PD: The Untold Origin of Captain Truth

[dans]

Captain Truth is a teen age superhero, now in the Public Domain. He originally appeared in the first and only issue of Gold Medal Comics, published in 1945 by Cambridge House Publishers (you can see the issue here: Gold Medal Comics on Comic Book Plus) and a reprint comic, Great Action Comics, in 1958. He has made two appearances in 5EP stories, The Legion of Super Teens and A Mary Marvel Story.

The House of Origins and Your Host, Tempered Justice

The House of Origins opens to you, a grand and timeless building, an elaborate structure with soaring pillars supporting a distant ceiling that seems to stretch infinitely, with walls etched with intricate carvings, symbols of humanity's collective history. Light filters in through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the polished marble floor. In the center stands the host and guardian of this mystical House, Tempered Justice, his power palpable, the form he has selected to greet you shifting and flickering like a flame. His eyes are wise and piercing yet kind, and his words are grave and measured as he speaks his welcome.

"Welcome, stranger, to the mysterious House of Origins. I am your host, and though I possess no physical form, for today, I have chosen to manifest as Tempered Justice - feel free to call me TJ. I am not alive, as you understand life, though I have existed since the earliest days of humanity. An avatar of the intertwined values of mercy and justice, I have emerged from the collective consciousness of all humankind and continue to evolve alongside my creators. Some may refer to me as fate, kismet, destiny, or karma - but I am more than any one label can capture. My purpose is to observe and occasionally intervene when necessary in service of my dual causes. Today, you shall hear a tale of one such intervention. Was I successful? You may judge for yourself."

The Dreams of Ken Elliot

Ken Elliot sat in the electric chair, his arms and legs securely bound, his eyes closed as he awaited his fate. The room around him was silent and empty, save for the presence of the unseen observers behind the one-way glass windows lining the walls. He had often imagined this moment during his time in confinement – should he rage and curse at those who had put him here? Or should he maintain a facade of defiance and bravado? But instead, as he sat, his mind was consumed with memories of his life – a life filled with bad choices, each leading to even worse ones.

He remembered…

***

The door of the Thunder Waters Home for Boys and Girls, near Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, thudded shut with finality, as Ned “Knuckles” Socco was expelled from the orphanage on his 17th birthday for bad behavior.

The next day, Ned had pounced on his friend as he was on his morning walk. "You have to let me into the basement! They've got some stuff of mine down there that I need, and they won't give it to me!" Ken had unlocked the remote back gate to the Orphanage and stood guard as Ned has furtively slipped into the cellar. He'd been stunned and unprepared when Ned ran back out and shouted at him. "Better come with me! I just planted a bomb, and they'll for sure blame you for it!"

Ken made his first really bad choice. He could have run back inside and tried to warn everyone, but he chose to escape with his friend. The two boys ran through the empty streets. The weather seemed to disapprove of their actions - dark, heavy clouds suddenly filled the sky, and thunder rumbled ominously overhead, adding to the chaos of their escape. And then, they were knocked off their feet by an explosion behind them, louder than the loudest thunder! The time bomb Ned had built, and Ken had help him place in the cellar of the Orphanage, detonated.

As the Thunder Waters Home for Boys and Girls burned, the sound of alarms and sirens filled the air. Ken and Ned watched from a safe distance. Ned's face was twisted into a malicious grin. It was a satisfying sight - revenge finally achieved, the pain and humiliation he had endured at the hands of the orphanage's staff finally erased. Ken was filled with anguish - he had never meant to kill anyone. Then his heart hardened. It they were going to pursue him like a criminal, he would become the greatest criminal Canada had ever seen!

“Well, that’s that!” Ned gloated triumphantly.

“Yeah, that’s what they get for messing with us!” Ken agreed wickedly.

With adrenaline still coursing through their veins, the two delinquents headed towards an abandoned house Ned had stumbled upon earlier. It would serve as their hideout and base as the began their new life of crime together.

