Tomorrow Man, Champion of the People (my science fiction political pulp hero story)
Tomorrow Man, Champion of the People
Once upon a time, two lovely old couples sat together in a lonely little park, laughing and chatting beneath the warm afternoon sun. Their names were Marilyn and Joe Gable.
As they talked about their usual hopes and dreams—especially their wish to someday have a child of their own—something strange happened.
On that bright, sunny day, with no rain and no clouds in the sky, a bolt of lightning suddenly crashed down with a deafening boom.
The earth split open, leaving a small smoking hole in the ground.
Then they heard it.
A baby crying.
Marilyn gasped. “Joe… is that a baby?”
Joe stared in disbelief. “Yes… but that’s impossible. What do we do?”
Marilyn carefully picked up the child from the glowing crater and smiled with tears in her eyes.
“Joe, can’t you see? God heard our prayers. We’re parents now.”
Joe blinked. “But… what do we call him?”
She smiled warmly.
“Let’s name him Crab. Crab Gable.”
As the years passed, the child grew into a strong and well-mannered young man. Crab always knew there was something different about him, though it never truly bothered him.
He could leap higher than anyone alive—high enough to touch the moon if he wished. He could run faster than a speeding train. Knives shattered against his skin like glass, and bullets bounced harmlessly away. Even needles at the doctor’s office snapped in half before they could pierce him.
One evening, his parents finally sat him down.
“You must hide your powers,” Joe told him gently. “People fear what they don’t understand.”
“But when the day comes,” Marilyn added, “you must use those gifts to help others. Promise us you’ll only use your powers for good.”
Crab smiled.
“I promise.”
Eventually, Crab left the quiet farming town he loved so dearly and moved to the great metropolis known as Jupiter City.
By day, he worked as a radio news host.
But by night…
He became something greater.
A champion.
A guardian.
A hero.
Using his incredible powers to battle the injustices of the world, he dedicated his life to protecting the innocent.
He became…
Tomorrow Man, Champion of the People!
Meanwhile, in a small suburban home in Jupiter City, a cruel man screamed at his terrified wife and son.
“Don’t you tell me what to do, woman!” he shouted. “That’s my son, and I can do whatever I want!”
He slapped his wife across the face.
“Please!” she cried. “Don’t hurt him!”
“I’ll do whatever I—”
CRASH!
The window exploded inward.
A tall figure stepped through the broken glass.
“Now hold it right there.”
The abusive husband stared in confusion. “Who the heck are you?! Get out of here! This is none of your business!”
“Oh yes,” the stranger replied calmly, “it is my business.”
He punched the man clean through the wall.
The mysterious hero turned toward the frightened mother and child.
“Are you two okay?”
They could only stare in shock.
Suddenly, the husband staggered to his feet and grabbed a knife.
“You know what? I’ve had enough of this!”
He lunged forward and stabbed at the hero’s chest.
SNAP.
The blade shattered instantly.
The man’s eyes widened. “W-What?!”
Tomorrow Man smiled slightly.
“I’m afraid you don’t understand my physics, sir.”
“You’re not human!”
“No,” Tomorrow Man said firmly. “I’m justice.”
He grabbed the man and hurled him out the window into the yard below.
Then he turned back to the frightened family.
“Come on. I’m taking you somewhere safe.”
He handed the woman a stack of cash.
“But… that’s my husband’s money,” she whispered nervously.
“Don’t worry about your husband, ma’am,” Tomorrow Man said. “And I strongly suggest you file for divorce, because that man is headed straight for the doghouse.”
For the first time all night, she smiled.
“Thank you… Who are you?”
Tomorrow Man smiled back.
“A friend.”
The next morning at the radio station—
“Crab! Crab Gable! Get in here right now!”
“Yes, boss! Sorry, boss!”
“No time for excuses! We go live in ten minutes!”
“Right! Right! I’m on it!”
After finishing his morning broadcast, Crab spotted a woman he had admired for quite some time: Mae Bo.
Nervously, he approached her.
“H-Hey, Mae. How are you doing?”
Mae rolled her eyes. “Save it, Gable.”
Crab awkwardly adjusted his tie.
“You know,” she continued, “men like you don’t really know much about anything.”
“I mean—I—well…”
She smirked.
“You’ll never amount to much, Crab.”
“Well… maybe not,” he admitted sheepishly. “But maybe we could get coffee sometime?”
Mae sighed dramatically.
“Aw, Crab, Crab, Crab… Fine. Just once. Only because I feel sorry for you.”
The next Saturday morning, the two sat together at a small coffee shop.
Crab was nervous beyond belief, fidgeting constantly while Mae looked entirely unimpressed.
The waitress approached.
“What can I get for you two?”
Mae smiled politely. “Coffee with cream and sugar.”
Crab cleared his throat. “Uh… black iced coffee, please.”
Mae stared at him.
“Iced coffee? Really? You’re too soft to drink hot coffee?”
