Motown Heat Issue #20: "The Old and the Useless" <body bgcolor="#000000" text="#ffffff" link="#ff00bd" alink="#977ed8" vlink="#ff0000"> <center><img src="images/motown.gif"></center> <center><font size=+2>Issue #20: "The Old and the Useless"</font></center> <hr width="100%"> <b><i>The following is a pure work of fiction. Nothing of the events in this work have ever happened, either in world history or in the past of the author. Any resemblance to real events or people is purely coincidental. Thank you. Enjoy the story.</b></i> <hr width="100%"> In a small community on the outskirts of Detroit, a small building rests alongside a main avenue. Encased within the seemingly smallish exterior lies an advanced center for the care of the elderly -- the Leodman Home Care Center for Senior Health. <p> Inside, an elderly man sits by the window of his room. His thoughts seem to be wandering out of the building, away from the place. He sees content, clutching to a photo, tightly in his hand. <p> A nurse walks into the room. <p> "Okay, Franklin, it's time for your medication." <p> Franklin doesn't move. <p> "Franklin. Time to go." <p> Franklin still doesn't move. It's then that it's seen he is in a wheelchair. Slowly he moves his left hand. <p> The nurse, however, has become impatient with Franklin. She stomps over to where he is, pulling his wheelchair out from under him. She grabs his arm, dragging him along the floor. Suddenly, she throws him against the wall. <p> "Listen to me, Franklin, when I say it's time to go, we go NOW!" <p> Forgotten by Franklin's upended wheelchair is the photo. Pictured in the photo is Franklin with his two daughters: Jill and Meredith Burke (Sonic Boom and the Flea). <hr width="100%"> At the 7th Precinct, the office of Motown Heat is almost deserted, save two people: Ramm and Sonic Boom. Sitting on Ramm's reinforced desk, Meredith and Jack are embracing. When they unclamp themselves, Ramm turns his head down, looking at his feet. <p> "Whad's wrog?" <p> Ramm turns his head slightly toward Meredith, in acknowledgement. <p> "I dunno. I'm thinking I've been pretty useless on this team for as long as I've been on it." <p> "Whad bakes you say dat?" <p> "Look at what we've done since the team's inception. Every single time, it's been either your sister, or Jasmine, or you who's been pivotal in bringing the perp in. Never me. Never me." <p> Meredith puts her hand on Jack's chin, pulling his head up to eye level. Letting go of his chin, she launches into ASL. <p> "You haven't been completely useless. You did help us bring in the White Ghost, and you also helped rescue Tigress from McCordill. You aren't useless." <p> "You're fooling yourself and me, Mere. I have no real function with this team, I have nothing. Except you." <p> Meredith looks down at her feet now. "But I want you to stay." <p> "I'm sorry. It's too late, Mere. My mind's made up." <p> The Flea walks into the office. Sensing something is wrong, she walks over to where her sister and Ramm are. <p> "What's going on?" <p> Ramm hands the Flea a small envelope. Flea appears puzzled. <p> "What is this?" <p> "I respectfully submit my resignation. I feel old and useless, that I serve no purpose with the team. As a result, I've become a burden, and I feel there's no alternative but to resign my badge." <p> Ramm reaches up to his left chest, pulling off his badge from his vest. With a long look at Meredith, he places it in the Flea's hand. <p> "If you can find someone else to fill my spot, they can have my badge number." <p> "No, Jack, I can't accept this. I can't. You're not thinking this through enough." <P> "Yes I am, Jill. I'm useless. I have other concerns, other worries now. I can't stay with the team, I just can't." <p> "What's going on in here?" Cutup asks this question as she walks in the office with Paragon and C.aT. in tow. Seeing Ramm not wearing his badge, they become concerned. <p> "Nothing, Jasmine. What's up?" <p> "We're being called to investigate a small incident at a nursing home involving a superhuman." <p> "A nursing home?" Suddenly, Sonic Boom and Flea exchange shocked looks. Turning slowly to C.aT., Sonic Boom asks, "Whij one?" <p> Closing her eyes, C.aT. accesses her computer brain. "Uhhhh, Leodman Home Care Center for Senior Health, Sterling Heights." <p> Simultaneously, Flea and Sonic Boom exclaim, "DAD!" <hr width="100%"> The team arrives at the nursing home, outside the door. After a period of short discussion, Flea approaches Ramm. <p> "Jack, if you could meet with the director inside, me and Meredith have something we need to