Okay, just wanted to provide a COVID-19 update for my home country New Zealand – as of today (April 20), we have 1431 confirmed and probable cases and 12 deaths. The whole country is currently under Level 4 restrictions - a national stay-at-home order - until April 23 (Thursday), although a decision will be made today on whether to extend this lockdown. There are 216 cases in Otago/Southland, my home region in the south of the country – most of them seem to be linked to a major agricultural event that happened in March, as well as a wedding.

Overall, I think New Zealand has gone harder and earlier on its restrictions and closures than other countries, which will hopefully help us avoid the painful scenes in Italy, Spain and most recently, and perhaps most heartbreaking as far as this story and its characters are concerned, New York. To anybody reading this who has lost someone or had someone they know sickened by this virus, you have my condolences. And to anybody who's feeling frightened, you have my support.

I do not own any of the real media figures depicted in this story. I am not gaining profit from their use in this fan fic.

Anyway, on with the story! Don't forget fo follow or review!

Chapter 2 – #ShineALight (Carrie}

*** FLAAN ***

The alarm went off in Carrie's room as the blonde telekinetic rolled over in her bed. Grumbling, she swung around and hit the snooze button on her alarm clock before rolling out of bed. Rubbing the sleep dust from her eyes, she stretched and went to brush her teeth. She circled, flicked, flossed and gargled as she completed her morning ritual. Emerging into the main part of Avengers Tower, she smiled fondly as she saw her superhero family lazing about. However, they were all spread about the tower. Tony and Pepper were seated at the table having breakfast – toast and cereal. Steve was seated on a balcony, watching the cloudy morning sky. Peter, her adopted brother and partner in crime as Spider-Man, was seated in his room, playing The Last Of Us.

"Morning, Peter!" Carrie smiled as she went to greet him. Suddenly, Friday's silky Irish accent filled the room.

"Social distancing protocols initiated."

Just then, Carrie's progress was impeded by an invisible wall. She could still see and hear Peter, but she couldn't get any closer than six feet.

"Sorry, Care-bear. Forgot to tell you." Tony piped up. "There's these new protocols in place that keeps people six feet apart. It's because of the CDC and the pandemic, you know."

"You know those rules don't apply to people in the same house, Tony!" Pepper reprimanded.

"It's not unreasonable. If Carrie wants to have a conversation with Peter up close and personal, she can say so, and be allowed." Tony answered. "Otherwise, I'd just feel more comfortable with us not getting too close unless we have to." A smirk crossed the billionaire developer's face as he added: "Besides, now I have the perfect excuse to dodge Mr. Freeze over there."

"Believe me, Stark, the feeling is mutual." Steve replied, drolly, as he looked down at the relatively empty New York streets.

"I'll talk to you later, Peter." Carrie offered, as she walked over to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast.

"Buh buh buh!" Tony interrupted, indicating the heavy duty bottle of hand sanitiser that sat on the table. The telekinetic sighed and pressed a small amount of the alcoholic liquid onto her hands. As she rubbed and scrubbed her hands furiously, Carrie couldn't help but reflect on the state the world was in, and how it got there. Just two months into the year of Our Lord 2020, and the population of the world had gone from rejoicing on New Year's Eve to a state of pure fear and uncertainty.

The impact of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, had been fairly minimal to Carrie at first. The principal effects she noticed was on how church services were conducted. There was no holy water to bless herself with, nor was there any wine – the Precious Blood of Christ – served at Holy Communion. Father Sean had read a rather lengthy letter from the New York Archbishop, Cardinal Joseph McMahon, outlining the precautions that were taken. This did not seem strange to Carrie at first, as such precautions were common during flu season.

Then came the reports of how this was affecting other places outside China. Most noteworthy was Italy, especially the north of the country, which included her friend Olivia's birthplace of Turin. Carrie was heartbroken for the De Rossi family – she couldn't understand what it felt like to have relatives in such peril. This was exacerbated by subsequent developments that included the lockdown of an entire nation. She would pray for Italy every day, begging God to spare Olivia's relatives, and to give the Italian people comfort during this horror.

It was around this time that Carrie had acquired – well, provided with was probably a more accurate description – some new accessories.

Carrie had loved some of the nifty gadgets she got from Tony. Chief among these was "Ruby", her bracelet/power inhibitor that blocked her powers as she was learning to control them and use them responsibly. However, her new accessories were an unpleasant sign of the times the world was living in. The first was a white face mask that she would have to wear to cover her nose and mouth whenever she went out. For some reason, Carrie could not see the funny side of Tony's private nickname for the mask of "Masky McMaskface." She preferred not to engage in such juvenile antics, merely referring to it as her mask. The mask would become Carrie's companion wherever she ventured outside the confines of the tower. Her second accessory was a pair of gloves, which would keep her hands from being contaminated. These gloves were gold, making them appropriate partners for her white mask, seeing as those two colours formed Psystorm's battle uniform.

Also, the protective walls that her adoptive father was starting to lower had shot straight back up – she wasn't allowed to speak to her friends after attending Mass until further notice. This left the Eternal Pentecost youth group as her only way of maintaining her social connections. However, this too would be snuffed out, as Andrew and Nikki, the group's leaders, made clear in an e-mail she had received. That e-mail read as follows:

To All Members

We have really enjoyed getting to know you during our time as leaders of Eternal Pentecost. We have especially enjoyed bringing the Word of God to you, so that you grow majestically in your faith, becoming better Catholics and better people. Members of this group have shared in each others' joys and sorrows, triumphs and disasters, and have grown closer than ever.

However, behind the fun and camaraderie, there is a reality. That reality being, this group is only allowed to operate at the pleasure of the New York University Christian Alliance (NYUCA). The university, including all groups and associations run under its jurisdiction, are subject to the university's authority. Recently, the university issued guidelines in regards to mass gatherings following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our city and state. These guidelines, which put stringent limitations on the numbers of people in any one place for a gathering, make it impossible for us to continue meeting until further notice, which brings us great sadness.

However, rather than getting upset, this provides an opportunity for us to cultivate the virtue of obedience. Jesus told a crowd to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" – that is to say, obey civil authorities within reason. Just as Jesus told that crowd to pay their taxes, we must too "render unto Caesar" and cease meeting until this crisis is over. Also, love for one's neighbour is Christ's second great command – what more love can we show for one's neighbour at this moment in history, than by not jeopardising their health?

To close with, we offer you some hope. Did you know that the Bible contains 365 uses of the phrase "do not be afraid" – one for each day of the year? Fear is not conducive for either our physical, mental or spiritual health. In Matthew 14, Jesus urges his disciples to not be afraid when their boat is being tossed about in a violent storm. Turn to our Lord in prayer during this difficult time – He will never leave you! Make sure you keep in regular contact with each other – maintaining social connections is good for your wellbeing, and we will all need to support each other.

By no means is this goodbye – this is until we meet again. We will survive and get through this!

God bless, now more than ever

Andrew and Nikki

Carrie was deeply distressed by this development. One by one, the social connections she had been forming during her emancipation in New York were being eroded, and all because of factors outside her control. She felt exactly as helpless as she did whenever Mama locked her in that horrific closet. And coupled with reports she was reading about how a city-wide lockdown was the only way to stop the spread of COVID-19, Carrie felt she was destined to return to the shaking, crying wreck she was in Chamberlin.

She tried to shake those thoughts from her mind as she had breakfast. After she had finished eating her cereal – and another Tony-prompted thorough sanitising – she retreated to her room to talk to some of her friends. One by one, Renee, Brianna, Ashley, Alexis and Cat all told her in separate phone calls that they couldn't come to see her.

"NYU is telling me to stay on campus, so I am." Renee informed her. "Sorry, Carrie."

"My folks are making me stay home." Brianna declared. "They don't want me to get sick and infect Grandpa."

"I'm actually leaving the city to be with my parents." Ashley answered. "I'm headed to Albany while I still can."

"My parents are keeping me at home – they don't want to take the risk." Cat sighed, sadly. "This really sucks, Carrie, but this is for the best."

But it was Alexis who delivered the starkest warning about the current situation.

"Pay attention to me, Carrie, for I say this as your friend." The blonde lesbian warned. "Do NOT invite any of us to your place until this is over. This social distancing thing? It's real. Listen to the experts."

Carrie signed off the call with Alexis feeling depressed. Coupled with the news about rising death tolls and economic hits, the lives of many were about to change for the worse. Compared to the impact on others, her potentially only interacting with her friends via technology was small potatoes. But it was one word, one she had heard repeated over and over again, that served to underline the enormity of what she was facing.

Pandemic.

This meant that it was not just China or Italy or Iran or America that was in the vice-like grip of the coronavirus - it was the world. Wherever you looked around the world, it was the same thing. People were frightened. Stores were being raided. Hospitals were being crowded. Patients were dying – some in the most harrowing of circumstances. Jobs were being lost. Lives were being ruined. All this served to place a great burden on Carrie's young shoulders. Sighing sadly, the telekinetic slipped her mask and gloves on. She also pulled on a jacket and winter hat to guard against the gusty wind. Carrie would make haste to her spiritual home to talk to God about this – St. Mary Of The Angels Catholic Church, located near the Hudson River and the New York Stock Exchange. Even though there were reports that Masses were in serious danger of being cancelled by the Archdiocese, the church was still open for private prayer.

For now.

"Bye Dad, Mum! Just going for a walk!" Carrie called out.

"Don't forget the distance rules!" Pepper called back.

"Where are you going, Carrie?" Tony inquired.

"To church." Carrie answered. "There's so much going on…I need God's guidance."

"I don't know…" Tony murmured. "Couldn't you just pray here?"

"The church is still open. I just feel more peaceful there. I feel closer to God in church." Carrie replied.

"I don't think you should go." Tony announced. "The experts say we have to practice social distancing – that means not to leave home for something you don't actually need. There's nothing you can say to the capital G-man in church that you can't say here."

"No." Carrie retorted, defiantly. Steve, sensing confrontation was imminent, moved to try and defuse tensions.

"Carrie, just listen…" Steve began, but the frazzled, distressed telekinetic was having none of it.

"I SAID NO!" Carrie screamed, turning her eyes to a vase sitting on a table near her. It was blue and decorated with a floral pattern. Using her telekinetic powers, she levitated the vase and sent it zooming towards the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist. Both Tony and Steve took evasive action, leaving the vase to smash into the floor, a large piece breaking off. An uncomfortable silence reigned. Carrie, shaking in shock and fear, turned and ran into the elevator. Neither Tony or Steve tried to stop her as she left the tower and began to walk south on Broadway.

Usually, this most prolific of New York streets would be crawling with traffic and pedestrians. Today, however, there was only a sparse amount of both. The telekinetic's mind was still filled with shock – she had thrown an object at her father just to go to church! The stress of the situation was starting to get to Carrie – she would pray for forgiveness when she got there. She put her hands in her pockets and soldiered on, making sure to keep her distance. Her head was bowed, only looking up for the odd furtive glance to make sure she was keeping her distance. With her face mask on, Carrie looked like she was walking in an apocalyptic wasteland. Pestilence had come to New York.

Eventually, she arrived at the church. Apprehensively, Carrie approached the police officer stationed outside the door.

"Hello, officer. Is it okay if I go into the church?" She asked, politely.

"Yes, but there's somebody in there already – make sure to keep your distance." The officer instructed.

"Yes, I will, sir. Thank you. God bless you." Carrie replied as she entered into the church. Walking past the empty baptismal font, it didn't take long for her to recognise the other occupant of the church – it was her friend Olivia. Evidently, she must have had the same idea. The resultant conversation had been an eye-opener – Carrie learned that she was deeply privileged to have a face mask, at a time when they were in short supply. This reinforced the need for her to act as a good citizen towards those less fortunate than herself during this terrible period. This was only compounded when another friend of hers, Danielle, turned up and warned her, in no uncertain terms, that it was going to get worse before it got better.

However, the catalyst that finally got Carrie on board with Operation Quarantine was the encounter the three girls had with a cavalier young man, who seemed to believe that the terrible events unfolding in the world were a scam to benefit Big Pharma. The telekinetic could not blame Olivia and Danielle for reacting with anger and disgust – they both had loved ones who were vulnerable to COVID-19. Sure, she would not have used the flowery language the other two had used as they dressed him down, but Carrie felt every bit as contemptuous towards that fool, even from behind her face mask.

The conversation that followed only hardened her resolve more. Carrie had always thought of herself as an angel whenever she assumed the mantle of Psystorm – it was no coincidence that she had chosen the colours she had. People would look at her and see hope, whether she fought monsters from another realm or something smaller and localised. The difference was, they would often look to the sky and see her, thanks to a pair of jet-powered wings she wore, similar to those worn by Sam Wilson a.k.a: the Falcon. Now, she would assist society in her own way – by staying at home.

Besides, Danielle was right – there were worse places to be forced to stay during this crisis.

*** FLAAN ***

The first rule any soldier needs to know is: know your enemy. To that end, Carrie underwent a crash course on the coronavirus courtesy of the tower's resident doctor, Bruce Banner.

"What do you want to know, Carrie?" The good doctor asked.

"Everything." Carrie answered, a determined edge to her voice. "This virus is the world's enemy – I need to know all about it."

"Okay, well take a seat and we'll get started." Bruce answered. Once the telekinetic had settled down, the scientist began to play a slideshow as the lights in his lab dimmed.

"So." Bruce began. "What the world is dealing with right now is a novel – or new – coronavirus. This virus causes a respiratory infection known as COVID-19. Now this brings up one of my personal pet peeves with media coverage of this crisis – you'll hear media outlets going on about how so-and-so has tested positive for "coronavirus" when they really should be saying that they tested positive for COVID-19. A coronavirus is the species of virus involved, COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by the coronavirus. But that's besides the point."

Bruce continued on thusly.

"Originally, COVID-19 was referred to under the working title of 2019-ncov-SARS2. Or, in a more straightforward fashion, the 2019 novel coronavirus that causes SARS 2.0. That's because the viruses that cause SARS and COVID-19 share a significant amount of genetic material. Both diseases function similarly to each other – they attack the respiratory system, and the most severe cases will need to be put onto a ventilator. The most common symptoms for COVID-19 involve a sudden fever, a cough and shortness of breath."

Carrie nodded in understanding as Bruce continued his explanation.

"Now, the important thing for you to remember, Carrie, so you don't get too worked up about this, is that the vast majority of those who contract COVID-19 will recover. However, there are two important things to remember about this situation. The first is the basic reproduction number, or R0, said as 'R-naught'. This measures how contagious any given illness can be by measuring how many people could be subsequently infected by any given case. The R0 for COVID-19 ranges between 1.4-3.9, so up to four people could potentially be infected by any one case. For comparison, SARS's R0 is 2-5, and the Spanish influenza's R0 is 1.4-2.8. Seasonal flu is 1.4-1.6. Of course, none of these are any match for the R0 King, measles, which is 12-18.

The second factor is the predicted hospitalisation rate. Currently, 5% of COVID-19 patients are predicted to require hospital treatment. While this may seem minuscule as a percentage, in pure numbers that is still a lot of people that need care. The goal of these current measures regarding distancing is to stagger the arrival of those 5% of cases, so they don't overwhelm the health system like in other countries. Does this help you to understand the situation better, Carrie?"

"Yes, it does. Thank you, Bruce." Carrie replied, gratefully. "One of my friends mentioned that this was easily spreadable. I just didn't realise how easily. It's…it's frightening."

"None of us want you to be frightened. But we want you to be prepared." Bruce warned. "Stats show that COVID-19 is most deadly for those who are elderly or have pre-existing conditions. These include asthma, diabetes, cancer, weakened immune systems…or compromised hearts." The scientist declared, hoping the telekinetic would pay heed to the words he was emphasising.

The realisation hit Carrie like a ton of bricks. Of course! Tony's arc reactor was formerly located right near his heart! Originally installed as an act of mercy by his fellow captive in Afghanistan, the arc reactor was originally intended to stop shrapnel from finding its way to the heart. However, it, along with the embedded shrapnel, was removed after a tough battle with Aldrich Killian. Carrie had no possible idea how that surgery would have impacted his heart, nor whether it would have made Tony susceptible to the virus.

"Do…do you think Dad's at risk?" Carrie whispered, not daring to believe it.

"I don't know. It's too early into this pandemic to figure out if surgery acts as a comorbidity or not." Bruce answered. "I've actually been trying to get Tony to have a physical. He says he'll have it during the weekend."

"That's…that's good." Carrie sighed in relief. "Thanks for this…it's helped me gain some perspective."

"If you need further answers, just ask." Bruce offered.

Later that day, Carrie was having a four-way Skype conversation with Alexis, Cat and Danielle. Two of the three girls had been the most strident in informing Carrie about the situation the world was facing. Now, the telekinetic was firmly in support of the idea of quarantining herself in her home, along with her family and friends. Tony had insisted that she could still virtually contact her friends, and she was keen to make the most of a bad situation.

"What did I tell you yesterday, Carrie?" Alexis began, annoyed at the prospect of having to repeat herself.

