3rd July
14:43 GMT
I stand on my newly built stage facing the relatively small crowd gathered to hear me speak. Quite a bit smaller than the number who gathered to watch me work, but I suppose that was the interesting bit.
"As you can see behind me, the
Pitsea Waste Management Site… Or if we're a bit more honest with ourselves, the Pitsea Landfill Site… Is now clear not only of all waste material, but also of any toxic or poisonous chemicals that might have leached into the soil.
" A disgruntled looking Gull lands on the right edge of the stage and takes a look around.
"Most of the site is going to be handled over to the RSPB for development as a bird sanctuary, and the rest will be used for housing.
"
I step aside from the podium for a moment, looking back at the piles of material which ring-sorting through the colossal piles of rubbish generated. Plenty of metal in rubbish, and recyclable plastic and any number of useful chemicals. It's just not efficient for them to be reclaimed at Earth's current level of technology. I've left them stored neatly by element and material and the site's employees are going to be occupying themselves selling it and transporting it to places that can use it. Recycling levels in London are…
Okay, these days. Most of this mess is historical.
I return my attention to my audience.
"The refined material will start being shipped out-
" The ground rumbles as a large lorry drives past the stage.
"-right
now to its new homes. Now, I imagine a number of you are wondering why I'm doing this. Not exactly.. typical superhero work, is it?
" I smile at a few faces I recognise from... Some of them from other parts of Boris' work program. A couple of others from the Dolmen Gate reveal.
"One of the projects that I've been engaged in has been an attempt to increase the range of what can be done with technology Humans already possess. My friend Ted Kord is already mass producing arcanotechnological orbs which can control clouds. Most of the technology involved in that was taken from work done by Doctor Thomas Morrow… So we're only seventy years behind the times there.
"
"I'll reiterate, for those of you who missed my
last complaint about poor technology application regarding zeta tubes.
We've had the technology to control hurricanes for seventy years, and it's only just
now being applied to something that isn't a weapon.
"
"But can anything on Earth do what I just did?
" I shake my head.
"Not just yet. But we're working on it. In the KordTech laboratories
now is Earth's first nanotech disassembler. Its co-inventors are the nano-robotics expert Doctor Serling Roquette and cryogenicist and
recovering theme criminal Leonard Snart. The current version could do what took me a couple of mornings in… About… Two months. Nothing like as fast, but controllable, reproducible and made entirely with Earth technology. That point
cannot be made strongly enough. This is a world of technological
wonders the likes of which.. just don't exist on other planets.
"
"I didn't do this because I have some burning desire to work in waste disposal-.
" I cut myself off and half turn in the direction of the nearest group of orange-clad workers.
"No offence, guys!
" A couple of them look around, but they don't otherwise respond. I turn back to my audience.
"I did it because I wanted to-
" Take my mind off what I'm doing next week.
"-demonstrate the capacity of super-advanced technology to change the world for the better.. in ways that directly and immediately affect people's quality of life for the better. It isn't all about… New ways to blow things up and… People in ridiculous costumes finding new ways to shoot at each other.
" I shift from my suit to one of my more garish armours.
"And I know what I'm talking about on that last one.
"
…
No? No one?
I switch back to my suit.
"I mentioned in my last speech on this subject that Doctor Thaddeus Sivana's story made me the most angry. But it wasn't until I had the chance to see some of the things he's invented
since then, and… Well, meet the man, that I discovered the full extent of humanity's loss. And that's why I'm announcing today that KordTech is opening a scholarship program for… Let's call them..
angry scientists. Had an idea of revolutionising a field of industry, but
lackwits and
fools-
" I ham it up, clenching my fists and railing at the heavens.
"-refuse to give you the time of day? We want to hear from you. We want to help you. Preferably before you feel the need to.. go on a rampage to.. prove how wrong they were to doubt you. You can't revolutionise anything from in prison.
"
I make a shrugging motion with both hands.
"Alright, I'm done. Any questions?
"
Several hands go up, but an angry-looking man with an RMT badge on pre-empts them. "Why do you hate the British railways?!"
"I used to go to work by
Southern Rail. The management's incompetent and the employees think they belong to the
National Graphical Association. The trains are a natural monopoly and the unions have taken full advantage, becoming so cocky that people are willing to use teleportation portals rather than put up with them any longer. We can replace a fifth of the network for less than the cost of
High Speed Rail Two with a form of transport that's safer and quicker. So begone, all of them.
"
"You think it's okay to destroy workers' livelihoods?!"
"On the contrary, the Atlantean artificers who make the Dolmen Gates are extremely well paid.
Next question.
" I point to a woman at random.
"Dominique Westlake, ITV London. Are you planning on clearing up any other landfill sites?"
"No. I did this to show that it
can be done. I'm of the opinion that having superheroes clean up
every social or economic problem is like a fit and healthy adult who still has someone to wipe his arse for him. I've only just been on this planet for a
year, and already I've helped develop a technology that could do what I just did. You get
one, you can do the rest yourself.
"
"So you're saying that you
could?"
"Without a greater purpose to work towards I'd get bored before long, and I can't use these rings for things that bore me. It doesn't work. But no, I probably wouldn't be willing to even if I could do so reliably. Next.
"
"Nigel Smith, BBC. Isn't Doctor Sivana a wanted criminal?"
"Yes. We met under flag of truce at a family dinner and I'm a man of my word. If it makes you feel any better, he claims to be mustering resources to fight against future alien invasions because he doesn't think that superheroes offer enough of a challenge.
"
"That doesn't sound reassuring."
"I find it reassuring that the greatest scientist of the age isn't focusing on fighting other Humans any longer. Next!
"
…
3rd July
15:08 GMT
I stroll into the Mayor's meeting room.
"What did you think?
"
"The press bit meandered around a bit. Usually best to just-" He makes an odd sort of pouncing motion with both hands. "-keep things focused."
"I'll bear that in mind in future. So, are we square?
"
He nods. "Yah, yah. You've done your week, and I think we're all set for tomorrow. Oh, have you met-" He gestures to the uniformed man sitting a little way down the table. "-
Bernard?"
I nod.
"Commissioner. A pleasure.
"
He nods back. "The cordon won't be a problem, and we could do with an evacuation drill. I'm still a bit puzzled by your request to join the Met. Could you explain that?"
"I don't have arrest authority. I don't imagine for a moment that the Lich will actually yield, but best practice requires that I at least try to resolve the situation in a lawful and orderly manner. Or as close to it as possible. Obviously it'll be an on-paper thing and I'll resign as soon as the matter's resolved, but it would be a help.
"
He nods. "If you say so. I can swear you in as a Special Constable. It will be entirely above board, if a little.. odd. Obviously there's no way our regular police could confront a powerful sorcerer."
"Thank you, Commissioner. That's just what I need.
"
