The moment Scott received his assignment, he sat up straight and fastened the belt around his waist.
"Ready, sir!" Scott was brimming with energy. "I've finally climbed out of Hell! My days of petty crime are behind me! I'm ready to fight evil and save innocent people!"
"Good. Hold on to that conviction."
Homelander nodded in approval.
"Your first assignment," Homelander said in a low voice, "is this."
"Go to Hell's Kitchen in New York. Infiltrate a vast international crime syndicate..."
"And then..." Homelander watched Scott's face slowly stiffen.
"...find out where something is for me. If you get the chance, use your special talents to steal it."
At the word "steal," the corners of Scott's formerly righteous face began to twitch uncontrollably.
"Scott, don't let appearances limit your thinking."
Seeing how hard the news had hit him, Homelander adopted a more earnest tone.
"You think fighting crime only means wearing a uniform and beating people up in the street? There's more to it than that."
"The world isn't black and white, Scott. The light exists because someone stands between us and the darkness."
"Some evils hide in depths beyond the law's reach. The police can't deal with them, and even a Superman flying overhead can't root them out."
"To destroy that darkness, someone has to be willing to set aside his pride, descend into it, and walk among the monsters."
"Those who dare to shed the glamorous trappings, walk into dark alleys alone, and endure misunderstanding and loneliness just to bring a glimmer of light back to the world—they're the real heroes."
"Tell me, Scott! Who says... heroes have to stand in the light?"
Who says heroes have to stand in the light? The words struck Scott like a thunderbolt, lighting up his heart.
His breathing grew heavy, and