S15 - Checking In
I had been home for ten minutes when someone knocked on the door. It was Ryan.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi." I hadn't seen him since Saturday. Four days ago. I wasn't avoiding him on purpose, but maybe that's how it seemed. "What's up?"
"Uh, can I come in for a minute?"
"Sorry, yeah." I opened the door all the way.
He stepped in and sat on the couch. I sat on the chair opposite him.
"First, I want you to know I'm here because Dr. Atom asked me to talk to you. This isn't my idea."
"Okay." I didn't know Ryan took orders (if that's what this was) from Dr. Atom. "What's his idea?"
"We were just wondering how you're doing. If you've had any more...episodes."
"Oh. I haven't had anything like that happen since last weekend. Nothing strange to report."
Ryan nodded. "Okay, that's good." He rubbed his hands on his jeans as he stood up. He started pacing between the couch and the lamp.
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, um, Dr. Atom thought we should keep an eye on you, in case it happens again."
"Did you tell him it's happened to me before?"
Ryan shook his head. "No, I didn't tell him. But we all want to figure out what's going on here. I think you do too. So I volunteered to check in on you. I thought that would be better than one of the others doing it. Watching for it to happen again, I mean."
"Yeah, it is, thanks. Are we talking like full stake-out?"
Ryan nodded. "Pretty much."
"Well, if you're okay with sleeping on the couch, that's okay with me." I shrugged. What could I do? If the thing happened again, the one person I wanted to follow me was Ryan. I didn't like that the Super Seven were involved, but it seemed to be the most logical thing to do.
Ryan sat back down on the couch. "I appreciate that, but I don't want to be in your way. I could set up across the street too and watch the building."
"You won't be in the way. Anyway, if anything does happen, it'd be better if you're up here."
"That's true."
"So are we doing this tonight or..."
"Tomorrow night. I wanted to tell you about it beforehand."
I nodded. "Okay. I'll be here after work then. You can come over whenever."
"Great." Ryan stood up and smiled. "I'm sorry about this. I know it's awkward."
"But it makes sense." I walked with Ryan to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah. See you." And he left.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi." I hadn't seen him since Saturday. Four days ago. I wasn't avoiding him on purpose, but maybe that's how it seemed. "What's up?"
"Uh, can I come in for a minute?"
"Sorry, yeah." I opened the door all the way.
He stepped in and sat on the couch. I sat on the chair opposite him.
"First, I want you to know I'm here because Dr. Atom asked me to talk to you. This isn't my idea."
"Okay." I didn't know Ryan took orders (if that's what this was) from Dr. Atom. "What's his idea?"
"We were just wondering how you're doing. If you've had any more...episodes."
"Oh. I haven't had anything like that happen since last weekend. Nothing strange to report."
Ryan nodded. "Okay, that's good." He rubbed his hands on his jeans as he stood up. He started pacing between the couch and the lamp.
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, um, Dr. Atom thought we should keep an eye on you, in case it happens again."
"Did you tell him it's happened to me before?"
Ryan shook his head. "No, I didn't tell him. But we all want to figure out what's going on here. I think you do too. So I volunteered to check in on you. I thought that would be better than one of the others doing it. Watching for it to happen again, I mean."
"Yeah, it is, thanks. Are we talking like full stake-out?"
Ryan nodded. "Pretty much."
"Well, if you're okay with sleeping on the couch, that's okay with me." I shrugged. What could I do? If the thing happened again, the one person I wanted to follow me was Ryan. I didn't like that the Super Seven were involved, but it seemed to be the most logical thing to do.
Ryan sat back down on the couch. "I appreciate that, but I don't want to be in your way. I could set up across the street too and watch the building."
"You won't be in the way. Anyway, if anything does happen, it'd be better if you're up here."
"That's true."
"So are we doing this tonight or..."
"Tomorrow night. I wanted to tell you about it beforehand."
I nodded. "Okay. I'll be here after work then. You can come over whenever."
"Great." Ryan stood up and smiled. "I'm sorry about this. I know it's awkward."
"But it makes sense." I walked with Ryan to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah. See you." And he left.
We interrupt this program for a special announcement
Matthew Elmslie, author of the fantastic story Sliced Bread 2, has a new website and he's working on a new novel. His writing has been an inspiration to me, and I'm excited to see what he does next.
So yes, go see his site.
I'll get back to footnotes and Streak.
So yes, go see his site.
I'll get back to footnotes and Streak.
S14 - Idle
After we finished eating, I came back to my apartment, showered and put on actual clothes. Ryan didn't say what happens next. I felt like he wanted to ask me more about these night trips I go on, but he didn't want to drill me with questions. He did a little bit of that during breakfast, and it was getting on my nerves. I knew so little about what was going on.
I tried enjoying the weekend like a normal person.
I tried enjoying the weekend like a normal person.
