Crossover Earth '98
A funny thing happened...
By
Scott F. Couchman
Electricity buzzed between his thumb and forefinger like a fleshy Jacob's Ladder. Mark Swift examined his stubbled chin in the mirror of his Seattle apartment. He drew his charged fingers to his chin. Lightning licked his flesh as it burned the light brown hair from his pale face, leaving the skin of his strong jaw unscathed.
Cecilia opened the bathroom door and gurgled.
"God! Do you have to do that! The smell is just... bleah!" She held her nose as she lunged past him to flick the switch to the bathroom fan.
"I have to look good for the interview, love," Mark grinned wickedly. "Besides, you know how water and metal affect me."
Cecilia grumbled, "yeah, well, next time use the fan." She grabbed her brush and ran from the bathroom.
After the fourth try, Mark had the striped tie around his neck at the right length. Nerves and knots didn't mix well. He grabbed his slate grey suit jacket and walked into the living room. Walking into the dining room, Mark was greeted with an extravagant breakfast feast.
"You cooked?" He asked, stunned at the display. Cecilia Sonada, computer genius, estranged heiress to a Japanese Business Empire, and long term lover of Mark Swift, ignored the kitchen except to heat water for whatever instant meal she was eating that week. She simply smiled. But Mark looked beyond her stirring smile and into her deep brown eyes. He could see in her soul just how much she loved him, how much she believed in him.
They sat at the fine table and ate in silence, stealing glances at each other, grinning like school kids. After the meal, Mark, cleared the table in a flash, using his super speed. Cecilia adjusted his tie and gave him a quick kiss for luck.
"Mmm... Ozone. Don't be nervous, I'm sure Scott Industries will love you." She smiled. "And try not to get into any trouble, 'Sparky.'"
Mark lifted his petite love and gave her a proper kiss goodbye. Playfully, "you know I hate 'Sparky.' I guess I'll just have to work on your computer later. Didn't you just upgrade the chipset?"
It was an old game. "Touch 'Finnegan' and die, static man." She playfully beat on his chest. "Now get out of here before we start something to make you late." She shifted in his grip. The desire growing between the two was tangible.
"Right. I'll hurry home." He set Cecilia down with a lingering kiss, and backed out of their apartment.
God must be sending me a sign, Mark thought. The commuter traffic on the local streets moved at the speed of a parking lot. Why should I even bother? Scott Industries will be like all the rest and won't get beyond the accident, Mark sighed. He flipped through the radio stations looking for a news brief to give a reason for the incredible traffic.
From Cecilia Sonada's Journal: It has been three years since Mark obtained his powers in the chemical accident. I keep telling him that the accident was not his fault, but he blames himself for the twenty two lives taken. Since that time, Mark has never held a job. He's convinced it is because of his ruined reputation in the scientific community, but I know it's really because he no longer believes in himself.
"This is station KLMN. Two as yet unknown supers are rampaging in the intersection of Fifth and Grand. Police have cordoned off the surrounding area. Traffic is backed up to..."
Mark switched off the radio. Why listen to news when I can live it right here, Mark thought as a giant tentacle of water crashed down the center of the lane next to him.
People abandoned their ruined cars running for the safety of the surrounding buildings. Seeing the chaos, Mark abandoned his own car and ran to the nearest alley to change. Mark Swift, scientist, may be little help in such a situation, but his alter ego, Dynamo, was perfect for it.
After the accident, Mark was almost completely despondent. But that changed when he learned he could control electricity. By donning a mask and using his powers to fight crime, Mark delayed the mental healing he so desperately needs. As Dynamo, he lives carefree as a hero, while as Mark Swift, his confidence continues to plummet. I'm afraid the mask may eventually destroy the man behind it.
Dynamo ran from the alley to the scene of the crime in a flash and an electric sizzle. Reaching the intersection he scanned the destruction. From what he could see, a couple of supers had tried to rob a bank and failed. Police cars, blocking off the intersection, were in various states of ruin. Innocent people screamed for help, cornered in the bank. And in the center of the intersection, a man in grey and a man made of water fought the police.
The man in grey announced in a booming voice, "My name is Bullet and I can defeat any foe!" He articulated his words with a stutter of automatic gunfire from the rifle he held loosely in his hands. Dynamo wasted no time and struck Bullet with a lightning bolt from his fingertips. Bullet's weapon exploded and the villain himself flew into the side of the bank where he crumpled with a resounding crack.
Seeing a superhero helping them, the police backed out of the intersection and trie to keep the area clear of civilians. When the supers finished fighting, the police would take care of whoever was last standing.
As Bullet fell to the ground unconscious, the man of living water tried to grab the electric hero. But Dynamo was too fast for him, skirting the flood of water by running up the side of a small grocery. The flood washed into the bank, quickly filling it with water, endangering the people inside.
Since the accident, Mark always has had trouble making decisions. He was afraid that anything he committed to would end in travesty. As he wallowed in self-pity, I've stood by him. I've continually reassured him that he is a good scientist. My friends wonder why I bother. I guess they don't understand just how much he means to me. I love him and know that he'll pull out of this slump eventually. I guess he just has to deal with his demons in private.
Dynamo could stop the water warrior with a single blast, or he could risk the flood and rescue the people trapped in the bank. He never saw it as a choice. The electric hero ran with a spark through the water to get the victims out of the bank. With lightning speed, he carried people, one at a time, to safety. Every time he hit the water, the contact burned him. But he fought through the pain to save the people.
