- A hero, no more?

"For those people who just turned on their TV sets, we'll inform you that, less than a minute ago, Super Hunk declared that he'll be Everwood's official superhero, with the authorities' support, and no other hero will be allowed to do any heroic stunt inside the city's limits." Doddie appeared on screen, next to SH and his assistants, surrounded by several other reporters.

"Why you aren't allowing other heroes in the city?" A random reporter asked SH.

"There are several reasons. The first one is that, despite their good intentions, most heroes, while doing their stuff, cause some collateral damage to the property, and, since they have secret identities, they avoid their responsibility. The ColoRed Chuck, for example, he isn't even a super powered hero but, the last time he caught Bumble Man, he still handled to damage the bank's electric system, and he paid for it? Of course not! I, on the other hand, will have the city supporting my actions, and paying for any damage I might cause while doing my labor. If any other hero wants to be, well, heroic, in this city, he or she will need to do what any other person would do when performing a civilian arrest; being able to identify themselves with their real names, so they can take responsability of their actions." Super Hunk explained.

At the Pickles' residence, Chuckie, Angelica, Dil, and Dil's parents, Didi and Stu, were watching the whole scene on TV. The youngsters had to control themselves to avoid revealing Chuckie's secret ID to the elder couple, but they couldn't keep themselves quiet.

"Of course he damaged the electric system, but he did it fighting for his life while defending all the persons at the bank! I was there, you dope!" Angelica yelled at the TV. Chuck wanted to yell too, but he limited to clench his fists; he would need to reveal his secret ID to keep doing his job on his home town, and that was way too risky for Angelica and anyone else related with him to even consider it. On screen, SH continued his speech.

"Second, there's the whole psychological effect. The ColoRed Chuck has no super powers, or cool gadgets; he is just a hand-to-hand fighter, and not exactly a great one. How can an average citizen feel safe knowing his or her safety is in the hands of someone with those limited capacities? Not to mention the depressing effect on the police force. Imagine how the poor cops feel when knowing their job is being done by someone who's weaker than them, and still he gets the recognition of the citizens; having The ColoRed Chuck as the city's main hero is an insult to our great Police Department." SH explained.

"Kimi is a captain, and she had never complained about my... I mean The ColoRed Chuck's labor! She and almost all the other cops had always been grateful for his help!" Chuckie snapped at the scene.

"Also, there's the tourism detail. As the city's main hero, I'll make many tourists to come here, wanting a chance to get a closer look of yours truly and my magnificent presence. I'll make the city earn some extra money, and that will surely cover for the cash used to pay for my expenses, and even more. And, finally, who do you think is more frightening for a criminal? The ColoRed Chuck with his ridiculous antennae and mallet, or the super-powered and handsome human specimen in front of you?" Super Hunk ended while posing, getting some approving comments from the crowd.

"But, despite his limitations, The ColoRed Chuck had always been able to protect us." Another random reporter said. SH chuckled.

"Yes, but, just look at his rogues' gallery. He has a regular criminal, that Tim Thug guy, who can be handled by any policeman; he also has out of age and style pirates and cowboys, and a cat burglar who, despite looking good, isn't a great fighter; a so-called master spy who isn't that dangerous, and a few fools with cheesy disguises. I mean, The Bumble Man? Anyone with half a brain and some guts can handle him! All of them are nothing but a piece of cake for any competent hero; with me here, they'll surely prefer to stay locked in jail instead of trying to escape and confront a far superior hero. So, you see, everything is for the city's welfare; as long as I'm available, there will be no other heroes allowed in Everwood." Super Hunk said in his usual proud tone.

"Hey, all of them are dangerous criminals! They are robbers, kidnappers, bullies... this guy doesn't know what he is talking about!" Dil said, really upset.

