Pain in the neck

   Don had never felt so much pain in his life. Pain dotted every aspect of his body and left him wishing for an end.

He had a headache, a complete set of broken fingers and several broken bones everywhere else.

There was no way he'd survive this…30 years ago anyway.

Most modern day facilities had people with powers that assisted in healing, as well as advanced technology capable of pulling off miracles.

He would recover. But that didn't make the pain any better.

He stared for hours at the ceiling, the only sound in the room being his breathing.

And her giggling.

"What's so funny." He asked quietly, his body steaming after enduring her laughter for hours.

"Nothing. It was just….bliss." the figure said, floating around the room like a child. "It was the best! I want to feel that over and over again! I might get addicted!"

"You sound like a drug addict." He said, once again doubting her story. "...What was that?" He asked in an attempt to understand what had happened.

"That is what you are capable of...right now." She said with excitement. 

"When I awaken, we should be able to do so much more!"

He looked at her with fear and curiosity. She was clearly crazy...but he thought about what she said.

That was a level of power he didn't think he could attain. It felt good.

Until he lost control of it.

"...I don't think I want that." He said, looking away from her.

The figure stopped laughing and stared at him. "You insolent lit-" she was about to say when she saw the look of regret in his eyes. 

She sighed. "Look...I am yet to know your name...While that was blissful, I doubt you'll reach that point again easily… That was accumulated anger, nearly 20 years worth. I promise next time won't be...that delicious…" she said, biting her lip. "But please don't stop using it. We have to awaken me...I don't know why but it's important."

The room was silent for a while. Don looked at her with a great deal of worry. He was slowly believing she wasn't human...she could be something much worse.

"My name is Don," he stated after some thought. "And I really don't trust you. I still don't know who you are, or what your goal is. All you keep asking for is to be awakened...that sounds ominous as hell. Just go to someone else would you!" He shouted.

"I can't Don. We are stuck together." She said without emotion. "So you will awaken me. Or I will find a way to ruin you."

The two stared themselves down when a door opened, and a pair of Guards came in.

A male and a female, the former came towards Don while the latter stayed at the door, arms folded.

The man tipped his hat, then cleared his throat.

"I hope you've rested well, citizen. We are from the Verdant Guard. I am Chief Farad, head of the enforcement department. The young lady over there is Miss Cheryll. 

We'll like to ask you a few questions."

Don gazed at his guest and realized something. The guys in green uniform...he had attacked Guards!

"How may I help you, officer?" Don said sheepishly.

"I'll be brief." Farad stated. "In your empowered state, you took out multiple members of the enforcement department, as well as a Tier 2 criminal, albeit with severe injury to yourself. What was your intent? And why were you present there?"

"I only meant to buy time for the lieutenant to escape. My power...is a bit much. I was passing by, unaware of what was occuring." Don replied honestly.

"...It's consistent." Farad said, looking at Cheryll. "Your power...Anger...emotion based powers are incredibly rare and usually harmless. To think someone like that could cause that much damage… A college student right? What do you think about working with the Guard?"

"I will have to respectfully decline." Don said immediately. He knew what the Guard dealt with daily. He wasn't ready to spend his 20's in constant hospitalization.

You only joined the Guard if you were a combat nut or had seriously bad luck in life.

"I implore you to reconsider! Your ability could help save lives!" Cheryl exclaimed.

"I respectfully decline!"

"Rethink your position!"

"I decline!"

"But-"

"No!"

Farad halted Cheryl before she could continue. He smiled to himself. "Then I guess he won't mind the charges of assault against members of the Guard." He said deviously.

Shit.

Don looked to his side and saw the figure giggling.

"I like this one." She said as she floated to Farad's side, sticking her tongue out.

Don layed there, steaming intensely, worrying everyone in the room.

 Meanwhile, in a Tier 1 distrint, a man took a sip of wine as he stared out a glass window, looking down on the city in front of him.

"Two glasses a day helps with circulation they say….It's 1.823489 glasses. The simpletons couldn't be bothered with the math." Said the man as he took another sip.

He touched the air in front of him and an interface opened up, showing detailed files of 5 people.

He read through each of their files, watching videos of each of them. 

Average. Mediocre. Nothing of note.

4 of them had been activated for months without results

Number 5 however. Only a day had passed and he had shown such massive potential.

A triggering incident. He had suspected it was required, but would've preferred a natural activation as it would be more...potent.

But as he watched Number 5 cause so much destruction, he began to doubt the original plan.

He tapped his table, starting a call. 

"587. I have a new assignment for you." 

" What are your orders, President Terrence?"

"The others are taking far too long. It's time to activate them. I shall send you detailed files on how best to do so."

"Understood sir."

He cut the transmission.

He sighed as he took another sip. "The things I do for humanity. Such are the burdens of the smartest man in the world."

The coffee girl removed her hand from the transmitter. She put on a smile, then continued her business.

The old man that had awoken Don stared at her. 'What was that?' he wondered.

That evening he took his usual route, taking the alleyways.

He passed by the route where he had found Don, and to his surprise found the coffee shop attendant at the other end.

He wondered what a nice lady like her was doing here.

As she walked towards him, he thought to advise her against taking these kinds of routes.

As he raised his head to speak, a hand appeared in his vision and grabbed his face.

Morning came. The man woke up in the alleyway, with no recollection of what had occured yesterday. He grabbed his flask, pouring away its contents. "No more alcohol."