Saturday, February 6, 1988
Dee Moore’s Apartment
315 E 57th street
New York City, NY
The next morning Dee wakes up early. She throws on her robe and she eagerly walks to the living room to find Steve still sleeping peacefully. He has kicked the blanket she put on him last night to the floor. He lays sprawled on his back, she can’t help to notice his bulging package. Damn! she thinks to herself, Look at that thing, it sure has grown too.
Dee decides to make them breakfast, to take her mind off the hunk on her sofa. What does this all mean? She wonders as she starts cooking. How is this even possible, running into someone she hasn’t seen in nearly a decade at a bar no less. The few men she has had in her life never last long. He was her first crush and now this one has come back.
As the bacon fries, she begins to set the table. The smell of bacon cooking wakes Steve with a start, “Shit! What time is it?” he exclaimed.
“About 8:30,” Dee replied.
“Shit! I’ve got to pick up my tuxedo at 9:30 and be at the church by 11:30.” “I still have to get back to the Hotel, shower, shave, and get changed.” Steve continued in a panic.
“Calm down, you can just shower here, I’ve got a razor you can use and I think I might have a T-shirt that will fit you.”
“No, Dee I already feel bad about how much I’ve imposed on you,” Steve replies.
Considerate too, she thinks. “It’s Okay,” she tells him, smiling. “If I minded I would have kicked your ass out last night.”
“You have got to be the greatest person in the world, Thanks!” Steve says as he rushes into the bathroom. Dee looks back to the sofa to see his wallet still laying there. She doesn’t feel like the greatest person in the world. She still hasn’t told him the truth.
“You’ll find a new razor in the cabinet over the toilet,” Dee calls to him as she searches through her dresser for a T-shirt that will fit him. Lucky for her he likes them tight. Knocking on the bathroom door, “Here’s a clean towel and the shirt.” Dee is surprised when Steve opened the door to take the things from her and he was only wearing little, blue bikini briefs.
After he closed the door, “Sorry about that I wasn’t thinking.” “That wasn’t a cheap come on,” Steve says through the door.
It worked though, Dee thinks to herself. After showering and dressing Steve hurries toward the door thanking Dee again. Not giving her time to tell him the truth. Then he stops and turns around, “It would seem I am in your debt again,” he says. “To repay you for your trouble, I’d like it very much if you would come to the wedding reception as my date.” “Hey, if nothing else it’s a free meal.”
“I’ll come, but not for a free meal, but because I had a good time with you last night,” Dee replies. “There is also something else I need to tell you.”
“Can it wait until tonight I really have to get going or Wayne will kill me,” Steve replies urgently as he heads out into the hallway.
“Sure, I guess it can wait,” Dee calls after him as she watches his ass as he heads for the stairs.
The Essex House
160 Central Park S
New York City, NY
It has been a long morning as Steve rushes back into the hotel room. David sits on the one bed watching TV. “Wow, when you do a walk of shame you do it all out,” he comments. “It is nearly 10:30.”
“What are you talking about?” Steve says rushing to the bathroom to take a quick leak.
“Pete called to check on you, said you left the bar with a woman,” David replies as Steve comes back into the room pulling off the shirt Dee gave him.
“It wasn’t like that,” Steve says going back to the bathroom for his deodorant. Returning to the room smearing the Old Spice fragrance Deodorant under his arms Steve can see the suspicious look on David’s face. “We just went for coffee and peach cobbler.” Then he sighs as he searches through his suitcase for a clean pair of underwear, “Actually we never made it there.” “We got jumped in an alley and ended up at the police station.” “After that we went back to her place and I fell asleep on her couch.”
“Did you wake up naked?” David asks, picking up the large woman’s shirt Steve has tossed on the bed. “That usually means you got drunken laid.” Steve does not reply as he walks back into the bathroom leaving the door open as he slides off his pants and underwear. Putting on the clean pair of briefs he returns to the room to dress in the tuxedo. “Well on another front, that FBI Agent Lei that I talked to, gave me a call back.” “It would appear that he got a call from Detective Berger in Philly substantiating my story.” “He’s going to have a team waiting at Central Security Corp. tonight.”
Dee Moore’s Apartment Building
315 E 57th street
New York City, NY
Steve agonizes on the cab ride over to pick up Dee before Wayne Double’s wedding reception. He knows it was the right thing to do but really isn’t sure he is ready to try this dating thing again. Then he calms himself by remembering that he is in New York City and not at home. Chances are they will have another nice night and never see each other again after this event. The cab arrives at the front of Dee’s six story walk up building. Leaning over the front seat he says to the driver, “Wait here this will only take a second.”
Steve hops out of the cab to go into the lobby of the building where Dee waits for him by the mailboxes. She wears a low cut long green silk evening dress that prominently displays her slim figure. Steve is stopped dead in his tracks in amazement of her. “You look fantastic,” Steve says, trying to play it cool. He can’t believe this is the same girl he met at that club last night. The same girl that kicked two guy’s asses in an alley.
“Thank you kind sir.” “You look good too,” She says straightening his bow tie. “The tailor did a good job, it isn’t easy fitting a guy like you on short notice.”
“What do you mean, a guy like me?” Steve questions not sure if he should be offended or not.
“Look at you, you are all chest arms and neck, that isn’t the usual tux renting type,” she answers.
Steve looks down at his body in confusion. “Is that a bad thing?” he asks.
“Not in my book,” Diana smiles as she touches his barrel chest to smooth his lapel. “Could you help me with my coat?” She hands him her coat that she carries over her arm. Taking the coat, Steve eagerly moves behind her to hold her coat as she slides her arms in.
“I just want to warn you, we won’t be sitting together until after dinner,” Steve tells her as she buttons up her coat. “I’m at the head table and you will be sitting with the other wedding party dates.”
“That’s fine,” Dee replies. “But there is something I need to tell you before we get there.” When they step out of the building, Lieutenant Prussia is standing on the sidewalk. “Please tell me you are not here for me,” Dee says to the cop who interrupts her revelation once again.
