《Paragons》 Chapter One: Welcome Back Chapter 1 Lincoln Penitentiary, Westchester, New York May 16, 2030 One hundred pull ups. After the hundreth, Cayden Heller, also known as Blindshot, the archer superhero, took a second to breathe in. Staying in shape was about the best thing he could do in this situation. If he were being honest, it was a very unfair one for him. The cell, which was pristine white, gave him practically nothing to do. He certainly wasn¡¯t going to interact with the other prisoners. And it was all because he wanted to fight evil. At least, he wanted to fight evil on his own terms. ¡°This is the life.¡± Cayden said, sarcastically. Cayden took his seat on the bed, thinking back at the days when it was all so simple, before the government stepped in and started ¡°regulating¡± superheroics. After all the good he¡¯s done, he was now a criminal because he didn¡¯t wish to subject himself to a suit¡¯s agenda. If he recalled, the politicians were the ones sitting in their chairs and making decisions they know nothing about, while the actual heroes were the ones who were on the field fighting criminals and supervillains across the world. Yet the politicians won out. That¡¯s what Cayden would cite as an example of life being unfair. On the plus side, he¡¯s been in good favor with the staff. In another year or two, he should be out for good behavior. Suddenly a knock echoed through the cell. Several guards were outside the entrance, a crystal clear door that¡¯s stronger than steel. ¡°You have a visitor.¡± ¡°Heh, I could use a little break.¡± The guards escorted Cayden through the halls. They were just as clean and pristine as his cell. At least they were able to keep the place looking good. Lincoln was a special prison meant to hold dangerous, often superpowered, individuals. They spared no expense. The doors to the meeting room slid open. To Cayden¡¯s surprise, it was his former partner, Margot Reese. Also known as Hummingbird. ¡°Long time, no see.¡± Cayden said. ¡°True.¡± Margot said. ¡°Now sit down, because I¡¯ve got something to tell you.¡± ¡°Anything for you.¡± Cayden took his seat at the table, opposite of Margot. He had his hands clasped together, curious as to what Margot had to say. This was the first time he had seen her since getting arrested. ¡°It¡¯s been two years since you were put in this prison. How''s it been holding up?¡± ¡°Not too bad. I get three squares a day, recess, and they even let me watch TV. It¡¯s the life.¡± ¡°Not a very good life.¡± ¡°You think?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re not happy about this, which is why I¡¯m here. I¡¯ve come to make you an offer.¡± ¡°Here we go¡­¡± Cayden said as he rolled his eyes. ¡°There are many young crimefighters out there who need guidance. Even when you¡¯re locked up, the people out there see you as a Paragon. See where I¡¯m going with this?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Blindshot stood among the greats as part of the Paragons, and they want you out as much as you want to be out. But that comes with a choice. To earn your freedom, you must join the SEA. You must lead a squad of cadets.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± Cayden said. ¡°Just sign me up for your government-approved agency calling itself a ¡®superhero organization¡¯ and tell me to work for some politician, some armchair crimefighter who doesn''t know a damn thing about what they¡¯re dealing with.¡± ¡°Cayden¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s true! The Cray Act was the worst thing that¡¯s happened to superheroes. It¡¯s turned honest people like yours truly, those who risk their lives time and time again for the world, into criminals. For what? Because I don¡¯t want to be some pawn in a politician''s agenda, because I don¡¯t want to register with the government, follow arbitrary regulations, and risk having my personal information leaked to bad guys everywhere?¡± ¡°That hasn¡¯t happened.¡± Cayden scoffed. ¡°First time for everything.¡± Margot got frustrated. Cayden could tell based off the death glare she gave him, it¡¯s the same kind he would get in the past when he royally screwed up. She clenched her hands into a fist, as she explained further, remaining calm the whole way through. ¡°You¡¯re being an ass right now.¡± ¡°Well excuse me for how I¡¯m acting.¡± Cayden said. ¡°Remember, we were happy together before all this happened.¡± ¡°Things change. I think you should accept that.¡± ¡°So who put you up to it? I doubt it was IG, he¡¯s too good to notice someone like me. I¡¯m too small time for him to deal with. So who¡¯s idea was it?¡± ¡°Mine.¡± ¡°Wait.. really?¡± Cayden was genuinely curious. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy trying to convince the people upstairs, but I did it. Please, please don¡¯t blow this for me. It¡¯d be really embarrassing.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Cayden sighed. He thought to himself what kind of hoops Margot had to go through to get this to happen. The fact that he was being offered to be free must mean she really wanted it. But of course, that was natural. They were a crimefighting duo during their days in the Paragons, and it went further than that. ¡°Do I have time to consider it?¡± ¡°One day.¡± ¡°Not a whole lot of time then. I¡¯m going to return to my cell if you don¡¯t mind, it¡¯s a lot to take in.