"Of course, I don't want anyone to think I'm kicking The ColoRed Chuck out of business. Oh, no. He'll still be able to do his so-called heroic job in other cities. And, if he honestly feels like doing a better job than me, well, I'll be waiting for him today at the city hall, so he can reply in person. And, if he wants to fight me for the right of being the city's protector, I'll accept to show everybody who is the more qualified crime-fighter. You hear me, CH? You have until five o' clock; don't make me wait." SH concluded, arching an eyebrow to the camera in front of him. Everyone around him started making a lot of comments and answers, but it seemed the general feeling about his announcement was a positive one.

Everyone at the Pickles' place got silent, looking at the screen. Didi broke the silence with a deep sigh.

"I always thought The ColoRed Chuck was a good hero... but Super Hunk has pretty solid points. He surely is a better role model for kids." Didi commented.

"Yes... I mean, he is super strong, and can handle criminals far easier than The ColoRed Chuck. What does that red guy has, really?" Stu said. Angelica glared at her uncles.

"MY GRATITUDE! Had you forgotten he had saved my life, like, three times, if you count the bank's incident? He is more a hero than Super Hunk will ever be!" Angelica said in a really upset tone; maybe she couldn't defend Chuck in public as his wife, but she could defend her protector. Chuck looked at her with fond eyes, silently thanking her support.

"Calm down, Angelica. Nobody denies all the good things he had done in the past, but, if he really cares about people, he should retire so a more competent hero can take his place." Didi said to Angie, trying to tranquilize her. The blonde really wanted to say more, but she didn't want to offend her aunt, so she just took a deep breath and continued in a more calm tone.

"I know he isn't the mightiest guy around, but... he had saved so many people, and asks for nothing in reply but an occasional "Thank You" or something like that. All his effort was for nothing?" Angie said to her aunt; obviously, she was also directing to Chuckie.

"Well, he can always accept Super Hunk's challenge, and prove he is good enough to remain as the city's hero." Stu commented, rubbing his chin. Chuck, Dil, and Angelica paled, and wide opened their eyes.

"I hope he doesn't, Stu. There's already too much violence on TV. Enough of that; everyone come to the kitchen so we can have breakfast." Didi said in her usual good-natured way while motioning everyone to go into the kitchen. Stu stood up from his couch, and walked next to her. Chuckie and Angelica nodded to each other, and made a little signal to Dil.

"Oops! I forgot to turn off the game I'm testing. I'll better go down and do it, or it might get ruined." Dil said in a perfectly acted concerned tone. Chuckie placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You spend too much time down there, Dil. Let me turn it off for you, okay?" Chuck said to Dil while winking an eye to him.

"I'm going with you, Finster. You're so clumsy you might end burning the machine by accident." Angelica said while walking next to him. They excused themselves with Didi and Stu, and walked down the stairs, closing the door, and stopping in the first level.

"That Super Hunk... is a super abusive! I offer him a hand, and he takes the foot!" Chuck said in a very annoyed tone, once he was sure nobody could hear them.

"You really have to do something about that jerk! Can't ask one of your friends to send him to China, or something like that? Clark can do it without breaking a sweat." Angelica proposed. Chuck shook his head.

"No; Super Hunk is a jerk, but he's no fool. By making this a public challenge, he's forcing me, and just me, to face him. If any other hero backs me up on this one, it will seem I'm not capable of defending myself, and that would support his theory of me not being a competent hero. And, if I don't go, I'll be considered the city's biggest chicken... in both of my identities!" Chuck said while pacing back and forth.

"Maybe I can ask Dil or any of the UHPS' inventors to create a device to sense Super Hunk's energy, and prove he's using his powers to manipulate people." Chuck thought out loud.

"In less than twelve hours? I don't think so. And, besides, many people might not believe on the device's effect, and the media would say that's an attempt to ruin Super Hunk's reputation with a cheap trick." Angelica told his husband. Being a business woman, she knew all the tricks in the book concerning negotiation and ruining/improving public image, both for fighting and doing them, and, unfortunately, at the time being, SH had a clear advantage.

