Big Apples are Big. (Jubin)

"So, let me get this straight. This guy in New York City actually had accepted my Craigslist ad? Sweet! I told him to meet me at a nearby McDonald's. I wonder if he'll show."

Gold was on the phone while driving his old, rusty Love Machine. He hung up after discussing something completely different, and continued his driving. New York wasn't that far from his previous location, and thus it wasn't hard to get to. Him being a Roamer and all, making short trips like two states was nothing compared to what his day normally consisted of. Shock knew one thing from his past experiences at New York. It was one busy place. Where there were loads of people, Shock also knew that there were loads of crime, meaning that Shock had a job to do. He just hoped that whoever this person who answered him on Craigslist was, they knew what their job was in the world of crime too.

Shock had already met with three 'recruits' in the past week that turned out to be a total flop. There were others that were capable of holding their own, but a few specifically weren't ready, or willing, to work on a team and be a part of something bigger and better for the sake of the community versus their own name in the paper. He remembered the failing attempts that "Styx", "Rubbey", and "Cape man" all tried to get into the Watchers with, Cape Man not even having a metagene, simply being a man in a cape. That would have gotten him accepted if he could fight, but all of these last few were all duds, none of them had anything to give up, none of them had anything to bring to the table. That's what Shock needed, he needed members of the Watchers who actually were beneficial to the group, not just there because it's a Super Group and everyone else is joining.

Shock had parked in a Wal-Mart parking lot, like he normally did, and took a shower in his van using his unique tank system he added a few years ago when he first started living in it. He cooked himself up a meal of a Hot Pocket, and after eating he opened the two back doors to his van and began to walk out. Of course, he had his super-attire hidden with him at all times, and really this was just the nearest Wal-Mart to the McDonald's. Shock looked around the entrance before finally going in. He had something different about him, sunglasses. He covered up his face, and ordered a simple meal of a large Fry and a large soft beverage. He sat down at a two-seater table, and he would wait for a man to enter the doors. He stayed semi-close to the door, and made sure he was in plain sight for anyone walking in to see.

Shock's appearance:

If a man who looked confused about where he was sitting entered, Shock would raise his hand. However, until then all he did was sit and eat from his fries.

"Good, good. Now, tell me about yourself. Who are you, and what do you want to do with The Watchers? I also need to know what you can bring to the table."

Shock dipped his hand down, carefully getting a single fry caught between his thumb and index finger, and he raised it to his mouth, eating it all while still looking face-to-face with this man. He looked way too.... Was 'pretty' the correct term? Whatever it was, Shock didn't like it. He looked like he could easily have an ego, which could be a big problem to the whole 'team' aspect of the Watchers. Of course, Shock was being a bit judgmental, he just really didn't want his time to be wasted. He was a Watcher, he had crimes to stop, and baddies to beat up. He knew New York was crawling with them, too.

Before this 'Neal' could speak, he began to talk again. "You also need to work well with a team. I don't know you, I know that, however, if you're going to think you're some hotshot around them, you're good as gone. Guys with egos are the downfalls of great things, and this great thing will make the world a notably better place. Is that understood? Now, I'll pass the conversation over to you, and I'll let you speak, finally. Make a good impression. I don't want this to be for nothing."

Was he too forward? Was being too forward such a thing? Either way, Shock just didn't want this to be a wasted opportunity, and if it was time wasted, he wanted it to be as little time as possible.

On a side note, Shock also began to release tiny bits of electricity into the air, nearly undetectable, and he began to surge it through the area. He had a good understanding of this area in case anything wrong went down, and really this was just a habit Shock developed.

Neal smiled and nodded his head, "My 'ego' is a cover, I don't expect myself to be a hot shot of any sorts around people while lives are at stake when we're face to face with the enemy, I also have to keep up appearances in the public eye to maintain my cover."

Neal had paused to think a little and looked over to a couple chatting it up, clearly not paying attention as their gaze was brought to the outside where a string of Ferrari's were cruising down the road. Looking over he lifted one of their fries using his telekenetic abilities and placed it infront of himself and began to eat one. After finishing the fry Neal spoke again, "I'm telekinetic due to my highly advanced brain compared to any regular human, I'm also fast, I've clocked my speed up to around mach 3 and I have super strength. I could probably lift any vehicle out there in the parking lot with one hand."

After saying that Neal sat there and waited for a response, curious with what the Watchers have to offer. Neal continued saying, "I'm also a pretty good leader, for my day time disguise and income, I own a multi-billion dollar enterprise and manage it to the point of massive amounts of success, I should also mention that I am alien to this planet, I'm from a distant solar system where my world was destroyed, which forced me to come here at a very young age and live here, so yes, I can fight, lead and work with others efficiently."

He wasn't sure what he was going to say at first, but he easily thought about it, and after a slight pause he spoke.

"I say that's all very interesting. So, you're a business man, you've got the super speed, the super strength, the super brain. You've got to tell me one thing. What are you doing with a bunch of no-name guys living on the streets? I also hope you know that we, at the Watchers, will not be accepting any large donations of any sort to the members. I don't want the idea of the Watchers to vanish. We're just a bunch of people trying to help out. I'm sure I don't have to clarify this, but we aren't, and will never be, some big group with rocket ships and space stations and literal underground tunnels and bases and what-not. This is nothing but a collection of heroes in specific areas trying to help. I can see that you would be a good addition, although, if I can ask. Not only why are you willing to work with the Watchers, a bunch of guys who don't have the genetics to be on your level, but why not work alone? Surely you could do solo work like a charm, clearing the city without even breaking a sweat. So why don't you? Why do you accept an ad for a bunch of normal, average bad-guy hunters, when you're on the level of, well, universal strength? It just seems a bit farfetched that you'd want to work with low-metas, for someone as strong as you are."

Shock sat there, staring intently at this man. There had to be some hidden motive behind this. There was no way some near god was going to help a bunch of street vigilantes without wanting something. It's not like Shock even needed this guy on the Watchers. If he gave off the wrong impression of what the crew was about, then their entire plan was compromised, and it turns into a battle of the rich over who has fancier things. The Watchers were going to remain the same, so if that meant giving this guy the boot then so-be-it. However, he could also be a valuable asset, and unlike most of the other tryouts, he was an actual hero.

That was Shock's only other problem with this. This guy was an actual, big, star hero. If the press got onto Watchers, then that might be it too. He'd have to make sure whenever this guy was wearing spandex or whatever the hell he wore to beat up burglars stealing old women's purses, if the media was onto him then he wouldn't mention the Watchers. He did feel like this would give a definite edge to the Watchers in any situation though. He just had to make sure that he personally ran the finances, and he also felt he'd have to decline a few very generous donations for the overall sake of the team.

That he would all deal with later. Right now, he waited for a response from his previous questions. This candidate wasn't going to be viewed like the others, who all had their fighting ability tested. This guy was going to be tested on what he could bring to the team versus what he may take away.

"Alright. I'll keep that in mind in case we ever need it. I'll have to say welcome, I guess. If you can prove to be who you say you are. We just need to test that out, and then I can shake your hand and say you're an official member of the Watchers."

There was no way to tell this from his outside emotions/very good assumptions, but Shock still wasn't feeling sure at all about this person. Something about him, Shock just didn't like. Oh well, it was something that he had to deal with, and if this was going to be a good recruit to the, originally just street vigilante, group, then so be it. It was something that would help the world be a better place, and if this man and Shock had nothing else they shared, they had this wish. It was funny though, Shock expected someone like this man to want to save the world, not prevent the problems from happening in the first place. It takes away a good amount of fame and recognition as a hero. It gave Shock at least a semi-good feeling about him.