An Addendum: Wings

High in the sky above Langstrum Alps, California, a figure as bright as a star soared through the air. However, most didn't even notice her as she passed through the clouds, at a phenomenal speed. Usually, she would be flying at the speed of light, but she couldn't when she had a passenger.

Rachel Castaneda, the Purple Spectrum Enforcer, was carrying in her arms the limp form of Christopher Greyson. For the past week, she and Chris had been seeing each other regularly, and she was hoping that this was the start of a relationship between them. Lately, the idea of having a steady boyfriend was as foreign to her as any one of us would view the idea of being a super hero. To put it another way, the simple pleasures of a normal life didn't seem to have room in her extremely hectic schedule. And once again, the life of a super-heroine has interfered with her attempts of living like a normal person.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, as she descended once the High Rise came into sight, "If it weren't for me, this whole nightmare wouldn't have happened."

She hovered in front of Chris' bedroom window, and gently forced it open with a force burst. She sailed through the window, and lay Chris in his bed. She took a quick glance around the apartment, to make sure they were alone.

"Good," she said, "I guess his roommate is out. I'm sorry to leave you here like this, Chris, but I have a feeling this isn't over yet."

Rachel leaned over, and gently kissed him on the cheek. She then sailed through the open window, and into the sky. She silently prayed that Chris would be okay, and that he'd forgive her for getting him involved with the Denebians' latest plot to conquer the galaxy. Rachel didn't realize this incident wasn't her fault. Acheron, the emperor of the Denebian Empire, was solely after Phoenix, and he used Chris as a hostage. The implications of this day's events were beyond what either Chris or Rachel, or even Acheron himself, expected.

While the young members of the Spectrum Force gathered around her prone body, the astral form of Rachel Summers floated in the sky, perfectly invisible to human perception.

In this form, separated from her body, it was far easier to span the Multiverse. The Astral Plane was a realm connecting all of existence.

The specter flashed out of the universe she was in, intending to find someone who could help her prevent the consequences she feared Acheron's thievery of her powers would create. With all her strength, she reached into the endless void, searching for a psi-print of one of her trusted allies.

She was stunned when she felt a familiar, nearly omnipotent, force of telepathic might.

"Roma?" she called into the black void of the realm-beyond-realms, "Is that you?"

A form materialized before her. A simple ivory gown cloaked her body entirely, and a golden shield enclosed her chest, shoulders, and neck. Her dark eyes gazed at the familiar entity, completely devoid of an emotional reaction.

"Rachel Summers," Roma stated, "I know what you are trying to do. I am here to stop you."

The Phoenix frowned. "I thought you had refrained from interference in the world of the mortals."

"In this case, I am trying to prevent interference," Roma stated grimly, "I shall not allow you to parade your numerous allies through the Multiverse, Rachel Summers. You are one gifted with the ability to manipulate the gateway. You know how dangerous such transport is."

"But Phaedra and Acheron have stolen my powers!" Rachel argued in frustration, "If I don't stop them..."

"What will be will be," Roma interrupted, holding up her hand.

"I can't accept that," Rachel said indignantly, "I'm not leaving, knowing full well that I've brought Doomsday upon this Earth!"

Roma smiled mysteriously. "You may be the Phoenix, child, but you do not know the full workings of reality. What will happen was inevitable. It shall set into motion a string of events that will forever change this universe... that had to happen in order to fix a breach that happened millenia ago. What will occur is necessary. However, the inclusion of other heroes is not."

Roma's smile fell. "You must leave, Rachel Summers. Your own dimension needs you. The longer Mother Askani is separated from her followers, the greater chance the forces of destruction will end your noble attempts."

Rachel swallowed hard. She felt that the choice was not hers to make. Her duty was elsewhere.

But... what would become of the Spectrum Force.

The mighty Phoenix shuddered at the thought.

"How will I get back to my own world?" she asked quietly, "I'm still rather weak."