“Well… iced coffee’s actually pretty good…”
She rolled her eyes.
“Sure, Crab.”
Suddenly, something nearby caught Crab’s attention.
Two suspicious-looking men had entered the diner.
One whispered nervously, “Do you realize how much trouble we’ll be in if they catch us? They’re already figuring out the trafficking business.”
Crab’s expression changed immediately.
“Uh… Mae? I’ll be right back. Bathroom.”
“Sure, Crab.”
He slipped away quietly and listened from around the corner.
“If they catch us,” the nervous man continued, “we’re finished!”
“Relax,” the other man said smugly. “If anybody gets suspicious, I’ll just call it another crazy conspiracy theory.”
“But how long can we keep doing this?”
“Just meet me in half an hour at the usual place.”
Crab narrowed his eyes.
He returned to the table.
“Mae… I’m sorry, but something came up. I gotta go.”
Mae stood up angrily.
“Fine. This whole date was a waste of time.”
She tossed money onto the table.
“Men like you are weak, Crab.”
Then she stormed out.
Crab followed the suspicious man into a dark alley.
Within moments, he changed into Tomorrow Man.
Leaping down from above, he landed with a thunderous BOOM.
“So,” Tomorrow Man said confidently, “tell me about this trafficking business.”
The man panicked.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Oh, I think you do.”
Tomorrow Man grabbed him by the arm.
“Do you realize who I am?!” the man shouted. “I’m rich! I can—”
“Oh, so you think money makes you untouchable?”
Tomorrow Man suddenly leaped high into the air, carrying the screaming criminal with him.
Within seconds, they stood atop a skyscraper.
“How did you—?!”
Tomorrow Man laughed.
“Physics, sir.”
He dangled the terrified man over the edge.
“LET ME DOWN!”
Tomorrow Man released him.
The criminal screamed as he plummeted—
—but Tomorrow Man caught him inches above the street.
“See?” Tomorrow Man said cheerfully. “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.”
The man trembled violently.
“Now,” Tomorrow Man said, “are you going to tell me about this trafficking ring?”
“No! Leave me alone! You’re insane!”
Tomorrow Man smirked.
“Oh, but trafficking innocent people is perfectly sane?”
He carried the man over to a power line and balanced him carefully on top of it.
“Relax,” Tomorrow Man said. “It’s just a power line.”
“THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME!”
Tomorrow Man grinned.
“Chillax.”
Don’t miss the next thrilling adventure of Tomorrow Man!
More chills! More thrills!
Once upon a time, two lovely old couples sat together in a lonely little park, laughing and chatting beneath the warm afternoon sun. Their names were Marilyn and Joe Gable.
As they talked about their usual hopes and dreams—especially their wish to someday have a child of their own—something strange happened.
On that bright, sunny day, with no rain and no clouds in the sky, a bolt of lightning suddenly crashed down with a deafening boom.
The earth split open, leaving a small smoking hole in the ground.
Then they heard it.
A baby crying.
Marilyn gasped. “Joe… is that a baby?”
Joe stared in disbelief. “Yes… but that’s impossible. What do we do?”
Marilyn carefully picked up the child from the glowing crater and smiled with tears in her eyes.
“Joe, can’t you see? God heard our prayers. We’re parents now.”
Joe blinked. “But… what do we call him?”
She smiled warmly.
“Let’s name him Crab. Crab Gable.”
As the years passed, the child grew into a strong and well-mannered young man. Crab always knew there was something different about him, though it never truly bothered him.
He could leap higher than anyone alive—high enough to touch the moon if he wished. He could run faster than a speeding train. Knives shattered against his skin like glass, and bullets bounced harmlessly away. Even needles at the doctor’s office snapped in half before they could pierce him.
One evening, his parents finally sat him down.
“You must hide your powers,” Joe told him gently. “People fear what they don’t understand.”
“But when the day comes,” Marilyn added, “you must use those gifts to help others. Promise us you’ll only use your powers for good.”
Crab smiled.
“I promise.”
Eventually, Crab left the quiet farming town he loved so dearly and moved to the great metropolis known as Jupiter City.
By day, he worked as a radio news host.
But by night…
He became something greater.
A champion.
A guardian.
A hero.
Using his incredible powers to battle the injustices of the world, he dedicated his life to protecting the innocent.
He became…
Tomorrow Man, Champion of the People!
Meanwhile, in a small suburban home in Jupiter City, a cruel man screamed at his terrified wife and son.
“Don’t you tell me what to do, woman!” he shouted. “That’s my son, and I can do whatever I want!”
He slapped his wife across the face.
“Please!” she cried. “Don’t hurt him!”
“I’ll do whatever I—”
CRASH!
The window exploded inward.
A tall figure stepped through the broken glass.
“Now hold it right there.”
The abusive husband stared in confusion. “Who the heck are you?! Get out of here! This is none of your business!”
