The Weird Superheroes II: Pat's Will - Chapter 2

The next day about noon Clay is in his room preparing to leave to hang out with friends. He would try to keep his crime fighting life and social life separate, but it was hard when he didn't know when a crime was going to be committed.

Slightly rushed he was making use he had everything he needed to go, hand out with his friends. Checking he pants pockets he found that he did have his wallet. Also checking his watch he realized that it was fifteen minutes from when, he said he was going to meet his friends.

Standing there in the middle of his room, he saw the corner of his eye The Superhero Maker; now it was rusting and old. Brown and rust covered, and the lever that had originally turned Pat in a Super Villain looked like it would fall off. A few memories came rushing back to him, and a shiver came down his back. Shuddering slightly he turned so he couldn't see the machine even out of the corner of his eye.

He just kept telling himself, "It's all over, it's in the past! Pat's memory of it is gone! It's done, forgotten, and it will never happen again. Quickly he blocked the memories out, and remembered what he was going to do, and walked out of his room. A thought did arise in the back of his mind it's only been a few months, why did it rust so fast?

Back in the house, it stood there on the right side of Clay's room. For a moment it looked as though it was going to start again, but no. It stood up straight like when it was first built, then slouched down like it was going to fall apart. In a good shove probably as it would have needed. Then from different parts of the machine came strange green smoke. Slowly it drifted from the machine to the window and out. Once out it split itself into three, and each, went in their separate ways. Like they knew where they were going.

At the same time Michael was doing his chores for the day. It was Monday and it was his job to clean the upstairs living room. Most of the time he didn't mind doing this particular chore but today was different, today Kristin and her soon-to-be boyfriend Aaron Stevens were right in the middle of it.

For most part the cleaning was going well, but every once in a while he had to have them move. All they were doing was sitting on the living room couch, but they were still in the way. Sometimes Aaron had to move his feet or the both had to get up. All the while talking and looking at each other like they were going to kiss but didn't.

Paying no attention to what they said he wanted to say: "Why don't you two get a room?", but he didn't. He knew that wouldn't be right. It was for him to speak his mind so he didn't most of the time. Not really caring what they were saying he blocked it out.

Finally he was done it looked perfect. Well, almost Kristin and Aaron were still there. He released a sigh, knowing he had done good job.

Suddenly he had the feeling a crime was being committed. Often he got this feeling, not even knowing where it came from. Clay had said nothing about his when they had received their Super powers. But somehow he always knew this feeling meant a crime was being committed. His was one, his way out the door, when Kristin rose from the couch, followed by Aaron, holding hands as they walked

"Where do you think you are going?" She demanded.
"Uh... well... I ... uh... forgot to do something outside." He stammered knowing he had to leave that instance.

Before she could say anything else he was out the door.
"Hmm..." She muttered. A strange look came upon her face. She knew what he was, but she also knew there was no way to prove it, at least not yet.
Looking over at Aaron he gave her a look like what-the-heck-was that all about. He must have forgotten what happened a few months ago, she thought.
About ten minutes later Muscleman meets Speed Demon at Albertson's on Main Street, the left entrance. Slowly he landed next to his friend.
"You felt it too?"

Muscleman nodded his head.
"So where's the crime? All I see is everything perfectly normal." Muscleman puzzled looking around the area.

Suddenly a teenager came out the automatic door, carrying a six-pack of Coors beer.
"I guess I spoke too soon, here's our perp now," commented Muscleman. He loved using police lingo.
"Yep," Speed Demon agreed.
The boy just stood there too afraid to move.
"Stealing is a crime or didn't you know that?" Speed Demon quipped.
"It ruins your liver too." Muscleman added.

Right then the boy realized who these two were, and that they weren't to be messed with. With that thought in mind he started running towards the right side of the building.

"Going so soon without even so much as a drink, now that's just plain rude." Speed Demon joked as he sped ahead of him, arriving before that boy had a chance to stop.

Huffing and puffing the boy looked at Speed Demon as smile creeped up his face, as he motioned for the boy to look behind him. His partner had just arrived. He knew now he was surrounded.

"I'll take these, no need for these to be damaged after all," Speed Demon declared swiftly taking the beer from the boy, setting it on the ground next to him.
"Cough, cough." Speed Demon suddenly started coughing like crazy.

