THE MOMENT
"You don't want to do that...," John stopped walking when he felt the hand on his shoulder. He was carrying his tray to sit down for lunch when he was stopped. He turned to see a young man with a dark brown ponytail and a matching, rugged goatee.
"Huh?" John tilted his head at the stranger. Despite being an active Super Hero, John only had a single nemesis in his rogue's gallery. He preferred it that way; but, it meant that he was surrounded by villains whose powers he didn't know.
"That's Lightning Strike," the young man nodded in the direction that John was headed. Most of the tables on that side of the cafeteria were empty except for a lone figure enjoying his food. He was a lean, older man with short salt and pepper hair. "He'll fry you just for breathing his air...," the stranger said.
"It's true! I've seen it happen!" another voice spoke up on the other side of John. He turned and saw the same young man again. He looked back to his left and the original was still there with a hand on John's shoulder.
"Name's Juan Million," a third duplicate appeared in front of John and offered a handshake.
"John," he accepted the greeting and introduced himself. The two duplicates on either side of John disappeared and he was left talking to the one in the middle. John was surprised; but, he expected it. He quickly realized he had a chance to find out more about the prison by playing dumb.
"If we can all use our powers...why are we still in prison?" John asked.
"None of our powers can get past the walls," Juan nodded at one side of the cafeteria. "No one can even scratch them." John hadn't given it any thought until it was pointed out. But, all four walls, the floor and ceiling, glowed with a faint white light.
"Oh..," John nodded. He hoped the disappointment he felt wasn't visible on his face. His entire plan might have failed before he even got to the prison. "Well, I appreciate you watching out for me," John said. "But, L.S. and I go way back; I'm hoping he won't fry me," he added with a chuckle.
"Alright," Juan smiled and began to walk in the other direction. A single duplicate appeared and waved goodbye before vanishing again. "Good luck to you," he said.
"JOHN!?" Lightning Strike was genuinely surprised to see his old friend in the prison. He quickly swallowed his growing smile so the other inmates wouldn't see it. "What are you doing here?" he managed to ask with a more subdued voice.
"Well..," John sat down across from L.S. and lowered his voice. "...I came to bust my best friend out of prison..," he said. Then, he nodded at the white walls. "But, now I'm not so sure."
"You..you got sent to prison for me?" L.S. asked.
"Ehhh..not exactly," John wiggled his hand in a 'more or less' gesture. "Royalty told the guards to let me in. But, now that I'm thinking about it,.. she probably could have just told them to let you out."
"Yeah," L.S. gave half a chuckle before he caught himself and masked it with a cough. "But, I'm glad you didn't. Honestly, I like it here."
"You like prison?" John tilted his head at L.S.
"I've built myself a nice little reputation here," L.S. said. "I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much if I couldn't use my powers," he shrugged.
"Great," John chuckled. "You're staying... and I'm not sure if Majesty can get through this floor," he said.
"No sweat, just let me know when you want to leave," L.S. said.
"Huh?" John asked. "You said that as if you could leave any time you wanted...," he said. L.S. winked and nodded.
"I am electricity, John, these walls can't hold me."
"Hell, I'm ready to go right now. Or, I guess, after lunch with a friend," he smiled. But, L.S. shook his head. His eyes began to crackle with blue electricity.
"Sorry, old friend," L.S. said. "I'll see you during visiting hours; I've got a reputation to consider."
"Wha-?" John's single-word question was interrupted by a brilliant flash of lightning striking his head. He blinked and in an instant, he was standing outside the prison walls.