The cloud drifted down into the back of an empty alleyway and then compressed into a more defined state. In a moment, the young Asian man with straight black hair and dressed once more in very crisply ironed shirt and pressed pants now replaced the cloud form. Confident that his transformation too went unnoticed, Yoshikaz Kunimatsu briskly walked to the exit of the alley and turned right down the street.

He stopped a few blocks away at a phone booth and, instead of going for the receiver, reached down to the warped book of pages in a thick plastic case that was chained at one side. I learned a few things from probing that woman’s mind back at the museum, he thought to himself, as well as some things from the man known as the Sinister Spectrum. Yoshikaz thumbed through the residential section, locating the names that began with ‘L’and traced into the listings.

After a few moments, he frowned slightly and closed the book. No Harold Lindberg, the Spectrum’s true name, is listed in the Baltimore area, he thought to himself. I should not have figured that this would be very easy.

Yoshikaz left the phone booth and began to work his way up the street. He had chosen this area as a destination after leaving the other heroes back at the Dillin Memorial Museum for a reason. After a few blocks, he climbed a set of marble stairs in front of a large brick building where two identical statues of lions sat perched near the entrance.

He entered the largest branch of the Baltimore Public Library system and approached the front desk.

An older woman with curly red hair and wire-framed glasses perched on the end of her nose looked up. “Can I help you?” she asked.

Yoshikaz nodded and said “I am looking for your micro fiche library. Can you direct me please?”

“Second floor, to the right,” the woman replied.

He nodded again politely to her and went up the stairs that she had indicated. When he arrived at the room, he first went to the large card catalog and began to research his topic. At the very least I should be able to find some news articles relating to this criminal’s past, he thought to himself. He took a scrap of paper and a small pencil from a nearby holder and began to scribble down a few numbers.

He then went to the files and extracted a number of tapes per the card catalog’s indication. He found an open machine, threaded the first tape into it and began to scroll quickly through the images of newsprint. He found a few articles in question and began to scribble down a few more notes.

After a few hours and grabbing a small bite to eat for dinner, he was back in the armor and masked cloak of his identity of Karishi the Hunter. This time, he strode confidently into a local precinct building and requested to speak to the police commissioner.

The uniformed officer at the desk looked at the hero’s odd attire and was slightly taken aback by it. But, the man assumed, the masked man couldn’t be here to cause trouble; costumed criminals and lunatics did their best to avoid places where dozens upon dozens of armed police officers congregated.

Michael Cage was a man in his early forties with short brown hair and a slightly receding hairline. He was dressed in a yellow oxford shirt and a brown knit tie. When he came out to the front desk where the hero stood waiting, he looked him up and down. “I’m Commissioner Cage,” he said. “Didn’t I see something on the evening news about you?”

The masked hero too sized up the commissioner with a glance. He seemed to Karishi to be a good man, honest and straight-forward. “I have not seen the news,” the hero said. “But if you are referring to what happened at the museum earlier today, then, yes, I am one of the heroes who opposed the one called Sinister Spectrum. My name is Karishi.”

“Okay,” Cage said. “Karishi…shall we talk in my office?”

“If you prefer that would be fine.” The hero followed the police commissioner, his ebony cape fluttered gently behind him as he walked. He gathered the cape up to one side then as he took a seat opposite of Cage’s desk.

The brown haired man sat in his chair and leaned back a bit. His eyes remained focused on his guest. “Sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to stare or anything, but we don’t have a lot of experience around here with costumed heroes.”

Karishi nodded. “I understand. I am new to your city, but I hope I can provide as much assistance as possible when certain…difficult circumstances arise.”

“And by difficult, you mean those out of the ordinary types of crimes, right?” Cage asked.

“And those out of the ordinary types of criminals,” Karishi replied, “criminals like the aforementioned Sinister Spectrum. I have some information on him, but I am seeking more. It is always best to have knowledge about those you are trying to bring to justice.”

