An Address to the World
“My fellow Americans, it is with a heavy heart that I address you today in the wake of an unprecedented tragedy that has befallen our great nation. On this somber day, a villainous act of terrorism has struck at the very heart of our beloved city, New York. The senseless bombing that has claimed innocent lives and caused immense destruction is a stark reminder of the threats we face in these challenging times.
“This afternoon, a malicious individual with superhuman abilities unleashed a devastating attack on the bustling streets of New York City. The villain, whose identity remains unknown at this time, detonated a powerful explosive device in the heart of the city, causing widespread chaos and destruction.
“The brave men and women of our emergency services rushed to the scene, risking their own lives to save others. Their swift actions and unwavering dedication have undoubtedly saved countless lives, and we owe them an immense debt of gratitude. The resilience and unity displayed by the people of New York in the face of this tragedy have been nothing short of remarkable.
“In light of this heinous attack and the grave threat posed by individuals with superhuman abilities, I am hereby declaring a national emergency. This declaration will allow us to mobilize all necessary resources and take decisive action to protect our citizens and safeguard our nation from further harm.
“We will not rest until those responsible for this atrocity are brought to justice. Our law enforcement agencies, in collaboration with our intelligence community, are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend the perpetrator of this vile act. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that this villain faces the full force of the law.
“The attack on New York has exposed the urgent need for comprehensive legislation to address the unique challenges posed by individuals with superhuman abilities. Today, I am announcing a series of new laws that will be implemented immediately to ensure the safety and security of our nation. Congress and I have realized that much more needs to be done and will be done to protect those with no power to protect themselves.
“Effective immediately, all individuals with superhuman abilities will be required to register with the government. This registration process will allow us to maintain a comprehensive database of individuals with extraordinary powers, enabling us to better understand and monitor their activities. Failure to comply with this mandatory registration will result in severe legal consequences. Those already registered with the government have been added.
“To prevent future attacks and ensure the safety of our citizens, we will be implementing enhanced surveillance and monitoring measures targeting individuals with superhuman abilities. This will include increased intelligence gathering, advanced tracking technologies, and expanded law enforcement capabilities. We will work closely with our allies and partners around the world to share information and coordinate our efforts. Those superhumans who are already connected to our governmental efforts are encouraged to help keep our cities and our countries safe.
“We will be introducing strict regulations governing the use of superhuman abilities. These regulations will include limitations on the use of powers in public spaces, mandatory training and certification programs, and severe penalties for those who abuse their abilities or engage in criminal activities. We will not tolerate the use of superhuman powers to harm innocent civilians or threaten our national security. They are weapons and will be treated as such.
“In this time of crisis, it is essential that we stand united as a nation. The attack on New York was an attack on all of us, regardless of our background or beliefs. We must not allow fear and division to take hold, for that is precisely what the perpetrators of this atrocity seek to achieve.
“I call upon every American to remain vigilant, to look out for one another, and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities. Together, we will overcome this dark chapter in our history and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more united than ever before.
“To the people of New York, know that your country stands with you. We share your grief, your pain, and your determination to rebuild. The indomitable spirit of New York has inspired the nation time and time again, and I do not doubt that you will rise from this tragedy with unwavering resolve.
“My fellow Americans, the road ahead will not be easy, but I have faith in the strength and resilience of our great nation. We have faced countless challenges throughout our history and have always emerged victorious. This time will be no different. We will not be intimidated by those who seek to sow fear and chaos. We will not be divided by hatred and intolerance. We will stand together, united in our commitment to justice, freedom, and the enduring values that define us as Americans.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“May God bless the victims of this tragedy, may He grant strength to their families, and may He continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you, and may God bless you all.”
“And now back to our reg…” The newscaster started saying before someone shut off the TV.
I looked over at them, but the speedster just shrugged. “Nothing else worth watching now.”
“The news is just going to cover what we already know,” said Tremors.
“And what is that? Because the other options are games and some of you cheat at that,” said Plantress.
