The Crusaders

Chapter 3: All The President's Supermen

Washington, DC, May 28 2029

Mark cruised through the lower atmosphere as he made his way towards his important meeting. He didn't get summoned to Washington very often, but when he did, he knew that it was for something that required the attention of everyone from the META Project. He sighed, hoping that it wasn't anything too serious.

As he flew towards the centre of DC, he flashed back to the early days of the government initiative known as the META Project, which had been formed shortly after the passing of the Lionel-Addams Act. The president had made a statement, with Megaton at his side, those 3 years ago. "Ladies and gentlemen of the world, today I am announcing the beginning of the META Project, a government draft for all superheroes who have joined the Lionel-Addams Act."

Mark had been standing beside the president on the podium that was just outside the Senate building. "The META Project will allow every hero who has sided with the government to continue their crime-fighting ways, as well as helping out global threats, under the legislation of the United Nations. And today, I have our very first candidate. Many of you know him as one of the greatest heroes to grace this nation, as well as this planet, Megaton."

He remembered the warm, firm grip of the president's hand as several camera flashes went off and the people in the audience clapped, while the pictures and video were being broadcast live around the world. The president had whispered in his ear while they shook hands. "Thank you, son. With this, the world will be a better place." Mark had nodded, but remembered thinking: I hope you're right.

Mark flashed back to the present, then saw the place he had been flying to underneath him. He dropped down gently out of the sky, and landed gracefully on the grassy lawn. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Home to one of the most powerful world leaders. Several Secret Service agents were on him immediately as he landed, and they nodded when they saw him. "Right this way, Megaton. He's expecting you in the Oval Office."

As Mark and the agents walked through the White House, he felt the stares of several people walking past him, which he had gotten used to. Nowadays, he couldn't tell if it was the flashy outfit or the energy that radiated from him anymore. They made it to a door that looked quite small, but Mark knew that in the event of an emergency, it would be covered by a titanium barrier that could withstand an RPG. 

The agent knocked on the door twice, then opened it. Standing behind the desk was a man with light blonde hair that was greying slightly at the edges of his temples, wearing a light blue suit with a dark blue tie, looking out the window into the garden. "Mr. President." One of the agents said, and he turned around. He gave Mark a small smile, and then walked up to him. "Hello there son. Thanks for coming on such short notice."

He reached out his hand and Mark took it, shaking his hand. "No worries, Mr. President. Always ready to assist in any way I can." The president nodded and gave a smile that was identical to the ones he gave at every media event. "That's what I like to hear. Take a seat." Mark complied and sat down on one of the two couches that was in the middle of the room. 

The president walked over to the couch that was across from him, and poured a pot of coffee into a cup. "I always have this delivered to me in the mornings. Fresh from the jungles of Brazil. Always wakes me up. You want any?" Mark shook his head. "No thank you, Mr. President. I already ate." The truth was, he could absorb any energy he needed from the sun or from any source of electricity. But he didn't want to be impolite.

After sipping some of the coffee, the president placed the cup on the table, and then laced his fingers together underneath his chin. "So, the reason we called you is this: as a member of the META Project, you obviously have certain obligations to your country. Even though you're technically an immigrant, you're now the property of the United Nations, and because of that, you're obligated to accept any mission we assign you.