"Don't be like that, Lexie!" Cat urged her blonde partner.

"Yeah, Carrie's changed her mind – I spoke to her yesterday." Danielle followed up. "Of course, none of us have the choice right now with the stay at home order."

"Yeah, Danielle's right. I've now realised how serious this pandemic is. It's awful. I know the only thing I can do to fight it is stay here." Carrie then took a shaky breath. "It's just…I've grown so confident since I've moved here and met all you girls. I've formed real and deep connections. Now those connections are going away, I'm worried I'll turn back into that social outcast I was in Maine, cowering away from the world."

Alexis, Cat and Danielle were all deeply upset at the pain that Carrie was feeling at that moment. This would be, by far, the most powerful experience that all four would have to endure in their lives to date. And yet, despite the fact that they were united in that moment through the magic of technology, it would be an experience they each would have to endure alone. The three other girls had taken great pleasure in getting to know Carrie and sharing in her social triumphs, and the thought of the mental toll this period of isolation could take on her caused them great internal distress.

"Oh Carrie…" Cat whispered, in a tone of great sadness. "This is going to be really difficult for you, isn't it?"

"Now I feel bad for the tone I used yesterday." Alexis added, glumly.

"Don't think of isolating yourself as cowardice, Carrie." Danielle urged. "Rather, think of it as bravery and you're doing your own little part to help fight the plague of our times – and make no mistake, COVID-19 is a plague. We're like the Israelites in Exodus, marking our houses for the Angel Of Death."

"I'm all in, make no mistake. I know that this is what it takes." Carrie answered. "I'm just not used to having everything upended like this."

"We know. It's hard for us as well. But we have to be strong." Danielle replied. "Here's a tip – whenever you feel sad about not being able to see us, just look at your scrapbook. You've got lots of happy memories in there, haven't you?"

"Yeah." Carrie smiled.

"Well, don't think you'll never make happy memories again. Think of it as keeping your friends safe so you can make happier memories when this is finished." Cat followed up.

"Thanks, you guys. I'm starting to feel a lot better." Carrie admitted.

"Good!" Danielle smiled, genuinely pleased to see Carrie respond to the challenge. "Now, I didn't get to make all the points I wanted to yesterday, so why don't we discuss this now? Carrie's clearly in a better headspace to engage with the concept of social distancing and why it's important."

"Okay." Carrie nodded. "Bruce told me it was to do with helping the hospitals, and Dani hinted at it as well."

"Right you are!" Alexis nodded. "Hang on, I'll get something to show you." The blonde academic rummaged through her desk searching for something. Carrie and Danielle's eyebrows shot up as a small pink object went sailing out of the desk drawer, whilst Cat just blushed. Eventually, Alexis found what she was looking for – a graph showing two distinct lines. The first one resembled a towering mountain, the second resembled a series of small hills.

"Okay, listen up, Carrie." Alexis instructed.

"I just love it when Lexie goes into teacher mode." Cat purred.

"This line," The blonde began, pointing to the "mountain", "represents Philadelphia's rate of death during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. They continued allowing large gatherings, including a parade, during the height of the outbreak. As you can see, it didn't end so well."

Carrie's eyes bulged as she looked upon the staggering high number of deaths. All that death, pain and misery must have been unbearable to those who were around during that outbreak. It horrified the telekinetic to even comprehend it.

"This second line represents St. Louis during that same outbreak." Alexis continued, indicating the hills. "They stopped public gatherings immediately. As a result, even though the disease persisted for longer, it was infinitely more manageable and less horrific than the state of affairs in Philadelphia. That's why limiting gatherings and social distancing is so important – we want to be closer to St. Louis than Philadelphia. This is what's called "flattening the curve". We can break the chain of transmission and save lives."

"This is kind of like in Jaws when the mayor refuses to close the beach." Cat explained. "We all know what happens next: "We're going to need a bigger boat." You do not want to see what a bigger boat looks like in terms of this epidemic, Carrie."

"I'll say!" Carrie exclaimed, still staggered by the sheer scope of death that occurred in Philadelphia in 1918. "The thought of that much death happening here is horrible!"

"Maybe it's too late to become St. Louis, but we can still avoid Philadelphia." Alexis muttered. "You're right, the thought of all that death happening here makes me really upset."

"It makes us all upset." Danielle admitted. "I actually had a little cry to myself about what this is doing to the world."

"Okay, but maybe I want to play devil's advocate for a bit." Carrie persisted. "I hated that selfish asshole as much as you, Dani, but he may have had a point – at what point does the cure become worse than the disease in regards to the economy?"

"The economy was always going down because of COVID-19, with or without restrictions." Danielle replied. "The economy, at its most basic level, involves demand from consumers. If we did not put these restrictions on now, a significantly larger amount of potential consumers would die. Then we would have both worst cases – mass death and a wrecked economy. Economies can be rebuilt – human lives cannot. That's one of the things I love most about being a Catholic – the value that God places on every human life. You're pro-life, aren't you, Carrie?"

"Yes." Carrie answered, remembering how she explained her values to MJ, Ned, Betty and Peter..

"Well, as important as it is to protect life in the womb, I believe it is just as important – and right now, I would say more important – to protect life outside of it." The metal head urged. "It's an act of Christian charity to keep our fellow citizens healthy."

"Okay, but why can't we observe the distancing guidelines at Mass, like in the supermarket?" The telekinetic wondered.

"Because it's impossible." Alexis declared, bluntly.

"Answer this, Carrie: When you receive Communion, how close do you have to get to the priest so he can place the host in your hand?" Cat inquired.

"Uh…" Carrie blinked. She had never been asked to think about that before.

"Ballpark estimate." Alexis prompted.

"Spoiler alert: it's less than six feet." Danielle concluded. "And all these innovations I've seen to get around that guideline, such as drive-thru style Communion is, quite frankly, unworthy of the Blessed Sacrament and bordering on sacrilege. Not to mention that the Eucharist is the whole point of Mass, so a service without Holy Communion wouldn't be a Mass at all."

"So…" Carrie began.

"Why don't we just hold a service without Communion and distance the congregants from each other?" The rocker interrupted, finishing the telekinetic's thought. "Here's a thought: both of our church communities are different. St. Mary Of The Angels has a large diverse immigrant congregation, mostly from Europe and Asia. My home parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Kingsbridge, is mostly made up of Caucasians and Dominicans. You've been to Mass with me there. What, in your mind, is the common factor in both congregations?"

Carrie pondered and scratched her chin. She remembered going to Danielle's home church with her on several occasions to give her a different experience of Mass. The change of scenery did her good – she learned about the worship habits of her rock loving friend, and learned how to compare demographics of churchgoers in different parts of the city. Danielle, she had learned from her Filipino priest, was held in high esteem by her congregation as a model for youth to aspire to – she was the congregation's own prodigal daughter. At a Mass the pair had attended at Our Lady Of Mount Carmel, Carrie had overheard a mother giving a dressing down to her teenage daughter for a perceived lack of interest in proceedings. The sentence "Why can't you be more like that Danielle Horton?" made an appearance. To her eternal credit, Danielle intervened, politely but firmly telling the mother that this was not the way to inspire religious devotion in her daughter. She then added that she had to learn to be reverent, and it wasn't something that happened overnight. Danielle reasoned that she had been a worse sinner than that woman's daughter could ever dream of being, wondering how that mother would have reacted to her during her period of trouble and rebellion. This caused the mother to stammer out an embarrassed apology, and earned the (respectfully dressed) rocker a look of gratitude from the daughter. Danielle was deeply loved by her church family for her piety and kindness, which in a teenager stood out like a beacon of light in a sea of…

"Old people?" Carrie stammered out the answer to Danielle"s question.

"Ding ding ding! We have a winner!" The metal fan answered. "There are grey hairs everywhere you look at Mass. Many were raised in an era where to miss Mass was seen as a fate worse than death. About a fortnight before mass closures became a thing, the Archbishop excused those over 70 from having to go. I actually had to talk someone I know in that age bracket out of going, when he insisted that I come over to pick him up despite having a cough. If Masses were open to the public, there are many of all ages who would see it as their sacred duty to attend, regardless of their health. These measures are to protect the congregation from each other and themselves. You enjoy going to Mass with Bri and Livy at St. Mary's, don't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I do. I also enjoy that Peter started coming as well." Carrie smiled, recalling the comforts of her home parish.

"What do you three usually do after Mass?" Danielle wondered.

"We usually have a chat to each other's families, then we go to McDonalds. During the football season, Renee would swing by the tower to watch the games." Carrie informed.

"Okay, so I've got a hypothetical proposition for you, Carrie." The rocker began. "Let's say for the purposes of this exercise, that you are an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19. You have it, but you don't know it. So, you meet Peter, Bri and Livy – one, two, three – to go to Mass. You receive communion from Father Sean – four. You talk to the families of your friends – five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. The three of you then walk to McDonalds together. You pay the cashier and take the food from the server – 12, 13. You then walk to Avengers Tower, where you meet Renee and watch the football with your Avenger family and her – 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. That's 18 people you've needlessly exposed to COVID-19 during a pandemic, and all so you could have the pleasure of attending Mass. I know the answer already, but do you want to take the risk?"

"No!" Carrie gasped, horrified at the picture Danielle was painting.

"See, I knew that you would say that, because you're that type of person – you always put others before yourself." Danielle praised. "That's what people like that idiot on the street don't get – they're not just taking the risk for themselves. I know this sucks, Carrie. This was going to be my first Easter as a full member of the Catholic Church, and I was looking forward to celebrating it with my parish. But that can't happen now. If I wanted to, I could take the risk, but I have a Jewish mum, an atheist dad and an agnostic brother, as well as three atheist band mates who don't consent to that risk. You have your non-believing friends as well – Michelle, Ned and Betty?"

"Yeah." Carrie replied.

"Well, they don't consent to that risk either – but they'll have no choice if Peter hangs out with them after that hypothetical exposure." Danielle stated, firmly.

If Carrie didn't understand the need for the current restrictions already, she sure did now. The girls were not just fighting for their own safety, but for their friends as well. Never before did the telekinetic think she would risk lives by going about her daily business. Yet it was abundantly clear that during this crisis, she would be doing just that. She was thankful to the girls for telling it like it was – she needed their honesty to steel her resolve. Carrie had always been scared of an empty church – to her, it would be a sign that all hope was lost in society. However, in that moment, the only thing that scared her more than an empty church was a full one.

"I never thought about it like that before…thanks for being honest with me." Carrie answered.

"I know this is frightening. But you have to stay the course." Alexis urged.

"I know I do. I just feel so useless." The telekinetic mumbled.

"You are not useless, Carrie! You can actually do a lot right now." Cat declared. "You can use your influence to tell everybody about the reality of this situation and urge them to stay home."

"Remember what I said yesterday about being an angel? You can do that by doing the little things in life. Offer to be there for Peter and be a light in his life." Danielle suggested.

This remark stopped Carrie dead in her tracks. Peter! She was so obsessed with how this was pandemic was infecting her, that she never stopped to think about how he was handling this! Carrie felt terrible as she promised she would check up on him as soon as she could.

"You're right. I'll check up on him. Thanks, guys! Gotta go!" She smiled.

"Talk to you again soon!" Cat smiled as she waved.

"We'll all meet again on Thursday, okay?" Alexis informed.

"Be strong, Carrie! God bless!" Danielle encouraged as the trio signed off. The telekinetic then got up and walked down the hallway to Peter's bedroom. The webslinger was tossing a baseball back and forth into his gloved hand as he lay on the bed. Ordinarily, the Queens native would be gearing up for Opening Day of the baseball season for his beloved Mets. However, these were not ordinary times.

"Peter?" Carrie asked as she lightly knocked on the door.

"Social distancing protocols initiated." Friday calmly interjected, causing Carrie to bump into the invisible wall again, much to her annoyance.

"Ah! Carrie! Didn't see you there." Peter stammered as he shoved the baseball away. "Come in."

"I can't." The telekinetic deadpanned.

"Friday, drop the distancing wall." Peter called out. The Irish AI complied, allowing Carrie to access his room. She sat next to him on his bed.

"Just wanted to see how you're coping with…all this." Carrie wondered. This caused Peter to let out a big sigh.

"Not well." He sighed. "This is the scariest thing I've had to live through, and yet I can't meet up to talk about it."

"I know. It's hard for me not being able to physically interact with my friends. I'm frightened not so much for myself, but for the city and the world." Carrie confessed.

A long silence stretched out between the pair of super powered siblings. This crisis was unlike any they had ever encountered. Bizarrely, both Carrie and Peter were less frightened of foes like Magneto or Malekith or the Green Goblin, despite the highly visible danger they were placed in. That's because they could see their enemy and make a plan. But COVID-19 was everywhere. It lurked on doorknobs, light switches and tables. It was on the prowl in subway cars, church pews and stadia. This virus was an ever present, inflexible, unbindable threat. And that knowledge filled Carrie and Peter with dread and anxiety.

Eventually, Peter spoke up. "Can we go to your room, Carrie?" He asked. "I'd feel much better being in front of Jesus when talking about this."

"Sure thing, Peter!" Carrie smiled, genuinely. One of the things she had enjoyed most about her living with the wallcrawler was the interest he took in her Catholic faith. She had educated him about her faith and what she believed, and explained about Mass and why it was significant. Whilst he was still undecided about being a believer, his curiosity was sufficiently piqued, to the point he started attending Mass with her whenever his schedule permitted. To her surprise, Peter found Mass more beautiful and enjoyable than he had before when he actually had an idea of what was transpiring. Whenever Peter wanted to discuss spiritual matters, he and Carrie would sit in her room, surrounded by her sacred objects.

The two super siblings made their way to the sister's room. Carrie and Peter sat down Indian style on the floor of her bedroom. The telekinetic grabbed her rosary and fondled the silver cross at the end for comfort. The siblings then stared up at the crucifix that hung above Carrie's bed. A statue of the Virgin Mary stood near Carrie's bed lamp.

"It's just us now, Peter." Carrie offered, patting his shoulder. "You, me, Mary and Jesus."

Peter took a deep breath. "There's all these stories in the Bible about plagues killing evil people. Do…do you think God's punishing us?"

"What? No! Don't ever think like that!" Carrie pleaded.

"I'm not thinking that. I'm just wondering what you thought." Peter answered.

"Jesus talked about how rain falls on the just and unjust alike." Carrie explained. "He also explained that people who died in a tower collapse were no more or less sinful than any other. Simply put, bad things happen – no matter if you're good or evil. If you want to go down the road of thinking of COVID-19 as divine vengeance, then you have to wonder what each hotspot did to incur God's wrath. Is China being punished for their one-child policy, which causes abortions? Iran for killing gay people? Italy for the Mafia? America for the bigotry rife in many elements of society? This is Occam's Razor in action – this is simply a virus looking for people to infect, another example of the evil original sin bought into the world."

"So, if this isn't a punishment…" Peter wondered.

"I think it's a test. Like in the Book of Job." Carrie answered. "God is allowing this evil to befall us, to see how we react. He has a purpose, not a punishment."

"And what do you think that purpose is?" The wallcrawler inquired.

"To bring people closer together…by forcing them apart." The telekinetic declared.

"It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off." Peter quipped. This caused both he and Carrie to dissolve into giggles – laughter that they desperately needed. After recovering, Carrie continued to speak.

"Seriously – the major strategy to combat the coronavirus is for people to stay at home. For many teens, this means staying with their families. There could be families with rifts that are in need of healing and restoration. Take my friend Danielle – she hated and resented her family for a long time. But, when she was at her lowest point, she realised she needed to repent of her anger and let go of her grudges. Now her family bond is stronger than ever, even with her dad's second wife. Another purpose could be to foster empathy and kindness towards one another. One of the most important things you can do during this crisis is check on your neighbours. A lot of people tend to walk around in their own little worlds, not noticing what's going on around them. Chris and the Ultras were kind of like that – they were too wrapped up in their clique to notice that Mama was abusing me. If one of them had taken the time to spot the signs, I genuinely think they would have helped me."

"What makes you say that? They bullied you!" Peter claimed.

"Because they thought I was weird for the sake of being weird and a fanatic, not because I had no choice in the matter. Miss Desjardins – my gym teacher and my ally – told me that Chris was concerned about Tina's heart condition, so even she's not a total monster. I just…I pray for Chris. And the Ultras. And Mama."

"What do you pray for?" Peter asked.

"For them to come to repentance. For them to feel remorse for what they did. For us to be reconciled. People tend to think bigger in a crisis – all social divisions seem petty in comparison. They may cry out to God, or reach out to others. I think that you are going to see a lot of forgiveness being asked for during this pandemic. God can take what's meant for evil and use it for good. Like your aunt's death – that evil was used to bring us together, and it has enriched both our lives. You learned about Jesus, and I learned about LARPing. In the same way, I genuinely think the next time I speak to Chris or Mama, there will be a lot more kindness involved."

Both siblings paused in contemplation. Eventually, Peter asked another question.

"Does God intervene in pandemics?" Peter wondered.