S13 - Good Morning
I woke up on the couch in Ryan's apartment. I sat up and looked around. Sunlight streamed into the room around the curtains. My head felt fine, so I tried standing up.
"Ryan?" I assumed he wouldn't leave me alone here. "Ryan, are you here?"
He walked out from his bedroom wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. "Oh, you're up. Good." He smiled at me and walked straight into the kitchen. "What do you feel like eating?"
I walked after him. "What time is it?"
"About seven. How did you sleep?" He ducked into the refrigerator.
"Fine." I yawned. "You don't have to make me breakfast though. I'm just going to go back home."
Ryan turned around with an egg carton and orange juice in his hands. "No, I want to make you breakfast. Have a seat." He nodded to the small kitchen table.
I sat down and he pulled sliced bread out of a cupboard. He turned toward me and leaned against the counter. "So what do you want to eat? Eggs, toast?"
"That sounds good. Scrambled eggs, please."
"Coming right up." He smiled at me again and turned on the stove.
"So did you check out my apartment while I was asleep?"
He paused for a moment and then said, "Yes. Sorry, I didn't want to wait until you woke up." He put two slices of bread into the toaster.
I shrugged. "No, it's fine. That's why you have the spare key. Find anything?"
"Nothing seems to be out of place. Nothing broken. Just the window was open." He cracked two eggs into a bowl and started beating them with a fork.
"That's what I thought."
He turned toward me and narrowed his eyes. "You thought the window would be open?"
"Yeah. Listen, there's something I didn't tell you back at Super Seven's headquarters. I didn't like being there, and I didn't want to add more details I didn't understand."
"What are you saying, Molly?" He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Last night wasn't the first time I've woken up naked with no memory of what happened. The difference was every other time, I woke up back in my apartment."
Ryan turned around and poured the eggs into the frying pan. "Do you remember anything from the other times?"
"No. I always wake up not knowing what happened."
He moved the eggs around with a spatula. "Any guesses why you didn't wake up back home yesterday?"
"None."
The toaster popped up. Ryan picked up the toast and moved the scrambled eggs on to a plate. He brought the plate to me along with butter and a glass of orange juice.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Ryan cracked two more eggs into a bowl and put two more slices of bread in the toaster. "Molly, don't take this the wrong way, but are you on any medication?"
"No." I started eating the eggs and toast.
"Can you think of any reason this is happening to you?"
"Nope."
"Have you ever been involved in magic? Wicca? That kind of thing."
"No. I think you'd know if I was."
He nodded. "When was the first time it happened?"
"About six months ago." Third degree, much?
"Before I moved here."
"Yeah, but it's been happening more often in the past couple months."
Ryan put his hand on my shoulder before he sat down with his plate of food. "Molly, why didn't you tell me about it?"
I laughed. "Okay, Mr. Superhero. We were just getting to know each other. I didn't want to inject any crazy into our relationship."
He smiled. "Fair enough. About that, how did you find out who I am?"
"I heard you come in on the balcony a few times. Saw your cape once. Then the rest fell into place."
"You make it sound so simple."
"It was, after I convinced myself I wasn't imagining things."
Ryan nodded. "Were you going to tell me you knew?"
"I was waiting for the right time. Or maybe for you to trust me enough to tell me."
"No offense, I don't think I would have told you."
"None taken."
"It's just that I haven't told anyone about being the Streak."
"Fair enough. You can trust me to keep it a secret."
"Yeah, I know." Ryan picked up his fork and ate.
It was weird, how normal our breakfast was and how extraordinary the conversation.
"Ryan?" I assumed he wouldn't leave me alone here. "Ryan, are you here?"
He walked out from his bedroom wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. "Oh, you're up. Good." He smiled at me and walked straight into the kitchen. "What do you feel like eating?"
I walked after him. "What time is it?"
"About seven. How did you sleep?" He ducked into the refrigerator.
"Fine." I yawned. "You don't have to make me breakfast though. I'm just going to go back home."
Ryan turned around with an egg carton and orange juice in his hands. "No, I want to make you breakfast. Have a seat." He nodded to the small kitchen table.
I sat down and he pulled sliced bread out of a cupboard. He turned toward me and leaned against the counter. "So what do you want to eat? Eggs, toast?"
"That sounds good. Scrambled eggs, please."
"Coming right up." He smiled at me again and turned on the stove.
"So did you check out my apartment while I was asleep?"
He paused for a moment and then said, "Yes. Sorry, I didn't want to wait until you woke up." He put two slices of bread into the toaster.
I shrugged. "No, it's fine. That's why you have the spare key. Find anything?"
"Nothing seems to be out of place. Nothing broken. Just the window was open." He cracked two eggs into a bowl and started beating them with a fork.
"That's what I thought."
He turned toward me and narrowed his eyes. "You thought the window would be open?"
