Travis feet dangle off the end of the examination table, tapping through the boredom. He's been sitting in this room for 10 minutes, waiting for his test results. He usually makes it a point to visit the herologist as infrequently as possible, but this trip was mandated by The Hero Project to clear him for continued participation in the show.
Which is totally worth it, since The Hero Project has become the biggest smash-hit television has seen in years.
The first episode of The Hero Project premiered a couple months ago to unprecedented ratings—it was estimated that the show brought in some 70 million viewers across all platforms. Ratings estimates inflated after a new system (one that actually accounts for more than just archaic live TV watching) was developed, but even still, a single 3V show hasn't unified viewers like this in a very long time.
As such, The Hero Project has become a bonafide cultural phenomenon—and has helped lower the overall levels of anti-Powered sentiment in the country.
After he finished filming the Semi-Finals, he went into a holding pattern—a rather excruciating one, at that. He were told it would be two months before the pre-taped episodes starting airing, which would feature the initial casting interviews through the three rounds of the Semi-Finals. Even though that process only took one day of filming, the show is stretching the footage into two full months of programming.
So he's been cooling his heels for four months, laying as low as possible. Contractually, he's obligated to not do anything that will "jeopardize his chances of entering the Final Selection." More importantly, he's been expressly forbidden from telling another living soul that he even made the Final Selection—unless he wants to be sued for millions of dollars for breach of contract.
After the rigors of the competition and the flare-ups with his Unique Powers, he wanted to make sure he is prepared as possible moving into the Final Selection.
Of course, he also watched and rewatched all seven episodes—but he haven't actually been featured in a single one. Despite all the interviews and the cameras capturing his interactions, not a shred of footage about him has aired. Even the Semi-Final episodes chronicling Rounds One and Two haven't featured him, save for the occasional glimpse in the background.
There's one last Semi-Final episode airing tonight and he really hopes he make an appearance in it…otherwise he won't be too hopeful about advancing through the Final Selection.
As for his competition, even though he scored a Gilded Key, he weren't able to see the other fourteen heroes who also did. The only ones he's sure of are the heroes he saw get Keys with his own eyes.
Jenny is coming over tonight to watch the last Semi-Final episode, where The Hero Project will reveal who the fifteen Key holders are.
After tonight's Semi-Final episode, he is scheduled to film the last pre-taped episode tomorrow night, The Final Selection. He doesn't know much about the Final Selection—he's just been told it will be a fancy party where they'll reveal the secret panel of judges and announce the Finalists who will move on to the Live Finals.
He also been told that the arena challenge was just for the Semi-Final—-the challenges in the Live Finals will be devoted to fighting real-world threats. He is happy to hear this show won't just be heroes beating each other up—and that The Hero Project aims to achieve some real good.
The herologist finally enters and Travis instinctively stiffens—something about Herologists has always creeped him out. It's probably because they have to wear specially-made protective suits that help them treat a variety of Powered types. But the sterilized latex and plastic, topped off with a glass face mask, always made them seem like some kind of terrifying childhood monsters to him….
"Thanks for waiting, Travis," the Herologist says, taking a seat across from him and pulling up his files on her H-Chip. "We've done a full workup of your Powers, Unique included."
Travis nods, knowing that this Herologist is one of the few who specialize in analyzing Unique Powers. Powered individuals with Unique-Class Powers have been around for generations, but scientists didn't differentiate these Power Levels into a separate class until recently. There's still a lot Herologists don't understand about Unique Powers—they haven't quite worked out how this Power-leap happens to certain individuals, or why these Powers tend to interface oddly with technology during the early stages of development.
Despite all this, Travis is still hoping that the Herologist has some new things to tell him….
"Here's what we found," The Herologist starts.
"Your Power to generate and manipulate energy didn't come out of thin air—all the while it was just the tip of the iceberg. As it turns out, you are capable of toying with atoms and causing the tiniest beginnings of nuclear fission, a reaction that, even on the most minuscule scale, generates enough energy to wield in the ways you are used to."
