March 3rd 2000

They're allowing me to walk outside, said walks are of course monitored and limited to a 10 minute spread each day until I earn more, but as far as I'm concerned it's a victory. Today is the first time I will have seen the sun since december, that's roughly three months. Three months of interrogation, of healing, testing and doing what I was told. Maybe I should be angry about it, raw about it, but honestly I understand.

I..god you read about it in the books but it doesn't really hit you until you actually see it, the sheer human suffering that Endbringer attacks cause. The lives that get destroyed, I think they're trying to guilt me into seeing things their way and honestly it's working. I've talked to person after person who lost limbs, got cancer, or were made brain dead because of New York. Kyushu involved the deaths of 9 million people. To say that I'm not exactly popular is kind of an understatement. They still haven't decided what codename to give me.

"No funny business Doc."

I nodded, it was a nickname I had picked up amongst the personnel. My guide didn't have a gun, it would have been pointless and he knew it, instead I had orders to remain within sight. The doors opened and I looked outside at the park I had arrived in.

"I'm...here?"

Lincoln park, apparently when the government and an army of tinkers are motivated enough they can create an entire complex in a short period of time. I didn't have eyes but it took awhile to adjust, I saw a wall with barbed wire, and armed men on top of it. I waved at them and they turned away.

"Ten minutes."

I walked around the warehouse in a circle, just enjoying being out in the sun for a change, enjoying hearing birds and just, just being outside.

"Ok Doc, it's time to go back in."

I slumped my shoulders and trudged in, there was no use fighting it.

"You have a call."

I eagerly grabbed the phone.

"Mr. Rogers."

"Yes, um have they given you a name yet?"

"No, they're still in talks."

"You can call me Fred, so how are you doing?"

Once a week I was allowed one phone call from Fred. It quickly became a lifeline, a way to keep myself sane.

"I was allowed to go outside today."

"That's great, are you making friends?"

A few of the guards were non hostile, but friends yeah... none of that.

"Not yet, I'm trying but,well my family's crazy, and you know."

"Oh..well give them time, I'm sure they will warm up to you. It takes time to forgive and forget."

I sat down on a box.

"I know and I understand it's, it's just frustrating sometimes. I'm trying to change, get better but I also understand why. I... I was sheltered from just how bad these attacks were, you know."

"It's a lot to take in, but the important thing is that you're trying. Becoming a better person isn't something you just wake up and do. It's something that you struggle with one step at a time."

"Thanks, that means a lot to me."

And I wasn't lying either, imagine walking into a room where everyone is angry at you or suspicious of you. Imagine living in that room for three months. Yeah it sucks, but ultimately I had to play the long game. There was a world to save and I had over a decade to pull it off, and if that meant spending ten years earning people's trust, then I had ten years to burn.

The phone call ended too soon and I was sent to my room, the scientists took samples from me again and the incoming hoard of sick, dying, wounded and other came. They were experimenting with my multitasking, trying to find out how many people I could heal at once. So far the answer was over a hundred, it may end up being over a thousand, but I doubted that it was in the millions, that would be too overpowered, but at least it gave the PRT a reason to tolerate me.

April 7th 2000

"Behemoth is planning on attaking Lyon, France in 3 days."

The man froze.

"What?"

"Behemoth is planning on attacking Lyon, France in 3 days."

"And how would you know this?"

I needed a lie.

"They kicked me out of our communications network after my defection, but I know a few back doors. The Thinker, the one who planned Kyushu is trying to figure out a way to maximize the damage, the terror. She likes that."

I made damned sure people wouldn't take the Simurgh lightly.

"Has she escaped yet?"

"No, but she is trying, the others still sleep. I don't know if I can continue this all the time, it's only a matter of time until this backdoor is closed, I only have a limited amount of them."

He ran out of the room, soon they brought in someone from the Protectorate propper. The other man, the one who wasn't blond.

"I'm told you talked."

Eidolon, this was Eidolon.

"Yes, I may have hacked our communications network, you have 3 days until Lyon, France is attacked."

"Do you have anything more?"

"They are trying to kick me out, I only have so many backdoors, so many tricks, but you have 3 days until another human city is attacked."

He stared at me.

"We're going to send the warning, get the city evacuated, you will be expected to help out."

He crossed his arms.

"I understand, I'm afraid, but I will fight by your side."

For a small moment his stoic facade broke, his lip curled upwards.

"If you prove yourself in this fight, you'll be allowed to join the Protectorate."

With that he left, eventually I was put into restraints and into a van, they knew they were useless but they did it anyways. After that I was put onto a plane and my journey to France began, my journey to my first Endbringer fight