Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ALONE (10/20/22)
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TITLE: Solo Heroics | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
10/27/22 -
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She answered hesitantly, "Good morning," wondering to which official she would be speaking, since only the president and select cabinet members had this number.
The voice bubbling out of the phone was a State Department staffer who was tasked with communicating with her for the secretary. Belinda had never met the woman in person, but she always tensed when she heard the aide's voice, because it meant being asked to provide some superspeed help for the government.
Belinda, who hated slowing things down, asked the aide to slow down and explain what the government wanted her to do. In a patronizing tone of voice the aide spoke extremely slowly, drawing out each syllable. “Speedster, your government needs you to go to Israel and take custody of Allah’s Fist. There is an Israeli superperson who is interfering with the FBI agents who have tried to bring them home to be charged under proper terrorism statutes.
Belinda had read about the incident at the Temple Mount, and wasn’t certain that the Jewish hero was doing the wrong thing by refusing the FBI. She objected, “He seems to be stronger than I am and a good deal more durable.”
The aide snarked back, “Are you refusing a lawful order of the US government?”
Speedster felt more sure of herself as she responded calmly, “I wasn’t aware I worked for the government.”
The voice on the other end seethed, “Your superheroics violate civil liberties, but they’re tolerated because we think you’re more useful helping us than not…”
Speedster swallowed the juice she was drinking while the other woman ranted. “Well if the US government needs my help, they could ask nicely. Maybe even say, ‘please’.”
Belinda heard some frustrated breathing for a moment, then the aide spoke again with faux-sweetness, “Speedster, will you please go to Israel and help the FBI take custody of Allah’s Fist? Pretty please?”
Speedster almost decided on stretching out the conversation to tease the other woman, but realized that’s not what Jesus would approve of, so she simply said, “I’ll get right on it, after I finish breakfast.”
The call disconnected just after Speedster heard something heavy hit something wooden.
An hour later, Speedster was standing outside the detention facility where the criminals were being held. Vibrated to invisibility, she watched Macabee, as she recalled his name from the news reports, struggling with a small woman in a burqa. He had a hand around her neck and was holding her head like he was going to twist a bottlecap off. He grunted out, “Alukah, you have bitten your last victim. I’ll take care of you in the way one deals with your kind.”
Shocked back to visibility, Speedster shouted, “You’re going to kill her!”
Macabee turned to her and snarled, ”American, keep out of this. This vampire has killed numerous men and has to be stopped. Besides, how do you kill an undead creature?”
Speedster was only a bit surprised. She had time traveled, dealt with visitors from other dimensions, and was aware that her friends had dealt with extraterrestrials, so why not a vampire? Regardless, she was put off by the man’s callousness.
Another shock came when the vampire’s hijab fell off, revealing the face of a girl in her late teens, who looked like she belonged in college. A lesser shock came when the girl opened her mouth, revealing fangs in place of her eye teeth. When Macabee broke her neck, the girl collapsed. Then he faced the American heroine and courteously motioned for her to come in. Puzzled, she asked, “Why are you not fighting me like you did the FBI?”
“I don’t like having to fight another superhero, especially one who is brave enough to try and fight me alone.”
“I had hoped to remain invisible while completing my mission, but was shocked to see you threatening someone’s life.” Speedster nodded at the dead vampire.
“I was impressed by the fact that you arrived alone, and still tried to save what you thought was a life. We aren’t that different, you and I. Alone, we each work for justice, but together we would be undefeatable.”
Speedster responded, “First off, I tend to work alone. Second, I’m not prepared to move. Lastly, I’m not certain I like the way you operate.”
Macabee shrugged. “You can’t blame a man for not wanting to be alone.”
*******
Alukah is Hebrew for vampire.
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