Kid Side Kick and the Blustery day

Kid Side Kick and the Blustery day. A Heroes never win/Villains Always Lose story

“God damn Santa Ana's!”

There were City’s far better then this One, and there were City’s that were far worse., but for shear weirdness nothing beats Los Angeles. People, Buildings, Events, Weather, Crime. It was always more over the Top in L.A then any other city that I had ever been in. Not that I'm a World Traveler, you can count the places I have seen on One Hand, so I am no expert that’s for sure. But I got to tell you, for my Money this was the Weirdness capital of the world.

Maybe that was why there were so many of us in Los Angeles, more Super Powered beings in L.A then in any other city in the United States ? Maybe it was just something in the Air.

Like today, what logical reason do I have standing Sixteen Story’s above the ground at One AM trading blows with a maniac in 30 MPH winds? None, other then the fact I was Kid Side Kick and this is what I chose to do with my life.

Yeah, Yeah I have herd it all before. Kid Side Kick, what kind of name is that for a hero. I had wanted to be known as the Cowl when I first put on the Mask. Sure there were a few other Guys with names like that. Cowl. Cape .Hood. Gauntlet. Black Hat, but I had wanted to be known as The Cowl. Sadly during my debut as Los Angeles newest Teen Hero my Mentor had told the press I was his “Kid Side Kick” and nothing else, so my name became “The Hood's Kid Side Kick” and then just “Kid Side Kick”

I hated it at First but after a while it grows on you, they may be a Dozen Guys in the world named The Cowl, but I am the Only One named Kid Side Kick, and right now Kid Side Kick was trying to not fall off the roof of a Sixteen Story Building.

Must be the Air.

It had started out like any other day, everyone was grumpy and had the Sniffles because of the Santa Ana’s. You don't sell a lot of Bread on a day like today, so I had closed the Bakery early and was on my way to Swim a few laps at the Gym when my Cell Phone started Vibrating. Like many other members of my “profession” I had App's that alerted me to Situations that required the presence of someone like myself. A bunch of Gang bangers hitting a 7/11 might get One Buzz, a masked Yahoo robbing a Bank on the other hand would get a few.

The App in question was informing me that a Super by the Name of Serum was causing trouble very close to where I was! I ducked back into the bakery, slipped on my Uniform and hit the rooftops running.

It was like running through a hot wet towel, that’s how humid it was and the winds were insane. I decided I would not wear the cape today as I almost crashed in to the Side of a Ten Story because the Wind disrupted my leap.

For Non Powered Masks like myself, if you did not have a Vehicle, Roof Top hopping and Line Swinging was one of the best ways to travel. It's also a lot harder then it looks, still I arrived at the location given to me on the map and started looking for Serum.

Serum was a Low Tier Villain, he had the ability to tell if you were lying, but other then a few Psychic Party Tricks that was about it. Still he managed to use his Human Lie Detector Trick to his advantage on numerous occasions. The trick with him, just don't Lie.

Unless he was Blackmailing someone I could not think of a Reason why he would be in the Offices of some Computer Software Firm. Yet as I took a look around the corner,There he was, brandishing a Gun and yelling at some Guy in a Suit.

“Hum Gun's are not his style? “

I double checked all my Pockets and then sprung into action.

I toss a series of Small Ball bearings at Serum, the purpose is to get his attention on me, provide a hindered terrain for him to maneuver on and to deal some minor damage. Thrown by me, the Iron Marbles hit him in the side with the speed and impact of a fast ball.

Serum tuns away from his victim and starts yelling at me, good just what I wanted. I braced my self for his Psychic Assault and then ran into him full speed. In Pro Wrestling the move is called a SPEAR, its basically just a Foot Ball tackle, as you run in to your target and hit him with your shoulder.

The Impact sends both of us flying and we crash into a Work Station with about $1000.00 worth of assorted computer parts on it.

Whoops.

There was nothing pretty in my motions, I was not trying to impress my target with my mastery of the Martial Arts, just get the gun out of his hand and focus his attention on me. He stumbled to his feat and I garbed his writs and flipped him over with a Akido move. The gun went to the left and he want to the right.

SERUM tried to get up but it was already over and he knew it. He offered no further resistance, in fact he looked happy.

