FLYING MAN SEEN BY PASSENGERS ON INTERCONTINENTAL FLIGHT API- Boston The passengers of Flight 804 from London to Boston got more than an in-flight movie as their entertainment. No less than forty-eight of those aboard, including four stewardesses, claim that they saw a man flying through the air just above the plane's right wing. Described as a young man, caucasian, with blond hair, wearing jeans and a leather jacket, the mysterious flying man supposedly kept pace with the 747 jet airliner for nearly five minutes before waving to the spectators crowded against the airplane's windows and peeling off to disappear over the horizon. One of the few witnesses willing to be identified by name was Matthew Ames, 34, a British restauranteer visiting relatives in the U.S., who told reporters on the ground "He was just drifting along, like it wasn't anything at all, then he waved his hand and grinned at us, and 'whoosh!', he bloody well took off like a rocket and was gone in the blink of an eye!" The pilot and crew of Flight 804, an British Air vessel, refused to comment, but there are reports that the plane's radar picked up an unidentified flying object approaching them at a high rate of speed, prompting a call to ground control in Boston. The incident took place over the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 500 miles east of Boston. Authorities are not commenting on the matter at this time, but Dr. Randolph Kinnings, a psychologist at Columbia University who specializes in mass hallucinations and odd sightings brought on by traumatic events, was asked about the sighting. He stated that although it is not unusual for passengers on an airplane, particularly during a long flight, to believe they have seen something strange flying near the plane, there is rarely such a large number of witnesses with such a consistent story. ================================== MYSTERIOUS BLAZE IN GERMAN PRISON KILLS THREE TERRORISTS Reuters- Berlin Investigators are sifting through the ruins of Breidenbach Prison's isolation wing, following an inferno that burned the entire structure to the ground early this morning. Only three prisoners were in the destroyed section of the prison, all of them members of the Red Guard terrorist organization. The three convicted terrorists were responsible for a series of bombings in the late seventies and early eighties which killed seventeen people and caused many more injuries and property damage. All three are presumed dead, though no bodies have been recovered. Initially, several guards reported seeing someone walking out of the inferno and disappearing into the industrial neighborhood surrounding the prison. They have since become unavailable to the press. Authorities are refusing to release any other details at this time. ================================== BIZARRE SLAYINGS IN NEW MEXICO BAFFLE POLICE, FRIGHTEN RURAL FAMILIES From the Window Rock Times Rumors of a serial killer have been making police departments throughout the southwest very wary, but the reports were confirmed Tuesday when a third rural Navajo family was found slaughtered in their home, twenty miles north of Window Rock. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now involved in what are being called the "Skinwalker Slayings". In the three incidents to date, all taking place within the Navajo nation, thirteen people, all Navajos and ranging from 4 months to 67 years in age, have been brutally dismembered in their homes, and in the first two cases were not discovered for several days after their deaths. The predominantly Native American residents of this vast, sparsely populated region have been whispering for weeks that a Skinwalker, or Navajo witch, is at work. Traditionally unwilling to discuss such matters with outsiders, the stories have nonetheless become so widespread that even skeptical residents of the Four Corners area are unnerved. A spokesman for the Navajo Tribal Police confirmed yesterday that missing persons cases have increased dramatically over the past few months, though he admitted that the Tribal Police had not been unduly concerned until now. ================================ SUICIDES, DEPRESSION REACH EPIDEMIC LEVELS IN SMALL ITALIAN TOWN Salermo- Associated Press Psychologists and other experts have been brought in to investigate an epidemic of depression, hallucinations and insomnia in the small coastal community of Salermo. Suicides have increased 700% in this town over the last six months, and mental health professionals report that record numbers of patients are seeking help for clinical depression, paranoia, insomnia and other mental disorders. Most puzzling is the common thread of horrific nightmares, which have been reported by an unusual number of people in and around the town. One psychologist estimated that almost one-quarter of the population of this fishing town reported suffering unexplained mental anguish over the last six months. The possibility of chemical or biological contamination of the water or food supply is being investigated. ================================== FALLING STAR SIGHTED OVER CHICAGO Chicago Tribune (January 20) [page B-23]- People from all over the city called the police, fire department, news media and National Weather Service last night to report what appeared to be a falling star descending on the city. No videotapes of the alleged meteorite have been obtained, as according to all accounts, it appeared suddenly and was visible for no more than four seconds. Described by many as a possible UFO, the number of reliable witnesses is so great that authorities have acknowledged that something did indeed produce the sighting. Current possible explanations include an unlicensed pyrotechnics display, a small remote-controlled flying device, or an unexplained atmospheric disturbance. Meteorologists have verified that there were no meteor strikes anywhere in the vicinity of Chicago last night, and needless to say, no alien spacecraft (or crashed satellite) has been discovered in the city. ================================== Washington D.C.- FCC officials still have no explanation for the sudden appearance of an old episode of "F Troop" on public airwaves, overriding the signal of every commercial television station in North America. Station managers and electronics technicians across the country confirmed that a signal of tremendous strength was broadcast over every UHF and VHF frequency throughout much of the western hemisphere, but the source of this broadcast is unknown. Communications engineers have stated that such a uniform "pirate" broadcast, affecting every signal along a certain spectrum and only those signals, and of this intensity, is virtually impossible. Cable TV reception was unaffected, as were radio broadcasts, but even satellite communications were disrupted by the mysterious signal. The FBI had no comment, other than to confirm that they are involved in the investigation to determine who or what is responsible. ================================== API- London Two convicted terrorists affiliated with the Irish Republical Army were killed early this morning while being transported to London for parole hearings. The two men, who were sentenced to life imprisonment by a British court for their role in a 1987 bombing that killed four people and injured twelve others, were being considered for leniency after new evidence suggested that they may have been coerced into participating in the bombing. The armored van that was carrying them exploded without warning while halted at an intersection just outside of London. The driver and two security officers in the cab were able to evacuate the vehicle when it suddenly burst into flames, but the intense heat prevented them from reaching the rear doors to release their prisoners. Witnesses in a nearby car report that the van exploded at that point, forcing the three policemen to drop to the ground. The severely charred bodies were recovered from the wreckage several hours later. Authorities have still not determined the cause of the explosion. ================================== "WEATHER TERRORIST" THREATENS MARSEILLES February 13, Paris, API Following a freak tornado off the coast of France that destroyed a fishing trawler, killing all six crewmembers, the French Interior Minister has reported that an individual identifying himself as "Cyclone" called government offices claiming responsibility. "Cyclone" claimed that he is capable of causing tornados, and will inflict severe damage to the city of Marseilles unless he is paid 100 million Francs by Tuesday, February 