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After what seemed like an eternity and countless questions, Harry was finally able to step off the stage and retreat back into Oscorp towers, where the lobby had been turned into a base of operations for security and PR staff regarding the event. Once more, Harry became the center of attention as everyone in the room looked at him for a moment before erupting in applause.
"What did I say? He's a natural! Had those vultures grasping for straws!" Norman boasted loudly on Harry's behalf as he strode over with wide open arms that he slung around Harry's shoulder, "I expected you to do well, but that out there was above and beyond! I was considering making someone else the public face of Meta-X while you do all the behind-the-scenes work, but approval ratings are through the roof. Tell him what you told me, Madison."
Harry looked over as his father gestured for somebody and called out their name. The person who responded was a woman who could only be described as beautiful. She had dark caramel skin, dark brown eyes, and lustrous black hair, styled short in the front and the rest kept in an elaborate bun at the back. Her black high heels clicked against the lobby floor as she walked over with a purposeful stride, thanks to her two long legs clad in sheer black leggings. The rest of her outfit was similarly professional and flattering, with a black pencil skirt and a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. A faint layer of makeup accentuated the contours of her face, though it was hardly necessary; the desirable aspect was that it was clear Madison took care of herself with pride, yet not arrogance.
"Son, allow me to introduce you to Madison Green, Director of Management for Meta-X. Madison, this is my son Harry." Norman introduced the two of them before stepping aside as Madison offered her right hand, the other one clutching a sleek black tablet, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Osborn, and I have to say I've worked with seventy year old senators who would be envious of your ability to work a crowd."
"You can call my father Mr. Osborn, I'm just Harry," Harry replied with a light-hearted laugh as he shook Madison's hand holding it for a second as she smiled back in return, revealing perfectly white teeth, "Well, Harry, after your excellent speech, initial approval ratings are at 46%."
"That's less than half," Harry clarified with a frown.
"Which I assure you is far above average when any type of policy is introduced, especially when you're talking about something this controversial. People are always going to lean towards skepticism, but give them time and, more importantly, positive results, and they'll always come around." Madison explained with a polite smile.
"As you can see, Madison knows her stuff, which is why I hired her. She's here to make sure you have all the support and information you need to make Meta-X a success," Norman announced before glancing at his watch, "And with that, I'm afraid I'm needed elsewhere, so I'll leave the two of you to discuss your first steps and come up with a roadmap. And remember, Harry, I have high expectations for you. Don't disappoint."
Having said his piece, Norman walked away, pulling a small entourage of people with him, ranging from security personnel to assistants and busboys offering food and drinks.
"Must be a little overwhelming having a man like that for a father," Madison commented before turning to face Harry, "But he was correct, I am here to assist you in any capacity to make all operations run as smoothly as possible."
"If that's the case, then I believe I should be completely transparent with my vision for Meta-X." Harry started as he began to walk towards the lobby elevators, with Madison quickly moving to follow him, "My father only cares about how the initiative will bring him voters, and the money he'll rake in when people or governments eventually come looking to make their own private armies of super soldiers."
"But you want it to be more than some gimmick," Madison inferred, her gaze sharp and intelligent as she stared up at Harry, "You want to make an impact, outside of your father's shadow."
"Percisley," Harry agreed as they stepped into an elevator, "The reason why my father will win is because he's telling the truth. There are more and more superheroes and villains popping up every day, and it's creating a positive feedback loop, whether by design or sheer circumstance."
Reaching out with his hand, Harry pressed his palm against a biometric scanner, which flashed once before turning a solid green, unlocking every single floor in the tower. But instead of pushing on the countless buttons, Harry's finger darted out pressing the levels in a corresponding pattern. After a second, the elevator let out a low hum before lurching into motion as it began to descend.
"Meaning it's only a matter of time before entropy builds and the entire system collapses into chaos," Harry explained calmly but with a fire burning in his eyes as he folded his hands behind his back, "Before that happens the parameters need to change and someone needs to put their hand on the scale."
Madison was silent as the elevator continued to plummet into the earth before eventually coming to a halt and opening up to reveal a wide reinforced tunnel that practically screamed top secret undercover base.
Looking wearily at the tunnel illuminated by rows of lights along the steel tile floor, Madison had a worried expression on her face, "I don't think I have a high enough clearance to be seeing any of this."
"It doesn't matter, I took a look over your contract and your NDA is quite restrictive, besides, I have the ultimate discretion over all Meta-X personnel as its Executive Director," Harry replied with a slight grin as he stepped out of the elevator.
"You looked at my contract?" Madison asked with surprise.
"Of course, I reviewed it, and your employment history. You're very qualified...almost suspiciously so," Harry commented as he glanced over his shoulder, fixing Madison with his amber eyes before facing forward once more, "Which is why I know you'll be such a valued addition to what I hope to build."
At the end of the hallway, Harry stood in front of a bulkhead door and could help but feel a pang of nostalgia, 'Back to where it all began.'
Harry scanned his palm again, and the doors opened, revealing the lab that had housed and monitored his comatose body for three years, meaning it had a vast majority of the equipment Harry needed to complete his work and needed minimal restructuring.
Stepping in after him, still hesitant, Madison looked around the lab with an expression that landed between unease and wonder, "And just exactly do you hope to build?"
With a broad grin across his face, Harry shoved his hands into his pockets. "The Metahuman Enforcement, Tactics & Analysis – X Division. A global agency that will recruit those who fight for the future of humanity and give them the tools and infrastructure they need to ensure they can stand strong when the world needs them most."
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Walking into her high-rise apartment, Madison locked the door behind her and pulled out her phone, typing in a lengthy password to unlock it and then opening a discreet app whose logo was a plain lock. After a few taps of her fingers, an electronic voice played through the phone, "Identity Confirmed, welcome Special Agent Hill, you have been registered to Safehouse Zeta-Prime 30091. Your current objective: Investigate Oscorp Industries, mandatory report is due at 0900."
Stepping into the room, Madison quickly closed the curtains, making sure no one had a view into her room, before walking over to the bedside table and pressing her palm against the side.
After a second, there was a soft click, and the top of the table dropped away to reveal a futuristic-looking laptop inside. Pulling the device out, Madison set it on the table before opening the top and staring directly into the camera, which scanned her retina before the screen flashed to life and immediately started to record, capturing Madison's face along with a biometric scan.
"This is Special Agent Maria Hill, identification code 09PsiAlpha, date November 19, 2008, location Safehouse Zeta-Prime 30091, report number 001. Today, I began my role infiltrating Oscorp's Muta-X project, which claims to have the necessary tools to create enhanced individuals. I made contact with two noteworthy individuals, Norman Osborn and his son Harry Osborn. In contradiction to initial reports, Norman Osborn seems to have little involvement with the project and has instead left most of its operational oversight to his son, who has displayed an unexpected level of insight and claims to be the mind behind the invention of their proprietary technology and startling advancement."
As Maria continued her report, she didn't notice the golden vein in her palm slowly creep up her arm and up her neck, eventually finding its way into her brain where it ever so gently embedded itself in the thalamus, where all sensory information was received before being sent to other parts of the brain.
Meaning that even miles away Harry could hear every word Maria was saying as if she was standing right in front of him.