Jake sat in the concrete room on a folding chair. He looked across the table at Captain Black.
"Can you please state your name?"
"Jake Long." Jake twiddled his thumbs nervously behind him.
"Can you tell us your location at 3:00 today?"
"I was working at my grandfather's shop."
Captain Black passed a picture across the table. "Do you recognize this figure?"
The photo showed Jake Long across the street from the back of the bank wearing a head piece. It was blurry and hard to pick out.
"Can't say that I do." Jake said nervously.
"This was taken from a security cam behind the bank. The rest of the footage shows this figure walk into an alley on the other side of the street and then the video loses track. However, another figure pops out a couple seconds later. Do you recognize this figure?"
He slid a picture that showed Jake in dragon form very clearly entering the building.
"What is that? I've never seen that before." Jake tried to hide his trembling.
"We don't at the moment know what this is, but what we do know is this figure appeared again during the car chase that happened today. Did you hear about that?"
"Yes, I saw that on the news."
"During the chase these photos were taken from the front of cop cars in the chase. We can clearly see the taxi cab from behind your shop and inside we see the red figure that entered the building earlier. Unfortunately, we didn't catch a photo of the driver."
Jake scratched anxiously at the table.
Captain Black picked up the photos and put them back in the folder. "Can you explain to me why the car was parked behind your shop?"
"No I've never seen it before today."
"You really know nothing about this red figure?"
"None."
"Well, do you know him?"
Captain Black showed a picture of Spud.
"Yes he is my friend, why?"
"Your friend is currently being held at the police station in Manhattan. We have him under arrest for possible involvement in armed robbery. He was caught by bank security officers hacking into camera systems in the building. Did you know anything about this?"
"None at all." Jake felt bad for denying it, but what could he do?
Captain Black put his hands on the table. "Look, we have a deal worked out. Your friend will be let go on all charges, under the condition you provide us with the information on this red figure."
"I told you, I know nothing about the red figure!" Jake Long was beginning to lose it a little. What options did he have…?
"We can hold him on a long prison sentence, five years. Jake, we know you know something about this. The blurry picture has been focused on and our computers match your face to it."
Jake gulped.
"Now this means one of two things. One, you saw this figure leaving the alley and at least caught a glimpse of it, or two, you are the red figure."
"Your nuts! Why would I be the red figure…?"
"We have evidence." Captain Black passed a series of files across the table to Jake, all pertaining to the various incidents involving Long. "We have been studying this red figure for a long time across New York City. You always seem to be near this figure everywhere he goes."
Jake shook his head. "These all must be coincidences! Your theory is ridiculous, it's not grounded in reality…"
"Jake, you might not know this but I'm not working for the CIA or FBI. I work for a portion of the government called Section 13. You are currently in an underground bunker beneath Manhattan that only a select group of people know about. When we blindfolded you, we brought you down here."
Jake stood up. "I don't know who you are…!"
Black stood up with a taser pointed at Jake. "But I know who you are. Jake, the only way out of this is to admit it. I've dealt with superpowered people before. I've heard about incidents in San Fransisco, Amity Park, Bellwood, Townsville, Miracle City, Norrisville, Orchid Bay City, and a number of other towns. I've been following your adventures for a while now, but I need to hear the truth from you."
"I'm not telling you anything!" Jake began to back towards the wall.
"C'mon Jake, you've been discovered! We know who you are anyway, and we are a small government group that isn't going to reveal your identity to anyone outside this agency. In fact, only two of my associates and I even know you're here right now."
Jake panicked, hoping a solution would pop up in his head. None did. He had to have some solution, something he could come up with to avert the situation. But he didn't.
"You know how ridiculous you sound?" Jake said feeling around the wall. Maybe the concrete was soft and he could smash through some of it…
"I know what you're thinking Long. Thinking about escaping without becoming the red figure. I'll tell you now all the wall in here are steel outside the concrete. The door also is made of iron and has five different locks from the outside. Now, who are you really?"
Jake completely lost it. He shot into dragon form and tackled Captain Black to the floor. There was no other option he could come up with and anger shot through him aimed at Black. His cover was blown. He tried to grab the key off of Black's belt and shove it into the lock in the door. Maybe he could escape the cell and make a run for it…?
Captain Black jumped onto him and tased him, pinning him to the floor. "There is no point in resisting Jake. That key won't even open the lock."
Jake's heart beat rapidly. What could he do? His cover was blown, everything he had fought to protect was blown, his life was over…
"Jake." Black said standing up. He brushed off his pants and helped Jake back into his chair. "We're not going to reveal your identity to everyone. We've dealt with this before. You're hardly the first case we've seen like this."
Jake put his hand in his claw. What would grandpa think when he found out?
"Now that we have this settled, we can release your friend. But this brings me to another question."
Captain Black shifted in his chair. "Can you help us out?"
Jake Long looked up. "Wait, you're asking for my help?"
"Yes. Something bad is about to happen in New York City, and we believe you are the perfect person to help us. But we need to know now."
Jake looked at him. "Nobody I know will be in danger?"
"Nobody you know will be in danger. We need your help."
Jake thought to himself. What do I owe them? After the trouble they put me through, should I help them?
"We saw what you did during the bank robbery. It was incredible and Section 13 owes you a great deal. I'm sorry we had to use Spud as a bargaining chip, but we were never going to actually jail him. We just needed the information. So what do you say?"
Jake looked at him. "I need a day to think about it."
Black nodded his head. "We'll take you back to the shop and you can meet us tomorrow at this address if you decide to take the job."
He handed him a sheet of paper with the address on it.
"I hope you help us with this. Because what happens here might affect the future of the United States."
Black signaled at the camera in the room. "Take this kid home."