The Sweet Smell of Success
by Zapow (Kid Dynamo)

Kid Dynamo rounded the corner of the sewer tunnel he had been jogging down and saw a shadow loom before him. He heard a gagging sound and a moment later was showered in putrid liquid. The stinking fluid started to burn through the material of his costume. A quick super speed spin flung the mess in every direction. The smell, however, remained.

Zombie puke. It had to be zombies, because after all, he hated zombies.

Kid loved being a hero, he loved protecting the people of Paragon City, but he absolutely hated tangling with zombies.

He didn't mind so much the Banished Pantheon type of zombies. They were old, dry husked remains. His electricity bolts usually set them ablaze and left brimstone-scented ashes.

But Vahzilok zombies were another thing. These were fresh, or as fresh as zombies could be. Their shuffling, moaning, jigsaw bodies sizzled like rotten bacon when he blasted them.

You had to forget that each Vahzilok zombie was an amalgamation of perhaps a dozen hapless victims taken against their will and turned into spare parts. You had to forget that there was no way to avenge the deaths of these innocents. You had to fight for your life or suffer the same fate.

Worst of all was the puke. In all of the movies, TV shows, books and comics that had crossed his path...not a one ever had a puking zombie. Yet here he was fighting zombies that puked as the opening salvo in any battle.

Fortunately for Kid, he was well beyond the stage when Vahzilok zombies posed a serious threat to him. He and his Freedom Reborn teammates had countered their master's plan at every turn and sent the bad Doctor himself packing.

Kid had been speeding by a sewer grating when he heard a scream which lead him to his current situation. Although Dr. Vahzilok was now residing in The Zig, his minions were still out there plodding along as mindless as ever. Occasionally someone would get pulled screaming into an abandoned building or the sewers for the old Vahzilok slice and dice.

Kid finished off the attacking zombies easily and kicked into super speed. Accelerated speed in the sewers was dangerous at best, with slippery slime coating every surface, but Kid knew time was of the essence.

He followed the scream and only stumbled once, ramming his shoulder painfully into a fungus covered wall. It ached but he would live.

Finally he saw the girl, surrounded by strange men in white aprons. Long butcher knives were being waved in the air menacingly as the teenage girl tried to crawl away.

Reapers. These he didn't mind so much. They were alive. Appalling evil, but still alive.

Kid tossed a lightning bolt at the Reaper closest to the girl and watched him dance as the volts rattled his nervous system. In a flash Kid was on the others, throwing a flurry of super speed punches at each one, backing them away from the girl.

Kid checked the distant between the fight and the crawling victim. Far enough. Electricity gathered in his hands and exploded outward when he clapped. The Reapers were thrown from their feet and landed limply many feet away. Kid raced over to each Reaper, planted an arrest tag, and watched them fade away.

The girl practically leapt into Kid Dynamo's arms.

"Ohmigod!! They were really gonna kill me!! Hey, are you Kid Dynamo?!"

He flashed her a smile that teenage girls all over America had pinned to their bedroom walls.

"Yep. That's me. The Daring Kid Dynamo."

Her eyes widened and an excited scream exited her lips.

"Ohmigod!! I can't believe this!! My friends and I think you are sooooo cute....", she wrinkled her nose, "Um...but you smell kind gross. Like really gross."

Kid Dynamo grimaced.

"Zombie puke. I'll have to burn this suit. Not even the dry cleaners can get that smell out. C'mon, let's get out of here."

A short while later Kid and the girl were greeted by fresh air and dazzling sunlight. A crowd had gathered around them, including a few members of the media. Almost all of them were holding their noses.

Kid sighed to himself. Great, now the press is going to report how badly the teen idol of millions stinks. Soon they'll be calling him Skid Tidy Bowl soon.

"Well, folks, I loved to stay and chat but crime never takes a break!! Rock on!!!"

Kid Dynamo raced off down the streets of Paragon City.