“Afraid I am, could we speak privately,” Detective Prussia says, giving Steve a look of disappointment.
“I’m sorry, Steve, I’m sure this will only take a minute,” Dee says. Steve steps down the street to get into the cab as his date speaks with Detective Prussia. “This better be good news,” she says.
“Well yes and no,” Detective Prussia begins. “You were right those men were hired to attack and threaten you.” “Problem is when we questioned them too much, their brains short-circuited.”
“Short-circuited?” Dee repeats. “What are you talking about?”
“The doctors can’t explain it.” “It was like they were switched off mentally,” the police detective explains. “They can’t even control their bowels let alone tell us for whom they were working.”
“So the Owl is going to get away with this too!” Dee says angrily.
“I wish you would stop calling her that,” Prussia says. “I wanted to let you know to stay on guard, maybe not go on what appears to be a date tonight.”
“Please, that guy took down three of those goons on his own!” Dee tells the cop. “I feel safer with him than you.” With that Dee turns to step into the cab.
Steve doesn’t like to use his extended hearing to eavesdrop on friend’s conversions and this is not an exception. “Everything Okay?” Steve asks as Dee sits down into the car.
“Yeah, just a screw up in the paperwork from last night,” Dee replies.
“They sent a police detective to fix paperwork?” Steve questions.
Looking at the driver recognizes him instantly and he recognizes her, what are the odds? “Good Evening, Ms,” Archie Lincoln says with a smile. “Good to see you.” Dee just smiles as she settles into the back seat with Steve. The traffic this time of night makes the cab ride longer than it should be, but Dee is quiet the whole way stewing on what to do about the woman she calls the Owl.
“Are you alright, Dee?” Steve asks as the cab makes it way through the city streets. “I get the impression that Detective Prussia had more to say than just screwed up paperwork.”
“Let’s not talk about that,” Dee replies. “Let’s focus on having a good time tonight.” “I’m so glad you asked me to come with you.” Dee reaches out to take Steve’s hand on the seat and squeeze it. Somehow the gesture relaxes both of them as they reach their destination.
The Essex House
160 Central Park S
New York City, NY
Arriving back at the Essex House Hotel the doorman greets, “Good Evening again Mr. Roberts,” as he opens the door for them.
“The door man knows your name?” Dee comments. “Are you saying here?”
“Yes, its kind of a gift from my boss while I’m in town,” Steve answers.
“This is a really nice place,” she comments.
“Yes it is,” Steve agrees, looking at his watch. “Wayne’s new in-laws are Stock-brokers.” “They must be doing well to afford a party this big here.”
“That’s a really nice watch for a bike messenger,” Diana comments.
“I got it for my graduation from my parents,” Steve replies as they enter the reception hall. “I hardly ever wear it.”
Steve seats Dee with the dates and wives of the other members of the wedding party. Gary is doing the same with his date Trudy Patterson. Gary doesn’t even say hello to Steve, probably still feeling guilty after last night, Steve figures.
Dee watches as Steve takes his seat at the end of the head table next to Pete. She finds herself mesmerized watching him like she did when she first saw him at camp years ago. She studies his face, his beautiful blue eyes and watches as he takes a drink of water to lick his lips. That peach fuzz he had on his upper lip back then has filled out into a nice Tom Selleck mustache, that she finds incredibly sexy. And from what she saw in the bathroom this morning the rest of him is pretty good too. Dee is barely conscious of what she is doing until he looks over to her and their eyes meet. He smiles and she smiles back. She feels foolish, like that little girl that fell in love with a boy at camp that ran away from her when she kissed him. But neither of them are those teens anymore.
Steve has gotten used to people staring at him since he became Master Warrior, but it has been a long time since anyone stared at Steve Roberts. In fact no one has looked at him that intently since that one summer at Camp Tandy. He hates to remember what an idiot he was back then. With everything that happened with Carol he has to wonder if he is even any better now. He watches Dee talk to the other people at her table. She seems friendly enough surrounded by strangers. But that dress, he just can’t take his eyes off of her in that dress or is it what she has in it. That thought causes a biological reaction in his body that tells him he has to get his mind off of her fantastic body.
“Wow, have you changed Steve,” Pete says leaning over to him. “Picking up a girl at a bar and bringing her to a wedding the next day.” “I can’t believe the shy kid I knew at camp would do that.”
“There is just something different about her,” Steve replies looking over at Dee, something familiar.
Meanwhile, Dee turns her attention to the people seated at her table. She notices that Trudy is staring at her oddly. Dee decides to strike up a conversation asking Gary Rogers’ date, “So Trudy how long have you known Gary?”
The red-head glares at Dee for a moment before answering, “Since College.” “We met on the first day of classes.” “We only reconnected recently, like you and Steve.”
“What do you mean about Steve and I?” Diana asks, surprised by her comment.
“From what Gary told me, Steve has never been one for relationships,” Trudy replies.
“I just assumed he wouldn’t bring someone he just met.” “That is a man with a lot of secrets.”
Dee doesn’t know what to make of this woman, she gives her a strange vibe. She has never been one to get meta-physical, but she feels as if this woman’s aura is off or something.
After dinner Steve is the first to return to the table where his date sits. He really doesn’t know any of the other people at the table but the woman that Gary brought makes him feel rather uncomfortable. She really isn’t the type of woman he would expect Gary to date. He tries not to stare at Trudy but the feeling isn’t like she is dangerous, nor is it the chill he felt earlier, it is more like a foreboding. “How was the dinner?” Steve asks Dee as he pulls up a chair next to her at the large round table.
“It was delicious, I don’t think I have ever had Beef Borganyon,” Dee replies.
It is then that Pete comes over to sit in the seat at the table meant for his date that was a no show. Gary arrives carrying two glasses of bourbon. Steve can only hope that one of them is for his date. Suddenly as Gary sits down next to his date, the feeling Steve was having about Trudy is gone. “Guys, this is my date Dee,” Steve introduces her to the others.
“Actually it is Diana, Diana Carter,” she corrects. “I’m sorry Steve, I tried to tell you but things just kept getting in the way.” Pete and Gary both have confused looks on their faces at her revelation. “I went to camp with the three of you one summer,” Diana tells them.
Steve head spins for a minute as if he is looking at her for the first time. The magic of Shanna’s spell vanishes as Steve reaches over to take the glass of bourbon from Gary’s hand to gulp it down.
“You know, Camp Tandy, in New Jersey.” Diana continued.
Gary laughs, “You’re Diana from Camp Tandy?”
“The one Steve was convinced wanted his body?” Pete continues laughing.
“Hey! this could be your second chance Steve, all those years at camp you were the only one that never got laid.” Gary laughs.
“Shut up! both of you!” “At least I didn’t walk around with blue balls for months after camp like you two!” Steve exclaims looking over at Diana, who is blushing slightly, “Would you like to dance….. Diana?” he asks, reaching out his hand.
“Always,” Diana replies with a smile. She takes his hand as they get up from the table to walk through the room.
Holding each other closely on the dance floor Steve says. “Sorry, about that.” “I don’t usually react like that….. I guess I was more than a little surprised to hear you say that.” “I felt like there was something familiar about you.” “I just couldn’t put my finger on it.” “At least now I know why you were staring at me earlier.”
“Sorry about that, I was just thinking about old times,” Diana tells him. “I guess old habits die hard.”
“When did you first realize who I was?” Steve asks.
“Last night, at the club when I saw you sign your name on the credit card receipt and I smelled your skin,” Diana reveals.
“I knew you were smelling me!” Steve chuckles.
“You’re not mad are you?” Diana asks softly in his ear.
“Of course not, just shocked,” Steve replies. “You always were the only one who could embarrass me.”
“What do you mean?” Diana asks. “How did I ever embarrass you?” “When I was so busy embarrassing myself.”
“For one thing you spent weeks staring at me like a weirdo,” Steve says smiling. She leans forward to giggle on his lapel. “Why were you lying about your name?”
“It’s complicated,” Diana tells him. “I wasn’t even going to tell you when I thought you were a loser Bike Messenger.” “But when Prussia told me you were an ex-cop, I figured I could trust you.” “So I took a leap of faith coming to this wedding with you.” “In a way we are in the same line of work.”
“Is that why you have such a close relationship with Detective Prussia?” Steve asks.
“I wouldn’t say close,” Diana replies. “He is angry with me as usual, but he will get over it.” “He doesn’t like the way I work.”
“I guess that explains why the police would send a detective about screwed up paperwork,” Steve says. “I guess none of this should really surprise me after that tree climbing incident,” he adds.
Diana flashes back to that day in the woods, “Oh ya, that.”
“What were you doing up there anyway?” Steve questions.
Diana giggles, “Remember that jerky Archery teacher.” “I swiped a bow and arrow to practice in the woods.” “That’s how I learned to shoot, anyway I shot an arrow up into the tree and I went after it just before you and Gary came along.”
“Oh is that how you did it?” Steve says. “Improved your aim overnight?” “I thought you did it by being pissed at me.”
“That helped,” Diana giggles.
Steve moans softly as he holds her in his arms. This just feels so right to him. He has always regretted how that summer ended. He even considered that he should have ran after that bus to stop her from leaving. Gary is right this is his second chance.
Diana asks, “Did you say something?”
“No…you just feel good in my arms,” Steve says without thinking. “I feel like I’m fifteen again.” “I can’t believe I just said that!”
“Wow, you never had the nerve to say anything like that to me back then,” Diana says squeezing him closer. “I feel like we are getting a second chance somehow too.” Diana’s hand sliding to his bicep. “You sure do feel good too, workout much?”
“A little,” he blushes. “I guess I do spend some time working out, more than I realize.” They sway to the music just enjoying holding each other. “I was very immature for my age back then,” Steve admits. “But we did have some good times at Camp that summer didn’t we?” “We shared so much.”
“Like the trip to the waterfall?” Diana reminds him. “I really had a good time.” “I felt like we really connected that day.”
“So did I, that is both one of my favorite memories and troubling.” “I was so worried about you when you fell,” Steve recalls.
“Guess I couldn’t help but to fall for you,” she jokes as she tilts her head back to look him in his blue eyes. That fear she used to see in his eyes is gone. Diana smiles at him, “I also remember our last days at camp weren’t exactly good ones.”
Steve hangs his head, “I always felt bad about what I did.” “I even ran down to the bus pick stop to apologize before you left.” “But you were already gone.” “I got my heart broken that summer and it was all my fault.”
“Your heart was broken?” Diana whispers nuzzling into his chest. “Please, I should have never kissed you and I regretted that for years.” “But in a way, I’m glad to hear you say that, my heart was broken too.” “I cried on that bus almost all the way home.”
Steve’s heart is about to beat out of his chest as he looks into her eyes. Then he goes for it, kissing her passionately. She returns his kiss for several minutes. When their lips are at last part Steve asks, “Was it worth the regret?”
“Definitely worth the wait!” Diana tells him, trying to catch her breath. “You’re a much better kisser than I remember.” Diana moves in to kiss him again and enjoys every moment of it.
As their lips part he whispers, “I’ve had some practice.”
“You just seem so different now, so much more confident,” Diana says as Steve moves in for another kiss as the music comes to an end.
“I’m not afraid of much of anything these days,” he admits as he kisses her again.
Pete walks over to the couple, “Hey! you two fall asleep up here?” Looking around the couple realize that the dance floor is empty and the band has gone on a break. Returning to the now empty table they sit down, both of them feeling the awkward silence for a moment.
Then Steve asks the question he waited eight years to ask, “Why did you kiss me back then?”
“You just had this effect on me, I couldn’t resist it,” Diana tells Steve. “I told you about the problems I was having at home with my Dad, I was really confused.” “Well…..when I was with you I felt different….like a real person.” Diana sits smiling at him for a moment. “And I did used to watch you, I thought you were really cute, you made me feel like a woman for the first time.”
Steve looks into her brown eyes to ask, “And how do I make you feel now?”
“I can’t deny that you still make me feel good, but things are a lot different now,” Diana says. “I know who I am and I have a life, a career that makes me happy.” “I don’t need someone else to make my life better anymore.”
Steve looks at the girl he once abandoned, she had turned into a beautiful independent woman. He has to wonder if he has missed his chance with her now. “Gary, Wayne, Pete and I went to Camp Tandy for quite a few summers,” Steve tells Diana. “I hope I wasn’t the reason you never came back to camp after that summer.”
“I wish!” Diana replies to him. “Things at home with my Dad got worse after that summer.” “In a way the memories of that summer at Camp Tandy with you just might have gotten me through all the shit that followed.” “Gave me hope, deep down.”
Diana looks over at Pete who returned from the bar to take a seat across from Steve. Pete’s head is nodding as he starts to fall asleep. “So, Pete, tell me are you the same Pete Stapleton that interviewed Master Warrior?” she asks.
“Oh yeah, that’s me,” Pete replies sitting up again.
“It ran in the New York Bulletin too, it was a good read,” Diana tells him.
“So, why do you think he does it?” she asks.
“Well, I’m no authority on the world’s first real Superhero,” Pete begins nervously. “I never expected to meet the guy until he showed up at the office.” “When I met him and talked to him he seemed honest.” “I think he does what he does to help people.”
“That sounds a little too altruistic to me,” Diana replies. “Running around in that outfit saving people, it all seems too good to be true.”
“There is more to it than that,” Pete retorts, “I mean, I was there on the street when that Cyclops attacked.” “That monster was unstoppable as he tore through the street.” “Twenty-five people died that day there in the street.” “It was horrific.” “The fact that someone with Master Warrior’s powers exists means that there are others out there like him.” “People who have powers and might not be so selfless.” “Master Warrior serves the role to stop people who use their superhuman powers with no concern for anyone else but themselves.” “Don’t you think it is only morally right that he should do what he can to stop them from hurting innocents?” Pete is almost in tears as he thinks about the events of that day.
Steve sits back in his chair silently next to Diana surprised by her line of thinking. But he is rather proud of Pete’s defense of Master Warrior, even after the conversation they had yesterday. He had no idea that Pete was there that day.
“Wow, you are really intense about this,” Diana says. “You defend him like he is your friend.”
“Imagine that,” Gary comments from across the table. “Master Warrior is none of those things.” “He is a liar and a fraud!”
Gary glares at Steve making him feel paranoid. Steve remains quiet for a few minutes not sure if he should say anything.
“Master Warrior defeated that monster, but that was not the end of it,” Pete says, pulling himself together somewhat. “Another man appeared out of nowhere.” “He called himself the Dominator.” “He appeared to have some kind of ax to grind with Master Warrior too.” “He was much stronger than Master Warrior.” “The beating Master Warrior took from him was beyond lethal.” “If it had been me I would have ran.” “But Master Warrior kept fighting even after I thought he was done for.” “If not for Master Warrior many more would have died that day.” “Let me ask you, if you had superhuman powers would you use them to steal, hurt, and kill innocent people or would you help those people?” Pete quizzes.
“Touché,” Diana retorts. She began her mission to right the wrongs her father left behind. Along the way she has done just that, helped innocents. Master Warrior may be a showboat in her mind but Pete seems to think he is on an altruistic mission. She has been trying to hide her time as Miracle Maiden; perhaps her alter ego is meant to be more than that in the end.
“Why did you bring this up?” Steve finally asks.
“There have been reports of Master Warrior in New York the past couple of days is all,” Diana says trying to brush off what she is really thinking about.
“I heard that too,” Pete says. “It made me think some silly things.” “But this conversation has made me think that I was wrong.” “For whatever reason Master Warrior came to me I need to respect that, not try to use it for my own personal gain.” Steve can’t help but to smile. “Follow his example.”
“I think I’m going to puke!” Gary says getting up from the table. “Come on Trudy!” Gary says, taking his date’s arm.
“What was that?” Diana asks, looking at Steve.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Steve as they watch Gary and Trudy groping each other on the dance floor.
“He seems so much more arrogant and resentful,” Diana comments.
“I think it is the body mass he put on the last few years,” Steve grins. “He can really throw a punch too.” “I have to wonder if he is on steroids.” “It is strange to think how much we have grown apart since summers at camp.”
“Yeah, I would have never recognized him, he was always so short and skinny,” Diana comments about the now six foot tall man. “I guessed you guys aren’t as close as you were back then.” “What happened?” she asks.
“After High School we went our separate ways, lost touch,” Steve confesses. “I think he always resented me becoming a cop, but he wouldn’t say it.”
Diana glances back over at Pete who appears to be studying Steve as they talk. “Something else on your mind, Pete?” Diana asks.
“When I got to the city I stopped by the New York Bulletin,” Pete reveals. “I’m something of a celebrity among the staff reporters now, apparently.” “A Reporter here in the New York branch wanted to talk to me, Martin Harper.” “He told me there is another hero here in New York City, keeps herself hidden.” “She is called Miracle Maiden, he thought he knew who she was, but turned out he was wrong.”
“Is he the one who put those ideas in your head?” Steve questions.
“He asked how I got the inside scoop on Master Warrior?” Pete says. “Suggested I might already know who he is.”
“Well, enough about that, how about a drink?” Steve asks, changing the subject.
“Thanks yes, Just a Coke, please,” Diana says.
Steve gets up from the table to head for the bar, checking his watch again. It is still several hours until the burglary is to happen. When the bartender comes over to Steve he orders a Coke and a Ginger Ale for himself. Walking back to the table he sees that the bride and groom have made their way over and are talking to Diana.
“Steve, I didn’t know you reconnected with Diana from camp, You old dog,” Wayne says clearly tipsy as Steve approaches.
“Neither did I until about an hour ago,” Steve replies handing Diana her soda.
“I had you figured for dying a virgin, living with Pete and fifty cats,” Wayne jokes.
“So tell me Diana, has my new husband always been this rude or is this just my lucky day?” Wayne’s bride Kim asks.
“It’s funny, Wayne and Pete were a year or so older and I spent most of my time with Steve and Gary,” Diana answers. “But wasn’t it Wayne’s best man over there that got that bottle of booze for Gary?” Diana asks pointing at the tall black man in a tuxedo.
“His brother, Joey?” Kim says. “I wouldn’t doubt it.” “I am so glad you came, Diana,” Kim says leaning in to give her unexpected guest a hug before the newlyweds move to the next table.
Diana can see that Steve looks very comfortable as the band begins to do a Whitney Houston song cover. “The Greatest Love of All,” She says getting up to reach out her hand to Steve.
“Gladly,” Steve says, taking her hand as she leads him back to the dance floor. “Well that was humiliating,” Steve says as they hold each other.
“Not really,” Diana says trying to comfort him. “If you are virgin, its nothing to be humiliated by.” “I’m not.”
“You’re joking right?” Steve asks, looking her in the eye. “You were so aggressive back then I can’t believe you’re still a virgin.”
“Just because I kissed you doesn’t mean I would have gone all the way with you,” Diana says, sounding a little offended. “I just wanted to be close to you.” Other thoughts race through her head that she doesn’t verbalize. She still carries the fear of having sex with someone she might hurt them.
“I didn’t mean to imply you were a slut,” Steve tries to apologize. “I just meant… I don’t know what I meant.” “I’m sorry, please don’t be offended.”
Diana giggles on his lapel, “You are so cute.” “To be honest, it isn’t that I haven’t come close, it just never felt right.” Steve chuckles. “You know what I mean, I over thought it and backed out.” “I should actually blame you for that.”
Steve chuckles again, “In that case, it is your fault that I never found the right girl!” “Who could compare to you?” In his heart he wants nothing more than for this night to last forever. But in his mind he knows it must end, that he will have to go home. Master Warrior has become something more than he ever thought it would and he can’t throw it away for one incredibly hot girl.
As they dance Diana notices that Gary and his date have disappeared from the floor. “Where did Gary and Trudy go?” she asks.
“I’m sure you don’t want to know,” Steve replies, gesturing with his head to the lobby outside the ballroom a line forms at the Ladies Room door. “I do have a question for you though,” Steve says, pulling Diana’s body to him as the music slows. “What is your deal with Detective Prussia?”
Diana contemplates her answer for a few seconds before answering. “Let me just say that my job has caused us to cross paths several times over the past year and he is not always happy with the outcome.” “He would very much prefer that I not show up at his crime scenes so much.”
“Like last night in the alley?” Steve suggests.
Now Diana knows she must choose her words very carefully. She has scared this guy away once before, she doesn’t want to repeat that mistake. “Doing what I do I’ve learned to take care of myself,” Diana tells him. “I was more worried about you than me.”
“I must admit taking down two guys at once was impressive,” Steve comments.
“You should talk, you took out three,” Diana admires as she lays her head on his shoulder. “It was kinda sexy too!”
Steve dips Diana almost dropping her, causing both of them to giggle. “My first time, sorry,” Steve says. “You know Prussia told me to stay away from you.”
“And you still asked me out, not knowing who I really was?” Diana asks.
“I asked you out because of who I met last night, not what anyone told me about you,” Steve explains as the music comes to an end. They walk hand in hand back to the table. Then Gary returns across the dance floor, his shirt and tie twisted his jacket over his arm.
Diana notices that he is alone, “Where’s Trudy?”
“In the Ladies getting cleaned up,” Gary smirks.
“You really can’t control yourself can you?” Steve comments. “You’re going to have to buy that tuxedo, look at the stains on the pants!”
Gary grins, “Jealous?” “What can I say women find me irresistible and unlike you I don’t turn them away.” Gary glares at Diana.
Diana takes Steve’s hand, “Let’s dance some more.”
“Do you ever get tired?” Steve asks as she pulls him up again.
“Is that a problem?” she quips.
“Not at all!” he grins. Steve and Diana dance several fast dances then the music slows again. Steve looks back to the table as Trudy returns, the slit in her dress is now torn all the way to the waist. “Have you ever gone somewhere with old friends and feel like they have forgotten the meaning of the word discretion?”
Diana sighs, “Gary seems to have changed for the worst.”
“It’s so weird, we used to be best friends when we were young, then all of a sudden he started this competition thing with me.” Steve explains. “He’s always trying to outdo me.” “Especially with women, which really isn’t that hard.”
The thought crosses Diana’s mind, “Do you date a lot?”
Steve senses her paranoia, “Not really, If you count the Senior Prom, I’ve had seven dates in the last three years,” he chuckles.
Diana giggles, “Hell, I beat up my Prom date.” They both laugh for a few minutes.
“I just never really wanted to date and now I just don’t have the time,” Steve tells her.
“Ditto,” Diana agrees.
The band plays George Michael’s “One More Try” as Steve pulls her to him again. The singer isn’t half bad as Diana lays her cheek on his chest. Steve feels an inner peace that he has never felt before in his life. The words to the song in his head make him feel a warmth he has never known. As they embrace Steve whispers, “This could be our song.”
“I think I would like that,” she replies, lifting her head to look in his blue eyes. “Either that or ‘Lost in Your Eyes’.” They kiss again feeling like it has been something they have done all their lives.
The music stops and Steve takes Diana’s hand and they head for the bar. “Still don’t want a drink?” Steve asks.
“No, I went through a stage when I was in High School after we met but, Drugs and Alcohol never really did anything for me,” Diana tells him.
“Hey super people,” Trudy says coming up behind them. “We’re having a party in our room after this, it’s going to be marvelous.” “It would be great if the two of you would come.”
“I think we’ll pass,” Steve says trying to smile.
Diana watches the suspicious redhead walk away, “No offense, but she is creepy!”
Steve nods, “She is nothing like the women Gary usually dates.” “He usually goes with women much cheaper and blonder.” “I have to admit she gave me a bad feeling a half an hour after I met her.”
Diana giggles, “It only took me 15 minutes.”
They laugh and order sodas. Walking outside onto the balcony patio. Paper lanterns line the trellis. Standing at the rail overlooking the city, Steve puts his arm around Diana’s shoulders when she shivers in the night air.
“Want my jacket?” he asks.
“No, I’m fine” Diana smiles. “You’re quite the gentleman.” “Your mother did a good job on you.” “You still really close with your Mom?”
“As close as I can be now that they moved to Miami,” he says.
“That kind of surprised me,” she tells him. “I didn’t see you staying behind if they moved so far away.”
“Like you said things are different now, I have a life,” Steve tells her. “I spent a year on the police force in Philly, and it wasn’t all I expected, but Philly is still my home.” he explains. “Working with Gary’s cousin David gives me more free time, even though I feel like I’m his bodyguard most of the time.”
“Speaking of bodyguards, you handled yourself really well in that alley last night,” Diana comments.
“That’s another thing my mother taught me well, I guess,” Steve retorts.
“I thought your Mom was a college history teacher?” Diana quizzes.
“Ahhh, she is, she does self-defense on the side,” Steve says to cover his screw up. He can’t believe how comfortable he feels talking to this woman. How is it that he always lets his guard down around this girl?
“So, you still haven’t told me why your friends from work think your name is Dee Moore?” Steve reminds her.
“The short version is, I’m undercover too,” Diana finally concedes. “Open World Logistics is trying to steal my Uncle’s company and I am trying to find out why from the inside.”
“So that is why those men came after us last night?” Steve inquires.
“I don’t know,” Diana lies trying to relieve some of his worry that shows on his handsome face. “I’ve been going to Law School and there is just something not right about Open World Logistics.”
“You can say that again,” Steve signs. “David, my boss and I think that Open World has been feeding security information to a group of thieves to help them commit robberies.”
“Then that would be all I need to stop my Uncle from selling to them,” Diana says excited at the revelation.
“Diana, you realize that these are dangerous people you are dealing with here, right?” Steve asks worried again for her safety. “Is that why Detective Prussia is mad at you?” “Because he thinks you are getting in over your head?”
“Some of it,” Diana confesses. “But I’ve kept him involved the whole time I’ve been under cover.” That is another lie that it rips her heart out to tell. She hates lying to Steve, but she has no choice. She can’t exactly say, oh I have superpowers, no need to worry about me.
Diana looks up to the night sky, to the stars, “Kinda funny how we ended up in a similar line of work.” “My Dad would have had a fit if he were alive.”
Steve is taken back by her revelation, “Your Dad’s dead?” “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not, we never did make peace,” she says bluntly. “Although, now I have a better understanding of how he must have felt and why he treated me the way he did.” “Even though I’m left to clean up his mess.”
Steve looks to her with concern again, “Are you still angry with him?”
Diana sighs, “I pity him more than anything, let’s talk about something else.” She lays her head on his shoulder, she can smell him even out in the crisp air of February night. They gaze quietly at the stars, listening to the soft music from inside. “You ever wish you could just fly off into the stars,” Diana asks off the cuff.
“Sometimes, mostly on clear nights like this one,” Steve replies. “This would make my Mom happy.”
“Why?” Diana asks curiously.
“I talk to her about once a week and the first thing she asks every time is ‘Meet any nice girls?'” Steve answers.
“I hope you aren’t going to tell her about me, because I am not a nice girl,” Diana giggles.
Steve laughs with her, “Get real!” “It’s none of her business if you are nice or not.” Steve’s sharp eyes spot ropes hanging from the roof of the building across the street. He quickly looks at his watch, they are early! “Excuse me, for a minute, nature seems to be calling.”
“Hurry back, I’ll wait right here,” she tells him.
Steve makes his way toward the men’s room but then sneaks up the fire stair towards the roof. Before exiting onto the roof he touched the diamond stud earring on his left ear to exchange his rented tuxedo to the costume of Master Warrior. Leaping from the rooftop he flies toward the open window on the tenth floor of the Central Security Corp offices. He lands softly on the ledge by the window that has been cut open. Master Warrior quietly steps inside to find four men working on the vault.
Alone at the rail Diana thinks, what a great guy Steve is even better that she remembered. Then she spots something moving through the air to her right. Squinting she recognizes the shadow of a blue and gold dressed man in the glare from the office building lights. It has to be Master Warrior, who else could it be? Diana’s eyes follow him as he glides down the canyon of buildings along the street. The flying man lands on a ledge by a surprisingly open window. What is he doing here in New York anyway? she thinks. Diana watches as Master Warrior moves inside. She can’t help herself but to be nosey. She has to know what he’s up to, she know she can make that distance. Diana focuses on the window ledge, she concentrates and vanishes only to reappear second later on the ledge outside the window Master Warrior has just entered.
Central Security Corp.
163 Central Park S
New York City, NY
Master Warrior watches the men work before he speaks, “Let me guess, working late?” “I’ll say one thing you guys sure are dedicated.” “Or is that just one guy and three splits?”
One of the men holding a gun turns to see the hero, “What the fuck are you supposed to be?” he asks.
“It’s that Super guy, Mister Warrior,” one of the other men says, turning to hold his gun on the new arrival as well.
“That is MASTER Warrior,” he corrects.
“It’s going to be DEAD Warrior in a minute,” The third man says. The three men move forward, all pointing guns with silencers at Master Warrior. The fourth man, who seems to be in charge, continues to work on the safe.
Master Warrior just smirks, “Don’t you guys watch the news?” They fire at him as he raises his gauntlet in front of himself to catch the momentum of the bullets causing them to drop to the floor.
Outside on the ledge Diana’s shoulder brushes the ropes that dangle down from the rooftop she couldn’t see from the balcony patio. Peeking in the window Diana spots Master Warrior and four other men dressed in black. Three of the men point guns with silencers at the costumed man. Diana can’t quite make out what they are saying, but when the men shoot at Master Warrior she can guess the contents of the conversation. Master Warrior is calm as he blocks each of the bullets with his gauntlet, sending them to the floor where they scorch the carpet.
One of the men lunges at Master Warrior and he is met with the sharp edge of Master Warrior’s sword that seems to appear out of nowhere. The assailant’s shirt is sliced open with a crackle of energy that escapes from his chest. Master Warrior jumps up and spins his leg outstretched using his foot to disarm both of the other gunmen kicking them in opposite directions.
From where Diana watches she can feel the bio-energy that escapes from the first man’s wound. These guys Master Warrior is fighting aren’t real, Diana thinks. She can’t help herself but to intervene now. Touching the invisible necklace around her throat her evening gown vanishes to be replaced with the dark shirt and pants.
One of the men has fallen into an office chair that Master Warrior gives a shove pushing it backwards into the wall. Then Master Warrior spins towards the window for a split second to see a darkly dressed Miracle Maiden steps in from outside to blast the man coming up behind him. The man erupts, releasing the bio-energy that holds him together. “Invading my turf again, Showboat?” she announces.
“Is this your evening attire, Batgirl,” Master Warrior jokes, realizing who she is almost instantly. Miracle Maiden steps across the room not replying as she strikes down the other two men with her eye blasts.
After Miracle Maiden had made her entrance through the window the fourth man finished up with the vault to make a speedy exit back out the window. “The last one is getting away!” she exclaims looking back to the window.
“He won’t get far,” Master Warrior tells her as the sounds of police sirens can be heard from the street below. “I’ve got the police waiting downstairs.” “Your arrival was rather unexpected.” “I had hoped to gather the energy used to create those duplicates and return it to the people it was stolen from.” Master Warrior looks into the vault seeing the many deposit boxes opened.
“I could feel that Bio-energy and that it didn’t belong in those shells,” Miracle Maiden explains as she follows him into the vault. He walks to one box in particular that has been opened. “When I disturbed the shell the Bio-energy was released to return to its original bodies.” “If they were still alive.”
Master Warrior looks through his mother’s deposit box to see that only the cash is gone, the silver ring still remains laying at the bottom of the metal cube. Unseen by Miracle Maiden he slips the ring on his pinky finger. It is best if he finds a new hiding place for it.
“What is this here?” Miracle Maiden says behind him. He turns to see her stoop down and pick up a very old gold coin. It would appear that David was right about what was being stolen. Perhaps the platinum ring doesn’t just give out its own history, but gives out the information the user wants.
“I suggest you leave that,” Master Warrior tells her. “I need to be going it is best that I’m not here when the police arrive.” “You can stay and explain what happened if you like.”
“I thought you called them,” Miracle Maiden asks as he heads out of the vault and back toward the window.
“Actually it was a friend that sent them,” Master Warrior responds leaping out the window. “I have to be going.” Miracle Maiden stands at the window watching Master Warrior fly off high over the buildings vanishing into the night. How strange she and Steve were just talking about flying off into the stars. “Oh shit, Steve!”
“The name is Agent Lei,” the man behind her says, entering the room with his gun drawn on her. “And you would be?”
“Going!” Miracle Maiden replies as she disappears in the blink of an eye back to the balcony patio across the street.
Lincoln Medical Center
234 E 149th St
The Bronx, NY
David Rogers has spent the past six hours sitting in the hospital Intensive Care ward of the three remaining bodies taken from the house in Mt. Vernon. The pale shriveled bodies lay in beds hooked to all sorts of monitoring devices that barely register life signs. Oxygen masks fed them air although they take only a few breaths an hour. Armed policemen stand outside the ward guarding its patients and their visitors.
Suddenly the smell of ozone fills the room and David can feel every hair on his body stand on end. It is like the room is flooded with static electricity. Then as quickly as it arrived it vanishes as the monitors on the three incapacitated bodies go wild. David moves to press the nurse call buzzer as he watches the monitors calm to normal ranges. The skin color of the two men and Cynthia Golden quickly return to normal as does their breathing.
The nurse enters the ward room asking, “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” David replies as the nurse moves to check the patients. “There was a smell of ozone in the room and then they gasped back to life.”
The nurse turns to him as several others enter the room including a doctor. “You have to go now,” the nurse tells him, escorting him to the door.
David steps out into the hallway to nod to the cops standing at the door. If what just happened is what he thinks happened, David surmises, how are those other two guys. The two guys to whom Master Warrior returned their bio-energy? They were also brought to this hospital. The men were still unconscious but in better shape than these three. The hospital admitted them into a room several floors up for observation until they woke up.
“See ya,” David says to the guards as he turns to hurry toward the elevator. The elevator seems like it takes forever as he rides up with an arguing family. When the doors open two policemen push their way into the elevator. Stepping forward David turns to watch the doors close with the guards inside, giving him some concern.
On the fifth floor all appears calm as he makes his way to the room in question. As he enters the room he finds both men sitting up in bed a look of confusion on both of their faces. Their wrists are handcuffed to the bed rails, explaining the departure of the police. ` “Bro, do you know how we got here?” Dell Herman asks David as he walks into the room.
“What is the last thing you remember?” David asks, wanting to get answers before that FBI Agent Lei shows up.
The Essex House
160 Central Park S
New York City, NY
Returning to the hall outside the Men’s room Steve spots Diana still at the rail on the patio. Then he looks back to the ballroom to see Pete is passed out on the table, that guy never could hold his liquor. Gary and Trudy are making out next to him with no shame at all. He returns to Diana on the patio, who jumps when she feels a hand on her shoulder. It’s Steve, “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Diana hesitates to say, “Sorry, I’m just feeling a little chilly.” “I was about to go back inside if you didn’t get back soon.”
“Do you want to get going?” Steve asks. Her shoulder is cold to the touch.
“Maybe we should,” Diana replies, trying to take her mind off of Master Warrior.
Looking around the room Steve says, “Let’s just say goodbye to Wayne and Kim.” They walk over the bride and groom to wish them the best.
Wayne is clearly more tipsy than before as he gives Diana a hug in front of his new bride. “The guys told me who you were,” he says to Diana. “This guy here,” the groom says poking Steve in the shoulder. “Was an idiot to let you get away the first time.” “Don’t let him pull that shit again!”
“I’ll try not to,” Diana says smiling politely.
“I don’t know what my new husband is talking about but thank you Steve for everything,” Kim says, giving Steve a hug.
Wayne starts telling his wife the story as soon as she breaks from the hug. “When was it ’80, ’81, anyway this girl here shows up at Camp Tandy.” “She immediately takes a liking to this dope and he keeps trying to give her the brush off.”
“That isn’t how I remember it,” Steve comments.
“The bottom line is he went home heartbroken at the end of summer and was like that for at least a year Gary tells me,” Wayne explains to his wife.
“Oh really?” Diana questions looking at Steve. “A year?”
Steve blushed, “It wasn’t a year.” “Six months tops, maybe.”
“What is your side of the story, Diana?” Kim asks.
“I like to remember it as the summer my hormones were out of control and I fell in love with the hottest guy I had ever seen,” Diana says making Steve blush more. “Problem was he was too stupid to see it.” she laughs.
“Okay, I guess that confirms it!” “I was a dopey fifteen year old to not let your hormones get the best of both of us that summer,” Steve says. “In my defense I’m much smarter now.”
“Guess you should hope I’m still hormonal then,” Diana says laughing.
“See don’t they make the perfect couple?” Wayne slurs.
“Second perfect,” Kim adds, giving Diana another hug. “It was great meeting you both.” “Sorry about this drunk guy, I don’t know where I found him.”
“Thanks again,” Steve and Diana say in unison. Quickly looking at each other with a smile, “Jinx!” Giggling, they start back across the dance floor grabbing one last dance on the way out.
Diana lets go of Steve’s hand to say, “I just need a Ladies room break, can you get my coat.”
Steve replies, “Sure, go ahead.” “I’ll meet you in the lobby.” “I just want to tell Gary we’re leaving.”
Diana heads for the Ladies Room that no longer has a line outside. She doesn’t notice Trudy following her. Once inside a stall, Diana closes her eyes to let her mind wander back over the events of the night. Her reunion with Steve and a not so pleasant interaction with Master Warrior. Did he really think she would just kill those men like that? What an asshole! Although she is surprised he left before the police arrived. She always figured him the type to want all the glory he can get, a real Showboat.
Then she feels it. Someone has grabbed her bare arm. She opens her eyes to see an arm that has phased through the side of the metal stall wall to grab her. Is this another attack by the Owl? she wonders. No, that is impossible! Diana tries to phase free of the hand gripping her arm but finds she can not. Instead she grabs hold of the disembodied forearm and sends a bolt of Bio-energy into it. There is a squeal in the next stall and Diana blacks out for a minute.
When Diana opens her eyes the arm is gone. Did she just imagine it? She quickly wipes and pulls up her panties to exit the stall. Kicking open the door next to the stall she was in, it is empty. Whoever she was she is gone now. Must have not liked what she got.
Back in the ballroom Steve walks back to the table, “Gary, Pete we’re going to get going.”
“You know what to do, right?” Gary jokes with a wide grin.
Steve doesn’t catch on, to what his old friend is talking about, “What do you mean?”
Gary sighs and answers, “I didn’t think so, it’s just like riding a bike.” “Just climb on and start pumping.” Gary pats Steve on the back and laughs. “That’s if you can even get your kickstand up.” Steve brushes Gary’s hand away and heads toward the lobby with not too happy of a look on his face.
Diana smiles trying to make him do the same, “I had a doorman call us a cab,” she says not wanting to mention her strange encounter in the Ladies.
“Great let’s go,” Steve says, helping her with her coat. He noticed a strange bruise on her arm. “Are you alright?” he asks. “When did that happen?”
Diana looks to her arm as it disappears inside her sleeve. She hadn’t noticed the bruise from where she was grabbed through the stall, but she quickly heals it hidden from view. “What are you talking about?” she asks to lower her coat sleeve again to reveal her arm.
It has been a very confusing night for Steve as he adds this to the list. “Oh, I thought I saw a bruise on your arm, must have just been a shadow,” he replies. The couple stroll out to the car waiting at the curb.
They hold hands in the dark cab, the ride is quiet until Diana says, “I can’t believe I kissed you on the first date!” “I never kiss a guy on the first date, maybe I am a slut!”
“I don’t think you’re a slut,” Steve replies squeezing her hand gently. “We have known each other since we were fifteen and technologically we had already kissed.”
“That was eight years ago, I don’t think that counts anymore,” Diana giggles. “After what we did tonight I don’t even think that counts as a kiss.” Diana leans over to him in the darkness to kiss him on the lips again, thrilled that he doesn’t pull away like he did all those years ago. “Now that is a Kiss!” she asserts.
“Let me give that another try just to make sure,” Steve suggests as they kiss again. “Yes, that was definitely a kiss!”
When they get to Dee’s apartment, she invites Steve in for coffee. He declines, sighting the last cup of coffee she offered him. “David and I have a case to finish up tomorrow, then we need to head home.” Before Steve leaves he asks Diana a question, “Earlier you said I had an effect on you, do you think I could use it on you again before another eight years goes by?”
Diana looks into his blue eyes again, “I’m not sure, why do you ask?” He has a look in his eyes as he places his hand on her lower back pulling her closer. Their lips touch. “Hmmm, how could a girl say no to that?” Diana says reaching into her purse she gives him her business card with her home phone number written on the back. “Next time you’re in New York, you be sure to call. I really would like to keep in touch this time.”
Steve smiles broadly, “Me too, here let me give you my home phone number too.” Diana lends over to steal another kiss from him good night.
“I had a great time tonight, thank you!” Diana says as she hugs him. “But next time let’s cool it on the kissing.”
“Why?” Steve questions. “Don’t you like kissing me?”
“Oh I like it, a little too much maybe.” Diana replies. “Let’s have a real first date next time.” “We can always remember this as our second date with the kissing.”
“If you say so,” Steve agrees as he turns to leave. “You know, you still owe me some Peach Cobbler.” “I think I’ll have some time tomorrow morning, around ten?”
“Make it ten-thirty, Chippie’s Cafe at 17 W 32nd St,” she tells him, closing the door.