"So, I guess the only thing I can do is attending that meeting." Chuckie sighed. Angelica gulped, and immediately switched to her authoritarian mode.

"You aren't going to fight him, right? Because, if you even consider that, I'll tie you to the fridge, bury your antennas, auction the mallet on E-Bay...!" Angelica snapped at him. Chuck looked at her with a shocked expression, but immediately changed to a warm one.

"I know you worry about me, Angie. Don't need to use that tone." Chuckie told her, smiling. Angelica expression softened, and changed her annoyed eyes by concerned ones.

"I understand you risking your life when saving people... but I don't want you to be injured because of a stupid high-testosterone jerk trying to show-off his strength." Angelica said, looking down. Chuckie sighed, and lifted Angie's chin, smiling at her.

"Don't be afraid. His act serves me as well, because none of us can throw a single punch to the other to start a public fight without risking our reputation. If I do it, I'll be the jealous hero, and, if he does, he'll be the bully one. I'll go to that meeting, and face him with something he doesn't count." Chuck told her.

"Your cleverness?" Angelica smirked.

"Nope... your support, as well as the one's from the people that still believe in me. Surely, there will be a few ones at the City Hall today." Chuckie explained. Angelica smiled, and then they kissed for a few seconds.

"I'll be there with all my support... and, if that doesn't work, I'll bring a few spoiled eggs, just in case." Angelica told Chuckie after breaking the kiss, making him to chuckle.

"I know you will. Maybe this will not be so bad, because I might be able to finally solve this problem, even if he has some advantages here. But, as the old and known proverb says, Whose laugh the last, you go to the mountain!" Chuck said in his expert tone. Angelica rolled her eyes while Chuckie shook his head, realizing his mistake.

"No, no... okay… If the mountain doesn't come to you, laughs the best!" Chuckie tried (and failed) to correct his proverb, slapping his forehead when realizing his new mistake.

"No, that's not okay! Let's see... if you laugh the last, is because you didn't get the joke, and someone has to explain it to you... and you go to the mountain to avoid distractions and focus on understanding that joke. Of course, the mountain doesn't come to you... and if it does, then it's an avalanche, and you better run..." Chuckie was cut by another kiss, a little longer than the first one.

"I got the idea." Angelica said when they broke the kiss, happy for finding a way to stop Chuckie's non-sense talking. Chuck chuckled a little, and then they walked upstairs.

X-X-X-X

Angelica arrived at Merge Corp about an hour later. She just had entered her office when her secretary told her that her mother, Charlotte, the company's CEO, wanted to talk with the blonde. Angelica directed to Charlotte's office, and, once Jonathan, her mother's assistant, told her she could pass, she opened the door, gasping when noticing who was sitting in front of her mother's desk.

"Oh, Angelica, come in. I think you already met our handsome guest, Super Hunk, and his assistants." Charlotte directed to her daughter while SH and his companions turned to see her.

"Oh, yes, the delightful young Mrs Pickles... sorry, I forgot your husband's last name." SH said to Angelica in his usual cool tone while looking at her eyes. However, this time his famous charm didn't affect Angelica as previously.

"Finster. My husband's last name is Finster, Mister Hunk. Can you inform me about the motives of your visit?" Angelica said while crossing her arms, containing her desire of strangling the man in front of her. Super Hunk raised an eyebrow in surprise, wondering about how she was resisting his charisma.

"Well, Angelica, he just came to sign a contract with us concerning the exclusivity of all his related merchandise. T-shirts, toys, coffee mugs... you name it, we'll make it." Charlotte told her daughter. Angelica shook her head in disbelief.

"Mother... there must be a mistake. We're about to launch The ColoRed Chuck's toys, do you remember? We can't support both heroes, especially if one is about to replace the other." Angelica directed to her mother while throwing a fast glare at SH.

