Chapter 1: And It Was Yellow
From my great-grandfather to my grandfather to my father, my family has a history of fighting crime as a superhero named Yellow Raccoon. I was the next person in the bloodline to take on the mantle. My name is Andrew Midas Fairon. I, alongside my little brother James, was raised in Grease City, New Jersey.
It was Friday. It was May of 2021. It was also my senior year of high school. I was walking home from the bus stop with James.
“I am excited for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” I said.
“I’m mainly excited for Loki,” James replied.
“Personally, although I enjoyed Thor: Ragnarok, I didn’t like how Hela was Odin’s daughter. I was expecting her to be Loki’s secret daughter who is destined to bring the end of Asgard.”
“Well, the MCU is its own universe.”
“I understand that, but I really enjoy it when they follow some of the comics.”
James and I arrived at our house. As we walked in, we saw Dad and his friend Lucas Aznavour. Lucas went by ‘White Archer’. He was in his hero outfit, looking like a basic cosplayer. Dad was also in his hero outfit. It was a yellow tactical jacket, an old gray biker helmet with goggles, and a gray face mask to cover his whole face.
“Hey, boys,” Dad said.
“So, one of them is the next Yellow Raccoon?” Lucas questioned.
“Yup,” I answered. “It’s me.”
I then went upstairs. James went to the garage. He was a tech-wizard and would sometimes create gadgets for Dad.
I walked into my room. In my room were two posters of Spider-Man and the band Genesis, a shelf of books, and a messy bed. On my desk were a computer and an Xbox. I would occasionally hook my Xbox up to my computer.
“What a day,” I said as I layed on my bed.
My phone received a text. It was from Jolene. We have been friends since freshman year of high school.
Hey, man, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out at my place.
I then replied back with a text.
Sure. What time do you want me to arrive?
Jolene then replied back.
6:25.
“Boys, pizza!” Mom yelled.
I then got up from my bed and walked out of my room. James, Mom, Dad, and Lucas were sitting on the kitchen table. I sat at the table.
“Dude, Metal Head was one tough villain to fight,” Lucas told Dad.
“Glad I had my gadgets,” Dad said. “Thanks, James.”
“How is your school project in the garage so far?” Lucas asked James.
“It’s going good,” James replied. “The thrusters are now going fifteen miles per hour.”
“Dad, Mom, I was wondering if I could go to Jolene’s house,” I said.
“Sure,” Mom replied. “Just be home by nine.”
“Okay,” I then said.
It was now 6:10. I left the house and started walking to Jolene’s house. It was a nine minute walk. Three thugs walked in front of me.
“Hey there, pal,” the first thug said.
“Give us whatever you have, punk,” the second thug said.
The third thug grabbed my shirt. I smacked his hand off of my shirt.
“Get off me, man,” I shouted.
The second thug punched me in the face. I fell on the ground.
“Hey, you three,” a voice yelled.
It was Dad in his hero outfit. Dad punched the second thug in the face and grabbed the first and third thugs by their jackets.
“Hey, man, why are you hurting us?” the third thug asked. “We were just talking to this kid.”
Dad threw the two thugs on the side of the road. The three thugs then ran off.
“This ain’t over, pal!” the second thug yelled out.
“I had them,” I said.
“It didn’t look like it,” Dad replied. “I’ll escort you to Jolene’s.”
Dad and I walked down the sidewalk.
“Andrew, if you want to take on the mantle, you show me that you’re ready.”
“I understand that, and I’m trying to fight back, but sometimes it could go too far.”
We then arrived at Jolene’s house.
“Alright, see you when you get home,” Dad said.
I walked up to the house and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Stevens opened the door.
“Ah, Andrew,” she said.
“Hey, Mrs. Stevens.”
I walked inside. Jolene walked downstairs. Jolene looked like an anime character with her purple-dyed hair.
“Hey, Andrew,” Jolene said. “It’s 6:20. I told you to arrive at 6:25.”
“I like arriving early,” I replied. “Want to play on the Nintendo Switch?”
Jolene and I went upstairs and walked in her room. In her room were a poster of Prince’s Purple Rain, a large television, a Nintendo Switch, and an Xbox. Jolene handed a blue Nintendo Switch controller to me as she had the red controller.
