TRUTH AND JUSTICE
By SANDEFUR
Disclaimer: This crossover story is just fan fiction. I have no claims.
Occurs at the start of the next school year after the movie Sky High.
The so-called bus ride to Sky High had been a shock, but traveling with a group of ho-hum seniors had helped Joan to stay calm. Of all the missions she had been assigned, infiltrating a high school for super-heroes was by far the strangest, and the most galling.
Just last June she had graduated, only to be assigned to the role of a new senior at Sky High. Her science geek brother had hacked into her old school's computer and had altered her grades. All those A's and B's she had worked so hard for were changed into D's and F's. Her cover story was that after suddenly acquiring a superpower, the psychological trauma had caused her to flunk out her senior year.
The Sky High recruiter had assured Joan that this was a common phenomenon with those who didn't inherit their powers, and in amongst her "own kind," Joan would have smooth sailing as she repeated her senior year. Joan was hoping her assignment wouldn't take nearly that long. She was eager to start her college career.
The bus lands smoothly, and Joan disembarks feeling like a hick tourist. Overhead, students who can fly are coming in for a landing. A student dressed in yellow and white is walking by with a purple guinea pig on his shoulder, and they are having a conversation! Over by the flower bed, a row of dried-up, drooping flowers suddenly springs into full bloom as a girl dressed in green waves her hand. Near the landing strip, one of the buses has a tire off the tarmac and is stuck in the mud. A kid dressed in red and blue simply picks uo the front of the bus and positions it back on the landing strip.
Joan can only stare in amazement. The fact is, outside of the world's major cities, people rarely encountered super heroes or villains. In the small Maryland city where Joan lives, it was a dozen years since a super hero was needed to show up and save-the-day.
"You're looking a little lost and confused."
Joan turns and finds herself facing HERSELF. The same face, figure, clothing and even voice! The student before her laughs and suddenly transforms into a teenage boy with long brown hair.
"Relax, I was just demonstrating my chameleon powers."
"That's a relief. I thought I had gone over the edge."
"Oooh, not a good phrase at a school that flys. Can I help you find anything?"
Feeling like a pathetic orphan, Joan hands over her acceptance letter to the chameleon guy.
"Wow, a senior and your first day. Unusual, but not unheard of. Huh, this is odd. Usually you start with orientation followed by power placement, but your first stop is the school nurse for an exam. Let me guess, you fell into a vat of toxic waste, and they want to make sure you're not slowly dying from the exposure?"
"Sorry, no toxic waste, but thanks for the cheerful thought. Where do I find the nurse's office?"
"Through the main entrance, take a right, and about halfway down that corridor."
"Thanks for the help." Joan says, giving a small backhand wave as she goes.
The nurse's office is easy to find, and after a brief knock, Joan enters. The nurse on duty is an older woman, in her 70's, who wears thick glasses. Her presence shocks Joan.
"Aunt Olive?"
"Joan Girardi?"
In unison: "What are you doing here?"
Joan says, "Definitely you first. The last time I saw you was after you had a stroke. You were partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. When you left, your note said you were tracking down a Chinese herbalist for a cure."
Nurse Spex answers, "Part of my cover story. The fact is, I'm a retired super hero who has worked as the Sky High school nurse for years. My cure came from Mr. Medulla, the school's resident mad scientist. He knows more about treating people with special powers than anyone. It only took him a couple of days to restore me to normal."
"So all those stories about traveling around the world and experiencing exotic cultures…"
"Were all true, but from my younger days when I was half of the hero team of Dr. Energy and Nurse Spex."
"Uh sorry, I never heard of you."
"I'm not surprised. It was way before your time, and we never made it to the big leagues. But what about you? The last time we were together you were an ordinary teenager who should have graduated by now."
"I flunked out my senior year. The pressure of hiding the fact that I suddenly had super strength really messed with my studies."
"How did you gain super strength?"
"No, you first. Don't powers usually run in families?"
