A Powers of a Superhero

“And if you’ll step this way, Sir, I’ll show you our latest project.” Major Reynolds said, leading the General down the final set of stairs. Their metallic footfalls echoing about the void stairwell quickening in keen anticipation. The General had flown in from D.C. this morning specifically to sign off on the agency’s newest team.

It was the first time the group had assembled together; all six, finally in the same room, able to meet, compare, discuss, and bond. They had high hopes, back in D.C.; and the world needed hope. Thinking about the team, the General knew there was something powerful about it all, as if it filled you with tingling warmth from the core of your heart.

Through a one-way mirror, the General now stood observing the six members as they paced, gossiped. He stood; hand on his heart, nodding as he considered each person with a deep admiration. There they were. The most pioneering team the world would ever see. They were each so unique, possessing such an incredible power that would enable the return of peace to this barren world. And everyone knows, we need them now more than ever.

“We were thinking, Sir,” The Major spoke, “that their team name could be The Stanton’s.” The General looked to each member of the team once again, “No.” He said, his voice fractured by tearful pride, “They’re better suited to… The Stunning Stanton’s.” A silence stilled the room, for just a moment, before the scientists and army personnel returned to their conversations. Major Reynolds scribbled down the new name, satisfied by the change. The General was right; it did suit them better.

“Well, Sir, let me introduce you to the team… First, we have in the far left corner,” The Major considered his clipboard of notes, flicking through the sheets of profiles, “Olivia. The Housewife.” He looked to the General, waiting for a cue to continue. “What’s her power?” The General asked. “She is effective at going unnoticed. It took a while to find her, but, once we did, she’s displayed quite amazing abilities. She is the hardest worker I’ve ever seen but we found that, for those who hadn’t witnessed her activities first hand, well… it was like magic.” The General nodded as the Major continued, “She has skills, above and beyond, that no one had ever known about. We think it’s some kind of invisibility-based power.”

“Then there’s her – next to Olivia. Gemma is a new mother and has shown abilities in telepathy. She just knows. Do you know what I mean?” Major Reynolds asked. “We’ve all tested it.” One of the scientists lingering in the periphery chirped, “She knows what we’re thinking. She can read our faces, our expressions.” His colleagues nodded, keenly agreeing. “So, she’s telepathic. Well, that’s extraordinary.” The room nodded again, then excitedly confessed to Gemma’s ability to tell if they were hungry, or tired, or happy, or sad. “The only trouble we will have with Gemma is that she’ll have to be part-time because of her new-born. But, she is still very eager to be part of the team!”

“Who’s that?” The General pointed to the woman sitting on the floor, cross-legged, and meditating. “That’s Clara.” The Major half-whispered, breathing his words with pure euphoria. “Clara is the strongest woman alive. She has to have super-strength, there’s no other plausible explanation.” The General gawped, mouth having fallen open, watching her control her breathing. “She has a delicate past, but, in overcoming her troubles, she’s become invincible. It’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen. She has the ability to bounce back from the edge of darkness having almost drowned in negative thoughts. And now, she can control the monster inside, breath, meditate, and push onwards.

“Next to Clara is the student.” Major Reynolds said gesturing to a young girl who stood watching the room. “Kay has super intelligence. It’s absolutely astounding to see. Her keenness to learn, to discover, and she does everything with such efficiency and clarity. She can organise and manage time. But it’s not just that she knows all this stuff, but that she has the power to learn new things, to discover new ideas. We’ve monitored her brain activity – it’s unparalleled. We have never seen so many neurons firing – Even above our top scientists! She does everything quickly, resourcefully. There’s nothing she doesn’t know or have the power to discover. It’s like she’s obliterated the boundaries of her brain.

“The lady in the white coat is Doctor Rose.” The General raised a questioning eyebrow, “You brought in a Doctor?” The Major looked from Rose to the General and back again, “She has the ability to heal. She nurses people back to health when they would otherwise suffer.” Considering her posture, her tenor of softness, the General found himself entranced by her warmth, the kindness of which she radiated. “We have records of countless times where she has counselled someone back to health, saved lives, relieved the pain of the suffering. She can always help, in one way or another. So, yes, we brought in Doctor Rose as the team healer.”

“And the last one?” The General queried, referring to the final lady, who laid on the floor, arms outstretched, soaking up the light, watching the ceiling as if floating clouds were passing by. “That’s Tallulah.” The Major sighed, “She’s my favourite. She’s a shape shifter.” Gasping, the General leaned forward, planting his palms against the glass, “Who is she today?” “I believe she is a pilot. She likes that one the best; the feeling of flying, freedom. She can morph into anything and anyone from any time period imaginable. Then she writes it all down. She writes about whom she has become and the adventure undertaken whilst she’s that person or thing. It’s as if she can see the truth, and when she looks at you, it’s like she knows your deepest dreams and your quietest secrets.”

“Olivia, Gemma, Clara, Kay, Rose, and Tallulah. Six women, six powerful women, to form the world’s most elite superhero team yet; The Stunning Stanton’s.” The room paused in a baited silence. “Well, Major Reynolds, I must say I am beyond impressed.” High-fives and handshakes circulated the room. Congratulatory whispers spoke of how triumphant the team was and was going to be. “What about their suits? Their super-suits?” The General asked.

