All American Girl looked up into the horrible, grinning face of the Atomic Jack-O-Lantern.  He didn’t speak.  He just stared at her with that frightful face and glowed with the radioactive energy that was even now, draining away her life energy.  Suddenly a blue and white streak hit the Jack-O-Lantern in the chest, knocking him away.  Stella took a deep breath and tried to refocus her vision.  She was so weak that it was difficult to even move up into a sitting position, but she could slowly feel the energy returning to her muscles.  A minute later the blue and white streak was back.  Standing over her like a blonde goddess was Skygirl.

“No fricking way,” said Stella.

“Here, let me help you up.”

“I can get up myself.”  Stella climbed to her feet.  Her knees felt like overcooked pasta.  “Where’s glow boy?”

“He’s gone.”  Skygirl brushed her honey hair back behind her ear.  “I hit him three or four times, but then he just kind of blinked and disappeared.”

“Yeah, he does that,” said Stella, looking sidelong at the other super.  “You don’t have your boots on.”

“I was just out for a walk,” said Skygirl.  “You know, in my secret identity.”

“Your what?”

“My secret identity.”

“You’re Linda Ford,” said Stella.

“Shh.  Not so loud.”

“It’s not a secret.  Anybody can Google you and find it.  It’s at the top of your Wikipedia page.”

“What are you so upset about?”

Stella put her hands on her hips.  

“Well first of all, my home got knocked down, and all my stuff is gone.  Then a glowing excuse for a Halloween costume tried to kill me, and you let him get away.”

“We’ll get him next time.”

“We?  There is no we.  There’s just me—me and Chicago—my kind of town.”

Southside Office Building;

Conference Room;

“The last of the warheads are armed, Boss,” said Steve.

“Very good,” replied Professor Destruction.  “If only those super-powered morons were half as efficient at killing All American Girl…”

“Let me do it.”

“You, Steve?  You?  You don’t have superpowers and you don’t have my intellect.  She’d use your bones to pick her teeth.

“I can do it.  It’s not about superpowers.  It’s about applying the force necessary, where it’s needed.  I know what to do.”

“Interesting,” replied Destruction.  “It seems that some of me may have rubbed off on you.”

“Have I ever let you down, Boss?”

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Steve answered.

“Then, no.  No, you haven’t let me down.”  Destruction peeled off his sports jacket, letting Steve catch it and hang it up.  Then he began climbing into his personal battle gear.  “Very well, Steve.  She’s all yours.  Don’t fail me.”

Skygirl, carrying two secretaries rescued from atop the Aon Center, dropped to the pavement in front of the command post.  Professional EMS and volunteers from all over the city were setting up a network of first aid tents, shelters and information stations.  She started to take off again, but a police captain came running toward her.

“Skygirl!”

“Yes, Captain?”

“I have a message for you from the Pentagon.  They left a number for you to call.  You can use the satellite phone in there.”

He pointed toward a large green tent next to the white first aid station.

“Thanks.”  She let him guide her.  “Have you heard where All American Girl is?”

“No.”

“Behemoth?”

He shook his head.

“Dynagirl?”

“I’m sorry.  The Atomic Twins are on the East Side.  The boy is injured.  Other than that, I don’t have any information on any of the supers.”

“Alright, thanks.”  They stepped inside and Linda dialed the number given to her.

“Hello,” she said when the other end of the line was picked up.  “This is Skygirl.”

“Skygirl honey, it’s good to hear you.  This is the Secretary a’ Defence.”

“Yes sir.  What can I do for you?”

“Girl, the Justice Brigade is goin’ on a mission, and they’re a little undermanned.  Captain Hero said you might be willin’ to join on.”

“Yes sir,” replied Linda.  

“How fast can ya’ll get down to Cape Kennedy?”

“Forty-nine minutes, sir.  I’ll leave right now.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear.”