You feel a second stretch out for what feels like an eternity as you slowly process everything.
Doctor Mother stares, her arms crossed and her expression neutral. Yet, there's challenge there.
And.. anticipation?
It takes a second, maybe two, and then it all comes together.
She's serious.
Holy shit.
She's serious!
She's really going to listen to you. She's really going to stop and change things for everyone's benefit.
All you need to do is make a plan to… build a better world?
…
....
What the fuck?
How the hell are you supposed to do that? You've had a minute to think about this, and you're just supposed to come up with a plan for everything you said right here? Right now?
You can't even remember half of it! Yeah there's the general idea but… oh good god.
You run a hand through your hair, and Doctor Mother raises an eyebrow.
"I'm waiting, Mr Everett."
She stops, tilting her head to the side a bit too far.
"But, perhaps you're not as adept as you believe you are," she pauses, letting her gaze linger, "If you can't give me an answer, that's perfectly acceptable. A man of your years wouldn't be able to come to the necessary conclusions on his own anyway."
A million waves scream right then and there. Your fingers twitch and the pieces of the desk rattle along the ground.
She's exaggerating, aggravating you, pushing you. It was exactly what David did. But the difference between the two, was that Doctor Mother couldn't block your waves. You raise a glowing hand, and you feel David force your hand down.
"You want him to build a system for handling a world full of superhumans in a minute!" David spits at the Doctor.
He shoots you a glance and shakes his head. Your fingers loosen, and your hand slides back to your side.
"I managed," the doctor counters, almost curtly.
David actually snorts, rubbing a hand over his face to hide utter disgust.
"Managed my ass," he muttered so softly you can barely hear him.
"With the help of Contessa and years of time," Rebecca interjects.
"Correct," Doctor Mother agrees.
Rebecca stops and just stares at her. For the second time in your life, you get to see utter confusion overtake her features.
"Then how is your ultimatum even remotely fair for Alex?" Rebecca demands.
Doctor Mother's gazes harden to slits.
"When is life ever remotely fair? When is any situation ever truly fair? Considering the tasks the three of you will undertake in the future, a single conversation is the least of your worries."
"But it's a loaded question!" Rebecca says, raising her voice. "You're the final arbiter of everything that happens in this room. You could shoot him down halfway through without even listening to us!"
Doctor Mother's gaze snaps to her, the anger in her eyes enough to make Rebecca hesitate for a second.
"I am many things, Ms Costa-Brown," Doctor Mother admits, "Utterly incompetent is not one of them."
Slowly, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small box. She flips a flap, and you catch the sight of a keypad on the surface. She clocks one button before she returns the device to her lab pocket. She looks to you, and you can see the rims of her glasses glow with golden light as they reflect your iris'. A second passes, and for the second time today, Doctor Mother doesn't hold your gaze. It makes the edges of your lips twitch upward, but the feeling doesn't last long. Even as she laces her fingers together, and straightens her back, you're reminded of what you have to do.
You've got to think of a way to back up all the big talk you said a second ago. A hundred thoughts rush through your head so fast you can't even keep track.
However, there's one in particular that keeps repeating over and over again.
How the fuck are you supposed to do this right now?
"Consider this my final test, Mr Everett." Doctor Mother says, snapping you out of your thoughts, "If you intend to lead the subjects, then you have to face the responsibility such a post entails."
"So you expect him to come up with all the details of a plan on the spot?" Rebecca asks.
"If you remember, Mrs Costa-Brown, I specifically said convince me." Doctor Mother reiterates, "That doesn't necessarily mean all the information such a plan might entail. Men have run to their deaths on little more than promises after all. If he makes me a worthy promise, I might consider it.
"He's not the only one in the room, Doctor." David points out.
Rebecca steps up as well and looks to you, nothing but confidence in her eyes.
"Correct," Doctor Mother agrees, "But that hardly matters if he's the one giving the answer."
You catch David's eye twitch, but it doesn't do anything for Doctor Mother. She looks back at you, a small smile growing on her lips. It makes you want to punch her, or cower in the corner. Honestly, you don't know what you're supposed to be feeling anymore.
"Saving the world, protecting it from those that want it destroyed.That's what you said you want, yes?" She doesn't wait for an answer, "But tell me, Mr. Everett, have you ever heard a man by the name of Helmuth von Moltke?"
"No, why would I?" you ask.
You blink, did your voice get deeper? It sounds… bigger. You don't know if that's the right way to say that, but it barely sounds like you anymore.
Shaking your thoughts aside, you manage to catch the tail end of a long, drawn out shrug from Doctor Mother.
