First Superhero 1: The Second Super (11 page)

“That I need more practice,” I said.

“Well then, that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

I turned my attention to the TV, which was showing the news. They were showing footage of a blue blur running in and out of the warehouse, carrying hostages to safety. I couldn't help but smile.

“Three of the hostage takers are in critical condition as the new Super stormed past police and SWAT, and took matters into his own hands. The White House released a statement just moments after the situation in Texas ended.”

The scene shifted to an image of the president standing behind a podium, most likely from deep within a bunker from an undisclosed location, safe from Richter. His tan skin looked weathered and his hair was turning gray. Most of his aging probably happened in just the time since Richter appeared.

“The situation in Texas is a tricky one. While we're all happy that there were no casualties and the hostages are safe, it could have gone very differently. I have full confidence that our law enforcement agencies would have done their jobs, and gotten everyone to safety, without the interference of the superhuman we're code naming Tempest, in lieu of an official statement from the superhuman himself.”

“Oooo, Tempest. I like it,” I said.

My dad nodded. “It sounds badass.”

Mom shot him a look for using language, but he ignored it.

The president continued. “We would like for Tempest to keep from interfering with any government agencies, and allow our trained, professional, and efficient law enforcement agencies to do the work they do best.

“And also, to Tempest, a warning. Should you use your powers in any way, you are effectively making yourself an enemy of the United States of America. We will not have another Richter on our hands. We are working on a solution to the Richter problem, one we hope to resolve shortly. We understand that you're trying to help and do good. But you don't have to be a superhuman to be a hero. So please, stay out of the way. I will authorize the same measures that will be exercised on Richter to be exercised on you, should the situation call for it.

“Thank you, and may God Bless the United States of America.”

The screen returned to the news anchor, and she began to comment more about the president’s statement. I tuned it out, though, as I was processing what I'd just heard.

I was the only person on Earth who'd ever actually
hurt
Richter, and now they were telling me to back off. It's not like anything they'd done helped the situation any! All they'd managed to do was shoot missiles at him that amounted to little more than expensive fireworks, and get many soldiers killed at the beginning of the chaos, before they knew what they were dealing with. Not that they know now, apparently, since I was the only one who'd actually gotten anything done.

But now they were telling me that they would hunt me down if I used my powers again. Which, yeah, I get it; they're scared. Richter didn't exactly set a great example for superhumans. But I was trying to help. Trying to stop him, and save everybody. Trying to do exactly what the government couldn't, yet they were painting me as an enemy. Like I was Richter 2.0 or something.

“We'll figure something out,” Mom said, shaking me from my thoughts.

I looked into her eyes, and for some reason, everything just seemed to melt away. Mom looked at me with her big eyes, filled with pride. I guess even though she was terrified for me, she still understood why I had to do what I had to do. And she was proud of me for it, and hated to see I was being punished for doing the right thing.

“Yeah,” I said nodded my head. “We will.”

I looked up to my dad who was looking at me with the same look Mom had. He nodded his head. “We will.” A sly smile slid across his face, and his expression turned giddy like a little kid. “We will, Tempest.”

I smiled back at him. Despite everything, I will say that the government did a pretty good job picking a kick-ass superhuman name for me.

And it wouldn't be long before they'd see Tempest again.

20

CONFIDENT CONFESSIONS

D
AD WAS
insistent that I not get too caught up in being Tempest that I stopped being Kane Andrews, so when Drew invited me to go to a party, I accepted.

I sat in the car driving to Macy's apartment where we were all going to meet up before driving to the party, and was overwhelmed with the feeling of nostalgia. I sat in my car, listening to the radio, watching to world drive by. It felt normal, which is something I hadn't felt since before Richter began his rampage.

I felt frightened and afraid then, not knowing if Richter would somehow end the world at any moment. Then that feeling was replaced with the feeling of duty and pride whenever my powers manifested. Only to be replaced by the feeling of pain and eventually betrayal by the people I was just trying to help.

