The Vespidian

Arc 12 Villainy 101

Chapter 3 Interlude: Gathering

The Citadel of Order, a small metropolis of marvels. Spires rose on the outer perimeter, a protective field encompassing the mobile fortress in a shimmering bubble of static whenever something attempted to enter the air space. Symmetrical towers were positioned meticulously at exact and even areas creating an overlapping defensive array of anti-air turrets. To assail this floating city head-on would be beyond foolish, and even if one managed to run the gauntlet of precise and deadly weapons fire, one would still have to deal with those who dwell within.

Truly a fool’s errand. Only a handful of beings on the entire planet could even attempt it with any real prospect of emerging alive let alone victorious. Unfortunately for any would-be attacker, one of those very individuals waited within his opulent ivory tower. Hubris. A man even fewer would dare trifle with and for good reason.

He stood in a dark orange suit of conforming material with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window overlooking the whole city from the tallest tower in the very center. A great cape of brilliant white hung from his shoulders, a giant golden H embroidered into the material, and a single stripe followed the outer curve of the material in gold. The inside of this grand cloak was a deep red with the same golden outline. He wore no gloves over his thick hands however golden bracers adorned his wrists, H etched into the metal.

“Hubris, we will be arriving shortly,” said a woman in a similar suit of material.

The color was a dark blue, nearly black with white botches forming a mural of stars. Her face a void of swirling black pierced only by two brilliantly glowing golden orbs that shifted. An elegant cape of shimmering colors hung from her back; it gradually changed colors from a translucent green to a haunting violet creating Aurora Borealis.

Hubris turned from his contemplation. His face smoothed to the point that light twinkled off of it. His confident and unyielding eyes like burning sapphires. As usual, an assured smile rose for a brief moment. He wore no mask because he was one of the outed Supers who feared no repercussions, such was his hubris, living up to his name. His hair was short on the sides and longer in the middle, slicked back and held in place by either sheer force of will or more likely industrial-strength hair cement gel

The front of his suit created an arching triangle of white connecting to the where the cape was securely fastened to his shoulders. Upon his robust chest, an H of gold glimmered against the white. Likewise, his slim boots were pearly with golden trimmings; naturally, metallic Hs emblazoned on the sides.

“Excellent. I assume everything is in order?”

There was an echo as though the woman was down a tunnel as she spoke, “It is. We will give out the Free Fire Zone declaration upon arrival at the city and then as for standard protocol we will wait twenty-four hours for civilians to evacuate-”

Lightly he put several fingers over his mouth, making a Hmmm noise, “Seems rather long to wait. We should strike immediately. Villains are rude, after all. I can’t count the number of times those heinous fiends have interrupted one of my speeches. It is just like those scum to skulk about. Naturally, even with a sneak attack, their pitiful plans against the magnificent me are futile. But then again we can’t all be as perfect as I am. It wouldn’t do to lose our juniors now, would it? Something tells me they will try something during the transition period.”

“You are correct. We are but pale comparisons to one of your stature.” Said the woman, with a less than serious tone.

“You are quite right Universe.”

“Miss Universe.” She corrected him.

He seemed disinterested, “Is that so? I find it hard to remember those who are insignificant.”

“I see… to think there is something even you are not good at.”

He put up a hand, “Oh, no, it is by choice. Does one remember the names of all the insects, the ants that are stepped upon? It is beneath my notice. It isn’t worth my time to remember such unimportant details.”

Miss Universe was somewhat disinterested herself, “We are all ants to the stars. At the end as insignificant as grains of sand.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over it. As I have said, we can’t all be me. Otherwise, the world would be perfect.”

Miss Universe sighed under her breath, “If you stare up at the sky too long, you will fall in a ditch.”

“Yes, it would be a paradise, an Eden.” He had a rather ohohoh look about him smiling as usual.

