by Drew Hayes
Tori was the final apprentice to exit, and to her surprise, Ivan was still there, waiting for her. The others had stepped through Tunnel Vision’s portal; she could see them back in the guild lounge as they waited for the window through space to close.
“You okay?” Tori asked, sidling up to her teacher as they moved toward the exit.
“You have a bad habit of stealing other people’s lines,” Ivan replied. Part of Tori relaxed at the snippiness in his voice. The Ivan in that building wouldn’t have bothered being snarky. It was good to know her real mentor was still in there under all the blood and bluster.
“Obviously, I’m fine,” Tori replied. “I spent years as a thief and a street rat; I’ve seen plenty of shit. You, on the other hand, just had to go on a killing spree. Can’t imagine that’s sitting too well.”
“Not my first, won’t be my last,” Ivan told her. “But audiences always make it worse.”
“That part I can see.” Tori glanced back at the warehouse as she and Ivan drew near to the portal, recalling all the bloody corpses they’d left inside. “Is Arcanicus going to do cleanup? I’m guessing we don’t want people stumbling on that grisly scene.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what we want,” Ivan said. “He laid down wards to keep us from leaving any incriminating evidence behind, but killing the gang is only half the job. People knew they were taking on the guild, which is part of why they bumped up on our radar. Now they’ll serve as a warning to anyone else who might get similar ideas.”
“Efficient, but sweet damn that seems cold,” Tori muttered. “Wait, how can other people know about the guild? I’d never heard of you until I joined. I assumed we were all top secret.”
“Oh? You never heard rumors about a shadowy criminal organization that skirted the capes’ attention while pulling off grand, elaborate scores?” Ivan momentarily paused just outside the portal that would bring them home. For whatever reason, sound didn’t travel through spatial tears, so it was the last chance they’d have for private conversation before the night was done.
“Well, sure, but those were just... stupid... rumors... wow, you all are crafty sons of bitches. Making yourself into a crazy conspiracy so no one will believe it when they catch sight of the real thing. That would be like... like if Bigfoot released the shitty fake Bigfoot footages just to throw people off.”
“That’s my smart apprentice,” Ivan said. “We keep the actual truths hidden. All most people know is that there’s a gang with no patience and no mercy, and that if you get a warning from them, you should heed it. Some have learned about us—no secret is perfect—but we keep things obscured enough that the majority are never sure what’s true and what’s not. All they know is that if they break our rules, bad things happen.”
“Like I said: crafty sons of bitches.” Tori shook her head and forced out a chuckle. Neither of them really wanted to make small talk within sight of the warehouse that Ivan had painted with corpses, but they both knew it was important. They needed to convince each other that Tori seeing that side of Ivan hadn’t changed things, whether it was true or not.
“Come on; after a quick debrief, we’re going to call it a night for training,” Ivan said, motioning to the portal. “That means you might be able to squeeze in a whole four hours of sleep between work and your meta-suit.”
“What can I say? I’m determined to keep the local coffee shop in business, even if I have to do it by myself.” Despite her words, Tori had a feeling she’d be skipping the lab tonight. Even without the sleep deprivation, she felt more drained than she had in a very long time.
She just hoped that when she finally did close her eyes, she’d be able to see something other than the inside of that blood-soaked warehouse.
Chapter 55
“Do you have a moment?”
Apollo looked up from his desk, unsurprised to find that Lady Shade had entered his office without bothering to use the door. From less dedicated personnel he’d have considered it impertinent, but Lady Shade had long ago shown herself to be the sort who valued efficiency over propriety. It was a quirk he tolerated because she was loyal, and that trait mattered more to him than any others she might possess.
“For you, always.” Apollo closed his laptop as he spoke, sealing off his work from prying eyes. Trust was well and good, but discretion had rewards all its own.
“You wanted to be kept abreast of any incidents of mass killings among meta-human criminals,” Lady Shade said, cutting right to business in the way that Apollo liked. “We just got word from Seattle that a gang was wiped out in a very bloody manner sometime last night.”
