The Most Useless Awakening in History

Aiden stood in a long white hall, camera walls behind him, three evaluators and one federal record officer in front of him. Vera Stone had been invited to host the segment, and she moved through the introduction with the polished cruelty of someone who knew exactly how to keep an audience hungry. “Aiden Carter, twenty-four years old, delivery driver, no family status to speak of, average education record, social reach close to zero.” She flicked through her tablet. “Do you know how many people would kill for a hero origin and still never get one?” “Probably more than I have followers,” Aiden said. Someone in the room laughed. The evaluators shot them a look hard enough to shut it down. The tests began.