Miss Universe thought little of this man. He was irritating, cocksure, a showboater, foolish… but he was a near unstoppable force that had only ever lost to a single person, Arachnaon. Arachnaon was indeed a rather difficult opponent one that Miss Universe herself did not want deal with, mostly because she would never be able to sleep again knowing that there was a monstrosity like that after her life.

As for Hubris, though Miss Universe was stronger with her own power that didn’t mean he was to be taken lightly, either foolhardy or heroic the unbridled power of a will that is near unbreakable is not to be belittled. With his powers, his attitude was not unwarranted. It had been a long time since a real challenge had presented itself to him. If Kraken knew what was good for themselves, they would flee the city immediately rather than face the wrath of Hubris.

“Miss Universe,” said Hubris, “You may leave, I have an appointment for dinner with me, and I simply can’t cancel that again.”

“… right I will let myself.”

She left closing the door, though a few words could be heard through the closed door, “Hello again, you handsome devil.”

She sighed, “If only he could look at others the way he looks at himself.”

Miss Universe made her way along, not particularly wanting to interrupt whatever the man was up to. Hubris was after all a self-absorbed extreme narcissist who was very much infatuated with himself to the degree that his sanity might get called into question. Despite his oddity he wasn’t precisely mean spirited, it had more to do with the disconnect that he felt between himself and normies and even most supers for that matter. He found it hard to understand why people had problems with things that he could do so easily, without even trying.

She knew where he was coming from there, though had taken a somewhat different or more opposite approach choosing to disassociate herself with humanity entirely. Life and its problems were small, insignificant. The overarching schemes of the cosmos were far more elaborate than mere mortals could understand. Which unfortunately meant that Miss Universe herself did not know of what was planned, though she had a better understanding than most… at least she liked to think so.

If there was such a thing as a superman, well he would be it, and she was glad that he was on their side. They had already fought once, it wasn’t a serious fight though, ending in a tie… and a sunken island. By all rights, the man should be a pancake of human batter at the moment, but he had shrugged off 100 times earth’s gravity and managed to get stronger in the process. He was formidable, to say the least.

The universe is vast; indeed she thought to herself floating lost in her thoughts.

A feeling interrupted her inner thoughts. Someone was watching. She shifted, finding a pair of black eyes gazing at her from just behind a small royal blue fan. It concealed the lower half of this woman’s face. The piercing eyes of a predator did not blink, boring holes through her.

“Ara ara, Miss Universe… what a mmm pleasant surprise to meet you,” said the woman chuckling behind the extended fan.

In all appearances, this person was a beautiful Japanese Geisha complete with a soft pink kimono and powdered white face. Her black hair was bundled and rolled up with two enormous buns protruding up on either side of her head. From the middle of her head, two slightly curled hairpins were slanted from one another. Her sleeves were exceedingly long, drooping away from the hardened hand of carapace that held the fan.

Miss Universe, however, knew who or rather what this was, and that nothing here was entirely as it seemed. She had worked with them many times now, “Mantia, what brings you here?”

“I was sent here to observe and step in if needed. Though with Hubris here, I highly doubt I will be required.”

“True, I feel that this was an over-response. It is not as though the capital was assaulted.”

Mantia’s eyes glinted for a moment, “certainly, though there is merit in this place. Besides, it is about sending a message to those who oppose us. Hopefully this time I will find worthy prey.”

“Hunting, huh? Thought you would have been more into rescuing Nightmare.”

The fan snapped shut for a moment revealing the full smooth and stunning mask of a face. It was hard and stiff, no emotion to be seen, locked in an eerily neutral expression. She spoke, though her mouth did not move, “Don’t remind me, I hate babysitting humies, they are so hideous.”

“So if it isn’t human, you don’t mind?”

“Of course. Ahh, that is right. Have you heard? There is a new Spore Spawn? I am rather excited, it has been a long while since the last.”

Universe nodded, “I have. It is one of our objectives to capture it.”

“Oh how helpful of the Hero League, I wonder how cute this little one is going to be?”

“Cute?”

“Ara ara, my new little sister. I wonder if I should play with her a bit before taking her home?”

