"This
is Stacey Simmons for WINE 99.9, coming to you live Saturday morning
and it looks like it's going to be another hot one today! School
starts on Monday for all the kidlets and parents, so if you want to
know where to get supplies, brace yourself for commercial plugs later
on! But first, it's warm and staying that way all week it seems, a
nice way to begin September if you're not in school, but you didn't
tune in for the weather so here's the news for you. The Atomizer has
been leaving calling cards all over the city, the courts won't
release details of Judith Richenfield's trial, Ben Sirah is
apparently selling himself out as some kind of internet service and
the not-infamous gang known as the Cheshire Cats have been thrown
behind bars by the police. A lot of small-time villains are becoming
big-time without the Protectorate around and no one seems to know
when they'll return. There's even doubts if they will.
"With
me to discuss it is Professor Egghead, ex-villain and specialist in
metahuman relationships at Darwin U! Tell me, prof, just how bad is
it? Should kids bother going to school? Will teachers have to teach
the old 'duck under the desk' routine for supervillain attacks?"
"It
is hardly a joking matter, Ms. Simmons. That no hero has returned
from the Vanishing presupposses that they cannot: I believe the most
common theory is radiation from an anti-mattrer universe: if they did
return and bring that with them, this entire universe would be
destroyed. Of course, we're well aware that they will return soon,
but two weeks is a long time in the news and some villains are going
to try and raise their status without anyone of importance to stop
them. The police cannot be everywhere and most of the reserves and
sidekicks the Protectorate had access to seemed to have succumbed to
the Vanishing as well."
"So
no good news at all, doc?"
"Heroes
will step forward. Villains will see the need for redemption and seek
public glory. Whether it will be enough remains to be seen, but not
all villains are motivated by simple goals as my book The
Villain Inside
clearly demonstrates. Heroes have become villains, villains have
become heroes: it's those who were on the sidelines or didn't think
their was a need for them to be a hero with the market so glutted who
will determine if there is a new Protectorate, and the public who
will determine if they succeed at all."
"Well,
aren't you a ray of sunshine! So it's doom but not gloom for Darwin
City, and a lot of people are going to be wondering who these new
heroes are and if they have the chops to stand up to the wave of
petty crimes that are slowly esclating into big-time robberies.
Villains are pushing boundaries, and the police alone can't push them
all back. Well, not without breaking the budget! Tune in after this
break for my interview with Mayor Amanda Hill on city hall's budget
plans after this!"
Commercial
Break: "Tired of seeing your car destroyed by supervillains?
With McGovern Insurance, you're covered against everything from acts
of gods to aliens! Our professional claims adjusters will --."
"And
this is Stacey Simmons, for WINE FM, cutting in to let you know that
there's shenanigans at the Wal-Mart. Don't go. If you're going, go
back home. Details are sketchy, but the police have it surrounded. At
least the building is still standing. We'll have updates for you as
we get them, including what villain is robbing a Wal-Mart in the
first place, in just a moment."
