[WP] “Survival of the fittest! The strong lives, the weakling dies!” “Alright, you’re first then.”
“Yes, Sir, whatever my Country needs,” Power Grip was acknowledged as the strongest man alive, and the President requested his assistance. He’d received the instructions and indicated he was ready to rise to the occasion, even if he didn’t quite understand the details. As far as he understood it, they’d been challenged to a contest of sorts. The caped hero stood in the center of a military warehouse surrounded by guards and closed doors.
“Not just the Country, son; you’ll be helping the world,” the President nodded. “And putting us on top in one fell swoop. Look alive,” the President patted Power Grip on the shoulder as he moved to stand behind the hero. Power Grip watched as a vertical black hole opened in mid-air and a green-haired young woman in a white blazer and slacks emerged with a smile. He expected it, but he was still surprised at how simple travel from an alternate universe appeared to be. She walked into the warehouse from nowhere as casually as entering a living room.
“You must be their champion,” she smiled at Power Grip and gave him a polite nod. “My name’s Joy,” she added.
“You can call me Power Grip,” he decided to use his hero name the moment he saw she was a woman, and she didn’t look any older than 21.
“I’m sure they explained everything to you,” Joy said. “However, it’s still important to be clear about what’s happening, just in case they didn’t,” she said with a sly glance at the President. “My company, Sharp Development, is known as a multiversal organization. We often establish trade with other Earths across the multiverse, along with other, more specialized interactions. This is one of those special ones,” she gestured at the armed guards around. “In the case of this Earth, your leaders have opted to accept a challenge from Sharp Development. If YOU win,” she pointed directly at Power Grip. “Then your government wins access to all the advanced technology Sharp Development owns. If you lose, then Sharp Development claims ownership of your Earth,” she said.
“That’s everything they told me,” Power Grip nodded. When he learned all the information, he couldn’t help but feel that they were leaving things out. Unless they were going to switch anything out, Joy herself was his opponent. It sounded too easy to win, and simultaneously too impossible to enforce. Should his Super strength fail, there was no other government on Earth that would believe someone owned the entire planet. There was no risk. “I’m ready to discuss the rules of the contest,” he said.
“Very well, what do you propose?”
“Survival of the fittest!” He was eager to get the situation over with more than he was eager to attack a woman, and the memorized rules burst free as soon as he was able to. “The strong lives, the weakling dies!” he said.
“Alright, you’re first then,” Joy nodded and stepped closer as she placed her hands behind her back. “Go ahead and give me your best shot any time you’re-,”
Power Grip’s fist sprang into action. He drew back and launched a punch with all his strength and a sprinkle of anger. He hated being put in that position, but he was going to help his country, even at the cost of her life. As his hand landed on her face, a shockwave tore through the surrounding warehouse, knocking those closest to the ground and disheveling everyone. And, in the same moment, pain coursed through his hand up his arm as his clenched fingers shattered.
“-ready,” Joy giggled as Power Grip cradled his hand, and some guards helped the President get back up to his feet. “Well, I guess that’s settled,” she shrugged.
“What the hell are you?” Power Grip asked as he tried to ignore the pain while still holding his tender hand.
“Little late to be asking, isn’t it?” Joy giggled. “When I first made the deal, I also offered knowledge about the wider multiverse. Your government refused an information exchange, I’m assuming to keep knowledge about Supers hidden,” she nodded at Power Grip. “We own thousands of Earths with Supers, we know all about them,” she said. “It also would’ve included information on people called ‘Unique Souls’, I’m one,” Joy said. “But, I guess no matter where you go in the multiverse, you’ll find some idiot who thinks they already know everything there is to know. It’s kind of funny,” she shrugged. “You went and picked ‘survival of the fittest’ on top of that,” she sighed at him as she stepped forward. “It’s always the weakest people who think physical strength is the most important metric in any discussion.”
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