Alan had watched the money, appear and then disappeared as soon as it got into his bank account. His financial advisors and accountant had organised his money into investments and different accounts; one for fun, one for a house, one for business ideas, one for stupid things, with absolutely non of his money going to taxes.

Since the government was paying for his taxes after a bit of grumbling about paying forty per cent of my taxes to itself, they thanked him for it. Jumping mental hops as they prepared to pay their own taxes every month for as long as Alan was here.

As for his own ideas, he thought about buying a space yacht not that he could afford to keep one, could at least buy one, he honestly didn't know what to buy. He didn't need to, while he was a research subject as his meals were being monitored now that thing had calmed down. They are hoping to see if the food had some sort of different effects on him.

Now that he had a coping measure, they had a room assigned to him to use his powers in. No one could enter the space under pain of death, not because they'd kill the person who entered the room. Because if Alan was emotional, then the room could be filling or emptying, and you don't want to be in there.

Anyway, he'd been paid he was obligated to head into the city and find these wild supers and do his best to talk to them. He was currently talking to Commander Boris, who had invited him down to invite it had been a few days since he'd woken up. The foreign agents would be arriving tomorrow, so this was the last day he could leave it. It would be a dying shame for them to attack another country, definitely when they’re already itching for a fight.

He was going out on his own in a pair of jeans and leather jacket, he had some gloves on since the cold was creeping in. Heaters had been put up around the command tent more bunker now with several metres of reinforced concrete surrounding it.

They were looking at a map of the new city layout. With several red pins in it and a simple route that had been planned from it was open and hopefully easy for them to see him. He'll be carrying a white flag and was told to hold a shield around himself, which he was doing right now as they talked. His nervousness was increasing so that shouldn't be a problem. He doubts he would get less nervous as he visited other supers that had already shown themselves to be aggressive.

Alan was hoping that being like them that they'd not attack. However, new pieces of information his hope had faded, the two vets who'd been moved to a new site had previously engaged the supers. Causing trouble for them, it concerned him as they've already seen that they can’t trust their own people.

He could only do the jobs he's paying to do and at least try to talk to him and offer a trade. It was a simple trade they'd not attack anyone, and we'd trade them foodstuff and meat for the maddened. Since the infection had been called an endemic and aid was required to be sent, and since they couldn't round them all up, they could only give them food to sustain themselves until they found some sort of cure. That would be happening automatically and wasn't part of the deal all he needed to do was offer them that. If they had someone who could produce food there then ask what else they need and trade them for at.

He was also required to inform them that other countries were sent warships to the Irish sea and that they'll be around to look after their assets. He also had to get them to understand that they should be wary of them since they could attack them to get their own supers to study.

Boris snapped Alan's attention back with a click of his fingers, “So do you understand your briefing, Alan?”

"Yes, I understand," Alan replied after the third time they'd gone through the operation. They'd had also given him several exit plans that he could follow in case things went wrong.

It was a lot of information, and he was sure that he would forget some. They'd attached a mic and earpiece to him so that they could communicate to each other so they could understand the situation and maybe direct him.

Sadly they were not dropping him off in a cool helicopter ride or parachuting in. Still, they simply were going to open up the gate, he was going to walk around the rubble torn streets of Daedalus. If they didn't take him in, then he was going to do so again the morning before the others arrived.

Clipping on the mic and signal receiver, he was driven over to the designated starting point. The drive made him realise that he hadn't seen as many civilians in the base at all. He found from the drive that they'd finally all been evacuated. It could all be lost here the Commander demanded that they be moved to somewhere safer.

Once he'd reached the gate that was teeming with shining guns and the steel gates that stood firm. He jumped off the car and grabbing as small white flag the gates grated open.

Alan could see beyond into the rubble-filled, glass filled grounds he crunched his way past the gates and onto the streets. He heard the screeching cutting his exit off and leaving him in outside seeing the wrong side of the gun he hoped that none of them malfunctions and shot at him.

Wouldn't the first time in history to shoot a friendly, there are records of people shoot other allied people by accident in war, but those critters weren't friendly-looking. He could see the odd dead body that the army hadn't had the opportunity to clean up, their bullet-riddled bodies rest under the wall.

