It had been two weeks since I lost my Dad in a car accident. I am still in disbelief. I didn't cry during the funeral service and I'm not sure why. I didn't want anyone to see my crying in public and I wanted to be strong for my Mom. One chilly fall evening I decided to sneak into the cemetery to visit my Dad's gravestone.  I know that cemeteries are supposed to be scary but I wasn't afraid. It was actually quite peaceful. I had the entire place to myself and planned on properly saying goodbye to my Dad.

Without warning a strange apparition appeared above my Dad's grave. "Who are you?" I questioned the odd guest hovering overhead. "I'm the original Lodestar." "Lodestar? What do you want from me?" "I need to tell you the truth about your Dad's passing." "Obviously this was some sort of practical joke and it wasn't funny. "I'm not in the mood." "Your Dad didn't die in a car accident. He gave his life for a very noble cause." "What? My Dad worked in sales and traveled around the world to support our family." "You have much to learn my boy."

"Your Dad was a superhero called Lodestar. He came from a long line of heroes in your family. After your Grandpa passed away, your Dad inherited the role of Lodestar. He never went on any business trips. He was out saving the galaxy from evil. He perished trying to save a tiny planet from destruction." "Oh please!  I don't believe a word of this. Why are you doing this to me?  Let me grieve in peace!" "One day young Finn you will realize what an honor it is to join this illustrious and honorable club."

"This whole thing is ridiculous! Why would I want to be a hero in a world where people treat each other, the environment, and animals so badly? Why would I want to protect a world that took my Dad from me?" "You are stubborn just like your Dad. He had the same fears and doubts that you do. But deep down you know right from wrong and eventually you will embrace your role as a superhero." Angered and confused, I stormed out of the cemetery and didn't look back.

When I got home I was exhausted and quickly fell asleep. What I saw in the cemetery couldn't have been real. Could it? I haven't been sleeping much since I lost my Dad and I think that all of my fatigue and grief had gotten the best of me. I felt so comfortable and safe in my bed. When I closed my eyes I could shut the whole world out and turn off my overactive brain, if just for a few hours. Slowly I drifted off into dreamland..................

"Wake up Finn!" "What the....?" That voice sounded so familiar. Was it my father calling out to me?  I opened my eyes to see a man in a green superhero costume. He was on a planet surrounded by fire. "Dad? Is that you?" "Yes. The legend of Lodestar is true. Of all the beings in the universe, we have been selected to protect the galaxy." "Is this a dream or are you really here?" "Your dreams were the only way I could talk to you again. I need to show you what happened to me and why I need you to honor my memory by becoming the next Lodestar.

"A true hero never thinks of himself. That is why I helped to evacuate as many citizens from the planet Sector G-7 before it exploded following an attack by evil aliens. They are known as the Kavanaughts and they have terrorized the galaxy for centuries. I traded in my life for the lives of millions. My body was then transported back to Earth and a story about a car accident was made up to protect my secret. I will not force you to follow in my footsteps and in the end it's your decision. I love you no matter what you decide."

"Dad? Dad?" I cried out. When I woke up I was trembling and drenched in sweat. What was going on with me? I know that was just a dream but it felt so real. After getting myself a glass of water I climbed back into bed and resumed my slumber. When I awoke the next day, nothing had changed or so I thought. I was still feeling down but at the same time I was experiencing some strange emotions that I couldn't explain. An overwhelming sense of courage and purpose began to brighten the darker places in my heart and mind. But what did it all mean?

Over the next couple of weeks, life slowly started returning to normal. There were no more visits from odd beings or talk of becoming Lodestar. And yet the world felt different. I felt different. Unusual things were starting to happen. I was able to launch myself into the sky, stumbling around the clouds before gaining control over my body. It appeared as though all of my athletic gifts had become heightened. Maybe I wasn't the one who chose to become a hero. That role had been chosen for me. It was my destiny.

"Welcome to the Nightly News. Only bad things happened today. Fires, wars, poverty. The list goes on and on. The world could really use a hero but nobody seems to want the job."

THE 6 O'CLOCK NEWS

After a few weeks of enjoying my newfound superpowers I started to get bored. I returned to being the moody, pessimistic kid I had been ever since my Dad was taken from me. After watching the nightly news I began to wonder if I even wanted to save this planet. If anything the planet needed saving from us. All we seem to do on this planet is fight with one another. Maybe this planet deserved the same fate as Sector G-7. It looked as though I was out of the hero business before I even began.