15. Although no other comment was made by the French government, unofficial sources say that, contrary to the apparent absurdity of the claims, the government is taking this threat seriously, and the French secret service is said to be investigating. ================================== FLYING MAN FILMED OVER SAN FRANCISCO! [Broadcast on the evening news across the country: A blond-haired man wearing sunglasses, jeans and a leather jacket, flying among the skyscrapers of San Francisco and waving at the crowd below.] "This is the sight that greeted thousands of people during the noon lunch hour. The phenomenal flying man was seen cruising above the city for nearly forty-five minutes, and was reported by literally thousands of people. News cameras and home video recorders across the city captured the amazing sight. At no time did he descend to the ground or speak to anyone, but he smiled and waved at spectators and camera crews alike." "Speculation that this was a publicity stunt, or the filming of a movie, has been mostly dismissed due the widespread nature of the sighting, and the fact that the flying man was observed to fly north, away from the city, even being picked up by air traffic control radar. Also, no one has called the authorities or any media organization to claim responsibility for the spectacle, nor do any production companies have a permit that would allow filming of this nature within the city limits. The inescapable conclusion is that the sighting was real. City, state and federal authorities are refusing to comment at this time, other than to say that they have no knowledge of this being a prank, hoax or publicity stunt." ================================== FLYING FIREBALL DESTROYS CRACKHOUSE IN CHICAGO Chicago Times- The police and fire departments were called into one of Chicago's crime-ridden projects after a dilapidated building was demolished by what witnesses described as a "ball of lightning". The building, which is alleged by area residents to have been a crackhouse, and the sight of numerous drug activities, assaults and other crimes, was mostly levelled when emergency vehicles arrived. Although the fire department doused several small fires, the main damage seemed to have been done by the destruction of the house's framework, causing it to collapse. Witnesses (including some who were in the building at the time) reported that a "ball of lightning" smashed its way into the house and began flying from room to room, sometimes shattering doors and walls as it went through them. After doing this for over fifteen minutes, during which time the panicked residents evacuated the house, the fireball apparently began flying through the structural supports. No meteorologists are familiar with any incidents of ball lightning behaving in this manner, and no explanation has been given for the source of this "fireball". Although some police officials suggested that the story is unreliable, coming primarily from drug addicts under the influence of crack cocaine, the fireball was seen by a number of area residents in surrounding apartment buildings. ================================== MARSEILLES DEVESTATED BY FREAK TORNADO! AT LEAST 200 DEAD, OVER 3000 INJURED February 19, Paris, API The date of the "weather terrorist's" ultimatum came and went, and if anyone believed that Marseilles might really be struck by a damaging tornado, as the man identified only as "Cyclone" claimed it would be, their fears were ended Tuesday. At 5:14 AM Friday morning, a tornado appeared from out of a clear sky, and cut a terrible path across the French city of Marseilles. The tornado missed the residential areas, but tore through the main business district, and also struck the city administration offices almost dead center, utterly destroying most government buildings. [aerial photographs shown on news broadcasts depict a city that looks almost literally cut in half, with a quarter-mile wide strip of total destruction laid across its center.] The tornado travelled in an almost perfect straight line through the city, touching down at one side and dissipating when it reached the other. One meteorologist classified the possibility of this being a natural phenomenon as "theoretically possible, but astronomically unlikely". Experts say that had the tornado passed through residential neighborhoods, the death toll would likely have been in the tens of thousands. The disaster is one of the worst in French history, and emergency crews are still attempting to dig people out from under the rubble. Police and fire departments from all over the province had to be summoned to Marseilles, as the city's own emergency personnel and equipment were virtually wiped out by the tornado. Initial damage is undoubtedly in the billions of dollars, and the city of Marseilles will be economically unviable for at least a year. Meanwhile, the French population, as well as much of Europe, is in an uproar at the possibility that this was a man-made disaster. The French government has assured its people that locating the self-titled "Cyclone" and investigating his claims is now its highest priority. There is no word of any new demands being issued by the would-be extortionist. ================================== "SPIDER GIRL" STOPS CRAZED GUNMAN IN JAPAN API, Tokyo- In the sort of incident that is often considered common in America, but almost unheard of in Japan, a salaryman working in the district offices of Matsuzaka Microelectronics in Tokyo arrived at work this morning with an assault rifle, and held his coworkers hostage for three hours. Sadao Kodama, 42, was apparently distressed that he had just been passed over in his one chance to enter the upper echelons of the corporate heirarchy. In his frequent telephone conversations with the police during the three hour ordeal, Kodama repeatedly demanded to speak with Aoi Matsuzaka himself, the president of Matsuzaka International, the parent corporation of Matsuzaka Microelectronics. It is still unknown where he obtained the AK-47 assault rifle, which, like all firearms, is banned in Japan and not easily available even on the black market. In the end, it was not the police who ended the situation, but a woman who was observed climbing the sheer walls of the Matsuzaka Building, with no climbing equipment visible. Upon reaching the forty- second floor, where the hostage situation was taking place, she kicked in one of the exterior plate-glass windows, a feat which would be considered impossible under normal circumstances. According to the Matsuzaka employees inside, the woman was wearing a plain black bodysuit, with a small white spider on the left breast, and a mask which concealed the upper half of her face. As the window shattered inward, the surprised gunman spun around, only to be grabbed by the woman as she leapt inside with blinding speed and kicked his weapon across the room. She then wrapped Kodama in what was described as sticky webbing, which she emitted from her fingertips. After quickly checking to make sure everyone inside was uninjured, she jumped back out the window, climbed another twenty-five stories to the roof of the building, and from there evaded further surveillance, even by a police helicopter which attempted to follow her. Tokyo police, the Japanese government, and Matsuzaka officials have all refused to comment on the amazing "Spider Girl", who is quickly becoming a media rage in Japan. ================================== FLYING SUPERHUMAN SAVES OIL PLATFORM FROM DESTRUCTION Los Angeles, CA- Explosions tore through an off-shore oil platform just off the California coast early this morning. The flames could be seen from shore, and a distress call quickly brought Coast Guard ships and helicopters to the scene, where they found that the platform was about to collapse after several support struts had been destroyed by the explosions. Evacuation was under way, but as the platform burned, and rapidly began sagging, it was feared that not all the men could be removed from the structure in time. Virtually every person there witnessed what happened next; a blond man wearing a leather jacket and blue jeans came skimming over the waves towards the platform, apparently flying under his own power. He came to a halt beneath the edge of the main level, and pushed against the underside of the platform, causing it to rise and remain stable while the evacuation was continued. Emergency workers were then able to extinguish the fires and put reinforcements in place that would keep the platform stable until permanent repairs could be made. The entire time, the flying man