Copyright 2001 -- Robert Baer Jr. 

The Renegade Files - "Career Day"


PROLOGUE

>This is the story of a superhero, The Computer Renegade, as told through
>the eyes of his faithful bionic German Shepard Otto.  Disguised as
>Accountant Nathan Lovejoy, the Renegade and his friends fight a never
>ending battle against crime, injustice and danger.   This is yet another
>entry from Otto's 'personal' log.
  The characters Virgil, Richie, Hotstreak and the Static Shock universe
are all copyrighted creations of Warner Brothers Inc.  This
'not-for-profit' story is meant for entertainment only and is not intended
to infringe on any copyrights.  


The Renegade Files -- "Career Day (The Computer Renegade Meets Static
Shock)"

Today is 'Career Day' at a local inner city high school.  An old friend of
my master's contacted him and begged him to volunteer.  Both he and his
wife were very glad to help, and even asked Samantha and myself to come
along with them.   That morning all of us discussed the matter as we drove
towards the school.

"Accounting is a very boring profession," Nathan explained to us,"so I
thought if I could bring a trained dog along, that'd make more kids want
to attend my lecture.   What do you think, Otto"

"A very logical approach,"  I commented,"I can indeed see the advantages
of bringing us along."

"Is that the reason I'm coming with you, Wanna, ma'am?"  my lovely collie
bride asked her master.

"Yes Sam,"  Wanna answered,"talking about my life as an exectutive
secretary will be easier with you along to help attract a crowd."

"I understand, Wanna, ma'am,"  Samantha replied as she lay back down in
the back seat beside of me.

"Be careful, both of you," Nathan warned,"you have to act like normal
canines today."

"Understood,"  I replied as our stationwagon pulled into the parking lot. 
Meanwhile, in the school two friends, Virgil and Richie, chat in the
hallway about the upcoming career day.

"Today's the big day, Virgil!"  Richie comments to his friend,"Career Day!
  An afternoon with NO CLASSES!!!   We sit in the back of the room and
catch us some z's, right buddy?"

"I don't know,"  Virgil answered,"my dad says I need to start thinking
about the future, what I'll be studying in college..."

"Hey, that's years away bro!"  Richie said with a laugh,"these are the
golden years my friend!   Time to live it up and enjoy!"

"Well, maybe," Virgil says as he watches Nathan and I walk down the
hallway together,"Yo!  Check out the pooch!   Must be an animal trainer!:

"Yeah!"  Richie shouts as he nods in agreement,"let's go to HIS lecture
first!"

Other students, along with Virgil and Richie,  gather in a classroom to
listen to my master speak.   During the lecture, I did do some of the
'traditional' dog tricks like 'fetch', 'roll over', play dead' and the
like.  When the session ended, we all met in the hallway.  Virgil and
Richie seemed to be fascinated by me, and I was beginning to get some
strange readings from his body,  like he was harboring electrical energy
within it.

"Mister, may I ask you something?"  Virgil nervously asked Nathan,"do all
accountants get to have cool dogs like yours?"

"Well,"  Nathan smiled,"all work and no play make life boring.  Facts and
figures can be rather dull, my pets are a good way to relax.  Do you have
a pet?"

"The name's Virgil, Mr Lovejoy,"  Virgil answered,"and the only pet I have
is my kid sister!"

"Good one, Virg!"  Richie added.

"That's not a nice thing to say,"  Wanna interrupted,"I'll bet deep down
inside, you really like her, don't you?"

"Hmmmmmm,"  Virgil said as he stood there deep in thought," NOPE!!"

As he gave Richie a 'high five', an loud noise is heard outside.

"Excuse me," Virgil nervously stutters as he and Richie rush over to the
window.   I could sense what was happaning, so I looked up at Nathan and
Wanna and barked three times in succession, my signal to them that our
'services' were needed.  As Nathan and Wanna looked for a quiet corner to
disappear in, Samantha and I ran outside to investigate the disturbance.  
I could see in the distance a young man standing in the street hurling
balls of fire at passersby.  A few blocks away, a bank's silent alarm had
just gone off.   While I was still pondering these things, Nathan and
Wanna, now in costume, have joined us. 

"The First National Bank is being robbed, the juvenile fire thrower may
simply be a diversion," I told them.

"Ok," the Computer Renegade said,"Masked Melitta and Sam, call for our
friends and go stop the bank robbery.  Otto, you and I will handle the
fire bug!"

Nodding, we all teleported to our assigned positions.   I kept a force
field around my master and I as we approached the fire throwing man. 
Before he could spot us, a strange kid emitting static energy and floating
on a trash can lid came unto the scene.