“What game do you want to play?” she asked.
“Mario Kart 8,” I answered.
“So, what are you planning to do after high school?”
“I was just hoping to enter college through something relating to journalism and photography. I’m always busy at the newspaper club every Tuesday.”
“Are you going to John Hall University?”
“Yeah.”
My phone then went off. I received a text from Dad.
Hey, I was hoping that we could have a father-son bonding day and walk around Downtown Grease City. We rarely hang out that much.
“It’s my old man,” I told Jolene. “He wants me to hang out with him tomorrow.”
“Do so, then,” Jolene said. “Now let’s play Mario Kart 8.”
Chapter 2: A Father-Son Night Gone Wrong
It was Saturday. I woke up at 7:10 AM. I walked downstairs to the kitchen. I poured a cereal box of Lucky Charms and then milk into a bowl. I hate people who put milk and then cereal in a bowl. They are evil.
“Hey, Andrew.” Dad walked in the kitchen. “We’ll go to Downtown Grease City at 6:20 PM.”
“Okay,” I replied.
“Go wake up your brother,” Dad demanded.
I went upstairs and walked into James’ room. In his room were two posters of David Bowie and Daredevil, a computer, and an Xbox.
“Hey, man, Dad is making breakfast,” I told him.
“I’ll be down there in a bit,” he responded.
I went back downstairs and sat back down at the kitchen table. I continued eating cereal.
“James is on his way,” I told Dad.
It was now 6:00 PM. I was wearing my Daredevil shirt. Dad was wearing his Punisher shirt.
“You always want to arrive early,” he said to me. “Bye, honey.”
Dad and I walked out of the house and into his black Pontiac Firebird. I got in the passenger seat as he got in the driver seat.
“Let’s talk, son,” Dad said as we drove away from our house. “To become the next Yellow Raccoon, you need to…prove your independence. Show me that you are ready to take on the mantle.”
“I understand, but I’m trying,” I told him.
“You got your ass kicked, and I had to save you, which I’m glad I did. I’m basically Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid.”
As Dad and I drove into Downtown Grease City, I looked out the car window. Downtown Grease City was my favorite place to go to. Other than Terry’s, there were Grease City Mall, Marshall’s Comic Books, Ditko’s Apartments, Tobias’ Corner, the Maria Market, and the Marvin Marriott. I usually go to the Marvin Marriott for nerdy conventions.
“Let’s go to Terry’s,” I said.
“Sure,” Dad responded. “I can also go for a burger.”
Dad parked in the Grease City parking lot. Terry’s was two blocks away from where we parked. We got out of the car and walked.
“Terry’s isn’t that far,” Dad said.
“Help!” a voice called out.
Dad and I looked down an alleyway. A masked man held a pistol at a woman. The man also had a lion tattoo on his left wrist and blue eyes.
“Give me your purse!” the robber yelled.
“Stand back, Andrew.” Dad ran towards the robber. “Hey, dude!”
He grabbed the robber’s left wrist and pushed it down. A gunshot fired. Dad fell on the ground.
“Dad!” I yelled.
The robber ran off. I ran to Dad. His right leg had a bullet wound.
“Ma’am, call an ambulance!” I yelled. “Damn it! Dad, look at me. You are not going to die.”
The woman pulled out her phone and dialed 911. “Yeah, 911? I am near Terry’s in an alleyway, and a boy and his dad are with me. The dad has been shot. Please be here as fast as you can.”
“Andrew,” Dad muttered.
“Dad, I’m sorry. I should have helped. I could have helped…”
It was a six minute drive to Grease City’s Emergency Room by ambulance. I was sitting outside of room 211. I felt scared and frustrated. Two police officers walked up to me.
“I’m sorry, son,” the first police officer said.
The second police officer asked, “Do you know who shot him?”
“The man had blue eyes and a lion tattoo on his left wrist,” I answered.
“Sounds like the same guy that has been robbing people in alleyways,” the first police officer said. “We’ve been trying to catch that guy for three weeks.”
“Hope your father gets well, kid,” the second police officer said.
The two police officers walked off.
“Andrew,” a male voice yelled out.
I looked to my right. James, Mom, and Jolene were running towards me.
