Silence hung over the smoke filled room. The four older suited men had their eyes focused directly ahead. The wall across from them was covered with a wall sized screen. separated into smaller monitors. Each screen showed a broadcast from a different news outlet, across the world every one of them was reporting on the same thing.
"In the four days since the incident in L.A. SDN's subscriber numbers have almost tripled. Not because of heroes, not because of our carefully curated and tested heroes. Because of former criminals."
"We already know this Madison, what you wanted to call the board together to what? A congratulatory jerk off? Get to the point," one of the men replied.
"We have a new influx of money thanks to the Phoenix Program, and I have a proposal. We need to capitalize on this, and in a big way," said Madison.
"Stop with the grandstanding, I got a tee time to get to," another of the board stated.
"We have failed multiple times in the past but now is the time. We expand to the East coast and re-open a branch in the greatest city in the world. New York," said Madison, large smile spread across his face.
A moment of silence held before the four men burst out laughing.
"Why do you think we haven't gone back? Just a influx of money won't help. There's already so many super hero teams battling and equal or greater number of supervillains. Constant rebuild costs alone wouldn't even be covered by the additional subscribers."
"They also despise outsiders. New York more than anywhere suffer from super related crimes. So unless you are from there, the public will run you out of town."
The board members all knew from the last time SDN tried to start a New York office, how difficult it would be. The last office was burnt down twice, and shut down within the first month of opening it's doors and only one of those fires was started by a villain.
"Well if you can look at the tablets in front of you, I can assure you I have already thought of that." Madison smiled.
With a click of a button, the wall of screens switched over to one large monitor.
"I have already put together a shortlist of New York born heroes who are either solo, close to retirement, or who have moved away from the city. One of these will be the face of the branch. And then." He clicked the button once more. "A list of candidates to recruit into New York's first Phoenix Program."
The four swiped away at the tablets in front of them. Madison had put a lot of effort into his research. Each hero had a detailed breakdown, and reason why they would be succeed. Each candidate broken down into potential team lineups based on power, personality, skills.
"Well we can't fault you for your...thoroughness. Still, I just can't see it being successful this time around."
The other four nodded, grunts of agreement. These four had been on the board for nearly three decades, and had helped grow the company to it's current state. The experience shared between them was not to be ignored.
"Well that's why I decided to go ahead and run a survey. Every year we do a survey in most major cities that don't currently have a SDN branch if they would like one. New York has been included in that for the past six years." Madison clicked the button again.
Seven pie charts appeared on the screen. The first six, overwhelmingly covered by the red colour of no, only showing two to three percent of people wanting a SDN branch. Yet the seventh, a large slice of blue.
"See, since the reports have been going out, nearly fifty percent of those surveyed said yes."
The four looked at each other.
"That's still only half, we require a ninety percent agreement before we even go through the process of expansion talks. You want us to just disregard all of that?"
"You are looking at it wrong sirs. In a city that hates outsiders, nearly half of them want a Z-Team. It's a city that loves its underdogs, I mean hell look at how much they love the Knicks," said Madison.
"All I am saying is, there's a coin flip chance of success. People have bet more on worse odds."
The only one who hadn't talked this entire time. Harold Smithson Jr. The second generation Smithson who had taken the role of CEO at SDN, the company founded by his father. Let out an audible sigh.
"So, who's your top choice to run this?"
----------------------
"You serious? You want me to run a SDN branch? Get real here."
Madison just smiled, he had already done the research on the man sat across from him. His once black hair may now mostly be covered in grey, his umber touched skin may have a few more wrinkles, but with his muscular build and trademark moustache still made him very recognizable. Harlem's own, Master Soldier. Former leader of Street Force, one of the first predominantly black super hero teams.
"Of course Master Soldier, you are not only a legend but you have experience leading teams. It would be a great-"
"Please call me Andre, I am not in uniform right now. But anyways, I am pretty much retired. Not much need for an aging hero who has lost half a step," Andre responded.
"Not at all, your experience alone brings value. The extra benefit of your abilities just adds to the legitimacy that we so sorely need," said Madison.
"I remember the last time you all opened shop here. They thought they should automatically get respect. Seems you understand a little better of the New York state of mind." Andre huffed.
"With respect. I know things haven't been easy for you since Street Force...disbanded. I think this will be as much of a benefit to you as it will be to us."
"Careful Madison, you have no idea of what I have been through." Andre's jaw clenched.
"Sorry I didn't mean to overstep. I'm just saying everything you have been through, you can use to help reform people who want to change, want to become a hero just like you," Madison exclaimed.
Andre looked over the folder in front of him once more. Madison had really been pushing the idea of the Phoenix Program to him. Sure he had seen all the hype that followed from the incident in LA, but a group of New York criminals becoming a team of super heroes that could live up to that? He didn't think much of their odds. Yet, there was something in the back of his mind. Call it intuition from years of life or death experiences, or just simple experience. What happened in LA was just going to be a catalyst, not for heroes but for villains. Shroud showed the potential of destruction of society as the world knew, and no where could suffer from that potential more than New York. It had the highest population of superhumans, along with the highest rate of super related crimes. So many villains that if they could push their ego to the side they could take over the city in a night. Heroes may not be able to deal with that scenario, but maybe...
"Ok, I will do it but under one condition. I heard that you hired a former hero to work as the, dispatcher? Is that what you call them?"
"Yes, its an important role. The dispatcher is the one who evaluates the situation and sends the right hero or combination of heroes accordingly. And yes, off the record we did hire an ex-hero to be the dispatcher. We find especially for those in the Phoenix Program they need the experience. We already have a team of dispatchers ready for the New York branch ready to go!" explained Madison.
"Well my condition is I get to hire the dispatcher for the Phoenix Program," said Andre.
"I mean, we usually put potential dispatchers through a test to evaluate their ability to do the job. I can assure you the team waiting are more than capable," said Madison.
"Just like you want a New York hero to be the face of the branch, I need a New York hero who understands crime and won't take any shit from whatever bunch of idiots you put together."
"Well...I get that." Madison scratched at his chin. "Sure I can agree to that, we still will have to put them through some form of basic training though."
"Sure that's no problem. I already have someone in mind for it. They will be able to whip those assholes into shape." A rare smirk crept upon Andre's face.
Madison continued to go over the paperwork, the potential hero's that they want to hire first, the staff members and all the details Andre would need to know as the new head of a SDN branch. The overcast skies outside began to fade into darkness as the hours went by and night began to creep in to the rented office space Madison had got for the day.
"So yeah we will have the midtown office ready and operational within a few weeks," explained Madison.
"Well midtown is pretty central, but not exactly the hotbed of crime though, travel times might be something we have to worry about," said Andre.
"Yes, I think this is on purpose we had to apply for an office space with the New York Board Of Super Regulation, and they practically gave us one option. Midtown or not at all," Madison responded.
"Yeah that sounds about right. They aren't exactly the most helpful bunch even if you are from here." Andre sighed, reclining back in the cheap office chair. "Well whatever we can deal with that later. Now I haven't really asked but have you already picked out who you are getting for the Phoenix Program?"
Madison reached into his multi-lock attaché briefcase. A large red folder with confidential stamped in black across it's front. He slid it across the desk. Andre popped off the wire clasp, unleashing the stack of personal information dossiers that Madison had painstakingly put together.
"Oh you got to be out of your damn mind, Madison."