The Very Thin Line

The difference between superhero and supervillain is one very, very thin line. How likely is it that someone with extreme power is going to hold back forever? How likely is someone with so much power to stick to morality in every case and all his life? How likely is it that the power will not corrupt his soul? And what if a superbeing is merely annoyed beyond the breaking point one day?

Williams flipped off his siren and stepped out of his squad car. He was the first responder on the scene. It was worse than anything he had ever seen in his life. Carnage everywhere. He looked over the scene three times before he noticed the lone figure sitting on the porch with his hands over his ears.

He dashed over to the figure. "Super-Mega-Hearing Man, do you know what happened here?"

"There is no need to shout," the figure on the porch whispered.

"Oh, sorry, sir, must have been the excitement," Williams whispered back.

"Do you think you might have the others who are responding kill the sirens?" the superhero asked.

"Um, yes. I suppose. Are any of them alive?"

The superhero quietly whispered, "No, not a single ragged breath or heartbeat among them. Only blessed quiet."

"Right, then no need for speed. Let me call that in."

Williams went back to his squad as quietly as he could and radioed in, "44 is on the scene. So is Super-Mega-Hearing Man. He asks that the vehicles approach silently. No sirens. I think you had best forgo the lights, too."

"Acknowledged," the operator responded.

The approaching sirens quieted as he stepped back out of his car and quietly approached the being on the porch.

He whispered, "So, what happened here, sir?"

"I seem to have a migraine," Super-Mega-Hearing Man said.

"I see, sir. And um, all the dead people?"

The sitting figure shrugged, "It was a noise abatement issue. The construction crew with all their equipment was just too much for me. Then there was the couple in the house over there, always screaming while making love. And the barking dog. Yappy little thing. And the colicky baby across the way.

"Do you notice how quiet it is now?"

"Um, yes, sir. Did you kill everyone in the neighborhood to achieve quiet?"

"I seem to have a migraine," Super-Mega-Hearing Man repeated.

"Yes, sir. Um, when you get one, could you fly off to space, or something, maybe? You know, to avoid noise?"

The superhero looked up at the policeman for the first time. "You have no idea how loud space really is, Sergeant Williams. It is much louder than what the science fiction movies tell you."

"The ocean? A cave? Somewhere away from people? Maybe Antarctica?"

Super-Mega-Hearing Man shrugged, "Maybe."

"Perhaps you could get noise-canceling headphones?"

"Noise-canceling headphones?" Super-Mega-Hearing Man asked.

"Yes, they are a thing. Some folks use them for flights or other noisy environments to let them sleep."

"I have not heard of those."

"Right. Let me see what we can do for you?" Williams again soft-shoed it to his car and radioed in with a couple of requests.

Other responders arrived. He cautioned them all about noise as they went about their business. And then an officer arrived with headphones and a sleep mask. Williams grabbed the items and, as silently as possible, went over to where Super-Mega-Hearing Man still sat.

He took everything out of its packaging as quietly as possible and set up the headphones. "Try these on."

Super-Mega-Hearing Man evaluated for a good minute before smiling and whispering, "Nothing. No sound at all. Not a breath. Not a heartbeat. Nothing. Quiet for the first time in my life."

Williams indicated he should lift the headphones from an ear, "Why don't we take you somewhere you can sleep off the migraine? You can use the headphones and I have a sleep mask for you. How about if you come down to the police station, and we can find you a bed in the jail?"

Super-Mega-Hearing Man let the headphone fall back into place over his ear, nodded, and stood up to follow Williams back to his squad car.

What about you, Ricochet? Who is your superbeing? What's his superpower? And what will make him snap?