A Reluctant Hero

The first show without Alan was very difficult. Maddie thought as she prepared to leave the theater through the stage door. Paul kindly gave them a couple of days off to grieve. But 'the show must go on' as Alan would say. In any case, this was to raise money for The Young Actor's Charity in Alan's honor. Maddie remembered how Alan was one of the charity's biggest sponsors. The charity's board-members were even talking about naming a scholarship after him.

While Alan's understudy, Howie, was a generous man and an excellent Maurice, it still wasn't the same. The show was wonderful as expected. But backstage was a different story. There was an air of melancholy. Everyone walked around in a haze.

"You ok?" Gene asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, just thinking of Alan, that's all." Maddie said.

"I know, I miss the old fart too." He said before chuckling. "Remember when he showed up to rehearsal wearing that stupid pink hat? The only reason he wore it was to see if we could get through the show without laughing. Even issued a bet of twenty-five dollars to the first person who wouldn't break character."

"And of course it ended with all of us on the floor in tears, laughing so hard. Even Paul couldn't keep a straight face. In the end, all of us had to pay Alan." Maddie laughed. Gene opened the door to the sight of camera flashes and questions being hurled.

"What the…?" Gene said, holding his hands up to his head.

"Ms. Talbot!"

"Ms. Talbot!"

"How does it feel to be the heroine of the day?!"

"Were you scared at all?!"

"Oh great, it's the press…" Gene groaned as he tried to help Maddie get out. But they were trapped.

Maddie felt overwhelmed. She didn't mean to be a hero. She was only doing what was right. Why can't they recognize that?

Someone grabbed Maddie's hand. "Out of the way!" A familiar voice shouted out and yanked her though the crowd. It was Khan. There was a car at the end of the alleyway. "Get in." Khan said. Maddie climbed in and he got in next to her. "Go Joachim." He ordered the driver. The car took off.

"Thanks." Maddie said with a relieved sigh. "I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to escape those vultures."

"You're welcome Ms. Talbot." Khan said. "I said I would see you at your next performance and I must say it was a truly heartfelt one." He said in a complimentary tone.

Maddie wasn't sure what to make of that. Khan isn't someone who would heap on lavish praise. "Thank you." She said as Joachim turned a corner.

"Have you eaten?" Khan asked. Before she could answer, her stomach rumbled. Khan chuckled as she turned red. "That answers my question." The car stopped before a Japanese restaurant. "May I treat you to dinner, then?" Khan asked as he opened the door and held out his hand. When she didn't move to take it, he smiled. "You said at our last meeting that you wanted to 'make it up' for how I helped Padma Iona. Here's how you can."

Maddie decided to go along. "Sure." She said as she got out and they went inside. The smells of roasting meats filled the air. Apparently Khan was a regular as a host immediately walked them over to a table in the back. It was a small table that just sat two. Maddie sat down on one side and Khan on the other.

Khan studied Maddie. She seemed a little withdrawn and shaken. No doubt that this was because of the death of her costar and the traumatic experience of the bombing itself. Or maybe she wasn't sure if she liked the identity of being known as a hero.

"I understand you helped the survivors of the bombing." Khan said when the host had left their menus and took their drink orders.

"I just did the right thing." Maddie said, shrugging. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing at all, Ms. Talbot. I was just about to say that it was very brave of you." Khan said.

"Maybe a little. Do you know who did it? I…I don't watch the news." Maddie said.

"Yes, we do." Khan said, sipping his water. "A radical terrorist cell of Naturals calling themselves the God-Given took credit for it. They claimed that it was retaliation for Eugenics and Naturals living side by side. Tensions are heightening, Ms. Talbot."

"Do you…do you think England will join the Eugenics War?" Maddie asked nervously.

Khan knew it was a matter of time before the declaration of war was made. His plan was to get her full-fledged support by showing himself as a peace-broker. "I hope not, Ms. Talbot." Khan said with a sigh. "Even though my career is with the military, it'll be a sheer waste. Not just of materials. But of life itself. But, such decisions are not in my jurisdiction. I merely do as my commander orders."

"Thank you." Maddie said as the waiter returned with the hot tea she ordered. Khan slowly savored his warm sake. "Just wish that Eugenics would see that not all Naturals are as bad as the God-Given. But the minority always has to give the majority a bad name now doesn't it?"

