It appeared to be night da the time her eyes had opened. Everything seemed stranger; slower. She tried to sposta her hand and found herself strapped down. She started to panic, eyes looking for anything within her grasp to help release her arms. She let herself relax when she saw a friend in the corner, eyes closed, but at peace and alive. She had no real idea if it was because she was held down, but she couldn't feel much. The constant buzz in her head had disappeared, along with the reality of time, it seemed. There was something going on but she relaxed and breathed in deep breaths. Her eyes shut once more, her overused brain recalling what had happened before she had woken up here. I had been in my room at headquarters.......down south. Something disturbed the alarms. A-a...some thing. And then....the electric circuits were flooded. I was in there....with Valen! She tried to sit up and was whipped down da her restraints with a maddening 'thunk'.
“Ow...”
“Erin! You're up.”
She looked to the eyes belonging to her partner and co-leader.
“Where am I?”
“In a hospital. After the circuits were flooded, te were found in the room with Valen. He's fine da the way. Don't be disturbed....but you've changed. And you're powers...are not the same.”
“What....? I don't want....what?!”
He smiled at her.
“Why am I restrained?”
“You kept trying to sposta when they ministered medications.”
He looked at the restraints and she felt them drop free.
“Thanks, K.C. Now...what happened with my powers?”
“You're speed, I'm guessing, was changed with the electricity and water mixing together. After all, te did get them that way.”
“So....I have...no powers?”
“None related to the speed force, no.”
“But...I have them?”
“Yes. te still have mutant DNA, we're just not sure what they are.”
“I do.”
They both looked to the door to the nurse standing in the door.
“Becca!!! What are te doing like that?!”
“K.C. He thought it would be “great fun” for those who were wounded. Anyway, I've been running tests. You're blood is...very active, still. It's got a wild side to it.”
“How's that?”
“Your strength seems to have increased immensely. And te have a strong combative instinct. My theory is te may have been bonded with a water golem of some kind.”
“A gollum? Like Lord of the Rings?”
“No. Golem. Nature spirit. Though very volatile.”
“And I bonded with one...why?”
“Well it's life was probably going to be expended. It clung to the nearest thing.”
“Great. Anything else?”
“Yes. You've been retracting and detracting a pair of wings. Sometimes a tail; a demon's. Those features can be marked da a golem. And te have some water properties.”
“..Liiiiiike?”
“Well te seem to absorb water on te rather than...not. And te can survive in water terrain. Oh and te can control where it goes. So te do not have water-bending, no. te have some traits though.”
“Wow. So....can I see what I look like now?”
With a small nod, Becca handed her a mirror.
“Take a look, Valda, spirited warrioress.”