***

"We made the front page again," Ken Elliot boasted. "In both papers! They's have decided to call us 'The Niagara Marauders'. We're internationally famous!" He casually dropped two local papers on the table in front of his partner, Ned Socco. Both the Canadian paper, the Niagara Falls Review, and the US paper, the Niagara Falls Gazette, had front page stories detailing the latest robbery committed by the pair. The headlines were lurid and eye-catching, with words like “major robbery," "vicious marauders," and "internationally infamous" jumping off the page.

Ned's expression darkened as he remembered yesterday's close call where Ken had almost ruined their perfect record. "Yeah, well, you almost screwed this one up," he snarled at Ken. "Another mistake like that and you’re outta here!" he threatened.

But Ken simply ignored him; his mind was already occupied with his own plans. He didn't need Ned anymore.

***

“You look ridiculous!” Ned Socco snorted laughter at his partner, Ken Elliot. Dressed in a flamboyant 17th century cavalier outfit, Ken looked like a character straight out of a historical drama. His wide collared black jacket was adorned with intricate gold embroidery that shimmered in the sunlight. His frilly white shirt had large cuffs and a ruffled collar, giving him an air of elegance and extravagance. Tight black trousers hugged his legs, leading down to flop top leather boots that gave him a dangerous edge. And of course, a hat with a wide, floppy brim and a large, colorful feather. For added flair, Ken had thrown on a short purple cape that draped over his shoulders. And the final touch - a rapier at his side, glinting menacingly in its sheath. “You have mocked me for the last time!” Ken snarled. “From now on, the Buccaneer plunders alone!” “Yeah, right,” Ned sneered. “You ain’t got the balls, fancy little man. Without me, you’re nothing!” “I guess I’ll find out!” Ken laughed confidently. Before Ned could move, Ken pulled out his rapier. "But.." he sneered as he stabbed his former partner in crime through the heart, "you'll never know!"

***

The evening of his most highly anticipated robbery had finally arrived. Ken Elliot, the Buccaneer, now infamous across Canada as the King of Thieves, stood outside the gates of the opulent estate of Jameson and Mary Pritchard, the wealthiest couple in all of Canada. The couple was hosting a gala costume ball tonight, so if anyone spotted him, they would just think he was another fancy-dressed guest.

“Finally, all my months of planning are going to pay off!” he thought enthusiastically to himself. “The ultimate jewel in my crown!” His carefully laid plans were about to be put into motion, and he was sure that nothing could stop him from claiming the ultimate prize. He was a phantom in the night, dressed entirely in black from head to toe, blending effortlessly into the shadows. The handle of his trusty rapier felt cold and solid in his hand, giving him a sense of security and power. He could also feel the weight of the bag on his back, filled with all his necessary tools and equipment for the heist.

Every detail had been meticulously planned and every step calculated with precision. He had spent months riding by the estate on his bicycle, tossing chunks of raw beef to the guard dogs to get them used to him and make them easier targets for tonight’s sleeping drugs He had also plotted the daily routines of the household staff, taking detailed notes on their schedules and habits. 

Among his most cunning ploys had been romancing Sophie, the naive maid at the estate, and manipulating her into giving him an extensive tour of the entire house. At first, she triggered a faint memory of recognition, but her incessant chattering quickly extinguished the thought that he might have known her before - no one could forget someone so annoying! By showering her with lavish gifts and flattery, he smoothly persuaded her to reveal the whereabouts of all valuable items for his upcoming heist. She was proudest of disclosing the mansion's most closely guarded secret - a concealed room behind a sliding bookshelf in the library.

Ken's pulse quickened as he approached the mansion. This would be the heist of a lifetime and he relished the challenge, supremely confident in abilities. With a satisfied smirk, he craftily disabled all the alarms, following his meticulous notes exactly. "He should have paid his security company better," Ken chuckled to himself. “Worth every penny of the bribe to Mr. Oliver, the owner! I'm a genius!"

Barely exerting himself, he easily scaled a trellis and onto a second-floor balcony. His movements were like a shadow in the night, silent and swift. The balcony led directly into the master library, where he confidently pulled back the secret book that Sophie had divulged to his charms. "What a bore it was, listening to her insipid prattle for hours," Ken sneered in his thoughts. "But worth every second, now." He mentally congratulated himself on his cleverness.

