“How many have we gathered?” I questioned Mr. Jenkings who sat before me quivering.

We were in my office, my fortress of solitude if you so wished to call it that. The room was reinforced to a point where it hinged on paranoia. The primary defenses were the mercenaries that milled around the facilities and the alloy re-enforced walls that costed an arm and a leg. Well not my arm and leg per se, that poor chap was living in Puerto Rico right now. Even if anyone or anything capable enough to get past those and the defense protocols they had to deal with yours truly. And no one lived long enough to boast about that.

“Just a moment sir” Mr.Jenkings stammered as he dropped the files containing the pertinent information.

I picked a stray hair off the hem of my suit as I waited, there was no reason not to be productive while he wasted my time. And time meant money. But if anything I was a patient man, one of the few virtues that he possessed. Although he made up for the small number for all the sins he held in his heart.

Mr. Jenkings finally got his shit together “Taking account of all the survivors, than the ones that went insane, the ones that committed suicide and the few who went comatose we have acquired a few dozen,” He rattled off.

Looking impassive I sighed inwardly in relief. It had taken a magnitude of resources and time to acquire Supers powerful enough and loyal enough to the cause to serve before me. Subterfuge was not the lucrative business many thought it was.

“And do you believe that to be satisfactory numbers?” I asked with a subtle drop in my voice.

I was pleased with his work, I was. Planning and execution of both finding and convincing capable Supers was an extraordinary task. But, I had to bust his balls a little bit. Nothing motivates you to do your best work like the threat of dismemberment.

“No sir, I guarantee the next batch will be nothing less than a small army” Mr.Jenkings stuttered obviously afraid of what will undergo if unsuccessful in appeasing me.

I raised an eyebrow at him, a trick that took many months of arduous training to obtain.

“A large army sir” He stammered now staring at the bobbling bobblehead at the forefront of my desk.

“Good, widen the Sensor’s perimeter for more chances of finding anyone else later on” I ordered as I stood up from my leather bound chair on wheels.

“Right away sir,” He said while dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief.

It was time to personally meet the recruits, I, of course, had to intervene to… persuade some of the more reluctant Supers to join. Finally, the time had arrived. I wiped my palms on my silky smooth pantaloons before opening the door and walking through it. As expected Mr.Jenkings followed like the tool he was, if only he took initiative more often… But a wrench is a wrench no matter the nail.

“Are all the recruits in the Armory?”

The armory was a room the size of a school’s cafeteria and was one of the few places as well guarded as my office. It was so deftly guarded due to the stockpile of resources, battle suits, and weapons that could take out a large town if needed. Or wanted to, it’s been a while since I destroyed a small town. A man has needs.

We quickly moved past the kitchen the aromas of freshly spiced pizza’s wafting through the door. Past the grunts and the forever sweat-stained smelling mats of the training room. Past the storage room holding wealth that would make even Kings albeit small ones to blush, to finally great the first line of defense to the Armory.

“Hey Karen, how’s the kids,” I said with a charming smile.

She sat behind what many would think is a reception desk, and they would be right. Except she was not a standard receptionist.

“They’re growing up so fast! Little Timmy is already showing signs of his power manifesting” She said proudly.

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Karen was one of the first people to partner up with me, a poor daughter of a deadbeat farmer she really was a rag to riches story in the flesh. I knew her then, and of the influence, she possessed, even if she didn’t know it. Back then I sort of understood her, my dad was never around and when he was he wasn’t the most loving fathers. But he did shape me into what I am today, for I am thankful as well as the world will be.

When the unexpected death of her dad arose I sprung to the opportunity like my dad always taught to. She was a Super with a silver tongue, and I was always careful in how I twisted my way into her life. Making it seem like I was the one who was in control, I was the one to be trusted.

“He’s gonna be a real powerhouse like his mother!” I said while I contorted my face in a veil of cheerfulness.

“Mind if we come to gather up the new recruits?” I asked her.

