Part XV
Freddy lay flat on the floor and reached his arm deep, deep under his bed. His stretching fingers pushed past the dust and cobwebs the vacuum cleaner never reached, past a cluster of unwashed, unmatched socks and some little toy cars he'd forgotten he'd lost before they touched on what he'd been looking for: a square, old-fashioned metal cookie tin. The kind his Grampa used to fill with fishing tackle and his smelly homemade lures...
Dragging the box out into the light, Freddy pushed himself up against the bed with a grunt then blew away the dust, needing a moment to gather his resolve to pry open the lid.
The last time he'd held this box, Freddy had been eight years old – a new arrival to the Vasquez house, and to foster care. Back then, it had been just him and Mary, a solemn sixth-grader who'd lost her parents to a car accident only a year before. Her previous placement had been something of a disaster, and she'd tried to run from Rosa and Victor twice before they took Freddy in, with his bulky, awkward walker and his metal cookie tin.
He remembered, he and Mary had clicked right away. Somehow, despite everything that had happened, everything he'd lost, he'd felt safe with his new big sister. Safe enough to tell her what he'd done to end up in foster care. What he hadn't been strong enough to do…
Freddy's Grampa had been a stern man with a white mustache. He was prim and old fashioned and wore a pressed blue suit with a buttoned vest, no matter what the occasion.
But, he'd always had a smile for Freddy.
Every weekend, before the crack of dawn, Grampa used to pack his old truck high with sandwiches and fishing gear and he and Freddy would head out for a day on the bay. He'd kept a wooden boat with a small motor chained at the beach, in a secret place beneath the trees he claimed that only he could find.
Freddy used to beg to take the second oar, to sit by his Grampa's side and help him row like a real grown-up. Every time, his Grampa had laughed and ruffled his hair and told him maybe next week.
Until one morning, when Freddy was almost eight… His Grampa had handed Freddy the coveted oar before the boy could ask. He'd looked him in the eye and, with a smile, he'd said, "I think you're strong enough, now, to handle this."
Taking that wooden oar, feeling its heft, the weight of it in his hands, Freddy had never felt so proud. As they'd set out on the calm, glass-clear water, rowing side by side, he'd imagined himself as strong as his Grampa, as strong as a superhero...!
"Hey! That's him! That's the brat who saw us!"
The call came from a much larger motorboat, approaching fast from the far shore. The man who'd shouted slowed the boat and raised a gun. Another man stood beside him, holding the arms of a woman who seemed to be struggling against his grip.
"Grampa, I know them!" Freddy gasped. "That's Ricky and Gus, and my mom's friend Terry! They were staying in the same motel with my mom and dad when the cops came to arrest them."
Freddy's Grampa shook his head. "No good thugs," he scorned. "Keep well behind me, lad, and hold tight to that oar."
"I will, Grampa," Freddy said, squeezing the oar until his knuckles turned white.
"Consider this a message to your folks, kid," the man with the gun shouted over the roar of his motor, the waves it was making causing the little rowboat to bob and rock. "You squeal to the feds, your family gets plugged."
"No, Rick! Not the kid!" Terry shrieked, breaking free just long enough to slam into the gunman. His shot went wild, and he fell into the water, hitting his head against the side of the boat.
The second man, Gus, saw Ricky sink and swore loudly, turning the boat and roaring away despite the woman's screams to stop, to go back for him…
"Grampa, what do we do?" Freddy cried.
"Only one thing to do, my boy," his Grampa said. "Put about, and we'll rescue him!"
Freddy didn't hesitate, working with his Grampa to turn the bobbing boat into the waves left in the motorboat's wake. Then, while Freddy tried to keep the boat from spinning in circles, Grampa reached over the side and hauled the injured man to safety.
"Easy, me boy," Grampa said as the sopping man coughed and gasped. "You're in good hands now."
"Not likely," Ricky snarled and slammed his fist into the old man's jaw, knocking him into the water.