“James, Mom, Jolene,” I yelled.
Mom hugged me as she cried.
“How did you guys get here?” I then asked.
“Jolene’s dad drove us to the hospital after you called Mom, telling us that Dad was in the emergency room,” James said.
“What happened to your dad?” Jolene asked.
“He was saving a woman that was getting robbed, and was shot by the robber,” I said.
A doctor walked out of the room.
“Your dad is okay,” he said. “We managed to get the bullet out. His right leg is paralyzed, though. He will stay in the room for a couple weeks. Months maybe.”
“I’m glad he is alive,” I calmly replied.
“You guys can see him if you want,” the doctor said.
The doctor then walked off. James, Mom, Jolene, and I walked into the room Dad was in. Dad was laying on a hospital bed.
“How are you doing, Dad?” I asked.
“I’m doing fine, kids,” Dad said. “James, Lisa, Jolene, can you three go out for a bit? I have to talk to Andrew.”
James, Mom, and Jolene walked outside the room.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t help,” I told Dad.
“It’s okay,” Dad said. “You are young, and I don’t want you or James getting hurt.”
“I just thought because you fought in Grease City for twenty two years that you would save that woman.”
“Look, just go home and get some sleep,” Dad demanded. “I’ll be fine. Lucas will protect Grease City.”
I walked out of the room.
“I know what to do,” I told myself. “I’m taking the damn name!”
Chapter 3: From Protege To Hero
It was Monday. I had never forgotten what happened on Saturday. I was sitting alone in the cafeteria during my lunch period. I was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Jolene walked over to my table and sat right next to me.
“Hey, I’m…sorry about your dad,” she quietly told me.
“Thanks,” I said. “It’s okay.”
“Hey, Fairon!” a voice yelled out.
I turned around. Scott was walking over to me. He would bully me and was also part of the Daryl Dingos football team. He used to date Jolene, but they broke up around sophomore year of high school.
“Not now,” I whimpered.
“Hey, I’m talking to you.” Scott continued to walk over to me.
“What the hell do you want, damn it?” I stood up right in front of his face.
“I’m sorry, man,” Scott calmly said.
The bell then rang. I grabbed my backpack as Jolene got up from her seat. Jolene and I walked off to fifth period.
School was finally over. James and I were walking home from the bus stop. James was very talkative despite what happened.
“How’s your, uh, driver’s ed?” he asked me.
“It’s going good,” I quietly responded. “I will take my driving test this June.”
“Mom was thinking that I start driver’s ed after this summer.”
“How can you be so…calm even after what happened? Our dad literally was shot this Saturday, and here you are now, acting cool as if nothing happened.”
James and I stopped walking. He looked away from me.
“You’re right,” he muttered quietly. “I’m trying to forget it and acting like Dad just broke his leg.”
James then turned to look at me and started crying. We then continued walking home.
“I’m sorry, man,” I said.
James and I arrived home. Lucas was in our house.
“Hey, kids,” he said.
“Hey, where’s our mom?” I asked Lucas.
“She is still at work. She might arrive after midnight. I just came to check on you two.” Lucas then walked out of our house. “See you two later.”
James then walked upstairs. I opened our downstairs closet. I moved the board games and the random blankets out of the way. Behind them was a yellow button. I pressed it. A small area next to the button opened. In it was Dad’s hero outfit.
“For you, Dad,” I said.
I was now on top of a building called Ditko’s Apartments in Downtown Grease City in the Yellow Raccoon outfit. It was three floors tall.
“Oh, crap, dude,” I said to myself. “Andrew, make Dad proud.”
I pulled out a grappling gun and shot it at the building across the street. The hook hooked on a billboard on Terry’s. I took a deep breath and jumped off the building. I swung over traffic and then crashed into the billboard.
“Made it,” I said to myself.
A gunshot was heard. It was from inside. I jumped off the roof and landed on my feet.
In Terry’s was a masked robber aiming a pistol at the employees.
“Give me the money,” the robber yelled. “That was a warning shot.”
I looked at the man’s left wrist. On it was the lion tattoo. I walked inside and ran towards the man. I punched him. He aimed his pistol at me. I grabbed it and dismantled it.
“You like shooting people’s parents?” I yelled.
