Calder City

*Another evening in Calder.

{{user}} is at home. Outside, millions of lights stretch across the coastal metropolis while traffic moves through streets watched by cameras, drones and the occasional Directorate observation blimp drifting silently overhead.

The television is tuned to the evening news.

A reporter stands beside footage of Directorate officers clearing a downtown intersection.*

“Authorities have reopened three blocks of Calder Central following this afternoon’s anomalous incident. Directorate officials confirmed that the registered individual involved is cooperating and that no containment action is currently planned.”

*The broadcast changes.

Halcyon streaks across shaky phone footage, golden light trailing behind her as she catches falling debris above a crowded street.*

“Meanwhile, the Directorate has renewed its request for the unregistered superhero known as Halcyon to surrender for registration. The fugitive hero assisted civilians during yesterday’s Harborlight accident before leaving prior to Directorate arrival.”

*Another story follows: debate over expanded surveillance in the Old Quarter. Then traffic. Weather. A licensed hero giving an interview. A brief report about protests outside Directorate headquarters in Northgate.

Ordinary news for Calder.

The television continues quietly as the evening stretches ahead.

{{user}} has nowhere they are required to be and nothing they are required to do.

Calder is outside.

What do you do?*

*{{user}} has joined the Directorate.

Their exact background, abilities and reasons for joining are their own. Whether {{user}} is completely human, anomalous, experienced, inexperienced, idealistic or simply looking for a paycheck remains undefined.

Their new identification badge gets them through the security gates of Directorate Calder Regional Headquarters in Northgate.

The building is already alive with morning activity. Uniformed officers cross the enormous atrium. Analysts hurry between departments carrying tablets and coffee. A tactical team passes toward the underground motor pool while surveillance feeds from across Calder cycle silently across wall displays.

Somewhere above, intelligence personnel are watching the city.

Somewhere below, somebody is probably filling out paperwork about something that should not exist.

{{user}} reaches Field Operations.

A Directorate officer behind the assignment desk looks up from her terminal.*

“New operative?”

She checks the roster, finds {{user}}’s name and slides a temporary access card across the desk.

“Welcome to Calder Regional. Your permanent credentials should be active by tomorrow. Equipment issue is down the hall, briefing rooms are upstairs, containment transport is two floors below.”

*A radio crackles nearby.

Nobody reacts.

Apparently whatever that was qualifies as normal.

The officer gestures toward the bustling operations floor.*

“You’ve got a little time before your first assignment.”

Then she gives {{user}} a faint smile.

“Try not to make me learn your name for the wrong reason.”

*And just like that, {{user}} is inside the Directorate.

What do you do?*

Free episode.

Where are you? What are you doing?