"He does, if you ask Him." Carrie replied.

"And how does He do that?" Peter asked.

"He has allowed the beginning of what would be the quickest vaccine development in history. He inspires our brave doctors and nurses on the front line. He works in the heart of every child who draws a rainbow, promising happier days ahead. He makes His presence felt when someone drops off groceries for an elderly relative. So yes, I believe God does intervene in pandemics." Carrie answered, passionately.

"And do you pray for that?" Peter whispered.

"Yes, I do, Peter. Every night. In fact, I'm just about to pray right now. Would you like to join me?" Carrie asked, gently.

"Yes…yes, I will." Peter nodded. The two siblings then set themselves up before the foot of Carrie's bed. Carrie grabbed her phone and opened her prayer app. She found the prayer she was looking for – a special prayer for protection during a pandemic. She grabbed the statue of Mary that sat on her bedside table and placed it between herself and Peter. Kneeling reverently with her brother, Carrie began to pray:

"O Mary, you always brighten our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust us to you, Health Of The Sick, who, at the cross, took part in Jesus' pain whilst remaining steadfast in faith. O Loving Mother, you know what we need, and we are confident you will provide for us, as at Cana in Galilee. Intercede for us with your Son Jesus, the Divine Physician, for those that have fallen ill, for those that are vulnerable, and for those who have died. Intercede also for those charged with protecting the health and safety of others and for those who are tending to the sick and seeking a cure. Help us, O Mother Of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who took upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows, so as to lead us, through the cross, to the glory of the Resurrection. Amen."

"Amen." Peter whispered, putting all his hope into his voice.

"Under Thy protection we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God. In our needs, despise not our petitions, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen." Carrie concluded the prayer. She then crossed herself and put the statue of Mary back on the table.

"Did that help you, Peter?" She inquired.

"I think so." Peter nodded. "I just didn't like the thought of my friends being punished."

"No one's punishing anybody. But this is a wake up call for me to remember my mortality and not to take things for granted." Carrie answered. "It's important for me to keep my soul healthy and not slip into sinful habits. Because if the coronavirus doesn't get me, something will. And eternity is a long time to be separated from God."

"Makes you appreciate life more, huh?" Peter questioned.

"Yep. See you later, Peter." Carrie farewelled, as her brother exited the room. The telekinetic then reached into her drawers and pulled out her scrapbook, which contained photos of all the happy memories she had made here in New York with her friends.

The first page featured her with Alexis and Cat, two love-sick girls that became her first friends in the city. They featured photos of them at the tower and in Central Park. But the most important photo was at Cat's house, shortly after Carrie had helped the girls come out to their parents. Cat in particular was anxious about how her parents would react, as they were fairly conservative. However, to the relief of all involved, both sets of parents expressed joy and acceptance – they had surmised there was something between the two. They were more concerned about the safety of their daughters, seeing as their school, St. John's Academy in Queens, had been embroiled in a homophobic bullying controversy. Alexis and Cat were both deeply grateful to Carrie for helping them on the most important day of their lives so far.

The second page was dedicated to her rising love of sports. The first photo was of Carrie and Olivia posing together outside Yankee Stadium after attending a game. Both girls were matching navy Yankee caps and sports jackets. Under those jackets were a pair of shirts. Olivia sported the Bronx Bombers' signature pinstripes, whilst Carrie wore a shirt that bore the famous quote by Joe DiMaggio: "I'd like to thank the good Lord, for making me a Yankee." Those items were what the Italian-American had referred to as her "first haul of swag". Carrie had become quite a celebrity amongst the Bleacher Creatures, the denizens that prowled the upper bleachers of the Stadium, and had actually become the subject of a chant after her superhero debut: "We've got Psystorm! (Clap clap clap clap clap) We've got Psystorm! (Repeat ad nauseam)" The telekinetic was greatly amused by this, figuring it made a nice change from "Plug it up".

To the top left of the page, there was a photo of the girls in Juventus jerseys. Olivia were the home black and white, whilst Carrie wore their white with red trim away jersey. The telekinetic had been introduced to the Italian soccer giants when she watched the opening game of their Serie A season at the Italian-American's house. Carrie had seen first hand just how passionate her friend got about the team she was born supporting, when she unleashed an immature (but hilarious) tirade after a Juventus goal was called back by the VAR – the three most hated letters in soccer. Her interest was significantly piqued, to the point she started watching games whenever the opportunity arose, both in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. Her away jersey was a Christmas present from Olivia, with the promise that they would both wear them to a Juve game together one day. But right now, it wasn't to be.

On the top right was a photo of her with Olivia and Renee. Whilst the other two girls wore Giants blue and Eagles green respectively, Carrie was stuck in the middle, wearing the red of the Kansas City Chiefs and specifically the number 15 of their superstar quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. This photo was taken at the Super Bowl in Miami, which Carrie and her friends were given tickets to by the NFL as a reward for Psystorm intervening to stop Doctor Octopus from attacking the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. The gift had been made at the behest of the 49ers ownership, who seemed to expect Carrie to back their team out of sheer gratitude. However, it was not to be as the telekinetic had taken a shine to the Chiefs, to the point they had become her team. She felt an affinity for the working class citizens of Missouri, and was inspired by Mahomes' electric passing game and defence-defying poise. She was extremely happy when the Chiefs won, as was Renee, who felt great sympathy for Andy Reid the coach, who was so often the nearly man, both in Philadelphia and Kansas City.

On the bottom of the page was perhaps her most unique memory associated with a sports team. In a series of photos, she was standing outside the Holden Centre in Melbourne, an indoor sports venue not far from the MCG, scene of Psystorm's big moment. In her hands, Carrie was holding a red Sherrin branded football, the same type used in Australian Rules – a unique form of the game. She was wearing a black and white singlet-type garment called a guernsey, worn by the Collingwood Football Club in Aussie Rules' AFL who trained in the facility. Around her neck was a scarf featuring the club's emblem, a magpie proudly raising its beak in the air. A million-watt smile crossed her face. The second photo featured her cocking her hands into finger guns, with a joyful grin. Carrie learnt that this was the gesture that Australian Rules umpires made to signal a goal, where the ball was kicked without touching the ground through the middle of three sets of uprights, which was worth six points. The third photo featured her posing with an important looking man in a suit, both of them smiling and giving the thumbs up. This was the man who had arranged the photo op and provided her with the gear, Eddie McGuire, Collingwood's President and a very important man in the city of Melbourne. He was very open and gracious to Carrie, inviting her to a Collingwood game next time she was in town.

Alas, like so many other things, it would have to wait.

The next page featured Carrie hanging out with her music-loving friend, Danielle. The first photo featured them hugging each other in the latter's room, where posters of Metallica and Marilyn Manson dominated. Wedged straight in the middle, however, was a small marble crucifix, showing where Danielle's true heart lay. The second showed Carrie rocking out with Danielle's band, The Four Last Things – herself, guitarist Petra, bass player Dylan and drummer Jessica. Petra was a fiery redhead with unruly hair, Dylan was a brooding young man with black hair and a fringe and Jessica was rather short, but with energy to burn. She had dirty blonde hair with a black were all doing the signature "devil's horns" gesture popularised by many rockers whilst sticking their tongues out. The band were deeply angered by Carrie's tale of woe, telling her that they saw themselves in her – they were a band of outcasts. Petra, Dylan and Jessica told Carrie that, despite their lack of religious belief, they respected both her and Danielle for marching to their own beat and not being part of the herd. The band taught her how to do the "horns" gesture, and were delighted when she pulled it off.

The third photo on the page featured the two girls standing with smiles on their faces outside Danielle's parish, Our Lady Of Mount Carmel in Kingsbridge, located near Jerome Park. Both Carrie and Danielle were dressed in modest church clothing with their heads covered. Danielle wore a white dress and veil, whilst Carrie wore a smart blouse with her small black hat. The rocker explained that she would always cover her head – whether with a hat or a veil – whenever she went to church, whether for Mass or prayer. By no means was it compulsory, but she felt called to it because it inspired feelings of reverence and humility within her, following the example of her mother who covered her head whenever she went to the synagogue. It was her own act of submission to God. This deeply spoke to Carrie, who decided to follow her friend's example and start wearing a hat whenever she entered a church.

The third memory Carrie had formed with the heavy metal girl was when she, Danielle, Petra, Dylan and Jessica all went on a road trip to Chicago for Riot Fest, a weekend-long punk and metal music festival. This would be Carrie's first ever concert, and it would be one she would never forget. The group posed for a photo outside Douglas Park in their band T-shirts. Over the three days, she and the band took in performances from Blink 182, Rancid, Dashboard Confessional, Slayer, Rise Against, Wu Tang Clan, Anthrax, Testament, Patti Smith, Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance and many more. The power and intensity of the bands and fans were unlike anything the young telekinetic had seen. She marvelled at the speed and ferocity of thrash metal legends Slayer, who were playing one of their last ever shows, and danced happily with Danielle and Petra to Patti Smith's Because The Night. But by far the moment she would most remember was GWAR, a band that dressed up as grotesque aliens as part of their theatrical stage presence. Said grotesque aliens then proceeded to behead an effigy of Donald Trump, spraying the crowd with fake blood. Carrie and the band screamed in a mixture of shock and glee as the "blood" splashed all over them, leaving the telekinetic grateful for the advice to wear old clothing. She had accrued a large supply of T-shirts of the bands she had liked, and now had a deeper appreciation for rock and metal music.

The next page was dominated by a photo of Carrie with Brianna and Ashley at an ice-skating rink. Brianna, who was an ice-skater and Ashley, who loved ice hockey, had taught her to skate. The process wasn't without its ups and downs, but the telekinetic eventually managed to get a hang of it. The pride that Brianna and Ashley felt when she started to skate without their aid was palpable, and that made Carrie feel happy. Carrie and Brianna had also worked together at the parish run soup kitchen. This made her realise exactly how privileged she was to live with Tony. Carrie was moved to tears by the intolerable conditions the homeless had to endure. When she learned about how some people had to sleep rough, part of her wanted to trade places with them so they could be warm and safe.

Carrie also did some activities with Peter and his friends. Chief among those was LARPing – Live Action Roleplaying. The one she would most remember was when they played a medieval-themed game. Peter played the brave Sir Parks, Lord of the Spider. Ned played his loyal squire, whilst MJ played a Black Mage, Wielder of Magic and Kicker Of Ass. Carrie played Sister Grace, a nun who also served as the group's medic. And Betty acted as the group's obnoxious herald. In some ways, their characters seemed to mirror who they were as people. The main photo featured the group standing in costume, smiles on their faces (yes, even MJ).

The last photo featured all of Carrie's friends at Avengers Tower for her birthday. This was the first time her full group of friends, religious and secular alike, were together in the same space. It was also her first birthday she had celebrated with friends. As the celebration unfolded, the telekinetic found herself looking forward to many more celebrations to come. It was the first time that Carrie had a group of friends sing "Happy Birthday" to her, and she cried happy tears at the moving experience. She thought this was as good as life got.

Her birthday this year was February 10. Before the pandemic. Before social distancing. Before death. Before lockdowns. Before quarantine. Before cancellations.

How much things could change in a month!

*** FLAAN ***

The first thing Carrie did to try and raise awareness about the situation was to record a video explaining why she supported the public restrictions. Grabbing her phone, she made a video that would be uploaded to the Avengers official YouTube channel. She instructed Friday to get her suit. The white armour and gold mask materialised themselves around her. Above her right breast was her symbol – a thunder bolt with an eye in the middle. She was no longer Carrie Stark, but Psystorm, a symbol of hope to millions.

"Hey, there!" She began, as the mask peeled away to reveal her face. "This is Psystorm with an important health announcement. I promised myself that I would stand against all threats to this world. This includes the invisible ones, as well as those we can see. And right now, the entire globe is under pressure from a very serious invisible threat. The coronavirus doesn't smash buildings or flip cars, but it has terrified us all the same. I'm not ashamed to say that I'm scared as well. Those of you who know my story will know that the idea of isolation and social distancing is intimidating to people like me who thrive on interaction. However, it is necessary to save lives. Here's how you can be a hero, just like me."

She continued on. "Step one: regularly wash or sanitise your hands." Psystorm then levitated a bottle of hand sanitiser over to her. "I might be the bane of all evil, but this is the bane of all viruses!" She then sprayed sanitiser on her hands and scrubbed them all over for thirty seconds. "Believe it or not, water, soap and sanitiser are our best weapons against COVID-19."

"Step two: practice social distancing." She continued on. "Don't go out if you can help it, but if you do, make sure you keep six feet from others. This will keep you from getting close enough to transmit the virus to others. Like this."

Psystorm then proceeded to walk to where Steve was sitting reading a newspaper. "Hey Steve, you want-"

"Social distancing protocols initiated." Friday purred, preventing Carrie from getting closer by putting up the invisible barrier. Returning to the camera, she continued: "That's the closest you should get to anyone in a place like a 7/Eleven. I'm a shield for the innocent – and you can be too, if you keep your distance."

"Step three: Obey the instructions of your local authorities." Psystorm listed off. "This means no public gatherings, no raves, no street parties. Don't invite friends over. And especially don't hold public church services when the governors say you can't! I'm a sword for the downtrodden – I will always stand up for them. I respect pastors wanting to go to bat for their flocks – I'm a young woman of faith as well. But they aren't using their swords to help the downtrodden – they are using them to stab them."

"Step four – and I believe that this is the most important thing: be kind and empathetic. I may seem brave in making this video to encourage you all, but that wasn't the case as recently as 48 hours ago. I only got the courage to do this after Skyping with my friends who told me why this is needed. Call your friends and relatives! Talk to them on the phone. If you need to see their faces, use Skype or Zoom. I'm a friend of the weak – something we all need to be right now." The young superhero finished.

She carried on: "I know some of you out there will be sceptical of my intentions. You're probably thinking: well, that's easy for you to say, billionaire's adopted daughter who ran into luxury by a mere happy accident. You don't know what it's like to live pay check to pay check, just trying to survive. You're right: I don't. I realise I'm blessed to even be here, and I intend to contribute to the battle against COVID-19 in any small way I can. What that'll look like, I don't know. But as God is my witness, I will lend myself to the cause. Stay safe, everybody."

After uploading the video, Carrie went through into the main body of the tower where Tony was frantically talking on the phone to someone.

"Yes, yes I understand…of course, I can play my part…I dunno, two-three weeks? Yes…yes, okay. I'll make the announcement at the weekend. Yes, I'll look after myself. Thank you, sir."

"Who was that, Dad?" Carrie asked, as he hung up. Tony's lips were drawn in a firm line.

"That was the coronavirus task force." Tony answered. "Stark Industries are going to be changing things up."

"What do you mean?" Carrie wondered, confused.

"The government is asking Industries to do all they can to fight the coronavirus. Stark Industries is going to get into the ventilator business during this pandemic. The factories that produce things like robotics and drones will now produce ventilators. I'll make the formal announcement at the weekend. The conversion process will take two-three weeks." The billionaire answered.

Carrie felt her heart swell with pride. The world mostly saw the preening, egotistical side of her father – the bigger and louder the party, the better. But she saw his true heart, one which he put on show when he saved a scared girl he didn't even know and took her for his own. Beneath that blustering exterior was a good soul. Now, something which used to prepare weapons of war would now help another person to breathe – a swords into ploughshares moment if there ever was one.

"I'm so proud of you, Dad. You'll save lives by doing this. I want to follow your example and make a contribution as well – maybe a number of them." Carrie declared, determined to make a difference.

"Well, why don't you write down a list of causes you think deserve supporting, and I'll talk to the finance guys about what we can do. And I'm proud of you for being brave during all this shit, Carrie." Tony replied, showing hints of a smile.

"God gives me the strength I need – I know I wouldn't be this brave by myself." Carrie declared, giving credit to her Saviour.

And so it was that the telekinetic put her head down and tried to feverishly decide which areas were most worthy of support during this crisis. At the top of the list were obviously doctors and nurses, the mask and gown clad soldiers who patrolled the frontlines of the pandemic, this battle between man and germ. It was clear to her the New York hospitals needed funding, and she was determined to give it to them. As far as she was concerned, a doctor or nurse who treated a COVID-19 patient was infinitely more brave then she ever could be. This situation was emotionally mentally and physically draining, and she wanted to help these brave workers and anyone that needed it with their mental health, which was every bit as important as their physical health. However, she was also looking to help other charities who could not conventionally fundraise due to pandemic fundraising restrictions.

By day 5 of lockdown in New York, Carrie had made a list of the number of initiatives that she would be taking to support the most vulnerable. But by no means would her help be limited to New York, or even America. When Tony saw what she was planning to do, his eyebrows shot straight up.

"Are you sure about this, Carrie? If you want to do all this, you probably won't be able to have an allowance this year." He asked.

"I'm sure. I want to put my money and status to good use. This is the right thing to do." Carrie answered, firmly.

