The Uplift Protocol: Issue 11

Issue 11: Star Struck

Stop the Presses!

Today Congress instituted the Supergene Categorization Act. The goal is the documentation and realization of a new breed of human, one that the government hopes to guide to a better tomorrow.–Dr. August Markston (Director of Metahuman Affairs.) August 21st, 2088

A New Face! A new Star burns Bright! Who is this new and true protector of the city? Faster than an Anti-Grav train, can leap our tallest buildings in a single bound, the "Star-Spangled Banner", fighting for Truth, Justice, and the American Dream! - Dean Townsend (North Ashbury's Excellence in Broadcasting!)

THE CABAL STRIKES! Residents are advised to shelter in place. Downtown Ashbury is not safe! I repeat: ALL RESIDENTS! Please stay away. The Mavericks are on the scene!-Emergency News Update

New Ashbury, Northern Grav Sub Station

USA (Texas)

August 1st, 2090

Lorain often tells me that her first impression of my caped identity was one of wonder. I had hoped she would forgive Eddie for being the first friend that knew. After some choice words that would win her a spot with the Jar, she forgave us both readily enough. In her case, she got to name me. She liked the Truth, Justice, and American Dream motif. I know there’s more to it. But we were so young then. 16 with the whole world ahead of us. Eddie still shows that holopic to everyone who will listen. Even after all these years. Like everything else in my life, that didn’t stay secret forever. Eddie and Lorain, we were quite the trio. We all discovered hidden aspects of ourselves that day. - Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22^nd century.

            Lorain Lanis wasn’t having a very good day. The young raven-haired woman just rolled her green eyes as Eddie, Jonas Olsten to his family, led her down the subway express tunnel. The various grav trains coming and going with expert speed. A rather tall and familiar sight turned the corner. Wearing that black flight jacket with the rocket ship on the back. Along with a t-shirt imprinted with Old Glory on it. Same scuffed boots and jeans as always. She waved at them both, an easy-going grin on her face, then yelled, “HEY! So what's the hurry, Eddie?”

She picked them both up in a bear hug. Eliza Murphy, affectionately called Cornfed, was already pretty towering for her age. Her brown hair was haphazard at the best of days. Lorain often called it bed head syndrome. Doc, as Lorain was known in this trio, punched her friend on the shoulder, “What do they give you at home? An entire herd of cattle?” Eliza stuck her tongue out. “If only! Ma says I take more after her dad.”

            Lanis merely quirked an eyebrow, “Really? How tall is he then?” Murphy thought for a moment, “You know, I never did ask. Mom doesn’t talk about her family too much.” Lorain saw a look of unease flicker within Eliza, then she just shrugged, stating, “I don’t push things. It's not that mom doesn’t want to say….It’s more complicated than that. I know dad works with my uncle.” She blushed suddenly and put them both down. “Sorry! Didn’t mean to hold on that long.” There was that grin again. “So if dad is cool with mom’s family, we all must be doing something right this time around.”

Lorain winced as the offhanded remark caused Eddie to frown.

“Come on Eliza!” He poked the taller woman in the ribs. “No need to bring that lady into the equation. Besides, that’s not why I called you guys here. I found something pretty interesting in one of the access tunnels.” His trademark Holocam was floating beside him. He grasped it and placed their coms within its slot.

“Here! Take a look at these pictures.”

Eliza and Lorain stared. 

From the corner of her sight, Eliza spotted Mr. Apple. He was holding his hat in his hands. Tapping his foot. Then suddenly he looked up. Held her in place.

Com a friend. Listen to the world around you.

Murphy held her coms-link before her. Then placed it back behind her right ear. It relinked with her cortex and started feeding the images directly. The pictures were slightly blurred. Almost like something was interfering with the cam’s power source. “That is some strange writing there.” She checked the local database on various gang symbols. Even roping her god-father, Paxton into it, via messages. 

