Wonder Heroes 4.0

by Ahlquist, Steve

  Inside Wonder Base, Susan Daystrom had dismissed her Wonder Armor and sat vigil at the bedside of Theodore Studebaker, who, if he somehow survived the night and successfully bonded with the golden gauntlet, would be the next To wield the Golden Wonder Gauntlet. Susan wore a red tee shirt and red shorts, her original clothing destroyed when she summoned her Wonder Armor for the first time. It was while watching and listening to the scientists, doctors and technicians hook Theodore up to a series of medical monitors that beeped, wheezed and crackled with each heart beat, breath and brain wave of her new friend that Susan realized how little was known about the alien weaponry she had volunteered to become permanently bonded with.

  All the experts could say with any certainty was that they would have to, “Wait and see,” so Susan sat by Theodore’s bedside, doing just that.

  Theodore grumbled in his sleep, thrashed his head from side to side and then suddenly woke up.

  Susan leaned forward. “Theodore?”

  In a cracked and dehydrated voice Theodore looked at Susan and said, “When you shift to Wonder Hero mode the clothes you’re wearing are destroyed.”

  Susan smiled, only a little embarrassed to have Theodore see her half dressed. “And when you shift back you’re wearing clean new underwear, apparently.”

  Theodore smiled weakly. “I’m not complaining.”

  “You need rest.”

  Theodore weakly raised his right arm and focused on the alien contraption welded to his flesh. “Figures I got the busted gauntlet.”

  Before Susan could reply the door to sickbay whooshed opened and General Rumpole entered, leading Matt, Jay and Kalomo into the room. The Wonder Heroes all wore tees and briefs colored to match their gauntlets, as well as colored robes similar to those worn by boxers before a match. The General handed Susan a red robe and she slipped it on with relief.

  Jay Parker, Wonder Hero Jet, ignored Theodore and stepped right up to Susan, flashing his perfect smile. “Nice. The team needs a chick, for balance.”

  Susan frowned. “Wouldn’t balance be two or three chicks?”

  Jay kept smiling, in his charming, cocky fashion that allowed him to make inappropriate comments and get away with it. The man oozed Ivy League privilege, but despite that Susan found herself returning Jay’s smile. He had charisma.

  The new team spent a few moments making introductions. Susan began to realize the full import of this meeting: She would have to spend time, maybe even the rest of her life, working with and getting to know these people. The original team, besides Harlan Flicker and Danielle Walker, had been a family. This new team was made up entirely of strangers, and nothing was more important than that these strangers find a way to work together.

  Kalomo who had decided upon the call sign Wonder Hero Ghost, was in his third year at Harvard, studying for his MBA as well as a degree in philosophy. He seemed young and he was. Kalomo had just celebrated his seventeenth birthday a month ago. Susan thought him a nice enough kid with brilliant potential and a lot to prove.

  Then there was Matthew O’Dette, Wonder Hero Ultra. Matt was in a class by himself. This was a man recognized world wide as being one of the greatest heroes in the history of Earth. There was no one on this planet that did not owe their lives, several times over, to some action Matt and the rest of the Wonder Heroes had taken. Matthew O’Dette was a living legend.

  Susan noted that the living legend avoided looking in Theodore's direction.

  Jay had no problem shaking Theodore’s hand when he took his eyes off Susan and finally seemed to notice his fallen teammate. “So, Teddy, what’s going on? I hear you’re not taking to the superhero biz too well.”

  Theodore glanced at his gauntleted arm. “Looks like I got the booby prize.”

  Matt spoke directly to the diagnostic screen. “Computer, what’s the status of Wonder Hero Gold?”

  “I am still running a diagnostic, Ultra,” said the Computer, “the blast that killed Harlan Flicker seems to have damaged the gauntlet.”

  “I thought you cleared all the gauntlets for use,” countered Matt, “how did this happen?”

  “Apparently the Golden Gauntlet was in need of a host to effect self-repair," answered the Computer, "I am not sure why routine diagnostics did not reveal this. I should be able to tell you more in approximately nine... hours.”

  Matt furrowed his brow. He had never heard the Wonder Computer pause when making such a routine calculation before. The Wonder Computer used quantum circuitry, and often had answers prepared to questions you had not yet thought to ask. As a result the computer always delivered perfectly enunciated and measured responses to all inquiries. The pause was not unusual, it was singular, but then, the situation itself was singular: A new Wonder Hero attempting symbiosis with a Wonder Gauntlet that had been damaged in battle. Given the events of the last two days, Matt decided he was too tired to pursue it.

  General Rumpole cleared his throat for attention. “In the meantime," he said, "it is imperative to let the world, and the universe beyond, know that the Wonder Heroes are active and fully prepared to defend the world from all extraterrestrial threats. Matt?”

  Matt, still lost in thought, did not look up, and with fraying patience answered, “What?”

