Be the Protector

“Shots fired... Shots fired...”

A barrage of bullets pierces into the police cruiser as officer Tisdale is pinned behind the driver’s side, back hugging the cold steel. Radio grasped tightly in hand desperately pleading for help. Multiple suspects remain hidden from Tisdale’s perception. Gripping his state issued .45, he raises and fires blindly, as the recruit yells out to his partner.

“Dominque!!! DOM!!!”

Just as the words spray from his mouth, an onslaught of slugs, puncture and begin to dismantle the patrol car, forcing officer Tisdale to take cover. Smoke releases from the hood of the sedan, followed by a flicker of fire. Bullets subside as Dom’s voice is vaguely captured.

Gurgling and lying motionless on the concrete, “Mmaaallikkk!!!” Blood splatters and crimson leaks as Dominique glares, his reality of the city fades to moribund. He does not want to die! Memories of his wife and children begin to flood as gunfire continues. Dominique sees and hears nothing but last week, his daughter’s Quinceañera. The pain fading, Dom smiles as himself and his daughter are dancing a daddy and daughter dance – she stands on his toes for more support.

A bullet ricochets off the concrete, a few feet from Dominque’s location, snatching vitality back to reality. Perception is still dull, but life offers one last gift of resilience. His eyes glance towards the demolished cruiser and notices his partner’s feet from underneath. If only the rumors from earlier were true? Other police officer’s questioned if the hero, could or is possibly Maalik? If only the hours upon hours of social media captured videos and views could hold his partner’s truth for Dom’s survival?

From behind the cruiser, Mailk is still gripping the now warm steel of the .45, realizing both are outnumbered and that a firearm is not enough. Another round of semi-automatic gunfire peppers the jalopy of a cruiser – piercing ammo shreds through metal. Blankly staring into an internal promise that he kept as a child, the promise to never unleash his powers unless humanity absolutely could not control a threat. The promise was for humanity, not for a single human.

Bullets spray, as Dominque sobs desperately, “Hhheeellppp mmmee Ttt!!!”

Maalik closes his eyes.

External reality stills as the world around him is now silent. Bullet rounds freeze and shattered glass shards suspend mid-air, hovering in stillness surrounding Maalik. From inside his mind, he grasps a bouquet of mixed white lilies and blood red roses in his hands as his internal vision captures a gravestone with the etched name Susan Tisdale. A smile ignores tears as Maalik squats and rests the arrangement onto her tombstone. Silence swallows' seconds as spoken words sob for internal answers. A gentle breeze comforts Maalik’s maelstrom as a whisper grips his eardrums with the soft harmony of his mother’s voice, “Be the protector you were born to be!!!”

His mother’s words give solace, as the visceral heartbeat of Dominique forces Maalik to open his eyes. Pancaked shells slide and ping to the concrete as the recruit stands to his feet – his shadow vanquishes and navigates towards Dom. Reality revamps as slugs continue to slice through the air.

As Maalik’s shadow enters Dominique, his pain quiets as cobalt blue swirls of stardust begin flooding through his bloodstream – pushing out bullet fragments and stitching torn tissue. Internally fading, vivid memories continue to play as Maalik is calming Dom from inside. While he is releasing atoms from within, a cinematic dirge, shows Dominique in first-person view, uncovering his wife's face as he pulls back her wedding veil.

External action persists as Maalik steps directly into the crosshairs, slowly and deliberately raising the .45 and resting the barrel back into the leather holster. Rifle rounds aggressively clatter, as he calmly raises both hands, clearly demonstrating one last chance for surrender. Ignoring the recruit’s offer, aggressors lock onto Maalik and shower the remains of their ammunition.

Maalik did not need to hunt them down as his spatial mind had already tracked the geometry given from the muzzle flashes. One gunman hides behind a battered dumpster, two more are situated at the motor front of a black SUV, the last is poorly hiding behind a brick pillar. Each one is terrified as Maalik can feel their fear.

As Dominique is healing, his eyes flutter open to capture two ghost-like figures of Maalik, dismantling the rifles of the two shooters located at the SUV. Perception broadens as another Maalik has just aggressively front kicked the poorly hidden goon into the brick pillar – barrage of uncontrolled lead, launches into the air as his body falls to the floor. The last aggressor was smashed into the dumpster lid – caving in upon impact.

Maalik’s kinetic energy morphs into one vessel as he is now kneeling over Dom, comfortably fixated on the crimson soaked concrete. The internal shadow dissipates but not before releasing one last burst of stardust. Police sirens draw closer as Maalik holds Dominique. With one last draw before passing out, Dom looks up and whispers, “Thank you.”

Beep... beep... beep... beep

Rhythmic tones followed by laughter erupt life into a fractured heart, as Maalik peers into hospital room 104. Dominique sits upright, arms hugging his little girl as she rests on his chest. His wife’s hand interlocked with his showing true compassion as tears of joy and concern streak down her face. Nervous, Maalik jolts the handle downward and cracks the door open - first giving a gentle tap before entering.

A precarious smile greets Dominique and his family as he is gestured to enter. Gripped in his hand is a box of chocolate covered rice Krispy treats, that catch the eye of Dom’s daughter, as she sits upright. Emotions overwhelm as his wife cannot contain her overwhelming relief and leaps off the bed - arms open wide as she hugs Maalik tightly. Her daughter jolts to join in on the transcendent greeting. Dominique smiles with joy as he watches his daughter grab the rice Krispy treats, as wife and daughter release their grip. Looking up at Maalik, a luminous smile followed by a hand, waiting to be grasped and brought in for a jubilant embrace.

