Chapter No.35. War of ways.
Chapter No.35. War of ways.
Robert sensed it first. It was a mental image of ten missiles heading for the West Coast. He sat up in bed like a jack in the box, startling his wife.
"What's the matter?" she whispered.
"Ah . . . I think China is trying to invade the West Coast. They've launched a bunch of nuclear missiles."
"Yes, I can see them in my mind," she said. "It's like a dream."
"Unfortunately, it's real."
James appeared in their room. "Hey, I'm sensing a bunch of nuclear missiles headed to the Pacific Coast!"
"Yeah, we know. Let's make them vanish."
After a period of silence, James was the first to react. "I'm sensing a large naval armada heading for the coast."
"Are we going to make them disappear?" Janet asked.
"No. I believe we should allow our military to handle that."
"How are we going to do that?"
Robert got out of bed. "Let's go to the war room and inform them."
They changed into their superhero outfits and appeared in the Pentagon war room. President Hollis, Major General Newton and Secretary of Defense Wells stared at them.
"We made the missiles vanish," Robert said. "But there's a naval armada headed to the Pacific Coast."
"Can you stop them?" the general asked.
"We're not allowed to kill, so that's where you come into this. We can display the location, course, and speed of every ship in that armada on your computer system. That should give you time to organize and direct an interception fleet to stop them." He turned to his son. "Transfer the information to their system."
After James complied, the General studied the information along with other military tactical experts.
"We will help save any personal that get wounded or even killed," Robert said. "But we will not participate in the battle. I would suggest that when this is over, you contact their consulate and enter into diplomatic talks. Good luck, gentlemen and God bless."
The superheroes teleported back home.
The news media was ablaze with the unfolding events that would change the world forever. The superheroes waited until most of the naval engagements were complete before they flew out over the Pacific to help the wounded and dead, most of which had been taken to a large hospital ship.
When the superheroes appeared there, the medical staff stepped aside to allow them to do their miraculous work, healing wounds and resurrecting those who had been killed in action.
The U.S. Navy had lost three ships, including two destroyers and a carrier that was put out of commission. The Chinese navy's losses were much higher, which is the reason that they turned back. The other main reason that they broke off engagement was because they learned that their missiles never hit their targets.
After diplomatic contacts and eventually a U.N. censure, the world's powers realized that resistance against the superheroes was futile. Even more important was the fact that the United States accepted that the superheroes were there to protect them and not to take over.
The news agencies began to point out the significance of Robert's speech, especially the fact that the superheroes were here to help mankind not dominate. This reality began to set in and cause the beginning of a real peace effort all over the world.
Despite all attempts by the news media to identify the superheroes, they remained an enigma of the modern world, a comic book fantasy made real. It was as if fiction had become the new mantra and imagination had become the new dream for believers. And it was the Steris family's mediocrity that kept them hidden from the media's voracious appetite for breaking news.
What could be better. Men imagined their manhood come to life in Robert. Women were thrilled to see womanhood represented in Janet, and the young could admire the thrill of amazing adventures in James.
For the Steris family, it was business as usual. Janet continued to go to work at the credit union, James returned to high school and Robert did the household chores, including preparing the evening supper. But he had different plans for this evening.
"I thought it would be interesting to go to a café in the Harajuku district of Japan for supper," he told Janet and James.
"Why Japan?" Janet asked.
Robert shrugged. "I don't know. I thought it would be interesting to visit some place we're not all that familiar with."
Janet shrugged. "Okay."
Robert looked at James.
He smiled. "I'm game."
They teleported to the Harajuku district of Tokyo behind a building and then walked down a street to a café, taking seats in an outside area. A waitress appeared from the crowd.
"Watashitachi wa anata no ryōri ni seitsū shite imasen, gohan to sakana de nanika o motte kite kudasai."
She bowed and faded back into the crowd.
"What did you tell her?" Janet asked.
Robert smiled. "I told her to surprise us."
"Oh, oh!" James reacted with a mock frown.
Janet gave him a mocking smile.
"I guess we'll have to eat with these sticks," James said, picking up two of them.
"That's what they do here," Robert said with a grin.
After the server brought their fish and rice in neat little bowls, they began the process of eating in the traditional Japanese way.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, causing empty dishes to fall off tables and delicate lanterns to sway. People got up and ran for cover, but the Steris family remained seated enjoying their supper.
"Let's use our powers to settle this earthquake," Robert said.
Eventually, people returned, and a different server appeared. "You no run. Why you not afraid?"
Robert looked at her. "We're from California and earthquakes are frequent."
"Ha!" she said. "You crazy." She departed in a huff.
"She's right," Janet said with a smirk.
"Yeah, but at least we saved them from an earthquake."
James laughed.
When they had finished and paid for their supper, the Steris family went for a walk in the Yoyogi Park, which is very popular during the cherry blossom. Janet and James took plenty of pictures with their phones. However, there weren't as many visitors there because of the fear of an aftershock.
"I wonder what the Japanese thought about China's attempted invasion of America," Janet mused.
"I'm sure they were alarmed that they would come under attack," Robert said.
They walked near to an older man wearing a U.S. Marine hat. He looked over at them.
"I'm surprised that I would see Americans here after what happened."
"We had reservations and didn't want to lose them. Besides, I'm an ex-Marine. I served in the Iraq War."
"Vietnam is where I served," the man said. "It seems like a long time ago."
"I can imagine," Robert said.
"What do you think about these superheroes?" he asked.
Robert shrugged. "I suppose it's good that they're around."
"Maybe it'll be the end of wars," he said.
"That would be a good thing."
The man saluted, and Robert reciprocated.
Janet and James were glad to hear what the man said. It gave them hope for the future.
They returned home and settled down before going to bed.
However, Robert sensed something that alarmed him. He alerted his family and they readied for an important mission.
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