do." <p> Ramm nods, giving a quick kiss to Sonic Boom before splitting up the team. <hr width="100%"> Once on their way down a hallway, Jill and Meredith exchange looks at each other. <p> "You don't think it's him, do you?" <p> Meredith replies in ASL. "No. I thought he couldn't do anything any more." <p> "He asked to be put in the home, to protect us both. I'm not sure we need his protection anymore. After all, we've both got powers now." <p> Meredith shrugs. <p> When they reach a door numbered 155, they stop. Jill knocks on the door. She gets no response. <p> "That's odd ..." <p> "Give him a minute, Jill. He's seventy years old, remember." <p> "I know." Still no response. Jill knocks on the door again. Sensing there may be something wrong, Flea pulls out her pistol, clicking off the safety. <p> "It's been too long." <p> Sonic Boom tries turning the knob. It's unlocked. <p> With weapon fully drawn, Flea slowly opens the door. Behind her, Sonic Boom warms up her power. <p> As they enter the room, the first thing they notice is Franklin's wheelchair sitting in the corner, on its side. Turning her gaze toward the bed, Flea sees the sisters' father, lying in a heap in the bed. Keeping her weapon drawn, in case anyone else is near, she slowly appraoches the bed. Sonic Boom covers Flea's back as Flea looks upon their father. Her face suddenly changes to show Ferret in control. <p> "Come here and assist me, Meredith Burke. Your father needs assistance." <p> Meredith slowly winds down her power, approaching the bed. Franklin Burke is heavily bruised, as has lacerations on his face. He's unconscious. <p> "What happened here?" <p> "He has probably taken a great fall." <p> "Yeah, frub 2 flites ub. He loogs lige he'z beed beaden." <p> "That is also a possibility. At any rate, we must attend to his injuries." <p> Ferret starts bandaging up Franklin, but suddenly stops when his wounds start healing themselves rapidly. <p> "I ... I ... I do not understand. What is happening?" <p> "Our fadder iz a superhumad. One uv hiz powerz iz fazd healig." <p> Ferret nods, enlightened. Her face suddenly changes, and Jill Burke is in control again. <hr width="100%"> "How did this happen? I want answers!" <p> Having found the rest of the team, conversing with the chief of staff, the Flea and Sonic Boom have started in on a furious tirade. <p> "He looks like he tried to kiss a moving bus! There's no way a fall caused that kind of damage!" <p> "I'm sorry, Miss Burke, but that's the way it went. Your father slipped out of his wheelchair. Before we knew it, he started screaming about a nurse beating him up, and unconsciously, he started using those old powers of his." <p> "Powers, Jill?" Ramm seems incredulous. <p> "Yeah, Jill, what exactly are these powers of you two's dad's?" asks Paragon. <p> Flea looks up at the rest of the team. "Well, I guess it's about time I told you. Our father is a superhuman. A famous one, in fact. His name is Franklin Burke, code-named All-American during World War II. He was the leader of a military team of superhumans developed by the U.S. government to fight a ground war in the Pacific, codenamed PacSquad. <p> "Anyway, he supposedly had the powers taken from him after the war, but in reality, they weren't. The government started harassing him, trying to force him to have them removed. He did a little research, and discovered that the process to remove them would kill him in the process, so he's been running for a long time. He finally insisted we put him in here so that he could evade the government." <p> "Has it worked?" <p> "Thus far. I'd like to wait around until he wakes, so that I can ask him who the nurse was who he says beat him." <p> The chief of staff has no choice but to concede. "By all means, Miss Burke." <p> "Thank you. The rest of you, get back to the office. C.aT., I'll need you to access the hospital's staff list, and do background checks on them all. Ramm, Paragon, Cutup, you guys research superhumans around the area." <p> "Got you, Jill." <p> The team leaves, leaving the Flea and Sonic Boom at the hospital with the chief of staff. <p> "If it's all right, we'll wait in our father's room for him to awaken." <p> "Certainly, Miss Burke." <p> Sonic Boom walks down the hall. As Flea passes the chief of staff, she grabs his tie and pulls him toward her until he's nose to nose with her. <p> "And it's <b>Detective</b> Burke to you, jackass." <hr width="100%"> The two sisters have drifted off to sleep, waiting for their father to come to. Finally, rousing, Jill looks up and notices her father standing by the