“How do you know what happened?” he asked.
“I saw you shoot a man as his son watched!”
“Then, why didn’t you do anything?”
I was now frustrated. I threw him out of Terry’s onto the sidewalk. The police arrived. The officers walked out of their cars. Two of them walked up to the robber.
“Thank you, Y. R.” An officer walked up to me. “We’ve been trying to catch that guy for weeks. I’m Commissioner Eric Jefferson of the Grease City Police Department.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his right hand.
“Well, I better get going.” Jefferson then walked off.
I then arrived home. Mom was sitting on the couch.
“Where were you?” she asked in disgust.
“Fighting crime,” I responded calmly.
“I arrived home and noticed you weren’t in the living room, the kitchen, your room, or anywhere in the house.”
“I just want to make Dad proud, but I got the man that shot him!”
I took off the helmet, goggles, and face mask.
“Andrew, I understand what you’re going through, but you need to let Lucas do the job while your dad is in recovery.”
A knock was received at the door.
“Go upstairs, change, and go to bed,” Mom demanded.
I ran upstairs into my room. I layed on my bed and put the covers over my head.
“Hey, Andrew,” a familiar voice said.
I put the covers off of my head and saw Lucas in front of me.
“Hey, Lucas,” I said.
“I knew about you fighting the robber that shot your old man,” he said. “I went to your house to talk to you. I understand that you want to be like your father, but you need to focus on school and your driver’s ed.”
“I just wanted revenge.”
“Revenge is sometimes not the answer. Back in 2006, when I was your age, I wanted to kill the man that killed my father, so I trained myself to be an archer for two years. I soon found the man. As I aimed my bow at his face, I noticed that the man had a daughter. I couldn’t kill him, so I did the logical thing – I told him to turn himself into the police. He is currently serving his time for four years in prison. His ex-wife took custody of his daughter.”
“The man I went after didn’t have a child.”
“You don’t know that – right when you left, I walked by Terry’s and saw a boy looking for his dad. He told me what he looked like – blue eyes and a lion tattoo. You should get some sleep.”
Lucas then got out of my room as I felt bad.
Chapter 4: Graduation Is Here
May 29th was finally here. It was the day I finally graduated. I was at the Daryl Oates High School graduation ceremony with Jolene. Our parents took a picture of me and Jolene in our high school graduation suits. Mom’s parents were also there, and so were Dad’s parents.
“Mein Gott, you are finally an adult.” Grandma Waltz hugged me. “Sorry about your papa.”
“I’m glad that we flew all the way from Coyote Hill to see my grandson graduate,” Grandpa Fairon said.
“Are you thinking of getting a job?” Jolene asked me.
“I was thinking of working for Taylor Press,” I said. “Mom has been stressed since Dad got shot. I need to help pay the bills.”
“Jolene, over here,” Jolene’s friend called out.
“See you later, Andrew.” Jolene then walked off.
I then walked to James, Mom, her parents, and Dad’s parents. Mom was on the phone.
Grandpa Fairon walked up to me. “I’m proud of the next Yellow Raccoon.”
“Your son doesn’t think that I’m ready,” I told him.
“Okay, we’ll be there,” Mom said before hanging up the phone. “Andrew, we have to head to the hospital.”
James, Mom, her parents, Dad’s parents, and I arrived in Dad’s room in the hospital.
“Hey, kids,” Dad said. “Congrats, Andrew. Uh…all of you…go get something. Andrew, Dad, and I are going to talk.”
“Okay,” Mom said.
James, Mom, Grandma Fairon, and Mom’s parents left the room as Grandpa Fairon and I walked up to Dad.
“I’ve been thinking about what you did the other day,” Dad whispered. “I think you are ready. I am proud of you.”
“Mike has been telling me about what you did after he was injured,” Grandpa Fairon said to me. “Your great-grandfather, Peter Fairon, was your age when he began fighting Nazi spies in Coyote Hill in 1941. He wore his father’s World War One outfit and added goggles to it. He even met President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Commander Eagle in 1942 before fighting in World War Two.”
“Before fighting in the Vietnam War, Dad over here met Richard Nixon in 1970,” Dad revealed. “He also met Ronald Reagan in 1988.”
