LJ presents: Homecoming, part one
Finding the time to write this entry has been something of an epic in itself. I won't bore you all with the details - it's enough to say "it's been a busy couple of weeks" and leave it at that. It's a shame it's taken so long because this, the first installment of a two-part story, is yet another one of LJ's strong ideas. The kidlet's burgeoning interest in politics, in the human condition, the relations between young and old... it's all on display here, and I like the result.
So let's not waste any more time, eh?
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LJ presents:
HOMECOMING
PART ONE
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
Six months is a long time to be away from home. And, as the young heroes were quickly discovering, an awful lot of things about home could change in six months. For one thing, its name could change from Super Hero City... to Super City.
Sunburst, Ironclad, Torunn, Quickdraw, Shield Maiden and Selena Strange had been encouraged, by Thor and Dr Strange, to "go for a stroll" through Super City. "It's best you reacquaint yourself with the people we protect," Thor had said, "and, at the same time, partake of the improvements noble Granger hath made to everyone's lives! Verily, thou shalt be amazed!"
Torunn looked around and wrinkled her nose. "My father has a gift for understatement," she said quietly.
The Super City Police Station had been completely rebuilt. It took up more space and had a distinct "fortress" look to it. Surveillance cameras topped the walls, a heavy steel boom gate blocked off the entrance and, disturbingly, metal spikes protruded from the Bat-Signal's stand. The young heroes tried to see Commissioner Gordon but were told, from behind a bullet-proof screen, he was "too busy" to speak to anyone. When Ironclad pressed the point, she was threatened with arrest for "breaching city ordnance #0001".
"Whatever that means," the armoured heroine shrugged as they walked away.
Dr Skelios, the city's resident doctor/refugee Skrull king was only too happy to explain. "Oh, it's such a wonderful law," he enthused. "Put simply, it means super heroes are not permitted to operate inside the city limits. Any and all crimes committed in the city are handled by the police department and Batman. Anything outside the city is for SHIELD and the New Avengers."
"And that's wonderful?" Quickdraw asked.
"Of course it is," Dr Skelios laughed, and then clapped his hands as if applauding. "After all we've been through, it's great to have a sense of security - faith that some costumed lunatic isn't going to suddenly crash through our roof, that no giant robot is going to try to eat us or control our minds! City ordnance #0001 keeps us safe."
Former mayoral candidate Buck Roe was thrilled with the changes, too. "Things ain't never been better," he cheered, clapping as Dr Skelios had. "Th' New 'Vengers keep the varmits away, th' police keep th' city safe, an' now everyone's protected. And these here critters," he gestured toward a group of robotic cleaning units, "keep th' streets right purty all the time!"
Shield Maiden glanced side to side. "What do they clean up after? I haven't seen a single civilian vehicle on the roads since we got back!"
The answer lay to the north, where a group of people were lined up by a three-wheeled cart. Roe's erstwhile opponent, Jasper Wilson, was at the head of the queue. Torunn and Sunburst learned the cart was an ecologically-friendly, self-driving form of public transport that shuttled residents around Super City - for free! Thus had private cars been made obsolete.
Demand for the service was high; Wilson had pushed his way to the front of the line and was bickering with the man behind him. To the heroes' surprise, the two resolved their differences amicably and - like Skelios and Roe before them - applauded. The others in line joined in the clapping, then bid Wilson and the man farewell as they jointly rode the cart to their destinations.
"But where does the power come from?" Sunburst wondered.
One thing hadn't changed: Super City was still powered by Arc Reactor technology. The iconic power source had, however, been shifted out of the centre of town... and vastly down-sized. Ironclad found three of her father's former staff manning the station all by themselves. "This is crazy," she said. "The Arc Reactor's a sophisticated piece of technology! It needs an entire team of maintenance crews, engineers and scientists to operate efficiently - not three people!"
"No need to fret, Miss Stark," Happy Hogan assured her. "We've got everything under control." No sooner had he uttered the words than an alarm klaxon wailed. The trio sprung into action, using welders, wrenches and basic tools to hammer, bash and cajole the Reactor until the siren fell silent. "See? Just like Mayor Granger says, anything can be achieved if we work as a team!"
The trio clapped... and Ironclad felt her skin crawl beneath her armour.
