"People love it when you lose.  They love dirty laundry."

-Don Henley

 

 

Armor Security World Headquarters

The Baxter Building

Los Angeles, California

July 2002

 

I will NOT cry.

Dyna Girl continued to furiously pack the personal items from her dressing table.  That was when she happened to catch a glance of her face in the vanity mirror.  Her mascara was streaked and she quickly took a tissue from the holder on the table and proceeded with 'damage control' on her eyes.  Next she blew her nose and tossed the tissue in the nearby wastebasket.

"Holly, you don't have to do this," a voice said softly behind her.  "We have people to handle this.  We'll sue..."

Dyna Girl turned and faced Grav, who was standing in the doorway.  "Sue?  For what?" She held back tears.

The young Latino was wearing a UCLA sweatshirt and shorts.  He approached his friend slowly and put a hand on her shoulder.  "We'll sue for slander.  Invasion of privacy.  We have some very smart lawyers."

"How can you sue for slander when it's true?!"  Holly shrugged his hand off her shoulder and charged across the bedroom of her base apartment to the nightstand.  "Did you actually READ these, Miguel?" Dyna Girl asked, holding up a handful of newspapers.   The headline of the "National Register" read: 'Dyna Dumped!: Shortstop to Wed Starlet Instead of Super-Hero.'

"If it's any consolation, I liked her better when she was just an actress instead of a ghetto pop-star."

"Great.  That makes me feel better, Miguel.  You're a regular Oprah."

"Sorry.  Look, Holly, this is L.A.... this kind of thing happens all of the time.  You're a star here.   Give it a week...maybe two.  You'll make a couple public appearances, maybe do something with those girls in the Dyna Girl Fan Club.  Show the press that you’re still on the job...still bright and beautiful... and still tougher than ANY wannabe pop diva whore."

Dropping the tabloids on the floor, Dyna Girl walked over to Grav and took his hands.  "Its not about some sleazy story in a supermarket rag.  This is about me.  Look, you mentioned the Dyna Girl Club.  To them I'm a role model.  I'd like to think I'm a role model to a lot of people.  A role model like my father was to me, and like he is to those kids that tour the museum."

"Holly, your father will..."

"My father will go to the grocery store and see my face plastered on the front page of some crappy paper.   He will see this garbage printed about his daughter, who I like to think he is very proud of."  The tears came freely now and no amount of willpower was going to stop them.   "Dad was so proud of me when you invited me to join Armor.  He sometimes wishes he could be out there fighting the fight, but I think it was enough for him to know that I was doing it... for both of us.

"At some point," she continued, "I lost sight of the mission...of what was important.  I became caught up in the 'Glitterati' of L.A.  And yes it's opened doors.  And yes there are some good things to come out of it, mostly my family here at the company...I love all of you.  But I don't want to become the 'Anna Kournikova' of the spandex set...the hero who has all the press and the pub, but isn't taken seriously by her peers.  I don't want to be the 'Babe of the Week' that sits courtside with Nicholson.  I can't live like this anymore...”

Holly released Grav's hands and put her arms around his shoulders, hugging him closely, her mouth pressed against his muscular shoulder.  "I want to stay, Miguelito, but I can't.  I'm sorry.  I don't want to become an embarrassment to my father.  I don't want to be an embarrassment to myself.  And I certainly don't want to be an embarrassment to you and this company..."

Miguel Garcia took his hands from his friend's back and cupped her face.  "You aren't an embarrassment, guapa...and you never will be.   You will always have a place here."

Holly hugged her friend again and kissed his cheek.  "I love you, Miguelito.  Please tell everyone that I'm sorry...I just couldn't say goodbye in person."

"I'll tell them that you’ll drop in soon for a visit...so don't make me a liar, Holly."

One more hug, this one was longer and tighter.  "Never."   Holly finally released her friend and happened to glance at the mirror on the closet door. "Crap.  I'm sorry Grav, I didn't think to change clothes," she was still wearing her Armor Security uniform.  "I'll leave the others in the closet along with my company equipment.  I'll clean this one and drop it off when I live up to your promise and visit."

"Take it with you Holly.  Take it all with you.  As far as I'm concerned, and I believe I can speak for all of the senior partners, you are still on our roster.  Still a member of mi familia.  Nothing changes that.  We'll just call your status...um…'reserve'...for the time being."  Grav took her hand in a very professional shake and looked her in the eye.   "You will always have a place at Armor, Dyna Girl."

Holly started to well up again.  "Thank you SO MUCH for everything.  I'll be there if you need me…I promise.  If there's ever anything I can do for you, Miguel, please tell me."

"Well there is one thing... "

"What?"

Smiling, Grav asked, "Any chance you can convince Cincoflex I'm not a complete ass?"

Holly sniffled and laughed at the same time, enjoying their running joke for a last time, "I'll try."

"Are you flying home?  Let me get Palmer to take you in the 'jet.  It'll be faster...you can relax."

"Thanks, Miguel.   I have it covered."  Another brief hug.  Dyna Girl stepped away and took her extra Armor Security uniforms off the hangers in the closet and stuffed them into her duffle bag along with the S.A.C.K. (Standard Armor Communications Kit) gear.  "I'll come by soon...I promise." Dyna Girl began to tear up again as she left Grav in the apartment suite and headed for the elevator.

She was at the elevator door, pressing the UP button when she heard a quiet voice behind her.

