Page 13 of No Capes
Dear Dr. Dottie Milligan III,
As the saying goes, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
And to the reporters, neighbors, and people of Capital City hearing this live on Capital City 1, the worst is still to come.
- Dark Static
Dark Static. I had searched the Goldie’s forum for D.S.’s initials, but I’d come up empty. Now, the whole world knows.
“Dark Static?” The newsman asks, “Golden Ace’s novice rival?”
“I don’t think novice is the right word for him, Keith.” The camera cuts from the newsman to the anchors of Capital City 1—a perky man and woman, ready to comment. “Dark Static has been behind many incidents, including thefts, muggings, and arson.” The screen fades to a picture of D.S., or Dark Static, as electricity crackles off him, and he shoots beams of pure energy into the Milligans’ mansion. “Capital City 1 captured this image last night. Here to comment, we have our very own Super, Flare. Flare, what do you make of this?”
The video splits its screen to televise the anchors on one half and Flare on the other. Flare poses in her full red mask and matching spandex in front of Capital City’s largest park. The rising sun spills pink and orange streaks onto a large crowd behind her, where some participants hold posters sayingWe ♥ FlareandDark Static = Fart Static.
Molly pretends to bang her head against a notebook, while Damian groans. Fox shushes them, truly milking his time in the teacher’s chair.
After Golden Ace arrived in Capital City, many of our Supers moved to other cities, where they could be more useful. However, some stayed, like Flare, who instead of fighting major crimes, fights for just a few more seconds in the spotlight. She occasionally helps the police with a case (when they deign to take one), but she also travels to international conferences and sells the movie rights to everything she’s ever done. Capital City still loves Flare, of course. She’s saved hundreds of people. It’sjust that Golden Ace hates the spotlight, and Golden Ace defines what is cool for Supers all over the world.
“Thank you, Daniel,” Flare says, looking straight at the camera. “Dark Static’s heinous crime will not go unpunished. We must stand up to him and protect innocent lives at all costs.”
“We couldn’t have stated it better,” says the news anchor, Daniel. “Please stay tuned for Mayor Bridges’ emergency address during our 8:00 newscast.”
The clip ends there.
“Mr. Levine?” Our teacher pivots to Fox. “You had a question?”
“Yeah.” Fox rests his elbows on Mr. Meyers’ steel desk. “Why the hell did that lunatic burn down Dr. Milligan’s house?” His voice cracks, far from Fox’s usual sneer. He’s more afraid of this Super than he’d like us to see, and Ialmostfeel sorry for him.
“That’s just it,” says Molly, “He’s a lunatic. He probably didn’t have a reason. He’s only driven by flames and explosions.”
Mr. Meyers leans against his blackboard, at ease, unlike his students. Molly’s legs bounce under her desk, Damian taps his foot impatiently, and Aaron spins his pen.
I hold very still. A treacherous punch digs into my gut.
I saw Dark Static last night, right before all of this, and I felt safe.
Are you late for your League of Evil meeting?I’d asked.
Something like that.
Something like this.
“Class,” says Mr. Meyers. “Dark Static did not hurt anyone. It could be the case that this man is not in his right mind, but his fire had a purpose. Can anyone tell me what that was?”
“To get us all to leave the city,” Fox grumbles. “That nut job couldn’t even—”
“You’ve made your opinion clear, Mr. Levine,” says Mr. Meyers. “Anyone else?”
Aaron shifts in his chair and opens his mouth to respond, but someone else beats him to the answer.
“He wanted to send a message,” says Damian. “He knew the fire and the media would get it to us.”
“Correct.” Mr. Meyers nods. “Now, at the risk of getting angry calls from your parents, can anyone identify what his message was?”
“We’re all going to die,” Fox mutters.
“It means the Supers are playing politics.” Kristen shudders as she speaks. “Dark Static seems to think that things have gotten so bad, he needs to fix them himself. For better or worse.”
