Trebuchet
Aug 28th, '03, 04:19 AM
My buddy Blackjack and I sat down at a local restaurant a few weeks ago to do the "in character" interview below for our campaign newsletter, the Weekly Globe Enquirer. It came out pretty well. Anyway, I thought it might prove of interest. (If not, at least it lets me indulge my narcissism.) :)
SMALL WONDER
By Renee Redford, Weekly Globe Enquirer Staff Writer
As I sit down to write this, every news outlet in the free world is carrying the story of MidGuard’s recent spectacular battle with the superterrorist group Eurostar. With nothing less than two nuclear warheads, and the countless lives they could have threatened at stake, MidGuard stepped forward and risked their lives to retrieve the nukes and apprehend the terrorists. This is just the most recent in a long line of very public encounters for the superhero team, and yet very little is known about MidGuard, and even less about its members. Just a few days ago, however, I had the unique opportunity to speak with Elena Alekseyeva, AKA Zl’f, a founding member of MidGuard and the team’s current field leader.
It is hard to imagine that the petite, soft-spoken young woman I spoke to just days ago was recently locked in mortal combat with some of the most ruthless and dangerous supervillains in the world. In person, she certainly does not look superhuman. But, to borrow the cliché, looks can be deceiving. I could not help but be impressed by Elena’s confidence, born in competition, battle, tragedy, and some scandal. Elena Alekseyeva, three inches under five feet tall, has certainly stood tall over adversity. Here is her story:
Renee Redford: As a superhero, you are respected and admired by people all over the world. Who are your heroes?
Zl’f: My parents. I remember it was my father who taught me to always give 100%.
RR: In May of 2003 you revealed yourself as Elena Alekseyeva. Obviously, revealing your identity has enormously increased your celebrity. Since Cyberknight hasn't been seen working with MidGuard recently, making you one of the most senior members of the group, you've been placed firmly into the limelight. How do you feel about the publicity you receive as a superhero?
Z: I’ve lived with celebrity all my life, first as a gymnast, now as a superhero. It is much the same.
RR: MidGuard's recent public activities have been quite successful. To what do you attribute your team's success against your opponents?
Z: (with a sly smile): I do not wish to give away our secrets. Seriously, we are like soldiers who have seen combat together: We are close, like family. To use the English expression: We watch each other’s backs…
RR: Be honest: We know that the members of MidGuard work well together, but how well do you all get along, personally?
Z: Silhouette is one of my closest friends, and I like and respect Cyberknight very much. I believe I have earned the respect and friendship of my teammates, as well.
RR: What was the single most defining moment in your life?
Z: When I learned about the death of my father, my whole world changed. My mother died when I was 11, so I had just lost the only family I had left… I was alone. I suppose I dealt with the loss just like anyone would. Soon, though, I realized it was even worse than that. Without my father’s protection and influence, I knew I would be pressed into service as a super-powered agent of the Russian government. Any chance for a life of my own would be gone. Then, when I later was charged with his murder…
(Zl’f hesitates for a moment, quiet and composed, but she waves her hand, indicating for me to continue.)
RR: What made you decide to become a superhero?
Z: You could say I stumbled into it. After leaving Russia, I had no family, no direction, no idea what I was going to do with my life… When I met Cyberknight, I realized I could use my abilities to help people and to do something meaningful (smiling wryly). I suppose it’s very Russian – the irony of it all…
RR: What do you mean?
Z: As I said , I fled Russia, in part, to avoid being forced into being a superhero, and now I have chosen exactly that life.
RR: How do you deal with being different from most people?
Z: I don’t see myself as being all that different.
RR: You don’t think that being a superhero makes you different?
Z: I’m not… not mentally, and certainly not morally. I may have superhuman abilities, but I am certainly not perfect. I make mistakes. I do what I can to help people. It is no different than what police officers or soldiers do every day.
RR: I notice you are wearing a Russian Orthodox crucifix. Is your religious faith important to you?
