You slowly awaken. You're sitting in a slightly twisted position, leaning back with your head tilted. The world is blurry as you open your eyes. You feel cloth in your mouth and your arms are restrained. Your mind is in a fog, too confused to understand what's happened to you. The air is cool and still. You realize you're sitting in a chair. As your vision comes into focus you see you're in a very open, empty building, dimly lit from lighting somewhere above. Some other people are standing around. A man close to you notices your movement.
"Coo yah, this woman is coming around," he announces with a Jamaican accent. He's a black man with long dreadlocks tied back, and a submachine gun in his hands. He steps back and turns to another man wearing a suit and a fedora hat. Memories start to flood your mind. It's the night of the fundraiser at the Grand Hotel. You remember being taken from a hotel room. You look down to see rope tied around your midriff, restraining your arms. The cloth in your mouth is tied around your head. You've been bound and gagged. You try to move your feet and feel that your ankles are tied together as well. The men from the hotel—posing as room service—kidnapped you, injected you with something, and brought you to what looks like an old, empty warehouse. The man in the fedora approaches you. He's casually flipping a large gold coin up in the air and catching it.
"Hey hey, pussycat," he says. "So you're awake already? Welcome to the party. We aren't quite ready to get things started, but real soon we'll be getting down to business."
He speaks in a disarmingly friendly tone, but it does little to dispel your fear. He turns to look at a man and woman standing by stacks of large wooden crates. A laptop computer sits on one of the crates, and the two are studying the screen.
"Ain't that right?" the man confidently calls to them. "How's it looking?"
"I'm still monitoring activity," the woman says scornfully. "With the intel from inside, I anticipate the last of the funds will be secured within the hour. I'll inform you when that happens."
"See, here's the situation, pussycat," says the man in the fedora, catching his coin one last time before stooping down to your eye level. "This is your first time, so I'll clue you. We're going to be setting up a smooth transaction here, and you're our hot commodity. Leading lady of Metro City's jet-set, heiress to the great House Damsel—and a princess, too! You're worth top dollar to a whole lot of fat cats. Even to some you don't even know—or even wanna know. So it's business, you dig?"
He exhales and inches closer to your face, putting his hand on the back of your chair. You can smell his cologne. His pretty eyes stare deep into yours, feigning warmth and sympathy.
"But the thing is, your Utopia Foundation has incurred some cost to our organization, and it's time to settle the debt. With significant interest. The bosses don't like it when do-gooders rock the boat. I mean the free clinics, aid programs, working with the coppers, yada yada yada. It's all been a real drag on our operations."
He smiles handsomely, stands up straight, and gestures to the two people by the computer.
"Your latest little 'Save the World' project has taken in quite a tidy sum. Just sitting in that account, all wrapped up with a ribbon on top. It'll keep things simple. We make the demand, and they'll happily cash it out to us. Then they get you back, safe as kittens, and you go home with a greater understanding of things. Maybe make some changes in your company. Get some new management with different ideas."
He flips his coin again. Your heart breaks as it all sinks in. You were aware your status made you a target for ransom, theoretically. But did you imagine it would ever happen? It pains and angers you that they would extort the Foundation. They shouldn't give up the capital they've raised. The aid project is too important.
You try to talk, try to start a negotiation, but you can't speak through the gag. He just smiles at you and shakes his head disapprovingly. You test your restraints in frustration and anguish.
"Now, cool it, honey baby," he says. "We'll handle everything. You just chill and think about how nice it'll be to go home."
"Sir," the woman calls, quickly turning from the computer. "It's time."
"Here we go," the man in the fedora says.
A thunderous voice booms from above: "Hold it right there, villains!"
You're all startled and look around in confusion. A large man plummets from above and ably lands in the center of everyone with a deep thud, his black cape swirling around him. The muscle-bound, dark-haired man stands up tall and imposing, and sets his fists on his hips. He's clad in a tight, silvery costume with dark gloves and boots that match his cape. Over his massive chest is emblazoned a black, ringed planet that resembles Saturn. His handsome face looks stern under a furrowed brow.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he says loudly. "I am Captain Astro, Defender of Earth! Drop your weapons and step away from Miss Damsel at once, or face my might!"
His powerful voice resounds through the warehouse like a god's. You are struck with awe in his presence, for a moment forgetting your predicament. You've heard of this man, this hero, but have never seen him in person. The men around you are similarly dumbfounded.
"Light him up!" the man in the fedora shouts to his group. They move forward, swing their guns and open fire on Captain Astro. You cringe at the loud, blasting gunfire. To your great relief, Captain Astro is unfazed by the hail of bullets. He's completely unharmed. As per his reputation, he seems to be impervious!
"Rhaatid!" the Jamaican yells over the gunfire. "He's bulletproof, bredda!"
"Enough!" says Captain Astro. "You can't hope to beat me. Surrender!"
"Kill him, damn it!" the man in the fedora hollers, sounding more desperate. He grabs you from the chair and throws you over his shoulder. You squirm and try to get off of him, but the ropes make you helpless. When you raise your head you see Captain Astro rush the Jamaican and disarm him. After taking the submachine gun away he swings and knocks the Jamaican to the ground with the end of it. As the other men continue firing at him, Captain Astro bends the gun to render it useless and throws it to the ground. Then he turns and flies at another gunman—actually flying, after pushing strongly off the ground—and he knocks the man off his feet with tremendous force. A bigger thug drops the rifle in frustration and swings a fierce punch. Captain Astro blocks and catches his arm with a skilled martial arts form. The thug tries to wrestle free, but Captain Astro strikes him powerfully and he goes down.
The man in the fedora yells in frustration and swiftly starts to carry you away. When Captain Astro notices, he turns and angrily shouts, "Stop!" More of the gunmen yell in rage and continue shooting at him. The Captain swiftly retaliates. With amazing athleticism, he confronts and disarms the men before taking them down. You're astonished as he grabs one in each hand and effortlessly throws them across the room. His strength is incredible! They fly back and smash into some crates, splintering the wood and toppling the stack.
While you're watching Captain Astro, you feel an impact and suddenly you are falling. The man who was carrying you yells out, and you shut your eyes, expecting to hit the floor. Strong arms catch you, and hold you steady. You slowly open your eyes to see that you're in the arms of another brawny man in a silver costume. He has caramel-colored skin, and is wearing a high-tech visor that obscures his eyes. His shiny black hair is tousled and spiky.
"Hey," he greets you, wearing a friendly grin. "It's okay. I've got you."
His voice is youthful and good-humored. In a daze, you look for the man in the fedora. He's down on the ground, not moving. His hat is lying next to him. Then you notice Captain Astro striding toward you.
