The Vespidian

Arc 12 Villainy 101

Chapter 5

Interlude: Resolution

The assembly hall bristled with the gathered heroes — their murmurs and conversations creating an ambient buzz of words. So many voices speaking over one another lost in their discussions. A chattering cacophony of high and low sounds, calmly talking, uneasily whispering, boisterously laughing, the room filled with ordered chaos of diverging views, hopes, and fears. Most were segmented, separated into their respective teams.

Hubris looked down over the balcony; his gleaming orange suit was dazzling to the eyes. Below the railing, vibrant colored suits forming a wavering kaleidoscope of mismatched costumes from the primary hero teams. To the sides were the color coated staff personnel, red, blue, white, and black. A sense of pride filled his chest as he surveyed all these influential individuals gathered here because of him. Yes, he stood at the apex, the pinnacle of power that very few could boast being able even to glimpse, let alone set foot upon an equal ground to himself.

Tecton, the man who can shatter mountains and make volcanoes. Armadillo, a walking fortress. Strong Arm, who lived up to his name, nearly rivaling Molotov in pure strength. Miss Universe, the city smasher or as some liked to call her atom smasher. And of course, the man who made this marvel of a floating city Adamantine the mechanical genius. Light Fly, able to shoot laser beams that could cut buildings in half and disintegrate exposed flesh. All of them were cream of the crop. And all of them were below him. Below Hubris in power, he could beat any of them even if they teamed up.

It fed him. It fueled his ego and firmly etched his unwavering belief that he was Justice incarnate.

Hubris raised his hands, and immediately the voices quieted, and the lawlessness fell into silent order. Their eyes filled with ambition, with reverence and respect, Hubris began, “I still remember the words that a great man once told me, it shaped me, molded me into the man I am today. ‘We must be heroes everywhere we go, everybody has the power, but few understand it. Normal people do normal things, but we are a different kind. We can do anything. We have the world in our hands. We must be the Heroes who run at the flames, or we are nothing but cowards who start them. Justice must prevail, but sometimes it is the smallest of things that matter most.’

Hubris paused for a moment looking out over all those eager and virtuous heroes. Their faces filled with anticipation. A smile spread as he continued, “Truer words were never spoken. My fellow Heroes, we are the bastion that safeguards the masses from the villains and the monsters that would devour them. It is our privilege, our duty to protect the weak, help the helpless, to save the citizens of the world from whatever crisis that may occur, whether it be natural or unnatural. It can be thankless at times, they might condemn us, ridicule and slander our actions, but take heart. We are all that stands between the ignorant normies and the ever grasping tendrils of Kraken. Should we falter in our responsibilities, the world will burn. Our families, our friends, our loved ones will be nothing, but playthings for these monsters. Bent and broken by their depraved whims. No matter the means, we must not fail here. We must crush Kraken here and now before it can spread like the cancer that it is and infest even more of the world. We must cut it out and burn it wherever it grows. Countless lives hang in the balance, and we have no room for mercy.”

A tall man in thick tanned armor plates stood, the chromed face plate lowered to reveal his scarred and freshly burned visage, “Hubris, We are the Hero League. What you speak of is what Chimera and Kraken do. We are the peacekeepers. We keep the status quo. We are not tyrants, not judge, jury, and executioner. What makes us better than them if we do this?”

A frown momentarily grew on Hubris as he focused in on the man, “Armadillo. I expect you more than most to know what horrors Kraken perpetrates. You barely escaped Los Angeles alive. Light Fly was there too, weren’t you? You barely managed to save Armadillo from Nitro.”

A woman in white tights who’s face was covered in a white hood of reflective material stood beside Armadillo, “I, I was, Hubris. What of it?”

His eyes became cold, “You saw what they did. Men, and women, and children hung from the street corners by their entrails. Brother and sister, father and mother, the best of friends forced to hunt one another like animals in sick games all for the amusement of those monsters. Those animals will bring only destruction where ever they go. Burning orphanages while the doors are barred and kicking those who manage to jump through the windows back inside, forcing doctors and nurses at gunpoint to harvest the organs of restrained and helpless people while they are still wide awake to sell on the black market, and using woman as toys. That is not even the half of it. That is barely scratching the surface of what they have done.”

Armadillo’s face became even grimmer, “That, that maybe, but we can’t stoop to their level.”

“I have received word that Nitro is on the move. That monster is bringing the vast majority of the Diablo De Chillar and several teams of her vat-grown super soldiers here to Bronson. Now, what do you think will happen once they get here? Do you think they come in peace, or are they going to repeat their madness? Do you want to allow that lawlessness, that depraved, sustained and chronic cruelty… that hell on earth to engulf yet another city? Will you let it happen again because you failed to act fast enough, failed to realize the extent of the danger, the horror of what they are capable of? It will happen again if we let it. Don’t tell me you forgot what happened to Kiwi, Flamingo, and Emu! They were your juniors, your responsibilities. Those monsters. They raped them. They cooked them. They ate them! What man, no… what human could do such a thing?!”