"I shall create a portal for you," Roma responded, "Return to your body, and let the pieces fall into place... as they will."

Wearily, Phoenix opened her bright green eyes, and groaned slightly as consciousness once again flooded her mind. She sat up weakly, and watched as the six Spectrum Enforcers circled her, watching her worriedly.

"Are you okay?" the Green Enforcer asked, offering her his hand. She accepted his help, and let him lift her to her feet.

"I'll be fine," she whispered, shaking her head to focus her thoughts.

"So, did you... find the help you were looking for?" the Yellow Enforcer inquired.

Rachel glanced up at the young woman, and let a sigh escape her. "Guys... I'm afraid I can't help you with this dilemma. I don't want to sound cruel or anything, but it's not my choice. I... I can't interfere."

"Says who?" the Blue Enforcer practically demanded, folding his arms.

Rachel bit her lower lip. "Someone even the Phoenix can't disobey."

Almost as soon as those words slipped through her lips, a strong wind gathered to a focal point just outside the enclosed circle the heroes formed. The Spectrum Force watched in surprise as the focus became a flash of black energy, causing a hole in space and time to iris open.

"A Multiversal portal," the Orange Enforcer whispered in awe, "Did you create that, Rachel?"

The Phoenix shook her head. "Not this time. But, this is my ride."

She stepped pasted the teens towards the portal, and prepared to leap in. She then stopped herself, and turned to them once again.

"Believe in yourselves," Phoenix said quietly, with a smile on her face, "and you can face any foe." She then winked. "And something tells me I'll see the six of you again... some day."

With that, she waved at the rather startled teens, and leapt through the portal.

As the sun slowly crept under the horizon, Chris' dark brown eyes opened for the first time since he was released from Acheron's crystal prison, since he was separated from the Phoenix Force that sustained him during the energy drain. The room was dark, but Chris noticed there was an eerie white light casting shadows around his apartment. What he didn't realize was that his eyes were the source of this strange illumination.

"What... what happened?" he asked himself, sitting up and rubbing his temples, "How did I get back to my room? Was it all... just another weird dream?"

Chris thought about the day's events-- going to breakfast with Rachel Castaneda, the ball of flames that crashed into a nearby alley, Phoenix asking him if he was a mutant, falling down a dark tunnel into a base inside the Earth's crust, and finally being encased in a spherical cage by an alien emperor. Everything went black after only a few minutes of the energy drain, and Chris' last memory was a fiery aura surrounding his entire body, along with Phoenix's telepathic words: *I can send you some of the energy of the Phoenix Force. Trust me, Chris. It's your only hope.*

It couldn't have been only a dream, Chris decided as he rose to his feet and turned on his lamp, I don't have a vivid enough imagination to come up with that story. But how did I get back here? What happened to Phoenix... and Rachel?!

Chris nearly panicked when he thought about the last time he'd seen Rachel Castaneda, when they were falling through a dark tunnel into the Earth's crust. Chris immediately picked up the telephone, and dialed a number he'd been using quite often the past few days. He waited impatiently as the telephone rang.

^Hello,^ said a recorded voice, ^You've reached the residence of Jocelyn, Rachel, and Tamara. Sorry, but we're busy women, and we can't always be by the phone when someone calls--^

^Tammy!^ interrupted another voice, ^I'll take if from here. If you'd like to leave a message, please wait for the tone.^

^You're so boring, Ray!^

"Uh, hi, this is Chris, and I'm calling to check on Rachel. Please call me, or drop by my apartment, whenever you get in. Its important."

Chris hung up the phone, and suddenly, his hands began to glow white. Chris gasped in fear as his eyes began to shine with white light, and suddenly, images began to take shape in his head.

The first image was of his roommate Kevin, who was purchasing this very telephone from an electronics store nearby. Then, he saw himself talking on the phone with his mother while sitting at his desk. Kevin had just gotten out of the shower, and his head was covered with a towel. Kevin tripped over the long cord, and fell onto the carpet. Chris quickly drew his hand away from the receiver, and the images faded.

