seymoure

Chapter 4
“A Chest Full of Flag”

It was hard to believe he was just sitting in a single room apartment, eating a cheese sandwich and listening to Billy Joel CD.

He was Steven Williams, AKA Liberty’s Commando.

He had been a professional beach volley ball player until he saw that ad in Variety.

“America Wants Superheroes, How About You?”

It was an ad for a reality show being put together by comic book maven Larry Lee. It was like his whole life was put into perspective. He had read comics since he was a kid and secretly dreamed of just such a thing.

His first quest had been to come up with a name. He wanted to be a Patriot Hero, because he was sure that would make him a real vote getter on the show. But there had been so many already used. “Captain America,” “The Spirit of ’76,” “Captain Flag,” “The Shield,” “Fighting American,” “Americommando” and so many more. Luckily
he had a friend who was a writer who came up with the name in minutes.

The costume was easy. He had played “L’il Abner” at a community playhouse and the costume designer had been a great friend. Given the chance to attempt such a project, Hershel had given it his all.

The shields on the forearms were his own idea. It was as close as he had come to giving himself some weaponry.

He didn’t win, amazingly enough. They put him through classes and taught him a lot of gymnastics and fighting skills, but he still lost out to some bimbo called Freedom Fem.

But that was just the start. He continued with his studies and reached Black Belt status. He got pretty good with the shields, and was confident of his own ability.

Then came the day.

He was working his part time job busing tables at the Garden of Allah restaurant when the four guys came in.

It was their biggest day of the year, the anniversary of their fourth year. They were full and thriving and the crooks saw it as an easy mark.

Steve slipped into the locker room and put on his costume for the first time with intent to strike a blow for justice.

He stepped into the front of the room, and the crooks didn’t move.

“Justice is here, I am Liberty’s Commando!” he said in his most bass voice.

The robbers looked at each other and then all four guns were aimed at him. A second later all the barrels blazed in his direction.

Luckily for him they were bad shots.

He picked up a serving tray and threw it into the face of the closest of his foes. The stunned man fell backward and shot his closest fellow in the leg.

Steve pushed a table into the last two men and they both dropped their guns. The two scrambled up on their feet and ran out of the building.

Sirens blared from the street outside.

The restaurant erupted into applause.

Liberty’s Commando stood stunned in the center of the room, then a smile crept across his face.

He ran out the front door, which looked to those in the room like he was chasing the running villains, but what he did was circle around the building and re-enter the locker room to change back into his civies.

When he returned, he was aware of the chatter of the thrilled populace. He knew that his life path had been chosen.

He finished the cheese sandwich and reclined on his bunk.

He closed his eyes and dreamed of future glories.