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Welcome to Olympus City, where super-powers, physics-defying tech, and unearthly creatures are all possible now. Human nature, however, remains unchanged.
No one is born a perfect superhero, but a few strive to live up to the ideal anyway.
Previously: The new Doctor Hades turned Ken into a small wooden marionette. Juliana insisted he come into work anyway.
Part 2
Ken’s wooden puppet body clopped up and down the polished conference table, somewhat like a show horse, while curious eyes gazed upon him from all sides.
“Look at how he moves.”
“This is perfect. It combines the nostalgia of stop-motion animation with a more modern naturalism.”
“The little costume is adorable.”
“And the eyes. He really does look alive.”
“We might want to consider painting over the scar, though.”
Marketing professionals filled the meeting room. Creatives, account managers, and more were instantly fascinated when Juliana unveiled Ken in his newly transmuted form. They showed little concern for his predicament. To them, this was simply one of those strange Olympus City occurrences—just another day in the unpredictable life of Mr. Amazing! The idea that a superhero might worry about having been transformed into a puppet seemed not to enter their minds.
“There truly are so many possibilities.” Juliana, seated at the head of the table, tossed her arms this way and that as if to snatch up those very possibilities. “An old-fashioned Mr. Amazing puppet interacting with modern new action figures of the entire Terrific Trio. Or maybe a whole separate line of Terrific Trio dolls. Just think of what Wally’s could achieve with this, and what we can help them achieve.”
The team piggybacked off that, brainstorming specific scenarios for a TV spot. No one asked Ken for his opinion, but they did ask him to perform various maneuvers to better gauge his range of movement.
“We have a limited time with this form,” Juliana reminded everyone, “so let’s make something happen today. We can always refine it later.”
Ken floated over to her, amid a minor chorus of “oohs” and “ahhhs.”
“I could just telekinetically operate a puppet that looks like this. You don’t have to film anything while it’s actually me.”
Assorted big heads nodded along with some surprise as the marionette made a valid point.
“That’s true,” Juliana said. “But this really is the perfect look. Let’s go ahead and take some pictures to ensure we can recreate this likeness.”
Ken’s immutable expression concealed his regret at speaking up. Lesson learned, he kept quiet as the team worked out a plan and doled out assignments. They were an efficient, dedicated bunch who seemed to enjoy their jobs, unless their expressions concealed their real feelings too.
They broke off toward their respective tasks, leaving only Ken and his handler in the meeting room. He dreaded the imminent photoshoot as much as Juliana looked forward to it.
“I know this isn’t how you wanted your day to go,” she said, “but we really can make something out of this.”
“I agree,” Pete Peterson said, appearing at the door. “A setback is merely an opportunity in disguise.”
The CEO slid into the nearest chair as he scrutinized his employee-turned-puppet.
“It really is remarkable how much our world has changed in just a few years.” He adjusted his round glasses for a better look. “Can you breathe okay in there?”
“I don’t think I’m breathing, but it doesn’t seem to be an issue.”
Peterson gave a sympathetic nod, as though he, too, had been in Ken’s very position once upon a time.
“Remember, every stock dips now and then, but the strong ones always rebound to greater heights. You, Ken, remind me of a strong stock. You’ll come out of this riding higher than ever, yielding dividends for years to come.”
Though no financial expert, Ken was fairly certain that stocks didn’t receive their own dividends.
Peterson rested an elbow on the table as he leaned toward Juliana. “Be sure to send pictures to Wally’s. Every kid is going to want one for Christmas.”
She nodded with too much enthusiasm for Ken’s liking. “Yes, sir. We’re on it.”
“Wonderful. It’s like I told you, Ken. You’re in good hands with Juliana.” Peterson rose from his seat, then squinted down at the puppet. “Maybe cover up the scar. We don’t want him mistaken for one of those Halloween dolls.”
Juliana lit up at this apparently insightful suggestion, as though she hadn’t already thought of it.
*****
Ken, with a fresh coat of paint on his face, submitted to the photoshoot. He did what he was told, no more, no less. He likened the experience to a trip to the doctor’s office, and thus he allowed the experts to walk him through the necessary life-sustaining steps, even though the patient in question was merely his bank account.
