Wonder Heroes 4.0

by Ahlquist, Steve

  The Fornax Dwarf stared into the eyes of his disgraced son. “Jeffrey Stillman was a fearsome warrior. If he were Fornaxian no doubt he would have achieved low depths. Tell me, Klotax the Colossus, who was the warrior who suffered defeat against Jeffrey Stillman?”

  “It was I, your diminutiveness,” replied Klotax, “and I have monitored Earth every day since my defeat. Now that there is a new champion I may issue a new challenge. I request that you grant my petition.”

  “Among warriors, who live or die by battle, there are few second chances, my son.”

  Klotax heartened at his father’s use of the word son, something the low warrior was normally loath to admit.

  The Fornax Dwarf chose his words and his tone carefully. “No warrior should ever be twice disgraced and live. Issue your challenge, but earn victory, or do not trouble to survive.”

  Klotax nodded and backed away from his father. When he found himself able to stand he slumped his shoulders and bent his knees like a true warrior. He felt the fires of combat reignite within his soul, fires hot enough to reduce Jay Parker to ash…

  At 6:50 Jay Parker rolled over and looked at the clock, noting that he had ten minutes before the Wonder Computer would again attempt to wake him. The more he tried not to think about the coming day the more his brain rebelled by thinking about nothing else.

  “Lights,” said the Wonder Hero, finally giving up.

  As the lights came on Jay rolled out of bed and onto the floor hands extended, body rigid, into a plank position. He bent his elbows slightly and waited, then began his morning push-ups. Jay knew that the gauntlet kept him healthy and fit now, he had never felt better in his life, but he needed this ritual to get his body and mind running. He was as addicted to this as most people were addicted to caffeine, but the gauntlet on his arm kept him so fit that it was nearly impossible to raise his heart rate or break a sweat. After over one hundred pushups in less than two minutes, Jay was not even breathing heavy.

  Frustrated Jay pushed himself off the floor with his arms and into a full standing position, stepping backwards slightly to catch his balance. He looked at the gauntlet that wrapped around his right forearm and frowned. Then he stripped off his clothes and walked into the adjoining room as the Wonder Computer turned on the shower. The shower in his new quarters had a wonderful strong pressure to it, and the hot water pulsed into his shoulders, massaging away the tension he carried there.

  After his shower the Wonder Computer talked him through the day’s itinerary, which was simple. General Rumpole had called for a working breakfast, but the rest of the day was clear, leaving Jay ample and unwanted time to deal with his father, who was due to arrive by helicopter around ten in the morning. Jay decided to forego the color coded jumpsuit and instead grabbed his nicest pair of jeans and a button down shirt, then he exited his quarters and made his way towards the elevators.

  In the hallway he saw Susan walking along side and chatting with her mother. Jay had not met the older woman but he had heard that she was arriving on an early flight. As Jay half jogged to catch up to them, he overheard them talking.

  “I don’t know how it’s going to affect,” said Susan, with a hint of annoyance, “I don’t even have a boyfriend, never mind kids. Besides, Cassie seems fine.”

  “Cassie?” asked the mother.

  “She’s the daughter of Terry and Jeff Stillman…”

  “Oh, that’s so sad, isn’t it?” said Susan’s mother sympathetically, “I saw the girl on the news this morning, saluting her parents at the funeral.”

  “Hey Susan, wait up!” Jay caught up and got his first good look at Susan’s mom and quickly appraised her. Though Susan was not exactly Jay’s type, being way too brainy and confident, she was pretty, and if her mother was any indication, she had good genes and would probably keep her looks for a long time. Susan’s mother had the same build, brown hair and gray-blue eyes as her daughter. Jay turned up the volume on his charm and said, “Care to introduce me?”

  Susan seemed to be relieved that Jay was interrupting. “Jay, this is my mother, Merry Lincoln.”

  Merry shook Jay’s hand. Jay could feel the woman appraising him, and figured that she liked what she saw. He prided himself on his ability to charm the mothers he met. After all, be rich, fit and smart, he was the perfect catch for any girl.

  “Nice to meet you Ms. Lincoln,” said Jay.