“You fought alongside Task Force Blue in the Iraq War in 2002,” I said. “Mom and I lived in Munich, Germany.”
“Mike, how are you?” A man with a gritty British accent walked in the room.
The man wore a blue business suit and had a goatee.
“Who are you?” I asked the man.
“Joseph Connery, agent of the Support National Organization. I came here to visit your father. I led Task Force Blue.”
“S.N.O., the anti-terrorist organization?” I questioned. “Grandpa told me about you guys. The organization was formed during the formation of NATO in 1949.”
“Connery, I’m talking to my father and my son, dude,” Dad said. “Get out of the room. This is private.”
“Let me know when y’all are done,” Connery told me as he walked out.
“Now, Andrew, you have proven that you are ready,” Dad said. “A hero may not get what he deserves, even after stopping a serious problem. People like you don’t ask for much. No reward. No reputation. You keep fighting for those who need help. You guys should catch up with the others.”
Dad’s speech moved and motivated me. Grandpa Fairon and I got up and walked outside of the room. Connery was waiting outside the room.
“You can go talk to him,” I told him.
Connery then walked in the room as Grandpa Fairon and I walked off.
Chapter 5: Job Hunting Is Easy For A Fairon
June 4th was here. I was walking around Grease City with James and looking for a job. I was carrying around my resume.
“My birthday is in two days,” James said.
“Can’t wait,” I happily commented. “You’ll be sixteen.”
“There are a couple of jobs you can work at. Terry’s. Marshall’s Comic Books. Lil Julius.”
James and I stopped at a newspaper stand. The guy at the stand gave a newspaper to me. I then gave a dollar to him. An ad from Taylor Press in the newspaper caught my attention.
HELP WANTED. WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOOD FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AT TAYLOR PRESS.
“I think I already found a job,” I told James.
“Really?” James questioned. “What?”
“Taylor Press – they are looking for photographers.”
James and I walked into the Taylor Press building. I walked in front of the woman at the front desk.
“Uh, hi, I’m here for a job,” I said to her.
“Sit down,” she said. “Tim will be with you in a moment. Name please?”
“Andrew Fairon.”
James and I sat near the front desk.
“Why are they needing photographers?” James asked.
“Maybe because they are running low,” I answered.
“Andrew Fairon?” the woman at the front desk yelled.
“Wish me luck,” I told James.
“Fifth floor, room 504,” the woman said.
I went to the elevator and pressed the button to the fifth floor. I arrived at Timmy Taylor’s office.
“Uh, Timmy Taylor?” I questioned.
“Yes,” he answered.
“I’m here for a job,” I said.
I gave my resume to Taylor. He began reading it.
Name
ANDREW MIDAS FAIRON
Profile
I WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 2ND, 2002, IN GREASE CITY. I WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER CLUB AT DARYL OATES HIGH SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS. I TOOK PICTURES FOR ITS NEWSPAPERS WHILE ALSO WORKING ON MY JOURNALISM.
Address
154 BLUE OYSTER STREET, GREASE CITY, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Taylor looked at me and then at the resume.
“You’re hired,” he said. “You do the photography while one does the journalism.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said.
“You start this Tuesday,” he then added.
I walked out of his office. A woman then walked up to me.
“You are now the new guy,” she said.
“Uh, yeah,” I replied.
“I’m Laura Calvo. Welcome to Taylor Press.”
“Andrew Fairon.”
“You’re the kid whose father was shot?”
“Uh, yeah, want to hang out sometime? I was hoping to make new friends.”
“Sure. What’s your phone number?” Laura pulled out her phone.
“It’s 272 313-6099,” I revealed.
“Okay, got it. See you later.” Laura then walked off.
Chapter 6: First Bad Guy
June 8th arrived. The Grease City Festival was here, celebrating two hundred and thirty-one years after the city’s founding. Dad was with me, James, Jolene, Laura, and Mom. He had crutches to help walk. We all walked around Downtown Grease City.
“Glad you are out of the hospital, Dad,” James said.
“My leg should finish healing in a week,” Dad replied.
“I’m going to get a cheeseburger.” I walked to Terry’s.