From the shadows that swirled about her body, Lady Shade produced crime scene photos of a warehouse interior strewn with corpses. She set them down on his desk, and waited as Apollo perused the contents of each one.
“No doubt about it, this is that cursed guild’s handiwork,” Apollo said at last, setting down the photos. “You can always tell; the actual kills are clean, but the bodies are left messy. They want to send a message to the people who find the bodies more than the people they killed.”
“Our informants say the gang in question had gotten a warning that they angered someone higher up the food chain and that they ignored it,” Lady Shade reported. “No one knows many details, but every low-level scumbag in the area seems to be minding their manners today. Everyone’s scared they might step on the wrong toes and be next. Some of them even think we’re the ones who pulled this hit.”
“Well, in a way, they aren’t wrong.” Apollo’s smile dimmed when he looked back down at the bloody pictures, as did his glow. “By tolerating the existence of these people, we’re at least partially culpable for their actions. ‘All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing,’ as the saying goes.”
“We can’t be everywhere, and from all accounts, these people were real bags of shit,” Lady Shade assured him. “You’re the one who tells the new recruits that even superheroes can’t save everyone. We’ve just got to do our best and take solace in the victories we manage.”
“As always, you’re quite right,” Apollo said, artfully skimming over the fact that he was technically agreeing with himself. “And I intend to make sure these people’s deaths do not go to waste. Tell me, were you wondering how I knew there would be an incident like this coming?”
“I assumed you had sources,” Lady Shade admitted.
“If only. I’d give much to have information from within that guild. No, I knew it was coming because we spotted their trainees out last week. Over time, I’ve noticed that when there’s a confluence and we both get new members, inevitably there will be a slaughter of morally repugnant criminals some months into their training. No doubt it’s meant to teach their recruits how to deal with external threats. I assumed that if they were out in the real world, that point had to be drawing near, which is why I put you on alert.”
“Very impressive,” Lady Shade said. “But, if I may, how does that help us? Shouldn’t we have tried to catch them in the act?”
“Certainly not.” Apollo shook his head, curly golden locks tumbling as he did. “These kills are professional-grade, clearly handled by the more powerful, experienced members. Going after one of them blindly would just cost us people, and it’s likely they’d still get away. No, what I’m looking for is what comes after the killing. Without fail, once one of these clean jobs pops up, within two weeks’ time we find a crime scene that’s almost, but not quite, at guild standards. Still clean and tidy, but always with a few telltale errors that we don’t see on the usual jobs.”
“I get it; you think they make the kiddies go out on a job all of their own,” Lady Shade concluded. “And that’s what you’re aiming for.”
“Precisely.” Apollo reached into his desk and pulled out a pad of paper. He scribbled across the yellow surface. “Contact these people in the AHC and let them know I need a quiet alert raised. We don’t want to tip our hand, but it’s crucial that we be ready w
hen the opportunity to squash their newest crop arises. With a few carefully chosen allies on watch, I believe we can manage. Oh, and have Cyber Geek and Medley stop by after you’ve talked to everyone. I’ll want to let them know that as of this weekend they’ll be spending a few weeks on standby as part of their training.”
“Don’t you need more than just those two? I mean, the guild has four recruits,” Lady Shade pointed out.
“I’ll likely grab a third or so from the pool after I see how everyone is improving. But those two have a bright future, and I want to help them seize it.” Apollo finished his writing and tore the page off the pad, handing it to Lady Shade.
“Cornea, the Crystal Baller, Optimize, and Stalwart Iron. I’ll get to all of them within fifteen minutes and have the newbies headed to you in thirty,” Lady Shade promised. She grew murky and indistinct, then vanished seconds later as she slithered out the wall through a nearby shadow.