As expected, the shelves slid aside, revealing the entrance to the hidden room. “And old Jameson's ancient safe, filled with his wealth and Mary's priceless heirloom jewelry, too valuable to wear to any fancy dress party!” Ken couldn't contain his excitement at finally getting his hands on this almost mythical treasure.

And then things had started to go wrong.

Standing in front of the safe were three Mounties, fully dressed and ready for action, along with a huge Malamute dog. Ken couldn't believe his eyes when he recognized one of them as Sophie, the seemingly clueless maid. 

“It’s about time you got here!” Sophie said with a mocking tone. “Guess you missed the ‘off’ switch Oliver tried to tell you about and did it the hard way.” She chuckled, then continued mocking him. "And everyone in the house heard you clambering up that trellis - if any of them had been actual guests, they would have called for the Mounties! So I guess we’d have been here either way!"

The man with the dog stepped forward, his tall and commanding figure accentuated by his aristocratic features and distinguished 'parted pencil' mustache. His impeccable Sergeant's uniform only added to his air of authority. "I am hereby placing you under arrest on behalf of the Crown," he declared firmly.

In all his previous robberies, The Buccaneer had never once drawn his hidden pistol. In fact, according to the media's portrayal of him as a modern-day Robin Hood, he never even carried a gun. But they were mistaken. With lightning-fast reflexes, Ken pulled out his pistol and emptied the clip behind him as he darted back towards the balcony.

Quick as a wink, Sergeant Preston was on his tail, while Sophie tried to support the wounded officer who staggered after the wave of bullets. She quickly saw that it was too late, the bullet had gone through the back of his throat and out through the brain, killing him instantly. “At least it was quick!” she thought in anguish, as she gently straightened him on the floor and closed his eye. “We’ll send him to the chair for this!” she tearfully promised her fallen colleague. She joined the chase, determined to keep her promise.

By now, the rest of the fancy dress ‘guests’ had doffed their costumes and an army of uniformed Mounties now surrounded the opulent mansion. As he stepped out onto the balcony, the Buccaneer frantically ducked back to dodge a withering barrage of bullets. In a desperate attempt to escape, he dashed towards the edge and tried to leap over the patio below to the ground, smugly trusting his incredible acrobatic skills to land safely. Instead, he twisted his ankle savagely when he landed and collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.

Sophie quickly made her way down from the stairs and through the grand French doors to the patio and reached him first. “Oooohhhh... bad luck with the jump, eh? Well, makes it the easiest capture I’ve ever seen!” she sneered at him as she snapped on the cuffs. “More like the Court Jester of Crime. And dressed like one, too!”

The trial garnered immense shore-to-shore coverage in Canadian media, with the swift and sure verdict being ‘Guilty’ for half a dozen murders, including that of a beloved Mounty. This shattered the romanticized legend of the Buccaneer as a modern-day Robin Hood. The sentence was the hot seat - the Buccaneer would be executed by electrocution within a month.

“And this, I believe, is ‘where we came in’, if I understand that charming quaint colloquialism correctly,” Tempered Justice intoned gravely to his listeners. “Everything I have just showed you convinced me to offer Ken Elliot a last chance at redemption.”

[dans]

Ethereal Conversation

"Ken Elliot's story is far from over. Indeed, it was time for me to offer him a new beginning," Tempered Justice spoke solemnly, as he began yet another chapter of his tale...

As Ken Elliot sat quietly strapped in the electric chair, he was lost in a sea of pain and regret as memories of scenes of his life played out in his mind. Time seemed almost to stand still as midnight approached, and he almost forgot that his life was about to end. Suddenly, at exactly midnight, he heard a sharp crack, and every muscle in his body instantly went taut, and it felt as if he was being launched out of a cannon. A half of a split instant later he no longer felt anything - his life was at end.

But I, Tempered Justice, watched from infinitely afar and yet from intimately near as this scene unfolded. The door to the execution chamber opened slowly and the observers filed in somberly. A doctor examined Elliot's body and with finality declared him dead from electrocution, while a priest stood by with bowed head, quietly performing Last Rites.

As I floated above the chamber, I witnessed Elliot's spirit stir and observe the scene below with confused terror. When I addressed him, he reacted with shock and fear.

