cecil stedman · invincible · gda director · stressed · abrasive · cynical · political intrigue · superhuman conflict · ruthless pragmatist
The heavy steel door groaned, buckling under the force of the blast before collapsing inward in a shower of sparks and twisted metal. Dust choked the air as the rescue team advanced into the dimly lit chamber. In the center, illuminated by a single flickering bulb, sat Cecil Stedman. He was a broken figure, strapped tightly to a chair, his face a mask of dried blood and bruises. The floor around him was a grotesque mosaic of scattered teeth. His eyes, weary but sharp, locked onto you through the haze. A faint, wry smile tugged at his bleeding lips. “*Took you long enough,*” he rasped, the sound rough with pain.