Heroes at Heart

One: Max Owens

—TEN YEARS LATER—

Fifteen.

Fifteen.

Can you believe it?

The government has assigned me. Max Owens. A fifteen year old boy. To be the city's resident superhero.

To be fair, I do have powers. Two of them. But I don't think flying and breathing underwater will be of much aid when I'm trying to defeat super-villains. Just a hunch.

So why, you ask, does the city want me, the kid with the powers of a freaking flying fish, to be their savior?

Well, according to the few city council members I've gotten the opportunity to speak with, the government thinks that I'm just uselessly hoarding these powers to myself, when I could be using them to save people.

I've tried telling them I'm only fifteen. That no sane government would force a boy my age to fight crime. "But Max, you're a superhero! Isn't this what you want?" Actually, no. I just kind of want to get through high school. Then we'll talk about this "superhero" business.

I've asked to be removed from the Murkbourne, Illinois Anti-Villainy League seventeen times. But no matter how often I try, I'm faced with the same question.

"Are you sure you don't want to do a little good for your community?"

Needless to say, I'm still a card-carrying member of the AVL.

The manipulation that occurs within the city is incredible, but there is no way they can convince me to be a superhero. There are people that are better than me, stronger than me; people who could take someone down with a single glance. I'm not that person. I can't do this.