Boltran City Stories: Teamwork
Strong Arm gets some backup from Admiral Earth
The world is different. Individuals with extraordinary abilities have been emerging since the late 1970’s. The agreed upon term for these individuals is “Powered” or “Powered Individual”. Documented cases range from something as mundane as being able to grow hair faster on command to flying into space. Many cities accepted the new type of humans, but one metropolis, Boltran City, is where we will visit today.
Nelson Holcomb aka Strong Arm has a wonderful opportunity. As part of the “Heroes Helping Heroes” Initiative started by The Justice Coalition, Strong Arm submitted a request to get help with villains beyond his power scale in his region. They sent the powerful alien the public only knows as Admiral Earth. Let’s join as the two heroes protect nelson’s neighborhood.
The thing about Admiral Earth that people usually noticed before his light gray skin and tightly combed dark green hair was the aura of calm he brought with him. Those who have met him also claim that Admiral Earth is a kind, patient, encouraging person who also happens to be the strongest Powered Individual on the planet. Nelson was nervous up until the alien’s arrival.
Nelson tugged on his gloves for the 3rd time in five minutes. “Have they always been this tight?” He muttered. He pulled on the fabric until it was taut. “I swear, they fit fine every day until…dammit.” Nelson ceased his fidgeting when a shadow covered him. Nelson looked up and couldn’t find the words. Silhouetted by the sun, almost like it was planned, was Admiral Earth.
Dressed in a forest green singlet costume, with dark gold boots, a blue cape, and a symbol of the planet Earth on his chest, Admiral Earth opted for no mask or face covering. Nelson saw a fairly handsome, shaved man with combed back green hair. Admiral Earth smiled.
“Hello. Are you Strong Arm?”
Nelson’s jaw moved but no sound came out. After he came to his senses Nelson shook his head and chuckled. “Yeah, yes, I am, ahem, I am Ne- er, Strong Arm.” As they shook hands Nelson noted it wasn’t a world altering handshake like he had hoped.
Admiral Earth nodded.
“Shall we get started?”
They sat on a couple of camping chairs on the roof of an apartment building in Hedgeway Fields, a small hip community located just outside the industrial area of Boltran City. It was a burgeoning home of small scale gentrification, with coffee-shops and ethic food restaurants. The sky was cloudless, the sky like a gentle blue ceiling.
The basic “get to know you” questions most Powered Individuals would ask were asked and the two had fallen into silence. Nelson, desperate for anything to make his request worth bringing one of the most powerful heroes on the planet to his neighborhood, blurted out “The guy I can’t handle is Bug Zapper!”
Admiral Earth nodded. His fingers steepled as he looked up to the sky, seeming to bask in the midday sunshine. He remained quiet, allowing Nelson to continue.
“Uh, yeah, so he like, shoot electricty? But, like, not from a gun or anything. He has, he, he stores it, and pulls it, like into him. I don’t know why he’s, um, drressed like a bug.” Nelson’s cheeks flushed.
Admiral Earth continued to look to the sky as he responded. “I’ve dealt with electricty powered foes before. I presume he has a similar power set: enhanced speed, energy absorption, energy expulsion. And the insect part I’m sure is him attempting to stand out as a brand.” Admiral Earth looked at Nelson.
“I presume he has a social media presence?”
Nelson grasped at his pocket for his phone. “Yeah, he moves, like, super fast. And zaps stuff. I’ve been hit a few times, and he blows breakers, which is like, you know, bad. He has a decent following.” Nelson dropped the phone on the roof.
Admiral Earth smiled. He placed a hand on Nelson’s shoulder.
“You can relax. I am aware of my reputation. With that in mind, I wanted to help with this case because of the powers at play. Tech Azure would be susceptible to bursts of energy and Water Witch is incredibly conductive.”
Nelson replied with “What about Slaughterella? I read about her battle with Nefairum and she seemed to do alright with energy blasts.”
“Slaughterella is handling another request. Additionally her methods are-” Admiral Earth paused, looking over the quiet neighborhood. “-on occasion, too effective. I tend to have a-gentler hand.”
Nelson stuffed the phone back into his pocket. It took a few tries. “A gentler hand? Aren’t you the strongest living thing on the planet?”
“As far as we know, yes. But that is why I must have a gentle hand. If I am not careful I will destroy anything I touch. It’s similar to that story of King Midas, except I have agency over my gifts. There is also less gold.”
Admiral Earth looked at Nelson, a small smile on his lips. Nelson nodded slowly and replied.
“That’s funny, yeah, I can see that.” Nelson flexed his arm. “I had a similar thing when my Powers manifested. Yanked the car door handle right off the truck, dad was pissed. Until I got into wrestling high school, then he was cool with it…”
Nelson trailed off, sensing the moment had passed. Admiral Earth spoke again.
“It takes time to know oneself. I’ve read many books on the subject of finding oneself after I realized I wasn’t from this planet. If you like I-” Admiral Earth ceased speaking and stood for a moment before hovering off the ground to get a better view. Nelson got to his feet and moments later they heard a crackling POP sound on the street.
In the intersection of Halway and 7th street was a man wearing a costume that looked like a cross between a tick and a fly. His costume had large goggles covering his eyes, cheap plastic wings stuck to his back and gloves that left his fingers uncovered but had a hard plastic shell covering the backs of his hands.
Tendrils of yellow electricity crackled and danced around him as he laughed alone in the intersection.
“It’s time to power up! Who wants so-urk!”
Nelson felt the wind as Admiral Earth became a blur that stopped at Bug Zapper’s position. In the blink of an eye Admiral Earth had the villain by the cloth of his costume at his chest. Admiral Earth spoke so only Bug Zapper would hear
“I’m going to fly into the sky. Just high enough that you can’t harm anyone. Please do not throw up on me.” Then he lifted into the sky, moving at a quick pace that nelson could barely follow.
Nelson watched the two speaking, at least 1000 feet in the air, too far away for him to hear what they were saying. Suddenly the burst of electricity from Bug Zapper was like a transformer exploding. After the flash of light the pair were still in the air, a faint trail of smoke drifting off them.
After what felt like hours to Nelson, but was actually minutes, Admiral Earth descended from the sky to the ground, landing softly on the sidewalk, Bug Zapper still in his grip. As Admiral Earth released the villain Bug Zapper nodded a lot and began discarding his costume, walking away from Admiral Earth.
Later Nelson and Admiral Earth were drinking sodas at a local bar. After the crowd got pictures with Admiral Earth he sat down next to Nelson, who was talking non-stop.
“What did you say to Bug Zapper? Did that electric blast hurt? Should I keep tabs on him? Man, that was so cool, you didn’t even throw a punch! I wonder if I can ge that good at intimidation! I’m sorry I should let you talk!”
A small smile crossed Admiral Earth’s face. “I did not threaten him, nor did I strike any deals. I simply informed Francis that his actions are harming others and if he continued the attacks would be considered greater threats by my colleagues.”
Nelson’s smile beamed.
“Those with ‘less gentle’ hands, right?”
Admiral Earth smiled back. He took a breath before speaking again.
“I think you’re on a good path of heroism. You seek peaceful resolutions but will physically interject when needed. But you will want to see our actions as less mythic and more mundane. This is what we hope to instill with this program of helping out lower level Powered Individuals.”
Nelson nodded, sipped his drink, then held his hand out for a handshake. Admiral Earth took it, they shook, then finished their drinks while chattign about the local minor league soccer team.
-The End-