Armadillo’s mouth quivered as he bit his lip crimson dripping down, his voice started low became a rage-filled bellow, “I… never. No… No. Never again. We won’t let it happen again. Not here, not anywhere! We will put them down like the rabid dogs that they are!”

“Exactly.” Said Hubris motioning over the room, “We are not dealing with people. They are sick and twisted animals — mockeries of humanity. What man or woman with even a shred of good in them, could do the things they have done? To even compare ourselves and our actions to theirs... it taints, defiles, ourselves, and civilization as a whole.”

The waves of voices sprung out, the seething of the once calmed room broiling and boiling with fervent lust for blood, “He’s right! Hubris is right!”

“When the barbarians are at the gate. You don’t let them in to talk. You bar the gates, you burn the land and salt the earth so that they will starve, scratching and clawing, trying to get in. You pour the boiling oil upon them, and you gun them down like the animals they are. There is no room for negotiation; hesitation will be our downfall, our end. The villains have shown us that civility is not an option — the time of our forefathers, where there was honor among heroes and villains, has ended. Chivalry is dead and buried, and they killed it, and they are pissing on the grave. It is kill or be killed.”

“How dare those villains!” They chanted, “No mercy, no forgiveness!”

After his fiery speak, Hubris cast a glance over to a specific corner of the room where a familiar woman stood. Miss Universe had her arms crossed, though her face could not be seen below the mural of stars the fact the walls were denting in around her showed the displeasure that she had. She turned her head in disgust and left.

His eyes drifted to the other entrance where a particular monster stood. The face was hidden behind that blue fan as the eyes glinted. Despite the distance and the fan blocking it, he knew she was grinning to the point that her face split, revealing the mandibles that slavered. Even if it tried to imitate a person, no matter how alluring it might appear from a distance, he knew what that thing was. An inhuman predator that by all rights Hubris should squash like the bug she is… but no. Mantia was useful, and the ire of Arachnaon was not something to be trifled with. They both wanted the Sanguine Puppeteer dead, and so he would tolerate her underlings to scurry about like roaches.

Finally, Hubris set his eyes upon Armadillo again, what had become of the gentle protector. Though he was strong, he had hesitated too much. He had allowed L.A. to fall due to his weakness; his kindness only impeded his judgment. But now, his very soul seemed to burn. It had bathed in the blood of those who he had held dear and cried out for vengeance. Kraken was in for a world of hurt.

Hubris raised his hands, and the room slowly came to silence once more, due to his figure cast such a shadow that it imposed upon the entirety of the assembly, “Now my fellow heroes. We will not sit idly by. It is time we strike. And who better than the very scum that lies beneath us? The Diablos. Attack them with full force. No mercy. No surrender. Make an example of these beasts. Strike fear into the hearts of all the Villains in this city. Show them; the gloves are off. Show them the Free Fire initiative is active. We mean business. Armadillo, will you do the honor of leading the attack?”

The faceplate slid down, and Armadillo replied, “It will be my pleasure.”

Armadillo pointed at several groups with his large metallic hands, “Strong Arm, Tecton, and Light Fly with me. Group up. We are moving out.”