The Reactor wasn't the only thing that had been reduced in size and prominence. Sunburst visited the new offices of the Hero Times... the single-storey, two-desk, far edge of the city offices of the Hero Times. Her mother, Lois Lane, looked tired and stressed. "We've been hemorrhaging readers for months," she explained. "Mayor Granger decided he'd start addressing the people directly once a day, through the free wi-fi service, promising 'all the local news you need to know'. People don't pay for the paper, or a website, when they think they can get the news for free."
"Think?" Sunburst cocked an eyebrow.
"I know that look," Lois nodded wearily, "and I feel the same way. Anyone trying to give the news away for free is hiding something... or at least censoring it heavily." She sighed and waved at her cluttered desk. "I'd love to investigate but I can't - I've too many responsibilities here. I've not had time to write a blasted thing since Jonah... well, you know."
Jameson was on the roof, recording a typically apoplectic video editorial. "I may have chosen to step away from the editor's desk and focus on being the publisher," he barked, "but that doesn't make me any less of a journalist! And I want to know when the people of this so-called 'Super City' are going to wake up to what's going on! Open your eyes, people - clean streets, free green transport and all this blasted clapping are just distractions! You can't be this foolish, can you?"
"The scariest thing about all this," Sunburst grimaced, "is that, for the first time in my life, I think Jameson's making sense."
"You would dare speak to me thus, mortal man?"
Lightning sizzled from Torunn's fists. The princess of the Aesir was fast approaching the limit of her patience. She and Ironclad had been walking down the street when a heavy police van - powered, through an antennae on its roof, by the Arc Reactor - had rolled up. Its driver wanted to fine them for stepping off the sidewalk and into traffic. "You could have caused an accident," he had tutted, waggling his finger. Torunn's fury had altered his tone. "Take it easy, now," he pleaded, clapping and smiling nervously. "No need for a #0001, is there?"
"Come on, Torunn," Ironclad said, grabbing her friend by the wrist. "Let's... sigh... get on the footpath."
Suddenly, fan fare echoed through the city. The young heroes were surrounded, almost instantly, by the entire population. They filled the sidewalks and spilled out into the streets (which, apparently, wasn't a problem when the music played), directing their rapt attention toward the city's north-eastern corner.
For the first time, the heroes paid attention to the gleaming, ultra-modern building on the nice edge of town. Ironclad bristled; it seemed to have been reconstituted from her father's former office! Liquid-crystal windows rose skyward to reveal Kirby Granger, Mayor of Super City. Thunderous applause welcomed him, increasing in volume when the Dark Knight himself, Batman, emerged from the shadows alongside the office. People clapped, cheered and whistled. The heroes were shocked - Batman had become a public figure? Willingly?
Granger spoke first, offering his congratulations to the people on "almost 183 days without an incident of violence". He praised their compassion, their teamwork and their generosity, imploring them to keep their spirits high and their neighbours' welfare "paramount in thought and deed". Batman joined the chorus, thanking the police for keeping order and justice in the streets. That had, he said, allowed him to work dilligently at keeping "the terrors at bay" - which, the heroes reasoned, meant the super villains.
The applause started up again. "That's it," Quickdraw hissed. "I can't take any more of this nonsense!"
"I like it," Selena smiled dreamily. "It's much nicer than the other places I've been since I left home."
"But it's not right, Selena," Shield Maiden said gently. "It's... fake. Plastic."
"Artificial," Ironclad said resolutely.
"We need to talk to Granger," Sunburst said. "Not now, with everyone around, but later. Find out how things got so... weird. He said he was going to create a positive and fair future for everyone. Kicking super heroes out of the city? Down-sizing the Arc Reactor? Making everyone, well, dependent on him, Batman and the police? Like Peggy said, Selena, it's not right."
But Selena would not be swayed; she wanted to stay and explore. Torunn agreed to stay with her while the others returned to Hero Headquarters to figure out their next move.
Unbeknownst to everyone, one of the city’s most disreputable ne’er-do-wells was on the move. Two-Face had paid close attention, over the past six months, to the ebb and flow of life in Super City. Having consulted his scarred coin, he’d decided this was the day to strike. He and his gang drove a nondescript-looking van up to the bank and, while all attention was on Mayor Granger and Batman, unpacked and constructed a large laser cannon. With a glint in his eye, Two-Face used the high-powered device to melt through the walls of the safe and stage an old-fashioned bank robbery.