"No reason, it was a simple curiosity on my part. Nothing more."
Doubt it, you think.
"It was he who first coined the phrase, 'No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.'"
She lets the answer hang in the air, and you wait.
But she just stares at you like she's expecting the world. Not far off, but that's not what either of you need right now.
"Okay, I'll be sure to remember that the next time I play chess," you grumble, "What's your point?"
"Like my initial statement, I'm simply helping you to get in the right frame of mind." Doctor Mother clarifies, "Despite what you might think, with Contessa's help, the original plan will be perfect for our overall strategy. As such, I expect your plan, or promise, to achieve results comparable to it. It should be possible, even for someone afflicted with your…"
She pauses, her expression soaring for a moment as she decides on the right word.
"Particular outlook."
You're honestly proud of yourself for not sending her straight into a wall. Instead, you shake your head and stare at her.
"How is having a conscience and wanting to actually help people a bad thing?"
Doctor Mother lets out a single, long sigh.
"It's not that it's inherently a bad thing," Doctor Mother admits, "But, correct me if I am mistaken, you intend to save everyone you can, correct?"
You nod.
"I'll do everything I can," you promise.
"Even give your life?"
"Isn't that what heroes do?" you ask.
"Yes, and that's precisely the problem," Doctor Mother snaps.
She leans forward, and if her desk was still in front of her, she probably would have folded her hands together.
"You can make as many heartfelt speeches as you want, but the truth of the matter is that you can't save anyone if something were to happen to you."
You blink, is she actually concerned? No, that can't be it.
"Then we just watch each other's backs," You counter.
Doctor Mother lets her eyes narrow to slits.
"Mr Everett, I don't think you understand what every real-life hero goes through," she says, her lips almost curling into a snarl.
"Policemen lose their partners to gangs. Firefighters burn when they can't make it out. There is no difference here. Every time you attempt to help someone, you could die, they could die, everyone could die. You can tell yourself the people next to you are invincible because of their powers, or because you're looking out for them, or because of some childish hope that they're your friends. If you become a savior, every single psychopath that walks this earth will be itching to take you down. And last time I checked, a corpse can't save anyone."
Behind you, you hear someone scoff. Taking a peek, you see David rolling his eyes. Rebecca on the other hand… she's as still as a statue. She looks worried, but she's not looking at you.
But Doctor Mother clears her throat as she leans back in her chair, and you swear you could see a sparkle in her eyes.
"And as powerful as you are, Mr Everett, cruelty and brutal efficiency have brought down gods before."
It takes a second, maybe two, and when the words finally sink in, every nervous tic and stressful thought flies out of your head to make way for utter bewilderment.
Out of everything that you've heard today, this is the craziest thing yet.
She was… why would she?
What the hell is she talking about?
"Wait," you demand, wagging a finger, "Hold up... I'm no god."
CONFUSION
"You are not the one to judge such things," Doctor Mother says.
She lets her gaze slip by you, and David stiffens at the attention.
"A boy who can control gravity, a girl who lifts buildings, and a man whose very existence proves half our fundamental laws of relativity and physics are wrong. It won't take much for people to make the leap."
SEARCHING FOR SOLUTION
"Is there any part of our culture that you don't have a problem with?" David comments.
"You've never read the Bible, have you?"
UNABLE TO CONNECT
David scoffs, rolling his eyes, but he lets the silence answers for him. Doctor Mother raises her eyebrows for a moment, a small celebration of victory that makes David want to flex his muscles like you did only a few minutes before.
"I simply view the world more logically than most. For every logical choice that humanity makes, there are a million that are made based on nothing more than what is commonly called a gut feeling. Seeing you, witnessing what you can do, billions of gut feelings will force you to encourage others to act on those feelings. If I have to explain why that would lead to a negative outcome I don't think there's a reason to continue this conversation further."
"You're just explaining basic psychology," Rebecca points out, "Anyone out of high school would know about it."
"Then you best remember it as well," Doctor Mother replies.
She scans the room, deliberately making eye contact with everyone she can.
"While the three of you will be helping, you best remember to use people's motivations to further your own."
"You mean manipulate them?" you ask.
"Not necessarily."
"But how is it any different than lying to them?" you demand.
Doctor Mother scowls at you, or at least you think it's a scowl. It's a twitch, but it's noticeable.
"It ensures at least a measurable amount of control over the situation."
You take your time raising an eyebrow, crossing your arms as you do so.
"And what happens if someone calls us out on it?"
"A minor event if you're able to contain the situation."