He didn't want to look as it reminded him of his own family that could've been one of those unfortunate souls. At least his were trapped inside the facility being cared for as well as they could be. He even managed to see them with the renewed freedoms that his new adjustments gave him.

They looked fine from what he could see since they were kept in cells underground. It was aggravating to see them like that there was no way for them to be taken care of. Any human who would have been entered would've been torn to shreds. Hence, they were dirty, wearing scraps of clothing which were basically falling off, and they had to move every one of them out to clean the floor.

It looked so horrible that he broke his own rule of engaging with his family and volunteered to help, by cleaning them with his power and re-clothing them. Which the Commander accepted without issue and the room had been clean, deodorised and new fresh clothes appeared on the maddened. He included foam-padded walls so that if anything agitated them again, they wouldn't bruise themselves.

To avoid suspicion, he had to do the same with all of the cells that were filled with maddened. It was noring at his thoughts that he shouldn't have done that. Still, his sister had bruises running up and down her body and mother was similarly bruised. Even, his father had broken his arm, which Alan had taken the opportunity to repair.

He clothed them in their favourite clothes, a flowerier dress for his sister Heather and father jogging bottom and too large a T-shirt for his mother, simple trousers and t-shirt with "Hell on Earth" written on it.

He, of course, had to do similar things for everyone by the end of the day he was exhausted, but at least he felt better about leaving them. He promised to visit them every week to take care of them.

He'd also got to talk to Ashley again this time without the whole mountain shaking emotions. It was a very one-sided conversation, it was mostly him talking, and she listened since she never experienced anything from movies to music.

He knew that he was going to have to be around when that happens. Imagine her listening to classic or rock, watching the titanic. Oh boy, where the tear going to be real and then theirs TV and tech which she had a vague idea about thankfully he was pretty sure there were things that he was going to have to explain.

Then came the first psychiatric session. Thankfully all four were moved into the newly reinforced arena. The raw power Ashley let out was a test of Alan's own strength, doing his best to contain that power and redirecting it. All the while protecting Gloria, the medium a fellow super who had telepathic powers and the specialist all who were directly next to Ashley. Then he needed to act as if it was nothing and as a man, he successfully bullshited his way through as the strongest person in the arena. When got back to his room he collapsed and cried the blood out of his orifices which he'd been forced the push it back to not shocking or scare Ashley, thinking that she was hurting someone wouldn't help her.

After all of it, he was glad he'd managed to bullshit his way through since it made him immensely happy that he'd not blackout this time. Hopefully, he'll only improve, thankful they were only going to do those sessions twice a week which gave him a few days to recover. Only for them to push Ashley and himself further the next time.

He probably should be a bit more concerned with what could be happening around him then in the past. Still, he was well protected by his nerves which he channelled straight into a shield that formed around him.

He's been walking for quite a while, that he could no longer see the concrete wall and its gleaming barrels. Looking at the devastated and ruined buildings, he always thought he caught sight of the head of a Maddened poking itself out and before hiding himself whenever Alan looked in their direction.

The route he walked was a simple circular route that would be easily recognised to anyone who saw him. It was hopefully something he could keep doing, and someone would eventually come to see him, looking up he saw some drones flying around and wonder if they were scared by them picking up his mic and called, “Idiot 1 to stupid centre,”

“Stupid Centre here, what’s up?”

Smiling at his code words that they allowed him to pick they really shouldn't have, he wondered for a moment if they'd let him pick again. "Idiot one here, Just wondering if you could clear the sky of drones. I'm pretty sure that I've got company, but they never leave the building. they're scared of the drones following me.”

“Stupid centre copy, We’ll be move drone out of ranges, stay safe Idiot one, over.”

Smiling, he put his mic out of view and watched as the drone flew away from him, leaving him alone. Looking towards the building, he couldn't see anything interesting in them. Continuing on his route a few more times, before he was tired of going around in circles. So he decided that he'd stop for a break, move closer to the buildings he found a but of rubble that would have made a very nice seat that rested against a building that wasn't shaded.

Shrugging off his backpack, he undid it and pulled out a flask and box, and some water. Leaning against the wall, he explored his surroundings within his influence. Finding an underground complex of tunnels which he could feel something continually movement through. He also felt the dozens of maddened hiding behind the wall his back was resting against. There was a dozen more who were avoiding him for the second floor who was looking down at him.

