HERO
"What are your plans for life Hiro?" The counselor asked. "Don't you ever want to go somewhere be someone special?"
Hiro, an average guy with no muscle or flab, was a college student. He lowered his head sadly trying to look up at his counselor but was embarrassed to admit he had no idea. Hiro stuttered for a moment only to shut his mouth again.
"Listen Hiro," the counselor continued. "You have been attending this college for almost ten years now, even taking classes in the summer. The problem is you still haven't settled on a major." The counselor grabbed his brow in frustration. "You have no particular pattern of classes, you've failed more than half, and I don't even know how you can afford to keep coming back."
Hiro tried to interrupt, but was not quick enough to get a word in.
"Looking at your transcripts I see you've taken a lot of psychology, art, English, and literature. The closest thing you have to getting is journalism. You only need one class. Fortunately for you I am teaching that class, but you failed your final by one point. If you should pass my class would you take a journalism degree?"
Hiro looked up sadly interested and settled on only nodding.
"Alright then," said the counselor. "I am going to flip a coin. If its heads, I will give you the point and let you pass getting your degree. If it is tails, you fail and try again next year. Ok?"
Hiro looks up genuinely shocked and without hesitation the counselor pulls out a coin and with a "Here we go!" flips it. They both watch intently as the coin seems to flip in mid air forever.
Journalism is not the easiest job to achieve, especially when you graduated with low scores. Hiro received help from his college but even then there were no magazines or newspapers with enough work to hire a starter. Everyday he went door to door looking for a job but everyone refused. It just so happened, one editor decided to be helpful.
"There is a place where there was always a story, where there was always a job for journalist. It was a heaven made for journalist who don't mind being a little braver than average. I call it The City of Heroes, Paragon City. They always need journalist; they go through them like crazy there."
Hiro gave a worried confused look to the man. The editor only hit his shoulder trying to snap him out of it.
"You can't be afraid of death; it is a risk all journalists have to take. It's just a little higher there. Believe me that is where all journalist go that want to make it big."
So Hiro took the man's advice. He obtained a license to enter and moved to Paragon City.
"So you want to be a Journalist huh?" The Chief asked Hiro. The first building Hiro tried for was one of the largest, the Paragon Prime.
"Yes sir, I would like that." Hiro replied.
The Chief looked up at Hiro suspiciously and gave a sly smile. Grabbing Hiro's resume he flipped over the cover sheet glanced at it and closed it without ever looking at the other six pages.
"You're hired!" The Chief handed Hiro back his resume and grinned. "Take this to one of my secretaries and ask her to file it and show you your desk. I expect a full story every morning except whatever two days you picked to be off."
"What do you want me to cover sir?" Hiro asked.
The chief looked at him humored, and stated. "This is Paragon City, there is always a story."
"Ok?" Hiro slowly turned around worried and confused. He hadn't taken one step away before a sharp pain went through his left arm. Hiro turned back only to witness The Chief holding a needle and looking puzzled.
"What was that for?" Hiro exclaimed puzzled.
"You're a Hero right." The chief blurted.
"No!"
"Of course you are just look at your name, you can't fool me." The chief quickly pricks Hiro again just below the ribs. "I have to know this you know."
"Ouch! Stop that. I'm not a hero"
The Chief gives him and angry stare, and nods. "Of course you're not a hero." Hiro turns around slowly again but tries keep an eye on his boss. "I've got my eye on you!" The Chief shouts. Hiro was almost all most at the secretary's desk when a stapler nailed him in the shoulder. He looked back at the boss angrily, but the only reply from The Chief was a, forget you, wave.
The first secretary he met was a pretty lady named Sue. She looked up with a smile, and said. "Don't mind the boss he's like that with everyone. Just don't give him any reason to believe you're a hero and he'll leave you alone." She opened the resume and began reading the first lines. "Oh!" she looked up at Hiro and studied him for a second. "I guess you are a He…"
"I'm not a Hero." Hiro lightly snapped. She only shrugged her shoulders and went back to reading the resume. She was skimming over the first page and rummaging under her desk at the same time. With a slam she placed a large book on the desk and without looking up filled him in on the info.
