Unlikely G Man

Josh squinted as sunlight reflected off the chrome detailing of the pretentious Midtown restaurant where Carl Delandan had arranged their meeting. Adjusting his jacket, he glanced at Geiko, who rested comfortably on his shoulder. "Think this guy's as important as he thinks he is?" Josh muttered.

Geiko chirped softly, flicking his tail as if amused by the absurdity of it all.

The hostess inside barely glanced up before motioning him toward a table in a private section. Carl Delandan sat there, resplendent in his tailored suit, sipping from a crystal glass of sparkling water. His smug smile broadened as Josh approached.

"Ah, Mr. Carter! Glad you could make it," Delandan said, gesturing grandly toward the seat across from him. "This place serves the best scallops in the city. Have you ever tried them?"

Josh adjusted his jacket, feeling the weight of the past few days settle on him. Since Peter had vouched for him, things had moved too fast. S.H.I.E.L.D. wasted no time getting Peter to extend an invitation to Josh when they learned a superpowered individual was looking for work.

The air in the restaurant was thick with the mingling scents of overpriced food and Delandan's cologne. The Manhattan Regional Director radiated an unearned confidence, his tailored suit and extravagant gestures more suited to a politician than a strategist. Framed by gaudy decor that screamed wealth, Delandan leaned forward, his grin as polished as the cutlery. "You're probably wondering why I wanted to meet you here instead of some boring office," he said with a self-satisfied chuckle. "I like to keep things... upscale." His tailored suit and smug demeanor exuded unearned confidence, aura that screamed nepotism.

"Mr. Carter," Delandan began, his tone professional but laced with curiosity. "Thank you for meeting with SHIELD. Please, have a seat."

Josh hesitated before sitting, his heightened senses picking up on the faint hum of surveillance equipment in the room.

"Spider-Man speaks highly of you and believes you could be an asset in the ongoing battle to stabilize Manhattan."

Josh raised an eyebrow. "Stabilize Manhattan? Sounds like a tall order."

Delandan's lips quirked into a faint smile. "It is. Superpowered villains are popping up every week, each more dangerous than the last. Organized gangs are using advanced tech to expand their influence, and we've seen a disturbing uptick in violent crime in key areas of the city. Manhattan's becoming a warzone, and we need boots on the ground to manage it before it spirals further out of control." I stumbled across an interesting file for a team to protect the World and thought, 'Hey, why not make my own version of that?' Street-level threats? Piece of cake, right? This'll show everyone I can do big things, too." That's where the Super-Agent Program comes in."

Josh leaned back, crossing his arms. "And you want me to join this program?"

Delandan nodded. "You're an individual with unique abilities that make you stand out. That alone makes you a person of interest. But it's your potential that interests us. The Super-Agent Program is a new initiative inspired by this global team. While they focus on world-ending threats, this program is tailored to tackle Manhattan's growing street-level dangers. Spider-Man, a seasoned street-level hero, vouched for you, which makes you qualified in our eyes."

Josh's skepticism was apparent. "And what do I get out of it?"

"Spider-Man told us about how you are an Illegal Alien and asylum seeker from Puternicstan. We are willing to fast-track a legitimate identity, complete with government records, a stable income, and the opportunity to make a difference," Delandan replied smoothly. You'll be compensated generously for your time, and we'll ensure you have access to resources to develop your abilities."

Josh hesitated, glancing at Geiko in his pocket. The prospect of ID and financial stability was tempting—he was tired of scraping by, constantly wondering where his next meal would come from. But the weight of what he was agreeing to lingered. Teamwork wasn't the issue; he'd always been adaptable. The risk of putting himself on the radar in such a volatile world made his stomach tighten. Still, the idea of no longer living in the shadows was hard to pass up. But dealing with government red tape? Taking on supervillains? That was a lot to process.

"Who else is on this team?" Josh asked, stalling.

Delandan's smile widened slightly. "You'd be working with Blue Streak, a speedster; Marvel Man, a promising S.H.E.I.L.D. Agent using new S.H.E.I.L.D. Tech; Texas Twister, a wind-manipulator; The Vamp, a Hottie who brought her own tech; and Sam Wilson—the Falcon, a seasoned USAF Pararescue veteran who pioneered the prototype Falcon Wingsuit during four tours in Iraq. He'll be your team leader and anchor. I'm confident this team will knock it out of the park. Totally my idea, by the way.""