With the last person safely behind the police line, Dynamo turned his attention back to the water man. But for once, the man with lightning reflexes was too slow as a tentacle of water engulfed the hero. Dynamo struggled in vain as the water pressed in on him, squeezing the life out of him. He knew that if he used his powers he would be burned in an electrical maelstrom. If he didn't he would surely drown. Dynamo contemplated his fate.
In the last three years, Mark has often thought about the accident. He feels that he should have died with the rest. And with those thoughts, Mark's malaise makes him believe that if he had the choice, he would have let death take him. But Mark doesn't seek death. In fact, he's afraid of taking chances, afraid of living. But I wonder what he would do if the possibility of death were forced upon him.
Dynamo watched his life unfold in front of his eyes. The most vivid memories he had were of Cecilia, and how she had stood by him in his times of need. He saw her by his side as his lab assistant while he fought for research grants. He saw her stay with him while he recuperated in the hospital from the accident. And most importantly, Mark saw her stay with him over the past three years as he wallowed in self pity. He did not deserve her love and support. But he would live to deserve it.
In a feral scream of pain, Dynamo charged his body to fight his way out of his watery prison. Evidently electricity affected the water warrior as much as water affected the electric hero. The shock caused a blast that knocked hero and criminal across the intersection. After shaking his head to clear his vision, Dynamo staggered over to the prone form of his watery foe. Laying in the street was a normal looking man, soaking wet.
Breathless, Dynamo gestured to the police that the villain was subdued. Officers moved in to gather up the two criminals. The Advanced Defense Police, designed to combat supers, switched their regular weapons to tasers when gathering up the water warrior.
"Thanks, Dynamo, this could have been much worse if it wasn't for you," said a sergeant of the ADP.
Still catching his breath, Dynamo smiled and dismissed the thanks with a friendly wave of his hand. But the sergeant would not be put off so easily. Dynamo leaned on the hood of a squad car.
"Sir, there is someone who insisted on thanking you herself." The officer waved over an elderly woman wrapped in a wool blanket. Dynamo recognized her as one of the people he rescued from the bank.
She had bone white hair and wrinkles upon wrinkles. Somehow, through the entire ordeal, she had managed to keep her thick glasses. Her face was warm and friendly, even after the difficulty she had just survived.
"Son, it has been a while since this city has had a truly heroic hero." Her voice was comforting. "Most of these steroid victims in tights just want to fight. They don’t care about the people. But you. You risked your life to save ours. You took the more dangerous route and saved many people's lives.
"If the man behind that electric blue mask is half the man I witnessed today, he'd still be more courageous and a finer human being than most. Thank you." A gnarly hand emerged from the blanket stretched out to the hero. It shook slightly.
Dynamo took her hand gently in both of his, "Ma'am, that is the best thing anybody has said to me in a long time. Thank you for the words." He raised her hand to his lips in a gentlemanly kiss.
The old lady blushed. "Well, and chivalrous too. You know, I have a granddaughter who would be perfect for you..."
Dynamo spent the next several minutes fending off the sweet lady's attempts at matchmaking. Eventually, she took the hint and left with a "well, whoever has caught your heart, my boy, must be one special lady."
Secretly, Mark couldn’t agree more. After a few minutes with the police, Dynamo zipped back to the alley to retrieve his slightly rumpled suit and to reclaim his car. Before continuing to his interview, Mark took a couple of detours, first.
He arrived at Scott Industries a good hour after his appointment. Before the soul searching he had in combat earlier, the old Mark would have given up and gone home. But now, Swift brimmed with an energy to rival that of his nom de guerre. He strode into the office, meeting the withering glare of the receptionist with a friendly smile.
"Is Mr. Jacobs in? I have an appointment."
Before she could fend him off, Mark continued toward Jacobs' office. "Ah, here it is, he's expecting me, I'll see myself in. Thanks."
Mark opened the door to the office and shut it with just a hint of electric speed, to block the receptionist from ruining his entrance. He heard a yelp and a curse as the receptionist suffered from static electricity as she touched the doorknob.
"Mr. Jacobs, my name is Mark Swift, sorry about the delay, but supers fighting downtown plays havoc with time tables. You know my history, but you know also my theories and practices, otherwise you wouldn't have granted me this interview. I tell you now that you will not be sorry hiring me. I am the best in my field and until the accident, most people agreed. That incident does not diminish the fact that I am still the best."
Mark started to sit in the visitor's chair when he noticed the attractive blond woman already seated there. "Oh, I'm sorry, you may leave, Jacobs here will be giving me this job."
She sat there in stunned silence. The anger starting to coalesce around her was almost palpable. Before she tell Mark Swift where to put his attitude, Mr. Jacobs intervened. "Miss Faust, would you mind waiting in the hall for a few minutes while I deal with Mr. Swift here. This shouldn't take long."
Still in shock, Miss Faust, shot out of her chair, started to say something, then just stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Mark took the vacated seat, and continued, "Now as to my schedule and facilities..."
Cecilia worked on "Finnegan" debugging the latest program from her office when she heard the apartment door click open and close. Preparing for another disappointment, she mustered up her resolve and went to greet Mark.
"So, how did it..." was all she got out as Mark stood in the doorway carrying a huge bouquet of roses in one hand and a huge diamond engagement ring in the other.
He was smiling from ear to ear and managed to get out, "You know, a funny thing happened..." before Cecilia tackled him in an embrace.