| �Props To The Fallen� Journal Entry #2 |
| Losing a comrade in arms is one of the most difficult things a hero can face. Following the untimely demise of our fellow Freedom Squad member, Sgt. Jetpack, I think all of us have taken a moment to ourselves to contemplate the fragility of life (with the possible exceptions of Mrs. Vampire and Autorobotica), and how even superheroes must one day face their own mortality. Sgt. Jetpack and I were never on the best of terms. We would argue about team assignments, and patrol territories, and even bubble gum brands. I often felt that he was arrogant, narrow minded, and overconfident in his own abilities, which relied greatly on the jetpack and gun he took when he left the US Army. I mentioned all of this when I spoke at the funeral service, and some felt that I had done a disservice to him by drudging up our petty differences there. But like I told his wife after the service, I feel that it is best to bring up those things one last time, as to make sure that they do not linger around his memory unspoken, and indeed, replace in time, my great respect for the veteran crime fighter. |
| I think if we are all honest with ourselves, we can find things we do not like with all of our teammates, and I�m sure I was not the only one who ever had issues with Sgt. Jetpack. I know many of the newer recruits did not care for his many �initiation� pranks on newly appointed heroes to the Freedom Squad, which sometimes technically violated basic human rights. A couple of teammates were angry at him for going through their stuff after he suspected them of stealing his aftershave. But these should not be the things that we remember him for, and to prevent that, I think it important to come to terms with the man�s faults, so that we can honor his memory by always holding onto his dedication to both the Freedom Squad, and being a hero in general. |
| I can remember being so angry with him on that last day. We had had a terrible argument about whether or not to expel a group member for some trivial offense. When I went out on patrol that day, I was stewing in my own distaste for the man, taking out my anger for my flying harnessed colleague on a hovering oscillator clockwork robot. Brining that metal instrument of evil earthbound with a quick double fisted attack felt invigorating, as I imagined that I was bringing Jetpack down from his high horse. Shortly after I had made short work of this imperfect effigy, I got a call from the office. Someday, that Freedom Squad phone will toll for each of us, too. That day when the Paragon Corpse Removal places that faithful call to HQ to tell them that you are not going to be paying your membership dues, and then, as Donny rummages through your locker for a decent picture to pin up on the Martyr Board just outside the unisex restroom, it is then that your legacy will be passed on to those here to honor your memory with their own good works. For all my differences with Sgt. Jetpack, I know that he fell defending the rights of those who could not stand on their own, and for that, I honor my valiant friend. |
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