Showcase: Cannonball

Hero for Hire

by Libbylawrence

It was a typical day in Metropolis, which meant that a crime was occurring somewhere and Superman was busy stopping it. However, even Superman could not be in two places at once, and it was precisely this logic that fueled the urge of two colorful figures to take advantage of this fact.

They struck at precisely the same moment by each robbing one of the exclusive Tiffany’s Jewelry Stores located on opposite ends of the city. They even used methods that were essentially the same. They burst into their respective stores and demonstrated their weaponry to the startled staffers and customers. While one blasted the display counter with hot, melting flames, the other smashed the glass in his store with a crushing burst of high-pressure water. They frightened the staff enough to help themselves to the jewels and they rushed outside with an exhilarating sense of achievement… at least for a minute or two! Then each of the Flamesplashers gasped as they were challenged by a couple of costumed figures.

Superman swooped down to block the path of the first sibling as he futilely aimed his flame throwing device at the hero.

“I wouldn’t try it. It won’t even make me break a sweat!” smiled Superman.

Flamesplasher I cursed and turned to set the hanging awnings of the nearby stores ablaze!

Superman puffed out the fires with ease and tapped the villain into a stunned state.

Meanwhile, the other Flamesplasher aimed his water blaster at a gold and green costumed figure who swooped down and smiled winningly.

“Cannonball! ” muttered the villain.

“Say it clearly! The folks in the back might not have heard you. I hate to have them mistake me for one of the other heroes who hang around these parts!” he said.

The blond man flew with the aid of a miniaturized jet-pack and he seemed entirely at ease as he faced the startled thief.

“My high pressure water blast will turn your fans into battered casualties!” sneered Flamesplasher.

Cannonball frowned. “Now, how would that look? A nowhere loser who probably looks up to the Cluemaster, hurting one of the Cannonball’s legion of fans? Not likely!”

He slammed into his foe and knocked him cold.

Standing over the stunned figure, he turned to the crowd and said, “I guess he’s all wet!”

A voice yelled, “And cut! That’s a wrap!”

Cannonball turned to his camera crew and gave a thumb’s up sign.

“Primo work, guys and gals. That jerk won’t work for sweeps month but hey, we could use him on a blooper reel!” he grinned.

The camera man nodded, “Don’t worry, Ryan, we’ll use the footage sometime this season. Your fans will love that line about his being all wet! But, then Hero for Hire is the top rated reality show on the air!”

Cannonball nodded. “Do you think that line was a bit too Robin-y? Nah, me either!”

He signed a few autographs and zoomed off. With his TV show a rating’s smash and his merchandising line bringing in a fortune, life was good for Ryan Chase!

***

Morgan Edge was angry. He paced back and forth in his plush office and shouted his thoughts as they occurred to him. As the owner of WGBS-TV, he took ratings seriously and he was more than a bit irritated that the top new show Hero for Hire was not one of his!

“This Cannonball guy is everywhere! He’s on the covers of Time, People, and even Rolling Stone. He dates actresses ranging from Daphne Pennyworth to Monica Lake! His clothing line of action gear is selling like hot cakes. And what do we have on? Roy Raymond reruns!” he shouted.

“Mr. Edge, sir. Nobody knew Cannonball would take the media by storm so quickly. Saving the world in front of the media made him a star. His show is so simple yet so clever. I mean, filming his crime fighting adventures like that Cops show, is a brainstorm! People love it!” said a worried junior executive.

Edge sneered, “I don’t need the obvious. I know all about the obvious! What hurts the most is that the show’s producer is my own flesh and blood! Stephanie Edge, my niece, took the idea to the other network! She wanted no hint of accusations of nepotism! Is that un-American or what?”

He hit his desk. “Think of counter-programming, fast!” He then sighed and sank into his chair. “No one understands me! Why must life be so hard?”

***

Ryan Chase (Cannonball) was working out in his mansion when he received a call.

“Take five, Chuck. You’re good but martial arts can’t match my Klurkor!” grinned Ryan as he grabbed a cell phone.

“Hi. What’s up? Flashman! No, I won’t work with the guy. He lacks class. I want the name Cannonball to be thought of with a sense of style. That reminds me, could we get Golden Glider as a love interest for the next season?” he said.

“Cool. Oh, and tell Simon Stagg it’s too late. If he wants to do business with the Cannonball, he’ll need an appointment and this guy’s booked up ’til that old coot’s ready for a home!” he said.

He clicked off and turned to see a pretty brunette.

“Miss Tempest? May I call you, Meg? Come in! Always glad to help out the media!” he said as the lively Planet reporter came in.

