Guardians of New Sienna, The Commander
The Legendary Commander – Part 1
Early Life
Born in the year 3020, Thomas Solomon was a young man of great strength, bravery, courage, and moral fortitude. Losing his father at a young age, his mother and father raised him on their family farm, and ran the town’s General Store. Life was simple, and full of hard work, but it was a good and stable way to live.
For many years he grew up on his family’s farm, keeping his powers as secret as possible, working to help protect the people he held dear. He’d always longed to see the world, but he knew that Bethany, his small town on the west coast of New Sienna, and his family needed him.
At the age of twenty-four, everything changed for Thomas. That was the year Danny LeRoux rode into town in search of the country’s next big act, someone who could change the world forever.
The Commander’s War poster circa 3045 | New Sienna | Great War
The Desperation of Danny LeRoux
In the year 3044, the nation of New Sienna has reached a crucial moment in history. While the skyscrapers of Capital City climb higher and higher, so do the dreams and aspirations of her citizens. Seemingly the country is racing towards a future filled with technological advances of which most folks could only dream. So many of the cities hardest working people believe that a great future awaits them, if only they work hard enough.
Sadly one hard working man sits despondently looking through his 15th story window over the New Sienna River. Once called the hardest working man in show business by everyone who was anyone, Danny LeReaux felt like a failure. He felt as though nothing he’d done in his life, before this moment, had amounted to anything worthwhile. Of course, he appreciated his family. However, he was a man of big vision, and even bigger action. Retirement simply didn’t suit him.
Sure he had money, and lots of it. But at some point that would run out, if he didn’t figure something out soon. How could he think, when he was feeling so, so … down? He definitely felt down and out, that’s for certain.
Now Danny had been poor before, so he had no delusions in his misery. He knew he could definitely be in a far worse position. He hadn’t left his apartment in weeks, but the life of the impoverished pan handlers in the streets of New Akron certainly hadn’t left his mind.
Especially because he knew, that without divine intervention, someday, he too could be out there in those cold, hard streets. He shivered at the thought of it all.
“Blast it all! What am I going to do?” he slammed his fist on the table and shouted to the heavens.
Praying that someone, anyone would hear him. Silently he prayed for an answer. Perhaps he didn’t even realize he was praying. After all, he hadn’t been raised in a religious family. Prayer wasn’t something he considered a part of his life. But he did consider himself blessed, and he’d been spared from so very much. He always believed there had to be a Creator, somewhere. He’d always felt as though someone important was looking out for him.
Yet it was in this moment, more than anytime before, his heart truly cried out for an answer. You see, only a year ago, Danny was sitting on top of the world as one of New Sienna’s most successful producers. His shows toured a circuit known as Ottoville — the old-time touring show circuit filled with singing, dancing, jokes and other curious performances. Yep, that’s the Ottoville we speak of.
Now Danny had been performing his entire life. His father and mother were both performers, so naturally he followed suit. Young Danny was a natural, and boy, oh boy, was he great! As Danny grew up, he began to realize, that it wasn’t the performers who raked in the dough. It was the producers. The big boss who put on the show was the one who collected all the money. He knew that while he and the other entertainers were out there singing and dancing for peanuts, the smart guys were getting paid major bucks.
So as soon as he could, Danny put together a show of his own and hit the road. It was a smashing success. They received rave reviews wherever they toured. For years, Danny found success on the road. But then all of a sudden, the axe fell on the Ottoville circuit. A new entertainment phenomenon had found its way into the cities — Moving Pictures! The movies! The once faithful Ottoville audiences were now filling up movie theaters in major cities across the country.
Danny was devastated. He had no choice but to disband the show and figure out a new line of business before he lost everything he had. By this time, he’d married a lovely lady and had a daughter of his very own. He’d also been very wise with his spending and investments, and had amassed a nice nest egg for their golden years.
For the past few months, he’d sat in his apartment depressed, trying to figure out what to do. His wife tried to get him to go out, get some fresh air, and get up the energy to do something . . . anything!
Then one day, he hears a quiet voice whisper, “Take a trip . . .Head west!”
He hadn’t traveled anywhere for a very long time. Though he was in a desperate place mentally, he knew that a trip would do him much good. Maybe he would find something out there, or someone! Someone who could help save the world of live entertainment. Perhaps, he could find a talent who could outshine them all!
A Cross Country Search
Danny proceeded to board the New Sienna Express railway on his cross country trek towards greatness. He knew that this journey might take months because he was stopping in towns and cities along the way, from the east coast all the way to the west coast — a journey of thousands of miles.
With his ongoing travels, Danny quickly became a favorite traveler amongst the train staff and hospitality workers. One day, after another stop without success, he overheard a young man named Elroy sharing some fantastic stories with a young lady. He spoke of his cousin saving his life on multiple occasions, once from a bear, another time taking a bullet from a robber that was headed straight towards him. His cousin hadn’t been hurt at all. The young man even mentioned something about the fella being able to fly.
Quickly, Danny joined in the conversation, pleading with Elroy to take him to meet his cousin. He just knew that this kid was the one that he’d been looking for all along. Elroy was leery. He’d only been talking to the young lady because she knew his cousin too. They’d both been born and raised in the small town of Bethany, and Tommy was a community secret. Nobody wanted anything bad to happen to him.
Danny gave them both his solemn oath that he only wanted to do right by him, and with his help, he could take care of his family for the rest of their lives. They could trust him, he insisted. It really could change his entire world, if only Elroy could help him out.
Elroy believed that the man was sincere and he wanted to help him. So he told Danny that he would point him in the right direction. Danny just knew that this was the break that he’d been searching for.
Danny Meets Thomas
Danny follows the instructions to a tee, and finally meets Tommy, the young man he’d heard so much about. His mother and father had given Danny approval to meet her son. She believed that she could trust him, and that he was sincere in his request. She’d known that her son would one day have to leave home. He was too powerful to stay in such a little town. She’d always known that he was born to help save lives, and she couldn’t be the one to stand in his way.
At their first meeting, though initially hesitant, Tommy warmed up to Danny quickly, especially since he’d already received his mother’s blessing. Showing off his strength, super jumps, and flying abilities, the young man blew Danny away! His talents far exceeded the show biz veteran’s wildest dreams. For the first time ever, he was speechless, but not for long. He soon had convinced the young man to come with him back east to Capital City.
That had always been Thomas’s dream. For years he’d been reading the magazines that his cousins brought him back from their train travels. He’d always dreamed of going to Capital City, and now was his time.
When Danny told him that Liza Monroe was going to be the leading lady in their new show, he jumped sky high with excitement. He’d always said that he was going to meet her one day. None of his friends believed him, but now he knew that he’d always been right.
Right away, Tommy was packed and ready to head out with Danny . It was an exciting time, but bittersweet. He’d never left his parents before, he’d barely even left the county. He parents and family were sad to see him go, but they knew he had a magnificent destiny ahead of him, and they had to support him. Tommy boarded the train, really only a kid at heart. Though he knew he was strong, the young man had no idea how his strength would be truly tested very soon.
