The Incredibles and The Gamer

Disclaimer: "The Incredibles" is property of Disney and Pixar. The characters, names, objects, and places mentioned in this work which are part of the original movie "The Incredibles" are thus the property of Disney and Pixar. Some names and characters have also been used which are property of Nintendo and Sega and are respectively credited. All other names and characters are of my own design are to be properly credited to me.

Writer's Notes: The events in this story are patterned after the concepts and settings found in the original movie. The time period is reminiscent of the 70s and 80s, following Brad Bird's 60s appearance of the original, yet is meant to feel timeless. Thus this story takes place in an alternate time line from our own, which has technology and other aspects which would otherwise only be found in current times (i.e. video games, advanced computers, etc.). For the reader's convenience, the year is 1974 as the story opens. Super hero work has also taken on a new perspective. By popular and legislative vote, Super Hero work is now a paid profession and extension of the civic services requiring training, education, licensing, and registration. The main emphasis is that the people are primarily responsible for looking after themselves with the supers there to uphold the law and provide assistance when requested, required, or absolutely necessary.

Prologue

Metroville Tribune

Saturday, August 23, 1969

(Courtesy of the Metroville Tribune Archives)

More than fifteen years ago the country was a different place. It was a place where names such as Gazerbeam, Blazestone, Gamma Jack, Elastigirl, Frozone, and Mr. Incredible were well known and respected. Fighting alongside the officers of the law, fantastic figures such as these could be found protecting the people in almost every major city. It was the Golden Age of Super Heroes.

But it was an era that was ended at the behest of the people. Slowly at first, and then in torrents, lawsuits against the actions of supers appeared in the courts at every level from municipal to federal: Lawsuits claiming, to varying degrees, that the supers' actions were dangerous, reckless, and against the will of the saved parties. And so began the events that lead the supers and their families down into the underground, living civilian lives and working civilian jobs while guarding the secrets of their abilities from the public eye.

Many saw this as a turn for the better, but others saw it as a crushing blow to our society. Were we indeed safer without them? What kind of reward was this for their selfless service? As time passed, there were those who longed for the days when one could look up and perhaps see Stratogail speeding through the atmosphere or Dinaguy cruising to the rescue. Doubtless, many an ex-super wished to fulfill these people's burning desire: to once again be free to serve the people.

To supers and fans alike, it seems the time has come once again. Many will recall that three months ago our fair city was attacked by a destructive robot of unknown origin. Just when it seemed that all was lost, there stepped forward a group of Super Heroes, some young and some old, to neutralize the threat. Though damages were high, none sued for them. Rescues were made, but none complained. In fact, when the fight was over, the crowds erupted with applause to welcome the supers back. It was this event that got the ball rolling.

Three days later a special session of congress was called to determine what course of action should be taken regarding the Supers and the long-defunct National Supers Association. The people took notice and they responded, not with riots this time and with only one or two protests. In their place there were rallies and overwhelming support in favor of returning the Supers to work.

Almost immediately, the congress ruled to reform the NSA and allow them to get the work of organizing the Supers on a nation level underway. Congressmen then began debating the particulars with the NSA and soon the Supers were permitted to come out of hiding, and then were released to apply to the civic services. Several months would pass before the full details would be hammered out, but little by little the shine of the Glory Days grew on the horizon.

Then yesterday, the final decisions were made. In a public address, President McCallister announced to the nation from the White House that the Supers would be returning to work. The NSA was made an extension of the existing civic services and Hero Work a career and profession. The Supers would be required to be registered with the NSA and then, if they chose to pursue Hero Work, they would be inducted into a formal training and licensing program to learn the full extent of their powers, and to establish the limits of their authority as federal law enforcement officers. From there, much depends upon the communities in need. It has been left to the cities and towns to vote whether Super Heroes be permitted to serve within their jurisdictions, thus leaving the power of choice firmly in the people's hands. Once the request is made, a city municipal department for Super Heroes is formed and supers dispatched by the NSA to assume their duties as a civil servant.

As such, under normal circumstances, the supers would carry the authority equivalent of a police officer and be able to keep the peace and enforce the law. But when the situation demands and the call made, the supers are left to do all within their power to protect the people and the community from the threat of destruction.

Already there have been many positive responses to the new initiative. Metroville's governing bodies will be holding a special city meeting to set the public ballot date for the yea or nay vote on a local super's department. However, there have been some complaints. Some still espouse the old idea that the supers are not necessary or are dangerous and are adamantly against the initiative. But these parties are small and disarrayed and thus hold little sway in the common voice which overwhelmingly supports the Supers.

Whatever the future holds, it gleams bright on the horizon. Though the Glory Days may never truly be recaptured, a new era of Hero Work promises a stunning spectacle for us all. And this time, we the people have power granted to us to sit in on the action. May we, as well as the Supers, use our powers wisely to ensure the preservation of justice and freedom in this great nation.