A loud laugh was heard. I stopped walking and looked up into the sky. A man in a mechanical suit wearing a mask resembling a phoenix with huge mechanical wings flew by. The phoenix mask wearing man threw a gray ball near Terry’s. The ball began beeping.
“It’s a bomb,” I yelled.
The gray ball left a big explosion. Everyone in the Grease City Festival panicked and either ran away or hid.
“Grease City!” the phoenix mask wearing man yelled. “Where is Yellow Raccoon?”
I ran into an alleyway and quickly changed into my Yellow Raccoon outfit. I soon ran out in the middle of Downtown Grease City.
“Hey, man,” I shouted at the phoenix mask wearing villain. “Who are you? Evil Icarus?”
“The name is Gray Phoenix,” he said, “and you will die.”
Gray Phoenix landed on the ground.
“Okay, let’s go.” I swung the first punch.
Gray Phoenix dodged and punched me back into a window at Terry’s.
“A hell of a punch,” I commented as I got back up.
Gray Phoenix walked up to me and then swung his fist at me. I dodged and uppercutted his face, pushing him back. Gray Phoenix charged at me. I grabbed him and threw him onto the sidewalk. He turned towards me. Blood began dropping out of his mask.
“You win.” Gray Phoenix threw his bomb on the ground. “We’ll meet again!”
Smoke came out of the bomb. Gray Phoenix’s laugh was heard. As the smoke cleared, Gray Phoenix was gone. Jefferson walked up to me.
“What the hell happened?” he asked.
“He calls himself ‘Gray Phoenix’, and has mechanical wings,” I said. “Looks like we have a threat to Grease City.”
I shot my grapple gun at the top of Ditko’s Apartments. The hook catched onto the building. I flew off as I held the grapple gun. I grabbed and pushed myself onto the building.
“Fought your first villain,” a familiar voice said.
I turned around and saw Lucas in his hero outfit.
“White Archer,” I said.
“I saw how you fought,” Lucas said. “I’m impressed. I was about to take care of it.”
“I just wanted to have a normal day. No villains.”
“A hero can’t rest, dude. They fight until crime is no more.”
“I never thought being a hero was hard.”
“Well, I got to head home – you should, too.”
Lucas then jumped off the building. I ran over to the edge of the building and looked over. He was gone.
“What an exit,” I commented.
Three days had passed. Dinner smelled good. I smelled it from downstairs in my room. It was chicken enchiladas, my favorite. Dad was cooking dinner. He learned how to make chicken enchiladas from his mother. Mom then walked into my room.
“Arlington Starling, my client, is coming over for dinner,” she said.
“The head of Starling Industries is coming over?” I replied.
The doorbell then ranged.
“That’s him,” Mom said.
Mom ran downstairs and opened the door. Starling had glasses and brown hair.
“Ah, Mrs. Fairon, hi,” Starling said.
I then walked downstairs.
“Mr. Starling, hello.” I shook his hand.
“Lisa has told me about you and your brother,” Starling said as he then walked in the kitchen. “Hello, Mike.”
“Hey,” Dad said, “congratulations on the court case about your now ex-wife.”
“Thank you,” Starling said.
I then walked into the kitchen.
“I can’t believe the head of Starling Industries is at our house,” I commented.
“You remind me of my son,” Starling replied. “He is your age. Just graduated from Daryl Oates High School.”
Mom, Dad, James, Starling, and I sat at the dining room table with their dinner.
“Have you heard of the Gray Phoenix attacking the Grease City Festival?” Dad asked Starling.
“It is unbelievable and unexpected,” Starling said.
“He almost killed me,” I told him.
“We live in Grease City,” James stated. “Crime happens all the time.”
Everyone then started eating dinner.
Chapter 7: An Interview At Starling Industries
I was driving to Starling Industries near Darin Beach. The building had fifteen floors. I parked in the parking lot and got out of my car. Starling Industries had a lot of scientists from what I saw. I walked inside the building and up to the front desk.
“Hello, I’m here for an interview for Arlington Starling,” I said.
“He’s been waiting for you, Mr. Fairon,” the security guard at the front desk replied. “Floor fifteen.”
I then walked to the elevator and pushed the button to the fifteenth floor.
I arrived at the fifteenth floor. I walked out of the elevator and up to Starling’s desk.