Once she was gone, Apollo reopened his laptop and got back to work. He’d need to pick some backup for his rising stars, just to make sure everything went smoothly. There were plenty of prospects who were workable—metas with either power or charisma instead of a combination of the two. Normally, they were destined to live and die on the mid-list of popularity charts, known but not remembered. If he was lucky, however, they might get swept up in the wake of Medley and Cyber Geek’s good PR. Nothing wrong with getting some bonus press for the AHC’s newest rookies. That was assuming things went perfectly, of course, which would require good fortune and better planning.
Thankfully, the guild was sticking to their usual timetable, which made it all the easier to predict their moves. If things went to plan, they’d soon haul in four potential villains, unmasking them in front of the cameras and cementing the new recruits’ status as capable superheroes.
It would make for a wonderful appetizer, something to tide him over until the main course arrived.
* * *
While his size was useful for leverage, intimidation, and reaching things off the high shelves, the radioactive protein bar that had changed a scrawny nineteen-year-old into the powerful Thuggernaut had also made dealing with anything delicate an act of constant effort. Thankfully, Doctor Mechaniacal had the materials and know-how to ease things for the muscular man, which was why Thuggernaut was able to peruse his books on a specially reinforced e-reader. He was sprawled out on a couch also custom made for members of the guild who had more mass than standard springs were meant to bear when Johnny ambled into the lounge.
“Thought I’d find you here.” The smaller man adjusted his suit jacket before leaping over the edge of the sofa, coming down on the far end, just out of range of Thuggernaut’s pillar-like legs. “You always like to read after the rough stuff. How’s the kid holding up?”
Thuggernaut didn’t bother trying to fight the inevitable; he and Johnny had been friends for years, and when Johnny Three Dicks decided there would be a conversation, then sooner or later there would be. He clicked a bookmark function on the reader and set it down on a nearby coffee table.
“If by ‘the kid,’ you mean my apprentice, she’s doing as well as can be expected. Monday’s lesson was especially hard for her; she never had criminal inclinations before getting her powers. That was the first time she ever understood the darker side of the guild she was trying to join. Honestly, that woman has more makings of a cape than one of us. If she didn’t hate the AHC so much, it would have been a good fit.”
“You did the best you could to make sure she knew what she was signing up for before she joined,” Johnny said. “Can’t make the right choices for them. Plus, given how strong she’s getting, I’m sort of glad she decided to stay on Team Villain.”
“She would have been a handful, no doubt about that.” In spite of his worries about his apprentice and her future in the guild, Thuggernaut couldn’t quite resist the grin of pride that inched its way across his face. Beverly was growing by leaps and bounds; he had no doubt that one day she’d be far stronger than he. If she’d been won over by the capes, within a decade she’d have been as big a nuisance as Apollo.
“Yeah, but giant terrifying dragon works better on our side anyway,” Johnny pointed out. “And Beverly’s a tough nut. She’ll get past Monday. Or she’ll start drinking it away like many before her have. Either way, have some faith. The kid will find peace.”
“You’re probably right. At least she didn’t have to go through it alone. I wasn’t part of a confluence, so I got to sit through that show solo.”
Johnny let out a long, three-note whistle. “Who taught you?”
“Morgana.” Thuggernaut shuddered involuntarily. “The whole thing lasted less than a minute, which was all the more disturbing when I realized she could have ended it in seconds.”
“Count yourself lucky. I had to watch Arcanicus do the job,” Johnny replied. “Do you know what the smell of fresh gore mixed with the scent of a reanimated horde is like? Let me tell you, no one makes an air freshener strong enough to cover that up.”
Thuggernaut had been in an enclosed room with Arcanicus’s skeletons more than once; he could only imagine how the stink multiplied when murder was added to the equation. Morgana’s display had been mercifully short on smell and sound. Her victims had almost no time to react, and those who did manage a few seconds didn’t waste their time screaming. A few had tried begging, not that it helped.
“Anyway, we bounced back after that, and so will all the rookies, Beverly included,” Johnny continued. “From what I hear, Pseudonym went out of his way to take it easy on them. Even got rid of the gorier stuff if it was too close.”
