What if...there were superheros?

The What if... question that I found that I liked was What if... there were superheroe? So what if there were superheros? My research for this comes from shows and movies like the X-Men and Heroes. We will go with the theory that superpowers will come from evolution other than from chemical spills and meteorites but we won't criticize those theories.

Week 0
Humans in their late teens and early twenties begin to notice they have special abilities.

Week 2
The abilities of humans, who realize that they are normal besides their abilities. Certain organizations and governments begin to take notice.

Week 4
Governments try to cover up and deny the rumor of humans with super abilities. Some governments begin studying these humans with abilities. Most foreign governments begin doing horrible experiments to understand this power. All government goals are to learn how these powers work and if they can be developed in anyone and how the can be used for defense and in the worst case, offense.

Week 8
Reports of people in distress, all over the world, being helped by "superheroes". Also reports of banks being robbed by people with "abilities".

Week 9
With a week filled with reports of wonders and news reports the governments finally recognize that there are people with super "abilities". With the abilities that are being reported from flying to invisibility and super strength the public is in panic.

Week 10
The public is afraid of these people with abilities. People with abilities either hide their abilities because they think they are freaks or because they know it will protect them. Places start popping up all over the world where people with abilities can go and not feel persecuted.

Week 11
Supposedly from the popular X-Men movies powerful people start demanding that people with special abilities must register themselves and their abilities so the government can keep track of these people to help with civilian protection.

Week 15
After a month a committees and protesters, the promoted leaders of the "abilities" and the government comes to agreement that people with abilities will report their powers as long as their liberties and rights are not threatened by having such abilities. Later it will be made illegal to ask if you have special abilities when applying for a job.

From here there are two different time lines that could happen. The peaceful and the extreme.

Time Line 1

The people with "abilities" accept what is happening. Most lead their normal lives only using their "abilities" when they need to. Others will join forces with the military and law enforcement to help serve and protect. Some will see how their powers can be to help people others will of course use their own for personal gain. With luck people all over the world having powers this should help keep the balance of powers. There will be more problems with sabotage but security will be made stronger and people with ability will provide more protection. All in all the world will hopefully be a better place.

Time Line 2

Some people will accept the special people but most will persecute them. They will become freaks. Most people with powers realize with being more powerful they don't have to put up with other people. Soon the people with "abilities" strike back at their persecutors. Soon there will be martial law world wide. With all this inner turmoil country will strike against country. The world will destroy itself and the gift that had been given will have been for nothing.

This is a sad view but sometimes having a better opinion of society is hard. We would like to think that people would act and behave better. But sometimes thinking that is just naive.