Cage nodded. “I wish I could offer you some help in that area, but I’m not sure how much more detail I can …”

A knock on Cage’s door interrupted his thought. Both men looked up to see a uniformed office in his late twenties standing in the open doorway. The man had short red-hair, parted to one side and a look of excitement in his eyes. “Sorry to disturb you, Commissioner,” he said though his smile indicated very little remorse.

“Lieutenant,” Cage replied. “Is this important?”

“I heard we had a special guest in the precinct,” the uniformed man replied. “I was hoping I could meet him.”

Cage let out a slight sigh and then said, “Karishi, this is Lt. Sean McNally.”

As Karishi rose, Lt. McNally hurried forward and shook his hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I heard about you and those other two heroes at the museum today. What were their names again?”

“Phaedrus and the Silent Knight,” Karishi said.

“Yes, that’s it,” McNally said, still shaking the hero’s hand vigorously. “So, are you guys a team or something?”

“We are collaborating on an investigation,” Karishi explained. He released his grip, and McNally got the hint to do so as well. “Beyond that…”

“Oh,” McNally said. “I just figured you guys might be like the Justice Gang or something. I actually worked with some of their members, you know, back when I was just starting out in the police business in Boston.”

“That is very nice,” Karishi said politely.

“McNally,” Cage said firmly. “If there isn’t anything else…” He made a gesture with his eyes towards the door.

“Oh, of course, sir,” the lieutenant said. He turned to the hero before departing. “If there is anything I can do to help you out, just let me know, Karishi. I’m on duty until ten tonight, most nights really.”

The hero nodded.

After finishing with Commissioner Cage, Karishi decided that he needed some time to gather his thoughts. The darkness of early evening provided him ample cover and allowed him to take his bat form to fly over the city. He flew across the downtown area, keeping to the darkness and shadows. As he passed John Hopkins University, he was reminded of his reasons for coming to this country.

Though I hated to leave Uncle, he being the only family ties I have left, I knew I would not find the answers I sought in Japan, he thought. Working at this university will allow me access to various data sources. My research is vital, especially to find that item of which I seek. Then, and only then, can I seek out and payback those who have cursed me so.

When Lt. McNally made his way down the front steps of the precinct, Karishi was there in the shadows waiting. “Lieutenant,” the hero said as he stepped to the edge of the shadows. “Was your offer of assistance earlier a sincere one?”

McNally smiled broadly. “It was! Would you like to go and talk somewhere? Compare some notes over coffee? I’d love to hear all about your exploits.”

“Actually,” Karishi said, “I wanted to speak more about you, or, specifically, how well you know the members of the Justice Gang.”

“Real well,” McNally said. “I aided Phantom Lady back in Boston years ago on a number of cases. She and I have a great working relationship. She’s really nice in person, just like you’d expect her to be.”

“I am sure,” Karishi said. “Given that her group has faced the Sinister Spectrum in the past, she might be able to offer me assistance in my investigation. Do you know how to contact her?”

“Contact her?” McNally said. “Sure, I can do that.” He reached into his pants pocket. “This’ll do it.” He pulled forth a small metal device, rectangular in shape and slightly larger than a woman’s make-up compact.

“What is that?” Karishi asked.

McNally smiled and flipped open the cover. There were a number of buttons inside and a small speaker. “This is a Justice Gang communicator,” he said proudly. “It allows me to contact their satellite headquarters in times of emergency. I always have it on me, just in case.”

“How did you acquire such a device?”

“Phantom Lady gave it to me personally when I made lieutenant a few years ago, just before I moved to Baltimore,” McNally said. “I was told that someone was on monitor duty day or night, so we should be able to contact them right now.” He pressed one of the buttons.

Ten minutes later, the two men found themselves inside a large space station that orbited the planet like a watchdog in the sky. McNally was sitting in a chair, recovering a bit from the teleportation up from the Earth’s surface. Karishi, who was used to transformations of his own, seemed to handle the experience just fine.

A dark haired beauty dressed in a skin-tight yellow leotard, a long green cape and a green mask returned with a glass of water. “Here you go, Sean,” she said as she offered him the drink. “This will help. The transporter takes a bit to get used to.”

