Earlier that day...
"Yes, Mr. Mayor. I understand."
Oliver paced back and forth across the room, his hands behind is back until he found a better use for them. The room was of impressive size, filled to the brim with computers of various make, all working hard at their given tasks. The room was dim, only a few lights dotted the ceiling and gave the room a slight blue tint. The room was built at a slant, with a trio of levels filled with computers and terminals, all coming down to a flat area built like an amphitheater. In front of a large terminal stood Oliver; May sat in the corner with a small child in her arms. On the terminal was the face of an aging old man, stress marks framing his portly demeanor.
"I'm not sure you do." Replied the old man, speaking in a sort of blubbering voice. "This serum is what the people need. With our police forces capable of ridding the powers of super-criminals, experts estimate a 40% decrease in overall crime levels in the next two years."
"Do they?" Oliver asked, a bit doubtful. "Even if they do sir, you know as well as I do the ways that serum can and will be abused in the future."
"Look, I'm not arguing this with you any further Paragon." the Mayor said, shaking his hands in front of his face. "If you feel so strongly about this, there's a rally being held in favor of the serum being held later today. Most of the serum's supporters are going to be there, it will give you a chance to meet them and see what the supporters are really like, instead of going by your usual assumed stereotypes."
"All right, fine." Oliver said. He pressed a button at the bottom of the terminal. The image of the mayor dissipated into a dark black screen.
Oliver turned to leave the room when May stopped him.
"Before you go," she said. "there's a group of Yakuza trying to rob the Natural History Museum over on the east side."
"You and the Rat Pack can handle them." He assured her. "Usual sitter." He added, glancing at the boy in her arms.
"Really?" May asked, a bit puzzled. "After the cougar thing?"
"Well, Buck killed the cougar too, so I forgive him." Oliver replied, grinning a bit to himself. He kissed May on the cheek before leaning down to look at his son. Noah looked up at him with bright green eyes... a little too bright. He would have thought to get that checked another day, but for now he was too caught up in political movements, and left after saying goodbye.
In the present...
Oliver looked around at the people gathered curiously. Most of them seemed to be normal, but he spotted a few of the heroes that worked in the town as well. Max, Roxanne, and that guy that had been with her were among the people there. He nodded curtly and said "I'm just here to watch." He said before sitting down.