FIRESTORM '87
By kentonbrownsuperstoner
It was early 1987 and everyone was worried about nuclear war. People forget that now, but back then, it was the big number one fear under everything that had lingered now (then) for three generations. Parents who grew up with it were raising children to grow up with it.
Everyone was worried about nuclear war. Americans were worried, Soviets were worried. And everyone in between those two were super-worried.
How worried was everyone? It was such a universal fear, even Superman was worried. They have the records at the Reagan Archive. Superman and Reagan used to have long conversations about how worried they were. Hours of looking at the television screens, or out at the Rose Garden, and being worried.
Firestorm, the Nuclear Man, in early 1987, did not give a fuck about nuclear war. Sure, everyone knows what happened that crazy late Summer of 1987 when Firestorm, the Nuclear Man ended up giving all the fucks about nuclear war.
Well, we all know how that ended.
But, before all that popped off, in early 1987, Firestorm, the Nuclear Man gave a fuck about fucking the skin off of his dick as frequently as possibly. He knew he was on borrowed time, he heard the clock ticking.
Literally, the ticking clock in the office of Professor Stein at Vandemeer University, when the Professor showed his student Ronald Raymond the proof: the x-ray with the brain tumor that was not going to shrink.
Professor Martin Stein was going to die. The Firestorm powers he shared with Ronald had likely caused the tumor, and would keep it growing.
"What are we going to do, Professor?" Ron asked the older man; his mentor, his partner.
The grin on Martin Stein's face told Ron everything. In an instant, he knew exactly what they were going to do.
The first person they called, was Gypsy.
Firestorm was a dual-morphia superpowered individual, meaning the powers were housed in not one person, but in two people who needed to work together to jointly form the super-powered being: Firestorm, the Nuclear Man!
Because when Martin and Ronald originally received the powers, Martin was unconscious and Ronald used the powers in a hope to revive him, when they form into Firestorm, Martin returns to unconsciousness, and Ronald turns into Firestorm. But Martin's consciousness shares Firestorm's consciousness, and while Ronald is at the controls, he is in constant telepathic dialogue with Martin, a Novel Laureate and all-around genius. But wherever they were when they made Firestorm, should they disengage, both men will "suddenly" appear in Firestorm's place.
So, setting off on this new, vital mission, Martin and Ron merge, and as Firestorm, they track Gypsy down.
"I haven't seen her since we got womped by Brimstone, The Fallen Angel, before the Big Guys came back," Ronald said to Martin, Ronald meaning the original stars, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, a new Green Lantern named Guy Gardner, ol' J'onn J'onzz The Martian Manhunter, and the high-quality second squad of Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Doctor Fate, and The Changeling; the Big Ten who became the Justice League in nineteen-eighty0six but whom everyone still thinks of when they think about the Justice League in the nineteen-eighties.
They find her in Upstate New York, totally anonymous. Working a job in a co-op organic farm-and-market, running the register and stocking the shelves. Her big Stevie Nicks hair is even bigger and fuller, bordering on unkempt and rat's nest. The vibe is chill and she sports bare feet and bare shoulders, plus the magical matched jewelry that she used for her magical powers.
In Firestorm's mind, Martin asks if the jewelry is the key to her powers, and Ronnie answers him that he has no clue, he never asked her.
"You worked together saving the world and you never discussed your powers with each other?"
"Nah, it felt impolite. Besides, when we weren't working, she and I usually were too busy fucking!"
Firestorm sneaks up on Gypsy and makes the oatmeal she's restocking into the large bins, turn into marshmallows.
Gypsy giggles and knows instantly. "Firestorm! Where are you? Nobody transmutes reality like you!!!!"
Firestorm comes around the corner, smiling, and Gypsy is smiling, and she jumps into his arms and they kiss hello. First without tongues and then, very quickly, with tongues, because Gypsy puts her tongue right into his mouth, just like she likes to do. Gypsy is a very oral magic-powered super-heroine.
"I've got some bad news," Firestorm says.
"What? Apokolips again?"
"Worse, something I can't beat. It's my secret identity."
"Uh-huh?"
"He's dying."
"Your secret identify is dying?"
"Yeah."
"I don't get it."
"He has a brain tumor. Inoperable."
"Oh, gosh, Firestorm. My magic doesn't really heal like that, I'm sorry."
"That's cool, Gypsy. We think being Firestorm, The Nuclear Man, is what's caused it."
"Woah, that's harsh. Gave you your powers and took away your life. Heroes give so much."
"Yeah, thanks. But, we did not track you down to get healed. We've made peace, and need to enjoy the time we have left."
"We? You and your secret identity? I didn't realize you were like, two different people."
"We are," Firestorm says, "but not that way. Here, let me just show you."
And like that, in a blink of her eye, the tall, sexy, strapping Firestorm was gone! Cynthia Reynolds from Detroit, better known as the crime-fighter and Justice League hero: Gypsy! saw in Firestorm's place, two men she had never seen before.
Ronald Raymond, college student, and Martin Stein, Nobel laureate.
Cynthia took it all in. Her life had seen lots of weird shit, and this was not even in the top one hundred.
"Wait a minute," she said. "Aren't you that Nobel-prize winning scientist, Professor Martin Stein?"
The older man blushed. "Why, yes I am, young lady. So nice to be recognized." He put out his hand, she extended hers, but he lifted Cynthia's hand to kiss it. "EnchantΓ©," he said.
"I'm Cynthia, but you know me as Gypsy."
"Oh, we've met many times before, Gypsy," the Professor said, "but never been formally introduced."