//EM: Any idea what this is?//

//AP: No clue, it's not hitting any local or international databases. What’s Eddie getting you all into this time huh?//

//EM: The usual, conspiracies! I'll send you our coordinates, in case he gets us lost again. //

//AP: I'll forward this to your father. Who knows, maybe its just a prank but it doesn’t hurt to bug him ever so often. Still on for dinner this Sunday?//

 

//EM: YUP! Gran-gran is bringing a Turkey this time. Plus one of her co-workers is making a cake. //

//AP: Nice! Keep those two out of trouble ok?//

//EM: Always!//

The whole conversation took place over mere moments. INet was a very useful system. Not only was it the Internet, but it also had all sorts of VR and practical apps as well. Dad’s tech people had enhanced Eliza’s unit. It would take a whole lot of time and effort to break into any of her media files. Most of INet was fairly state of the art. Unless you knew what to look for, even most hackers had one hell of a field day getting in. It made sense because it was based on HeroNet tech. The premiere hub of all things Demi. She already had multiple teams favorited in her folders. 

One day, she thought, I’ll be part of the Mavericks.

*****

Thomas and Jennifer examined the messages Paxton linked to them. His wife placed a few very well-intentioned curse funds into the Jar. Even if they were in Typherian it still counted. At this rate, that glass receptacle would have enough currency to buy a space shuttle.

 Eliza and the other two of the Trio of Trouble. Finding more then they should.

It was Lorain’s mother, Mary, who came up with the name. “I’m sorry Jen”, she would often say, “My family is known for finding the truth in the most unusual of ways. How do you think I ended up with your husband on Project Osiris?”

General Murphy made sure to examine the holopics repeatedly. Saying to his wife, “How in the hell does Eddie find these things? Put him in a green suit to go with that red hair and you’d have a disaster rainbow at the end for him.” For her part, Jennifer just facepalmed and rubbed her temples. “Horus, please page my brother. Somehow Eddie, of all people on this pale blue dot, found an old Keeper entry hub.” The FRAM made multiple sounds of distress then teleported away, directly to the Typherian Embassy, hoping that the young trio would not find the other end of those symbols.

*****

While Lorain was berating Eddie for this wild goose chase, Eliza decided to phone home because something told her that would be a very good idea. Plus Mr. Apple was giving her a double thumbs up.

Mom picked up before the first ring ended, “Eliza Elizabeth Murphy.”

She winced. Oh no. Full Name. I am dead.

“Yes, momma?”

“You will throw both of them over your shoulders if you have to. Bring them out of that sub-system this instant. Your father says that we are in for a thumping.”

Eliza blanched at this.

That word: Thumping was dad’s code for extreme danger.

She sputtered, “O-ok! Yes Ma’am!” The relief in Jennifer’s voice was very pronounced.

“Good girl, come back to the Barn.”

Eliza didn’t give her friends much of a warning, she just scooped them both up and started booking it in the opposite direction. She could feel the floor beneath her rumbling with each step. An ear-splitting screech of metal filled the area. Eliza saw the roofing begin to warp. Almost in slow motion. Without much thought she placed Lorain and Eddie under herself, shielding them as the entire section caved in, the emergency klaxons started to wail throughout the city.

*****

His wife screamed as the coms cut off, “ELIZA!”

Thomas saw the alerts play across his military band. “All divisions, report, begin evac of civilian sectors, this is not a drill. This is not a drill, DEFCON: Demi-Echo!”

Jennifer was crying. Her words were hoarse, “THEY ARE STILL IN THERE!”

They both watched in mounting horror as the news vids were transfixed on the battle happening above the skyline of New Ashbury. The Cabal vs the Mavericks. J’dax was already at the front door. He opened it and motioned for them both. “We have a ping on their last location.”

*****

                Eddie opened bloodshot baby blue eyes to an utter disaster. Yet he was still alive. Eliza was standing over them both. Her shoulders plastered against the rubble. Using her own body to shield them in a sea of chaos. Lorain had her hands on his chest, a soft golden light encased him, her eyes were wide and unblinking. He could feel his bones popping back into place. But there was no pain. Only an odd sensation of weightlessness. Then she started breathing rapidly, as if she was running, muttering, “We should be dead. You were nothing but….”

            Eliza’s grey eyes were gone, in their place was glowing a bright white color. She whistled sharply. That always worked on her when she was locked in some sort of trance. Her mother and father did that fairly often. Thus their nickname of Space Cadet remained lovingly permanent. Lorain looked up in shock. “Cornfed, what is happening?”

            She replied, “We’re demis. I know I should have said something sooner to you but…” Lorain put her finger on Murphy’s lips.

“Don’t even start Cornfed, let's get out of this mess first.”