"We keep it to the truth and we won't ever have to worry about that happening," you say.
Doctor Mother lets out a long sigh.
"The truth is real only for the person who speaks it," Doctor Mother says, "You can interpret words however you like, and most will interpret what you do and say to help themselves for the reasons we discussed previously. By my estimate, most nations will militarize to destroy you the second that it becomes most fortuitous for them. If you so much as give them a single reason to justify your destruction, someone will take it. It doesn't matter what it is, all they need is a reason to cause panic."
CONTINUING SEARCH
She reaches up and adjusts her glasses slightly.
"From there, no amount of good faith on your part will save you. The people will make their choice, and any action you take will be bogged down."
"If that's what's going to happen why are you asking me about this in the first place?!" you scream, throwing your hands into the air.
"To get you to answer for your declaration," she answers, "As I said before, you've given goals without a plan. So I'm asking; what is your plan to integrate superhumans into society to allow your work to operate unopposed?"
SOLUTION FOUND
She stares at you unblinkingly, and somehow, you can keep your face perfectly straight. Because right now, you've got nothing.
CONTINUING PRIME DIRECTIVE
But on the plus side, you don't have to save the world anymore, just the people in it.
Small victories.
DECREASING INTENSITY
However, that doesn't stop everyone else from looking to you as well. Suddenly you're back at the center of attention. But for the life of you, you can't feel a thing. There's no nervousness. Since when were you a public speaker? To hell with what they said in school, presenting in front of a class didn't prepare you for this.
DECREASING INTENSITY
So why are you so calm?
A tap rings out as loud as a gunshot, snapping you out of your thoughts and letting you see the scowl grow on Doctor Mother's features, her patience running thin.
Oh, right, the plan.
How do you get people to accept people with powers? Well… how did you get Rebecca to help you through those nights?
INCREASING INTENSITY
And like a bomb, the idea springs to life in your head.
"We need to make sure everyone can trust us, without them worrying about us trying to take advantage."
"Obviously," Doctor Mother agrees, the sting of disappointment clear despite the monotone, "But as always, the question remains how?"
"The same way anyone gets to trust someone, they spend time together." You say, "You said we've got to play everything right so we don't cause some panic, right?"
She nods.
"Then we start with that. We'll make a culture that includes everyone, superhuman or not, and give them a reason to help everyone."
"I fail to see how everyone with powers is going to simply give up the chance of fame and fortune just for the chance to help." Doctor Mother response.
You nod.
"You're right, they probably won't; but that's why we're here, isn't it?" You ask, gesturing to the building around you.
"I said we needed to set an example, right?"
Doctor Mother nods, this time though it took a lot longer.
"Then instead of talking about it, we'll actually do it. What better plan is there than that? If we start by helping instead of hurting, then we'll find a way."
"And once that's done, how will you recruit more followers?" Doctor Mother asks.
"We won't," you say, and you can literally feel the disappointment radiating off Doctor Mother.
"What?" you demand, "Do you want me to put a bunch of rocks together and make a big statue?"
The moment of levity is lost on Doctor Mother, but at least Rebecca snorts a little. It's nice, but it doesn't stop you from giving this situation the respect it deserves.
"If we're going to do this, then we can't force anyone, and we sure as hell won't trick them either. We'll just ask them. Ask them if they want to see how far we can go. Ask them if they want to make a difference, for themselves, and everyone else."
Doctor Mother takes it all in, her finger tapping once again her leg before going still.
"Most won't care for the pleas of one boy in a costume," she comments.
"Sure," you say, "But most isn't everyone, is it?"
Doctor Mother's expression goes a tiny bit sour.
"No, it's not."
"And that's all we need," you jerk your thumb behind you, "After all, you're saying the five of us can do amazing things, imagine what happens when everyone tries to help."
David looks to the side, his eyes cloudy. Slowly, a full blown grin is making its way on to his face. He shoots you a look, nods, and that's all you need.
"If we give everyone a reason to help us, and we keep giving them reasons to trust us, there'll come a time where no one is going to give us or anyone else up ever again."
You stop, letting your eyes steal a glance of Rebecca.
"Even if it starts with just one guy, it'll help," you say, "And with each little bit that comes, we get better and better. Better at helping, protecting; everything. In the meantime, we wait for the next guy to join us. When that happens, we don't change a damn thing. We help, we protect, and we show everyone that we can be better with these powers. Once we do that, then we're one step closer to a better world."
Doctor Mother takes it all in without blinking. After a second, she adjusts her glasses in a quick, flawless motion.