Z: Very important. I believe helping others is my true calling from God, so not using my unique abilities would be wasting God’s gift. The Bible says “To do justice is joy to the righteous, but ruin to workers of iniquity.” [Ed.: Proverbs 21:15]
RR: You've been the target of some scandal. For example, you've had some trouble in your dealings with the government of Russia. You were expelled from the Russian National Gymnastics program, and then there were charges that you were actually involved in the death of your father. How do you feel about the Russian government?
Z: I always knew I would be exonerated. I loved my father, and I am proud of my heritage. Father devoted his life to defending Russia and its people. I had faith that ultimately the authorities would find the truth.
RR: The Russian government has officially dropped all charges against you regarding the death of your father, but has never released any of the details of the case. Do you feel that, because of the secrecy still shrouding this case, it still clouds your reputation?
Z: No. It was at my request that the Russian government withheld the details, to protect innocent people.
RR: You claimed in 2004 that your powers didn't begin to develop until after you had won the Bronze Medals in 1996. Do you still feel the need to defend your performance in 1996 and is anyone still calling for you to return the Medals?
Z: I am far too competitive. If my powers had developed during my gymnastic career, I would never have been able to hold back enough to only win the Bronze medals. I would certainly have won the Gold in each event and have set unbreakable records. As I said, I have never been able to give less than 100%. I did my best in the Olympics; but the girls who won the Gold and Silver medals were simply better. Of course, you will note one of them was still Russian. (Smiling.)
RR: Obviously, being a superhero takes a lot of time. What do you do with what little free time you do have?
Z: I like to read, Hemingway and Twain are my favorite authors. I am skilled at chess. I also swim and ride horses. Oh, and I love to shop for clothes. Malls are my mortal enemy. (Laughs.)
RR: Ride horses? Isn’t that a little strange for someone who can reportedly run over 100 miles per hour?
Z: I think every little girl wants to ride horses. I was too busy in my childhood doing gymnastics to play much. I try hard to be normal; I don’t want to lose the simple pleasures of doing ordinary things.
RR: I have to ask... you're an attractive, famous, single woman with a thrilling, very public lifestyle. Surely you receive a lot of romantic attention. Are you seeing anyone at the moment?
Z: No comment. (Smiles wistfully)
SMALL WONDER
By Renee Redford, Weekly Globe Enquirer Staff Writer
As I sit down to write this, every news outlet in the free world is carrying the story of MidGuard’s recent spectacular battle with the superterrorist group Eurostar. With nothing less than two nuclear warheads, and the countless lives they could have threatened at stake, MidGuard stepped forward and risked their lives to retrieve the nukes and apprehend the terrorists. This is just the most recent in a long line of very public encounters for the superhero team, and yet very little is known about MidGuard, and even less about its members. Just a few days ago, however, I had the unique opportunity to speak with Elena Alekseyeva, AKA Zl’f, a founding member of MidGuard and the team’s current field leader.
It is hard to imagine that the petite, soft-spoken young woman I spoke to just days ago was recently locked in mortal combat with some of the most ruthless and dangerous supervillains in the world. In person, she certainly does not look superhuman. But, to borrow the cliché, looks can be deceiving. I could not help but be impressed by Elena’s confidence, born in competition, battle, tragedy, and some scandal. Elena Alekseyeva, three inches under five feet tall, has certainly stood tall over adversity. Here is her story:
Renee Redford: As a superhero, you are respected and admired by people all over the world. Who are your heroes?
Zl’f: My parents. I remember it was my father who taught me to always give 100%.
RR: In May of 2003 you revealed yourself as Elena Alekseyeva. Obviously, revealing your identity has enormously increased your celebrity. Since Cyberknight hasn't been seen working with MidGuard recently, making you one of the most senior members of the group, you've been placed firmly into the limelight. How do you feel about the publicity you receive as a superhero?
Z: I’ve lived with celebrity all my life, first as a gymnast, now as a superhero. It is much the same.
RR: MidGuard's recent public activities have been quite successful. To what do you attribute your team's success against your opponents?