"Well, Angie... I can call you Angie, right? Since I'll be the city's official hero, and, as you just said, replace The Color-Fool Chuck, his toys aren't going to be a well-accepted product, but mine will be the biggest thing that had ever happened to this town since I arrived." SH smirked at Angelica.

"I know you have personal reasons to support The ColoRed Chuck, Angelica. After all, he saved your life, and I'm very grateful as well, but, you know, this is business." Charlotte told Angie, noticing how tense she seemed to be.

"Of course, Mother. Business and personal feelings don't mix." Angelica said, looking down. Super Hunk stood up, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Good you see things my way, Pretty. Now, how about me doing you the best offer of your life, and allow you to have a coffee with me and my assistants?" Super Hunk said in a very seductive tone. Angelica lifted her head, scowling at him; this surprised Super Hunk so much, he backed up a little while retiring his hand.

"I'll support the toys' idea, because you and the city are our clients... but, what I'm about to say, is totally personal!" Angelica snapped at SH. Charlotte gasped; she knew that, when Angelica was on that mood, even she couldn't stop her.

"First of all, don't call me "Angie"; only my friends and family can call me that way! Second, don't call me "Pretty"; I know I am, but only my husband can said it to me on that tone you used. Third, the guy you want to ruin isn't The Color-Fool Chuck... but THE COLORED CHUCK, a real hero who had faced danger without fancy powers to support him, and still triumphs! You might be handsome and strong, but I stopped admiring you the moment you opened that stupid mouth of yours to flatter yourself and attack The ColoRed Chuck! You want to replace HIM? You aren't even worthy of touching his antennas! Oh, and last, you're not even that handsome." Angelica said in her most venomous tone while poking SH's chest. Super Hunk 's jaw fell and, for the first time in ages, was speechless for almost a minute, until he started talking with evident shock on his voice..

"I'm not handsome?" Super Hunk gasped, while placing his hands on the sides of his head, and getting a blank expression. His assistants moved next to him, noticing he looked as if he was about to faint, and started rubbing his chin and chest.

"Don't hear at her, Hun. She is just jealous because her husband isn't as handsome as you... after all, who is?" Betty, the brunette, told him in a very kind tone. Super hunk smiled slightly.

"Yeah, she is right. I mean, you are so gorgeous, so strong, so cool..." Brittney, the blonde, tried to cheer him up as well. Super Hunk's grin got wider, and stood up on his usual heroic posture.

"Yes... yes, you two are right, my babes. Who on her right mind can deny the magnificence of my presence?" Super Hunk said in his cool tone. Angelica groaned, and started walking out of the room.

"Well, I'm out of here. Certain guy's ego is so big it needs all the space we can give to it. If you need me I'll be on my office, and, if you don't object, even if I'll support the company's decision, I'll also do the same with my hero. And, if you object, too bad, because I'm doing it anyway." She then turned and faced her mother.

"Don't worry, I'll only show in public my desire of keeping The ColoRed Chuck around, and having Super Hunk expelled, on my lunch break." Angie said to Charlotte right before leaving. Charlotte gasped.

"How she knew I was about to say that?" Charlotte talked to herself, and then made her best to convince SH about staying as her client.

X-X-X-X

That afternoon, around four o' clock, a huge crowd started surrounding the city's hall. As expected, there was a podium in front of the building, waiting for the heroes to arrive. Most of the police force was there for mass control, including Phil and Lil.

"Man, these persons have no jobs, or what?" Phil commented to his sister while taking a rest.

"This is a major event, Phil. Even if our city doesn't have a huge crime rate compared to other ones the same size, everybody knows that only happened thanks to the combined efforts of the Police Department and The ColoRed Chuck. It's always good to have some special help once in a while, and everyone wants to know who will be that helper, Super Hunk or The ColoRed Chuck." Lil replied with a thoughtful expression.

"Yeah. By the way, who are you supporting? SH or The ColoRed Chuck?" Phil asked. Lil started rubbing her chin.