"What... what was that?!" he asked, rubbing his eyes. But everything appeared normal. Chris walked into the bathroom, and examined his face carefully.

"Something must have happened in the tunnel!" he reasoned, "But, why can't I remember?"

Chris ran his fingers down his cheek, and he suddenly realized there was a faint bronze lipstick mark on his cheek. Chris touched it curiously, and his eyes widened in surprise as the strange white light returned, being visible through the mirror.

This time, Chris saw Rachel Castaneda and her roommate and friend Tamara Fox in a department store. He then saw Tamara select a tube of lipstick, and Rachel tried it on. Then, another image took shape. Chris saw the Purple Spectrum Enforcer flying through the sky, carrying him in her arms. She flew into his window, laid him on his bed, and gently kissed his cheek, leaving the lipstick mark. Chris blinked in surprise as the images faded.

"I don't understand," he whispered to his reflection, "Somehow, when I touch something, I see... memories of that object? But, they aren't my memories. I wasn't even present in some of the visions..."

Chris suddenly realized the implication of the last memory he saw.

"Rachel is a Spectrum Enforcer?!"

Chris walked out of the bathroom, and into his bedroom. "I've... I've got to find her. Maybe she can explain what's happening to me--"

Suddenly, Chris felt sharp pains in his back. He cried out in pain, and fell to his knees beside his bed. The feeling of dozens of knives ripping through the skin of his back was excruciating, and he felt weak and dizzy. He collapsed onto his stomach, and from his back, a pair of shimmery six foot long wings, glowing with energy, ripped through his shirt. Chris could see the wings as they stretched out before him, radiating bright white light. The shock and pain soon overwhelmed him, and passed out on the floor.

Early that morning, and a few flights of stairs down, Tamara Fox, Rachel Castaneda, and Jocelyn Armand returned to their apartment after a truly harrowing day. After the Phoenix had left that plane of existence, the Spectrum Force had convened at Cloud Castle for a few hours, in the hopes of Spectra discerning what had happened to the energies Acheron had siphoned. All their efforts had yielded nothing, and all the teens were advised to go home and rest. Grudgingly, the heroes obeyed. Both Tamara and Jocelyn instantly collapsed onto the couch, leaving Rachel to close the front door. Rachel turned to her roommates, and grinned.

"How are you guys holding up?" she inquired.

"This has been a day from Hell," Jocelyn groaned, stretching her limbs, "The last thing we needed was a new Denebian nutzoid to deal with."

"And now Phoenix is gone," Tamara observed, "I hope she got home okay... but I do wish she had stuck around for awhile, at least until we got her energies back."

"She's the Phoenix Force," Rachel said, putting the tea kettle on the range, "She's got unlimited energy. Spectra assured us that she'd regenerate completely. Anyone want some lemon herbal tea? Caffeine free."

"Sure," Jocelyn said, pushing herself to her feet, "You need help?"

"No, I can handle it," Rachel answered, "Take a load off."

Jocelyn nodded, and prepared to sit back down. But a flash of red light caught her eye. It was coming from the answering machine.

"Hey," she said, walking to the machine, "I think we have a message."

"Who cares?" Tammy groaned, pressing her temples, "Its probably my mother again. I'll call her tomorrow."

"We might as well check it," Jocelyn argued, playing the tape, "After all, it could be important."

The three girls listened as their greeting played, which was followed by a short pause. Then, the new message played.

^Uh, hi, this is Chris, and I'm calling to check on Rachel. Please call me, or drop by my apartment, whenever you get in. It's important.^

Rachel looked up sharply, and nearly dropped the tea mugs she was laying out. "Chris?"

"What's the big emergency?" Tamara asked, sitting up, "I mean, you brought him home safe and sound, right?"

"Well, I guess so," Rachel said, "He was still unconscious when I left. But I had to get back to the rest of you guys, to figure out how to get Phoenix home. I should have checked on Chris the second I had the chance!"

