Now ILS Agent Wilson entered the room after knocking. Director Green was sitting inside.

A classic interrogation room, with the light and everything.

Agent Wilson raised an eyebrow.

He appreciated the ILS, he really did.

But something like this was more the CIA’s style. And he was CIA, once upon a time.

What kind of game was the Director playing at?

“Agent Wilson, thank you for coming, please have a seat.”

“Thank you for having me.”

Agent Wilson took his seat.

“Excuse me Director, but may I ask what this is about?”

The Director frowned and crossed her arms.

“First things first, Agent Wilson, try to relax. And do not resist.”

“Huh, resist wha…”

His words cut off as a searing heat stabbed into his brain. He cried out as he gripped his head, falling from his seat.

“As I said, try to relax.”

But Agent Wilson couldn’t hear any more words.

A few grueling minutes later and the pain died down. Agent Wilson was curled up on the floor, drenched in sweat. He took a deep breath, then groaned as he climbed back to his feet and into his chair.

“Dire...ctor….what…was…”

“A test. I need people I absolutely know I can trust. You’re qualified but you were also CIA. I needed to be certain you’ve cut ties with them.”

Agent Wilson just groaned.

“And?”

“You pass. And you’re promoted.”

Londyn tossed a bag across the table. Agent Wilson unzipped it with trembling hands. Inside was folder filled with documents, as well as a tablet, a phone, and a laptop. Oh, and a new badge, with a new title.

“From now on, you’re acting Director.”

Agent Wilson blinked, his pain forgotten.

“Um, what?”

“I have something I need to do. I need someone to watch the League in my stead until it’s done.”

“Um, it’s an honor, but, this is very sudden. I don’t know half of what you do here.”

“It won’t matter. Just keep things from completely falling apart until I get back, and it will be fine.”

“Um, ok. If I may ask, Director, what will you be doing that warrants something like this?”

“Need to know.”

Agent Wilson took a deep breath.

“Yes, Ma’am. Well, I’ll do my best. Just…don’t expect a squeaky clean ship when you get back, ok?”

Londyn stood up and shook Acting Director Wilson’s hand.

“When I get back…we may not need a ship at all.”

Bob lay back in a chair in a break room, watching some random television. He sipped on a mug.

It was quiet.

For once, it was quiet.

“GET BACK HERE YOU JERK!!! I SWEAR I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!”

Yes…quiet…

The door slammed open.

Bob heaved a sigh and turned his head. He paused once he did.

It was Cikizwa.

“Bob! We have a problem!”

Bob stepped into the Nemesis command center.

“What’s going on?”

Cikizwa pointed to the screen. A battle in progress was displayed there. A battle between a group of heroes…and a strangely organized group of monsters.

“ILS stumbled on an AVS base! It’s an all out brawl at this point!”

Bob swore.

Without the AVS, the intelligent monsters would spread out and rampage once more. But the ILS couldn’t openly condone the existence of the AVS once they knew about it.

They’d have to move quickly to avoid an open war.

“What happened? Why didn’t Arachnalich move them out of the way?”

“That’s the thing…”

“What?”

Cikizwa grit her teeth.

“We didn’t know this particular ILS squad was operating in the area.”

“Linda didn’t report it?”

“No, I haven’t heard from her in a bit, actually.”

Bob rubbed his chin.

“Let me check on her. In the meantime, run damage control. Take Nemesis if you have to.”

Cikizwa nodded as Bob left for a private communications room. He set up the secure connection and dialed Linda’s personal phone.

“Hi Linda, it’s your ‘cousin’. Just calling to see how you’re doing.”

“Hello Bob.”

Bob froze. His stomach dropped.

“Hello…Londyn.”

“Now…why would you be calling this line, Bob? I didn’t know you and Linda were cousins.”

Bob swore under his breath.

“Londyn…what did you do with Linda?”

“Is that really what we should talk about right now, Bob?”

“What did you do with Linda?”

He heard her sigh over the phone.

“Well, I guess that’s how you are, huh? Or how you like us to think you are, at least. Fine, I’ll play along. She’s fine, Bob. As fine as a traitor can be, at least. But the ILS doesn’t do cruel and unusual punishments, so you don’t have to worry about her safety. There, happy now?”

Bob exhaled his breath.

“Look…Londyn…”

“No Bob, you had your question. Now it’s my turn.”

“...right.”

“How long? How long has she been spying on me? How long was she working for you?”

“...since the start.”

The phone went silent for a bit.

“...Londyn?”

He heard Londyn start to laugh.

“You know, it’s funny? It’s funny, right? You would think that I, of all people, should know how the world works. You don’t become a top minion for a supervillain or the director of a league of heroes without a healthy dose of reality.”

Bob grimaced as Londyn continued.

