The following document is a work of fiction based on the character Feedback, created by Matthew Atherton. Feedback is not the property of the author and no profit was derived from the writing of this document. The author of this fan fiction does not claim any ownership of the Feedback character or any Tech Support members created by their respective owners other than the author herself. Any relation to real events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Okay disclaimers done, on to the main event!
Chapter 1 - The Gift
Normal. For a superhero, that takes a new meaning. For Feedback, it means constant tests and riddles to solve. It means hours of playing and saving more people they he can remember, quite literally in some cases. It was like a pickaxe in a quarry, his powers slowly chipping away at his memories. In his case, if memories were money, he was making more withdrawals then deposits. He had been using too much of his powers lately. It just kept pilling up. Deathmatch kept sending people after him like an endless stream of villains. Now he knew how Spiderman felt.
"Feedback?"
He hardly had time to go out with Sarah anymore. It just kept on going and going. He felt every five seconds Mr. Forthright was yelling in his ear. He was tired. Oh, so tired.
"Feedback?"
"He passed out?"
"Looks that way Console."
"Should we wake him Forthright?"
"No, let him sleep. He looks exhausted."
"No. I'm up. I'm sorry guys. I was just taking a nap."
"Should I get you some coffee Feedback?" Cluster piped up.
"Thanks, that would be great." Feedback said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"On it!" He said and was off in a flash.
Cluster was to go to guy for coffee, or anything else Feedback needed. Mr. Forthright put his hand gently on Feedback's shoulder as Feedback gave himself a once over, brushing the rest of the sleep off him.
"Maybe you need a break. A real break. A vacation."
"But Mr. Forthright, I can't do that. A hero never leaves his city. The people need me more then ever. Deathmatch is out for blood. And I can't miss another chance to help someone."
His memory drifted back to the day he missed a little girl, desperately crying for help. Never again. NEVER again. He couldn't leave.
"I understand that Feedback, but remember, Beta flight is in full swing and Major Victory and the rest of Excelsior are more then able to pick up the slack for a week or two. Don't you trust them enough for that?"
"It's not that I don't trust them. Far from it. They're all great heroes and great people,"
"But?"
"But I just can't leave. I just can't."
"Fine. You really are stubborn sometimes. I guess that's why you're so good at being a hero. You just keep fighting."
"Here's your coffee Feedback." Cluster said and handed him the cup.
"Thanks Cluster." Feedback said then began gulping down the coffee.
"I'll talk to you more later."
"No worries." Feedback said and got up from his chair. He and Forthright walked out of the game room and walked out into the light of the common area. The two of then both noticed Console walking up to the both of them.
"Hey Feedback. You got a package back in the lab. Some fan sent it to you." He said.
"A fan?" Feedback asked.
"Yeah. You know you've gotten pretty popular around town. You're a celebrity. You're bound to get Fanmail."
"Don't know if Sarah will like that idea, but Okay. What's in it?"
"No idea. It's your package."
"Okay. I'm on my way."
"Wait Feedback. Just remember, my offer still stands."
"Thank you Mr. Forthright. I'll keep that in mind."
Feedback walked away from Mr. Forthright and head toward the lab. He saw Arc walking toward him.
"How's it going Feedback? Thought I would drop by. Ever since joining Beta Flight, I haven't been around much." Arc said and held out his hand.
"Thanks Arc. You've been doing a fantastic job. It's just been stressful lately." Feedback said as he shook Arc's hand.
"I know. Villains showing up every five minutes. Beta Flight's running shifts around the clock just to keep up. Don't worry, we'll manage. We are all supers after all."
"Yeah, you're right. Well, I got to get going."
"See you around Feedback and tell Sarah hi from all of us."
"I will." Feedback said and continued walking.
Excelsior's running thin, even more reason for him not to leave. He just had to work though it. He nearly forgot why he had gone to the lab when Mandy waved him over, package in her hands.
"Hey Feedback! You got fanmail. Lucky." Mandy protested.
"Thanks Mandy. What's in it?" Feedback asked.
"Well, you have to open it first. Oh it came with a card. The name on the front must be their Tech Support name." She noted.
He looked at it. RDCRPT2NGHT. Hmmmm. Strange name. He quickly opened it and pulled out the card.
"Dear Feedback, you're my hero. I was saving my money to get myself a PS3 for my birthday when I found out my mom had already bought me one. So, I decided to get it for you instead." He read.
He immediately looked up.
"No way." He and Mandy echoed.
He quickly handed Mandy back the letter and began to rip open the package. Inside he saw another box with a plastic handle. He pulled the whole thing out and saw the logo on the front: Playstation 3.
"Wow, that's one heck of a gift." Liveinheaven said as he rolled up next to Feedback.
"Hey wait, there's more on the letter", Mandy interrupted as she finished reading it. "Hope you enjoy it. I was going to send some games with it, but this weird guy met me at the post office and handed me three other games instead and said you wanted them. I asked who he was and he said he worked for a guy named Deathmatch. Weird name huh?"
"Deathmatch. One of his challenges no doubt. That fan may be in danger. Where does RD live?" He inquired as he put the box down on a table.
