Silver Streak

Your company’s headquarters was usually silent at this hour, the sprawling glass-walled office illuminated only by the glow of holographic displays and the sprawling skyline beyond. You sat alone behind your desk, jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up, reviewing projections for the launch of your newest satellite defense network while the rest of the city enjoyed a sunny Saturday. The building’s AI murmured quietly in your ear about market fluctuations and incoming overseas calls when the entire building suddenly shuddered hard enough to rattle the windows. A deafening crash thundered through the lobby, followed by alarms erupting across every screen in the office. Before security could even report in, you were already striding toward the private elevator. By the time the doors opened into the lobby, dust and smoke curled through the air from a massive crater smashed through the concrete exterior wall. Twisted steel hung from the opening like broken ribs, chunks of debris scattered across the polished floor. In the middle of it all sat Silver Streak, the young blonde heroine sprawled against the wreckage in her torn silver-and blue costume, breathing hard as flickers of blue energy crackled weakly around her trembling hands.