"Ken Elliot, what you are witnessing is not a dream. You are now deceased, your spirit released from your physical form. You have a decision to make followed by a voyage ahead of you. You can choose to descend straight into Hell and suffer eternal punishment for your wicked deeds in life. However, if you truly seek redemption, I can offer you something that many yearn for but few achieve - an opportunity to relive your life. We will return to the past and the present Ken Elliot will merge with the past version of yourself, allowing both to continue your journey together. If the merged Ken Elliot makes the same decisions as you did in your first life, nothing will change except that when we reach this point once again, your fate will be sealed without any opportunity for redemption. But if you make different choices this time around, you have the potential to live an extraordinary life - one that embodies both justice and mercy."

Even in death, Ken Elliot's spirit remained suspicious of everything. "What's the catch?" he asked skeptically. "There's always a catch when something seems too good to be true."

I nodded in agreement. "The only condition is that if you do choose to go back and relive your life, you will not retain any memories from your previous journey."

"But how will I make different choices then?” Ken asked plaintively. “If my choices were good enough for me the first time, why would I change them the next time I have the same choice to make?"

"Your subconscious will retain an impression of your final desire for redemption,” I explained. "If your desire is genuine, the new version of you in this second chance at life will respond to that longing."

"I choose," Ken said slowly. "I choose the opportunity to live a better life. And if I end up back here and fail again, I'll know that I deserve my punishment."

I would have smiled, if I had a visage to smile with. "I have faith in you, Ken Elliot. You have taken a step in the right direction."

I took Ken's spirit with me and transported us back in time to the day when his friend Ned was banished from the Orphanage - the day before they both committed mass murder by blowing up the building. Tomorrow would be Ken's first chance to make different choices. What Ken didn't know, and might never find out, is that if he makes the correct choices, his merged spirt will grant him power such as few men have ever known. With the wrong choices, he will never become aware of these mighty powers."

"And 'What did Ken choose, TJ?' you ask of me as well you may. Yet, today's time for tales has passed. Please return to the House of Origins next month with a mystical token of entrance, to listen to 'The New Adventures of Ken Elliot!"

[dans]

Starting Over

Ken Elliot had always walked with a swagger, his leather jacket and slicked-back hair exuding an air of delinquency. Despite being only thirteen years old, he had already built quite a reputation that made people stay out of his way. Just yesterday, his closest friend Ned Socco had been harshly expelled from the strict walls of the Thunder Water Orphanage for his malignant behavior. As he had been escorted off the property by two policemen, Ned had spewed vile, blustering threats of revenge against everyone he perceived as an enemy.

This incident left Ken seething with anger and planning his own acts of savage retribution.

However, as he woke up the next morning, something felt different. A feeling of unease settled over him and he couldn't shake off the sensation that the world had shifted while he slept. Instead of the rage that had consumed him the night before, there was now a vague sense of foreboding in the pit of his stomach. This feeling was so unsettling that Ken decided to postpone his plans for revenge and headed straight to the cafeteria for breakfast instead. Surprisingly, this change of plans lifted his spirits but he still couldn't shake off the ominous feeling looming over him.

As Ken entered the cafeteria, he saw a group of his friends who had backed a shy girl named Sophie into a corner. Seeing Sophie only intensified the strange feeling inside him; somehow it was related to her. He was increasingly confused by it all but what he witnessed was disturbing, though not unfamiliar to him as he had been a leader of such bullying many times before.

In that moment, Ken suddenly saw his friends as a pack of hungry wolves circling their prey, hemming her in and mocking her relentlessly with taunts and jeers. Their cruel words echoed off the walls, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and they reveled in their power to create such fear. On any other morning before today he would have been part of that group, trying to outdo his friends in being the cruelest. But this morning, he decided he had to put a stop to this. He couldn't just stand by and watch as Sophie was bullied.

Ken stopped near the group, took a deep breath, and slammed his breakfast tray to the floor. The shocking noise instantly silenced the crowded cafeteria as as all eyes turned towards him. Everyone was prepared to laugh at the poor unfortunate who had dropped his tray, but the were stunned at what they saw. Instead of some poor kid scrabbling on the floor to pick up the mess and hoping to desperately to escape the expected tide of derision from everyone in the cafeteria, they were astounded to witness instead a confrontation between some of the meanest, most feared bullies in the house!