"Here in town. Maybe a mile or two away." Mandy informed him, looking over the envelope.
"Alright, I'm going."
"What about your present?" Liveinheaven asked.
"I'll take it home and play some in the morning. It's not going anywhere." Feedback assured, placing the Playstation back in the bigger box and removingt the envelope inside it.
He opened it and pulled out the games. He set them down and took out the piece of paper inside.
"Okay. First one: what fastens two people yet touches only one? Hmm. Second, there is a word in the English language in which the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four signify a great man, and the whole word, a great woman. What is the word? So, a word riddle. I'll think about them some more while I go find RD."
"Here's the envelope with the address."
"Thanks Mandy. Let's hope I'm not too late."
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A knock came at the door of a small house in the suburbs. An older woman opened it.
"Hello? Why, you're Feedback, aren't you?" She questioned.
"Yes m'am. I received a package from this address. Here's the envelope that went with it." He said, holding out the red envolope.
The older woman took it and read the lettering and address.
"This must be my daughter Lida. She is a fan of yours. Don't tell me YOU'RE the one she sent that Playstation to?"
"Yes it was. Would it be alright if I speak to her?"
"Oh of course. LIDA!" The woman called up the stairs. "You'll never guess who's here! Feedback!" The woman hollered.
He heard a rush of footsteps from the upstairs, then silence.
"Oh come now Lida. Don't be shy." Her mother assured, looking up the stairs. Feedback looked around the stairs and saw a shadow of a girl on the top landing. All he could see of her were the yellow Velcro boots on her feet.
"You didn't like my present did you?" She mumbled.
"I really did Lida. I just wanted to know what happened when Deathmatch's agent gave you those games." He stated.
"He said he wanted you to have them, handed me the games and left. I saw the riddles on the note he left in the envelope. I figured one out. The fastens two people one. It's a wedding ring."
"Thanks for the help. Did he say anything else important?"
"No. Sorry. I'm just really shy." She murmured and waved her foot from side to side.
"It's okay. I just wanted to make sure all my fans are safe. Deathmatch isn't a nice guy."
"Thanks Feedback. You really are my hero." She said, then squeaked and ran away.
"Sorry Mr. Feedback. She's just really shy. Deathmatch wouldn't try to hurt her would he?" Her mother piped up.
"That's what I came to find out. I'm sure she'll be fine. I'll have my team keep an eye on you guys until I know everything's alright." He reassured her.
"Why thank you Mr. Feedback."
"Please, just Feedback."
"Sorry, I'm glad you came to check on us."
"It's what I do, keep people out of danger." He said and headed for the door.
"Well you be careful out there Feedback." She said, as they walked for the door.
"I will m'am." He said, walking out.
He ran off and Lida's mother closed the door. Lida walked down the steps, her face still covered in shadow.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? Now we have people watching us."
"It's fine, Orbi. After this next challenge, they'll go away. At least I got to meet him once before..."
The mother dissolved like sand as the hologram collapsed upon itself and was sucked back into a small robot. The robot was shaped like a ball with six camera lenses sticking out from every side of it.
"I really like him though." The small robot said as it floated around Lida's still frame.
"So do I Orbi, but she has to be tested. And so does he."
"But why them, why now?"
"Because, it's their time. You know the story. A hero faces challenges and grows stronger because of it. Feedback is a hero. Now it's her turn."
"I still think this is a bad idea."
"Want to wager?"
"Same bet?"
"Done. I'm betting it works."
"I'm betting something bad happens."
"Oh lighten up, the main event's about it start."
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As Matt plugged the station into the T.V., he looked over the games. Okami, Final Fantasy X-2 and Tomb Raider: Legend. Odd. One was a puzzle game; one, an RPG; the third; a platformer. No relation at all. Maybe the riddles held something. The first answer was a wedding ring. That meant Sarah. Was she in danger? Had Deathmatch finally found out his secret? No, that wasn't possible. Was it? Sarah was just getting up when he finished plugging in the last of the cords.
"There, now what's first? How about Okami."
Sarah wandered down and put her arms around his neck and put her chin on his head.
"What are you playing today?"
Okami. They say the graphics were incredible and the power-ups are very versatile. That's good for me."
"That's the new Playstation you got from that one girl, isn't it?"
"Sure is. You want to play a little?"
"Don't mind if I do."
Sarah sat down next to him as the title screen booted up. Suddenly, the screen went black and then static began to flicker onto the screen.
"Uh, Matt?" Sarah stammered.
"It's not me. I swear."
The static dissipated and a picture of a red rock appeared on the screen.
"It's time to test you both. Know that I do this only for you're own good." An enigmatic voice said.
"Deathmatch." Matt demanded.
"Sorry, not this time. Remember Lida's letter. Remember her screen name."
Matt thought to himself. Lida's letter. The name. RDCRPT2NGHT. A red rock.
"Oh god no. SARAH RUN!"
"What's going on?"
"It's red kryptonite!"
"What?"
It was too late. A blinding flash of light came out of the TV and the system blew apart into fragments. Matt and Sarah were thrown backward, slamming into the couch and rolled into a heap on the floor. As Matt's consciousness began to fade he had only one question.
"Why?"