"If you continue to hone your atom Powers, the magnitude of your fission generation will increase exponentially, allowing you to wield massive amounts of energy. In fact, it may even be within the realm of possibility that you can one day achieve full fission—or, dare I even say, fusion. However, the radioactive fallout of such an event would be deadly."
The Herologist pauses, looking almost giddy.
"The idea that a single individual could create a nuclear fusion event is unprecedented. Such a talent could be used for tremendous good. Or, obviously, tremendous destruction."
Travis have no idea what to say. After all, what is there to say when someone tells him that he's essentially a walking nuclear bomb?
"Additionally, you've always had the Power to fly, but this was actually a limited use of your ability to control gravity. This Power, compared to your atomics, is less costly and significantly less dangerous. Of course, you will have to be careful, since you are disrupting the laws of physics, after all."
"With enough training, you should be able to disrupt the gravity fields of larger and larger objects, making them heavier or weightless at your discretion. The magnitude of your potential disruption is limitless—if you hone these Powers, theoretically, you could move something the size of the moon, someday."
"But it's important you know that there are risks. Unique-Class Powers take an extremely long time to harness. It will require years of proper training to fully master these Powers—otherwise, you could cause untold harm to yourself and others. There's just so much we don't know yet, so in this initial transition time, it is crucial to take things easy."
"It's also vitally important you understand that humans have never wielded this much Power before. And you know what they say about absolute power—it corrupts absolutely. There are dozens of examples of these Unique Powers driving people insane."
Travis mind reels—if he keeps honing his abilities, someday he'll have the Power to shatter worlds. Planets and nuclear holocausts would become his playthings. Part of this thrills him, but part of it terrifies him…what happens to a person gifted with that much power?
"Taking all of this into account," the Herologist finishes, "I have to recommend that you not take part in The Hero Project at this time."
"Excuse me?" Travis blurted out.
"Given this early stage in your Unique development and the impending stress of a competition like this, plus the public exposure given current sentiment towards Unique Powereds, I think it will be generally unsafe for you to enter."
Travis stares at the Herologist, not even sure where to begin processing this news.
"What if I promise to only use my original Powers?" Travis ask.
"Unfortunately, that's going to become harder and harder the more your Unique Powers develop."
"So you're blocking me from entering the Final Selection?" Travis ask.
The Herologist pauses, taking a deep breath.
"Unfortunately, I don't have that ability. There isn't enough legislation regarding Unique-Class Powereds stating otherwise, at least not yet. Though you can bet that will change if Mayor Victon wins the election…."
The Herologist gets a wistful look for a moment, at this prospect. Which, admittedly, is becoming more of a real possibility with every passing month.
Mayor Victon spent the summer on the campaign trail as the Constitutive presumptive nominee, until he was announced as the official presidential candidate at the Constitutive Convention. Now he's campaigning twice as hard, preparing for the upcoming national debates.
Additionally, Victon has become less and less concerned with hiding the connection his campaign shares to The Meek movement, which has risen to become his most vocal supporter.
All of this makes Travis very wary—not only as a public Unique figure, but as someone who has been threatened pretty directly by Victon. He knows that someday he'll have to find a way to deal with him, but he also know there's not much to be done in his current position… yet.
"Anyway," the Herologist says, pulling Travis back to reality, "I can only recommend to you that you not move forward with The Hero Project. However, the producers have already decided that you have cleared the necessary tests in a manner that is satisfactory to the network."
"So what are you saying?" Travis ask. Why would the producers let him onto the show if he pose such a risk? Unless that's exactly what they're banking on….
"I suppose I'm saying that, no matter what my advice is, the choice about whether to risk going on with The Hero Project is entirely up to you."
It appears he has an important decision to make about his involvement with The Hero Project, assuming he even make it through the Final Selection in the first place.
And either way, he have a lot to think about regarding his Unique Powers.