Meg smiled, “Thanks. Lois sends her regards!”

Meg Tempest, wearing a pink mini dress and heels, followed Ryan Chase as he led her around his estate.

Too bad I didn’t think of it, but we could have conducted this interview in the hot tub, he thought.

Meg said, “I admire your home. It’s lovely. It’s quite a change from your childhood.”

Ryan nodded. “It sure is! I grew up as a circus boy — not Mickey Dolenz, you understand, but a child of the circus. My folks and I were performers and I just was raised touring town to town and soaking up the cheers of the crowds.”

Meg said, “I imagine that can be pretty addictive.”

Ryan smiled broadly, “Ah! Here’s where the beautiful reporter tries to add a bit of journalistic depth to her piece by keen psychological insight! I did love it and I also loved heroes like Green Arrow and Batman. I wanted to be like them. I developed a device that let me fly and put together this costume. I thought being a super hero would be the perfect life!”

Meg said, “And Lois Lane was to be your ticket to the top?”

He said, “She’s a doll. I followed her because I knew she’d go where the action was to be found. I was right. She and I became quite close and partnered around a bit.”

Meg smiled, “Lois says she and you are friends and that’s it. She did teach you Klurkor?”

Ryan said, “OK, OK, I exaggerated a bit. Artistic license and all that. She did teach me a lot about being a hero. Gutsy, bright, and caring. She’s all that and more. As for Klurkor, she taught me all I know. I admit it.”

Meg said, “So, what happened? You fought the Butcher, the Starseed, and a guy named Adam, and then you sort of disappeared?”

Ryan turned away from the spirited woman and said, “I thought I could be a Green Arrow. I wanted to be a swashbuckling do-gooder with a roguish grin, but I failed miserably. I messed up and it almost cost some good folks their lives. I hung up the suit and never thought I’d fly again. I took a few odd jobs and ended up working as janitor. Pretty glam, huh?”

Meg said, “I was a cheerleader. We all have things in our past!”

Ryan said, “Our agency cleaned numerous homes and one of our clients changed my life. His name was Edmond Hamilton.”

Cannonball continued his origin. “See, Hamilton was a military man, inventor, and former costume wearer himself. As Colonel Future he used brief glimpses into the future to design a high-tech suit for himself. He used it on a couple of occasions to prevent disasters that never really occurred anyhow thanks to Superman.”

“I recall that name!” said Meg.

“Sure. Well, in one of those wacky scenarios you’d read about in a comic mag, Edmond could only get these prophetic visions when his life was in danger. Pretty nutty, huh? He got one after a car crash and it gave him a real jolt,” said Ryan.

Meg said, “That crash was potentially fatal. I remember the story. So, what was his vision?”

Ryan said, “He saw Superman trying to kill the President!”

Meg gasped. “That’s crazy. Superman would never do that. Was it a double? Or was the President a fake in disguise?”

Ryan put his arm around her. “Stick with me, Babe. You’ll get your scoop.” He said, “I’ll pique your interests by saying both Supes and the Prez were the real deals.”

Meg said, “Just tell me: what did Colonel Hamilton do?”

Ryan said, “He was worried. Yet he knew his visions had been pretty wonky before. He decided to play it safe and he whipped up a new costume designed to stop even a maddened Superman.”

“Been done before. Nothing stops him!” said Meg.

Ryan said, “Well, nothing short of yours truly.”

Meg rolled her eyes. “Come on, tell me more. Please.”

Ryan said, “He prepared the suit and even realized that Superman was due to be at a White House Summit along with the Soviet hero Starfire.”

Meg said, “Red Star? I see. Now it all makes sense. That Summit’s events made you famous.”

Ryan said, “Right. So, Colonel Future — that was Hamilton’s costumed name — planned to be there and be ready for trouble.”

Meg sat down by the pool. “That was the Summit in which President Reagan and Gorbachev were meeting along with their respective national heroes.”

Ryan nodded. “It made sense to Hamilton that if Superman would go for the Chief Executive that event would be a golden opportunity. You understand, Hamilton never believed Superman would do that. He just wanted to be ready in case something occurred that could remotely be tied to his vision.”

Meg nodded. “How’d you become involved?”

Ryan grinned, “Well, sweeping dolls like you off their feet is not the only sweeping I’ve done. Remember, I was a janitor and I happened to get Hamilton’s house as an assignment. I stumbled across his suit and it intrigued me. I had used my own jet-pack before but nothing as sophisticated as his futuristic suit.”

Meg laughed, “You didn’t?”