Unfortunately for Tow-Face, Torunn had grown bored with the speeches. She turned away from Batman’s lecturing… and saw what was going on. Grabbing Selena by the arm, the young hero rushed into battle.
Two-Face and his cronies were ready. The laser cannon was also equipped with a powerful missile that zeroed in on the two young women. Selena weaved a magical shield, protecting them from the detonation, and then willed the shield to extend glowing energy “grabbers” that snaked out toward the criminals. The strain of maintaining both constructs was evident, and soon had an effect - to Torunn’s horror, her friend started fading in and out!
“You’re losing concentration on yourself,” she shouted, wary of her best friend’s greatest weakness. “This battle must end - and I shall be the one to end it!”
The criminals had the laser cannon, all manner of firearms and the advantage of numbers - and none of that could compare to the wrath of an Asgardian. Torunn slammed into the group with a thunderous boom, scattering them in all directions. Selena refocused her energies on Two-Face’s coin, causing it to levitate and spin perpetually. Unable to make a decision without his trinket, the master criminal was struck mute. Stripped of leadership, the goons quickly fell.
“Victory,” Torunn cheered.
“And it looks like the police are coming to celebrate with us,” Selena beamed, gesturing toward the line of police cars that approached, sirens wailing and lights flashing.
“Remember now,” Torunn told her friend, “a true hero accepts the praise of mortals with humility, grace, poise and…”
The police cars - each equipped with an antennae that drew power directly from the Arc Reactor, just like the public transport - pulled up and officers spilled from them, each aiming his or her weapon at Torunn and Selena. “Freeze,” one commanded through a megaphone. “You are under arrest for violation of city ordnance #0001! Put down your weapons and put your hands up!”
As before, Torunn’s eyes flashed dangerously. She was in no mood to suffer the fools around her. Selena, still naïve to the outside world, grew fearful; her distress heightened Torunn’s fury. Things would have been very bad had Batman not arrived on the scene at that point. Thanks to the presence of the Dark Knight, the situation didn’t get bad… it turned truly awful
“I understand you’ve been away for some time, and I have nothing but respect for each of your fathers,” he growled, “which is why I’m going to let your foolish, reckless, irresponsible behaviour slide just this once.”
“Foolish and irresponsible?” Torunn snarled.
Batman glared at her. "Ignorance is no excuse for law-breaking," he said coolly.
Torunn moved to reply - in a most forceful manner - but Commissioner Gordon and Selena intervened. "I think the best thing for everyone," Gordon said meaningfully, "would be Torunn and Ms Strange returning to Hero Headquarters, while Batman and I resume our work. All right?" Still glowering, Batman and Torunn stalked away from one another. Gordon sighed heavily. "I know I should be grateful Mayor Granger places so much faith in my officers and I," he told Selena, "but I can't help but wonder if things weren't better the way they were."
Off to the side, two officers were clapping as a third handcuffed Two-Face. Gordon's face wrinkled with distaste.
Several hours later, the young heroes returned to Super City. Trying to fit in with the new regime, they'd made preparations. For one, they'd called ahead to make an appointment with Mayor Granger. For another, they'd left their weapons behind. "It's not that we think it's right," Maria told Selena, "but sometimes you've got to go along to get along. And clearly, the only way we'll be able to speak to Mayor Granger without someone yelling '#0001!' is if we go in all casual-like."
The Mayor's robotic chief-of-staff bustled them inside, prissily reminding them not to take up too much of its boss' time. "He's a very busy man, and why he's agreed to see you today I'll never know," it said witheringly. "Having super heroes in Super City feels... well, it feels indecent, somehow. And very, very wrong!"
"Ah, go clap or something," Peggy snapped. "Oh wait - you have no arms," she smiled unpleasantly. "How sad for you."
Mayor Granger was, to the young heroes' surprise and relief, his usual gracious self. "I'm so glad you're all back," he said, shaking their hands warmly, "and so sorry for all the confusion. I imagine it must be quite a culture shock for five of you - and the biggest shock of all for Miss Strange!" He tucked his thumbs in his belt and rocked on his heels. "But then again, I'd be lying if I didn't admit how happy it makes me that Miss Strange's first experience of the outside world is this perfect little city of ours!"
