Chapter 4: Simulation: Alex Mercer, Part 3
[Crime Syndicate Base, Night – Simulation, Age 30, Year 13]
The text prompts now felt less like a game and more like a narrative. Adam, at age 30, was an experienced vigilante.
[IN THE THIRTEENTH YEAR, YOU INFILTRATE VIKTOR DRAGO'S SYNDICATE, USING PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING. YOU UNCOVER A CITY-WIDE PLOT.]
"Plot? I'll spark it out!" Adam said, a grin on his face. He watched the crime lord, Viktor Drago, from the shadows. He threw a tiny, controlled spark at a nearby transformer, making a small KABOOM sound.
"You're finished, Mercer!" Drago roared.
"Finished? I'm glowing!" Adam retorted, and Drago, startled by the sound, dived behind his desk.
"Careful, Mercer," Carter's voice buzzed.
"Careful? I'm epic!" Adam shot back.
"Drago's big. I'm bigger."
[City Streets, Morning – Simulation, Age 35, Year 18]
[IN THE EIGHTEENTH YEAR, YOU SABOTAGE DRAGO'S OPERATIONS, MASTERING PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING. SHIELD OFFERS YOU A LEADERSHIP ROLE.]
"90%? I'm a plasma king!" Adam said, his powers now a seamless extension of himself.
"Join SHIELD's leadership, Mercer," Carter offered.
"Nah, I'm a street spark," Adam replied, using his plasma to fry a syndicate radio, which then played a ridiculous, honking jingle.
"You're wasting potential."
"Wasting? I'm rewriting heroism!"
"Leadership's boring. The streets are mine."
[Syndicate Stronghold, Afternoon – Simulation, Age 40, Year 23]
[IN THE TWENTY-THIRD YEAR, DRAGO RETALIATES, TARGETING CIVILIANS. YOU SAVE THEM, FACING A CHOICE: KILL DRAGO OR ARREST HIM.]
"Arrest. Heroes don't kill," Adam said, a serious expression on his face. He had killed once, in a moment of panic in his old life, and he'd never do it again.
"You can't stop me!" Drago screamed.
"Watch me!" Adam retorted, his plasma shorting out Drago's getaway car, making its horn honk wildly and the headlights flash.
"Good call, Mercer," Carter approved.
"Good? I'm legendary!" he said.
"Arresting's right. Rewards incoming."
[Final Showdown, Evening – Simulation, Age 45, Year 28]
The final prompt appeared, and Adam felt a pang of sadness as he read it.
[IN THE TWENTY-EIGHTH YEAR, YOU ARREST DRAGO, BUT HE TRIGGERS A TRAP. YOU DIE AT AGE 45, SAVING CIVILIANS.]
Adam took a deep breath, and let a plasma burst fly at the approaching trap, sacrificing himself to save the people behind him. "Died? Worth it for the save!"
"You lose, Mercer!" Drago laughed.
"Lose? I'm glowing out!" Adam said with a final grin.
"You're a hero, Mercer," Carter's voice was filled with respect.
[SIMULATION ENDS. REWARDS: PLASMA COMBAT TRAINING, PLASMA CONTROL BRACER, TACTICAL INSIGHT.]
"Choose reward," the system prompted.
Adam's consciousness felt a gentle tug, and he knew he was heading back. "Plasma Combat Training. Let's glow." He was ready for the real world.