After a few seconds, Lanis suddenly piped up with an indignant, “Wait, Eddie knew?! ”

He chuckled weakly, “Surprise? Besides my power isn’t that impressive. I can spot hidden things. It might help with my future as a Terran Alliance reporter!” Eliza just gave both of them a wink. “Well, I don’t think that power is useless. Plus Doc is even more Doctor class now.” Her smile became even more pronounced as she gazed down at Lorain.

Mr. Apple indicated a hearty agreement with a tip of his hat.

A good crew. A good ship.

Murphy’s statement was so sincere that Eddie found himself grinning up at both women. A sudden light sparkled in his eyes, “HEY! We can be the Golden Trio or something. A real demi team!” Eliza shot Mr. Apple a questioning glance. He merely smiled politely and pointed his walking cane southward of their position. Then he flexed his arms. Mimicking a strongman of old. She got the hint.

“Let's head that way. My multi-tool special sight tells me a way out is over yonder. Plus if anyone else is in here, we will render assistance. Its what the Golden Bulleteer would do!” She pulled Eddie and Lorain to their feet. Lanis put a hand on Eliza’s shoulder to steady herself. A feeling of disorientation came over the shorter woman.

*****

I pulled Lorain in close, letting her lean on me, with the sudden rush of power it looked like she would need some time to adjust. She just gave me another probing look. Her aura was a  jumble of emotions. Foremost was a very dark green color. Sometimes it could indicate confusion or worry. I gave her my best Golden Bulleteer impression. “Never fear good citizens! The Legion is here to help!” That coaxed a smile out of her.

            Eddie commanded his Hovercam’s floodlight to kick in. It illuminated the wreckage in front of us. I tapped into my coms array. It sent back a flurry of messages, mainly Emergency Alerts, along with Legion of Tomorrow status updates.

            Everyone else was getting the same thing.

            “Holy smokes, the Mavericks are fighting right above our heads!” Eddie sounded concerned but his tone held a note of nervous excitement.

            I attempted to dial into mom or dad’s com channel. There was a burst of static. Then:

            “Eliza….whe….on….way.”

            I messaged out: +++/ok

            My parents and I developed a communication system to let each other know we were ok. Especially since my demi powers started showing up. It was little things at first. Then came the flying, super speed, strength, the whole shebang as pop-pop put it. + meant no injury. I added in the /ok just in case the rest hadn’t gotten through. I prayed that it did. I could just picture their faces.  Mr. Apple teleported next to me, taking his walking cane and giving me a gentle thump on the head. He gripped it in his left hand then made a swinging motion. My eyes followed it. Heat signatures flared. I stopped the other two with, “Survivors!” I pointed upward.

            Lorain heaved a sigh of relief, “Looks like those emergency shields in the Grav Train saved the day.”

            I gritted my teeth and started digging upwards. Pausing ever so often to make sure I wouldn’t bring the rest of the wreckage down on our heads. Lorain and Eddie followed in my wake, picking gingerly across the makeshift entryway until I felt the dull thunk of metal rap against my knuckles. From the other end of the Grav Train hull, I could hear people talking in shocked whispers. Someone even said, “Oh my god, the city shields even activated! That only happens when the military fears the worst….”

            “Any casualty counts yet?”

            “Yea, some people are trapped like us. But so far, the only fatalities have been…”

            “…mama…are they gonna save…”

            I relayed this to the others. Lorain frowned. “If that’s the case, that means other demi teams will be in summoned. Maybe even the 7 Wonders.” She pursed her lips for a moment. Then she took her blouse off. The yellow t-shirt under it said “TA MED CORP: PATCHING PEOPLE UP SINCE 2065!” She gave us both a questioning glance. “What?” Eddie and I just grinned like idiots for a moment. She followed our eyes and gave us both the finger.

“Haha! Even before I became Doctor Heals with Hands, I was going to apply for OCS. I swear you two are such idiots.” The emotional aura said another thing altogether. It was shot through with the warm colors of gold and pink when she looked at Eddie. Gold, as it turns out, indicated a feeling of pride or respect. Pink was affection. When she turned to look at me, her aura dipped a bit. Adding another color that shocked me, orange. A sensation I had never felt before. I guess there was more to discover about my powers. Even my empathy readings could be crisscrossed in a situation like this. Still, orange. No clue what that meant as of yet. I even decided to take a peek at my aura.

