Just Another Job

by Casey Peterson

  “Watch the language. I'm not a Super,” said Chris. He flipped off his shoes into the entryway cubby and pushed through his daughter's enthusiasm with a quick kiss on the head.

  “What happened!?” asked Gerry, with even more energy than his sister.

  “Don't hold back,” said Sadie, who reached around her children to grab her husband for a hug and kiss that expressed all the terror conjured in her heart from waiting for him to walk through the front door.

  Chris hurried through his story, being self-aware not to embellish as he would normally. Guilt gnawed on his conscience nonetheless. Louise had a volleyball tournament and kissed her father proudly goodbye once he was done. Gerry was out the door next to play with a neighbor and likely boast of his father's new job without the restraint Chris had. This left Sadie with him and the chance for more than just a flavorless story about his day.

  “You're upset about something. What really happened?” asked Sadie.

  “It was my fault the girl was in danger. I had her in my arms and stopped to watch. I couldn't look away.”

  “It's not your fault – ”

  “What if it was Louise? This girl already had a hard enough life fighting cancer and then she gets killed by a would-be hero's stupid indecision. We could have easily made it inside.” He cried and choked out the next words. “I stopped.”

  “It is your fault. You're right.” Chris looked up at Sadie. She was serious. He was stabbed in the heart and his brain stumbled over her reasoning. “But you know what you did was wrong and you can do something different next time. It wasn't Louise and the girl was safe. You’re safe.” She cried, but her words came out clear. “And you better remember. You need to remember to be different next time. Cause it’s not fair to your family, to me; to do something like that again.”

  “You're mad at me?”

  “Yes, and I should be. You've put your family in jeopardy twice now. You lost your job to save – not even save – to help a boy with a broken leg. And then almost lose your life for a girl you tried to save. You can't keep doing this. It's not your job.”

  “What if it is now? Do I quit?”

  “Maybe. You're supposed to be a secretary or something. I don't what it's called, but it involves writing, not this extra stuff. They’re the heroes. They don't get hurt or die. Leave it to them.”

  “Erik officially made me into their sidekick. He said it's mostly symbolic. I'm to show up and not get in the way when something happens, but I need to be there for the reporters and image of it all. He said something about Frank too.”

  Sadie slammed her palm in his shoulder. “How could you? That’s even worse. You’re just a sidekick charade.”

  “How could I not? You just said I have to make it different next time. I'm still writing and documenting what happens.”

  “I meant not make the same choice to risk your life.” Chris pulled her into a hug but she pushed him back. “No, this discussion’s not over.”

  “How do you want to finish this? Do you want me to quit? They're giving me a raise and more time off. I thought that's what you wanted? Me here more.”

  “I do. But if it means when you're not here you might not come back, then no.”

  “I promise I’ll be different. I can't stop again like I did. You’re right. It's not fair to you or Louise or Gerry. It's also not fair of you to stop me. I need you to push me to go.”

  “It is fair for me to ask you to stop. You can't do this forever.”

  “But I can do it now.”

  “It's your decision.” She stopped talking and looked away from him for the first time since they started arguing.

  “I think...” He didn't want to say it. He wanted her to agree with him and it to be over. “I think I need to do this. This might be what I am. Maybe I was meant to save and protect people.”

  Sadie looked back up at him, surprised that he finished the decision on his own. She wanted to keep fighting with him, wanted to stay mad, but instead she said, “You better not fucking die on us.”

  Chris made his way close to her again. Sadie wrapped her arms high around his neck and sobbed into his chest. A few more tears slipped out of Chris as well. He then made a stupid joke. Sadie hit him, but softer than before. They stood there for a while until Sadie wiped her eyes on Chris’s shirt and kissed him. The kissing continued to their bedroom. Even though Sadie had proclaimed repeatedly she hated the idea of make-up sex there was no way that was going to get in the way of them right now. Besides, when Chris would call her out on it after, she would deny it all. But whatever circumstances pushed them into bed, it just seemed right.

