Darryl was running along the Courtway Boulevard sidewalk, and then cut through a dark and cramped alleyway. He dodged boxes and leapt trash cans. He chanced a glance at his watch. 4:54. Darryl had six minutes to make the three blocks to Martin's. If the traffic wasn't too bad today, he could probably make it.
Suddenly, the shrill beeping of a security alarm went off behind a door to Darryl's left. He stopped running, and after a second of hesitation walked back to the metal door. He put his ear to the cool metal and barely heard some voices inside, muffled by the thick door and alarm. He looked at his gym bag, in which he had his black, tan and aqua spandex costume, complete with a finned head-mask. He looked about the alley. Deserted. He glanced again at his watch, knowing he had to be at work on time today or he was almost definitely out of a job.
And then he thought of his own room in the Hall of Heroes.

The Shark was talking to a policeman when Ryu the Dragon, Owl Man and Nebula walked in. The two criminals that tried to knock over Mason' Jewelry Store were lying under a mass of brass and crystal in the far corner. The three heroes gingerly walked around broken glass and pieces of wood. Nebula -- a tall, brown-haired woman with an athletic build, a black and yellow costume with wrap-around shades and cape, and a prominent utility belt -- stepped toward the police and the Shark, looking around without saying anything. She finally said, "On the scanner, we heard something about a disturbance here. But it's pretty clear we're not needed, now..."
Smugly, the Shark turned to them and said, "I think everything is taken care of." He didn't notice the sidelong glances from the two police officers, writing furiously in notepads and occasionally speaking into their collar-mounted CB radios. The police nodded in response to Nebula and then made their way to the subdued culprits, avoiding overturned jewelry cases and piles of glass shards. The portlier one grumbled something.
Ryu grinned. That smartass always smiled. His getup was only a pair of baggy pants, sandals and a headband; he didn't bother to cover his pretty boy face.
Nebula looked around. "You... did this?" she asked the Shark, left hand on her hip, the other making a sweeping gesture toward the store's interior.
Grinning, and missing the context of her expression completely, he responded, "Yes, the perpetrators attempted to steal... um, an amount of jewelry as the establishment closed. But I apprehended them during their attempt." As he fumbled his way through his sentences, he noticed Nebula's long brown hair, the way the material of her suit hugged the contours of her chest. His hungry eyes were securely shielded by goggles, but he hoped she wasn't psychic and was reading his mind...
Nebula looked back at the others. Owl Man fiddled with the feathers on his bionic right wing, and Ryu the Dragon still smiled. There was some knowing, unspoken exchange in that that made the Shark feel a little nervous. Nebula looked at the Shark bluntly and said, "Uh. . . yeah, that's great, but what I'm trying to say..." She swallowed and continued, "The damned store is demolished, Shark."
The Shark's smile faded as he looked around. The display cases were now piles of wood and broken glass. A mirrored wall was demolished. The lacquered mahogany floor was scratched beyond recognition and busted in some places. As a final touch, the crystal chandelier was lying on top of the victims. He heard choked-back laughter all around him; Owl Man's, the cops', but he heard Ryu's titter above everyone else's. Unable to look at them, he focused his gaze on Nebula -- her face this time, not her breasts. She wasn't laughing, but he could tell she was forcing back a smile.
"Look, it's not my fault. I gave 'em a chance to surrender, but they drew on me and--"
Nebula silenced him with a dismissive gesture. "Look, I understand, Shark. This sort of thing happens to some of us in the beginnings of our careers. But part of learning to be a super hero is learning to be responsible for our actions, and knowing how and when to use force... and when not to. Like, maybe accosting them on their way out of the store would have been a better idea, huh? Or tailing their vehicle. Hell, the cost to repair this place will easily cost the store owners more than the missing jewelry would have, especially when insurance would have covered the theft."
The Shark fumed, but said nothing.
"Don't let it get you down, man." Ryu said in good cheer. He looked and dressed the Karate warrior, but talked like a surfer. He walked over and clapped his hand on the Shark's shoulder, buddy-buddy-like. The Shark looked at his feet and gritted his teeth. "You stopped the robbers, and that's what's important Sharkie!" He laughed again.
The visible half of the Shark's face was beet red. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked. Nebula: "Okay, Ryu, that's enough. I'm sure you remember a certain new recruit that once trashed the mayor's Lincoln Continental while fighting Jackhammer, right? Anyway, we need to let the Hall know the situation's under control."
Nebula sighed and leaned against a green marble wall. She produced a cigarette from a pack stuffed into her utility belt, lit up, and blew a plume of smoke which took the form of a dancing man. "Owl Man, radio Opticus with the info. We can relax for a few, here."
The Shark looked at her and said, "You're not setting a good example for kids with that habit, you know."
Amid even more snickers, she quickly looked from side to side, and then rolled her eyes at him. "You see any kids around right now?"
Darryl looked down at his feet as his dreams for Aegis membership evaporated.

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