"I know you aren't a radical, Ms. Talbot." Khan said, putting down his sake. "And I hope that you know that not all of us Eugenics are hell-bent to conquer the world." Khan had no intention of becoming a new Napoleon, Hitler or Stalin. He merely wanted to bring peace as he was engineered to do. To let them see what the Eugenics can do. Let the Naturals worry about unimportant things instead of killing each other off over base necessities.

"Well, then what do you want?" Maddie asked, helping herself to more tea.

That was the question he was waiting for. Khan thought triumphantly. Now to see if she was receptive to the idea.

"To bring peace to a world at war. Everywhere around the world, people squabble over resources like food, water, fuel and security. It's the way it's been for as long as mankind has been around." Khan said. "The technology is there to see to mankind's wants. I would put my best in charge of their respective fields. Soon the world would have enough to cover their wants."

"Then who would they answer to?" Maddie asked, clearly intrigued. "You?"

"I would only pick the ones unnervingly loyal." Khan said.

"And then, who would you answer to?" Maddie said. "Your Lord Acton once said 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.' You would be walking on a slippery slope and soon end up reviled like Stalin and Hitler."

"Very true. But your Benjamin Franklin said once 'those who would give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserves no liberty.'" Khan said, feeling stimulated by this discussion. Who knew a Natural could keep up?

"You're missing the key part of that quote. 'Nor safety'. In any case, no matter what you try to say or do, you will be hated for taking away men's freedoms despite promising peace and resources in place." Maddie retorted and a bright smile crossed her face. Now it was his turn to be intrigued. Khan chuckled. "What's so funny?" Maddie asked, her eyebrow rising in confusion.

"I'm impressed that there's a brain behind that pretty face of yours. Where did you learn so much?" He asked her.

Maddie looked a little uncomfortable at his comment. "My father, Dr. Dennis Talbot, teaches law at UMB's graduate school. That's short for the University of Maryland, Baltimore. That's my hometown. Anyway Dad would invite his friends over for dinner all of the time. Of course, they'd more or less talk the sun up. When I was a kid, he used to let me stay up to listen and even included me in the discussions. We'd talk about so many things. Politics. History. Music. Art. Literature. Even popular culture." Maddie said with a laugh.

"And you became an actress as opposed to a professor?" Khan asked.

"Hey, my first love was and always will be the stage. There's just something about the world that pulled me to it the first time Dad took me to a play." Maddie said. "It's not something I can describe. So…what do you recommend from the menu?"

It was late by the time Khan took Maddie home. They spent hours talking at the restaurant. Maddie had found herself surprised by just how cultured he was. "First time I've had this much fun going out with someone. Thanks for taking me out."

"Thank you, Ms. Talbot. I didn't imagine our discussion would become so…interesting…" Khan said. "Have a good rest of your evening."

"You too." Maddie said as she unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside. Once on the other side, she bolted the door. Her cell phone rang. Checking it, Maddie saw that she had several texts from Gene.

Where r u? Getting worried. Call me when u can.

Despite it being nearly three in the morning, Maddie did as he requested and dialed Gene's number.

"Maddie? Is that you?" He asked, sounding tired.

"Hey Gene. Sorry for missing your texts." Maddie said, sitting down.

"Where the hell were you?! Paul about called the cops when you vanished like that!" Gene said, sounding angry.

"I'm fine. I'm back in my apartment with the door locked and bolted." Maddie said, taking off her shoes. "Mr. Singh got me through that crowd of paparazzi. Took me out for dinner and just dropped me off at home."

Gene paused. "Maddie, didn't I tell you to be careful of him earlier?" He finally said, scolding her.

"It was fine! We talked about a lot of stuff. You'd be surprised at how pleasant he was to me." Maddie said. "Don't tell me you're jealous." She added in a slightly teasing tone.

"I'm not!" Gene said, a little more defensively than Maddie was expecting.

"Relax, Gene. Sheesh." Maddie said. "I was only teasing."

"I know that Maddie." Gene said. "Jesus, just be careful around him."

"I will. Just so you know, nothing happened between us." Maddie said. "Doubt anything will."

"You better not forget what I said. And text Paul when you're done. He's been worried." Gene said.

Maddie laughed. "Will do, Gene. Have a good night."

"You too." Gene said, hanging up.

The next day, the scent of gardenias greeted Maddie as she entered her dressing room. Sitting on the vanity was a bouquet of them. Attached was a handwritten note.

~Ms. Talbot. Thank you for the stimulating conversation last night. I remain your humble servant. Khan Noonien Singh~