Torch Passing

I called out Power, who appeared to us both in her hologram form. "Is there any way I can give Beth my powers?" I asked. Beth looked at me in shock. "To be clear, do you mean to give her your powers and lose them yourself, or give her the same powers while retaining your own?" Power asked. "The later, definitely the later. I just went through some stuff and it would all be a waste if I lost my abilities now," I joked. "You would really give me powers like you? You know I will do what I want with them, and you might not like it, right?" Beth asked, tearing up. "I trust you," I replied.

"If you do not give up your own powers, then you can give her similar abilities, but you will have priority, just as the one who gave you your reward would if they chose to return. You may also limit the area, though you may not exceed your own limit, which is the boundaries of the solar system," said Power, as lawyer like in behavior as I had seen her in a long time. "So Beth can do anything I can do, but I can override her?" I asked. "Yes. Also, general changes you make cannot be universally reversed by her. For example, if you made the entire world naked at all times, she could not undo this, only make herself and peoples directly around her wear clothing again." I raised my eyebrow at this example. "You have considered this change," Power replied, shrugging her holographic shoulders. "Do you wish to do this?"

"Tom, you don't have to do this," Beth said. "I mean, I want you to. I can think of a lot of things to do with this. But I don't want this to be some kind of guilt trip you regret later."

"I regret not doing this sooner," I replied. "Do it," I added, turning back to Power.

We both stood there for few minutes. "Is it done," Beth finally asked, impatient. "Of course," replied Power. "It was done the instant it was requested."

"So how does this work?" Beth asked. She held out her hand and suddenly there was a sandwich in it. "Unlimited power and the first thing you do is make a sandwich," I asked, grinning. "At least it's not a pile of money," she replied. A second hologram appeared, identical to Power but in a blue rather than a red Andromeda costume. "I am available to assist you Ma'am," the new hologram said. "I have taken this form and personality as you are familiar with it, but you may change me as your please." she continued, curtsying. I raised an eyebrow at this, as Power did not act that way anymore. "I have already adjusted slightly to your preferences," she added.

"Please transfer Carol to... Umm, what are you going to call your assistant? If we both call them Power, it might get confusing.," I asked. "I guess... Helper? go with that for now, maybe I will think of something better later," Beth replied. "Transfer Carol to Helper, then," I continued. "There, now you are set. and I can see you are excited," I added. "I'll leave you to it," I said, as Beth sat down on the couch to have her sandwich.

"Wait, before you go, there is some thing I need to tell you," Beth called, before I could leave. "I was going to do this anyway, this all just makes it simpler." She turned to face me, a serious look on her face. "Tom, you've said before that I have been 'like a hermit' since Mike and I broke up, and you are right. My entire life before was based around him and Melissa, even my job is at the same hospital and I got it as part of a package deal to bring in Mike. Before we became friends, I really didn't have anyone. I'm going to say in all likelihood my marriage was going to collapse even without you, just probably after Melissa went to college.," she continued. It was my turn to let her talk. She took a deep breath. "After Melissa leaves, I am too. I need to have my own life, and I feel if I stay here I will just hold up in my house. No," she said, holding up her hands to head off my objection. "This isn't because of what you just did. I was already planning to do this, although now it's much easier since I can choose where I wasn't to go rather than wherever I can find another job. But I was going to do this anyway. Austin was Mike's choice, not mine. I need my own life."

I could see she really meant it. "I'll miss you," I said, honestly, scooting up to her on the couch and kissing her forehead. "It's not like we can't still hang out," she said, smiling. "Teleporting powers? I was going to ask you to anyway, just now I can come over on my own. You and Charlie are the one part of my life here I want to keep."

"Where will you go?" I asked. "I haven't decided yet. I put out feelers for nursing jobs in a bunch of places, but I hadn't heard back. Yes, I still want to be a nurse, I like helping people. And now I can do even more," she added. "I'll decide when the time comes." I hugged her. "I'll miss you," I said again. "Go on now," she replied. Carol walked into the room. "I want to play around a bit, without having to ask you to set things up," she added with a sly grin. I took the hint and left.