nightmares. Right, Guardian?"

"Of course," Guardian replied, though his dark eyes were locked on Diana with an inquisitive expression. "We will do all we can for you, Diana. That just leaves us with one matter to attend to."

"One matter?" Diana swallowed nervously.

"Don't be so stressed, Di!" Art said with a hint of asperity. "We just need to know what you want your hero name to be."

"My ... hero name?" Diana looked at him blankly.

"Like mine is Eagle," Art said.

"Ohh." Diana looked down at her lap. "Delphi," she mumbled.

"What was that?" Guardian said.

Diana raised her eyes. "Delphi. I want my hero name to be Delphi," she said.

"Very good," Guardian answered with a smile. "Now, if you'll please go and bring Hal Whittaker here, we can see about this lad, hm?"

Art nodded. "Thanks, Guard. C'mon, Delphi. Let's go get Hal."

. . . . . . . . . .

Art and Diana retrieved Hal from the hospital and brought him to Guardian's tower. Diana stayed in the van as Art brought Hal inside. Hal tried not to laugh at Brain's swift, pecking questions about his personal life, but he answered them truthfully and did his best to keep a straight face. Once the questions had all been asked, and he'd been weighed and measured, Hal and Art sat on the couch together. "Is all this really necessary?" Hal asked, indicating Brain.

Art snorted. "For him it is. He's a stickler for details. I don't know why he bothers keeping the documents with all the information, particularly since he can remember them all without it. Anyway, he types like he's stuck in maple syrup. Makes it doubly bad."

Hal nodded. "I noticed that. How long do you think we're going to have to wait?"

Art shrugged. "No clue. Sometimes Guardian likes to torture me by making me wait."

However, Guardian's curiosity about Hal must have gotten the better of him. Only a few minutes after they had finished with Brain, Guardian called them up to his office. They went in the elevator together and again, Art reached the office.

Unlike Diana, Hal had little interest in the view. He stared at Guardian for a minute before obeying the man's gesture and sitting down. Art followed him but didn't sit down this time. There was a different sort of air in the office now, then there had been when Diana had been in the office. There was no trace of his normal amusement as he looked at Hal.

Hal shifted uncomfortably. "D-did you want to see me for some reason?" he asked,

Guardian visibly flinched as he was shaken out of his train of thought. "Yes, of course." It was one of the first times Art had seen him flustered. "Forgive me. I am Guardian, the governing power here in Haven. Your name is Hal, isn't it?"

"Hal Whittaker." The boy was staring at him again. Art had to make a superhuman effort not to laugh.

Guardian, however, looked more serious than ever. "Well, Hal, you made quite the explosion today. No pun, in fact. How is your stomach?"

Hal shrugged, grimacing. "Well enough, I guess. Are you going to lock me up because of what I did?"

"Lock you up?" Guardian gave a small chuckle. "No, of course not. You just need to be properly trained. But from what I've heard, you're quite powerful, lad. More powerful than mostly everyone else in the entirety of Haven."

Hal scratched his nose, staring at his lap. "I didn't want to be this powerful," he mumbled.

"It's not a crime," Art said. "Properly trained, you could be an incredible hero."

"Properly trained," Hal mimicked with a hint of bitterness. "What happens if I hurt more people in the process?"

"You can't let what happened back there shape you!" Art insisted, interrupting Guardian. "We all have bumpy pasts, Hal. We don't let them define us because if we did, we'd be useless. Put aside your doubts, kid. We're here for you, but we can only do so much. Some of it has to come from you."

Hal looked up at him and shrugged. "I'll do what I can."

"Then, if that's settled," Guardian said, "there's just one thing left. Your hero name. What do you want it to be?"

It only took Hal a moment to answer. "Phoenix," he said. "I will rise from the ashes of what I've done."

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