apparently held the structure up by himself. After the crisis was over, he flew away, towards the mainland, without speaking to anyone. Witnesses include numerous oil workers and Coast Guard officers, and the man was captured on video tape, though the Coast Guard has not yet released the tape to news media. The man's description does match that of the flying man seen in San Francisco earlier this month. * * * * * * * * * * In the science sections of newspapers around the country, debating the possibility of such a superhuman, the following points are noted; Even if a human being possessed the physical strength to hold up an oil platform, (several thousand tons), and a skeletal structure that could withstand the tremendous pressure that would put on it, he could not do so while flying, as he would have nothing to push against to provide the necessary force. Whatever his means of propulsion, it would have had to generate so much thrust (equal and opposite reactions) that A) the man should be crushed into jelly, and B) the water beneath him should have been blasted with shockwaves that would have capsized the nearby boats. Furthermore, applying so much force to one small point on the platform could not have held it up; the stress should have simply punched a hole through its surface. Nonetheless, even skeptics have a hard time explaining all the reliable witnesses who saw a man ignore all of the above laws of physics and physiology. ================================== VIOLENCE DISRUPTS CELEBRITY PARTY IN NEW YORK SUPERHUMANS INVOLVED IN DEADLY BATTLE New York City- At a celebrity party hosted by Paula Abdul, in preparation for the filming of her next video, violence suddenly erupted with the arrival of a would-be kidnapper through the roof of the 30-story hotel building. [Refer to the file "Christine's Story", available in the library; although the cameraman lied when he told the punk superwoman that it was being broadcast live, it was taped, and the entire battle is broadcast on news stations around the country.] The identities of the murderous superwoman, and the woman made of crystal who tried to stop her, have not yet been determined. The FBI has refused comment on the armed agents who arrived on the scene, and on the man apparently possessing electrical powers, who seemed to be accompanying the federal agents. The government has still not acknowledged the existence of superpowered humans, although more and more reports from around the world have been verified in the last few weeks. ================================== MASSACRE IN ISRAEL: HUNDREDS SLAUGHTERED IN TEL AVIV ANOTHER SUPERHUMAN KILLS MORE PEOPLE THAN THE MARSEILLES CYCLONE ISRAEL DECLARES MARTIAL LAW THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS JEWS AND PALESTINIANS BOTH RIOT Is the Peace Process Doomed? API, Tel Aviv- One of the worst bloodbaths in Israel's history left several hundred dead and hundreds more wounded as the center of the Israeli capital was devastated Saturday morning by the sudden attack of a superhuman terrorist. Survivors say an Arab man stood in the middle of an intersection in downtown Tel Aviv, yelled "Death to the Jewish oppressors!" in Arabic, and suddenly unleashed a storm of razor-sharp, metallic projectiles, which apparently materialized from his body and spread outward in all directions at supersonic speed. The projectiles shredded cars, passed through building walls, and shattered storefronts and office buildings up and down the streets for two blocks, both with their impacts and the small sonic booms that trailed each of them. Nearly everyone within a hundred yards of the alleged superhuman was killed instantly, and scores more were killed or injured as the six to twelve inch long metal spikes went flying up to half a mile from the point where they were released. People inside buildings were not safe, as apartments, stores, banks and other buildings were riddled with the deadly missiles. Some people were impaled by projectiles that had already passed through three brick walls. It was not over. The terrorist levitated into the air, and flew above the street, hurling more streams of the deadly metal missiles as he went. Panicked crowds ran screaming and people were trampled as the storm of death followed them. A few police officers and soldiers attempted to shoot the flying man, but every shot drew a swarm of metallic death in the direction of the shooter, obliterating the men. The terrifying attack did not end until no one was moving within sight of the deadly killer. Bodies littered the streets for blocks, as clouds of high- velocity metal spikes were cast indiscriminately into crowds of men, women and children, mostly Israeli Jews, but numerous Arabs and foreigners were also among the slain. The unidentified man, who has probably set a body-count record for singlehanded mass-murder, flew up above the buildings, cast a few more swarms of metal projectiles down at the city (resulting in dozens of additional deaths and injuries scattered throughout Tel Aviv), and shot through the air away from the scene. Israeli officials have informed the public that he destroyed three Army helicopters and an armored personnel carrier, killing the crews, as he headed for the mountains. Most believe that this was an act of retaliation for the deaths of 47 Palestinians at the Tomb of Abraham, killed the day before by a lone Israeli gunman, who also injured hundreds of others. Yassir Arafat has condemned the actions of the alleged Arab terrorist, saying that the PLO has no knowledge of this man and did not and would not support his actions, but added that many Palestinians would feel some sympathy for the man, seeing it as vengeance for the innocent Palestinians killed earlier while praying. Jewish citizens throughout the country are panicked and outraged at the massacre, and at what is seen as lukewarm condemnation by Palestinian spokesman Arafat. Meanwhile, anti-Israeli demonstrations, some of them praising the superhuman terrorist as an angel of Allah, have begun throughout the occupied territories. In response, Jewish settlers in these territories have begun counter-demonstrations. Reports of spreading violence, including Palestinians being lynched by Jewish mobs and Jews being stoned and beaten by Palestinian mobs, have prompted a declaration of a state of emergency throughout Israel. Martial law is now being enforced, with a nationwide curfew of sundown for ALL Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli military is on full alert, prompting mobilizations by Syria and Jordan. President Clinton is urging all countries in the area not to take rash action, as all of those who have been working on the Israeli-Palestinian accords for the past few months desperately try to keep the tenuous peace from falling apart. ================================== SUPER-TERRORIST DESTROYS ISRAELI AIRCRAFT AS VIOLENCE SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PRIME MINISTER ADMITS ISRAEL, OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SUPERHUMANS FOR OVER A YEAR, APPEALS FOR AID Associated Press Tel Aviv, Israel- Five Israeli jet fighters were filmed engaging the flying super-terrorist, now being called "Death Storm", in an aerial battle over the West Bank. All five aircraft were destroyed by the supersonic metal shards that the so-called "Deathstorm" can project in massive quantities. [Film clips show jets circling the sky, a small figure darting beneath them, clouds of sparkling "dust" jetting out in all directions, and one by one, the jets burst into fireballs or spin and hurtle to the ground, falling apart as they plummet into inhabited settlements and explode.] Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin addressed the world today, and announced that Israel's intelligence agency, MOSSAD, has been aware of the existence of humans possessing paranormal abilities for at least thirteen months. He also claimed that communications with the NSA, CIA, MI5, Surete, KGB and other intelligence agencies confirmed that most nations have also been aware of their existence for some time, but by unspoken agreement, every country has made efforts to conceal this fact from the public. Rabin did not say at what levels this knowledge was disseminated within the Israeli government or other governments. With Israel facing possibly its greatest crisis since the Six Day War, in the form of one man who is capable of killing hundreds of people and cannot be stopped by military weapons, Rabin has appealed to the international community, specifically to any superhumans capable of stopping Deathstorm. Meanwhile, Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip have begun the worst rioting in years, many of them believing that Deathstorm is an angel of God, sent to lead them in the war to reclaim Israel for Muslims. Although no hostilities have commenced between Israel and neighboring Arab countries, the situation is extremely tense, and all military forces in the Middle East are on full alert. President Clinton has ordered additional naval forces into the area, and several Army and Marine units are on standby, ready for immediate deployment. Israeli extremists, who are now rapidly growing in number, are calling for the expulsion of all Arabs from Israel and the occupied territories. Shootings, lynchings, burning of Palestinian homes and other serious incidents of mob violence have overwhelmed the ability of the Israeli police and military to contain them. Britain, France, Canada and Russia responded to Rabin's announcement by confirming that they have been aware of superhumans for the last year, but refused to give further information. The U.S. administration has not yet commented. ================================== " -it's just not worth it. Millions of people are switching back to-" "This is Dan Rather...we're interrupting your regularly scheduled broadcast to bring you live footage, as it happens from Israel. Our Middle East correspondent Gerald Mills is IN the Gaza Strip, filming this encounter between the Israeli Army and the superhuman terrorist known as Deathst-" The sound of gunfire, and the booming of heavy guns. The camera is panning across the sky, trying to follow a speck that zooms in and out of the field of view. Suddenly it is seen against a background of sterile- looking brown hills...and it's closing. The camera dips slightly, showing an array of Israeli tanks sitting on a ridge, next to a pair of anti-aircraft cannons. The AA guns are spitting a stream of shells in the direction of the flying speck, but it is zig- zagging wildly, now flying seemingly ten feet off the ground, now suddenly shooting straight up several hundred meters, and the guns can't track it fast enough. "This is Gerald Mills...." he sounds breathless, and scared. "You're looking at the 204th Armored Brigade, stationed here to ward against a possible incursion by- JESUS CHRIST GET DOWN!" A blur suddenly appears around the flying speck, then the camera angle spins wildly, until it points at a wall, while the sound of equipment and men falling to the ground echoes in the mike. Then there is crackling, roaring sound, like a fireworks display where all the rockets are going off in the space of three seconds. Someone is heard gasping "Oh God!" Men are screaming in the background, and explosions sound. "I...I...get up, Jim. He's heading the other way. Jim!" Muttering. Then the camera lifts, and points back at the Israeli troops. The soldiers that were seen before are now tossed about like perforated dolls, lying on the ground and draped over equipment. None of the bodies are still in one piece. Someone is heard near the camera, retching. The AA guns are ripped to pieces. The tanks are scored and dented, with dozens of gleaming metal spikes imbedded in their armor, but still functional, it seems; one tank's turret is moving, though haltingly, trying to point it's turret machine guns in the direction of Deathstorm. Another is grinding gears trying to back up, but its treads are blown to bits and scattered on the ground around it. "The...the tanks and anti-aircraft guns you're looking at...are about half a mile from us." Mills' voice sounds strained. "Deathstorm's attack centered on them, but numerous spikes scattered in our direction, and even at this range, they, uh..." the camera dips, the zoom lens backs up, and shows a brick wall with holes blasted through it. A few spikes can be seen sticking out of it, and lying on the ground. "It's very dangerous here..." The camera rises again, passing the mangled tank and AA unit, and closes on a pair of attack helicopters approaching from different angles. One launches missiles, and Deathstorm can be seen rising into the air at high acceleration. A missile follows him, but a cloud of silver bursts from him in the direction of the missile, and it explodes a hundred meters from him. Another cloud tears through the air and shreds the helicopter, which bursts into flames as it falls. The second helicopter dips desperately as Deathstorm unleashes another blast, evading the main attack, but its blades must have been hit as it wobbles, then jerks and spins in the air and plummets. "What's that?" Mills says, suddenly. The camera angle shifts and focuses on another part of the sky. There is another speck in the air, approaching Deathstorm. * * * * * The cameraman tries to zoom in on it, but it moves too fast, weaving in the air even faster than Deathstorm. The latter apparently sees it, and throws another swarm of metal spikes, but the newcomer performs a sudden 90 degree turn, followed by another which brings it back on course towards Deathstorm. Deathstorm begins circling in the air also. The two flying superhumans...it seems that that is the only thing the new flying object can be...begin an aerial duel, trying to outmaneuver one another. The newcomer quickly demonstrates that s/he is faster and more agile than Deathstorm, even though the terrorist is plenty fast and agile. But Deathstorm keeps his new nemesis at bay with swarm after swarm of supersonic metal blades. Suddenly the UFO zooms in the direction of the camera, and lands next to the crippled tank. Zoom in- it's a handsome young man with blond hair, wearing a leather bomber jacket and neatly pressed desert camo pants, and black army boots. He knocks on the hull of the tank, and the resounding clang can be heard even where the camera crew is standing. He looks skyward, then zooms through the air in a short arc, as if mounted on a track, bringing him around behind the tank as another one of Deathstorm's razor-like missile attacks rains down on the site. The camera drops again, but this time the cracking of small metal objects breaking the sound barrier is a little more distant...apparently the angle was such that none flew that far out this time. When the camera points back over the wall again, it can be seen that the blond man has torn the turret off the body of the tank, and is holding it aloft! He is apparently arguing with someone who is now crouching below the deckline, inside the hole. Then he zooms straight up...still carrying the turret. He rises, barely, above another swarm of blades, and the camera crew hits the dirt again. A roar sounds overhead. "Too high, missed us," Mills gasps. "Quick, get this." "The hell with you, I'm getting out of here!" another voice says. "Then gimme the damn camera!" Mills snaps. The camera rises from the ground again, and points into the sky. The blond man is flying towards Deathstorm, with the turret in front of him like a shield. An almost continuous stream of spikes hisses and booms through the air at him, and the turret is disintegrating, pieces of metal flying away from it, some spikes driving all the way through the large chunk of tank. At close range, the blond man throws the turret at Deathstorm. Deathstorm jinks to the left, but is clipped by the flying mass of metal, and spins towards the ground. The other flier follows him....and Deathstorm suddenly stops. His opponent also stops almost instantly, but even as he starts to accelerate backwards, he is caught in the full force of another burst of spikes. The camera's telescopic lens closes in on the blond man, who is still hovering in the air. He's looking down at himself....his jacket, pants and boots are shredded, the sole of one boot hanging comically by a single strip of leather circling his now-bare foot. He's now covered mostly by nothing but underwear...which is still intact, oddly enough. The blond man looks bemused, then he looks at Deathstorm. And grins. He dives straight at the terrorist, plummets through another cloud of spikes, and slams into Deathstorm with a literal flying tackle. The two go straight down to the ground. The blond man stops before hitting the earth....Deathstorm doesn't. As the blond superman crouches and checks his downed opponent, a platoon of Israeli soldiers comes dashing across the packed earth towards them. One skids to a halt, draws a pistol and points it at Deathstorm's head. The blond man is seen arguing with him, then thrusts his hand in front of the barrel as the soldier fires. The soldier clutches the side of his head and