Andy lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling emotionally numb.  The fan above him spun quickly, cooling the room.  Andy thought about getting on his computer or game console to do something but just couldn’t motivate himself.  Paramount was still in the city, and he was handling the crime for now.  The city seemed quiet from what Andy knew, but he was grateful nonetheless.  He really did need the rest.

            Soon, there was a knock on the door.

            “Hey Andy,” said Brian from the other side. “It’s me, Brian.  Can I come in?”

            “Come in,” said Andy, sitting up.

            Brian came in.  Brian was a tall, lanky young man with brown hair and freckles.  Despite his skinny frame, he towered over Andy by about a head.  Andy sat at the edge of the bed while Brian took the computer chair.

            “How are you holding up?” asked Brian.

            “Not great,” said Andy. “I tried to go on Noteline to explain what happened, and…well…not everyone believed me.  There are a lot of people saying some nasty things about SteelStar.  Really nasty things.”

            “I saw,” said Brian, looking away.

            People had called him a supervillain and a murderer, many had used off color language, and a few had suggested that SteelStar do terrible things to himself.  One or two had even made death threats.  Not that Andy was worried about that, given his powers, but even so.  The hardest to hear were those that insisted Spectramancer had saved their lives.  Spectramancer was well loved, and Andy didn’t need to be reminded of this.

            “So what happens now?” asked Brian.

            “Well,” said Andy. “I just learned that no one is pressing charges against me.  Spectramancer’s family apparently wants to respect the wishes from his video, and that leaves the District Attorney’s office for Partition City and the E.H.O.D.’s lawyers.  According to the news, they aren’t pressing charges for the death of Spectramancer either since his video is incriminating against him, and there were enough witnesses who saw him rampaging to know he had to be stopped one way or another.  I think the fact that someone died because of Spectramancer is a factor as well.”

            Manny Turner.  Andy had a feeling he was never going to forget that name.

            “Well, it’s good that you’re not being charged at least.”

            “Yeah, but that’s not the only news,” Andy reached for a letter on his desk and handed it to Brian. “Apparently I’m,” he made air quotes. “Under review by the E.H.O.D.  Someone dropped this letter off in person about an hour ago.”

            Brian looked at the letter, and an astonished look crept onto his face.

            “They could get a court order to make you cease hero work?” he asked in disbelief.

            “Apparently,” said Andy. “I could get arrested if they determine I’m not fit to be a Superhero and I keep doing it anyway.”

            “I don’t believe this,” said Brian, still staring at the letter.  “I mean…they can’t stop you, can they?  Not with your powers.”

            “From what my dad tells me,” said Andy. “They have ways of dealing with people like me.”

            Andy looked at the floor, and Brian looked away.

            Next, there came another knock on the door.

            “Andy?” said John Gatlin. “There’s someone here to see you, someone I think you’ll want to see.”

            “Okay,” said Andy.

            Andy and Brian went to the living room with John.   Amelia, Samantha, Martin, and Abigail sat on the couch waiting for him, and in the center of the room stood a blonde, bearded, blue eyed man.  This man, wearing a grey overcoat, gave Andy a sympathetic smile.

            “Hello,” said Andy curiously. “Who are you?”

            The man cleared his throat, and John turned to Samantha.

            “Samantha,” said John. “Why don’t you take Martin and Abigail outside?”

            Samantha sighed and said, “Alright, kids, let’s go.  The grownups are talking.”

            Martin and Abigail expressed their displeasure but otherwise obeyed their father's wish.  As Samantha brought them out back, the stranger saw Brian.

            “Brian can stay,” said Amelia. “He’s proven trustworthy with our secrets, and I think Andy needs his friend more than ever.”

            “Alright, that’s fine,” said the man.  The next moment, this man pressed a button under his collar, and his face shimmered for a moment before his beard and hair turned black, and his eyes turned brown.  Suddenly, Andy recognized him.

            “Paramount,” said Andy.  Normally he would have been starstruck to see Paramount in his living room, but under the circumstances, it just wasn’t the same.  John and Amelia nodded, while Brian looked absolutely shocked.

            “Call me Kevin,” said Paramount, “Kevin Carter.”