Moments latter the Police arrived and I made my exit. Us Masks were not very popular with the Police these days so I vanished in the confusion and waited on the rooftop for them to take SERUM away.

He offered no resistance and, well , and see this is the part that got me curious. He looked grateful that they were taking him away?

I pondered that as I returned home to Shower and eat a small dinner. It was a Wednesday, which meant I would be back at the bakery by 4:30 AM to start the Thursday baking.

I did my evening rounds of Cardio and Yoga, checked the Computer for any thing of interest to me as a Crime fighter and then sat down to enjoy a TV show and a Glass of Water.

Yet I could not relax, I kept thinking about Serum.

About his face, about the way he just gave in.

Like what was he doing at that Computer Place any way? Serum was a Psychic Creep, he made his living by Blackmailing people and selling secrets, not day light gun toting robbery.

In fact his criminal recode did not mention him ever using a Gun?

Breaking back into the Computer Place was easy, there Security System was rudimentary and I had been trained by the best since I was Twelve. I tried to retrace the encounter in my mind, remember where Serum was standing, who he was pointing the gun at.

The name on the desk read DON CRANDEL, which meant nothing to me. Couple of State of the Art computers, some pictures pined to his bulletin bored. A Bill from a Visit to the Doctors. Receipts from a market. Breath Mints, a Slinky.

Just desk stuff? Nothing out of the ordinary, so who was this guy and why was SERUM pointing a gun at him a few hours ago.

I picked the lock on all his desk doors and went through his files, again nothing. Yet something, something about this made me curious.

The wind was rattling the windows, somewhere I herd the popping of a Transformer and many of the lights on the street went out.

“Tree”

The few lights on in the building went out, moments latter tiny blue dots of light appeared about the room. LED's on there own battery, or solar powered. Emergency lighting I guess.

I spent a few more minuets going through Don Crandel's life, even booted up his computer but there was nothing about Don Crandel to give me an idea as to why Serum went after him, and in such an unorthodox way?

I even did the old, “Maybe he was point to the guy behind Do0n Crandel?” Dun, dun Dun!

Except all that was behind Don Crandel was a filing Cabinet and a fern, no don Crandel had been the target of Serums rage. I just could not see why?

Then maybe that was it, maybe the reason why I could not find anything on Crandel was that, there was nothing on Crandel to find. Just another Cog in the machine. Nice guy, had a good job, called his mom every Sunday but nothing special, just a guy. But in a world where men could fly, maybe not being special was special.

Suddenly, jut like the lights going out. It clicked

I felt it was time to get to know Don Crandel, personally

Now in my line of work there are basically Two types of heroes. The Paragons, the guys who are the idol of millions and an inspiration, guys like PROMETHEOUS.

Then there were guys like me, the Dark detective types, the masks that sometime got a bad rap. The Vigilantes. Sometimes to do the things I have to do when I'm Kid Sidekick, I have to bed a few laws.

A paragon like Prometheus, would never break into a mans house at 11:30 at night. Me, I had no problem with it.

You might think, being named kid Sidekick I am not very frightening, but I assure you I can play Spooky with the best of them.

Strange thing was, Don Crandel was awake at 11:30 PM when I broke into his Apartment, and waiting for me.

“Tea?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“They say its better for you then Coffey or soda.”

“There have been study’s”

“Tastes like Swill to me.”

I accreted the Cup of Tea and took a sip, not bad I suppose as Tea goes.

“I knew you would come, when you fought that guy Today.”

“Serum, his name is Serum.”

“Yeah, I knew you would come after that. Your kind always does right? I have a friend, hes an insurance investigator. He tells me story’s about his encounters with you detective Types. I suppose you have questions?

“You not very interesting are you Mr Crandel?”

“I once had a Script turned into a Video game called year of the Fist. Ever play it?”

“I wear Mask and fight crime Mr Crandel, do I look like I play Video Games.

Actually I do, but he does not need to know that. Part of the whole Image thing.

“I live a good life, have job I like. Nothing special sir.”

“You don't seem to have a problem with me being in your House Mr Crandel, or that a Known Super villain made it his goal to try and kill you today? I'd say that makes you very special in a very specific way.”