staggers. "There's, uh, a mob forming around me..." Mills voice says. The camera moves to show a crowd of Palestinians, approaching the camera's vantage point catiously. Most seem interested in what is going on out in the valley below, but some are looking angrily at the cameraman. He starts trying to talk to them, but hands jostle him and grab at the camera, and someone yanks at some cables leading downhill. The transmission ceases. ================================== "WRAITH" FOILS CONVENIENCE STORE HOLD-UP, LEAVES SUSPECTS FROZEN Los Angeles Times- An armed robbery attempt at a 7- Eleven in Compton, California, was foiled when one of the store customers suddenly transformed into a shadowy wraith and engulfed the two hold-up men in a cloud of darkness, according to four other witnesses who were in the store at the time, including the manager, Mark Dipesh. "He was just standing in line, holding a carton of milk and a Newsweek magazine and a box of Twinkies," Dipesh, 34, told the Los Angeles Times. "Then these two punks come in, one pulls a shotgun out of his coat and points it at the customers, the other holds a pistol on me and tells me to empty my cash drawer." According to witnesses, no one offered any resistance until the two hold-up men, who have been identified as Andrew Hale, 23, and David Tielif, 21, attempted to abduct a female customer as they left. "The taller one, with the shotgun, grabbed me and dragged me towards the door," a sobbing Alicia Williams told the Times. "Said I was coming with them on a ride. Then that man....he said 'Let her go.' And the other guy pointed his gun at him, and asked if he wanted to get shot. And the one who had me started pushing me out the door, then it was dark and I was more scared than I've ever been in my life, I don't even know what all happened then." Dipesh said that the alleged "superhuman" suddenly turned into a dark cloud, which wrapped itself around the two assailants and Ms. Williams. A moment later, Williams staggered out of the darkness, frightened but apparently unhurt. About thirty seconds later, the cloud of darkness drifted out the doors and disappeared into the night. Hale and Tielif were left lying on the floor in a catatonic state, both covered with ice. Police and paramedics arrived minutes later, and the two suspects are now in the hospital, being treated for severe frostbite and hypothermia. The four witnesses declined to give a description of the man they claim turned into a wraith. "If he's some kind of a superhero," said Dipesh, "he deserves to be left alone." Williams stated "He probably saved my life, and I'm not gonna help anyone track him down and invade his privacy. But I want to thank him, wherever he is." The police refused to comment, other than to say that while they would like to question the alleged "wraith", they do not foresee any charges being filed against him for the injuries he inflicted on the two holdup men. ================================== "DEATHSTORM" ALIVE, BEING HELD IN DRUGGED STATE IN MAXIMUM SECURITY ISRAELI PRISON AMERICAN SUPERMAN STANDING GUARD API, Tel Aviv- Following the aerial battle between the superhuman terrorist known as "Deathstorm" and the blond American superhuman who defeated him, which was broadcast live on CNN, Israeli authorities have confirmed that the terrorist is still alive, and being treated for minor injuries. They also informed the press that Deathstorm is being kept in a coma with drugs, and will not be permitted to awaken until his trial, if then. "This man is too dangerous to be allowed the opportunity to even attempt escape," said Major Riyev Pekelni, whose Israeli commando unit has been assigned to guarding the captured terrorist in a maximum security prison near Tel Aviv. "This is of course not a usual method of dealing with captured terrorists, but this Deathstorm is not a usual terrorist. He could probably destroy the prison, kill everyone in it, and go on to devestate Tel Aviv a second time if he awakens. He is a major threat to national security, and we will take whatever extraordinary measures are necessary to protect the public from him." The announcement prompted an outcry from Palestinian civil rights organizations, as well as international human rights groups such as Amnesty International, which claims that the Israeli government has in effect already sentenced the terrorist to death, and is merely conducting a trial as a formality. Meanwhile, the American who succeeded in capturing Deathstorm, after a spectacular battle over the Gaza Strip, is also staying at the prison and keeping watch over the comatose super-terrorist. He has so far declined an interview with the press, and has not yet identified himself, either by name or with any sort of alias, but did tell one reporter, "I'm here as much to watch the Izzies as to keep an eye on the psycho. Look, if they sentence him to death, that's fine with me, but just shooting him in the back of the head is seriously uncool, I mean, this is supposed to be a civilized country, not some South American banana dictatorship, right? I'm not all mushy and afraid to let this creep get executed, but I won't just stand there while they do it in cold blood. Even a terrorist deserves a trial, at least." Major Pekelni refused comment on whether Deathstorm would have been executed already if not for the presence of the American superhuman, who demonstrated during his battle with Deathstorm that he is virtually invulnerable to physical harm, capable of flying at supersonic speed, and able to tear a tank apart with his bare hands. The U.S. State Department denies that the unnamed American is working for the government or that they even had prior knowledge of his existence, but said "We hope that this man, who is presumed to be a U.S. citizen, will be respectful of the relationship that exists between Israel and the United States, and will not interfere with the proper duties of Israeli authorities, or do anything to inflame the tense situation that exists in the Middle East." ================================== CYCLONE THREATENS PARIS! Demands One Billion Francs! API, Paris- The French capital is in a state of emergency after clouds condensed in the sky above the city and spelled out the words "Delenda est Paris", Latin for "Paris must be destroyed". The Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the so-called weather terrorist known as Cyclone, an alleged superhuman who is blamed for the destruction of Marseilles earlier this month, is repeating his extortion scheme, demanding ten times the amount he asked before. When he threatened Marseilles, the French government apparently decided to call his bluff, and hundreds of people were killed by the unnatural tornado that ripped through that city shortly thereafter. "Cyclone" has set the deadline for payment this time as April 1st. Despite the date, no one is treating it as a joke. Tens of thousands of Parisians are vacating the city, and tourists are becoming almost non-existent, not only in Paris but throughout France. Several airlines have already announced that they will no longer fly into Paris until the crisis is over. Whether or not another freak storm hits this city, the economic damage is already well into the millions. While some native Parisians are vowing to stay no matter what, the government is urging calm, but is neither encouraging nor discouraging the mass exodus of Paris residents. One Parisian is quoted as saying "The Nazis didn't drive me from my home, and neither will this weather-controlling monster." Many share that sentiment, but public opinion seems to be divided as to whether the government should pay Cyclone the price he is demanding. Some French citizens are asking whether the American "superman" who captured Deathstorm, (a Palestinian super-terrorist who killed almost a thousand Israeli civilians and military personnel in a four-day rampage) might come to France and capture Cyclone, but that individual is still standing guard over Deathstorm in an Israeli prison, and is still declining interviews with the press. Meanwhile, the French government is making an open appeal for other superhumans, particularly French superhumans, to contact the police or military authorities and volunteer their services. ================================== "We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special announcement." "At approximately 4:30 AM this morning, in Israel, the superhuman terrorist known as Deathstorm was murdered in prison, apparently by another superhuman." "Details are sketchy at this time and the Israeli authorities have