¡± Cayden would soon be escorted back into his cell. He lied down on his bed, his arms behind his head, as he considered what it meant. Getting free meant he would be joining the very thing he hated. The Superhuman Enforcement Agency, or SEA, that the government created to legitimize heroic deeds. Was it really worth sacrificing his principles? --- Margot saw herself out of the penitentiary. She walked down the steps and through the fences of the complex, and made her way to the vehicle outside. A black sedan awaited her, sitting aside on the parkway. The driver inside looked at her, he was curious as to what she was going to say. She took her seat on the passenger¡¯s side. On her left was fellow SEA member, Jackson Pierce, also known as Brigadier. They drove off. ¡°So, how¡¯d it go?¡± Jackson asked.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°About what I expected.¡± Margot said. ¡°That bad?¡± ¡°He¡¯s as bitter about it as ever.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I can only hope he¡¯ll measure the choice wisely.¡± ¡°When has he ever been ¡®wise¡¯?¡± ¡°When it counts.¡± They drove back to New York City, their destination was the SEA Headquarters. It was a calm drive, nothing to really worry about. What was on their minds was if Cayden was going to accept the offer to become squad leader. Margot was sure of one thing. ¡°Think he¡¯ll do it? Or is his pride just too much?¡± Jackson asked. ¡°He¡¯s in. He may not know it yet, but he¡¯s in.¡± --- Cayden sat on his bed, pondering what he was to do. Being in prison sucked, it really did, but he had to ask himself if he was really going to join the SEA to get out. They would have him doing things that only the big wigs upstairs approve of. If the politicians want him to do something that goes against his principles, he might not be able to do it. ¡°This government agent stuff is a real sham.¡± He leaned back, his hands behind his head, on the bed, where he thought to himself about how much he would just like to have a pizza, to walk free, to avoid any of the other dangerous prisoners, and to just live. He was told in the past that sometimes one must swallow their pride if they want to get further in life. Easier said than done. --- May 17, 2030 ¡°So, what¡¯s it going to be?¡± Margot wasn¡¯t keen on giving Cayden time to wait. She shot him a glare, the type she would always use to put pressure on him. ¡°Fine¡­ have it your way.¡± Cayden said. ¡°I was getting tired of this place anyway.¡± Margot smiled. ¡°Glad you came around.¡± Margot escorted Cayden out of the prison, speaking not a word. Cayden didn¡¯t wish to speak to anyone on his way out, he¡¯s had enough already. They stepped through the gateway and to the parking lot outside, where a black sedan awaited them. In the driver¡¯s seat was an old friend. Cayden wondered if he had anything good to say. ¡°Jackson! Long time no see¡­ I mean, you never paid a visit¡­¡± ¡°Too busy helping people out.¡± Jackson said. ¡°Get inside.¡± Jackson was a large man, African-American and always stayed ripped through intensive training. He was intimidating for many to be around. Cayden took his seat in back, on the passenger¡¯s side. After buckling up, the car sped off, their destination was Manhattan. ¡°I gotta admit,¡± Cayden said as he was leaning back. ¡°If I stayed another minute in that place, I may have gone crazy. Good thing there was a way out.¡± ¡°Good thing.¡± Jackson said. ¡°Remember,¡± Margot said. ¡°Your freedom is on lease. You¡¯re signed onto the SEA to be both a crimefighter and a guide for a team of cadets. If you don¡¯t play by our rules, there¡¯s a nice warm cell waiting for you back at Lincoln.¡± ¡°What a lovely welcome.¡± Out the windows were the sights of the streets. Westchester, located outside of New York City, was a peaceful place. Apart from the prison he was forced to stay in, he couldn¡¯t really complain about it. Once they arrived in Manhattan, Cayden began to feel hungry. His stomach growled, and desired something better than the crap he was forced to eat at prison. ¡°Just wondering, anyone hungry?¡± ¡°Why¡­?¡± Margot asked. ¡°Let¡¯s get some pizza, at Ray¡¯s.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jackson said. ¡°I knew you weren¡¯t going to make it easy.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I just want some food.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Margot said. ¡°We could use this as a chance to catch up on old times. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s going to run away, not from us. Or me, at least.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Jackson said, under his breath. The sedan pulled up to Ray¡¯s. It was an Italian restaurant, one of the greats in New York. Cayden always would stop by here whenever he was in town. Ray¡¯s was a modest place, kept nice and tidy but never looking extravagant. The owners were humble, not wishing to franchise because that would risk losing the quality of the recipe. Of course, there was somewhere around 200 different ''Ray''s'' in New York City, but he was sure he was at the original. They ordered a pepperoni, extra large, and took theirs to eat at a booth. Cayden felt a little saddened, though he didn¡¯t show it, that Margot took her seat next to Jackson, opposite of himself. ¡°Remember when we were in the Paragons, back in the ONI War, we were out in Australia fighting off robots. Remember, Jackson, I saved your ass. Don¡¯t forget that¡­¡± They remained silent. ¡°... Guys?