window, in his bathrobe. <p> "Dad?" <p> Franklin turns to face his elder daughter. "Jill. It's nice to see you here." <p> "What happened to you, dad?" <p> "Ahhh, some little bitch tried t'push me around, but nobody's tougher'n your ol' dad, kiddo." <p> Jill has a compassionate impatience with her father. She knows he's trying to reassure her, but his assurances don't do much. <p> "Dad, they said you used your powers. I just saw you heal up, so I know you still have them. Were you spraying psi-blasts all around?" <p> "Why would I ..." <p> "Just tell me, dad. Were you?" <p> Franklin looks at his daughter with a frank look. "Yes I did. Why should that concern you, Jill?" <p> "Because I got called in! We both did! Dammit, dad, why can't you keep yourself in check?" <p> "Why should I keep myself in check? This hellhole you dumped me into six years ago is leaving me with nothing but the deepest emotional scars I've ever experienced." <p> "But you asked to be put in here!!" Jill is starting to feel frustrated. Just then, Meredith awakens. <p> "Dad?" <p> Franklin smiles, hearing his younger daughter's voice. "Meredith, how nice to see you. Are you here with your sister ... ?" <p> Jill isn't satisfied. She turns abruptly to face her father. <p> "STOP RIGHT THERE, DAD!" <p> Jill furious yell interrupts Franklin and Meredith. Jill stomps toward her father. <p> "Listen, dad, we're currently investigating the hospital staff, trying to find out who, if any, of them have criminal records. If we find anything, we'll let you know. IN the meantime, try NOT to fling around any psi-blasts, because if you do, I will be forced to arrest you. Understood?" <p> Franklin looks on his elder daughter with disdain. His expression has changed from his warm greeting to his other daughter to anger. <p> "Fine, have it your own way. I can't control myself very well now, Jillian, and if you have a problem with that, I cant control your decision. However, I can control who I will or will not have as guests, and right now, you are off my 'will' list. Jillian Ariana Burke, please leave." <p> With a huffy breath, Jill turns on her heel and leaves. After leaving the room and allowing the door to close, she puts her face in her hand and cries. <hr width="100%"> Sitting on the floor of the Academy gymnasium, Ramm looks very dejected, unemotionally watching the MH cadets go through their morning workout. Suddenly, it seems, Tomboy trips over one of her bootlaces, Dodge in turn trips over Tomboy, and the whole pile lands on Bulk, who while going down manages to swat Aeriel out of the air, who lands on Tigress, leaving everyone in a large heap. The near-comical chain-reaction accident brings a little chuckle from Ramm, followed by him rising and shaking his head. <p> "No no no, that's not how it should go." <p> From the bottom of the pile, Tomboy pushes her head up, gasping, "Train us ... please ... we're horrible!" <p> A few others of the cadets are gasping "... air ..." Ramm helps them out by pulling Aeriel and Dodge off of the pile. "All right. If the rest of you can get up, I'll go slow so you can follow along." <p> The cadets line up in front of Ramm, sitting down, listening. <p> "Now, the point of being a team is to help out each other, using your individual abilities when others lack them. For instance, try this situation. Ashley ..." <p> "Sir?" <p> "You are chasing a perp in your energy form. However, you're getting tired, and right now, you are close to losing this form and collapsing, so other forms are impossible. But you know that ahead in the alley, Bulk and Dodge are waiting. Khalida's also chasing behind you, and as a last-resort backup, Aeriel is flying up above you. Now, if you collapse, Ashley, what could possibly happen?" <p> Thinking over the logistics in her head, Tomboy moves her fingers to diagram the situation. Finally she responds. <p> "If the perp continues running in the same direction, Bulk and Dodge plaster him. If he tries to climb the wall, Aeriel plasters him. If he doubles back, Tigress plasters him." <p> "That's a good start. What if he's armed?" <p> "Bulk grows to the point that he's bulletproof." <p> "Good. What if he's a superhuman?" <p> "The rest of the use their powers to try to stop him, and we hope to God they counteract his own." <p> "Very good, Ashley." Motioning the cadets to follow him, Ramm sets up an alley, placing himself between the walls. <p> "Set yourselves up, people. Tigress behind me. Bulk, Dodge, be waiting for me to get out of the alley. Aeriel, get airborne above the situation. Tomboy, charge up." <p> The