"An optimistic outlook," She monotones, "But one with a slight sense of logic behind it. Impressive."
You force down a groan, could she have made that sound any more insulting?
"However, I see a flaw in your plan."
"And what's that?" you challenge.
She waves both your anger and your challenge aside.
"You don't need to worry, simply a lapse in judgement due to inaccurate information."
She pauses, her fingers freezing in place.
"But, it is most likely my doing. With the time allotted, the information might have slipped through without your notice."
You cross your arms again and you force waves down on your face to keep your lips still. You feel a twitch and Doctor Mother lifts an eyebrow.
"Mr Everett, did you ever wondered how that man you encountered in Los Angeles received his gifts?"
"No," you admit.
Not with talking to everyone, realizing that you killed a man and then got thrown off a cliff, you've had more important things to think about.
"You should have," she stresses, "You received your powers from the vial that I gave you. Have you ever wondered how he, someone you've never seen, got his hands on a superhuman ability? I didn't give him a vial, neither did Contessa, or Manton. He developed those abilities completely naturally."
"Bullshit."
It's out of your mouth before you can even think of stopping it, and Doctor Mother shakes her head.
"You have the power to control gravity, Mr Everett. I suggest you start to broaden your horizons for what is and what isn't possible. In this matter, and hundreds of others."
She straightens from her seat; and the second she does, it falls on its side. She doesn't pay it any mind as she slowly walks over to the window where the evening sun was just starting to set. You watch as she takes in the sight, only glancing behind her long enough to confirm that you were watching.
"Returning to the original topic at hand, your line of thinking lacks a singular understanding. Which is that everyone on this earth breathing as of right now, has the potential of having a superhuman ability by the time that they fall asleep, without exception," she explains.
You blink.
"Everyone?" you breath.
Doctor Mother lets her head dip just an inch. "Every man, woman, and child," she confirms.
"They all carry a nonlethal parasite what Manton has dubbed an Agent. The agents take root in the host, becoming bonded to their DNA. From there, they are dormant and the hosts lives their lives as they always would, utterly unaware of the change that has come over them."
She stops, her neutral expression loosening for the barest of moments.
"That is, until they experience a Trigger Event."
"...Trigger Event?" You wonder aloud.
"The moment when the agent does what it was designed for, giving the host the ability to accomplish superhuman feats." Doctor Mother explains.
You pinch the bridge of your nose, for the first time in your life actually trying to commit something to memory.
"So let me get this straight, everyone has the chance to just… have superpowers once they have a Trigger Event?"
Doctor Mother nods.
"Then what's the problem?" You ask.
Doctor Mother turns back around, and her gaze is as cold as steel.
"The problem, Mr Everett, is that for a Trigger Event to occur, the host must be subject to intense levels of trauma. Simply put, a flight or fight response, but pushed so far beyond its intended purpose that something in the mind breaks. "
…
Oh.
A bead of sweat drips off your head, and you can barely breath. Everyone can get powers... That means…
Clint.
Danah.
Dad.
Everything starts to shake, and you can't stop it. Then you feel Rebecca shake your shoulder. Just like that, your nerves settle. You smile your thanks, and she smiles back, but Doctor Mother held as much compassion for the moment as she did with everything else.
"For most, Contessa predicts that the Trigger Event is the start of a long and dangerous road. Despite its capabilities, the human mind has yet to truly develop a defence against great forms of trauma. It lashes out, giving way to base thoughts and desires. Normally, it can be contained. With the addition of superhuman abilities, those desires will be increased exponentially as the thought of using their newfound abilities becomes too much."
For a second, you think her expression softens, but it just goes back to the same straight-faced emotionless mask she always has.
"Now, another question Mr Everett, how did it feel to fly?"
You feel your fist clench; you know where this was going.
"It felt… perfect."
Nothing in the world even came close to it. You've never felt that kind of rush, the feeling of the wind on your face, the power of moving wind and water with a wave of your hand.
The freedom of choosing what you wanted to.
Doctor Mother's lips twitch in victory. She probably could have kept it down, but she knows you're watching.
The bitch.
"Imagine now, those feelings, the sudden rush of euphoria, the sensation of infinite possibility right in front of you. Imagine those emotions, but in the negative. The potential for destruction and mental degradation is limitless."
She turns back to the window as if she didn't even need to look at you to finish this.
"Now picture everyone who gains powers going through the same type of pain. There will be varying degrees, but the result is still the same. No one will be the same after their Event, their personality will shift, and they will make choices that might not be their own. If they were capable of the kindness that your plan needed before, the chances of them being the same afterwards are low at best, utterly non-existent at worst," she declares.