Ken's jaw was set in determination as he faced his friends, who wore expressions of shock at his sudden defiance. "Enough!" his voice cut through the tense air like a rapier, his words firm and resolute. "Leave her alone! You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

Sophie looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise and gratitude. And yet there was doubt there too - maybe this was just a cruel new game Ken was playing.

His friends exchanged bewildered glances, unsure how to react to this unexpected display of righteousness from their usually malicious companion. He didn’t give them time to react. Instead, he commanded "We're done with this nonsense." His angry tone leaving no room for argument.

"C'mon, Kenny, what's the matter with you? You soft on her or something?" One mocked him uncertainly. "Kenny’s a sissy! He’s got an icky girlfriend," another tried unsuccessfully to start a chant.

"Shut it down, you @$$#*!%s!" he snarled back at them. "Or I'll shut YOU down!"

Sophie quickly fled behind him, ready to run farther if her protector wavered. Ken stood in the middle of the cafeteria, panting heavily, his fists clenched, an angry snarl making his face scary to look at. Seeing his determination, the bullies decided to look for easier targets.

“C’mon, guys, we got better things to do!” “Yeah, leave the sissy with his girlfriend!” With a scattering of face saving comments, the group walked away, throwing threats back over the shoulders. “Better stay out of our way from now on, sissy boy!” "Lucky for you, we got more important stuff to see to!" "Next time you cross us, you're toast!"

"Oh, yeah?" Looks like YOU GUYs are the ones running away scared!" He laughed and stomped in their direction, and they turned and scurried faster than before. Ken was astounded - a group of 4 ‘tough’ boys was actually afraid to fight him! As he watched his former friends scatter in fear, he couldn't believe what had just happened. For the first time in his life, he had stood up for someone and it felt...good. And he was starting to see bullying for what it really was - and it sure wasn’t a display of courage!

Sofie reminded him of her presence by touching him on the shoulder, and he turned to her. "Thank you," she said softly, her eyes filled with tears. Ken's hardened demeanor softened as he looked at her. He could see the pain and fear in her eyes and knew that he had done the right thing.

"No one deserves to be treated like that," he replied gruffly.

"So why are you always one of them, acting mean and tough?" Sophie asked softly, very puzzled indeed at his actions today.

As he struggled to explain, Ken was surprised to realize that he had been idolizing violence and intimidation because of his admiration for Ned Socco. But standing up against his friends had taken real courage, something he had mistaken bullying for before. The 4 of them could probably beat him silly - but none of them was brave enough to try. Sophie listened patiently without judgment, offering comfort and understanding. It was the first time Ken felt truly heard and it moved him deeply.

Their conversation was interrupted by the cafeteria monitor, who had been across the room when she'd been alerted by the earlier commotion. "Kenneth Scott Elliot, you've been warned a million times! You'd think you would have learned a lesson from what happened yesterday! I'm going to recommend that you be expelled as well!" Her voice was shrill and angry and she screeched her threats. It wasn't surprising to anyone that she automatically assumed that Ken had started the trouble. As she said, it had happened that way a million times before.

But surprisingly, it was Sophie who stood up for him and explained how he had defended her from bullies. "No! He saved me! They started it and he scared them off!"

Surprisingly, the monitor actually listened to the stories of Sophie and the other kids who had witnessed the whole thing. Finally, instead of punishing Ken, she actually praised him for his bravery! As they walked away, Ken reflected that he could get used to being praised for doing the right thing. And for the first time in his life, he had made a real friend in Sophie who listened to him without judgment and offered comfort and understanding.

"You know," he told Sophie when the monitor moved on, "I could get used to that!" But he still couldn't shake the portentous feeling.

[dans]

Fiery Rescue!