"Not in our case. I acquired x-ray vision when as a kid, I was struck by lightning during a dental x-ray. After that, I attended the original Sky High, but upon graduation, I decided to skip the hero business and get married. You know how that turned out."
"I remember you telling me your husband drown while on your honeymoon."
"Yes, so I accepted the inevitable and teamed with Dr. Energy. In civilian life he was a gifted surgeon who flew all over the world doing charitable work. It also served as an excellent cover for our super hero activities. Your turn."
"Well my story is a little more difficult to relate, since I promised to keep much of it secret. I met an individual with great magical powers and ran a few errands for him. He gave me super strength without even asking me if I wanted it. The adjustment has been difficult. Have others gained super powers through magic?"
A voice from the doorway calls out, "Balderdash. There's no such thing as magic."
Joan and Spex turn to see a man with an enormous bald head, who is carrying some electronic gizmo that he has pointed directly at Joan.
"Joan Girardi, meet our mad science expert, Mr. Medulla."
"Oh, you're the one who cured my great aunt. Thank you sir for helping her."
"Merely doing my duty as a SCIENTIST, without the aid of any so-called magic. When our school recruiter reported your claim, I knew you to be a liar and possibly a saboteur or assassin."
"Careful Medulla, this is a member of my family."
"Which is the only reason she was allowed to set foot on Sky High. Now let's have the truth, Miss Girardi. How did you gain your power?"
"I told you, my benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous, magically gave me super strength. I swear to you neither he nor I bear any ill will towards this school or any living person here."
"Astonishing. This device is the world's most sophisticated lie-detector. It has been analyzing your blood pressure, galvanic skin response, voice stress and brain waves. You truly believe everything you are saying."
"Then you believe me?"
"Not at all. This merely means you are an innocent dupe in whatever scheme your unnamed benefactor is plotting. You must realize Miss Girardi, no matter how magical your transformation may have seemed, and truly advanced science can seem that way, it was done through solid scientific principles."
"There are more thing in heaven and on earth…"
"Yes, I'm familiar with the quote. Now comes your physical, and if we detect any artifical aids, such as chemical enhancements or nanotechnology, you will be expelled."
"Bring it on. You won't find anything like that."
Half an hour later, a confused looking Mr. Medulla reviews test results on a clipboard.
"So how did I do?"
"Your super strength is undeniable, and there's nothing artifical about it. Your body is completely normal, which is the impossible part."
"What do you mean?"
"Super strength is a common power, and the body always alters itself to accommodate that change. Bone density increases, heart and blood vessels enlarge and become more efficient and muscle striation alters to a triangular pattern. Without these changes, a super strong body simply can't function. For you to have super strength without these changes defies all scientific theory, and don't quote Shakespeare at me again."
"Okay then, it we're done here, I'm late for power placement, whatever that is."
"One moment Miss Girardi, I have a special gift for you."
Medulla slips his hand into his pocket and removes a small golden sphere. Instantly, the sphere begins hovering a foot above Joan's head.
"What the hell is this thing?"
"An automated monitor. Every moment you are on Sky High, there will be an audio and visual record of your activities."
"Well this certainly won't make me stand out as the school's freak! So this thing is going to follow me into the bathroom and the girl's showers?"
"Yes, but in such situations, it will operate in audio mode only."
"How nice. Suppose I value my privacy so much, I reach up and crush your little spy?"
"Feel free to try."
As quick as she can, Joan grabs for the golden orb, but it easily eludes her grasp. Joan makes several more tries, but fails each time.
Chuckling, Medulla exits with a parting, "Have a nice day."
"What a jerk!"
Spex says, "Medulla is basically a good man, but a genius of his magnitude often tends to be a bit arrogant. Give it time and he will mellow. Speaking of time, you better hurry along. Coach Boomer doesn't like being kept waiting. Stop by after classes and we'll catch up."
"Looking forward to it Aunt Olive."
Joan hurriedly exits the nurse's office, and using her guidebook, heads for power placement.
TBC/Please review