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| Extra Ordinary: Beginnings Act One, Scene One |
Yellow caution tape surrounded the alley’s entrance and wooden sawhorse
safety barriers kept the media and other onlookers at bay. The police car was still
upside down with several detectives and crime scene investigators photographing
it and pouring it over for clues from the previous night’s attack. An ambulance was
sitting next to the car where paramedics were tending to the driver and his partner.
Another detective was questioning the homeless man.
“They were black eyes,” the homeless man kept saying, “Like a doll’s eyes.”
Also in the alley was a mysterious, jet black limo. No insignia or official
markings could be found on the luxury car’s exterior and the tinted windows
allowed no one to see inside the vehicle.
At the center of all the activity was the city’s Chief of Police, who was standing
with a younger man dressed in jeans, a plain white t-shirt, a black leather jacket,
safety barriers kept the media and other onlookers at bay. The police car was still
upside down with several detectives and crime scene investigators photographing
it and pouring it over for clues from the previous night’s attack. An ambulance was
sitting next to the car where paramedics were tending to the driver and his partner.
Another detective was questioning the homeless man.
“They were black eyes,” the homeless man kept saying, “Like a doll’s eyes.”
Also in the alley was a mysterious, jet black limo. No insignia or official
markings could be found on the luxury car’s exterior and the tinted windows
allowed no one to see inside the vehicle.
At the center of all the activity was the city’s Chief of Police, who was standing
with a younger man dressed in jeans, a plain white t-shirt, a black leather jacket,
| and dark Wayfarer sunglasses. His hero “code name” was Mindwarp and he was born and raised in the St. Louis suburbs before moving away for a short time. In a world full of people with extraordinary ability and power, Mindwarp was one of the few known telepaths/telekinetics on the planet. But, his powers were limited and he still struggled to find his place as a hero. Now, he was back in his hometown and ready to prove himself. “Chief, I’m just offering to help where I can,” the younger man said. The Chief interrupted, “And I’m telling you that I don’t want my crime scene turning into a homecoming dance for superheroes. Things have changed a bit since you left town. My predecessor may have accepted your help, but I’ve got a big problem with all you freaks and geeks playing dress up in my city.” “You don’t think a twenty foot tall dragon is reason enough to take some extra help?” Mindwarp asked. “Of course I do,” the Chief responded, waving a hand at the black limo, “which is why I’m letting the Gentleman look around.” As if on cue, a dapper-looking man dressed in top hat and tails with a black mask concealing his identity turned from where he had been kneeling near the rubble from the abandoned building. Holding a silver-handled cane, the Gentleman stood and frowned. The top of the cane’s handle was flipped open to reveal a tiny screen and a number of very small buttons. The screen showed a readout with data from scans the Gentleman had been taking with his high-tech gadget laden walking stick. “Unfortunately, I don’t seem to be having much luck, Chief. My equipment hasn’t found anything useful.” The Chief nodded to him and said, “Keep looking.” And then, turning back to the other hero, “See, nothing for you to do.” Mindwarp thought about trying to reason with the Chief and said, “If you let me talk to the two officers who were attacked maybe I could read something…” “I’m not going to tell you again,” the Chief bellowed, “I don’t want this becoming some sort of costume contest…” Just then, the crowd of reporters, photographers and videographers, and other onlookers parted as if Moses were parting the Red Sea again and Rick Indestructible, the tall, powerful, and invulnerable hero, strode onto the scene. The cameras all turned towards him as reporters and fans alike swarmed around him. Rick paused to sign a few autographs before stepping over the crime scene tape and taking a look around. A reporter shouted, “Rick…Rick, what about the rumor that this giant creature is the first wave of an alien invasion?” Rick smiled his “million dollar smile” and answered, “Invasion? Here? Well, if it is an invasion, those aliens will have to come through me, won’t they?” Another reporter pounced on his answer and shouted, “So, you’re confirming it’s an invasion?” Rick