by A. E. Lucky
***
Since I've strategically cut off the story there to create tension--because I'm a real jerk that way--why don't we grind some gears as we transition into a different scene?
Doctor Red made the final adjustments on his invention--one last twist of the screwdriver--before he hefted it into the air in triumph.
"Finally! My diabolical weapon is finished! With this, I shall roast him to a tender crisp!"
He burst into a bout of maniacal laughter. Then cradling it in his hands like a brand new toy, he studied it thoughtfully.
"But why limit myself to just burning him? Why not give him a taste of the other end of the heat spectrum? Why not turn him into a frosty popsicle?"
Smiling wickedly at the thought, he set the flamethrower on the worktable and rummaged underneath it for parts to create his next weapon.
"I have to wonder though," he said thoughtfully as he spread the parts on the worktable, "what's taking him so long? It shouldn't take two weeks to cause chaos and ruin Superkid! He should have been here already."
He reached for a small tank with his left hand and snatched up his miniature welding gun with his right. As he lowered the gun to begin welding the tank, he smiled and said to himself, "But why am I complaining? I have more time to work on my weapons and prepare for his arrival." And with one last evil laugh, he began torching.
Seems like the malevolent doctor is having a pretty good time. The same could not be said for the two Superkids. Superkid-mania was still in full swing. School was cancelled, much to the kids' delight, so that the town could focus on testing the duplicates to see which of them was the real Superkid. This meant running, jumping, memorizing, creative writing (oh, the pain!), sculpting, painting and on and on. The two of them were being run ragged.
"I'm about ready to say I'm the clone just to get this over with," one of the Superkids said half-jokingly. He turned to his twin and saw that his brows were furrowed and his mouth was turned down into a frown.
"Are you okay?" he asked, momentarily forgetting they were enemies.
The other shook his head but not to Superkid's question. Then he smacked his knee in frustration. "It doesn't make sense! Every time I try to reason it out, I always come up with the same result! No matter how I try to explain it, I always come back to the one answer that makes the most sense! But it doesn't make sense!"
"What are you talking about?"
Before the other could explain, the mayor suddenly appeared and announced in a grand voice that the two of them were going to have a dance-off, which invoked a ground-shaking cheer from the audience. The Superkids gave each other looks and rolled their eyes, then followed the mayor out onto the dance floor.
After the dance-off--which ended in a tie, as it would--there were more and more tests. Superkid was getting more and more exhausted, but he noticed that his duplicate was looking more than just tired. He seemed preoccupied with thoughts--evident when he suddenly looked up in shock to find that Superkid had just beaten him.
"And this Superkid wins the pop-guzzling contest!" roared the mayor, raising this Superkid's hand into the air amidst cheers. Superkid glanced distractedly at the other distracted Superkid, and when the mayor dropped his arm, he walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"You better start paying attention if you're going to prove to them that you're the real Superkid."
The other blinked in surprise. Then he snapped, "Am I though?"
The first Superkid jumped at his duplicate's outburst. Then he asked, "What do you mean?"
"It was the Vampire who was about to knock me unconscious, but I somehow ended up with Doctor Red! And he didn't even realize I was there! It doesn't make sense!"
Superkid rolled his eyes thoughtfully. But before he could come up with anything, the mayor walked onto the stage and took the microphone.
"Attention, people! Attention! I have an announcement to make."
He waited until everyone had quieted down. He nodded and then continued, "We have tested these two Superkids relentlessly in our determination to determine the real Superkid... we haven't had satisfactory results so far..."
Both Superkids groaned and collapsed backwards into their chairs. The mayor gave them a second's glance and then turned back to the audience.
"But we have exciting news! Mrs. Terrel has just finished a second Superkid costume! Which means now they can come face to face with each other in hand-to-hand combat!"
The audience cheered. The Superkids gave each other "uh-oh" looks.
"Starting tomorrow at 1:00, in the town square, everyone is invited to watch these two duke it out! They will be fighting each other for the ultimate prize: proof that they are the real Superkid!"
The audience roared their approval. The Superkids gave each other "we're doomed" looks.