Ryan said, “I took it for a joyride. I figured who would know! I loved it. It was nowhere near as bulky as my old get up. It was faster; it had other offensive and defensive features like a force field. I figured I could take it from his lab and try it out and return it all before he ever woke up,” explained Ryan Chase.

“Was his security that lax?” asked Meg.

Ryan replied, “Nope. I was just able to bypass it. After all, he trusted us. The agency had worked for him for years.”

“I started flying and it brought back old times with a real rush but I also noticed a pre-set flight pattern! I found myself heading toward DC!” he said.

“Colonel Future had preprogrammed the suit to take him to the Summit!” gasped Meg.

“Right! Beautiful and smart!” he said.

“I arrived and could not really alter the course. I just enjoyed the ride. I figured I was up the creek, as they say! I saw the whole scene that is so famous now. Ron — he tells me to call him Ron — Gorby, and Red Star all lined up along with security and Superman,” he said.

“Well, Superman suddenly jumped forward for Red Star and clocked him. He was out cold in a blink of an eye,” said Chase.

“Before the security teams could respond, Superman grabbed Reagan! It was just as Future’s vision had depicted it, or so I imagined! I was able to alter my flight path now that I had reached the desired locale,” he continued.

***

Cannonball frowned as he saw the Man of Steel go berserk. It was not the kind of sight he could imagine. Superman had always been in control. How else could someone with his level of power live among less powerful beings? Still, there was no mistaking the anger in Superman’s voice and face as he gripped the U.S. President.

“You two play your political games while your citizens suffer. I’m ending your tyranny and your lives!” he shouted.

Cannonball slammed into him and drove him away from the two world leaders.

“Not while I’m around!” he said.

He activated the force field and smiled as Superman’s right hook bounced off the shield.

“Cool! Maybe, I can show the Big Blue that I’m not the kind of guy he can muscle around!” said Cannonball.

He fired an energy beam from the suit’s gloves and staggered the Kryptonian.

Red looking energy! Must weaken him or something! he mused.

Superman spun around and created a whirlwind that rocked the flying Cannonball in its wake. He saw the security teams rush the politicians inside and he caught his breath.

I don’t know how much energy this force field takes. It might drain me dry and leave me helpless! he thought.

“Superman! You’ve always been the hero everybody looks up to! What’s gotten into you?” he said.

He reeled as Superman connected with a left hook.

Weird! My goggles show a strange energy pattern. Supes is irradiated in it and it even shows up across town! mused Cannonball.

He said, “Here goes nothing!”

He pulled Superman’s cape and zoomed off toward the odd energy reading. Superman reached up and grabbed Cannonball’s arm. They continued their struggle and the media began to notice as they hurled each other through the air.

Cannonball ignored the crowds for once as it took all his attention merely to stay alive. He said, “You know, I never did see what Lois saw in you! You’re stuffy!”

He frowned as Superman backhanded him through a building.

He groaned and sat up slowly. “This is the place the weird radiation came from! Got what I wanted — to get Supes here. Now the trick is to survive my success!”

He saw a lab and a group of uniformed goons around one laughing inhuman figure.

Some kind of robot! That red radiance that Supes seemed bathed in is coming from his chest! mused Cannonball.

“You have succeeded already? By killing Reagan and Gorbachev, you’ve pushed the world to possible war and ruined your own life. All thanks to the mind warping influence of the red kryptonite within my chest!” laughed Metallo.

“You may have caused me to feel like I do, but I don’t like you any better than I do the politicians!” said Superman.

Cannonball said, “Kryptonite heart? That’s what’s causing him to act so berserk. I’ve heard Lois speak of how those alien rocks can play games with Superman.”

He ripped a hunk of metal off a machine and blocked the glow of the red stone in Metallo’s chest cavity from Superman.

Metallo laughed. “Doesn’t work that way, punk. Red K hits him and its power doesn’t fade except in time. Lead shielding after he’s been exposed won’t do a thing.”

Cannonball frowned. “OK, I get the 411. Now, what do I do about it? Last time I wore a hero suit I almost cost some people their lives. How can I do better now?”

He shook his head. There was no crowd. There were no reporters around. He could fly off.

He moved for the hole by which he had entered the lab.

Those punks in the uniforms can’t prevent me from splitting, he mused.

Then he stopped and turned around. “I got to try. I have to help if I can. That’s what Green Arrow would do. That’s what the man I wanted to be would do!”

He activated a ray on the armored suit and Superman staggered backward.

“This solar beam weakens him. Maybe, just enough for me to do this!” he gasped as he fed all the energy in the suit to his strength.