¡± Margot broke the silence. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sure we¡¯d all like to reminisce about the good old days, but we need to focus on the present.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Jackson said. ¡°They gave us a middle ground, and that was what we took. We¡¯re still crimefighters, it¡¯s just time we had accountability for our actions, and legitimacy for what we¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Tell that to the superpowered teens across the world, who have to sign for a draft when they reach eighteen.¡± Cayden said. ¡°That sounds very unfair for them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a perfect solution, but it¡¯s the only one.¡± Jackson said. ¡°Now can you drop it?¡± Margot said. ¡°We just got you back, I¡¯d hate to have to escort you to your cell.¡± ¡°I just can¡¯t help myself.¡± Cayden quietly ate his pizza. It was as delicious as it always was, with the nice and thin crust he loved. One of the simple pleasures in life. Cayden took the chance to look at Margot, who was quietly eating a slice herself. She had long, blonde hair and rich green eyes. There was a point where they all worked in harmony. Cayden missed those days so much. Ten more minutes and they were done. Cayden was stuffed, and satisfied, with his meal. He would¡¯ve left a tip, had he had even a cent in his pocket. Jackson silently covered the pay with his own card, and after they were checked out, they headed out the door. Back in the car again, they drove to the SEA Headquarters. ¡°No more distractions.¡± Jackson calmly said. The rest of the drive was silent. Not even any music on the radio. Cayden kept himself occupied by looking outside, it really was a sight to behold. Being outside prison gave him a new appreciation for all things in life. Better outside than in. And he always considered New York City the most beautiful place to have ever had every inch of it be pissed on at some point. --- SEA Headquarters, Manhattan The SEA Headquarters was located on a man-made island in Lower Manhattan. The government spared no expense when it came to building a base for the paramilitary task force. The island, which was roughly fourteen acres wide, was equal to that of Liberty Island. The base was connected to Manhattan via a bridge, a very long bridge at that. The car approached the bridge, specifically a booth at the entrance. Anyone needing to be there must go through the ID check. Inside the booth was a robot, of a square-like frame and a single blue eye in the center. ¡°ID check required.¡± The robot said. Jackson placed his ID forward, and the robot scanned it. A blue light projected forward from its eye to verify his ID. ¡°Welcome, Brigadier. Have a nice day.¡± The car drove across the bridge. It kind of amazed Cayden that it was all man-made. Looking out the side, he could see Manhattan off in the distance as they were went further and further away. They approached the front gate, which led them to an indoor garage. After parking, the three made their way into the complex itself. The island was not only wide, but tall like many of the mid-sized buildings that can be found in the city. There were crew members surrounding them, and Cayden did his best to pay them no mind. They rode an elevator upwards to the fourth floor. The interior was of a steel color. The room was wide, and in the center was a blue holographic projection of Earth. ¡°Welcome to our HQ.¡± Margot said. ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± Cayden said. ¡°Welcome back.¡± A familiar voice said. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see a familiar face.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± Cayden said. He stepped forward and shook his hand. It was his old teammate, still clad in his costume, known as Justice. ¡°Really, it¡¯s good to have you aboard, and I prefer having friends guide the cadets when possible.¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s gotta do it.¡± Cayden said. ¡°Every single day, there¡¯s supervillains out there doing things they shouldn¡¯t. We¡¯re the line between them and the people, and it¡¯s our duty to keep the next generation ready.¡± ¡°Well, I do see myself fit for the task.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Justice, or Lachlan Calvert, appeared as a man of average height. His hair was brown, his eyes blue, and always looks determined for the next task. His costume was a blue and green suit, a light armor set, ready for any condition. In the center, he had a symbol a stylized ¡®J¡¯. He walked alongside Cayden to the window, with a view of Manhattan¡¯s buildings visible against the orange evening¡¯s sky. ¡°I know how you feel about this.¡± Justice said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t a fan of this either, in fact I still have mixed feelings. But believe me, the alternative was worse.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Save me the ''lesser of two evils'' talk. Let¡¯s get down to business. I¡¯m supposed to be leading a squad of cadets, young heroes, to help them become the next generation¡¯s Paragons. I can get down with that, and I can get down with not going to prison again, either.