by Sapphire

I wasn’t too thrilled when I remembered yesterday that I was supposed to act as an escort for a visiting diplomat this weekend. It’s another one of those things you never think about when you become a superhero. You have all sorts of public obligations that may get in the way of what you really want to do. Like stay in on your one day off and watch movies with your girlfriends while eating popcorn and mooning over how romantic those old black and white movies were.

Instead, you get a call from Defender reminding you to get up and out of bed - way too early in the morning - and get yourself over to City Hall where Mayor Biselle is greeting a bunch of foreign dignitaries.

You see, this year Millennium City is hosting the International Interspecies Conference. This is the gathering where the Manimals, the Atlanteans, the Resident Aliens, the Sasquatches, the Fae (when they bother to show up), and countless other groups all get together and complain – I mean, talk – about their concerns with human government. Of course there will be tons of human officials here as well. We local superheroes are supposed to double as tour guides and bodyguards for the various dignitaries.

So, I stumbled my way out of bed, grabbed a quick breakfast (always remember to eat) and made myself look presentable. Witchcraft and Defender picked me up and Defender gave me the lowdown.

“Witchcraft and I will be escorting the RAs,” – this is what we call all the various Aliens who have made their home on Earth, Resident Aliens, “since they’ll have a lot more questions than most. Plus, one of them this time is Hzeel.”

“Right,” I said, glad I wasn’t stuck with them.

“Ironclad will be escorting the UN representative. Being an RA and a MilCity resident, he should give them a useful perspective,” Defender said.

“You’re always so good and so conscientious,” I told him.

He gave me a tight smile. “It’s my job.”

Witchcraft lightly rested her hand on his knee as he drove. “He thinks all the world rests on his shoulders.”

“Doesn’t it?” he asked her.

“It does. But never alone. I’m here to help you.”

“Ick. Guys, I understand why Kinetik won’t drive with you two anymore,” I complained. Secretly though, I confess, I was kind of envious. I used to think Defender was cute – heck, I still think he’s cute. Thankfully, nothing ever came of that. Can you imagine how awful that would have been? Him so serious and me…. not. Anyway. He and Witchcraft are a great match. But still, they don’t have to rub it in with those of us remaining in single land.

“Kinetik,” Defender continued, “will be showing around the Sasquatch. Dr. Silverback kindly volunteered to show around the Manimals, of course. Mayte and a few of her people will also be doing escort duty.”

“Sounds great. You don’t even need me.”

“Actually, you’ll be escorting the Atlantean delegate,” Defender told me.

“Queen Mara’s here?”

I’d never had a chance to meet the legendary lady and former superheroine. I’d hear a lot about her. In fact, you might say I was a fan. From way back, when I was a little kid, I loved her. I thought her story of fleeing a usurper, becoming a superhero, falling in love with a superhero, and then regaining her kingdom was so romantic. Plus, she was tough as nails and beautiful to boot. Exactly what I always wanted to be. I nearly went into a fangirl faint when Defender told me I was escorting the Atlantean delegate.

Witchcraft giggled. That should have been my first clue.

“Not precisely.” Even Defender was grinning.

“What?” I asked, with dawning, horrible suspicion.

“Prince Marus will be representing the Atlantean Interest at this conference,” Defender said.

Prince Marus. The playboy prince. Handsome and charming. Womanizing media darling. Who, when asked who he thought the best up and coming superheroes were, did not mention me. Who, when asked point blank by a reporter what he thought of me, said, “Oh, the little songbird with a fondness for blue? She’s a pretty little thing, but certainly nothing formidable.”

Nothing formidable. Pretty little songbird. He may have been the son of my favoritest superhero ever, but that was inexcusable.

“Sapphire? Saph?” Witchcraft was saying. Apparently she’d been trying to get my attention for a while. “You all right?”

“She’s in raptures of delight,” Defender said.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re joking, right?”

“Nope. You seemed the best suited to handle him. There will be paparazzi trying to snap photos of him. He’ll also have fans trying to get close. Of all of us, you’re the best equipped to handle those problems.”

It was logical. “But – It will just drive the paparazzi even wilder to see us together. And his fans plus my fans will make a horrible crowd! Kinetik would be better. He can pick him up and run them out of there too fast for anyone else to keep up.”

“I have confidence in you,” Defender said. “And Kinetik is busy.”

“Great.”

“Just keep him safe for five days. That’s all I ask,” Defender said.

“It won’t be that bad,” Witchcraft chimed in. “There will be all sorts of official functions he has to go to. Besides, there will be plenty of supervillains ready to grab any opportunity they see to create mischief with this group. You may be too busy to even talk to Prince Marus.”

Just great. I could keep my fingers crossed and hope a supervillain attacked. It was shaping up to be one heck of a long weekend.

To be continued….