"Thank you all for coming." Director Piggot stared out at the assembled reporters as she gripped the podium. "For the last few weeks, you all have noticed the reduced presence of Armsmaster in Protectorate patrols. There were many speculations, many rumours. Some believed he was injured, some even believed he was retiring." Taking a deep breath, she continued. "What I can reveal now to you today is that he has been involved in a secret project, one that promises to change Brockton Bay's future for the better. To explain it, I now hand you over to the man of the hour himself."
Piggot gestured, and Armsmaster stepped forward, resplendant in his blue armour. The sun glinted off his visor, and he quirked his lips, chuckling at a private joke. "Brockton Bay," he began, voice warm and charismatic. "This city has been my home for years. I have done my best to defend you, to lead your valiant heroes against the vile villains that would plague your lives. I have tried to be a hero. But what have I done, really? I've fought people, I've caused damage to city infrastructure in my fights. I've arrested many criminals, certainly, but there always seems to be more. I fell into a rut. Going through the motions, as it were."
The reporters looked on, silent. This was not the usual sanitised PRT press release - they could feel that something big was coming. Armsmaster stood tall, and gestured to the assembled viewers. "Recently, I was privileged to have a...breakthrough, shall we say. An opportunity arose to do something good for the city, something far different than my usual 'punch crime in the face' approach." Turning, he gestured to the bay, visible from the square in which the press conference was taking place. In the middle sat the repurposed oil rig that the local Protectorate used as their headquarters, surrounded as usual in its shimmering shield.
"Brockton Bay!" called out Armsmaster, playing the crowd like a fiddle. "I give you... Project Helios!"
The roof of the rig unfolded, and a series of lenses and panels extended, focusing sunlight into the depths of the base. Cables burst from the bottom of the structure, diving into the water and appearing on the shoreline, connecting to prebuilt junction boxes. The oil rig sparkled with light, and the reporters gasped in awe at the sight.
Armsmaster coughed gently, drawing the onlookers' attention back to himself. With a warm smile, he addressed the crowd again. "I have been working tirelessly these past weeks, not only on the technological feats you saw before you, but in negotations with Mayor Christner and the local electricity board. Project Helios, ladies and gentlemen, my gift to you, is nothing less than power!"
Raising his arms, he continued his speech. "I have created a revolutionary solar converter. One hundred percent of all light fed into this machine is converted into clean and safe energy, in vast quantities. My machine will power Brockton Bay, in its entirety, for the next 60 years. For free."
Later:
Colin approached the machine he'd created, a six foot sphere pride of place in the centre. Stepping up to it, he placed his palm against the side of the sphere, feeling the thrum of power beneath his fingertips. "Your debut went down well," he murmured. The thrumming increased in tempo, almost as if the machine could hear his words. "I know it's not exactly what you imagined, but you're helping, just as you asked." The thrumming slowed again, and Colin walked on, checking the sensors and dials. "Now..." he hummed to himself. "Let's find the daughter."
Author's Note: I've had a couple questions regarding the ending. I purposely left it ambiguous as to why Armsy's after Aster - is protecting Aster the price for Kayden's help? Is he hoping she will trigger into a similarly useful parahuman? Who knows?