He led them on a walking tour of the city, pointing out all the improvements (the "smaller, more efficient" Arc Reactor, the public transport, the "happier populace", the "expanded greenery areas") while stopping to greet his constituents. Even former mayoral election opponents were happy to see him, applauding as he walked toward them and clapping as he left.
"Okay, what's with the clapping?" Iris asked, exasperated.
"Positive affirmation for everyday things," Mayor Granger smiled. "It reminds people that everyone is super, and everyone is a hero. It's not about powers, abilities and battles but doing the right thing by your community and your neighbour. Following the rules. Considering the needs of others. Listening to the Mayor and the police. Showing support for everyone, in everything they do."
Selena nodded happily and started clapping. Maria, Iris, Peggy, Lara and Torunn exchanged looks of concern.
A wailing sound cut through the air. It was an old-school air raid siren, the type the young heroes had only heard in movies. Citizens quickly bustled around and past them, filing quickly - but in an orderly fashion - toward the corners of the city.
"Nothing to worry about, ladies," Mayor Granger smiled. "This is just one of our regular lockdown drills."
Lara arched an eyebrow. "Lockdown?"
Batman swooped down and landed beside them. "An emergency protocol in case of incidents like Unicron or Ultron," he said, nodding to the young heroes... and glaring slightly at Torunn. "We run drills once a week to ensure preparedness. Every citizen is assigned a lockdown shelter and knows to move toward it when the siren sounds. Speaking of which..." He looked at Mayor Granger.
"Ah, yes, time to go back to my office," he chuckled amiably. "Batman worries, you see, and it's his job to escort me to my lockdown shelter. Now: you ladies don't have shelter assignments so, just until the drill's over, you can come back with me and we'll keep talking."
"Thanks, Mr Mayor, we'd like that," Maria said as they made their way to his office. "We have some concerns about the way things have... changed... around the city. I mean, we weren't gone that long, but some of these new ideas and cultures are really outside the square, you know?"
Mayor Granger opened the door to his office and beckoned them toward four comfy-looking chairs. "Um, no," he said pleasantly, "I can't say I do." He perched on the edge of his desk; Batman stood at the door like a bodyguard. "Maybe if you could explain a little more?"
Before Maria could continue, a powerful electric shock coursed through her body. She shrieked; manacles slid out from the chair's arm and foot-rests to bind her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see similar fates had befallen her friends - kryptonite for Lara, some sort of deceleration blast for Iris - so that they, too, were trapped. Batman could not help them, for a large glass pod had descended over him. It was filled with some sort of gas - paralysis gas, Maria reasoned, given the Dark Knight seemed frozen in place.
Mayor Granger was unaffected. He was also smiling as if the situation were the most normal in the world. "Finally," he said, the relief audible in his voice. "I was afraid I'd have to continue this charade indefinitely. Now, at last, things can progress."
"I don't understand," Selena, who had been ensnared within some kind of magical net, said.
She didn't, but the other young heroes did. "He's a villain, Selena," Maria growled. "He's been a villain the whole time, way before the election, and he's played on the fears of the city in order to get power. And now he's getting us out of the way before he takes on the real heroes." She rolled her eyes. "Bog-standard villain plan. It's kinda what we were worried about."
Granger applauded. "Very good - and very, very close to being right," he laughed. "Though I'd not use such a label myself, yes, I fall into your definition of 'villain'. And you were all laughably easy to pull into my plan, hero and ordinary citizen alike. All so scarred by the Ultra-Revolution, all so desperate to feel safe and secure again. All so angry with the Captain and his three friends - the men who would have led you away from this, if you'd stopped to listen.
"But you're wrong in one pivotal manner. I don't need you six out of the way to enact my plan - I can't enact my plan so long as you six are alive! Four of you took down Ultron-X, the single greatest threat to ever walk the face of this planet! Your disappearance, six months ago, was a blessing because it gave me time to progress matters this far. But success, ah, that would only come after you had been removed from the board. Permanently. And so," he gestured with a sweep of his arm, chuckling cruelly, "here we are."
Peggy fought against her bonds with renewed fervour. Granger's manner, his choice of words, had awakened her to the true danger he posed. "I don't know how it's possible," she yelled, "because it shouldn't be possible. But it is. It has to be. No one else talks that way, thinks that way. No one else uses people's weaknesses against them like that - convinces ordinary people to give up their freedoms in exchange for 'security' that's really subservience!" She scowled. "And no one else calls my dad 'the Captain'."