¡± ¡°Glad you understand your role.¡± ¡°Glad someone¡¯s being nice about it.¡± Cayden said. ¡°Margot and Jackson treat me like an outsider. Last I checked we were on the same team.¡± ¡°Were is the operative word.¡± Margot said as she stepped in. ¡°You broke the law by trying to be a cowboy, because you disagreed with the rules. That¡¯s why you ended up in prison. That said, I believe you can do the right thing, or else I wouldn¡¯t have vouched for you.¡± Justice looked at Margot, appearing somewhat saddened that it¡¯s come this way. ¡°Hummingbird, go easy on him. He¡¯s hardly the only one who acted outside the law to be on their terms. I can understand why, it¡¯s not easy to take in.¡± ¡°But things change. We have to be accountable for our heroics, or else we¡¯re no better than the ones we¡¯re fighting.¡± Cayden hated how this argument came up every time. The truth is, him and Margot were more than crimefighting partners, they were also lovers at one point. Things went south, but Margot still cared for him. Evidently, it was enough to get him out of prison. ¡°So, where are all these cadets I¡¯m supposed to be training?¡± Cayden asked, attempting to change the subject. ¡°You¡¯ll be meeting them in a week.¡± Justice said. ¡°I¡¯d suggest you sharpen up on your skills. It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve handled a bow.¡± ¡°True.¡± Cayden walked away, wanting to explore more of the facility, to see what it had to offer him, and maybe to catch up with other heroes that could be found within the compound itself. Of course, he had a busy week ahead with him having to train with his trusty bow. ¡°Oh, one more thing.¡± Margot said in the distance. ¡°Welcome back, Blindshot.¡± Chapter Two: License Chapter 2 SEA Headquarters, Manhattan May 18, 2030 Three shots. Three hits. Three almost perfect shots. Almost. ¡°Dammit!¡± Cayden was in the training room, making sure his skills were sharp. He knew he would need them. Cayden downed a bottle of water. He was glad that he spent his time in prison keeping in shape, as if anticipating he would need to be. Handling his bow was second nature, but getting back to his highest peak took some getting used to. He may be a great archer at the moment, but he needed to be a superb one. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hard on yourself, man.¡± A voice from behind said. Shawn Harlow, or Mister Dynamic as he was known, was a good friend of his. He was lifting weights, keeping himself in shape like Cayden was. Shawn took a drink from his water bottle, and batted off the sweat from his forehead with a rag. Shawn turned to his friend and patted him on the left shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s not healthy.¡± ¡°I got to be at my best at all times.¡± Cayden said. ¡°I don¡¯t have powers, all I got is me. Almost perfect just isn¡¯t good enough.¡± ¡°That kind of pressure isn¡¯t good for you. Just putting it out there.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say, you actually have powers.¡± ¡°And I can still fall short of perfect.¡± Shawn said. ¡°Anyways, why don¡¯t you take a break for now? Anything you want to do on your first day as a free man? I think you should try it.¡± ¡°I got to sign some papers and hate myself for it later.¡± ¡°Anything you want to do?¡± ¡°Well, I do have a sister in town so¡­¡± ¡°There you go!¡± That much was true. His sister lived in the city, and was actually fairly close to SEA Headquarters when he thought of it. This would be a great time to see her. Cayden waved at Shawn as he left, and hit the showers. Soon he was ready for the rest of the day. Whatever it entailed. It was 1:00 PM, and the sun was shining bright on the Big Apple. He could see it from the outside of his quarters as he sat on his bed. The SEA allowed him a room. There are two floors of bedrooms on both sides, meant for agents to stay away from home. His was plain and empty, hardly remarkable. He didn¡¯t intend to stay long. He thought to himself how he had been out of it for two years. Two years behind bars, no freedom, no interaction with the outside world. It was almost surreal he could walk free again, even if he had to abandon his principles to do it. It was a good time to see his sister. It would be good to do something he liked, before later today, where he had to something he would rather not. Cayden left his quarters, and went down the elevator. It was a large complex, one that wasn¡¯t quickly navigated on foot. He reached the ground floor. Throughout the headquarters, there were numerous heroes and workers there. They paid him little mind, as did he, as they all went about their lives and would prefer to not deviate from them. The front of the headquarters featured a monorail that reached past the end of the bridge and into a station. It was medium-sized, mainly for the workers to be able to go from one end to the other. In this case, he would board the monorail to get into the city, so he could go about paying someone a visit. A quick ride over. It was silent, moving with great efficiency, and he was in the terminal before he knew it. Cayden was the only one inside, which was fine with him. He didn¡¯t care to be bothered by others. A ding, and he was there. Cayden left through the terminal and into