H.E.R.O: Let's go, HERO

Chapter One: He's not a Good Man

Niles Goodman tapped his foot irritably as he waited for the elevator. He did his best to ignore the others in the old office building as they dutifully went about their business of pushing papers and wasting time around the water cooler. Blockheads, the lot of them, and the fact he had to mingle with them was utterly degrading. He couldn't stand the very scent of them, wanting to go home right then and there and take a nice, warm bubble bath. But in time, he would get his due. Soon, he would be running with the big dogs and not having to fiddle with all this tomfoolery and nonsense. Yes, how he pined for that day.

Finally, the door opened, and he stepped inside, ensuring the door shut in time that he would be alone, though it did momentarily clamp on a receptionists foot, causing her to shriek as she dropped her papers in a scattering mess.

"Next time take the stairs, you senseless twit." he snapped as the doors shut.

Once the doors were shut and he was left to his lonesome, Niles looked to the numerous buttons and proceeded to press a number of them in sequence. A section of the wall opened, revealing an eye scanner. He took off his classes and peered into it, letting the red light scan his pupil before flashing green. The elevator cranked to life as he started to descend down, down, down deep into the complex and beyond. When the doors finally opened, he was greeted by the much more welcome polished entryway of the lower labs. He had to hand it to Omnitech, they really knew how to give a good first impression. It was like walking into the halls of Mount Olympus complete with marble columns and porcelain fountains depicting powerful figures from Attila the Hun to Albert Einstein. A pair of secretaries joined him at his heels, helping him disrobe his garish urban camouflage in favor of his more fitting vestments of his black and forest green uniform with the Omnitech logo on his lapel. It always made him feel like he was breaking from a cocoon of mediocrity and embraced his inner superiority made only better by the respectful nods and motions of affirmation by the lowly staff.

He made his way into the main control room where a number of grunts in white lab coats were busily working at monitors and evaluating projects currently in operation, but there was one in his personal mind, his magnum opus which would elevate him to the upper echelons of the company: Project Genus. With technology that could only be described to the common man as techno sorcery, as well as proper candidates selected through careful study of school records and various other organizations, they could create super soldiers of varying powers and abilities. This was what The Madam appreciated more than anything, and he was on the cusp of giving her everything she wanted, which would give him everything he could ever want.

"Dobs, my good man!" Niles declared as he made way over to a nearby tech, making the poor creature jump. "A fine day to you, friend. Tell me the good news. Are we ready to present the fruits of our labor? The wine has already been chilled, and I've even stretched for caviar. The real kind this time."

The tech turned to face him, his face mired in a dour expression.

"Well, sir, if you want the exact numbers, we're currently at a hundred years until something worthwhile appears. So you might wanna keep the wine on ice and ditch the caviar. I know you buy cheap, anyhow."

All of Niles' joviality turned into bloodlust as he snatched the man up from his seat, giving him a shake.

"What in thunder are you talking about?! We've been at this for six years now! How could you not have anything yet?"

"The reason is rather simple."

Niles sneered as a woman with asymmetrical hair that covered her right eye. She was wearing triangular glances that stuck out at a point, and the shoulders of her uniform were likewise pointed. This was Annalise, his quote unquote equal and chief of finances for the various projects they undertook. She was also the bane of his existence and the cause of numerous migraines.