Galatea Future and Starlett pose in front of the huge Anniversary cake. The two heroes have been friends for years. (Photo: GBP)
September is the month of Champions!
Every year since 2009, heroes celebrate with the citizens of Millennium City in a month-long festival of parties and concerts as a way to say thanks for all heroes do to save the world.
One of the key events takes place in the middle of the Renaissance Center, as the singing superhero Sapphire wows the crowds with a free concert with MadBot providing the music.
This year’s 10th Anniversary Event also gives a rare opportunity for two superhero friends to enjoy the festivities.
Galatea Future and Starlett have known each other for years, brought together by unusual circumstances.
“I had been in the city for a few weeks,” said sword-wielding Starlett, “when a blue creature was asking questions about Galatea Future. It didn’t take long for me to deduce that he was there to hurt Galatea, so I confronted him. He almost killed me.”
“When I heard what Starlett did,” Galatea said, “standing up for someone she never met, I knew that this was someone I needed to know. I spent weeks with her as she healed, and when she was well enough to go out again, I joined her on patrols. We’ve been good friends since.”
“B-F-Fs,” Starlett added.
What they also share is a friendship with a certain superstar Champion, having both worked with Sapphire at the start of their respective hero careers.
The Lethal Ladies of Millennium City. Starlett (left), Sapphire (center), and Galatea Future (right) (Photo: GBP)
“Sapphire was in Los Angeles for a concert,” said Starlett, “and it was around this time that I was about to bust X-Ample Studios for their blackmail and exploitation ring. It was her words of encouragement that led me to create my outfit and become Starlett. She helped me arrest the masterminds behind it, and she later encouraged me to come to Millennium City.”
Galatea Future’s first encounter with Sapphire was under different circumstances.
“I had just arrived in the city in the middle of a Qularr Invasion,” said the future-born hero. “Sapphire was the first hero that I came across. It was a pretty hectic time. There were power dampeners that negated a lot of heroes along with an alien horde running rampant.”
“We were all overwhelmed,” Sapphire added. “My job was to protect the Mayor, but my own powers were limited. The heroes were scattered all over the city. It seemed too much for me. Galatea came in, and she had a confidence in her that I had not seen in a long time. She reassured me that we would pull through, and, with her help, we did. And she has been my B-F-F since.”
Various duties keep the three of them from spending too much time together, but they make it their mission to keep in touch and, especially during the Anniversary Event, get together as heroes.
“Meet-and-Greets are fun with the three of us around,” said Sapphire.
“It’s always great to meet with the people and not have to fight bad guys or aliens,” said Galatea. “You see it in the eyes of the children, especially the young women. We are role models to the next generation.”
Heroes are encouraged to take part in the free concerts, and Galatea often enjoys going on stage with her friends.
“The thing that stands out about Sapphire is that she’s larger-than-life,” said the buxom hero. “And I don’t mean metaphorically. She’s tall. And then, when you’re on stage, you see her flying about, and then you see these huge holograms of her and images of her on the huge screens and it’s sort of humbling. And yet, you’re on stage, dancing with this beautiful Amazon in front of the whole city. It’s… well it’s hard to describe the feeling.”
“I’m not much of a dancer,” said Starlett. “The jet pack sort of makes it difficult. But I find other ways to show my support.”
DJ Risque of Club Caprice jams with MadBot while Sapphire sings on stage. (Photo: GBP)
And where do heroes go after they dance and sing about saving the day?
“Pizza!” all three said together.
Battlerock Comics 