Shannon Gibson III was always humiliated by his name, and rightfully so. He was named after his father and his grandmother before him. He was determined to earn himself a nickname that would make everyone forget the name he was born with. While some of his close friends and associates called him Trey, he longed for a name that would become a household word.
After receiving a medical degree from the Medical University of Metroville (and being the first black man to do so), he began to study a then non-existent branch of medicine: superology, which is the study of the physiology and medical treatment of supers. Within a year, he quickly became known as the best doctor for supers in the United States. Along with this recognition, he earned the name he sought after since youth: SUPERDOC.
Dateline: Saturday, April 25, 1981, 2:35 PM, Pacific Daylight Time.
"Well, Violet," Dr. Gibson began, "considering the way you describe the incident, I'm surprised Dash's injuries aren't more extensive."
"Uh-huh," she responded, "so what exactly is the matter?"
"Just a fractured femur is all. I'll have a specialist look at it, we'll give him an operation, yadda yadda yadda, bottom line, he'll be incapacitated for about four days."
"FOUR DAYS?" screamed Violet and Ashley in unison.
"Do you have any idea what terrible disasters could occur in four days?" asked Ashley.
Superdoc understood her concern. "I could give him an experimental drug that might speed up the healing time, and he'll be up and about by tomorrow. But I wouldn't recommend it, I haven't run it by the FDA yet."
Violet thought about this for a minute. "I won't risk my brother's health for anything, even if it means the team will be short-handed for a while."
"You made a wise choice, Python," said Superdoc.
"Please, don't use my codename while I'm out of costume."
"Sorry. Hey, I know somebody who might be able to lend a hand to your cause while Dash is in the wheelchair."
"I'm listening."
"His name is José Hernandez, but his codename is Heartthrob. That's because his powers only work while his heart rate is 100 beats per minute or more."
"And what exactly would those powers be?"
"Super-strength, super-speed, super-sight, he can clone himself, walk through walls, summon fire, water, wind, electricity, you name it!"
"Impressive," commented Ashley, "but the real question is, does he have any weaknesses?"
"The only thing I can think of that would be considered a weakness is the fact that he can't use his powers unless his heart is beating fast enough."
"Okay, call him, have him come over to our place, and we'll see about making him part of Alpha Force," said Violet.
After this conversation, Violet and Ashley went over to Dash's bed in the emergency room.
"Hey, guys," said Dash. "I'm sorry I won't be able to help you save Metroville."
"It's not your fault, Dash," said Violet. "Don't worry about Alpha Force, we're about to get a little extra help."
"What are you saying, Vi?"
Violet told him about José.
"Wow, he sounds great, but this is just until I get better, right?"
"Well," said Ashley, "maybe just until you get better, maybe forever, it depends on how well he performs in action."
"Yeah, sure." Dash felt like he had just been replaced.
Just then, Kimberly Lavender arrived. "Hey, I got down here as fast as I could, is Dash all right?"
"It's just a broken leg, thank God it's nothing worse."
Kim knelt beside Dash's bed and gripped his hand. "Are you feeling okay, sugar?"
"I'm fine, dear. I'll just be in a wheelchair for awhile. Don't worry about me."
"I love you, Dashie."
"I love you too, Kimmy."
Kim kissed her beau goodbye and fled for the hallway. As she left, she bumped into Dr. Gibson.
"Hello, Dr. Gibson," she said.
Without looking up from his clipboard, he said, "Hey, Kim." He made his way to Dash's bed. "They're ready for you."
"You should head home, Violet, you never know when the sheriff might call," said Dash.
"Okay, call me when you're ready to leave," she responded, holding up her watch.
Back at home, Ashley was wondering about something. "Hey Violet, how are we going to pay for Dash's operation?"
"I'm pretty sure our insurance from MPD will cover him. Oh, hey, I've been meaning to ask you how you were able to beat the Wicked Wichard."
Ashley told her everything.
"So he is a man?"
"Yeah."
"And he still lives with his mother?"
"Yup. I'm pretty sure we've seen the last of old Loren Kriznek."
Meanwhile, on the other side of town…
"And you say she learned all of this by reading your mind?"
"Oh yeah," said Loren. "Imagine it, Vox. The power of Alpha Force is greater now than before! If only I could capture them all, I could become the most powerful person on earth! Mwahahahaha…"
"LOREN! DID YOU REMEMBER TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH THIS MORNING?"
"YES, MOTHER!" Loren rolled his eyes. "Uh, where was I?"
"You were right in the middle of your evil laugh, sir," said Vox.
"Oh, yeah…Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
"DID YOU REMEMBER THE BATHROOM TRASH?"
"ERRGH! YES, MOTHER!"
"DON'T YOU GROWL AT ME, YOUNG MAN!"
"I'M THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OLD, MA! DON'T CALL ME 'YOUNG MAN!'" Loren growled at no one in particular.
"Um, sir," said Vox, "if they have a telepathic on their side, how are we supposed to keep our secret plan, um, a secret?"
"I'm glad you asked, Vox, my loyal assistant. I happen to have just such a remedy for their 'psychic friend'. Come, I'll show you."
(A/N: To all those who would yell at me because I said Dash would heal in four days, let me remind you that the core value of superology is to get the patient back on their feet as rapidly as possible, and supers have access to things that normals do not. Wow, was that the longest sentence you ever read or what? Okay, Chapter 20 is coming, but I haven't started writing it yet. Until then, you guys know where the review button is!)