CHAPTER 11 — "Bureau of Control"
1. THE SUMMONS
08:00 AM — Washington, D.C., Federal Security Complex
The vast marble atrium of the National Defense Directorate was overflowing.
Reporters shouted, cameras flashed. Lines of armed guards corridored the entrance. Beyond them, metahumans stood grouped in silent vigil—some confident, some visibly anxious, others unreadable.
A digital screen displayed:
🟡 "Welcome to A.M.C.U. Preliminary Registration and Threat Assessment Station."
🔴 "Failure to cooperate carries a Class-1 Federal Offense."
Among those present:
A man levitating inches off the ground, surrounded by faint ripples of gravity.
A teenage girl whose fingertips emitted sparks like overcharged circuitry.
A soldier in uniform, face expressionless, eyes glowing dull silver.
Observers whispered.
"That's Tempest. He was a disaster relief hero in Puerto Rico."
"Sierra Blaze too… she stopped a reactor meltdown last year."
"Why are they treating them like criminals?"
The doors opened.
Secretary of Homeland Defense Diana Mercer stepped forward. Poised, severe, and calculated.
"Thank you for answering the call. Today marks the birth of A.M.C.U. — the Anti-Metahuman Crime Unit. You are not here because you are feared. You are here because this world needs you."
"But we require accountability. From this moment, unregistered meta activity is illegal. Those willing to help will be trained, equipped, and sanctioned as our first line of response."
Silence followed.
Then—a single clap.
The hero called Solstrike stepped forward confidently. His glowing armor reflected the overhead lights like fragments of sunlight.
"I'll sign. I'd rather be a symbol of peace than a weapon of fear."
The room reacted.
And just like that, the registration began.
2. REGISTRATION & CLASSIFICATION
Metahumans moved through biometric gates, each scanned by automated systems.
Tier Allocation:
Tier 1: Non-combat specialists (medics, support, rescue)
Tier 2: Enhanced combat with controllable output
Tier 3+: Unrestricted destructive capability or poorly managed powers
A projected screen showed early results.
Tier.
Risk Level
Primary Concern
Examples (Codenames)
1
Low
No combat ability
Echo-Heal, Pathlight
2
Moderate
Combat-calibrated
Solstrike, Stormveil
3
High
Collateral impact
Tempest, Riftblade
4 & 5
Extreme
City-level threat
Classified
Special emphasis was placed on "Untracked meta sightings related to recent vigilante activity."
Security analysts exchanged glances.
"The yellow and blue duo. Still no trace?"
"They're keeping off record."
"Or being protected."
3. CHOOSING A LEADER
11:45 AM — Strategic Operations Chamber
Twenty high-ranking military officials sat across from eight selected Tier 2/3 candidates.
A holographic map displayed recent incidents: cartel assaults, police deaths, rising gang influence.
General McAllister rose.
"This unit requires more than power. It needs precision, discipline, and someone both metas and soldiers will follow."
Dossier files flicked across the screens.
Solstrike (Hero, Tier 2): Proven leadership, public trust
Tempest (Former rescue meta, Tier 3): Experienced, but unstable
Agent Sierra Blaze (Tier 2, ex-fire rescue): Tactical and analytical
Major Sentinel (Tier 3, cybernetic augmentation): Ex-military, cold
The debates were heated.
Secretary Mercer:
"If we choose military, metahumans will view this as conscription."
General McAllister:
"If we choose civilian, soldiers will not obey."
A silence fell before Commander Thorne (strategic analyst) proposed:
"Then we choose both. A military mind and a metahuman face."
He pulled up a dual-command structure.
📌 AMCU Leadership Proposal
Strategic Command: Major William "Sentinel" Ross
Field Commander/Meta Liaison: Aurelia "Solstrike" Dawn
McAllister hesitated.
"Pairing them? They clash ideologically."
Thorne nodded.
"They don't need to like each other. They need to balance each other."
The vote was cast.
4. FIRST AMCU LEADERS ANNOUNCED
A silence swept over the auditorium as the announcement was made.
"Effective immediately, the Anti-Metahuman Crime Unit will be co-led by:
Major William Ross – 'Sentinel' (Military Strategic Commander)
Aurelia Dawn – 'Solstrike' (Meta Field Leader and Civilian Liaison)"
Solstrike rose from her seat in surprise.
Sentinel didn't react except to tighten the gauntlet on his cybernetically advanced arm.
Solstrike approached the podium.
"I accept. My goal is simple—to protect life without losing humanity."
Sentinel followed.
"My objective is efficiency. Protection is achieved through containment and threat elimination."
The contrast was jarring.
Secretary Mercer stepped between them, smiling like a diplomat holding live grenades.
"Together, they will define the future of response."
5. A WARNING FROM INSIDE
After the announcement, Solstrike examined preliminary mission requisitions—and froze.
Many requests focused on securing or neutralizing unidentified metahumans, including:
Case File: 'Unknown Meta – High Yield Impact (Blue Cloaked)'
Case File: 'Bullet-Stopping Entity (Likely Same Case)
Her hand trembled.
"They mean the boys from the rescue footage."
Sentinel stood behind her.
"Do you know them?"
She hesitated.
"No. But they didn't act like enemies."
Sentinel looked at her.
"Intent doesn't outweigh potential threat."
She looked back.
"Maybe. But treating them like criminals might turn them into one."
6. THE FIRST DIRECTIVE
The newly formed AMCU leadership conducted its first official advisory broadcast.
Secretary Mercer addressed the nation.
"To all metahumans operating without registration… this is not a threat."
"This is your opportunity to step into the light."
"Report to the nearest federal console before week's end. After that… enforcement begins."
"Be with us. Or be against what we stand for."**
Across the city, brokers, criminals, vigilantes, and heroes watched.
Some with fear.
Some with resistance.
Some with plans.
And somewhere far from the city, two young vigilantes worked silently, unaware that in just days…
They would become priority targets.
END OF CHAPTER 11
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