  “You’re team leader now. Lead.”

  Matt looked at his new team and a flurry of conflicting emotions played across his face. He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and motioned for the General to follow him. Together they walked out of the sickbay and into the hallway where they engaged in hushed conversation. Susan, Jay and Kalomo stayed by Theodore's bedside.

  Jay leaned in conspiratorially and, throwing a thumb to indicate Matt, said, “I don’t think his head’s in the game, you know?”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Kalomo, “The man’s a living legend.”

  “Yeah, but everyone knows that the leader of the original team was Imperial, and besides…” Jay wagged his head back and forth suggestively.

  Kalomo picked up on Jay’s implication, but dismissed it. “Gay has nothing to do with it, man. Paul Kettles was gay.”

  “But he was the, you know, man...”

  Susan could not believe what she was hearing. “Did I just time travel to the 1990s?”

  Ignoring Susan, Jay concentrated on Kalomo and Theodore and continued, “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it. Just that Matt’s not, maybe, the leader type.”

  Susan could not contain her sarcasm. “And you are?”

  Kalomo laughed. “So begin the secret intrigues of the Wonder Heroes...”

  “I’ve read just about everything ever written on the Wonder Heroes,” said Theodore, "Ultra is the solid, dependable one, but never really a leader. Jay might have a point.”

  Perfectly willing to make Theodore’s argument his own, Jay added, “Yeah. That’s all I meant.”

  “It’s all beside the point anyway,” said Susan, “Matt’s got the most experience. We’re going to have to follow his lead. I’m more worried about living up to the reputation of the people who died wearing this armor.”

  “These are big uniforms to fill,” agreed Kalomo.

  Jay was dismissive. “I’m not worried.”

  “Well, I got a girl’s armor,” said Kalomo.

  “I got a boy’s...” countered Susan pointedly.

  From the bed, in a very quiet voice, Theodore said, “And I got a traitor’s.”

  The team fell into a short silence, interrupted by the return of General Rumpole and Matt. “Okay, Heroes, let’s get some food and some sleep. Barring an emergency we’ve got a press conference first thing tomorrow morning.”

  As the team filed out of the room, Susan squeezed Theodore’s hand. “Get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Theodore raised his gauntleted arm and made a defiant fist. His voice sounded weak. “An auspicious start to my career as a Wonder Hero. Yay...”

  Susan caught
up to the rest of the group as they entered an elevator that brought them quickly and without inertia to the second floor of the Wonder Base. The doors opened onto a long, blue hued hallway. Exiting the elevator the team followed Matt and the General across the hallway towards a white door. Susan noted a child’s handprints on the lower part of the door just before it silently slid open, revealing luxurious living quarters beyond.

  “These are my quarters,” Matt said, so quietly and unexpectedly that the team almost missed it. He turned towards the team, but avoided eye contact with everyone but General Rumpole. He looked exhausted. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

  “Good night,” said Susan.

  For the briefest moment Matt raised his glance and met Susan's eyes with his. Susan tried to read what she saw there. Matt’s face betrayed a miasma of emotional states: sadness, exhaustion, betrayal, and defeat. The door shut silently.

  The General lead the remaining three Wonder Heroes down the hallway, and rounding an oblique corner, the color of the hallway changed from blue to black.

  Jay smiled and broke into a saunter. “This must all be for me.”

  The General led the group to a white door that, when opened, revealed the living quarters beyond. Jay raised his hands in the air triumphantly, walking into his new life. “Yes! I made it!”

  The door shut silently.

  “You can’t fault his enthusiasm,” said Kalomo, smiling.

  “Theodore called him Captain America,” said Susan.

  Kalomo laughed. “Red, white and cocky?”

  Suddenly, General Rumpole stopped in his tracks and wheeled around, facing Susan and Kalomo, who both took a step back. “You know, Captain America isn’t an insult. Sure he’s corny, and out of fashion, but Captain America means something. To some people, Captain America is cool.”

  Kalomo was confused and tossed a thumb behind him. “Are you talking about Jay?”

  “No! Captain America! The comic book? Do you kids even know what you’re talking about?” The General seemed genuinely exasperated.

  Susan smiled doubtfully. “Apparently not.”

  The General turned and continued walking as Susan and Kalomo hurried to keep up. “Kids. No damned appreciation of their cultural heritage…”

  They rounded another oblique corner and the hallway underwent another color change, this time to a vibrant green. The group was silent and contemplative as they walked down this hallway. The heavy burden of true heroism and sacrifice was palpable here. The clean white door in the center of the hallway did not open for them.

  The green hallway gave way to red as the trio rounded another corner.

  “You know, the irony isn’t lost on me,” said Kalomo, breaking the silence, “What with the black guy getting the white woman's armor and all.”

  “It isn’t irony,” said General Rumpole, “it's just what happened.”