"Fill out these forms and bring them back as soon as possible. Make sure they are full and accurate otherwise you can't start work."
Hiro was a little shocked to find the first page was an in case of death certificate. He picked up the phonebook sized packet, and began to walk away, before something crossed his mind. Turning around and leaning on the desk, he asked.
"Do you know where I might be able to find an apartment for rent right away?"
She only looked up momentarily. "Page 235!"
It was a three story run-down old red building. A half lit sign barely lit the street, saying "Red Apartments". Chunks of brick wall were replaced with sheet rock in some areas, poorly painted. The windows were small and the neighborhood seemed dangerous. Hiro walked up to the only door which looked as sturdy as Easter grass. He knocked a few times and after only a minute the door was answered.
The door was answered by an old woman, with circular spectacles. She would have been a bit taller than him if she wasn't hunched over.
"Hello." She said. "You must be Hiro, the new tenant. I am Rita I run this building and I've owned it since it was built. Let me show you to your apartment."
Hiro was carrying two cases, and followed the woman at a steady pace. He was half worried she would keel over in front of him. They reached the second floor, and she stopped.
"Here we are room 007. The deposit is two hundred dollars, and rent is three fifty a month." She opened the door with a shoulder shove and revealed a small apartment suitable for a bachelor. There was even a small poker table in the dining room. The rooms looked dusty but all in all it was still livable. His bed room was right beside the sign and it worried him that he might be kept awake, but he would ignore it for now.
He handed the woman two hundred dollars and said. "I'll take it."
"You won't regret it." She stated. With a pat on the shoulder she handed him the keys and proceeded to leave. Rita reached the door but stopped when she grabbed the door knob. "I don't mean to pry but may I ask? What kind of hero are you?"
Hiro looked up and with a sigh stated. "I'm not a hero."
Rita looked back at him and studied him up and down. "OK but I can't help feel something is special about you." She walked out closing the door never expecting an answer.
two hours later
Hiro was getting tired of doing paperwork and he wasn't even a quarter of the way through. He had time though. With the money he received from his parents he could pay rent for another two months. He was hungry though and it dawned on him. There was no food. Looking outside he was surprised to see the sun had already come up and he had not slept.
"Its early I think I'll go get something to eat. I hear this city never sleeps." He was talking to himself. Hiro grabbed his coat and headed out making sure to lock up as he left. There was a shadow watching him from a window next to his as he walked down the alley.
An hour later, with a hand full of groceries, Hiro emerged again. He was fumbling for his keys and juggling the groceries at the same time. He hadn't even made it within nine meters from the door when a burst of deep cackles startled him. He unknowingly dropped his keys and watched as four figures came out of the shadows. He could barely make them out with the sun still hiding behind buildings. One was a huge hairy guy much like a homeless. Another was wearing white face paint. The other two looked like a pair of weak nerdy twins.
"We heard there was a new Hero in town." Face Paint said.
Hairy man said. The twins were still cackling but the brought out a pair of switch blades.
"I'm not a hero." Hiro said with a stutter.
"For your sake," Face Paint replied. "I hope you're lying."
Hiro ran to the door and began fumbling for his keys but they were not there. He did not even have the time to turn around, before his arm was almost ripped off by the big man. Hiro's back was brought down upon the man's huge beefy knee, and his groceries began to fly everywhere. He was then thrown into the twins who began to kick him back and forth while holding him standing by his arms.
"So much for the big hero," Face paint said. "I guess we'll have to take your lunch money." The man flashed one of the switch blades, and held it up. "Hope you know you way home from the hospital."
