"Who are you talking to?"- Kamala and Karla
Karla wasn’t normally one for watching television. She had started watching a few series on Netflix at Kamala’s behest, catching up on the pop culture she had missed while imprisoned, but that had been about it. Lately, though, the news had been consistently on in the apartment living room.
“Welcome back to ABC news, I’m Maria Consuela and we’re talking today about the mysterious Moonstone.”
Karla didn’t even look to the television, instead focusing on the small cheese plate she was making for herself in the kitchen. “Kamala, not this crud again.”
The highschooler made a face from the couch and no motion to turn the television off. “Don’t be so cranky about it.”
“Here today we have resident superhuman expert Dr. Valerie Cooper. Welcome, Dr. Cooper. My understanding is you work with the President’s National Security Adviser and that your field of study is psychology.”
Karla glanced to the screen. A blonde woman in glasses stared back, sporting a small frown. Oh good. Another blonde psychological doctor. Probably someone else she could get confused for.
“That is correct. I’m here today because I believe superpowered humans are something the public should be taking very seriously. People like Moonstone, also known as the felon Dr. Karla Sofen, are not just a trendy topic.”
“My understanding is that most people are not very familiar with Dr. Karla Sofen. I know I had never heard of her before the events with the Living Laser.”
“That’s true, Maria. She’s fairly unknown.”
A disapproving huff from the kitchen. Seriously? Did no one pay attention anymore unless you tried to blow up the planet? She had done her fair share, dammit, enough to tangle with Captain America and the Hulk and even that web-slinging moron-
“Who are you talking to? Did you say something?”
Karla realized she had been muttering under her breath. She fell silent again.“But wouldn’t you say her actions against the Living Laser point to the idea that this Moonstone, this Dr. Sofen, might have turned over a new leaf? Fighting alongside Iron Man seems like a great start.”
The footage began playing, taken on someone’s shaky camera phone and clearly distorted. A woman in white circling a being made of pure energy. A woman clearly saving Iron Man from being hit. A woman apparently sacrificing herself to end the battle.
“Hey, see, they even got video of you looking awesome!”
“I can see why people might think that, but it is a romanticized notion. These people are living weapons. Tony Stark is a literal former arms dealer running around in a weaponized suit. Dr. Sofen has unknown levels of power from alien technology. And then you have beings like the Hulk or mutants that have their own incredibly destructive and compromising abilities.”
The newswoman on the television sighed.
“I get it. We love the idea of heroes.”
“Yes, but there is more than that. These aren’t fictional people out there, Maria. They are real. Some of them may truly want to be heroes but we can’t forget that they are just like you or me and can just as easily make mistakes. We need to remember that people like this need to be held accountable and to the same levels of accountability as someone with a gun and not treated differently because they wear tights.”
“So, what are you proposing? A larger version of the Mutant Registration Act?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. But I do know that the government is concerned about ensuring our national security is not compromised.”
“Don’t you believe these people are helping maintain that security?”
“The ones who are working with the government, yes.”
“And the others are not?”
“If they are choosing to actively work against the laws, can they really be maintaining security? If you have an illegal gun but only use it for self-defense, it is still illegal. Perhaps they need to be handled appropriately by the appropriate authorities.”
“So, you believe that the government’s involvement is the best way to help regulate these types of people?”
The blonde woman smiled. “I can’t say either way, Maria, and I’ll admit I’d be a bit biased. But I think that’s something for the people to decide.”
Kamala looked to Karla. The woman had paused mid-slice of her cheese, a smile forming on her own lips.
“Oh, nothing.” There was something so incredibly satisfying about seeing someone put the nails in their own coffin, not to mention practically setting their coffin on fire. “Remember what I told you about government entities, like the one Dr. Cooper no doubt works for?”
“They refuse transparency and wield absolute power. I remember the conspiracy peptalk.”
“Nice backtalk.” Karla smirked before popping a piece of cheese into her mouth. “So what do you think about what Dr. Cooper just said?”
“She said the government should help regulate superhumans to keep people safe.”
“Right. That’s the glossy version. What’s between the lines there?”
Kamala frowned, thinking. “That they...can handle superhumans as they see fit? And use them as they see fit. All to keep people safe.” Her eyes widened. “Wait. But SHIELD-”
“If not, she at the very least just stated that the United States government approved of similar actions. She can try to pretend they didn’t approve of those specific ones but the public won’t believe her after that.”
“...did she just help shoot the government in the foot?”
“Probably not on purpose, but I’d like to think so.” A sip of wine. “It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. ‘Let the people decide.’”
Kamala sighed. “This is exhausting. I just wanted to see you get famous.” She pointed at the screen to the crowds gathered outside the studio, wearing a T-shirt with a familiar yet cartoonish face on it. “Look, people are even wearing your T-shirt that I designed!”
Another sigh and sip of wine. Silent stare.
The teenager wrinkled her nose. “Fine. I get it. Netflix time.”