But now, driving to meet up with my friends before a party, I felt like a normal teenager. A normal
human being
. I forgot how nice it felt, and I was glad that Dad insisted I go. I definitely wanted and needed a small break. It's not like I had much of a choice, though. The government had their eye out for me, so laying low for a little bit was my best option anyways. I couldn't stop Richter
and
the U.S. Government, at least that's the excuse I told myself to keep me from feeling guilty.

After another twenty minutes of driving and singing along with the radio, I reached Macy's apartment. She buzzed me in, and I rode the elevator to the seventh floor. I knocked on the door of her apartment, and forgot about everything once she opened the door and I was once again face-to-face with the woman I was very much in love with.

“Hi,” she said in a small voice. “Come in.” She stepped aside, and I stepped in.

“How are you?” I asked.

“I'm doing well,” she said as she walked out of the foyer. I followed close behind.

“Hey, Kane,” Madeline said from the kitchen where she poured a protein shake into a bottle.

“Hey,” I said. I pointed at the shake. “Going for a run?”

Madeline chuckled. “Stop acting like you're interested in what I'm doing. I know why you're here,” she said with a sly smile and nodded toward Macy.

Macy's face turned almost as red as her hair. She shot Madeline a death glare. “Don't you have a workout to go to?”

Madeline grabbed her shake, and walked around the kitchen counter. “Alright, alright!” She gave me a pat on the arm as she walked by. “Good to see you, Kane.” She shot a knowing smile to Macy, and walked out the door.

“Sorry about my sister,” Macy said from her seat on the couch. She fumbled with her hands, nervous.

“Don't be,” I told Macy as I walked behind the couch. I leaned on its back. “She's right,” I said before I could stop myself. I had no idea what I was doing, and tried stopping myself before the next words came out. It was like I was on autopilot though. “The main reason I'm here is to see you, because I think you're amazing.”

Shit.

What did I just do.

“Really?”

I opened my mouth but no words came out. Now I was forcing myself to say something, though. I couldn't go back now. It was all or nothing. “Really. And I'm, like, 99 percent sure you feel the same way.”

Macy looked up at me, her eyes sparkling as she blushed. “Well, I mean, you're not wrong.” She looked back down at her hands.

I smiled bigger than I ever had before, and that's saying something, all things considered. I felt as if I was floating on air, and my whole body felt warm.

Then I looked down and realized that I actually
was
floating an inch of the ground. I quickly stopped and fell quietly back to the ground.

“So you do like me?” I asked.

Macy nodded her head. “Yeah, I do.”

It took a lot of self-control to not take off flying across the globe. I had no idea why I didn't say something sooner. It was so easy. I was just afraid to, I guess. But now, I had a confidence that I didn't have before. Is that considered a superpower? Could I be like
Yes, I have super-strength, speed, hearing, and super-confidence?

“Why didn't you say anything earlier?” I said with a chuckle as I walked around the couch and sat down next to her.

She looked at me with her mouth open, trying to find the words. “I was just afraid, I guess?” Her gaze wandered to the ceiling of her apartment.

“I was afraid, too. But what were you scared of?”

Macy took a moment before responding. When she did, however, it came in a flood. “I guess I just don't know where everything is headed. I mean, I still don't. We don't know when all this Richter stuff is going, and what kind of place the world will be after that. I don't know if Madeline is going to want us to go back to Indianapolis after this. If she does, I have to go with her. I don't want to leave you or Drew or Michael behind, but I just didn't want to have anything tying me down, and make it harder to eventually leave.”

I tried processing what she was telling me. Talk about getting knocked down a couple of notches. I thought I came to the conclusion she was alluding to, but I wanted to hear it from her. “So, what are you saying?”

Macy thought for a moment and then leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “That none of that matters anymore.”

My stomach turned with excitement, and heat rushed through my head. I felt a feeling of joy that rivaled when I discovered my powers.

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud buzzing. I turned and looked at the door.