Hiro saw the blade descending down to his chest but he never felt a thing. Sweat beaded his forehead as he still looked into the man's face, but the man was looking to his right. Looking down Hiro saw a female hand holding the knife at bay. The woman attached was moderately attractive and smiling joyfully at her prey.
"Haven't you got something better to do than pick on the helpless." She said. Without letting go she lifted the man by his knife wielding hand and threw him into the big fellow. In a series of dance like poses she punched both twins in the face, knocking them down. The big man and Face Paint got up and started to charge at her, but she only punched both of them in the head when they got to close, causing them to teleport away. She then turned to the twins. She only took one step toward them before they began to run. On of them shouting, "Stupid swim suits."
Hiro was too dumbfounded to realize he wasn't even standing anymore. It was a fact he had not realized till his savior offered him a hand to get up. "Thanks!" Was all he could say.
There was a bit more morning light, so he could get a good look at her. She had golden curls much like the style of the mid eighties. And she was wearing a glossy leather swimsuit like outfit, it even had fins.
"You got to be more careful around here. There are always weirdoes around every corner. Fortunately I live in these apartments and I saw you coming, and going." She noticed him staring at her, and reached out her hand. "My name is Christine, but my hero friends call me Sky Violet 32."
Hiro shook her hand and wiped sweat from his forehead. "My names Hiro, I just moved into these apartments, and as you can tell I'm not really a hero."
Christine's eyes narrowed studiously. "So you're the new tenant. Rita was telling me about yo……."
A loud crash interrupted them. Out of the sky a large humanoid machine came crashing down. It was about as wide as a tank, and thrice as tall as either of them. With a couple more crashes it approached them.
"DESTROY ALL HEROS!" It proclaimed.
"Oh sh…" Christine couldn't even finish her words before she was knocked off her feet and slammed into the apartment walls.
Hiro tried rushing to her but he was still in pain. He was barely able to dodge one of the robots large arms only to be caught by a wire as thick as a water hose. It may not have been metal but the speed and ferocity made hero worry about his head being ripped off. He landed sideways on the front door step about a meter from Christine. She was trying to get up but obviously in pain also.
"Sorry I guess I'm a little too green to be the super hero today. At least I can show you how to get home from the hospital." Hiro could barely turn.
The machine began to charge weapons in both of its hands. It lifted its hands and suddenly stopped when a small burst of energy hit it. Out the corner of his eye Hiro could make out another female figure floating next to the apartment sign.
The female figure flew in close punched the machine left, then right making it flop like there was nothing there at all. She then grabbed the machine and flew high up in the air with it. Hiro used this time to get up and could see Christine doing the same. Three seconds after she flew off the mystery woman came crashing back down causing the Robot to shatter into thousands of pieces. Hiro watched as she flew back to the apartment sign and floated as if standing on an invisible platform leaning on the sign.
Christine walked away and Hiro kept watching this new woman.
"Here're your keys." Christine said, as she tried to hand them back to Hiro.
He was still staring at the mystery woman.
"Her name is Red. She is one of the oldest of the Super hero's. She's s super elite. These apartments where actually named after her." Christine knew he was listening but he couldn't keep his eyes off Red. She was busy surveying the damage.
Finally the sun crept out of the corners and shone brightly on Red. Hiro was so engulfed in thought he forgot about the pain. Here before him was a beauty he had never seen before. She had light tan skin, straight shoulder length red hair, and lips that would make Snow White jealous. She was wearing a red out fit with blue stripes and a diamond shape opening revealing her bellybutton. Hiro could see one horizontal blue stripe was on the belt line right above her miniskirt, and the other going from the pits of her arms to the belt line of the miniskirt which continued as a slit which revealed a lot of thigh. She wore long red high heel boots, and had a body that all of the heavens must have worked on to make.
Christine didn't even try to get his attention. The only words that came out Hiro's mouth were.
"I think I've fallen in Love." He had never been so bold in his life.
Red looked at Christine, and nodded. Then she looked straight into Hiro's eyes and smiled like an angel.