First Superhero 1: The Second Super by Logan Rutherford Page A

from Richter. His tan skin looked weathered and his hair was turning gray. Most of his aging probably happened in just the time since Richter appeared.
    “The situation in Texas is a tricky one. While we're all happy that there were no casualties and the hostages are safe, it could have gone very differently. I have full confidence that our law enforcement agencies would have done their jobs, and gotten everyone to safety, without the interference of the superhuman we're code naming Tempest, in lieu of an official statement from the superhuman himself.”
    “Oooo, Tempest. I like it,” I said.
    My dad nodded. “It sounds badass.”
    Mom shot him a look for using language, but he ignored it.
    The president continued. “We would like for Tempest to keep from interfering with any government agencies, and allow our trained, professional, and efficient law enforcement agencies to do the work they do best.
    “And also, to Tempest, a warning. Should you use your powers in any way, you are effectively making yourself an enemy of the United States of America. We will not have another Richter on our hands. We are working on a solution to the Richter problem, one we hope to resolve shortly. We understand that you're trying to help and do good. But you don't have to be a superhuman to be a hero. So please, stay out of the way. I will authorize the same measures that will be exercised on Richter to be exercised on you, should the situation call for it.
    “Thank you, and may God Bless the United States of America.”
    The screen returned to the news anchor, and she began to comment more about the president’s statement. I tuned it out, though, as I was processing what I'd just heard.
    I was the only person on Earth who'd ever actually hurt Richter, and now they were telling me to back off. It's not like anything they'd done helped the situation any! All they'd managed to do was shoot missiles at him that amounted to little more than expensive fireworks, and get many soldiers killed at the beginning of the chaos, before they knew what they were dealing with. Not that they know now, apparently, since I was the only one who'd actually gotten anything done.
    But now they were telling me that they would hunt me down if I used my powers again. Which, yeah, I get it; they're scared. Richter didn't exactly set a great example for superhumans. But I was trying to help. Trying to stop him, and save everybody. Trying to do exactly what the government couldn't, yet they were painting me as an enemy. Like I was Richter 2.0 or something.
    “We'll figure something out,” Mom said, shaking me from my thoughts.
    I looked into her eyes, and for some reason, everything just seemed to melt away. Mom looked at me with her big eyes, filled with pride. I guess even though she was terrified for me, she still understood why I had to do what I had to do. And she was proud of me for it, and hated to see I was being punished for doing the right thing.
    “Yeah,” I said nodded my head. “We will.”
    I looked up to my dad who was looking at me with the same look Mom had. He nodded his head. “We will.” A sly smile slid across his face, and his expression turned giddy like a little kid. “We will, Tempest.”
    I smiled back at him. Despite everything, I will say that the government did a pretty good job picking a kick-ass superhuman name for me.
    And it wouldn't be long before they'd see Tempest again.

20

CONFIDENT CONFESSIONS
    D AD WAS insistent that I not get too caught up in being Tempest that I stopped being Kane Andrews, so when Drew invited me to go to a party, I accepted.
    I sat in the car driving to Macy's apartment where we were all going to meet up before driving to the party, and was overwhelmed with the feeling of nostalgia. I sat in my car, listening to the radio, watching to world drive by. It felt normal, which is something I hadn't felt since before Richter began his rampage.
    I felt frightened and afraid then, not knowing if Richter