PACHELBEL’S PILOT - I.d.

It didn't really take much time to end up where he was assigned to arrive, and the doors opened to the hustle and bustle of the higher floors within the agency.

Eric stepped forward and looked to and fro, the man clearly an anomaly amid the crowd of adults that seemed too busy themselves with each moment and the minuscule of their jobs.

Large windows allow natural light to cascade into the space, creating a pleasant ambiance enhanced by the presence of scattered plants. The towering structures around him showcase ingenious space utilization, a hallmark of the office's design. An open-air plan further underscored the agency's commitment to a unique and efficient workspace.

As Eric surveyed the area, his attention was drawn upward to the towering structures and the crawling spaces adjacent to them. The office's integrity and innovation leave a lasting impression.

Eric spots a distinguished man in his sixties— the manager, the aged stripes of his tailored suit intricate and befitting of his status. Miracle Woman, the Amazonian warrior, stood nearby to full attention.

She strutted past Eric once his superior gave the nod. He winced indiscreetly, finding himself captivated by the older man's cherubic face and calm aura.

“Hello, I am Mr. Reynolds, and you'll be reporting to me on operations— preventing metahuman criminals from wreaking havoc on the city.”

Eric gave pause, denoting the metallic hand that had been presented. The palm had a patchwork-like adhesion, where hair-like machinery ran adjacent to skin at multiple points. It extended seamlessly into the muscular build of the man himself.

Eric greeted him with both hands, his eyes inadvertently straying from earlier.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Reynolds. It's an honor, really. But aren't we supposed to stop criminals rather than prevent what we can't predict?”

The older man's slinked firmly behind his back, preferring the youngster's full, undivided attention towards a nearby hologram instead.

"Are you familiar with the word 'forecast,' Mr. Rogers?"

Eric, nervous, pondered the term, "Like the weather report on the Sun Gazette?"

"Yes, something like that. We predict potential threats to the city. As you can see, we have one of those threats here."

Eric's gaze sharpened, intrigued. “What 'threat' are you referring to, Mr. Reynolds?”

"The man known as Jax Tudor."

Eric was taken aback, almost choking on his spit. The elder continued.

"Mr. Tudor is a well-known crook. We always have a contingency plan. We're going to stop him before he starts World War III."

Eric's eyes widened in shock. "Was that supposed to be a joke, sir?"

Mr. Reynolds's smile faded, staring ahead to where the superhero had already left.

"We can only wait and see. For now, let me give you the much-needed tour. Come with me, Mr. Rogers."

The older man rose gracefully from an empty desk, extending a guiding hand to Eric as they traverse the corridor.

The duo passed by numerous offices and cubicles, each housing a team of specialists dedicated to various facets of the new world of law enforcement.

In this hub of collective effort, it's evident that more than just the police force contributes to the city's safety.

“As you may come to suspect, here in the Heroes Initiative Agency, we've been able to put most of our resources toward stopping villains. Whether through the police or superheroes like ours, we're prepared to keep Electropolis safe.” The manager's voice, softer yet brimming with confidence, filled the hallway. The distant hum of people working echoed around them still.

"What do you mean, sir? How could we stop these villains before they wreak havoc?"

Eric's tone revealed a childlike curiosity, eager to impress the adult within an all-too-familiar domain.

"Heroes are everywhere. Prevalent. Ubiquitous. All-encompassing, even. You may have seen the Solarman signage on your way here- or maybe even a Emerald Warden logo. Well, you must have noticed a common theme throughout this agency—the symbol that is the heart and soul of everything we are trying to accomplish."

They arrived at an empty desk, and Mr. Reynolds took another seat.

"A hero is what makes this world work—whether through their actions, their words, or their example."

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