And so Richard Ladd’s metamorphosis to Mr. Amazing became complete. The CIA, behind the scenes, worked to provide Mr. Amazing with numerous opportunities to impress the public with his daring deeds. Mr. Amazing was firstly a murderer, the executed Richard ‘Dick’ Rollins, whom no one mourned for of cared to remember. Then Mr Amazing was Richard Ladd - a patient in a hospital with no memory of who he was, or where he had come from. Then Mr. Amazing was a Navy Seal - and then he was some freak of nature with seemingly unnatural sporting abilities. And now Richard Ladd, like Dick Rollins, was dead - and all that remained was Mr. Amazing.

This was all part of the CIA’s plan, and Dr. Janus’ plan. The CIA was interested in an asset that could do things that had traditionally vexxed them. They needed an asset who could go places and who could do things and who could leave no witnesses. For Dr. Janus, it was just an experiment - an experiment to see how far she could push the limits of the human body. Dr. Janus was pleased with what Dick Rollins had become - and she was very sure that the CIA would be pleased with what he was capable of.

Mr. Amazing’s first public relations job was set-up by the CIA. Mr. Amazing, still in his regular civilian clothes and pre-superhero uniform, was being interviewed by CNN in Washington DC about a sports fitness program he was promoting. Mr. Amazing stood on camera and discussed cycling, running, and exercise, and nutrition when in the background, there was an explosion. This had all been pre-planned by the CIA. And Mr. Amazing’s response had been carefully choreographed. According to the CIA’s plan, a group of South American mercenaries had been shipped in, and they were told that they were working on a CIA “false flag” operation. The mercenaries were told that their job was to infiltrate the Smithsonian museum, and to plant some explosives. The explosives would produce a big flash and lots of smoke, but wouldn’t be life threatening. The mercenaries were then told that they would be exfiltrated via the loading bays of the museum - and whisked away to safety. Mr. Amazing had been told otherwise…

As Mr. Amazing stood on the lawns outside of the museum, answering questions, the explosions started - with bright flashes and thick black smoke billowing out of the museum. Mr. Amazing turned, and then pulled off his mic and ran to the building. The CNN film crew continued filming - and the female interviewer gave breathless commentary live on air as Mr. Amazing ran into what appeared to be the burning museum. There were more explosions - more bright flashes and more thick black smoke - and the live CNN feed was picked up by news organizations and social media across the world. The world watched as the CNN host spoke of the explosions, and of how Mr. Amazing - who was being interviewed across from the museum - had raced into the burning building. The CNN crew showed hundreds of people streaming out of the museum, their faces covered in soot and some of them collapsing. Inside the building Mr. Amazing worked his way quickly through the smoke to the location he had been instructed to get to. In the loading bay the group of mercenaries were waiting for the van to collect them, and were nervously checking the rear of the building.

‘Hey guys’ - said a voice, and Mr. Amazing stepped from the smoke in the hallway.

The group of mercenaries spun around, aiming their weapons at Mr. Amazing.

‘Who the fuck are you?’ - said one of the group.

‘There’s been a change of plan’ - said Mr. Amazing, stepping towards the group.

‘Hey, I know you!’ - said one of the others - ‘You is that guy, from the TV. The one who beat all of those NBA stars!’

Mr. Amazing smiled.

‘Mr. Amazing - that’s what they call you!’

‘What the fuck are you doing here?’ - said one of the others.

‘Like I said, a change of plan’ - said Mr. Amazing - ‘Now to make this look realistic, I am going to need you all to start shooting at me’

The group of mercenaries stared at Mr. Amazing, their weapons still pointing at him.

‘Okay - so I am going to kill you first’ - said Mr. Amazing, pointing at the mercenary closest to him - who began edging away - ‘...and when that is done, I am going to kill the rest of you. So, when I kill him - start shooting at me, like you are defending yourselves, okay?’

‘What about the van…’ - said one of the mercenaries, but it was too late.

Mr. Amazing lurched forward and grabbed the mercenary he said he was going to kill first, and he did indeed kill him - snapping his neck.

‘START SHOOTING!’ - ordered Mr. Amazing, and the mercenaries did as they were instructed - now terrorfied.

Outside the CNN news crew reported hearing gunfire - and sent their hopes and prayers to the brave Mr. Amazing inside of the museum. The world held their breath.

About 20 minutes later, Mr. Amazing stepped from the front doors of the Smithsonian museum. His face was blackened with soot, and his clothes ripped from gun fire. There was blood smeared on his cheek - and the CNN news crew were the first to speak to him. Mr. Amazing told the CNN news crew, and the world, that terrorists had attacked America - but that the terrorists had lost. Mr. Amazing told the world that there was a new sheriff in town and that with the permission of the President, he would be fighting for America and the free people of the world in the war against terror.

Murray was watching CNN with the boys from the agency.

‘He did pretty good, hey?’ - said Murray, enthusiastically - ‘The new sheriff line was my idea!’

Todd shrugged - ‘We will see…’

And so the elevation from obscurity to superhero continued. There were other incidents - and there was always a friendly TV crew nearby to capture Mr. Amazing’s, the new sheriff in town, feats of bravery and heroics. Murray built a network of friendly connections in the media, and would feed them information in return for friendly coverage. The rules were simple - never criticize or question anything to do with Mr. Amazing, and you would get exclusive access to Mr. Amazing content. And exclusive access to Mr. Amazing content was what the world demanded.

It was a CIA staged event that showed Mr. Amazing saving a group of hostages from a hijacked plane. Baxter McGill, like millions of others around the world, had watched the live TV footage of Mr. Amazing carrying two children across the runway - now wearing his tight blue superhero uniform. Mr. Amazing’s face - so rugged and handsome. Baxter McGill and the world had watched as Mr. Amazing carried those two children to safety after saving them - and Baxter McGill and the world had listened as the news reporter said that Mr. Amazing had saved the hostages - and that Mr. Amazing was a true American hero.

The world had a hero, Mr. Amazing. Kids and adults alike would line up to buy Mr. Amazing comic books, such as “Mr. Amazing and Seal Team 6: Operation Guts and Glory”.

But there was another side to Mr. Amazing that the world never got to see - the real Mr. Amazing. Away from the live newsfeeds and the comic books and the endorsements and the fame and glitz there was another Mr. Amazing. This Mr. Amazing was the CIA’s janitor who - unbeknownst to any but a few people - would do the CIA’s most dirty jobs. This work wasn’t staged like the heroic public relations jobs. This work was very real, and very dirty work.