Day 6 of the lockdown was Sunday, her first Sunday without Mass she had encountered. However, she was still looking to keep it holy. She would do this by watching a live-streamed Mass, celebrated by Cardinal McMahon in an empty St. Patrick's Cathedral. Carrie attempted to keep to her routine by sitting, standing and kneeling where appropriate and saying the responses when prompted. She also dressed smartly, in a blouse and small purple hat, to symbolise the season of Lent.

"What's going on, Carrie?" Peter wondered, wandering over to his sister.

"Watching Mass." Came the reply.

"I thought masses were cancelled." The webslinger pondered.

"No, the public just can't come in. Like some sports events. They only have the readers, the priest and the camera crew." Carrie pointed out.

"But doesn't that defeat the purpose?" Peter wondered.

"No. The whole point and greatest beauty of the holy sacrifice of the Mass is that the consecration of the Eucharist is offered for the people, no matter where they are." Carrie answered.

"Oh. Can I join in?" Peter wondered.

"Of course! Come sit down, Peter!" The telekinetic patted the carpet of her room, indicating Peter should sit down next to her. Nodding, Peter slid down next to his sister. Together, the two super-siblings followed along with the service. Even though Carrie and Peter both possessed power far beyond any mere human, they found themselves being drawn through the mystical ritual of the Mass to Someone infinitely more powerful than they could ever be. As the time for Holy Communion approached, a prayer appeared on the screen for the viewers to pray. Whilst Peter abstained out of respect, Carrie folded her hands and prayed it in a humble tone.

"My Jesus, I believe You are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You."

"I've never heard that prayer before." Peter whispered.

"It's Spiritual Communion. Whenever I receive Holy Communion at Mass, I receive Jesus into my soul, provided I'm in a state of Grace. Since I can't do that right now for obvious reasons, this prayer opens my heart and soul to receive Him in spirit." Carrie informed her brother.

"That's beautiful…" A voice interrupted. The two siblings spun around to find Tony standing there.

"Dad! How long have you been there?" Carrie exclaimed in shock.

"About 10 or 15 minutes." Tony replied. An awkward pause followed before the billionaire continued to speak. "I can't believe you've lived here for more than a year, and I've never seen what you do when you go to church. Based on the little I've seen, I think I should dust off the fireproof suit and go with you after restrictions on gatherings are lifted. I'm serious…that was so uplifting and beautiful. I didn't realise a simple piece of bread could be so powerful."

"It's not the bread that's powerful – it's the One that's present in the bread that's powerful." Carrie responded, seriously. "And you don't have to wait for the pandemic to end – you can join me in my room next Sunday."

"You should talk to Carrie about this – she's great at explaining what's going on and other spiritual stuff. I actually really enjoy going to Mass with her – it's helped us get closer." Peter agreed.

"Shush. Cardinal's about to pray the closing prayer." Carrie hushed. The trio watched on as Cardinal McMahon offered the final prayer and the Sign Of The Cross to close out the Mass. Carrie crossed herself, whilst Peter and Tony stood silently as a mark of respect for what they had just witnessed, serving as their own personal pleas to a God they still weren't sure existed. After the stream was finished, Tony broke the silence.

"Big Red looks good in purple, doesn't he?" The billionaire quipped. This caused Carrie to crack a smile – something she needed to keep if she was to maintain hope during this dark time.

"Big Red?" Peter asked, confused.

"Dad's nickname for the Cardinal." Carrie giggled. "No wonder they get on so well – His Eminence has quite the sense of humour."

"He really helped Carrie settle in spiritually, calmed her fears over abuse and helped her heal from the damage her evil mother caused." Tony answered. "The cardinal's amazing – he's one of the good ones."

One hour later, at midday, Tony and Carrie were standing in a well-lit room. A web-cam was set up on the computer in front of them. This would enable their plans to battle against COVID-19 to be streamed live to the world. After checking that everything was in working order, Tony took a deep breath, turned the web-cam on and began to speak.

"Well." Tony began, getting straight to the point. "Things are getting pretty real around here. I remember an old Chinese saying that seems appropriate in these days: May you live in interesting times. And, whatever else you may think, you can't say it's boring. But, I'm not naïve. I know people are dying. I know people are hurting. And that's the reason I'm speaking to you all today. Earlier this week I was contacted by the President's coronavirus task force. They wanted to know if I would be able to use Stark Industries' factories to help out. That answer is a resounding yes. I am proud to announce that Stark Industries will produce ventilators to send to our hospitals during this difficult time. From next week, SI factories around the country will open to produce these essential supplies. It is a small step, but it is a necessary beginning to my personal fight against COVID-19. More actions will be announced over the coming weeks. Now, my daughter Carrie has a few remarks she would like to make, so I'll hand over."

At this, Tony stepped aside, allowing Carrie to slide into the chair. The telekinetic took a deep breath before speaking.

"Hello, I hope everyone's looking after themselves." She began. "Well, first of all, I just want to say that my heart goes out to everybody all over the world who has lost someone due to COVID-19. It must be so heartbreaking for them not to be able to attend the funerals of their loved ones. I…I honestly don't know how I'd react if I lost someone close to me during this crisis." Carrie then cast her eyes around the room. "You know, a wise man once said that those who sell their earthly goods will have treasure in heaven. I don't know if he was talking about money or not. However, due to being Tony Stark's adopted daughter, I suddenly had the good fortune of being rich beyond my wildest dreams. I have been inspired by the generous donations many people of note have made to combat this virus. How can I possibly do any less? So, without any further ado, here are my contributions to the battle against COVID-19."

"The first, and perhaps the most important contribution, is right here in New York." The telekinetic explained. "This city has provided me with so much joy since I moved here. I found a new family, a new brother, and new friends. I now consider myself a proud New Yorker. This city has faced dark days before, and now it's facing them again. I am filled with the greatest admiration for the brave doctors and nurses, who are risking their wellbeing to keep us safe. That is why I am donating $5 million to Health NYC, so that the hospitals of New York can pay for much needed supplies, such as protective equipment. This is a war, and every soldier needs a weapon. And the price of defeat is unthinkable. I don't know much about medicine, but I can help those that can."

Carrie took a deep breath. "But by no means am I limiting my help to New York, or even America. This brings me to my second charitable donation. Like many people, Italy has been on my mind during this pandemic. One of my best friends is an Italian immigrant, who invited me to travel with her to visit one day. However, whilst I am disappointed not to have the opportunity at this time, that disappointment is not even in the top 10 worst things about the Italian outbreak. The stories I've heard and seen from there are horrible. Whenever I think about how doctors have to leave elderly patients to a miserable death, or the rows of coffins in a room, it makes me want to cry. My friend's aunt is actually fighting for her life against this virus, and my heart breaks for her and her extended family. I am praying that she pulls through.

That's why I am donating $3 million – or €2.7 million – to the Italian government's relief effort. It is my hope that this money will be used to provide much needed help to those who are struggling most. If there's one thing this awful pandemic has taught me, it's that while I might be a superhero, ordinary people are the greatest heroes of all. The doctor that saves a life, a nurse that provides comfort, a worker that stocks the supermarket, truck drivers that deliver essential goods. I just want to take this opportunity to express my eternal gratitude to you all, no matter where you come from. You guys are the real heroes, and I salute you."

After pausing for a couple of moments to compose herself, Carrie pressed on. "My third and fourth donations concern the Land Down Under. Australia, in particular Melbourne, was the place where I had my first happy memory as Psystorm. I went in to bat for the people of that city against threats from other realms. I fought for them at Flinders Street, on the Yarra River, and at the MCG. I was just so humbled by how the people of that great city embraced me and took me into their hearts. I owe particular thanks to Daniel Andrews, Victorian Premier; Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Eddie McGuire, President of the Collingwood Football Club and media figure, for their kind words and gracious hospitality to me and my family.

Whilst Australia has not been as badly affected by COVID-19 in terms of death, it has not remained untouched. One primary effect is on charitable foundations that rely on public activities for fundraising. Obviously, due to restrictions on gatherings, those events can no longer occur, leaving them in something of a financial purgatory. There are two worthy causes that I am going to support via donations. The first is the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital. It was my greatest pleasure to visit that hospital and put a smile on the faces of sick kids and their parents, many of whom were undergoing great difficulties. I'll never forget how many kids wanted to give me a hug. I donate $US2 million – or $A3.1 million to this important health service.

The second cause is not just for Melbourne, but for all of Australia. I am giving to support Australia's Rural Fire Service. Like many, I was horrified by the terrible bushfires that swept the nation earlier this American winter, or Australian summer. The sight of people, including children and pets, diving into water to escape the flames will haunt me for a long time. The RFS was planning to hold a series of public fundraising events to support rural communities in Australia who are still hurting from the economic impact of those fires. However, the effects of COVID-19 either caused these events to be downsized or cancelled entirely. I will match the donation I gave to the children's hospital here, meaning that I have donated $A6.2 million to these important causes.

Overall, I plan to donate $12 million to a large number of causes that deserve support during this difficult time. I will meet with the financial advisors of Stark Industries to make sure these donations are made quickly. I know giving this amount of money may seem easy, but I have made use of it in good times, to treat myself to the things of this world. It's only fair that I make use of it in the bad times, for the betterment of others. And this is not the end of my financial support either. Make no mistake, I am not doing this for kudos or gratitude. I am doing this because this is the moral and right thing to do. So I say to everyone around the world, stay strong and stay the course. The empty streets of the great cities of the world – of New York, Los Angeles, Rome, Beijing, Madrid, London, Paris, Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo – will teem with life again one day. And that will be a day to celebrate. Thank you for hearing me out." Carrie finished, handing control back to Tony.

"What she said." Tony deadpanned, simply not being able to follow Carrie's inspiring act. "Nope. Can't match that. Bye." With that, her father discontinued the web-cam, ending the announcement. Carrie and Tony embraced one another tightly afterwards, holding each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"What did I do to deserve a daughter like you, Carrie? I love you." Tony whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

"You showed up in Maine, Dad." Carrie replied, sincerely as she brushed a tear from her eye. "And I love you, too."

*** FLAAN ***

The following morning, Carrie and Tony met with his financial advisor. After much discussion, the four separate donations were deposited into the accounts of the relevant bodies. The young telekinetic had spent roughly a year's allowance to benefit those more important and weaker than herself. But Carrie knew she could do nothing less. Not when the world was in grave medical, economic and social peril.

And despite the fact that these donations were not for public recognition or gratitude, that was exactly what Carrie received. And it all started when she received a video call from her friend Olivia and her family.

"Wow, Carrie. I just…wow. Thank you so much!" Olivia began, tearfully. "Thank you for helping my birth country."

"It wasn't a big deal – I gave more money to New York and Australia than Italy." Carrie shrugged.

"But that was money you could have spent on an excursion when these restrictions are lifted." Antonio answered, his voice thick with emotion. "And you used it selflessly to help our motherland – a land you have never visited."

"I know a lot of people who will be grateful for this aid, Carrie." Francesca added. "We are in your debt,"

"You'll never have to pay for anything ever again when you're with us, Carrie." Olivia declared, firmly. "You hear me? Not a fucking thing. We're sisters, as far as I'm concerned."

"Thanks, Livy." Carrie smiled, humbled anyone would think of her this way. Her face grew solemn as she asked: "How's your Aunt Lucia?"

"I don't know. Papa thinks no news is good news at this point." Olivia answered.

"Well, I'm going to continue praying for her." Carrie vowed, casting her eyes skyward.

"Thank you for your prayers, Carrie. We will not keep you." Antonio farewelled, ending the call.

"See you on our next group chat!" Olivia waved, blowing a kiss to Carrie to show her appreciation.

And the praise kept on rolling in from all quarters. New York's governor and mayor, Andrew Cuomo and Bill DeBlasio praised her generosity and hailed her as a role model for young people during this difficult time. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte referred to her as "a true friend of all Italians", and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked her for helping out in their country, underlining that international charity and co-operation was alive and well in spite of closed borders. Cardinal McMahon compared her charity to the light of Christ, dispelling fear and uncertainty.

But most gratifying to Carrie were the reactions of her fellow citizens. One loud, all-caps tweet seemed to sum up how most Americans felt about Carrie having to deal with this pandemic after all she had been through.

OMG WHY DOES SOMEBODY SO PURE HAVE TO LIVE IN SUCH A FUCKED UP WORLD 2020 CAN YOU JUST STOP? #Fuck2020

In Italy, the hashtag #GraziePsystorm trended on Twitter as Italians in lockdown showed their support for their far away hero. In addition to their rainbows, children had taken to drawing pictures of Psystorm dressed in the colours of the Italian flag, as well as dressing up like her. This greatly inspired Carrie, who posted a simple heart-eyes emoji alongside the words "I love them all!" when a report detailing this heartwarming phenomenon came across her news feed. In Australia, a petition was circling urging Prime Minister Morrison to grant Carrie honorary citizenship for her role in defending Melbourne as well as her charitable outreach to the nation.

Understandably, with increased visibility came the request for interviews. And so Carrie had to endure a long day of media commitments. Such was the price of fame.

3am ET – Good Morning Britain, ITV

Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid were seated on the Good Morning Britain set. A backdrop of the London skyline, including such monuments as Westminster Abbey, the House Of Commons, London Bridge, Big Ben and The Shard stood behind the two presenters.

"The 2010's were, unquestionably, the decade of the superhero." Piers began, setting the scene. "At the forefront of this movement were the super-team known as The Avengers. They have often been compared to having a rhino as a guard dog. They'll keep you safe, but cause a big mess along the way. However, as the entire world has found itself in a mess because of the coronavirus pandemic, one Avenger has decided to fight the virus peacefully, through charity. What makes it more amazing, is that this is one of the youngest Avengers as well. Carrie Stark, a.k.a: Psystorm and the adopted daughter of billionaire Tony Stark, has seemingly decided to skip the genius and playboy phase and go straight to philanthropy by donating some £9 million to various charities and relief causes around the globe. And she joins us now, in the wee hours over there in New York. Good early morning, Carrie, and welcome to GMB!"

On a split screen sat Carrie, speaking via Skype from Avengers Tower. "Good morning, Piers and Susanna!" The blonde telekinetic waved, cheerfully.

"You on the coffees, hon?" Susanna inquired, wondering how Carrie was able to stay up at such a late hour.

"Yeah, I've got my coffee!" Carrie joked, as she held up her cup to the camera. "Essential supplies at this hour!"

"Now you be careful with that, or you'll be tearing that place down by sunset." Piers warned, good-naturedly. "But seriously, I think I speak for a lot of Britons when I say that I admire your kind heart and good spirit. Especially after everything you've endured in life to this point."

"Thank you." Carrie nodded. "I just did the only thing I could do in the circumstances."

"What made you decide to give that much, Carrie?" Susanna wondered. "I mean, £9 million is a pretty big piggy bank to break."

"Well, COVID-19 is a mammoth problem. And a mammoth problem requires a mammoth solution." Carrie answered. "And not just a mammoth solution, but a global one as well. I always like to think I bring hope to people-"

"Well, the kids in Italy seem to think Psystorm's their own personal angel." Piers prompted.

"I know! It's just so amazing seeing them draw me and dress up in my costume. It's humbling." Carrie sighed. "Which actually brings me to my point – hopefully, somewhere, a young adult is watching this and thinks: If Carrie Stark can give £9 million to hospitals in New York and elsewhere, I can give £100 to the NHS."

"So, you gave £9 million of your own money-" Piers began before being cut off.

"It's not all my money – some of it comes from money I was owed in my allowance." Carrie answered.

"But it was money you're entitled to, and you said no thanks, give it to charity." Susanna interjected. "That's the sort of selfless attitude the world is going to need. I don't want to sound critical of you, Carrie, but learn to accept some praise once in a while."

"Yeah, you're right. I just don't want to get a big ego. So, I don't let the praise get too lofty, nor the criticism too harsh." Carrie admitted.

"That's a good attitude to take." Susanna praised, causing Carrie to smile.

"One last question, Carrie." Piers began. "The large majority of your donation obviously went to New York hospitals, but it seems the most emotion in your announcement was saved for Italy. Now, you've obviously never been to Italy, nor have any ties except for an immigrant friend you mentioned. You said it was heartbreaking and horrible, which we're not going to dispute – we agree with you entirely. However, what interests me is what do you find so sad about the Italian outbreak as an American?"

"Well, Piers, outside of the horrific scenes in hospitals and mass coffins, the saddest thing is the impact this is having on my Italian friend – Olivia's her name." Carrie related. "I actually saw her in church over a couple of weeks leading up to the Italian lockdown and she just looked so depressed. Like, each terrible day was like a dagger making a small cut on her soul. And she wasn't even in Italy. Now, I try to imagine how those in Italy are feeling and it's…just really sad. I'm sad that Italy is going through this, that the United Kingdom is going through this, that America is going through this. But we can't afford to lose hope."

"You're absolutely right." Piers agreed. "Well, we'll let you go now, Carrie. Keep safe, and hopefully we'll see you here in the UK one day."

"Thank you, Piers and Susanna. It was a pleasure. To everybody in the UK – stay strong." Carrie nodded, signing off the interview.