Miss Universe solemnly nodded, “I feel sorry for them already.”

Mantia wagged her little fan dismissively, “Oh please. I am responsible… I hear that she regenerates, so bringing her home in a couple of pieces will be fine if she resists.”

“Where is Centi?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

Mantia looked up, “She should be arriving tomorrow.”

“Is that so? I assume you two have a separate mission to accomplish?”

She unfurled the fan hiding the face that did not move as she chuckled, “Now why would I tell you that? You were the one who walked out on us. You wish to come back to the fold and be one of us again?”

“No, I would rather not butcher civis by the hundreds of thousands again. We are no better than Kraken if we stoop that low.”

“Butchering? More of a pulping wasn’t it? You flattened an entire city, did you not? What are thousands, even millions of lives compared to billions? We both know just how close this world is to the Point of No Return. The time for action is now, or else all life will perish... well, most life that is.”

“I regret that action, and I will protect humanity to atone for it.”

Mantia’s hair buns shifted twisting to reveal what they really were giant eye stalks glinting in the light. The pupil slit, “If you actually want to save this planet, you will help us kill the Sanguine Puppeteer. So long as that thing lives, we are all doomed.”

Miss Universe hovered, shaking her head, “No one knows where it ran off to. We have searched for fifteen years, but it is still in hiding.”

“Hiding? You make it sound as though that monster is scared. It is toying with us. I do hope you will do what is necessary when the time comes.”

“What is necessary… you speak of atrocity.”

“There is no such thing as overkill where that thing is concerned.”

Miss Universe lowered her head, “I would prefer not to, not again. For now, let us focus on the matter at hand. What do you think Molotov is planning?”

Mantia tilted her head, thinking on it while hiding behind the little fan, “Overall, or are you talking about her schemes in the city?”

“Both, I suppose you would know, you have fought her personally three times already.”

“Molotov is but a doll moving on the strings that are pulled. As for the schemes hmm… likely trying to decimate our fighting forces here to make world conquest easier. Something stupid like that I am sure. I assume that Kraken does not even realize what their Master’s true objective is. Then again, even if they did know, most of them are mind-controlled to begin with.”

“But how? Why Bronson city?”

“That is an excellent question. I believe our old friend Dr. Arbor might be a piece of this puzzle.”

“I don’t like that we are going in blind. This feels like a trap.”

Mantia nodded, “That is because it is. Will it merely be a mousetrap or a bear trap, that is the question. Though since it is such an obvious trap, I am sure they have extra things planned. I will give Kraken one thing; they are creative in their approach.”

“Worried?”

“No. Without Sanguine, Kraken is merely an annoyance. Hubris can deal with them. I have other objectives in this city.”

“The Spore Spawn?”

“Among other things. Farewell, Miss City Smasher,” said Mantia playfully.

“You know I hate that name.”

“Ara, Ara,” she said lightly touching her own face, “Fufu, I think it suits you rather well. Now then, I am off, I have a cute little Imouto to play with.”

“Did you actually come here to help us?”

“If you can’t even take care of this mess with the strongest people in the league, then you are worthless.”

“But if we fail-”

“Then Chimera will deal with your mess, as always. Remember to tell Hubris this. Arachnaon is watching. Failure is not an option.”

“Hopefully it won’t come to that.”

“For the people living here I should hope not,” replied Mantia turning away, “After all… we leave no survivors.”

Mantia walked slowly down the vast windowed corridor, her clawed toes clicking with every methodical step. Though she gave off the aura of a dignified and elegant lady, that was merely a front. In the distance, a concrete jungle appeared as the Citadel rose over a mountain range. Beneath her human mask, her mandibles slavered thinking of all the delicious treats she would find in that place.

She paused, lifting the lower right hand that until now had held onto the left at her waist to form a sash of sorts for the kimono. The metal band on her wrist lit up with an image of Vesper’s smaller form. Mantia began to chuckle, “Adorable. I wonder what she tastes like?”