The officer took the glass and nodded. “Thanks, Phantom Lady.” He took a sip. “Good to see you again, by the way.”

She smiled. For a woman in her mid-forties, she was still in great physical shape. Her skin was clear and firm. “Good to see you again too,” the heroine replied. She turned to her other guest. “Sean says that your name is Karishi. Is that Chinese?”

“Japanese,” the cloaked hero replied. Karishi was looking about at the various computers and display monitors in the circular structure. Above them were clear glass windows that showed the stars and the Earth below. “I must say this is an amazing facility you have here.”

“This is just the monitor room,” Phantom Lady replied. “These systems allow us to keep abreast of any situations going on across the globe, so that we can provide assistance as quickly as possible.” She left the officer for a moment and joined the other hero. “So you are based in Baltimore now? I had not heard of you until today.”

“Yes,” Karishi said. “I have not been doing this long. I was active some in my home country before coming to the United States, but not enough to garner any sort of media attention. I almost would prefer to avoid all that, to be honest.”

She continued to size him up. He did not appear to be any kind of threat, though his costume was certainly darker than she was used to. He was also very mysterious. “I see.”

Karishi turned back to her. “I was hoping I could find out more about Harold Lindberg, the one called the Sinister Spectrum. He appeared at a museum in Baltimore today and brought back to life a woman from a crystal that was on display.”

“So I understand,” she said. “I could show you our trophy room where we keep our case logs. Maybe something there could help you.”

Karishi nodded. “That would be most useful. Thank you.”

A short time later, Karishi stood before a display case where a large sapphire like gemstone was on display on a black velvet pillow. Above it was a painted portrait of its owner, another beautiful dark-haired woman yet one dressed in pink and crimson. “This gemstone,” Karishi said as his gloved hand traced the air before the glass, “it belonged to one of your colleagues.” His words were more of a statement rather than a question.

“Yes,” Phantom Lady said. “It belonged to Star Light, my very good friend and one of this team’s founders.” She glanced up at the portrait and felt a bit of sadness.

“And the gem provided her power, much like the Spectrum’s does,” Karishi said. “I wonder if perhaps I could…”

“I don’t think so,” a firm voice said from behind him. The heroes turned to see a brown haired young man, about seventeen or so in appearance, dressed in a red body suit with black boots and gloves.

“Mind Set,” Phantom Lady said in a matronly way, “don’t be rude. This hero Karishi is a guest of ours.”

“He may be a guest, Phantom Lady” the younger hero said to the woman who was not only a colleague but also like an aunt to him, “but I’m not about to let him just go and touch my mother’s gemstone without permission.”

“I meant no disrespect,” Karishi said. “I was just hoping I could get a closer look at it. Having encountered the Sinister Spectrum earlier today and seeing his interest in gemstones of power, I wonder if perhaps there is something of your mother’s gemstone that might offer some insight.”

Mind Set stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the cloaked hero.

Karishi felt something push against his mind. He knew it was coming from the young man. He let his mental barriers drop slightly. If you need to look into my thoughts to determine my intent, he thought, so be it. I come here seeking answers and nothing more.

Mind Set looked a bit surprised. He was not expecting a mental response to his probe. Still, he took the invitation and the two stood silently for a moment.

“Mind Set?” Phantom Lady said. “Karishi?”

“Are they okay?” Sean McNally asked.

“I’m sure they are,” Phantom Lady said in an assuring manner.

Finally, Mind Set broke the silence. “He’s okay,” he said. “I believe he speaks the truth.” He walked over to the display case and carefully lifted the glass and put it to one side. With his gloved hand, he carefully lifted the gemstone from its place of honor. “I’ll let Karishi hold it for a moment, supervised of course.”

“Thank you,” Karishi said as he took the stone from the young hero. The edges were smooth and polished. He carefully turned it over in his two hands, treating it with great care.

He then decided to open his mind and concentrate on the gem. There was something there – like a surge or an aura. His studies had told him that often ancient artifacts of great power exuded an energy all their own. Karishi focused even further.

It all hit him unexpectedly!

"This needs to end now!" Madame Mammoth ordered.

