The Once and Future Emissary, Chapter 35

They say I retired 3 years ago and in a sense I did. As far as the world is concerned, Lightning Man is dead. Haven’t you read the papers? In a blaze of glory Lightning Man takes down the entire Cookie Syndicate including the infamous Mouth. Unfortunately, he dies of internal bleeding.

Of course I secretly fight crime in a number of disguises. However, it’s not the same thing. For 40 years, I was the emissary for the League of Government Heroes. The league is a secret organization funded by congress that deals with a number of international conflicts that never make the paper. As far as the public was concerned Lightning Man was a local crime fighter. The public never new how many close calls we had with missiles, bombs, and other dangerous weapons. As emissary, I have met with every president since Eisenhower and made sure that our national interests were never compromised. Well, that all ended in 1999. As part of my retirement, the position of emissary was given to a new person.

Sadly the need for the league has never been more dramatic since 9-11. Ever since that seminal event, everyone seems to be on edge. It is of course understandable. However, I can do without all the venom spewing these days. In this post 9-11 world even the good guys sound like trouble. Take my replacement for example; Street Smasher. Street Smasher a veteran of the original Persian Gulf War heads a group known as “The Assassinators.” Street Smasher is a good guy whose team has kept or city safe. I actually had a few run ins with him more than 20 years ago. At the time the government was concerned with his vigilante approach to fighting crime. In time, it became clear he and his group were one of the good guys. In fact, I brought him into the League of Government Heroes.

Ironically, he not only inherited my former title at the league he is also fighting my old nemesis; well sort of. “The Mouth” has been replaced by “Son of a Mouth”. Not to be outdone he even adapted as group of super villains known as “Cookie Crumbs.” From what I understand, “Son of a Mouth” sports a similar get up and shares a fascination with blades. I suppose I should be thankful, there are new heroes to pick up the slack. Still I do remember a simpler time when there was a little more civility.