“Like I said, I knew you would come.”

“You live a good life Mr Crandel, a good honest life so I'm going to ask you One question Mr Crandel, just one.”

“Ok?”

“When was the last time you Told a Lie Mr Crandel?”

“What?”

“A Lie Mr Crandel, a false hood, an untruth. When was the last time you lied to someone.”

“What a weird question, I don't see how that’s important.”

“It is to me Mr Crandel. This is what I do, so. A Lie Mr Crandel when was the last time you told a lie.?”

He took another Sip of his Tea, looked around his small apartment and then at me hiding in half Shadows. He took his time, not that I did not already know the answer.

“Funny thing is, I don’t know. I suppose at work, That time I , no wait. Oh how about? No ? Weird. Let me think”

“Don't bother Mr Crandel, I will hazed to guess that you have not told a Lie in the last year, maybe longer. In fact Mr Crandel I would recommend you getting an MRI of your Brain ASAP to get the Diagnosis.”

“Diagnosis? I don't?”

“Yes you do Don, if you didn’t you would not have offered me the Tea, rather you would have reached to get one of the Beers in the Fridge or something , but you gave me Tea because you had to drink it, because they told you to, even though you think it tastes like Swill. You know what the Diagnosis is Don, see your not even able to Lie to yourself.”

He sat down then, just sat down and looked at me with bland, well bland nothing. Not anger, not remorse, not sadness. Just nothing.

.

Don Crandel was incapable of telling a lie, it was one of the Symptoms of his Brain Cancer. He had been misdiagnosed probably, thus the the Doctors Bill on his Desk, plus the Breath Mints to counter act the bad taste the Tea was leaving in his mouth. I’m no Doctor, but I am a Detective, maybe one of the best ,so once I put Two and Two together it made sens.

I glanced at my Phone and smiled, then returned my attention to my Host

“You see Don, The man who attacked you Today, Serum. He can tell when someone is lying He uses this ability to blackmail people, but more importantly is that he feeds on lies and the emotions that come from them like a vampire. You must have met him recently, and talked to him. He would have not been in Costume then, just someone you Knew. He was probably asking you questions about Work, your life, dirty secrets that he could have used to Blackmail you.”

“What ever it was he asked, you told him, you probably don't remember it but you answered every question he asked truthfully, and to a man who feeds off lies that must have been maddening”

Don Crandel sat there, his cup of Tea cooling in front of him, the bitter truth of his cancer exposed to the light, unable to Lie he had no choice but to cry.

I reached for a box of Kleenex and handed it to him. I gave him his pride and lied for him.

“It must be the Santa Ana’s”

“Must be.”

He blew his nose and looked up at me with Blood Shot Eyes.

“What do I do now?”

“Go to the Doctor, get an MRI. Take care of yourself, live a good life I guess.”

“What about the guy who tried to kill me?”

“Serum? You worry about your self sir, let me worry about Serum.”

With those words I steeped back in to the shadows and vanished from Don Crandel's life. I knew what I needed to know, it was time for the last act.

I did not go home, instead I wrapped my self in the darkness across the street from Don Crandel's Apartment and waited.

Some time in I’d say the last Month, Don Crandel had met Serum and told him the truth.

Serum would have been someone Don Crandel trusted enough to talk to, to tell privet details about his life. Someone who Don Crandel Knew. Maybe closely or maybe in passing but Serum was someone Don Knew.

Based on my conversation with Don Crandel and other clues I had a strong suspicion that Serum was someone Don Crandel knew very well undead.

While I had been talking to him, an alarm had gone off on my Phone. Informing me that Serum had somehow escaped from Jail. No doubt he used his ability to Blackmail a Guard to letting him go. Funny even after all these years the Police have yet to develop a technology to keep my Kind behind bars. A far more cynical friend of mine suspected that the Police let them go on Purpose, so that us heroes would deal with the villains they could not handle

Doctor, heal thy Self so to speak.

So it came as no surprise to me that around 12:15 AM I spotted a very familiar forum skulking towards Don Crandel's Apartment building, just as the Wind kicked up again.

Well it made for a good entrance.

I expected Serum to react, yell, scream,bombard me with his Psychic Powers. What I did not expect was him punching me in the Gut with enough Force to send me flying back at least ten feet.