"You didn't have the chance before," Jocelyn said, "so don't worry about it. But get going!"

"You want us to come with you?" Tamara asked, watching Rachel hurry out the door.

"I'll call you if I need you," she replied.

"Where... where am I?" Chris whispered, slowly opening his eyes. This time, he easily saw the familiar ceiling of his apartment. The light of the morning sun poured into the window, brightening the entire room.

"Sheesh, Chris," said a voice, "I told you to lay off the Tequila! But no, you had to go all Spring Fling on me!"

Chris' eyes widened, and he sat up on his bed. He smiled wryly when he saw his roommate sitting on a chair beside his bed.

"What happened?" Chris asked.

"I think you should tell me, Man," Kevin answered, "When I got back last night, I found you on the floor! I put you back in bed, figuring you should just sleep it off. I heard you moaning just now, so I came to check on you. And then, you woke up. You were out like a light all night. What did you do... OD on sleeping pills?"

Chris grinned slightly, and shook his head in the negative. "I guess all that Shakespeare is getting to me," he replied, running his hands through his hair. He noticed Kevin looking at him suspiciously.

I don't think he believes me, but I can't tell him what happened, he reflected, the events of the previous night sending a chill up his spine. Slowly, he reached behind his back, half expecting to find wings there. But all he felt was his back, and the shreds of his shirt dangling on his skin.

"I guess Fruit of the Loom don't make 'em like they used to," Kevin quipped, glancing at Chris' tattered shirt, "or maybe you and that girlfriend of yours had some fun last night that you're not telling me about."

Before Chris could object, the doorbell sounded.

"I'll get it," Kevin said, rising to his feet, "You get some rest, Chris."

Chris nodded, and lay back on his bed, folding his hands on his chest. Seconds later, Kevin returned to the bedroom, with Rachel beside him. Chris breathed a sigh of relief, and sat up once again.

"Rachel," he said, "where have you been?"

"I got your message," she answered, "I... I just got back. I had to help a friend of mine get home."

Kevin grinned mischievously, and walked out of the bedroom. "I figure you two should be alone. I'll go visit Luke down the hall, or something. Have fun!"

Rachel gave Chris a puzzled expression. Chris rolled his eyes, waving away the comment his roommate had made. Once Kevin had left the apartment, Rachel closed the bedroom door, and turned back to Chris, hugging him tightly. The sudden display of affection startled Chris, but he soon returned the hug.

"You don't know how worried you had me!" Rachel said, "I didn't know what happened to you after Phoenix showed up."

Chris suddenly frowned, and pulled away from Rachel's embrace. He looked right into Rachel's eyes, and observed her hurt and confused expression. "Chris," she said quietly, after a long silence, "what's the matter."

"I don't like being lied to," Chris responded, his eyes never wavering. Rachel's eyes widened with surprise, and she stepped away from Chris' bed, choosing to stand up instead.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You knew what happened to me after Phoenix showed up," he answered, rising to his feet to meet Rachel's gaze, "You're the one who brought me here. You flew me through the window."

Rachel's jaw dropped. "Wh... what?" she managed to say. She barely managed to hold back a scream as a pearly white glow exuded from Chris' dark eyes.

"Look," Chris whispered finally, taking a deep breath, "I'm sorry. I understand why you didn't come out and tell me you were the Purple Enforcer, but I've been having one hell of a day. I'm confused and stressed out. That's why I called you. I hope you can help me."

Rachel remained silent, her focus still fixated on Chris' eyes. The glow had only lasted for seconds, but the impression remained. "What's wrong with your eyes?" she managed to say.