  “Please,” laughed Susan’s mother, “call me Merry.”

  The three made their way to the elevators and up to the first floor, where tables had been arranged and a breakfast buffet prepared. One of the tables was occupied by Kalomo, his mother and father and twin younger brothers, Pemba and Choma. Jay recalled that Kalomo’s father had named his sons after towns in Africa. Kalomo was showing his brothers his gauntlet as his father shoveled French toast into his mouth. Kalomo’s mother smiled but even at a distance Jay could tell she was not happy, and really, who could blame her? Her son had recently accepted the most dangerous job on Earth. Jay took an odd comfort in the fact that his own mother, who died when he was ten years old, did not have to worry about her son that way.

  There was a chef on hand to make omelets, and Jay availed himself of a chicken, garlic and pesto omelet with cheese and two slices of rye toast. The women contented themselves with scrambled eggs and fruit salad. Everyone had coffee, Jay had decaf.

  They sat next to Kalomo’s table.

  “Kalomo! My man! Are these people bothering you?” Jay fist bumped Kalomo, who reciprocated halfheartedly as his father frowned and rolled his eyes.

  Kalomo stood. “Mom, Dad, this is Jay Parker, the new Wonder Hero Jet, Jay, this is my Dad and Mom, uh, Zeke and Ruth, and these are my brothers, Pemba and Choma.”

  Jay exchanged daps with the smiling twins, and was now eager to get to his omelet, but Kalomo’s father, Zeke, fixed him with a stare that somehow managed to convey disappointment and discipline in equal measure. “I was talking to Kalomo here about doing some public appearances at my store, you know, help drum up some business now that he’s a world famous superhero…”

  Jay nodded and said, “That sounds great.”

  Zeke waved his hand in Jay and Susan’s direction. “Yes, well, I suggested he invite his new friends along…”

  Kalomo was mortified. “Dad…”

  “Relax son. Jay knows where I’m coming from here. His father’s James Parker, president of Magma Corp, a business man’s business man.” Ruth put her hand on her husband’s, silently trying to communicate her son’s embarrassment. Zeke pulled his hand away and took a bite of sausage. “I’m just saying.”

  Kalomo started to apologize, but Jay waved him off and said, “I’m sure I could find the time to visit your store, Zeke. Sporting goods, right?”

  Zeke brightened. “That’s right. I can get you some good deals too.”

  “I can’t wait,” said Jay, turning back to his table with his omelet in hand. He noticed Theodore had decided to sit at the table with them, and was engaged in conversation with Susan’s mother.

  “She’s a natural leader,” said Theodore, “we took out that lobster monster 1-2-3-4. Like clockwork.”

  “She was always a bit bossy in high school,” said Merry.

  “Mom?”

  “Well, you were,” continued Merry as Susan shook her head, “always organizing committees and clubs.”

  “So Teddy,” Jay interrupted, “I thought your mom was going to be here today.”

  “She’s coming in on the ten o’clock flight.”

  Jay nodded. “On the Magma Corp helicopter, with my dad, then.”

  “And my dad,” added Susan.

  Merry rolled her eyes with disapproval, “Him.”

  Jay caught Susan’s eye, and despite her frustration with her mother, she smiled back. Further conversation was cut off when General Rumpole entered the room. He smiled and met the family members who had arrived already. The General deftly took over the breakfast, ans
wering questions and explaining the details of what being the family member of a Wonder Hero would be like. Susan and Kalomo stayed seated with their families, but Theodore and Jay found themselves standing by the coffee station, a little bored.

  “So Teddy,” said Jay suddenly, “you, me and Kalomo should plan a night out somewhere. These gauntlets are the ultimate chick magnets, man.”

  Theodore frowned and looked at his coffee. “Yeah, that sounds cool, Jay but I don’t think I can do that.”

  “Dude,” said Jay, incredulously, “we’re talking about the hottest girls you can imagine.”

  “I’m Wonder Hero Gold, Jay,” said Theodore, “what you’re asking, that’s something Harlan Flicker would do and did. He was a party monster, making the cover of the Inquirer, a new starlet every week…”

  “You’re not him…” said Jay.