  The white door to Susan’s new quarters opened but before she entered, the General touched her arm and asked, “First you didn’t want it, then you did. Can I ask what changed your mind?”

  Susan lingered in the doorway, considering her words. “It was Theodore, he got me thinking about heroes. How nobody really thinks about them until they’re needed. I guess I thought, somebody has to do it, why not me?”

  The General nodded his head. “I understand. That’s why I put on this suit every day.”

  “Right.” Susan nodded in agreement, “somebody has to put on the suit.”

  “For what it’s worth,” said the General solemnly, “I’m glad you made the right decision.”

  Kalomo nodded good night and Susan let the door close. She turned and took a good look at her new living quarters. The interior was very modern and there were plants and bookcases and comfortable furniture. The color scheme, unsurprisingly, tended towards red. She wondered when she would be sick of that color.

  “Uh, computer?”

  “Yes, Susan?” answered the Wonder Computer instantly.

  Susan smiled. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”

  “Not at all. How may I be of assistance?”

  “This can’t all be just for me,” said Susan, gesturing at the room around her.

  “It is,” answered the Wonder Computer, “there are five additional connecting rooms as well. Your personal effects will be here tomorrow. If there are any modifications you desire, please let me know.”

  Susan tossed her robe onto a couch and plopped onto the soft cushions. “Modifications?”

  “Jay has already requested gym equipment.”

  Susan chuckled at that. “Figures. I’d like some food. Is there a kitchen?”

  “I can create one if you would like to cook. In the meantime, if you desire food, please let me know what kind.”

  “How about soup and salad?”

  “Can you please be more specific?”

  “Tomato soup, Caesar salad?”

  There was a slight pause before a cupboard door slid aside, revealing a cool crisp salad and steaming hot soup within. Susan rose from the couch and retrieved the tray. The inside of the cupboard was empty and otherwise ordinary. The food smelled delicious.

  “Wow,” Susan said, “a girl could get used to this.”

  The next morning, after a short night’s sleep Susan was awakened by the Wonder Computer an hour before a nine o’clock press conference scheduled to introduce the new team to the public. After a quick shower and a light breakfast of yogurt and fruit, Susan dressed in the red jumpsuit provided for her by the Wonder Computer, left her apartment and took the elevator up to the first floor. She met Jay and Kalomo in a small anteroom that adjoined the larger room they had been sequestered in the day before, while waiting with the other Wonder Hero candidates for their turn to try on the gauntlets. Susan sneaked a peek into the larger room and confirmed that it had been converted into a small auditorium and stage, and that there were reporters and television cameras present from every major news organization in the world.

  Kalomo took his chance to peek. “Man, looking at that crowd… Meeting the world for the first time. This is big. Overwhelming big.”

  “I can’t wait,” said Jay.

  “Well, I’m nervous,” Susan admitted. Though she had done press conferences before, when part of the Olympic Aikido team, this was of an altogether different scale.

  Theodore arrived, dressed in his yellow jump suit and tapped Susan on the shoulder. “Hi. Miss me?”

  Susan turned and smiled. She hugged Theodore, catching him off guard. “How are you feeling?”

  Theodore reached up to his face to adjust his glasses, but realized that they were not there. He no longer needed them due to the nanobots the Wonder Gauntlet had injected into his system. His eyesight was now better than 20/20. “I’m fine, er, great! I’ll explain after the press conference.”

  Jay gave Theodore a friendly punch in the arm. “Just tell me, are you one of us?”

  Theodore rubbed his arm where Jay had hit him and nodded, “One hundred percent.”

  Susan smiled. Kalomo laughed, “All right! Now I feel like we’re a team!”

  Kalomo turned to see the dour face of Matt O’Dette, Wonder Hero Ultra. He looked like he had not slept a wink the night before. Matt met Kalomo’s gaze and said, “Let’s get this over with.”

  Matt turned on a tight, fake smile and led the new team out of the anteroom and onto the stage. Cameras flashed and the reporters shouted out so many comments and questions it was impossible to hear them all. Jay played to the audience, flexing his muscles and striking poses for the camera. The rest just smiled, trying to enjoy the experience, and blinking spots out of their eyes.

  General Rumpole bounded onto the stage. A night’s sleep had done him a world of good. He looked twenty years younger and his uniform was neat and pressed. He wore a lavaliere microphone, leaving his hands free. “Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, the world, and the universe beyond, the new Wonder Heroes!”r />
  The General walked behind the Wonder Heroes and put his hands on Matt’s shoulders. “Matthew O’Dette, Wonder Hero Ultra, you all know. He’s been saving our butts single handedly for the last two days.”

  Moving between Jay and Kalomo and placing one hand on each of them the General continued, “Next to him are Wonder Hero Jet, Jay Parker and Wonder Hero Ghost, Kalomo Roman, who have already seen action along side Matt dealing with the Retroxin menace.”