Josh blinked, processing the lineup. "So, basically, a bunch of rookies and then... me?"

Delandan's gaze didn't waver. "Everyone on this team is untested, except for Sam Wilson, but trust me, this will work perfectly. I mean, I came up with the whole thing!"

Josh sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. But just so we're clear, I want to be added to the database, the ID, and the paycheck starting on Day One. I don't want to be stung along by SHIELD for years. If I wanted to take years to get citizenship, I would have just joined the Army."

"Understood," Delandan said, standing to shake Josh's hand. "Welcome to the team."

Josh thought to himself, "This is perfect. I get a legitimate identity and a paycheck and complete my quest simultaneously. But still, nothing in life is ever this easy. What's the catch?"

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[Tutorial Quest: Join an officially recognized super team.]

[Details: Power alone doesn't guarantee recognition. But as part of a team, their achievements and reputation amplify your own. Join a team and see what power really can do.]

[Reward: Unlock the Quest Store.]

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The following morning, Josh adjusted the lapels of the plain black suit he had received from Peter in the apartment's tiny bathroom mirror.

The suit, tailored for someone slightly smaller, had forced Josh to shape himself into a scrawnier version to fit correctly. "You know," he muttered to his reflection, "this is about as generic as it gets, but I guess it works. No one will assume I'm the same person as my Himbo form." Geiko chirped from his perch on the sink, watching him intently.

In the living room, Josh found Gwen sprawled across the couch with a cup of coffee. She looked up and immediately smirked. "Wow, look at you, Mr. Secret Agent. Is that your new super suit? Very intimidating."

Josh chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Not quite, but you've got jokes, huh?" He turned to Geiko. "Guess she doesn't appreciate classic government chic."

"Oh, I appreciate it," Gwen replied, setting her mug down. "You look like you're about to file some important paperwork."

Josh grinned, deciding to play along. "Not exactly," he said, pulling on his jacket. "This is just the appetizer." Keeping the black suit on, Josh focused, and his face began to shift. The features melted away, leaving behind a blank, faceless slate—no eyes, no mouth, just smooth, unsettling nothingness. Gwen's smirk froze as she stared wide-eyed. "Okay, that's... really unsettling. You look like some creepy urban legend."

Josh tilted his head slightly, the faceless visage making the gesture even more unnerving. "Mission accomplished, then. Creepy is the vibe I was going for." "Now this," he said, emanating eerily from the faceless visage, "is my actual super suit."

Gwen's laughter died in her throat, replaced by a startled, "Whoa. Okay, that's... creepy."

Josh tilted his head slightly, his faceless visage making the gesture even more unsettling. "It's a personal joke," he said, his voice emerging unchanged despite the lack of a visible mouth. "In my universe, there is a wild conspiracy theory that Government agents—or G-Men, the faceless arm of the Government, if you will—are all lizard people. I figured G-Man is the perfect Superhero name. I got my powers from a gecko, like Spider-Man, but with lizards. And now I'm a Government Man, so it fits. Plus, the whole faceless government agent thing? Leaning into the lizard people conspiracy just makes it funnier. The best part is this suit's tear-away in case I need to go full lizard-man. Practical and thematic even if I am the only one who gets the reference."

Gwen blinked, then burst out laughing. "Oh my God, you're ridiculous. But I'll give you this—it's a vibe."

Josh let his face return to normal, a satisfied grin spreading across his features. "Perfect the vibe is, G-Man, the Mysterious Super Agent. I'm off. Are you sure it's okay if Geiko stays here while I'm gone? He seems to enjoy your company."

Gwen smiled warmly, reaching out to give the little gecko a gentle pat on the head. "Yeah, of course. He's a good company, better than some people I know."

"First day on the job—got to make an impression." He gave Gwen a mock salute. "Try not to miss me too much, okay, roomy? I promise I'll come back with stories of bureaucratic heroics."