"Honestly? I have no idea. I mean, Super Hunk is obviously cooler, stronger... and boy, he is so handsome!" Lil got a dreamy expression. Phil chuckled.

"Yes, and he is always surrounded by pretty babes. The guy is great! And had you seen those videos of him catching criminals? He is marvelous!" Phil commented, excited. Lil nodded, but then returned to her thoughtful expression.

"Yes, but... The ColoRed Chuck had done so much for this city that just thinking about supporting SH feels like betrayal." Lil commented, rubbing her neck.

"I know what you mean. Some guys at the station said that he had been rescuing people and risking his life, as usual, but everybody ignores that because we're too busy worshiping SH. Chuck is receiving more support from other towns than from our." Phil told her, making both twins to feel slightly ashamed.

At that moment, Super Hunk and his assistants arrived on his Cadillac, causing that, immediately, several people at the crowd started asking for an autograph, a picture, or both. SH was expecting this kind of reaction, so he decided to arrive about an hour earlier to spend more time with his "audience" and attend it. All the cops had to make their best to control the large lines who were formed to receive SH's autographed pictures.

Angelica was already there, alongside Chuckie's parents, Dil and Tommy; they placed themselves among the other persons supporting The ColoRed Chuck. Sadly, their number was minimal compared with the SH's supporters.

"This doesn't look good." Chaz Finster commented, noticing the majority of people was supporting Super Hunk.

"I really feel like saying a few things to that guy." Kira said, with a very upset tone. Tommy directed to her.

"Keep your breath, Kira. That guy doesn't deserve people pointing at you for saying bad words." Tommy said.

"Yeah. Tell them to me, and I'll yell them to the jerk." Dil grinned while showing a megaphone to his friends. At that moment, a well known afro-American officer directed to the group.

"You'll better not, Dil. I would hate to arrest any of you for defending The ColoRed Chuck." Sgt Susie Carmichael said to her friends. She knew about Chuckie's secret ID, and, like them, had to be careful with her words with so many people around.

"I thought you would be supporting Super Hunk, Carmichael. Isn't that your job?" Angelica frowned at the cop. Susie sighed.

"My job is to help coordinate the other officers and keep this as peaceful and ordered as possible... but I'm not supporting Super Hunk. I admit I acted like a fool when meeting him at the station, but I guess I'm over him now, especially after I saw how hurt Harold was because of that. Sure, Harold isn't perfect, but he is the guy I love, and doesn't deserve me acting like a silly teen in front of any other man." Susie said, looking down. Angelica's features relaxed, and sighed as well.

"I know what you mean. The first time I saw this jerk I acted the same way... but, a few hours ago, I could give him a piece of my mind." Angelica said in a proud tone, making Susie to chuckle. At that moment, Sgt Harold Rumpkin approached the group; he didn't know about The ColoRed Chuck's real ID, but admired his work, so Angelica and the rest of the group could count with his support.

"Hi, guys. Susie, the commander and Kimi are almost here." Harold told her girlfriend-partner. Susie sighed, and got an annoyed look.

"I would hate being on Kimi's place. She has to sit next to SH, and look at him going against The ColoRed Chuck, and can't do a thing about it." Susie commented. Her friends got similar looks; since Kimi was a captain, and the youngest one the city ever had, she was a public figure as well, so had to be present in many special events, but, surely, she would like to skip this one.

"You know, I just thought about something." Harold said while rubbing his chin.

"Did it hurt?" Angelica replied, rolling her eyes. Harold, like usual, ignored the insult.

"If Super Hunk is here, The ColoRed Chuck is about to arrive, and most of the cops are in this part of town, then who is going to protect the rest of the city?" Harold said while scratching the back of his head. The Finsters, Susie, Angelica, and the Pickles siblings wide opened their eyes.

"Now you say it..." Susie immediately got a worried expression.