  The tension wasn’t really from the argument they had, but from the horrible possibilities that ran through Sadie’s head of what could have happened to Chris. He imagined she needed to forget them and not allow any new ones to rise up. Chris was in a similar state of mind. He just wanted to forget everything and enjoy being home.

  A quick shower and Chris was ready for a nap, but as he passed by his phone and automatically pressed the home button he realized before reading the text message what it would say.

  “Where the hell are you?” from Frank. A couple more flattering remarks were left by the friend Chris ditched in all the excitement of the day. The driver of the SUV took Chris home after orders from Erik. Chris didn't think to text Frank. Chris’s mind was stuck on a loop, playing back the helicopter crash over and over the whole way home. But here and now, all his thoughts were on his family.

  Chris typed into his phone a vague excuse. He felt better, but knew Frank would push for more information. It would wait till tomorrow. Frank dealt better with a face to face and it would give Chris time to think about how to break the news.

  Chapter Nine

  Frank pulled up to Chris's house honking before he even stopped the truck. Chris bustled for his things nervously and ran outside.

  “What the hell?” said Frank.

  “Morning,” said Chris.

  “Don't morning me you little shit. I heard what happened. It's not fucking fair. I’m the one who took you out there and got the job. I was made to do this. I can punch harder than you, run faster; I’m in better shape. God!”

  “You can’t run faster than me. Besides, it’s just a title. I'm not going to really do anything different. I still have my notepad.” Chris dangled an imaginary set of paper in front of Frank to try to end the conversation. “Erik did mention you – “

  “I'm going up to Erik. I need to be out in the field too. I can kick ass and be tech support. Fuck!”

  “This isn't the army. Relax. There’s no field or super villains’ asses to kick.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “God, I wish I was there. Carmen took fucking forever to get the program. It was like working with a baby. Holding her hand the whole time.”

  “Hey, are we still on for barbecue this weekend? What do you want us to bring?”

  “We should get Super suits just like Klaus and Johnykin, but not so lame.”

  “You too busy saving the world in your head to have a B-B-Q?” asked Chris

  “Yes the barbecue’s still happening. Did I say it wasn't? Bring the dessert like you normally do. Stop asking stupid questions.”

  Complaints burst out of Frank through the rest of the ride and up until the front door of the labs. As soon as Frank pushed through the entrance, as he promised, he ditched Chris to look for Erik.

  Chris plodded his way to the A1 lab, trying to keep his head down in case someone might stop him to talk about yesterday. He smiled slightly and imagined what he would say, but no one noticed him.

  At his desk, Chris pulled out his notepad. The hospital scene hadn't been documented into the computer and he knew Erik would reprimand him if it wasn't finished first thing today. Chris looked up and tried to take in the entire giant lab while the computer booted. No one was around to distract him. He began typing.

  Two hours passed and Chris was still typing the
details of Klaus and Johnykin's heroics in as great of detail as possible when Frank showed up. Frank was smiling, overly happy. Chris still labored with his writing. He wanted it to be as memorable as yesterday was.

  “Hey,” said Chris.

  “‘Hey?’ Hey yourself.”

  “What?”

  Frank glared across the desk then pulled the cord out of Chris's monitor.

  “What the hell?” said Chris. “I was working. I hadn't saved it in a while.”

  “It's just the monitor. You never pay attention.”

  Chris plugged the cord back in and looked around Frank's desk for something to upset.

  “Bring it,” said Frank.

  Chris still couldn't find anything good to do to get back at Frank, so Chris copied Frank and pulled the monitor plug out of his computer.

  “My computer's not even on,” said Frank and laughed. Chris tried to put his eyes on the keyboard to begin working again. Frank got up from his chair, stepped around to Chris's side of the desk, knocked the keyboard onto the ground, and sat on his desk.

  “Come on!” said Chris.