"Yeah. Listen, there's something I didn't tell you back at Super Seven's headquarters. I didn't like being there, and I didn't want to add more details I didn't understand."
"What are you saying, Molly?" He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Last night wasn't the first time I've woken up naked with no memory of what happened. The difference was every other time, I woke up back in my apartment."
Ryan turned around and poured the eggs into the frying pan. "Do you remember anything from the other times?"
"No. I always wake up not knowing what happened."
He moved the eggs around with a spatula. "Any guesses why you didn't wake up back home yesterday?"
"None."
The toaster popped up. Ryan picked up the toast and moved the scrambled eggs on to a plate. He brought the plate to me along with butter and a glass of orange juice.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Ryan cracked two more eggs into a bowl and put two more slices of bread in the toaster. "Molly, don't take this the wrong way, but are you on any medication?"
"No." I started eating the eggs and toast.
"Can you think of any reason this is happening to you?"
"Nope."
"Have you ever been involved in magic? Wicca? That kind of thing."
"No. I think you'd know if I was."
He nodded. "When was the first time it happened?"
"About six months ago." Third degree, much?
"Before I moved here."
"Yeah, but it's been happening more often in the past couple months."
Ryan put his hand on my shoulder before he sat down with his plate of food. "Molly, why didn't you tell me about it?"
I laughed. "Okay, Mr. Superhero. We were just getting to know each other. I didn't want to inject any crazy into our relationship."
He smiled. "Fair enough. About that, how did you find out who I am?"
"I heard you come in on the balcony a few times. Saw your cape once. Then the rest fell into place."
"You make it sound so simple."
"It was, after I convinced myself I wasn't imagining things."
Ryan nodded. "Were you going to tell me you knew?"
"I was waiting for the right time. Or maybe for you to trust me enough to tell me."
"No offense, I don't think I would have told you."
"None taken."
"It's just that I haven't told anyone about being the Streak."
"Fair enough. You can trust me to keep it a secret."
"Yeah, I know." Ryan picked up his fork and ate.
It was weird, how normal our breakfast was and how extraordinary the conversation.
S12 - Unblinking Eyes
Streak and Fate walked into the room together. I was sitting on the side of the bed.
They walked right up to me. Fate held out her hand while Streak introduced her.
"Molly, this is Fate. Fate, Molly."
I shook her hand. It felt colder than mine, and I usually have cold hands. I looked up at her and smiled. "Nice to meet you." Then I noticed something about her eyes. Something about the way she looked at me was strange.
"I am most interested to figure out what happened to you," Fate said to me. "Streak has told me you have no recollection of the incident."
I nodded. "Right. I don't remember what happened or how I got to the nuclear plant."
Fate turned away from me and picked up the remote control from the counter. She pointed it at the wall and pushed a button. The whole wall turned on like a TV screen. "This is the footage from the security cameras at Next Gen Energy. I patched together the relevant footage. That is, the footage that should match the location where I found you."
While she explained, the footage played, rewound, replayed. It was in shades of gray. Every now and then there was a flash off-screen. I guess that was fire or sparks or something. The last few seconds of the footage showed me falling into the frame and landing on the floor.
Fate rewound, replayed the clips on the screen. "As you can see, I have found only this footage of you falling. The time code marks this as four minutes and forty-five seconds before I came across your body. I sifted through other security footage from tonight, but most of it is obscured by fire and smoke. I could not identify you in those clips."
"Did you see anyone else there?" I asked.
Fate shook her head. "I found no evidence of a second trespasser."
Trespasser. As in, I was the first one.
"This doesn't tell us anything new, then," Streak said. "We still don't know how Molly got there."
"I believe that is obvious," Fate said.
"Well, thank you for looking anyway." Streak took the remote control from her and turned off the screen.
Fate nodded. "Is there any other way I can be of assistance?"
"No, I think we did all we can do at this point."
"Then you will return Molly to her home?"
"Yeah, I told Atom I'd do that."
"You are aware that protocol applies to her." Talking about me as if I weren't in the room. How charming.
"Yes." Streak held Fate's elbow and walked with her toward the door. "I know the rules, Fate. Thank you."
He came back toward the bed.
"What protocol?" I asked him.
"Well, we don't normally bring non-superheroes here."
"Right..." I wasn't sure I liked where this was going.
"But when we do, we can't let them know where our headquarters are. It's fine while you're in here--there's no way for you to tell where this building is. But we can't take you out of her without you seeing our location. It's a security issue. You can understand that."
"Yeah, but what does that mean?"
Streak shrugged. "We use a mild sedative. That way you fall asleep and I can take you home safely without you finding out where our headquarters are."
"It sounds mobster to me."
"Molly--"
"Never mind." I waved my hand. "You might have saved my life tonight, and I'm thankful for that. Do what you have to do. I trust you."