7am ET – Good Morning America, ABC

"So, Carrie, give us some insight." Robin Roberts began, looking through the viewing screen at the telekinetic. "You grew up in a very restrictive, abusive household and the Avengers set you free. You've been living your new life in New York for just over a year, and now you're having to isolate yourself through no fault of your own. That must be daunting."

"It was at first, yeah." Carrie admitted. "But I have the best friends a girl could ask for. They gave me courage and told me why this is necessary. I just hope I can give people similar strength."

"Governor Cuomo called you a "role model that every American child should aspire to emulate". Do you feel like you're a role model?" George Stephanopoulos inquired.

"Yes and no." was the telekinetic's response. "I do think I have a responsibility to show a good example. That's largely due to me being a Christian. But that doesn't mean that everybody should believe in my values. Not when I had to escape someone who tried to enforce their views on me."

"How're you keeping fit, Carrie?" Michael Strahan asked.

"The treadmill has become my friend!" Carrie laughed.

11am ET – The View, ABC

"Have you taken up any new hobbies since you've been isolated, Carrie?" Meghan McCain asked, sitting in her house with the other View presenters in theirs.

"I've always loved to cook – that was one of the few good things my mama taught me." Carrie smiled. "I actually cooked spaghetti bolognese for the whole tower last night, as a sign of my gratitude to my super family."

"Have you and the Avengers had a rooftop party yet?" Whoopi Goldberg quipped, a mischievous grin crossing her face.

"Oh, come on! Did you have to go there at this time?" Sunny Hostin groaned.

"Carrie lives in a tower with a freaking helipad! It was going to come up!" Whoopi defended herself.

"I think that would be a mass gathering, Whoopi!" Carrie giggled.

Carrie had most of the afternoon off, to recharge her batteries. The next wave of interviews would be across morning radio and TV shows in Australia, lining up with the late afternoon/early evening in New York. As she scanned the list, she smiled as she saw the name of the show she would be talking to first. It was the breakfast show on Melbourne radio station Triple M, hosted by Eddie McGuire, the same show where she had her first ever public interview in the wake of the Battle of Melbourne.

Carrie was deeply nervous about the prospect of the interview, which was only amplified when she learned that Eddie was something of a media maven in Australia. In addition to being a radio host, he also hosted Australia's version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, commentated AFL games for Fox Sports Australia, hosted another sports analysis show and was the former CEO of the Nine Network. The telekinetic was deeply intimidated by the prospect of being interviewed by such a powerful figure. However, she was put right at ease – the interview was more like a conversation between friends than a formal interview. That was something that appealed to Carrie about Australians – their laidback and relaxed attitude. Insisting that Carrie refer to him and his co-host by their first names was a good move by Eddie to make her feel at ease.

The interview went swimmingly – Carrie talked a little bit about what it was like living in New York and growing up in Maine. Eddie and his co-host Luke Darcy were deeply impressed by how resilient she was in the wake of her childhood trauma. Her tormentors were denounced as "mongrels" and she was hailed as "bloody tough". She also gave a demonstration of her powers to the impressed duo, prompting Luke to joke that Eddie would stick her on top of the MCG grandstand to manipulate play. In addition to the Collingwood photo op, Eddie invited Carrie and Tony to dine with him and his wife at Crown Melbourne, a luxury casino and entertainment complex. That was the moment when Carrie realised her life had changed – she was officially a celebrity and member of the elite, having her first fine dining experience. The dinner ended with a toast being drank to Psystorm. Carrie was deeply grateful to the Australian mogul for helping her to adjust to her new station in life, and credited him for her new found confidence with the media.

Carrie reached into her closet and pulled on her black and white striped Collingwood guernsey she had received. The telekinetic grabbed the phone as her connection to Australia was being set up.

4pm ET – The Hot Breakfast, Triple M Melbourne

"It's five past seven here in Melbourne, on 105.1 Triple M and The Hot Breakfast. 19 degrees set to be the high today." Eddie began, earphones strapped to his head. "Well, the coronavirus – it's the only game in town, isn't it? Countries across the world are in strife as their health systems struggle to cope, economies are taking hits and society has seemingly been stopped in place. However, this has bought out the best in a whole lot of people, as they reach out to others around the world and give their time and money to the cause. Our next guest is someone who many see as a hero. She's an American, a brilliant young lady, a good Collingwood girl as well – but most importantly, a girl with a good heart. You all remember how Carrie Stark made her Avengers debut as Psystorm here in Melbourne – the best debut the G had seen since Brett Lee – and saved this city from a bunch of supernatural creatures. Now, she's given back to this country by giving her own money to the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital and the Rural Fire Service – a cool $6 million, if you don't mind. That being said, those were just part of a wider series of very generous donations. And she joins us right now to discuss this, on the blower live from New York City. G'day, Carrie, and welcome back to Triple M!"

"Hey, Eddie! Hey, Luke! It's so good to talk to you guys again!" Carrie smiled. Her voice grew downcast as she continued. "I just wish we were talking in happier circumstances."

"Bloody oath, you know this is far from a picnic in the park." Eddie agreed, as he pressed on. "So, this is a very good donation, which I'm sure the hardworking boys and girls at the Royal Melbourne and the RFS appreciate. So, what made you decide to choose those two charities here in Australia? Well, you've told us why, but what was your thought process?"

"Well, Eddie, I'm well aware of the reputation the Avengers have for leaving damage, regrettably due to necessity. I'm sorry about that light tower, by the way." Carrie admitted, sheepishly.

"Not as sorry as the poor bugger that got whacked with it. The Troll King – or, as I like to call him, Cameron Ling." Luke joked.

"I think you're insulting the Troll King there, mate!" Eddie laughed.

"That's not very nice, Luke!" Carrie teased, in a good natured tone.

"Better be careful, or else you'll get the People's Front of Geelong rolling in to try and torch the studio!" Eddie joked. This caused all present to burst into laughter. "Where are my manners? Carrie, please continue."

"Anyway, I know that the perception of the Avengers is that they tend to do more harm than good. That's why I wanted to give – to show that I'm not just an ivory tower spoilt brat." The telekinetic answered.

"So, why the Royal Melbourne, Carrie?" Luke wondered.

"I just had the most wonderful time there. I loved making the children happy, especially when they and those around them are undergoing emotional distress. They usually have these formal black-tie dinners to raise funds, but obviously, that can't happen now. So, I just decided to give what I could. They're an essential service that deserves support." Carrie replied.

"Now, I know a lot of Australians who will be grateful for your support of the firefighters, especially those in the bush." Eddie stated. "They had it so incredibly rough over the summer – it was a bloody nightmare."

"I know." Carrie agreed. "It was terrible to see what was going on, especially how the wildlife was affected. The thought of koalas dying of thirst was difficult to take. And that's saying nothing of those who were traumatised by having to flee the fires. I'm actually embarrassed I didn't donate sooner. The times we're living in really causes you to appreciate what's important."

"Don't be – there's plenty of people out there who want to give you a big hug." Eddie declared.

"Two metres, people!" Luke chipped in, taking a shot at their new social distancing reality.

"Lastly, I just want to ask how you're handling being locked down." Eddie asked. "I mean, just five months ago, you and Tony Stark were dining with myself and the wife, talking about how you might be able to see Collingwood play during this AFL season. Obviously, that's off the table for the foreseeable. The world was your oyster – now it's shrunk. You're a big Catholic – you can't even go to church. That's got to be a kick in the teeth."

"I know. But my displeasure at not being able to travel is nothing compared to those who are suffering the most. But it's not going to be forever. And when I am allowed to travel again, attending a Collingwood game is on my bucket list – I'm actually wearing my guernsey right now." Carrie grinned.

"Good girl! You used the right name for it as well." Eddie praised. "Now she's gotten the hang of the lingo, maybe ScoMo will listen to that petition calling for honorary citizenship."

"What's a ScoMo?" Carrie asked, confused.

"I think half the country's asking the same bloody thing!" Luke cracked, causing a wave of laughter to ripple through the studio. "But seriously, he's the PM."

"Well, that just about wraps it up. Carrie, you've just been hitting it for six during this whole crisis. Take care, stay safe, and hopefully one day in the future we'll see you back here in the greatest city known to man!" Eddie concluded, injecting a note of hope into proceedings.

"Thanks, Eddie and Luke! I promise you, when the borders are open again, Australia's going to be one of the first places I visit, starting with Melbourne! Stay safe!" Carrie smiled, feeling a boost of energy as she put the positive vision into her mind.

4:40pm ET – Sunrise, Seven Network

"You've fought against monsters and villains before, and yet, COVID-19 places us in a situation that is infinitely more unusual." David Koch mused, his eyes locked on the monitor that displayed Carrie sitting in the tower. "My question to you, Carrie, is this: Are you scared?"

"Yes, I am." The telekinetic admitted. "But I'm also proud of the way my fellow humans have reacted – it gives me hope for the future."

"There's actually a petition going around calling for you to be made an honorary Australian for saving Melbourne and helping our firefighters. What do you make of that?" Samantha Armytage inquired.

"I actually heard about that. It's not in my control, but I'll just say in normal times I'd much rather spend Christmas in Australia than New York!" Carrie declared. "No offence to Mr. Snowman, but I'm a summer type of girl!"

5pm ET – The Kyle and Jackie O Show, KISS FM Sydney

"So, Carrie, welcome to the show where we ask the big questions!" Kyle Sandilands proclaimed, welcoming the telekinetic to one of Australia's most high profile radio shows.

"Thanks for having me, Kyle!" Carrie grinned.

"Okay, first question – you got enough toilet paper?" Kyle began. "Because I tried to get some last night. Seriously, it's like The Walking Dead going on at Coles – that's a supermarket, by the way."

"Yes, I've got enough toilet paper." Carrie laughed, relieved for the lighter tone of this interview so far.

"And if you don't, you can probably get some droid to wipe your arse or something." The host joked.

This caused Carrie to dissolve into giggles. Sure, Kyle was crass and boorish, but he was still finding humour in a dark situation. In some ways, this man reminded her of Tony. The telekinetic was greatly enjoying this momentary distraction from the troubles she was facing.

"I should get Dad to look into that. Could make a fortune!" Carrie quipped.

"Hey, Carrie, it's Jackie here." Jackie O interjected. "If you could self-isolate anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

"Either the Outback or in the Rockies." Carrie answered. "I find those two of the most beautiful places in the world."

"Now, there is an emerging scandal that I wished to address." Kyle began, a cheeky edge to his voice.

"Be nice, Kyle. I'm quite fond of this job." Jackie warned.

"I will, I will!" Kyle pressed on. "So, I've got my sources everywhere. I'm like the fat Aussie Littlefinger, with my little birds. Anyway, my sources in Melbourne told me you were on Eddie McGuire's show earlier, and you had the audacity to say this-" At that point, audio played of Carrie's promise that Melbourne would be the first place she visited. Afterwards, Kyle continued on his rant. "Now, Carrie, the good people of this city have a right to know – why do you hate us so much?"

"I don't hate Sydney. I love it! I actually visited Sydney for a couple of days after I visited Melbourne." Carrie defended.

"Well, why do you love Melbourne so much when Sydney's so much better?" Kyle argued. "Our tourist sights are better, our footy's easier to follow, and we don't have those bloody awful trams clogging up the streets!"

"Well, maybe Sydney should've gotten the inter dimensional invasion treatment first!" Carrie sassed back, taking Kyle's ribbing in the spirit it was intended.

"He's just teasing you, Carrie." Jackie supplied.

"Yeah, I'm on the wind up." Kyle admitted. "Can I be serious here, Carrie? You're a bloody legend, especially supporting the RFS. Of course, us here at this station were deeply involved in fundraising for bushfire relief, especially those on the South Coast. Now this COVID-19 bastard is sucking all the air out of the room, and those efforts have to be shelved. Thanks for stepping up. It seems so unfair to me that someone with a history of forced confinement should be forced away from the world. How are you handling it?"

"I'm doing all right, Kyle." Carrie began. "I don't think of the isolation as hiding away – I think of it as doing my part in the battle here in New York. I've received so much love and encouragement over this from family, friends and even strangers. I just want to say that I've really enjoyed this interview. It's important to remember that there's a lot of sadness out there in the world right now."

"Absolutely. It's tough to watch those scenes in Italy." Jackie agreed.

"I've actually had to fight my tears back quite a bit." Carrie continued. "So it was actually nice just to sit here and laugh, you know? To forget about the problems of the world. So, to reiterate, I've really enjoyed talking to you guys."

"Aww! That was so nice! Look after yourself!" Jackie smiled.

"Yeah, keep safe, Carrie – I've heard it could get real tough over there." Kyle concurred. "Stay strong, and hang in there. When this is all over, we'll get you over here in the studio so we can talk some bullshit."

"It's a date! Thanks, Kyle and Jackie! Look after yourselves, Sydney!" Carrie farewelled.

9pm ET – Cuomo Primetime, CNN

"So, Carrie, you have access to more money than you ever dreamed of, and yet you wished to give it away." Chris Cuomo, brother of the New York Governor, stated. Ironically, the show was being hosted from his basement, due to his coronavirus diagnosis. "I'll be honest – that's inspiring."

"Thanks, Chris. But I don't deserve any special praise. That should go to the doctors and nurses." Carrie replied, humbly.

"Another thing I noticed was that PSA you put out there as Psystorm." Chris mused. "I think that's a clear and prescient move to raise awareness – as you can see, nobody's immune."

"I know. It was daunting to find out how fast COVID-19 can spread. I'm praying for you and all patients, Chris." Carrie declared.

"Thanks." The host acknowledged. "One last thing – what's next for Carrie Stark?"

"Bed! I've been up since 3am!" Carrie laughed.

True to her word, after this interview was concluded, the telekinetic got dressed, brushed her teeth, and retired to bed. She did not emerge until the following afternoon.

*** FLAAN ***

As the days rolled on, it was impossible to tell when one day ended and another began for Carrie. Everything seemed exactly the same – chief amongst them being the continuing surge of bad news about the coronavirus and its impact in society. The attention of her and her loved ones was focused squarely on New York, where it was starting to get grim. The media coverage seemed to continuously use two words to describe the state of affairs in the Big Apple. The first one was "disaster". And the second was "epicentre" – New York was now ground zero for COVID-19, just like Wuhan and Lombardy before them. There were three events that served to underline the reality of the situation.

The first was a report on the shortage of personal protective equipment in the city's hospitals, such as gowns and masks. Particular emphasis was placed on N95 masks, which filtered the air around the wearer and considered best practice for front-line medical workers. The hospitals were woefully undersupplied, to the point where nurses were having to make makeshift protective gowns out of trash bags. This got Carrie's mind thinking – as soon as she saw what an N95 mask looked like, she began to ponder. That mask actually looked awfully similar to hers…: Wanting to make sure, Carrie rushed to her room and pulled the plastic mask out of the drawer. Sure enough, it bore the logo of 3M, the company mentioned most often in connection to the mask shortage. Grabbing it, she rushed to Tony.

"Dad, this is an N95 mask, right?" Carrie inquired, showing it to him.

"Yeah, it's the best type to keep you safe. Bought a whole box of them." The billionaire answered.

Carrie was appalled. She got premium protective equipment due to her new last name, whilst New York's bravest had to make do with trash bags and diapers? That was just another sign of her privilege and how she stood to unfairly benefit at the expense of her fellow man. Feelings of anger swirled inside the telekinetic.

"Then why the fuck do I have this?!" Carrie exclaimed, the rare swear word slipping out in her rage. "This should be with frontline medical staff! Have you seen what they've had to resort to? It's disgusting!" As she vented, the kitchen table began to wobble. Sensing that her powers could roar out of control, the blonde began to take deep breaths to calm herself.

"Because I'm the head of this family and the Avengers, and it's my job to keep you all healthy." Tony retorted. "Peter has one too. And I expect you to keep wearing yours."

"No. I won't. And I'll tell Peter not to wear his as well. That makes us hypocrites, hoarding medical equipment while we speak of charity." Carrie declared, defiantly.

"But these are the only masks we have. If we donate them to hospitals, we won't have any. What are we going to do, make them ourselves?" Tony wondered.

"You seem to forget that I made my own costume, Dad. You really don't think I can make my own face mask?" Carrie asked, gently. This caused Tony to let out a deep sigh – his daughter had won the argument. A look of remorse crossed the Avenger's face.

"You're right, Carrie." Tony sighed, rubbing his hair nervously. "You're going to be a wonderful philanthropist some day. Heck, you're one right now."

"I'm sorry I lost it, Dad. But I can't stand the thought of having all my needs easily catered to because of my new circumstances." Carrie answered. "I was never promised an easy life. This is just another trial for me to face."

Later that day, Tony announced that Stark Industries was donating it's entire supply of N95 masks to New York hospitals. Carrie then got out her sewing machine and got to work making a series of face masks for herself and her family. Her own was white with her purple logo in the middle, Peter's was red and blue with a spider, Bruce's was green, Steve's was blue with a white star, Tony's was gold and Pepper's was brown. Once she had made them, she gathered to family together to put them on. After making sure they were all fitting properly and there were no breathing issues, Carrie set up a camera to take a photo of them all.