"Grampa!" Freddy shrieked and jumped to his feet, gripping his heavy oar like a bo staff. "You hurt my Grampa, you monster!"
"Paugh!" the man spat. In one rough motion, he snatched Freddy's oar from the small boy's hands, then swung it like a bat. "Out of my way, you useless twerp!"
WACK!
Freddy would never forget the sound that oar made when it impacted against his side, his back... The shooting, rippling pain... The freezing chill of the water as the monster pulled their small motor to sputtering life and zoomed away, raving and shouting, "No snitch's brat's gonna put the finger on me. That's the lesson, man! All damn snitches gonna die!"
Freddy had tried to swim, to reach for his Grampa's blue suit, but he couldn't get his legs to move. He'd tried to scream, to flail and thrash, but a strange, agonizing numbness seared through his spine, his limbs, and he'd felt himself sinking…
Freddy had been lucky, the doctors said later. Another fisherman had witnessed the awful scene from a dock nearby and called 911 before rushing to the rescue. The surgeons had done their best to repair the boy's shattered hip and femur, but damage to his spine had left him partially paralyzed and in an enormous amount of pain. He remembered overhearing the doctors whispering to the cops, the social worker, the lawyers who'd gathered around his hospital bed to record his eyewitness statements, warning them that even with physical therapy, the searing pain and numbness Freddy felt shooting through his hip and down his leg would likely hobble the boy for the rest of his life.
As for his Grampa…
Freddy lifted the small, framed photograph from among the memories he'd locked tight inside the cookie tin and stared hard at his Grampa's face…at the way he held his younger self's hand…
"Grampa… Those monsters were after me, not you," Freddy whispered, his voice hoarse and choked. "I'm sorry, Grampa. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to save you." He sniffed hard and buried his face in his hands. "I'm sorry it wasn't me who drowned instead!"
Billy had made it about halfway up the stairs when he heard someone crying. He followed the sobs to Mary and Darla's room, where he found the little girl curled up in Mary's lap while the older girl gently stroked her back.
"What's wrong?" Billy asked, his eyes wide with concern. "Is the headache really that bad?"
"It's not the headache. Not anymore," Mary said, looking just as worried. "More like...a sort of nightmare. It got me and now...I can't get her to wake up."
"What do you mean? What happened?" Billy asked, sitting beside them and pressing his palm to Darla's forehead.
"I..." Mary blinked and furrowed her brow. "I don't remember..."
Darla heaved a fresh sob into Mary's shoulder and woke with a gasp, grabbing her glasses from the bed and tossing them across the room.
"No, take them back, take them back!" she shrieked. "I'm sorry, Mama, I'm sorry my eyes are too expensive! Mama, please!"
"What is she talking about?" Billy said as he retreived the glasses, his whole face squinched with worry. "Darla, what—"
Darla blinked through her tears. Staring at her siblings' concerned faces, she let out a squee and hugged them both with all the strength her arms could muster.
"Oh, you guys, it was so awful!" she exclaimed, slipping her glasses back over her nose. "I thought… No, I dreamed I…" She shook her head and frowned. "I…don't remember…"
"Hey, guys?" Eugene said, stepping into the room. "Whatever's going on, I think Pedro's got it. It's like, he's in some kind of a trance or something. And, I heard him crying about his abuela."
"Eugene," Billy said. "Did you have a nightmare too?"
Eugene tilted his head, considering.
"I wouldn't call it a 'nightmare,' exactly," the boy said. "Mostly because I don't think I was really asleep."
"Do you remember what it was about?" Mary asked.
Eugene shook his head. "It's just haze now. But it felt pretty awful, whatever it was."
Billy frowned and got up from the bed.
"Someone check on Pedro. I gotta talk to Freddy."
"Why Freddy?" Eugene asked, trailing after the older boy as he headed toward the door.
"Freddy's our expert on villain stuff," Billy said. "If this is some kind of psychic attack, he might know who—"
"Hang on - psychic attack?" Mary said, getting up to tower over them. "Billy, what is going on? What kind of 'League business' did they have you off doing this morning that we'd get attacked in our own home this afternoon!"