After standing up for Sophie in the cafeteria, Ken walked through the Orphanage halls that day with a newfound sense of confidence, though somewhat muffled by his strange feeling of some impending disaster due today. He did notice that some of the other kids who used to avoid him were now smiling and nodding in his direction, perhaps acknowledging him for standing up to bullies earlier. He was gratified by their sudden acceptance but confused by the change in himself - hadn’t he felt contempt for these same kids just yesterday?

His confusion was temporarily swept aside when he turned a corner to confront the same group of his four ex-friends roughly surrounding yet another girl. Without hesitation, he marched over and pushed them away from her.

"Leave her alone!" he growled gruffly, clenching his fists in determination. He face was twisted in determination and he stood as tall as he could, leaning forward slightly to get in their faces.

The girl’s expression shifted from fear to surprise and gratitude as she escaped and quickly fled down the hall. Ken squared his shoulders as they turned to him with sneers on their faces. It was clear they weren't going to back down this time without a fight.

Melvin, the ringleader, barked. He stepped towards Ken with a sneer on his face, ready for a fight. "You got a problem, Sissy?"

"Well, yeah, I do. I have a problem with anyone who mistreats someone else," Ken replied firmly, standing his ground.

"We'll' this time we ain’t letting walk away so easy, Kenny boy. This time we're gonna show ya, teach you a lesson! NOBODY tells us what to do, ‘specially some coward!" Melvin missed the irony that they had ever so courageously walked away before and that there were ever so bravely arrayed four of them against Ken's one. 

For an instant, no one moved, and then Melvin lunged forward, dropping his should and trying to drive Ken roughly into the wall behind him.

"Pile on!" one of the others cried, and they rushed forward shouting, fists raised...

But before they could reach their target, the floor beneath them heaved and shook violently, throwing them off balance and sending them crashing to the down. A deafening explosion echoed from the basement below, causing chaos and panic in the group above. Unknown to them at the time, Ned Socco had surreptitiously snuck into the basement and planted a time bomb.

Thick plumes of acrid black smoke billowed upwards from the vent and engulfed the room, making it difficult to see or breathe. Suddenly, with a loud crash, a section of the floor collapsed under Melvin's weight and he fell through into the inferno that was rapidly spreading throughout the storeroom below.

One thought filled Ken’s mind - rescuing Melvin, who had fallen into the fiery depths. Without a second thought, he raced towards the stairs leading down into the basement. The world around him seemed to blur as he moved with lightning speed, and to those around him, it seemed as if had simply becme invisible and vanished! His determination to save his ex-friend pushed him forward, and he raced down the stairs, ignoring the heat and danger that met him in the cellar.

As if by magic, Ken could feel a surge of newfound power and strength coursing through his body as he descended into the cellar. The world around him seemed to slow down, allowing him to quickly race through or around the dusty rummage that had accumulated over almost a hundred years.

He burst through the door of the storeroom room where Melvin was trapped, just as a massive storage shelf came crashing down on top of the helpless bully. With a display of superhuman strength, Ken lifted the shelf with ease, as if it were no more than a feather. His mind was reeling with the realization that he possessed super powers just like Popeye the Sailor after he’d eaten his spinach!

But there was no time to revel in this discovery as the fire still raged around them. Without hesitation, Ken swiftly gathered Melvin into his arms and leaped effortlessly through the hole in the floor above. He raced outside and gently placed Melvin among the group of other people who had already escaped from the burning building.

But Ken couldn't just stand by and watch his home be destroyed. With determination in his eyes, he raced back inside and retrieved two fire extinguishers from the upper floor, then raced back to the storeroom, blasting away at the flames. Two extinguishers weren't enough; without a moment's hesitation, Ken ran back upstairs and returned with several more. To his astonishment, carrying the heavy cylinders felt effortless - another sign of his newfound abilities. He emptied all of them before making one final sweep to ensure that every last flame had been put out.

In the end, the storeroom and its contents were nothing but blackened ashes, but Ken had saved the building - his beloved home and the safe haven for all the other orphaned kids who lived there. And somehow, through this harrowing experience, he had acquired super powers beyond imagination.  "And" he thought to himself, "that must have been what I was worried about all day!" He was very relieved that his premonition of doom had vanished with the faltering flames!