yet to issue a statement, but it is believed that the American "superman" who was guarding him is NOT the one who killed him. Apparently, a third superhuman invaded the prison, killed Deathstorm in his infirmary bed, where he was being kept in a drugged, comatose state, and then withdrew. Whether or not the American guarding him attempted to prevent the murder is unknown. However, at this time we have unverified reports that the assassin used an intense "heat aura" to melt through the walls of the prison, and incinerated the terrorist before burning his way out again. The assassin is believed to have escaped." "We now return you to your regularly scheduled program in progress." * * * * * * * * * * [Later that night] "Join us tonight on 'Nightline', when the American superman, now identifying himself as 'Paladin', will speak publically for the first time, in an exclusive interview with Ted Koppel." ================================== [Quotes from around the world, following the events in Israel, France and elsewhere. It is the subject of every TV talk show, on the front page of every newspaper, and Time Magazine has a picture of Paladin grappling with Deathstorm on the cover, with the caption "A New Type of Human?"] [Where I didn't cite the world leader's name, it's 'cause I didn't remember it and was too lazy to look it up. ] * * * * * * * * * * President Clinton (USA): "These 'superhumans' obviously have captured the attention and imagination of people around the world. They may have a tremendous impact on how we see ourselves in the future. Let us temper our sense of wonder and awe, and perhaps fear, with the knowledge that a human being who can fly, or control the weather, or lift cars, is still a human being, part of the same society as the rest of us, and entitled to the same rights and subject to the same responsibilities, as everyone else." . . . . . The Ayatollah (Iran): "There can be only two sources for these supernatural powers; God the all-powerful, and Satan. I call on all good Muslims who have been gifted by God Himself with powers above those of common men to use them in the service of the Islamic faith, for the glory of God and His Prophet, Mohammad (praised be His name!) All others are obviously minions of Satan, and the sentence for them, all of them, must be death!" . . . . . Prime Minister Kim Campbell (?) (Canada): (joking) "I hope they all stay in New York!" . . . . . The Prime Minister (Japan): "It is a fascinating and troublesome phenomenon. Change may be forced on all of us, but we will adapt as we always have. I think you will not see any Japanese 'Deathstorms' or 'Cyclones'." . . . . . Jerry Fallwell (USA): "There's only one 'superhero', and that's Jesus Christ the Almighty. I can't say what these strangers with unnatural powers represent, but it is undoubtedly just a part of God's plan. It would be premature to assume that this is a sign that the Last Days are upon us, but if these beings begin to bring down the social order, it will be a clear sign that you haven't much time left to be saved! As the Bible says in Jeremiah....." . . . . . Vladimir Zhironovsky (Russia): "Of course there have been superhumans for a long time! The Soviet Union had some of the most powerful in the world, and some of them are still working for us! A KGB Colonel was one of our greatest secret weapons! If any foreign superhumans threaten Russia, they will see true power unleashed!" . . . . . President Boris Yeltsin (Russia): "Zhironovsky is an idiot! He doesn't know what he's talking about!" . . . . . Steven Spielberg (USA): "I think I'm about to become obsolete." . . . . . Prime Minister John Major (UK): "We regret the necessity of keeping this hidden from the public, although it really is a very new phenomenon. Now that it is out in the open, I'm afraid some of the things we were afraid of all along are actually occurring. Let's not allow ourselves any panicked reactions, but deal with this in a calm and rational manner. The world will go on." . . . . . China: "We will not allow a few exceptional individuals to threaten the security of our nation. Those who are willing to put their abilities to work for the greater good will be welcomed, but any who feel that they are immune to their duty to society will not be treated lightly." . . . . . Howard Stern (USA): "Does this mean now I can become Penis Man?" . . . . . Fidel Castro (Cuba): "We have seen no evidence of so- called 'superhumans' in Cuba. We suspect it is a hoax perpetrated by the Western media." . . . . . Pope John Paul (Vatican): "There is no evidence that these are miracles of a divine nature. We must wait and see what is revealed in the days to come, but for now, we must assume that these 'powers' are merely a natural phenomenon previously unknown to mankind. The so-called 'superhumans', for all their power, are undoubtedly mortal like everyone else, and will ultimately be judged on the same grounds." . . . . . Rush Limbaugh (USA): "All right, I have no idea what this means, I'm not a geneticist or a physicist and no doubt all of them are trying to figure it out right now. Let's forget the supernatural nonsense, though; whatever these powers are, they're not coming from anything mystical or divine or satanic, or you'd see only certain types of people gaining them. It's only a matter of time before we have some kind of scientific explanation. But here's what you'll see after that, mark my words; assuming it's some kind of random phenomenon, which seems likely, you'll have the feminists and the gays and the *Reverend* Jesse Jackson and all these other special interest groups whining that it's unfair if they aren't *fairly* represented in the superhuman population- oops, we can't say that, all humans are supposed to be equal, right, unless you're white and then you're inherently selfish and evil, but that's another subject. Anyways, the special interest groups will whine and complain and insist that the government not only figure out how and why certain people gain superpowers, but then they'll demand that we find a way to make sure that an *equal* number of women, and gays, and blacks, and so on and so forth, are given superpowers. Just wait and see...." . . . . . Minister Louis Farrakhan (USA): "Have you noticed that the first 'superhumans' they show on TV, it's a blond, blue-eyed *white* man beating up a Muslim, who was defending his people! Now this 'Paladin', this WHITE KNIGHT, may be hailed as a hero in Israel. But you will see a mighty power arise from the Black race as well, and when a powerful Black man stands up, with the strength and the will to make the world take notice, that's when you'll see laws to restrict superhumans blazing out of Congress and being used to slap down hard on a super-powered Black man!" * * * * * * * * * * At 11 PM, EST, television and radio reception throughout the western hemisphere is jammed. Then a voice speaks, on all frequencies, and also through every satellite broadcast around the world, overriding every signal: "This is your multi-jillion megawatts Pulsar pirate station coming at you, saying: "GET! A! LIFE!" "Man, you guys are idiots! Babbling about what you're going to DO about us! You're not gonna do anything! Except piss and moan and pray we don't turn your little world upside down!" "Get a clue; we've got power you can't even begin to imagine! Some of us may not be immune to a bullet, but some of us sure as hell are! Hey, I'm taking over the airwaves throughout a major portion of the planet, and YOU CAN'T DO A THING TO STOP ME! I could smoke Billy or Boris or Johnny or the Aya-freakin'-tollah right now if I wanted to, and NO ONE CAN STOP ME! I can vaporize all these satellites right now, just like that! Does that scare you? TOUGH!" "You're like a bunch of little old ladies debating what you'll do to 'make' a rhinocerous "fit in" to your little sewing circle if one decides to blunder through. Well hey, we don't HAVE to fit in! You all are gonna make room around us, or probably get squashed! Hey, I'm not making threats, just stating the facts! How are you gonna make someone who can't be killed, restrained, imprisoned, threatened or intimidated do ANYTHING? Quit deluding yourself! The balance of power as you knew it is HISTORY!" "So take a deep breath and go on with your lives, but just remember, we're here and we ain't goin' away. And if the fact that you can't make us play by your rules bothers all you anal-retentive control freaks who've ruled the world for so long, go jump off a bridge, 'cause I don't GIVE A !$!