I Don't Know What To Do

Video Log #346

Date: [REDACTED]

This video was transcribed by [REDACTED] for the sake of recording the events leading to [REDACTED]. If you are not a member of [REDACTED] you are under order to close this file immediately and report yourself to [REDACTED]. Failure to do so will result in serious consequences up to and including imprisonment or death.

TRANSCRIPT STARTS

[Video opens with an older man in his forties turning on the camera. He is wearing a torn lab coat splattered with blood, dirt, and unidentified black liquids. He is visibly exhausted and sitting on a stool.

Behind him is a metal tube-like object containing (1) unidentified humanoid. His surroundings are in complete disarray, with several holes in the walls and signs of explosion/fire damage along the floors and ceiling.]

"After several weeks of trying I finally managed to lure the Hero into the temporal stasis chamber. It was... not easy. By any means. But I managed it."

[The older man runs a hand through his hair, revealing a cybernetic limb. It is highly damaged and visibly sparking.]

"At best I have about one hour to come up with a solution. The Hero caused considerable damage to my lab before I was able to capture him. I was able to limit the damage to the main power systems during our conflict and the back-up generators were able to grant a few minutes -- but that was it. Harnessing temporal forces is too energy extensive to last long, most of my other labs have been destroyed or overtaken by other Villains, and as for my minions... well."

[The older man turns the camera, revealing a pile of mutilated and blood-soaked corpses piled into a corner of the room. The door to the room has been shattered and embedded into a wall, revealing glimpses of a bloody and corpse-filled hallway.]

"The Hero made short work of them."

[The camera returns to the older man. He is smiling.]

"It's funny, you know? He wasn't always so..."

[The older man doesn't talk for several seconds.]

"I mean, he was a little rough around the edges. Especially when he was starting out. Didn't quite know how to manage his powers back then, didn't know how strong he was compared to the normals. Especially when he didn't have a teacher. So many broken bones and accidental stabbings, mostly from that pointy suit of his.

Bad publicity too. The other Heroes thought he was one of the violent sort, the type who make themselves the judge, jury, and executioner. Him of all people!"

[The older man laughs.]

"I mean, he wouldn't have hurt a fly! Seriously, I saw him capture a fly and let it out of his house once. Said there was no point in killing it when it did him no harm. A fly!"

[The older man stops laughing. He glances off screen.]

"Now... now it's so different. He's different. More..."

[The older man is silent for several minutes.]

"I just...

"I just don't understand how it got this bad. He has friends, doesn't he? Other Heroes who could be there for him. Friends and family who care about him. Therapists and psychologists and -- and people. He isn't alone. He was getting help. So why...?"

[The older man laughs.]

"No. No, I know why. I'm not that shameless. I just...

"I just thought he would bounce back. Like he always does. No matter what happens, no matter how many lives are lost, no matter how beaten he becomes or how many obstacles are in his way or how many friends and comrades he sees die in front of him...

"He always bounced back. Always wore that damn smile of his. Always had hope that... that things would be better.

"Where... where did it go? How did it --"

[The older man stops talking for several minutes.]

"No. I know. I know more than anyone. This was -- it was all --"

[The older man looks towards the figure in the temporal stasis chamber.]

"I...

"You know that I..."

[The older man fully turns away from the camera, facing the unconscious figure.]

"You know... I was always proud to be your Villain. Truly, I was. Even during the early days when I could barely stand you, I knew you were something special. So much more real compared to all the Heroes before you. Genuine in a way that I...

"My best material was always made after our fights, you know? You gave me such inspiration, such drive to keep moving forward. I suppose I was following in your example. You never gave up and you always tried to find new and unique methods to use your powers. You were constantly growing, constantly learning and I, being your Villain, was learning alongside you.

"It was... fun. Those early days. They were the best years of my life and... I hope you managed to get some joy out of them. I hope I wasn't..."

[The older man is silent for several minutes.

During this period a set of flashing red words appear on the upper surface of the pod. The words "5% REMAINING" are depicted.]

"...I'm not sure if I ever said this. I'm... not good at apologizing. I can be so damn proud at the best of times. It's something I've been meaning to work on, and --

"It doesn't matter. The point is...

"I'm sorry."

[The older man intakes a deep breath. His back is still to the camera.]

"I'm sorry for killing your family, John."

[The words on the pod change. "4% REMAINING".]

"I know you don't believe me, but it was an accident. I had no idea who they were -- I wasn't even targeting them in particular! How was I supposed to --

"I didn't know your secret identity back then. I respected it, just as you respected mine. Remember? You had a chance to unmask me and you never took it. Said that everyone has a right to privacy, even someone like me. At the time I felt offended, but deep down I was always grateful for that. I wanted to return the favor. So I...

"Maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe I should have looked under your mask when I had the chance. Maybe then..."

[The words on the pod change. "3% REMAINING".]

"I tried, you know? When you first started deteriorating, when you stopped showing up to our conflicts, when you started spilling more and more blood -- I tried. I tried to bring them back for you. But there was so little left that I...

"I know. I know I should've have made copies. The clones, the shapeshifters, the displaced dimensional alternates. I did my best to make them no different from the originals and yet...

"Well. You were always so perceptive. Even when I altered your memories, their memories, the memories of everyone and anyone around you... you always knew. Some part of you always knew that your family was gone. That you were laughing and loving imposters. It was only a matter of time before you knew and when you did --

"What you did to them was --"

[The words on the pod change. "2% REMAINING".]

"God. There was so much blood. Even for someone like me. And when it was you doing it I...

"I...

"I don't know what to do.

"As God as my witness, I don't know what to do to save you.

"I used to think my death would be enough. That my pain and suffering would give you closure. But in the simulations I ran, it always ended one way. With you taking your life shortly after.

"And I cannot accept that. I refuse to.

"There must be some way. Some path, some method that I haven't been able to see. This... cannot be the end for you. It can't!"

[The words on the pod change. "1% REMAINING".]

"You were meant for so much more than this. So much more than a blood soaked life. You were meant for smiles, and salvation, and hope. You were meant for waving crowds and loyal friends and a happy life. You deserve so much more than what I can give. And I...

"I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fix this."

[The man stands up, revealing that both his arms and legs are cybernetic. A violet forcefield manifests around his body even as he reaches into his coat and takes out a technologically advanced firearm.

He points it at the temporal stasis pod, which is now starting to shake. A low, groaning, humanoid wail starts to emanate from the pod.]

"But I do know that so long as we continue to fight, you continue to breathe.

"So let's fight Hero. Let's fight and war and battle one another until the end of time itself. We will tear this world apart, spill more blood than any in history, carve our way through Heroes and Villains alike.

"And maybe, one day, at the end of this bloody path. When everything is destroyed and no hope can be found. When the rivers run red with innocent blood and there is no one else but you and I.

"Maybe, just maybe I'll be willing to let you go."

[The pod bursts open. The older man fires.

A burst of light impacts the camera and it is destroyed.]

TRANSCRIPT ENDS