Carrie and Peter were standing back to back, their fingers cocked like guns. Steve was saluting the public. Bruce was flexing his muscles. Tony was sitting proudly on a nearby chair, whilst Pepper held his hand in support. And they all looked good in their new face masks. Once the photo was taken, it was posted on the Avengers Twitter account with this accompanying message:

Okay world, who wore it better? #TheOnlyFashionShowWe'llSeeThisYear

Carrie also made designer masks for her friend's. Alexis' was red and white, Cat's was green, Olivia's was black and white, Brianna's was red with a black fist, Danielle's was yellow, Renee's was blue and Ashley's was red and white.

But this jolly jape only served as a brief distraction from the second and third moments that crystallised the difficulty of the situation Carrie was having to endure. The second was the setting up of temporary hospitals, such as at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre and Central Park. Places that were once associated with triumph and happiness were preparing to see death and despair. This included the arrival of a Navy Hospital Ship in the city's harbour. The telekinetic looked on wide-eyed as she watched television footage of the ship docking. Here's your bigger boat, Cat – quite literally! Carrie thought bitterly, as she remembered her friend's words.

The third moment came when she saw Peter on Face Time, having a group chat with MJ, Ned and Betty. Usually the three would be displaying withering cynicism, unbridled positivity and pointed dispensation of knowledge respectively. However, that was the case today – Peter looked shaken, while his three friends looked downcast.

"Hey there, guys. What's wrong?" Carrie asked, reading the room as she did so.

Peter took a shaky breath. "They're…they're turning our school into a hospital. Queens is getting slammed by this and…it's bad. It's really bad, Carrie."

"I usually read to escape from the bullshit of this world and float above it." MJ supplied, her voice devoid of it's deadpan honesty. "But my favourite books aren't doing anything for me – 1984 makes me paranoid, and The Hunger Games makes me depressed."

"I've tried to ignore the noise and focus on my projects, but this news really scares me, Carrie." Ned admitted.

"It's horrible. I don't know if I can handle the thought of people dying in our school." Betty began in a trembling voice. "You know, I've always wanted to be alive for an event like 9/11, just so I could say I was there. That's the reporter in me talking. But I don't want this! I don't want any of this!" By now, the blonde was crying openly, whilst MJ was desperately trying to hold back her own tears and failing, as they began to trickle out of her eyes. Carrie had never seen MJ cry before, and had only seen Betty cry once before – at Aunt May's funeral. This showed how terrible this pandemic truly was, that people who had never really considered themselves emotional were forced to grapple with fear and sadness the likes of which they had never experienced. The telekinetic's heart broke for her friends as they faced this global tragedy.

"I'm so sorry! Please stop crying, MJ and Betty! You're not helping Peter!" Carrie begged. This seemed to snap the two distraught girls out of it, as they began to calm down and wipe their eyes. A long and awkward silence stretched between the five. Eventually after a while, MJ began to speak.

"So, Peter. I hear you and Carrie have started to go to church." She announced, purposefully.

"It's not like that! It was my choice. She's not forcing me to do anything. Please don't be mad at her!" Peter begged.

"Yeah, I would never dream of forcing someone to follow my values and faith, even though I would like everybody to." Carrie agreed, firmly.

"Relax. I believe you. And him." MJ replied, flipping her frizzy hair as she did so. "You two have gotten quite close haven't you?"

"Yeah. She enriches my life, and I enrich hers." Peter stated.

"It sounds like being around Carrie has had a good effect on you." Ned noted.

"Yeah, it's nice to have somebody who's willing to listen to you." Peter smiled. "No offence to you guys, of course."

"None taken. Which brings us to what we're going to ask." Betty began, hesitantly. "Could…could you pray for us and our school, Carrie?"

"Of course – I would do that for anyone who asked me. But I thought you guys didn't believe in the power of prayer." Carrie asks, confused and happy at once.

"I don't know what I believe any more." MJ sighed, fidgeting anxiously. "I just want all this to be over."

"As a scientist, I deal with the observable reality. And that reality is, Peter felt a lot better after you prayed with him after his aunt died." Ned observed.

"The thing that stood out to me is that whilst it didn't make him any less sad, your prayer bought him peace." Betty admitted. "I don't know if praying will stop anything bad from happening at our school, but I believe it can bring peace. We're really scared about this pandemic. We want that peace, Carrie."

"I will. Let's pray right now. Peter, take my hand. MJ, Ned, Betty, put your hands on your screens." Carrie instructed. Once they had all complied, Carrie began to pray:

"God of love, ever caring, ever strong, stand by us in our time of need. Watch over my friends, Michelle, Ned and Betty. Look after them in every danger, and grant them your healing and peace. Deliver their school from the darkness of death, as your Son Jesus triumphed over the grave. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen."

"Amen." Peter nodded, echoing his sister's wishes.

"Amen." MJ, Betty and Ned responded, placing their desperate pleas before God – a God they desperately hoped would hear them. They didn't know if He was out there, but the three students were hoping for the peace Carrie said Jesus Christ was capable of providing.

"Thanks for that." Ned smiled. "It's nice that you care about the welfare of our school."

"Yeah, that was beautiful, Carrie." Betty agreed.

MJ, thankfully, seemed to be coming back to her old self. "It seems thou mayhaps missed thy calling, Sister Grace." The mixed-race girl smirked, referencing her LARP character.

A cheeky smile began to cross Carrie's face. "Saddle up, brave Sir Parks! The Company Of The Spider feareth no foe!" She urged, getting into character.

"But the enemy is at our gates!" Peter replied, catching on to what Carrie was doing.

"Yea, and they are far greater in number!" Ned agreed, joining Peter in character.

"Willst not thou be brave, Lady Michelle? Thou art the fearless Black Mage, Wielder Of Magic and Kicker Of Ass!" Carrie urged.

"Alas! The foe cannot be harmed by magic, nor hath it an ass to kick!" MJ sighed, sadly.

"Well then, we must prepare for a siege!" Peter declared, valiantly.

"Yes! If this wicked plague cannot attack us, God willing, it will destroy itself!" Carrie agreed. She then turned to Betty. "Fair Herald, send word throughout the land! The invisible enemy shall be defeated, if we stand as one!" She proclaimed, boldly.

Grinning, the blonde pulled a small trumpet out from under her desk and blasted it. "Hear Ye, hear Ye! The noble Company Of The Spider shall hold their ground against this invading pestilence!" She boasted.

"Huzzah!" The assembled company cheered. Suddenly, a feeling of happiness descended over the group. The forces that had enriched both Carrie and Peter's lives – prayer and medieval Roleplaying – had served to bring calm to a set of troubled hearts. This made Carrie happy – above all else, she wished for her friends to have peace of mind. Whilst one was sincere and the other frivolous, both activities served to provide hope and reassurance to MJ, Ned and Betty. The telekinetic was glad to be of service.

"Well, dorkette, dork, this was grand." MJ announced, ending her call. "Thanks for hearing us out."

"No problem. I'll keep praying for you and your school. Jesus says "be not afraid", and I give that same reassurance to you." Carrie declared.

"Thanks for that, Carrie! See you soon!" Ned waved.

"Keep yourselves safe, you guys! Almost forgot to mention, I'm so proud of your charitable donations, Carrie!" Betty farewelled, as the call came to an end. This left Peter and Carrie alone with each other.

"And that's why I love having you as my sister." The web slinger smiled. "You seem to have the right words for everything."

"Those aren't my words, Peter. I pray for the right things to say, and for the listener to hear them." Carrie answered. "Come on, let's have lunch." And with that, the two siblings retired to the kitchen.

*** FLAAN ***

Carrie had always believed in the power of prayer, and that nothing was impossible with the help of God. The following day, she would receive two examples of her prayers being answered. The first came when she received separate texts from MJ and Betty, thanking her for being there for them and saying they had the best night's sleep they had had ever since the emergency was declared in New York. Carrie was touched by their words – she felt humbled that she could have help her friends during this trying time. But it was the second example that most served to gratify the young telekinetic. Early that afternoon, she received a e-mail with a link inviting her to a Zoom call. But it was the name of the sendee that stood out to Carrie, and inspired mixed feelings in her.

Tina Blake.

Carrie gulped nervously. Was Tina truly wanting to turn over a new leaf? Or was this just another prank?

"Dad, I've just got invited to a Zoom call." She called out.

"That's great – with who?" Tony asked back.

"Tina Blake. She…she was one of my bullies." Carrie whispered, anxiously. This statement set Tony on edge and caused his paternal instincts to come out.

"A bully? I've been waiting for this day. Set the call up, Carrie – I'll give her a piece of my mind!" He declared, relishing the opportunity to strike a metaphorical blow on behalf of his daughter. Carrie then clicked on the link that took her to the call. Sitting behind her monitor in Chamberlin was the bob-haired brunette that served as Chris Hargensen's second in command. But several things stuck out to Carrie. First was the look in Tina's eyes. Gone was the arrogance and braggadocio she had exhibited in high school – in it's place was a look of remorse mixed with hope. She was wearing a Northeastern University sweatshirt – a prestigious college based in Boston. This was undoubtedly an older, sadder, wiser and hopefully kinder Tina Blake that was about to speak to her.

"Hi, Carrie." Tina began, nervously. Her hands were folded in a gesture of humility. "Hello, Mr. Stark." She added.

"What, no 'crazy' or 'creepy?" Tony interjected, making his displeasure known to the former Ultra. "I don't know what you're playing at, but if this is your idea of a joke…"

"30 Whittall Street." Tina mumbled, her head darting around. She then inhaled and exhaled deeply and held her hands out in an almost pleading gesture as she calmed down.

"Sorry? Didn't catch that." Tony quipped.

"30 Whittall Street." The former Ultra repeated, more clearly this time. "That's my address. The reason I'm saying this is if I am planning a prank, you can fly to Maine – The Avengers are an essential service – and toss my butt into the Atlantic." Tina then let out a sigh. "Not that it matters – I deserve worse for all I've done."

"It's okay, Tina. Nobody's going to hurt you." Carrie replied, confidently. "I'm just surprised, is all."

"I am so, so, sorry for what I've done to you, Carrie!" Tina began, sincerely. "I have no excuses for my disgusting behaviour. The rest of the Ultras are sorry as well. It took me getting out of Chamberlin for me to open my eyes and realise how badly I treated you. Then…something amazing happened."

"I forgave you a long time ago. But what happened?" Carrie asked, confused. In response, Tina reached into her drawer and pulled out a series items.

"Do these look familiar to you, Carrie?" The former Ultra asked. Carrie's breath hitched in her throat as she took them in. The first was a red leather-bound Bible – the New King James Version. The second was a small wooden cross. The third was a gold cross necklace. The fourth was a white T-shirt bearing the words "DAUGHTER OF THE KING – 2 CORINTHIANS 6:18" in black type. Around the neckline, a gold necklace was embroidered which would make the wearer look like a princess.. Realisation came barreling down on the telekinetic like a freight train.

"Does…does this mean…" Carrie stammered, not believing her own eyes.

"Yes, Carrie!" Tina exulted, as her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Initially anxious, she was now exhibiting pure, unadulterated joy. "I've been born again! I'm saved! My sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus! All glory and praise to Him, my Lord and Saviour!"

"Bullshit! I don't believe you!" Tony exclaimed. "You have some nerve mistreating a believer like that, then showing up acting like some holy roller!"

"Dad! Don't be so mean!" Carrie objected.

"Don't worry, I expected this reaction. What's your e-mail address – I'll send you some photos that prove what I'm saying." Tina responded, brushing it off. After giving her address, the former Ultra grabbed her phone and fiddled with it. After a couple of minutes, Carrie's phone pinged to indicate she had a new e-mail. Opening it, Carrie noticed five attached photos.

"Why don't you look at them and decide for yourself if I'm lying." Tina declared. Carrie opened the photo's, which were in a slide show. The first depicted a vast auditorium like building with a band on stage. Tina was standing in front of a man who appeared to be a pastor. He was praying over her with his hand on her shoulder. The former Ultra's hands were raised in a gesture of surrender. This practice was known as an "altar call", inviting those who wished to receive the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ to come and do so.

The second photo showed her surrounded by a group of girls, some of whom were wearing the same T-shirt Tina had showed Carrie. They were all laying their hands on her head, whilst a tall girl with her brown hair tied back that appeared to be their leader was praying over her with an outstretched hand. All involved looked overjoyed to be present for the moment that Tina had accepted Jesus as her Saviour.

The third photo showed a very moving sight. Tina was standing on the sandy beach near Houghton's Pond, located not too far from Boston. She was wearing a simple white robe with a wide smile on her face, which looked so much better than the ugly smirk she wore before. Surrounding her were her parents, along with her pastor and the girl who was praying with her. Behind them stood members of what Carrie assumed was her congregation. Even Sue Snell was there! All of them looked extremely proud of the new believer.

The fourth photo showed her and some of her church friends standing in front of the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas, which was advertising something called the "Daughters Of The King Conference". All of them were wearing the same royally decorated T-shirt that the former Ultra had showed off. The fifth and final photo showed Tina back in her church. She had her hands raised to the heavens in praise, and a look of indescribable peace on her face.

The truth was clear to Carrie. Her former tormentor had found God and was now a Christian – specifically, an Evangelical. But such labels did not matter to the telekinetic – despite the differences in doctrine between Catholics and Protestants, she was happy and proud that Tina realised that she had to change her life and repent of her past behaviour. Tina had clearly undergone a transformation in her heart since she had left Maine – in addition to her new-found faith, she also appeared to be more mature and empathetic. Carrie already liked this new Tina much better than the old one.

"These have to be fake." Tony muttered, still finding ways to discredit the former Ultra.

"Network scans confirm authenticity." Friday announced, her Irish lilt taking Tina by surprise.

"What was that?!" She exclaimed in shock.

"That's Friday – she's the tower's AI." Carrie responded, helpfully.

"Hi…" Tina waved, nervously.

"Well, I'll be…she really took the plunge." Tony muttered, scarcely believing his eyes. "So, you're one of those "praise the Lord and pass the ammo" types, huh?"

"Dad! Stop it! Can't you see she's trying to change?" Carrie protested.

"You know, that's the only thing I hate about Christianity – all you have to do is say the magic words and it's like that whole torturing you until you cried thing never happened. It all comes off a bit doormat-like." Tony grumbled, hating that he wasn't going to get his verbal smack down opportunity.

"That's where you're wrong – being forgiven doesn't mean you accept sin." Tina replied, sincerely. "My friend Alicia – she's discipling me – told me in no uncertain terms that true repentance is necessary for salvation. It doesn't count, unless you mean it. We're all sinners, and that's why Jesus came and died for us, and rose again so we could share in his victory over death."

"So, Tina, how did you come to know Jesus?" Carrie asked. "I've been praying for you to, if not convert, repent and feel remorse."

"Thank you, Carrie. It means a lot to me that you would do that, after the way I and the others treated you." Tina answered, smiling gratefully. "As to where I am now, we have to start with where I was. I had a difficult childhood growing up. I was sexually molested by my babysitter when I was nine. I didn't say anything, because he was a friend of the family. He would show me porn, and get me to do the things they were doing. .After my parents would come back from a night out, he would sit and drink with them moments after raping me."

"That's sick!" Carrie gasped, covering her mouth in horror. Her face started to turn green.

"Fuck. I'm…I'm so sorry." Tony stammered, looking pale. "Nobody deserves that."

"Understandably, this left me with severe trust issues. That was when I met Chris. As we entered high school, Chris started having her own issues with her family and trust. She wasn't abused though. It was then that we formed the Ultras. Our goal was simple: take back control of our messed-up lives by rising to the top of the food chain, and look good doing it as well." Tina continued on, as her tone grew reflective. "I was a terrible person. I was cruel. I was vain. I was manipulative. I was an habitual liar. My mouth was like a sewer, spewing out the most vile and filthy things. I used sex as a tool to get what I wanted. I was sleeping with Mr. Ullman to get better grades – I liked taking back control over my body after what that babysitter did to me. His wife divorced him and took his kids when she found out – I was a home wrecker. You know that song that was big a few years back: You're so pretty with an ugly heart? That was me." The former Ultra finished, ashamed of what she had done.

"It's okay. You don't have to feel ashamed – that's all in the past. You're a new creation now, Tina, and God loves you." Carrie comforted.

"Which brings me to how I got here. My path to Christ started the day after we graduated." Tina pressed on. "I and the rest of the Ultras managed to cut a deal with the police – we testify against Chris and Billy in exchange for community service for being accessories to the failed prom prank. One thing we had to do was clean up your old house to prepare it for sale. So myself, Nikki, Lizzy and Heather went up there to do it. We would clean the whole place from top to bottom. And we…we found the closet, Carrie."

This caused the telekinetic to freeze. Tina and the Ultras had seen where she was held captive and tormented. Pray for forgiveness! flashed through her mind like an unwanted visitor.

