Arriving at her parents' house, Amber stands outside to build up the courage as her stomach is in knots. What will she tell them? How will they react? Will they welcome her back? So many thoughts, so many questions, so many doubts. No turning back now. She walks up to the porch, her heart beating so hard it might burst from her chest. She rings the doorbell and quickly turns to leave when the door opens, and she hears that familiar sweet and soothing voice of her mother say her name. Turning back to see her parents there with shock and disbelief yet the tears starting to form in their eyes. Amber, overcome with emotions, throws herself into her parents' arms and hugs them tightly as the three cry in joy on being reunited. Having told her parents everything, the three sit in the living room. Amber sits in the chair, her hands in her lap as her parents sit there not knowing what to say after learning where their daughter has been the last two years.
Amber Strong: Can either of you say something?
Darren Strong: We are glad to have you home, sweetie, we are, but why did you not say anything sooner?
Amber Strong: I had no way of contacting either of you. Everything in that car was destroyed and my phone was gone. I must have suffered amnesia or something, because it was all a blur. Little by little it was all coming back to me.
Althea Strong: What your father is trying to say is, why did you not come back sooner?
Amber Strong: I was afraid.
Althea Strong: Afraid of what?
Amber Strong: Crystal City is not what you think. It's not progressing and it is not gotten any safer.
Althea Strong: What? What were you doing in Crystal City?
Amber Strong: I was there for a work assignment.
Darren Strong: So, your boss knew you were there and did not have the courage to come and tell us that you were missing?
Althea Strong: Your father is right.
Amber Strong: I took the assignment.
Darren Strong: Does not matter. He sent you there and he is responsible. I knew I should've gone to that building when we didn't hear from you. Do you know how difficult it's been? Birthdays, holidays?
Amber Strong: I'm - I'm sorry, Dad, I -
Darren Strong: Tell that to your sisters and Shaina. They have been distraught not having you here.
Before Amber can reply, the front door opens and as if on cue, Shaina and Amber's two sisters, Morgan and Amy come inside and as they see her, they are frozen like they are seeing a ghost. They drop their bags onto the floor and just stand there, not knowing what to say or do. Amber stands to her feet and can feel the tears starting to welt in her eyes. Shaina breaks down crying as she rushes over and hugs her best friend tightly. The two cry into each other's shoulders as Morgan joins in hugging them, but Amy storms upstairs to her room and slams the door shut.
Knocking on the door, Amy demands whoever it is to go away as she cries softly to herself as the door opens and Amber steps inside.
Amber Strong: Hey, Amy.
Amy Strong: Go away.
Amber Strong: I'm sorry. I - I should've come back sooner.
Seeing her little sister crying, not in joy but because she is hurt. Mentally and emotionally. Amber sits down next to her and places her hand gently on her shoulder. Amy takes her hand into hers and holds it.
Amy Strong: I thought you were dead. I thought I would never see you again. You missed so much, Amber.
Amber Strong: I know. I know there is nothing I can do to go back and redo it.
Amy rolls over to look at Amber in her eyes. Amy's eyes are red and puffy from crying as Amber wipes the tears away.
Amber Strong: You are still my sister, and I will always take care of you. No matter how old you get.
Amy Strong: Where were you all this time?
Amber sighs heavy as she lays next to her sister and looks up at the ceiling.
Amber Strong: I was being taken care of and trained to defend myself. Something I hope to teach you, Morgan and Shaina someday. This world gets uglier and uglier every day and if there is one thing what happened to me taught me is that you cannot ever let your guard down and trust anyone. People are not who they claim to be.
Amy Strong: But where were you?
Amber Strong: A man named Damian Northstar took me in, nursed me back to health and trained me in many forms of martial arts and tactics that made me stronger. Strong enough to where I can defend Mom, Dad, you, Morgan, Shaina. All of you.
Amber looks at Amy as she puts her arm around her and holds her next to her tightly, assuring her she is not going anywhere and is there to stay.
Amber Strong: I'm really sorry, Amy. I never meant to hurt you or anyone. But I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere.
Amy Strong: Promise?
Amber Strong: I promise.
As the emotional day turns to night, everyone is settling down and going to bed as Amber turns in herself to her bedroom and quickly drifts off to sleep until she suddenly awakens and looks to the window to her balcony. She opens it and steps outside to feel the chilly fall breeze against her face.
The Outlaw: I told you Crystal City was not a place to go alone.
Startled, Amber backs away in a defensive pose and without knowing she has summoned lightning in her hand.
The Outlaw: Take it easy. I'm not here to hurt you.
Amber Strong: Why are you here? Why come after all this time?
The Outlaw: I wanted to check in on you; make sure you're doing okay.
Amber Strong: What do you mean, "check in on me?" You don't even know me.
The Outlaw: I know enough that you are on the right side, but don't let that thirst for vengeance take control. It will destroy you.
Amber Strong: Who are you to tell me such a thing?
The Outlaw: Because I too was obsessed with it and it nearly destroyed me. I had to let go and show the world I was better than the demons that haunted me. If you let that fire consume you, there is no going back. Once you take a life, you will never stop.
Amber Strong: Don't you think it's hypocritical to tell someone this? I mean, what is your body count? Outlaw?
The Outlaw: I have a toll, I know that and it has taken me time to not go that path again. How? I don't know, but I'm glad I am on this path. It's good to see you alive, Ms. Strong. I'll leave you alone.
Amber Strong: Where were you that night? The night I was attacked.
The Outlaw: I wanted to help and by the time I got there, you were already gone. I'm not a superhuman, Ms. Strong. I am but a man that can't be in ten places at once, otherwise I would've spared you the scars from that night. I'm truly sorry what happened to you, I am. But remember - your tragedy can become your power and that power is always found within yourself. Use it to your leverage to fight injustice. The world needs more of it.
And with that, The Outlaw leaps off the balcony and disappears into the night as Amber, thinking on what he told her, lets those words sink in -- "Your power is always found within yourself." And he is right, because she can feel that power, that rage, that anger, that thirst for vengeance starting to rise and she closes her eyes to let the spirit of the thunderbird speak to her.