While photographers captured the Amazing Marionette for posterity, Ken remembered that he still needed to contact Miranda to reschedule lunch with her sister. He had left his phone all the way back in his apartment.
As the lunch hour neared, he informed Juliana that he would be stepping out for a break.
Her face twisted in doubt. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” Ken floated backward, ensuring he was beyond the reach of her long arm. “See you in an hour.”
He ignored the stares and comments as he flew to the elevator. The buttons responded to telekinesis, and he soon reached the roof, where a rushing wind shoved him sideways. Thankfully, it rushed in the general direction of Miranda’s apartment. The day was overdue for a win. He threw himself into the current and soared high above the city.
The altitude provided a welcome break from probing eyeballs. Anyone looking up was apt to mistake him for a bird. He could almost pretend that he was himself, except that his altered form denied him the pleasure of fresh air. Gusts buffeted him as he rode the wind, taunting him all the way to Miranda’s building.
He arrived without incident, a streak he hoped to maintain. Counting the windows, he located her apartment, then peered inside and found Miranda and her teenage sister enjoying each other’s company. Peyton was giggling at whatever Miranda was saying, and they were both putting their shoes on. Ken was just in time.
When Miranda passed near the window, Ken tapped it, drawing her glance. The glance swelled into a wide-eyed stare. Ken lifted an arm toward the roof, and Miranda gave a tiny nod of understanding. She turned back to her sister, no doubt formulating some quick excuse to step away for a minute.
Ken landed on the roof and collapsed into a heap of articulated limbs. As the roof access door opened, he pulled himself up to a semblance of standing, and he gazed further up. Miranda had never seemed so tall.
“Over here!” he called out.
Her eyes darted straight to him, widening anew, and she was kneeling over him a fraction of a second later. The questions shot out rapid-fire.
“What the heck happened to you? Are you okay? Do you know how to reverse this, or is there a mad scientist I need to have a few words with?”
“It’s temporary,” Ken said.
“Your mouth isn’t even moving. Where is your voice coming from?” She pulled back slightly. “You’re not contagious, are you?”
“No. This is the new Doctor Hades’s doing, and I’m the only one she wanted to mess with.”
Ken gave a quick recap of his morning, all the while assuring Miranda that he was indeed fine and fully expected this to wear off within a day. Eventually, she started to believe him. He could tell on account of the amusement spreading across her giant face.
“So, if you tell a lie, does your nose grow?” She stifled a laugh. “Sorry.” With visible effort, she composed herself. “I can take you to Hephaestus, and maybe they can help you out. They should be able to pinpoint exactly which star you need to wish upon.” She lost it for a second. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”
Ken had considered going to Hephaestus Enterprises. “I know they mean well, but they might end up making things worse. I just need to let this run its course.”
“Okay, but if it doesn’t—”
“Then we’ll explore those options.” He was liable to scream if he woke up as a puppet two mornings in a row. “Anyway, as you can see, I might prove a little disappointing to your sister, so how about we try again tomorrow?”
“Oh, she won’t mind this.” Miranda swatted the air to dismiss the very notion. “She’d be more disappointed if we rescheduled.”
Ken wanted to dispute that, but he felt silly arguing anything just now.
After a moment of further consideration, Miranda added, “But maybe we’ll just stay in.”
“Good idea.”
*****
Ken played dead as Miranda carried him into the building. He heard some footsteps, but to his relief, the neighbors minded their own business and did not inquire about the caped doll in Miranda’s possession. Eventually, the apartment door creaked open.
“Okay, Peyton, slight change of plans.”
Miranda set Ken on her tiny kitchen table, where he supported himself telekinetically. Looking up, he found a skinny, confused teenager towering over him. The kid had easily bested Miranda’s height; never a high bar, but one Ken would have settled for at the moment.
“So, you know how weird things happen in this city?” Miranda said. “This is one of those weird things. This is Ken. Mr. Amazing. He’s having something of an off day, but here he is.”
“Uh, hi,” Ken said to the perplexed teen. “Sorry about this.”
