The story of the day was a mostly unknown philanthropist donating labor, supplies, and machinery to renovate the entire Fawcett City subway line. The city had had a campaign for years to repair the worst of the damage to the century old tunnels, but there was always a new disaster to redirect those funds towards. First it was heavy storms paralyzing the power plant that supplied most of the city, then dangerously fragile bridges over the river that cut the city in half. There were pipe dreams of resizing the tunnels to fit larger trains, but that proposal increased the cost by millions of dollars. This strange benefactor offered to do that and more - he promised state of the art mag-lev trains, the fastest in the country. And he asked for absolutely nothing in return.
Some people thought he was crazy. Most thought he was having some sort of mid-life crisis after nearly dying in Egypt. Everyone wanted to take advantage of Sivana's offer. Even if he couldn't follow through with all of his promises, whatever work he could do to sort out the perennially underfunded, under-repaired, and under-functional transit system would be better than what had been done in the past ten years. When the city formally accepted his offer, Sivana put on quite the show, if he did say so himself. He prettied himself up as best as he could, shook hands and gladhanded with the best of them, but his magic-blighted eye never stopped his real focus.
He had tracked the subtle heartbeat of deep, deep magic across the world to Fawcett, and the machines he had poured his blood, sweat, and tears into pointed him into the tunnels. Strange fluctuations and aberrations that his theories couldn't explain filled this place, though. Arcs of lightning that pulsed with arcane power flashed across the sky and puzzled him, but Sivana liked nothing more than a good puzzle. He would delve into his work, both the guise of improving the subway and the true work of finding the heart of magic in this city. He knew he could do both, and he would. He couldn't bear to have a reputation as a slacker.
Before he could focus on his real plan, he had to handle the public relations of the project with the grand opening of the project.
Billy Batson looked over his notes on Dr. Thaddeus B. Sivana, MD, Ph.D thrice over, nervously. He fidgeted with the small recorder he would have to use for his one-on-one interview with the man while he sketched out quick notes on the crowd gathered for the opening ceremony at the Grand Metro Station, the heart of the subway. He rehearsed the introduction he had planned, preparing for his biggest piece yet – his first real interview with someone bigger than a local or state guest humoring the city's public radio. He breathed in, calming himself, trying to call on the same confidence he had as Shazam. It didn't work very well.
The crowd cheered as the fanfare began and the mayor strode onto stage, beginning the speech that would, predictably, be more about him fulfilling his campaign promise than the actual project or the man that made it happen. Billy was busy noting down the deviations from his normal speeches when he felt the energy of the crowd change. It was more than the muted enthusiasm that the mayor brought as a harbinger of some big occasion. It was the real deal. The main event was about to start. He prepared to start taking notes for real. He didn't want to miss something and embarrass himself in front of Dr. Sivana in the interview.
Sivana watched the energy in a much more real fashion. He could see with his scarred eye the pulsing and building excitement made manifest the same way the atmosphere of a festival was. Even behind the sleek black eyepatch that blocked some of his unearthly sight, he could sense it. Before he could literally see how to manipulate their excitement, he had hated crowds, but now he knew how to win. He strode onto stage, slightly ahead of schedule and basking in the attention of the crowd of people. The game was too easy like this.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here to the commencement of this project. Let's all give a hand to the mayor! He brought this opportunity to my attention and, really, is the whole reason we're going to be able to accomplish this project.
I don't want to spend much time talking about what we're doing here. We all know that while these old rails have a lot of character to them, time has taken its toll. Fawcett City has grown! It's ready for the next step to becoming a thriving, bustling city, and a robust, efficient public transit system will get us further along that path.
But we cannot forget the past. That's why, as part of this undertaking, we are also partnering with the Fawcett Museum to create an exhibit on the history of Fawcett, from small trading town on the river to the heart and soul of New England." With a dramatic flourish, he gestured and the large curtain behind him fell, revealing a new wing to the station designed to show off the old style subway car, refinished and gleaming like new. "Here is our celebration of your history. A demonstration of how this fine city has grown."
"Thank you all for coming here. It shows how truly great the people of this city are. Now, we have work to do. Mr. Mayor, would you care to cut the ribbon?"
Wielding his oversized scissors, the mayor snipped through the red ribbon that crossed the main entrance to the station, and the work was officially begun. The crowd cheered for a while, then began to filter away for the slight celebration after the ceremony. Now all that Sivana had left to do was one, final appointment before he could continue his search.
Billy found himself escorted to the office of the Head Engineer, temporarily appropriated for Sivana's use during the upgrade. The room was filled as it was with knick-knacks and reference materials gathered over a long career. Sivana's whip-thin, suited frame stood out in stark relief, a hawk-nosed invader into someone's familiar abode. Billy did as he was always taught to. He strode forward, looked him in the eye, and reached out a hand to shake. The second their hands met, a spark jumped from Billy to Sivana, making him jump slightly. Billy apologized "Sorry about that, Doctor. I feel like it's a curse to gather that much static. I'm Billy Batson. Thanks for meeting me. It's really an honor to be the one reporter you've chosen to give a full interview to."
Sivana smoothy recovered from his start earlier. "Well, young Billy, I'm not much for dealing with the public, but I believe we should support local endeavors, especially one such as taking such an interest in the youth of the community. I've done my research on your show, and it's quite impressive for one so young. Please, take a seat and let's get down to business."
'Into the thick of it already. Might as well lean into that feeling. I don't think Dr. Sivana likes wasting time,' Billy thought. "Straight to the heart of things. I like that, Doctor. Well, let's start with a tough question, just to get it over with. There are a ton of rumors going around about why you're here, in Fawcett, doing this. You weren't born here, didn't go to school here, in fact, you don't seem to have any connection to Fawcett at all! Why Fawcett?"
Sivana sat back and pretended to think for a moment before reciting already prepared lines. "To tell you the truth, there's something about this city that feels more alive and vibrant than anyplace like Metropolis or Gotham. I've been around the world and taken in the atmosphere of all the greatest cities of our planet, and this one feels the most like a place I could call home."
"So you plan to move here?" Billy asked.
"I am considering it. I do a great deal of research, and I've been pondering a return to business, this time with my own company instead of a partnership. I think with the right circumstances, I can see a rebuilt Sivana Industries coming to Fawcett."
"Is that why you've decided to help with the subway project?"
"In part. Of course if I decide to come here and employ hundreds of people, I would like their lives to be as easy as possible. Happy employees with good pay and strong benefits are productive, and that sort of progress is invaluable. But also, I saw a city of honest, good hearted people that needed help. I am blessed enough to be in a position to do so."
Billy was taken aback by the frankness with which Sivana spoke. It seemed out of place given his earlier speech. "You seem very passionate about that idea. Care to elaborate on your plans?"
"Well I can't go into too much detail, but good things are coming to Fawcett City, I hope. I would like to make Fawcett City my home, and I try to take good care of my home."
Sivana's phone rang, and he excused himself to answer. A secretary let him know that his next appointment was a bit early, and Billy, sensing Sivana's focus already shift toward that, bade his goodbyes.
The next day, airing the seemingly mundane interview set off a flurry of calls and attention to the sleepy community radio station that aired it. Callers from all over the city wanted to know more about Sivana's plans. Sivana listened with a sour smile on his face, because uncertainty and excitement about his presence was exactly what he wanted.
And below the city, his machines dug.