It had been a long, grueling week, but now the time had come. Jason shivered; two hours of exercise, followed by two hours of hand-to-hand training, followed by two hours of shapeshifting training, including hand-to-hand combat. He wasn’t allowed to use his powers to make any of it easier before then, supposedly to build up his natural strength and stamina. At least he did find it easier to shift shapes now, and move his body when he wasn’t. The skinny man had told him they’d scale back on the training when everything was settled, but that meant they both had to work extra hard leading up to now.

But it was all worth it. They’d been given lockers at Intrepid HQ, packets of clothes, and orders to be at the entrance in five minutes, their trainer would take them on patrol and put them through their paces. Max was positively giddy, and Jason was feeling enthusiastic as well, though he didn’t show it.

“This’s it! Oh boy oh boy, I always wanted a costume like this! Never really got the chance up there, you know.” Max said, zipping up his yellow boots. He had gotten big, and his legs stretched the blue material taught. He slipped on his shirt, a bright, deep red with a pure white star on the chest. He played with the buckles on his shoulders like a kid, then swept the bright white cape on with a flourish. Max grinned, hands on his hips and chest out.

Jason’s costume wasn’t nearly as flashy. He had a purple-highlighted black jacket, a deep purple shirt, black pants, and black boots. The only bright color to it was a thick belt with a yellow stylized ‘M' on it.

“No cape?” Max asked as Jason strapped on his tinted goggles. If he was travelling with Max, the wind would be a problem.

“No capes. You could get it snagged on something, or someone could grab it.” Jason said. He pulled his half mask up over his nose, donned his gloves, and nodded. He was ready to rock.

“That’s why you get a tearaway cape! And it looks so cool!” Max exclaimed, twirling and flexing, the white cloth swirling around him dramatically.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go.” Jason walked past, and Max followed, a little disappointed.

In the lobby, both Vivian and Harrison were waiting for them.

“Ooh! Looking sharp!” Vivian cooed, Max giving her an enthusiastic thumbs-up in response.

“Make it snappy, we don’t have all day.” Harrison groused.

“Right. Today gentlemen, will be your first day on patrol. You’ve passed the basic safety measures, so just try to get a feel for what to do for now. Jason can perform a maximum of twenty hours a week, with no more than five hours per day, after three and no later than eight p.m. on weeknights, when he is enrolled in school. But for now he may perform during work hours in his official capacity as sidekick!” Viv explained, making the shapeshifter bristle. “You’ll be assigned specific areas to patrol, but for now just follow your trainer. He’s an expert!” she said. Neither Max nor Jason missed Harrison's snort.

“That’s great, Viv. Who will we be working with?” Max asked.

“Him, of course.” She pointed over by a group of people, and he came over, hearing the summons.

“Me, good sir!” It was...a man. A thin, athletic man with runner’s build. A man in a golden speedo and running shoes. And that was it. A man sweeping his arms up into the air dramatically, above the small set of antlers he wore. A man, covered head to toe in gold body paint and glitter. “It is I, the professional hero known as the Golden Gazelle! Ah!” He swept his hands in front of his face in a heart shape. Max and Jason stared open-mouthed. Max slowly covered Jason’s eyes with his hand.

“Appreciate it, but it’s too late.” Jason deadpanned.

“Come, come! We have much to go over, and much to do! The patrol cannot wait long!” Golden Gazelle said, pointing to the door. With his hips. Max tilted his head to a stonefaced Harrison and an ever-cheerful Vivian.

“Is he...alright for this?” he asked as tactfully as he could.

“Mr. Sayers has been working the mean streets of Silver City for nearly ten years, and has trained dozens of potential heroes for us. He may have peculiar proclivities, but he’s the strongest and most professional hero Intrepid Incorporated has.” Vivian supplied happily. Max and Jason shared a glance. No wonder they got in so easily.

“Please, please! I know you desire to gaze at my magnificent form in wonder, but we must make haste! The citizens await their rescue!” Golden Gazelle declared.

“Right. Let’s go!” Max nodded, shaking off the strangeness of the Golden Gazelle. He was heading out when there was a tug on his cape.

“Hold it. One more thing before you go. We got your costumes, but there’s the last thing to register. It’s ridiculous, but if you’re a hero, you usually have a hero name. Give any thought to it?” Harrison asked, holding up a tablet.

“Yeah. I’m Morph.” Jason piped up, stepping forward and puffing his chest up. He’d been thinking up names all week.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Not bad, kid. Underestimated you.” Harrison grunted. “What about you?”

