What Does Responsibility Mean to You?

What does responsibility mean to us?

Ok everybody, say it with me now.

“With great power there must also come great responsibility.” - Uncle Ben

We all know the saying. We all know what it means. When you have superior strength, you have to also have restraint so as not to abuse that strength. That's how Superman sees it.

• [To be] answerable and accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management.

Or, maybe it's that when you're more capable than others, you're the one who has to handle what they can't. Louisa from Encanto sang Surface Pressure all about that.

• Involving accountability, as in having the power to control or manage

It could also just mean if you're stronger than everyone else, it's up to you to decide for them. That's kinda how Thanos took it when he started his galactic magic rock scavenger hunt.

• Having a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable; capable of rational thought or action

Responsibility can be interpreted many ways. It often comes down to context and societal norms. If you wear a uniform or a badge, you're responsible for upholding the codes and rules set forth by the organisation you represent. But, what about when you take off the uniform. Do you still rep that cause? Do you have to? If you're trained in lifeguarding and someone is drowning, you may be the only person capable of saving them. But, you're off duty and don't even work at this lake. Are you responsible for saving that life? Should you be?

Manna Ken believes the answer is simple: yes. But, you don't have to like it.

As one of the most prolific detectives in the history of the Aveniran City Guard, and the first ever Combat Augment, Manna is no stranger to responsibility. A scrappy young girl growing up in a mostly lawless land, Manna quickly came to learn two things:

One, there are good people and bad people.

Two, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Manna has applied this logic her whole life, often being the first to step up when a new challenge presents or someone needs defending. And, she applies it equally, badge or not. So, when the death of a respected businessman reeked of corruption, Manna - seemingly the only one to smell foul play - felt it was her responsibility to bring the real culprit to justice, knowing it could cost her the badge, and possibly her life. And, when a secret cabal of mighty and respected Caller elites charged her with protecting what could potentially be the most powerful person on the continent - a person whose very survival could rewrite society as she knew it - Manna didn't see it as a request or even a burden. She saw raising, training, and defending the Star Caller as her responsibility.