  “Erik upgraded me. He mentioned it was already a plan to bring me in. But I still went in there and told his little pansy ass that I’m the best choice he’s got. We’re going to get uniforms. They better look awesome. Oh yeah. You’re officially Johnykin's sidekick. I thought you'd like that. I'm working with Klaus.”

  “You mean, be Klaus's sidekick?”

  “Fuck that. I'm his partner. He might be my sidekick once we get going.”

  “You're ridiculous, man. Are you going to give yourself super powers next ? I recommend super-humility.” Chris picked up his keyboard as Frank got off his desk.

  “Sure. And you will be granted super-testosterone, so you can finally grow into a man,” said Frank.

  Chris continued the matching of wits. “Super-hair dyeing skills.”

  “Super-stand-up-comedian.”

  “Super-shitty beer drinker.”

  “Super-ambulance driver.”

  “Super-inappropriate use of company time-er.”

  “Alright, alright,” said Frank, bowing to the winner.

  “Anything else you managed to get out of Erik I should know of?” asked Chris.

  “He has an engineer that’s gonna start developing specific tools and shit we can take in the field.”

  “Like Alfred?”

  “Alfred was a butler. He didn’t make anything. You’re thinking of Q from James Bond.”

  “Alfred made… Batman’s bed. Where are we supposed to be going? The hospital was like a charity thing.”

  “Erik was given orders to start sending Klaus and Johnykin out on patrol. He wanted to do more testing, but his boss thinks they’re ready to go.”

  “What? Are we working for the military?”

  “The government dumb ass. So kind of, yes.”

  Chris stared at Frank. “What the hell did you sign me up for?”

  Frank stared back. “You started this yesterday by saving that girl. Don't give me that shit that I made you do anything.”

  Chris spun his chair away from Frank as if to talk to himself. “Sadie is already pissed at me. She's going to be furious when she hears we have to go out on patrol. What does that mean; patrol? I’m not ready to do this every day. I thought it would be like once a month or something.”

  “You proved yourself, already. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m the one not ready. I want to do this, but I’ve got to prove I can.” Frank turned back to his desk and sat down. He turned the computer on and clicked his way through the internet.

  Lunchtime came and neither Erik nor anyone else came over to check on Chris and Frank. They went out for sandwiches and on the way back Frank brought up another perk of their new titles, getting access to the Fun Room at any time. Frank suggested they get in a workout since it had been a while for both of them, but as soon as they stepped back in to the lab Erik popped up.

  “That was a long lunch,” said Erik. “I hope it wasn't anything too heavy. Head over to the Fun Room. Walt is waiting for you.”

  “Tally Ho, Field Master,” said Frank, and led the way.

  “Who's Walt?” asked Chris, catching up to Frank.

  “The engineer, remember? You never listen to me.”

  “You didn't say his name. How am I supposed to know?”

  “I don't care. Come on.” Frank opened the door to the Fun Room and grabbed Chris's shoulder to force him through.

  The same weights and toys that Chris saw Johnykin and Klaus train with were present along with a man in his early twenties wearing the standard lab coat of every other real employee of Timely National Labs. Frank walked past Chris to shake hands first with Walt Kurtzman. Walt smiled at the bold, firm greeting from Frank and introduced himself to Chris with an equally pleasing smile across a round face that made Chris picture a child.

  “I've worked for the labs for just five years now,” said Walt now with a bashful smile. “I was really surprised Mr. Lee wanted me to work on this project, especially under such short notice.”

  “It means you're good at what you do,” said Frank. Chris looked sideways at his friend for the first compliment Chris had probably ever heard out of Frank's mouth.

  “Yep. So what did you want to see us for?” said Chris.

  “Right. Erik actually wanted me to go over your suits,” said Walt. “I didn't design them, but I'm pretty familiar with the technology behind it.” Walt took them over to a corner with two dummies wearing the new Super suits. Chris laughed out loud and then louder after seeing Frank’s disappointed face.