Thankfully I knew how to roll with the blow and the Impact Cloth/Kevlar Uniform I wore took much of the damage for me . Nothing in the records gave any clue that Serum possessed Super Human Strength, still it was a cooky rookie mistake and it had cost me.

Suddenly I was fighting a totally different battle then the One I fought earlier today.

“Don’t interfere any more Kid!”

Serum looked at me with Cold Black eyes then kicked open the Doors to the Apartment Complex. Which was pointless as they were not looked, but maybe he was trying to frighten me?.

“No one else has to get Hurt tonight Serum, lets just work this out!”

I yelled as I dashed after him, dodging broken glass and a tipped over Ash Tray .

“Work it out? Work it out! There is nothing to workout Sidekick. You have no idea what this is like for me.”

“No but I can guess. Don Crandel cant Lie and that is driving you insane. Theirs no reason to hurt him though man.”

“What, is that what you think is going on? You fool!”

He hefted up a Ugly Cough that was by the Elevator and threw it at me!

I timed it,jumped over the object as it flew past me. Kicked off the tumbling Couch just as it impacted the wall behind me. Using that momentum, I delivered a flying elbow in to Serums head.

I wasn’t making any more Rookie Mistakes with Serum.

I landed on the Balls of my Feat, pivoted and delivered a Snap Kick to his Stomach, he reacted with his new found Strength and Speed but I was already moving away from his Swing.

All the Super Powers in the world don't matter for Jack if you don't know how to use them correctly, I on the other hand? Well I’ve been doing this since I was Twelve!

He was fast, and seemed to be shaking off my best shots like he was on PCP or something.

PCP or Something?

Damn it all to hell I was an idiot!

Serum threw a Planter at me and then ran towards the Stairs , I was right after him.

“Idiot, Idiot, idiot.”

Worlds Greatest Detective my Ass, I should have seen it!

Serum, he wasn’t at the Office today to kill Don Crandel, he was there to Kidnap him. To keep him all to himself.

The files had it wrong, Serum did not feed off the emotions related to Lying, it was Truth he fed on, Truth and the emotions related to it, Guilt, envy, lust, Joy. They were like a Drug to Serum and right now Don Crandel was the best he had ever fed off of..

That’s why he was relived when I took him down earlier. He must have been so confused, so high he had no idea what was going on. He just knew on some instinctive addictive level he had to have more.

Look, imagine you have only ever had A Coffey Flavored Drink, and then one day you have a Double Shot of Pure Espresso, you would have no way to process that sudden Caffeine high. After years of feeding off of Half truths and guilty Secrets, Serum had finally fed from the Pure Source.

Serum took the stairs to at a time, I kept trying to corner him and get him down but he had the advantage on the stairs. His enhanced speed, strength and the environment made fighting him Difficult

Difficult, but not impossible

“All right Serum, play time is over. There are only two Ways this ends tonight.”

“Your Lying Kid! I can smell it, you have no idea how this is going to end! Just go away and let me have this!”

“You know I can't do that Serum.”

When fighting on a Stairway, the best tactic is to either Trip your Opponent from behind or find a way to get in front of them.

Judo, Akido, King-Fu, Boxing and Dozens of other Fighting Styles ran through my mind in a Blink. I picked the best combination of moves and put them to use.

Like I Said, I’ve been doing this since I was Twelve.

Sadly sometimes Dumb Luck changes everything in a Second. We reach a landing between floors, I'm just about to throw a Combination of Moves at him when the Stairwell door opens and a very scared Young woman becomes Serums Hostage.

He smiles.

Thus I find myself Standing Atop a Roof top in 30 MPH Santa Anna winds at One AM facing off with a Madman.

Trading blows with Serum was proving to be pointless, his enhanced Strength allowed him to shrug off my best Punch s Meanwhile the Hostage was in dire need of a jacket and a Psychologist after being part of this Crap.

I had to change things up and fast, fight dirty if I had to but this silly scenario needed to end before we all flung over the side of the building by the Winds.

Serum swings at me with his right hand! I throw up my right arm to block the blow, which feels a lot like being hit by a car!