Oh boy. Now is not the time Murphy. What would the Bulleteer do?

Mr. Apple bopped me on the shoulder with his walking cane.

The Train. All other things will come with time.

I cleared my woolgathering thoughts and took the blouse from Lorain. “Ok, since I have to open this thing up like a can of Mighty Feast, might as well make some in the field dynamo masks. That white blouse will work. We are paragons after all.”

They both grinned at that. It was time to evac the people.

*****

Thomas and his scouts flew along the axis of the city’s metro tunnels. The newest battlesuits on the Earth market. His wife and brother in law were cloaked to look like common T.A troopers. The beacon flashed ahead. J’ino called out over the link: “About 2 miles ahead.” Thomas and the rest kicked it into high gear. When they came upon the cave-in, a rather astonishing sight greeted them. Their daughter and her friends were leading civilians out of the rubble. Eliza, in particular, looked rather dusted up but at the same time, those glowing eyes burned with hidden energy. Thomas called out, “Alright! Form up. Civilians, follow the corporal!” He motioned toward the rest of his escort. They led everyone away. Some even called back to his daughter, “Thank you Star! Can't wait until they add you to HeroNet!”

Star? He saw Lorain blush slightly.

His wife sent a message: Does she look taller somehow?

*****

I gave some of the civilians' handshakes and a small pat on the back. I could feel dad’s confusion from here. Lorain had on my flight jacket. To keep her TA shirt hidden. So all they could see was me in my jeans and the American flag. I gave dad a big grin. Then saluted,

“Yup! Doctor Impossible here,”- I jerked a thumb at Lorain,-“ gave me the name. The Star-Spangled Banner.”

                Eddie grinned, “And I am The Puzzler! What hides in the depths of the Earth! The Puzzler will know!”

I walked over to them and gave them a pose reminiscent of the Golden Bulleteer. Hands-on hips, beaming confidently, “How can I help the good people of New Ashbury today?”

One of the troopers was highly relieved. She felt oddly familiar. Mr. Apple appeared at my elbow. Waved his walking cane about once more.  Look to the Sky. They need help. I used my sight, it tunneled through everything. Onwards and upwards. Then I saw them. The Mavericks. Facing against dinosaurs! All about the shielding of the city's outer shell. I gave my father a very serious look, “The Mavericks need assistance.” I didn’t waste more time, I crouched down, finding the weakest point in the subsystem roofing, making sure to angle my trajectory. Then I was airborne.

The ginormous dinosaur was charging White Lily, her stance indicated an injury. Her left rib was fractured. My eyes narrowed. I bellowed out a battle cry as I shimmered through the shield. How did HeroNet even….no time. I felt my fists connect with the creature in a thunder of sound. I sent it sprawling 50 or more feet across the energized surface. It bellowed in pain and charged at me instead. Its talons going for my throat.

 

 

*****

Thomas and the others gathered up Eddie and Lorain. Making a mad flight to the mouth of the tunnel. Once outside a cavalcade of beams and lights reflected off the shields. Eddie pipped up, “Don’t worry, here! I put an extension on her to get the holo-feed!” J’ino gaped in horror as she saw the various fangs and talons trying to claw at her daughter. Then a torrent of vines wrapped the beast up. White Lily proclaimed, “Star, mind hurling that thing into orbit?!”

“Yes ma’am, special delivery! Sub-orbital first class!”

They saw Star grasp the creature, which looked eerily similar to a T-rex, except that the scales were black, gold, and green. Then with a mighty uppercut, complete with a tremendous crack, she sent the beast heavenward. Tidalwave shouted, “Well I'll be, home run! Now finish it!”

Eddie tapped his coms, “Hey Star, if that’s an actual dino, maybe deep freeze it. Can you survive the vacuum?” They saw her give the Maverkics a salute. “Onward and upwards! Let’s give you a new ice age Mr. Scaly!”

*****

                With each hit, I sent the beast even further into the void. Soon the blue skies of Earth gave way to the obsidian void. My coms flared, HeroNet was going wild. As fast as the updates kept coming I filtered them to the background after a few dozen. The dino above me started to freeze over with the effects of cosmic exposure.

