New Markets - 02 (65 page)

"That's a cool idea!  Do you get a lot of publicity?"

"Every time you stop a crime or help with something the press seems to be there.  Spartan seems to love it as well."

"Every time?"

"Yeah, seems like I'm talking to the news every few days now."

"Every few days?" 
Hmm, this sounds like it might be worth getting into.

"Well, it would depend on how often you do any crime fighting or answer calls to help out.  I've been out of it a lot off and on, so I've missed quite a few events happening out there.  I never realized how many problems Metrocity seems to have."

"It's a big place.  So ... do you think I could be a super hero too?"

"You're super strong, armored, and you can fly.  I mean, really, is there any better set of powers to have for it?"

I could be the best super hero?  That would have to net me a magazine shoot, and probably even a cover shot!

My roguish hero smiled at me again and continued, "Not to mention, you are gorgeous, the press would love to talk with you."

"I dunno, I kind of feel too manly with all the muscles I have now.  I don't like it."

He stopped and looked me up and down.  "Are you joking?  You don't look like a skinny model, if that's what you are basing your thoughts on, but you are hot as hell."

I grinned and flushed.

He said, "Just don't wear some kind of bulky armor suit like Gatecrasher wears and I think people will focus on your assets far more than your muscles."

While we drove to my house I thought about the possibilities. 
I could buy some new clothes, do a photo shoot and send that off to sports and supplement places like Black Tiger sent in that text.  Then stop a crime or two, get a bunch of press, and it should be no problem landing some jobs!

He pulled up into my driveway and stopped the motorcycle.  As we dismounted I asked, "So how do I become a super hero then?"

"Go to H.E.R.O. headquarters in the far northeast part of Metrocity and ask at the front desk to sign up as a hero.  Captain McCain is normally the guy you'd end up speaking with."

"Does it cost anything?"

"No, you get paid if you help with events - those are crimes or situations where people need help."

"Wait, you get paid for doing this too?"

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you say so?  Should I have anything with me when I go sign up?"

"You might want to figure out what you'll want for a costume, but apart from that just the super name you'll go with."

"Awesome.  I'll go do some shopping now.  What did you say you thought a good name would be for me again?"

"Diva?  I was joking, but it could work, I suppose."

"Sounds good to me.  Better than me thinking up a name."

"Well, if you need any help, feel free to call me - you already have my phone number from the text I sent earlier.  Or you can find me once you have a H.E.R.O. phone under Black Tiger."

"I appreciate it, handsome.  Thanks for your help."  I kissed him on the cheek and headed into the house.  Just before going in I remembered that he'd said something about a friend knowing how to fly and that they could teach me.

I yelled back, "Hey!  How do I call that friend of yours who can teach me to fly?"

"Psystar?  Want me to have her send you a text or call you?"

"Yeah, I'd like that a lot.  Thanks again!"  I smiled, waved to him and headed in the house.

I went through my clothes until I found a skirt that fit my new, bigger butt, found some sandals that fit my feet, grabbed my purse and drove into town to shop for a costume.  I needed something sexy and attention getting so the press would want to talk to me as much as possible.

I knew just the stores to visit, and after only four hours of shopping I'd found an awesome set of thigh-high leather boots and a blue strapless mini-dress that showed off my legs and the boots (and would keep everyone's eyes off my muscles).  Fortunately I came across some other clothes to replace my closet full of clothes that were now way too small.

I'd already discovered the best new benefit of being super strong - I could lift as many bags of stuff as I wanted without it being difficult.  In fact, I had to check often to make sure I hadn't dropped anything because it all felt so light.

When I arrived home I spent an hour or so trying on my existing clothes to weed out those I could no longer squeeze into.  I went to bed feeling like I'd accomplished something with my first day home from the hospital.

Friday morning I woke up invigorated, showered and put on my new dress and boots in preparation for a day of being a super hero.  I picked out some earrings, but bent several - apparently the holes I hadn't been wearing jewelry in were healed and I couldn't stab through with gold alloy.  I settled on a nice pair of earrings, a gold chain necklace with a diamond in it, and some bracelets on each arm.

It took a while to drive to the far northeast corner of Metrocity where H.E.R.O. headquarters was located.  The building was pretty impressive, kind of a mix of modern architecture and Roman pillars and statues.  I wished some of the statues were of people in togas rather than costumes; they would have fit in with my mini-dress.

Once inside I strode up to the receptionist and asked to see Captain McCain.  The woman appeared very impressed by my appearance, she looked me up and down several times before remembering to call him.

After a few moments she sent me down a corridor, and I met Captain McCain for the first time.  He was a very large man, several inches taller than I was now (and I stood taller than most men).  He was very broad as well, although he looked quite professional in his business pants, white shirt and tie.  Boring, but professional looking.