"Well done, fraulein," Mayor Kirby Granger, aka the Red Skull, sneered. "It's is only appropriate you know your executioner before you die."
-----TO BE CONCLUDED!-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
So let's not waste any more time, eh?
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LJ presents:
HOMECOMING
PART ONE
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
Six months is a long time to be away from home. And, as the young heroes were quickly discovering, an awful lot of things about home could change in six months. For one thing, its name could change from Super Hero City... to Super City.
Sunburst, Ironclad, Torunn, Quickdraw, Shield Maiden and Selena Strange had been encouraged, by Thor and Dr Strange, to "go for a stroll" through Super City. "It's best you reacquaint yourself with the people we protect," Thor had said, "and, at the same time, partake of the improvements noble Granger hath made to everyone's lives! Verily, thou shalt be amazed!"
Torunn looked around and wrinkled her nose. "My father has a gift for understatement," she said quietly.
The Super City Police Station had been completely rebuilt. It took up more space and had a distinct "fortress" look to it. Surveillance cameras topped the walls, a heavy steel boom gate blocked off the entrance and, disturbingly, metal spikes protruded from the Bat-Signal's stand. The young heroes tried to see Commissioner Gordon but were told, from behind a bullet-proof screen, he was "too busy" to speak to anyone. When Ironclad pressed the point, she was threatened with arrest for "breaching city ordnance #0001".
"Whatever that means," the armoured heroine shrugged as they walked away.
Dr Skelios, the city's resident doctor/refugee Skrull king was only too happy to explain. "Oh, it's such a wonderful law," he enthused. "Put simply, it means super heroes are not permitted to operate inside the city limits. Any and all crimes committed in the city are handled by the police department and Batman. Anything outside the city is for SHIELD and the New Avengers."
"And that's wonderful?" Quickdraw asked.
"Of course it is," Dr Skelios laughed, and then clapped his hands as if applauding. "After all we've been through, it's great to have a sense of security - faith that some costumed lunatic isn't going to suddenly crash through our roof, that no giant robot is going to try to eat us or control our minds! City ordnance #0001 keeps us safe."
Former mayoral candidate Buck Roe was thrilled with the changes, too. "Things ain't never been better," he cheered, clapping as Dr Skelios had. "Th' New 'Vengers keep the varmits away, th' police keep th' city safe, an' now everyone's protected. And these here critters," he gestured toward a group of robotic cleaning units, "keep th' streets right purty all the time!"
Shield Maiden glanced side to side. "What do they clean up after? I haven't seen a single civilian vehicle on the roads since we got back!"
The answer lay to the north, where a group of people were lined up by a three-wheeled cart. Roe's erstwhile opponent, Jasper Wilson, was at the head of the queue. Torunn and Sunburst learned the cart was an ecologically-friendly, self-driving form of public transport that shuttled residents around Super City - for free! Thus had private cars been made obsolete.
Demand for the service was high; Wilson had pushed his way to the front of the line and was bickering with the man behind him. To the heroes' surprise, the two resolved their differences amicably and - like Skelios and Roe before them - applauded. The others in line joined in the clapping, then bid Wilson and the man farewell as they jointly rode the cart to their destinations.
"But where does the power come from?" Sunburst wondered.
One thing hadn't changed: Super City was still powered by Arc Reactor technology. The iconic power source had, however, been shifted out of the centre of town... and vastly down-sized. Ironclad found three of her father's former staff manning the station all by themselves. "This is crazy," she said. "The Arc Reactor's a sophisticated piece of technology! It needs an entire team of maintenance crews, engineers and scientists to operate efficiently - not three people!"
"No need to fret, Miss Stark," Happy Hogan assured her. "We've got everything under control." No sooner had he uttered the words than an alarm klaxon wailed. The trio sprung into action, using welders, wrenches and basic tools to hammer, bash and cajole the Reactor until the siren fell silent. "See? Just like Mayor Granger says, anything can be achieved if we work as a team!"
The trio clapped... and Ironclad felt her skin crawl beneath her armour.
The Reactor wasn't the only thing that had been reduced in size and prominence. Sunburst visited the new offices of the Hero Times... the single-storey, two-desk, far edge of the city offices of the Hero Times. Her mother, Lois Lane, looked tired and stressed. "We've been hemorrhaging readers for months," she explained. "Mayor Granger decided he'd start addressing the people directly once a day, through the free wi-fi service, promising 'all the local news you need to know'. People don't pay for the paper, or a website, when they think they can get the news for free."
