Chapter 3: Simulation: Alex Mercer, Part 2
[Gang Hideout, Night – Simulation, Age 20, Year 3]
The warehouse reeked of stale beer and cheap cigars. Adam stood before the gang leader, Boss Kane, a mountain of a man with a scowl that could curdle milk. A new text prompt appeared.
[IN THE THIRD YEAR, YOU CONFRONT BOSS KANE, USING BASIC COMBAT TRAINING. YOU UNLOCK BASIC PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING.]
"Plasma? I'm a walking laser!" Adam exclaimed, a mischievous grin on his face.
"You're done, Mercer!" Kane roared, swinging a massive fist.
"Done? I'm glowing!" Adam retorted, dodging the punch. He focused his newfound plasma powers, and a bolt of blue light shot from his hand, frying the lights in the warehouse. A faint, high-pitched hum filled the air, mimicking a SHIELD signal.
"It's SHIELD! Run!" one of Kane's men screamed, and Kane, startled, tripped over a chair in his haste to get away.
"Use that plasma, kid!" Carter's voice buzzed in his ear.
"Plasma with style!" he shot back, a bolt of energy forcing Kane to back into a wall.
"Kane's tough, but I'm tougher."
[SHIELD Facility, Morning – Simulation, Age 22, Year 5]
The text prompts were coming faster now. A new one appeared as Adam practiced in a SHIELD training room.
[IN THE FIFTH YEAR, YOU TRAIN WITH CARTER, MASTERING BASIC PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING. YOU GAIN SHIELD'S ATTENTION.]
"50%? I'm a plasma god!" Adam declared, his energy-infused punch causing a training dummy's wig to fly off its head and stick to the ceiling.
"Control it, Mercer," Carter said, her voice a weary sigh.
"Control? I'm electrifying!" he said, winking.
"He's a hazard," another agent muttered.
"Hazard with flair!" Adam shot back.
"SHIELD's watching. Time to shine."
[City Outskirts, Afternoon – Simulation, Age 25, Year 8]
[IN THE EIGHTH YEAR, YOU SAVE CIVILIANS FROM A GANG ATTACK, USING PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING. YOU FACE A CHOICE: JOIN SHIELD OR REMAIN INDEPENDENT.]
"Independent. I'm my own hero!" Adam said. He felt a surge of pride, a refusal to be constrained by a bureaucracy he didn't trust. He looked at the grateful civilians he had just saved, their faces a mix of awe and relief.
"Good call, Mercer," Carter said, her voice softer than usual.
"Good? I'm legendary!" he said with a wink.
"Join us, Mercer," a SHIELD agent offered, but Adam simply shook his head.
"Nah, I'm a lone spark." He used his plasma to short out a gang car's radio, making it blast chaotic, loud music.
"SHIELD's cool, but freedom's better."
[Rooftop Battle, Evening – Simulation, Age 28, Year 11]
[IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR, YOU FIGHT GANG REINFORCEMENTS, REFINING PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING. A LARGER THREAT EMERGES.]
"70%? I'm a plasma legend!" Adam shouted, a bolt of energy flying from his hands and making a thug's hair stand on end like a cartoon character.
"He's unstoppable!" a gang member yelled in a panic.
"Told ya!" Adam shot back.
"Nice work, Mercer," Carter's voice was full of admiration.
"Work? I'm glowing!" he replied. A new, more ominous prompt appeared, and he knew the final showdown was approaching.
"More threats? Bring it on."