Professor Why's Academy for Extraordinary Youngsters

Heroics 115: Fighting Villains

               I remember watching old Galactic Mask fights on tv when I was a kid. The walk towards the League of Heroes HQ was maybe 2 miles maximum. You could see the giant gleaming tower from school... but I wondered if Galactic Mask ever felt like this. My legs were so shaky I could hardly walk, my mouth was incredibly dry, and everything inside me kept saying "turn back".

"Turn back." I said out loud.

"What?" Situ asked, as she walked beside me.

I didn't know what I was saying, but I formulated it into something resembling a feeling I had anyways.

"You should probably turn back. I don't think this is going to be an easy fight, and like... collateral damage." I said, trying to sound as heroic as possible.

"I don't think you're in a position to tell me what to do." She replied.

"I'm the new Galactic Mask! I outrank you! You should go help the class fight Rob and the teachers." I demanded.

"Galactic Mask appointed me as his sidekick before he went missing for some reason." She replied, staring forward at the League of Heroes ahead of us. "I think that makes me your sidekick. And, since I'm grandfathered in, you don't have the right to dismiss me, Mr. Mask."

It felt wrong coming from someone else. Heavy lies the head that wears the crown... but it's heavier on the wrong head for sure.

"Besides," Situ continued, "You're the first person to believe in me. We're in this together."

Looking back on my 3 months of high school education, I didn't have that many traditional high school memories, but I did make a lasting friend. Some people make it through an entire four years without something like that, so I figured I was lucky.

"Actually, I have a confession." Situ continued, her eyes shifting away from me.

My heart raced. Was I going to get another high school moment right here?

"Since I'm a foreigner... I didn't really keep up with any American superheroes. What was Galactic Mask's deal again?"

"YOU DON'T KNOW?!?" I sputtered out. The nerves flew away, and I launched into an absolute diatribe. Situ smiled and nodded along as I blurted out in incredible detail why his fights were so cool and the different eras of costume changes. THERE WAS AN ANGSTY 1990'S SPIKY PHASE! The fact that she didn't know this was baffling.

When I got around to the early 2000's reboot to the classic costume, Situ interrupted me.

"We're here." She said, simply pointing up at the precipice. It was magnificent. The building had been carved out of the metal of various meteorites Galactic Mask brought to earth. Common and uncommon metals blended together into a completely unique color scheme that no other buildings possessed. It was shaped like a giant dowering pyramid shape, with glass windows all along the sides. I never visited before because... I wanted to be welcomed as a member when I arrived. I guessed that now was as good a time as any.

On the front, spray painted all over the glass were the words "G4lactic A$$". Burgandy Skid Mark was in full swing, and awaiting another fight with his rival. The PA System turned on, and I heard the resounding robotic voice that Burgandy Skid Mark was so famous for come on in ear piercing volume.

"Better hurry, Galactic Butt! For every minute you loiter, an innocent janitor dies!"

Best not keep my public waiting, I suppose. I ran inside to confront a villain who could comfortably fight a nigh invincible hero. Cool.