#!" "Oh, by the way, did you all know there's a spaceship up here?" "Bye." * * * ================================== "Today is March 20, 1994, and This! Is! Nightline!" [Da da DA Daaaaa....] "Hello, I'm Ted Koppel. Tonight's program features a one-on-one interview with the so-called superhero called Paladin. Most of you will be familiar with Paladin, because by now, footage of the battle between him and the Palestinian super-terrorist called Deathstorm has been repeatedly broadcast around the world. In a very short period of time, men and women with superhuman powers have left the domain of comic books and become the focus of very serious study, as humanity tries to adjust to the reality of beings with almost godlike power walking among them. A few weeks ago, most people would have considered the very idea preposterous. But today, everyone wants to know; where did they come from? How is it that certain people have been "gifted" with abilities that often defy the laws of science? And why now? Although we now know that some scientists, working for government intelligence agencies, have been aware of this phenomenon for at least a year, even our own government is reluctant to release any information. Our requests for interviews, or documentation, have been repeatedly turned down on the grounds that information regarding the activities of superhumans is classified. They have, however, promised that the organization of a public agency to deal with superhumans is underway." "Before I go to our guest, I'd like to review what we've seen, and learned, so far." [Clips are shown again, with narration, of Paladin, unidentified at that time, flying over San Francisco. Then a woman in black, running along the rooftops of a Tokyo skyscraper, taken from a Japanese police helicopter. Deathstorm shredding Israeli tanks and helicopters, then dueling with Paladin. Marseilles after the tornado, allegedly caused by a super- terrorist called "Cyclone", then clouds forming the words "Delenda Est Paris" above the city of Paris. A battle between a woman with torn clothes and a purple mohawk and an animated crystal statue, filmed in a New York hotel ballroom.] "We should remember that while people are talking about the sudden appearance of superhumans 'all over the world', the actual numbers are really very small. Deathstorm, Paladin, Spider Girl, Cyclone, the two as- yet-unidentified superwomen in New York, and rumors of a third superhuman involved in that incident. The flame-powered assassin who killed Deathstorm. And unverified, but fairly reliable, accounts of a 'wraith' in southern California, a flying fireball in Chicago, an explosion at the Dallas University Medical Center in which superhumans are believed to have been involved, reports from Nigeria of a man who uproots trees and throws them at guerilla camps, several miles away, and someone breaking the sound barrier along the coast of Argentina. Not to mention, the mysterious "broadcast pirate" identifying himself only as 'Pulsar', who disrupted communications around the world last night." "Even assuming that there are several times as many superhumans as have made their presence known in public, it still probably amounts to less than a hundred, worldwide. An insignificant total, compared to the entire population, but when one man can do this...." [scenes of a devestated Marseilles again], "this..." [bodies littering the streets in Tel Aviv], "or this...." [an array of television sets, each tuned to a different channel, and all suddenly blanked out and then blaring the voice of 'Pulsar'], "it's easy to see how they can generate tremendous concern among the rest of us." "When we come back, the first superhuman to appear in public will now be the first to speak out." <><><><><> "We're back, in our New York studio, with Paladin." Paladin sits opposite Ted Koppel, wearing a sleek, black leather flight jacket. He is extremely handsome, looking like one of those people who could be dipped in tar without mussing his bright yellow hair. He has a bemused grin. Koppel: "First of all, what happened in Israel? You had appointed yourself the task of guarding Deathstorm, yet were unable to prevent his assassination by another superhuman. Why were you there in the first place?" Paladin: "Well, I don't think much of the Israelis...they only pretend to be a free society, when the world is watching. But that doesn't mean I think it's cool for some nutcase to go around killing people. 'Course I didn't expect another nutcase to come after him, once he was all drugged up and helpless. I was asleep when this flaming dude showed up. I woke up pretty quick, of course, since all the commandos were hollering and firing off weapons. But by the time I got to the infirmary, Deathstorm was already toast. Burnt toast." Koppel: "And what about the assassin who killed him?" Paladin: "Oh, he was standing there. Getting ready to leave. Another blond guy, but shorter than me. I asked him what the hell he was doing, which I guess was a pretty stupid question, since what he'd done was obvious, but I WAS still half-asleep. And he just said 'You protect the living, I'm avenging the dead.' Like I said, another nutcase, this one with a revenge fixation. Like killing Deathstorm is gonna make all those dead people feel any better." Koppel: "I take it you were unable to stop this...avenger." Paladin: "I dunno. Maybe I could have....I'm pretty immune to fire, too. I didn't really try, though." Koppel: "You were there precisely to keep Deathstorm from being murdered in his bed. Why then, didn't you stop the murderer when he did just that?" Paladin: "'Cause Deathstorm was already dead! What was the point? By the way, I was also there in case Deathstorm somehow woke up. Didn't want him shredding a bunch of people again. Anyways, I'm not shedding any tears over a mass-murderer. This flaming guy didn't hurt anyone else, coming or going. He held the Izzies at bay just by putting up a wall of heat that they couldn't get past. So I figured, why bother? The Israelis'd just have to put HIM under sedation, and I'd probably be stucking guarding HIM." Koppel: "You're not worried at the prospect of superhumans taking the law into their own hands?" Paladin: "We're going to do that, like it or not. The law just can't handle us. I think us dealing with each other is gonna be the only way." Koppel: "That raises a frightening prospect to many people. The message the self-proclaimed 'Pulsar' gave us last night, suggested that he felt no obligation to show consideration to people not blessed with superhuman powers. What is to prevent people like you from victimizing people like us?" Paladin: "I just told you. 'People like me' aren't gonna victimize you. I may not care a whole lot about the law, since the law can't affect me, how can I respect it? But I'm still basically a good guy. If some psycho like Deathstorm shows up again, I'll stop 'em." Koppel: "Unless next time, the psycho is more powerful than you." Paladin: "Hey, if the crooks outgun the cops you're in the same boat! But let me give you a reality check, for everyone who's afraid that they're gonna have to fear for their lives now more than before because of us superhumans. According to your intro, there MIGHT be, what, maybe a hundred supers worldwide? You did a nice bit of playing up the havoc that a few have caused, typical mass media melodrama. But the fact is, if we make up less than one ten-millionth of one percent of the population, your chances of being killed by your good old fashioned punk with a knife or a gun are a heckava lot greater than your chances of being killed by a supervillain." Koppel: "That makes several assumptions, though; first, that there are only a hundred or so superhumans worldwide, and that those numbers won't grow. Second, that hostile superhumans will always be stopped. Without you, Deathstorm might have killed thousands more. The Israelis might never have been able to stop him on their own." Paladin: "Oh, I think they would have got him eventually. He had to land sometime, presumably he had to eat. Maybe they couldn't take him out by sending tanks and helicopters after him, but sooner or later they'd have tracked him down and used a couple tons of HE rounds if nothing else. Or gassed him, nuked him, something. And I'm probably not the only one who could have taken the guy out. I'll bet eventually another superhuman would have done it." Koppel: "Maybe, and maybe not. And how many more people would have died in the meantime?" Paladin: "How many people are dying in Bosnia as we speak? I know it makes a nice sensationalist story to depict us as possibly gonna