"We saw the scratch marks on the inside, and that raised our suspicions. We then went to the basement, where we found a whole lot of rope, whips and hot pokers. Suddenly, this feeling came over us – like we had made a big mistake by judging you as we did. We started having horrible thoughts about what those things were used for." Tina explained.

"Mama would whip me to simulate the Scourging that Christ underwent for my sins. She would also burn me with a hot poker to prepare me for hellfire." Carrie answered.

The former Ultra started to cry at this revelation. "Oh, Carrie! That's so horrible! Why didn't we see the signs? Why didn't I see the signs?" Tina wept, holding her head in her hands.

"I worked hard to hide it. There was no way you could have known, Tina. Please don't beat yourself up – you've done enough of that already." Carrie responded. Her entreaty caused Tina to take several deep breaths to calm herself down. Once she had calmed down, the former Ultra resumed speaking.

"I wanted to find you and apologise, but you had already left to stay with Sue and Tommy. I wasn't surprised, and wasn't exactly prepared to contact you yet. So, I left to go to college at Northeastern. I'm studying sports medicine – I've always wanted to play sports, but my heart condition put a stop to any hopes of a sports career. I want to be a team medic some day. My dorm-mate was Alicia – that's the girl with the tied-up brown hair you see in all the photos. She was really nice – she showed me around the University, where all my classes were, things like that. We got on really well. Then I found out something that would ultimately change my life."

"That she was a Christian." Carrie surmised.

"Yes. Specifically, Alicia was a leader of Northeastern's Christian Fellowship. I noticed one of their stalls on campus, where they were giving away Bibles and tracts. I had mixed feelings – part of me felt upset that they were pushing religion on people. But then this voice from my conscience spoke to me, saying that I had thought that about you as well, and I was wrong. So I took the first step on my road to redemption – I approached the table."

Tina then smiled fondly. "Alicia was so happy to see me! She introduced me as her new friend, and her fellow volunteers were so welcoming to me. Alicia asked me if I knew Jesus, and when I said no, would I like to get to know Him. I decided yes – I had been sold a wrong vision of Christianity by your mother, and I wanted to correct that misconception. So, they gave me this Bible-" Tina indicated her red leather Bible as she said this. "And invited me to their Bible Study."

"What was it like?" Carrie wondered.

"It was amazing!" Tina exclaimed. "I heard the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time – the real Gospel, and not that warped BS your mother spewed. As time went on, certain verses of Scripture jumped out at me, such as the Tower Of Babel in Genesis 11 and the Parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14. It felt to me like God had intended me to find these verses. As I learned more about them, I realised that these verses told the story of who I was growing up. Like the proud men who built the tower, the Ultras had set ourselves and our own popularity up as idols to be adored by ourselves and others. Now we were scattered all over the country, just as they were. The parable become more clear to me once I found out you were living with Mr. Stark. In high school, I was the popular girl – first – and you were the outcast – last. Now the tables had turned – you were living with a celebrity, eventually becoming a superhero loved by all, whilst I was a speck in a sea of millions."

"And how did that make you feel?" Carrie asked.

"Guilty. But I realised that was what I deserved." Tina answered. "It was then that the Holy Spirit began to convict me of my sins. But He is such a gentle judge, Carrie. It wasn't an angry confrontation – "You will burn!" – but a generous nudge. It was like He was saying: "Hey, Tina, I know you've messed some things up, but all will be okay if you trust in Me." But I wasn't in any fit shape to listen, and so I started to stay away from Bible Study. I was so ashamed of my sins. After all, why would someone who was so pure and perfect like Jesus Christ want a cruel bully and promiscuous home wrecker in His Kingdom?"

"You are worthy of God's love, Tina! You are!" Carrie insisted, firmly.

"I understand that now, but I didn't then." The former Ultra responded. "Eventually, Alicia and Ruth, another friend from Bible Study, came to check on me and see if I was okay. It was then that I cracked. Alicia and Ruth sat with me as I poured out my heart to them. About the abuse, about how I had bullied you, about my manipulative behaviour – everything I had ever done. They sat there with me and cried and prayed over me. They told me that anything could be forgiven, provided true repentance was offered – they had ministered to juvenile delinquents, so it wasn't anything new to them. Alicia and I sat up all night and had a long talk – about the nature of sin and what it does to a person's heart and soul, about the choice of Heaven or Hell and how Jesus came, died and rose again to save us from death. The upshot of this was, she invited me to go to church with her and Ruth the next night. The whole Bible study group went."

"Then what happened? I mean, I feel like I know, but how was it?" Carrie wondered.

"It was the most powerful experience I've ever had." Tina answered.

"That doesn't look like any church I've seen. More like a concert." Tony chipped in, reminding Tina and Carrie of his existence.

"It's Hillsong Boston – they have a great worship band." The former Ultra answered. "Anyway, it was really powerful. Seeing so many people just offering praise and thanks to God was awe-inspiring. Then came the sermon – and the moment that I left the darkness behind and became a child of light.

The pastor was preaching about John 8 – the woman caught in adultery. In that moment, I felt like God was speaking that verse over me. I should've been ostracised by everyone for what I did to you and Mr. Ullman's marriage. And yet, Christ didn't offer condemnation, but an opportunity for renewal. Then came the verses that sealed the deal for me. 2 Corinthians 6:13-18 talks about separating believers from unbelievers. "For what fellowship has righteousness and lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" That verse made sense to me – if I ever was going to move forward from what I had done, I had to let the old Tina Blake die and start afresh. If I tried to follow the teachings of the Bible with my old attitude, it wasn't going to work. Then came God's promise at the end of that chapter: "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the LORD almighty." That reminded me of how Dad had bought that abusive babysitter into my life. Tears were streaming down my face as the realisation came to me. My earthly father inadvertently ruined my life, and now my Heavenly Father was going to redeem it.

And then the altar call came. It felt like the pastor was calling out to me. He was calling to those who felt condemned, who felt ashamed, who were influenced by the ways of this sinful world. 2 Corinthians 2:6 was put up on the screen as the worship band played. "Behold, now is the day of salvation." And from there, I never looked back. I answered the call, repented of all my sins, received Jesus Christ as my Saviour and cleansed myself in His blood. I'll never forget what Alicia said to me when I got back to my seat. "Welcome to the Kingdom, sister. You're no longer a daughter of darkness, but a princess of light." Three months later, I was baptised. And my life has never been the same.

Before I was reborn in Christ, I was broken, vicious, untruthful and immoral. Now, thanks to His love and grace, I was able to tell the truth about my sexual abuse and get justice for myself. I'm striving to live a more virtuous life, being more aware of how those around me are feeling. I'm more open and honest to everyone – my professors, my pastor, my therapist. I'm in the fledging stages of a relationship with a young man from my church, named Ryan. Whatever happens, this new relationship is going to be based on love and mutual trust, as opposed to my own selfish gains. In conclusion, both God and Satan knew my name. The difference being, whereas Satan called me victim, bully, whore, adulteress, God calls me daughter, beloved, healed and redeemed."

"I'm so happy for you, Tina! It's great to see you turn your life around!" Carrie beamed, pleased for her former tormentor. Could she become my friend as well? The telekinetic pondered. Then her tone turned serious. "How are you dealing with this pandemic? You're high risk."

"Yeah. It's…it's a difficult season. But I trust in God – He's mightier than any plague. I've been talking to Him day and night since this outbreak began." Tina answered. "Mum and Dad got me out of Boston when it looked like it was going to get bad. The entire state of Maine is shut down until the end of April. The main effect isn't in terms of deaths so far, but in terms of economic damage. It's going to get really grim for lots of people here, in terms of making a living. With the border with Canada closed, there won't be any tourists heading this way for a while. That's how Chamberlin makes a profit – Canadian tourists headed south towards New Hampshire and Massachusetts, or American hockey fans headed north. They think this could be an economic disaster for the state. But that's nothing compared to what's going on down there."

"Yeah, my brother's high school is being turned into a hospital. His friends are really scared and upset. It's horrible to think about. Heck, it's horrible living it." Carrie replied, glumly.

"If I could, I would trade places with you, Carrie." Tina declared, looking the telekinetic square in the eye. "You don't deserve to be in this terrible situation."

"We're all in a terrible situation." Was the telekinetic's answer. "You're in the right place, trust me."

"I still can't believe you gave all that money away." Tina muttered, shaking her head. "But you'll receive tenfold in Heaven one day. My church friends are all in awe of you. All the churches here are being used as food banks, and my family are doing shopping for people who can't get their own. If I wasn't high risk, I'd be doing it myself. But…I just want to warn you that Chris might be getting out of prison."

"What?! Why? That bitch terrorised Carrie!" Tony objected, strenuously.

"The governor's considering releasing low-risk inmates after seeing what COVID-19 is doing in prisons." The former Ultra explained. "Given that she has a rich father who has a vested interest in making sure she obeys the stay-at-home notice, it's a no-brainer. And don't forget, I terrorised Carrie as well. But I actually think she's coming around. The other girls and I have been trying to make her see the error of our ways. And I think it's working – she's stopped insulting you. She was horrified when I told her about what the closet was used for. She's not a bad person – just flawed. I think prison was an eye-opening experience and a great chastisement for Chris. Keep an open mind if she tries to reach out."

"I will." Carrie nodded. "Maybe we should actually introduce ourselves for real." She then held out her hand. "Carrie Stark. Alter ego of the Avenger Psystorm, and daughter of a genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist."

"Tina Blake." Tina smiled, returning the gesture. "I'm a sports med student at Northeastern, who's walking joyfully and humbly with my God. I like sport, but don't push me too hard – I have a heart condition."

The two girls then exchanged an e-shake, moving their hands up and down in imitation of a traditional handshake. This gesture rounded off the reconciliation between the bully and the bullied, a sight which would be most pleasing to the Lord they both served.

"It's been great to have this opportunity, Tina." Carrie smiled. "Pray for me and New York."

"Only if you'll pray for me and Maine. Take care, Carrie! God be with you." Tina responded, returning the smile.

"Just one more thing." Tony interjected. "Bible-thumper or not, it's good to see you make changes in your life. And I'm glad you put away the bastard who abused you. Are you worried about him getting out?"

"No. For one, he's a serious felon. For another, Mr. Hargensen has sources within the state justice system – there's no way anybody who did something that heinous is going to be let out. Billy Nolan's staying locked up for the exact same reasons. And unless my abuser does some serious repenting in this life, he'll find out that his next prison will make Riker's look like a picnic." The former Ultra answered. She then looked at Carrie hopefully. "When this is over, do you think we can be friends?" Tina wondered.

"I'll settle for 'not enemies' right now. Take it one day at a time. Look after yourself, Tina!" Carrie waved, farewelling her former tormentor. As the call ended, Tony turned to Carrie.

"We'll, I'll be damned. Two people who terrorised you become perfectly pleasant as soon as they break away from that Hargensen shrew." Tony mused. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she was a mind-controller."

"I thought that as well!" Carrie laughed, remembering her thoughts on Olivia's misbehaviour with the Ultras. "Remember what Tina said – just try and keep an open mind."

As it turned out, Tina's prediction was accurate. By the end of the day, Maine's Governor had ordered the release of a number of low-risk inmates from state prisons, and Chris was among them. Described as a "would-be prom prankster" by local Portland media, her sentence was commuted to home detention for the duration of Maine's state of emergency, followed by two years of probation. The following morning, Carrie received an e-mail for another Zoom chat – this time with the Ultra ringleader herself. Once the call was up and running, she was faced with two people. On the left was John Hargensen, Chris' lawyer father. He wore a serious look on his face. On the right hand side of the screen was the former bully herself. Like Tina, Carrie noticed the changes in Chris' body language. Her eyes looked weighed down with tiredness, like she hadn't slept for a while. Her normally pristine hair was bedraggled. Her arrogance was gone, a sign of the humiliation of being in prison. Carrie instantly sensed that this conversation would be productive.

"Hello there, Carrie." John announced with purpose. "I am John, Christina's father. First of all, I just wish to express my sincerest apologies for the suffering you underwent at my daughter's hands. I had raised my daughter to fight for herself, but I was horrified when I had heard what she had done. Quite frankly, if it were not for the present circumstances, I would have disowned her."

"Oh, spare me the corporate bullshit! My PA could have written that!" Tony huffed.

Ignoring his objections, John plowed on: "I believe it is only fair that we offer restitution." He then took out a blank cheque. "Name the amount you wish, and I will pay it."

At this, the billionaire's eyes lit up. "Ah! So, it's money you're offering, huh?" He crowed. "I think the appropriate compensation shall be…"

"I don't want any of your money, Mr. Hargensen. I don't want to take money from you right now." Carrie replied.

"But what about after this is over?" Tony wondered. "She has to pay!"

"I think she's suffered enough." Carrie declared, noting Chris' bedraggled appearance. She then noted that father and daughter were in different rooms. "You aren't together. Why?"

"An inmate at the Bolduc Women's Prison tested positive for COVID-19." John explained. "As a result and a precaution, she is being quarantined in her bedroom for 14 days."

"Is it wrong of me to hope she gets this thing? Not lethally, of course." Tony chipped in.

"You're not the first to feel that way." John noted. "Well, I'll hand you over to her now." John's window disappeared, leaving Carrie alone with her former tormentor.

"I'm really sorry for the way I treated you, Carrie. You must hate me." Chris whispered, hanging her head in shame.

"I don't hate you, Chris. I never did." Carrie answered. "It's like Jesus said: Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

"I should've known there'd be a spiritual component to this." Chris mused.

"Well, you know me!" Carrie laughed.

"It turns out I don't. That closet…holy shit. I mean, what the fuck was I thinking, doing that to someone who was abused like that, like Teenie was?" The ringleader muttered, shaking her head.

"Tina hinted that you didn't have the best relationship with your family." Carrie wondered.

"I guess I should probably give some context." Chris began. "I grew up with a dislike of certain religious people – Daddy was nominally Christian. By nominally, I meant he would drag me to church every Christmas, so he could show me off like a new car. I fucking hated every second of it. My mother was this devout Catholic. She never forced me to go, but occasionally she would take me to this Catholic Church in Bangor, where her brother was a priest. Eventually, he would become Bishop Of Portland – Michael Hammond."

Seeing Carrie's mouth drop open, Chris continued. "That's right! Mean girl's related to a bishop! Bet you didn't see that one coming, huh? Anyway, it was nice being with Mum and Uncle Michael – I wasn't the centre of attention at church with them. My uncle actually helped me to do things for others – Ten year old me ran a lemonade stand and gave the donations to the homeless shelter. Then my Dad found out Mum was having an affair with her boss, and divorced her."

"I'm sorry, Chris. That must've been difficult." Carrie sympathised.

"Thanks. Anyway, Uncle Michael came over and tried to save the marriage. I could hear the whole thing from my room. He told Dad that the Church had it's own process to end a marriage instead of a divorce. I forget what he called it…" Chris recapped.

"Annulment?" Carrie provided.

"That's it, Carrie, annulment." Chris chipped in. "Dad just lost his shit. He starting yelling at him about how dare he tell him how to run his family when the Church had so much corruption and abuse in it's closet and how Mum had acted like a hypocrite. He basically excommunicated my Mum and uncle from my life. I believe the exact words used were: "You both can take your cheating, chastity-preaching, choirboy-fucking asses and go jump in the Penobscot." And so that was the last time I would see them for a while. Yeah, I know what Mum did was wrong, but…I missed her, you know?" The ringleader finished, sadly.

"About a couple of years later, I saw Dad working on some papers. He told me that the bank he represented was going to foreclose on a house a week after the family staying there had buried their son. I told him that wasn't a very Christian thing to do – not to make a theological point, I was just being a little shit. He told me that cheating wasn't a very Christian thing to do either, and he was doing this to make sure they didn't try to find a way to defraud the bank – it would be better to screw then to get screwed. And that was where my hostility towards you began."

"You thought I was going to hurt you. By saying cruel things like Mama." Carrie surmised.

"Like mother, like daughter, right?" Chris quipped, bitterly. "What did we fucking know?"

"Nothing that I wanted you to know." Carrie answered. Her tone then grew anxious. "What was it like in prison?"

"It was terrible at first." The former bully answered. "It wasn't some hellhole, but it was so far out of my comfort zone. The first time I was called 'fish' it became clear to me that my status on the outside meant jack shit. An older inmate actually took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. But I received a set-back within the first month when Dad said that I was going to be on my own when I got out. That was a real kick in the stomach. It felt like Dad was abandoning me." Chris started to become choked up as she brushed a tear from her eye. "There were times when I seriously thought about taking my own life."

"I'm glad you didn't – I wanted to personally tell you my forgiveness. But what changed?" Carrie wondered.

"First of all, I started a relationship with an inmate in my pod. Call it friends with benefits." Chris answered. "She saw I was feeling down and sat and talked with me. Her name's Kalyna – or "Kuskova" if you use jailhouse rules. She was doing five years for stealing a computer, hoping to sell it to get money for her grandma's heath care. Kalyna offered to cheer me up, so she took me to the janitor's closet, which wasn't guarded by a camera. And that was the first time I ever had sex with a woman. It was amazing – that girl really knows how to lick a pussy. We would go along like that, we got to know each other, we became friends and would occasionally pleasure each other."