"Allow me," Prince Pyro stepped forward. "It is time for your reign to end, Star Light." He lifted his right hand, and a ball of flame appeared out of nowhere to encircle it. "Bid adieu to this existence, because you are about to burn in Hell!"

Pyro shoved his hand outward towards the woman, releasing a searing burst of flames directly towards her.

The fire ripped through Star Light's abdomen. A scream of agony started in her throat. Before the cry could become audible, the flames engulfed the rest of her body.

Karishi felt every bit of the pain as the fire encircled his being. He started to fall, spinning away and into darkness. The further he fell, the more the pain subsided.

Suddenly, he was on his knees digging in the dirt. He felt something solid and brushed away the loose fragments. Placing his fingers underneath an edge, he lifted and a small item tore free from its resting place. He brushed way the dust and clumps still attached, only to realize that it was a gemstone – a sapphire-like gemstone. He felt some relief. He glanced up and realized there were stars in the sky, but the constellations that were not at all familiar.

The scene shifted suddenly. He was now soaring above the city, dodging blasts of energy.

“You can’t escape me! Our powers are equally matched!” a voice called from behind.

Star Light spun around and smiled. “Now who was trying to escape, Spectrum?” From her gemstone came an energy barrier that blocked his blasts. “I just needed to get you away from the crowds where innocents could have gotten hurt. Now I can do this!”

The sapphire energy shot from the gemstone in her tiara and engulfed the black garbed villain. It began to squeeze tightly, to bind his arms to his side.

“No! I will not be defeated by you!” Spectrum roared. “We should be allies, not enemies!”

“We’ll always be enemies,” Star Light said, her concentration unyielding. “As long as you are against the side of justice, you are against me.”

Karishi felt her courage, her pride and her conviction. Unlike the fear from before, here she was at her best, doing what she loved.

The scene shifted again.

“Do you, Morgan, take Robert to be your lawfully wedded husband?” the gray haired minister in black asked. “To have and to hold, from this day forward, until death do you part?”

The dark haired woman smiled as she looked upon the brown haired man who held her hand tightly. The joy was clearly evident on her face. “I do,” she said.

The scene switched once more.

In his arms, Karishi held a new born child wrapped in a light blue blanket. He felt exhaustion and yet also renewal. And as he looked down into the little boy’s eyes, he felt an overwhelming feeling of love and accomplishment.

“Hello,” a soft female voice said, breaking the silence and the imagery that he had been caught up in.

“Hello,” Karishi responded. The voice was all around him and inside his head. “Who are you?”

“I am Atura,” the female replied.

“You are the presence I felt in Star Light’s gemstone,” Karishi said.

“Yes.”

“You were with her a long time.”

“She found me at a time of need – for both of us. Through the gemstone, she was able to tap into my power which then allowed me to help she, her father and their newfound allies to escape from imprisonment.”

“And you shared her experiences.”

“Yes. Morga was an amazing woman – so full of life and goodness. So much like myself. It allowed us to share a bond, a rapport, through the gemstone. Through her, I was able to experience life once more. Together, we were able to do so much good.”

“And now that she is gone?”

“I am at a loss. I have been so alone. I fear I’ll never be able to find someone again to share such a bond. Morga may truly have been one of a kind.”

“You showed me one of her battles with the Sinister Spectrum,” Karishi said. “Why?”

“I felt you had some interest in him.”

“Do you know him?”

“I knew him,” Atura said. “I knew him when he was Setar.”

“So, is he like you?”

“No. He is evil and selfish. He is possessive of his host body, to the point where he forces down the spirit of whom his is attached. He takes over them completely. We are not at all alike. Morga was always in charge; I was there to serve her.”

“But you knew Setar from before?”

“Yes. We moved in a similar circle, when we were all still of the flesh.”

“Do you know of one called Crystaline, a tall blonde woman of whom Setar would have interest?”

“From your thoughts and the image of her, she appears to match that of a woman I once knew as Mekkona. She was different. Her fate ended up different than that of Setar, I and others.”

“What do you mean?” Karishi asked.