"I... I don't know," Chris confessed, "Ever since I woke up, weird things have been happening, that I can't understand... much less explain. I don't know what's wrong with me. All I knew is that I had to reach you. You're the only one who may be able to help--"

Suddenly, Chris stopped in mid sentence, his eyes widening significantly. Rachel froze as she saw the light shine from Chris' eyes once again, this time brightly enough to light the entire room. Then, he clasped his abdomen tightly, and nearly fell to the floor in pain. Rachel let instinct take over, and quickly rushed to his side, catching him before he hit the ground. She watched as Chris ground his teeth, trying desperately to keep from screaming in agony.

"Hold on, Chris!" Rachel commanded, gently lying his head on the carpet. She glanced back down at him, tightening her hand into a fist. "Spectrum Sync... PURPLE!!"

A bright pulse of purple light transformed Rachel into the Purple Enforcer. Immediately, Rachel scooped up Chris, who was still writhing in pain, and ran towards the window. She used her mental control of light to open the window, and then she sailed into the sky, heading upwards to Cloud Castle. On her way, she opened up her mind, sending out an emergency alert to her fellow Enforcers.

*Guys, this is Rachel. We have an emergency! Meet me at Cloud Castle ASAP!!*

In the throne room of Cloud Castle, a young man hovered a few feet off the golden tiled floor, his entire body surrounded by a thin cloud of glowing white mist. A few yards away from him, the six members of the Spectrum Force were gathered, all in their uniforms, watching him curiously. He didn't seem to realize he was under observation, as he continued to moan in pain and thrash about feverishly.

The young man's actions disturbed all the Enforcers, but none more so than the Purple Enforcer. Rachel bit her lower lip, and cringed visibly every time it looked like the pain he was enduring increased. Finally, Rachel gave into her frustration, and turned towards the throne.

"Spectra, what's wrong with him?!" she demanded.

"That is what I am still trying to ascertain," Spectra answered, not moving from her throne. She flicked her wrist, and the white mists surrounding Christopher increased in speed. "From what I can gather, he is undergoing a transformation."

"Into what?" Jocelyn asked quietly.

"That I do not know," Spectra answered, "but something has triggered this mutation. His brain patterns are significantly different from any other human I've seen. I believe this has to do with your encounter with Acheron and the Phoenix."

"What did Acheron do to him?" Craig pondered aloud.

"This isn't Acheron's doing," Spectra announced, descending the stairs from her throne to the floor, "At least, not directly."

"How can you tell?" Keith inquired.

"There is no black magic involved. Not even trace amounts. Everything that is happening is completely natural, without any help from outside sources. My only hypothesis is that what happened to Christopher triggered something that was bound to happen eventually. It just hastened its oncoming."

"The oncoming of what?" Rachel asked, "What is this transformation?"

"Perhaps 'transformation' isn't the most accurate word to describe what is occurring. It is more like a mutation or metamorphisis, something that changes a being on the most basic level, forever."

"Oh God," Rachel gasped, choking back a sob.

"But what is he changing into?" Tamara asked, "And why is it hurting so much?"

"I don't know the answer to either," Spectra admitted, "However, I doubt the pain he is enduring is going to be continuous. Once the transformation is complete, and he becomes accustomed to his new being, the pain will lessen. It is much like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, but much quicker."

To add strength to Spectra's comparison, Chris arched his back, and released a howl of anguish. Then, quickly and mercilessly, two bright gleaming wings broke through his skin, and stretched to their full length. As soon as the wings appeared, Chris' cries of agony lessened, and he passed out completely. All the witnesses remained in mute shock for a moment.

"W... wings?" Rachel asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Spectra's eyes narrowed, and the whirling white energy quickened in speed yet again, transferring its scanned information to the sorceress at the speed of thought. "Yes," she said finally, "Chris' alteration has been completed. He should be awakening shortly."

Spectra nodded her head, and Chris slowly descended to the floor. He groaned quietly, and then opened his eyes weakly. His eyes widened quickly when he realized he was no longer in the comfortable surroundings of his bedroom.

"Where--"

"It's alright, Chris," Rachel said quietly, pulling off her facemask, "You're safe."