Streak looked at me for a moment and then turned to the cabinet. He pulled out a small syringe. I pulled up my sleeve and he injected the sedative into my arm.
I felt sleepy almost immediately and then I was out.
They walked right up to me. Fate held out her hand while Streak introduced her.
"Molly, this is Fate. Fate, Molly."
I shook her hand. It felt colder than mine, and I usually have cold hands. I looked up at her and smiled. "Nice to meet you." Then I noticed something about her eyes. Something about the way she looked at me was strange.
"I am most interested to figure out what happened to you," Fate said to me. "Streak has told me you have no recollection of the incident."
I nodded. "Right. I don't remember what happened or how I got to the nuclear plant."
Fate turned away from me and picked up the remote control from the counter. She pointed it at the wall and pushed a button. The whole wall turned on like a TV screen. "This is the footage from the security cameras at Next Gen Energy. I patched together the relevant footage. That is, the footage that should match the location where I found you."
While she explained, the footage played, rewound, replayed. It was in shades of gray. Every now and then there was a flash off-screen. I guess that was fire or sparks or something. The last few seconds of the footage showed me falling into the frame and landing on the floor.
Fate rewound, replayed the clips on the screen. "As you can see, I have found only this footage of you falling. The time code marks this as four minutes and forty-five seconds before I came across your body. I sifted through other security footage from tonight, but most of it is obscured by fire and smoke. I could not identify you in those clips."
"Did you see anyone else there?" I asked.
Fate shook her head. "I found no evidence of a second trespasser."
Trespasser. As in, I was the first one.
"This doesn't tell us anything new, then," Streak said. "We still don't know how Molly got there."
"I believe that is obvious," Fate said.
"Well, thank you for looking anyway." Streak took the remote control from her and turned off the screen.
Fate nodded. "Is there any other way I can be of assistance?"
"No, I think we did all we can do at this point."
"Then you will return Molly to her home?"
"Yeah, I told Atom I'd do that."
"You are aware that protocol applies to her." Talking about me as if I weren't in the room. How charming.
"Yes." Streak held Fate's elbow and walked with her toward the door. "I know the rules, Fate. Thank you."
He came back toward the bed.
"What protocol?" I asked him.
"Well, we don't normally bring non-superheroes here."
"Right..." I wasn't sure I liked where this was going.
"But when we do, we can't let them know where our headquarters are. It's fine while you're in here--there's no way for you to tell where this building is. But we can't take you out of her without you seeing our location. It's a security issue. You can understand that."
"Yeah, but what does that mean?"
Streak shrugged. "We use a mild sedative. That way you fall asleep and I can take you home safely without you finding out where our headquarters are."
"It sounds mobster to me."
"Molly--"
"Never mind." I waved my hand. "You might have saved my life tonight, and I'm thankful for that. Do what you have to do. I trust you."
Streak looked at me for a moment and then turned to the cabinet. He pulled out a small syringe. I pulled up my sleeve and he injected the sedative into my arm.
I felt sleepy almost immediately and then I was out.
S11 - Spares
Ryan stood up. "I'm going to see if Fate found anything on the footage. Just wait here."
I nodded. He left the room and I looked around the room again. They didn't have me hooked up to any monitors so the doctor must have been sure there isn't anything wrong with me. At least nothing that requires constant vital checks.
I sat with my legs over the edge of the bed and pushed my toes against the floor. Then I put my feet down all the way and leaned forward, testing my weight. I felt fine so I stood up. The hospital gown hung loosely around my body as I took a few steps across the room.
Someone knocked on the door and I turned around. "Come in."
A small hand pushed the door open. A young woman stepped into the room. She was wearing an all-white uniform. Boy-cut blonde hair and soft features. "Hi." Her voice was high but pleasant.
"Hi," I said back.
She walked over and held out her hand. "I'm Jet." She was carrying some clothes in her other hand, holding them in the palm of her hand. Waitress style. I thought she was mid-twenties, but she looked younger up close.
I shook her hand. "I'm Molly."
She nodded. "Glad to see you're alright." She looked at the sweats in her hand. "I found these in the training area. They're spares, and I thought you'd be more comfortable in them than that hospital gown." She side-stepped me and put the clothes on the bed.
"Oh, thank you."
She smiled at me. "You're welcome. I just wanted to bring them down before I head out." She shook my hand again. Very formal. "Take care."
"Thanks, you too."
Jet turned around and walked out the door. She closed the door behind her and I changed into the sweat pants and sweat shirt. The pants were a little long but otherwise the clothes fit fine.
Jet, Streak (officially), Dr. Atom. How many more of the Super Seven will I meet tonight?
I nodded. He left the room and I looked around the room again. They didn't have me hooked up to any monitors so the doctor must have been sure there isn't anything wrong with me. At least nothing that requires constant vital checks.