He led the way as the heroes parted for the groups that followed the rage fill colossus of a man. In his wake, the room quieted down. Hubris raised his hands, drawing all of their attention to the hologram of the city overlayed vertically behind him, “Now then. Several points of interest might be Lairs. We will systematically destroy them, flushing the flith out into the open where we will destroy them. First will be…”

~~~***~~~

Mantia left the room, her antennae twitching, mandibles clacking, and dripping with hunger as she could already smell the rivers of blood that would soon flow in this place. It seems Arachanon’s message had fired up Hubris. There was nothing like a genocide to get the blood pumping in the evening. The hunt~ Last was mmnmm… Germany. At least a group hunt. Ahh, Panzer certainly was a tasty snack. What was left of him after Arachnaon had ripped him in half and ate his brain… how regrettable, she always did take the best parts. Then again, it was her prey. Mantia was lucky to get the bones to gnaw on. Usually, those too were melted.

Ahh~

She swung her head bobbing it, her neck stretching longer than a humans’ ever should as she walked becoming more and more animated until she bristled her wings, and her large eyes were gaped, taking all of her environment. At this point, the next thing that moved would set off her predatory nature, a slight shadow, or even an errant twitch from someone around her would unleash the monster that craved prey. Mantia took a deep breath as her body froze and became rigid, cracking and shifting as it returned to her humanoid appearance. The fan clapped several times as she suppressed her seething emotions.

She placed a hand on her face, “Ara ara, How troublesome. I need to feed again.” Her eyes gazed out the window to the cityscape glowing below her tongue, licking her fake face as her mandible frothed, “Aww, how sweet an all you can eat buffet. I am sure her Majesty would not mind if I took a few nibbles. It would only be a small de-”

Her Majesty… that name brought a flurry of images, fragmented memories of… tentacles… eggs and a distorted face, as well as something… else. Flashes, pieces of broken memories. Her brain seared, feeling as though it spread around something penetrating her very soul. It felt like the folds and creases were slowly smothered in something. Something that was suppressing, consuming, devouring her mind. The very thought of that supreme being shattered Mantia’s mind making her shudder. She tilted, hitting the wall and violently jerked as she held her head all seven eyes-rolling.

A phrase, words that bubbled up from the depths of her mind left her parted mouth, “One is all. All is one. All will serve the-”

Her mind shorted out, and her body writhed. Slowly the spasms subsided as her mind cleared. Her emotions became cold… empty, and all the hunting instincts and even the rumbling hunger were squished, crushed under a command. The royal decree that was implanted into her mind, a seed that sprouted, an egg that had just hatched. Her eyes glowed with malicious premeditation as she pushed herself off the wall and began to walk. Her steps grew steady, controlled, and filled with a new purpose.

She tapped her wrist, gazing longingly at the image of Vesper. The image burned and seared into her unblinking inhuman eyes. A flash interrupted her stare as she shook her head coming to. Many eyes materialized in the hologram as the chitinous face came into focus.

“Ara ara, Centi. How was your trip, nee-chan?” said Mantia with a smile. She clapped her fan several times in apparent pleasure.

“Cramped. We made them drop us off. We couldn’t stand being in that tiny aircraft anymore. Where are you?”

“I am with the morsels; I mean heroes… Yes, yes, the heroes.”

“In the tin can?”

“Yes. Where are you?”

“We… we are unsure.”

“Huh? Are you even in the right city? Do you see the tin can?”

“It looks more like a swamp. Give us a moment we will get to higher ground we see a... nuclear silo?” After a short few moments, Centi continued, “This place has been abandoned. There are pieces of a city, but they are old.”

Mantia thought on it, gazing out the window, “Ara, you are in the Slums. Follow the lights, and you will enter the southern district of Bronson. I will meet up with you.”

Centi’s antennae shifted as she looked around, “It will take a bit. We are so hungry, so very, very hungry. Can’t hold ourselves back. Smell prey. The trip has starved us.”

“Speaking of your trip, how was the family?”

“They are well… what few of them remain.”

“Did something happen?”

“Food shortages. Famine has set China on edge. Not enough rations. We did not eat during our stay as they had so little.”

“I see. You always did have a soft spot for humans.”

“Not humans, our family. We were tempted to eat the other villagers.”

“That is certainly surprising that you did not.”

“We would prefer not to eat humans.”

“Suit yourself,” said Mantia.

“This hunger gnaws at us.”

“Then, hunt something down?”

“We will.”

“Ah, yes, I will join you. I hear that the subhumans have above average abilities. They should be entertaining to hunt.”

There was a slight crunch along with squeals coming from the other end as Centi chewed cracking bones and mashing flesh with her mandibles. She chewed it thoroughly before speaking again, “Mmm… frogs are a little gamey. They have feral disease. Nothing that impressive.”

Mantia made her way elegantly along the secluded corridor; the sky expanded out through a port in the side of the floating city. She covered her face shyly with the fan as she passed some of the personnel. Ahead the Armadillo and his gathered teams were ready to deploy.

“Ara ara, going to spill blood, I see.”

The woman in the shining white outfit turned, “Mantia, it is good to see you.”

The mantid woman acted shy for a moment, hiding behind the little blue fan, “Little old me? You would be the first to be happy to see me, knowing what I am anyway.”

“Of course, it is good to have help.”

“Mmm, unfortunately, I have other things I need to attend. I am sure you will be fine wiping out a little group of criminal scum.”

“You are not helping us?” asked Armadillo, staring her down.

“I will be in the city, accomplishing my objectives.”

“Which are?”

Mantia snapped her fan shut, “That is none of your concern. Though what I do will cripple the Kraken operatives here, so you should be happy. Our goals are aligned. As for what I will do… well, you give me some… squealer vibes. For your safety, you are not at liberty to know, courtesy of President McKinley.”

Though Armadillo’s mouth creased, he turned after giving her an acknowledging nod. Chimera, after all, was typically best not to get involved with. The shimmering bubbled opened as the Heroes jumped out into the night air. She stepped along until the warping barrier was before her.

Her pink kimono shifted and rippled with life as her wings unfurled from around her lithe and flexible chitin covered body. Naked, exposed for a brief moment before her body changed colors blending into her surroundings. A gust of air signified her departure as the monstrous mantis was set loose upon Bronson city. After a moment, the field closed behind her.

“I see. Keep your feelers out for a snake and a cat. From what I have read up on this… place those are the most worthy prey there.”

“We will meet you at the entrance to Bronson. It is doubtful whatever small fry live here will be a challenge.”

“True, they are small fries. But remember to be careful until I arrive, there are bigger fish in this pond than normal.”

“We do enjoy fish. Hopefully, they are fat and plump.”

“I hear there are some delicious fishies here. Ahh~, but we are not here for them. You remember our briefing, do you not?”

“We recall.”

“Good.”

“Well, then… shall we begin?”

“What of the Heroes?”

Mantia’s voice went low as it hissed over the wind, “Expendable.”

The tendrils of the Spore loomed above the night sky. The glowing blue translucent flesh filled the void of space drowning out even the stars above. They slowly shifted, trailing the orbiting entity that silently slept. Never to awaken, or so hoped all who knew of what it was and what it was capable of.