Chris relaxed when he saw Rachel, but he looked around the chamber, still perplexed.

"You're in Cloud Castle," Tamara said, answering his previous question, "With the Spectrum Force. We're trying to help you."

"What... what's wrong with me?" Chris whispered, trying to sit up. He then felt his wings brush against the floor, and his jaw dropped. Slowly, he reached behind his back, and touched them with his fingers. The wings felt warm, but they didn't really resemble feathers. "So, it wasn't a dream," he muttered.

"Chris, it's going to be okay," Rachel said quietly, kneeling on the floor beside him. She grasped his hand tightly with hers. "How... how do you feel?"

"Better," he said quietly, "I mean... the pain's mostly gone."

"Christopher Greyson," Spectra said suddenly, stepping into his field of view, "can you explain to me exactly what you feel?"

Chris stared at Spectra in surprise, and then closed his eyes tightly. "It's... like fire. Fire in my veins, coursing through my whole body. But, its not burning me, like when the Phoenix Force passed through me in the tunnels..."

"Wait," Spectra said, "The Phoenix Force passed through you?"

"Yeah. Phoenix told me it was the only way to keep me alive. The fire, burned. But at the same time, it soothed. The fire in me now is kinda like that. But it doesn't burn anymore, now that the wings have surfaced."

"That is the explanation we needed," Spectra said, nodding. Rachel turned from Chris to Spectra, her hand never letting go of his.

"Then what's going on?" Rachel asked. The rest of the Spectrum Force turned to Spectra as well, waiting for her to once again provide the answers to their questions.

"Christopher is more than human," Spectra announced, "He was born with special abilities, which have been dormant all his life. The limitless energy of the Phoenix Force, which passed through his body, has triggered his mutation. His inner power has been released."

"So... am I even human?" Chris asked weakly.

"You are. You have just been granted abilities that no other human yet has. At least, in our dimension."

"Look at it this way," Keith said, helping Rachel pull Chris to his feet, "You're one of a kind."

Chris frowned. "Then... I'm a freak of nature."

"Think of this tranformation as a gift, rather than a burden, Christopher," Spectra advised, her eyes glowing bright white. She stared intently at the wings, as they flapped rather clumsily from Chris' back. "These wings are composed of psionic energy. That selfsame energy runs throughout your system, which is the 'fire' you spoke of earlier. Your are psi."

"So, what does that mean?" Matt asked. Spectra turned her gaze from Chris' wings, to Chris' eyes.

*Can you hear me?* Spectra inquired.

"Yeah," Chris answered.

*Answer me with your mind,* Spectra instructed, *Broadcast your thoughts.*

"But... I don't know how."

*Try.*

Chris nodded, and closed his eyes tightly. Rachel looked at him curiously, and then at Spectra, whose stoic expression didn't divulge any answers.

*Hello?* a psionic voice called, touching the minds of Spectra and all the Enforcers.

"Chris?" Craig stammered, "How... did you do that?"

"His abilities include telepathy, to a limited degree," Spectra said, "What is interesting is that the psionic energy isn't focused in his occipital lobe. If it were, than he would be a pure telepath/telekinetic, such as the Phoenix is. However, Chris' psionic energy has no stamped focus. Instead, it has several smaller foci, including his back. The energy takes form as wings."

"Amazing," Tamara whispered, staring at Chris' wings.

"What else can I do?" Chris asked, "And how do I control these powers? Can I fly?"

"I cannot answer all these questions for you," Spectra said, "However, I can help instruct you how to regulate your telepathic abilities. This is only because I have mastered telepathy. Unfortunately, the other abilities you have must be discovered by you, and honed by you."

"Can I do that?"

"Sure you can," Keith said, "After all, these abilities are natural for you. Just like a hatchling bird learns how to fly, you'll have to figure it out."

"But, how can I possibly teach myself?" Chris asked no one in particular. Rachel took his hand once again, and smiled up at him.

"Don't worry," she assured him, "we'll help you through this."