"Think?" Sunburst cocked an eyebrow.
"I know that look," Lois nodded wearily, "and I feel the same way. Anyone trying to give the news away for free is hiding something... or at least censoring it heavily." She sighed and waved at her cluttered desk. "I'd love to investigate but I can't - I've too many responsibilities here. I've not had time to write a blasted thing since Jonah... well, you know."
Jameson was on the roof, recording a typically apoplectic video editorial. "I may have chosen to step away from the editor's desk and focus on being the publisher," he barked, "but that doesn't make me any less of a journalist! And I want to know when the people of this so-called 'Super City' are going to wake up to what's going on! Open your eyes, people - clean streets, free green transport and all this blasted clapping are just distractions! You can't be this foolish, can you?"
"The scariest thing about all this," Sunburst grimaced, "is that, for the first time in my life, I think Jameson's making sense."
"You would dare speak to me thus, mortal man?"
Lightning sizzled from Torunn's fists. The princess of the Aesir was fast approaching the limit of her patience. She and Ironclad had been walking down the street when a heavy police van - powered, through an antennae on its roof, by the Arc Reactor - had rolled up. Its driver wanted to fine them for stepping off the sidewalk and into traffic. "You could have caused an accident," he had tutted, waggling his finger. Torunn's fury had altered his tone. "Take it easy, now," he pleaded, clapping and smiling nervously. "No need for a #0001, is there?"
"Come on, Torunn," Ironclad said, grabbing her friend by the wrist. "Let's... sigh... get on the footpath."
Suddenly, fan fare echoed through the city. The young heroes were surrounded, almost instantly, by the entire population. They filled the sidewalks and spilled out into the streets (which, apparently, wasn't a problem when the music played), directing their rapt attention toward the city's north-eastern corner.
For the first time, the heroes paid attention to the gleaming, ultra-modern building on the nice edge of town. Ironclad bristled; it seemed to have been reconstituted from her father's former office! Liquid-crystal windows rose skyward to reveal Kirby Granger, Mayor of Super City. Thunderous applause welcomed him, increasing in volume when the Dark Knight himself, Batman, emerged from the shadows alongside the office. People clapped, cheered and whistled. The heroes were shocked - Batman had become a public figure? Willingly?
Granger spoke first, offering his congratulations to the people on "almost 183 days without an incident of violence". He praised their compassion, their teamwork and their generosity, imploring them to keep their spirits high and their neighbours' welfare "paramount in thought and deed". Batman joined the chorus, thanking the police for keeping order and justice in the streets. That had, he said, allowed him to work dilligently at keeping "the terrors at bay" - which, the heroes reasoned, meant the super villains.
The applause started up again. "That's it," Quickdraw hissed. "I can't take any more of this nonsense!"
"I like it," Selena smiled dreamily. "It's much nicer than the other places I've been since I left home."
"But it's not right, Selena," Shield Maiden said gently. "It's... fake. Plastic."
"Artificial," Ironclad said resolutely.
"We need to talk to Granger," Sunburst said. "Not now, with everyone around, but later. Find out how things got so... weird. He said he was going to create a positive and fair future for everyone. Kicking super heroes out of the city? Down-sizing the Arc Reactor? Making everyone, well, dependent on him, Batman and the police? Like Peggy said, Selena, it's not right."
But Selena would not be swayed; she wanted to stay and explore. Torunn agreed to stay with her while the others returned to Hero Headquarters to figure out their next move.
Unbeknownst to everyone, one of the city’s most disreputable ne’er-do-wells was on the move. Two-Face had paid close attention, over the past six months, to the ebb and flow of life in Super City. Having consulted his scarred coin, he’d decided this was the day to strike. He and his gang drove a nondescript-looking van up to the bank and, while all attention was on Mayor Granger and Batman, unpacked and constructed a large laser cannon. With a glint in his eye, Two-Face used the high-powered device to melt through the walls of the safe and stage an old-fashioned bank robbery.
Unfortunately for Tow-Face, Torunn had grown bored with the speeches. She turned away from Batman’s lecturing… and saw what was going on. Grabbing Selena by the arm, the young hero rushed into battle.
