Banning, head of the Secret Service detail at the White House, stood by the window in the Oval Office, anxiously watching the thick smoke rising in the sky more than ten kilometers away.
The guy had been exceptionally heroic while working with Duke and the others during Cobra's last attack on the White House. President Ellis had promoted him to head of the Secret Service detail, putting him in charge of his security.
President Ellis glanced at Banning's anxious expression, then stood up with a smile and walked over to the window. "Having S.H.I.E.L.D. set up its Headquarters in Washington was the biggest mistake. Now's the time to make things right!"
Banning turned to look at President Ellis. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I recommend you go to the underground bunker. That's the only truly safe place..."
President Ellis, the unluckiest president in United States history, waved away Banning's attempt to dissuade him. He smiled unconcernedly and said, "I want to stand with the people...
Giant monsters are rampaging across several states. Washington is engulfed in flames, and New York has become the focus of an attack once again...
I won't lock myself in a cage and hope for good news!
There's nowhere safe. I'm only safest when I stand on the side of justice with everyone else..."
Banning watched President Ellis deliver his impassioned speech with a strange expression. For a moment, he seemed to be looking at one of those great figures who only appeared in human history, until...
"Keep that same attitude and go repeat what you just said to the reporters. You'll be a great president who writes himself into the history of the United States...
A rough, imperfect past will only make you more compelling..."
Norman Osborn had been sitting in the Oval Office,