  “I know that,” said Theodore, looking Jay in the eyes, “You know that, but the world won’t see that unless I try hard to make them see the difference.” Theodore looked away and Jay followed his eyes across the room, where Susan seemed to be in a heated debate with her mother.

  Jay smiled. “I think that’s a good excuse, Teddy, but it’s only an excuse. I think you’ve got your eye on someone closer to home.”

  Theodore looked away from Susan quickly, but Jay had caught him, and he knew it. “Don’t say anything to her, okay?”

  “Don’t worry buddy. I won’t mess with your game.” Jay slapped Theodore on the shoulder, leaned in close and said, softly, “but don’t take forever. I might want to take a shot at her myself.”

  Before Theodore could think of a way to respond, Jay was walking away.

  It was only a little later that Jay made his way to the roof of the Wonder Base, joining those who had gathered near the helicopter landing pad. Jay reflected that he had arrived here at Wonder Base by way of the same helipad only three days earlier, though it seemed a lifetime. When he had first arrived Jay was so sure that being a Wonder Hero was his destiny that he simply knew that a gauntlet would choose him. He expected to shine as a hero just as he had always excelled at his studies and in sports…

  Then he started making mistakes. First Jay almost allowed a Retroxin Kamikaze to destroy the Wonder Base. Then, in an angry, panicked fugue state he assaulted a teammate. Ruefully Jay considered the fact that yesterday had gone well, but only because he kept quiet and followed orders. The hero business was turning out to be a humbling experience for a young man who only days ago could seemingly do no wrong.

  The sun was high and bright, the temperature not too warm as Jay joined General Rumpole and the others. Kalomo, oddly, had dragged his entire family along, although to Jay’s knowledge there was no one on the helicopter for him as his family was already here. Theodore was waiting for his mother, and Susan, like Jay, was waiting for her father.

  Kalomo’s brothers, each armed with binoculars courtesy of General Rumpole, were the first to see the approaching helicopter. Kalomo looked anxious, his parents merely curious. Susan looked as nervous as Jay felt, he had overheard her mention that she had not spoken to her father for over three years. Of the four Wonder Heroes gathered on the roof that morning, only Theodore seemed at ease.

  After landing, the helicopter doors were opened by the runway staff who rolled some stairs in place. After a slight wait an elderly woman began exiting the vehicle, one step at a time. Theodore rushed forward to greet his mother, who took a moment to focus through her thick glasses, and then smiled widely. In the door of the helicopter behind her a silver haired man in a tailored Italian suit waited with barely concealed patience as Mrs. Studebaker navigated the metal stairs.

  When Theodore had his mother safely on the ground Jay’s father, James Madison Parker, clambered down the stairs followed by his executive assistant, a trim, smartly dressed young woman wielding an iPad. As Jay stepped forward to shake his father’s hand he could hear Mrs. Studebaker, trying to whisper but speaking too loudly, complain about the executive assistant’s nonstop chatter on the cell phone.

  “She never stops talking, and what a mouth on her,” said the elderly woman, and Jay could not help but smile at that.

  Jay shook his father’s hand smartly, “Dad.”

  “James,” said his father pointedly, “this is Frances, my new assistant.”

  Jay nodded politely in the woman’s direction, then said, “I go by Jay, now, Dad.”

  “What’s wrong with James? Or is it the junior part you’re trying to get away from?”

  “I’m just looking to find my own way, Dad.”

  James Parker looked disapprovingly at the Wonder Gauntlet wrapped permanently around Jay’s right forearm. “Well, it looks like you found it.”

  General Rumpole stepped next to Jay and shook hands with James Parker. “How are you doing, James?”

  “Henry,” said James, “I know we’ve had our differences, but you didn’t have to kidnap my boy to talk to me.”

  The General smiled wanly and though the atmosphere was courteous, Jay could sense the animosity between the two men. Jay asked, “You two know each other?”

  James paused, and looked at the General. Throwing a thumb at his son, James asked, “What’s his security clearance?”

  “Higher than yours now, James,” said the General, “the kid’s a Wonder Hero.”

  James nodded and said, “Magma Corp used to do a lot of business with the government. Research into alien tech.” He looked at the General and added, “Not any more though.”