Two-Face and his cronies were ready. The laser cannon was also equipped with a powerful missile that zeroed in on the two young women. Selena weaved a magical shield, protecting them from the detonation, and then willed the shield to extend glowing energy “grabbers” that snaked out toward the criminals. The strain of maintaining both constructs was evident, and soon had an effect - to Torunn’s horror, her friend started fading in and out!
“You’re losing concentration on yourself,” she shouted, wary of her best friend’s greatest weakness. “This battle must end - and I shall be the one to end it!”
The criminals had the laser cannon, all manner of firearms and the advantage of numbers - and none of that could compare to the wrath of an Asgardian. Torunn slammed into the group with a thunderous boom, scattering them in all directions. Selena refocused her energies on Two-Face’s coin, causing it to levitate and spin perpetually. Unable to make a decision without his trinket, the master criminal was struck mute. Stripped of leadership, the goons quickly fell.
“Victory,” Torunn cheered.
“And it looks like the police are coming to celebrate with us,” Selena beamed, gesturing toward the line of police cars that approached, sirens wailing and lights flashing.
“Remember now,” Torunn told her friend, “a true hero accepts the praise of mortals with humility, grace, poise and…”
The police cars - each equipped with an antennae that drew power directly from the Arc Reactor, just like the public transport - pulled up and officers spilled from them, each aiming his or her weapon at Torunn and Selena. “Freeze,” one commanded through a megaphone. “You are under arrest for violation of city ordnance #0001! Put down your weapons and put your hands up!”
As before, Torunn’s eyes flashed dangerously. She was in no mood to suffer the fools around her. Selena, still naïve to the outside world, grew fearful; her distress heightened Torunn’s fury. Things would have been very bad had Batman not arrived on the scene at that point. Thanks to the presence of the Dark Knight, the situation didn’t get bad… it turned truly awful
“I understand you’ve been away for some time, and I have nothing but respect for each of your fathers,” he growled, “which is why I’m going to let your foolish, reckless, irresponsible behaviour slide just this once.”
“Foolish and irresponsible?” Torunn snarled.
Batman glared at her. "Ignorance is no excuse for law-breaking," he said coolly.
Torunn moved to reply - in a most forceful manner - but Commissioner Gordon and Selena intervened. "I think the best thing for everyone," Gordon said meaningfully, "would be Torunn and Ms Strange returning to Hero Headquarters, while Batman and I resume our work. All right?" Still glowering, Batman and Torunn stalked away from one another. Gordon sighed heavily. "I know I should be grateful Mayor Granger places so much faith in my officers and I," he told Selena, "but I can't help but wonder if things weren't better the way they were."
Off to the side, two officers were clapping as a third handcuffed Two-Face. Gordon's face wrinkled with distaste.
Several hours later, the young heroes returned to Super City. Trying to fit in with the new regime, they'd made preparations. For one, they'd called ahead to make an appointment with Mayor Granger. For another, they'd left their weapons behind. "It's not that we think it's right," Maria told Selena, "but sometimes you've got to go along to get along. And clearly, the only way we'll be able to speak to Mayor Granger without someone yelling '#0001!' is if we go in all casual-like."
The Mayor's robotic chief-of-staff bustled them inside, prissily reminding them not to take up too much of its boss' time. "He's a very busy man, and why he's agreed to see you today I'll never know," it said witheringly. "Having super heroes in Super City feels... well, it feels indecent, somehow. And very, very wrong!"
"Ah, go clap or something," Peggy snapped. "Oh wait - you have no arms," she smiled unpleasantly. "How sad for you."
Mayor Granger was, to the young heroes' surprise and relief, his usual gracious self. "I'm so glad you're all back," he said, shaking their hands warmly, "and so sorry for all the confusion. I imagine it must be quite a culture shock for five of you - and the biggest shock of all for Miss Strange!" He tucked his thumbs in his belt and rocked on his heels. "But then again, I'd be lying if I didn't admit how happy it makes me that Miss Strange's first experience of the outside world is this perfect little city of ours!"
He led them on a walking tour of the city, pointing out all the improvements (the "smaller, more efficient" Arc Reactor, the public transport, the "happier populace", the "expanded greenery areas") while stopping to greet his constituents. Even former mayoral election opponents were happy to see him, applauding as he walked toward them and clapping as he left.
"Okay, what's with the clapping?" Iris asked, exasperated.