//Who the heck is that? She’s just a kid.//

//She saved us, along with some other new demis, part of the sub…//

//The Mavericks cleaned the Cabal’s clock…//

//Did she just send a dinosaur to space??//

//T.A. Protocol: Classification: Prime Demi Status confirmed….New Entry Compiled: Star-Spangled Banner. Please report to Union Hall for…. //

            One of the 7 Wonders flew in next to me. Adam Lazer. The highest tech demi that was known to man. Some even theorized he was an android. His white and blue battlesuit was impeccable. He started scanning the dinosaur but then it started to disintegrate. Great shards of crimson glass exploded outward. We scrambled to clear it all before it reached the various hab satellites and other things in orbit. I aimed my hands, firing great swaths of energy beams at the debris. He was doing the same, except his beams came from his visor. After a few moments, nothing was left of the creature. I felt a pull at my consciousness. Mr. Apple was right below me.

            Look for the darkness. Toss it back to that which must not be found.

            I flew back towards New Ashbury. My heart thudding in my chest. New alerts were pouring in.

*****

New Ashbury, Northern Hights District Shielding Barricade

USA (Texas)

August 1^st, 2090

               

Golden Bulleteer glared at Madame Mayhem. The golden and silver masked madwoman was laughing at all of them. Thomas and his team were arrayed behind the Mavericks. “Now now…surely the Earth’s mightiest demi team can find my little old presents. You have another 5 minutes.”

She gave a peel of tittering that set his teeth on edge. Beside him, the others were trying their best to locate the bombs. Moonlighter in particular. But they were coming up with nothing. After another moment, he phased back in. Pitching his voice so only Thomas and Bullet could pick up on. “No luck.” The new demi, called the Puzzler, tapped General Murphy’s faceplate. Sent a message to his coms:

//Mr. General sir, I think I know where some of those bombs are. They aren’t in the city structure though, they are above us. Cloaked all funny like. Sending Star the Coordinates. She’s pretty fast!//

Eddie saw the general’s silhouette within the helm nod.

//The Puzzler: Star, I got an idea!//

As the minutes ticked onward, Star could see the bursts of darkness emanating from the bombs, they had the same strange symbols as those in the pictures. Time to return to sender then, she thought. With a great whoosh, she dived back and forth, gathering up the bombs. They were tiny enough to fit in the palm of her hands. Holding them made her feel nauseous though. So she went about it as fast as possible. Eddie was updating the countdown in real-time. She had a gut feeling that these things were on a faster clock then what that Madam of Mayhem was giving. When she got to the coordinates Eddie sent, that feeling of wrong became needles behind her eyes. Her nose started to bleed. Mr. Apple put a hand on her chest.

Swing away. Homerun.

She threw the bombs at the warped section of the wall housing the symbols. They phased into it and the air cleared. She wiped her face with a piece of her shirt. No more deadly symbols could be seen. Either by her normal sight or within the multispectrum.

Good.

She sped away, like a bullet, racing back to the Golden Bulleteer.

*****

I could see the rest of the Cabal squaring off against the Mavericks once more. Luckily all the civilians had already been evac’d to Demi Crisis Shelters. The only heartbeats I could hear were my own, the demis, and the medics on standby. Dad’s battlesuit masked his heartbeat but knew he was there because of his emotional aura. Everyone was very unique in that aspect. Odd that dad’s team wasn’t registering but I imagine its cause they have better tech. The Terran Alliance brain trust was getting pretty good then. Those battlesuits were a way to equalize some of the playing fields where demis were concerned.

The madwoman with the mask clicked some sort of device then looked at it with some confusion, hitting it rapidly. I decided to give her a bit of a shock myself. I set down right behind her. Tapped her on the shoulder, “Excuse me, ma’am, it's awfully rude to give someone presents of that sort.” She turned and glared at me.

“Ah, the broken bird.” I just smiled calmly at her attempt at insults. The physical pain I felt growing up until my demi aspects kicked in made me feel grateful I could move at all. Let alone fly. “This Banner doesn’t recognize your postage, have a nice flight!” Her eyes grew wide as her teammates disappeared in a flash of sickly green. She screeched in my face, “YOU WILL LOVE UNITY AND OBEY!”

Blink.

Then she was gone as well.

I turned to see everyone else just staring at me.

“Two birds with one stone as they say.”

I winked at Puzzler. “Good work! Guess we are a team now.” Then I walked over to Golden Bulleteer, “So what happens now?”

