Jack Knight created by Tony Harris and James Robinson
Starman DCFS Issue 3
CHOICES AND INTERLUDES
Written by Mark Peyton
The morn followed the night before. And Opal City awoke to a brighter day. The news spoke of the fight between the new Starman and some unnamed killer. The Police said they would make a statement later on the incident. People spoke of how much nicer the city seemed this morning as if some haze had been lifted. The city got on with its life waiting to see what the day would bring.
Alex sat in the office of ELLIS INVESTIGATIONS, his eyes closed. His head leaned back, the helmet and goggles rested on the table next to him. He dozed not wanting to sleep. He was still so happy to be alive. He heard a slow silence seep into the room. He opened his eyes to see the Shade considering him.
"My apologies, Alex. I didn't mean to disturb you. I need you for a discussion. Or do you need rest?"
"No. No." Alex shook his head, his hand wiping his eyes. "Give me some stimu-caff and I'll be fine. What's this discussion?"
"We need to discuss who the Starman will be." Daniel had his eyes closed, curled up on one of Shade's leather armchairs. Melanie lay on the couch, his coat over her. They had come here bringing the mysterious woman with them. The Shade had spirited her away and told the two of them to rest. Daniel had tried but thoughts of the last night just kept returning. He didn't want to return to normal. If he could, he wanted to be Starman. But there was always Alex. What did he want? And Melanie.... The door opened and two pairs of footsteps entered. Daniel opened one eye and saw Alex and Shade.
"Young Daniel - you are awake. Good. I will wake Miss Kayle. We have much to discuss." The Shade lightly shook Melanie who awakened smoothly. "Now you are all here. You need to discuss which of you will be Starman. The city needs a hero and you three are the candidates for the job. I will take my leave of you so you may talk frankly." With that the Shade strode out the door closing it behind him.
Alex looked at Daniel "Well I reckon the first thing we have to establish is who wants the job. I'll make no secret. This feels right to me."
Daniel looked over at Melanie, then back to Alex "I want in too. Mel, what about you?"
Melanie shook her head "I've got no wish to put myself in the running. I didn't mind helping but I'm not in for the long run. I have a life to get back to."
Alex looked intently at Daniel "So its the two of us. I thought it might be. You see I've got a suggestion about this."
Daniel leaned back crossing his legs. "Go on. I'm listening."
"The suggestion is this. We both have normal lives to live. We both want the job. I've come to a realisation when I've been doing this. If I let it this thing could envelop me. I could not want to do anything else. My suggestion is that we both do it."
Daniel looked at him "You think that'll work?"
"Why not? We're both about the same size. We can hide our faces. If real life interferes there is always someone else to do the job. And we'll both bring something different to the job."
"What do you mean?"
"You're wilder than me. You love this city more than I ever will. Me. Well already I've been thinking about how I can use the staff different ways. We're different. And that will be our strength. So what do you say?"
Daniel stood up and put his hand out. "I say you've got a deal partner." Alex shook his hand and smiled. And in the hallway the Shade nodded and walked off.
LATER
The morning had gone by with talk of costumes. The two had departed, Daniel with the staff, Alex returning to his bureau to catch up on anything he might have missed. Melanie walked with Daniel carrying the coat which they were to use in the costume. They chatted and she suggested a trip to the Starman museum that afternoon so Daniel might understand his heritage. Daniel quickly agreed, pleased to spend more time with her.
Alex arrived at the bureau to be summoned to the editor's office. Linda Trainor sweetly gave him the instruction, mentioning her possible scoop on the Infinity Corps. Inside the office he was given an earbashing for his absence and sent to cover the Police Commissioner's News conference. Alex went home and was going to smarten up when he walked in on one last gift from Mr Sin.
The apartment door opened to reveal a scene which would have turned many a stomach. Alex gulped as he saw his assistant Dan hung from the ceiling gutted. One last shot from Sin he realised as he wiped the tears from his eyes. He phoned for assistance as he sat looking at his dead friend. This was why he was Starman. To stop atrocities like this. He'd pay Sin back for this.
INTERLUDE 1
The blonde haired woman shifted in the seat keeping her eyes directly ahead, hidden by the visor. In front of her sat a collection of gang leaders and dubious businessmen. Their eyes focused not on her, but rather her boss sitting in her lap.
In her arms rested a ventriloquist¹s dummy with a chequered past and a tommy gun. Carved from Gotham City¹s last gallows it had held sway over Gotham¹s various gangs at a number of times during the first Batman¹s tenure. This was the Scarface and she was the Ventriloquist. They were happy together and with the Twenty Second Century half done an old partnership had started in a new city.
Opal was going to feel some old fashioned gang action as Scarface¹s mob rode in.
The Scarface spoke, "Let¹s get down to guisness."
INTERLUDE 2
The plane descended onto the runway. Its passengers soon departed and one man in particular got off adjusting his jacket. He moved past the rotating advertisements for such things as the Terril Corp and the new book on the Ghost Hunters. His visa saw him though quickly, bypassing the usual security checks.
His clothing and mannerisms marked him as European, but he could speak a minimum of 7 languages still alive. He had business in Opal City.
The name Kayle was important.