I sat with my legs over the edge of the bed and pushed my toes against the floor. Then I put my feet down all the way and leaned forward, testing my weight. I felt fine so I stood up. The hospital gown hung loosely around my body as I took a few steps across the room.
Someone knocked on the door and I turned around. "Come in."
A small hand pushed the door open. A young woman stepped into the room. She was wearing an all-white uniform. Boy-cut blonde hair and soft features. "Hi." Her voice was high but pleasant.
"Hi," I said back.
She walked over and held out her hand. "I'm Jet." She was carrying some clothes in her other hand, holding them in the palm of her hand. Waitress style. I thought she was mid-twenties, but she looked younger up close.
I shook her hand. "I'm Molly."
She nodded. "Glad to see you're alright." She looked at the sweats in her hand. "I found these in the training area. They're spares, and I thought you'd be more comfortable in them than that hospital gown." She side-stepped me and put the clothes on the bed.
"Oh, thank you."
She smiled at me. "You're welcome. I just wanted to bring them down before I head out." She shook my hand again. Very formal. "Take care."
"Thanks, you too."
Jet turned around and walked out the door. She closed the door behind her and I changed into the sweat pants and sweat shirt. The pants were a little long but otherwise the clothes fit fine.
Jet, Streak (officially), Dr. Atom. How many more of the Super Seven will I meet tonight?
Renumbering
Since I've been writing Streak more regularly, I gave those story posts their own numbering system. From now on, they will be titled S# - brief title. Footnotes, shorts, and everything else will be numbered according to the original numbering system. Categories remain the same.
[/the boring stuff]
[/the boring stuff]
S10 - Lost Time
I woke up somewhere very hot. I don't know where--I just remember seeing sparks up near the ceiling.
I must have passed out because the next time I opened my eyes, I was wearing a hospital gown and lying down in bed. A figure moved above me and then came into focus. A dark mask covered most of his face but I recognized those bright blue eyes. "Ryan?" I whispered. "What's going on?"
He put his hand over my hand. "You're safe now, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I'm Streak."
I shook my head and my vision swirled.
"Try not to move." He patted my hand and stepped away.
A few minutes passed and my vision cleared. My head stopped pounding. I sat up carefully. The room didn't spin.
A man in a white lab coat walked over and shook my hand. "I'm Dr. Atom. Do you remember your name?"
"Molly Waters." I glanced around the room. It looked like a standard hospital room but somehow I didn't feel like I was in a hospital. "Where am I?"
"This is part of the Super Seven's headquarters, actually. Streak found you and brought you here. He was concerned that--"
"Found me where?"
Dr. Atom gave me a look. Was that confusion? "You don't remember?"
"No."
"Streak found you at the nuclear power plant north of the city. We were hoping you could tell us what you were doing there."
I rubbed my hand over my head. "I don't know. The last thing I remember was going to sleep in my apartment."
"Then how did you end up at Next Gen Energy?"
"I told you, I don't know." The sparks I saw, the heat, that must have been in the nuclear plant. But I didn't remember how I got there. This didn't make sense. "May I speak to Streak please?"
"Yes, in a moment." Dr. Atom flipped a page on his clipboard. "He was worried that something happened to you, so I ran a few basic tests. Your vitals are normal. Blood test results are normal. No sign of radiation poisoning."
I nodded. "Thank you."
He stood up and left the room.
Streak walked in. He pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down. He looked at me for a moment. I didn't say anything.
He took a deep breath. "Do you know what my day job is?"
"Taxi driver," I said. My voice was barely a whisper. This wasn't at all how I imagined this conversation going.
He stood up and paced around the bed. "How long have you known who I am?"
"About two months."
Ryan took even strides. He kept his voice at an even tone.
"Have you told anyone?"
"Of course not." I couldn't tell if he was angry with me.
He sat back down. "Molly, what happened tonight?"
"I don't know."
"You can be honest with me, you know."
"I know." I shifted on the bed to face him. "The last thing I remember is going to sleep at home. How did you find me?"
"Dr. Atom is sort of the Super Seven's operator. He put out the message that Next Gen Energy was going on overload. High chance of an explosion. I was in the area, so I thought I'd check it out. Fate was already there. There was smoke from fires that were put out, but the situation looked under control. I asked her what needed to be done and she shrugged. She said things were mostly taken care of by the time she got there."
"By who?"
"Exactly. Fate saw you first, actually. I recognized you, so I brought you back here to make sure you were okay."
"Thank you." Ryan moved his hand onto the bed and I held it. "I'm sorry this is so bizarre."
"There's more..." Ryan glanced at me for a second and then stared at our hands. "When Fate and I found you, you weren't wearing any clothes."
"I...what?"