*****

Horus swerved around J’ino and the others with excitement. His form going unnoticed by the Earthers. Barring General Murphy.

<<The Young One has finally unveiled herself. Quite the show. Forger High Council was especially pleased. Loss of life negated by quick actions of Star and the Puzzler. Readings indicate Doctor Impossible a vast source of healing properties not know to the Uplifted community. She too contributed. Scans indicated that she healed White Lily within 2.3 seconds. Along with many civilians on the grav-train.>>

J’ino responded along the same channel, making sure to keep an eye on her daughter and friends as they chatted away with her husband and the Mavericks, still seething at the insult that Madam Mayhem threw about.  Already the various earth news sources were alight with all sorts of activity.

My daughter is not broken, she thought fiercely.

<<That portal that Eddie found has been erased. Now I know what she did. Clever. Good sense of teamwork. Still, maybe that enhanced vision also gave her some idea of where that keeper tech was. For now, lets just put it all on Puzzler. His ability has already been registered to the classified side of HeroNet and Inet. Our agents in the TA are already prepping him to have that job he wants. He must remain under observation.>>

J’dax gave his sister a mental nudge. Bringing her back to the situation at hand. The Puzzler was looking at them very very closely. He grabbed Eliza and trotted over. “Hey, I was wondering, what kinda suits are those? My nose is all twitchy around them.” Eliza gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “Puzzler, do you want that other job? Then don’t ask top-level TA people how their tech works huh? We don’t have clearance anyways!” She slapped her leg,

“Besides, remember that one episode of Captain Cosmos and the Green Women? Some mysteries should sleep for a while. Besides! We helped save the day. Let's drink to that. Well, maybe some Dr. Fireball anyway. Mom would kill me in many various ways if I snuck in the type of stuff some soldiers drink.”

J’ino felt her muscles relax. The tension melting away as Eliza steered Jonas back towards the group. She paused and turned back for a moment. “Besides, anyone who has the General’s back is on the up and up.” She gave both of them a wink, “Plus my momma always said to be polite, within reason.” With that, she zipped right back to her father. J’ino could hear all of it. Meeting Adam Lazer was especially exciting to Star. Still, she couldn’t help but have a slight smile on her face.

J’dax sent out: >>Never in my life have I been so thankful that your kid has a sense of leaving some things alone. I hate masking people’s memories too you know.<<

*****

Murphy Household

New Ashbury (Texas)

August 2nd, 2090

            I stared at them all. Trying to process everything. “Pop-pop! You and gran-gran are….” My whole immediate family: mom, dad, grandparents, and Snoopy were in the main living room. I floated up to the ceiling. Just hanging there, still in a state of shock. Some of the plants grew rapidly, the vines guiding me along until I was floating right in front of grandma. Well above her at any rate. Snoopy’s ears perked up and he gave a few happy barks. Prancing in circles around everyone. The flood of words started. At very rapid speeds. For whatever reason, somehow mom seemed to understand, along with grandpa. Then again, mom was fluent in space cadet already so…..

            “Doesdadhavesuperpowersohandifsowhatone…” This went on for a good solid minute. Even my mother’s gaze wavered at one point, her eyebrow arched, then she leaned against dad for a moment. They both smiled at one another.

            Some vines wrap around my head. Gently but it makes me pause for just a moment. Gran-gran has a somewhat serious look on her face but it's ruined by the humor shining in her eyes. The Golden Bulleeter was wheezing. Hand over his gut. After he whipped the tears from his face, he added, “Well as far as we can tell, no: Your father doesn’t have any demi ability. Guess its time we get her registered though. Already got notifications from Union Hall to educate the Banner on the finer points of  Demi work.” 

Mother gave me a very probing stare.

            “As for the after-action report, based on mom’s glare level: I threw those bombs back to the bad guys. Return to sender. It wasn’t native to earth either. Plus Eddie does have a very specific kind of demi ability….” I proceeded to give them a full report on what happened in the Grav-train system. After a while, dad spoke up:

            “Eliza Elizabeth Murphy, if you even spot anything like that tech you found in the field today, you come and tell me alright? It's my job to know about those sorts of things specifically. Got it?” The weight of his regard pulled me in. I nodded rapidly. “Understood!” He grasped my foot and pulled me to ground level, giving me the biggest bear hug I have ever gotten in my life. Everyone else joined in. Then grandma piped up with a near incredulous, “It only took you two punches to send that thing suborbital? Thomas! What have you been feeding my grandbaby?”