"Scanning.... processing...."  I said outloud to the Renegade,"he is
called "Static", a hometown superhero with magnetic and electrical powers,
his identity is unknown...."

"So, we meet again Static!" the man, called Hotstreak, said as he throws
three fireballs at him.  "We have to stop meeting like this, people will
start talking!" Static joked as he dodges the fireballs.   That's when I
noticed Richie in the crowd that had gathered around, I knew my
suspictions were correct, Virgil was indeed Static.  

"Time to assist him,"  I barked as I rushed over at super speed and bit
the man in the ... gludious maximus.  Hotstreak screamed and turned
towards me.

"You'll pay for that, mutt!" he shouted as he tossed a fireball at me.  I
was just going to let my force field take care of it, but instead Static
flew over, grabbed me and flew away with me just in the nick of time.

"You almost became a hot dog there pal," Static said with a laugh,"better
leave the superhero stuff to me!"

"I did not need to be rescued, Virgil,"  I calmly stated to Static. 
"WHOA!!"  he replied in a state of surprise,"you can talk AND know my
secret identity too?"

"Yes,"  I answered,"my name is Otto, I'm the Computer Renegade's dog.  The
first national bank is being robbed at this moment!"

"And old firefly is just a diversion,"  Static said with a nod,"makes
sense."  "Is that him?" Static shouted as he watches the man helplessly
floating in the air.   "Affirmative,"  I answered,"my master has used his
anti-gravity and force field devices to contain him.  My wife and the
Masked Melitta are already at the bank, we should join them."

"Whatever you say, Otto"  Static replies as we fly over the bank.  
Several masked men burst through the front door.  "Hold it right there!"
the Masked Melitta shouted. 

"Make me, toots!" one of the robbers shouted.   It was then that she
pulled out a black box from under her cape and aimed it at a group of the
masked men.  Soon, they were floating in the air from the affects of her
anti-gravity ray.  Another group was leaving from the other side of the
building.  They all are amazed to find a huge green lizard man riding a
pure white Arabian horse.

"Full speed ahead!" the Gila Monster shouted,"I'm gonna play polo with
them dingledoof's skulls!"

"Understood," Starlight neighed as the white filly charges the group at
super speed.   Within a matter of seconds, every one of the masked bandits
lay on the ground unconscience.

"Hey!"  Static shouts as he points to the Gila Monster and Starlight,"who
are they?"

"That's the Gila Monster and Starlight," I replied,"they're members of our
crime fighting team also!"

One of the robbers slips past the group, Samantha sees him and tackles
him.  The man screams and begs for mercy as Samantha attacks him.  

"That's my wife!"  I shouted,"please, set us down there!"

"WHOA!!!"  Static shouted as he watched Samantha,"I thought collies were
supposed to be gentle!"

Static sets the flying trash can lid on the ground as I rush over to
assist my wife.   Using my anti-gravity ray, I get the culprit off the
ground as Samantha continues to growl and snap at him.

"I think you got carried away, dear,"  I cautioned Samantha.

"Oh dear!"  she answered politely,"I suppose I did, I'm sorry."

"She...she can talk too?"  Static asked,"how is that possible?"

"Long story, Mr Static, sir!"  Samantha replied.

"I will say one thing,"  Static says with a smile,"you two have more
manners than most humans I know!"

It was at that time that the Renegade, Masked Melitta, Gila Monster and
Starlight arrived at our position.

"Looks like we got Hotstreak and stopped the bank robbery too!" the
Renegade announced.

"Who's the kid with the fancy outfit?" the Gila Monster asked.

"The name's Static, lizard man!" he answered.

"He's a good guy, and a friend of mine!"  I shouted as I turned to the
Gila Monster.

"Welcome, Static!" Starlight said with a smile.

"The horse talks too?"  Static said,"this is way too cool!"

"It's a long story, Static,"  the Masked Melitta said with a grin.

"I've got time!"  Static said as Richie walks over to the group.

"It's alright Richie,"  I said softly,"we're all friends here!   Please,
join us!"

"It's cool!"  Static added,"Otto already figured out who I really am, bet
he knows about you too!"

"Tell you what, boys,"  the Renegade said with a grin,"how about we talk
about this over pizza?   I saw a very nice pizza place down the street
from here!"

"You're on!"  Static shouted.

"Count me in!"  Richie added.

"I wants to come too!"  the Gila Monster said,"pizza with live ants and
..."

"Maybe you and Starlight should return home,"  Meliita said sternly,"folks
here might not be ready to see you in a pizza place."

"I reckon you is right, c'mon Starlight, I'll takes ya back to the
stable," the Gila Monster sadly replies,"goodbye Richie and Static!"