cadets do as they're told. Ramm starts yelling so that everyone can hear him. <p> "Now, Ashley is going to start chasing me down this alleyway. After about fifteen seconds, she'll put herself out. React to whatever I do. I'll warn you right now, though, I will react like any superhuman perp, and I might injure you. If I do, I'll let Detective Burke take a look at you." <p> Everyone acknowledges the instructions, and the simulation begins. Ramm starts running down the alley he set up, with Tomboy flying behind him as energy. After fifteen seconds, she puts herself out and collapses to the ground. Ramm, seeing this, immediately turns around, picking up Tomboy and tossing her up into the air at Aeriel, who catches the girl and falls under the weight. Ramm turns and smiles, but only for a few minutes as Bulk's fist makes contact with Ramm's head, a punch he rolls with, grabbing Tigress by her arms and holding her in front of him just as Dodge tries to tackle him, and dropping Tigress on Dodge's head. Dodge continues running blindly until he ploughs into a padded wall and finally drops Tigress, both kids dizzy. Leaving Bulk and Ramm alone, Ramm rushes Bulk, punching his head into Bulk's gut and sending Bulk flying. Ramm stands up as the walls of the alley collapse. <p> "Wellll, maybe we should work on this a bit more." <p> Hearing the commotion, Flea and Cutup run into the gym. Cutup whistles slowly, as Flea walks up to Ramm. <p> "Man, Jack, when'd you get a license to kill cadets?" <p> Turning to face the women, Ramm sheepishly smiles. "Sorry. They asked me to teach them. Are any of them hurt?" <p> Moans from around the gym imply that Ramm did something to everyone. Flea turns to Ramm. <p> "That's kind of obvious. I'll patch 'em up. Meantime, tell him what's up, Jasmine." <p> "All right. Jack, Jill wanted me to tell you that she and Meredith are going on stakeout at the nursing home to see what's going on." <p> "Gotcha." <p> "We need you to arrange for backup, in case either one of them falter. Think that's possible?" <p> Ramm looks over to where Flea is attending to the cadets. He slowly smiles. <p> "I think I can." <hr width="100%"> Late that night, at the home, three nurses open the door to Franklin Burke's room, watching him sleep. <p> "Psst, hey! It's time for his medication!" <p> One of the nurses, a very unemotional woman, turns toward the other two and calmly states, "of course. Give me the pills." <p> The other two nurses search themselves. Finally, the fatter one finds the bottle. "I got 'em. I'll give them to him." <p> "No. I will." <p> "Waitaminit! We'll probably have to hold 'im down!" <p> "All right, then. All three of us." <p> The other two nod, and all three enter the room. Walking up to the side of the bed, the fat nurse violently shakes the bed. <p> "Get up, you lousy pusbag! Time for yer medication!" <p> Franklin is very scared. "No .... no ....!" <p> "Nothing doing! You've gotta take it!" <p> Franklin grits his teeth, fire raging in his eyes. "No .... I .... don't!!" <p> Franklin blasts the nurse shaking the bed with a psi-blast, sending her flying. Jumping out of the bed, he swings a fist at the unemotional nurse, who flies out the door. Only when she is knocked out the door is it revealed that she is an android operative of the Yin-Yan Hex Syndicate, Vixen VX-21. <p> In the room itself, Franklin has turned to the last human nurse. <p> "D'you really know how much pain and humiliation you butchers have inflicted on me? See for yourself! Feel my pain and suffer for it!" <p> A slow psi-blast is emitted from Franklin's forehead, completely engulfing the nurse's head. The nurse's expression twists into one of utter fear and pain, as she writhes under the attack, screams hideously, then collapses, dead. Shaking his head (the blast took a lot out of him), Franklin slowly treads over to his closet. <p> "I haven't been that man for near fifty years. It may be too late to become that man once more. However, maybe one last night as that man will free all here of the brutality of this godforsaken place." <p> Opening his closet, he finds a one-piece costume. In shadow, he is seen putting it on. Finally, he comes out, wearing his brightly patriotic red white and blue costume. <p> "All who tread on the helpless -- beware of the wrath of All-American!" <hr width="100%"> <center><font size=+2>To Be Continued ...</font></center> <hr width="100%"> Liked it? Didn't? Scared of nursing homes now? <a href="mailto:1134@i-is.com">Let me know!</a> <hr width="100%"> Back to <a href="7pct.html">7th Precinct</a> </body> </html>