"Positive affirmation for everyday things," Mayor Granger smiled. "It reminds people that everyone is super, and everyone is a hero. It's not about powers, abilities and battles but doing the right thing by your community and your neighbour. Following the rules. Considering the needs of others. Listening to the Mayor and the police. Showing support for everyone, in everything they do."
Selena nodded happily and started clapping. Maria, Iris, Peggy, Lara and Torunn exchanged looks of concern.
A wailing sound cut through the air. It was an old-school air raid siren, the type the young heroes had only heard in movies. Citizens quickly bustled around and past them, filing quickly - but in an orderly fashion - toward the corners of the city.
"Nothing to worry about, ladies," Mayor Granger smiled. "This is just one of our regular lockdown drills."
Lara arched an eyebrow. "Lockdown?"
Batman swooped down and landed beside them. "An emergency protocol in case of incidents like Unicron or Ultron," he said, nodding to the young heroes... and glaring slightly at Torunn. "We run drills once a week to ensure preparedness. Every citizen is assigned a lockdown shelter and knows to move toward it when the siren sounds. Speaking of which..." He looked at Mayor Granger.
"Ah, yes, time to go back to my office," he chuckled amiably. "Batman worries, you see, and it's his job to escort me to my lockdown shelter. Now: you ladies don't have shelter assignments so, just until the drill's over, you can come back with me and we'll keep talking."
"Thanks, Mr Mayor, we'd like that," Maria said as they made their way to his office. "We have some concerns about the way things have... changed... around the city. I mean, we weren't gone that long, but some of these new ideas and cultures are really outside the square, you know?"
Mayor Granger opened the door to his office and beckoned them toward four comfy-looking chairs. "Um, no," he said pleasantly, "I can't say I do." He perched on the edge of his desk; Batman stood at the door like a bodyguard. "Maybe if you could explain a little more?"
Before Maria could continue, a powerful electric shock coursed through her body. She shrieked; manacles slid out from the chair's arm and foot-rests to bind her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see similar fates had befallen her friends - kryptonite for Lara, some sort of deceleration blast for Iris - so that they, too, were trapped. Batman could not help them, for a large glass pod had descended over him. It was filled with some sort of gas - paralysis gas, Maria reasoned, given the Dark Knight seemed frozen in place.
Mayor Granger was unaffected. He was also smiling as if the situation were the most normal in the world. "Finally," he said, the relief audible in his voice. "I was afraid I'd have to continue this charade indefinitely. Now, at last, things can progress."
"I don't understand," Selena, who had been ensnared within some kind of magical net, said.
She didn't, but the other young heroes did. "He's a villain, Selena," Maria growled. "He's been a villain the whole time, way before the election, and he's played on the fears of the city in order to get power. And now he's getting us out of the way before he takes on the real heroes." She rolled her eyes. "Bog-standard villain plan. It's kinda what we were worried about."
Granger applauded. "Very good - and very, very close to being right," he laughed. "Though I'd not use such a label myself, yes, I fall into your definition of 'villain'. And you were all laughably easy to pull into my plan, hero and ordinary citizen alike. All so scarred by the Ultra-Revolution, all so desperate to feel safe and secure again. All so angry with the Captain and his three friends - the men who would have led you away from this, if you'd stopped to listen.
"But you're wrong in one pivotal manner. I don't need you six out of the way to enact my plan - I can't enact my plan so long as you six are alive! Four of you took down Ultron-X, the single greatest threat to ever walk the face of this planet! Your disappearance, six months ago, was a blessing because it gave me time to progress matters this far. But success, ah, that would only come after you had been removed from the board. Permanently. And so," he gestured with a sweep of his arm, chuckling cruelly, "here we are."
Peggy fought against her bonds with renewed fervour. Granger's manner, his choice of words, had awakened her to the true danger he posed. "I don't know how it's possible," she yelled, "because it shouldn't be possible. But it is. It has to be. No one else talks that way, thinks that way. No one else uses people's weaknesses against them like that - convinces ordinary people to give up their freedoms in exchange for 'security' that's really subservience!" She scowled. "And no one else calls my dad 'the Captain'."
"Well done, fraulein," Mayor Kirby Granger, aka the Red Skull, sneered. "It's is only appropriate you know your executioner before you die."
-----TO BE CONCLUDED!-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF