The Original

Banked On It

“The birth of the Superhuman Era has led to discoveries that weren’t even science fiction at the time of their appearance. Alternate dimensions, time travel, weird abilities that teleported people across the world, all of these were events that even today occur with more and more disturbing regularity.”

“The law had to adapt to this. Getting a known superhuman declared dead without a body, for example, has become nearly impossible and even ordinary humans occasionally turned up well after they’d been declared dead due to some mishap. The laws had to change.”

“Now, for the common citizen, being declared dead takes a multi-year long process that has made the creation of so-called Ghost Wills, not only bread and butter for young lawyers, but necessary for anyone with serious resources at their command. In the case of a Super this is even more true, because their resources can become locked for their own protection in the case of a disappearance if they haven’t made legal preparations for their estates maintenance.”

“Remember, ladies and gentlemen, while writing wills of any sort isn’t precisely exciting case law, it is definitely going to help you all buy your first BMW.”

Dr. Roger Morris, in a Freshman class on estate law at Harvard Law School

"Um, yeah... You know you're in history books, right?"

“From the crowd outside I rather imagined.” She said with a small smile.

“Did you get a chance to order breakfast before deciding to play masked vigilante outside?” Solaris asked "Oh and thank you for making the tea."

A knock was the answer, a porter soon bringing in a large cart of sausage, eggs, toast, pancakes, and bacon. "Yeah, I basically the buffett but in private. And yes, Marcus, eat some." Penny said with a roll of her eyes at the drool she could almost see forming.

Solaris got another cup of tea as the porter set the table, Sitting down and setting her own plate up. "So Penny, what is our itinerary for today?”

"Bergdorf is on hold till tomorrow, but we have the Apple store at one o’clock. Your bank guy is supposed to be here in an hour and a half. I was thinking we'd go to someplace simple to get some day to day stuff for you, but I think we want to avoid the subways. I don't have a car currently, and the driving service canceled when that mess hit the news. Marcus, do you still have the Zipcar app set up?"

"Um, yeah...."

"Fine. So you get to be the driver today. I'll put some money into the account, but I want you to go get the closest car to here. You're going to be driving us around a bit."

"What is a Zipcar?” Solaris asked as she put extra meat on the boy's plate.

"A car share service. Mostly based around universities and dense cities like New York. Essentially quick car rentals." She explained "The cars are usually not really great but they are transportation and will do until I can look into a more reliable service, or just arrange a car to drive myself. Or just put that dummy to work as our driver for the next few days.”

“Look, you made your point. I shouldn’t have tried to fight the horse's ass.”

Penny looked doubtful, then turned back to Solaris. “You know that kid forgot to sign up for college because of his powers? Smart as anything, tried to get him to join the coast guard, but he's afraid of boats."

Solaris shook her head. "I believe it, I saw many, many privates like that. She turned to the young man “Other than a hero what do you want to do with yourself Marcus?.” She took a second serving of eggs glad for the big meal.

"I mean. I have power, right? I'm supposed to use it for something." He shrugged, frowning. This was the conversation that always confused him with Penny too. He felt he had a responsibility, and she admitted there was a moral responsibility but then argued against being a superhero.

"Yes, you have power, however you are not defined by your powers, and doing so limits you greatly. You said you read about me in history class. I am sure they covered all the big flashy battles like the destruction of the submarine base in France, or rescuing the royals in Sweden. Do you know what accomplishment I am most proud of?”

"I'm betting on the Sweden thing."

"And I'm betting it was feeding Soviet soldiers when their own damn country couldn't during Stalingrad." Penny said, having been a bit more familiar with the history of Dr. Elizabeth Summers thanks to reading her file.