"Speed you all right," Asked Muscleman.
"Yeah... I'm fine," he whispered barely able to hold back another cough. "Just don't let him get away," he whispered again.

The boy saw that there was not he could get out, he would have to fight his way out. Slowly he put up his shaking fists.

Muscleman just shook his head.

The boy delivered a punch. Quickly Muscle man blocked it with his hand raised, flat in front of him. They met with tremendous force. For a moment Muscleman stood still, then his whole body started, and suddenly muscles in his leg started cramping up like crazy.

"Yeouch!!" He yelled so loud that the boy had to cover his ears.
Speed Demon quickly glanced at Muscleman as he tried to get up. Wondering what the heck was going on. The boy now saw a way out, with Muscleman down for the count. So he started running.

"No you don't!" Speed Demon cried quickly getting up and speeding after him.
Right when he was about to catch him, "A-a-choo!" Came huge sneeze from both the heroes. Tripping both of them, making them land on the warm asphalt.

Seeing that they were bout down he got up the intention of running again.
"I don't think so", snapped Muscleman standing, and grabbing him by the wrist with his tightest grip. He was going nowhere.

Something strange was happening to Muscleman he could feel his muscles popping. This happened to normal people but not Muscleman. Then it hit him a migraine making his head feel like it was going to explode.

Slowly he fell to the ground, letting go of the boy's wrist. On the asphalt he noticed blood coming from both nostrils. What the heck... he thought before closing his eyes. He was not unconscious.

The boy backed away and watched this strange scene. There they were on the ground twitching slightly, sneezing and coughing violently.

"What is up with these two? What disease do they have? Well, whatever it is I am not sticking around to get it."

With that he ran off towards the north side of town. Ten minutes later the two heroes began to stir.

Slowly Muscle man stood up. He felt so weak. Feeling his nose, he could feel no blood. It was in fact, like he had never had a bloody nose. Noticing the Speed Demon was beginning to wake up, he helped him up.

He was surprised by the way his friend looked, pale as a ghost. How could we get so sick so quickly? He thought.
"What... what happened?" Speed Demon stuttered.
"I don't know? You're okay?" Muscle-Man asked slowly getting to his feet.
"I will be once my head stops spinning," Speed said weakly.
"He got away."
"Oh, well at least we have the beer," Speed Demon pointed out.
"I feel like I'm going to fall any second you better return it." Muscleman suggested.
Speed Demon nodded picking up the beer. Slowly he walked into the store, and the beverage section.

"Here's the stolen beer. Sorry... didn't... get... the... thief," he said slowly sounding like he was going to throw up at any second.
"Thanks," said the stocker taking the beer, and looking at him strangely.

Speed Demon nodded as he slowly made his way to the door.
"I guess even Superheroes get sick," thought the stocker as he watched him go. Feeling sorry for Speed Demon, he watched him sneeze and cough as he exited the store.
A few minutes earlier at Jesse Call's house, he was happily reading a book when he notices something strange.

A green puff of smoke flew past his window.
"What the..." He started putting his chair upright.

He knew there was only place that something like that could have come from, but he had to be sure. So rushing out of his house, (luckily his father was out for the moment.) and down the street. Halfway to his friend Clay's house, he had to stop and catch his breath, he saw two more puffs of smoke rising into the air. By the looks of it they were coming from Clay's house, exactly as he had thought.

It has to been The Superhero Maker, there's nothing else it can be, he thought as he started walking again. He had only walked few feet when he stopped again. "Wait a minute, he thought aloud, obviously it came from The Superhero Maker inside Clay's room, but from what Clay and Mike told me about the battle they had with The Scourge I don't want anything to do with it. I mean with it something happens to me I don't want to become a Super Villain. I am just going to go back to my house and act like it didn't happen. The Weird Superheroes can handle it whatever it is.

Just as Jesse was walking back to his house Pat was walking up to Clay's house though neither saw each other.
"Should I... I mean I know it's wrong, but I've got to know."
"Maybe I shouldn't..."

"Well... but there's something I need to see inside. I don't know what it is, but all I know is that I need to see what's in there." He said in a whisper still not sure of what to do.
Finally he made the choice to go up to the house, and find a way inside. He had to know what was in there, what had been plaguing he dreams for so long.