I spin in to the blow, grab his out stretched arm and push him pas me. The move is basic Judo, allowing be to come up behind Serum where I then deliver a Punch to his Shoulder.

Still behind him I begin to focus my attention on his pressure points. A kick to the left knee sends him limping. He turns and faces me, stumbling for me with all his strength and speed. I don't give him the opening.

A double hand Slap to his Ear drums, followed by a Strike to his Left Under Ar,.

He is slowing down now, pressure point after pressure point I begin to take him apart like a Surgeon Enhanced Strength driven blows implode on my body, I can feel bones cracking and pain is lancing through every inch of me. I ignore it and fight one.

“Damn you hero!”

With a berserk yell Serum grabs my and flings me in the air like a rag doll.

The Wind's hit me like a Truck, rattling me around and sending me flying. I grab the edge of my cape and extend it to it's full length. It acts like a Parachute of sorts and I turn the situation around by using the winds to my advantage.

The cape is designed to act like a Glider as well as adding an extra layer of armor, I don’t just wear it because it looks cool.

I hit the side of something, maybe a wall? Maybe a pipe? Not sure, to dark and windy to tell. I place my feet against the surface and push with all my might. Suddenly I'm flying towards Serum and he has no idea what to do. The Hostage screams and ducks for cover, I crash in to Serum and send him reeling! I don't give him chance to recover and gift him with a Flying Knee to the head!

I land clumsily, right myself and reach in to the pockets of my belt (Yes I have a “utility belt”).

The devise I slide on my hand's could be described as a Modified set of Bras Knuckles that hold a Small Electric Charge. We call em' Shock Knucks and as he rushes towards me, I deliver a combination. One to the Side of his head and then a Hay-maker! Theirs a brief flash as the electricity rockets through his form.

Shock appears in his eyes, he stumbles back, I hit him again with the second and last charge on the Knuckle’s Rabbit Punch to the face, followed by a cheep shot to the gut.

I grab his shoulders, pull him towards me and Knee him in the chin!

I let him go, he stumbles back, reeling I watch as in slow motion the wind hits him and tosses him over the side of the Building!

If I was a jack Ass I would just let him fall. I'm not, so I grab his hand at the last Second, pull him towards me and we both hit the Floor, hard.

He's panting, I can see it in his eyes that he is done. The Super charge of Energy he received by “feeding” off of Don Crandel is gone.

He Smiles and tips over.

Like that, it's over.

I dust my self off, take inventory of my various wounds and spit out some blood. I take a Set of Zip Ties out of the belt and Bind his feat and wrists. He's not unconscious, just sort of a daze. He might have a concussion? I did hit him pretty hard, ill worry about it latter.

The Hostage is crying, looking shaken and Confused? I point to the Stair Well and tell her to run. She does, she will have quite the story to Tweet about on her Face Time.

I take off Serums mask, despite the puffed lips and the Black Eye I recognize him, but then ever since I saw the Pictures on Don Crandel's desk and spoke to him, I knew I would.

Brother? Cousin? The resemblance is there in the build, features and the same Strawberry Blond Hair that Don had.

“I knew you and Crandel knew each other.”

It's 2:30 Am. I'm standing in the lobby of Don Crandel's apartment being Interviewed by the police? Don is talking to them as well as the EMT's wheel Serum off . Maybe this time he will stay in Jail.

There is a Look in Crandel's eye as the Villain is moved in to the Ambulance. Anger? Betrayal? I'm not sure, I file it away for latter.

The police officer asking me questions is Uncomfortable facing me, I frighten him. I can see it in his Posture and the way his Hand keeps drifting towards his Gun.

Its weird, the guy who fly’s and Shoots Fire out of his eyes does not bother them, but I do?

I might as well play along as the Wind rattles the Windows and everyone’s nerves.

“So this guy Serum, what got in to him, why did he come after the Victim?”

“Must have been the Wind officer.”

The windows shake, he turns to look. When he turns back, I'm gone. The old Hide in Plain Sight gimmick never fails to Impress

I whisper

“Must have been the Wind”

On my way home, I get hit in the head by a flying Lump of News Paper

“God Damn Santa Ana’s!”

End.

Kid Side Kick and Serum are Copyright Michael L Straus/Tiki Joe Games 2014.