With a loud BOOM!!!!!   both Starlight and the Gila Monster disappear.

"WHOA!!!   That's some trick!"  Static exclaims.

"It's no trick, it's teleportation, Mr Static, sir!"  Samantha answers.

"I detect the presence of eleven police and seven emergency vehicles"  I
told the group.

"We better be going then,"  the Renegade said,"we'll go somewhere
privately first."

With a loud BOOM!!!!  the group is now standing on the roof of a tall
building.

"Wow!"  Richie shouted,"you guys really have that down pat!"

"I believe Otto figured out your secret identity, Static," the Renegade
began,"so it's only fair that you know who we really are also.

When the Renegade and Masked Melitta removed their masks, both Static and
Richie were very surprised.

"You're Mr Lovejoy!   That cool accountant from Career Day!"  Richie said
as he pointed at him.

"And you're his wife!"  Static said,"and these are your dogs!"

"Yes, Static,"  Nathan said with a nod,"being a superhero is never easy,
now you know you're not alone!"

"Feel free to call us anytime!"  Wanna added,"we're all on the same side."

"That's for sure!"  Static said with a smile.

"How about letting us have some of those cool gadgets of yours?"  Richie
shouted.

"Maybe, in time Richie,"  Nathan said calmly,"first you need to learn to
control your electrical powers.   That will only come with time and
experience."

"This is true,"  I added.

"And where can I get a talking dog at?"  Static said, petting Samantha.

"Don't think I can get you one of those either,"  Nathan said sadly,"why
don't we all change and then go out for pizza!"

"YES!!!!"  Richie shouted.

"Works for me!"  Static says with a nod.

Minutes later, Virgil, Richie, Nathan, Wanna, Samantha and myself have
been seated at the Pizza Palace. 

"So, how long have you guys been in the ... well, business?"  Virgil asks.

"Over three years now,"  Wanna answers,"and we're loving every minute of
it!"

"Where did you guys get all of those gadgets?"  Richie asks as he reaches
for another slice of pizza.

"My uncle makes them, you should meet him sometime Richie,"  Nathan
said,"bet you and him could talk for a whole day about inventions and
science."

"You got that right!"  Richie said with a smile,"sounds like a swell
guy...."

The owner of the pizza place walks over to us with an angry look on his
face.

"No dogs allowed!"  he roared,"take your mutts with you and leave!'

As the owner was yet speaking, two skinny men wearing ski masks approach
the front counter.  

"Not another robbery!" the owner shouts in dispare.

"Not if we can help it,"  Nathan says sternly,"Otto, Sam, go get'm!"

First, Otto pounces on the man holding the gun.  The other man tries to
escape, only to be tackled by Samantha.    Sounds of growling and
screaming soon follow, as the crowd inside gather around the two canines.

"You gott'm!" the amazed owner said, "Florence!   Call the police!"

"Down Otto!   Down Sam!"  Nathan shouted as we obeyed his command.

"WHOA!!" Virgil said,"I gotta get me some pets when I ..."

"Virgil!" Richie interrupted.

"When I get a crib of my own!" Virgil finished.

"Now you're getting the hang of it!"  Wanna smiled as she spoke.

"Sir," the owner said,"as far as I am concerned, your brave dogs are
welcome here anytime!"

"Thank you,"  Nathan replied.

"In fact, I fix a special pizza just for... Otto and Samantha, right?"

"Dog Pizza?"  Richie questioned,"this I gotta see!"

The scene now switchs to Nathan's station wagon as he is driving the boys
back to Virgil's house.  Along the way, the conversation focused on their
origins.

"So," Virgil said as he petted me,"you were hit by a car and rebuilt with
bionic parts?"

"That is correct," I replied,"and I have information in my data banks
about the 'BIG BANG' that gave you your powers, Virgil"

"You're the daughter of Ben Maddog, the famous attorney?"  Richie asked my
wife,"I didn't know he was really a dog!"

"I am, and he is, Mr Richie, sir!" Samantha said proudly.

"Well, here is your stop, boys," Nathan said as he pulled over to the
curb,"and remember, call on us if you need any help!"

"That's right!"  Wanna added,"goodbye Virgil!  Goodbye Richie!"

"So long guys!" Virgil says as he waves,"and if you're ever back in town,
look us up!"

"We're in the yellow pages under superheroes!" Richie adds with a laugh.

Samantha and I watch out the back window as we drive away.

"Very nice young men, for humans,"  I said to my wife.

"I agree, Otto!"  Samantha answer as we lay down together in the back of
the stationwagon.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------