When I knocked on the open door he stood and stepped forward, but halted for a moment with his mouth open when he looked me up and down.  My choice of outfit worked very well at distracting him with my legs and strapless blue mini-dress.  I smiled and stepped forward to shake his hand.

He took care to shake my hand gently, and looked surprised after he held my hand.

He said, "Good morning, I'm Captain McCain."

"Hi, I'm Daphne Marais, although I'd like to have my name put in as Diva."

"Diva?  Oh, you're here to join H.E.R.O.?"

"Yeah, Black Tiger said to come here and sign up.  He mentioned your name."

He studied my face and hair for a moment and said, "Ah yes, I recognize you now.  You're one of the new supers released from the hospital."

"That's me.  I'm really strong, a big gun can't hurt me, and I can fly.  Black Tiger thought I'd be a perfect superhero.  And I love the press too."

"Excellent, well ... have a seat."  He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk.

I sat down and said, "So do I have to fill out a form or something?"

He pulled some forms out of a drawer.  "Yes.  Fill these out.  I'm willing to activate you on a temporary basis if you'll take the required first aid and legal courses that will help in your role as a member of law enforcement."

"Classes?" 
Aw man, Black Tiger didn't mention having to take classes.

"Yes.  Considering the destructive power at your disposal, it's important to know how to help save people as well as stop villains.  The legal courses are to ensure you know the basics of the laws, and how the various government agencies fit together."

"Oh … well … are they hard?"

"No, they aren't advanced courses.  We aren't asking our heroes to become lawyers."

"Great.  That sounds doable then."

He stared at my low-cut dress top for a moment and then asked, "You
do
know that H.E.R.O. agents get into physical combat, right?  Fist fights, weapons fire, lightning blasts in the case of Hellshock, that sort of thing?"

"Well, yeah, of course I do.  Black Tiger and I already stopped the guys who attacked us at my house yesterday." 
I have no idea what he's jabbering about, but stopping crimes and communicating with the press are the important things here.

"Excellent.  I don't recall seeing a Diva on any of the events from yesterday."

He guided me through the paperwork, printed me a special ID card that showed I was an official H.E.R.O. person, and gave me a packet on where the courses I needed would be available.  He mentioned that he'd follow up in a week or two on my status with the first class.

He also gave me a special cell phone made for bricks, as he called us.  Captain McCain took a few minutes to describe how the apps worked on the phone to answer crime calls and such.  I hoped my eyes didn’t glaze over as I thought about how I wanted to pose for a new photo shoot rather than watch his boring presentation in detail.

I smiled and thanked him before I left.  He was shaking his head in admiration as I turned to leave. 
Being one of these H.E.R.O.s is going to be a no-brainer.

 I passed a pretty young woman with gold hair.  She had on a white costume that was similar in some respects to mine, except she wore tight shorts rather than a skirt.  I debated giving her a pointer on how to keep people's attention focused on you, but didn't want to appear uppity.  Her white boots looked like the only fashion award they would win would be at a hiker's convention.

She slowed down with her mouth hanging open slightly - it looked like she debated complimenting me, but changed her mind and held her tongue. 
People really need to learn to speak up!
  I winked at her and left the building.

Chapter 2 - Frustration

Selina's (Chrome’s) Viewpoint

The dream came on suddenly, a flash of men in black uniforms with guns pointed at me.  Being struck in the chest and face with a bunch of paintballs.  The shock and the smell of some odd chemical struck my nose.

My heart rate kicked up and my eyes snapped open.  I tried to move my arms, but they were held down by some kind of restraint.  To my left stood some kind of very large officer, he looked prepared to thump me if I moved wrong.

To my right stood another huge man, he held up a young lady with shiny golden hair and a revealing white costume.  She was slumped in his arms at the moment.  Another woman stood next to them, she had dark green hair and eyes, and appeared to have strange claws - her fingers each were a claw, and another claw jut forward from the knuckle of each finger as well, almost making it appear as though she had double the number of fingers.  She stared at me as though prepared for a fight.  She also wore a uniform with a badge.  Last, she had a spike that came up from each shoulder and stabbed through the uniform.

That's got to be a bitch on clothing.  Ouch.

The man in the business pants, white shirt and tie shifted the girl so he held her in one hand and said, "Good morning, Selina.  I'm Captain McCain.  How are you feeling today?"

"I ... why am I being held down again?  I thought I got out of the hospital.  Why did S.W.A.T. shoot me?"

"Those weren't S.W.A.T.  You're missing a few days, I'm afraid.  Let me explain a moment before we decide what we can do here.  Hold on a second, I need to set Psystar down, I didn't realize she would fall unconscious on me."

He very gently lay her back in a chair and turned back toward me.  He continued, "Before we talk, are you thirsty?"