“It was a long time ago, centuries,” Atura explained. “In ancient times, a group of mystics and their most loyal apprentices were being hunted down by those wishing to exploit their power. Gattasurzar, the grand mystic, would not let our abilities be manipulated by the wrong parties. Instead, he decided to cast a spell over the group – to transpose our minds, souls and abilities into various gemstones. Mekkona was part of the first group who were transformed fully into their stones.

“However, the hunters soon found us and attempted to break into the barricades that kept us safe. Gattasurzar was forced to use a quicker spell on the rest of the group. I was part of this second set group. As we heard the doors about to splinter, Gattasurzar promised that we would all be taken someplace safe and that we would one day reunite.

“And that is the last thing I remembered – until Morga found my gemstone on that prison asteroid many galaxies away.”

Though he could not see her, Karishi felt Attura’s emotions. There was sadness thinking about her own past and yet, too, some relief to be able to share her story with another again. “I know you have been through a great ordeal in your life,” he said to her. “But I do appreciate what little information you have been able to provide me. Like Star Light, I too seek to balance the scales of justice and use my abilities in whatever way I can.”

“I sensed that about you,” Atura said. “That is why I felt I could reveal myself to you.”

“I thank you for that, but I should go,” Karishi said.

“I understand,” said Atura. “But can you do something for me? Can you give a message to her son?”

“To Mind Set? Of course. What is the message?”

“Please tell him what an amazing individual his mother was and how much she was proud of him. He should know that he was one of the last thoughts on her mind before she passed on.”

“I will,” Karishi said. He thought of his own life and how his parents had been taken from him at such a young age. He did not know what their final thoughts had been. “I believe he will be comforted to hear that.”

“Also, please tell him that he should someday seek a worthy successor of the gemstone – someone who shares the same traits and nature of his mother. I would so like to help someone else continue the good work that Morga had done before.”

“I will tell him that as well.” Karishi then felt their connection end.

When Karishi opened his eyes once more, he found he was lying on the floor in the trophy room of the Justice Gang’s headquarters.

Mind Set was sitting in a chair nearby, watching him. “Welcome back,” the brown haired hero said.

Karishi sat up. In his hands was Star Light’s gemstone, still safely held. “How long was I out?”

“About an hour,” Mind Set replied. “You collapsed but your vital signs were all fine. I tried to get into your mind but felt resistance.”

“Sorry,” Karishi said. He handed the gemstone back to Mind Set who returned it to the case.

“So, what was that all about?” the young hero asked.

Karishi explained everything he had learned about the gemstone and Atura. Mind Set listened intently, neither acknowledging nor discounting any of it. Karishi could sense the young man was probing his mind as he spoke, to determine if he was speaking the truth. Again, Karishi just let the mentalist do so. About this he had nothing to hide. When he finished, he told Mind Set about Atura’s final messages for him.

It was this that seemed to get some response out of the young man. “Wow,” Mind Set finally said.

“It is an unexpected final request,” Karishi said. “Will you honor it?”

“It is what my mother would have wanted,” Mind Set answered.

“I think you are right. I probably should be going. I have taken up a lot of your time this evening.”

“I’ll beam you back down to Baltimore,” Mind Set said as he led him back to the monitor deck.

“What about Lieutenant McNally?” Karishi asked.

“When Phantom Lady finished her monitor duty, I suggested she go back down planet-side with him. He said something about coffee and wanting to catch up.”

“He seems persistent,” Karishi said.

“She’s happily married,” Mind Set said. “Still, she felt like he was a good friend so a coffee sounded nice.”

Karishi stepped on to the platform. “Thank you,” he said.

“Wait,” Mind Set said. He went to one of the cabinets and removed something. “Here, for you. A thank you of sorts for the information you provided me.”

Karishi took the small device. It was similar to the one that McNally had used earlier to contact the satellite.

“That’s a type D communicator,” Mind Set said. “It allows you to contact us in case of emergency, and it has a built in tracking sensor so we can locate you to assist. There is an emergency signal – the red button – and just a contact call mode – the blue button.”

Karishi nodded. “I am honored.”