Chapter No.34. Crisis.

Surprisingly, there was no uproar, at least not at first. Something else was about to happen that would distract them, something that would put them directly in the limelight.

Janet was the first to note an impending disaster that showed up as news updates to her phone. She turned on the TV to see the major news organizations reporting on it.

"Hey!" she cried. "There has been an earthquake in Chile that has affected Santiago."

Robert and James gathered around the TV to see what was going on.

"That doesn't look good," Robert said. "Several buildings have collapsed trapping people."

"Looks like they need superhero help," James said, holding his hand up.

"Yep!" Robert exclaimed, slapping his son's hand.

They appeared in the sky above Santiago, the most populous city in Chile. The sky was a perfect deep blue with no clouds. Down below they could see the chaos that was erupting. The sounds of emergency vehicle sirens wailed among a cacophony of sounds of people crying out in agony.

The superheroes, in their full regalia but without the shields, landed near a collapsed building that had held many apartments. People were running around in unsuccessful attempts to get at people trapped in the debris. When they saw the superheroes, they stood gawking at them  in silence.

"Ok," Robert said, looking at his wife. "James and I will lift the blocks of cement while you get in there and drag the victims out."

Janet nodded. Robert and his son lifted ton sized cement fragments as if it didn't weigh anything. Janet ducked to go under the uplifted cement block and began dragging victims out from under it. The spectators just watched them do their thing.

After they had dragged several dozen people out from under the collapsed building, they went to work repairing their wounds and resurrecting those that had perished. When the spectators and the emergency crews realized what they were doing, they cheered.

When the superheroes moved to another collapsed building to repeat their amazing miracles, spectators and the press followed them to watch and record what they were doing, and when they had done as much as what was possible, the superheroes flew away.

Of course, the videos and photos splashed all over the internet and newscasts. But that wasn't why the governments of the world were concerned. They viewed this new element of the global power structure as a threat to their dominion over the masses, and the fact that these supposed superheroes were obviously Americans, the imagined thereat became more viable.

The Steris family could sense this growing angst about them. It was time to calm things down before it got out of hand.

The superheroes appeared in the Oval Office, startling the president and his Defense secretary.

"I think it would be wise to have me calm down the concerns that we have generated."

"I'm not sure if that would deescalate this situation," President Hollis said.

"I think what I'm about to say will do that, sir."

The President and Defense secretary exchanged glances before the President turned back to Robert. "I'm going to give you the benefit of doubt here because of your saving my grandchildren. I only hope that what you say won't cause a world crisis."

"I hope so too, sir, but I can assure you that what I do say is the truth, so help me God."

The President picked up his situation phone and told someone to prepare the media room for an address."

An aide arrived and the President told him to escort the superheroes to the media room. After they had arrived there, a woman directed them to stand together at a podium. Robert stood behind the podium near the microphone. After some preparation, the woman waved her hand at Robert to begin.

Robert didn't read from anything. He stood looking directly into the camera. "I am here with my family to explain what we are about. First of all, and most importantly, we are not here to take over, rule or control anyone or anything. Our powers come from God and we are not permitted to kill or harm anyone or anything. We are here to help save humanity from annihilation. So, there is no reason to fear us. We are here to help, not hinder." He paused to allow what he had said to sink in. "At the same time, you must understand that we cannot be killed. Only God can take our lives. I have been shot at many times without harm and have been poisoned with the most-deadly toxin with no effect. I have been in the epicenter of a megaton explosion without harm. My family and I have flown in space without wearing spacesuits. We cannot be destroyed even with nuclear weapons. I am telling you this because I don't wish to risk other lives from any wasted attempt to destroy us." He paused again. "We are here to help save lives and prevent disasters. It's what we do. Let us do our assigned job. Thank you, and God bless all of you."

With that, the superheroes vanished.

The impact of Robert's speech was like a bomb that exploded in the middle of a rock concert. People went wild with excitement when they realized that there were real superheroes in existence. It was as if a Marvel or DC comic book tale had become reality. The bad news is that it caused a sudden need to call a special session of the United Nations council to discuss this new unusual situation.

The Steris family used this interim time to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of simple suburban life, which included James mowing the grass and Robert and Janet digging up the garden to plant seeds.

"Hey Dad, why didn't you tell them about the Vestal Virgins?" James asked after he had finished his lawn chore and joined his parents in planting a new garden.

Robert chuckled. "I don't think they would have thought me sane if I had told them that. Besides, the Vestals would have been perceived as a threat."

Janet looked around before turning back to her husband and son. "I wonder if we're going to have to move. If people realize who we are, this place won't be safe."

Robert sighed. "Let's see what happens before we do anything drastic."

Surprisingly, nothing did happen. Father Johns interrupted the Steris family's entrance into church that Sunday morning.

"I have several people who need your assistance," he said, his face exhibiting concern."

"We're available whenever you wish," Robert said.

"How about Monday evening at seven?"

"We'll be there."

What surprised the Steris family was the fact that no one connected them to the superheroes that were the worshiped celebrities of the media. Correspondents and media pundits were portraying them as aliens in human form. Some compared them to angels, others thought them to be the reincarnation of Greek gods. No one suggested that they could be a typical suburban family that just happened to have superpowers. Fortunately, no one connected the superheroes to a normal looking family that could cure fatal diseases and resurrect people who had just died. Their simplicity and normalness were their best protection, sort of like an invisible shield. Besides, superhero comic book characters need a cape of mystery.

Monday night and the Steris family were ready to do their thing. The deadly sick and near-death group of people were a mix of young and old, male and female. As was their custom Robert cured the men, Janet did the women and James worked on the young.

One of the young cases was a sixteen-year-old girl with terminal acute leukemia that was not responsive to chemotherapy. Her gaunt face was pale, and she was bald, but she managed a subtle smile when James kneeled down at her portable bed.

"Oh my!" James said when he placed his hand on her forehead. "You are quite sick." He smiled. "I can take care of it."

The girl immediately felt better. Her face transformed from a grimace to a wide smile when she realized that the physical effects of her cancer were completely gone. "Would you give me a kiss?" she asked him.

James was taken back by that. He hadn't experienced the pleasure of kissing a girl as yet. He hesitated at first, but then pressed his lips against hers in a brief but exciting smooch.

"Thank you!" she said, smiling.

James offered her a contrite smile back. "Thank you."

Later that evening, when the Steris family had returned home, Robert noted that his son was unusually quiet and introspective. "Feeling down?" he asked him.

"No, not really. It's just that the girl with leukemia asked me to kiss her."

"She needed that," Robert told him with a subtle smile on his lips.

James sighed. "Yes, but I . . . well, I haven't done that with a girl before now."

"There's a first for everything."

James gave him a mock frown. "You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do. I went through that when I was young."

Janet smiled.

"I'm surprised that those people haven't connected us to the superheroes," she said.

"They're looking for gods and goddesses, not mere mortals like us," her husband retorted.

"Except we're not mortals."

"In a way, we are, but not in the physical sense."

That was a sobering thought, but the typical suburban family realized that their situation was unlike anyone else had ever experienced.