“That the events yesterday were a tragedy and that some people hate us,” said Tremors, “and some of them are rich and or powerful.”
“Same old. Same old,” said the speedster. “The government will fearmonger about something they barely understand and can’t take full control of or advantage of. At least we have a job out of it. And if worse comes to worse we can always run away. Can’t we sis?”
I frowned at him. “Don’t call me sis. I am not your sister or your friend. We are coworkers and that is it.”
“Point is. What are they going to do? They can’t kill all of us. They can’t find most of us. Unless they have your ugly mug.” He tapped Tremor's cheek before returning to his spot. He tripped as he found his footing again.
“The superhuman registry is unfortunately going to be worldwide. Once the United Nations goes through with it that is,” I responded. “And they will go through with it, especially after yesterday and the build-up in power we’ve gained. Nearly everywhere has its own super team or its city hero. You might escape it for a while, but we’ve been thoroughly documented.”
“The way I see it now, we are lucky to have private identities,” said Plantress. “Tech companies have so much shit on us at this point. You think these simple masks are doing anything for them. A decent private investigator would figure up that our job in the Bureau of Land Management is not a real thing and that the only coworkers we have also seem to have suspicious schedules. I just wonder how much they are paying them off to keep us happy.”
“At least this is a private registry, and you don’t have your real identities exposed,” said Tremors. “Not everyone starts out in control of their powers or how they manifest themselves.”
“I think you could have prevented yourself from tearing off the other quarterback’s leg during your game bud,” said the speedster.
“As opposed to being found out because you didn’t care about high-frame cameras. At least the government was able to grab and delete that video before you did anything more stupid.”
“Tremor’s kind of right, but enough do have that control of their powers,” I interrupted before the argument could grow further. “They currently don’t have any way to track most of us down that don’t have external mutations or break someone’s leg,” I said quietly.
“Not yet, but they will,” said Plantress. “I have helped them track down several potential members of the government’s superhuman task squad. It may take time but superhumans can be found among the population, especially by other superhumans.”
“Don’t remind me,” said the speedster. “Boss found me on what was supposed to be my off day in the land where dreams are made true and pulled me into an assignment as punishment.”
“He was right to do so,” I responded. “You didn’t pay to enter.”
“Oh, please. You have for sure gone somewhere you weren’t supposed to before. It is half the fun of having movement-related powers. Or doing something you shouldn’t.”
“If I have then I have never been caught,” I said eyeing him. “Maybe you need to get better.”
He stuck his tongue out and turned the TV back on with it muted at least. The newscasters were discussing ‘the attack’ or ‘the crater’ or ‘the tragedy’. No one was sure what to call it. The world had frankly been hurtling toward it for some time ever since superhumans became a common occurrence. Some were estimating that superhumans made up close to one percent of the population and it was growing. A few would have their powers known right away through their looks while others had a more explosive start to their superpowers.
I reflected on my powers and when I gained them. Lucky was an understatement. I had teleported while alone but almost died because of it. If my panicked self hadn’t immediately teleported back to my bed, then I would have died. It was a pain to clean after. Though I learned a lot, I guess that comes with pushing your limits and almost dying.
This week was turning into a mess, and I expected that the next time I got interviewed by a reporter or they tried to then they would ask about the crater. I hated the news and social media. I blinked away when I could. They couldn’t bug me if they couldn’t find me.
The door to our break room slid open. A man in a suit entered with a file of papers. He looked us over. “I’ve got your day’s duties here. Tremors and Speedy are back at the crater. Plantress and Blink you will head to the Great Lakes. Someone or something is making them quite nasty.”
“Any other details,” I asked.
“Report to the police in the city and find out the details. I don’t have everything for you.”
“Let’s get going,” said Plantress. She jumped up to my side. “I’ve been binging this new show and I’m dying to get back to it tonight.”
“Hopefully it will be over with soon,” I replied.
I took the files from the agent. My mask automatically scanned the paper as I looked at it. I flipped through them quickly and let the chip highlight the most relevant data and summarize the rest. With a location in mind, I started the journey to the Great Lakes.