“It’s certainly better than Balaam would have done,” Thuggernaut agreed. “Pseudonym at least has a vested interested in not seeing any of the apprentices break, especially this close to their membership trial.”
“Speaking of, that’s why I stopped by.” Johnny reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper with half-illegible chicken scratch scrawled across it. “Just got word from up top. I’m on distraction duty for the night they do their job.”
“You’re not going to be around to watch Beverly’s trial?” Thuggernaut jerked forward, a motion that others might have taken as threatening and subsequently fled from. Johnny, thankfully, knew his friend better than that. Thuggernaut only got violent when the situation called for it. Of course, when it did, he got really violent, which was part of why he’d ended up lumped in with the criminals in the first place.
“Nope, and neither are you, technically. Looks like you and the other mentors are getting sequestered to watch the show, at least according to Doctor Mechaniacal.” He held out the note, which Thuggernaut gingerly took from his much smaller hand. “You can read it for yourself, but the long and short is that Doctor Mechaniacal thinks you might be tempted to intervene if they turn the whole thing into a colossal fuck-up. Only the people strictly necessary will be around to oversee things. Everyone else is either on house-arrest at the guild or on distraction duty to make sure we keep the capes off their backs.”
Thuggernaut managed to make out every third word or so on the note, which seemed to corroborate Johnny’s report. Much as he didn’t like it, Thuggernaut couldn’t exactly protest the logic of the order. The truth was that if his apprentice were in trouble, he probably would try to jump in and help, even if it messed things up in the long run. There was no way he could just stand by and let his student get hurt if he were there to stop it, which was obviously the precise reason that he wasn’t going to be there.
“Do you need to pull a big one, or can it just be noisy?” Thuggernaut asked as he lowered the note. “I don’t entirely trust you to put together something elaborate on this short of notice.”
Johnny snorted. “Well, we both know I’m not going to do anything that requires that much work, so it looks like simple and noisy will have to do. I’m leaning toward fire at the moment. There’re a few abandoned blocks in various cities all over the country that I keep notes
on for just such an occasion. Allot an hour to clear out anyone squatting in them and I can whip up a grand distraction with minimal fuss.”
“I know how well you keep track of things, so I’ll be personally scouting the locations to make sure they’re still abandoned,” Thuggernaut replied. In the field, Johnny was as solid and dependable as they came. When it came to prep work, on the other hand... well, he wasn’t one to put up with the tedious when there was excitement to be had.
“All these years and still no trust. It’s hurtful, that’s what it is.”
“Do you actually want to do the work of rechecking all the locations and finding the one that best fits your needs?” Thuggernaut asked.
“Oh holy shit no. That’s all you, big guy.” Johnny hopped up from the couch and slid around it, already angling for the door. “I’ve got better things to do. Cocktails to drink, hearts to break, standard dapper villain stuff.”
“Have fun at happy hour,” Thuggernaut called. Once Johnny was gone, he scooped up his e-reader and continued his book. Though there was no real reason to and nothing in the conversation he could point at as a cause, Thuggernaut nonetheless felt much better than he had before Johnny’s interruption. Somehow, he always managed to take a person’s mind off the things that were bothering them, even if only for a while. It was no doubt part of why Johnny always got called on for distraction duty.
If anyone knew how to divert people’s attention, it was the villain known as Johnny Three Dicks.
Chapter 56
After the hellish, bloody night that was Monday, the rest of Tori’s week flew by. Work, field training, and a few hours building the meta-suit followed by an amount of sleep most would only classify as a nap, and then the whole thing repeated itself. Fortunately, life as a criminal and scientist had prepared her for pulling long strings of all-nighters one after another. This was not to say that she wasn’t significantly dragging by the time the weekend rolled around. In normal circumstances, or as normal as her life ever got, Tori would have let something slip to the backburner in an attempt to get more rest. But work and training were mandatory, which only left her meta-suit, and that was the one thing she was absolutely not going to give ground on.