One week after the attempted attack by super-powered protesters, members of Congress gathered together once again.
The gathering suffered from its usual state of disarray.
"Mr. Leader," one senator said. "I have here a report of a child who used his powers to knock unconscious seventy-seven of his classmates. Another terrorized his classmates by turning into a full-sized adult."
"Some adults do terrorize children. Some are even teachers," another senator quipped. "They do nothing to stop students from terrorizing other students. That kind of thing happened even before the superpowers problem."
The senator from Arizona spoke in a calm voice.
"Maybe the answer, Senator, is making sure when kids go to school they aren't terrorized by anyone. Teachers or students."
Another senator spoke up like he hadn't even heard.
"Whatever is happening to the kids, the ones who act out may be getting exposed to the Powers Plague. That's what's making them crazy."
"There is no Powers Plague," another senator scoffed. She was impeccably dressed but wore a scornful look on her face. "Those kids already had problems. They were already crazy. Now they're just crazy with powers."
The senator from South Carolina was tall and bald with a large pointy nose, almost like he was some giant bird. Though Senator Strummond was only 97 years old, he looked more like 150.
The senator had some resemblance to the desiccated and decaying Crypt Keeper of comic book and TV fame, though he lacked that corpse-like being's screechy voice. Strummond had a deep authoritative voice laced with a gentle Southern accent.
"I suppose we should not be surprised this outbreak of superpowers began with lax security at a liberal Hollywood studio. Now we've got drug dealers and terrorists spreading around the Powers Formula in all kinds of dangerous and degraded forms."
When he heard this, Brad was chagrined, even though it had been many years since his time at Super Studios.
The senator from Utah spoke up.
"When the Powers Formula, or some version of it, grafts on to a person's DNA, it makes him unstable."
"Or her," the gentlewoman from Maine sniffed. "But yes, most likely him."
"That giant kid certainly had an attitude problem," someone muttered.
"I guess it depends on whether you believe in biology or basic character," the senator from Georgia said.
Senator Strummond spoke once again.
"That's why I'm introducing the Powers For All Americans Act. To make superpowers available, affordable and accessible to all. And safe and legal, too." As he raised his index finger, he also raised his thin eyebrows.
When the senator from South Dakota frowned deeply, it emphasized his sharp bushy eyebrows.
"Wait. Let me see if I understand this. There's an outbreak of superpowers in this nation and you want to spread more powers to more people?"
"Well," the senator drawled. "We can't have only rich people having superpowers now, can we?"
"Why not? It worked well for Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark." With his feet up on his desk, Senator Jones from California didn't even bother to look up from his comic book when he spoke. Research, he insisted.
"Besides," Senator Strummond drawled, "most of these people with superpowers are harmless enough. They're even helpful."
"Try telling that to the people in Los Angeles dealing with flying gang members."
The leader of the Senate rapped his gavel.
"The gentleman from North Dakota is out of order."
That gentleman waved his arms wildly.
"I'm out of order? You're out of order! This whole assembly is out of order!"
"Thank you, Al Pacino," Jones mumbled as he flipped a new page of his comic book.
Brad stood in the visitors' section with Luke who was busy scribbling away; Luke did not always use his type-device.
Brad knew the force field around the Capitol would protect the people inside from the battling superheroes and super-villains who occasionally showed up.
TV screens in the halls of Congress displayed many of the super-powered battles taking place all over the nation as well as leaders speaking out. One leader, with lines and dark patches under his eyes as well as a pig-like nose, railed against non-conformity.
As he considered the situation, Brad made this observation.
"Everything should be fine, as long as a war doesn't break out between the super-powered people."
"Don't we already have one of those?" Luke muttered without looking up.
"I'm talking about a big full-scale war," Brad mumbled. "And let's hope we don't get dragged into it."
One year later.
The Great Plains of Kansas just outside Wichita.
According to satellites, the super-powered army from the west stretched from the Canadian border to the Rio Grande.
Some of the army members wore sleeveless shirts with cowboy hats. Others wore halter tops, cutoffs, leotards, bikinis and cowboy hats. Some wore clown makeup. Some painted their faces with flames; others were actually on fire.
The super-powered army arriving from the east was much the same. No cowboy hats, though. Some black uniforms.
Some of these army members were flying. Some were on fire. Some were flying and on fire.
At the front line of Division 13, Brad Martin shouted to the division leader.
"Hey, chief! How about after the battle we recharge with some carbs from McDonald's? Build up some energy."
Sgt. Steve Kradyus scowled and sneered. "Moron, what makes you think you deserve carbs from McDonald's? And don't call me 'chief.'"
Brad had been ticked off ever since the government injected powers into him, against his will.
"Sure thing, 'chief.' Why don't you take this chip out of my brain and I'll go home and I'll never bother you again."
"Well, that would be a relief-"
Sarge stopped because of the giant shadow that crossed his face. In fact, that shadow covered most of the area.
Luke was nearby writing all this down when the shadow covered him. When Luke looked up, he saw a flying saucer that took up most of the sky.
There was a giant TV screen at the base of the craft, and a familiar face appeared. It was R.H.
"Has R.H. been captured by aliens?" Brad muttered. Luke simply stared.
A very loud voice spoke.
"Greetings, people of Earth. We inhabited this one to introduce the Powers Formula to your people." A slight gasp from many of those present, with others grumbling and cursing. "We are the Obangu. We gave you the Powers Formula as a gift. We hope you used your powers and abilities to work cooperatively with one another."
A lot of heads went down at that point.
"We need your help against an enemy called the Skeelar."
There were gasps and murmurs of apprehension from the various super-powered individuals.
Four years later, three men were returned to the same location they left from: Brad, Luke and Sarge. Sarge had more pink scars on his face. While Luke had a scar across his throat, Brad suffered from puffy eyes that looked half-closed as they sat above swollen dark areas.
"Now that we've helped defeat the Skeelar, what's next?" Brad blinked as he looked from one friend to another.
Luke typed out his response on a device:
-Rebuild.-
As he looked around, Brad shrugged.
"After four years of war, I'm ready to rebuild for peace. How about you, Sarge?"
The sergeant looked around and nodded.
"I'm willing to give it a try."
With wires connected to his head, Luke typed into a hand-held device, and glowing green words appeared above his head.
"Let's help rebuild the Earth."
"Amen to that, brother," Sarge said with a laugh. "And later you can write a book about it all."
Once again, Luke typed into his device. This time, the words appeared on a tiny screen.
"The introduction of superpowers not only changed our world but got us involved in a galactic war. Yes, we were triumphant but at what cost? The only thing to do now is rebuild. Our cities and each other."
Luke imagined that if this were a movie or a TV show, there would be a camera closing in on his thoughtful face. The camera would then pan up to the sky.
The scene would then switch to a starry sky, and a man's voice would be heard. The man would offer some kind of narration.
"This is the Rod Serling virtual reality program addressing you once again. Can anything more really be added after that? Good journey and good night from 'The Twilight Zone.'"