Your throat goes dry, and your lips feel like they've been chipped out of cement as they try to move.
"Is that what happened to us?" Rebecca asks, "Did we…"
Doctor Mother lets the question hang before shaking her head.
"Subjects who have received the formula undergo a modified version of a Trigger Event. Instead of needing to experience trauma, the subject simply needs to ingest the formula which contains an active agent. Simply ingesting the formula is enough to bypass the requirements for normal Trigger Events. As such, the strain on the body and mind is negligible, allowing for a more stable indoctrination."
"Except for me," you say.
Doctor Mother turns around, one eyebrow raised.
"You had to cut corners with me, you had to speed things up, and you did everything you had to."
You feel the waves build around your eyes, but Doctor Mother doesn't even flinch. She does however, draw out a sigh.
"Correct. But no matter the outcome, we were confident that your rehabilitation would yield positive results."
"What made you so sure?" David asks, curiously poking through his iron tone.
Doctor Mother let her eyes dart to him, only to return to you a second later.
"He believed in superheroes."
Silence met her answer.
David looks as lost as a man could be, shaking his head.
"That's it?"
"The Path was completed. What more was needed?" Doctor Mother asks.
"What more?" David asks his voice seething, "He just needed to answer a question and he got his vial!? I nearly-!"
His lips snap shut, smothering his words as David takes a big step back. You watch as instinct takes hold, forcing you to raise a hand. He sees it, and his eyes flash silver. Your hand stops, and as it goes back to your side, the glow in his eyes starts to dim. He jerks his head towards the other end of the room, the glare leaving no room for argument. You see Doctor Mother reach into her coat pocket and pull out a small, leather-bound journal with several pages sticking out. She flips through the pages, barely taking a second to read anything.
"The possibility of the vials actually succeeding was small. But if they did succeed, the subjects would be capable of what you three are capable of now. As such the only available options for consideration were those that had something that few did."
"They had to actually want to help people, for some reason," Rebecca whispers, her hand grabbing her arm so tight her knuckles go white.
Doctor Mother gives a slight inclination of her head, snapping her book close.
"Correct. Of the infinite possibilities that could have come to pass, we knew that the subject's belief was required. They needed to believe that the things they were able to accomplish were possible, or they had the mental fortitude to find the appropriately beneficial outcomes. Finally, they had to be willing to accept what would happen should the vials fail."
"Is that why you had Contessa find us?" David asks.
Doctor Mother nods, "We had a world to chose from, but we had a limited number of vials. Thankfully, the path designated very strict criteria, along with other factors."
"Like being unable to say no to the idea, right?" you say.
Doctor Mother raises an eyebrow, and you shake your head.
"Oh, don't deny it," you say, "I don't know everyone else's story, but Rebecca and I had months to live. We would have done anything to get out. All you had to do was dangle a chance and we would have taken it. You knew that."
Doctor Mother stays still as a statue.
"The Path is very specific," she says, finally.
But she doesn't deny it.
So you dig your fingers into your skull, biting through the waves to blind every sense with sharp pain.
Literally anything to stop you from blowing this bitch away!
But if you did, then you might as well not even bother thinking about this anymore.
You're not going to make the same mistake twice, not after everything you've promised.
And even if you did, what would that accomplish? You'd be left dealing with an angry Contessa and Manton and….
No one, there's no one.
And just like that, it clicks.
Your fingers sting as they slowly release their grip, but you ignore it, using everything you have to stare straight through Doctor Mother.
"You know what?" you whisper, "I think I'm finally started to get why everything is happening like this."
Doctor Mother is as stoic as ever, but that's going to change in a second. You're going to make sure of that.
"You're so smart that you can't accept the obvious?"
"And what is that?" she asks.
"People aren't perfect. We never will be."
If Doctor Mother's face could fall anymore, it probably would.
"Congratulations Mr Everett, you've learned something incredibly obvious." She remarks, "We had this conversation not five minutes ago, did we not?"
"That doesn't matter!" You scream, jabbing an accusing finger.
"What matters is you! You're human too, right!?"
"Correct," Doctor Mother admits, "Which is why I instructed Contessa to formulate-"
"What!?" you shout, interrupting her with a wave of your hand, "You had her choose for everyone on the planet?"
"You act as if the informed opinion is the worst possible option."
"That's not the point!"
A headache explodes through you, but you power through as best you can.
"No, it's… we asked to get powers. No one else did; not if a Trigger Event is what they have to go through to get them. So whatever your plan was, if it even mentioned that a power had to be this or that then you can take it and shove it!"
