I can't believe there aren't more people posting about this story.
Very impressive. A wonderful, character-driven read which I enjoyed thoroughly.
68 Level 50s, all made the old-fashioned way.
Original: Quasar Lad - Fire/Kin troller. Latest: Asp Kicker - Grav/Poison troller.
Completed the "Full Alty Challenge" - level 50 in every archetype, and "Alty's Ultimate Power Challenge" - level 50 in every available powerset in the game.
Member of the Repeat Offenders
Nice, very nice. 
<bow>
Thank for the kind words. 
I loved this story! I loved the mix of skepticism, disillusionment and deep idealism. The characters were believable and engaging. The atmosphere of the places emerged and had a character of their own. Great story, I found it truly uplifting. The only character I didn't absolutely believe was the tough-talking-teen-with-a-heart-of-gold, Bobbie Mercado, who seemed a bit too self-possessed for his age.
"We don't call ourselves the Midnight Rangers because we love to range around at midnight."
Genius!
Don't stop writing!
Thanks for the encouragement and positive feedback.
I have to agree that Bobbie is mature for his age. I don't really think he has a heart of gold, so much as a fierce devotion to his home and family.
I was a bit puzzled by him, to be honest. He wasn't in my initial conception of the story. When he popped up, he was originally supposed to be a few years older and not much more than the local Fonzie who pronounced Captain Blastoff as "okay" when the neighborhoood toughs decided to hassle him. When push came to shove, however, he insisted on becoming something else altogther. 
The survivor interview gave me a bit more insight into what makes him tick. The Rikti War forced him into a position of responsibility that he took seriously, and was barely prepared for. A lot of his world view comes from what glib remarks he remembers his father making, usually with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He's got a bit of skewed idea of the world and Life, but he tries to rise above it when he can afford to.
I think some bad things must have happened to him in the King's Row refugee camps during the war. He did some evil things for what he saw as good reasons, and built up a lot of pent-up anger as a defense mechanism; never mind the anger from the loss of his father. That carried over into his post-War life. When the Skulls moved in and solidified their hold over the Row, he became somewhat like The Operative character in Serenity - An outsider who does evil things for the greater good because someone has to do them, yet he feels that he himself is already too far gone to deserve any of those benefits he's trying to procure for those he cares about.
As for "greater good", that only applies to you if you live in his gang's turf. Everyone else can go hang themselves. Part of the conflict of his character is that he and his friends ARE a gang with all that implies. I think he may have some problems to deal with if Michael takes it into his head to start emulating him. For that matter, Michael may be his best bet to lead the gang according to his ideals when he and his friends eventually "retire". THAT's a tough thing for him to deal with, I think. The desire to see his work preserved and continued, versus the desire for Michael and Elizabeth to achieve "better" lives than his.
Yeah, it turns out he's rather more complex than the throwaway guy who was supposed to just smack his buddy in the back of the head for suggesting they go blow up cars while a hero was standing ten feet away. I imagine that's why he comes off the way he does. Whatever depth he has is only hinted at here. Maybe it'll be revealed more effectively down the road someplace. *heh*
em Applause
Thank you! Captain Blastoff was my first story ever and it's still my favorite. It's gratifying that other folks find something worthwhile in it every so often.
I'm not one to normally "bump" a thread, especially my own stuff. However, this story was spotlighted in the City Scoop this week (Thanks, Mr. Grey!) and, in a strange and entirely unplanned coincidence (Seriously, it was serendipity) I had just last night posted a new story concerning the lives of some of the characters introduced here.
If you enjoyed Legacy of a Space Ranger, then you may find Survivor - Interview #1 to be interesting as well. It's a different format, as well as being rather shorter. *heh* There are no superheroes in it anywhere, though, so consider yourself forewarned.
Like every other author on the forums, I enjoy reading the feedback. I think we all hope to touch someone else enough that they'll put fingers to keyboard and say a few words, whether it's praise or criticism.