Max put a hand on his chin, brow furrowed. In all of the training, costume design, taking care of Jason, and finally preparing three square meals a day regularly, he’d never even considered it. Nothing came to mind.

“Is this necessary right now? I can’t think of anything.” he said.

“It is. If you don’t decide before you get out there, people’ll call you whatever they want. You might not like it, I might not like it, and our sponsors definitely won’t like it. You don’t have one, we got a few you can use.” Harrison said.

“Our focus groups have elected the appellation ‘Mr. Buff’ for a persona of your build and powers. How does that sound?” Vivian said. Jason snickered, and Max made a face.

“Honestly sounds like something I don’t want. Hmm.” He thought hard, back to where it all began, in space. Back to Talaxnia, the bravest, strongest, most kind-hearted person he’d ever known. For Max, she shone brighter than the sea of stars they flew through. He had inherited her strength and determination, and now…

“I got it.” he said with a smile. “From now on, you can call me Star-Strong!” He raised a fist, flexing. Vivian nodded approvingly, while Harrison rolled his eyes.

“Oh boy, let’s see how that plays in the polls.” he muttered, typing it in. “Right. Get outta here.”

“What a wonderful moniker, sir! So forceful! My gosh! Come, good sirs! We simply must debut you to the world at once!” Golden Gazelle proclaimed.

“You boys have fun now! Try not to cause too much property damage!” Vivian waved them off.

“I can make no guarantees!” Max said, following the prancing hero.

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“So, uh, what do we do out on patrol?” Morph asked. They were walking up town, drawing the gaze of the passerby with their bright and flamboyant costumes. Well, Star-Strong and Gazelle were. And they kept posing for pictures! He shrank down into his jacket.

“Excellent question! To go on patrol is to naturally look out for trouble! We are super heroes, so our primary focus is on super problems! Ordinary crimes aren’t the top priority, that’s why police exist. We help out wherever we can, of course. But our main mission is to deal with the super threats that the police cannot!” Golden Gazelle said.

“Hmm, interesting. Are crimes committed by supers really that much of an issue?” Star-Strong asked. Gazelle pirouetteed to face him.

“But of course! How could you not know, Star-Strong! Without the protection of the Champion and others, we would be under the bootheel of the first sufficiently powerful super to come along, or worse! And to be quite honest, there’s a lot more of them nowadays than there used to be. When I first started, I barely ran into two supers a month. Now it’s practically every day! It’s getting a little worrying. All these people gaining powers, turning to crime…” he trailed off, adjusting the straps of his antlers nervously.

“Uh...hey! Speaking of powers, what are yours? What do you do in particular, Golden Gazelle?” Star-Strong asked, changing the subject. Gazelle perked up immediately.

“Hmm? Are you inquiring about my, the Golden Gazelle! Origins?”

“Well not really, no-”

“You see!” Gazelle cut off, twirling like a ballerina. “It started when I was a callow youth of nineteen! My family and I were in Africa on a sightseeing safari. While in the savanna, we came upon a herd of gazelle at a watering hole. But then, misfortune! A lion appeared from the brush, scattering them to the winds! And at that moment, I saw it.”

“The gazelle! So graceful, so elegant! Such a magnificent creature, my heart leapt as it did! At once I felt a kinship with the majestic animal. My spirit communed with it, resonating deep within my bones to down in my soul! And thus, ever since, the grace and agility of the noble gazelle has been mine!” He knelt on the ground, his arms up to the sky. Star-Strong and Morph stared at him.

“...kay…” Star-Strong said blankly.

“Daniel Sayers, aka the Golden Gazelle. He can run and jump as fast as the animal he’s named after, with enhanced endurance and leg muscles that can be used for powerful kicks.” Morph said, reading his online entry from his phone.

“Oh but young Morph, it sounds so clinical when you put it that way!” Gazelle proclaimed.

“That doesn’t matter!” Morph snapped back.

“Teh! Where is your grace, your artisanal soul? Come lad, we must away! I shall reveal to you and teach you the great joy and wonder of life! Come!” the Golden Gazelle said, bounding off.

“What does that even mean?” Morph said, turning to Star-Strong in exasperation.

“I can’t be a hundred percent sure with him, but I believe it means lighten up, dude.” He playfully ruffled his sidekick’s hair and ran after, eager to continue patrol. Morph growled, but followed.