“That must be Drew and Michael. They were riding over here together,” Macy said.

I nodded and stood up from the couch. “Okay then, when should probably go now.”

Macy giggled. “Yes, Kane, we probably should.”

The two of us exited her apartment and began our way to the party.

21

PARTY CRASHERS

T
HE CITY LIGHTS
filtered through the windshield as we drove to Eric and Veronica Russell’s house, where the party was being held. Their parents were out of town, which was rare in those days since most people never left due to the whole Richter situation. This meant fewer summertime house parties, so when word got out about Eric and Veronica’s party, it traveled fast.

“Doesn’t Drew have a crush on Veronica?” I asked as I turned the car into the neighborhood the party was being held in. The question was rhetorical, of course. Everybody knew about Drew’s crush on Veronica.

I looked in the rearview mirror and could see Drew glaring at me. “Come on, Kane. Not cool.”

I laughed and shrugged. “You should go for it tonight, bro.”

“Yeah, man. Go for it,” Michael said, agreeing with me.

“See?” I said. “Michael agrees. Do you agree, Macy?” I glanced over at her in the front seat.

“Yeah, of course. You only live once, or some shit.”

“Um, we’re a
carpe diem
family, thank you,” Drew said, correcting her.

We all laughed as we parked on the side of the road. We climbed out of the car, and I took in the scene.

The house was a large two-story one with Roman pillars holding up the roof covering the large front porch. The neighbors’ houses were a good distance away with a thin veil of trees in between, so hopefully we weren’t going to have to worry about causing them any trouble. People talked and laughed on the front porch, holding red cups and beer bottles in their hands. I could hear music coming from inside, but it wasn’t turned up loud. From the looks of it, the party was surprisingly tame.

We began walking to the front porch, and I exchanged “hello’s” and “how you been’s?” with a few people I recognized from school, before walking inside and making my way to the kitchen. I pulled a bottle of beer from an ice chest that sat on the counter and twisted the top off. I handed it toward Macy, and she took it.

“Thanks,” she said as she took a swig from the bottle and examined the room.

I grabbed my own and began to drink it, the familiar bitter and earthy taste washing over my taste buds and going down smoothly. I looked around the kitchen as well, and took in how nice it was. The counter tops were made from marble, and all the appliances were stainless steel. Finger foods were spread out on the counters, and people were wandering in, grabbing a handful, and then walking out into the living room where the music was playing, or outside to hang out and talk.

“Hey Kane,” I heard a familiar voice say from behind me.

I fought the urge to audibly moan as I turned around and saw Brian Turner standing just a few feet away, towering over me. “Hi Brian,” I said, my voice cold.

“Can we talk?” he asked, motioning his head toward the back door.

I thought about it for a moment, then decided that I might want to listen to what Brian had to say. If he remembered anything about our encounter when I threw him into a wall, this conversation could go very badly. I didn’t know what I was going to do if Brian remembered, and knew who I was.

“Yeah,” I said. “We can talk.”

“Kane,” Michael said, his big hands grabbing my arm. “You need us to come with you?” His eyes moved toward Brian. Michael didn’t have to say a word, the look he was sending him made it clear. If Brian did anything, Michael would make him wish he was thrown into a wall by a superhuman again.

“Not this time,” I said. “I got it under control.” Under normal circumstances, I would’ve loved to have some backup there with me. However, if Brian did remember, I couldn’t have Michael and Drew finding out as well. This conversation needed to be had in private.

I followed Brian out the back door, and to a spot in the back yard by some trees. We were about thirty feet from the back of the house, and my heart was beating fast. I could see people on the side and back porch chilling out, but none of them were paying attention to Brian and me. I silently prayed that they weren’t able to hear us, because if Brian was about to say what I thought he was about to say, I was going to have to do some damage control, and fast.

“I wanted to say thank you,” Brain blurted out.

Well. That was definitely unexpected. “I-I…ummm…” I had no idea what to say. The words escaped me.