bring down civilization, or destroy the human race, but it just ain't gonna happen. On a small scale, we're pretty damn powerful, but on a larger scale, it's not like we can take over the world or anything." Koppel: "Suppose a superhuman manifests with the ability to, oh, generate explosive attacks capable of destroying cities?" Paladin: "Suppose a superhuman manifests with the ability to mind control the entire planet? I guess he could take over the world, huh? Posing far-out 'what ifs' is kind of pointless, I could imagine any old scenario and ask you to disprove it. If that ever happens, we'll have to deal with it, but let's stick to what we've seen so far." Koppel: "What's to prevent you from, at least, seizing control of a country?" Paladin [laughs]: "OK, let's look at that realistically. Say I want to take over a country. Heck, the thought has crossed my mind to fly into Iran and tell the Ayatollah Whathisface, in person, what he can do with his fatwas. But look, suppose I do that, and maybe I even squash him. Then I tell people I'm running things. OK, everyone in my immediate vicinity will probably become pretty compliant. So I can boss around everyone that I can directly threaten. The rest of the country will tell me to go to hell. Now, I could start a campaign to crush that resistance, but even with me helping the military, I can't be everywhere at once, so I'd only be an advantage on one battlefield at a time. To get the whole country under control, I'd need to be able to beat the resistance politically and militarily. Which means I'd need to keep the military in line. And somehow provide an economy to run my operations. In other words, I'd have to be a leader, and a politician, capable of launching a campaign of conquest. Just like any other would-be usurper. Sure, I'd have a big headstart in that I could stage a coup at will, wipe out all the immediate opposition, and not worry about getting assassinated. But after that, I'd be in the exact same boat as anyone else who wants to conquer anything. Unless I've got the savy to do it, I'd never be more than a little tin-pot dictator in a very tiny portion of the world. And if I do succeed, well, what's gonna make me, or any other power-hungry superhuman, worse than all the dictators we have running half the countries of the world now? I guess the whole world would go up in arms if I took over Iran or someplace, but frankly, I don't see how Doctor Doom or the Galactic Emperor could be any worse than Saddam Hussein or Adolph Hitler." Koppel: "On that note, we'll break for some announcements. We'll be back, after these messages...." <><><><><> Ted Koppel: "We're back, with Paladin. We've spoken some about the state of superhumans in the world, let's talk a little bit about you, specifically. You've taken this colorful pseudonym, but you don't wear a mask or anything else to disguise your appearance. Why not give your real name?" Paladin: "I'd prefer to keep my privacy." Koppel: "But don't you think those who know you will recognize you on national TV? For that matter, every intelligence agency in the world is undoubtedly trying to track down your true identity." Paladin: "Yeah, but they'll never see through my clever disguise." [He puts on a pair of thick glasses and looks at Koppel with an amused grin; Koppel laughs and shakes his head.] Koppel: "Why 'Paladin'? Whose idea was that?" Paladin: "Mine. I was getting tired of being called 'the blond superman', and I was afraid DC Comics would sue." "A couple people suggested 'Defender' or 'Protector' or something cheesy like that, but I think 'Paladin' has more style." Koppel: "Do you intend to be a comic book-style superhero? Fighting crime and protecting normal people from hostile superhumans?" Paladin: "Oh, I don't mind helping people out, and I certainly won't stand by if I can stop a psycho like Deathstorm. But I don't plan to be a full-time do- gooder. Not much profit in that." Koppel: "Profit?" Paladin: "Yeah, why shouldn't I use my powers to get rich? Does that offend your aesthetic sensibilities, 'cause Superman and Spiderman always risked their lives to save the world and settled for the adulation of the masses and a reporter's salary? No way, why shouldn't someone who can do what I can do make money off of it? I'm talking legally, of course." Koppel: "What did you have in mind?" Paladin: "Well, I'd be really good at moving grounded oil tankers. And rescuing airplanes and submarines in distress..." Koppel: "Submarines? You mean underwater?" Paladin: "That's usually where you find submarines, right? I can hold my breath a loooong time." "For that matter, I can fly up into space, too. I've done it before. I could carry satellites up there, put 'em in orbit, charge NASA a fraction of what it normally costs to launch them." Koppel: "Will you work for other countries besides the United States?" Paladin: "Sure...but I won't put stealth satellites up for the Russians, if that's what you mean. I ain't gonna work for Saddam or that Milesovich sleazebag or anyone like that." Koppel: "What about the United States? You're a very powerful man now. You pointed out, rather cleverly although perhaps simplistically, that you're not a one-man army, but you still have the capability to impact on the world order in a way no single human being could before. You are apparently invincible to just about everything short of a nuclear warhead, nothing can stop you, and you feel beholden to no law. It does raise the possibility of your becoming an unstoppable enforcer, either for the United States, or whoever can pay your price." Paladin: "Making me out to sound pretty sinister, aren't you? Look, I'm not an 'enforcer'. I'm not about to go flying around dictating U.S. policy to some poor third world schmuck by grabbing him by the lapels and threatening to toss him across the continent. Of course, I might do that on my own if the guy ticks me off enough." "I'm *still* thinking about paying a visit to that Iranian dickweed and seeing just how eager he is to see paradise. But naw, I doubt it would change anyone's mind. OK, I don't mind giving the U.S. priority...heck, I'll probably give Uncle Sam discount rates." "But I'm not gonna be Billy's errand boy. I don't take orders from anyone, not anymore." Koppel: "What happens if they try to legislate restrictions on your activities?" Paladin: "Let 'em sue." Koppel: "A lot of people might be a bit nervous at your willingness to casually disregard legal authorities." Paladin: "Umm, well, tough." Koppel: "You aren't worried that people may feel threatened by an unstoppable being who feels free to do as he pleases?" Paladin: "I already told you I'm not a bad guy. If that's not enough for you, too bad. How far do you expect me to go to make people feel comfortable in their little world? I'm sure lots of people would like to see me just disappear, sure I threaten them, I can't be controlled by anything but my own conscience. What am I supposed to do, kill myself so they'll feel safe?" Koppel: "You sound a bit like Pulsar, who took over the airwaves last night." Paladin: "Well, I think what he said was basically true, although I wouldn't have put it quite so...bluntly. I don't WANT people to be afraid of me. But I know some people will be, and I'm not going to pretend to be a docile little teddy bear to make them happy. Us superhumans are here, for whatever reason, and you normals are just gonna have to learn to live with it." Koppel: "Do you know anything about your powers? How you got them, how they work?" Paladin: "No clue. It just happened. I tested them a little, flying around, finding out how strong I was. And I figured out I was kind of invulnerable. When I went up against Deathstorm, I already knew I was bulletproof- don't ask me how I tested it-" "but I wasn't sure about those supersonic spikes of his. That's why I tried dodging them at first. But once he caught me, full blast, well, I figured either I eat it or I don't. 'Course I'm really glad I didn't." Koppel: "Have you spoken to any other superhumans?" Paladin: "Aside from Deathstorm and Flaming Vengeance- Obsessed Man, and neither of them were great conversationalists, no. I'd like to though. I'm sure I'll meet some soon." Koppel: "Did Deathstorm ever say anything to you?" Paladin: "Like he really had a chance. He screamed something at me in Arabic, while we were fighting. Probably 'Die you Zionist puppet'." Koppel: "Is there anything else you'd like to tell the world, in the short time we have left?" Paladin: "Yeah. Chill out. Later." Koppel: "And we'll be back, with a program note."