            Kevin offered Andy his hand, and they shook, even as Brian stood to the side, his mouth agape.

            “John,” said Kevin, looking up. “You’re looking well.”

            “Thank you, Kevin,” said John. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

            “It certainly has,” said Kevin.  “Can we sit?”

            John nodded.  Soon everyone sat with Kevin and Andy facing each other on opposite ends of the angled couch.  Kevin looked up at them apologetically.

            “I wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened,” said Kevin. “It wasn’t fair that you were put in that situation, Andy.  Honestly, if anyone should have stopped Spectramancer, it should have been me.”

            “It…it wasn’t your fault,” said Andy. “I heard about the mutants.”

            “Even so,” said Kevin. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with this, especially on your first day.”

            Andy didn’t respond.  He just didn’t know what to say.

            Kevin smiled hesitantly, “You know, I knew who you were the moment I saw you.  I knew your father when he was a superhero.”

            “You did?” asked Andy.

            “That’s right,” said John, smiling. “Kevin and I go way back.”

            “Awesome,” Brian whispered.

            “And of course, I knew about the Valtarians.  It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.  Sorry I couldn’t visit more often,” said Kevin.  “You seem like a fine young man.”

            “He’s gonna be one of the best superheroes in the world,” said Brian defiantly. “This won't stop him.  I know it.”

            “Thanks,” said Andy. “Those are probably the nicest things anyone’s said about me since…you know.”

            “Andy,” said Amelia sympathetically.  “Have you been listening to people online?  You can’t take what they say seriously.”

            “Yeah,” said Brian. “Obviously, they don’t know what really happened.”

            Andy almost smiled at that but didn’t quite manage it.

            Kevin sighed, “It’s a mess.  Half the news networks put out statements without getting the full story.  They don’t mention how long it took to get to the point where you…did what you had to do.  They don’t even mention that Spectramancer killed a man, something I know would have distressed him if he found out.”

            Andy didn’t have the heart to mention that Spectramancer did find out, and hoped Paramount wasn’t reading his mind right now.

            “It’s not fair,” said Brian. “None of this was Andy’s fault.”

            “How could they do this?” asked Amelia, shaking her head. “How could they so say such horrible things about my son without even trying to learn the truth?”

            “There are plenty of reasons,” said John bitterly. “Laziness, clickbait, cynicism…you name it.  Patrick Powell, I know, has a history of getting things wrong.  How the man is still employed, I don’t know.  I’m grateful at least some news media did their homework…just not enough of them.  You know the old saying.  A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth can put its pants on.”

            The room went silent for a moment.  No one had easy answers for this problem. 

            “Anyway,” said Kevin. “I heard about your E.H.O.D. review.  I’ve already called a lawyer to give you advice on dealing with them.  He’s helped some friends of mine deal with them in the past.”

            He pulled a card out of his coat and handed it to Andy.

            “Thanks,” said Andy, though he didn’t feel much better.

Kevin smiled apologetically, then stood.

            “Well,” said Kevin. “As I said, I’m sorry you had to do what you did.  I will, of course, speak on your behalf to the press, though I can’t guarantee all of them will listen.  If there’s anything else I can do for you, just let me know.”

            Kevin turned to leave, and Andy thought about it.

            “One thing,” said Andy. “Can you tell me what started this?  What got Spectramancer locked into a rage?  He kept shouting about Morphic Man the whole time.”

            Kevin sighed and said, “I suppose you deserve to know.  The Silent Wraith found evidence that two superheroes were in Redwell City the day it was destroyed and that someone tried to wipe away that evidence.  Spectramancer went to interview those superheroes, Elementus and Morphic Man.  According to reports, Spectramancer spoke with Elementus briefly, and nothing happened.  It was around the time that Morphic Man was supposed to be at the crater site that Spectramancer went berserk, so we suspect that he’s behind it.”

            Andy frowned, “You don’t think…Morphic Man was behind Redwell City?”

            “We don’t know anything at this point,” said Kevin. “We do know that not every Superhero is…well…as much of a hero as they present themselves.  We’ve been trying to expose them, but many are protected by corporate sponsors or even the E.H.O.D.  It’s been a problem for some time, though even I have trouble believing one of them was behind Redwell City’s destruction.