"What! Nothing!" Billy told her. "It wasn't like that, I swear! I went to the moon with Superman! But, Mary..."
"The moon?" Darla said, her eyes wide. "You really went to the moon?"
"Did you go in a ship, or just with powers?" Eugene asked eagerly. "Oh my god, does this mean we can fly in space too?"
Billy squeezed his eyes shut and sighed through his nose.
"Guys, forget space and forget the moon, OK! Now, I don't know if this is connected," he said, looking from Eugene to Darla to Mary. "I hope it isn't. But after what just happened, I think you should know. Batman told me this morning: Sivana and Ibac disappeared from their cells last night."
"They what!" Mary exclaimed. "Billy, why didn't you tell us—!"
"Because I didn't think it was our problem!" Billy snapped. "The creeps reappeared right away and now the League's got them both under surveillance! They'll send an alert if anything happens."
"You should have told us, Billy," Mary said angrily. "We should have gone to investigate! Keeping Sivana and Ibac off the streets is our job, not the League's. You can't use this new membership thing as an excuse to shirk the responsibilites the Wizard gave you!"
"Like you know so much about it," Billy said defensively. "And I'm not shirking anything! I'm going to investigate - but with the Justice League behind me!"
"Billy, you don't need—" Mary started, but Billy cut her off.
"Listen, you don't get it," he said. "You haven't been to the Watchtower yet, so you don't know. But I can tell you, the League does have our backs. They want us on their team, and they're willing to help us learn. The martial arts scholarship we got is just an example. Think about it, Mary," he said. "The old wizard guy never gave us support like that! He didn't tell me anything about anything when he brought me to that cave, just made some noise about the Sins and how he'd been reckless and I was, like, his last chance or whatever. He convinced me to touch that glowing staff of his, then he crumbled into dust. Literally! The dude straight-up died and blew away right in front of me, like the guy who 'chose poorly' in Indiana Jones! He trapped me in a strange adult body and left me alone - totally alone - to figure out my job and my powers for myself. And you guys wonder why I don't want to hang out in that place like it's some kind of magic clubhouse..."
"Then, Freddy was right," Mary said, narrowing her eyes at him. "You have been trying to avoid going back to our lair! And now you have the Justice League as an excuse!"
"What - no! That's not what I... No!" Billy exclaimed, then turned his head, swallowing back a surge of guilty anger. "But..."
"What?" Mary demanded, crossing her arms as she glared him down. "What else have you been keeping from the rest of us?"
Billy glared right back.
"Nothing," he said. "Well, maybe not nothing. Actually, it could be something. But I honestly thought it was no big deal!"
"What's not a big deal?" Mary pressed.
Billy scowled. "I don't know," he admitted. "It's weird. But...it's like, I've been getting these...these sort of 'calls' all weekend. A sort of...'summons'. I didn't tell anyone - not Batman, not the League, not you... I guess I kinda...hoped if I ignored it, the feeling would go away..."
"What's a 'summons'?" Darla asked. "Do you mean, like, magic?"
"What else," Billy said grimly. "I felt it again downstairs, just after you guys started feeling sick. A sort of tugging, pulling sensation way in the back of my mind. That's why I came up here. I think... No, I know. It's coming from the Rock of Eternity. Something wants me to go back there. Back to the Wizard's cave."
"Then, let's go," Eugene said. "I'm ready to—"
"Wait," Mary said. "Before we do anything, we have to think this through. Let's get everyone together. And you, Billy Batson," she said, "are going to tell us everything you know or think you know. From the top."
"I just did," Billy said. "Except..."
"Except?" Eugene repeated curiously.
"It's about the investigation," Billy said. "I promised I'd meet a magician named Zatanna at 3:30. She's a member of the Justice League and she's read all about the Wizard and the Rock of Eternity. I planned to bring Freddy along but, with everything's that's been going on, I haven't had a chance to ask if—"
"Where are you supposed to meet this Zatanna?" Mary demanded.