"I am proud of that, but no.” The blond smiled. “You see, My teammates were all super-brains, while I simply am not. I'm intelligent and well educated, but I lacked Tankman or Nerid’s raw intelligence or Breakneck’s diligence to his chosen field. Compared to them, I could have been described as a bit dim, so instead of looking for big and elaborate things to occupy myself between battles, I looked for the small ones. For example, did you know that foot injuries and fungus took a lot of soldiers out of the field during both World Wars? I decided that was the first issue I wanted to tackle, so I worked hard between missions and got my PHD in Podiatry. I used that, and a bit of common sense, to design better boots to protect soldiers feet from frostbite and fungus, to keep airborne troops from breaking ankles when they landed. I will never know how many injuries I prevented or how many lives I saved with something so small as sending foot powder and antifungal sock wash, but it warmed my heart as I found such avoidable injuries becoming less and less common”

"Plus her company, Sunrise Shoes, is still partnered with several other companies for super-person wear. Nike Enhanced Trainers are in partnership with them." She pointed at his shoes, which she'd bought him a month ago as a joint birthday gift and way to keep him from literally walking out of them as his strength developed. "So say thank you. And don't call her an old lady again."

" Man, these are the best shoes I've ever owned too! Sweet!" He said, then blushed. “Um, sorry for calling you an old lady.”

Solaris laughed, “Well it’s good to know my shoe line survives to this day. But that’s why you cannot let your power define you. You are so so much more.”

Moving on from the topic, the boy obviously thinking about what they said, she asked “Penny, would it be better to just buy a car and have it delivered? I thought it would be excessive but it sounds like it might be necessary?”

"I mean... that would save some issues?" She blinked. "That... um... I'm guessing you mean after talking to your bank guy."

“Yes, they should be here soon. And assuming my accounts are in order it should be no issue, especially with the services the Swiss and my personal accountant in the States both provided. Why don’t you use your phone and find us something nice with plenty of room for our shopping?”

"Uh, sure... Anything specific you'd prefer? New, older but in good shape you'd be familiar with... Terrifyingly advanced so it scares me too?" She asked.

"Google doesn't have cars in New York, so I think we're safe there." Marcus joked.

Solaris decided not to ask. “Get something you are comfortable with that can be delivered quickly, something new. I’ll find a charity to donate it to when we leave. I don’t really want to bother until I figure more stuff out and keeping a car in New York is ridiculous”

"Right. I’ll look into it now."

Solaris nodded. I’m going to finish putting myself together and get my shoes. She headed back up to the master room.

Kilian Bloomberg Von Volkhard frowned as he considered the large computer screen on his desk. His eyes, the color of the sky immediately following a storm, watched as a small woman in tattered clothing destroyed a robotic monstrosity, then another video of possibly the same if less disheveled woman snatching a youthful fool from a villain wearing a skull for a helm.

“These are the best videos you have found?”

“Yes, Kaiser Kilian. Unfortunately no one was very close to her while also taking imagery that we consider of quality.” The man across his desk said, his military uniform crisp. While the man's stance was relaxed it wasn’t lackadaisical.

Kilian considered him, and internally nodded. It was good for his men to know they need not fear his anger when their work was well done. Perfection was a foolish pursuit. It was also good that the man wasn’t too confident, however.

“Irritating that these fools can get fantastically detailed imagery of almost anyone’s sexual improprieties but two separate public events seem to slip by them.” He leaned back, tapping the hard stone surface of his desk, carved out of volcanic stone by a group of loyal citizens of Ask-Embla for his birthday decades ago. The spot was often tapped as he thought, which had lead to noticeable bowl in the smooth stone over the years.

“Inform the United States that I wish to make a state visit to the United Nations. I believe there’s something or other going on I might pretend interest in. Likely the Ukraine situation.” He didn’t honestly care. “And have our assets in New York pursue this directly. No contact, but I want to know if it is her.”

“Of course, Kaiser Kilian. I will order it personally.”

“Dismissed, Oberst Klein. Get to it immediately.”

He returned to the screen. Caution made him double check, but years of looking across the lines of battle, and then the lines of politics at the woman made him certain in his core. “Greetings once again Fräulein Solaris. I had wondered when you would finally return.”