the streets of Manhattan. Cayden navigated himself through the crowded sidewalk. He was acquainted just fine, the two years in prison having done nothing to take that away. The familiar sights and sounds were there alright, from the horns honking in the distance, to the chatter among the pedestrians, there was no mistaking her was in New York. Down the streets he went. He continued to walk, minding himself, as he thought only of his destination. Cayden kept his hands in his pockets, and stood up straight. He knew he was getting close. The apartment buildings were just further down the street, right where they always were. Said building was reddish-brown, made of brick, and was old. It was home to his sister, Anne Heller. Cayden went up to the door, and rang the buzzer. A moment passed with no answer. He was worried in that second that Anne wasn¡¯t there. The thought of the trip being a waste didn¡¯t sit right. But then she answered.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hey sis, it¡¯s been a while!¡± ¡°Cayden? Come in!¡± The door was opened, and Cayden quickly made his way inside. He went up the stairs, up three rows of them, before he reached his destination. He remembered her place well enough, it was Apartment 302. Cayden knocked on the door. In a moment, he was greeted by the sight of his sister. ¡°It¡¯s been too long, sis.¡± Cayden said. ¡°You¡¯re telling me. Shouldn¡¯t be out doing something so reckless.¡± ¡°Just can¡¯t help myself.¡± Anne smiled. She had long hair, somewhat unkempt, and had a white T-shirt on over some comfy pants. Clearly she had been relaxing, not expecting her visitor. They took their seats on the sofa. It was a decent place, decent for crazy New York prices at least, with how spacious the living room was. Cayden made himself comfortable, leaning back on the sofa, feeling the instant relief. ¡°Did you bust out of prison just to visit me?¡± Anne asked. ¡°Heh. That actually would be cool, but no. I just sacrificed my core to get out. I¡¯m working with the SEA now.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you against them?¡± ¡°I am. But I¡¯m not left with a choice. I¡¯d rather be a free man than rot in that cell any longer.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you put the bow down and stop crimefighting, think about your future. Of course, we both know that¡¯s not happening.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Anne chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re hopeless.¡± Cayden thought to himself how being a crimefighter was the life he had known. Just something about it that drew him, one thing or another. He felt he had a desire to do good, and fight people at the same time. ¡°What about you?¡± Cayden asked. ¡°Holding up well. Maintaining a career here is a challenge, New York being what it is, but I manage. I¡¯m hoping to start up my business soon. I think it¡¯ll be great to own the store rather than work in it.¡± ¡°Good luck. I¡¯ll be rooting for you every step of the way.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Also, do you have any food? I¡¯m hungry, and strapped¡­¡± ---- Three hours later Cayden waved goodbye before departing from Anne¡¯s apartment. They spent the last few hours catching up on old times, sharing memories of the past, and enjoying each other¡¯s company. Now, he was needed back at the SEA HQ. There was still one last matter of business he had to complete, one that he was dreading. The way back was peaceful. Cayden enjoyed the scenery, allowing him to think. It was better than his cell, where all he had were the same repetitive walls and corridors. New York City was the concrete jungle, but it was a nice adopted home that he called his own. With no particular rush, he returned to the SEA HQ in the same way he left. Soon enough, he arrived. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Cayden said. He went through the long and wide hallways of the HQ. The interior walls were gray and metallic, featuring a dark blue carpet and windows that gave a good view of what was outside. Cayden already knew those windows were likely bulletproof, and everything-proof, considering what the SEA HQ serves to do. Cayden reached the other side, where he entered an elevator. The elevator took him forward, to the northern end of the complex. The SEA HQ, being the massive location that it is practically needed the elevators make traversal an easy task. The elevator itself had windows, and he got a good view of the bay, and New Jersey on the other end. He exhaled. Cayden arrived at his destination. The north, where the registration office is. This is where he was to sign his name, and his information, in exchange for getting his official crimefighter license. It was to be a short process, and one that would cause him disgust. It was something he never wanted to do, but now he must. The crimefighter license was introduced by the Cray Act. By signing his name and personal information to the SEA, which was to be on file for the United States government, he would get his license to fight crime independently of the military or law enforcement. Anyone with a license is a registered crimefighter, and thus can fight criminals and supervillains without prosecution for vigilantism, while also being able to work in synergy with the law itself. They were to