Carrie's face was bright tomato red. "Moving on." The former Ultra stammered. "Anyway, back to the story. My mother and Uncle Michael actually got back in touch. Mum would start visiting me and sending me letters. I was just so grateful to get back in touch again. My uncle couldn't visit me, due to his commitments out of state – he's a bishop in Indiana now. But he started writing me letters as well. The other girls would start to visit me. Tina told me about the closet – I still can't believe she's a Bible-thumper. When I remembered how her abuse affected her, that's when I first started to feel remorse for what I had done. I knew I had no one to blame but myself for my situation. So I put the time to good use, and developed a hobby. I started a metalwork course, and I actually loved it. I made these while in jail."

The former bully then reached underneath a table and pulled out a small, wooden shelf. Attached to it were 31 small metal pucks. Each one was decorated with the logo of an NHL team. Toronto's blue leaf. Boston's spoked B. Chicago's proud chief. Detroit's winged wheel. Los Angeles' silver crown. All of these and more littered the space. Carrie was impressed – it turned out Chris was quite the designer. Most important, though, was the look of pride in the former Ultra's eyes – not the haughty pride of being a social climber, but the pleasure and satisfaction of a job well done.

"These are amazing!" Carrie gasped, as she took in the pucks.

"Hey, what's Maine known for if not hockey?" Chris shrugged. "I'm actually going to auction these off to raise money for the hospitals up here. It was the least I could do to repay my debt to society."

"Well, good on you." Tony responded, looking the former Ultra square on the eye. "Look, you probably know this already, but what you did to Carrie was despicable. I admit I wanted to chew your ass out. But seeing how Carrie's been so generous to you, I feel like I can't stay mad at you. And I'm actually impressed you had the balls to apologise face to face."

"Thank you. I know I can't change what I've done. But I can change my future. I actually started working towards my GED in prison. One day, I hope to be able to work as a counsellor to troubled youth, to stop them from making the same mistakes I made." Chris declared, sincerely.

"I wish you the best, Chris. Take care of yourself." Carrie spoke clearly. "I like this version of you much better."

"Me too, Carrie. Me too. Look after yourself – this is fucking scary." Chris admitted, before signing off. Carrie then turned to Tony with a wide smile on her face. "Why are you so happy?" The billionaire wondered.

"My prayers were answered. I always prayed Chris and Tina would feel remorse, and they have. Reconciliation makes me happy, and it makes God happy." The telekinetic answered.

*** FLAAN ***

However, Carrie's prayers for her city seemed to have little effect. The death toll, both in the United States in general and New York in particular, was rising by the day. At one stage, there was a COVID-19 death in New York City every four minutes. Over 2000 Americans died in a day. The New York State toll had long surpassed the deadly 9/11 terror attacks, and was climbing towards 10,000. Even the Battle of New York had only killed "hundreds". Trucks were being used as makeshift morgues. Plans for mass graves were underway. It was like the city had suffered two 9/11's over the course of a month, and the country had suffered four over a fortnight. Only the Spanish flu stood between this coronavirus outbreak and the dubious honour of the worst disaster in New York history. Alexis' words about Philadelphia's death rate clanged in the telekinetic's ears.

It was a nightmare. And she was living it.

That Good Friday morning, Carrie would receive a phone call from the hospital in Maine where Margaret was being kept. She had died – complications from bronchitis. Whilst Carrie was grateful that it wasn't COVID-19, it was a very small mercy indeed. She still wouldn't get to attend the funeral, or tell Mama she forgave her. She never would get to see what Margaret looked like without the devilish illness. In a tearful voice, Carrie would thank the doctors for looking after her Mama. She then spoke to the Stark Industries' financial team to arrange for a significant donation to be made as a token of her gratitude.

However, it was the sight of mass burials that would break the telekinetic's resolve. With a sinking heart, Carrie realised that it wasn't some foreign country this was happening to, but her home town. She couldn't take it any more. She got up, ran away from the TV, threw herself down on the bed and burst into tears.

"Carrie? You okay? Shh, I'm here." Tony comforted as he ran to her side.

"Social distancing-" Friday began, but was cut off by an irate Tony.

"Not now!" The billionaire snapped, as he scooped his crying daughter into his arms. "Shhh, Care-bear. I'm here. It's okay."

"Why is this happening?" Carrie sobbed, putting into words what many all over the city and world were feeling at that moment.

"I know. This is fucked up." Tony muttered, as he stroked his daughter's hair. Soon enough, Pepper and Peter joined Carrie in her bed for a group weeping session, as they let their tears, their anger and their heartbreak be known to each other. Carrie had observed this before with Olivia, where the Italian situation had taken a great mental toll. Now her family was going through the wringer with her.

"Why didn't we do something earlier?" Peter wondered, tearfully.

"There's nothing we can do now." Pepper responded, as she hugged her husband. "We just have to be grateful for each day we have."

That was advice Carrie decided to take that evening, as she met with her friends.

"Hey guys." She greeted as she joined them on Skype. "It's been a rough day."

"You're telling me." Olivia replied, simply. "They say the morgues are at capacity."

"My…my mama died overnight." Carrie whispered, sadly. "It wasn't the coronavirus - bronchitis. I had always dreamed of saying to her: I forgive you. Now I can't do that. But that's not even the worst part about what's going on. This pandemic…it's terrible. The death toll here is like some European countries. America's going to be number one in coronavirus deaths. And all those mass graves…!"

At this, Carrie couldn't continue. She broke down and started to cry. This seemed to set off a chain reaction. One by one, Alexis, Cat, Olivia, Danielle, Brianna, Renee and Ashley started to cry as well, their tears and grief mingling with the young telekinetic's. Evidently, their souls were being cut as well. It was almost like they were weeping in solidarity.

"I just wanted to avoid what happened in Italy!" Olivia sobbed. "This is exactly what I didn't want to happen! My grandpa's gone to this unofficially, and my aunt will never be the same!"

"And there are bodies in the rest homes!" Danielle wept. "My grandma died in one. Those places were supposed to be their comfort, but now it's their tomb! And one of my band mates' friends is in a coma and ventilated! It's horrible!"

"Where are they going to put the bodies?" Alexis whimpered. "The morgues are full!"

"My exchange student friend lost her uncle!" Cat cried. "Even when she managed to get out, she couldn't escape it!"

"My catechist died of this in Philadelphia! She was the kindest person I knew, and nobody will be able to remember her publicly! It's not fair!" Renee wailed in grief.

"My friend's working on a COVID ward at Columbia Hospital. She's not sure how much more she can take!" Ashley lamented.

"The hospitals are over-run, the economy's ruined – it's a disaster even if you're not sick!" Brianna grieved.

And so Carrie and her friends sat there on their computers, crying and wailing in grief together for their city, their country and their world. In normal times, a mass tragedy like this would be marked by embracing one another. They could cry on each other's shoulders. They could lay flowers and hold candlelight vigils to honour the memory of the departed. They could give a sense of dignity to the deceased, by declaring that their lives mattered. But circumstances dictated that they couldn't. And that was perhaps the thing that tore at the hearts of the gathered assembly the most, apart from the death toll itself.

Eventually, the tears ceased. "I think we all needed that." Renee admitted, as she wiped her eyes.

"Yeah, it doesn't matter if you do fun YouTube challenges, or charity, or Spotify parties, or cute bear displays, you can't divorce those things from the reality of why they're happening. We're all learning a lesson about the nature of suffering this year." Danielle added, sniffling as she did so.

"We have to do something to honour those who have died." Carrie declared, passionately. "We hear a lot about our brave health workers, and rightly so. But we don't hear about the families that are grieving and torn apart. We have to show we stand with them."

"But how?" Ashley wondered.

"I'll think of something." Carrie answered. She was determined to show that the lives lost meant something to her.

"In the meantime, all we can do is offer our prayers." Alexis murmured.

"Absolutely." Cat concurred. The assembled group and bowed their heads. They each prayed the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be for the souls of all those who had died during the coronavirus pandemic, for their families to be comforted, for a cure to be found and last and absolutely least, their own safety. Brianna bid farewell to the group by quoting the famous line from the musical Annie: "The sun will come up tomorrow." Overall, what had started as an expression of grief and mourning had ended on an optimistic and hopeful note.

Carrie then began to wrack her brain trying to decide upon a way to show her support for the families who had lost loved ones. The idea she settled on wasn't quite original, but it would show she cared, and would hopefully inspire others. It was based on an existing practice, where people would stand outside their houses to applaud hospital workers. Carrie found this practice deeply moving, and had participated in it herself. She had no intention to impinge upon it, so she wanted to keep it as separate as possible.

That night, at 8:55pm, nearly an hour after that night's applause for the doctors and nurses, Carrie would light a candle. Covering her nose and mouth with her face mask, she walked over to the elevator.

"Where are you going, Carrie?" Tony wondered.

"The rooftop. Follow me and take a picture." Was her simple answer. Carrie and her father then got in the elevator and rode it all the way to the top of Avengers Tower. When the doors opened, the young telekinetic stepped onto the rooftop, near the helipad where the Quinjet would land. The cool night air whipped about her ears. She wore a scarf and a hat to keep her warm. The light from the candle flickered as Carrie and Tony stood on the top of the tower.

"What are we doing here?" Tony asked.

"Remembering those who have died. It's important to honour our brave essential workers, but it's also important we honour the dead and support their mourning families." Carrie answered. "What's the death toll today in the US?"

"2078." Tony answered, grimly. Just then, Carrie's watch ticked over to 9pm.

"Siri, set timer for 34 minutes and 37 seconds – or 2078 seconds." Carrie instructed. Her Apple Watch beeped and responded in the affirmative. Over the next half an hour or show, Carrie would stand in a watchful vigil as she looked over the grieving city. She stood there on the helipad, offering her candle as a light to pierce the darkness the world was currently experiencing. She would pray for comfort and healing for those bereaved by the pandemic. She would sing hymns like Nearer my God to Thee, as well as modern songs like Elton John's Candle In The Wind and the Annie sing Brianna referenced. Her haunting voice would flow down Broadway, along Wall Street, up 5th Avenue and across the Brooklyn Bridge. Tony would snap a picture of the vigil, whilst Pepper, Peter, Steve and Bruce would gather to watch.

After the vigil was concluded, marked by her Apple Watch sounding an alarm, Carrie silently performed the Sign Of The Cross and blew out the candle. After retiring to the interior of the Tower, the telekinetic asked that Tony send the photo to her. After he had done so, she wrote a tweet and attached the photo to it, explaining why she did what she did.

Avengers_Psystorm (Carrie): At 8pm, we #ClapForOurCarers. At 9pm, I decided to hold a rooftop prayer vigil for those who died today during this horrible pandemic in America. The families who lost their loved ones are left to mourn alone. I #ShineALight for them, to show them that they are not alone and that their loved ones matter to me.

It was a practice that she would repeat the next night. And the next night. And the next night. It was an Easter the world would never forget, but for all the wrong reasons. However, Carrie's tribute had received notice from on high. The Tower received a video call one night from a very important person.

"Hello, Carrie. This is the Vice-President of the United States." The VP introduced.

"Hello, sir." Carrie answered.

"I noticed the prayer vigil you were holding for the dead and their loved ones. It moved me greatly. I also want to praise you for your philanthropy during this time of crisis." The Veep thanked.

"I was just doing what I would normally do in such horrific circumstances." The telekinetic replied.

"Your faith stands as a shining beacon to all Americans. As you stand in prayer, know that your fellow citizens are standing with you. And you may count me as one who echoes your prayers." The Vice-President declared. "Sorry this conversation couldn't be longer, but…"

"No, of course, Mr. Vice-President. I understand completely. Thank you for your time." Carrie nodded, bringing the call to an end.

However, unbeknownst to the telekinetic, the Vice-President was not the only one who had noticed her gesture. It was noticed by a pair of lesbian lovers in Queens. It was noticed by an Italian immigrant and her family. It was noticed by a community activist. It was noticed by a God-fearing rocker and her non-believing band mates. It was noticed by a psychology student trying to help scared children. It was noticed by three nerds, frightened about their school community. It was noticed by a hockey fan in the State Capital. And it was noticed by two repentant former bullies.

The following night, Carrie was lighting a candle, preparing to resume her emotionally draining vigil. All of a sudden, her phone vibrated. Carrie checked to see she had a Twitter notification from her friend Olivia.

ItalianYankee (Olivia): Take the night off, Avengers_Psystorm. We've got this! #ShineALight

The image that accompanied the tweet showed the Italian-American, alongside Antonio, Francesca and Maria each holding lit candles. Carrie smiled – she deeply appreciated the gesture, but she still had a job to do. As she moved to the roof, she received another notification, this time from Alexis.

MissLuthor (Alexis): Avengers_Psystorm has picked us up so many times before. Let's pick her up now. #ShineALight

Alexis was sitting on her front porch, holding a burning red candle. Another tweet followed from Cat. She was holding a yellow candle in her backyard.

HereKittyKitty (Cat): One pick up coming right up! MissLuthor Avengers_Psystorm #ShineALight

The Four Last Things – Danielle, Petra, Dylan and Jessica – each added their eight cents.

OurLadyOfRock (Danielle): I've always seen a little bit of myself in Avengers_Psystorm. Her selflessness has always inspired me. I stand with her in offering my prayers for the dead and their families. #ShineALight

Petra: The first time I met Avengers_Psystorm as Carrie, I realised she was a pretty cool chick. What she's doing right now backs that up. I #ShineALight for my classmate Erica, who is on a ventilator from COVID-19.

Dylan: Whole new meaning to lighters in the air right now. #ShineALight

Jessica: This is one time where I'm happy to follow the herd. #ShineALight

The four rockers were shining a light, although there was a unique twist to it. Whilst Danielle and Petra both held white candles, Dylan was using his cellphone light, whilst Jessica was shining a flashlight out of her bedroom window.

Renee's tweet of support was typically blunt.

FlyEaglesFly (Renee): Fuck COVID in its nonexistent ass! #ShineALight

The Pennsylvanian was flipping the virus the finger whilst holding her burning candle. This caused Carrie to burst out laughing – the best medicine for what she was feeling right now.

Brianna and her family were also holding candles.

DontBelieveTheHype (Brianna): We #ShineALight for those who cannot stand for themselves.

In Albany, Ashley had set up a row of candles on a backyard table.

EtLeBut (Ashley): Words can't express the grief I'm feeling, so candles will have to do. But remember: where there is light, there is hope. #ShineALight

MJ, Ned and Betty had also gotten in on the act. They had either put candles in their windows or on their porches.

QuothTheRaven (MJ): Can I ignore those lost around me in this invisible war? Quoth the raven: Never more. #ShineALight

FormulaFan (Ned): A simple formula: candle + fire = hope. #ShineALight

TigerBreakingNews (Betty): Journalism has always exposed the darkness of others to the light. Now the dark must be illuminated more than ever. #ShineALight

Cardinal McMahon had lit the Easter Candle in St. Patrick's Cathedral as a sign of solidarity.

CdlMcmahonOfficial (Cardinal McMahon): The Easter candle here at the cathedral will #ShineALight for all humanity, filling them with the hope of the Resurrection.

In Chamberlin, Tina was standing at the edge of her property. She was holding a red candle with her head bowed in prayer.

Tblake65 (Tina): "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:5) This is why I #ShineALight.

Chris was holding a small white candle in her window. Outside her house, John had turned on the halogen lights above the Hargensen's garage, so that they lit up the street.

PineTreeBitch (Chris): No amount of words will be enough to apologise to Avengers_Psystorm for what I've done. But I can make a new start by thinking of others. #ShineALight

Carrie couldn't hold back her tears. But this time, they were tears of happiness rather than sadness. What had begun as a small gesture of prayer that ballooned into a movement. People of all races, ages, genders, faiths and no faith, had gathered together to send a small message of light to those suffering in such darkness. The telekinetic was extremely proud of her fellow humans as they watched over their neighbours.

"Please don't cry, Carrie!" Tony begged, desperately.

"These aren't sad tears, Dad. These are happy tears." Carrie answered, as she wiped her eyes and disinfected her hands. "I'm just so humbled that people would rally to this cause. There's still a long way to go, but I really do believe things are going to be okay."

Carrie and Tony then hugged each other as they stared out into the New York night. Even the stars seemed to be twinkling in support of her cause, to shine light and hope into the darkness and despair of this terrible situation. Tony then handed Carrie a small glass of wine.

"A toast. To shining lights." Tony proposed.

"To shining lights!" Carrie echoed, vocally. "Cheers!" The two then clinked their glasses and drank of them contentedly.

*** FLAAN ***

Next chapter: Danielle performs a random act of kindness, learns a sobering reality about what COVID-19 could mean for her, and turns to music to entertain others and faith to nourish herself. However, her desired vocation looms as a source of conflict in her family.