“Well, Sir, it’s quite extraordinary actually. They each have their own suit, their own look. And, whilst they don’t necessarily hide their identity, it does make them unique, it makes them stand out.” Gesturing to the team, Major Reynolds continued, “Olivia; she chose a simple pair of blue jeans and plain t-shirt. It works well, seemingly becoming invisible as and when she does. She sweeps her mousy brown hair back into a ponytail, away from her face. She doesn’t need glasses or anything like that. She does wear a watch, but it’s just simple brown leather thing. Trainers, for when she’s on her feet all day, and just a cardi when it’s cold.

“Gemma; She prefers the track pants and jacket look. They’re baggier than we would’ve ideally liked, but she says it’s the most comfortable with her new born. She also often carries a satchel with baby things in. The most amazing thing about Gemma is her deep brown eyes. It’s like they can see into your soul. And we love her pixie hair cut; it suits her personality, her ebony skin, and her busy lifestyle. We had a little trouble when ordering in her team jacket, we needed to send it back and get a slightly larger size, but that’s all sorted now.

“Clara; She loves a yoga pants and tank top combo. Although she is a little older than the others, she is incredibly fit – her stamina is amazing. Her slip-on trainers have been tested for adequacy and given the green light. We’ve got a gillet jacket coming soon, too. We had a few concerns from the scientist about the usefulness of her material headband, but she’s said she won’t go out without it. She says it keeps her hair back off her face since she can’t tie it back, so we allowed it.

“Kay; being a student, she wears almost anything and everything. Generally, we’ll find her wearing her boyfriend’s hoodie and a pair of pre-torn jeans. She’ll wear trainers, or sandals in the summer. Although, she does need corrective lenses, she believes they won’t fall off too often or be a bother. She says she has Japanese heritage, but she’s a resident here now. Kay is marginally shorter than the others, but she is still very tall for a girl.

“Rose; She tends to wear pretty blouses and suit pants. Court shoes with a small heel means she is quite a bit taller than the others and her long blonde hair is several inches longer than anyone else’s, also. Her skin is beautiful, like honey, and we have allowed her to continue wearing her earrings and necklaces. She seems to swap between a handbag and a brief case, but we’re not yet sure whether she’ll need to take either with her on missions. We’re leaning towards the suitcase at the moment, on the premise that it should be filled with medical supplies.

“Tallulah; She changes what she wears and how she looks as she changes her persona. Today, she is wearing her bomber jacket, hence my inclination that she is the pilot today. Other times we’ve found her in ball gowns, suits, jeans and hoodies, shorts, jumpsuits, anything. She doesn’t need glasses but has lens-less ones she wears sometimes. Her accent changes, too. Although she always has her strawberry hair and curls, she doesn’t always write that to be the case. I’ve read different hair colours, gender, heights, nationalities – it’s just whatever she imagines herself to be.

“And, you’ll notice they each seem to have a dominant colour; Olivia wears greys and blacks, Gemma wears pastel colours – usually pinks, Clara wears greens and khaki and browns, Kay wears predominantly shades of blue but also whites, Rose wears her white doctors coat over navy’s and maroon, and Tallulah wears pretty much every colour, although seems to chose yellow when she can.”

“Outstanding work, Major.” The General turned to shake the Major’s hand. “So, what’s their first mission?” He asked. “Actually, Sir, they’ve just returned from their first mission.” Major Reynolds replied, shifting his weight from foot to foot, uncomfortable at the turn in conversation. “But, Major, I haven’t signed off on them yet. The Government hasn’t approved of this team.” The General’s face started forming a frown. “I know, Sir, but there were more pressing matters at hand…” A momentary pause hung for just a second whilst the General considered recent news.

“THEM?!” He shouted, realising the role they had played in the past few days. “Yes, Sir.” The Major avoided eye contact, casting his eyes towards the floor. “They stormed the Oval Office?” “Yes, Sir.” “They stopped the signing!” “That’s correct, Sir.” “Well,” The General whispered, his previous air of pride overrun by a sense of disappointment, “Well, I’m not signing off on them now. Not after a stunt like this! I’m disbanding this team, effective immediately!” He turned to leave.

Yet, standing in the doorway, having not noticed them leave, the General now faced the six women. They blocked his exit, hands on hips, scowling. “Actually, I don’t think you have a choice.” Olivia said from somewhere near the back of the group. “We’re not bothered whether we work for the Government or not.” Gemma, standing closest to the General, hissed. “It really doesn’t bother us.” Clara said, smiling mischievously. “You see, Sir, we’re here to save the world.” Kay jested as she leaned against the doorframe. “To fight for a more equal tomorrow.” Rose said, as the team began to fix their posture, standing tall against the General. “And we don’t need your permission for that.” Tallulah concluded, as the barrier the team formed stunned the General into backing down, forcing him back with clarity and strength, knowing that they could, and they would, change the world, whilst the General weaselled back, further into the room, his power plays falling short.

So, beware. Wherever you go, whatever you do. The Stunning Stanton’s will never be far. They’ll always be there to stand up, to shout out, to speak up for equality. The Stunning Stanton’s are always looking for new members – whether you’re short or tall, big or small, from a powerful city or a tiny town, you are important. And the world needs superheroes just like you.