Z: (with a sly smile): I do not wish to give away our secrets. Seriously, we are like soldiers who have seen combat together: We are close, like family. To use the English expression: We watch each other’s backs…
RR: Be honest: We know that the members of MidGuard work well together, but how well do you all get along, personally?
Z: Silhouette is one of my closest friends, and I like and respect Cyberknight very much. I believe I have earned the respect and friendship of my teammates, as well.
RR: What was the single most defining moment in your life?
Z: When I learned about the death of my father, my whole world changed. My mother died when I was 11, so I had just lost the only family I had left… I was alone. I suppose I dealt with the loss just like anyone would. Soon, though, I realized it was even worse than that. Without my father’s protection and influence, I knew I would be pressed into service as a super-powered agent of the Russian government. Any chance for a life of my own would be gone. Then, when I later was charged with his murder…
(Zl’f hesitates for a moment, quiet and composed, but she waves her hand, indicating for me to continue.)
RR: What made you decide to become a superhero?
Z: You could say I stumbled into it. After leaving Russia, I had no family, no direction, no idea what I was going to do with my life… When I met Cyberknight, I realized I could use my abilities to help people and to do something meaningful (smiling wryly). I suppose it’s very Russian – the irony of it all…
RR: What do you mean?
Z: As I said , I fled Russia, in part, to avoid being forced into being a superhero, and now I have chosen exactly that life.
RR: How do you deal with being different from most people?
Z: I don’t see myself as being all that different.
RR: You don’t think that being a superhero makes you different?
Z: I’m not… not mentally, and certainly not morally. I may have superhuman abilities, but I am certainly not perfect. I make mistakes. I do what I can to help people. It is no different than what police officers or soldiers do every day.
RR: I notice you are wearing a Russian Orthodox crucifix. Is your religious faith important to you?
Z: Very important. I believe helping others is my true calling from God, so not using my unique abilities would be wasting God’s gift. The Bible says “To do justice is joy to the righteous, but ruin to workers of iniquity.” [Ed.: Proverbs 21:15]
RR: You've been the target of some scandal. For example, you've had some trouble in your dealings with the government of Russia. You were expelled from the Russian National Gymnastics program, and then there were charges that you were actually involved in the death of your father. How do you feel about the Russian government?
Z: I always knew I would be exonerated. I loved my father, and I am proud of my heritage. Father devoted his life to defending Russia and its people. I had faith that ultimately the authorities would find the truth.
RR: The Russian government has officially dropped all charges against you regarding the death of your father, but has never released any of the details of the case. Do you feel that, because of the secrecy still shrouding this case, it still clouds your reputation?
Z: No. It was at my request that the Russian government withheld the details, to protect innocent people.
RR: You claimed in 2004 that your powers didn't begin to develop until after you had won the Bronze Medals in 1996. Do you still feel the need to defend your performance in 1996 and is anyone still calling for you to return the Medals?
Z: I am far too competitive. If my powers had developed during my gymnastic career, I would never have been able to hold back enough to only win the Bronze medals. I would certainly have won the Gold in each event and have set unbreakable records. As I said, I have never been able to give less than 100%. I did my best in the Olympics; but the girls who won the Gold and Silver medals were simply better. Of course, you will note one of them was still Russian. (Smiling.)
RR: Obviously, being a superhero takes a lot of time. What do you do with what little free time you do have?
Z: I like to read, Hemingway and Twain are my favorite authors. I am skilled at chess. I also swim and ride horses. Oh, and I love to shop for clothes. Malls are my mortal enemy. (Laughs.)
RR: Ride horses? Isn’t that a little strange for someone who can reportedly run over 100 miles per hour?
Z: I think every little girl wants to ride horses. I was too busy in my childhood doing gymnastics to play much. I try hard to be normal; I don’t want to lose the simple pleasures of doing ordinary things.
RR: I have to ask... you're an attractive, famous, single woman with a thrilling, very public lifestyle. Surely you receive a lot of romantic attention. Are you seeing anyone at the moment?
Z: No comment. (Smiles wistfully)