Brad Martin, former chief of security at Super Studios, stood outside the visitors' section of the U.S. Capitol. There a small group of school children stood with their teacher Mrs. Carradine.
As Brad casually observed the group, he reflected on his situation.
Once the Powers Formula was stolen, Brad lost his job at Super Studios. He even ended up living with his new reporter friend Luke.
But he was hired by a newly formed division known as "Capitol Security." This division was formed to deal with security problems in and around the Capitol. More specifically, the division handled security problems related to superpowers. That could be anything from flying senators to flying visitors. Or worse.
Even though he had been fired from another job, Brad was hired at this division because, more than most people, Brad had experience with superpowers-related problems and situations. Others had to learn everything about it on the job.
Things were quiet at the Capitol for now so Brad listened in on Mrs. Carradine and her students.
"Pay close attention, children," Mrs. Carradine said sternly, waving a gnarled pink and white finger. "Especially you, Billy."
Billy looked up with wide brown eyes. "Will this teach me 'bout being a 'pressor?"
Narrowing her beady dark eyes, Mrs. Carradine waved that finger even more.
"You don't need any help in that area, Billy," she sniffed.
Mrs. Carradine wore a frown so deep it seemed like her face might crack. From what Brad had heard earlier, Mrs. Carradine's face was one reason many of her students believed her to be an alien or a monster. Billy thought she looked like Skeletor. A girl named Susie thought she looked more like a zombie.
"But I don't want to be a 'pressor," Billy objected. "Can I be a lesb'n instead?"
"No, Billy. You may not. You must take responsibility for what your group has done."
Brad couldn't help commenting to himself. So not only was this a society with no real solutions to emotional problems, it invented new crimes. Now someone could be guilty of whatever crimes other people in the past had committed. Even a kid like Billy could be found guilty.
Since he didn't like thinking about that problem, Brad turned his thoughts back to the Superpowers Problem. Some people thought the Powers Formula created insanity in some of its users. Brad was pretty sure the emotional problems were already there. And again, there seemed no real solutions. To any of it.
There was a new kind of problem as Susie gave Billy a poke.
"Yeah, Billy. You have to take responsibility for what your group has done," she said in a mocking taunting voice. Susie got right in Billy's face as she said this: "Ha ha!"
Brad thought of that guy Nelson on "The Simpsons." The one who pointed at people and said "Ha ha."
Mrs. Carradine waved that finger. "You watch it, Susie. You be careful. Don't you get all high and mighty, young lady."
Susie looked up with hurt and surprise on her face.
"But I thought being a girl meant I could do whatever I want," she whined.
"Well, it doesn't."
"Ha ha!"
"That's enough, Billy!"
Brad was unable to watch more of this drama unfold. A call came in on his com. Protesters were closing in on the Capitol. Super-powered protesters.
Brad used his Com-Link to send out an Automatic Message. Within minutes his squad was assembled on the steps of the Capitol.
The protesters were closing in, and they were as far as the eye could see. The front line covered the length of the steps.
At the forefront of the group was a bulky man with incredibly large arms. Brad knew some versions of the Powers Formula created such deformities.
The man was unusual in other ways. Bent over with a bushy beard and wild hair, the man snarled and growled. He seemed more beast than man.
The Com-Link relayed information to Brad's mind. That information told him the beast-man's name was Steven Kradyus, alias "Sarge." Leader of a group advancing rights for super-powered people. Or as Sarge called them, the Superiors.
Sarge marched forward, much of the group with him.
"We gotta stop any interfering legislation," he shouted, waving a bulky arm.
Brad held out a hand. "I can't let you do that. Stay back."
When the protesters continued to advance, Brad's squad of super-soldiers flew toward them.
The battle was brief. Energy flew out from both sides. Figures flew through the air.
When it was all over, Brad's soldiers took away the protesters, either in powerful high-tech handcuffs, fortified jail-transports, or in simple individual force fields.
"Where do we put them all?" Brad groaned.
Luke was there typing it all up on his pad. He had moved to DC when he learned that was where he could monitor all the superpowers activity.
Luke was part of a big globe-trotting international news agency now. Because of that organization, Luke was privy to many stories about superpowers.
The situation at the Capitol was one example.
Luke no doubt had the same question as Brad: Where would all these protesters go?
Brad knew the answer to that question. Some of these guys (and women) would be released from prison and used by the government for covert operations and assignments.
That might just add to the problem.
Where were the big permanent real solutions?