To say that he wasn’t nervous was an understatement. Still, he just pours all of it into his shield which would protect him. It was something to keep his focus on so that his emotions didn't show up on his face. Still, he got on with eating which got a reaction from the young few who couldn't control themselves poked their head out as they smelt the sweet Jerky, ham sandwich. Upon opening the flask, steam floated out of the top of it and wafted the meaty aroma of beef stew.

The youngest couldn't help themselves as they stepped out of the darkness looking up at him. Approached the weird young man who smelt strong and scared them with just by his presence. Those aromas to even a human would find it hard after not eating for a while, let alone a child who had no instinct beyond hunger and anger.

Smiling at the children who shivered back to the darkness, he held out a hand with a stick of Jerky attached to it. When he realised that no one was going to come and take it from his hadn't, he left it on the furthest part of the bench. Eventually any either one of the very brave or very stupid maddened creep his way close. At the same time, Alan simply drank the broth and ate the very same Jerky.

Once the Brave Maddened had grabbed the jerky and walked off without something horrible happen to him. When Alan moved again with a similar piece of Jerky and placed it on the same place, someone was a little quicker with the uptake and was the first to move to pick up the jerky and running off with it.

It was all too easy to get them comfortable with him as he continued to feed them and bringing them closer and closer. Even though they smelt quite alarming, he had the opportunity to clean them and did so, which they didn't even notice.

Eventually, he had them eating out of his very hands. While he was doing that the adults started getting interested in him as they kept watching kids come past with food. They walked over to see him and watched, keeping to the shadows. Even the kids avoid being out in the open, always sticking close to the wall looking up constantly. He eventually ran out of Jerky. He opened his bag again, which made every one of them scatter, even though he was just pulling out an entire box of Jerky. He smiled as the head popped back out as the smell of smoked Jerky reinvigorated the Maddened.

It was funny as he started down as the Jerky, he'd give it a try to make it with his powers. He'd managed to get something that looked like Jerky, but when he gave it a chew, he tasted of nothing and the Jerky barely held together. When he asked the scientist who then tested it, they found it had only protein in it. At the same time, if you compared it to Jerky which had a whole host of chemicals and fats, that made it taste excellent.

So this would probably require a little more knowledge on the subject for him. Unlike limestone that's made from calcite, granite made for granite they could be relatively easy to make. Still, food was far more complicated requiring proteins, enzymes, acids, fats which would make it taste nice but difficult to make.

This time there was no hesitation in picking the food from his hand as they lined up against the wall waiting for their turn. Some did try to butt in and make space for themselves, a quick "hey" and the temporary holding of food and a short staring competition they'd move back.

It wasn't until he was running low of Jerky when the Maddened scattered, clearing the area quickly as someone had appeared for him. He watched with his influence as someone they left the underground tunnel and entered the building Alan was leaning against. Alan watched as the wall was blasted out as someone stepped through, all the while Alan sat there eating Jerky, amused as the kid at least a year young then he walked out.

And Alan thought that it was a mistake giving a teenager superpowers and then expecting them to use the door like an average person. It was definitely a bit too much to ask, not that he was one to speak. Still, he swallowed his Jerky and went to say something.

Boris was walking back and forth, having just finished with Alan's briefing. He'd got a report back from his lieutenant who'd been investigating Alan's parents. Since Boris had gotten a little suspicious of Alan volunteering to help the Maddened they'd trapped down in the basement, it had been hard to care to form them. Anytime he asked a super they stuck up their noses to the job, some from pettiness and some from fright.

So when Alan came by and asked if he could which, he gladly gave as the job was a quick one with his powers. He definitely had questions that needed answering, and he found his second had found that Alan had apparently stayed around the first cell for about twenty minutes. When he went to the other sections, it took him a minute at most.

So they'd simply reserved imaged the face of those inside the cells with the database and found why Alan stayed there longer. It was because his entire family was in there his sister Heather, mother Elena and father, Gregory.

While Alan was outside on operation, he needed to decide what to do. Should he tell the higher-ups, should he inform Alan that he knew and forbid him from seeing them. Not because Boris was heartless they just didn't want to show the foreign agents any weaknesses. So he left it, while the operation was in progress and as they got a call from Alan about the drone, he ordered the change and waited for Alan's regular reports.