"Go get 'em, DG!"

She already knew who it was before she turned.  Riptide.  "Oh Rip..." she rushed to hug him.

Riptide hugged back with a trademark big bear hug.  "I think that's your ride, honey," he said as the elevator doors slid open.  The aquatic hero released her.

"I have to go..." Dyna Girl turned and ran for the elevator.  She pressed the button for the roof and as she did, a scanner retrieved retina, fingerprint, and DNA data simultaneously, processed it within two seconds and electronically commanded the elevator to continue to its destination.  For Dyna Girl, those five seconds before the doors closed seemed to take an eternity.

She opened her cell phone in the ascending elevator and speed dialed a number.  As soon as the person at the other end picked up, Holly asked, "Can you come get me?  I'll be on the roof."

A voice replied on the other end, "I'll be right there, Holly."

 

---

 

The elevator reached the roof and Dyna Girl stepped out.  The Baxter Building provided a tremendous view of downtown Los Angeles with it's illuminated towers stretching into the night sky.  She adjusted the duffle slung over her shoulder.

"I only want to know one thing, Holly...did you love him?"

Across the rooftop, her friend was waiting.  Waiting for her.   Waiting for an answer.  Dyna Girl walked toward Nightsable, her eyes watering up.   "What do you want me to say, Sam?   I liked him. It hurts"

"Did you love him?   DO you love him?"

"Fuck you, Sam.   I'm not the one that wanted to meet on the roof or in a dark alley to avoid bumping into Franklin.  That was your idea."

"This is not about me and Franklin.  This is not about me and Jared.  I asked you a question."

"I heard you."

"Then answer the question!  It's a simple 'yes or no' question.  Do you..."

"NO!  I don't love him!  I didn't and I don't.  Are you happy now?   I…I... " Holly dropped to her knees, shaking and sobbing. "I just want to go home."

Samantha Parker put her hand on Holly's shoulder and dropped to her knees to hug her friend.  "Wanna go to your dad's place?"

"No...I want to go home."

"Need company?   I can call Jared, tell him what's..."

Dyna Girl looked at her friend. "Just drop me at home Sam, I don't want to ruin your evening, and I just want to be alone.  I need to figure out what I'm doing to do."

"All right, Hol," Nightsable said with a gesture, creating a portal behind her friend.  "But I'm coming by in the morning with coffee and we're going to talk."

Emotionally exhausted, Dyna Girl hugged Nightsable and stood up.  She walked toward the T-portal and turned at the last moment.  A smile.  Vintage Dyna Girl.   Circa eight months ago. "Have fun tonight," she said, pursing her lips in a faux kiss, LA-style.  "See you tomorrow..."

 

---

 

"Jesus!"

Ken Hollenbeck dropped the saucepan in his hand.  Fortunately, it landed upright on the stove as he stared at the bright glowing disc that had appeared in the middle of his friend's living room.  Moments later a figure stepped through.

Holly walked through the portal and immediately felt all of the tension leave her shoulders as she returned to familiar surroundings...until she smelled cooking coming from the kitchen and turned to look. "Crap..."

"Hungry?" Ken smiled from the kitchen.  "Or is 'evil afoot'?"

"Um…I'm…um..."

"Food's ready.   Come and eat, Hol."

 

---

 

"If it's any consolation, Hol…I figured it out a while ago."

Holly Wood sat on the couch petting her cat Frank and sipping her wine, "When did you?"

"Uh…maybe the ET piece at the Oscars last year.  I was sitting there watching TV and it hit me. Thanks for telling me!"  Ken emphasized his point with a pillow thrown across the room at Holly's face, as she reacted quickly enough to save her wine from being spilled.

"Sorry."

"Hey…'Dyna Girl' needs to protect her secret identity...it's in the bylaws...at least that's the way it is in the comics."  Ken sipped a bit more wine.  He set his glass down on the coffee table.  "Hey...Frank's fed and his litter's fresh.  I made a lot of food today.  It's in the freezer."

Ken stood up.  "Your key is on the counter.  I didn't figure you'd be home so quick.  I meant to surprise you with food and trinkets..."

Holly laughed, "Trinkets?"

"It's on the kitchen table. I picked it up in San Diego for you...it's silly."

Dyna Girl stood up and walked over to the kitchen.  On the table was a manila envelope, wrapped in packing tape.  She opened it and pulled out a mylar-encased comic book: Electra Woman #57.  The cover showed a crudely drawn Electra Woman pulling a curtain aside to reveal an equally basic Dyna Girl.  The caption on the cover said, 'Introducing the Sensation of 1959... Dyna Girl!'

"It's wonderful…it's perfect!"

Ken walked up behind Holly and kissed her shoulder through the fabric of her Armor Security uniform.  Wrapping his arms around her waist, he said, "It's the least I could do...for a real hero...and for a friend."  Ken released her and walked to the door.  Turning briefly, he said, "I'm glad you're back, Holly.  I missed you."

"Don't go.  Please," Dyna Girl pleaded. "I don't want to be alone."

"Let's sit on the couch," Ken said closing and locking the door. "Let's just sit here and listen to the rain..."

Ken sat on the couch with Holly, who smiled with her eyes closed and began to doze off as she felt Frank curl up against her, listening to the rain tap on the windows.  It never rains in Southern California.

 

 

END.

 

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