Superhero Adventures, UK Style

Annie smiled as she opened the email attachment. She’d wondered how long it would take before he’d post another video. She pressed play. The screen immediately lit up with “Locker VLOG edition – The Balance: First Impressions Interview” scrolling across the screen.

<<Instead of the usual subscriber-bait, overly produced introduction, there was a simple reveal, a fade from black to show Tony Jason and a non-exoskeletal-suit wearing but still masked Locker sitting on the set of BBC’s Mastermind, though without an audience. >>

It appeared they’ve been allowed on set out-of-hours for their video, thought Annie as the camera zoomed in on both of them on the stage.

TONY: “Welcome to your very own edition of Mastermind, Locker. What is your specialist subject?” (This was obviously said jokingly as the stage lighting panned clumsily across the platform.)

LOCKER: “Hey, great to be here. I, uh, didn’t prepare a specialist subject!” (He visibly panicked and shifted uncomfortably in THE infamous chair) “What? We’re not actually playing Mastermind, right? Ah, internet Meta-stars from the last ten years, maybe?”

TONY: “No, we’re not playing Mastermind today, but there are occasional celebrity charity editions of the show. Would you be interested in participating in something like that?”

LOCKER: “Phew! I’m glad. Now, I know there are some real Masterminds out there who would be far better choices. Unless the quiz is talking about the variety of striking techniques, I’m not sure I’d be much help to charity!”

TONY: “Hey, you never know. Anyway, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule and talking with us today. So, Locker, latest member of The Balance, that’s new! How are you finding things? Settling in well?”

LOCKER: “Glad you asked, Tony. Honestly, it’s a dream come true. You know what it’s like, it’s instant success, the total product of over a decade of hard work. Blood, sweat and tears, brother. But we made it! Now, I know it’s not quite The Protectors, but I’d say we’re definitely an A-Lister team, right?”

TONY: “Certain internet polls suggest The Balance doesn’t quite have the prestige yet of some of the other more historic teams out there. What do you think?”

LOCKER: “The current activity statistics speak for themselves. I’ve got my ear on the pulse, the people know that when The Balance show up to a party they’re safe, or about to be. I don’t think the bad-guys care when the team first started when we’re the ones kicking the door in. We’re not waiting for medals or award ceremony nominations.”

TONY: “Confident to a fault, Locker. Now, ignore the camera, ignore your reputation and subscribers just for a moment. I want to get to know the real Locker. Young Sam’s retirement has been a sensational crisis, the reverberation online has been substantial. That mantle has fallen directly to you. There’s worried rumours about the future of the team, are you anxious, Locker?”

LOCKER: “I only met Young Sam the once, but I had followed his media presence, just like everyone else interested in HCP related news. Big fan, he has done so much and from what I hear, much of it away from the cameras and news reports. For someone like that to retire so suddenly, people seem to think something big must have happened. I don’t want to break any confidences but I understand he had some good reasons for his decision and after all, Metas retire all the time from active duty, villains either get caught or retreat, and sometimes heroes do get their happy endings, there’s plenty of documentaries and examples about it.

Anyway, looking at our skill-sets and the test results, it’s a good, timely fit for us both. You could say it was fate somehow. I know other “heroes” feel similar, I just know that there’s something important I need to do, and I’m not talking about records or titles, you know, for good.”

TONY: “Alright, I’m convinced. So tell me about more Akira, Mace and Banshee, your main co-stars. Getting on well?”

LOCKER: “Oh, there’s no doubt they’re very talented and capable, but truth being told, besides being called out on missions, training or unless we’re travelling to the same place – we don’t see each other that much. Oh, sure, everyone is friendly, but in our downtime, believe it or not – we’re still working! I see more of the support crew than I do of the rest of the team.”

(He held out his hands, unfurling fingers as he explained)

“Akira is always studying, researching and practicing his “art”. I admit that he can be difficult to talk to, distant almost, unless it’s about magic, in which case, he has several memorized lectures he loves to share. Besides what I’ve seen on the dark web, I don’t know anything about the occult… Not sure I want to either if I’m being honest.”

(He shrugged)

“Mace is very independent and secretive. I don’t see her much. Folks say she’s got a lot of her own lines of enquiry to pursue, but I’ve snuck into her work-station on base and it’s quite impressive, she always has the tool I’m looking for. I’d say we have the most in common out of the whole bunch.

Now Banshee, she’s wonderful but I can’t spend a lot of time with her, if I’m honest she scares me. I mean, there’s no person I’d rather go drinking with than my main fairy God-mother, but that gets in the way of my training schedule. I’m not sure what she gets up to in her spare time, to tell you the truth.

Then there’s me! Between wrenching, YouTube, the gym, simulations and sparring, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for too much else. You’ve always got to be ready, you never know when that call is going to come in. HCP is a 24/7 job.”

TONY: “That’s a nice insight, thank you. I feel like I can see a bigger picture now. Are you worried about the clash of cultures? Wouldn’t that interfere with the smooth flowing of teamwork and orders and stuff?”

LOCKER: “That’s the difference between vigilante amateurs and trained professionals. This is what we want to do, and when we go to work, we get the job done. Is everyone the same in any office? Hell no, diversity makes us stronger. It makes us more useful in a wider range of situations. There’s an old saying that amateurs practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can’t do it wrong.”

TONY: “Sure thing. I understand that. So, what’s next for you Locker? Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? Is the Balance just a springboard for your career?”

LOCKER: “Wow, Tony! I’ve literally only just started over the past couple of weeks! No, I don’t have any plans as of right now, I’m exactly where I want to be. It’s what I’ve always wanted. It’s literally living the dream. I only want to do best by my team and the people.”

TONY: “But what about your sponsorships and Dalton Industries? Isn’t there a conflict of interest there? There have been many reported disputes between the two groups and I understand the Challenger-Wildeman’s are friends with The Balance. What about the infamous quarrel between them and Sir Damien Dalton?”

LOCKER: “I’m glad you asked, Tony. I’m a perfect example of mutual interests bringing together previously conflicting groups. I am the cease-fire. I am the peace-treaty. Dalton Industries is a forward thinking, future-proof genius of a corporation and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity their technology has provided me. I am evidence of the kind of thing that can be possible if we all work together for something greater.”

TONY: “Sounds very positive, I’m sure many people would be interested to watch as things develop. Is there anything you regret or that you’d change, so far?”

(Locker pauses thoughtfully and his expression flashes with sadness for a moment.)

LOCKER: “No, the only thing I can think of was that encounter with Death Metal, a long while ago now. It’s the kind of thing that replays over and over in your head, you know? Not only what happened, but why and how, everything about it was wrong. It just goes to show that we always have more to learn.”

TONY: “Speaking of ladies, any romance or partners in your life, Locker?”

LOCKER: “I’m married to my work, Tony. You know that! Gosh. No, I’m a single man and not looking. Unless I suddenly and unexpected have a lot of non-HCP time on my hands, my Lockerinos are more than enough company for me. Love you, internet-fam.”

(He made a heart symbol with his hands directly addressing the camera.)

TONY: “Alright, well, I think we’re just about out of time and just about to get chased out of the studio. Thanks for chatting Locker, we’ll have to do this again sometime soon!”

LOCKER: “Hey, thanks for seeing me Tony! Let’s go!”

<<The video fades to black once again, as they comically look furtive and dart from the stage.>>

Annie laughed. She closed down the file then made sure copies were dispatched via Frankie to the team with a request for a gossip update on the team’s reactions once they had watched the file. To quote Rabbie,  “O wad some Power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!”