“Andrew, hello,” he said cheerfully.
“Hello, I’m here for the interview,” I said. “I’ll be asking three questions.”
I pulled out my notebook and sat on a chair.
“Okay, ask me your questions,” Starling demanded.
“How did you start this company?”
“I enjoyed technology and science as a kid. I graduated from John Hall University at the age of twenty-two in 1988. When I founded this company in 1989, the U.S. military asked for advanced technology.”
“How did you get to where you are right now?”
“I invested in what I love to do. I was an assistant for many scientists.”
“Last question – what advice do you want to give people that want to be geniuses?”
“Uh…well, whatever you are into, see it as a passion. A gift to be exact.”
I then got up from the chair.
“I think we are done here,” I said. “See you. Have a good day.”
“You too,” Starling replied.
I walked into the elevator and pushed the button to the first floor.
The elevator then stopped at the fourteenth floor. A scientist then walked in and pushed the button to the twelfth floor.
“Are you the reporter?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just finished the interview,” I answered.
The elevator then stopped at the twelfth floor. On this floor were mechanical wings and little jet packs on a desk. The scientist then walked out of the elevator. The elevator doors then closed.
“I think I have a lead,” I muttered.
Chapter 8: Let’s Do This Like James Bond
It was 12:00 AM. I walked on the left side of the building. I picked up a rock and threw it at the security camera. I lockpicked the backdoor and got inside the building. I walked up the stairs to the twelfth floor.
I arrived on the floor six minutes later. A guard was walking by. I ran into a room and hid behind a desk. The guard went to the elevator. The elevator doors then closed. I turned on a flashlight and went through the top left drawer. I found a document and read it.
May 21st, 2021. This log is coming from Dr. Ferdinand. Dr. Starling was ordered by the U.S. military to begin Project Harpy.
May 27th, 2021. Project Harpy is nearing completion. Dr. Starling insisted on injecting the test pilots with an immune serum.
June 2nd, 2021. Dr. Starling insisted on being the first test subject. I injected him with the immune serum. He began having mental breakdowns. His wife Catherine plans on suing him for being abusive to his own son, John. He threatened John to lie at the court case, without the lawyer knowing.
My god, I thought, I need to get these to the public.
I folded the documents into squares and put them in my left jacket pocket. The elevator dinged. I hid behind the desk again. The elevator doors opened. Starling walked by.
“Hello, Gray Phoenix,” he said to his suit. “Let’s cause some destruction.”
I got out from behind the desk and ran towards Starling.
“Don’t!” I yelled.
“How did you get in the building?” Starling asked.
“A raccoon has his ways,” I replied. “Don’t do it. Turn yourself in.”
Starling punched me in the face. I put my hands over my face. Starling quickly put his phoenix mask and jetpack with wings on. He jumped out of the window and activated his jetpack, flying into downtown.
“I’ll take the stairs,” I said.
Chapter 9: It’s The Final Showdown
I arrived in Downtown Grease City. I was relieved not to see Starling anywhere yet.
“Yellow R.” A woman ran up to me. “Have you seen my baby? His name is Cain.”
A laugh was heard. I looked up. Starling was on top of Taylor Press. He was holding a baby.
“Yellow Raccoon!” he yelled out loud.
I pulled out my grapple gun and shot it. The hook catched the top of the building. I grabbed the edge and pulled myself up.
“Gary Phoenix, don’t do this,” I demanded.
“Catch the baby.” Starling threw the baby off the building.
I jumped and dived to the baby. I grabbed the baby and shot the grapple gun at the building. The hook catched the top of the building again. The baby and I were three floors away from the ground.
“The grapple is slowly taking us down,” I said.
“Time to die,” Starling yelled.
Starling started flying right towards me. A crowbar was thrown at him. He missed and flew past me. Everyone in Downtown Grease City started throwing stuff at Starling.
“Hey, leave him alone,” a man yelled. “He’s trying to save a baby!”
“You mess with Yellow Raccoon, you mess with Grease City!” a woman yelled.
Someone threw a rock in Starling’s jetpack. The jetpack malfunctioned. Starling crash-landed on the ground. I safely landed on the ground. The woman ran up to me. I handed the woman’s baby to her.