  The uniforms consisted of a thick, black padded vest much like a baseball umpire would wear; shin, knee, thigh, and forearm protectors that furthered the baseball look; leather gloves and a black helmet akin to a biker gang member but still fitting with the baseball theme.

  “What the fuck is that?” said Frank.

  “Um, well they’re just prototypes right now,” said Walt. “I'm going to be redesigning them based on the technology that’s already there.”

  “What technology?” said Chris.

  “We're going to look like we just got kicked out of a little league game,” said Frank. He stepped up to the dummy and punched the padded chest. “I could get this technology at Dick's Sporting Goods.”

  “It looks safe,” said Chris.

  “It’s very and will be even safer when I'm done with it,” said Walt, with only half of his previous smile.

  “Oh shit. I'm going to look like an asshole next to Klaus,” said Frank.

  “I need you to try them on now. They should fit fine, but Erik wants you ready to go as soon as possible,” said Walt.

  Chris and Frank awkwardly slipped into the uniforms with Walt's advice on which buckle went where. When it was done, it was obvious to everyone, including the still smiling Walt, that Chris and Frank looked like second rate stunt doubles.

  Frank slunk his shoulders and tried not to look at Walt's face in case he might punch him in it. Chris bounced on his toes and admired the bulkiness.

  “I look ripped,” said Chris, and punched Frank in the chest. “Oh ho, there's padding in the gloves. I didn't even feel that.”

  Frank punched Chris hard between his shoulder and bicep where there was no protection. Chris grabbed the spot in pain. “Yeah, it didn't hurt me either,” said Frank.

  Chris kicked Frank in the shin, which forced Frank to retaliate and started a semi-playful pummeling. Walt looked on with a dumbfounded expression.

  Then a voice echoed through the speakers in the Fun Room, “This isn’t ‘Fight Club’ for girls. You have work to do. Klaus and Johnykin are waiting for you simpletons.”

  Chris stopped and looked up at the ceiling. “They have cameras in here?”

  “They have cameras everywhere,” said Frank, and shoved Chris to complete their rumble.

  Earlier, Chris couldn't find a soul when walking through the A1 lab, but now everyone was in a
ttendance to watch the two-man parade.

  “It's the bottom of the fifth with two runs out,” said Neal. “I'm only being light hearted. Humor will help ease the tension I see developing across your faces. And another reminder, I need to see both of you after today's patrol. I need to evaluate where your stress levels are post duty.”

  “You two look amazing,” said Carla with a cheerful wave. “Have fun out there if you can. I wish I could join you.”

  “Be safe,” said Art, standing next to his wife. “And I have to say one joke. It's not to be cruel, but while you're out there call a fair game.”

  Carmen held a test tube and waved it as they passed, forgetting the liquid inside that spilled all over her lab coat.

  Alex walked away from his computer long enough to take in the commotion too. “I like the black,” he said and disappeared.

  Erik greeted them outside with his top lip curled in a dubious smile. Chris waited for something sarcastic to come out of Erik's mouth, but with Frank holding back steam from shooting out his ears Erik stayed quiet. This ended up being a better tactic than Chris at first realized, because the silence proved worse than any comment Erik could make. Frank shoved Chris in the back to move ahead to the SUV and then positioned himself face to face with Erik.

  As Chris got into the backseat he watched Frank tower over Erik. The back of Frank's head and tensed shoulders said everything that Chris couldn't hear. Of course Erik playfully talked back as if this was the show he had planned all along and Frank was merely reading off the script Erik supplied. It was only a minute's worth of back and forth before Frank stomped his way to the SUV. Chris slid over the leather seats to allow Frank to take his place. Thoughts to calm Frank down or lighten the mood flickered through Chris's head. None of them seemed likely to work.

  The driver didn't give much wait time either. He headed out of the parking lot as soon as they were buckled in, which confused Chris. “Wait. What about Johnykin and Klaus?”

  “They're already there. Don't worry. I'm sure nothing exciting's happened yet,” said the driver.