Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD (07/23/20)
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TITLE: Dance Off | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
07/30/20 -
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The figure on the screen said, “Good evening, citizens. Sorry to interrupt your usual programming, but I am going to make an announcement.” His bearded face leered as he moved closer to whatever camera he was using to cut in on the broadcast signal. “I plan to rob the Twelfth National bank and Roberto’s Jewelry store at 8 P.M. and I am daring Speedster to stop me. Of course,” and he stepped to one side to gesture at a wall sized device,
“She won’t be able to run at her usual speed to try and stop me. With this device I am broadcasting a mental command that will cause the police to forget my plan, and prohibit Speedster from running until I, the Thought Master, allow her to resume. By the time that happens I’ll be far away.” He shut down his broadcast after issuing his threat.
Belinda tried to complete the newscast without showing her impatience. She had to see if Thought Master’s threat was real. When the newscast was done, Belinda ran towards her cubicle. To her dismay she could only run at normal human speed. However, when she got to her computer to begin to write the story about the threat, her hands flew across the keys at superspeed.
“Apparently,” she mused quietly, “Thought Master was a bit too specific in his mental command.” Belinda sat for a long moment considering her options. She had a sudden memory from before her powers manifested. Her mother had insisted that her physically active daughter take up dance as a way to channel her energy. After ducking into an unused storeroom, she tried out her theory. Belinda chuckled as she thought, “I can’t run, but I can dance my way across town and show him my best high kick from Mrs. Chappel’s lessons.” Checking her watch, she saw that she had only three minutes to arrive, presuming her opponent was punctual. Changing into her gold and indigo costume, she strolled past several confused office workers.
Once on the street, she twirled and danced her way across the five miles in seconds, and was waiting when Thought Master pulled up in a vaguely familiar sedan. Upon exiting the car, he smirked at her and asked, “Do you have a receipt for cab fare? I’ll cover the money after I rob the bank.”
Speedster smiled and responded, “That presumes that I don’t stop you.”
Thought Master gave a mocking bow and said, “You’re welcome to try, my dear.”
Then this high tech villain did something that surprised Speedster. He threw a brick through the window of the jewellery store. She could have stopped him then with a charge of vandalism, but she wanted him to be jailed for more than a misdemeanor. As he swept his hands across the jewels in the window, she danced into action. A superspeed pirouette with her arms outstretched knocked the stolen gems from his hands. With a confused look on his face he bent to pick up the scattered loot. As he did so, Speedster did a couple of dance steps backwards and at speed danced up to her foe and delivered the high kick she had imagined inflicting.
As he sat groggy on the ground, he muttered, “My machine was perfect. How did you stop me with superspeed?”
“I’ll never tell,in case we meet again,” she said triumphantly.
The police arrived a moment later, and as they frisked and cuffed him, Speedster asked to see the address on his ID so she could shut down his machine. When she saw the address she was grateful for her mask keeping her reaction hidden. It was three houses down from hers. After saying goodbye to the officers, she danced off to his house to dismantle his thought control machine.
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