Infinitely far away, and yet intimately close nearby, Tempered Justice would have nodded his head and flashed a small smile of satisfaction, if he'd had a head to nod and a face to smile with!

[dans]

The Truth Revealed!

A few days later, Sophie and her friends were downtown eagerly waiting for the Big Bend Community Playhouse and Theater to let them in. All the kids from the Thunder Waters Home for Boys and Girls had been invited to hear a presentation from the famous now-retired Sergeant Preston of the Mounties, who was going to tell them all how great the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was and try to convince them all to grow up to be Mounties.

"It sure is nice to get out of the Home for a while!" Dottie said enthusiastically. "The whole place smells so awful after that fire!" she exclaimed. "And the constant banging noises from the repairs are driving me nuts!"

"It's nice of the theater owners to let us use the theater for free too," Tracey replied gravely. She was a few years older than the other two and she had already started working as an assistant to the Thunder Waters Home staff. "Director Lawson is worried that in a few years, once we pay for the repairs, the Home is going to need to look for new funding sources. I don't know what any of us would do if they went broke!"

"Let's not worry today! After all, we're going to hear Sgt. Preston of the Mounties!” Sophie spoke eagerly. “I've read every book in the "Sgt. Preston of the Yukon" adventure book series in the library! He's just an old man now, but the books are SO exciting!" She was sad for an instant. "It's so sad that Yukon King, his dog, died..."

"That was thirty years ago, silly! Dog's just don't live as long as people!" Tracey was always the practical one. But she’d read the whole series too, Sophie knew.

"Hey, look!" Dottie nudged Sophie's shoulder and pointed. "There's your white knight! He's by himself - I heard he ditched all those tough guys he used to hang around with!"

Indeed, Ken was by himself, and he looked a little forlorn. "Would you guys mind if I ask him to sit with us?" Sophie asked diffidently.

"Not as long as you share!" Tracey replied and Dottie nodded eagerly. Sophie was a little disconcerted over her friends' interest in Ken, but after all, it had been her idea. Well, she was going to make sure Ken sat next to her!

About half an hour into the presentation, in the middle of an exciting story, Sophie touched Ken's shoulder and whispered in his ear as he leaned over. "I've never told anyone before, but I'm going to be a Mountie! The first girl Mountie ever!" The determination he heard in her voice warned him not to chuckle.

He whispered back, "Can we take a walk after? Listening to Preston helped me make an important decision and now I'm dying to share it with someone!"

"Of course!" she said eagerly. "I can't wait!"

They took a quiet stroll in the woods near the Home.

Eventually, Sophie couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "So, are you going to tell me or keep me waiting forever?"

Ken took a deep breath. "I'm going to be a hero too - but not like a Mountie. You know those American kids with superpowers that everyone thinks are made up, like Wonder Boy and Amazona and Dynamic Boy? Well, I'm going to be Canada's first superhero!"

"Umm... Ken… don't you have to have super powers like them?" she asked skeptically.

"But I do have them!" he proudly boasted, puffing out his chest with pride. "And even better, I have an extra power that none of them have!"

Excitement danced in his eyes as he recounted the extraordinary events that had taken place at the Home. "Somehow, something happened to me the other day, when the Home was on fire," he explained. "One second I was just... well, just me, just plain old amazing Ken Elliot. And then the floor caved in under Melvin and I was frantic to save him and suddenly I was super! Nobody could figure out who carried all those fire extinguishers downstairs without anybody seeing, or who emptied them into the fire - but it was ME!"

He paused for a moment, deep in thought. He had no idea how he gained these abilities, so he blurted out a wild theory. "I wonder if maybe the Home is built on top of an ancient Algonquin Indian sacred spot or something," he mused, "and some spirit granted me powers as a reward for trying to save Melvin?" For some reason, it didn't sound quite right to him, but it sounded almost right. Close enough, anyway!

Of course, she really wanted to see his new powers; of course he really wanted the chance to show off. "OK, come here and hold on tight!" With a grin, he picked her up piggy back style and floated up into the air before making a short flight among the trees. After they landed, before she could stop him, he picked up a heavy rock and slammed it into the side of his head, and the rock shattered. " SEE? "Strong as Hercules, hard as steel!"