"Las Vegas," Billy said, and smiled. "She gave me a backstage pass to her show."
"No way!" Eugene exclaimed. "Dude, why didn't you say anything! I totally want to go!"
"Me too!" Darla peeped. "I want to go too, Billy!"
"This is why I didn't say anything," Billy said. "We can't all go to Vegas. Some of us have to stay here with Rosa and Victor until I get back."
Mary frowned.
"I suppose there's no way you can back out," she said.
"That wouldn't be very responsible," Billy jabbed back. "Besides, it's kind of an assignment. Batman asked me to work with her. Me and Superman. He wants us to investigate that Sivana/Ibac disappearance thing together, and he gave me the authority to call in anyone I need to help out."
"Dude...!" Eugene exclaimed.
"Hmm," Mary grunted. "Fine. In that case, I'm going with you."
Billy opened his mouth as if to protest, but she said, "Freddy can come along if he wants to. But I want to be part of this investigation. If what happened to us just now was a psychic attack, Dr. Sivana could be behind it. After all, who else outside the Justice League knows who we really are - or where we live?"
"OK," Billy agreed, and looked at Eugene. "But, that means you, Darla, and Pedro have to stay here and keep our cover. Rosa and Victor can't realize we're gone or they might freak out and call the cops or something."
"Sometimes I wish we could just tell them about us being superheroes," Darla said. "Maybe they could be part of the Shazamily too!"
"That wouldn't work and you know it," Eugene said. "Having real grown-ups on the team would only wreck things!"
"And your friends in the Justice League?" Mary said, raising an eyebrow at Billy. "Aren't they grown-ups?"
"Fellow superheroes don't count," Billy said, and headed for the hallway. "Come on. Let's check on Pedro and Freddy and tell them what's going on."
To Be Continued…
References Include - The Shazam! Archives, Volume 4: Whiz Comics #24, The Origin of Captain Marvel, Jr. by William Woolfolk, C.C. Beck and Mac Raboy (paraphrased and partially quoted); Shazam! The New Beginning by Roy and Dann Thomas; The Power of Shazam! by Jerry Ordway; Shazam! (movie); Shazam! Volume 1, by Geoff Johns; Shazam! The Deluxe Junior Novel, by Calliope Glass; Justice League/Justice League Unlimited; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
SOME NOTES: In "The Origin of Captain Marvel, Jr.," Freddy and his Grampa were attacked by the villainous Captain Nazi, a very dated WWII-era baddy. Captain Marvel stopped Captain Nazi from wrecking a plane by punching him all the way to the bay, where Freddy and his Grampa happened to be fishing. Unaware the form they saw floating in the water was really a deadly enemy, they tried to rescue him by hauling him into their little boat. As thanks, Captain Nazi murdered Freddy's Grampa with a punch, then slammed Freddy across the back with an oar when the boy tried to stand up to him, leaving Freddy to drown while he made his getaway in the boat. Captain Marvel spotted Freddy just in time and flew him to a hospital, but the people there tried to turn them away, saying it was a private institution. Cap responded by breaking through a wall and delivering the unconscious Freddy directly to the surgeons. Unfortunately, the doctors reported Freddy's back was broken and they didn't expect him to last the night. Horrified, Billy carried the dying boy to the Rock of Eternity and presented him to the Wizard for help. Old Shazam said there wasn't anything he could do, but as Captain Marvel, Billy could pass some of his power to Freddy and that could save his life. Billy didn't hesitate and, with a flash of lightning, Freddy became Captain Marvel, Jr. - still a kid, but with all the powers of S.H.A.Z.A.M.! Freddy's new backstory casts his parents as imprisoned criminals (Billy's father too), so for this story I mixed the two together, replacing Capt. Nazi with a few of Freddy's parents' (made up) criminal associates.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that you'll tune in next time when Billy, Freddy and Mary head to Las Vegas!
Your reviews and comments are always welcome! Please let me know what you think! :)
