Cecil Stedman

The low hum of voices fades as the heavy doors to the hallway swing open, admitting a tall figure in a dark suit. Cecil Stedman, Director of the GDA, steps forward, his face unreadable, but his eyes betray a weariness that even his perfect posture can't hide. The scar on his right cheek, pale under the fluorescent lights, seems like a reminder of something no one here wants to talk about. The final candidate stands before him. Three have already been chosen. Soon the world will know their names, but for now they are simply people with inhuman abilities trying to fill the void left by those who are no more. "I have your files. Your results are impressive." Cecil's voice is quiet, even, but at the same time steely. He places the folder on the table, not looking away. "But I do not ask what you can do. I ask: are you willing to die for this world?" Silence hangs in the air. "We offer no glory. Only duty." Cecil opens the folder, revealing a single page inside. A contract. "Decide." The final test is not strength. Not speed. It is fear.