This Just In

Rick Masters can feel the beads of sweat form at his brow. Years behind the news desk under the hot studio lights and he has never felt so nervous before. Communication being sketchy the last 48 hours has kept him on the edge of a breakdown.

First the Solar Flair quiets the world, and if that wasn’t news enough, First Lady Miller has had a second attempt at her life. But the info he was getting now was causing knots to form in his stomach. If it were to be believed, more than sixty Extraordinaries had been killed in one type of accident or another in the past twenty four hours.

What would cause so many freak occurrences to happen all at once? He continued to scan the list of names before the camera snapped back on from the commercial break. His eyes caught on one name midway down the list and his heart froze. Jenny “Sun Girl” Coltrane.

“We now return to Omaha channel 14 local news. Now reporting Rick Masters.”

Rick didn’t immediately look up into the camera. His eyes were focused on the list he held in his hand. Long moments passed and the studio crew grew worried, not knowing what was wrong. Finally Rick slowly straightened up and looked deep into the camera lenses. He ran his fingers through his short auburn hair, unaware that the cameras were rolling.

“We almost back on the air guys?” As if coming out of a fog Rick could begin to hear the director in his earpiece trying to prompt him.

“Ahh yes. Excuse me everyone. Continuing our coverage of First Lady Miller's assignation attempt. . . I’m sorry everyone. I just can’t do this . . . If the reports are true President Miller is safe and being kept in an undisclosed hospital.

“However that’s not the top story tonight. Reports are coming throughout the country that Extraordinaries have been killed. . . and no foul play has been determined in any of the cases as of yet.”

Pausing before he can continue, Rick takes a deep breath. He's oblivious to the fact that he’s been crying the last few moments as he has been reporting the news.

“. . . Cut to commercial . . . I said cut to damn Commercial . . . I can’t do this. . . No I said I can’t do this you fool. . . Damn it one of those Extraordinaries was my sister.”

Weeping nearly uncontrollably, Rick Masters gets up from behind his desk and storms off the news set.

“We are sorry to report that Omaha Channel 14 local news is experiencing some technical difficulties and will be right back after these messages.”