“So what the heck have I been doing? I went and got wrapped up in my own little fairy tale, didn’t I? That my knight in shining armor saved me from the jaws of death. That he gave me a purpose and meaning. That he and I were protecting the world together, me in the light, him in the shadows. That we rose above our place as expendable, faceless nobodies and took charge of our own destinies. We reigned in the heroes, we put a stop to the villains, we saved the world…”

He heard her take a deep breath.

“BUT IT WAS ALL A LIE, WASN’T IT? You’ve been playing me the entire time, huh? You know, the signs were all there. You always knew things you shouldn’t. Everything you said got me to turn right around, ignoring all the things you didn’t want me to see. I knew you were smart, and I ignored the fact that I had no idea what you were doing, how you got your intel. I always thought you were working under the villains…but maybe you were working with them all along? Or maybe…they were working for you, just like me. You know, I really should’ve accepted it, when I found out about your super girlfriend, who smacked down the League as a lovers’ quarrel. But the joke was on me, huh? Little girl couldn’t let go of her pleasant dream even when reality slapped her in the face.”

“Londyn, I…”

“And now I found out the two people I trusted most are in cahoots, plotting behind my back the whole time. Tell me, Bob. Was the League ever really mine? Was I ever in charge, like the words you wooed me with back at the start? Or was I always just a scapegoat for you? A little puppet dancing for the masses while the real Director did his dirty work in the shadows. You know…I thought we were the same, you and I. But now I see. You had your own angle, your own agenda, all this time. You’re just another supervillain. And I’ve been just another faceless minion, toiling away for your pleasure.

“Londyn, that’s not…”

“It’s Director Green.”

“...”

“Well guess what, Bob? You made a mistake. Because I’m done being your minion. You told me I was the one calling the shots, so that’s what I’m going to do. You told me I was the Director of the International League of Superheroes, so that’s who I’m going to be. And I’m going to put a stop to the villains. I don’t care who they are or what I have to do to achieve that. Prepare yourself Bob, come at me with all your plans and your schemes. Just like a villain. And just like a hero, I will put a stop to you. Goodbye, Bob. If we ever talk again, it will be when you’re behind bars. Maybe then you’ll tell me the truth.”

CLICK.

Bob stood still for a moment, holding the phone by his ear.

“Londyn…”

He sat on a nearby chair. He covered his face with his hand.

He didn’t come out of the room until Cikizwa went to get him.

Director Green hung up the phone and tossed it away. She turned and left the small room she was in, stepping out into a large workshop. A spherical device was under construction by a handful of engineers, each personally screened by Roxanne for treachery or ulterior motives. Assisting them were a swarm of grav-projector equipped drones, using the ILS's grav-tech to lift heavy pieces of metal with ease. Dr. Fraser sighed as he saw Director Green approach.

“What’s our status?”

“...Director, if I may have a word…”

“What’s our status, Doctor?”

Doctor Fraser sighed and looked at the tablet in his hands.

“Construction is on schedule. We’ve cross-referenced the original blueprint with some of our own data and managed to improve the design as well. The device will be ready shortly.”

Director Green crossed her arms as she stared at the device.

“Good.”

Doctor Fraser frowned, heaving another sigh.

“Director, I feel I must reiterate myself. This blueprint you gave us…what this device will do…I am deeply conflicted. This does not feel right. I am not certain…I can condone this plan. Even for you.”

Director Green kept looking forward.

“Tell me something, Doctor.”

“Yes, Director?”

“Do you know how many there were?”

“What do you mean, Director?”

“Do you know how many casualties there were, over the last year alone?”

Dr. Fraser looked to the ground at Director Green’s question.

“And do you know how many casualties there were when a kaiju attacked San Francisco?”

“...um, none to my knowledge?”

“Exactly.”

Director Green turned to face the doctor. Doctor Fraser looked back up to match her gaze.

Her eyes didn’t waver, even once.

“The Mass Suppressor was a weapon developed by a supervillain, you know? He planned to use it to hold all of New York hostage. It could have caused chaos and devastation on a massive scale.”

Doctor Fraser gulped as he struggled to meet the Director’s eyes.

“In our hands…it has saved thousands of lives. Millions even. I understand you have misgivings about this project. I do as well, and I wouldn’t trust anyone who didn’t. This weapon is repulsive, designed by a malicious individual intent on terrible things.”

She turned back to the device, gesturing at the engineers down below. At this point all of them had paused their work, listening to her every word.

“But in our hands? It may be exactly what we need. I promise you, we will only use this on those who have shown they mean harm. And we’ve learned in the past few months that we cannot afford to hold anything back. In the end, it is not the means that matter. It is what we intend to do with them. And our intention is to save lives. Just like it’s always been.”

Dr. Fraser frowned for another moment. Eventually, though, he sighed, slowly nodding.

“...very well. I am at your disposal, Director.”

She nodded.

“Then continue your work, and keep me posted. I want to know the moment we’re ready.”

“...yes, Director.”