waved him off and said, “No, of course not…for now. If you’ll excuse me, I should talk with the Chief.” The Indestructible One posed for the cameras one last time, flexing his muscles playfully before turning in search of the Chief. The Chief stood with Mindwarp and shook his head at the scene as Rick approached them. “See what you started,” he exclaimed to Mindwarp, “We don’t need a media circus with you capes getting in the way.” Rick joined them and upon hearing this last statement said, “Yeah, Mindwarp, you should leave this to the locals. We’ll handle it from here.” “I am local,” Mindwarp said, taking a step toward Rick, “Or have you forgotten?” Puffing up his chest, Rick responded, “No…I also haven’t forgotten that you left either? Like I said, leave this to the locals.” The Chief pushed himself between the two heroes and yelled, “Will you two knock it off?” Mindwarp pulled his sunglasses down and glared at the Chief, a mysterious glow glazing over the hero’s eyes. “This doesn’t concern you, Chief. Go check on your men.” Dazed, as if he was in some sort of trance, the Chief said, “Right…this doesn’t concern me. I think I’ll go check on my men.” He turned and left Mindwarp, shouting orders as he walked away. Mindwarp slid his sunglasses back over his eyes and was surprised by a poke to the chest from Rick. “Don’t try that Jedi mind trick on me, little man,” Rick said, looking down with his nearly seven foot tall frame at the average sized telepath. Mindwarp looked from Rick’s finger poking his chest, up his massive frame, and into his eyes before asking, “And what if I do? Feeling froggy, Ricky?” Indestructible got nose to nose with the telepath and, in his best intimidating voice, growled, “You’ll be sorry. Now, get out of here and let the pros get to work.” As the two argued, a faint buzz began approaching the alley from several blocks away. The buzz continued to build and as it got louder and closer to the crowd, several of the rubberneckers and onlookers started holding their ears as they tried to find the source of this annoying sound. |
| Mindwarp and Rick were oblivious to the increasing sound as they continued to argue. “I am so sick of your prima donna attitude,” Mindwarp said, increasing his volume to be heard over the buzzing, “Six months as a member of the Guardians doesn’t make you a big deal…” Rick yelled back, “No, but being able to kick your ass does.” BUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…louder still and even closer. At this point, The Gentleman had noticed the sound as well and activated a control on his cane to scan the area. Rick pushed even closer to Mindwarp…literally touching noses and bumping the smaller man with a gentle head butt. Mindwarp smiled a bit at the idea of finally settling things with the strongman. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ…now, the two had to shout to be heard over the increasing noise. Reporters and police, bystanders and photographers were all scanning the area for any sign of where this maddening sound was coming from. |
| “Kick MY ass?” Mindwarp shot back sarcastically, “You’re going to kick MY ass? Well, I don’t see anyone stopping you…” While keeping an eye on Rick, Mindwarp subtly reached out with his telekinesis and slowly picked up a nearby dumpster as well as a steel beam from the nearby rubble. The Gentleman’s cane beeped as it locked on the source of the incoming aural assault. The tuxedoed hero waved a gloved hand at the other two heroes and said, “Boys? Boys...” The arguing duo both turned to him and yelled, “WHAT?!?” “I thought you might want to consider moving your argument elsewhere,” the Gentleman suggested, pointing to the entrance of the alleyway directly behind them. They turned just in time to see the crowd part like the Red Sea as a flailing, twisting, turning figure wearing what appeared to be rocket pack shot through the crowd. The “rocket man” blasted past the ambulance, knocking down the Chief in the process, before flying right in-between Rick and Mindwarp. Mindwarp instinctively created a shimmering force field of mental energy to defend himself, but Rick, the indestructible hero, just stood his ground. The high flyer held a control stick in each hand which was attached by cables to the backpack-like flying unit. He wore a brown leather jacket and a vintage jet fighter’s crash helmet with an oxygen mask. The new arrival looked as if he were trying to manipulate the controls as he flew past the heroes and smashed into a graffiti-filled wall, before being propelled a dozen feet straight up. (Click for More...) |