Day 14

Harris and Melody were charging across Parker Street through the spring evening downpour, feeling cold rivulets flow through their shoes, when they saw a dark figure flying overhead. As they reached the sidewalk, Harris put his hand over his eyes and squinted at the man floating 50 feet above them, his green cape fluttering loudly against the rain.

"Dammit," Harris said. "It's another one."

"I think he's just checking on things," Melody said.

"No, they're like cockroaches. You never see just one for long."

"Let's keep going," she said. "This doesn't have to ruin our dinner."

"No, it's too late. Dinner is already ruined. Some bad guy or nemesis will show up at any moment and they'll wind up crashing through the restaurant's plate glass window, right on top of our table."

"But the place we're going to is still two blocks away."

"They'll find it," he said, then watched as a second caped figure appeared in the sky. Some angry words were shouted about revenge and justice and then the two men began to fight, throwing each other into buildings and disrupting various dinners, baths, and meetings. It wasn't long until the voices of the cheering fans and the screaming injured filled the air.

It hadn't always been like this in Capital City. As a major metropolis, it had had its share of crime, of course, and residents were suitably wary. They locked their doors at night and learned that they should hand over any valuables immediately if someone tried to mug them. They listened to the crime statistics on the local news and worried about their children's safety.

Then rumors started spreading about something incredible happening just 60 miles away in Central City. At first it all sounded far-fetched and no one would admit to believing any of it. But the trickle of information grew into a torrent and soon it was all that the local TV news and newspapers would discuss: "Superheroes Appear in Central City," "Superheroes Help Police Fight Crime," "Central City Mayor Awards Medal to Magnificent Man," "Super Villain Discovered at the Root of Central City's Crime Syndicate, Now Behind Bars Thanks to the Turquoise Tumbler."

People in Capital City began to talk about how they could use their own superheroes to wipe out the crime element that had overrun the city. They talked about it on the streets and at their jobs. Some began to call Mayor Greenblatt and demand that he find the city its own superheroes. The need permeated every conversation and event in the city, until one day something was spotted in the sky. No one was sure if the Mayor had done it or the message had gotten through by word-of-mouth, but a superhero had finally arrived. His name was Dr. Fantastic. He wore a white jumpsuit and a white jacket that resembled a lab coat. His belt contained a collection of never-before-seen crime-fighting tools that he had invented himself. He addressed the entire population in a speech that aired on every local news channel during which he promised to rid Capital City of every criminal that plagued it. And for a while, it seemed that he would be successful.

But just as the city began to feel the weight of constant crime lifted from its shoulders, a super villain appeared. It turned out that he was a nemesis of Dr. Fantastic and had developed the perfect plan to finally vanquish him. Their battles were numerous and increasingly violent. They clashed in the sky and on the ground where the city's residents watched and tried to keep a safe distance. In the end, Dr. Fantastic prevailed, but not before Capital City found itself with unplanned infrastructure and medical expenses. Taxes had to be raised, but everyone was grateful for Dr. Fantastic's efforts, and so few complained.

Not long after that, Sergeant Strong and the Silverlady appeared at Capital City. They, too, declared their interest in helping to keep everyone safe, and so they were welcomed.