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Josh walked into the bustling S.H.I.E.L.D. base in New York, the hub of agents and operations. After a quick check-in at the front desk, he was led to a secure office, where an agent handed him a folder containing his brand-new identity documents. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Carter," the agent said briskly. Here's your ID, social security number, and access badge. Your bank account has already been set up with your initial deposit of $50,000."

Josh opened the folder, flipping through the documents. His stomach fluttered as he saw his name on the official paperwork. It felt surreal. "This is real," he muttered under his breath.

"Very real," the agent confirmed. "The funds should already be accessible."

Josh nodded, tucking the folder under his arm. "Thanks," he said, his tone laced with excitement and disbelief. He'd barely processed the magnitude of this step when he was directed to the elevator.

"Basement level 3," the agent said. "Your team is waiting for you there."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As Josh stepped into the elevator, he shifted his face into the blank slate, an extra precaution to his scrawny form. The hum of the machinery matched the thrum of nerves in his chest. As the doors slid open, he was greeted by a dimly lit corridor leading to a reinforced door marked "Super-Agent Program." With a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Josh stepped inside, the air buzzing with an undercurrent of tension. Standing at the center of the room was Sam Wilson, the Falcon's authoritative presence unmistakable. Sam stepped forward, offering a welcoming smile before addressing the group.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," Sam began, calm but commanding. "For those who don't already know me, I'm Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon. Before S.H.I.E.L.D., I served as a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman. These days, I'm here to lead this team and make sure we all get through this in one piece.

"I'm also equipped with the EXO-7 Falcon suit," Sam continued, gesturing briefly to the reinforced wings folded behind him. "It lets me fly, provides enhanced combat capabilities, and gives me an edge in offense and defense. The point is, I'm your team leader, and it's my job to ensure this program succeeds."

Sam's voice shifted, gaining a sharper edge. "Now, let's not sugarcoat things. I know this whole program is a Hail Mary idea cooked up by Delandan to score points with Senator Stivak. You've all been pulled together from what's basically a help-wanted ad. But I don't care about any of that. We're here now, and I will make sure this team works—because failure isn't an option."

There is the catch josh thought to himself. We are attempt to get brownie points from Senator's.

His gaze shifted to Josh. "Now, let me introduce our newest recruit, G-Man. He has class 5 Strength Levels and wall-climbing abilities. G-man is a recommendation from an existing superhero, Spider-Man." A group of individuals stood in a loose semi-circle, their attention snapping to him as the door closed behind him.

Josh shook his hand, offering a nod as Sam gestured to the group.

"First up, we have Blue Streak, a recommendation from Justin Hammer," Sam said, motioning to a wiry man in a sleek, blue-trimmed suit with rocket-powered skates gleaming on his feet. Blue Streak gave a cocky grin, spinning lazily on one skate. "Fastest guy in the room, and don't forget it. Got my start in underground racing before these bad boys got upgraded by Hammerhead Industries." Pointing to two lasers mounted on his wrists.

Next, Sam pointed to a tall, broad-shouldered man. "This is Marvel Man, Wendell Vaughn, a S.H.E.I.L.D. agent. He's equipped with some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest tech. Wendell's strength and precision are on his side, and he's no stranger to high-stakes missions."

Wendell gave a polite nod, his tone calm and measured. "Before this, I was stationed guarding tech prototypes. Now, I work directly with them. Glad to meet you."

"Over here," Sam continued, "we've got Texas Twister." A rugged man with a cowboy hat tipped it in greeting. "He's our wind manipulator. He makes tornadoes look easy, and he has some serious grit. Came out of Texas ranching before a freak radioactive tornado turned him into a walking storm."

"And charm," Texas Twister added with a wink toward the only woman in the group. "They told me this gig pays well, so I'm here to cash checks and kick up storms. You're lucky to have me."

Josh raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his gaze shifting as Sam moved on.

"And finally," Sam said, turning to a striking woman with jet-black hair and piercing eyes, "this is Vamp. She's an expert in hand-to-hand combat and brings some unique tech. Spent years as an independent operative before joining up here."

The Vamp's lips curled into a sly smile. "Nice to meet you, beanpole. Try to keep up."

[Tutorial Quest: Join a Super Team. -> Completed.]

[Quest Store Unlocked]