Peyton flinched, then leaned in close, studying him. No judgment, just innocent fascination. “Whoa, it really is you. This is so bizarre. Is this the first time this has happened?”
“Yes, this is definitely a first.”
“Was it a supervillain, or was there some sort of anomaly? Is Ultra Woman okay?”
Ken refrained from looking at Miranda, mainly because movement required telekinetic effort. “Yes, she’s fine. A supervillain did this just to me, but it will wear off soon enough. Anyway, it’s very nice to meet you. Um, do you have any questions that I can answer?”
Peyton did indeed. She plopped into a chair and fired away. Adapting to the circumstances with remarkable ease, she addressed Ken as she would any flesh-and-blood human. She was thoroughly engaged in the conversation, as well-mannered as could be, but Ken couldn’t help but notice how subdued her excitement was. Peyton had been a Terrific Trio fan since the beginning. To her knowledge, this was the first time she had met a superhero in person. Ken feared he was something less than a dream come true.
Miranda was a dream come true for Peyton, if only she’d let her little sister in on that fact. It was none of Ken’s business. He trusted that she had her reasons. Given the hell Miranda just went through—journeying into an alternate dimension to rescue three people and coming back with only one—he wasn’t about to push the issue. He beat himself up once again for not insisting on going with her.
Peyton hesitated to ask her next question. “Did you ever find out what happened to Fantastic Man?”
Ken had anticipated this. “Keep this between us, but Ultra Woman just found him. He’s fine, but he’s been through a lot and needs some time to himself. But I hope we’ll all see him again soon.”
There was the excitement. Peyton brightened upon hearing the news. A weight lifted off her slender shoulders, a weight she never needed to carry in the first place.
“Thank you for telling me. I promise I won’t say a word. I’m so glad Ultra Woman found him.”
“Me too,” Ken said. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to help her.”
The corners of Miranda’s lips rose almost imperceptibly. Her poker face betrayed little, but Ken noticed the muted sadness in her eyes as she hid Ultra Woman and the immeasurable load of all her varied experiences.
“Are you sure you don’t want to contact Ultra Woman for help?” Miranda asked him. “For your, you know, condition?”
“I just need time,” Ken said. “Then I’ll be okay.”
Seizing the opening, he said he was unfortunately out of time and needed to get back to another commitment. Peyton thanked him profusely and shook his little hand. He appreciated that she never once asked for a selfie. She was every bit the good kid that Miranda had described.
He missed tutoring.
*****
The wind did not favor Ken on his return flight to the PRAM offices. He pushed his telekinetic power against the current, and yet the gusts kept batting him off course, all but guaranteeing tardiness.
The turbulence increased as he flew over Mount Olympus Park in the center of the city. He considered dropping into Terrific Hall for a brief respite. It was tempting. The constant exertion of telekinesis pushed his willpower to the brink of depletion.
Just as he decided to carry onward, a tree tipped over and crashed. Even as a second tree toppled, he assumed landscapers were working. But then he looked closer. Every single park visitor was running away, and they were not all dressed for jogging. Ken was willing to bet that landscapers did not propel this exodus.
As he descended to a patch of open grass, he found every tree overrun with termites. They caked a maple tree, whose weakened branches plunged to the dirt. The voracious pests feasted on the fallen corpse of its neighbor, chewing through the remains. Even a sturdy oak tree was gradually thinning beneath the irresistible force of innumerable mandibles. The swarm spared nothing.
Ken hopped back into the air at once. He did not know what caused this infestation, but pest control was generally not a job for Mr. Amazing. Especially not today.
He had barely taken off when a soft glow caught his eye. It shone from beneath blades of grass, emanating entirely from a single emerald pebble that sat on the soil, unattended by any human. The pebble did, however, have its own protector—a doll-sized humanoid figure composed entirely of termites, which marched like it was on guard duty, circling the pebble at a consistent radius.
The insects crawled around each other as they maintained this form, all of which now turned toward Ken. The swarm communicated a single thought directly into his mind.
Consume.
LOL, the thought of Miranda seeing puppet Ken! 🤣
And, of course, a superhero can't have an easy day - even when they're a puppet... 😅😆