Mod Superhero

Chapter 5.3 - News Break

[Local News Break — 5 o'clock News]

[Camera view of a temporary Belport Bulletin newsroom. Bethany Wonder sits alone at the desk. She's wearing a dark blouse with her blue hair pulled back into a bun. Bethany shuffles her papers before beginning.]

"Belport and the rest of the world are celebrating the first week of peace and rebuilding in the aftermath of humanity's war with the underwater civilization known as the Deep Ones. While our coasts and our cities may be free from attack, there is still a lot of work needed to make them safe to return to.

"This is a reminder from Belport officials that most of the city is not safe to return to. I repeat: Do not try to return to your home unless your district has been given explicit permission to do so. Otherwise, you will be turned away. As of this broadcast, the only districts that are okay to return are listed at the bottom of your screen."

[Several districts scroll across. All are located along the Northern edge of the city. The Heights is one such district cleared for return.]

"Even though the tide has receded, it's left untold damage in its wake. Even if a building avoided direct combat, flood waters have wreaked havoc on lower floors and, in some cases, even threatened the foundation. Reconstruction efforts are already underway throughout the city, but officials are already talking about delays due to lack of materials and manpower. Right now, officials are prioritizing critical infrastructure, roads, and services. Some critical businesses have also been given authorization to enter the city, Aquarius and Gnosis among them. Employees in those companies should stay on the lookout for updates from their employers.

"With so much of the city's infrastructure affected, estimates of the damage are still unclear. Thankfully, a few trailblazing companies and enterprising members of the Summit of Heroes have stepped up to help humanity rebuild.

"We go live now to a joint session between the government of the Allied States, the Summit of Heroes, and the Binary Brotherhood, where they're going to discuss the additional help required to rebuild our beloved country."

~ ~

[Camera view of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. A large crowd is gathered outside, most of which are holding signs. The group is agitated, but overall peaceful. A mix of Capitol Police, National Guard, DSA officers, and Summit capes are present. Two large mechs flank the entryway. They are bipedal, with a dome instead of a head, and are covered in armor. The word, Brotherhood, is written across their chest.

[Most signs are unreadable from a distance, but the camera zooms in on several, including: "Pay for your damage" and another that says "power to the people, not supers".

[Camera view changes to the Hall of the House inside the Capitol Building. Officials from the government and the Division of Superhuman Affairs mingle while they wait for the address to start. Ranking members of the Summit and the Binary Brotherhood stand behind the podium.]

[Ocean Guardian, Amarque, and Midas are representing the Summit of Heroes. Ocean Guardian and Amarque stand to either side of the speaker's podium. All three men tower over the rest of the room.

[Ocean Guardian is the most dramatic-looking of the three. He stands head and shoulders above even his fellow heroes. He wears a suit of shimmering blue armor that looks sleek and medieval, except that it appears to be made from bone and scales. His trident is made from the same shimmering material. Perhaps because of the recent war, Ocean Guardian holds his helmet under his arm, and maintains a stoic expression. His skin is a deep bronze and his head and face are bald.

[In contrast, Amarque isn't shy. He waves and flashes several smiles with the look and confidence of a movie star. His suit and tie match the deep purple of his superhero outfit.