Chapter 2: Fortress
You're probably wondering what happened next a year ago, right? I'll spare you the details. He attacked me, and I knocked him out with my finger. Unfortunately, the young woman that I saved saw me as a freak and ran away. It's Hallmark moments like that that makes it all worthwhile (sarcasm of course)! Not everyone I save rejects me, however. There have been situations where people see me use my powers and thank me. When I was in Africa, the tribal men and women saw me as a god.
The reason why I keep bringing up Africa is because the rebel factions there are bloodthirsty tyrants doing what comes naturally. The last time I was there, I fought off some of the rebels and gave them a reason to fear me. They ran away scared, but I knew they would be back. Africa is also one of the worse spots in the world as far as crime goes. Even now, I can hear the Janjaweeds plotting their next attack.
I've been sitting here in the fortress for a few days now. Like my comic book counterpart, I picked the arctic as my hideout. Instead of crystals, my fortress is built like the Jetsons, with chrome covering the outer layers. I sit inside the lounge area, which is behind an automatic slide door. As soon as you enter the door, you see the recliner in front of the holographic screen. This screen gives me cable television, as well as seeing updates on world disasters whenever my powers aren't enough to hone in on them. I also like to see where and when my powers are needed, rather than going by the luck of the draw. I would like to go to a big city, but there are too many eyes there, and someone might see me when I am on the job. After what happened in Sicily, I am being more discreet with my powers.
The technology in the fortress gives me everything I need, like food, shelter, and clothing. I can also materialize items and sell them in a town for money with the technology here. I have even developed a serum that can give others my powers for 24 hours at a time (or for myself if I ever lose them), and I have made plenty of spares. I could have made the time limit longer or made the powers permanent, but I already know that power corrupts, and not everyone will use these powers for good. If a criminal had my powers, they could cause a lot of destruction in one day. There is also that chance that I may need some help in the future with patching up the world.
I see a report on the holograph screen, so I turn up the volume with my remote. I sit back in my recliner, trying to get as comfortable as I can because I know that I might have to take off again. The report mentions about the increase in disasters around the Saint Louis area, ranging from fires to break ins. Again, Saint Louis is a big city and there are a lot of eyes there. However, if I use my super speed, then no one will be able to see me. That way if the bad guys say they were attacked by a blur, then no one will believe them. I also know about the decline in economic resources in the United States, and Missouri was one of the states that took the hardest hit, and with the economy in a critical stage, poverty and crime will increase.
I put on a blue Superman t-shirt, trying to vary up my outfit a bit. I look at myself in the life-size mirror, seeing messy, shoulder length black hair like some Goth kid. I see my baby blue eyes and my smooth, youthful skin. I look no older than twenty one, but I'm a lot older than that. As I said, I have been on this planet for many years. I dart back into the lounge, seeing the latest report on the world news. I zoom into the kitchen on my right and right back to the screen with a Pop Tart in my mouth. I take my time in eating it as I watch the screen, seeing rising flames in a Los Angeles tenement. Suddenly I'm forcing the Pop Tart down my throat as I get ready to take off. I take one last look at myself, wearing my blue Superman t-shirt, black jeans and blue low top tennis shoes. My shirt will catch the worst of what's to come, but it looks like I'll have to replace my clothes again after this.