3.3

9:28 AM, 18th April, 1989.

Location: My Apartment.

Fleur arrived early to drag me out of bed by the ear.

"What is this, I hear about you breaking up a drug dealing network in the dead of night and snapping fingers and arms for information?!" She demanded. "Clearly you are under too much stress. From now on, your official duty is to rest."

"Ow! Okay! Just stop tugging my ear!" I shouted.

She let go. Then smiled. "Which means you have paid vacation time."

"Wow, your higher ups really want to keep me, don't they?" I remarked.

"We also want you happy and sane. If you are going to fly off the handle at attempted murderers and street level drug dealers then what use are you against national threats? You need a cool head." She replied.

"Sorry. I haven't been in a good place lately." I agreed. "So I guess I get to decide where I'm going to visit… oh. I know!" I pulled out our scrying atlas. "Road-trip across the US! Well… of sorts." Since I can fly. "Please be sure to mention I'm heading there and not a missile, since I'm not taking a plane. Will they mind if I use one of the rural airports to check in?"

"I'll see what I can arrange. They won't be as resistant as some nations, since they already have Superman flying around and have your details on file." She explained. "Don't forget your passport… you have three weeks starting now."

Okay gotta pack…

Swimsuit, casual, formal… to mess with Bruce and Lex…

I'm kinda hyped, going to meet a whole bunch of iconic heroes.

That reminds me, what have they been up to recently?

Okay, Bats is dealing with some mobsters, it barely made the US national news. Superman has been fighting a veritable army of mechanical people… looks like Toymaker? Well, I should be able to help there. Most of all, I want to meet Flash and Martian Manhunter… oh, whats this? An embassy for Themyscira? Score! That means an in for the old timers like OG Green Lantern, Dr Fate and others. Assuming I can get Diana to talk about the glory days…

Don't forget my business portfolio.

And all packed. I'll take my kit, length of wire, a set of sewing needles and of course my helmet.

I say my goodbyes, to May's distress. I remind her that Louise is still staying over, she won't be lonely. I spend the rest of the morning spending time with her, just to console her. She got quite clingy.

Thus, after lunch I set flight for the distant continent. My route is a ballistic, sub orbital path. Up higher than ever before I finally pierce the ionosphere and enter the edges of space. I felt a chill up my spine at the view and the fact all I had to protect me was a barrier. One I'd tested in a vacuum chamber, but still just a field of energy.

Skimming along at hypersonic speeds above the air I reached where I could see the city of Metropolis. Then drifted down, at lesser speed so as to avoid startling the US military. I still got a flyby from a pair of fighter jets on an intercept course. I waved and matched speed. They led me down to an Airforce base.

I looked at the nervous squad of armed men who met me as I floated down and smiled.

"Hi! I'm Bubbleboy, from France. I'm currently on holiday! So where do I go to declare my luggage and get my passport stamped?" I asked in a chipper tone.

"You... flew here under your own power?" Their commanding officer asked.

"Sure did! Do you not know how expensive those flights are? Or how lengthy the flight time? It took me under an hour." It would have been shorter, but I stopped for a cup of coffee from a thermos and a sandwich while in orbit.

The officer seemed pained by that admission. "You really did exit the atmosphere?"

"Of course. Nice view, I must say." I smiled innocently, laughing internally. "Surely you were warned I was coming? I did ask for the French to send out a message saying I would be flying over, not a missile."

"Ugh… just… just get him out of here. Send him down to the customs at the port. Yes, that means you Harrison." One of the privates jerked into motion.

I followed, my bag floating along behind.

A lot of stares came my way as I floated behind my escort. Some requests for autographs. I was proud of the fact I had bought a steel pen just for this kind of situation and signed the offered notebooks as I floated past. I signed several more as I was forced to wait while my escort obtained a car.

"So… how do you fly?" Harrison asked, from beside me as we drove.

"A form of telekinesis." I replied.

"Really? Right… that pen." He paused. "So why the name Bubbleboy?"

I smiled. A real smile. "Because no one in the press heard my chosen code name, Metal Storm." I paused. "I'm thinking of changing that anyway. Too edgy."

"Huh. So what brings you to the glorious US of A?" Harrison asked.

"Needed a break. I was getting a bit wound up, from work." I shrugged. "Besides I had a friend I wanted to visit and some places to sight see."

"Where are you headed?" He asked.

"Metropolis, New York, Gotham, Keystone City and a few other places. I'll probably fly there, so this is a rather cheap visit. I won't go sub orbital again, until I'm going home." I laughed. "Would you believe I had a touch of Vertigo in me before I knew I could fly?" I joked.

Aside from some rather mind blown customs officers who couldn't quite fill out the typical forms and my ordinary belongings… I received my stamped passport just like any other visitor. Customs are a lot nicer than they will be after September 11. Or perhaps it was the celebrity factor?

Freedom achieved, Metropolis awaited.

Being a complete tourist, I visited the places I would hope to see in the city with a flyby… Oh, look Lexcorp tower. Quite impressive. Over there is the Daily planet… and… now I got nothing.

First, I find a nice hotel with a helicopter access.

Now what to do?

Well… if I can't find something to do, I might as well become the news.

I set down in a park and begin a mime act, with actual barriers.

Several people gather, because they recognise it seems entirely too real. It only convinces them more when a kid tries to prank me with a water balloon and it splatters over my barrier. Maybe tomorrow a bed of nails? Or an impossible balancing act using levitation? Oh god, I've become an attention whore.

After an hour of this, I decide to find myself dinner at a local restaurant and then go on the prowl as a vigilante.