Doctor Mother's lips quirk upwards slightly as if she found something funny.
"You wanted me to give you a plan, well here it is."
You lift a glowing finger to eye level, letting it point straight at her.
"If we do this, we won't pick and choose who we let in, and we sure as hell aren't going to force people either. If they join, it's because they want to, and we'll accept them as they are. If they want to use us, then fine. We're here to help people anyway, they'll just make it easier for us. There's no better way to gain trust than do that."
"So you keep saying," Doctor Mother drawls, "But what of the superhuman criminals? All it would take was one fool who thought they were doing the right thing. Would you stop them?"
"What kind of question is that?" you start, running a hand through your hair, "Of course we would stop them, that's the whole point!"
Doctor Mother hesitates, or perhaps evaluates you for a second.
"Allow me to rephrase. Would you stop them… permanently?"
She lets the word hang in the air, and it doesn't take you long to take two plus two and arrive at four.
"You want us to kill people?"
Doctor Mother just stares at you, her expression as neutral as ever.
"You can give me the speech that all great men do, that killing goes against your message, that it brings you down to their level. But you can't shovel the shit from a canal without stepping in it yourself."
"It doesn't mean we have to just accept that!" you retaliate.
"People die all the time, Mr Everett." Doctor Mother deadpans, "But can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me that you would risk hundreds just to let one psychopath live? Or would you live up to your promise, and make sure that monster of a human being couldn't do a thing to hurt the ones you hold dear? If my guess is correct, you would save everyone else. And if I'm not mistaken, you would do it again, if you had to."
You try to rebut that… but she's not wrong.
The man with the hands, he could be one of a hundred people who think the same way. That everything in the world is little more than a playpen to them. That just because they got powers made them better than anyone else on earth.
And that kind of thinking would make justifying anything easier in someone's head.
You would know. After all, what was stopping you from killing Doctor Mother a few minutes ago?
So you shake your head.
"It doesn't matter, we still need to give them a chance."
Doctor Mother raises an eyebrow.
"On what grounds do criminals and murderers deserve chances?"
"What about the ones that didn't have any choice!? How many kids get dragged into a gang because their parents are drunks? Or they made a bad choice and couldn't get out."
You stop yourself there.
"Yes… you're right. There are so, so many people who won't take the chance; but everyone at least deserves that much."
"Why?" she pushes.
"Because they're human!"
You pause to take a breath.
"I don't give a fuck if I can fly now, or Rebecca can lift a mountain over her head or that David's a god! We were born human. Just because we changed a little doesn't take that away. If they're just lashing out, we need to help them. Give them therapy, legal help to get out of shit, and the money to do it. Or we could just talk them through it and give them a shoulder to lean on."
You catch Rebecca staring at you from the corner of your eye. She doesn't blink, she doesn't even breath. She just nods, giving you all the permission you needed.
"If we don't do at least that much, we've got no right to complain how far down the rabbit hole they go, because we didn't even try," you finish.
You tear your gaze away from her to see Doctor Mother blink once at your declaration.
"Talk through it?" she asks, she actually sounds surprised.
But it doesn't last long.
She shakes her head and sighs.
"No, Mr Everett, that's little more than a child's fantasy. In some cases, you're going to have to make the hard choices. You'll have to look another man in the eye, see the life in there, and tell yourself that he must die for the future to be saved."
She pauses, and there's a twitch of a smile.
"But, you already knew that, didn't you? You've done it before, after all."
You shake your head.
"That's not how I wanted that to happen and you know it."
"Regrets be damned Mr Everett, they don't change the fact that you did it," Doctor Mother reminds you, "Some part of you, no matter how small, saw that his death would lead to your survival and you took the option that ended with you walking out of that building alive."
"So I'm just supposed to kill everyone that could be a threat?" you ask.
"Not necessarily," Doctor Mother answers, "Even your greatest enemy could hold an advantage that, if utilized, could be used in conjunction with your own gifts to better fight a common enemy."
"Is that why Contessa bothers to keep you around?"
Doctor Mother's gaze goes ice cold, her knuckles going white with the action.
Honestly, seeing that makes all of this shit worth it.
"You best watch your words, Mr Everett," Doctor Mother says, her voice dangerously low.
"I really should," you confess, "but at this point, I can't stop myself."
You glance down at your hand.
"Yeah, I can move a mountain, and there's nothing stopping me."
Your hand falls to your side, and you stare at Doctor Mother with new conviction.