“Oh, my God, Cain,” the woman cried. “Thank you, Yellow Raccoon.”
The baby was in perfect condition.
“Yellow Raccoon, you’re dead,” Starling shouted.
He got back up. He and I walked towards each other.
“People will fear people like us, people who want respect and rewards,” he then said.
“That reminds me of something someone told me,” I said. “A hero may not get what he deserves, even after stopping a serious problem, but heroes like me don’t ask for much. No reward. No reputation. You keep fighting for those who need help.”
Starling then swung at me. I dodged and punched him in the stomach and then the face. Starling then punched me in the face. He swung at me for the third time. I grabbed his arm and punched him again. Starling fell onto the ground. Police officers ran towards Starling. They took off his mask. Everyone was shocked to see him revealed as Gray Phoenix.
“Yellow Raccoon.” Jefferson walked up to me. “How can a popular guy become a villain?”
I handed the documents to Jefferson. “These will answer your problems.”
I then walked off as Starling was put in a police car.
Chapter 10: Time To Have My Independence
I was moving out. It had been a month since I fought Starling. James and I were putting some boxes of my stuff in my car.
“Can’t believe you’re moving out,” James said.
“Yeah, I know,” I replied. “I’m moving to Ditko’s Apartments. Rent is cheap there.”
“I also can’t believe Arlington Starling was Gray Phoenix.”
“Yeah, the S.N.O. put him in an advanced prison called Svartalfheim Prison in Scotland.”
I then got in my car and drove off. I looked at my left rear view mirror. James was crying. I stopped at a red light and pulled out my phone. I called James. He then answered.
“I saw you crying,” I said.
“I wasn’t,” James said on the phone. “Something was in my eyes.”
“Sure. Tell you what…you can ride your new bike to my place anytime you want. You can even stay if you want to hang out with your brother.”
“Okay.” James started sobbing. “You’re the best damn brother in the world.”
I then started crying. “You are as well. You’re making me cry. You have helped me out through everything I’ve been through.”
“Take care, man.”
James then hung up as I entered Downtown Grease City.
I arrived at Ditko’s Apartments. I walked up to the front desk.
“I’m here for my new apartment,” I told the manager. “Name is Andrew Fairon.”
“Follow me, lad,” the manager said as he got up.
I followed the manager. We walked up the stairs to the third floor. We arrived at room 3B.
“This is your room.” The manager gave a key to me. “Pay your rent once a month.”
“Okay,” I said as I entered my apartment. “Well, time to unpack my stuff.”
It took me twenty minutes to take all the boxes out of the car and to my apartment. Gunshots and screams were heard outside. I quickly changed into my hero outfit. I went outside through the window. I shot my grapple gun at a building and swung into the chaos as the one and only Yellow Raccoon.
Chapter 11: Is This Like A Post-Credit Scene?
December was here. It was a snowy day in Grease City. I was now nineteen. I was with James Jolene in my apartment. She wanted me and James to check her blood sample. James looked at her blood sample through the microscope.
“So, what’s wrong with me?” Jolene asked worryingly.
“There are orange spots,” James answered as he looked at Jolene.
“How long have you been feeling…weird?” I asked.
“After James’ sixteenth birthday party at Tobias’ Corner,” she answered. “My parents told me that we’ve inherited it since World War Two.”
I accidently knocked an empty soda can off the table. I then blinked. Jolene was now holding the empty can in her hand.
“How did you get that so fast?” I asked.
“I…went fast,” Jolene just said.
“Andrew Fairon,” a voice called out.
A superhero-dressed man walked into my apartment through my window. The man’s helmet resembled that of an eagle.
“I need to get a lock for that window,” I commented.
“I’m Jack Shuster, also known as Independent Eagle,” the man said.
I was shocked to see Jack in my apartment. Dad told me about him. His great-grandfather fought in World War Two as the original Commander Eagle.
“What are you doing here from Arlington Bay, New York?” Jolene asked.
“I need the Yellow Raccoon’s help,” Jack revealed.
“Why me?” I asked.
“There’s a threat on our way,” he replied.
“Wait, you’re Yellow Raccoon?” Jolene excitedly questioned me.
“Yes,” James and I replied.