"I covered you with my cape." He was blushing. My cheeks were probably bright red. I've woken up naked a few times in the last few months, but always in my apartment. Still mysteries as to why or how, but at least no one else saw me. "Small fires, debris everywhere, but there wasn't a scratch on you. None of this makes sense."
"Ummm...is there...I don't know if it's too early to ask. But is there security footage of the place? Maybe that can show us what happened."
He nodded. "Fate is getting access to it."
"Ryan, I'm scared. I don't know how any of this happened."
He squeezed my hand. "I know, but we'll figure this out."
I must have passed out because the next time I opened my eyes, I was wearing a hospital gown and lying down in bed. A figure moved above me and then came into focus. A dark mask covered most of his face but I recognized those bright blue eyes. "Ryan?" I whispered. "What's going on?"
He put his hand over my hand. "You're safe now, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I'm Streak."
I shook my head and my vision swirled.
"Try not to move." He patted my hand and stepped away.
A few minutes passed and my vision cleared. My head stopped pounding. I sat up carefully. The room didn't spin.
A man in a white lab coat walked over and shook my hand. "I'm Dr. Atom. Do you remember your name?"
"Molly Waters." I glanced around the room. It looked like a standard hospital room but somehow I didn't feel like I was in a hospital. "Where am I?"
"This is part of the Super Seven's headquarters, actually. Streak found you and brought you here. He was concerned that--"
"Found me where?"
Dr. Atom gave me a look. Was that confusion? "You don't remember?"
"No."
"Streak found you at the nuclear power plant north of the city. We were hoping you could tell us what you were doing there."
I rubbed my hand over my head. "I don't know. The last thing I remember was going to sleep in my apartment."
"Then how did you end up at Next Gen Energy?"
"I told you, I don't know." The sparks I saw, the heat, that must have been in the nuclear plant. But I didn't remember how I got there. This didn't make sense. "May I speak to Streak please?"
"Yes, in a moment." Dr. Atom flipped a page on his clipboard. "He was worried that something happened to you, so I ran a few basic tests. Your vitals are normal. Blood test results are normal. No sign of radiation poisoning."
I nodded. "Thank you."
He stood up and left the room.
Streak walked in. He pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down. He looked at me for a moment. I didn't say anything.
He took a deep breath. "Do you know what my day job is?"
"Taxi driver," I said. My voice was barely a whisper. This wasn't at all how I imagined this conversation going.
He stood up and paced around the bed. "How long have you known who I am?"
"About two months."
Ryan took even strides. He kept his voice at an even tone.
"Have you told anyone?"
"Of course not." I couldn't tell if he was angry with me.
He sat back down. "Molly, what happened tonight?"
"I don't know."
"You can be honest with me, you know."
"I know." I shifted on the bed to face him. "The last thing I remember is going to sleep at home. How did you find me?"
"Dr. Atom is sort of the Super Seven's operator. He put out the message that Next Gen Energy was going on overload. High chance of an explosion. I was in the area, so I thought I'd check it out. Fate was already there. There was smoke from fires that were put out, but the situation looked under control. I asked her what needed to be done and she shrugged. She said things were mostly taken care of by the time she got there."
"By who?"
"Exactly. Fate saw you first, actually. I recognized you, so I brought you back here to make sure you were okay."
"Thank you." Ryan moved his hand onto the bed and I held it. "I'm sorry this is so bizarre."
"There's more..." Ryan glanced at me for a second and then stared at our hands. "When Fate and I found you, you weren't wearing any clothes."
"I...what?"
"I covered you with my cape." He was blushing. My cheeks were probably bright red. I've woken up naked a few times in the last few months, but always in my apartment. Still mysteries as to why or how, but at least no one else saw me. "Small fires, debris everywhere, but there wasn't a scratch on you. None of this makes sense."
"Ummm...is there...I don't know if it's too early to ask. But is there security footage of the place? Maybe that can show us what happened."
He nodded. "Fate is getting access to it."
"Ryan, I'm scared. I don't know how any of this happened."
He squeezed my hand. "I know, but we'll figure this out."
S9 - The Customer Is Always Right
Work has been so annoying this week. I don't want to go into detail so I'll just say this. InfoTech does its very best to satisfy customers and ninety-five percent of the time, we are successful in doing that. The people I'm dealing with this week seem to all be in the remaining five percent.
Ryan and I have been spending more time together, and that's been nice. Poor guy, he's been putting up with my rants about work. But then he tells me funny stories about people he drives around. It's nice to have someone new to talk to, someone outside of work.
Oh, by the way. Breaking news today. Streak saved a helicopter from crashing. It was one of those hospital helicopters, the ones that transport patients. Freak accident, the engine failed. Streak showed up and held it in the air. Then he flew it safely to the hospital. PrimaNews's footage of it was great--the kind of stuff you expect to see in action movies.
I'm going to sleep now. Tomorrow's the weekend. Yay!
