“We are re-establishing the East Coast Boomers.”
The sound-bite heard across America a week ago. The press conference was originally to announce Southern Cross’ return to Australia, following reports of an explosion in superhuman numbers. Southern Cross had let it slip that the team was splitting up. The assembled reporters had gone crazy, ready to begin their reports of a ‘Time Without Heroes’. The nation held their breath.
Talon spoke up, to reassure the public. “We are not going our separate ways. The Boomers will still be in operation. Just not all together.”
A reporter spoke up. “Does that mean what I think it means ma’am?”
“Yes. We are re-establishing the East Coast Boomers.” Talon confirmed.
<><><>
In the week that followed, the media and internet had exploded with rumours, theories and speculation regarding the new team line-up. They placed everyone from Captain Awesome to The Gibbon to Miss Liberty coming out of retirement. But the Boomers kept a lid on the situation. They instead announced another press conference exactly one week after the first.
Mr Universe was currently the odds-on favourite as a new member of the team. Matt had come into the city days before the press conference, to support Hannah. The press got a hold of him while he was foiling a bank robbery he happened to be passing by.
He denied the rumours, but the reporters wouldn’t let it go. He was forced to stop going out in his costume, instead confining himself to Hannah’s apartment.
“So they haven’t told you who else is on the team?” Matt asked, as the couple watched E!’s Top Ten Boomers Candidates for the fifth time.
“Nope. I mean, I know Talon will be leading it. It’s her team. And I can only assume The Freak will be coming back too.” Hannah replied.
“Maybe someone else from the West Coast team too? Like, for experience or whatever?” Matt said.
“But who? GL leads the team, Corona and Plasma aren’t going to be split up and Nymphette has about a million things going on in Hollywood.”
“Ok… Anyone else from Hire-A-Hero?”
“Nobody on the A-list… I’m not even sure why they’re taking me.”
“Because you’re awesome? Anyway, what about Perdition? He’s like, one of the top ten magicians in the world. Not to mention the whole half-demon thing.”
“And the only high level magician on the Hire-A-Hero roster, at any branch. They need him. Besides, the last thing they want is a ‘reformed’ criminal on the team.”
“Maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way. Forget about power levels. Let’s look at what we know. Talon is a tactical genius, martial-arts master and now a cybernetic badass. The Freak is a biologist, and about a ton of pure stone, who can bench-press a semi for fun. You’re an energy controller who has gone toe-to-toe with Radon a dozen times, can beat Arachnophobia in your sleep, and has survived an attack from Constellation.”
“So…”
“So what are they missing? Every team has an array of different powers. We complement each other, cover each others’ weaknesses. Mr Perfect and Fissure are physically strong. Belle is a psychic. Pixel is… Pixel. Firestorm, Fissure and I are all elemental controllers, capable of long-range attacks. Mr Perfect and I are commanders, he’s a leader and I’m a planner. Between the six of us, we’ve taken down just about everything we’ve come across. So what does your team need?”
“Well, like you said: a psychic. Maybe a magician, who knows what we’ll come across.”
“Cobalt? Or Melchior?”
“Doubt it. It’ll be bad enough having one hero on the team who has only been in the game for a couple of years.”
“What about that chick with the Silver Shoes? She’s got some fair magic going on.”
“I haven’t heard anything about her for years.”
“We’re never going to figure it out. We should just wait until the press conference tomorrow, like the rest of the world.”
“Hey, we already know more than the rest of the world.” Hannah smiled.
<><><>
Matt sat up the back of the press pool, trying not to draw any attention to himself. Hannah had managed to snag him a press pass, but it didn’t mean he looked like he was supposed to be there.
The capacity crowd of reporters and cameramen clamoured for a good view, as Talon stepped out behind the podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen. I present to the world, the new East Coast Boomers!” Talon said, to a thunderous applause, as the team filed out and stood in front of the crowd.
First was The Freak, the stone monolith stoic as ever. The least shocking member of the new team, the reporters had little to say. Next was Hyper Girl, who elicited a number of whispers, mainly referring to her age and inexperience.
From there, the surprises began. Following behind Hyper Girl was The Angel of Aquakinesis, The Mistress of Moisture herself, Nymphette. The woman voted Sexiest Superhero by Maxim readers two years running soaked in the attention, as the reporters began asking her about her modelling contracts on the West Coast.
Next was The Gibbon, who got little attention. The press had little interest in the low-profile hero, beyond speculation as to the Boomers scraping the bottom of the barrel in their recruiting. The Gibbon didn’t seem to care, he just looked happy to be there. Matt was happy to see him too, from all Hannah had told him, The Gibbon was a good team mate.
The final member of the East Coast Boomers left the press shocked and in awe, as they all fell silent.
Standing at six feet, three inches, with flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, Thunderbolt stood before the capacity crowd, every inch the Norse god his predecessors were. One of the most powerful men on Earth, so long as he possessed the legendary hammer Mjolnir. Thunderbolt was the latest in a long line of heroes and villains to wield the ancient artefact.
“Any questions?” Talon asked; a slightly smug smile on her face.
<><><>
“I can’t believe they still think I’m on the team.” Mr Universe laughed, as he and Hyper Girl sat down in their limo.
“I know. They weren’t asking anyone else’s date if they were on the team.”
“Not even that girl Nymphette brought.”
“ScienceChick? Man, she’s not even on our level. She’s like a C-lister at best. She used to work for Hire-A-Hero.”
“No wonder I’ve never heard of her.”
“Oh, I forgot. I spoke to GL while you were at the bar with The Gibbon. The West Coast Boomers are signing up Jack Roman and some dude called El Grande Latino.”
“Man, why didn’t we think of Roman when we were thinking of magicians? But who the hell is El Grande Latino?”
“Some guy from San Diego. Super-strong. A young guy too. Apparently he and I are supposed to be learning from the experienced heroes. It’s a publicity move as much as it’s about our powers.”
“Makes sense. All this sensationalism in the press about teen heroes is out of control.”
“You do know you guys will get worse press now. They’ve got someone to compare you to.”
“I know, but we’ll graduate soon, and then we won’t be teen heroes anymore.”
“Always the optimist, aren’t you?”
“Sometimes it’s all you can do.”