Maalik is close enough for Dominique to whisper the words “Thank you,” as their eyes connect as Maalik pulls away. The box of rice Krispy treats is being ruffled open as the cacophony deflects attention. “Look at her, bro!” Dominique stares as his daughter struggles to open the single portion sized bag and hands it to her father. As her pinches the plastic and tears it open, “If not for you, I would not be here to open this treat for my daughter.”

He hands the treat back to his daughter as Dom asks if she thanked Maalik. As she thanks him, his hand gestures for a handshake as he formally introduces himself. Her smaller framed hand is swallowed in comfort as she mentions that her name is Madeline. With a quickened gesture, realizing he never introduced his family formally, he introduces his wife, Gloria.

Time is lost as conversations flow, Dominique gives a silent gesture for Gloria to take Madeline and leave the room for a few. Gloria reaches for Madeline’s hand as the two grasp and walk towards the door. The door opens and just before walking out, Madeline turns and sprints towards Maalik and gives a giant hug on his leg and then sprints back out the door, following her mother. Dom is filled with elation, as the door creaks shut.

Maalik is trembling inside, anxiety peaking but external is poised and smiling. He never truly prepared for this conversation. Maybe Dominique had no memory of the rumors and what unfolded at the crime scene. Maybe Maalik can tell a little white lie and still maintain his secret?

“How am I alive, Maalik?” The words are unexpectedly jagged as the question quiets the room. “I am not sure, bro... I know you are one strong...,” before he can finish his words Dom interrupts – speaking loudly. “I saw you... There were 4 of you and now there is one of you... Explain this, Maalik!!! Tell me I am not going insane!!!” Unknowing of what to say, the room begins to fade as Maalik anxiety is attempting to abandon this scenario.

“You know you are the rumor... You are the talk before a police officer’s day starts... The videos of you, or another guy (Dominique sneaks a chortle), give inspiration to the police force! Rumors of a hero do not need to be rumors because you are standing in front of me. You saved me, Maalik. You allowed me to not only see my wife and daughter’s embrace, but you allowed me another chance to feel their embrace.” Maalik looks down at Dominique as a flood of tears race down his face. With a blank stare, avoiding eye contact, Dom sobs again, “You saved me, man!!!”

As Maalik is grabbing Dom’s hand, the door jars open as a nurse is demanding to check his vitals. Unclasping his hand, Maalik steadily backs away from the hospital bed as the nurse is asking for Maalik to clear the room. Now forced outside, he glares down the hallway as a glowing red EXIT sign is intercepted. Anxiety still heightened, Maalik places his hands in his pockets and begins to walk towards the EXIT.

As Dominique’s words swirl with insanity, a female nurse abruptly stops him with a smile and simply says the words, “Thank you.” Confused, Maalik simply smiles and awkwardly navigates around her. Approaching the counter, three new nurses all begin to clap their hands as they stand to their feet. Suddenly, the entire hospital emergency area is clapping and thanking Maalik.

The emergency area locked doors, spring open and introduce more rounds of applause and expressing gratitude in multiple views. Maalik is now overwhelmed as he steps out and into the emergency waiting room area, to be greeted by his police chief Dantoni and Vice President Rebecca Martz. Pleasantry is exchanged as Maalik is welcomed but confused because he has never formally met Chief Dantoni. Walking only a few feet, a camera commands attention as a reporter with a microphone is attempting to ask questions.

Being pushed through the crowd, echoes of what planet is he from? Is he human? How did he gain powers? Followed by internal thoughts that ask not so pleasant questions, what are his intentions? Are there more of him? What are his intentions? Stepping outside, daylight illuminates as a stretched limousine is parked – the chauffer opening the door. Maalik climbs inside first, followed by Vice President Martz and then police Chief Dantoni.

As the limo begins to drive off, a drink is offered by a gruff voice held by an older gentleman – sharply dressed in a Taylor Made pin striped suit. Maalik politely refuses as the gruff voice strikes familiarity. “Mr. President, this is Maalik Tisdale” Vice President Martz politely introduces. Maalik is completely baffled.

The president’s wrinkled face peaks out of the darkness as pruned hands await to be shaken. “With all due respect, what am I doing in here Mr. President?” Maalik’s words demand answers. “There comes a time in life... When a person must be honest... Sometimes this honesty may be rewarded... Other times, honesty is just demanded...” a pause in verbiage as the president leans forward intently locking eyes with Maalik. “Are you a superhero?”

This question lingers as Maalik is visualizing the warmth and comfort of Dominique sitting alive with his family. Tears flowing down their faces but not in sadness but captured in pure enjoyment. Tight hugs that brought nurture to Maalik, who lost this at a young age. Maalik transforms his visual, back at the gravestone that reads, Susan Tisdale. The wind blows softly from within his painted portrait of peace.

Realizing he is ready to become the hero he was meant to be, Maalik looks directly into the President’s eyes. “Yes, I am a superhero!!!” The Vice President and chief or police smile as the president dangles a cigar from his mouth. Without a lighter, he raises his hand as a flame ignites and torches the stogy. He exhales as words form, “Let’s go to work!”