"No one should ever be able to just decide something like that, for anyone. So we'll need a way to stop them."
Doctor Mother tilts her head.
"How?"
Isn't that the million dollar question?
"Nothing's better at getting people to not do something like writing down what they can't do," you say.
Doctor Mother raises an eyebrow.
"You intend to form legislation for yourself?" she asks.
Not in confusion, just confirmation.
It almost sounded… approving.
"Everyone else did," you reason, "And last time I checked, we're all still human at the end of the day. Call it limiting, stupid, whatever, it'll show that we're living under the same rules as everyone else. Just because you get powers doesn't change that."
"There can be sub-sections for the new types of crimes." Rebecca comments.
"Set up a task force to enforce the laws, punish those who break them as the police do. Then, the idea of using your powers for your own gain is going to look stupider by the second." David adds with a shrug.
"But to make it work, it needs to send a message," Rebecca hums.
"Then we can start big. Take…" you snap your fingers as you try the best idea you can get out, "The U.S. If we start an organization there, we can put it in the spotlight like that."
"The U.S. is not the entire world." Doctor Mother points out.
"Who said it was? I never said we would just ignore everywhere else, I just said that we would start there. If we're making a taskforce, the second we set an example in the US, we're taking things worldwide."
"An international organization would provide almost universal support for superhumans around the world." Rebecca comments, "It solves half the problem of integration right there, saving the world is a nice little add-on at that point."
Doctor Mother drums her fingers together, a slight hum echoing through the chamber.
"And with this task force, you will train them to deal with the superpowered criminals?"
"We'll train them to protect those who can't do it themselves," you correct.
"In a country that already has its own military, and is overly proud of its accompaniments?" Doctor Mother asks.
"Even with that, it doesn't stop the U.S. from being the best choice to start!" you call, "Face facts. We speak English, we live in the U.S., where better to start an organization dedicated to helping people than the most powerful nation on the planet? Once everyone here accepts us, it'll be only a matter of time before we can grow across the world. And we'll be able to do it without having everyone's lives dictated by just one person."
Doctor Mother sharpens her gaze.
"Do you not want the Path, Mr Everett?"
"I just want to know we can trust it to keep everyone's best interests at heart," you say.
Doctor Mother's look goes as cold as ice, but you don't even flinch.
"If you're angry with what I'm saying, you shouldn't have let the Path throw me off a building."
Doctor Mother barely twitches, but the glare she's sporting loses its fire.
"Argue all you want, but you asked for this," You say, "You've heard how we're going to do it, Doctor Mother; and you better like it, because I'm not going to be following anything else."
For what feels like the millionth time today, silence overtakes the room.
Rebecca is as still as a statue, David focusing on everything in the room at once. Neither moved, neither dared.
Doctor Mother puts a hand to her chin, her expression emotionless, but somehow thoughtful. Her eyes dart to you, Rebecca, David, then to a wall. Every twitch of her finger is enough to make you flinch as you wait. Each second it becomes more and more agonizing.
"Culture, laws, and possessing the clear willingness to slowly complete integration," she says out loud, but to no one in particular, "From a theoretical standpoint, the possibility exists."
You feel a smile come to you.
"But, there are too many variables," Doctor Mother snaps, "Too many things that require control that you haven't taken into account."
You shake your head.
"You can't make a better world by controlling everyone that's in it."
Doctor Mother stares at you, but says nothing. Instead, she reaches into her pocket and clicks a button on her phone. Closing her fist on the device, she looks beyond you.
"Will it work with what we have, Contessa?"
She looks up, and you follow her gaze. You nearly jump out of your skin when you see Contessa barely three steps behind you. The deputy director of Cauldron leans against the wall, her hat tipped over her eyes and her hand slowly moving away from her ear where a black little box sat in her lobe. She gives you the barest glance from under the rim before looking to Doctor Mother.
"No."
The one word hurts just as much as a punch to the gut. It sends you reeling back. You look to David, and he just stands there. He's just as lost as you are. He tries to say something, but nothing comes out. Doctor Mother crosses her legs, and she lets the edges of her lips go up slightly. The sight of it is almost enough to make your hand go flying to the side.
Then, Rebecca slowly raises a hand, fire in her eyes as she glares at Contessa. To her credit, the deputy director doesn't even flinch. She just watches as Rebecca takes one step forward.
"But... can it work?"
Contessa regards her, her face an unreadable mask of emotionless calm. She looks at you, and you swear you could see something flash in her eyes.
"It's possible, yes," she whispers.