answer to the SEA, itself answering to the governing body of the United States, with the understanding that they could be called upon and deployed when needed. They had to abide by a strict code of conduct. A licensed crimefighter could act on their own, and seek out illegal activity to stop as an independent, but there were rules, and they always had to answer to the hierarchy of the organization. It comes with a number of benefits, but Cayden felt the downsides outweighed them. The biggest downside was that it essentially turned the honest and hardworking superheroes of the country into government agents in the pockets of official suits. Cayden always had to be reminded that this was the middle ground. The alternative was that costumed crimefighting would be banned outright. He sighed. Cayden walked through the front of the office and approached the table. In front was a young woman, a brown-haired worker with glasses, who operated a computer. She was a registration agent, those who filled out the form to get the license, to make the process easier for everyone involved. He stood before her, and she took notice. She knew what he was there for. ¡°Welcome sir, here to fill out your registration form to get your license?¡± ¡°Unfortunately.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make this quick. Please just answer the following questions, and you can go about your day.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°What is your full name, birthdate, and place of birth?¡± ¡°Cayden David Heller. March 2nd, 1998. Champaign, Illinois.¡± ¡°What is your codename, species, and power source?¡± ¡°Blindshot. Human. White.¡± ¡°Good news, your old Brooklyn apartment was rented by the SEA for you to stay. I put the address on the form.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± ¡°Now may I please have you signature?¡± Cayden groaned a bit as the agent put forward the paper. He grabbed the nearby pen, and with a moment¡¯s hesitation, he signed his name. That was painful. ¡°Excellent! Welcome to the Superhuman Enforcement Agency. I¡¯m sure your fellow agents are glad you came around.¡± ¡°Can I have my license, please?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± The agent slid the license across the table to Cayden. It was a small white card, comparable to a regular ID, that he would use to identify himself as an approved and legalized crimefighter. It was something that he already hated himself for having. ¡°You actually did it!¡± A voice said in the back. Shawn approached Cayden, clapping his hands and congratulating him for his job well done. Cayden couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t easy, and I know you¡¯re probably hating yourself for it, but really man, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re out here and not¡­ in there. Why don¡¯t I help you move into your old place? We can catch up on old times.¡± ¡°Might as well.¡± Cayden and Shawn left the HQ to get Cayden settled back in his apartment. Cayden hoped that for all the self-loathing he was going through, that his freedom and his ability to fight again would be worth it. Bonus Chapter: Join the SEA Are you an able-bodied superhuman? Do you have the desire to do good for the people, for the world? For decades, since the end of World War II, crimefighting was an unauthorized occupation, one only bound by a code of honor. It was a noble career, yet there was a gray area that it existed in. One filled with uncertainty and unaccountability for one¡¯s own actions. There was no greater need for accountability than in the Crisis. But now, five years after the Cray Act was passed, there exists a new way of doing good for the people. The Superhuman Enforcement Agency, or the SEA, gathers the superpowered, and the unusual, who stand among us, and manages action against all form of meta crime in North America. Every superhuman in the United States, male or female, is to register for the Superhuman Service upon turning eighteen, or a month after their first power manifestation, in case the need for a superhuman aid arises, and the people need all the best possible help. Don¡¯t forget to register! Those who wish to serve as a crimefighter must register with the SEA. There one must attend, and pass, a training regiment located at one of ten academies in the United States. There, you will spend at least eight weeks getting familiarized with your powers and abilities, the law of both the mundane and the super, and maximize your combat potential.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Pass, and you get your license! It comes with many benefits, such as the ability the operate as a crimefighter in an official capacity. And yes, you get paid! One also doesn¡¯t have to be a superhuman in the strictest sense to serve as a crimefighter for the SEA. All with the potential to do good are welcomed in this great family! Remember that power sources are as applicable as the powers themselves. We keep them tracked under an easy color system. See for yourself! In this era we live in, it¡¯s important to remain ever vigilant. We survived because we stood together, and stood strong. Now we stand united, and stronger than ever! If you have the power, if you have the ability, join the SEA. Make a difference, save the world. PSA paid for by President Arthur Whitman.