Enlisting in the Protector Program [M4A] [Superpowers] [Magic] [Conspiracy] [Adventure] [Mystery]

Transcript

Ah, yes, please have a seat. I'm sure you're aware of why you are here. We don't have time to waste, so I'm going to cut to the chase.

Are you willing to help us? There's no point in lying to me about who you are and what you're capable of doing. We've been tracking your activity for weeks.

My superiors, they are impressed. They consider you our foremost candidate for this, uh, protector program of theirs. A beacon of hope in these dark days, they say.

Someone who will proudly bear the title of superhero. But I. ..

I'm not so blind. I've seen the personality profile results. Easily faked? I personally reviewed your background check.

Meaningless. And I even saw the field footage captured by our agents, which was, uh, incomplete. I find it very unusual that our cameras started to malfunction right as the battle began.

And it was a strange coincidence that you just so happened to stumble across our agent and rescued them from falling to the breeze in the process. Just in the nick of time. Like, uh, like something out of a movie.

And that was enough to convince them of your good intention. So I dismissed them from their position, gave them some time off to think things over, and to reach the same conclusion I have. I do not like coincidences.

It's awfully convenient, don't you think? That you should be not only one of the first to gain your powers, but also one of the strongest. And what luck, you chose to side with the forces of good against all those evildoers breaking into banks or throwing their bosses off buildings.

According to our field agents, over 90% of those blessed with these enhancements have used their powers for personal gain within a week. Some laid low, committing small crimes like pickpocketing. Others started showing up in the headlines for turning entire towns into their personal playground.

It's madness out there. So, it is incredibly fortunate for us that you decide to fight them whenever they popped up. Tell me, why is it that we are so, so lucky? Silence won't get you anywhere.

Tell me, hero, do you know how many people have sat in that chair before you? 165. Do you know how many tried to outwit me? 165.

And do you know how many eventually correct? I'll let you take a guess. You see, I'm nothing if not patient.

I guess you could call that my superpowers. Oh, not impressed? Of course not.

It's always like this in the beginning. Everyone who sits in that seat look at me with the same dull expression. I personally dislike that.

The mask you all wear to hide what you're really thinking. A few try to anger me, throwing some insults at me, mocking my suit, my physique. Some even resort to threatening me.

Others try to tug at my heartstrings, begging me to believe them, appealing to my better nature, my sense of justice, or even asking in the name of a higher power. Some of you even tried to bribe me. So what will you do? Staying silent.

Smart. Very smart. You're one of the bright ones.

Or maybe you're just unable to think of a comeback. Doesn't matter to me. All that matters is that we get to the truth.

What caught your attention? Well, then let's get right to it. Are you ready to tell me your story? How this is all just a big misunderstanding? That you're an ordinary citizen caught up in something out of your control? Do you want to tell me the demons made you do it? Or maybe it was the Fae, or the merfolk? No reaction.

I guess it wasn't them this time. Now you seem surprised. Do you think I'm ignorant of what happens out there? Were you expecting me to not know? Did your masters tell you that fairy tale about Masquerade and how you're one of the chosen ones? That you can only see them because you have magic in your blood and an uncorrupted heart open to possibilities?

Or some nonsense like that. No, that wasn't it, wasn't it. Where did you get your powers? Bought them from a mysterious store.

Went on an adventure to another world. Granted them by an alien. Or did you make them yourself? Maybe you're one of those mad scientists.

An experimenter, perhaps? Your background check didn't suggest anything of the sort. But then again, that's always the way it goes.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one. But then again, that's always the way it goes. One day, you're tinkering away.

And some strange voice whispers unintelligible words into your ear, then. .. BLAM! Just like that.

You've invented a super serum. Or nanobots. Do you know how long it takes to clean up a nanobot leak? No matter.

You don't have to say anything. I'll find out. I always do.

I'll find out. I always do. Feeling a little funny, are we? Do you feel my tendrils extending into your thoughts? Relax.

This won't take long. It doesn't hurt. Unless you fight it.

Then it's going to be an excruciating couple of hours. Looks like the cat's out of the bag. Yes, uh, you're right.

I am not human. Oh, no, no, no. My employers are entirely human, I'm afraid.

It's what makes them weak. I'm not human. I'm not human.

I'm not human. I'm not human. Humans.

Humans are delicate little things, don't you think? So vulnerable to all of the big scary monsters running roughshod through their cities of light and sound. And yet.

Yet. The human persists. Perhaps because all of us monsters, uh, well, we like playing with our little humans.

Maybe not all of us play nice. But we wouldn't want anyone to break our favorite toys or hurt our precious pets. Oh, no, no, you don't have to say a word.

I'm already inside your mind, listening to your pulse. Why not let me a little farther into those memory of yours? Ooh, those are some nasty words.

Do you really think I'm going to say them? You're capable of doing that to me. Do you even know what I am? No.

No, I can see you have no idea. I'm the agency. No, of course not.

Not all of them. As I said, I have human superiors. And there are humans here, like that field agent assigned to serve you.

I don't like whatever it was you did to make them like you more than me. They are mine. Mine? So hands off them, all right? Oh, you seem confused.

So let me get straight to the point. I am an entity who has been watching and protecting humanity for longer than you've existed. And in that time, I've spread myself out into many, many bodies.

In fact, I make up over, let's see, 80% of this agency. I answer the phones, I sweep the floors, and I even signed a paperwork to send myself out on missions I planned. Oh, am I a legion? Oh, that's a name I haven't heard in many years.

A real troublemaker, if I recall correctly. Ah, no, no. No, I'm much older than that outstart.

Now look, I don't like sticking my noses where they don't belong. But someone's gotta tend to the flock. Someone has to protect them from the wolves.

Have you ever wondered why there are few werewolves left? They made such a mess of my toys. I'm not surprised that you haven't heard of me.

I like to keep a low profile. If you were an ordinary threat, I would have sent a dozen bodies of mine to dispose of you. I've had a lot of practice playing, what do you Cubans call them, a soldier.

And I even learned to play special forces. It's impressive what games the human can come up with. So weak, so limited, but oh, so inventive.

But oh, so inventive. Which is why I'm going to rip your mind into tiny shreds and wring out the answers I need about who's behind the creation of all these superpowers. And when I find them, I'm going to show them just how inventive I can be.

Oh, have you changed your mind about cooperating with me? No, no, no need to answer that. I'm not the bad guy here.

If you really want to be a hero, then let me into the deepest reaches of your mind so I can see where those powers came from. Think of all the lives that will be saved, including yours. There's no reason for us to be enemies.

We could have a long and mutually beneficial relationship. After all, didn't you say you were willing to work with the Agency? Well, here I am.

Do you understand the gravity of what is happening? All those people playing at being superheroes and supervillains are going to tear down the walls between the natural and the supernatural that I've spent so long building up. Humanity isn't ready to face what lies ahead.

I'm not the bad guy here. If you really want to be a hero, then let me into the deepest reaches of your mind so I can see where those powers came from. After all, didn't you say you were willing to work with the Agency? All those people playing at being superheroes and supervillains are going to tear down the walls between the natural and the supernatural that I've spent so long building up.