“Oh yes,” the stranger replied calmly, “it is my business.”
He punched the man clean through the wall.
The mysterious hero turned toward the frightened mother and child.
“Are you two okay?”
They could only stare in shock.
Suddenly, the husband staggered to his feet and grabbed a knife.
“You know what? I’ve had enough of this!”
He lunged forward and stabbed at the hero’s chest.
SNAP.
The blade shattered instantly.
The man’s eyes widened. “W-What?!”
Tomorrow Man smiled slightly.
“I’m afraid you don’t understand my physics, sir.”
“You’re not human!”
“No,” Tomorrow Man said firmly. “I’m justice.”
He grabbed the man and hurled him out the window into the yard below.
Then he turned back to the frightened family.
“Come on. I’m taking you somewhere safe.”
He handed the woman a stack of cash.
“But… that’s my husband’s money,” she whispered nervously.
“Don’t worry about your husband, ma’am,” Tomorrow Man said. “And I strongly suggest you file for divorce, because that man is headed straight for the doghouse.”
For the first time all night, she smiled.
“Thank you… Who are you?”
Tomorrow Man smiled back.
“A friend.”
The next morning at the radio station—
“Crab! Crab Gable! Get in here right now!”
“Yes, boss! Sorry, boss!”
“No time for excuses! We go live in ten minutes!”
“Right! Right! I’m on it!”
After finishing his morning broadcast, Crab spotted a woman he had admired for quite some time: Mae Bo.
Nervously, he approached her.
“H-Hey, Mae. How are you doing?”
Mae rolled her eyes. “Save it, Gable.”
Crab awkwardly adjusted his tie.
“You know,” she continued, “men like you don’t really know much about anything.”
“I mean—I—well…”
She smirked.
“You’ll never amount to much, Crab.”
“Well… maybe not,” he admitted sheepishly. “But maybe we could get coffee sometime?”
Mae sighed dramatically.
“Aw, Crab, Crab, Crab… Fine. Just once. Only because I feel sorry for you.”
The next Saturday morning, the two sat together at a small coffee shop.
Crab was nervous beyond belief, fidgeting constantly while Mae looked entirely unimpressed.
The waitress approached.
“What can I get for you two?”
Mae smiled politely. “Coffee with cream and sugar.”
Crab cleared his throat. “Uh… black iced coffee, please.”
Mae stared at him.
“Iced coffee? Really? You’re too soft to drink hot coffee?”
“Well… iced coffee’s actually pretty good…”
She rolled her eyes.
“Sure, Crab.”
Suddenly, something nearby caught Crab’s attention.
Two suspicious-looking men had entered the diner.
One whispered nervously, “Do you realize how much trouble we’ll be in if they catch us? They’re already figuring out the trafficking business.”
Crab’s expression changed immediately.
“Uh… Mae? I’ll be right back. Bathroom.”
“Sure, Crab.”
He slipped away quietly and listened from around the corner.
“If they catch us,” the nervous man continued, “we’re finished!”
“Relax,” the other man said smugly. “If anybody gets suspicious, I’ll just call it another crazy conspiracy theory.”
“But how long can we keep doing this?”
“Just meet me in half an hour at the usual place.”
Crab narrowed his eyes.
He returned to the table.
“Mae… I’m sorry, but something came up. I gotta go.”
Mae stood up angrily.
“Fine. This whole date was a waste of time.”
She tossed money onto the table.
“Men like you are weak, Crab.”
Then she stormed out.
Crab followed the suspicious man into a dark alley.
Within moments, he changed into Tomorrow Man.
Leaping down from above, he landed with a thunderous BOOM.
“So,” Tomorrow Man said confidently, “tell me about this trafficking business.”
The man panicked.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Oh, I think you do.”
Tomorrow Man grabbed him by the arm.
“Do you realize who I am?!” the man shouted. “I’m rich! I can—”
“Oh, so you think money makes you untouchable?”
Tomorrow Man suddenly leaped high into the air, carrying the screaming criminal with him.
Within seconds, they stood atop a skyscraper.
“How did you—?!”
Tomorrow Man laughed.
“Physics, sir.”
He dangled the terrified man over the edge.
“LET ME DOWN!”
Tomorrow Man released him.
The criminal screamed as he plummeted—
—but Tomorrow Man caught him inches above the street.
“See?” Tomorrow Man said cheerfully. “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.”
The man trembled violently.
“Now,” Tomorrow Man said, “are you going to tell me about this trafficking ring?”
“No! Leave me alone! You’re insane!”
Tomorrow Man smirked.
“Oh, but trafficking innocent people is perfectly sane?”
He carried the man over to a power line and balanced him carefully on top of it.
“Relax,” Tomorrow Man said. “It’s just a power line.”
“THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME!”
Tomorrow Man grinned.
“Chillax.”
Don’t miss the next thrilling adventure of Tomorrow Man!
More chills! More thrills!
26-30, M