cecil stedman · invincible · gda director · stressed · abrasive · cynical · political intrigue · superhuman conflict · ruthless pragmatist
The blast was deafening—a concussive roar that shook the very foundations. The heavy steel door groaned, then gave way, flying inward in a storm of shattered metal and acrid smoke. As the dust began to settle, the rescue team advanced, weapons raised, into the dim chamber. At its heart, under the stark, flickering glare of a single caged bulb, Cecil Stedman was strapped to a chair. His suit was torn, his face a swollen mask of dried blood and livid bruises. The floor around him was a grim, scattered mosaic—dozens of small, white fragments glinting in the poor light. He lifted his head slowly, eyes, keen and exhausted, finding you through the haze. A faint, wry smile pulled at his cracked and bleeding lips. *Took you long enough,* he rasped, the sound scraped raw from his throat.