Super Chikara crept quietly through the Fortress in the Clouds, and slipped out the front door. She rushed to the mailbox, stealing an occasional glance over her shoulder. Quickly opening the mailbox, she stifled an excited yelp. The spring Bri-Tech catalogue had finally arrived! The official mail-order supplier of Superhero technology and gadgets, the Bri-Tech catalogue was a hot commodity within the Super Happy Friends Club. As leader, Chikara felt she had first dibs. However Tensai, the undisputed brains of the operation (and the one in charge of ordering) also felt he had a legitimate claim to "first flipsies".›
She darted another glance over her shoulder. Her Super Happy comrades were nowhere to be seen.
Perfect! She had it all to herself.
Keeping a watchful eye out for Tensai, Hayaku and Hikoki, she hustled up the stairs and into her office. Chikara carefully laid the precious book on her desk. She ran her hand indulgently over the cover, then turned to the doorway. Her cat Toby appeared as soon as she turned her back, and lay on top of the catalogue. He kneaded it gently.
Chikara poked her head out of her office, and hollered to her comrades, "I'm gonna be working on the new defense strategies and studying the Bad Guy chart you guys! Nobody bother me please!"
She closed her door, paused, and opened it again.
"If it's an emergency you can bother me but please knock first! And wait until I open the door!"
Satisfied that she was not shirking her leadership responsibilities entirely, Chikara slammed her door shut (her super-strength was only heightened by her excitement) and shooed Toby from her desk. She gently opened the catalogue, leaning closer so that she could hear that satisfying crinkle of its pages being opened for the first time.
Chikara chuckled softly.
Maybe if Tensai had paid better attention at the last Bad Guy Briefing, when she had given her lecture on "The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Sneaks", he would have been able to snag the catalogue first. But Tensai was not the most attentive in meetings. He seemed to pay more attention to the refreshment table than to her presentations.
She sighed, closing the Bri-Tech catalogue. Although she was pleased about being the first to get her hands on it, Chikara felt a nagging sense of guilt. All of this sneaking around was silly. As the commander-in-chief, she should really be preparing pop quizzes for her comrades, studying the Bad Guy chart - maybe organizing and photocopying the new Strategy Playbook pages (even though the other Super Happy Friends refused to study them). She wished that her comrades enjoyed taking directions as much as she enjoyed giving them.
Chikara reluctantly tucked the catalogue under her arm, made her way quietly back outside, and slipped it back into the mailbox. She climbed the stairs to Tensai's office and poked her head in the door. Tensai was engaged in a particularly challenging game of Scroggle with B.R.I.A.N, the tell-it-like-it-is Super Computer, and didn't notice her hovering in the doorway. She cleared her throat.
"Has the mail come yet?" she asked
Tensai turned around in his chair, his eyes flickering with excitement. He raced out the door and headed straight for the mailbox. Flinging it open, he reached in and pulled out the Bri-Tech catalogue. He held it aloft triumphantly.
"First flipsies!" he cried before turning to Chikara. "Don't feel bad. I'm kind of telepathic."
Chikara feigned frustration as Tensai pressed the catalogue to his chest and heralded its arrival. He hollered for Hayaku and Hikoki to come join him. But before running off to spend the afternoon ordering gadgets and goodies, Tensai turned to Chikara.
"Are you coming? I'll give you second flipsies… you are the boss…"
Chikara shook her head.
"That's okay. I'm gonna go organize the Playbook. Maybe plan the exercise drills for tomorrow."
She headed back to her office, sat at her desk, and swung her chair around so that she was facing the Bad Guy chart. She stared up at the photos of her adversaries, and silently vowed that no matter how hard they tried, goodness would always prevail. Chikara opened the Playbook and began to study. The police scanner crackled softly from the corner