            Snoopy sneezed, then a voice emitted from his collar, energetic and kind, “Yay! We got authorization! I am Sub-Commander Points-to-the-Stars. Of Home System Bardax. We are here on a mission of interstellar peace. Plus food. It is delicious! I love many human spices. Waffles…”

            He rambled off 10 more dishes that met his 5-star recommendations.

            I blinked. Then let out a shout, “SPACE DOGS FROM PLANET 12! Just like Captain Cosmos!” I scooped Snoopy up. “What is best in life?” His whole body was quivering with excitement.

            “EARTH BACON!” He put his paw on my forehead. “I will be 2^nd bacon. I want to go on more starships too!” This tail was wagging at high speed. I shook his paw, “Welcome to Earth! Enjoy your stay.”

*****

Eliza was too enamored of this new space discovery to notice the glance of sadness mixed with joy on her mother’s face. I bet she’d say that to everyone she meets outside the Sol System. Thomas placed a hand on Jennifer’s hip. Drawing her in. “Have faith, besides the Director of NASA already wants her for the Jumpstart Program. She should fit in just fine.”

She gave her Husband a very concentrated mental image: That of a Umatosh Bird on a massive plate. The bird in question looked like a cross between an Earth Flamingo, A duck, with the beak of a parrot.

His eyes started to water from holding in his mirth. “You know your brother could import one….” She tickled Thomas on the ribs. Eliza came over to present the beagle. As if Snoopy was the best thing in the Universe since Captain Cosmos. “And this is mom and dad…” The Bardaxian sent a mental apology to J’ino. She just waved it off. Enjoying the simple wonder her daughter was currently displaying.

A knock at the door was promptly answered by Grandpa Murphy. Eddie and Doc had arrived. The next few hours were filled with various drawings and whatever kind of concepts they could think of for their new Demi identities. A giant thud from the mailing room brought everyone over. It was from Union Hall. Marked Special delivery.

“Who’s the demi called the Lady?”

Her father replied, “That’s above your pay grade, for now. Pop it open.”

Eliza unwrapped the package.

The contents made Eleanor Murphy squeal like a kid on Chrismas Day.

Lorain also had a satisfied look in her eyes. Oh yeah, this was the one. Red, White, and Blue all over. Perfect.

For Thomas Murphy, his favorite part was the fact that she had the American Flag for a cape. Along with some of the best reinforced multi-layered R&D strait from Area 51. He had to relay aurthorization codes to it. While the suit might seem like spandex, the vital areas, the chest, in particular, was made from an experimental alloy.

*****

Lorain gave it a critical check. “Its more American then apple pie. Plus the blue suit and boots offset the white star on the chest. Red gloves…cant go wrong with a red belt.” Grandma practically shoved me into the bathroom.

“I want pictures. Now.”

There would be no denying a grandma on a picture quest.

New Ashbury, Downtown Plaza, Tiller’s Banking Complex

USA (Texas)

August 9^th, 2090

“No funny business and everyone gets out alive. You! In the monkey suit,”-he indicated the well dressed quivering man near the tellers-“ start stuffing these bags. No slaking! Damned Legion Capes will be here any minute.”

The masked goon motioned with his right hand, his left kept the gun trained on the rest of the hostages. One, in particular, shot him a rather nasty look. She balked at other human beings being treated this way. She stepped forward, “Cowards!.” Her face was pure defiance. The goon just shrugged, “Fine!” He motioned for the others to take her as insurance. “You want to be so bold? Let’s go then precious. Gotta keep those Capes off us anyways.”

They headed for the roof of the building. Lorain used the team channel to open a channel:

//LL: Show Time. Got the NAPD online? //

//JEO: Oh yeah, they are heading our way.//

*****

Even from 12 blocks away I heard the alarm blaring. The threats. People crying. A woman yelling. A familiar sound. Bank Robbery. Now’s my chance. My whole body tingled with adrenaline. It took some effort but I got a good running start and leaped skyward. Time to crash that party. I bounded over multiple structures, doing my best to navigate this dermacrete jungle, landing on the building adjacent to the bank’s roof.