            “I think Elementus is innocent.  I have nothing but respect for him, and despite Morphic Man’s…abrasive personality, it’s still hard for me to picture him destroying a city.  And yet there’s no doubt in my mind that he had something to do with Spectramancer’s rage.  I don’t know what’s going on, but I intend to get to the bottom of this.”

            Hearing this, Andy felt a stab of anger.  Knowing there was someone behind this changed things.  Clenching his fists, Andy was suddenly filled with a swell of determination.  He stood up, looking at Kevin…Paramount…right in the eye.

            “I want to help,” said Andy.

            Just about everyone in the room who wasn’t Andy looked surprised.

            “Andy?” asked Amelia, worry in her voice.

            “Are you sure?” asked John.

            “I’m positive,” said Andy. “I’ve been sitting here feeling sorry for myself, and I’m already sick of it.  I want to do something about this.  If Morphic Man deliberately set off Spectramancer, or if he’s the one behind Redwell City, then I want to help bring him to justice.  At this point, I think the best thing I can do for Spectramancer is pick up where he left off.  I became a superhero to make the world a better place, and I think this is the best way to do it.”

            Kevin looked surprised, and a moment later, he looked away, smiling.

            “What?” asked Andy.

            “Nothing,” said Kevin. “It’s just…you remind me of someone.  Someone I haven’t seen in a long time.”

            And Kevin saw his own reflection in the window.

            Andy and Amelia each raised an eyebrow, but John had a knowing look.  Brian smiled excitedly, looking up at Kevin for his answer.  Kevin reminisced on old memories for a moment but then looked up at Andy.

            “Alright, kid,” said Kevin.  “I think we could use your help.  We don’t have a plan right now, but when we need you, we’ll be sure to give you a call.”

            “Andy,” said Amelia.  “Are you really sure you want to do this?”

            “I am, Mom,” said Andy.  “I’m absolutely sure.”

            Andy offered his hand, and Kevin accepted.

            “Okay then,” said Kevin. “It’s official.  I look forward to working with you.”

            “Yeah,” said Andy. “Sounds good to me.”

            “Hey,” said Brian. “Andy and I were gonna order pizza to celebrate his becoming a superhero.  Can we order some tonight?  I think Andy deserves it.”

            “Pizza sounds great,” said Andy, breathing a sigh of relief.

            The two young men looked at Amelia and John, who looked at each other and smiled.

            “I think that can be arranged,” said John. “Kevin, why don’t you join us?”

            Kevin smiled and said, “I could go for some pizza.  Sure, why not?”

            Brian went to the back door and shouted out, “Hey guys, we’re getting pizza!”

            Martin and Abigail shouted, “Yeah!  Pizza!”

            When they came back in, Samantha looked at her brother, and Andy had never seen more compassion in her eyes than he saw now.  She came up, put her hand on his shoulder, and said, “You know, you really shouldn’t listen to those haters.  You’re gonna be a great Superhero, I know it.”

            Despite everything that had happened, Andy found himself smiling.

***

After dinner, they said goodbye to Kevin and Brian.  Andy hugged every member of his family before returning to his room.  Curiously, Andy realized he hadn’t checked his Herofund page recently.  He was afraid to look but knew he had to eventually.  He went to his laptop and clicked on the link, fearing the worst.  However, when he checked, he was surprised to see a sizeable amount of donations.  A few thousand people had decided to help him out.  Apparently, despite the sheer number of people who knew nothing about what happened, enough people had taken the time to learn the truth and were ready to support him.  The comments here were a little more positive than the ones on Noteline.  Some said that they’re sorry he was put through this, while others are glad he stopped Spectramancer before more people got hurt.

            Andy also saw a notification that there were calls to have his Herofund page revoked.  Herofund had released a statement saying that they didn’t intend to do so at this time but would wait for the facts of the case to become clear.  That was something, at least.  Andy figured his dad was right on the money with this website.

            It was all reassuring, but like it or not, SteelStar was now known on a global scale.  He would have all the support and hatred such a position would bring.  Everything was going to change today, and Andy could only hope he was up to the challenge.