Chapter 2: This looks like a job for a new hero!

Josh had no way of tracking static. He contemplated going to Virgil's house, but what would that do if Static wasn't home? He was about to give up when he noticed a man carrying a briefcase labled "Alva industries". The briefcase was handcuffed to his arm. Josh had an idea, it was crazy, but what else could he do? After bluffing to Richie that he needed some glue and a screw driver to fix something at his house as a way to appease his parents, Josh ran off, glue and screwdriver in hand. Luckily for him, the man with the Alva industries case hadn't made it very far. Josh watched him get on a bus and barely managed to get on as well, but not before putting his sunglasses over his face. Then he made his move. "Sorry" he said as he spilled the glue all over the man's case and handcuffs. The man glared at him. At the next stop, which was the Dakota mall, Josh and the man got both off the bus. The man was heading for the restrooms from the looks of it. Josh followed, but then pretended to be mesmerized by a trailer for a new video game when the man looked over his shoulder.

The man went into the men's room and un-cuffed his case to start washing it, muttering about kids these days. Josh ran in and snatched the case. "STOP!" yelled the man. Josh froze, and then kicked the man in the stomachs when he closed in. The man looked like he was too hurt to continue the chase, so Josh ran off. He felt bad for using force on an innocent man, what would his Sensei in his previous life think? Then he reminded himself of why he was doing it. Josh found a dressing room and pried open the case with a screwdriver. Inside was a single vial labeled "Big Bang". Josh took a breath, he hoped this was the right choice. Then he drank the entire contents of the vial. He started to feel queasy. After a few minutes, the feeling passed. Josh was worried about Riche and thought fondly of them playing video games in Riche's room. Suddenly he was there! He heard Riche talking to his parents about his new friend and wondered what he would do if he was discovered now. Josh worried, and then thought of his new house. Suddenly he was there too. Josh realized that he had left the case in the dressing room, it appeared on the table. Josh was starting to get the hang of this. He formulated another plan and tried to think of a Dakota news station, except that he couldn't seem to teleport to somewhere he couldn't picture clearly. Then, a new idea dawned on him. Visualizing the roof of the daily planet building in metropolis, Josh disappeared from his room.

Josh reappeared on the roof of the Daily planet building. He had to find a journalist before static took the fall. He got on the elevator and took it to the first floor. Then he read the building directory and found the name he was looking for, Lois Lane. Since it was on a higher floor and Josh didn't want to waste time, he teleported to the roof again. A pair of eyes noticed him reappear. Josh took the stairs and soon found Lois's office. He was hammering on her office door when he heard a voice call to him "Lois is on vacation, is there something I can help you with?" Josh turned and stared into the eyes of Clark Kent. "Please, you have to help me!" Josh panted. "A young hero in Dakota is about to be arrested for a crime committed by an evil copy of himself." he said, tripping over the words in his haste. Clark looked confused, and then he asked "Why do you need my help?". "I need a journalist to prove Static is innocent." Josh replied. "If I'm supposed to believe this," Clark questioned, "How did you get all the way here from Dakota?" "I teleported here" Josh replied and teleported a few feet back as proof. Clark's eyes narrowed. Josh was suspicions that Clark was using his X-ray vision to see the face beyond Josh's glasses, but he didn't care at the moment. "Let me get a camera" Clark finally said. Josh breathed a sigh of relief. Five minutes later, they were back in Dakota.

"Do you have a plan?" asked Clark. Josh responded "We just need proof that there are 2 statics, and I think I know where they'll be." Sirens could be heard in the distance. Josh was about to grab Clark and teleport again, when Clark stated "Go head, I'll catch up". Josh figured what Clark was up to and teleported to the studio alone. Sure enough, Static was fighting with his double, and the police had the area surrounded. Josh knew that if Static defeated his double now, he'd never be free, so Josh intervened. He teleported some stage props above the real static and the copy, and the props fell on them. Replay and a few of his clones turned to look. Josh knew that he had to buy time for Clark or Superman, whoever he was now, to do his part of the job. Pointing at replay, Josh taunted "Who was that guy that again? Wasn't he on some TV show or something?" Enraged, Replay sent a army of clones after Josh, who kept teleporting away, until Static stuck him to the wall. Josh knew it was the fake Static because of the way his mask looked. Realizing he couldn't teleport himself somehow, Josh thought he'd be rescued by the real static. Until he saw the real static flying away from police officers with guns. Fake Static was about to shock him, when Josh had an idea.

He pictured fake static and looked at the spot where real static was flying around, and suddenly there were 2 statics for the police to deal with. Within 2 minutes the real static had won and cleared his name. Replay tried to escape to plan his next move, only to be stopped by Superman. Josh teleported away the moment the Static cling wore off. He was on his way home when Superman flew down to him. "What are you doing out here?" asked Josh, though being a superman fan in his previous life he already knew the answer. "I was around and had to go save a reporter from some thugs, but we're heading back to Metopolis now." replied superman. He frowned, and then added "wait for me on the roof if you need me for anything". Josh gave the thumbs up and headed home. "Thanks Q" was his last thought before he fell asleep.