  “Water under the bridge,” said the General. “Let’s get inside where it’s air conditioned.”

  Frances stepped forward with an iPhone and whispered something into James Parker’s ear. He took the phone and stepped away, leaving the General free to join Kalomo’s family as he was introducing a stunning young blond woman to his family. Kalomo’s mom, Ruth, was smiling, but Jay could sense Zeke’s disapproval. Pemba and Choma were off goofing around with their binoculars.

  Kalomo’s voice cracked with nervousness as he said, “This is my fiancé, Linnea.”

  Jay sighed. With Theodore stuck on Susan and Kalomo engaged, that left no one on the team able to go out on the town and party in true Wonder Heroes style, whatever that might mean. Maybe, thought Jay, he could call up some of his old Stamford buddies…

  Then Jay noticed Susan. The helicopter was empty, the pilot busy locking it down for the night and Susan stood alone on the landing pad. She was watching as Kalomo introduced Linnea to his family. Susan looked over at Jay and shrugged her shoulders, as if her disappointment were no big deal, and Jay smiled back in return.

  A friend would walk across the tarmac and offer words and a hug, maybe a shoulder to cry on. Jay looked over at Theodore, helping his mother into a wheelchair, and at Kalomo, nervously talking his family through the surprise of his relationship with Linnea, then back at Susan, all alone. Her father was not on the helicopter, and Jay sensed he was not going to be on the next one either. Jay hesitated.

  Then James Parker was done with his phone call and handed the phone back to Frances. “So, Jay,” said his father, “why don’t you show us around Wonder Base?”

  “Sure,” said Jay, his decision made for him. He turned away from Susan and towards the elevator, “Follow me.”

  Wonder Heroes 4.11

  General Rumpole wisely kept the visiting day schedule for the families of the new Wonder Heroes filled with various tours of the Wonder Base facilities and demonstrations of alien technology in some of the labs. This did much to take the pressure off Kalomo, Susan and Jay but the day was still fraught with emotional tension. Kalomo had hoped that introducing his fiancé Linnea to his parents, already ambivalent about his choice to become a Wonder Hero, would have eased their apprehension. Instead they seemed even more anxious. The presence of her mother did nothing to alleviate Susan’s disappointment over her father’s nonappearance and Jay withered under the ever judgmental eye of his father.

&nbs
p; Only Theodore, who doted on his mother, seemed to be immune to the pressures of visiting family. At first Theodore took to pushing Mrs. Studebaker about in a wheelchair, but eventually she tired, and Theodore brought her to her new quarters here at the Wonder Base. Due to his position as Wonder Hero Gold, for the first time Theodore was able to provide his mother with full time nursing care.

  Beginning at breakfast with Kalomo’s parents and over the course of the day the General had made his case in person to all the family members about the dangers of being related to the Wonder Heroes and the various forms of protection he, as the United Nations liaison, could provide. Unfortunately, Kalomo’s father did not want to leave his sporting goods business behind, and the General realized he had accomplished nothing with his sales pitch other than to frighten Kalomo’s mother.

  Susan’s mother, Merry Lincoln, could not be persuaded to move into the Wonder Base, nor would she enter any kind of witness protection. Instead, she settled on having a personal chauffeur and a small contingent of bodyguards outside her apartment. Susan was unsurprised as it was of course the most expensive option the General could offer.

  James Parker, Jay’s father, laughed out loud at the idea that he might need some sort of protection. Magma Corp specialized in, among other things, providing security for important, rich and powerful people worldwide. James Parker considered himself more secure and better protected than most world leaders. He also begged off most of the tours the General offered to spend more time with his son.

  By lunch time Jay found himself almost wishing that some insane alien would attack somewhere in the world, if only to get him away from his father for a few hours. Jay had learned that despite their tactful demeanors his father and General Rumpole had a profound dislike for each other. He also knew, without being told, that the relationship between his father and his father’s executive assistant Frances was more than professional. This did not surprise Jay; Frances was just the latest in a long line of similar assistants. Lastly, Jay learned that his father did not approve of his having become a Wonder Hero.