The thugs have their ill-gotten gains slung across their backs. One woman is struggling in the arms of the biggest ruffian. She’s yelling obscenities at them that would make even my grandpa blush. Lorain wanted to be the bait. I still didn’t like that but these guys had been causing issues over the last month. Being new demis, most wanted us to start off small, so here we are. My heart froze as the big brute said something to the effect of, “have a nice flight!” as he tossed her over the side of the building. Her anger turned to terror.

I don’t even stop to think. I sprang forward. I reached out and grabbed ahold of her. The wind is whipping my cape around like its caught in a hurricane. Her screams of horror stop mid-jump. Her eyes staring blankly into my face for a moment. Then she gave me a knowing wink. I smiled at her, “No worries ma’am! I have you!”

She grinned and replied, “If you have me, who has you?”

A part of me was frozen in amazement, Lorain Lanis, super-serious A class student, cracking jokes.

I glimpsed flashes from the corner of my eye as various Holocams captured the rescue. I can even hear Eddie, of all people, exclaiming “LOOK! Up in the sky!” Doc holds back laughter. Only I can hear her: “ Jeez Eddie, could you be even more corny? Then again…”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. I mainly think this is so she can become more comfortable.

The first thing out of her mouth is:

“So what kind of Star-Spangled Banner are you supposed to be? As graceful as an eagle too.” Her smile was infectious.

I felt myself reciprocating.  I can finally feel the pavement beneath my feet. She’s standing on the tips of my boots. Then a look of concern formed on her face. She leaned in and poked me on the chest, “Those ruffians! After them! They also had another hostage.” This hit me like a wave of cold water. I nodded resolutely. “Of course Ms. Lanis, I’ll set things straight!” With that, I put her down completely, backed away to a safe distance then bounded off. Kicking up some dust in the process.

//JEO: That was some excellent work putting the tracker on that one thug LL. Sending you the coordinates now.//

I used the small shops in front of me as a springboard, gained more momentum then ran up the side of the tallest skyscraper I could find. I could see the bright yellow and blue hover-copter in front of me. I could fly towards the target but I didn’t want to accidentally activate any low altitude safety shields. It would delay me and give them a bigger head start.

It began to bank to the left. A figure was clinging to one of the landing pikes. It almost looked like his hands melded to the machine itself. With a last burst of alacrity, I leaped onto the passenger-cargo latch, causing it to bank back to the right. I took the handle and sliding door off with one solid tug. The men inside went ballistic as the money bags slid out the impromptu exit I had made. For some odd reason, the money never hit the ground.

An eerie yellow light encased the duffels. Then I could hear a slight pop as they disappeared in a flash of mist. I had no time to ponder further because the other hostage, a well dressed middle-aged man with blonde hair, went careening into me as one of the masked thugs tossed him like a sack of dried potatoes. I caught him with my right hand, using my left like a jackhammer, to secure my handhold on the vehicle. The metal screeched and twisted.

It felt like punching paper.

“No worries citizen! The Star-Spangled Banner has you!” I beamed at him. He gave me a nervous chuckle in reply. I turned my attention to the remaining thugs. A shimmer registered across my peripheral vision.

All I could see was a distortion of gold and black. The rest of the thieves collapsed as the blur hits them. Ropes bound all of them like a chain gang. I hauled the accountant into the craft. Shooting him a thumbs up in the process.

I looked at the cockpit. The man of the hour himself. The Golden Bulleteer. One of the Legion’s best. The Protectors of Sol and Beyond. What I aspired to be one day. He waved at me. He indicated the harness next to his. The co-pilot seat. “Want to help me deliver these guys to Marksmen Penitentiary?”  The former hostage and I shared a moment to take a breather.  Mainly because he was quite relieved. Me? Because my grandfather was asking me to assist with an actual Legion drop off. I found myself stuttering a bit. “Y-yes, sir!” I braced to attention. He gave me a solid once-over. Then nodded to himself. “Ok, now take notice  young one, If you want to be Legion material, here’s how to go about it.”

The only thing that could make this day better would be to walk upon the Moon itself. All things considered: a rather successful debut.

As if he knew what I was thinking: “Considering what happened a few days ago, I think you guys will do just fine. Small steps. You’ll get there!” He ruffled my hair.

• Issue 10: Here
• Issue 12: Here