Ryan and I have been spending more time together, and that's been nice. Poor guy, he's been putting up with my rants about work. But then he tells me funny stories about people he drives around. It's nice to have someone new to talk to, someone outside of work.
Oh, by the way. Breaking news today. Streak saved a helicopter from crashing. It was one of those hospital helicopters, the ones that transport patients. Freak accident, the engine failed. Streak showed up and held it in the air. Then he flew it safely to the hospital. PrimaNews's footage of it was great--the kind of stuff you expect to see in action movies.
I'm going to sleep now. Tomorrow's the weekend. Yay!
S8 - Party Of Two
Ryan and I ended up coming home at the same time. I made a pan of lasagna last night, so I asked him if he wanted to join me for dinner. I figured it would be a nice break from the take-out food I see him carrying most nights.
He looked at me for a moment, nodded, and said, "Okay."
I invited him to sit on the couch while I warmed up the food. I offered him a drink and he said "Just a glass of water would be great, thanks." He glanced at the TV. "Mind if I turn on the news?"
I peeked around the corner from the kitchen. "Go ahead. Remote should be on the coffee table in front of you."
"Thanks."
I pulled the pan of lasagna out of the refrigerator and heard the six o'clock newscaster. She was talking about a bank robbery. I put the lasagna in the oven and turned it on to 350 degrees. I poured Ryan's glass of water and took it out to him.
"What's going on?" I asked him as I handed him the water.
"Thanks," he muttered and then nodded to the TV. "Live cam on a robbery downtown. Looks like Pillar and Falcon are handling it."
Just as he said it, I saw Falcon's brown and white form hovering above the bank. Pillar wasn't on screen, so maybe he was inside the bank. I had a passing thought that Ryan was going to stand up and say "I'm sorry, but I have to go." I'd say, "Oh, is everything okay?" And he'd say, "Yeah, I just forgot about something I have to take care of." He'd excuse himself and five minutes later I'd see Streak on the six o'clock news.
But Ryan didn't do any of that. He kept watching the news.
"Pillar is exiting the bank now. It looks like he has apprehended the thief," the newscaster said. "Police are moving in to arrest him now."
"I wonder why Pillar and Falcon were the ones to take care of that," I thought aloud. "Doesn't look like it was something the police couldn't handle on their own."
Ryan shrugged. "Maybe they were on patrol in the area."
I don't intend to trip up Ryan and get him to say something he's not supposed to reveal. I know who he is. I don't have to have him accidentally validate that he's Streak. But sometimes I'm still hyper-aware of everything he says, as if I'm going to analyze every word looking for clues.
But this sort of hypothesizing about superheroes is common. Most people in Primacity wonder about the Super Seven and they'll talk about why superheroes do the things they do. Now, if Ryan said something that implied he knew Pillar and Falcon personally, that would be different. But he won't do that. Besides, I said I'm not waiting around for that kind of thing.
I'm rambling again, sorry.
After the lasagna was hot, I set the table and Ryan and I had dinner. It was nice, just two neighbors sharing a meal. He said it was "delicious" and thanked me again for dinner before he left.
Must be lonely, being a superhero and not being able to tell people about it. It doesn't have to be that way for him or for any of them. But they'll tell you it's safe that way.
He looked at me for a moment, nodded, and said, "Okay."
I invited him to sit on the couch while I warmed up the food. I offered him a drink and he said "Just a glass of water would be great, thanks." He glanced at the TV. "Mind if I turn on the news?"
I peeked around the corner from the kitchen. "Go ahead. Remote should be on the coffee table in front of you."
"Thanks."
I pulled the pan of lasagna out of the refrigerator and heard the six o'clock newscaster. She was talking about a bank robbery. I put the lasagna in the oven and turned it on to 350 degrees. I poured Ryan's glass of water and took it out to him.
"What's going on?" I asked him as I handed him the water.
"Thanks," he muttered and then nodded to the TV. "Live cam on a robbery downtown. Looks like Pillar and Falcon are handling it."
Just as he said it, I saw Falcon's brown and white form hovering above the bank. Pillar wasn't on screen, so maybe he was inside the bank. I had a passing thought that Ryan was going to stand up and say "I'm sorry, but I have to go." I'd say, "Oh, is everything okay?" And he'd say, "Yeah, I just forgot about something I have to take care of." He'd excuse himself and five minutes later I'd see Streak on the six o'clock news.
But Ryan didn't do any of that. He kept watching the news.
"Pillar is exiting the bank now. It looks like he has apprehended the thief," the newscaster said. "Police are moving in to arrest him now."
"I wonder why Pillar and Falcon were the ones to take care of that," I thought aloud. "Doesn't look like it was something the police couldn't handle on their own."
Ryan shrugged. "Maybe they were on patrol in the area."