INTERLUDE 3
George ran. He'd seen the thing tear through Kyle as he'd slept. Poor Kyle he hadn't even had time to scream as the flesh was stripped from his bones. George had watched as the mist swept over his friend seeing the skeletal images running through it. He hadn't waited. He'd run. He kept running, not looking back. He really should have or at least up because he might have seen what he ran from enveloping him within it.
THE AFTERNOON
Alex sat in the press conference trying to get the images of Dan out of his mind. Commissioner Davis had called the press here supposedly to make a statement about the new Starman. Well it should be interesting. Seeing as there is no way he could know anything. Hell he didn't know who Starman was till this morning and he was one of him, them, whatever. The Commissioner stepped onto the stage.
"Good afternoon Ladies and Gentleman of the Press. As you are very well aware last night saw a new Starman involved in a battle with some unknown foe. It would appear that this Starman is not Andrew Marshall as I have personally seen his body. However, we do not know who this Starman is or what their intentions are. The Opal City Division of the Corp and the previous Starmen have always had a strong relationship, even during the Marshall period. Starman has been a duly appointed deputy of the department. As of this moment that is no longer the case. Until we know more of this Starman I will not back him. From this moment on Starman is an illegal vigilante within the city and my officers are under orders to arrest him."
The room shuffled as the news sunk in. Commissioner Davis continued. "This I hope will be a temporary measure. If the Starman will reveal his identity to me and make assurances of his conduct then the situation will be reviewed. I will not trust an unknown vigilante especially after the problems caused by the last bearer of the name. That is all." And with that he strode of the stage ignoring the assembled presses questions.
Alex sat in stunned silence thinking to himself. Well no-one ever said this hero thing was going to be easy.
Melanie sat on the bench outside the entrance to the Theodore Knight Memorial Museum. A statue of the distinctive green and red costume stood poised to leap into the sky and she smiled at it. Daniel walked across the forecourt past a juggler.
She smiled and said, "You're late"
Daniel shrugged sheepishly "Sorry got detained. But I'm here now."
Melanie stood up and took his arm. "You ever been here?" she asked.
"I think once when I was a kid. What about you? It's almost like a family history for you."
"I've been a couple of times. Mainly to see the stuff on the other Starmen. I know the curator. He's always asking me for stories that I might have got told when I was younger"
"Cool. Well let¹s go in."
They walked into the foyer to see a hologram of all of the previous Starmen in flight. Daniel looked gazing at people who had worn the name before him. He gazed at the two unknown Starmen with interest. They were the real mysteries to him. "Have you ever heard tales about the two unknown Starmen?" he asked.
Melanie shook her head. "No. I never. Don't think so. I think Granddad Jack went to his planet in space but I can't remember. The other guy I don't know. You could ask the Shade I suppose; he might have met him. He seems to have met the others. Come on I'll introduce you to Paul." She pulled him past the giftshop towards a door marked private.
She knocked lightly and a gruff voice shouted out, "Yes, who is it?"
Melanie opened the door. "Paul, it¹s me - Melanie."
Paul looked up at the opening door. He was about 5'8", stocky built, scruffy white beard, still a full head of hair. He was dressed in a shirt and trousers. "Hello Melanie - how are you?"
"I'm fine. Paul, I bought a friend who I thought you might like to meet."
"Sure, sure, bring him in." Paul pulled out two chairs. "Sit down."
Daniel closed the door and took a seat next to Melanie. She said "Paul, Daniel is somebody I think you should met. He's going to be important soon and I wanted him to meet you"
Daniel looked a little concerned at Melanie and she smiled "Don't worry Paul is completely on the level."
Daniel looked at her "If you're sure."
Melanie smiled. "Yes I am. I trust Paul. Paul, I'd like to introduce you to one of the new Starmen of the city." Paul who was sipping on his drink almost choked, coughed and spluttered.
"You mean the guy in the fight last night?" Paul asked
Daniel breathed in. "No, that was the other guy. Mel and I were involved in something out of sight last night."
"So there are two of you? How did you get the staff?"
"The Shade gave it to us, and some cosmic rods too. You'd have to ask him where he got it from." Daniel answered.
"The Shade? Well, I'll ask him next time I see him. He sometimes honours me with a visit. It's a pleasure to talk to a man who knew the heroes." Paul quietly said, "So you're one of those I have to set up a new display for."
The three chatted well into the night and Daniel became more aware of his heritage. Melanie sat and listened mainly pleased that Paul and Daniel got on so well. Paul asked how the feelings associated with using the staff felt, Daniel promised to bring Alex to visit and the day drew to a close.
Opal City had two new heroes. The first hurt of bearing the responsibility had sunk into Alex, the first pleasure of helping people brought home to Daniel. And in the darkness adversaries and unknowns plotted and manoeuvred. Opal City was in a new age. But old enemies still waited to oppose the new Starmen.
NEXT ISSUE: The unveiling of the new costume. More death. More secrets as the Starmen go up against Scarface.
No response quite yet to the new start of the series, but seeing as I¹m redoing these initial issues two months before the site actually starts that isn¹t surprising. So far the only people who have seen the issues as I write are my mailing list, most of whom have read the originals.
Any email and comments to me at Starman26@hotmail.com