Protectors- Consequence

Chapter Twenty Six: Broken and Unbreakable

The media did what it had always done best, seizing an opportunity to cause fear and panic that would bring the people back to them, looking for any chance of an answer they want. Noctum's announcements were twisted and turned, forced into the minds of the people by a constant barrage of articles and news stories, but even as the people thought they were original as they despised and protested against the very existence of Adam Oughton, whom they believed was the only superhuman on the planet, and even as old footage of a news stream where Adam was revealed in the past, people failed to realise that they had played right into the vigilante's hands. The SD was immediately disbanded, Simon moving stealthily into retirement alongside all of the agents as the United Nations created their own anti-Noctum divisions. For the first time, the whole world, regardless of nationality or religion, was fully united. Wars and divisions were set aside almost before anyone had realised it. And amidst all of the newfound unity between feuding nations was a sense of camaraderie, a true belief that Noctum was an absolute threat to the stability and lifestyles of everyone across the globe. It only took a single day for this to happen, as the sheer terror of having a man like this exist set the world ablaze.

None of these had happened as Adam Oughton stepped from the news building, just to find himself surrounded with enhanced SD agents, at least a dozen guns trained on his heart,

"Adam Oughton," Simon grimaced, as if he did not want to be doing what he was doing, "you are under arrest for crimes against humanity. War crimes, first degree murder, aggravated assault..."

Simon took a good minute to fully list off all of Noctum's crimes, and as Adam looked upwards, the news chopper that circled above him zoomed in on his face, grinning with a hellish anger. Adam turned to Simon, his eyes locked on to his former ally's,

"No."

It was a single word, but it was punctuated with the force of the step he took towards Simon, the ground cracking with his footsteps,

"I am going to put an end to the people of this world," Noctum spoke into the camera, "because I am the villain, and I am always going to be the villain,"

He took off into the sky, purposely flying away from the news building as a hail of bullets struck him. He was unbreakable, his skin repelling the projectiles better than the strongest tank, but he was broken inside, and he knew something better than anything else. For a moment there, when the virus was destroying his innards, Adam Oughton had come to a realisation. He knew that he was going to die.

Spirit threw Adam to the ground the moment they were out of the range of prying eyes. Purple energy held him there as the rest of the Protectors landed around Adam,

"What the fuck was that?" She demanded, "you just said all that shit without talking to us first!"

"I-"

"No, shut the hell up!" Shaine bellowed, flushed with agitation, "what could have possibly made you think that this was a good idea?"

"My-"

"You!" The three began to shout incoherently at him as Draedon looked on wearily, his near-human face almost uncanny,

"Guys," Adam spoke quietly, but his voice carried over theirs, "I've convinced the entire world to unite, achieved global peace, and bought you normal lives,"

"And what are you planning on doing when those aliens arrive any day now?"

"I'll do what I usually do. Take them down,"

Adam stood steadily, brushing himself off. 

The very next day, Adam was attacked in his apartment by armed police and taken to a court. They had him handcuffed, and although he knew it was just a tool to make the people feel safe, he knew that it would be simple to break free and put an end to everyone if he so wished. They placed him in a cage, in the centre of the courtroom, sending millions of volts of electricity through the bars in case he tried to escape, something that could be avoided by simply using his Aura. The judge gazed down upon him, an old, grumpy looking lady with scraggly grey hair partially tied back in a bun,