I don't intend to trip up Ryan and get him to say something he's not supposed to reveal. I know who he is. I don't have to have him accidentally validate that he's Streak. But sometimes I'm still hyper-aware of everything he says, as if I'm going to analyze every word looking for clues.
But this sort of hypothesizing about superheroes is common. Most people in Primacity wonder about the Super Seven and they'll talk about why superheroes do the things they do. Now, if Ryan said something that implied he knew Pillar and Falcon personally, that would be different. But he won't do that. Besides, I said I'm not waiting around for that kind of thing.
I'm rambling again, sorry.
After the lasagna was hot, I set the table and Ryan and I had dinner. It was nice, just two neighbors sharing a meal. He said it was "delicious" and thanked me again for dinner before he left.
Must be lonely, being a superhero and not being able to tell people about it. It doesn't have to be that way for him or for any of them. But they'll tell you it's safe that way.
S7 - Burn With Me
I had a strange dream last night. My whole body was burning, white-hot, but I didn't feel any pain. I held my hand in front of my face and saw my fingers, pure energy, and I knew I should have been screaming but I didn't. Nothing hurt at all.
S6 - Elevated
For privacy purposes, I'm going to use pseudonyms to refer to Streak's alter ego and me. I don't want to expose who he is, so the sensible thing is not to include personal details in this writing. For the sake of the story here, I'll call Streak's alter ego Ryan and I'll call myself Molly. There isn't any significance to the names--just what popped into my head first.
I saw Ryan in the hallway today when I was leaving for work. My schedule is pretty regular...the exact definition of a 9 to 5 job, but his isn't. The taxi service seems to let him have a flexible schedule which is great considering who he is.
He's been living next door for about four months, but we haven't talked much. Our schedules don't cross often but today they did. I stepped out of my apartment and locked the door at the same moment he did.
He looked over to me and smiled. "Hi, Molly."
"Hi, Ryan." *
Ryan's eyes are a striking shade of blue. Bright and clear. I don't think I've looked him straight in the eye before. His hair is dark brown and curls loosely around his head. If he let it grow out a little more, he might have something like a surfer look. A surfer who flies through the air instead of rides ocean waves. Ocean waves as blue as his eyes. But okay, I'm rambling. He has beautiful eyes. Moving on.
We walked to the elevator together.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"Oh, okay. Not much excitement in being a cabbie."
I smiled. "Maybe not, what's exciting anymore?"
"Yeah." He looked over at me. Those piercing blue eyes. He's a little less than a head taller than me. Probably just over six feet. "What is it you do again?"
"I work in consumer relations at InfoTech, that computer store downtown."
"So that's like customer service?"
"Basically the same thing." I nodded. "Also not much excitement."
He smiled. The elevator bell dinged and the doors opened. We walked out into the street. The taxi service he works for is a couple blocks north. I walk east to InfoTech.
"Well, it was nice talking to you," he said.
"Yeah, you too. Have a good day." Do good work, I thought.
He nodded. "You too." He turned and walked up the street.
I waited for the traffic light to change and crossed the street.
I wonder if he ever flies to work.
* We used each other's actual names of course. He doesn't know about these pseudonyms.
I saw Ryan in the hallway today when I was leaving for work. My schedule is pretty regular...the exact definition of a 9 to 5 job, but his isn't. The taxi service seems to let him have a flexible schedule which is great considering who he is.
He's been living next door for about four months, but we haven't talked much. Our schedules don't cross often but today they did. I stepped out of my apartment and locked the door at the same moment he did.
He looked over to me and smiled. "Hi, Molly."
"Hi, Ryan." *
Ryan's eyes are a striking shade of blue. Bright and clear. I don't think I've looked him straight in the eye before. His hair is dark brown and curls loosely around his head. If he let it grow out a little more, he might have something like a surfer look. A surfer who flies through the air instead of rides ocean waves. Ocean waves as blue as his eyes. But okay, I'm rambling. He has beautiful eyes. Moving on.
We walked to the elevator together.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"Oh, okay. Not much excitement in being a cabbie."
I smiled. "Maybe not, what's exciting anymore?"
"Yeah." He looked over at me. Those piercing blue eyes. He's a little less than a head taller than me. Probably just over six feet. "What is it you do again?"
"I work in consumer relations at InfoTech, that computer store downtown."
"So that's like customer service?"
"Basically the same thing." I nodded. "Also not much excitement."
He smiled. The elevator bell dinged and the doors opened. We walked out into the street. The taxi service he works for is a couple blocks north. I walk east to InfoTech.
"Well, it was nice talking to you," he said.
"Yeah, you too. Have a good day." Do good work, I thought.
He nodded. "You too." He turned and walked up the street.
I waited for the traffic light to change and crossed the street.
I wonder if he ever flies to work.
* We used each other's actual names of course. He doesn't know about these pseudonyms.
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