Doctor Mother's smile falls off her face, utter shock overtaking everything. It only lasts a second but for that instant, there's nothing else. She shakes it off, straightening her lab coat as she regards you.
"I admit, I didn't expect it," Doctor Mother says.
Her voice is level, but there's strain there.
"I was fully expecting the Path to dispute any and all chances of your ideals working in this setting."
"Then why did you let it happen in the first place?" you ask.
Doctor Mother stops, and frowns of all thing. She looks around the room, her eyes lingering on David.
"As I said, I'm not incompetent. I heard. For the time being, I will see where this Path leads us."
"Does that mean…" Rebecca breaths.
Doctor Mother meets her gaze as stone-faced as ever, but she nods. Rebecca spins around, victory plastered on her face. You try to say something, but you've got nothing. You hold up a hand and you nearly throw a thumbs up before you stop yourself. David doesn't smile, but he gives a slight nod.
DECREASING INTENSITY
You give a thank you smile, and your old friend walks up to you and gently wraps you on the shoulder.
"Told you you'd be perfect," she whispers.
You laugh a little, rubbing your shoulder.
"Can you do the talking next time?" You plead.
Rebecca flashes a cheshire smile.
"That's not my power."
"Not mine either," you say.
Rebecca makes a show of raising an eyebrow.
"You sure about that?"
A cough stops you from answering. Tearing your gaze away from Rebecca, you see Doctor Mother waiting impatiently. You take a step back, causing Rebecca concern before she sees Doctor Mother as well. She tucks a bit of hair behind her ear and stands at attention. Doctor Mother rolls her eyes at us. Breaking away, she focuses everything on Contessa.
"What are the first steps required of us to complete this path?"
You raise an eyebrow, had she already forgotten what you just said?
"Everything else can be done however you wish, Mr Everett," Doctor Mother says, "I, however, am not leaving the initial steps to chance. Once they are completed, I will step to the side. On that, you have my word. Am I clear?"
She straightens her suit and adjusts her glasses as she stares at you, daring you to make a move. You really don't want to agree, but if anything happens here, you don't really know. you feel a tap at your side and you see Rebecca shake her head. Yeah, this is enough for now.
"Crystal," you say.
Doctor Mother nods and glances over to Contessa. You follow her gaze and manage to catch the moment where Contessa's eyes cloud over. It lasts one second, maybe two, as she blinks and the focus returns.
"Within the six days allowed, several steps must be completed. The aforementioned legislation must be drafted."
"Give me a few law books, and I'll have it done in three." Rebecca declares.
You blink. Three days is way too fast for anyone to make laws. She catches your look, and you immediately regret doubting. The fire in her eyes left no room for negotiation. She was going to get it done, damn whatever got in her way. Contessa on the other hand simply nodded, her face chiselled out of marble for everything it showed.
"From there, Agents must be utilized to manufacture additional support needed to further convince the majority. Inform Charles and Manton that they-"
A flash of light explodes through the room and when you stop seeing stars, David's gone.
"Guess he really wanted to get to the lab." Rebecca breaths.
You rub your eyes and shrug as best as you can. Doctor Mother and Contessa take it all in stride, barely even glancing at the spot he was at.
"Lastly," Contessa continues, "Additional analysis must be used to oversee all projects. To do this, additional members will be required."
The director of Cauldron nods once.
"Then find those best suited and return as soon as possible," Doctor Mother orders.
"Without forcing them," you say on reflex.
Both Doctor Mother and Contessa give you blank stares.
"I mean… how do I know you're not just going to point a gun at their head?" you ask.
"You could always go with her," Doctor Mother offers.
She pauses and a small smile graces her lips. It doesn't look inviting in the slightest.
"It could be good for you. After all, you questioned the Path. Best learn how useful it truly is. In the meantime; Ms Costa-Brown."
Rebecca stiffens at the sudden attention, and Doctor Mother gestures to the elevator.
"If you'll accompany me, we have legislation to draft."
Rebecca nods and waves a small goodbye. As she makes her way to the elevator with Doctor Mother in tow, Contessa reaches to her ear, whispering a command.
The sight's enough to make you grin ear to ear. Everyone in Cauldron, they're actually working to do it. To make your promise a reality.
It feels… really good.
But now you'll....
[] Help Rebecca and Doctor Mother with the laws. You've never read a law book in your life, but you did get everyone in this situation. Got to at least try to help.
[] Help David, Charles and Manton with creation. You're not much in a science room, but there's got to be some way for you to help.
[] Help Contessa with her recruitment. If she wants to keep going with her path, you better keep an eye on it.
[] Write in.
