For those of you who haven't been following the news for the last year, there have been two story's competing for the headlines, the first being the Bill Clinton Sex Scandal, the second has been Genocide. Genocide, a radical super villain group which was comprised of some of the most powerful super villains in the world, killed over a score of superheroes, including almost every member of the Order of Freedom and Liberty. One of the members of this heinous group is the pyromaniac Arson. Arson, whose real name is Dudley Becker, controls the element of fire, and is considered to be one of the most dangerous people alive today. Fortunately he currently resides in a cell in Bluewater maximum-security prison just outside of Washington DC. As with many super villains, he is not known for giving interviews, but surprisingly agreed to my request. The warden of Bluewater was reluctant to allow the interview to happen, but agreed when I said there would never be any direct contact between me and Arson, not that I had any real choice anyway. Arson currently never leaves his cell that is especially designed to immediately fill the room with a foam similar to that in a fire extinguisher should Arson decide to use his powers. Unfortunately for Arson, the power damping collars that are often put on the neck of super powered individuals to control them, does not work on him at all, a fact that allowed him to escape from prison in the past. Now he is no longer allowed direct contact with another human, even food is delivered to him slowly using a special slot. A special microphone was given to him so we could communicate.
Superhero Weekly: Starting with the obvious, Genocide. Why did you join this group?
Arson: That's pretty obvious, to kill all the superheroes. Any more dumb questions?
SW: I'm more interested in your personal motivations. Why do you want to kill superhero
es?
A: Because they are manifestations of order.
SW: I'm not sure I understand.
A: (frustration in his voice) I'll explain. All superheroes are only interested in one thing, the manifestation of absolute order. They strive to force upon society a strict, confining law that will control the world. It's similar in nature to 1984, big brother is watching you, and big brother just happens to have X-ray vision.
SW: So you see yourself as a freedom fighter?
A: I see myself as a force of nature. I am fire, and fire is a force of chaos. It cannot be controlled or contained. It has no order. The fire consumes all.
SW: Don't you control the fire though?
A: No. The fire goes through me. It controls me. I have no power over fire. I am its servant.
SW: How are you its servant?
A: Fire chose me. It came to me and entered my body. It chose me as its vehicle.
SW: And you are content with this?
A: Yes.
SW: When did fire chose you as it's, umm, vehicle?
A: Ten years ago. I was eating in a restaurant when an explosion occurred. The explosion was the result of a terrorist leaving a bomb there, who or why I never learned. The moment the explosion occurred, the fire came to me and chose me as its avatar.
SW: Okay, back to Genocide for a moment. Did you expect Belial to succeed as well as he did?
A: Belial?
SW: Yes, Belial. When he killed the Order of Freedom and Liberty?
A: Yes, what about it?
SW: Did you expect him to kill the whole Order?
A: Not really. Why do you ask?
SW: Because he led Genocide. The whole thing was his plan.
A: Belial? The leader of Genocide? Oh yeah, he was the leader. (starts laughing)
SW: I don't get it, is something funny?
A: Yeah, something's hilarious. I think I'm going to end this interview now. (The mic. is suddenly burnt up, and then the spray of foam can be heard in Arson's cell.)
—Dennis Carter
WRITE TO US
what do you think?
Do you have what it takes to be a superhero?
Copyright © 2000 Adam Fisher.