He flattened Superman who was greatly weakened under the influence of the red sun rays.

Metallo cursed. “You knocked him cold. I needed him awake to become my assassin. The red K will wear off before he wakes up. I’ll need a new sample and no two rocks have the same effect on him!”

“Kill him!” he shouted.

The goons charged Cannonball who flew higher and then slammed into them like tenpins.

“Strike! Now, another thing right up my alley is taking you apart, you green faced reject from G.E.!” he said.

Metallo said, “Bah! My robotic strength is enough to rend that fancy fly suit off your corpse!”

Cannonball said, “I like it. That dialogue just sings. You oughta be in pictures!”

“Wanted pictures!” he added as he dodged Metallo’s charging attack and tripped him.

He received a glancing blow and reeled backward.

“Uh oh! The field’s down!” he gulped.

“The 1000 paid me plenty to let ‘em implant the red stuff and make Superman our killer. I’ll have to kill you first then take down the big wigs myself.” he roared.

Cannonball reached down and grabbed his leg.

He zoomed skyward and carried the struggling Metallo across the city.

“Hope you swim!” he said as he released him over the Potomac.

Metallo dropped into the waters and said, “My body can’t stay afloat! I’m too heavy!”

Cannonball grinned, “See? That’s the whole point!”

He waited a minute and then zoomed down to break through the waters to where his foe struggled.

He gripped his enemy and gasped as Metallo’s metal fingers closed over his throat.

“I’ll teach ya to mess with me!” hissed Metallo.

Cannonball choked and fought for his life.

Metal dude! Polarity! Got to reverse polarity on this thing. The helmet says it’s an option! he thought.

He hit a switch and smiled as Metallo was repelled out of the river with stunning force.

He stood over him as reporters flashed photos and Superman swooped down.

“Cannonball, I owe you a big debt of thanks. Metallo traditionally uses green kryptonite to power his robotic form. Those goons from the 1000 altered him by adding red kryptonite. This variety made me hate all authority. The exact effect varies from 1 piece to another. If you had not delayed me until it wore off, I might have done something I’d never forgive myself for!” he said.

Cannonball said, “Won’t being near this creep make you go ape again?”

Superman grinned, “Nope. It only works once.”

Soon, at a special press conference President Reagan, Gorbachev and a sullen Red Star stood around Superman and a smiling Cannonball.

Reagan said, “This brave young America came through for us all. He preserved our lives and stopped a great national danger. I think we should all be appreciative of his courage and his heart!”

Cannonball grinned and said, “Please, sir, don’t say heart!”

Superman and the others laughed mildly.

***

In the present, Cannonball turned to Meg, “So, while you knew I saved them all and became a media darling, got my TV show, and launched my Cannonball Industries, you now know the rest of the story.”

Meg nodded, “But the suit? What happened with Colonel Future?”

Ryan put his arm around her and said, “I’ll tell you over dinner?”

It was good to be Cannonball!

***

That evening found a fashionable Meg and a dapper Ryan Chase in one of the best dining establishments in the city. The vivacious young reporter had agreed to accompany the hero in order to learn more of his story and out of simple curiosity about how the celebrity super hero interacted with his public. She had to admit that he handled himself very well. He was polite, patient, and even charming to every fan and disarmed his critics with a boyish wit that won over most of his more critical listeners.

Meg nodded with interest as he continued his tale.

“Meg, I returned to Hamilton’s home and he greeted me with enthusiasm. He had watched the whole adventure like most of America and he had recognized his armored suit. He offered to let me continue to use it. He was impressed with how the Cannonball handled himself and who could blame him?” said Chase.

Meg smiled. “So, why did he trust you? I mean, it is an amazing piece of technology.”

Ryan grinned, “No offense taken. He had flubbed up all the times that he tried to use the gear himself and when we talked a bit, he was won over by my enthusiasm for a chance to redeem myself for past mistakes.

He even used his connections to set me up with some big shots who in turn modified the suit and so on until he became the streamlined beauty America knows and loves so well!”

Meg said, “I see. Hamilton saw more to you than your shallow exterior. He saw what I’m beginning to see. You really care about helping people too.”

Ryan smiled, “Sure. Just don’t spread that around. My agent would throw a fit. Anyhow, Stephanie Edge approached me and she pitched the idea for a reality show built around my heroics. It took off like a speeding bullet and the rest is TV history! Stephanie is old Morgan’s niece. She is a bit of a wunderkind!”

Meg nodded, “So are you, Mr. Chase. So are you!”