That was also a little trick, make them think they are being useful by doing things that would’ve happened if I hadn’t asked. Makes them feel important.

“Anything for you” She answered with a chuckle.

It’s like taking baby’s from a candy store.

Tapping the desk twice in acknowledgment, after hitting some invisible code onto her computer the alloy-reinforced door slid into the wall and we strutted inside to a smaller room. The second layer the ever delicious and expense cake of defense.

After the finger scan, the retinal scan, and the hidden ear scan both Mr. Jenkings and I passed through without the gas chambers releasing poison into the room dooming them to their deaths. Well, Mr. Jenkings at least.

“Stop shaking so much, if they think you’re gonna piss your pants they’re going to eat you alive,” I commented before opening the door to the Armory.

“Sorry Sir” he apologized.

“Don’t be sorry, just correct yourself from now on”

A concoction of people greeted me, men of varying ages milled about getting ready in their own fashion. I surveyed the room, none of them noticing our presence a mistake that I will have to ingrain in them.

A large group of strongmen and presumably other physical based Supers stretched on one side of the room. A few men were grabbing rifles and ammunition stocking up on as much firepower as they could possibly handle, like children in a toy store. A very violent toy store.

The other half were quite the opposite. Most were cackling with energy, crafted or natural. Stretching their metaphorical muscle as they warmed themselves up, others were doing odd chanting or creating a suit of armor or weapons for themselves using their own elements. Others were simply sitting down and talking amongst each other like it was some kind of slumber party.

The room was filled to the brim with explosive and nervous energy, if even one person made the wrong move all hell would break loose. A prideful man will never back down from a fight and in these close quarters, tension could quickly rise.

Time to show them who’s boss “Line up” I commended neither yelling nor whispering letting my words flow throughout the room.

Instantly those who I… worked with sprung to the front if ever so shaking. The rest apparently thought themselves too good to obey commands so quickly. Too powerful. Oho, they haven’t felt real power yet.

My aura sprung from within, an invisible to only select few who could notice such a thing. All my greatest terrors, my nightmares, radiated off of me to each man instilling them with such a pronounced sense of misery that those subjected over a period of time crumbled into madness. Or that’s what they tell me, as I’m not personally affected.

Charcoal waves crashed and rippled away from me, a storm of shade reflecting the nature of my most inner emotions. All but locked away untill called upon. Even the most willful of men couldn’t stand against the raging torrent. In only a few more seconds the rest fell into place.

The sound of flesh hitting floor awoke me from my stupor as I noticed Mr. Jenkings was a sniffling mess on the floor. Rolling my eyes I lessened my aura to a manageable level to let him recover. How embarrassing for a grown man a decade my senior whimpering on the ground.

Ignoring him I strode to the front of the men, only two feet away I slowly began to walk past them inspecting them. These were the men that would help me achieve the heavens, perhaps a champagne bottle was needed for tonight.

“Each and every one of you from now on is a soldier. And I am your general, when I speak you listen, when I attack you support, when I lead… you follow” As I spoke I made note of each and every facial and body expression.

Each and every one of them had to sacrifice something to be here today, some lost their integrity when accepted a bribe, some lost their innocence when they had to watch a loved one die, some lost everything. The men who lost everything were the most prideful, and the most dominant of the group. They thought they could prevail where others faltered.

After their hands were soaked in the blood of their loved ones with nothing to lose and everything to gain they like the others were tempted. And those who are tempted by the devil may never receive forgiveness.

“From now on you will work together, together we will write history, separated we are but a mere ant to be stepped on by the giant that is the Heroes. If by tonight we are successful you will all be rewarded” I went on.

Their faces all brightened at the possibility of a reward, everyone needs an incentive and sometimes the satisfaction of an honest days work isn’t enough for some people.

“Stand tall, look sharp, for what we are on the outsides reflects our insides. We leave soon, suit up!” After that command, I reeled in the aura back inside me locking it up, for I do not need to be too fiery.

I need to be cold.