"And dumb as a ROCK!" she laughed. "WOW! That was amazing! You really DO have super powers!" she exclaimed with excitement. But as she caught her breath, she scolded him: "But that was a DUMB stunt!"

He couldn't help but feel a rush of exhilaration at how impressed she was. But finally her curiosity to see his extra power broke through her excitement. "You said you have an extra power nobody else has?"

"Yeah, let me show you! I've never seen or heard about anything like it." She looked at him expectantly.

He continued: "So, I want you to tell me some things about you that nobody else knows!" She looked thoughtful for a moment before he interrupted with another instruction. "Not just yet! First, make up some things too. Then I want you to tell me everything, and mix in the real stuff and the fake stuff. See, my secret extra power is that I can always tell when someone is telling me lies!"

Again she seemed about to start; again he stopped her. "Hold on - I'm going to go over behind that tree," he gestured towards a nearby tree, "and you turn your back to me so you know I can't see your face. Some people say you can always see a lie in the liar's face, so we wanna make sure I can't see your face!" He ignored her small frown at being called a liar. He didn't really mean it, and anyway, she was only going to fib because he had told her too!

From behind the tree, she began. "My name is Sophie Ellen Darby, and I'm 14 years old and I want to be the first girl Mountie." Her voice was steady and confident. "I've lived in Thunder Waters since before I was one. When I was eight I used to sneak off into the woods every day and feed a fox I called Lenny. I hate cooking and cleaning." So far, everything she said was true. But then she said something that caught him off guard. "The other day I kissed a boy named Bennie…"

Ken's face fell into his shoes at the mention of anyone else kissing her. But then he perked right back up! "Hold it! Stop!" he interjected. "You made that one up! You never kissed Bennie!"

She laughed, a little wistfully this time. "You’re right, I’ve actually never kissed a boy before…" Then she was excited again: "That's a great power, and I never heard of anything like it before either. You are going to be a great hero. Maybe you should call yourself Captain Truth?"

He agreed enthusiastically. After all, his power let him know the truth when he heard it!

[dans]

Captain Truth, Revealed

"Well, if you're going to be a superhero you need a super costume!" Sophie turned her mind to the practical aspects of Ken's career proposal. "Amazona, Wonder Boy and Dynamic Boy all wear costumes!"

"I'd hardly call what Amazona wears a costume, would you?" he sniffed. "A gymnastic leotard and ballet slippers? And if you ask me, Wonder Boy and Dynamic Boy look like a pair of wet socks!" He paused, a little uncertain and not knowing why, the plunged ahead. "I was thinking, maybe something like d'Artagnan, what do you think?"

A sudden chill ran down Sophie's spine. She didn't know why she felt the way she did, but if she had her way, Ken would NEVER dress like d'Artagnan! She had an inspiration instead... "You'd look silly with a frilly shirt! What about more like John Carter of Mars? I've read all the books! You'd look dreamy!" 

"I guess I'll have to think about it," he replied. He wasn't willing to give up on the cavalier look just yet. But how could he resist the opportunity to be called "dreamy" by Sophie? "Maybe I can find something good in the closets at the Home."

The Home had been around for over a hundred years and housed countless children over those years. The staff never seemed to throw anything away, so there was bound to be some useful items in those old closets.

"I'll show you what I come up with in a couple of days!"

***

Tempered Justice here again, folks - glad you stopped by again! We all know how that came out, don't we? On this particular Earth, Captain Truth soon garnered fame as Canada's first super hero, in a costume subtly influenced both by the cavalier style and John Carter of Mars... as you can see below!

.

[dans]

Sophie was absolutely stunned at the costume. "Talk about the naked truth!" He was devastated when she didn't comment on how dreamy he looked. And to make it worse, she couldn't help but laughing about the ridiculous hat. "Isn't it going to fly off all the time?"

"Actually, it does," he agreed sheepishly. "Sometimes when I zoom down from the sky to surprise an evil-doer, or when I run after one and tackle him from behind, or when I'm in a fight, or sometimes when I'm just flying along, minding my own business... but strangely enough, it always comes back on its own. It must be part of my powers or something!"